tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40967346333592802902024-03-12T21:55:08.827-05:00ReRunThe mind and memory of a fleet-footed harrier desiring to bust out, return to levels of previous self-glory, destroy said levels and move onwards towards greatness.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-45167354027297349372015-01-04T22:14:00.000-06:002015-01-04T22:14:11.744-06:00On To 2015<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bN9u4MKktnI/VKoGGs6OCbI/AAAAAAAAB5U/oDl-gj0sWCQ/s1600/2014%2BXC%2BInvite.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bN9u4MKktnI/VKoGGs6OCbI/AAAAAAAAB5U/oDl-gj0sWCQ/s1600/2014%2BXC%2BInvite.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2014 Illinois XC Challenge, November something or 'nother. This was not a smartly-run race by me, but this photo isn't horrible.</td></tr>
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Closed out 2014 with a half at the end of November, sullenly so. Took three weeks off of running to rest up, prepare for what lies ahead.<div>
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I felt like I allowed external forces pull me through the first what, seven months of the year without much structure or growth, as far as running is concerned. I'm glad I got angry and started to focus my training in September-October, because with more perspective, I learned a great deal from the Indy half in November. Mainly, I like what I accomplished with essentially no base and just a little addition of speed work. </div>
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These last two weeks have been just easy miles, with a focus on slowing my dumb-ass down. I'm committed to the presence of strength training and more plyo-based athletic efforts being standard in my normal week, and did such three times in the past seven days--bully for me. Trying to build a better physical self as I really haven't felt fit in awhile. There is a difference between merely running in shape and overall, and I think one begets the other. </div>
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Last Friday, the day after Christmas, I ran in shorts as it was damn near close to 50. This afternoon was coated in the first snowfall of note, after a soupy rain-sleet hybrid of a Saturday. Felt smooth and light on my feet, trying to stay slower on what ended up being an eight mile jaunt in the lightly-falling snow and breeze.</div>
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My training is slowly beginning to morph into something that I can place on a calendar, and I'll start to touch on weekly training from this point forward in some form or fashion. Didn't mind doing such this past fall. Just need to figure out a happier format.</div>
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I like the spring goals I have laid out, and I'll probably write on what I'm looking forward to accomplishing in the new year (especially with the piles of missed goals from 2014 I have to touch upon as well) in the coming weeks. I have already signed up for a handful of races between March and June, and I'm sure that a few more will be added to the docket. This will be the first January without a clear-cut idea of what I want as a goal fall race, so that gives a touch more flexibility in the coming months as well. </div>
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There's stuff to look forward to. For now, here's to a happy, healthy and competitive 2015. </div>
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zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-65668955451984375812014-11-04T11:33:00.000-06:002014-11-04T11:33:51.633-06:00Monumental Half Marathon Recap<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>In sum: Ran 1:32:45 for the half marathon. Cold wasn't as terrible as advertised, I fell apart for the middle miles but rebounded and my immediate post-race perspective is never satisfied, even when it should be. Thanks, Indy!</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JIVrpsEjEOY/VFkKRCQ4hmI/AAAAAAAABh8/Nm9STpaCq2I/s1600/Indy%2BHalf%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JIVrpsEjEOY/VFkKRCQ4hmI/AAAAAAAABh8/Nm9STpaCq2I/s1600/Indy%2BHalf%2B1.jpg" height="320" width="254" /></a></div>
<b id="docs-internal-guid-5e535b90-7bbf-6f5e-906f-6526dc05ab96" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hey, that's me and my face doesn't appear to be melting in an agonizing state. FRAME IT!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Should I start from the beginning, it will be a foul-mouthed complaint that emphasizes a dour few miles and the pretty nice finish line hat that followed. Instead, I’ll work my way backwards. </span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As I was taking off from my hotel at noon for the post-race club meet-up spot, I spotted John, a ridiculously fast marathon finisher, and we discussed our efforts as we wandered the few blocks towards the restaurant. I hadn't actually vocalized my thoughts on my race at that point, and was sincerely trying to shake my butt hurt feelings of disappointment given I did not achieve my aggressive goal for the day, but I summed it up thusly:</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">“I know I shouldn't be unhappy with finishing 90 seconds off what I felt like I should have done today, because it sounds like I’m complaining for complaining’s sake.”</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">His response? “Yeah, that is how it sounds.” It was nice to hear that, honestly. Stopped thinking about it and we went on and he talked about how he fuels during a race and practices during training on the remainder of our jaunt. My utter disgust of bananas should be internationally known BECAUSE THEY ARE GROSS BEYOND REASON, but I was curious how someone can consume part of one during a 26 mile stretch at sub eight minute pace. As someone who struggled with blocks and jelly beans before settling on gels whilst running, race-based mastication is a honed skill I do not possess.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I ordered a locally-brewed Golden Zoe IPA (As club member Ken said from across the table, “You kind of had no choice, did you,” which I really didn't…it was delicious), and as the waitress came back with a few mason jars of water, the one placed in front of me freakishly shattered on the bottom, drenching my lap as it poured off the table top. Wet jeans may be one of life’s greatest peeves, but it didn't bother me.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And that’s when it hit me: I ran a pretty great race and was in a rather good mood because of it.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After driving in near white-out conditions through West Lafayette (which, strange!) and rain the rest of the way down I-65, I headed to the pre-race pasta dinner after nabbing my bib from the expo. Had it been the standard-issue, Midwestern fall evening you envision for Halloween delight and merriment, it wouldn't have been a problem that it was held outside, in a walled tent. But alas, it was given the blustery conditions at hand. Ate a meal that felt too high school pasta party-esque with my club mates and booked it back to my room to warm up. Iced my foot a bit, thought about what a 1:31 half would feel like as I dumped every piece of clothing on my bed trying to figure out what to wear, and called it a night.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Met up with a few others who were staying in the same hotel…to meet up with some other members staying in a different hotel. These are all extremely nice, friendly and genuine people. They also happen to be older than I am. Which isn't a bad thing! On occasion, though, there’s a divide present that even a shared love of racing can’t gap and I sometimes feel out of place. Though I will admit when a 70-something barrels past a poor hotel worker to get to the bathrooms past the lobby which are supposed to be off-limits to the masses, it’s nice to be with the guy that clearly gives no fucks and not use a port-a-potty when its 30 degrees out. Thank you, Bob.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UO8_7ucc3QE/VFkHL5mZp7I/AAAAAAAABhM/ehI2OrfRjRw/s1600/prerace2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UO8_7ucc3QE/VFkHL5mZp7I/AAAAAAAABhM/ehI2OrfRjRw/s1600/prerace2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">There are many Bobs, actually.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SYaL3_zs6Oo/VFkHMKrijhI/AAAAAAAABhI/bFgTYe4HNo4/s1600/prerace1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SYaL3_zs6Oo/VFkHMKrijhI/AAAAAAAABhI/bFgTYe4HNo4/s1600/prerace1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos courtesy the ever-joyous Penny (center), who went out with us prior the the start. Beth (left) ran a PR. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I knew it wasn't going to be that bad out given the initial feeling upon my cheeks wasn't that of harshly-chilled cold, just a cool morning out in the pre-dawn darkness, which made me feel a lot better mentally. Wearing a long sleeve and wind pants I was planning to give away and did the toss just prior to the start thing was probably the difference-maker in never feeling cold beforehand. Shook out, moved up into the general corral space of choice where I could see the 3:05 pacer sign, and off went the gun.</span></div>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The goal was to stay with the pacer through where the half and full courses split apart after the seventh mile mark, and then do whatever I felt was going to work to bring it home, as that seemed to be the most reasonable and solid option given my penchant for going out too fast.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We went out much faster than I anticipated.