Fo' Miles

I've been lazy. No other way around it other than to admit it. Between being out of town, having company, and other assorted activities, I've been lazy. Now that the temperatures are in the scorching range it's time to get back to some running.

Last Saturday the Virtual Running Partner and I went for a run of 4 miles. It was a good thing we did because that was really the only good time to run while his family was here. It was cloudy and about 70 degrees, but by mid-afternoon the sun had come out and cranked up the temperature to 90 degrees, where it's stayed every day since then.

Today the thermometer is supposed to top out close to 100 degrees. I ran 4 miles on the treadmill with an electric fan trained on me and Field of Dreams on the DVD player. When I came back upstairs The Boy chided me for having a fan and "cheating." I told him cheating was better than running outside and getting heat stroke. Not sure he bought it but I don't care. This will probably happen frequently over the next several weeks until the weather cools down again.

Run/Walk in Summer

Today the temp was about 92 degrees but very windy, so I hoped it would provide a little relief from the heat. Not so much. I took a bottle of frozen water (aka "ice") with me and of course it was mostly melted a couple of miles into the run. I kept it slow, close to 11 minutes/mile, and decided I would walk every mile and a half. That turned into a little more walking and I ended up cutting the run short by about a mile or so. My total was 5.5 miles, but of that I ran probably 4.5. Still, I kept it under control and the walking helped keep my core temperature down. That's key when it's hot out like this, and making the run shorter means I'm not inviting injury for just a little more distance that's meaningless in the long run. Pun intended.

Run and Drive

Ran 6 miles this morning in 80 degree sunshine and then drove to Des Moines to get my big girls. Now I'm tired.

Memorial Run

Tuesday morning started out lazy. I don't usually sleep well in hotels, but Monday night was an exception. I planned to get up and go for a run in the morning since rain was in the forecast. When the alarm went off I got up and checked out the window - it had rained but was not currently doing so. And naturally I went back to bed.

After work I blew off a cocktails and dinner with a group of people and went for my delayed run. I paid for it "forgotten" Founding Fathers. I exited through a hedge to get back up on the 14th Street Bridge and across the Potomac River.

As I neared the airport the early evening flights were coming in from the north, which means they follow the river in from the northwest to land at Reagan National. I'd observed people standing by a parking lot along the flight line as I ran by earlier. This time a plane was coming in so I slowed and let it pass right overhead. The noise was great and the plane was less than a couple hundred feet up. Now I know why people were standing there because it actually was kind of cool.

Overall I ran 7.4 miles with at least another 3/4 mile of walking. Politicians can corrupt D.C. all they want but for now it's still one of my favorite places to run.

Manhattan Running

Spending the weekend again in the Little Apple means an outing on the Linear Trail. I discovered this afternoon that there is a portion of the trail that's shaded. Unfortunately that was not the part I ran this morning, which was decidedly unshaded. That was fun, especially with the temperature in the low 80's. I kept expectations low and ran 6 miles instead of trying to tack on a few extra. There weren't many other people out, meaning that there must be a lot of smart people in Manhattan. Or school's out. Either way, I only saw about five other people in my hour in the sun. I'm glad to say my knees are still feeling good and I gave some thought to running a race this fall. It's about time to get cracking on the training plan.

Dad and I followed up the run with an outing to Famous Dave's for some ribs. He didn't run but he got some ribs anyway. I'll allow that.

Hot Runs

Didn't have time to post about yesterday's run, but we're into the part of the season where all the outings are in hot weather. The temperature was in the upper 80's and I ended up walking up the hill by the golf course on the way back as well as just inside the neighborhood entrance. Which is also uphill. I did my 6 miles and in spite of the heat it felt good. I'm enjoying being able to run and feeling better. As I've said before, it's time to pick a race and start planning for it.

The Argument

This morning I was lying in bed knowing that I didn't have to go to work and arguing with myself about going for a run. That's never the best time to have an argument, because the bed usually wins.

Through the blinds I could see it was cloudy. I thought to myself it's pretty rare that I go for a morning run, and certainly rare to go for any run at this time of year when it's cool outside. No, that didn't animate me.

I ran 20 miles last week, and I know I'm not going to run Saturday. So if I don't run today that leaves me with only 6 miles for the week, which is coming down too much off my weekly target. I'll lose the ground I've gained over the last month or so. Nope. The sheets were apparently made of glue, because I couldn't loose myself from them.

I need the exercise. Too much food lately and starting to feel it around the middle. I pulled the covers up over my chin.

It's swimsuit season. I don't care.

I have a few extra hours before I leave on a float trip. If I don't run then I'll just putter around and do nothing during that time. Is that a bad thing? I could sleep a little longer.

None of these arguments got me out of bed. In the end, I'm not sure what finally did cause me to rise and throw on my running shorts. Maybe it was the weight of all the pathetic arguments finally pushing me off the nice, comfortable mattress because there wasn't enough room for both them and me.

I talked The Wife into running with me and she did her usually two-miler and I hung on for a good 6 miles total. It was breezy out of the north so the run back was tough, but I made it all the way without having to walk. Amazing what a lower temperature will do.

About a mile from home a group of four young, shirtless guys passed me going the other direction. A few minutes later I heard talking behind me and realized they'd turned around and were passing me. I estimate they were going a couple of minutes faster per mile than I was, which means they were probably running a 5-minute pace. Haha. Really, though, as they blew by me with their young bodies and seeming invincibility, I thought to myself , hey, I'm wearing a Heart of America Marathon finisher's t-shirt, which I bet none of them owns. I dragged myself out of bed this morning after a tough debate concerning whether or not to run. And besides, I have at least 25 years on them. I hope they're still running when they're my age, but what matters to me even more is that I'm running now. And enjoying it, no matter who passes me.

Untethered

I was struck by a little bit of fancy this afternoon and decided to run without my Garmin. There were a few reasons - it was quite warm and I wasn't going to run a set pace, I was running my normal route and knew the exact 6-mile distance without the GPS, and finally, I just felt like it. I listened to my body to run the pace that felt right, slowing myself a couple of times because of the heat. I walked the big hill by the golf course again. Although I probably could have run it without too much of a problem, I still felt like it was best to slow a little and take advantage of the shade. We're on the cusp of summer and I'm almost to the point of needing to take a water bottle with me on evening runs.

20 Miles

Even though it was a Saturday The Wife and I went out for a run. Plus we roused Daughter #1 to join us, and let me just say she was less than enthused. Nevertheless, she's training for a triathlon and needs to run when she can. She pulled up lame with an ankle problem that could be related to having to get up too early on a Saturday. The Wife ran two miles with me and then I did another six. Today's total of 8 miles means I ran 20 for the week, the first time that's happened in quite a while. I could go back and research to find out when that was, but I'm too tired on a Saturday night after a couple of holiday cook-outs.

The Knee has been fine the last two days after the scary episode on Thursday. When I was running today with The Wife it felt fine. But just as we split paths and I was running downhill I felt a couple of twinges. It was weird.

The feeling passed within a quarter-mile and I ran the rest without incident. When I was coming back by the golf course I walked for a couple of minutes since I could feel the high humidity and knew it wasn't good for me. I almost felt bad about six minutes later when I had to walk again, but I knew I was overheating. Looking back I can see this is one of those moments when experience paid off. A few years ago I probably would have kept running to get in the full distance without stopping, but I knew today that it was better to slow down and give my core temperature a chance to lower. And now once again I live to fight another day.

Hot Run

Today the temperature amped up to about 90 degrees. The wind was rolling across the plains from the south and kept me cool, but it was interesting because the clouds were driven in from the north. It was another day where I was bound and determined to go 6 miles, which I did. But it wasn't all fun and games.

Less than a mile into the run I felt like my left hip was aching, and the good ol' left knee was balky. So I stopped and walked for about a minute to reset my stride. That seemed to help but I thought about calling it a day and heading in. My issue is that I seem to keep getting back to the point where I run my normal 6 miles on a weekday and then something happens to set me back. I want to get past that hurdle. I kept going and at almost the 4-mile mark I slowed to a walk for two minutes. My stride never felt quite right today, but I was persistent. I walked again in the shade and going uphill before I got to 5 miles, this time for about four minutes. That cooled me off enough to finish the run, not in fine form, but at least I finished.

I wore the new shoes again today and I'm about to the point of being committed to them for every run from here on out. Once again I feel like my problem was a result of the shoes I wore during the day. I need to fix that tomorrow and see how it pans out on Saturday. Today I was more casual at work, but it didn't carry over to the run. As of tonight my knee and hip feel fine. I felt like I was running tight and had to keep relaxing my shoulders and stop leaning forward. My run wasn't fast but apparently my posture didn't get the message.

Back to Normal

Temperature today was on the high side of 80 degrees. I didn't mind though since there was a nice breeze and I'm just happy to have good weather. The Wife ran with me for the first mile and then slowed to walk. She told me to continue, which I did, and after my first turn we reconnected again and ran for another half-mile. At that point she peeled off and I continued. I kept the pace at a decent level and made it so I didn't have to walk any of the 6 miles. The left knee still gives me a twinge from time to time, but I feel like it's almost more a problem because of my daily dress shoes than it is from my running footwear. Whatever the case I just enjoyed the run and slowed on the uphills in order to not wear out my stamina.

At one point about a mile from home a line of guys on bikes snaked past on the other side of the road. They were all dressed so spiffy and streamlined. I was laughing on the inside at their outfits and how they have a nice big group and I'm just...me. About thirty seconds later as they were becoming smaller in the distance another guy came along behind them. He was dressed in different colors so it was clear he wasn't part of the team, but I thought to myself, "That's me." I might be doing the same type of activity, but by golly I'm going to be the guy who looks a little different. And probably comes in last. But at least I'm doing it on my own terms.

