Week 3 Recap

I have been feeling a bit non-bloggy this week, so the updates have been sparse at best.  Rather than bore you with whatever drivel spews from my fingertips I will just give you the results from week 3.  Here's hoping for a somewhat more verbose week four.

Week 3, Day 1 (3 Miles):

The weather early in the week was hot, so I did not get out for my first run until Thursday.  The good news, this is a step back week in my training so I get to slack let my muscles heal in preparation for week four.

Results
Distance: 3.01 miles
Time: 24:49
Pace: 8:15

This is by far one of best 3 mile runs I have had in a very long time.  It was quite quick (for me), but the pace just felt... I dunno... right.

Week 3, Day 2 (5 miles):

My wife and I decided to take advantage of the anti-summer day and hit the trails again.  This time we split up and I went solo for the whole run.  Trail running is quite different from running the roads.  The constant elevation crescendos, roots threatening you at every step and the pure peace of a pedestrian only zone leads to a wholly different running experience.  It is almost possible to zen out when it just you and the chipmunks vying for a shared existence on nature's pathways.  Speed is far less important on these runs as you are never sure what Everest may await you when turn the corner and break through the treeline.  I think I could get used to this.  More trail running may be incorporated into this runner's training arsenal.

Results
Distance: 5.42 miles
Time: 53:45
Pace: 9:55

Final Thought:

Two rabbits walk into a bar.  A third rabbit says,  "Why didn't you hop over it?"
 
 

Bring on the Heat

Week 2, Day 4 of Marathon Training (7 Miles)

Well, well, well it appears that summer is finally here.  I had a gentle reminder today why you DO NOT run at noon on 80+ degree days.  The heat sucks the life out of you!  The first few miles were okay-ish, but 4-7 my core temperature shot through the roof, muscle fatigue was in full effect and I was blinded by the salt-lick waterfall of sweat cascading into my eyes.  Lessons re-learned.  Run in the morning or run at night.  Do not run during the hottest part of the day.  My normal solution to this problem is to use a bubbler/water fountain as a personal bird bath to cool off.  That worked for about 15 seconds and then, BAM-O, back to sweat city.  The important part is, I did it.  Hopefully that counts for something.

Results
Distance: 7.00 miles
Time: 1:08:44
Pace: 9:48

Final Thought:

May the summer sun melt away my winter weight.  May the summer sun bring color to my cheeks.  May the summer sun lay the hell off when I am running long on the weekends.

Cold, I Fear No Cold

Week 2, Day 3 of Marathon Training (3 Miles)

Should I be concerned that every time I type out the word marathon I always add a silent g at the end.  What the hell is a marathong???  Is it a specific type of undergarment worn underneath running clothes to avoid that dastardly and embarrassing VPL problem?  Perhaps it is a seedy ritual where the runner wears 26.2 pairs of underwear and discards a pair every mile.  God help the spectators at that finish line! I welcome your thoughts on this conundrum.

http://store.endurancejunkies.com/marathong

I have been battling a pretty nasty cold the last few days which put a damper on my Thursday running plans.  I ended up working 1/2 days Thursday and Friday and pretty much went with the 'imprint of my ass on the couch' approach to running both days.

However, today was a different story.  My wife and I successfully (hopefully) re-seeded about a 1/4 of our front lawn.  Unfortunately it was the 1/4 with mostly dirt not the 3/4 part which is a mix of weeds and crabgrass.  Sorry Neighbors... if it helps I know my lawn sucks.  At least I don't have a pink flamingo or the lady bending over with her bloomers showing sticking in the front lawn.  Take the small victories where you can get them.  I also managed to cut the grass do some weeding and some reeding reading.  I am currently re-reading Stephen King's The Shining  and I am finding it quite unputdownable.  Last time I read it I don't remember loving it quite this much.  I must be maturing :)

I also made up for lost time and went for 3-miles today.  It was a beautiful night and the run felt spectacular.  I am looking forward to the 7-miles I have planned for tomorrow.

Results
Distance: 3.00 Miles
Time: 27:34
Pace: 9:11

Final Thought:  

Underwear is everywhere, but mostly underneath
-Barry Louis Polisar

Week 2, Day 2: Road Rage

Today's morning run was full of excitement and peril.  For one, the lead was surgically removed from my legs last night leaving me with a sense of "light and fluffiness" during the entire 3 miles.  I suspect the rabbits had some remorse and decided to reverse their actions from the previous night.  Once again, I have no proof.  