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mile 1:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 6:44</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mile 2:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 6:58</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mile 3:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 6:46</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Because I am an idiot, true to form it didn't feel bad to start off that quickly, but I didn't like the notion that sub-6:50 miles were falling in the first quarter of the race. I DNS’d my other two half marathon races this year, the Wisconsin ½ in May on account of my foot status being unclear and the Moraine Hills ½ last month on account of the weather not making it worth the trek to McHenry, so I think it’s safe to note the lack of race sharpness whereas this distance is concerned. I should have backed off more, but I felt we settled in and I didn't want to stare at my wrist the whole time. I miss the notion of not being bound or dictated by a GPS watch, so I think I may turn off the alerts moving forward.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mile 4: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:04</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mile four felt great as there were only a few turns and there was a bit of crowd noise (which I’m always surprised by how much that amps me up, what a sucker), and as I felt I was settling in, I felt a side-stitch approach. I usually get them up higher, in the center of my rib-cage and can breathe them out, but this was on my side. Nothing different in my routine, nothing out of sorts consumed, so I didn't really worry about it at first. Thought about my breathing and how it would dissipate soon enough.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mile 5</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: 7:12</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mile 6: </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7:39</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It didn't. It was sharp and pokey and I got really angry and guilty for wanting this to be a solid run from start to finish, and that suddenly seemed like it wasn't going to be the case. Slowed and the pacing group drifted on by. When the pace leader sign-holder guy stated, “Way to go” to someone who severely over-thinks everything, it sounded like it was said in a tone lathered in pity and I let it rattle me. Accidentally grabbed Gatorade, which I don’t drink whilst racing and threw the cup away, so I was over-thinking the lack of liquid then, too. Got water at the next station and took most of my gel with a scowl on my face. There was seemingly no one around me, all off ahead and down the road. Life was horrible, fucking Circle City is just a gnarled pile of missed opportunity.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As the 10k timing mats loomed a few blocks ahead, two guys came up along beside me, the first noticeable bodies in my orbit for a while. Decided to stick with them and we ran three abreast, chatted a bit. I find I talk to myself a lot more than a sane person should, so it was nice to have some momentary company. They were both doing the marathon, with the right-most gent adorned in a sweater vest that got him adoration from supporters along the curb. His siblings were running up ahead, but he has the family PR and wasn't too worried about it. The guy I was next to noted how he sounds drunk when he speaks in the cold and his hands look ridiculous in forever unpleasant race photos as we passed by an overhead photo station. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UhOJ5m4QYgQ/VFkI3yqNjyI/AAAAAAAABhc/_3nxU6jJ7z8/s1600/Indy%2BHalf%2BHalf.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UhOJ5m4QYgQ/VFkI3yqNjyI/AAAAAAAABhc/_3nxU6jJ7z8/s1600/Indy%2BHalf%2BHalf.JPG" height="320" width="257" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I mean, when you oddly wear your gloves, what do you expect, guy?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mile 7</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: 7:17</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Felt a lot more relaxed and at ease after connecting with them for the mile-ish +, discussing the presence of beer on a course and what we were looking forward to in the aftermath. Side stitch had finally gone away while with the tandem, too. Thanked them profusely as the course split approached. “Thank you both for helping me get my head out of my ass.” Gloved guy gave me a fist bump and told me to go negative split the thing.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mile 8</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: 7:11</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mile 9</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: 7:13</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Calmed down instead of let the tailspin take over because I wanted to. Before the 10k point, I was mentally bemoaning the costs of the trip and how a poor race correlated to it not being worthwhile. I wanted it to be worthwhile. So slowly chipped away, working my way back into a pace that worked.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Haven’t mentioned the wind as it wasn't as harsh as the forecast predicted, but it was prevalent in bursts every once in a while to the point that I felt chilled, the kind that makes you facially wince. Not having many bodies around, not having some random block the wind when it made its presence known wasn't fun in this stretch of the course.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Right before the 9 mile mark was the north-most point of the journey, and having a slight understanding of the course layout meant I knew that we were finally reaching the straight shot southbound around that point, which was a nice boost. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OO9L7WCCGN4/VFkJLakqqCI/AAAAAAAABhk/tY6ViJRAMJU/s1600/Indy%2BHalf%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OO9L7WCCGN4/VFkJLakqqCI/AAAAAAAABhk/tY6ViJRAMJU/s1600/Indy%2BHalf%2B3.jpg" height="320" width="146" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I am NOT smiling for the camera. I am laughing maniacally at myself, wondering out loud if the photographer captured my TEXTBOOK glorious snot rocket on film. </span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mile 10</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: 6:56</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mile 11</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">: 7:04</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mile 12:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 6:54</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mile 13:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 6:53</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Finish:</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> :48 </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Really nice. Combined with a bit of a decline, I felt like I was moving well again. From right before mile 10 to the last little looplet hook to the finish was all on the same street and I felt powerful. Perceived effort mattered more. Knew I could finish in control and wasn't going to fall apart. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reached the final turn, maybe 150 meters to the timing mats, and gave it a shot to kick past a guy who pulled away when we pulled up even around that bend. Went to the well one last time but just couldn't pull past him. Looked at the full results and forever know that a Dusty Israel out-kicked me.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hi5BJyukcgs/VFkJivzRiWI/AAAAAAAABhs/fEMb-SJkZIQ/s1600/Indy%2BHalf%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hi5BJyukcgs/VFkJivzRiWI/AAAAAAAABhs/fEMb-SJkZIQ/s1600/Indy%2BHalf%2B2.jpg" height="320" width="222" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Proof of Dusty.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rWFsdKvKjcA/VFkJ1yvRyXI/AAAAAAAABh0/Aq76EqHHp2c/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rWFsdKvKjcA/VFkJ1yvRyXI/AAAAAAAABh0/Aq76EqHHp2c/s1600/photo.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I work in an IT department and the cardstock Master's degree I posses states NEW MEDIA, but physical exertion be DAMNED. Needs to be on paper to resonate.</span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Went through the 10k at 7:07 pace, overall 7:05 average. Don’t recall passing 12 bodies in the process, either, so that’s a nice boost to the ever-fragile ego as well.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A 12:34 minute PR should be more much satisfying than that which I felt afterwards, but between how I haven’t raced a half in a year, how I've been progressing at the shorter distances and my training has been more focused than it ever has been this fall, I expected to come away with a time that meant such would transpire. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Still know that I’m capable of dipping under 1:30, and I’ll give it a go in a few weeks time. Have a pair of long runs remaining for a last-gasp endurance boost, along with some focused speed work and can do better on my tempo runs beyond perceived effort. I can go out a lot more conservatively and am not really scared or feel hindered by the shifting cooler weather. I know I can run fast, I just need to run smarter and not put the cart ahead of the horse. Because like bananas, horses suck. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am very excited for this weekend’s cross country race. As always, more to follow.</span></div>
zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-17847954533565213812014-10-30T20:55:00.003-05:002014-10-30T20:55:57.943-05:00Where goals are concerned<div class="MsoNormal">
I head to Indianapolis tomorrow to run a half marathon
on Saturday. It’s thrilling stuff, these moments beforehand; you continue to ponder
the question, “13 miles, really? I mean ten miles is nice, too. Just raced a 10k, which
was over fairly quickly. Hmm.”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
As of a handful of weeks ago, the Monumental Half was
supposed to be <u>the</u> fall effort that training was geared towards. I just wasn’t
feeling it, wasn’t clicking. Wasn’t really pleased with how I felt racing, so I
barely did such this summer. Couldn’t hit the paces laid out by the initial plan I
selected due to a combo of summer warmth and not feeling fit enough, which
started to be more self-defeating than I really cared for out of something that
is supposed to be enjoyable.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Instead of plodding along, I stopped to sincerely assess
where I was at, gave myself a chance to really think about what I wanted to get