Manhattan Run

We're in Manhattan, KS, for my nephew's graduation from high school. It's very windy. Nevertheless I found time this morning to get out for a 7-mile run. There's a trail that skirts the south side of town and encounters the river for a brief period. It's called the Linear Trail, which makes sense to someone, I suppose, because it's not really linear. Along with the wind the day was pretty hot, in the 80s I'm sure, and even though the path was pretty level it was also unshaded. Just like my other runs in the past few weeks I was determined to complete my goal whatever the method, and I did so by walking about five times. On the out-and-back route the wind was against me. It reminded me of the Big D Marathon in Dallas a few years ago where the wind was just brutal. Using that as my lesson I opted out of using up all my energy to fight it and walked when I needed to. My tactic worked and I made it back to the van without killing myself. It was a nice run but I certainly would have been grateful for more shade.

Early Summer or Late Spring?

It was over 80 degrees this afternoon, but I didn't care. It's still nice enough to be part of Spring and I'm going to take advantage of it. This was also a 6-mile run on a weekday and it felt pretty good. My left knee still gives me a twinge at times. I'm thinking it's part of the transition from the old shoes to new and the corresponding adjustment. Today I wore the old shoes. Saturday I'm planning on wearing the new ones. I don't know - I've had issues with new shoes and how my kneecap tracks with previous switches. This time it's not horrible, just a few reminders here and there. I've also had this problem with new everyday dress shoes, but eventually it works out. Or not. As I've said before, more to come.

Tough But In a Good Way

The lack of sleep last night almost got me on today's run, but I slogged through it and made 5 miles. The temperature was up into the mid-80's, but a nice breeze mitigated the heat somewhat. I was certainly in a better place than the last time I tried a run in the heat. This was one of those runs where I never felt like I got into a rhythm, but I kept going. Just like the run on Saturday I told myself I was going to make it the whole distance, no matter how long it took or how much I needed to walk. And I did walk for two minutes on the way back on the big hill by the golf course. I could feel I was a little overheated and I was with the wind at that point, which means there was no cooling breeze in my face. As an added bonus I listened to the new Van Halen album, which I got off amazon.com this month for a mere five bucks. Review in a nutshell: not bad. Sounds like one of their earlier albums. I think it needs a few more listens to form a definite opinion.

Slow and Steady Wins the Race

That's not right. The fastest person wins the race. Duh. And today I didn't race. But I did run 6 miles and I kept it slow and steady. Before I ran I told myself that it was okay to walk if I needed to, and it didn't matter how many times because I just wanted to go a full six. I kept the pace slow and steady and ended up running the whole way. That was nice since I wasn't sure how it was going to go. I was listening to a really good podcast and I think that distraction helped. Plus it was overcast with a cool breeze, which kept me from becoming overheated. In fact, we had a brief rain shower earlier in the afternoon and when I first decided it was time to run it was raining. I waited a few minutes and by the time I was ready the rain was past. I wore the old shoes for this one. My left knee gave me a couple of tweaks earlier in the day, so using the old shoes was a good thing for today. Next week I'll work the new ones in again.

Thankful

Sometimes I'm just thankful to be able to run. Whether it's a physical thing, the part of the world you live in, or the cycle of life you're in, sometimes it's just not possible to do it. I'm so glad I live in a place where I don't have to worry about being shot or kidnapped while on an outing, and that I am healthy and able to run without limitation. Plenty of people the world overcome their circumstances to run, and when you think about it I have it pretty easy. I don't mean to get too circumspect and gushy, but let's just say it's one of those days I'm thankful. We all need these days once in a while to realize how good life really is.

The weather was great and I ran 5 miles today. I wore the new shoes for the second run in a row. Like I always say, the test of shoes is not really how it goes on the run, but how it goes in the next few weeks and whether or not there are any knee issues. I will wear the old shoes on Saturday and we'll see how it goes.

Much Improved

Compared to Saturday's painful run, today was a walk in the park. The climate was much better for starters, and I also felt a trifle better. Amazing how it doesn't hurt so bad when you've been eating regular food and smaller portions. Anyway, The Wife and I started out together but she peeled off after less than a mile since she's running tomorrow morning with Daughter #1. That left me to complete a 4-miler on my own, which I did with surprising ease. It gives me hope that I can get back in the groove and up the distance to 5 miles on Thursday and 6 on Saturday. I took the new shoes out for a spin again and everything seemed to go well. I plan to try and work them into the mix more frequently over the next few weeks.

Bringing the Pain

Yesterday I ran. It was one of those "been-out-of-town-on-travel-and-ate-and-drank-too-much-the-whole-week-and-this-was-the-first-run-back-plus-the-temperature-was-90-degrees-and-it-was-painful-because-I'm-not-acclimated-to-the-hot-weather-so-I-ended-up-going-only-a-pathetic-2.61-miles" runs. I don't think I can really say much more than that.

Second Day

I wasn't going to run again today but it was one of those times where the weather was so nice it would have been a sin to abstain. Once I hit the trail at Neshimany State Park again I realized it was quite a bit more humid today. I went 3.5 miles total, a little bit of a comedown, but I knew it was better to take it easy than to push it.

On my first circuit around the park I saw a huge ship south of us and heading north. The downtown Philadelphia skyline was in the background and the scene was very picturesque. Wish I'd had my good camera so I could have taken a nice picture. When I came around the second time I thought the ship would be a lot closer but it really hadn't progressed very far in the intervening twenty minutes. They certainly weren't in a hurry. And today that was okay, because I wasn't either.

Philadelphia

I'm in Philadelphia for the week. One time I was here about five or six years ago was great for running since I was within walking distance of Valley Forge. That was just a gorgeous setting for a run. Where I am now is not so scenic - a major east-west thoroughfare, packed tight with concrete, asphalt, and the accumulation of several centuries of urban sprawl. The lady at the front desk suggested Nashiminy State Park as a destination for running, and I took the opportunity to give it a try.

The park abuts the Delaware River, which I found out is at sea level. It's not a river at this point in geography - it's an ESTUARY. I actually found that out from the pamphlet for the park. Anyway, the trail I ran is part asphalt and mostly trail. Dirt and a little bit of sand composed the path. It was a nice change of pace. The day was overcast and somewhat cool so there wasn't a big crowd out for the day. Multiple times I saw a pregnant woman who looked like Anne Hathaway (with a bigger belly, of course), a guy with a halter to which his dog's leash was attached, a lady with a toddler in a stroller, and at the last three guys who were discussing cross country.

The park wasn't in the greatest shape, but I still enjoyed it. The outer loop is a little less than two miles around. I wanted to run at least 4 miles, which I did, but I had to run up a spur and back on the second lap in order to get to the distance. It's no Valley Forge, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. More to come from eastern Pennsylvania this week.

Saturday Run

Ran yesterday with The Wife on another fine day. It was a bit overcast, but the day was agreeable. I went 6 miles total with a brief walk on the big hill near the golf course.

Other than the actual run, my other major running activity yesterday was in trying to find someplace to run in Philadelphia this week. Let's just say that in the area I'll be there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of space set aside for running. Unless you run the circuit around a great big casino several times. In any case, I think I found a place to go but we'll see. The alternative is the treadmill in the hotel fitness center. No thanks.

More Beauty

Yet another beautiful day. Yesterday was a lot cooler than expected, and today started out with temperatures in the 30's. This afternoon shot up to the 60's with sun and very little wind. I can't believe how many nice days we've had this Spring. I can't remember a time since we've lived here with such a quantity of good running and just generally gorgeous weather. As I've said before, if I wasn't a runner a day like today would convince to get out and do so.

Today's run was somewhat herky-jerky. Monday is not normally a running day for me unless I'm training for a race, but The Wife wanted to run since she has a meeting tomorrow night and going out for a run would be tough with such a tight schedule. And hey, I'm flexible. First we walked about a 1/3 mile warmup and then ran a little over two miles. I stopped by the house to pick up Daughter #1. We walked a quarter mile, ran a mile, and then walked another quarter. My total actual running mileage was 3.62 miles, with close to another mile of walking. I could have run more and thought about going for it, but I was wearing the new shoes again and didn't want to push it. I had fun running with my girls. I'll sacrifice speed for time with them any day of the week.

Outstanding Day

What can I say? It was another gorgeous Spring day. I thought about running earlier in the day but The Wife wanted to run with me and she had things to do. I worked on the lawn and did some other things and we finally hit the sidewalk about 4:30. It was definitely worth the wait. She ran a couple of miles with me and then I continued on to get in a good 6 miles. I took it nice and easy and felt good at the end. Seems like we've had so more good running days this year than in all the years combined since I've lived here.

That was a good start to the evening, followed by fajitas and topped off with some Penny Can. All in all it was a good day. Any day that involves sleeping in, running, fajitas, Penny Can, and a baseball game is an outstanding day. Life is good.

Addition

The Wife was in a sleep-deprived state today and didn't run with me, meaning I was free to choose my own route at my own speed. I passed a guy running in super slowmo on my way out of the neighborhood, but other than that there weren't many runners out today in the gusty wind. I planned to go 5 miles and that's exactly what I did. I took it at an easy pace, not pushing too hard against the wind. It was nice to go five again, and as I've said before, I'm hoping to build on that.

I went back to the old shoes today and will probably use them again on Saturday. Mixing in the new shoes is a slow process but I'm hoping to avoid knee problems. It better work this time.

Let Me Entertain You

It was another nice day for a run. With The Wife back in town it was a good opportunity to go for a run with her. She's had a rough time with her diet and exercise lately, particularly with all the company and traveling we and she have been doing lately. This is our week to get back with the program, whatever that program happens to be. All this meant that running wasn't as easy for her today as it has been in the past, so we did some walking along the way. After my crummy outings last week I was more than sympathetic.

One thing that usually helps to distract her is for me to talk and tell her some kind of story. So today I told her some stories about work to start off the run. That worked for a while, but she needed to walk. So we did, and once we reached the top of the hill we started running again on the downhill portion. Then I told her the plot of The Usual Suspects, which I watched this weekend. That tactic kept us going for another 3/4 of a mile. By that point we were close to the neighborhood and I continued by myself. All told I went 5 miles, with about 1.5 of that at a walking pace. I also wore my new shoes again, which I still consider as being in the breaking in period. Even though it wasn't continuous running it was still nice to get out with The Wife.

