connect.garmin.com/activity/70631972
i went into work early this morning so i could have an extended lunch break and get out for a short two-wheeled excursion. the storm last night blew all sorts of grit onto the shoulders of the road, making me a bit nervous about flats, but i made it out to milan road and back without any deflating experiences. the wind was terribly hard to judge. i looked at the weatherbug and saw it was out of the northeast. the flag at the high school showed the same thing. three miles out of town, though, the flag at the top of mock hill was kind of wishy washy. couldn't tell for sure on east or west. i was already committed to riding east before i turned around, so i kept going. after i turned around, i slowed down a bit. my first 5.12 miles were at 17.2mph. the next dropped to 16.8mph. the wind was just enough in my face going west, that i was slowed down. grrrr! i had a great time out in the sun anyway, so who really cares? (10.25 miles @ 17.0mph)
Monday, February 28, 2011
3.01 miles in 25:23
connect.garmin.com/activity/70584553
after finishing up a fairly hard two-miler with jon, i decided to put in three more on my own. i took it a bit easier and threw in a little bit of speed work, sprinting all the northbound and southbound blocks. southbound i flew, hitting 6:09 pace at one point. northbound, i gutted it out into the nasty wind. the only good thing about sprinting north was spending a little less time doing it.
i did the same loop that jon and i had done earlier, adding in a northbound sprint in the middle of the last loop so i could end my run with a southbound sprint. my mama didn't raise no dummy! once i hit stop, i walked a bit to cool down and then came inside to warm up. doesn't make much sense, does it?
after finishing up a fairly hard two-miler with jon, i decided to put in three more on my own. i took it a bit easier and threw in a little bit of speed work, sprinting all the northbound and southbound blocks. southbound i flew, hitting 6:09 pace at one point. northbound, i gutted it out into the nasty wind. the only good thing about sprinting north was spending a little less time doing it.
i did the same loop that jon and i had done earlier, adding in a northbound sprint in the middle of the last loop so i could end my run with a southbound sprint. my mama didn't raise no dummy! once i hit stop, i walked a bit to cool down and then came inside to warm up. doesn't make much sense, does it?
2.02 miles in 16:07
connect.garmin.com/activity/70581797
my running partner, jon, was finally able to run with me again after a week off for other obligations. he picked an awful day to make his comeback. it was 27 degrees with a strong north wind. brrrrr!
since neither of us really wanted to deal with the north wind much, we decided to run east-west loops with only a block north every time around. it turned out that our loop was almost exactly a mile, somewhere around .96 or .97 miles. jon wanted to do 2 miles, we were pretty happy about the distance.
on the first loop we hit the mile mark at 8:12. on the second loop we picked up our speed a bit and ended with a 7:47 mile. the extra .02 we covered at 7:42 pace. our overall pace, 7:59, wasn't bad at all. i walked a bit to cool down and then decided to run another three miles. that's another post.
my running partner, jon, was finally able to run with me again after a week off for other obligations. he picked an awful day to make his comeback. it was 27 degrees with a strong north wind. brrrrr!
since neither of us really wanted to deal with the north wind much, we decided to run east-west loops with only a block north every time around. it turned out that our loop was almost exactly a mile, somewhere around .96 or .97 miles. jon wanted to do 2 miles, we were pretty happy about the distance.
on the first loop we hit the mile mark at 8:12. on the second loop we picked up our speed a bit and ended with a 7:47 mile. the extra .02 we covered at 7:42 pace. our overall pace, 7:59, wasn't bad at all. i walked a bit to cool down and then decided to run another three miles. that's another post.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
3.20 miles in 25:49
my wife came downstairs to run on the treadmill just as my daughter and i finished watching "master and commander: the far side of the world". my daughter didn't like it. to quote her: "everybody dies!" great movie!
anyway, since my wife was running on the treadmill, i got the okay to go outside and run. i called a friend quickly and asked her to cover for me for an hour on ems so i could get in a few miles. she agreed, of course. everyone on a volunteer service helps out when they can.
so i dressed quickly and hit the "mean" streets of argonia. i ran up and down, up and down, up and down and up and then across. i think i got that right. my garmin's battery was failing, so i resorted to google mapping and a stopwatch. felt like the good ole days! what a great way to finish off the week. rest tomorrow. back at in on monday!
anyway, since my wife was running on the treadmill, i got the okay to go outside and run. i called a friend quickly and asked her to cover for me for an hour on ems so i could get in a few miles. she agreed, of course. everyone on a volunteer service helps out when they can.
so i dressed quickly and hit the "mean" streets of argonia. i ran up and down, up and down, up and down and up and then across. i think i got that right. my garmin's battery was failing, so i resorted to google mapping and a stopwatch. felt like the good ole days! what a great way to finish off the week. rest tomorrow. back at in on monday!
Friday, February 25, 2011
Fill in the blank...
As I was working on my sermon today, I was reminded of a funny story. Fifteen or twenty years ago give or take a year or two, I was preaching on Jesus' prayer in John 17. I talked about how Jesus prayed for his disciples and then prayed for those who would believe through their witness. To make the message personal, I decided I would speak directly to some of those who were there that day, saying, "Mark, Jesus is praying for you!" or "Rachel, Jesus is praying for you!" It sounded great on paper. In practice it turned out to be a humorous disaster of sorts. I was preaching up a storm, encouraging specific people and then it happened. As I was turning my head, I thought of Bob and said, "Bob, Jesus is praying for you!" My eyes hit Bob. Bob was asleep. I'm sorry, but I laughed. Out loud! Bob's wife elbowed him. He woke up. I smiled and said, "I guess Bob was praying!" and went on. Made me chuckle to remember it today.
4.00 miles in 33:16
connect.garmin.com/activity/70041082
i went to work a little early this morning, so i'd be able to take a slightly longer lunch break. i was planning to ride, but decided to run instead. my aim was to run slowly and build speed each mile. i did okay, i guess. my first mile was 8:32. the second was 8:12. number 3 came in at 8:10. mile 4 was a bummer at 8:19. still not bad for my first attempt at this tempo thing. had a blast running on the dirt roads, so i'm good.
i went to work a little early this morning, so i'd be able to take a slightly longer lunch break. i was planning to ride, but decided to run instead. my aim was to run slowly and build speed each mile. i did okay, i guess. my first mile was 8:32. the second was 8:12. number 3 came in at 8:10. mile 4 was a bummer at 8:19. still not bad for my first attempt at this tempo thing. had a blast running on the dirt roads, so i'm good.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
1.00 mile in 7:53
i downed a tri-berry gu with caffeine and about 20 ounces of liquid - some gatorade, some water - about 15 minutes before this workout. i wanted to see what i could do on the dreadmill with a little rocket fuel.
i started this one out with the incline set on 5%, running at 8:34 pace. i had stretched out really good before hand, so everything was loose and i felt great! after about a minute, i bumped my pace up to 8:13. when i got used to that pace, i pushed it again, moving up to a 7:53 pace. i reached a comfort zone there after a minute or so. not wanting to get too comfy, i raised the pace to 7:35. i lowered the grade to 4% sometime along the way too. i never really got completely comfortable again, but decided as i approached the mile mark to kick it up one more notch to 7:30. i finished at that pace. just before finishing, i lowered the incline to 2%.
i know i can run faster than this, but i'm still trying to figure out how on a treadmill. i hate that i can't just speed up and make the machine respond to how i feel. clicking buttons isn't natural. no excuses, mind you. i did what i could do and it was better than either of my early morning miles. i'm happy with my effort. i'll be back.
i started this one out with the incline set on 5%, running at 8:34 pace. i had stretched out really good before hand, so everything was loose and i felt great! after about a minute, i bumped my pace up to 8:13. when i got used to that pace, i pushed it again, moving up to a 7:53 pace. i reached a comfort zone there after a minute or so. not wanting to get too comfy, i raised the pace to 7:35. i lowered the grade to 4% sometime along the way too. i never really got completely comfortable again, but decided as i approached the mile mark to kick it up one more notch to 7:30. i finished at that pace. just before finishing, i lowered the incline to 2%.
i know i can run faster than this, but i'm still trying to figure out how on a treadmill. i hate that i can't just speed up and make the machine respond to how i feel. clicking buttons isn't natural. no excuses, mind you. i did what i could do and it was better than either of my early morning miles. i'm happy with my effort. i'll be back.