out of this fall after a lachrymose winter/spring and stagnant-state summer. I wanted
to feel fast and actually be slightly such. That was the goal that would make
me happy.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I picked a plan that on paper felt like a more reasonable
challenge to build with, and gave myself some padding with the end race not being this
weekend, but the Schaumburg Half on November 29.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My updates fell off the radar by virtue of a lack of internet
connectivity one week, followed by a week of feeling sickly. But as this week
marks eight of 12, I guess I can take a stab at self-assessment and how that
relates to 13 miles in the Circle City.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If I had to grade myself, solid B. Easy runs are done easy,
and I feel odd if I don’t get a few miles in…but I also have taken advantage of
my rowing machine on cold rainy mornings or, as I did yesterday, when my
foot was just feeling tight and old. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Long runs have been pretty solid overall, which is different, highlighted
by an easy 90-minute effort a few weeks back with no water or fuel in me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve gone out to Waterfall Glen a few times
for uninterrupted 13-mile efforts with some undulation to build up some strength and see pretty things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m actually running, not shuffling and it
feels pretty good. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This last weekend I
was still feeling under the weather, but stayed pretty steady in my pacing
(kinda) and finished feeling refreshed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Biggest component has been the addition of focused speed
work, in comparison to doing improvised fartlek stuff when I felt like it. Tempo efforts,
especially those done in the dark before work, have been perceived-effort
based, which has been a bit hit or miss, but such combined with a trek to the
track have really reenergized things. I get down to business. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I feel focused, doing laps alone. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I get irritated by sluggish walkers or very young people
playing 4-on-5 football on the sliver of field that is barely lit and such not
comprehending that should a pass fall incomplete and wobble into the first or
second lane of the track, I will fully run through you should you blindly step
in my path. We played Red Rover in my day, kiddo. My elbows be POINTY, my spite
shall come at you like a goddamn truck. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sorry, that tangent needed to be shared.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Missed two speed sessions, one on account of feeling fluish
and another as I wasn’t quite sure what was transpiring in my foot region a few weeks back when it felt
like I had a bone bruise for a few days. To be fair, I never really know what is
going on, given that I presently type away with a sandwich baggie with ice
resting on my left foot. The uncomfortable sensation is similar to the
tendonitis fun-stuff of my spring that appeared in my right foot. Or perhaps
I’m on the cusp of splitting apart, waking up one morning with a detached piece
or three below the knee. It’s fine, I think. Podiatrists are questionable,
anyway.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, what of this weekend? I didn’t feel solid at the start
of September, but very out of sorts for me as apparent in these previous three
paragraphs is the presence of confidence. Speed does that. Feeling in command
on longer efforts helps, too. My races have been smarter (or maybe even more
stupid and I grow increasingly oblivious in my advancing years) and I like where that puts me heading
into these final few weeks. But I do have a few more weeks. Saturday isn’t the
end point, but I still want to do something solid and have a strong race result to my name come the finish line.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I think I’m really close to being able to put forth an
effort where I would be satisfied, time-wise. I got the wheels and my stamina
feels good, and I haven’t had a solid balance between the two in probably ever. Sub 90 minutes for 13.1 miles does not feel that far out of reach. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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This is what I get for purchasing sleeves last week in an
effort to look super spiffy sleek when running in my singlet, so much for that dreamy notion of 40s and idyllic fall weather. I’m
not terribly thrilled by the presence of cold temps (such is the world of a
pre-dawn 8a race start prediction of <b>FEELS LIKE 16,</b> scrunched face) with the wind, but I think such
will provide me an advantage of trying a different strategy. Stratagem? Never
get a chance to use that word, so sure. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Go
out slower than I think is prudent as I have a tried and true mental deficiency of just gunning it from the gun, stick with a pacer group (they only have pacers
set up for the concurrently-run marathon, and the course splits around mile 7)
and see what I can do for the final six-ish miles. </div>
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Under 92 minutes is what I'm aiming for heading in from the comforts of Chicago, but if it isn't in the cards, it isn't the day for it. I have another opportunity looming not too far off tryptophan lane after Thanksgiving. But I don't care to go in with an excuse of a tight foot or little cough. Driving up north on I-65 knowing I ran intelligently aggressive will leave me feeling pleased. <o:p></o:p></div>
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My nails are gunmetal. I need to do a small load of laundry. Glad I unpacked my winter gear last weekend. I'm ready. Let's see what I got.</div>
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I would like to conclude by severely thanking my February self for not registering for the marathon when the world kinda felt as bleak and hopeless as running 26 miles sounds. That is so far, and a much different goal. </div>
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zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-48244368608082912832014-10-05T20:24:00.001-05:002014-10-05T20:24:54.165-05:00Fall Training Week of September 29<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><u>Week 4 - September 29 - October 5, 32.1 miles</u></b><br />
<br />
I actually didn't jot a single thing down this week. Everything felt so beyond thrown off as Monday morning started rather early beginning at 4a, due to getting up for an easy run prior to an early morning conference appearance up by O'Hare. Spent the rest of the week waking up at 3:30 or 4a just for funsies, I guess, and morning runs felt stale as a result.<br />
<br />
Monday, Wednesday and Thursday were easy efforts of four, 3.5 and four miles, respectively. Thursday was supposed to be a tempo run, but I didn't feel up for it. Foreshadowing?<br />
<br />
Tuesday was a nearly three mile warmup prior to 8x400 repeats in the mist on a wet track. Certainly was pretty slick and rather dark.<br />
<br />
1:30, 1:30, 1:30, 1:35, 1:32, 1:35, 1:36, 1:29<br />
<br />
Wasn't thrilled but wasn't too bent out of shape. But the 2.5+ cool-down back resulted in numerous stops along the way as I couldn't get my shoe tied in a comfortable manner. Like it's too tight around the top of my tendons. Even more foreshadowing?<br />
<br />
Friday was a normal day off as Saturday was going to be my long effort at the Moraine Run for the Hills 1/2. But between the immense blob of snow and rain, waking up feeling less than stellar and the notion of driving 100ish miles, it just didn't feel like it was going to be worth the trek. I went back to bed and felt fairly under the weather the remainder of the day.<br />
<br />
Eh, another DNS. It was a judgement call I'm happy to have made, this one doesn't bother me much. It's unfortunate more so that I planned out a nice progression pace chart in an effort to start of more conservatively than I normally do and try and hammer out the last five miles.<br />
<br />
Decided to head to Waterfall Glen for the first time in awhile for my now long effort on Sunday. Still pretty crowded for 8a, but it wasn't as terribly cold out. Long sleeve over a shirt, odd-length tights, water and gel in hand and off I went.<br />
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Let's get this out of the way because apparently in my advancing age, I have lost the abilities learned in childhood, so it would seem. Those massive dips are stops. For the unfamiliar, Waterfall Glen is a giant loop of a bit over nine miles. The last one on the right of the chart is where I turned around to head back to the parking lot after doing a full loop and going a ways out from the starting point. </div>
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The others? Full-on stopping to tie, retie and tie my goddamn shoe. The first one was 17 seconds in, just because I didn't like the way the tongue felt. The next one was because my right lace came undone. Then the left shoe felt too tight. Then the right lace came undone again. </div>
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I was so beyond flustered at the point of the final need to readjust, I upset the tranquil nature of the preserve, unleashing profanity too grand to attempt to type here. </div>
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This couldn't be more true than when I initially thought it last week. SHIBITY. </div>
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When I defend my life Albert Brooks-style, I am going to be chastised for how much time I spent retying my shoes.<br />
— Zoe Kind (@zoeakind) <a href="https://twitter.com/zoeakind/status/515693477456515073">September 27, 2014</a></blockquote>
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<br />
Going to get new laces and see if that helps aide in the madness. Anyway, I got lost in my head and couldn't really find a rhythm for the better part of the last half of my effort, which is stupid because that's my favorite part of the loop. The workout was supposed to be 90 minutes with the first 3/4 at a decent clip and the remaining 25% at a pushed effort. I did not come close to such, but I once I hit 1:30, I decided to keep going to get to 12, which meant I went to 13, which would have been what I was intending to do had I gone to the race on Saturday.<br />
