Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Relationships and such

Just so I never forget I will post.

a great relation ship is like a baseball glove (running shoes work in this example too). You found it new and grew together. It becomes part of you. It wears a certain way, it feels a certain way, it fits you. Even as holes form and strings break you won't trade it in. You won't think of that. You always know where you left it in the crowd of other gloves. You don't long for another's. And you don't want a new one. You've made the highlight plays and a few mistakes too but the two of you have been there together high and low. You learn this through experience. And yes I still have my glove and it's over 20 yrs old and it works just fine by me.

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Race Report 2010 Outback

Set a goal for under 2:15. It was my first long race in a while so expections were tempered by past but more recent 2:30plus halfs which included alot of walking.

My training base was good with about 83 miles in Oct and as it turned out 95 in Nov.

Went with Mike and Judi (and Massey) to the event. Up at 6am and at their house at 6:30. Race time was 8. Fortunately I didn't forget a thing. Chip build into number was nice. One less thing to remember.

Pre race stuff all went as planned. I left Mike and Judi with the speedier of the species up nearer the start line and move back in the pens to the chunkier section.

Anthem sung, starting shot heard and we are off. Didn't pay much attention to my time to start with but had set in my mind the thought of running three 30 minute runs with a walking break in the middle. I had trained roughly this way with circles around the UNF trails separated by water breaks. I knew I had three 30's in me and figured I could limp home at the end and finish around 2:15. Plan set.

First 30 was no problem. In fact I was a bit too fast and finished 3 miles in under 27 mins. Worried I might bonk with the temp in the low to mid 60s , I focused on slowing down and running an even 3 miles in 30 over the next 30 mins. After my walk I reached the 6 mile mark at under 57 mins. Better but alittle fast considering a recover walk was in the middle of that set. Realized my nipples were getting their period and carried my shirt the rest of the way. Note to self: alway wear an old shirt. Mike has said before but I just don't listen.

Next thirty mins went as planned. Lost myself in following cute bunnies and let mile 9 slide by at 1:27. I was surprised I was still holding up.

From there on it was put your head down and grind it out. I focused on run LIGHT and run EASY. Just like in Born to Run. Those four miles average a 10 min pace, but that is not how I got there. I tried to use the tank up in miles 10-12 and must have ran much faster because the last mile was a slow grind with two or three walks near the end as I mismeasured the finish distance. This race ends with a left then a right then a left then a right etc.... You couldn't see the end so you couldn't measure your effort very well.

I was happy I used the tank up though. Better than the alterantive. I pulled through the finish at 2:07 and felt great. Good buddy Mike was right there slapping me on my back and handing me my medal. What an inspiration. I walk away very happy with beating my goal of 2:15.

Got a little disoriented and somehow convince Mike and Judi I was fine and that I wanted food and would met them at the car. What are they thinking? You just can't listen to me at the finish line. It is like pillow talk. You will say anything. Started walking and head cleared. Then decided the car was the place to be. I found it quite directly but all the while felt lost getting there. I laid down on the cool sidewalk near car and look up at a lone elm tree I was now under. It was silowetted by the blue cloudless Thanksgiving day sky and quite peaceful. What I was listening to I can't remember I stared up for what seemed like forever and watched contently as the morning dew that was blown off the tree leaves fell great distances and hit the ground all around.

It was a moment of peace that you just can't quite decribe but you know it only as you feel it. Made for a great day.

Thanks to all those who help make it happen. Mike, Judi, Chris and even Massey. All part of the team that helped get me there.

Yo Bolsom

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

A September to remember

A September to remember:

I'm posting this to break the ice.
Have to start somewhere.

I've started strong this month. Twenty workouts in 10 days and then the curtain comes down.
After a sweet 4.5 mile run plus 50 mins on the bike on friday the 10th, I have what can only be dianosed as the gout in my big toe. WTF?

So here I sit on the sideline for 5 days now waiting to take my old/new toe back out for some good ol fun.

here I sit.

I'm still sitting.

I'll get back to you

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Chicago

What a great trip with respect to training.

Found an extra couple hours on Thursday and made the most of it.
I headed East until I hit Lakeshore then south until I found Soldier Field.
Now as the crow flys on a tourist map it was about 2miles. As I look at my trusty Garmin it was over 3 when I hit the backside of the stadium. A fun run though. I meander my way back and was happy to hit the 7 mile mark before I reach the Sheridan.

Friday found me done with my required conference presentations and mixed in Reinsurer meetings. When and saw the Pirate vs the Cubs at Wrigley. A $20 cab fare but I made the game on time. With no time constraits I decided to run back from the game. Logged another 5+ miles along the lake shore. Set up in Chicago is great for running the shore.

Saturday prefight. I gave my legs a rest and walk about 3 miles with the outward point being the Willis (Sears) tower. Burned extra calories shaking from the added height.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Running again

I've been tinkering with running the last two weeks but have met with much resistance. Physically and mentally, that is.