Slow and Painful

Today's 3.25 mile run was tough. I planned on running more but it was humid and I just had that heavy feeling, like I shouldn't press too much. So I didn't. The temperature wasn't too bad. I probably could and should have walked some and made it the full distance, but I wasn't thinking clearly enough for that to be an option. Time to start fresh this next week and do better.

Unsatisfactory

Today was cool and rainy. I ran inside on the treadmill and it was not good. For some reason I struggled through 1.5 miles and again I think it was related to not sleeping well this week. Seriously, several nights of that stuff catches up to you. It might have gone better if I was running outside, but I wasn't. So I stopped and decided to call it a day. I'm thinking this is just one of those days of listening to your body and figuring out whether or not it's worth it to keep going. Today it wasn't, I'm sorry to report. Hopefully Saturday goes better.

Wish I Was Running a Race

The weather has been so great and I'm feeling so good that I wish I was running a race sometime soon. Today was another gorgeous day here in the Midwest and perfect for running. I ran south and at the turnaround there was just enough of a breeze to help cool me off nicely. I broke out the new running shoes for the second time and concentrated on my stride, trying to make sure I was getting equal push-off from both feet and keeping everything going in a straight line. As I ran I also tried to ensure I was extending my legs far enough behind me, kind of the follow-through if you will, and getting enough motion through the hips to sufficiently stretch them. The overall run was a modest 4 miles, but I was able to work on the little things and hope they'll carry through to future runs.

It's supposed to rain on Thursday. I'm hoping it'll be scattered thunderstorms so that I can get in a run before the weekend.

Easter Run

Yesterday (Saturday) morning I had a plan. The girls were helping with the Easter Egg hunt at church, although I don't know if you can count scattering 35,000 eggs in the grass as an actual "hunt." Anyway, while they were helping I was going to run 6 miles. Rain moved in, though, and it was cold and breezy. The rain wasn't too heavy, but combined with the cooler temperature I decided to postpone. Which turned out to be a good choice.

This morning after church the sun was out and the air was warming up. I took a power nap and then headed out. The day was beautiful and perfect for a run. I went a full 6 miles at a nice, steady pace and felt good. It was definitely better than Thursday's run. Plus I figured that if Peter and John could run from the empty tomb on that first Easter morning then I could certainly go for a run on Easter as well. And now it's time for some baseball.

Should Have Switched Runs

Today was a bit different from Tuesday. I felt like I could run for hours on Tuesday, but today I thought I was lucky to get to the 4.25 miles where I ended. I think the difference is a couple of nights of restless sleep. Both of the last two nights I've had trouble getting to sleep and then woke up a few times later on. I've noted before the effect interrupted sleep has on my running, and today was just further proof of that.

After some rain this morning the sun came out and it was gorgeous once again. Even though it wasn't the best run I've ever had it was still pretty darn good. I'm loving it.

Good Run

Today I ran 4 miles and really, really, REALLY thought about going for 6. No, really, I seriously considered it. I ran 2 miles with The Wife and then when she peeled off I continued at a little faster pace. After another mile I felt good and that's when the thoughts of going longer started barraging me. It was tempting. I was running free and easy. But I used my brain instead of my sometimes faulty physical feelings and turned around. It was the right choice, but man...

Tornadoes in DFW today, but here in KC it was overcast and pleasant. Thursday I'm planning on taking the new shoes out for a test drive.

Tight Schedule

Today was one busy day. It's the birthday for Daughter #2, which means a breakfast out with Daddy. Then we had Easter rehearsal, and while the girls were getting in costume and makeup I squeezed in a 5-mile run. I finished just in time to dry off and make it to the practice. I ran on North Oak Trafficway, up and down, up and down on the rolling hills. By the time I made it back to the church I was d-u-n, done. The temp wasn't too bad but it was definitely a little humid. Still, it feels good to be back on the road, injury-free, and enjoying myself. I thought about running 6 today but realized before I even started that it would be best to keep it to 5. Sometimes I'm a freaking genius.

Back to 4 Miles

I ran 4 miles today, and it's good to be increasing the mileage. The next week or so is incredibly busy, so any more mileage increases will be slight, if at all. Still feeling good and no knee problems at all. The mowers were out on Shoal Creek but the allergies didn't bother me at all, which is another good sign. Wow, if the good signs keep up this way I might have to consider doing something extreme, like planning on a race before fall or something.

A Spring-like Day in Spring

A little rain moved through this morning and cleared out by afternoon. The temperature was mild with just enough of a breeze to cool me off when I was running against it. All in all I can't complain about our Spring so far. I ran a mile with The Wife and then continued on for a total of 3.5 miles. As much as I'm enjoying the weather I can feel the tendrils of my old foe, Allergies, trying to bring me down. After last year I'm wary of how bad it might be, but so far not too bad. I just remember how much stinking pollen there was last year, especially in June around Mother's Day. Maybe this year will be different since the winter months were so mild and the pollen will be more evenly distributed. Making me miserable longer, of course. Really, though, other than some minor sneezing and snot it's a good start. As always I'm not going to let that keep me from running.

Relative Multitudes

Okay, so multitudes is maybe the wrong way to describe the number of people out enjoying this beautiful Spring day, but relatively speaking I'm not too far off the mark. Lots of runners and bikers were out when the kids and I went to the store, and plenty more when I was on my run. On my way back on Shoal Creek right by the golf course I got behind a mom and her son on bikes. They were going up the big hill very slowly and I almost caught them, but they got me on the downhill. And it's not like I was burning up the sidewalk with my awesome speed. Further up the street I started catching up to them again on the long, gentle uphill before the traffic circle. It was funny because the kid was going serpentine on the sidewalk and every so often he'd look back over his shoulder to see where I was and then would start pedaling faster for about five seconds before going back to his winding ways. But hey, it was a nice enough day for a slow bike ride just as much as it was for a slow 4-mile run.

The Sky Came Crashing Down

At about 3 p.m. today, which was a day off work, I sat on the couch and thought to myself that I could take a power nap or I could go for a run. For purposes of this story, let's just say I chose the nap. And remember, actions have consequences.

A little after 4 p.m. I set out on what I planned as a 3.5-mile run. Dark skies to the south made for a scenic, if somewhat threatening, run. I was just shy of hitting my 2-mile mark when it started sprinkling. I thought about going to my turnaround point but decided I should probably just head back to the house, even if it meant cutting my run short. As I ran west the clouds behind me started catching up and the rain slowly increased. By the time I made it back to the neighborhood it was raining - for real. I kept going amid some thunder from the clouds, hoping that we wouldn't start experiencing some cloud-to-ground lightning. I ran (quickly) up the hill I usually walk up as a cooldown, something I normally don't do. By the time I made it to the top the wind had really picked up and sheets of rain were blowing across the road.

So I got a little wet. No big deal. But if I'd gone out when I should have I could have seen the storm from behind a window. Oh, well. I still ended up going 5k in total, and at a little faster pace than I'd planned.

BTW, my new shoes came in yesterday and it's time to start wearing them around and breaking them in. I put them on briefly yesterday and walked a little around the house. I can already tell there's a difference in how the shoes help my feet track through a stride. I'm going to have to integrate these into my running at a slow pace.

Rain Run

When I stepped outside this afternoon the clouds were merely spitting at me. By the time I finished they were shedding water on me like they really wanted to get me wet. Fortunately they never opened the floodgates and I got only mildly wet. It had rained harder earlier in the day as well as yesterday, so I can't complain too much. I ran 3 miles and felt pretty good. My pace was under 10 minutes/mile, so I feel like I'm getting back on track just fine.

Tomorrow my new shoes arrive. My plan is to wear them around for walking before taking them out for a run. The reviews I saw said they seemed stiff until after the first run, and one guy said he got a blister on his ankle but shrugged it off as expected. Sorry, not in my book.

The Road Back

This morning I got to run with one of my nephews, which was a nice treat. We have a host of people at the house this week from The Wife's side of the family, and one of the nephews who came in last night likes to run. He hasn't run for a while but he kept up for 4 miles with pretty much no problem. Must be nice to be young. We walked up one big hill and kept the pace slow, no doubt more for my benefit than his.

I need some new shoes and I'm looking at changing since I had such bad luck with the last pair of Nimbus that I bought. I'd also like to spend a little less than a hundred bucks every time I have to get a new pair. I'm interested in the Gel Blur 33 from Asics, which I can get for a good price on Amazon. The reviews look good so I think I will head over to a local sporting goods chain today and try some on before committing.

Summer Already

Today it was above 80 degrees. Since we didn't have much of a Winter and it almost feels like we're skipping Spring I guess you could call today Summer in March. Crazy, but I'm not complaining. After several days of non-running due to company and extreme laziness, I hit the road again this afternoon. I struggled through 3 miles with somewhat dead legs, but I blame some of that on the humidity. Strange to have humidity already, but once again, I'm not going to complain. I'm finally feeling good again and hope this time I can keep up the momentum. Seems like nothing but fits and starts the past year. I'm ready to move on.

Running and Ford

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous. It's nice to be healthy enough to get out and run on days like that. I didn't have a chance to run while I was in Philadelphia, so Friday I was off work and knew I needed to get out. It worked out great since I had to take my truck to the dealership for a recall notice. I drove my truck down there and then ran home, which turned out to be about 3.25 miles. It was tough since it was up and down the hills of Flintlock, but it was so nice outside that I didn't mind as much.

But wait, there's more! The Wife was out with the other vehicle and the timetable for her return was unclear. Since it kept getting nicer after lunch, I told The Boy we were going to take a walk and get my truck. To his credit, he never lagged or acted tired. Maybe it was the promise of a milkshake plus lots of guy time that kept him going. Whatever it was, we walked back to the dealership and had a good time doing so. I was a little sun-tired by the time we got back and you could see a little bit of red on my forehead from the exposure, but it was worth it.

