June 5-25
Generally: Underwhelming Running. June 9-15 was (basically) five 30-min runs. June 16-22 was (basically) four 30-min runs.
Specifically: Some Highlights. All the way back on June 6th, Dan & I ran Tom & Olive through a luscious arboretum and over the most dangerous bridge in Minnesota. Then we ate Indian food and progressed to the Tavern Lounge to relax with Lonesome Dan Kase. Highlights are not necessarily running-related...most obviously because I'm including that race at Hamline. Managed an, um, unprepared 18:31 on a hotter day than Brian Kraft. Felt a bit lonely until I started getting lapped. Guessing the company helped me run better splits -- 5:58, 6:02, 5:53, 37s. Did a nice Iron Bridge after Caroline's graduation through a knee-deep Cannon with Dan, Jess & Matt Masc. Also joined Schof for his pre-Bjorklund run last Friday and Biz & Friends for some Track Meat on Sunday. Did not join Hal Higdon for his 5K at reunion.
But now the caffeinated social whirlwind has passed and some sluggish running has commenced. Kicked it into a higher gear as I ran up the West River Hill last night towards the end of a particularly sluggish hour. That either killed all the slugs or ensured they'd return with a vengeance...
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Do not/Tell me I've changed/You're just raising your standards
Ok, climbing back on the posting trolley. It's been three weeks and the world is a much different place, mostly because I am close to four pounds lighter. Eight pounds lighter than I was back in March. Standards are skyrocketing.
May 12-18
Only ran four times, twice for 60min. Abs and groin were sore following my most recent attempt at the six-day standard. Fortunately, this phase of the rehab/training takes days off as needed. This phase and I are patient, hoping for a breakthrough, and trying to be more active about our core exercises.
May 19-25
Another four-day week with two 60min runs. Finally, though, the outdoor circuit workout debuted this week: sprint drills in the park, interrupted by pushups, situps and related exercises. I attempted two such circuits, which involved something like 120 pushups. That, my friends, is a rigorous standard.
May 26 - June 1
Five runs, one at 60min and one at 70min. I also raced a 5K, attended a yoga class and completed a post-run circuit workout. The day after I completed my longest run since September, Barack Obama announced that he would declare his primary victory in Minnesota...
June 2-4
...and then, he did. He did so on a day when I ran an honest 10mi and thereby raised the standard for all future runs. He did so the day after I'd completed yet another post-run circuit workout. He mentioned neither specifically, but he did say something about bringing new energy and ideas to the challenges we face. It sounded like he was talking about training for the TC 10mi, but it was hard to hear. So at the risk of recalling a long forgotten blog, let me defend Phil Schrader, who works at Target.
It was loud in there. There was a lot of standing and shouting and the constant decision whether to look down at the podium or up at the jumbotron. There were a lot of bright colors and they played some Bruce Springsteen as Obamas climbed on and off stage. There was a lot of Show, as Phil describes, but I don't think it was really for us. It's a good thing, too, because we had our work cut out for us being The Audience. If Obama was The Beatles, we were Phil Spector's wall of sound; if he was Jay-Z, we were the Kanye beat. To me, at least, we were participant enough in his performance that its component parts necessarily appeared less, um, transplendent. Presentation definitely matters, but it's harder to observe and evaluate when you're the one raising the standard.
May 12-18
Only ran four times, twice for 60min. Abs and groin were sore following my most recent attempt at the six-day standard. Fortunately, this phase of the rehab/training takes days off as needed. This phase and I are patient, hoping for a breakthrough, and trying to be more active about our core exercises.
May 19-25
Another four-day week with two 60min runs. Finally, though, the outdoor circuit workout debuted this week: sprint drills in the park, interrupted by pushups, situps and related exercises. I attempted two such circuits, which involved something like 120 pushups. That, my friends, is a rigorous standard.
May 26 - June 1
Five runs, one at 60min and one at 70min. I also raced a 5K, attended a yoga class and completed a post-run circuit workout. The day after I completed my longest run since September, Barack Obama announced that he would declare his primary victory in Minnesota...