<br />
1. 8:09<br />
2. 7:49<br />
3. 7:42<br />
4. 7:36<br />
5. 7:28<br />
6. 7:52<br />
7. 7:55<br />
8. 7:39<br />
9. 7:30<br />
10. 7:48<br />
11. 8:01<br />
12. 7:38<br />
13. 7:45<br />
13.1 :52 1:41:50<br />
<br />
Unofficially faster than I have ever run before, but no official race has ever been as souring an experience. Didn't feel spent, but wish I could have been a lot more consistent, hills or road crossings aside. Another easy 90 minutes next weekend, and a 1:45 long run two weeks later before the Monumental Half on November 1. Still have time to tinker with my race goal there, but today didn't instill that much confidence in my desired pace as the race draws closer.<br />
<br />
Barely ate a full Clif Bar before heading out the door, and my day old coffee was exactly that. Lesson learned: fuel better, velcro laces.<br />
<br />
Based on how I felt Saturday, I think there will be a flu shot at some point this week. Week looks pretty calm and cooler, which I am more than alright with; even the weather for the Chicago Marathon is looking promising, unless you aren't a fan of rain.<br />
<br />
<br />zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-9608465774104293642014-09-28T16:38:00.001-05:002014-09-28T16:38:29.739-05:00Fall Training Week of September 22<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><u>Week 3 - September 22-28, 24.6 miles</u></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><u><br /></u></b>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">In sum: in a down week, ran a sub six minute mile, then ran a 5k quickly. </span><br />
<br />
<b>Monday Afternoon - 3.1 easy, 8:17 pace</b><br />
Post-nap malaise was an odd feeling, pretty afternoon run on a weekday was odder. Looped right where I normally go left and went down streets I've never seen before.<br />
<br />
<b>Tuesday AM - 30 Minute Tempo, 3.81 miles, 7:54 pace</b><br />
Warmed up a bit, then went until I reached my abode. Bit more starting and stopping than normal for before 6a, but something requiring multiple emergency vehicles at that hour more that receives road priority as far as I'm concerned. 8:18, 8:02, 7:29, 6:15 (.81)<br />
<br />
<b>Wednesday AM - 3.15 easy, 8:46 pace</b><br />
I pretty much have nothing of note. A day later and I don't recall anything worth babbling on, so that's as good a sign as any.<br />
<br />
<b>Thursday PM - 2.7 warm up, 5:58 mile time trial, cool down</b><br />
Tossed around a few ideas for what I wanted to do in lieu of non-existent hill work: 1200s, a ladder, maybe 800s. But I took my interests from last week and decided to see what I could do for a solo four successive laps around the track.<br />
<br />
To try and remove my headspace from the suckfest that is my 9-5, I usually walk and wander about the loop during my lunch break. This afternoon I was more flustered than normal, kept walking until I ran out of road where Randolph looks over Lake Shore Drive. Only notable as I didn't change out of my rather tight and completely unsupportive flats, so my feet were not as happy as they could be for around three miles on the pavement.<br />
<br />
Warmed up, feeling "meh-ish." Tight feet, sore hip, and mentally frazzled...I was just happy I went out instead of opting to fall asleep on the couch with the sun up. That is always an option, sadly.<br />
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Shifted my watch to auto lap every .25 miles, but once I rounded that first curve after taking off, decided to not pay attention to time and just let the watch do the math for me to look at later. It's strange adjusting ones vision when running with a bit more purpose in the darkness, and between people walking and tables and benches from collegiate practices strewn about in the innermost lane at a few spots, I based things on internal feel and focused on not tripping myself up.<br />
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Few runs in with the Newtons have been great (even if its only due to the fact that its a much lighter shoe than I am used to) and I do feel like I have been running more upright and taller, which can lead to newborn baby foal moments of no coordination whatsoever.<br />
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Kept myself mentally focused with whatever pace I was locked in on and decided not to really pick things up for the final 200 or so, just wanted to stay where I was pace-wise and create a benchmark for myself. Certainly had some more in the tank for a final burst, but decided to maintain instead...<br />
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400 800 1200 mile 1600<br />
1:27.6/2:57.2 (1:29.6)/4:26.8(1:29.6)/5:58.29(1:31.5)/6:12(14.1)<br />
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...and I kinda wish I had dug a bit deeper for a quartet of sub 90 second .25 splits with my normal closing kick, but that is a oddly particular specific after the fact-ism to be chapped over.<br />
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No complaints, pretty much where I felt like I should be, based on inner stubbornness. McMillan agrees with me, thus am totally validated or something.<br />
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It's funny where confidence comes from. Not even a mile in on my warm up and not feeling all that grand, I was already stockpiling excuses if things didn't go well: afternoon crummy coffee consumption, my lunchtime power walk and the state of my feet, the scent of air freshener from the car that drove by. But I thought to myself well, what is the point if I'm already defeating my efforts prior to actually doing 'em, exactly. And now that first week of 400s seems like a really piss poor effort and the notion of sub 7 minute average during a 5k seems doable.<br />
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So, will it be?<br />
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<b>Friday - Off. </b><br />
Night before race dinner = slightly greasy standard-issue chicken sandwich, waffle fries and a beer. Nothing sounded better.<br />
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<b>Saturday AM - Park Ridge Charity Classic 5k - 20:28.37 </b><br />
In the aftermath, there are sesame seeds all over the place. Didn't realize it at 5:30 in the morning, but my bagel scattered 'em in the kitchen, in the bedroom. Found one in the bathroom sink, though I can't recall mindlessly chewing a sub-optimal circular bread product in there. Bagel and slightly watered-down coffee and I'm out the door a touch after 6ish.<br />
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Drove to Park Ridge with a few Oak Park Runners Club members with ease, passing unknown parts of Chicago that felt familiar all the same. Pick up a shirt (a cotton shirt! huzzah!) + bib with plenty of time to spare on a clear and calm morning, getting a chance to chat with some folks I haven't seen in awhile. Warmed up a bit, debating between utilizing my training buddy option on my watch or not. Turned it off, lined up and off we went.<br />
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Slight decline as the course dipped beneath an underpass in the first half mile combined well with my tendency to go out a bit quicker, seeing 6:1X on my watch after the first buzz on my wrist. Didn't panic, had no reason to.<br />
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<i>Hmm, alright then. Now that such is out of my system, let's calm down a bit and find a solid rhythm until the turn around</i>. Mental boost from my time trial made a pre-race goal of 6:40s not sound or feel nearly as daunting, and I just wanted to attack a race with confidence for ONCE, seeing as I felt like I had the legs and the head (for once, the Greek chorus should repeat) to do it.<br />
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Guy called out splits a mile one was audible from a ways away, but I didn't want to get caught up in anything that would come as a shock and be excuse fodder for later on.<br />
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Kept moving well and stayed dialed in as the turn around was in sight. Looped down and around with a slight group of people...but was in no-man's land the remainder of the trek towards the finish. My momentum around the curve of cones was that much greater than that of my race compatriots? Strange, especially as I was slowing down a bit yet never got passed from that point on.<br />
<br />
Caught up to a gent who was slowing down considerably and I momentarily lost focus, slowing down and keying off his pace along side him. He completely stopped to walk after a minute or so. I shook of the thoughtless pace and pressed on towards the finish. Tried a last gasp sprint to catch a guy at the chute, but ran out of real estate.<br />
<br />
Stopped my watch, 3.13 miles. 20:31 for a 6:33 average. <i>That's more like it. </i>6:29/6:34/6:44/:42. One of my more even-keeled efforts, and I'm starting to wonder what my lifetime PR is, the one from a Mesozoic era of lithe and unbroken body parts. I'm old now, haven't kept that number in the frontal lobe for awhile. Still thinking about it, waiting in line for my race print out. <i>I may be close</i>.<br />
<br />
With result in hand, I pull up my race result collection via Ath Links. I know exactly what I'm scrolling towards, the 2001 ALS 5K Cross Country For a Cure. I remember that race kinda, went with my HS teammates and ran a good amount with one of the nicer coaches who was only around during my junior track season. Because the world is small, he was a founding member of the OP runners club. Clung to his pace until the final stretch, kicking for a third overall, third in the age group. Finished in 20:28.<br />
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<i>Couldn't go .5 faster, eh</i>. </div>
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I know that I in theory may have set a PR. But the existence of that .4 (.37 per the online results for even more hair-splitting insanity) seconds have me hungry more so than sated. </div>