1.00 mile in 8:31
i don't care what the meter on dailymile says, i burned more than 134 calories during this dreadmill session. i doubt my breakfast did a bit of good. every muffin is burned. all the milk too!
i set the incline at 4% and warmed up for two minutes at 10:00 pace and then ran my third minute at 8:34. my fourth minute was at 7:30 pace. i recovered for two minutes at 8:34 pace and then hit the seventh minute at 7:30 again. i "rested" at 8:34 for 30 seconds and then hit 7:30 once more for 30 seconds. i slowed to 8:34 to finish out the mile i had planned for this workout. ended with a slightly faster time than my earlier run.
i'll do another at noon if i have the time.
i set the incline at 4% and warmed up for two minutes at 10:00 pace and then ran my third minute at 8:34. my fourth minute was at 7:30 pace. i recovered for two minutes at 8:34 pace and then hit the seventh minute at 7:30 again. i "rested" at 8:34 for 30 seconds and then hit 7:30 once more for 30 seconds. i slowed to 8:34 to finish out the mile i had planned for this workout. ended with a slightly faster time than my earlier run.
i'll do another at noon if i have the time.
1.00 miles in 8:42
i awoke to the sound of rain pouring down and thunder. it sounded so strange. it's been forever since i've heard either. it was nice, sort of cleansing, hopeful. i pulled on my shoes and shorts. i grabbed my tunes and headed for the dungeon for a little torture session on the dreadmill. the suffering i underwent seemed an appropriate tribute to michelle and her just gone mom. i warmed up for about a minute at around 10:00 pace, the incline set at 3%. i then bumped it up a bit to an 8:34 pace for another minute. after this brief acclamitization, the real work began. i hit the afterburners and went to 7:30 pace for 30 seconds. i dropped back to 8:34 for 30 seconds and then repeated two or three more times - 30 seconds fast, 30 recovery. just before i hit the one-mile mark, i really cranked up the suffering and ran 30 seconds at 6:40 pace. my feet were flying, my lungs screaming, my heart rejoicing at the challenge. that done, i dropped to 8:34 pace again. i ran for a little while at this cool down pace and then slowed even more. i was "running" at 12:00 pace when the 1.0 rolled over and i hit stop. i gave 8:42 in honor of a friend's loss. it was the least i could do. God bless michelle!
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
zap the zero
every monday on dailymile an unwanted character appears at the top of every athlete's homepage. it drives cyclist and runner alike to extremes seeking to destroy it.
the zero manifesto
a common grievance heard here on dailymile, most typically on monday, bemoans the weekly reemergence of the nefarious zero in the weekly mileage indicator. while a majority of dedicated dailymilers undertake to quickly “zap the zero” (especially those who engage in the art of the predawn workout), there are circumstances, such as injury, other priorities, or a lack of broadband access, that delay the obliteration of this hated digit. it is for these situations that i have created the zero manifesto to provide succor in coping with the occasional malingering presence of the goose egg.
you sit there, smug in your nothingness, yet deep down i know you sense it, almost ethereally. you exist solely by my good graces. was i to simply stride out the door, or cycle the pedals, or rotate the flywheel, you would dissolve back from whence you came, wiped from your non-existence.
oh, i may let you linger for a bit. by doing so, i evidence the control i have over you. yet despite this control, you mean nothing to me. zip, zilch, nada, naught, nil. you are not even a mere plaything. you may be the same in all languages, but you are futile in your omnipresence. by allowing your continued reign, my dominion over you grows.
i am the waterloo to your napoleon, the yorktown to your cornwallis, the alexander to your darius. i am the prana to your apana. i am the maker you will always meet. i am the certainty to your doubt. I am the hope to your despair.
so dwell there, uncomfortable in your voidness, your vacancy. and feel as empty as you are, while persisting in look over your shoulder. for i too, shall hover nearby, confident in my authority to dispel the non-digit at will. my strength builds as your emptiness persists and, when you relax your gaze, i will exercise my whim and push you over the edge into the obliteration of your very non-being.
-greg s on the dailymile blog
you sit there, smug in your nothingness, yet deep down i know you sense it, almost ethereally. you exist solely by my good graces. was i to simply stride out the door, or cycle the pedals, or rotate the flywheel, you would dissolve back from whence you came, wiped from your non-existence.
oh, i may let you linger for a bit. by doing so, i evidence the control i have over you. yet despite this control, you mean nothing to me. zip, zilch, nada, naught, nil. you are not even a mere plaything. you may be the same in all languages, but you are futile in your omnipresence. by allowing your continued reign, my dominion over you grows.
i am the waterloo to your napoleon, the yorktown to your cornwallis, the alexander to your darius. i am the prana to your apana. i am the maker you will always meet. i am the certainty to your doubt. I am the hope to your despair.
so dwell there, uncomfortable in your voidness, your vacancy. and feel as empty as you are, while persisting in look over your shoulder. for i too, shall hover nearby, confident in my authority to dispel the non-digit at will. my strength builds as your emptiness persists and, when you relax your gaze, i will exercise my whim and push you over the edge into the obliteration of your very non-being.
-greg s on the dailymile blog
zap the zero
every monday on dailymile an unwanted character appears at the top of every athlete's homepage. it drives cyclist and runner alike to extremes seeking to destroy it.
the zero manifesto
a common grievance heard here on dailymile, most typically on monday, bemoans the weekly reemergence of the nefarious zero in the weekly mileage indicator. while a majority of dedicated dailymilers undertake to quickly “zap the zero” (especially those who engage in the art of the predawn workout), there are circumstances, such as injury, other priorities, or a lack of broadband access, that delay the obliteration of this hated digit. it is for these situations that i have created the zero manifesto to provide succor in coping with the occasional malingering presence of the goose egg.
you sit there, smug in your nothingness, yet deep down i know you sense it, almost ethereally. you exist solely by my good graces. was i to simply stride out the door, or cycle the pedals, or rotate the flywheel, you would dissolve back from whence you came, wiped from your non-existence.
oh, i may let you linger for a bit. by doing so, i evidence the control i have over you. yet despite this control, you mean nothing to me. zip, zilch, nada, naught, nil. you are not even a mere plaything. you may be the same in all languages, but you are futile in your omnipresence. by allowing your continued reign, my dominion over you grows.
i am the waterloo to your napoleon, the yorktown to your cornwallis, the alexander to your darius. i am the prana to your apana. i am the maker you will always meet. i am the certainty to your doubt. I am the hope to your despair.
so dwell there, uncomfortable in your voidness, your vacancy. and feel as empty as you are, while persisting in look over your shoulder. for i too, shall hover nearby, confident in my authority to dispel the non-digit at will. my strength builds as your emptiness persists and, when you relax your gaze, i will exercise my whim and push you over the edge into the obliteration of your very non-being.
-greg s on the dailymile blog
you sit there, smug in your nothingness, yet deep down i know you sense it, almost ethereally. you exist solely by my good graces. was i to simply stride out the door, or cycle the pedals, or rotate the flywheel, you would dissolve back from whence you came, wiped from your non-existence.
oh, i may let you linger for a bit. by doing so, i evidence the control i have over you. yet despite this control, you mean nothing to me. zip, zilch, nada, naught, nil. you are not even a mere plaything. you may be the same in all languages, but you are futile in your omnipresence. by allowing your continued reign, my dominion over you grows.
i am the waterloo to your napoleon, the yorktown to your cornwallis, the alexander to your darius. i am the prana to your apana. i am the maker you will always meet. i am the certainty to your doubt. I am the hope to your despair.
so dwell there, uncomfortable in your voidness, your vacancy. and feel as empty as you are, while persisting in look over your shoulder. for i too, shall hover nearby, confident in my authority to dispel the non-digit at will. my strength builds as your emptiness persists and, when you relax your gaze, i will exercise my whim and push you over the edge into the obliteration of your very non-being.
-greg s on the dailymile blog
windy and warm
connect.garmin.com/activity/69774513
knowing it was supposed to be warm today, i went in to work early this morning so i could get in a ride at noon. i was planning on riding 10 miles, but it felt so nice out, i decided to take it a couple more miles. it was kind of rough going west. the wind was in my face all the time. when i turned around it was awesomely helpful! went from 15.2mph average outbound up to 18.0mph by ride's end. great fun! (12.41 miles @ 18.0mph)
knowing it was supposed to be warm today, i went in to work early this morning so i could get in a ride at noon. i was planning on riding 10 miles, but it felt so nice out, i decided to take it a couple more miles. it was kind of rough going west. the wind was in my face all the time. when i turned around it was awesomely helpful! went from 15.2mph average outbound up to 18.0mph by ride's end. great fun! (12.41 miles @ 18.0mph)
3.11 miles in 26:17
connect.garmin.com/activity/69733534
when will i learn to start out slowly and increase my speed? i know in my head that i need to do this, but i still go out too fast and end up tired at the end. 8:46/mile was my pace on the last mile. it should have been my pace on the first. then i could've sped up a bit on each of the remaining miles and maybe had a new PR. as it is, i was slower today than i was on race day back in september, less than a month after i started running. grrrrr! at least it was a fairly warm morning at 40F and the wind wasn't blowing.
when will i learn to start out slowly and increase my speed? i know in my head that i need to do this, but i still go out too fast and end up tired at the end. 8:46/mile was my pace on the last mile. it should have been my pace on the first. then i could've sped up a bit on each of the remaining miles and maybe had a new PR. as it is, i was slower today than i was on race day back in september, less than a month after i started running. grrrrr! at least it was a fairly warm morning at 40F and the wind wasn't blowing.
