I don't need to point out the fact that it's been quite some time since I last posted. It's not for lack of stuff to write about - we're still really busy even though Doug and Donald are pretty much the only ones still at home. Doug has games 3 to 4 days per week and we try to make it to as many as we can, even though if he's not pitching his appearances on the field are limited to chalking the batter's box, or playing bat boy.
I've been running a lot more consistently, and have finally started to drop some of my fat. I still have a long way to go to get to where I need to be weight-wise, and even farther to go to get to the point where I can start trying to be competitive in races.
I've run a 3 mile hill route at OIT several times in the last couple of weeks, but it still beats the snot out of me. I went for a 4 mile run last Wednesday, and then ran the 5k course at the Sports Complex with a co-worker (she had a race yesterday) on Thursday. We went to Steph's swim meet in Bend over the weekend so I didn't have a chance to run, but I made up for it by killing myself on the OIT route on the way back home. It's a challenge to run it, but it's helped me considerably on my flat runs.
I only have about 6 1/2 weeks to get ready for Crater Lake, and I'm really nervous about the altitude. The race starts at about 7600 feet, and I know from elk hunting at that altitude that it's not going to be pleasant. It usually takes me 2 days of hiking around to get so I can breathe normally - I think running 6.7 at altitude might actually kill me. Guess we'll see!
Monday, June 28, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Running the Himalayas
My Lake of the Woods 5k is over, and I survived...sort of!
The weather was perfect for running...minimal wind, temps in the low 60s, no rain...but the course itself was BRUTAL! It was supposed to be an uphill for the first 300 yards, then a gradual downhill for about half a mile, then a little 50 yard climb, and then flat to the turnaround point...and then the whole thing in reverse. For some reason the race organizers decided to change the course, and re-routed the 5k on a path that crested the summit of K-2, Everest, and one other peak that has yet to be named because it hasn't been climbed! Even Laurie (my running addict daughter) had problems not walking. Needless to say, I didn't PR.
There is one good aspect to my miserable showing. I'm motivated to get my fat butt in better shape for the 6.7 Crater Lake run in August. I have about two months to do it, so I'm working up a training regimen that hopefully will help me survive the hills and the altitude.
Lake of the Woods is in the past...time to focus on the future.
The weather was perfect for running...minimal wind, temps in the low 60s, no rain...but the course itself was BRUTAL! It was supposed to be an uphill for the first 300 yards, then a gradual downhill for about half a mile, then a little 50 yard climb, and then flat to the turnaround point...and then the whole thing in reverse. For some reason the race organizers decided to change the course, and re-routed the 5k on a path that crested the summit of K-2, Everest, and one other peak that has yet to be named because it hasn't been climbed! Even Laurie (my running addict daughter) had problems not walking. Needless to say, I didn't PR.
There is one good aspect to my miserable showing. I'm motivated to get my fat butt in better shape for the 6.7 Crater Lake run in August. I have about two months to do it, so I'm working up a training regimen that hopefully will help me survive the hills and the altitude.
Lake of the Woods is in the past...time to focus on the future.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Crunch Time...Again!!!
Well sports fans, my next race is only a short time away, and I'm not in any better shape than when I ran the last one.
My Lake of the Woods 5k is this Saturday. Great. I'm really excited about it. I can hardly wait. I don't think there are many runners signed up, so there is a really good chance that I really WILL finish last (and I'm not just talking last in my age group.)
So what are my excuses? If I listed all of them the list would be pages long, so I'll just jot down a few. 1) WIND. I HATE RUNNING IN THE WIND!!!! 2) WIND and Snow. We're now in June, but we had a week in May with 20 mph WIND and snow. 3) WIND and Rain. Since we came back from the baseball tournament in Reno in March, we've only had a handful of days when it wasn't snowing and/or raining with WIND. I enjoy running in the rain, but not when it's raining sideways because of the WIND! 4) WIND! WIND!! WIND!!! I'm tired of it.
Basically what it comes down to, is that I'm still in really lousy shape, still way overweight, and running isn't fun when you're in my condition. I love running when I feel good and I'm in shape, but when I'm out of shape and I know it's not going to be pleasant going for a run, it's hard to get off the couch and fight the weather.
This weekend I'm going to pay for it...just like my Pear Blossom 5k fiasco. Except THIS time I won't be able to hide among the other runners. I'll be so far behind the rest of the pack that I'll get the "courtesy clap" for actually finishing.
I'll post again when (if) I finish.
My Lake of the Woods 5k is this Saturday. Great. I'm really excited about it. I can hardly wait. I don't think there are many runners signed up, so there is a really good chance that I really WILL finish last (and I'm not just talking last in my age group.)
So what are my excuses? If I listed all of them the list would be pages long, so I'll just jot down a few. 1) WIND. I HATE RUNNING IN THE WIND!!!! 2) WIND and Snow. We're now in June, but we had a week in May with 20 mph WIND and snow. 3) WIND and Rain. Since we came back from the baseball tournament in Reno in March, we've only had a handful of days when it wasn't snowing and/or raining with WIND. I enjoy running in the rain, but not when it's raining sideways because of the WIND! 4) WIND! WIND!! WIND!!! I'm tired of it.
Basically what it comes down to, is that I'm still in really lousy shape, still way overweight, and running isn't fun when you're in my condition. I love running when I feel good and I'm in shape, but when I'm out of shape and I know it's not going to be pleasant going for a run, it's hard to get off the couch and fight the weather.
This weekend I'm going to pay for it...just like my Pear Blossom 5k fiasco. Except THIS time I won't be able to hide among the other runners. I'll be so far behind the rest of the pack that I'll get the "courtesy clap" for actually finishing.
I'll post again when (if) I finish.
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