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As I'm walking back towards the car, I'm already contemplating adding a late November 5k to my slate. What an asshole. </div>
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<b>Sunday AM - 5 easy, 8:04 pace</b><br />
Felt light, but excessively sweaty. Had to re-tie my left shoe about three times. Might swap in some different laces.<br />
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Next week: Week four has some 400s (at 5k pace! I know what that means now!) and a 3/1 90 minute long run, which will be done at the Run for the Hills half at Moraine State Park, which is about three counties away. Pretty course with some inclines on limestone and paved trails, happy to go back after doing such last year. I'll do the first nine at an easy longer pace and push the final four.<br />
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<br />zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-20476946106363285422014-09-21T15:59:00.002-05:002014-09-21T16:06:44.645-05:00Fall Training Week of September 15Before a day-by-day breakdown:<br />
Used to be deeply attuned to the world of running shoes on a very nerdy level, mainly because it beat doing homework or accomplishing anything of actual value. That interest fell by the wayside during college, especially as my dissatisfaction of the swoosh began to manifest. <br />
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Even when I wasn't running, I stayed connected to what was going on at the professional level. Liked what the Hanson's were doing and stood for, so I stuck with Brooks for awhile, most recently with a long string of Adrenaline 12s (exacerbated when I got about four pairs at DSW for stupid cheap).<br />
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I spent this spring and summer in a pair of New Balances that I got for free last year, mainly because I had them around and I thought that the Adrenalines contributed to my inflamed tendon foot woes of the spring. Fairly worn and not really providing the cushioning I feel like I needed, I knew it 'tis time for something new.<br />
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Enter my first pair of Newtons. Many folks SWEAR by them, which makes me nervous that I'm entering some sort of cultish world. But I type this wearing a Ragnar sweatshirt, so perhaps its too late for me. <br />
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The ridge isn't obvious when I tried them out, which surprised me. Nice and light shoe, and I was sold on the notion of this being an entry (...gateway?) model to grow accustomed to the different structure. I'm a bit lighter and run more efficiently than when I first started back running consistently last winter, so I'm happy to see how these work out. Only concern is making sure the bone chip in my left ankle doesn't feel jostled. Gotta keep our broken pieces appeased.<br />
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I will say this: I have not spent this much on a pair of shoes since whatever model of Nike Air Max was released in 1999. Damn feet, why does it cost so much to house you in things.<br />
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Criminy, so garish. I love them. </div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><u>Week 2 - September 15-21, 32.4 miles</u></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"><u><br /></u></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;"></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Monday AM - 3.24 miles, 9:11 pace. Stretch, Myrtl. </b><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Tuesday AM - 45 minute Tempo Run, 5.49 miles. </b><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Hard to get moving. 10 minute warm up, 25 min tempo effort, 10 minute cool down.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">8:47, 7:53, 7:50, 7:41, 8:33, 4:30 (.49)</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #666666; font-family: Trebuchet MS, Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Sort of morning where the cool tingle takes awhile to leave ungloved hands and you are reminded that you can see your gasping breath for part of the year. </span></span><br />
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<b>Wednesday AM - 4 miles, 8:21 pace. Stretch.</b><br />
Woke up super early for no particular reason, so waited for a tinge of sunrise to head out for some easy miles.</div>
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<b>Thursday PM - 3x1600</b><br />
1.5 mile warm up, a trio of four laps around the track with a 400 jog inbetween, 1.5 cooldown.<br />
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Well shit. <span style="line-height: 18.4799995422363px;">Sorta didn't want to do anything after a crapfest of a day. The lack of hills in the immediate vicinity is giving me creative license in changing up the three workout sessions that call for such into other speed sessions on the track. Flipped a coin between 1200s and 1600s, but four laps will always have the upper hand in my heart.</span></div>
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Decided to drive to the track and warmed up there, which worked out as I got things moving a bit quicker compared to running over to Concordia. Feel like I get right down to business when contained within a specific area for repeat efforts. Different mindset than aimlessly wandering on the roads, for certain. Used the last lap or two for some strides and remind myself what quicker turnover is. I've been liking the way my stride and turnover has been feeling this summer, more running than shuffling.</div>
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I didn't really have much of a time-focused plan heading in, especially after my previous session of low 1:30 400s and an opening mile of 6:53 at my 5k last week. Figured 6:45s would be a good point pace-wise to aim for.</div>
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400/800/1200</div>
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Mile 1: 6:36 (1:34/3:14/4:53)</div>
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Mile 2: 6:39 (1:39/3:18/4:58)</div>
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Mile 3: 6:25 (1:34/3:10/4:49)</div>
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Felt controlled but pressed myself pretty well throughout. Didn't really think to set up my lap splits on my Garmin, so I wasn't living and dying by whatever numbers were being displayed or buzzing upon every passing by my starting point. Based things more on feel. I think I'll give the workout creation option on my watch for next week, seeing as I never have used that feature, so why not.</div>
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Looked at my wrist upon finishing the first one and felt sorta non-responsive. "Uh, ok I guess." Should I be ecstatic? Scared? Not sure if that was going to be a dastardly starting point that would doom the remaining two 1600s. Felt more conservative for number two, but not by much.</div>
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Final go around was in the pristine post-sunset blush with minimal stadium lighting and I sped up for the final 100. It felt good to be moving quickly. Cooled down, over-thinking what this means/what I should be aiming for. No idea. I'll take myself out at 7 in next week's 5k, and then keep pressing. Or more likely go out far too quickly and die.</div>
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Looking back, the last time I did mile repeats was last June. 7:03/7:21/6:58. Glad I didn't look that up prior to this workout. </div>
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Was so close to stripping down to just my sports bra for the final repeat, but too damn self-conscious. What would all the walkers THINK?</div>
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Would love to get a solo mile in now and see how it stacks up to the end of this training cycle. Will make that happen next week where applicable.</div>
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<b>Friday - Off. </b></div>
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<b>Saturday AM - 9 miles, 8:34 pace.</b></div>
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Not sure why I felt so off. Weather was wonderful but I was sweating as if it was about 85 degrees and 90% humidity out, which was very much not the case. Felt like I had no energy, even though I gave myself time to completely digest a Clif bar. Hip started feeling a little tighter than I felt comfortable with, so I reached a nice round number and walked my remaining mile home.</div>
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<b>Sunday PM - 4 @ Pace, 7:26 pace.</b></div>
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7:26, 7:29, 7:26, 7:23</div>
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TOO FAST (I think). Like a skittish small animal, I bounded about on my first run in my new shoes, feeling fleet of foot and strong. Haven't run in a shoe so light (7.9 oz) in a very long while. On the plus side, I didn't feel too strained in maintaining a pace that is about 10 seconds faster than desired, and the hardest part was the ever-present starting/stopping of an afternoon jaunt. Again, need to utilize the bells and whistles on my wrist and set up pace things. </div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Next Week: Park Ridge Charity 5k. Claims to be the fastest 5k in Illinois, never been. Breaking 22 is the expected outcome, close to 21:30 is the goal. Trying to use smaller (and cheaper!) races + workouts to regain a sense of confidence when racing instead of swearing at myself for being a head-case.</span></div>
zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-6100815958931578012014-09-14T15:07:00.001-05:002014-09-14T15:07:37.867-05:00Fall Training Week of September 8Decided to change things up before I got too far into a fall training schedule that may not be the best approach for me to take this fall heading into racing season. Opted to utilize Hal Higdon's <a href="http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51133/Half-Marathon-Advanced-Training-Program">advanced</a> build up as I think it will be a more appropriate schedule for where I'm at; challenging but not as overwhelming as far as milage is concerned.<br />
<br />