Monday, February 21, 2011
6.20 miles in 55:21
connect.garmin.com/activity/69419659
i got up at 4:00 this morning because i was awake and i knew i wouldn't go back to sleep. i got dressed to run and headed out with the aim of completing 10K and putting myself over the 10,000-mile mark on dailymile. i did so successfully in the slightly colder and much windier weather that came in last night. last week i ran shirtless in shorts. this morning, my face was frozen.
there was a lot of circling in my route this morning. i intended to draw out a big 10,000 across town, but somewhere along the way i got a bit off track and made some extra lines where they didn't belong and i ended up with an extra zero making it look like 100,000. oh, well! it was fun to try.
thanks to all of you who have encouraged me for the past year and a quarter as i've run and ridden these 10,000 miles. i know i wouldn't be where i am as an athlete without your kind words and God's strength!
i got up at 4:00 this morning because i was awake and i knew i wouldn't go back to sleep. i got dressed to run and headed out with the aim of completing 10K and putting myself over the 10,000-mile mark on dailymile. i did so successfully in the slightly colder and much windier weather that came in last night. last week i ran shirtless in shorts. this morning, my face was frozen.
there was a lot of circling in my route this morning. i intended to draw out a big 10,000 across town, but somewhere along the way i got a bit off track and made some extra lines where they didn't belong and i ended up with an extra zero making it look like 100,000. oh, well! it was fun to try.
thanks to all of you who have encouraged me for the past year and a quarter as i've run and ridden these 10,000 miles. i know i wouldn't be where i am as an athlete without your kind words and God's strength!
Saturday, February 19, 2011
wildlife safari
connect.garmin.com/activity/68991242
i really want to get a long ride in some day. it's driving me nuts doing these little out and backs. i need a 50-miler or something. grrrr! i guess you do what you can. at least today's ride was interesting. around 3 or 4 miles out i encountered a skunk running the center line. i was running in the same direction as me, so i had to slow down until i was sure i could slip past with out an odor shower. then a few miles later, just before the 5-mile mark, a herd of deer crossed the road ahead of me. at 6 miles a small gray cat darted from one side of the highway to the other. probably headed out into the fields to hunt mice and cockroaches.
i rode on out to the top of nine-mile hill, then turned around. my average speed at that point was 15.5mph. not the best, but considering the strength of the southeast wind today, not bad. that same wind helped me get home in much less time. my average at the end...17.1mph.
all in all, i'm happy with the day's ride. the only thing that could've made it better? more! (18.06 miles @ 17.1mph)
i really want to get a long ride in some day. it's driving me nuts doing these little out and backs. i need a 50-miler or something. grrrr! i guess you do what you can. at least today's ride was interesting. around 3 or 4 miles out i encountered a skunk running the center line. i was running in the same direction as me, so i had to slow down until i was sure i could slip past with out an odor shower. then a few miles later, just before the 5-mile mark, a herd of deer crossed the road ahead of me. at 6 miles a small gray cat darted from one side of the highway to the other. probably headed out into the fields to hunt mice and cockroaches.
i rode on out to the top of nine-mile hill, then turned around. my average speed at that point was 15.5mph. not the best, but considering the strength of the southeast wind today, not bad. that same wind helped me get home in much less time. my average at the end...17.1mph.
all in all, i'm happy with the day's ride. the only thing that could've made it better? more! (18.06 miles @ 17.1mph)
Friday, February 18, 2011
3.10 miles in 24:35
connect.garmin.com/activity/68846527
i had plans to get up early and get in a longer run this morning, but i overslept. i planned during breakfast to salvage my day and still run long, but not as long. then time with my wife took precedence over running. always will! so after i saw her off to work, i hit the streets with "big daddy weave" providing the soundtrack to keep me moving.
i ran north a block and west two before heading north past the grade school and across the highway into the new housing development. i ran up and around the loop at the north end of the tract and then headed toward argonia road.
my plan was to run back into town and loop around the outside edge, but when i got to the intersection, i decided to change it up a bit. i turned north instead of south and ran out into the country, past the elevator and to 20th avenue before turning around and running back to town.
argonia road was busy. lots of people running late for work and later for school buzzed past me going this way and that. knew several of the people and waved. i waved at the others too. small town living is awesome!
i made it back to town, ran straight across the highway and ran south down main street to walnut. if there was even a hint of nausea on this run, it was here, but it wasn't very strong. i turned on walnut to head east toward home and was able to keep running at the same basic pace. i ran the three blocks east to pine and turned north. when i reached 3.10 miles, i pressed stop on dude, my garmin, and slowed to a walk.
i walked a couple of blocks to cool down and then came in to clean up. i'm showered, shaved and ready to go now. God is good! hope everyone has as good a day as i plan to have!
i had plans to get up early and get in a longer run this morning, but i overslept. i planned during breakfast to salvage my day and still run long, but not as long. then time with my wife took precedence over running. always will! so after i saw her off to work, i hit the streets with "big daddy weave" providing the soundtrack to keep me moving.
i ran north a block and west two before heading north past the grade school and across the highway into the new housing development. i ran up and around the loop at the north end of the tract and then headed toward argonia road.
my plan was to run back into town and loop around the outside edge, but when i got to the intersection, i decided to change it up a bit. i turned north instead of south and ran out into the country, past the elevator and to 20th avenue before turning around and running back to town.
argonia road was busy. lots of people running late for work and later for school buzzed past me going this way and that. knew several of the people and waved. i waved at the others too. small town living is awesome!
i made it back to town, ran straight across the highway and ran south down main street to walnut. if there was even a hint of nausea on this run, it was here, but it wasn't very strong. i turned on walnut to head east toward home and was able to keep running at the same basic pace. i ran the three blocks east to pine and turned north. when i reached 3.10 miles, i pressed stop on dude, my garmin, and slowed to a walk.
i walked a couple of blocks to cool down and then came in to clean up. i'm showered, shaved and ready to go now. God is good! hope everyone has as good a day as i plan to have!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
run with endurance
my brother, patrick, put together this video recently for a project he's working on. thought maybe you'd enjoy it. his skills as a movie editor are growing.
2.00 miles in 14:57
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/68734588
it was 68 degrees out at noon, so i had to run! i ran harder than i'd been running and kept pushing the pace throughout the entire run. no nausea at all! never saw a pace on my garmin over 8:00 pace. saw 6:17 pace once. sometime around town i hit 5:25! that's crazy! had a blast! i am dripping with sweat. it's pouring! love it! gotta get back to work. have a great afternoon!
it was 68 degrees out at noon, so i had to run! i ran harder than i'd been running and kept pushing the pace throughout the entire run. no nausea at all! never saw a pace on my garmin over 8:00 pace. saw 6:17 pace once. sometime around town i hit 5:25! that's crazy! had a blast! i am dripping with sweat. it's pouring! love it! gotta get back to work. have a great afternoon!
retirement 2.0
Demand Media Video -- powered by livestrong.com
team radioshack's video tribute to lance's retirement 2.0!
moonlit ride
connect.garmin.com/activity/68690324
the moon was so bright this morning! eerily beautiful and full! on the way back, there were several times i looked over my shoulder thinking a car was coming. just the moon. i love riding in the moonlight.
i don't love riding in the wind, however. it was a bit blustery this morning. the wind, according to the weatherbug and the forecast, was supposed to be out of the SSW. i believed since they matched that a ride west would give me a tailwind on the way back. sneaky weather people! they lied! i rode to the west, gliding along. my cadence was crazy fast and my legs felt great. then i turned around and the wind was in my face. i was not happy. i bled speed like crazy. the same effort that was cranking out 19mph speeds on the way out, would only give me 17mph headed east. grrrrrr! grrrrrr! that's a double growl. not many rides get that kind of treatment.
actually, i have nothing to complain about. i got to ride. it was 52 degrees. i was tempted to ride in shorts only and skip the tights, but couldn't do it. it's got to be a bit warmer to bike with legs exposed. maybe next time.
the moon was so bright this morning! eerily beautiful and full! on the way back, there were several times i looked over my shoulder thinking a car was coming. just the moon. i love riding in the moonlight.
