Since the Pear Blossom Run is the day after tomorrow, I decided that I should do a quick post in case any of my family (in addition to Tom, who responded to my LAST post) happen to take a look at it.
This post is in reference to Tom's comment, in which he was concerned that I might not have my Last Will and Testament put together properly. Well Tom, even though I'm worth a lot more dead than alive, I don't have a will. Sorry!
Obviously he is concerned that I might have to be scraped up off the side of the road Saturday...a concern that is definitely legitimate. I've thought about it several times over the last couple of weeks. There are several opportunities for that to happen during the race. I could have a stroke, heart attack, collapse because my lungs don't work, or accidently start the race in front of someone and get trampled when they go by me. All of them are possibilities, but the last is the most likely. I don't know how they start runners, but there are 1182 people signed up for the 5 k and ALL of them have faster times than I do. If they start us according to the date we signed up I could have a couple hundred rabid runners laying down tracks on my back. Not a pleasant thought.
On a more positive note, my daughter Laurie let me know that my new Nikes showed up yesterday. I'm sure that when I start wearing them I'll be able to run twice as fast...or maybe I should say half as slow! I'm looking forward to getting them, even though I don't REALLY think my time will improve as a result.
Less than 48 hours until my 5k will be over. I'm looking at two more races to sign up for so I can have something to motivate me to run.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
D Day
Saturday is the Pear Blossom Run. I'm not even close to being able to run it, even though it's only a 5k. My goal is to not finish last, and I'm not sure that that's possible. I'm pretty sure that there are a lot of people who WALK faster than I run. This could be really ugly. I'm hoping that I can finish the course in the allotted time (I think I have about 55 minutes...if I can't make that it's time to take up knitting!), and finish somewhere in the top 1141 entrants (there are 1142 signed up for the 5k).
I have been running, but because of nasty weather, baseball games, fallen trees, and a few other acceptable excuses my workouts haven't been consistent. We've had really nasty weather for about a week and a half, and it's not easy to get motivated when you have 30 mph winds blowing snow into your face. The winds were strong enough that they managed to blow my neighbor's 50 foot spruce down on our wooden storage shed, so I had to spend a good portion of last week dealing with that. Wielding a chain saw is a workout, but probably won't help much to keep me from getting lapped in Saturday's race.
I've been managing to run 3 to 4 days per week, but my mileage is still pretty low. I think the longest run I've managed to get in is about 3 1/2, and it wasn't pretty. Because of the winds I've been having Janet drive me upwind from my ending point, so the entire run is with the wind at my back. It's kind of cheating, but at least I've gotten some miles in.
Regardless of my training, I'm committed. Two days until D Day.
I have been running, but because of nasty weather, baseball games, fallen trees, and a few other acceptable excuses my workouts haven't been consistent. We've had really nasty weather for about a week and a half, and it's not easy to get motivated when you have 30 mph winds blowing snow into your face. The winds were strong enough that they managed to blow my neighbor's 50 foot spruce down on our wooden storage shed, so I had to spend a good portion of last week dealing with that. Wielding a chain saw is a workout, but probably won't help much to keep me from getting lapped in Saturday's race.
I've been managing to run 3 to 4 days per week, but my mileage is still pretty low. I think the longest run I've managed to get in is about 3 1/2, and it wasn't pretty. Because of the winds I've been having Janet drive me upwind from my ending point, so the entire run is with the wind at my back. It's kind of cheating, but at least I've gotten some miles in.
Regardless of my training, I'm committed. Two days until D Day.
Friday, March 19, 2010
2 in a Row
I ran again last night. Two days in a row! And I didn't die! An absolute freaking miracle!
Today is Friday, and I'm still at work, trying to decide if I want to run tonight, or take the day off. We're leaving town for 3 days and I have a ton of work that I need to get done before we go (that's why I'm still here), but I guess I can come back early tomorrow morning and do it.
I don't really feel like running, but I told two of my co-workers this afternoon that I was going to go 3 miles, so I should probably live up to my boast and actually do it. The weather is great (64 degrees, NO wind), but it's getting late and I'm afraid of the dark.
On the other hand, the Pear Blossom Run is April 10th, and I don't want to make a total ass of myself by finishing last in a 5 k, so I think I'll quit working and go. Screw it. I'm out of here.
How's that for self motivation?
See ya.
Today is Friday, and I'm still at work, trying to decide if I want to run tonight, or take the day off. We're leaving town for 3 days and I have a ton of work that I need to get done before we go (that's why I'm still here), but I guess I can come back early tomorrow morning and do it.
I don't really feel like running, but I told two of my co-workers this afternoon that I was going to go 3 miles, so I should probably live up to my boast and actually do it. The weather is great (64 degrees, NO wind), but it's getting late and I'm afraid of the dark.
On the other hand, the Pear Blossom Run is April 10th, and I don't want to make a total ass of myself by finishing last in a 5 k, so I think I'll quit working and go. Screw it. I'm out of here.
How's that for self motivation?