Running to Flight

I was going to run outside this morning before catching a flight to an eastern metropolis, but the wind was blowing like crazy. I chose to run on the treadmill instead. For some reason it was pretty tough to get going and I ran only 3 miles. I had to stop every five minutes for a brief bout of catching my breath, which is weird for me. I'm hoping it was just the early morning timeframe, which I haven't done in quite a while. Now it's off to one of my favorite places (not) - the airport.

Four Seasons in 48 Hours

Let's just say that Thursday was like Summer, with bright sunshine and a relatively warm temperature. I count it as Summer because I ran in shorts and a t. Then yesterday (Friday), it snowed in the morning and Winter came roaring back into the picture. But by afternoon the snow was gone, the sun was out, and the temperature was 50 degrees, making a nice Spring-like day. Add in this morning with the thermometer hovering around 40 and a strong wind from the northwest driving the wind chill below freezing and we were back to Autumn. It's amazing how the weather varies so much and so quickly. Wow.

I planned on running to Target and back today to get in a 5-miler but I adjusted the route due to the wind. The Wife ran the first half of the route with me and I continued on my merry way to get in the whole distance. Even with the wind blowing so hard I saw a number of people out, getting in their exercise. I guess we're all a little hopeful that the warmer weather will come back and stay.

Is This March?

Wow. Temperature up around 70 degrees today. All I can say is how much I love global warming!

I saw a lot of people out walking as I was on my way home. And once I joined the crowd I saw several more. I probably should have run only 3 miles but I went for a 4-miler just because it was so nice. I kept the pace slow again and today was much better than Tuesday. I think earlier in the week I was still recovering from giving blood on Sunday. Today was much better although my pace was still a glacial 10 minutes/mile. But that's okay. I'm just glad I've been able to get back to running while the weather is nice. Sometimes jealousy is a great motivator.

Sweat

Today was weird. It had rained most of the day, but when I arrived home it had all but stopped. Rather than running inside, needlessly, I suited up and ran outside. I don't know if I'm still fighting off something, if it was humid from the precipitation, or both, but I finished up with a clammy kind of sweat. That's not normal. And it's not like my pace was super-fast. I finished the 3-mile run at a blistering average pace of 10:15. Guess I'm just getting back into it. Sweat or not, I'm still glad to be back to running.

Starting Over

This has been a weird couple of weeks. Early last week I was having abdominal pains, like really bad ones, and I went to the doctor. The Wife knew it was serious when I made an appointment. The long and short of it is that my appendix was swollen but I did not have appendicitis. The thought of the medical people was that I had contracted some sort of virus that affected my lymph system and therefore caused problems with my appendix. I was just glad I didn't have to go through surgery, although at the time having it out would have been a relief.

My doctor told me to take it easy for a while and to eat bland foods. I've done both of those with varying degrees of success. Two weeks without exercise was way too long. Especially with the gorgeous mild winter we've been having. I suffer incredible envy every day I drive home from work and people are out on the sidewalks enjoying the weather. Today I figured it had been long enough so I got out for a 3.5 miler. That was a half mile longer than planned since I ran ahead of The Wife and then doubled back to get her. She had slipped up a side street and didn't realize I was coming back for her. Oh, well. It was great to get out in the sun even though it was a little cold and breezy. I'm keeping an "eye" on the appendix area. I can feel a little something and I'm hoping there's not a muscle tear or something else in the area. Today felt like the first day I've ever been out for a run since it's been so long. I've had enough of this starting and stopping and am hoping I can keep going without interruption for a change.

Hemming and Hawing

I spent a lot of the day going back and forth in my mind about whether or not I wanted to run. As is my custom on Saturday when there's not something else going on, I slept in. Then I had breakfast and knew I'd have to wait an hour or so before running. But I delayed, got busy working on a computer program, went to lunch with The Wife, ate too much, took a nap, did some more programming and some writing, and then it came down to decision time. I got out my shoes and put them back. Then I got them out again and finally decided to do it.

Not sure what the problem was other than I was just lazy. It was cold and breezy outside and I knew I wouldn't be running in that. I guess the thing that finally tipped me onto the treadmill was the fact that I took a nap and decided I would have trouble getting to sleep if I didn't do something physical. This was definitely not my normal way of doing things. But as always, I'm glad I got my act together and ran. This was a 6-miler and it felt fine the whole way. Still no signs of knee problems. And also still no sign of my new issue of Runner's World. Where is it? I renewed my subscription last month so it should be here by now. Maybe that's the inspiration I've been missing.

Today

It was another not-so-nice day outside. I suppose I could have toughed it out but I chose to run on the treadmill and avoid the drama. This involved watching more of WS Game 3 and a bunch of runs for the Cardinals. A LOT. Which was good. I ran 5 miles, but my next decision is whether or not to watch the next two games where the Rangers win or skip to Game 6, which was one of the best World Series games ever. Tough decision.

Where's the Snow?

A little bit of snow was in today's forecast but never materialized. And I'm okay with that. It was still cold and just wet enough to keep me indoors for today's run. I did 4 miles on the treadmill and watched some more WS Game 3. I was just getting into the fun part where the Cardinals started scoring a bunch of runs. I knew it was coming but I had to get through the first three innings, but yeah, it was worth the wait. The Knee is still feeling good, and that's a positive sign.

Time Just Flies

It's amazing how quickly time goes by depending on the activity in which you're involved. Since that sentence is just screaming for an example, I will oblige. Running for an hour sometimes seems like sixty minutes of Chinese water torture. Other times you blink and realize an hour has rocketed past. Today's run was somewhere in between, but more toward the fast hour. Even more amazing, this occurred while I was running on the treadmill.

I've watched multiple episodes of a half-hour sitcom while on the 'mill, and it's pretty easy to mark the passage of time with commercial breaks. Today I was watching Game 2 of the World Series, and yes, there are breaks between each half-inning or pitching change, but those aren't scheduled at regular intervals due to the nature of the game. The pitchers were flat-out dealing and the batters were not having a good day. In the bottom of the seventh the Cardinals scored a run and almost got some more except for an exceptional play by the Rangers' shortstop. The innings flew by and before I knew it my time was up. I thought about extending it by a few minutes so I could watch the ninth, but decided I knew how it went and avoided the pain of a blown game for today.

The weather today was cold and drizzly. I saw a few people out running before noon but knew I wouldn't be one of them. I ran 5 miles with no pain. This is a trend I hope continues. The same with time flying by while running, whether it's inside or out.

Helpless

It was another gorgeous day and I was helpless to resist the pull. Once again I skipped the allure of running an errand on the way home so I could get out while the sun was shining. I made it. I thought briefly about how I ran yesterday and that was my first day back in a few weeks, so maybe it wasn't a good idea to run again the next day. But there's rain in the forecast. And it's February 2nd. You don't get this opportunity every year. Even though I was excited to get out I still practiced some restraint and went only 4 miles. Lots of other people were out to enjoy the weather (and by lots I mean less than a dozen). Some city guys were working on the hill by a sidewalk on Shoal Creek, making the drainage work better so the mudslides don't cover the concrete.

It looks like the fun is over for a few days and the treadmill might be back in operation soon. It was fun while it lasted.

Back to It

When I got home I told The Wife I was going out for a run. Note: I don't usually run on Wednesdays. She was surprised, of course. Another note: Today was absolutely gorgeous, February 1st or not, since it was in the mid-60's. I told her if I didn't run on a day like today then I deserved to never run again.

This was my first foray into running in about 2 1/2 weeks. I kept it slow and only went 3 miles. It was clear that laying off of The Knee for an extended period paid off. I felt absolutely no pain whatsoever, which was quite refreshing. I'm hoping to springboard off this run and get back into training without interruption for a while. I feel like the past year+ has been nothing but stop and start with the training. It's time to stay healthy and run a race this spring.

Baseball Walk

Yesterday I hit the treadmill again for an hour walk. It looked nice enough to talk a walk outdoors, but it was very windy. I stayed in and watched a few more innings of World Series Game 1 from October. Very enjoyable since the good guys won the game.

I'm hoping to start running again this week. As I did a few months ago I'll take it slow and easy starting up and slowly increase the mileage. What a pain. Or I hope it's not a pain, if you get my drift.

Suffering

It now appears that my football outing produced lingering effects, effects I was hoping would not come to pass. The Knee has been tender with that swollen feeling ever since the game. I've walked on the treadmill about three more times, including a 50-minute "outing" today. It almost feels like I could run on it, but I can tap on the side near the kneecap with a finger and can tell where it's irritated. For the time being I'm going to keep up with the walking and maybe next week I can get back to running.

This stinks pretty bad since we're having such a mild winter. Today was windy but the temperature got up into the fifties. I can run in that. I'd like to be able to get outside while the weather is good. It's also frustrating because I had climbed back up to a good distance for my long runs. At this point the race in NM in March is out of reach. If I can get it together I think a May date for a race is more realistic.

I did show an inkling of smarts this past weekend. We were invited to play football again, but I passed on the opportunity and let The Boy play with his friends without me. He had fun and I gave my irritated knee more opportunity to heal. I can still learn a lesson from bad experience.

Football

Well, I'm still an idiot. I went out yesterday (a 60 degree day in January!) and played a couple of hours of football with the boy and some dads and their sons. Let's review, shall we? I haven't played a pick-up game of football since I've lived in KC, and that's been over eight years. And I don't recall the last time I did so before moving. Conservatively I'd say it's been over ten years since I played in a game.

It was fun. I realized my knees aren't 100% so I took it pretty easy. I play to win, which we didn't, but I still play pretty hard. I made a few good plays, if I do say so myself, as well as the catch of the day on a long pass that I somehow snagged. Wish I had the instant replay of that. My big worry was that I wouldn't have the timing to throw a pass to a running target, but it was amazing how quickly the old instincts come back. I'm not the greatest player, by any means, but I spent a lot of time on playground football through junior high. That continued with lots of youth group Sunday afternoon games through high school and into intramural games in college, where I was our wing's quarterback. So I'm pretty decent still, especially for an older guy. I never played organized ball in school because I was just too darn small and didn't want to get grounded into the field to become a grass stain on some linebacker's white pants.