i don't love riding in the wind, however. it was a bit blustery this morning. the wind, according to the weatherbug and the forecast, was supposed to be out of the SSW. i believed since they matched that a ride west would give me a tailwind on the way back. sneaky weather people! they lied! i rode to the west, gliding along. my cadence was crazy fast and my legs felt great. then i turned around and the wind was in my face. i was not happy. i bled speed like crazy. the same effort that was cranking out 19mph speeds on the way out, would only give me 17mph headed east. grrrrrr! grrrrrr! that's a double growl. not many rides get that kind of treatment.
actually, i have nothing to complain about. i got to ride. it was 52 degrees. i was tempted to ride in shorts only and skip the tights, but couldn't do it. it's got to be a bit warmer to bike with legs exposed. maybe next time.
moonlit ride
connect.garmin.com/activity/68690324
the moon was so bright this morning! eerily beautiful and full! on the way back, there were several times i looked over my shoulder thinking a car was coming. just the moon. i love riding in the moonlight.
i don't love riding in the wind, however. it was a bit blustery this morning. the wind, according to the weatherbug and the forecast, was supposed to be out of the SSW. i believed since they matched that a ride west would give me a tailwind on the way back. sneaky weather people! they lied! i rode to the west, gliding along. my cadence was crazy fast and my legs felt great. then i turned around and the wind was in my face. i was not happy. i bled speed like crazy. the same effort that was cranking out 19mph speeds on the way out, would only give me 17mph headed east. grrrrrr! grrrrrr! that's a double growl. not many rides get that kind of treatment.
actually, i have nothing to complain about. i got to ride. it was 52 degrees. i was tempted to ride in shorts only and skip the tights, but couldn't do it. it's got to be a bit warmer to bike with legs exposed. maybe next time.
the moon was so bright this morning! eerily beautiful and full! on the way back, there were several times i looked over my shoulder thinking a car was coming. just the moon. i love riding in the moonlight.
i don't love riding in the wind, however. it was a bit blustery this morning. the wind, according to the weatherbug and the forecast, was supposed to be out of the SSW. i believed since they matched that a ride west would give me a tailwind on the way back. sneaky weather people! they lied! i rode to the west, gliding along. my cadence was crazy fast and my legs felt great. then i turned around and the wind was in my face. i was not happy. i bled speed like crazy. the same effort that was cranking out 19mph speeds on the way out, would only give me 17mph headed east. grrrrrr! grrrrrr! that's a double growl. not many rides get that kind of treatment.
actually, i have nothing to complain about. i got to ride. it was 52 degrees. i was tempted to ride in shorts only and skip the tights, but couldn't do it. it's got to be a bit warmer to bike with legs exposed. maybe next time.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
1.63 miles in 18:29
connect.garmin.com/activity/68659926
after finding out i was voted on to the dailymile team for 2011, i went out for a victory lap with my wife. we ran for awhile. walked for a bit. ran for a few more blocks. walked and ran and walked and ran. whatever my wife was able to do, we did. no pressure. it was really nice.
after finding out i was voted on to the dailymile team for 2011, i went out for a victory lap with my wife. we ran for awhile. walked for a bit. ran for a few more blocks. walked and ran and walked and ran. whatever my wife was able to do, we did. no pressure. it was really nice.
1.67 miles in 14:05
connect.garmin.com/activity/68547587
i didn't have time for a long run this morning since i had to take my 16-year-old out to breakfast for her birthday, so i got up at 5:00, dressed quickly and hit the road. i ran pretty hard at first, but then backed off a bit so as not to hit the nausea button today. no sense in that, right? i ran my scotty dog route in a dense fog. at times, when the street lights were far enough apart, the beam from the light on my head looked almost solid, like a wide, white light saber piercing the darkness. kind of freaky! didn't see anyone else out running this morning, though there were several cars at the fitness center on main. i ran the loop, showered and headed out for breakfast.
i didn't have time for a long run this morning since i had to take my 16-year-old out to breakfast for her birthday, so i got up at 5:00, dressed quickly and hit the road. i ran pretty hard at first, but then backed off a bit so as not to hit the nausea button today. no sense in that, right? i ran my scotty dog route in a dense fog. at times, when the street lights were far enough apart, the beam from the light on my head looked almost solid, like a wide, white light saber piercing the darkness. kind of freaky! didn't see anyone else out running this morning, though there were several cars at the fitness center on main. i ran the loop, showered and headed out for breakfast.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
time trial test ride
connect.garmin.com/activity/68445211
at 46 degrees, it's not quite warm enough for my legs to really be able to crank out a bit of speed for a time trial effort, but i decided to put them to the test anyway. they responded about as i expected. a little sluggish at times, but pretty strong. my heart and lungs did well, in part, due to my new running regimen. they're in better shape now than they normally are during the winter months. enjoyed the feel of the wind slipping over my back. it's so great to be on my bike again. wish i had more time to ride. (10.43 miles @ 18.0mph)
at 46 degrees, it's not quite warm enough for my legs to really be able to crank out a bit of speed for a time trial effort, but i decided to put them to the test anyway. they responded about as i expected. a little sluggish at times, but pretty strong. my heart and lungs did well, in part, due to my new running regimen. they're in better shape now than they normally are during the winter months. enjoyed the feel of the wind slipping over my back. it's so great to be on my bike again. wish i had more time to ride. (10.43 miles @ 18.0mph)
2.07 miles in 16:52
connect.garmin.com/activity/68401332
i felt a lot better during this morning's run that i thought i would. after running 10 miles on the treadmill last night, i was sure i'd be sore and stiff. i was when i first got up. i was when jon and i walked a couple blocks to warm up, but within a block of our start, all the stiffness went away and i was able to let loose a bit.
i must say, running two miles at 8:09 pace is a lot different than running ten at 10:00. the one is physically taxing, the other mentally tough. i think i'd prefer physical exhaustion over mental duress any day. i'll probably get a two-for-one special when i run my half marathon. what a deal!
since we didn't start at our normal spot, we just kind of wandered around this morning, turning this way and that as the mood struck us. we ran passed keri, kim and christie on main street and keri decided jon needed to cool off a bit. luckily for him, her snowball disintegrated before making solid contact. a little coworker spat!
to avoid further conflict, we turned off at cherry and headed west and then south on osage. we turned east again on mill and ran across to high where we headed north back toward the grade school. we ran west in front of the school and then south on elm. a two-block circle (or oval, i guess) brought us back to my place. we walked a block to cool down, then jon left. i walked back to the house and came in.
wow! i'm tired! it's a good tired though. hope some of my speed comes back soon. i need a longer sub-8 paced run soon or i'm going to scream!
i felt a lot better during this morning's run that i thought i would. after running 10 miles on the treadmill last night, i was sure i'd be sore and stiff. i was when i first got up. i was when jon and i walked a couple blocks to warm up, but within a block of our start, all the stiffness went away and i was able to let loose a bit.
i must say, running two miles at 8:09 pace is a lot different than running ten at 10:00. the one is physically taxing, the other mentally tough. i think i'd prefer physical exhaustion over mental duress any day. i'll probably get a two-for-one special when i run my half marathon. what a deal!
since we didn't start at our normal spot, we just kind of wandered around this morning, turning this way and that as the mood struck us. we ran passed keri, kim and christie on main street and keri decided jon needed to cool off a bit. luckily for him, her snowball disintegrated before making solid contact. a little coworker spat!
to avoid further conflict, we turned off at cherry and headed west and then south on osage. we turned east again on mill and ran across to high where we headed north back toward the grade school. we ran west in front of the school and then south on elm. a two-block circle (or oval, i guess) brought us back to my place. we walked a block to cool down, then jon left. i walked back to the house and came in.
wow! i'm tired! it's a good tired though. hope some of my speed comes back soon. i need a longer sub-8 paced run soon or i'm going to scream!