June 2-4
...and then, he did. He did so on a day when I ran an honest 10mi and thereby raised the standard for all future runs. He did so the day after I'd completed yet another post-run circuit workout. He mentioned neither specifically, but he did say something about bringing new energy and ideas to the challenges we face. It sounded like he was talking about training for the TC 10mi, but it was hard to hear. So at the risk of recalling a long forgotten blog, let me defend Phil Schrader, who works at Target.
It was loud in there. There was a lot of standing and shouting and the constant decision whether to look down at the podium or up at the jumbotron. There were a lot of bright colors and they played some Bruce Springsteen as Obamas climbed on and off stage. There was a lot of Show, as Phil describes, but I don't think it was really for us. It's a good thing, too, because we had our work cut out for us being The Audience. If Obama was The Beatles, we were Phil Spector's wall of sound; if he was Jay-Z, we were the Kanye beat. To me, at least, we were participant enough in his performance that its component parts necessarily appeared less, um, transplendent. Presentation definitely matters, but it's harder to observe and evaluate when you're the one raising the standard.
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Hold the Fort
Tonight I went out for a nice hour run over to Ft. Snelling and back (+/- meandering on side trails). A great run- and a great opportunity to show that we're not just a country of short runs - or a country of long runs - but that we can go out for perfectly medium-sized runs as well.
The Obama show last night was great. Pretty stock political speech overall. Gotta take care of the children, gotta make heath care affordable, gotta not be like Bush, McCain is sorta like Bush, Hillery is ok by me, ok-er if she just gives up already... But amazing to be there when he announced that he would be the nominee and amazing to cheer right though the climactic lines about this being our moment. I hope he gets about 10 hours of sleep tonight.
But also, yeah, a show. The cameras panned the crowd. Campaign workers appeared to be giving strategically seated people some quick tips on cheering and sign waving. The concession stand was open- all just like a Wild game. I'm not bitching or anything. I wouldn't reasonably expect it to be any other way. Just funny to see those side details happening.
The Obama show last night was great. Pretty stock political speech overall. Gotta take care of the children, gotta make heath care affordable, gotta not be like Bush, McCain is sorta like Bush, Hillery is ok by me, ok-er if she just gives up already... But amazing to be there when he announced that he would be the nominee and amazing to cheer right though the climactic lines about this being our moment. I hope he gets about 10 hours of sleep tonight.
But also, yeah, a show. The cameras panned the crowd. Campaign workers appeared to be giving strategically seated people some quick tips on cheering and sign waving. The concession stand was open- all just like a Wild game. I'm not bitching or anything. I wouldn't reasonably expect it to be any other way. Just funny to see those side details happening.
Sunday, June 01, 2008
100
Got in some good miles today- which had been a goal for the weekend. I'd like Nickmas to also know that we also organized the kitchen, picked away at the living room garbage and washed and vacuumed the car.
Ran up to Tom's joint. You would think that a person could only get screwed over by the fact that Hiawatha runs at an angle maybe four, five times in a month. Not so. More than I think. Probably still more than I think. After meandering my way up to Tom's, we ran a Lake St. / Franklin loop around the river (not around the whole river). Then I ran back on a much better trajectory. Cooled down by putting several cookies into a bowl of ice-cream.
Since Jill was wearing my watch for her run (!), I have no real clue how far I ran. Since it will be important to have some record of the run, however, I am planning on using "100" for a place holder in my records. I'm pretty sure it was somewhere between 10 miles and 100 miles. I'll put 100 just to be on the safe side. I was gone for quite a while.
Ran up to Tom's joint. You would think that a person could only get screwed over by the fact that Hiawatha runs at an angle maybe four, five times in a month. Not so. More than I think. Probably still more than I think. After meandering my way up to Tom's, we ran a Lake St. / Franklin loop around the river (not around the whole river). Then I ran back on a much better trajectory. Cooled down by putting several cookies into a bowl of ice-cream.