The upshot of all this is that running around, cutting back and forth across the field, and generally doing a lot of movements my body is not used to actually affected me more than I thought it would. Being fit with running doesn't necessarily mean you're fit for other sports. It helps, and I've heard other people talk about the differences, but let me say....ouch. I am so sore today that I just wanted to curl into a ball and sleep away the day. But I didn't. After all, I have to work.

By the time I arrived home I realized I needed some stretching and working out to keep the muscles limber. It was cold and breezy out, although not too bad, but I determined the treadmill would be easier on my aching body. I got everything ready, walked five minutes at a slower setting, and then cranked it up for about an hour of running.

I made it two minutes.

The Knee, which as I reported previously had been feeling better, did not feel better. It wasn't a sharp, stinging pain or anything like that. It was more a feeling of something swollen. Every step was painful. I thought about continuing to see if it would work itself out, but two minutes was all I could take. I cut my losses this time.

It's still not horribly bad. I went ahead and walked through an episode of NewsRadio and called it quits. Hopefully a couple of days off will repair the stress I put it under when playing football. I guess at this point I'll have to decide if I want to (figuratively) hang up the cleats the next time we're invited to play or not. Getting old stinks. As I posted elsewhere, it's good that I had fun and played well enough to where I feel like I still have it. The problem is that "it" is more achy and painful afterward and takes longer to recover from than it used to.

Not Too Bad

The cold settled in for the past couple of days, making today kind of iffy as far as being able to run outside. It worked out okay, though, as the sun came out and the remnants of Thursday's snow have almost faded away. The temperature actually climbed into the low 40's today. A slight breeze seemed stronger than it actually was at times, but it wasn't too bad.

The Wife wanted to run today, too, but she had an errand to run and ate lunch later than I did. So we did a run in reverse. I went out and ran for an hour and then came back by the house to pick her up for a three-miler. In total I went 9.25 miles, which I think is the longest run I've had in quite awhile.

The Knee is still feeling pretty good but I still don't think it's ever come back to 100%. I'd give it a good 85-90% of normal right now, which is pretty good compared to how it was in the fall. I still haven't decided on a venue for my next race. I'd like to go to NM in March, but I'm also seeing that gas prices are going to keep skyrocketing. If that's the case then my options for a race will likely be closer to home.

Winter Strikes

The delay in winter is over. Last night the temperature slunk down to the teens and some snow fell. Fortunately it wasn't too much, probably less than an inch, but the wind has just been brutal. So much for running outside, at least for a few days. Today I ran 6 miles on the treadmill, and like I did last week (but didn't write about), I did some fartleks to break up the routine. Last week I did 1-2-3-2-1 fartleks while today I did 1-2-3-4-3-2-1. Along with three episodes of NewsRadio from the third season I made it just fine to head into the weekend.

Talking Too Much

Warning: This post contains sexist stereotypes and comments that will be offensive to some. Especially women. Women who like to talk. But I repeat myself.

Today was another absolutely gorgeous day and I could hardly wait to get home and run. I had to make a detour on the way home to pick up some kids, who happened to be mine, so I was a few minutes later than normal. Mindful of the rapidly setting sun I hurriedly changed into running clothes. The Wife wanted to run, too, so I told her to hustle. We made it out in good time and hit stride at the bottom of the hill.

I was interested in warming up a little since it was colder than I thought. I was glad there was very little breeze, maybe 5 mph at the most, but it was enough to cool me off. I should have worn a cotton shirt over my long-sleeved technical t. The Wife was telling me about the happenings of the day and then moved on to other related stories. As we got close to a mile into our run I realized I wasn't warming up and the sun was headed below the horizon within a short time. Then it hit me: she's talking too much!

I looked at my Garmin and sure enough, our pace was close to 14 minutes/mile. I took the opportunity to give her a bark that would make the Biggest Loser trainers proud (without the cussing). "Pick it up! You're slowing down too much!"

She increased her speed and continued talking. Now, I know women like to talk. It's who they are. But it was clear this was causing her to slow down. After another half mile I prompted her again in the same fashion, "Move it! We're at a 14 minute pace! If we're going to go at that pace we might as well walk!" To her credit she did speed up and we split at just over 2 miles into the run.

By this time the sun was sinking below the horizon and I could feel more frequent pockets of cold air. Passing vehicles didn't help by creating their own temporary breeze. I quickened my pace to get in a tempo run. It was probably a good two miles before I felt warmer. My overall run was 6 miles, as normal, and in spite of the slow beginning I came in at just under 60 minutes for the total time. I decided that wasn't too bad as I kept my tempo pace between 8:30-9 minutes/mile.

I enjoyed running with The Wife, but this is one of those days I could have headed out and been a lot further down the road before the sun went down. But that's okay. It was a worthwhile sacrifice to make in order to spend some time with her. And I would never discourage anyone from running, but I would encourage them to run faster.

Global Warming

Global warming, er...climate change, er...whatever scam is in vogue to funnel money to corrupt politicians these days...well, let's just say that whatever you want to call the warmer winter weather - it rocks! It was another day of running outside in January. In shorts. Amazing. Reminds me of my youth in New Mexico, it does.

It was so nice (how nice was it?) that I set out to run 8 miles and tacked on an extra half-mile and could have gone for more. I saw a lot of people out running today, much more than on most weekends. Looks like the resolutions for the new year are still in force for people, which is good. The warm weather will definitely make it easier for people to enjoy a walk or a run. I'm still waiting for real winter to get here, and it will at some point.

I ran by myself today due to The Wife having hurt her ankle on Thursday evening. Like I said, it felt so good outside that not only did I go a little farther but I also went at a decent clip, finishing the run with about a 9:19/mile overall pace. I didn't set out for a particular goal as far as that goes, but just went with whatever was feeling good. A slight breeze from the north seemed to be pushing against me when running any direction except due south, but it didn't bother me enough to slow my pace. All in all a very good run. I'm thankful for the great weather and wish it would stay this way all winter. It won't, but I'll take what I can get.

Spring in January

I couldn't wait to run today. The temperature was about 60 degrees and just about perfect. It was maybe a little too perfect since on my way home I saw a guy running in shorts and no shirt. Definitely not the norm here in the winter Midwest.

The Wife ran almost three miles with me and there were several other runners out. Once we split routes I took off for a tempo run and did so for three miles. It's funny because yesterday I was reading a bit in that runner's magazine we all read about coming up on somebody to pass them and they speed up. As I crossed the road at one point another guy was running the same way on that sidewalk and I let him go by first. I was running a pretty good clip at that point but he'd doubtless seen me before the turn and I had no idea he was there. We seemed to be running about the same speed but as I got closer he sped up and kept up a faster pace for the next mile and a half. He crossed the road at my turnaround point and ran back up the street on the other side while I stayed on the same sidewalk. I kept up a pretty steady pace, particularly up the hills, and there were a few places where I would expect to have moved in front of him because I was on the inside of the curve. Apparently he sped up because I never got in front of him and by the time we returned to the point we'd first joined up he beat me there. I wasn't racing but I thought it was amusing in light of the article about people who won't let others pass them. He's probably the same when driving, too.

Anyway, it was a great day to enjoy the outdoors. I wore shorts a technical t and it was perfect. I wish this weather would stay all winter but I know that at some point we'll get a big old dose of winter. For now I'm reveling in the warmth.

Breaking Trail in 2012

Three days in and I'm breaking trail in the new year. Sadly, the trail is on the treadmill. I probably could have run outside today but I just didn't feel like battling the wind. It's still unseasonably warm, around 50 degrees for today's high, but it's been awful windy. Thursday is supposed to be warmer and less windy.

I'm considering where and when my next race will be. I'm thinking I'll run a full marathon in both halves of the year, hopefully by April or so in the first half. I'd still like to run the Bataan at WSMR, but that seems soon. I think I can make it, though, as far as being prepared to run. The bigger question will be finances and how much it will cost to get to New Mexico with gas prices still high. And I could certainly go for some chicken enchiladas with sour cream sauce at Margo's. That's motivation enough for just about anybody to run 26.2 miles. Or more.

Final Run of the Year

It's nice to end the year on an up note. Today was great temperature-wise, with a foray into the low 60s. The wind was a brutal sustained 20 mph with gusts much higher than that. The Wife ran the first couple with me and then I carried on for another six to end up with 8 miles total. Fortunately I was running against the wind mostly downhill. Other than that it wasn't really that bothersome.

The Year in Quick Review
I started running marathons in 2007, and this was the first year since then that I did not get to run one. Starting with the heel problems early in the year to the knee problems in the second half, it was not a great running year. I had my best half-marathon in April, but that was the high point. I'm just glad to still be running and enjoying it. Even though it was frustrating at times, especially since I registered for Memphis and ended up having to halt my training, I think about people who have career-ending injuries or who can't run in the first place. So even with a few setbacks I'm thankful that I have the opportunity to continue lacing up my shoes and getting in my runs three times a week. Let's hope I can return to marathoning in 2012. If not I'll still be content with what I can do.

Fartleks=Speed Play

That's what the word is supposed to mean, anyway. In the spirit of speeding up the workouts a little bit, I ran two miles with The Wife and then did some fartleks over the next three before finishing with a normal-paced final mile. It actually was fun to run faster. I picked arbitrary landmarks, like street lights or fire hydrants, as my target for the speedier parts. My pace during the quicker stretches was right at 8 minutes/mile, which wasn't blazing fast but good enough to make me sweat a little.

The temperature was unseasonably warm in the 50's this afternoon. It was really nice outside at lunch but had clouded over by late afternoon. It was still nice enough to go out in longer pants and a long-sleeved technical shirt with no other layers or head covering. I also went without my iPod since I just wanted to enjoy an untethered run, both musically and my running plan. It worked and I feel nice and relaxed. Definitely a successful run.

Speeding It Up

I thought today was going to be an inside running day, and even said so when The Wife called this morning to ask me about it. She was curious because she was going to run with me. However, when I left work it was sunny and the temperature was in the mid-40's. That fact quickly changed my mindset to the possibility of an outside run.