See ya.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Pear Blossom Run
Yesterday at work I was talking to Nicky Robinson, our accounting manager, and found out that she and another co-worker are signed up to run the 5 K in the Pear Blossom Run in Medford April 10th. She shamed me into committing to sign up also, so I guess I'll be embarassing myself in about 3 weeks. It's going to be brutal. I'm way overweight, haven't run since February, and don't feel very motivated to try to do well. This could be a real eye-opener for me. There are already 7 people in my age category signed up to do the 5 K...I'm sure all of them are ex-Olympians.
Since I'm signed up to run, yesterday I decided that I need to make some kind of an attempt to try to get in shape. Last night I went out to the OC&E Trail and did my normal 2 1/2 mile jaunt. I was able to make it the whole way without walking, but my pace was exceptionally slow. The run gave me hope that I might be able to lose some weight (I look like a hippo right now), and hopefully won't finish last. We'll see what happens. Doug doesn't have any games until Saturday, so I have no excuses for not going tonight and tomorrow night.
I'll keep my blog updated when I run so all of my fans out there (Laurie and Tom?) can encourage me.
Since I'm signed up to run, yesterday I decided that I need to make some kind of an attempt to try to get in shape. Last night I went out to the OC&E Trail and did my normal 2 1/2 mile jaunt. I was able to make it the whole way without walking, but my pace was exceptionally slow. The run gave me hope that I might be able to lose some weight (I look like a hippo right now), and hopefully won't finish last. We'll see what happens. Doug doesn't have any games until Saturday, so I have no excuses for not going tonight and tomorrow night.
I'll keep my blog updated when I run so all of my fans out there (Laurie and Tom?) can encourage me.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Into the Wind
I went for a run last night. That's TWICE in the same week! Amazing!
To be truthful, it wasn't what you could call a run, and I really didn't want to go, but I pretty much HAD to. My wonderful wife told me that she was having "Book Club" at our house, and that was my incentive. For those of you who don't know what "Book Club" is, it's when a bunch of crazy old women from our church get together to discuss the "book of the month"...whatever that is. Try to picture 15 nutcase old women with absolutely NO social life getting together once each month, reading their favorite passages from whatever book has been selected for the month, cackling with their old women voices at whatever witty comments get tossed out for review. After about an hour of absolutely pointless chatter, they stumble into the dining room for the goodies that the hostess has provided for the evening's festivities. Get the picture? Believe me, it's not something you want to experience first hand.
Back to the run...it was brutal. We had 20 mph sustained winds, with gusts reaching 30 mph. The wind was directly out of the east, which makes for a difficult run if you're doing an out-and-back on a trail that runs west to east. No matter which direction you head, you're going to be fighting the wind for half the run. We lived in The Dalles (Columbia Gorge...Windsurfing Capitol of the World) for 3 1/2 years, so I'm somewhat familiar with running in the wind, and know that it's better to head into the wind when you're fresh. Because of that, I switched the direction I normally run in hopes that the second half of my trip would be with the wind at my back, and a little less unpleasant.
It worked. At least as far as the return trip being less unpleasant. When I left the parking lot I ran with the wind at my back for the first 500 yards to the nearest mile marker, so I'd know how far I was running. With the wind at my back I felt good, but when I hit the mile marker and turned around, presto chango! I felt like I was trying to drag my truck. I don't believe the winds were 20 mph. I think they were closer to 60! I only ran 2 1/2 miles, but the 1 1/4 into the wind made it feel like a ran a half marathon. There were a couple of times when I was fighting the wind that I felt like quitting, and had to really fight to keep running, but I managed to pull it off and "ran" the whole way. The biggest mistake I made was that I timed myself. Not good. I won't bother to share my time with you. It was too ugly. Let's just say that I won't be timing myself again any time soon....but I WILL be going for another run.
To be truthful, it wasn't what you could call a run, and I really didn't want to go, but I pretty much HAD to. My wonderful wife told me that she was having "Book Club" at our house, and that was my incentive. For those of you who don't know what "Book Club" is, it's when a bunch of crazy old women from our church get together to discuss the "book of the month"...whatever that is. Try to picture 15 nutcase old women with absolutely NO social life getting together once each month, reading their favorite passages from whatever book has been selected for the month, cackling with their old women voices at whatever witty comments get tossed out for review. After about an hour of absolutely pointless chatter, they stumble into the dining room for the goodies that the hostess has provided for the evening's festivities. Get the picture? Believe me, it's not something you want to experience first hand.
Back to the run...it was brutal. We had 20 mph sustained winds, with gusts reaching 30 mph. The wind was directly out of the east, which makes for a difficult run if you're doing an out-and-back on a trail that runs west to east. No matter which direction you head, you're going to be fighting the wind for half the run. We lived in The Dalles (Columbia Gorge...Windsurfing Capitol of the World) for 3 1/2 years, so I'm somewhat familiar with running in the wind, and know that it's better to head into the wind when you're fresh. Because of that, I switched the direction I normally run in hopes that the second half of my trip would be with the wind at my back, and a little less unpleasant.