I am a fan of the online schedules he has at pretty much every level, and I liked the layout of the week a bit better than what I was using. I'll at least keep myself accountable on some semblance of posting weekly round-up sorta things. I'm sure I'll get to general running bitchery at some point as well.<br />
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<b><u>Week 1 - September 8-14, 33 miles</u></b><br />
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<b>Monday AM - 3 miles, 8:30 pace. Stretch, Myrtl. Tennis in the evening.</b><br />
Still feeling off from a warm Thursday 5k and an aimless easy eight miles on Sunday, so I decided to keep it easy. Dark and cool morning. Making me look forward to fall.<br />
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<b>Tuesday Evening - 7x400, give or take a minute rest in between. </b><br />
2 1/2 mile warm up<br />
1:34, 1:30, 1:32, 1:30, 1:35, 1:35, 1:31<br />
2 1/2 cool down<br />
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Would have driven had I gone in the morning, but laziness prevailed and went to the Concordia track for the first time this year on foot. Probably for the better to be honest, as the warm up (at about 8:30 pace, it always amazes me how different the same pace feels at different times of day) felt like the perfect length to get blood flowing, head in the right place mentally after a crap work day and muscles warm, instead of feeling like the first few intervals were still part of the warm up process.<br />
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Dodged a few charmers who didn't quite understand walking on a track in the inner lanes protocol, but felt pretty good and controlled throughout. Felt like I still had some in the tank instead of totally spent, which confuses me.<br />
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<div>
As I left the track, someone from within a group that was starting to warm up called out "great run, Ragnar girl!" Took me an embarrassing long time to realize this was in reference to my shirt. Guess I forgot that other runners are aware of races. I run alone too much.<br />
<br />
<b>Wednesday Evening - 3.5, 8:05 pace. Stretch, Myrtl.</b><br />
<br />
<b>Thursday Evening - 4.8, 8:36 pace. Stretch. </b><br />
Was contemplating taking the day off, went out on a whim. First late(r) evening run in the dark, took a bit to get my old eyes adjusted.<br />
<br />
Had been toying with the notion of registering for a nearby/low-fi/low-cost (the greatest race triumvirate, really), and with my new schedule calling for a tempo run on Thursday, I rationally signed up, opting for a speedier Saturday.<br />
<br />
<b>Friday - Off. </b><br />
I'll probably play off days by ear, either taking things off completely, opting for a good stretch or getting in some rowing when feeling antsy.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Saturday AM - <a href="http://racetime.info/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Makin-Tracks-5K-Age-Group-Results.htm#14">Makin' Tracks 5k</a>: 22:05 (7:05 pace).</b><br />
Fourth lady, 2nd in my old person age group (27th overall, super tiny race). I don't think I'll wax on the effort more than this: It's a benchmark.<br />
<br />
<b>Sunday AM - 90 minutes (11.32 miles, 7:57 pace).</b><br />
The long runs within this training build up are based on time, which is fine by me. The way some of the days are set up are what good ol' Hal labels as 3/1, with the first three quarters at a decent clip and the final portion at an increased pace, near race pace.<br />
<br />
Was planning on heading to a forest preserve for unimpeded milage, but I slept through my alarm and frustratedly took to the streets of OP/FP/RF with a Clif Bar in my gut. I've had a lot more success kind of dialing in to a consistent pace once I find a groove during my long runs this year compared to last, so I liked how it felt today for an easier long effort. I'm also getting better paying attention to form and actually feel like running, compared to more shuffling. <br />
<br />
First six: 8:28, 8:08, 8:07, 8:02, 8:05, 8:05<br />
Last five: 7:48, 7:41, 7:41, 7:31, 7:39, 2:40 .32 (crossing Oak Park is the worst)<br />
<br />
More to come.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-58154265289853241512014-06-24T15:15:00.000-05:002014-06-24T15:18:10.570-05:00New Age GroupI tweeted the following babble yesterday (which you already knew because you are fresh on all things me, I'm CERTAIN), because no matter how stark or sad, it has felt true.<br />
<br />
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
Strongly considering running Grandmas in '15; b/c a marathon sounds less daunting than seeing how fast I can be at 5k.<br />
— Zoe Kind (@zoeakind) <a href="https://twitter.com/zoeakind/statuses/481169147095973889">June 23, 2014</a></blockquote>
<br />
Seriously. The notion of going out and running 26+ miles sounds like a better use of my running time/prowess/competitiveness/whateverness. Gross. Gross! Such mental midgetry. After work yesterday, I started to write on fearfulness, of goals becoming unnerving and questioning how to combat that which gets us off course...and it was unsatisfying, repetitive. Felt like a dead end. So I pushed the computer aside, laced up my shoes and went out for a soupy few miles under the early evening sun.<br />
<br />
Took it intentionally easy as I've taken some time off this month to cross train, rest up my tight hip and mentally realign heading into whatever lies ahead. At least until the final mile, passing through the final point where I get stopped by a light and intersection. For lack of a better and crass-free qualifier, I fucking destroyed it, dipping into the 6:20s for the final half mile+.<br />
<br />
It felt good-- no. If it makes me a wanker to say it, so be it, but it felt right to be moving that quickly. I closed my final relay leg earlier this month at sub seven minute pace, mainly because I really wanted to be done and had limited concept of pace or time at that point in the journey, but afterwards while looking over my watch data, I wasn't that surprised. Ability doesn't fade, but when fear interjects....it's rough to right the ship back where it belongs.<br />
<br />
Closed out the final run of my 20s the way I was too cowardly to run for the portion of the decade that I actually ran. And instead of feeling dour and down about time lost and wasted, I felt amped that I have that gear, and that to me, running fast is fun. Enlightening. Self-contained adrenaline was exciting to possess once again, if only for a short while. I want more.<br />
<br />
Taking a conservative approach in my training shouldn't have made me afraid or undeserving to run fast. Tampered my ability to race intelligently. Seep into other pieces of my being. That changes, because the year is halfway over and too many goals are going to fall short if I don't do something now.<br />
<br />
Don't have all the pieces in place but I know two of 'em:<br />
<br />
-Run more 5k (and shorter! looking at you, opportunities on the track and road mile) races.<br />
-Never feel tentative to go after what matters.<br />
<br />
No more repeating mistakes, I'm in a new age bracket after all. What comes next: building a base starts this week for the next some odd weeks. Then we see what we can do this fall. Probably the best birthday gift I can provide.<br />
<br />
<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-77890448267057141372014-06-09T22:37:00.001-05:002014-06-09T22:37:22.301-05:00The Stars Belong To Everyone <div class="MsoNormal">
Per my Garmin, I set out for 5.28 miles in Oak Creek,
Wisconsin at 2:56 in the morning this past Saturday. I ran almost seven miles a
few hours prior, before the sun began to set Friday evening, and would go on to
cap off my first Ragnar Relay with a four-ish mile jaunt in the North Shore,
along the Metra line. I know where Ravinia is now. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The greatest appeal of signing up for a relay with strangers
was the chance to run at night. Because you cling to my every word, I mentioned
in my last post that I was initially kind of bummed that my second leg was
slated for around 4:30 a.m. or thereabouts, which wouldn’t have been anything
special given my early morning 4 a.m. efforts on a daily basis last year. But
you knew that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My team’s starting time was changed to 90 minutes earlier
than originally scheduled, and a late substitute in the days leading up shifted
my projected start time for around 3:30 in the morning. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Folks were swift for leg number two, and time was made up in
the darkness. So off I went, illuminated (safety first, folks).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iiRHb-BZ2kg/U5Z6rHi7BeI/AAAAAAAAAfc/RqOMwwFkbe8/s1600/10441247_10152087933155738_3013041350236537128_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iiRHb-BZ2kg/U5Z6rHi7BeI/AAAAAAAAAfc/RqOMwwFkbe8/s1600/10441247_10152087933155738_3013041350236537128_n.jpg" height="320" width="267" /></a></div>
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Fun fact: I bought a child's headlamp. It has robots on the band. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The early morning summer chill was all encompassing, notable
in comparison to the harsh heat of leg one, the warmth overwhelming my yet to
acclimate senses because I’m a delicate flower. Wasn’t feeling all that great,
but set out conservatively so as to not keel over and succumb to the wilds of
suburban Milwaukee. After an exchange with the runner prior to me in a parking
lot, I ran along a nondescript sidewalk before heading onto an asphalt bike
path.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tanget!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I ran the Madison half last fall, which meant I was in
Wisconsin. One of the few people I know who hails from Wisconsin, someone I
would consider exceedingly Wisconin-esque, was an old colleague of a friend
named Carl. In my mind while in town for the half marathon, everyone in the
state of Wisconsin looked like Carl. For reference, Carl looks pretty damn similar
to former Badger basketball player <a href="http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/jared_berggren_405958.html">Jared Berggren</a>, albeit much smaller and not as skilled at basketball. So, as