Since Jill was wearing my watch for her run (!), I have no real clue how far I ran. Since it will be important to have some record of the run, however, I am planning on using "100" for a place holder in my records. I'm pretty sure it was somewhere between 10 miles and 100 miles. I'll put 100 just to be on the safe side. I was gone for quite a while.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Dub Duce Dub
Well, as Robert once wisely said, "There's nothing like a good woods to water." Great running and dub duce dubbing all around. From Rock Pine on to the Ice Arena the Slab City crew was solid. Half-ish our team was doing it for the first time- yet there were no rookie mistakes. Well except that our official beer drinker officially left all of her beer in Cable. Otherwise though it was just great. We didn't lose to that team in tights. We didn't break the van. We found a campsite. We ate lots of brats. We danced around. It rained but the weather was still nice. There was a completely unnecessary blind hand-off. Ahhh, what a great event.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
eazy day
some people's are like this:
Seminar paper due: 1pm.
Seminar paper turned in: 1pm.
Course paper due: 4pm.
Course paper turned in: 4pm.
mine was like this:
picnic point and back. 42 minutes. the sunset's purple filter fell off.
I think I recommend something between the dog's (not biz) and mine. (photo: www.ramirez-moletto.cl)
Sunday, May 11, 2008
I am adding five more colors/but
May 5-11
Six runs (M, T, W, R, Sa, Su), three at 60min, three at 30min. Kind of a momentous week around these parts. Hit the hour mark, painfully, for the first time in about nine months on Monday. On Saturday I managed to hit the hour avec HDLN with a perfectly timed arb romp. We saw the elusive Turkey, but it chased us from its trail. Also toed the line at the TC One Mile for my first race since City of Lakes, and I doubt I've ever been happier to run 5:28. Spent the first half-mile sitting on Jessica, terrified my stomach might explode, and waiting for the quarter-mile marker. Saw the 800m split, remembered the mile is short and that oftentimes heads explode before stomaches. Then I sped-up. In all non-psychological respects, the effort was pretty easy. Plus the race turned into a real solid outing for SCRC. Slabbaj Shout-Outs to the seven man squad!
Six runs (M, T, W, R, Sa, Su), three at 60min, three at 30min. Kind of a momentous week around these parts. Hit the hour mark, painfully, for the first time in about nine months on Monday. On Saturday I managed to hit the hour avec HDLN with a perfectly timed arb romp. We saw the elusive Turkey, but it chased us from its trail. Also toed the line at the TC One Mile for my first race since City of Lakes, and I doubt I've ever been happier to run 5:28. Spent the first half-mile sitting on Jessica, terrified my stomach might explode, and waiting for the quarter-mile marker. Saw the 800m split, remembered the mile is short and that oftentimes heads explode before stomaches. Then I sped-up. In all non-psychological respects, the effort was pretty easy. Plus the race turned into a real solid outing for SCRC. Slabbaj Shout-Outs to the seven man squad!
Thursday, May 08, 2008
looking at myself in the same dirty mirror
I just thought I'd add some multimedia to this nutrition discussion. Yes, that is andy d. 4th, I think, in the 5k.
Today: 43 minutes in the morning. brother of (flap)jack.
47 minutes in the night. father of jack(son).
total: who knows. 13 maybe?
Monday, May 05, 2008
This is noooooot a test
April 28 - May 4
Five runs (M, T, W, Sa, Su). Two were 50min, two were 30min, and one failed to satisfy my moral quota. Nevertheless, they were. And that is what I was aiming for. Monday's 50min was particularly buoyant, causing me to suspect that the fitness turkey might be caffeinated. Heather, will chasing turkeys - metaphorical and otherwise - be involved in the punishments you administer?
Five runs (M, T, W, Sa, Su). Two were 50min, two were 30min, and one failed to satisfy my moral quota. Nevertheless, they were. And that is what I was aiming for. Monday's 50min was particularly buoyant, causing me to suspect that the fitness turkey might be caffeinated. Heather, will chasing turkeys - metaphorical and otherwise - be involved in the punishments you administer?