At home I discovered The Wife laid out on the couch, tired from her day. Now that I was running solo I hurried out the door for a brisk warmup walk and then a run a little quicker than normal. The Wife runs at a more relaxed pace, but I've been thinking I needed to kick it up a notch and vary my running a little bit. I've been "stuck" in the easy run mode for the past few months, but then again I've also been stuck in the recovering-from-an-injury mode during that time.

Tonight I set out at a quicker pace. Surprisingly I saw a number of other people out exercising, which was weird due to the stiff breeze and the cool weather. I finished the 6-mile run with an overall pace of 9:12/minute. Not blistering, but definitely faster than I've been running. It felt relaxed, even against the wind. I wasn't sure how today's run would go since I spent most of the day at work moving around carts and sleeving mail trays due to several people being out on one of our busiest production days. I was pleasantly surprised to find that it didn't affect my run, or at least it didn't affect it to where I noticed.

Christmas Eve Run

Yesterday it was nice enough to get outside for a run. The Wife and I took off after lunch and she went about 2 miles with me. I continued on for another four and took it nice and easy. It was a good run with a decent temperature, warmer than I'd expected. I keep hearing that this winter isn't supposed to be as bad as last winter, but I'll believe it when I see it. We had lots going on with Christmas Eve and all that, but fortunately we were able to fit in the run. A few more outings and it'll be 2012. Hopefully that will turn out to be better for marathon racing than this year was!

On Second Thought

When I left work I thought I was going to run outside today. The sky was partly cloudy, but the temperature didn't seem as low as some of the other times I've run. Plus the wind didn't seem too bad. After I picked up my truck (finally repaired!) I drove home and then took some pictures of it. As I was standing outside I realized it was breezier than I thought. That led to the quick decision to run on the treadmill instead. For some reason I just didn't feel like being cold. And that's the story of how I did 6 miles inside instead of out.

A Storm Missed

The blizzard that struck the Great Plains yesterday was predicted to bring a wintry mix to KC. This morning we were supposed to wake up to icy roads and overlaid by an inch of snow. If the forecast was to be believed it was going to be a slippery ride to work. Once again the forecasters were wrong in a good way. The temperature was just above freezing, so all that precipitation stayed in the form of rain. While that proved excellent for the commute, it also made running inside this afternoon a necessity.

It's getting close to Christmas, but I'm not letting up on the training. 6 miles was in order for today on the treadmill - or three NewsRadio episodes if you're counting at home. One thing I did today that I don't recall doing before was to think of where I would be on my regular 6-mile route at a particular point in time during my stationary run. It helped a little bit. Even though the TV was mostly distracting enough, it still helped to think of the actual progress of a run in relative terms. Let's see if this technique works during the long winter ahead.

Almost Perfect Winter Day for Running

The kids asked me if I was crazy when I headed out the door just after noon today. I responded that it was actually a perfect day for running, at least in winter. The temperature was above freezing but below forty, and the wind was only about 7 mph. The sun was shining brightly and the overnight frost had all disappeared. When it comes to the seasons, this is the best kind of day to run in the coldest of them. And for the first time in who knows how long I ran 8 miles.

Strangely I had some discomfort in The Knee while on the run. But it wasn't enough to slow me down too much. It was weird, though, and a little cause for concern. I tried some high-steps to stretch things out but that seemed to aggravate it a little, and I wasn't sure if that was due to friction with the new tights I previously referenced or with The Knee itself. Also in the strange category: it doesn't hurt when I'm not running.

This was a 20-mile week. It's nice to be back up to that plateau, which hopefully I can hold. As always it depends on The Knee.

Nice Evening

It was a actually a nice evening for running. The temperature was in the 30's, but the wind was almost nonexistent. The Wife wussed out and didn't go with me today, so I ran 6 miles by myself. It's amazing what a little bit of good music will do. I was in a somewhat cranky mood from work, but I pulled up Old 97's on my iPod and listened to them for a good hour. And it was definitely a good hour. I started with their first album and then finished with all of their most recent. I love me some Old 97's.

I dressed in layers again, which is probably why it wasn't so bad as far as the temperature goes. I wore both my ear warmer and stocking cap, gloves, and three layers of shirts. The lined pants again kept my lower half warm. I found some tights yesterday at Target. Once those have been washed I can go back to my more stylish black Reebok pants. Some days, like today, it's not about the fashion. It's about staying comfortable.

Rats

Back to the treadmill today. The cold rain and cooler temperature pretty much forced my hand. I ran 6 miles and three NewsRadio episodes on this one. It'd be nice to get back outside but I'm not sure this is going to be the week for that with more rain in the forecast.

The past two days have not gone well nutrition-wise. I blame the buffets. Yesterday was Godfather's with The Boy and today was the Ameristar lunch buffet with my employees. As much as that one costs you kind of feel like you have to get your money's worth. Which I definitely did. And if I'd run 20 miles today then I might have come out even, but I'm not running that far on the treadmill unless I absolutely have to and have a couple of movies I can watch while doing so.

An Unsure Run

I wasn't quite sure whether or not I wanted to run outside today. The temperature this morning was about 16 degrees. It seemed prudent to wait until after we went and got our Christmas tree, which was an incident that exposed us to the cold quite nicely. That's where I discovered how breezy it was. The temptation to run on the treadmill was certainly on the rise.

The factors in favor of running outdoors was an increasing temperature and bright sunshine. The Wife ran with me again and she completed a full three-miler. I considered running 8 miles, but the longer I was out the less I enjoyed the wind. I decided three runs of 6 miles was plenty for the week and a nice incremental increase over last week's total. My goal is to build up the mileage, not to suddenly spike with a long run. Running with the older shoes certainly seems to be helping, too.

Running and Thoughts on Albert Pujols

Another night much like Tuesday, except this time I was expecting it. Just for variety I ran the first 2.4 miles with The Wife and then continued on by myself to complete a 6-mile run. She apologized that the initial part was slower, but that was okay because I like her. Then I cranked it up to a 9-minute/mile pace for most of the rest of the run. I started feeling like that was a little fast when I'm trying to keep myself from getting injured, so the last mile I slowed down and tried my best to keep it a minute slower than before.

This was one of those crisp evenings where I have to get outside to run even though it's cold. The Wife even said it wasn't so bad, and I agreed that when the temperature is hovering around freezing and the wind stays relatively calm it's actually a good time for running.

The second half of the run when I wasn't talking or being talked at, I pondered how Albert Pujols betrayed a legion of fans by accepting a contract from the Angels. I've come to several conclusions that lead me to use the word "betrayal," and I don't use the word lightly. I'm not a naive person and I certainly understand the economics of the baseball world. First, I classify this as a betrayal because of what the man has been saying the past several years. I'm amazed that a person can invest so much of himself into his community, into probably tens of thousands of people in that community, and into all the personal relationships that come from being in the same place for a decade - and then walk away from all of that in the blink of an eye. In the past he has said too many times the right things, such as wanting to be a Cardinal for life. Or that this is the best place in the world to play baseball. Or this is the team with the best fans. That it's not about the money. All of the things a player who believes in his heart that he has a great deal and is happy where he is. When you say those things and invest in so many people and they invest in you, you don't just walk away. You don't do it unless you're just spouting what you think people want to hear. Plenty of baseball players do so, but when you're the face of a franchise and you keep repeating those things, people tend to believe you. Shame on us for believing.

Don't get me wrong - I would have taken the extra $30 million or so, too. But I wouldn't have spent several years saying I was above the money and that it wasn't the deciding factor. A-Rod still has the biggest baseball contract ever, and everyone knew that was his goal I don't recall him wasting time saying he loved the fans and wanted to do the best by them. It was all about the money. Contrast that with the former Cardinals first baseman, who spent plenty of time giving us all warm fuzzies about his motives but today turned out to be a liar. Which would you rather have? A greedy, money-grubbing jerk who is after the money and is honest about it, or a greedy, money-grubbing jerk who is after the money but who turns out to be completely dishonest about his true motives? Well?

Second, Albert (I call him that because that's how he's known to his former fans) has repeatedly invoked the name of our Lord in his career. He's thankful for the abilities God has given him, as well he should be. And he's said that his career is in God's hands, and I'm sure he and his wife prayed about this and where the Lord was leading them. But isn't it funny how with people like this that the "will" of God always seems to lead them to dollar signs?

Finally, we have a player who has acted different with his alleged motives and his Christianity. In the end, though, he's no different from any other athlete. That's what's disappointing. And sadly, this betrayal is what will make it that much tougher on the next guy who comes along. Albert has his money, an obscene amount of money that makes all of us wonder what is really the difference between $220 million and $254 million? Either way you can't spend it all in this lifetime unless you buy your own country. He said himself in 2009 (I believe) that $3-4 million a year wasn't a big enough difference to go somewhere else. Sadly, in the end it wasn't about the people who believed him, the kids he helped through his foundation who believed the things he said, or the fans who thought this guy was different from the rest. It was always about him. We just didn't recognize it.

To Albert: Thanks for your time as a Cardinal and all the thrills you gave us. I was at plenty of games where you made us jump to our feet and scream like crazy little kids. Good times, but they're over. So go to the Angels. Play your ten years and take your $254 million. And I hope you suck. I don't say that because I'm angry or vindictive. I say it because I say that about any player on any of the other 29 teams. Now you're just a player on one of those teams, not a player on my team. I'm a Cardinals fan. And I'll be a Cardinals fan after you retire, but you won't be a part of it like all the other legends who are darn near worshipped every time they appear at Busch Stadium - Stan, Red, Ozzie, Gibby, and Lou. You'll never have a statue there, either. What a legacy you threw away. How sad.

Crisper

Today definitely felt like winter. It was one of those days I couldn't resist running outside, though. For one thing the sun was out and the clouds had disappeared as I drove home from work. For another, the wind was almost non-existent. Never mind the 28 degree temperature. I have a feeling that days like this will be rare as we move deeper into winter.