any logical person would, I referred to Berggren as 'Mega Carl' while watching
painfully low-scoring Big Ten Basketball. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Why bring this up? Ah, well in my ridiculous, rather
sleep-deprived mind, this is what I envision Slenderman looking like. Not
some faceless thing, but a hulking giant Wisconsin-looking white guy, lurking
in the bushes. Mega Carls EVERYWHERE. BEHIND EVERY SHRUBBERY. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qg7GPg-hvUs/U5Z6czVmkPI/AAAAAAAAAfU/ULGZtXSNkc4/s1600/megacarl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qg7GPg-hvUs/U5Z6czVmkPI/AAAAAAAAAfU/ULGZtXSNkc4/s1600/megacarl.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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This got weird fast. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The requirement of a headlamp at night was a new experience
to quickly adjust to, as I’ve only previously run with one held in my hand or
just gone with a flashlight (or in all honesty, nothing at all). It was a bit
jarring at first as the light created a halo effect and created an odd tunnel
vision of sorts, as it grew darker in a hurry. So as the hazy yellow glow from
the street lamps on the sidewalk dissipated behind me as I trudged onward into
the unlit darkness of the paved path…my senses heightened pretty fast. Being
tired and feeling sickly earlier didn’t matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was a fellow runner off ahead of me by maybe no more than 500 feet
(I eventually passed them---or rather KILLED THEM, a relay mark of pride,
nothing more---within a half mile), known by the presence of the required
taillight, there’s a blinking red beacon within sight. And as my vision
adjusted to my surroundings, that was it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Except for two shining eyes staring at me from not that far
off the path. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Takes a tired brain a bit longer to process things. In the
span of about 30 feet, my mind went from “Oh, its just the reflection off of a
metal sign or utility box” to “nope, that isn’t metallic” to “OH SWEET BLOODY
FUCK DON’T MURDER ME” as I sped up and past what I realized was a deer. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I run by deer all the time. River Forest abuts a large
forest preserve off the Des Plaines River, and given that I run near dawn or
closer to dusk, they are there. But never before has a deer terrified me so. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I sped up. And kept it up. It felt invigorating to move
quickly after feeling so crappy and under slept, and eventually fearful for my
life, if only for a foolish moment. The elite teams start much later in the
day, and I was past by a few squads moving very quickly on that leg (the
winning team averaged 5:51 pace, they weren’t fucking around). Those teams made
me want to move quickly, too. The asphalt path transitioned into a crushed
limestone trail with a noticeable amount of more people to speed past. My eyes
finally adjusted and it seemed like the moon reflected off the ground as my
legs whipped and churned the cool air as I went by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My turnover was phenomenal, nothing hurt. I
was loving feeling so physically in control. A few final turns and I came to
the exchange point, handing off a slap bracelet to the next runner. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But even though I was moving quickly and confidently, I took
it in. Because shit, I got to run at a ridiculous hour and saw the stars in a
way you don’t see every day. Saw a shooting star at the 12<sup>th</sup>
exchange while everyone else was staring at his or her phones (I’d be totally
guilty of this too if it weren’t for a complete lack of service throughout the
first 60% of the trip, thanks Obama *<b>I don’t actually mean this</b>*). Isn't this what the winter makes us grateful for?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I’ll wax more on the silliness and the camaraderie facet of
this trip later, as well as the experience as a whole, but I wanted to write something
new, previously inexperienced while it is still fresh in my tattered brain.
Everything I write about always ties back to a past experience. Can't say that about those stars. <o:p></o:p></div>
zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-71852149032748621142014-06-05T21:09:00.000-05:002014-06-05T21:09:50.695-05:00Precursory Thoughts On A Relay <div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Got back from a jaunt to Target last night and laid out all my wares on the counter like a kid with a semi-disappointing Halloween haul (<i>“Beech Nut gum and no full sized anything? Aww...”</i>). Nothing I suppose out of the ordinary; snacky bits and various accoutrements, side-by-side with a pile reflective stuff and a collective heap of dry-fit shirts to sort through and select. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>“This is a weird thing I am doing.”</i></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are a few things going on in this moment near the kitchen. For starters, I am horrible when it comes to packing. An attempt to be better at such, be more thoughtful and not leaving it until the last moment so as not to intrude on space, is nothing more than fantastically awkward. Newborn baby foal awkward. I rarely pre-plan outfits, much less shove ‘em into big freezer bags.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Secondly, and probably the driving facet of this evening’s noise, is anxiously second-guessing my desires to try something rather different. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m going off to spend 30-something hours in a van with people I don’t know, all in the name of running a relay. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a very weird thing. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Running is an inherently personal, selfish me thing. Still don’t consider myself a morning person (conversely, I am in denial with how bloody early I go to bed these days. Sorry, 20 year old me, couldn’t keep it going forever. Also: lots of unanticipated things in life will happen, we drink coffee now and went back to being blonde. I know, right? Shibity...), but I like nothing more than to get up and start my day with a few miles, think things over as the sun grows, not get sprayed by a skunk or what have you. If I see people, some acknowledge with a nod or a word in the brief moment as we pass by each other, others don't, but on we both go. I like the quiet nature of my neck o’ the woods, being privy to what’s out there before the rest of the world wakes up to eventually shat all over everything. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But races (like speed work) don’t possess the same solitary quality, at least not any more. It’s nice to be told you are missed for a workout and be someone to push someone else. There’s something to be said about the camaraderie of a bunch of people waiting in a corral. Being part of a group, sporting a club logo. Transferring that pre-race nervous energy into a pleasant conversation with someone on a shuttle heading to the starting line. Or someone having your sweaty back and commiserating on that slow, agonizing shuffle somewhere ( dear god, anywhere) after a crappy effort.</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’ve always had a squishy soft spot for the relay, originating from high school. Four legs, each with a different piece of the process--lead things off, maintain, keep contact or expand the lead, bring it home. It didn’t hurt that the longer distance teams were comprised of pretty excellent people, too.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bYSGvoEU98k/U5Ehqbqj6NI/AAAAAAAAAe0/aBu0AiyWbhA/s1600/photo+(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bYSGvoEU98k/U5Ehqbqj6NI/AAAAAAAAAe0/aBu0AiyWbhA/s1600/photo+(12).JPG" height="320" width="301" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BLiTXTvtpWU/U5Ehqe9_h9I/AAAAAAAAAew/PoqtKa0pFdM/s1600/photo+(13).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BLiTXTvtpWU/U5Ehqe9_h9I/AAAAAAAAAew/PoqtKa0pFdM/s1600/photo+(13).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">Throwback Thursday </span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 11.5px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Click-bait</span><span style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.15; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span></i></span></span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Confidence and the notion of responsibility, hell-- throw leadership in there, too---grew from that team facet within a very individualized sport, so the idea of being able to do such in a different realm as an “adult” (questionable, Kind) has always been of interest. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the opportunity arose back in the winter to be part of a team for Ragnar this weekend, I went for it, joining a group through a contact within my running club. “What the hell,” I thought. “If I don’t like it, at least I’ll have the experience to know that I don’t like it with people I don’t really have preexisting relationships with, so it is what it is. And if I do, well.”</span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Could get worked up over the unknown, which is a lot. I have no idea what to anticipate. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I mean my god, what if these people don’t like my Simpsons references? What if my leg falls off? Sleep has been elusive as of late, so how badly (or easily) can I doze off while not driving a van? </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m in the second van, which is composed of the 7th through 12th runners as both vans of six kinda leapfrog each other throughout the course which starts in Madison and meanders east then south to Chicago, finishing in the afternoon on Saturday. I am looking forward to my second leg of a bit over five miles, which will fall somewhere in the middle of the night in south suburban Milwaukee. </span></div>