Monday, February 14, 2011
9.99 miles in 1:40:00
i was on call with ems tonight, so i could not go and enjoy the beautiful weather outside. instead i was forced by my circumstances to swallow my pride and run on the treadmill in the dungeon. such torture deserved a movie of equal darkness. "the count of monte cristo" was my choice for this night. i set the incline on the treadmill to 2% and started running with the opening scene of the film at 6mph. my intent was to run throughout the epic tale, but, alas, my legs and abs tired before the disc had run its course in full. i stopped at 10 miles and cooled down seated before the story as it finished itself out on the screen.
i love to ride my bicycle!
connect.garmin.com/activity/68339299
i've been dying to post this all afternoon! because my ride took up a good portion of my lunch hour and i was rushed to get back to work - aren't i conscientious - i waited until after work to post this ride. yes, you heart right! a R-I-D-E! woohoo! time on my bike has been so sporadic recently, i'm sure my cycling friends have wondered if i've gone completely over to the dark side. fear not, my two-wheeled contraption riders! i am back! it's supposed to be warm and dry all week. i will get in some mileage. maybe i'll even make it to 10000 miles on dailymile. we'll see. not too far to go now.
so you want to know about my ride. well, if it hadn't been the first time in forever that i had been on my bike, it would be a rather boring ride, but everything was amazing! i blasted up hills. i blasted down them. i rocketed over the flats! i know my overall average doesn't show this, but it's the truth. i promise it is! it was great to get out and burn off some emotional energy. can't wait to ride again tomorrow. wish i could go again now. (10.25 miles @ 17.5mph)
i've been dying to post this all afternoon! because my ride took up a good portion of my lunch hour and i was rushed to get back to work - aren't i conscientious - i waited until after work to post this ride. yes, you heart right! a R-I-D-E! woohoo! time on my bike has been so sporadic recently, i'm sure my cycling friends have wondered if i've gone completely over to the dark side. fear not, my two-wheeled contraption riders! i am back! it's supposed to be warm and dry all week. i will get in some mileage. maybe i'll even make it to 10000 miles on dailymile. we'll see. not too far to go now.
so you want to know about my ride. well, if it hadn't been the first time in forever that i had been on my bike, it would be a rather boring ride, but everything was amazing! i blasted up hills. i blasted down them. i rocketed over the flats! i know my overall average doesn't show this, but it's the truth. i promise it is! it was great to get out and burn off some emotional energy. can't wait to ride again tomorrow. wish i could go again now. (10.25 miles @ 17.5mph)
3.11 miles in 25:38
connect.garmin.com/activity/68265414
i loved this run, for the most part. jon, my new running partner, and i took off at a pretty good clip. we ran up to the school and over to main street to avoid most of the remaining icy patches. we then ran south to past the city limits. at the 1.5-mile mark, we turned around and made this an out and back. somewhere after we hit two miles, i started feeling nauseous. i'm really tired of this happening when i'm in the middle of a great run. i'd felt perfect up to that point. don't know what causes it, but i'd love for it to go away. we hit three miles just before getting back to my house, so we ran the extra block plus to make this a 5K. not my best 5K ever, but it'll do. on to whatever else the day may bring. hopefully a bike ride at noon. oh, that would be so nice!
i loved this run, for the most part. jon, my new running partner, and i took off at a pretty good clip. we ran up to the school and over to main street to avoid most of the remaining icy patches. we then ran south to past the city limits. at the 1.5-mile mark, we turned around and made this an out and back. somewhere after we hit two miles, i started feeling nauseous. i'm really tired of this happening when i'm in the middle of a great run. i'd felt perfect up to that point. don't know what causes it, but i'd love for it to go away. we hit three miles just before getting back to my house, so we ran the extra block plus to make this a 5K. not my best 5K ever, but it'll do. on to whatever else the day may bring. hopefully a bike ride at noon. oh, that would be so nice!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
2.13 miles in 24:05
connect.garmin.com/activity/67964572
we all got home from our various activites and my wife wanted to run outside since it was relatively warm. there's something wrong when 42 is warm. be that as it may be, that was the reasoning behind going out for a run together.
we walked up the street to get away from the slush and then started running. there were a few spots where snow and ice still remained on allen, but they weren't too bad. main street, which we ran south on, was as clear as anything. it was awesome running on a dry surface.
we ran to the city limits and then started back. somewhere before the railroad tracks, we stopped to walk. my wife hadn't been outside for a run in awhile and she hasn't been running without walking for any great distances since she's re-doing the couch to 5K program, so she slowed down to get her breathing under control.
we ran again and then walked once more before making it back to our starting point. we walked back home, dodging the slush. i hope it all melts tomorrow so i can actually ride my road bike on monday. please, mr. sun, do your stuff!
we all got home from our various activites and my wife wanted to run outside since it was relatively warm. there's something wrong when 42 is warm. be that as it may be, that was the reasoning behind going out for a run together.
we walked up the street to get away from the slush and then started running. there were a few spots where snow and ice still remained on allen, but they weren't too bad. main street, which we ran south on, was as clear as anything. it was awesome running on a dry surface.
we ran to the city limits and then started back. somewhere before the railroad tracks, we stopped to walk. my wife hadn't been outside for a run in awhile and she hasn't been running without walking for any great distances since she's re-doing the couch to 5K program, so she slowed down to get her breathing under control.
we ran again and then walked once more before making it back to our starting point. we walked back home, dodging the slush. i hope it all melts tomorrow so i can actually ride my road bike on monday. please, mr. sun, do your stuff!
Friday, February 11, 2011
2.05 miles in 17:19
connect.garmin.com/activity/67669945
it's good to have a partner who's faster than you. it pushes you to improve. it also hurts more. i ran with my faster partner today. had to dig deep in the second mile. ended up with negative splits. couldn't have done it without jon. he was dragging me along with him in the last quarter mile or so. i just made my feet turn over as quickly as they'd allow me to. the sound of my yaktrax on the hardened snow was a beautiful thing. i love running!
it's good to have a partner who's faster than you. it pushes you to improve. it also hurts more. i ran with my faster partner today. had to dig deep in the second mile. ended up with negative splits. couldn't have done it without jon. he was dragging me along with him in the last quarter mile or so. i just made my feet turn over as quickly as they'd allow me to. the sound of my yaktrax on the hardened snow was a beautiful thing. i love running!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
2.02 miles in 17:33
connect.garmin.com/activity/67544967
can you dress warmly enough to run outside when it's -14.2 degrees? yes. actually you can, assuming there's no wind. should you dress warmly enough and go out and run when it's -14.2 degrees? that, i suppose, is a matter of opinion. i say, yes!
that said, i did seriously consider the treadmill this morning. -14.2 degrees is really cold. if there had been a breath of wind, i would have pulled on shorts and run in the dungeon. thankfully, there was absolutely zero wind. still, i put off going out for quite some time, fooling around on dailymile. i looked through my 20 notifications. i posted my dailymission response of the day. i went over to Ann B.'s blog - www.annsrunningcommentary.com - and posted a comment there.
i finally looked at the clock at 5:45. time to put up or shut up. i put up. put up my mouse and put on my clothes. i was out the door by just after 6:00. i ran a weird route that kept me close to home. if i got really cold i didn't want to have far to go to get back inside.
my fingers and my eyelashes were the only body parts that had any problems. my fingers got really cold, really fast in my gloves. i remedied that by pulling them out of their fingers and balling them up in the palm of the glove. my thumbs complained a bit about being all alone, but they survived. whiners! i hate 'em! my eyelashes weren't really a problem in and of themselves. it's just that they collected the water that was coming from my tear ducts. collected water freezes pretty quickly when it's -14.2 degrees. still, i could see the entire time, so it's all good.
all in all, a good run. much faster than yesterday's deep snow adventure. i pulled on my yaktrax today and they performed beautifully on the crusty white stuff. no running partners, though. that would've made this a perfect day. anyone? anyone?
can you dress warmly enough to run outside when it's -14.2 degrees? yes. actually you can, assuming there's no wind. should you dress warmly enough and go out and run when it's -14.2 degrees? that, i suppose, is a matter of opinion. i say, yes!
that said, i did seriously consider the treadmill this morning. -14.2 degrees is really cold. if there had been a breath of wind, i would have pulled on shorts and run in the dungeon. thankfully, there was absolutely zero wind. still, i put off going out for quite some time, fooling around on dailymile. i looked through my 20 notifications. i posted my dailymission response of the day. i went over to Ann B.'s blog - www.annsrunningcommentary.com - and posted a comment there.
i finally looked at the clock at 5:45. time to put up or shut up. i put up. put up my mouse and put on my clothes. i was out the door by just after 6:00. i ran a weird route that kept me close to home. if i got really cold i didn't want to have far to go to get back inside.
my fingers and my eyelashes were the only body parts that had any problems. my fingers got really cold, really fast in my gloves. i remedied that by pulling them out of their fingers and balling them up in the palm of the glove. my thumbs complained a bit about being all alone, but they survived. whiners! i hate 'em! my eyelashes weren't really a problem in and of themselves. it's just that they collected the water that was coming from my tear ducts. collected water freezes pretty quickly when it's -14.2 degrees. still, i could see the entire time, so it's all good.
all in all, a good run. much faster than yesterday's deep snow adventure. i pulled on my yaktrax today and they performed beautifully on the crusty white stuff. no running partners, though. that would've made this a perfect day. anyone? anyone?