I plugged in a new Hardcore History and hit the pavement. I layered up with a long-sleeve tech shirt with a cotton race-t over that topped off with a long-sleeve running jacket. I miss the tights I wear under my running pants and need to solve that issue before we get too deep into the cold season. I had to throw away the old ones due to seam issues. I wore my old running shoes again for the 6 miles. Again I was conscious of my stride as well as my posture. I kept finding that I was unconsciously hunching forward as if to stave off the cold. That wasn't working, but keeping my shoulders back was better for the run. The Knee made its presence known, but not necessarily in a bad way. It was one of those I've-been-hurting-let's-run-with-a-correct-stride type of ways.

In the end, let's just say that once I made it back inside I felt much warmer. Tonight's low is 16 degrees. This is when I start thinking again about moving to a warmer climate.

Long Run Inside

It's rainy and cold today, which is the perfect combination for staying inside to run. I wonder how many times I'd have to run back and forth across the downstairs room to get 6 miles? Let's say it's 30 feet. I don't know if it is or not or if that's over- or underestimating, but we'll go with that. Here's today's math lesson. 6 miles * 5,280 feet/mile = 31,680 feet, divided by 30 feet of room = 1,056 times I'd have to traverse the room. I'm thinking I would lose count really fast. Not to mention die of boredom. I suppose it's a good thing I have a treadmill and some TV shows to watch.

The Knee has been feeling fine the past few days. Running on the treadmill seems to be lower impact than running on concrete. Let's see how having a couple of days off helps.

UPDATE: Can't believe I didn't mention this in the original post, but this was also the day I was supposed to participate in the Memphis Marathon. The weather looked good and I wish I'd been there. I also missed feasting on ribs at the Rendevous after the race. I'll be putting the Memphis race on my schedule again, and by golly I'll be making it there next time.

North Wind

Wow, did it get cold quick around these parts. I was thinking of running on the treadmill again, but I had a conversation yesterday with someone about how this will feel warm in a few months. Yes, it's happened before. A temperature in the mid-40s will feel absolutely balmy in February. We'll be happy about it. But right now it feels extremely cold, especially with the wind out of the north. That was pretty tough on the way back, but I soldiered through it. I ran a pretty good 5.5 miles and at the end it was nice to climb into a steaming hot shower to warm up.

The Knee was not in good shape after Tuesday's run. That night I tossed and turned and every time it was The Knee waking me up and causing some discomfort. The funny thing is that it was good on Wednesday and all day today. And then it felt just fine on the run this evening. This is a strange thing. I'm still not sure what to do. I suppose the textbook thing to do would be to stop. Again. I did try something different today, though. It seems like the knee problems started this summer when I started running in a new set of shoes. So today I went back to the pair I was wearing earlier this year. I did that to a little degree a couple of months ago, but I wasn't consistent with it. This time I'm going to wear the older shoes for the rest of the month and see if that makes a difference.

Dark Running

This has been a crummy few days. Was in an accident on Saturday evening and fortunately no one was hurt, but it's put my truck out of commission. I stopped by the repair shop today to retrieve a few things I forgot on Saturday, and I want my truck back. Then there's the whole having to work after the holiday thing, but that's normal, I suppose. A long-time friend was staying with us for a few weeks and left this morning. So after all that I was more than ready for a run today.

This being winter or close to it, by the time I made it home and out the door it was growing dark. Plus the cold has seemingly moved in for the long haul and the temperature was in the low forties. At least it wasn't windy. I ran 5 miles, and after all the holiday feasting and too many sweets I feel like I should run it again. The Knee is still not 100% and we'll see if it bothers me tonight. But at the moment it feels good enough to keep running.

Wind and NewsRadio

The temperature today isn't horrible other than being colder than it's been the past week, but the wind is blowing something fierce. The gusts are close to 50 mph, and running in that isn't my idea of fun. Instead of heading into the KC tundra, I popped a DVD of NewsRadio into the player and spent an hour on the treadmill. I maintained a reasonable pace and ran 5.5 miles. The Knee feels stiff more than anything else, which is weird. My hope is that if I keep babying it and not doing anything crazy that it will improve. Like I said on Thursday, I can't afford to be without some exercise this holiday season.

Another Turkey Trot

This was probably the best weather ever for a Turkey Trot 5k in Kansas City. I'm still in unbelief about how great it was this morning. The sky was perfectly clear and the wind was almost non-existent, although that changed later in the day. The temperature was in the high 40's. I ran wearing long pants and a long-sleeved technical shirt under a cotton T, and I was way overdressed. I could have worn shorts and the long sleeves and been fine. In fact, I might have been okay with a short-sleeved shirt after warming up, but that would have been on the edge. Still, when we stopped for hot drinks for everyone on the way home afterward it was apparent nobody needed to warm up as in years past. We had a fun time in Parkville and Daughter #2 was the family winner. I ran with Daughter #3 and we ran the whole way except for about 30 seconds when she had a side cramp. Other than that we had a good run and did great.

My knee has been hurting again the past few days. Not a good sign. Right now it feels okay, but on Tuesday night I woke up a few times due to the pain and could definitely feel some discomfort when turning over in bed. Not sure what to do about that. Today was an extremely easy day at a 12-minute/mile or so pace, which means I didn't put a lot of stress on it. I don't want to take off any more time, especially around the holidays when it's easy to get out of shape. What am I going to do?

Getting Cold

Here it is, late November, and I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that the weather is getting colder. It's just that it's been a mild autumn so far and I'm not ready for the frigid winter to roll in. In a couple of months I'll be wishing for a day as warm as today's temperature in the mid-40's.

The annual Turkey Trot 5k is two days away and I'm looking forward to running with the family. I think they're ready, too, although my youngest probably won't get her wish to beat the older siblings again this year. And I don't think they want her to do so. Nothing like a little friendly sibling competition.

Today's run involved a stocking cap and mittens to repel the cold. I ran 4.5 miles at a good pace again. I even passed a guy on my return north. He had a brace on his left knee and was running slow (obviously, if I passed him) and I almost felt bad. But not quite bad enough to slow down.

The Wind

Actually ran yesterday but forgot to post since I was busy with other things, including a flat tire on the truck. The wind was blowing at 20+ mph all day, but at least it was fairly warm until late afternoon. Strange thing about the wind - it didn't really bug me a whole lot, and I seem to unconsciously put more effort into things like running against the wind or up a hill. So my overall pace was actually the fastest I've had in a while. I ran 5 miles, which is the longest distance I've gone in quite a while. The pace was about 9:24/mile. My knees still feel all right. I still think there's some strengthening that I need to do for them. I guess that continues to be my research project that I forget unless I'm writing on this blog.

Too Late for the Day

Had a couple of errands to run after work today and by the time I arrived home the sun was already down. It was cold and breezy and I decided I didn't feel like running outside. Even though it's early in the season to keep running inside already, I chose to do so. With several episodes of NewsRadio to keep me company I ran 4.5 miles on the treadmill.

I was afraid on Tuesday night that I'd hurt my knee again. I was sitting on the couch with the youngest kid on my lap, and she was quite squirmy. I shifted positions and it was that feeling of something...well, not tearing, but almost like tearing. It hurt really bad in that moment and I thought oh no, here we go again. Yesterday it felt fine, so maybe it was just a momentary pain. Today's run brought no pain, so I'm hopeful that it was just a moment of weirdness and nothing more.

Continuation

What a beautiful day! It would have been a crime to not get outdoors today. Continuing my trend I ran 4 miles. An old friend is in town and he rode along on his bicycle. It was a good day all around. Not much more to say today other than I'm thankful for great days like this.

Progress

More progress today with a 4.5 mile run. It was super windy, but really once I got about a mile into the run it wasn't that big a deal. That first mile was with the kids since they're training for the Turkey Trot. They ran two miles today and should be fine for the race in a couple of weeks. My little one thinks she's going to beat everyone in the family like she did last year. I'm not sure her older siblings will let that happen.

The Wife wanted me to run with the kids yesterday, but I'm staying strict on this "rehab" thing and not doing more than I should. The total mile for the week was 12 miles, up 1.5 miles from last week's total. I think I'm doing it right since I haven't had any knee pain recurrence. Next week will be an overall increase of another 1.5 miles. I keep feeling like I should be running more so I can be in better shape, but I'm holding back. And that's the right thing to do right now.

Mid-Afternoon Run

Four-day weekend! That gave me the opportunity to get out for a run when the day had warmed up and before dusk fell. Even though the temperature was in the upper 40's, it was windy and that chilled things down quite a bit. I wore a stocking cap and knit mittens for the first time this season. I wasn't real thrilled about it, but it beat running on the treadmill again. Plus it was sunny, so how could I resist?

This was a 4-miler, just like last Saturday's, and it went just as well. I still get the feeling that the muscles around my knees aren't as strong as they used to be. I'm not sure why. Once in a while I get the feeling they're a little shaky, usually at the start of the run. I don't know if that's a thing that will be ongoing or if it will go away as my mileage increases. I've been doing my ankle-weight exercises, but maybe I need to make an addition or a change. This might require some research.

Inside

Oh no, it's begun already. The cooler, wetter weather that is. Today was definitely not a day for outside running. In fact, it's been raining since yesterday afternoon, which is fine since rainfall was sorely needed in our area. I don't mind running in the run, as my imaginary readers well know, but today was a day I would have minded. I hit the treadmill instead and ran 3.5 miles. I was accompanied by the first two episodes of NewsRadio on the TV. Hard to believe that show premiered 16 years ago. Less hard to believe is that it's still funny. Not looking forward to a winter of running on the treadmill, but at least I'll get some laughs out of it.

A Modester Increase

Added another half-mile to the previous run to get to 4 miles for today. It was the same increase, but as a percentage I guess you could say it was modester than the previous increase. I was going to run this morning but it was cold, cloudy, and windy. Plus The Wife wanted to run with me and she was...resistant to going in that kind of weather. Our patience paid off and when we headed out at the halftime of the OU-Texas A&M game, it was still windy but the temperature had risen into the 60's and the sun was out. She ran the first three-quarters of a mile with me and then turned around. She's building up her mileage too, although modester than I am.