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Matthaee, Nicola, nisi venietis vobis dicam me hunc cursum fecisse etiamsi non fecero.
Jackson Bryce is the shit.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
The way you look when you have got a story to begin
April 21-27
Five runs (M, T, R, F, Su), three at 30min, two at 50min. Had a couple fantastic runs this week. Monday's 30min and Thursday's 50min resembled efforts a fit person might complete. Resembled because fitter persons earn this week's Slabbaj Shout-Out for enduring Saturday's snow, sleet, rain and wind and giving a SCRC a solid showing at the Get In Gear 10K. I took offense at Saturday's weather and did not run.
Five runs (M, T, R, F, Su), three at 30min, two at 50min. Had a couple fantastic runs this week. Monday's 30min and Thursday's 50min resembled efforts a fit person might complete. Resembled because fitter persons earn this week's Slabbaj Shout-Out for enduring Saturday's snow, sleet, rain and wind and giving a SCRC a solid showing at the Get In Gear 10K. I took offense at Saturday's weather and did not run.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Every moment points towards the aftermath/Yeah-ah-ah
April 14-20
Six runs (M, T, W, F, Sa, Su), three 30min, three 40min. Started to feel like a slow runner, as opposed to a fat slob, on Friday. Shin splints have subsided, like winter, and running was pretty great this weekend. Saturday's 30min involved Collin Lawrence, which briefly had me thinking I was as fast as Noah.
Six runs (M, T, W, F, Sa, Su), three 30min, three 40min. Started to feel like a slow runner, as opposed to a fat slob, on Friday. Shin splints have subsided, like winter, and running was pretty great this weekend. Saturday's 30min involved Collin Lawrence, which briefly had me thinking I was as fast as Noah.
Monday, April 14, 2008
the turkey is supposed to represent "fitness"
So, I'm trying this not only because of the impending end of "christopher's" "training" "cycle" next week (wouldn't want the airwaves dead for the 15 minutes he takes off after the race...), but because i'm having a bit of trouble hunting down this "fitness" mf'er. clearly there is a direct correlation between writing on the blog and getting fitness. hence: thanksfest. or tharksfest. or whatever it is. anyway: i want correlation.
So, i'll start with today since today was mediocre, and it continued a point already being made about my failure to properly correlate.
AM: skipped the run to eat food.
PM: 3 miles warm up (very nice day). 6 mile tempo on the arb loop. Splits were: 5:00, 4:59, 5:06 up the hill, 5:04, 5:01, 5:00. Not nearly as easy as it should have been. Then, I jogged 2 miles. Then 6 x edgewood hill. Hills were not hard so much as they just made things feel hazy and weird. Very marathony. So 10 hills became 6. 1 mile jog home. Day total: 14
Fit, Fat or Rich
April 1 - 6
Five runs (T, R, F, Sa, Su), 35min each. Some of the most outstanding runs 35min has ever seen. Pleased with how I held up over the four consecutive days. Not as pleased with the wicked case of shin splints I'm developing. To be expected, I suppose.
April 7-13
Four runs (T, W, R, Sa), three for 40min, one for 30min. Shin splints are getting bad, but substantially improved by taking the extra day off, icing, and running on grass. The 40min run feels significant enough to spend another week learning how both complete it and breath, so I'm going to do that.
Five runs (T, R, F, Sa, Su), 35min each. Some of the most outstanding runs 35min has ever seen. Pleased with how I held up over the four consecutive days. Not as pleased with the wicked case of shin splints I'm developing. To be expected, I suppose.
April 7-13
Four runs (T, W, R, Sa), three for 40min, one for 30min. Shin splints are getting bad, but substantially improved by taking the extra day off, icing, and running on grass. The 40min run feels significant enough to spend another week learning how both complete it and breath, so I'm going to do that.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
Which would make it a day off
I switched things up a little today and cut the potatoes into thin slices before I fried them, instead of cubes. They fry quicker, but it's hard to make sure you get both sides of each one cooked. I think there are real pros and cons to this thin slice method.