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
1.90 miles in 19:42
i woke up this morning in a warm bed, in a warm house. why did i get up? why did i go out for a run in snow at times over ankle-deep? you drove me to it my dailymile friends. you! thanks! i had a blast!
i got to sleep in since i had no one to get out the door and off to school or work, so i wasn't suited up until after 6:45. then i spent a bunch of time looking for my garmin which i found in my coat pocket. strange things are afoot. i turned it on and let it search out satellites only to get a low battery indicator. i went back in the house and grabbed my regular watch and used it. dude, my 305, spent his morning quietly resting, recharging his batteries...literally.
i ran north first and and then after a couple of turns, i ran past Andrew K.'s house. from there, i hit main street. i had my video camera with me so i could share my run with you and bring out your inner child today (film in process), so i decided to run past my other running partner's house. he actually called me last night around 9:30 and told me that he didn't know if i was going to get out in this mess, but he wasn't. i waved at Jon M. (not on dailymile yet) as i ran past his place on plum.
the rest of the run was just running along enjoying the scenery and trying to stay upright. it wasn't too bad. a few slips here and there, but nothing scary. i'm back now. i've reported in. time for some food and some movie making. have a great day! don't forget to vote!
i got to sleep in since i had no one to get out the door and off to school or work, so i wasn't suited up until after 6:45. then i spent a bunch of time looking for my garmin which i found in my coat pocket. strange things are afoot. i turned it on and let it search out satellites only to get a low battery indicator. i went back in the house and grabbed my regular watch and used it. dude, my 305, spent his morning quietly resting, recharging his batteries...literally.
i ran north first and and then after a couple of turns, i ran past Andrew K.'s house. from there, i hit main street. i had my video camera with me so i could share my run with you and bring out your inner child today (film in process), so i decided to run past my other running partner's house. he actually called me last night around 9:30 and told me that he didn't know if i was going to get out in this mess, but he wasn't. i waved at Jon M. (not on dailymile yet) as i ran past his place on plum.
the rest of the run was just running along enjoying the scenery and trying to stay upright. it wasn't too bad. a few slips here and there, but nothing scary. i'm back now. i've reported in. time for some food and some movie making. have a great day! don't forget to vote!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
1.01 miles in 8:20
connect.garmin.com/activity/67298885
i finished up my snowy, blowy bike ride and as quickly as i could figure out how to pull up a new workout on the garmin without erasing the other, i headed out the door for a run. it was cold enough that i didn't want to stay out long and i didn't have much time before i needed to get back to work, so this was a quick one. ran up and around the school parking lot and then circled back down and ran back to the house through the park and looped around the church next door before stopping at just over a mile.
i finished up my snowy, blowy bike ride and as quickly as i could figure out how to pull up a new workout on the garmin without erasing the other, i headed out the door for a run. it was cold enough that i didn't want to stay out long and i didn't have much time before i needed to get back to work, so this was a quick one. ran up and around the school parking lot and then circled back down and ran back to the house through the park and looped around the church next door before stopping at just over a mile.
snowy brick bike leg
connect.garmin.com/activity/67298891
is 9 degrees with a strong wind cold? then it was cold on this ride. i was just going to run at noon, but floyd, my mountain bike, looked so sad. he gave me the puppy dog look. what could i do? we took a spin around town. it wasn't too slick, but i didn't take any crazy chances either. slowed down for the sharper corners. stayed straight across the frozen puddles. no spills. incidentally, my garmin speed matched the planet bike readout on this bike. must be a problem with the cateye on cato. (3.18 miles @ 12mph)
is 9 degrees with a strong wind cold? then it was cold on this ride. i was just going to run at noon, but floyd, my mountain bike, looked so sad. he gave me the puppy dog look. what could i do? we took a spin around town. it wasn't too slick, but i didn't take any crazy chances either. slowed down for the sharper corners. stayed straight across the frozen puddles. no spills. incidentally, my garmin speed matched the planet bike readout on this bike. must be a problem with the cateye on cato. (3.18 miles @ 12mph)
2.90 miles in 24:49
connect.garmin.com/activity/67249689
it's 19 degrees outside with an 23mph east wind. (wind chill: 0) not pleasant conditions for a run, but since when do i worry about such things? maybe tomorrow. no there'll be snow then. i'll put it off for awhile.
my new running partner, my daughter's ball coach, showed up right around 5:30 this morning. i was snooping around on dailymile so i showed off the site before we headed out.
last night he had said he'd like to do 2 or 3 miles. this morning he said, "let's do three." so off we go at a deadly pace. we ran the first 1.05 miles in 8:02. that distance doesn't show up on the garmin readings. i must've double pushed the start/stop button, because the garmin said i'd run 10 feet. 10 feet in 8:02. that's slow!
so i started up the garmin from there and we kept going. i had to stop to tie my shoe close to my partner's house. (his name is jon. i forgot to say that earlier.) stupid laces. we ran on from there and the blasted nausea than occasionally plagues me hit. it hit hard. it was so bad when we turned onto lucky lane, i had to stop to walk. the waves were crashing and i was seasick.
the feeling passed after a bit and we ran the rest of the way back at a much easier pace. i was frustrated. hope he wasn't. we'll see if he wants to do it again. i hope he will. i need someone to push me once in awhile. maybe not quite that hard again for awhile. my average heart rate was 172. i'm guessing that's why if felt lousy.
it's 19 degrees outside with an 23mph east wind. (wind chill: 0) not pleasant conditions for a run, but since when do i worry about such things? maybe tomorrow. no there'll be snow then. i'll put it off for awhile.
my new running partner, my daughter's ball coach, showed up right around 5:30 this morning. i was snooping around on dailymile so i showed off the site before we headed out.
last night he had said he'd like to do 2 or 3 miles. this morning he said, "let's do three." so off we go at a deadly pace. we ran the first 1.05 miles in 8:02. that distance doesn't show up on the garmin readings. i must've double pushed the start/stop button, because the garmin said i'd run 10 feet. 10 feet in 8:02. that's slow!
so i started up the garmin from there and we kept going. i had to stop to tie my shoe close to my partner's house. (his name is jon. i forgot to say that earlier.) stupid laces. we ran on from there and the blasted nausea than occasionally plagues me hit. it hit hard. it was so bad when we turned onto lucky lane, i had to stop to walk. the waves were crashing and i was seasick.
the feeling passed after a bit and we ran the rest of the way back at a much easier pace. i was frustrated. hope he wasn't. we'll see if he wants to do it again. i hope he will. i need someone to push me once in awhile. maybe not quite that hard again for awhile. my average heart rate was 172. i'm guessing that's why if felt lousy.
Monday, February 7, 2011
a cold 28 degrees
connect.garmin.com/activity/67113454
it was a cold 28 degrees out this morning. normally, 28 wouldn't be all that bad. i'd think nothing of it, but today, with a strong northwest, it was cold...really cold. not that it made any real difference. i rode anyway. i just wasn't all that comfortable, especially toward the end of the ride when body parts started falling off. i exaggerate, but it was cold.
i rode today with two sets of lights. my regular bike headlight was on, shining down my narrow strip of asphalt, showing me the way. my running headlamp was on too. i put it around my thick skull, upsidedown just below the rim of my helmet over my balaclava so i could flip it on when i wanted to read my garmin. worked like a charm. i'm a genius, a humble one, of course!
the wind was a factor in more than one way. it chilled me and slowed me down quite a bit. i was creeping along more often than i would like to have been creeping along. i just couldn't get any speed against the stormy blast.
when i got to danville, i had time to continue on, but i turned around anyway. i just wasn't in the mood to risk another encounter with travis. not in the dark where his black fur gives him the upperhand. so i turned around and rode back toward town and then did a few u-turn out and backs to add the miles i wanted. the effort required to keep rolling west was considerably more than that required to keep going east.
i'm pleased that my back has returned to close to normal. makes life easier. (19.95 miles @ 14.3mph)
it was a cold 28 degrees out this morning. normally, 28 wouldn't be all that bad. i'd think nothing of it, but today, with a strong northwest, it was cold...really cold. not that it made any real difference. i rode anyway. i just wasn't all that comfortable, especially toward the end of the ride when body parts started falling off. i exaggerate, but it was cold.
i rode today with two sets of lights. my regular bike headlight was on, shining down my narrow strip of asphalt, showing me the way. my running headlamp was on too. i put it around my thick skull, upsidedown just below the rim of my helmet over my balaclava so i could flip it on when i wanted to read my garmin. worked like a charm. i'm a genius, a humble one, of course!
the wind was a factor in more than one way. it chilled me and slowed me down quite a bit. i was creeping along more often than i would like to have been creeping along. i just couldn't get any speed against the stormy blast.
when i got to danville, i had time to continue on, but i turned around anyway. i just wasn't in the mood to risk another encounter with travis. not in the dark where his black fur gives him the upperhand. so i turned around and rode back toward town and then did a few u-turn out and backs to add the miles i wanted. the effort required to keep rolling west was considerably more than that required to keep going east.