The Knee still feels better and the slow entry into running again seems to be working. Today I ran more hills than the previous two outings. I will say that it doesn't feel 100% yet, but it's getting closer. Next week I intend to stay with low mileage. This week's total of 10.5 miles might be my lowest weekly mileage in about five years. That's okay, though, as long as The Knee keeps feeling okay.

A Modest Increase

After feeling no pain in The Knee since Tuesday's run, I continued the road to recovery with another short run. Today I added a half-mile to the previous outing and went 3.5 miles. The day was cool, breezy, and just asking for me to bundle up. I refused. I wore shorts and a long-sleeve technical tee. I could have reeled off six miles quite easily, I think, but it's more important to come back slowly and do this right.

Another thing - the day started with a blah feeling, which I attributed to all the junk I ate yesterday. The Wife found post-Halloween sale candy and brought home several bags on Tuesday, of which I partook way too much on Wednesday. Today I had healthy food (if you count Fritos as healthy) and just two pieces of dark chocolate. Other than that I've determined it's time to get back to eating better. It may not be so, but I think I can attribute part of my overall laziness and poor running results this year to eating horribly. I didn't have a doughnut every day, but most of the time I ate whatever I wanted. Time to stop, just in time for the holidays.

Feels Like the First Time

It's been 20 days since the last run. Talk about cabin fever. It's been killing me to sit still and not get out for a dash around the neighborhood. Especially with the great weather. At least I've had the distraction of the Cardinals' unexpected track through the playoffs to the World Series championship. Now there's a run! We had a blast watching every game and especially the theater of Game 6 and the final victory in the final game. We're pretty happy around here.

Now that that's all behind us and we took a quick trip to the Omaha Zoo, it's time to try running again. I don't recall a time in the last eight years where I've been off this long against my will. The Knee has been pain-free for several days and I planned on this being the day to test it. I ran a 3-miler and I can tell I've been lazy. I wouldn't normally sweat on a short run like this when it's mild and windy, but sweat I did. I don't think it'll take too long to get back into shape, though. I'm a happy runner again, although as we know the true test will be in how The Knee feels tomorrow. Here's hoping.

Walk It Off

The running has ceased for the moment, but I get cabin fever if I go too long without some sort of exercise. Yesterday and today I went walking with The Wife. The weather has been really nice the past couple of days, and it was nice to get out and enjoy some fresh air. Yesterday we went about 4 miles, and today was probably between 4.5-5.

Yesterday I could tell I was already feeling out of shape even though it hasn't been that long since I ran. When I start over again I'm going to have to take it easy. I want to be ready to run our traditional 5k Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day. I think I can make that.

My plan is to continue walking this week and then start running next week. The Knee is feeling a lot better although it's not 100% yet. I haven't felt any aches lately but it still gets that "don't hurt me" feeling when one of the kids jumps on me or I'm doing something outside. I've also been exercising regularly with ankle weights and doing the hip, hamstring, and knee exercises, and I think that's been paying off.

Done

This wasn't the easiest decision, but I'm done. As in dropping out the Memphis Marathon, not as in done forever. The Knee just hasn't improved to the point where I can keep running with the confidence that I can get the mileage I want. And throw in the raw spot on my right foot that is getting close to finally healing up and this past week has been a killer for my plans.

I've probably kept the hope alive longer than I should have, but just like a lot of other runners, I'm stubborn. And dropping out of a race I registered for is not in my DNA. But this is the right decision this time around.

I plan to spend the next week still staying off The Knee as far as running goes, and then running some very short distances to get back in the swing of things. Hopefully this down time will resolve the issue so that I can run a race early next year. More to come on that.

One More Time

Today's run was not as good as I'd hoped it would be. I blistered up my right instep nicely on Saturday and it was still raw yesterday. I was also hoping the knee (or maybe I should start calling it The Knee) would be in top shape. Alas.

I stopped once walking down the street before starting to run and another time about a quarter mile in to take off my right shoe and adjust the insert. This was so that my foot didn't get scraped down to the bone. It helped and even though it's a tiny bit painful after getting home it's bearable. It would have been a lot worse if I hadn't stopped.

The Knee also bugged me. I thought it was doing much better, especially after that deal last Friday where it felt better after a big twinge. It felt irritated when I ran although I hadn't noticed any pain at work during the day. As I was running I was thinking, "One more time." As in if this continues and I have one more outing where it's not feeling right I'm going to pack it in for the season. Which I don't want to do.

Of course, I say that now. But in the back of my mind I'm thinking I should really start the run/walk method and see if that helps. I'm definitely considering it for this Saturday's run. If I make it there.

Still Going

Sometimes I stay up too late the night before a long run. This was one of those times. I was up late watching the Cardinals beat the Phillies and kept telling myself "it's 'only' 8 miles." Considering that my running has just started up again after the time off for my knee, I'd say 8 miles was not a trivial distance. And it wasn't it.

The weather was warmer than I expected - not hot, but certainly not autumnal. The knee felt decent and after I did some more exaggerated motions about 3-4 miles into it it seemed to loosen up. Right now, four hours and an OU beatdown of Texas later, it still feels okay.

The latest issue of Runner's World had a page about exercises to strengthen your hips. If the hips are stronger then that helps with knee issues. Yesterday I was doing my dumbbell exercises and thought, okay, one of the items they suggested was lunges. So I did a forward lunge between sets, and then tried a reverse lunge. At that point something twinged in my left knee and I thought about falling into the fetal position. It was one of those blinding flashes of pain. When I stood up, though, it actually felt better. I put it through the full range of motions and all of a sudden everything was fine. There was still a slight dull ache in one area that's obviously been over-irritated, but it hadn't felt that good in a couple of months.

I don't know what happened, but I wish it had happened sooner. Although I don't recommend it as a means of treatment, something popped back into place. I don't know that I'll keep doing lunges, but that one lunge unintentionally did the trick.

Holding Up

Today was the third run this week, and so far the knee is still holding up. I'm relieved. It actually hasn't felt this good in a long time. Even a couple of days ago I felt like I was one little tweak away from making it worse, but today it felt stronger than it has in ages. Each day seems like another test passed. When I can walk around at work and not notice any pain, well...that's progress.

This was another step in the road to recovery and toward Memphis. I ran 6 miles and felt pretty good. The knee was still somewhat achy during the run, but not as bad as Tuesday. I think the exercising, especially for my hips, and the shoe inserts have made a difference. I can now plan on going a little longer on Saturday and continuing the increase every weekend for the next six or seven weeks.

And also, I'm loving this 80-degree weather in October. Rock on.

The Ballad of the Left Knee

Surprisingly, the knee felt great today. Three miles yesterday wasn't a killer, as I suspected it might be. Which leads us to today...

This being early October, I was a bit surprised at the temperature in the mid-80's. But I'll definitely take it. It sure beats the freezing cold, and that feeling shouldn't be a surprise to anyone.

The knee actually felt worse while I was running, kind of the opposite from the way it's been in the past. I ran 4 miles on my route to building up to an 8-miler on the weekend, but I definitely felt a soreness in the knee. I tried to concentrate somewhat on my stride, but it just feels like something's out of kilter. Like there's an imbalance somewhere contributing to the problem.

The last mile I exaggerated my stride and kicked up my heels more than usual. I don't know if that was the right thing to do but it did feel like a better alignment at times in my forward motion. I probably looked like a complete idiot, but then that's normal when I run.

As always, the true outcome of the run won't be felt until tomorrow. In the meantime, I suppose I could write a song about my knee. A power ballad? That seems appropriate.

Trial Run

It's been over ten full days since I last ran. The knee is almost pain-free for the first time in weeks. And the race is drawing ever closer. Today was the day for a run to see if there's still hope for December.

Ten days off definitely makes a difference. I can only imagine how tough it would have been if I hadn't been walking a little. I ran only 3 miles today since I didn't want to push the limit too much.

The jury is out until tomorrow. If I'm judging by the run alone, I'm not too hopeful. I felt the ache a little while running but there were no sharp pains or anything that made me think I should stop. My pessimism comes from that dull ache that never really went away. Maybe I'm overreacting. I sure hope so.

If it feels okay tomorrow I'll go for a slightly longer run, maybe 4-5 miles so I can build up to an 8-mile run on Saturday. If it doesn't feel okay, well...it's going to be a long winter.

See Randy Walk

The walking continues. Thursday night I took Daughter #1 with me for a 4-mile walk, and this morning Daughter #2 accompanied me for a 4.5-mile jaunt. The knee is definitely feeling better. I'm encouraged enough to think that I'm planning on a slow, easy run on Monday evening with The Wife, maybe about 3 or 4 miles. It's been enjoyable walking with my kids, but I still prefer running. It just takes too darn long to cover the distance I'm used to running!

At this point it's exactly nine weeks to the Memphis race. And at this point I don't know how I'm going to make it. If I do it's going to be tight and I certainly won't be going for a PR. If ever I was going to do the run/walk method this would be the year. Let's see how things go Monday and we'll plan from there.

Walking

Inactivity. It's not for me. Monday I walked about three miles in St. Louis along the Mississippi River. Tonight I was ready for some activity and wanted to run, but I'm still giving the knee some time. It's feeling better and I'm thinking about running tomorrow, but we'll see. For the present I took the two younger kids on a walk with me and we walked about two miles. They want to run the Turkey Trot in November so this was a good start.

As far as my left knee goes, I've read that the problem with something like this is usually either in the hip or the feet. Today I did some hip exercises at the direction of The Wife, who helped me with the proper way to do it in order to get maximum benefit for the hip abductor. I'm also thinking that if I wear my heel inserts in my running shoes that might help. I wear the inserts in my regular shoes and maybe not doing so in my running shoes might be causing a problem. I used to do it but stopped at some point and for some unknown reason. If I'm going to make it to the race in Memphis I can't afford too much time off, but I also don't want to hurt myself. We'll see how the knee feels in the morning and whether or not I should run after a week off.