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Eating French Fries By The Dock Of The Bay
March 18-31
Seven runs, six of them 30-min and one 15-min. Two yoga classes. Busy schedule and slippery snowfall derailed my normal schedule, but I'd expected that would happen was glad to spend two weeks remembering what it's like to run for half an hour. Running between 7- and 7:30-pace is generally easy and pain free as long as give myself time to stretch and otherwise lick my wounds. I say to March, Good Riddance.
Seven runs, six of them 30-min and one 15-min. Two yoga classes. Busy schedule and slippery snowfall derailed my normal schedule, but I'd expected that would happen was glad to spend two weeks remembering what it's like to run for half an hour. Running between 7- and 7:30-pace is generally easy and pain free as long as give myself time to stretch and otherwise lick my wounds. I say to March, Good Riddance.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Let your boyfriend deal with the dealers.
March 11-17
Prepare yourselves for a thrilling post. Five runs (T, R, F, Sa, M), 25min each. Only one yoga class again. Extensive run analysis reveals that I was running about 3.5-3.6 hilly miles. That means I'm going too fast, but at least at these paces increased speed does not seem related to increased pain. Fences:Neighbors::Stretching:Runners. I hope. Slabbaj Shout-Out: To the seven man squad who gave The Company a 4th place finish at The Human Race on Sunday. Less Prestigious Accolades: To Matt Mascioli for deciding not to quit his fantasy baseball league despite his shaky performance at the draft.
Prepare yourselves for a thrilling post. Five runs (T, R, F, Sa, M), 25min each. Only one yoga class again. Extensive run analysis reveals that I was running about 3.5-3.6 hilly miles. That means I'm going too fast, but at least at these paces increased speed does not seem related to increased pain. Fences:Neighbors::Stretching:Runners. I hope. Slabbaj Shout-Out: To the seven man squad who gave The Company a 4th place finish at The Human Race on Sunday. Less Prestigious Accolades: To Matt Mascioli for deciding not to quit his fantasy baseball league despite his shaky performance at the draft.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
I Thought She Said Maple Leaves
March 4-10
Five runs (T, R, F, Su, M), 20min each. Only got to one yoga class this week, but it was perfect intensity and I can able to replicate some of the poses at home. While the runs are this short it seems like 5 is enough to build strength. That first 20min effort was difficult. The last two were substantially easier. Some of that also has to do with warmer weather and, on Sunday, my first group run since September. Sometime soon I hope to join that Slamfest Coalition.
Five runs (T, R, F, Su, M), 20min each. Only got to one yoga class this week, but it was perfect intensity and I can able to replicate some of the poses at home. While the runs are this short it seems like 5 is enough to build strength. That first 20min effort was difficult. The last two were substantially easier. Some of that also has to do with warmer weather and, on Sunday, my first group run since September. Sometime soon I hope to join that Slamfest Coalition.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Obamadarbadar
In an Obama-esque feat this evening, Matt Mascioli led a tenuous coalition a completely new direction: Kevin's Greenway Slamfest 2008- Reverse. Despite early mudslinging (er, kicking) and impassioned debate, the group held together and opposed Hillary Clinton throughout.
Saturday, March 08, 2008
Tom Church handcuffed to the bumper of a state trooper's Ford
Chunked out a short run with Mattmas this morning- no thanks to Nick or Sherman. Legs appreciated the shortness- given the bushels of mileaj yesterday and the day before: back to back renditions of Kevin's Greenway Slamfest 2008 (back to back = one day then the next day, Biz. Not to say which day). The Slamfest is shaping up to be a solid little- dare I say perfectly medium sized- run. That said, neither Matt/Nick nor myself have any idea how far it actually is or a close estimate of the amount of time it takes to run it. Good, though, to have a nice run with a name to help get through the last snow-covered weeks until Harp-Cee-Dar reopens in all it's 50 minute glory.
Came home to some awesome baked oatmeal and the sweet sounds of the Not A Brarkfest Mix Mix.
Came home to some awesome baked oatmeal and the sweet sounds of the Not A Brarkfest Mix Mix.
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