Now for the exciting part... during mile 1 I was coming up to a slightly dangerous intersection, so I was cautious.  As expected, a car creeps up past the stop sign without even thinking of glancing to his right for a potential pedestrian who may just want to exercise their crazy right of street crossin'.  I opted to greet the kindly gentlemen by screaming "GOOD MORNING" through his slightly cracked open window.  Still oblivious.  He never even looked at me.  I pray for your soul you sad, sad human.

Now around mile 2ish I am coming up to a not-so-dangerous intersection and Methuselah comes driving down the street with her cell phone firmly attached to her right ear and her head facing completely to the left ( I am coming up the sidewalk to her right).  I watch as she proceeds through a stop sign where she may have slightly tapped on the brakes, maybe.  I applied my human brakes as I did not want to exercise my right to get tagged by a vehicle on a Wednesday Morning and decided I was tired of near misses for today.  I plant my face about 2mm from her passenger window and waited for that split second where she would inevitably glance to the right before turning.  She did.  I watched what I can only describe as the face one makes when they defecate themselves in an automobile.  I gave her my best WTF look and took off running again.  It was almost worth getting hit just for that moment of personal triumph.

Results
Distance: 3.00 miles
Time: 26:10
Pace: 8:42

Week 2, Day 1: Legs Like Lead

 I had a fantastic Memorial Day Weekend.  Summer finally arrived and my wife and I took a scenic drive through Northern Wisconsin.  The highlight of the entire trip was passing through the small town of "Spread Eagle, WI".  Man, did we get mileage out of the jokes while driving through that hamlet.  The icing on the cake was passing the Spread Eagle Pet Motel.  The only surprising thing was that we did not pass a single strip club, adult video outlet or erotic cake store.  Bummer!

Today I woke up in the Morning ready to rock it out.  Finally, 3 miles on a nice warm summerish day.  Bliss.  What I failed to observe in my slumber, was that at some point during the night my femur, fibula and tibia were coated in 45.63 kg of lead.  I suspect my pet rabbits, but I have no proof at this time.  Every step forward felt excruciatingly slow and heavy.  It took about 1.5 miles to shake it out and by then I was on the final 1.5 mile uphill climb home.  Not the best day, but at least it was only 3 miles.

Results
Distance: 3.00 Miles
Time: 28:15
Pace: 9:24

Final Thought:

Attention domesticated animals of the world!  If you are looking for a good time stop by the Spread Eagle Pet Motel.  Money back guarantee if you are not 100% satisfied.

Week 1, Day 4: Owned

It was a good week.  First off, my legs are remembering how to run.  Always a good thing when training for an, ermmm, run!  I went for six miles this evening and everything felt good.  I mean everything.  Shoelaces=tied, Shorts=on, Heart Monitor=functional, Watch=Garminy and Knees=0 pain. 

Sometimes for distances of six miles or greater I like to drive down to the Milwaukee lakefront to run on a lot of uninterrupted sidewalk.  Today was not one of those days.  I ran a 6 mile loop around the neighborhood and it was not bad.  Only one near strangulation incident involving a leash and a guy walking two dogs occurred tonight.  A first for me!  Usually the near strangulation occurs with a single dog :)   To be fair, the guy did apologize for me having to pull off an impromptu limbo move under the leash to keep my momentum going.

Results
Distance: 6.00 miles
Time: 55:53
Pace: 9:18

Final Thought:

Dear dog walkers,  Thank you for walking your pets.  You are doing yourself and the animal a great service.  Dear dog walkers,  get the f**k out of the way when someone is running at you.  Love, Nick.

Week 1, Day3: So Far, So Good

Short runs for this week are done!  I moved Thursday's run to after work in order to sleep in just a pinch longer than normal.  The important point is that I went out and did it.  I took the Sauconys out for a spin again to see if there was any correlation between knee pain and shoe.  I am happy to report that the run was much more comfortable than Tuesday; the shoes just have a different ride than my Adizeros.  As a precaution I have started my IT band stretching routine again.  I am a bit paranoid with my knee so this may come up as a common theme in my blog posts.  During my second marathon my IT band really began to bother me my last 4 weeks of training.  In truth, I probably should have cancelled my marathon plans for the year.  However, as a stubborn runner and human being I pushed through.  The first three miles were great and I limped from my 3-26.2.  Ouch!  I really, really, really, do not want to endure that again this year.

Results
Distance: 3.00
Time: 27:33
Pace: 09:10

Final Thought:

After the long run this weekend,  I will have a perfect week of training.  That is something to be proud of.