i'm pleased that my back has returned to close to normal. makes life easier. (19.95 miles @ 14.3mph)
Saturday, February 5, 2011
2.06 miles in 17:14
connect.garmin.com/activity/66708919
i just had to run. i had an hour between when my family all left for their activities and the time i need to leave for mine. life is crazy around here. i was already mostly dressed for running, since i was still wearing my tights after cycling, so i headed out the door and started running.
i didn't really have a plan for the day. i just wanted to run at a pace that wouldn't kill me. i was tired, so recovery felt right. i ran out to main street right away because i knew it was mostly clear and i am, quite frankly, tired of running on snow and ice. hope that storm predicted tomorrow steers clear of here. grrrr!
so i made it to main without to many slips or slides and ran south to just past the city limits. the term city is used very loosely around here. there are around 500 people in argonia. that's a city in kansas. says so on the sign..."city limits".
i turned around and headed back. a quarter mile or so back to the north and i just didn't feel right. it wasn't the worst i've felt, but i didn't like it, so i did something i haven't done in months. i slowed down and started walking. i just wanted to get everything back under control.
i walked a block and then started running again. i felt better and made it home without further problems. now, if you'll excuse me, i've got to leave. there's a basketball tournament i'm expected at in less than an hour.
i just had to run. i had an hour between when my family all left for their activities and the time i need to leave for mine. life is crazy around here. i was already mostly dressed for running, since i was still wearing my tights after cycling, so i headed out the door and started running.
i didn't really have a plan for the day. i just wanted to run at a pace that wouldn't kill me. i was tired, so recovery felt right. i ran out to main street right away because i knew it was mostly clear and i am, quite frankly, tired of running on snow and ice. hope that storm predicted tomorrow steers clear of here. grrrr!
so i made it to main without to many slips or slides and ran south to just past the city limits. the term city is used very loosely around here. there are around 500 people in argonia. that's a city in kansas. says so on the sign..."city limits".
i turned around and headed back. a quarter mile or so back to the north and i just didn't feel right. it wasn't the worst i've felt, but i didn't like it, so i did something i haven't done in months. i slowed down and started walking. i just wanted to get everything back under control.
i walked a block and then started running again. i felt better and made it home without further problems. now, if you'll excuse me, i've got to leave. there's a basketball tournament i'm expected at in less than an hour.
travis is a pain
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/66687116
travis is a pain. i suppose i could have said, "travis is a dog," and every cyclist would have understood, but not everyone here is a cyclist, so he's a pain. if you view my garmin info, travis is the spike in heart rate and speed at mile 12. i was watching for him when i passed his house. looking intently for motion. travis and i go back a ways. we've met before. so i'm scanning the yard at travis' house and something on the other side of the road, my side, catches my eye. i swing my head that way and there is travis in the ditch. he spots me. he barks and starts climbing out of the ditch. i jump out of the saddle and sprint. i yell at travis. "go home!" i say. he ignores me as he escapes the snow that was slowing him down and hits the highway. travis is fast. "go home!" i don't know why i repeat myself. travis does not speak english and he does not obey. i mash the pedals. i can't do this forever. "go home, travis!" no energy left. if he doesn't stop, i'll become dog food. breathe, mike. breathe! travis stops. i have survived.
other than travis, this ride was not much of an adventure. i walked over ice to get to dry pavement before i started. i rode out. i rode back. i felt pretty good until travis chased me. i felt lousy for a few miles. i recovered. i stopped and walked my bike home. the end. (20.16 miles @ 16.2mph)
travis is a pain. i suppose i could have said, "travis is a dog," and every cyclist would have understood, but not everyone here is a cyclist, so he's a pain. if you view my garmin info, travis is the spike in heart rate and speed at mile 12. i was watching for him when i passed his house. looking intently for motion. travis and i go back a ways. we've met before. so i'm scanning the yard at travis' house and something on the other side of the road, my side, catches my eye. i swing my head that way and there is travis in the ditch. he spots me. he barks and starts climbing out of the ditch. i jump out of the saddle and sprint. i yell at travis. "go home!" i say. he ignores me as he escapes the snow that was slowing him down and hits the highway. travis is fast. "go home!" i don't know why i repeat myself. travis does not speak english and he does not obey. i mash the pedals. i can't do this forever. "go home, travis!" no energy left. if he doesn't stop, i'll become dog food. breathe, mike. breathe! travis stops. i have survived.
other than travis, this ride was not much of an adventure. i walked over ice to get to dry pavement before i started. i rode out. i rode back. i felt pretty good until travis chased me. i felt lousy for a few miles. i recovered. i stopped and walked my bike home. the end. (20.16 miles @ 16.2mph)
Friday, February 4, 2011
back in the saddle
connect.garmin.com/activity/66612196
yes, this is a bike ride. can you believe it? it's been several weeks since my last one. does anyone even remember that i am a cyclist? sorry for the long hiatus. between the weather and my back injury, biking has been out for awhile. it's back in the mix now.
i had to walk my bike a couple of blocks to find dry pavement before i actually swung my leg over the top tube. i clicked in and started rolling toward the highway, weaving in and out through the slalom course of small ice and snow patches. i made it onto U.S. 160 and headed west toward danville.
i intended to ride 10-12 miles at whatever speed my legs would give me. they were happy as clams to be pedaling, i guess, because they whipped the cranks around just as quickly as i asked them too.
a few miles out of town, i started comparing my garmin info with the readout on my bike's cyclocomputer. they weren't quite matching up. the garmin showed me going about 1.5mph faster than the cateye. does anyone else have this problem. i don't trust that cateye much, but i thought it was a bit more accurate than that. cycling garmin users, comments please!
so i made it out six miles and turned around. i enjoyed the wind at my back. the sky to the north was clearing a bit, so i smiled at the blue and pedaled on. about five miles from town, my cyclocomputer quit reading altogether. an ugly zero, kind of like the one that appears on dailymile every monday, was all that was there. grrrrr! i've either got to get a new one of these things or figure out what's wrong with this one.
so i rolled back into town and turned south on pine. i stopped my garmin before i hit the snowpack and then rolled slowly all the way back to the house. i didn't fall over, but i had a foot unclipped just to make sure i could catch myself if i started tipping.
all in all, a good first ride back. i'll post the garmin info later. garmin connect is down for maintenance right now. (12.27 miles @ 16.2mph)
yes, this is a bike ride. can you believe it? it's been several weeks since my last one. does anyone even remember that i am a cyclist? sorry for the long hiatus. between the weather and my back injury, biking has been out for awhile. it's back in the mix now.
i had to walk my bike a couple of blocks to find dry pavement before i actually swung my leg over the top tube. i clicked in and started rolling toward the highway, weaving in and out through the slalom course of small ice and snow patches. i made it onto U.S. 160 and headed west toward danville.
i intended to ride 10-12 miles at whatever speed my legs would give me. they were happy as clams to be pedaling, i guess, because they whipped the cranks around just as quickly as i asked them too.
a few miles out of town, i started comparing my garmin info with the readout on my bike's cyclocomputer. they weren't quite matching up. the garmin showed me going about 1.5mph faster than the cateye. does anyone else have this problem. i don't trust that cateye much, but i thought it was a bit more accurate than that. cycling garmin users, comments please!
so i made it out six miles and turned around. i enjoyed the wind at my back. the sky to the north was clearing a bit, so i smiled at the blue and pedaled on. about five miles from town, my cyclocomputer quit reading altogether. an ugly zero, kind of like the one that appears on dailymile every monday, was all that was there. grrrrr! i've either got to get a new one of these things or figure out what's wrong with this one.
so i rolled back into town and turned south on pine. i stopped my garmin before i hit the snowpack and then rolled slowly all the way back to the house. i didn't fall over, but i had a foot unclipped just to make sure i could catch myself if i started tipping.
all in all, a good first ride back. i'll post the garmin info later. garmin connect is down for maintenance right now. (12.27 miles @ 16.2mph)
dailymile team
since i'm applying to be a part of the 2011 dailymile team, i had to produce a video. this is it. it's based on reality, but with a few twisted facts. i really did apply back in february 2010 to be a part of the team. i really was told, "a few more months." ben and kelly, the "evil" twins, really aren't twins and they definitely aren't evil.
dailymile team
since i'm applying to be a part of the 2011 dailymile team, i had to produce a video. this is it. it's based on reality, but with a few twisted facts. i really did apply back in february 2010 to be a part of the team. i really was told, "a few more months." ben and kelly, the "evil" twins, really aren't twins and they definitely aren't evil.