Yesterday was my best run since i came back. Time was just over a 10 min pace for about 3.1 miles.

I could taste the will to run as opposed to the pain and regret of the path that brought me here.

Many thanks to my running buddy Mike.

Run Forest Run

Friday, February 20, 2009

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Running with Donna










Time: 2:18:40
Distance: 13.1miles
Pace 10:33





I am fortunate enough to live 1.5 miles from the start of this race. But wanting to conserve every ounce of energy, I woke Terri and had her drop me off as close as possible. We didn't even get out of the neighborhood because the traffic was so bad. Ok, I've only a half mile walk to met our company team from the drop off. I'm last one there due to the walk distance even though I live the closest. Great.

First picture taken at 7:00...we walk about 100yd.... another team pic to be taken.



Another 100yds , another team picture. Clearly we were bought out by the Mutsubishi Corporation during the night and company policies are being applied.



Out the Runners Village we go for the big line up, We all split our separate ways at the exit. They attempted to coordinate start position with flag colors. Good luck with that.


What a great race day. A little cool, overcast. Perfect running weather. Race is well organized


No more than a 15 min wait with Patrick Ellis, a marketing guru of FLDIC, but I can't find my training buddy Chris. He was just here.

Oh Well. Patrick is ready to run. He establsh his desire to run 9:30's and I'm a little overwhelmed. I state I'll hang as long as I can but that is not my race strategy. All the while I'm thinking, dude you have not done any long runs, you are SO going to bonk. My evil plan to snare the FLDIC running title is within reach. If only I can outduel Chris.

Mile 1....10.32 running with Patrick up and over the bridge on JTB. What a beautiful site. This race has about a 3 to 1 women to man ratio also a beautiful site. Helicopter buzzing by taking lots of pics I'm sure

Mile 2...9.52 and still with Patrick...see pic.. Enjoyed once again all the deparate women dropin' trouse and letting it fly. Confirms my belief that we are still one outhouse from reverting to our simple cavepeople nature.




















Mile 3..10.11 and Patrick pulls away with a wave at the water station. I hang as long as I can in his wake but know better than to push to hard.





Mile 4....9.07..lots of funny signs and plenty of people now to cheer us on, made for my best mile




Mile 5...9.48..Funniest thing I saw was a life size Bunny costume with the woman wearing it holding a sign for "Saving Second Base". I laugh out loud so hard, the woman next to me was chuckling too.





Miles 6..9.59.. a mile on the beach, saw a hot pace bunny with a shirt stating " in your wildest dreams". Weak in mental disipline, but full of desire, I attempted to keep up. No luck but a 6th good mile.





Mile 7... 11.32..Left the beach here. I look down and I've started my period. I took the time to explain to our company running team organizer the need to get soft material shirts for the runners as bleeding nipples is less than attactive for a team logo shirt. See small dots in pic. Wrong material in the shirts was picked by the marketing department. Maybe Tampex bought us in the night and this was a strange marketing twist. That did not change my situation. The shirt had to come off. But I couldn't throw out a company shirt. Heaven forbid my boss see my discarded shirt and do a shirt count on Monday. So I tucked it into the back and carried on. Side note, My Wife hates me running without a shirt. But when dignity, collides with comfort, I'm afraid I've passed the age of caring. Now I really am beginning to understand my mom and dad. White socks and black shoes. Hmmm. I wonder how comfortable that must be. All this took it's price out on my pace.


Mile 8....10.35...All I can think about was a potty cause I gotta go. Great this never happens to me. Why this race? I don't want to stop because I want to catch Patrick when he bonks and I don't want a surpise visit from Chris who must be behind me or worse Aaron Burns the taunting youngster from the Gate Run last year.



Mile 9....12.20..Alot of walking now...trying to focus on getting back to JTB..Picked up a GU pack from a volunteer


Mile 10....10.26.. Wow I must have been Bonking...GU pack is kickin in and I'm moving again. I took some electrolite caps with me but only packed a banana for energy..Bad idea..


Mile 11...11.05; Mile 12..12.14.... This bridge sucks..So many around me are walk /running now.


Except for this one lady that is kicking our ass with some speed walking.



Mile 13...10.08; Bye bye speed walker you will NOT be finishing before me; down the hill I go with a big stride...many are falling to the Sasquach this day.






Final stretch...DAMN, I didn' t pace myself. I am not walking over that line. I gathered myself and finished proud. Took one of the best finish photos of a fat man ever taken. I sucked it in and stuck my chest out for all I was worth.











I never saw Patrick again. He ran a 2:02 and stands alone in a proud first place. Chris, I did see. He crossed 2 mins behind me and based upon our finish line conversation I knew with his start that we were close in our finish times. But I didn't know how close. Official time was Mark by 13 seconds. Talk about mirroring your training partner. It was a good race for where I am today fitnesswise. also 15 mins better than last year. I have hope for the Gate Run time now.












































Signing off
Shiek Shealy