It worked. At least as far as the return trip being less unpleasant. When I left the parking lot I ran with the wind at my back for the first 500 yards to the nearest mile marker, so I'd know how far I was running. With the wind at my back I felt good, but when I hit the mile marker and turned around, presto chango! I felt like I was trying to drag my truck. I don't believe the winds were 20 mph. I think they were closer to 60! I only ran 2 1/2 miles, but the 1 1/4 into the wind made it feel like a ran a half marathon. There were a couple of times when I was fighting the wind that I felt like quitting, and had to really fight to keep running, but I managed to pull it off and "ran" the whole way. The biggest mistake I made was that I timed myself. Not good. I won't bother to share my time with you. It was too ugly. Let's just say that I won't be timing myself again any time soon....but I WILL be going for another run.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Starting Again...Hopefully!
I decided last night that it was time to start running. A couple of weeks ago I managed to go 3 days in a row and could still walk, so there's no legitimate reason to not go. I had to pick Janet up when I fed the horses, so I decided that instead of giving her a ride home I'd just run from the barn to Reeder Road (where I normally start), and she could pick me up.
I had no idea how far it would be, but decided that I'd give it a shot and walk if it got too tough. The weather wasn't too bad...about 36 degrees with a minimal tail wind...no snow, no rain...perfect for running. The really nice thing was that since we had a couple inches of snow earlier in the day and it was about 5:30 when I started, no one was on the trail so I didn't have to worry about looking good. I could just pound along the trail doing the "Old Man's Shuffle" (thanks Tom...now everytime I go for a run I'm worried about being one of the "Old Men" that you referenced in your blog), run at my 20 minute mile pace, and not have to share the meager oxygen supply on the OC&E Trail with other runners.
The run was actually almost pleasant. It had a gentle downhill for the first 1/4 mile, was flat for the next mile, had another downhill for about half a mile, and then finished with a gradual uphill. I don't have any cool things that compute mileage like Laurie, so I had to resort to Google Earth to figure out how far I went. I think it's about 2 3/4 miles. It was a relatively pleasant run for the first 2 1/4 miles. In fact, for about 100 yards I actually almost felt like I was a RUNNER and managed to finish the run before Janet showed up to pick me up.
Doug has a game tonight so I don't think I'll get to run...I'll give it another shot tomorrow.
I had no idea how far it would be, but decided that I'd give it a shot and walk if it got too tough. The weather wasn't too bad...about 36 degrees with a minimal tail wind...no snow, no rain...perfect for running. The really nice thing was that since we had a couple inches of snow earlier in the day and it was about 5:30 when I started, no one was on the trail so I didn't have to worry about looking good. I could just pound along the trail doing the "Old Man's Shuffle" (thanks Tom...now everytime I go for a run I'm worried about being one of the "Old Men" that you referenced in your blog), run at my 20 minute mile pace, and not have to share the meager oxygen supply on the OC&E Trail with other runners.
The run was actually almost pleasant. It had a gentle downhill for the first 1/4 mile, was flat for the next mile, had another downhill for about half a mile, and then finished with a gradual uphill. I don't have any cool things that compute mileage like Laurie, so I had to resort to Google Earth to figure out how far I went. I think it's about 2 3/4 miles. It was a relatively pleasant run for the first 2 1/4 miles. In fact, for about 100 yards I actually almost felt like I was a RUNNER and managed to finish the run before Janet showed up to pick me up.
Doug has a game tonight so I don't think I'll get to run...I'll give it another shot tomorrow.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Slacker
Okay, it's been quite some time since I last posted. When I went for a run on Thanksgiving my Achilles wasn't too bad, so I was pretty sure that I was okay to get back in the game. Since that little run I made my way back to the OC&E Trail and ran 3 days in a row. My tendon was tender each day when I first started, but after a couple hundred yards felt okay.
My major problem now is that I'm fatter than I've ever been, and extremely out of shape. I ran during lunch and only went 2 1/2 miles each time, but my times were atrocious, and I now know what it feels like to run while you're pregnant. Other than the fact that I don't actually have a baby inside kicking my bladder, I definitely have the weight and look the part...if I were to wear a wig on my next run people would be amazed that a woman my age could get pregnant!
It's now been about 2 weeks since I last ran, and I no longer have excuses not to go on a regular basis. Hunting has ended, my Achilles seems to be healed, Doug's games are all at night, and other than the 5 inches of snow we got yesterday the weather's not bad.
Time to quit being a slacker!
My major problem now is that I'm fatter than I've ever been, and extremely out of shape. I ran during lunch and only went 2 1/2 miles each time, but my times were atrocious, and I now know what it feels like to run while you're pregnant. Other than the fact that I don't actually have a baby inside kicking my bladder, I definitely have the weight and look the part...if I were to wear a wig on my next run people would be amazed that a woman my age could get pregnant!
It's now been about 2 weeks since I last ran, and I no longer have excuses not to go on a regular basis. Hunting has ended, my Achilles seems to be healed, Doug's games are all at night, and other than the 5 inches of snow we got yesterday the weather's not bad.
Time to quit being a slacker!
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