2.41 miles in 20:38
connect.garmin.com/activity/66549140
i didn't have any real aim today other than to run 15-20 minutes at recovery pace, so when i'd run a block north, i decided i'd had enough of my regular routes. i turned west and never planned another part of this run more than two blocks ahead. i wandered this way and that, aimlessly taking in sections of town i seldom run. i never would have done this before i got my garmin. i couldn't have remembered all the turns. since "someone" else was tracking the turns, i just meandered. it was great! i didn't feel super good the whole time, but good enough to merit dailymile's "alright" icon.
after i'd shaved and showered and eaten breakfast, i went to the chiropractor. he adjusted my back and then told me he thought i was good to go. there's still a small amount of pain now and then if i don't support myself properly, but it's nice to be free to do what i want. i may go for a bike ride at noon.
i didn't have any real aim today other than to run 15-20 minutes at recovery pace, so when i'd run a block north, i decided i'd had enough of my regular routes. i turned west and never planned another part of this run more than two blocks ahead. i wandered this way and that, aimlessly taking in sections of town i seldom run. i never would have done this before i got my garmin. i couldn't have remembered all the turns. since "someone" else was tracking the turns, i just meandered. it was great! i didn't feel super good the whole time, but good enough to merit dailymile's "alright" icon.
after i'd shaved and showered and eaten breakfast, i went to the chiropractor. he adjusted my back and then told me he thought i was good to go. there's still a small amount of pain now and then if i don't support myself properly, but it's nice to be free to do what i want. i may go for a bike ride at noon.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
2.70 miles in 23:04
connect.garmin.com/activity/66423993i ran in honor of the first day of the chinese year of the rabbit this morning. i suppose if you look at my route (see picture.) it sort of resembles a rabbit. the best i could do on short notice anyway.
didn't feel all that great this morning, so i didn't push it too hard. with my yak trax on, i actually sought out the icy spots. they work better there than on soft snow. no falls today. i avoided the railroad tracks.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
3.27 miles in 28:47
connect.garmin.com/activity/66395027
i took my wife into wellington for her haircut and met up with Bryan J. and Jeffrey B. for a run around town. i wasn't sure what was planned, but if figured 30-45 minutes would be enough time outside. my partners seemed to agree. we met at the memorial coliseum fitness center and, from there, took off to run the fall fest 5K route. the plus on the end of the workout title represents the extra blocks we ran to get on course.
bryan had a little surprise when i showed up. he had an extra pair of yak trax for me. i stepped into the entryway at the coliseum and pulled them on. they helped a great deal on the hardpack and ice. they felt a little odd on the dry surfaces.
we started out at a pretty good pace for me - slow for bryan i'm sure. we ran down an alley to the southern edge of the 5K route and then turned east. almost immediately we dropped down a hill and then had a steady climb up. it's not much of a hill by most state's standards, but much longer than anything i have to deal with in argonia. my heart rate got up there as we progressed higher and higher. we did some looping around after than and then ended up running down the same hill on a different street. going down was great. going up, not so much so. my max heartrate was recorded at the top of the hill as we turned north again.
we went north and then west before turning south again a block short of highway 81. we had one more little downhill and a short uphill and the rest of the course was flat. we ran all the way around and ended up back at bryan's car.
we all stopped our garmins and talked for a bit. the best part was figuring out that jeffrey was the younger runner that passed me toward the end of my first 5K back in september. when he ran passed, i asked, "how old are you?" he said something younger than me and i said, "keep on going. you're not in my age group." not sure what i would've done if he'd been in my group. i had nothing left at that point.
when we were all talked out, bryan took me to wal-mart where i met up with my newly beautified wife. we shopped for a bit and then headed for home.
i took my wife into wellington for her haircut and met up with Bryan J. and Jeffrey B. for a run around town. i wasn't sure what was planned, but if figured 30-45 minutes would be enough time outside. my partners seemed to agree. we met at the memorial coliseum fitness center and, from there, took off to run the fall fest 5K route. the plus on the end of the workout title represents the extra blocks we ran to get on course.
bryan had a little surprise when i showed up. he had an extra pair of yak trax for me. i stepped into the entryway at the coliseum and pulled them on. they helped a great deal on the hardpack and ice. they felt a little odd on the dry surfaces.
we started out at a pretty good pace for me - slow for bryan i'm sure. we ran down an alley to the southern edge of the 5K route and then turned east. almost immediately we dropped down a hill and then had a steady climb up. it's not much of a hill by most state's standards, but much longer than anything i have to deal with in argonia. my heart rate got up there as we progressed higher and higher. we did some looping around after than and then ended up running down the same hill on a different street. going down was great. going up, not so much so. my max heartrate was recorded at the top of the hill as we turned north again.
we went north and then west before turning south again a block short of highway 81. we had one more little downhill and a short uphill and the rest of the course was flat. we ran all the way around and ended up back at bryan's car.
we all stopped our garmins and talked for a bit. the best part was figuring out that jeffrey was the younger runner that passed me toward the end of my first 5K back in september. when he ran passed, i asked, "how old are you?" he said something younger than me and i said, "keep on going. you're not in my age group." not sure what i would've done if he'd been in my group. i had nothing left at that point.
when we were all talked out, bryan took me to wal-mart where i met up with my newly beautified wife. we shopped for a bit and then headed for home.
wild marathon!
this amazing picture is real! it was taken during a marathon in masai mara. my dailymile friend, patrick k, is in the picture just behind the guy on the ATV. i'd be looking for the lion or cheetah rather than at the meat in front of me.
3.11 miles in 27:36
connect.garmin.com/activity/66294917the actual temperature outside was -0.1 when i first got up. the wind chill was somewhere south of that. i forgot to look. all i needed know to dress properly was that it was cold...really, really cold. i put on almost every piece of workout gear i own. i put on my roadID, too, just in case they needed to identify my frozen corpse. it took me 12:01 to get dressed in everything, but my gloves this morning. i timed it. probably would have been faster if i wasn't sitting in front of the computer scanning dailymile while i pulled stuff on. posting a couple of comments slowed me down.
around 5:20 i left the house, gloves and garmin in place. at the corner of pine and vine, i poked the start button and headed north into the teeth of the storm. no snow falling, but there were dozens of drifts i had to navigate. thankfully, tire ruts made paths for me through most of them.
after yesterday's short run, i knew i could endure more the weather's worst for longer than a mile. my plan from the get go today was to run a 5K. i ran my usual route with a couple of variations to avoid the longer northbound sections.
everything was going swimmingly until i started across the railroad tracks the second time. i must not have been lifting my feet very much, because i caught my toe on the track and fell hard. i got up quickly and ran on, but the damage was done. i hurt all over. if you look at my garmin connect overview, you can see the dip in pace between 15:00 and 20:00. that's where i fell.
i did make it home. i guess that's obvious. no frozen corpse. thanks, roadID.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
1.08 miles in 9:28
connect.garmin.com/activity/66174623when i posted an image of the current weather conditions on dailymile earlier this morning, melodie p said, "please, please, please say you didn't run in that." it was 0.7 degrees with a 22mph wind making it feel like -22. brrrr! i assured my concerned friend that i didn't run in "that" and went on getting ready to run.
by the time i was actually dressed and ready, the temp had dropped to 0.3 degrees and there was a 30mph wind making it feel like -25. that made me feel better. i could keep my word and still get in a run.
i went out on the porch and picked up my garmin which i'd set out earlier to find some satellite signals. a small snow drift was forming on the south side of the tiny gadget. crazy! i hid behind the pillar on our porch and strapped it onto my wrist and then took my first steps into the wind.
i made my way quickly to the corner of pine and vine and then hit "start" on the face of my garmin at the same time the wind hit "stop" on the face of my body. it was actually fairly hard to just breath with the wind forcing its way into my mouth. it wanted to shove everything back into my lungs. i ducked my head a bit and kept going.
when i rounded the corner onto allen, the wind became less of a factor and my glasses, which i thought i needed to keep my eyeballs from freezing, completely frosted over. i couldn't see a thing. i left them on to shield my hazel irises and inky pupils, but they were making things difficult. through the next three turns, i had to keep lifting the lenses up to see where i was. i avoided running into Andrew K.'s trash cans which had blown out into the street. (sorry i didn't stop to move them back into your yard, andrew. i was afraid to quit moving for fear of freezing in place.)
when i was finally heading south with the wind at my back, i ripped my glasses off so i could see better. i ran as lightly as i could through each snow drift that presented itself, but i was still slipping with every tenth or eleventh step. i spotted a friend from church out bringing his trash can in and tried to run as quietly as i could. i didn't want my activities reported to anyone.
there was no pause to catch my breath at pine and vine. i hit "stop" on my garmin and walked quickly to my porch and indoors. i don't think i'll be running any more outside miles today. maybe the treadmill isn't so bad afterall.
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