<b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As predicted times ebb and flow based on total pace or shifts in the 12-person team, weather, errant bear attack, etc., I was initially kind of bummed when I saw a start time of around 4:30a. My initial mental response? “Well that’s no fun, I used to be up at 4a to run last summer.” You know, because rational folks want to run earlier. I actually thought (think) that was part of the appeal. </span></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here goes nothing. Or something. I may be tweeting things intermittently, or throwing random stuff up here or elsewhere as things unfold. We shall see. Until later. </span>zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-72517043914363268962014-05-25T14:32:00.001-05:002014-05-25T14:37:36.873-05:00Not The Target Demographic/Race vs. Active-Participant Event<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pyZqy7Pgxro/U4JDruWhHmI/AAAAAAAAAeU/3hH7NsQYZBM/s1600/photo+(11).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pyZqy7Pgxro/U4JDruWhHmI/AAAAAAAAAeU/3hH7NsQYZBM/s1600/photo+(11).JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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I never titled my short pieces in college, which seemed to
bother my English professors something fierce. Made little sense to go into
something with a title already in mind, and if nothing jumped out at me once I
was done, it felt forced or cheesy to slap something on just to do so. Now I
seem to suffer too frequently from multiple options. Meh, so I put ‘em both up
there. Democratic bloggery: you decide, I don’t want to.</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Another week, another questionable decision in the form of
the Soldier Field 10 Miler. Same spiel as last week’s 10k: the early morning
grumble, trying to figure out how to fuel effectively, the pre-race
contemplation of everything centered around “Why am I doing this?” and so
on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First time I’ve done this one on my
lonesome, as it wasn’t a CARA circuit race this year (more on this later) and
as previously babbled about, don’t really work with folks interested in fitness
as was previously the case.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Related, I’m
a hermit with no friends interested in running. No bother, just meant I listened
to increasingly embarrassing music on my drive in while dropping Cheerios
everywhere.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Given my inconsistent build-up in the past two months, can’t
complain about my outcome. Gravitated to the 1:15 pacers, because I was
blissfully unaware of them existing until earlier this week while skimming the
event guide, so that seemed like a solid idea. Clicked off 7:30s through mile
7, then…didn’t. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YqEUv3aIUTU/U4JDnIChUUI/AAAAAAAAAeM/piP3g8P7nEI/s1600/Splits.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YqEUv3aIUTU/U4JDnIChUUI/AAAAAAAAAeM/piP3g8P7nEI/s1600/Splits.png" /></a></div>
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I look at that and cringe, but I've crashed harder and frequently, so it goes. I don’t know if it was an energy thing, probably a mental
block I struggle to admit thing or just leaning hard on that crutch of I
haven’t run eight miles since…sheesh, the end of March, but the slow-down
happened and I was ok with it (as much as I can be). I could have battled a bit
more for a few seconds faster come the finish, but I didn’t really feel like a head-down
struggle and actually took in the lakefront scenery. Hey, that skyline is
pretty sweet. Wouldn’t have known otherwise.<o:p></o:p></div>
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According to my Garmin stats, I went through 6.21 faster
than I ran my 10k in last week by over 20 seconds, so the trend continues on.
Bully for me? Sigh. So goes on my successive PR streak, 43 seconds quicker than
last year. Stubbornness begets strength begets speed begets endurance. I’d like
to change that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-umMqcDoE-9M/U4JDkBQLHtI/AAAAAAAAAeE/uHQdD5hYpB4/s1600/10M+Finish.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-umMqcDoE-9M/U4JDkBQLHtI/AAAAAAAAAeE/uHQdD5hYpB4/s1600/10M+Finish.png" height="173" width="320" /></a></div>
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Perhaps the most notably strange component of the race from
a sheer observational standpoint was near mile 7 or 8, where the DJ facing
towards the masses in the early miles of the course (for those unfamiliar,
consider it a close to out and back course, with slight variation in the first
mile+) started to play one of the most melancholy <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcASPx3-HuI">Coldplay</a> songs
imaginable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought maybe I was
imagining it, but no. That was selectively being blasted for those just getting
out on the course a shade past 8a. Was no standard-issue Black Eyed Peas song
available? Crowd support is one of those funny things for me that’s nice or
super irritating, but for someone perhaps running in this thing as a big
build-up event of excitement and pony-rainbows of accomplishment, I can’t
imagine hearing that with eight-ish miles remaining and in any way being SUPER
AMPED TO RUN MORE. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
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(Hey hey, semi-focused purpose that correlates to the theme presented in the title only 560-someodd words in!
Gotta be a record.)<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I was walking back to my car, past the music and the beer
and the post-race festivity, I couldn’t help but think about whom all that was
for, as it certainly wasn’t for me, a salt-stained curmudgeon who wasn’t
satisfied with a PR and just wanted breakfast. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I signed up for this back in October with aspirations of a
sub 70 minute finish on a course of which I was familiar and knew was pretty
flat, and I don’t know what my 70$ got me beyond sounding really snotty in saying that "it went ok, even though I PR'd." Yesterday, I ended up the 175th lady
out of over female 7,000 finishers. Did they get what they wanted out of it
all? <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I appreciated the service members who placed the medal
around my neck at the 80-yard line on Soldier Field, but I take those right off
and they end up…somewhere. A race shirt unremarkable, a post-race goodie bag
with a banana, so all the mini other offerings smell like that foul fruit. Race
photos don’t serve as some sort of desirable memento$ of my accomplishment, as
I look at them and they only reiterate how nippily I am throughout the course
of the course. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Ah, so that’s what my
sweat pattern around my chest looks like, neat!”</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe this rant is compounded by my baffled reaction to
seeing that a late summer half marathon, put on by the same folks as this
event, is already 90$ dollars to enter. Nine Zero. I don’t like paying more
than 60$ for a half, and was a bit uncomfortable entering this 10 Miler for 65$
(plus processing), but did so out of strange goals and…tradition? Don’t think
it will be in my 2015 plans. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’d love if my entry fee was transparent and I knew how much
it cost to run on Lake Shore Drive NOT next to oncoming traffic. I’m happy to
pay for that and if that’s why the entry cost rises, so be it. Not quite sure
what else would serve to satisfy, though.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Guess the takeaway questions become what is the comfortable
price point for an experience, and when does it stop being about a race? I
wonder if that factored in to it not being on the CARA circuit (I doubt it, but
could be wrong). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not interested in the mud/foam/pit of
doom/color/princess/obstacle anything ventures all over the place, and if you
are, I salute you. They look like fun. I want a cotton shirt, a safe clean
course and maybe a bagel (but there are no decent bagels anywhere to be found
so maybe not). Damnit, the allure of lo-fi, no frills races from the days of
yore, not even MY yore, make me feel like an old man. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Had a day to chew on things, and I’m slightly disinterested
in signing up for anything over the next six to eight weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Given what I’ve done in the past two races
makes me pretty excited to build towards a solid fall effort, but I’m just a
bit race sour at the moment. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve actually been thinking I may take that un-spent race money
and put it towards a coach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know, so
I can stop writing about running like an idiot. But for now, look for more
thoughts on training, getting back on the track this week (yay SPEEDWORK!) and
this relay thing in two weeks. <o:p></o:p></div>
zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-79892996403407813172014-05-18T22:43:00.000-05:002014-05-18T22:43:11.260-05:00Dumb Runner Brain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I usually take a few days to chew on a race result, mulling
it over and maybe writing something overtly verbose and boring…but enough is
enough. Lets just see what transpires here and now, shall we?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Entered the week with a feline (felinine? Creative LICENCE!)
level of indifference to the race that loomed, the Chicago Spring ½ and 10k. I
haven’t been feeling that up for such, due in part to a lousy spring and oh,
kind of important--I thought I severely hurt my foot. Like fractured it level
of hurt, which cost me a cautious few weeks of non-running and a pair of DNS (the
Lakefront 10 miler and a half marathon in Kenosha), which bummed me out. Even
though I know it was the smart choice, lest my potential injury be severe, it’s
still not a road race action I care to revive. No worries, turns out its JUST
tendonitis that seems (knock on wood, preferably a wooden pencil, which I will
pick up with my toes ad nauseam) to be on the mend. I also did not pay for my
entry into the 10k, due to magic. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I didn’t go with my “lucky” anything, didn’t do any
meticulous night before race rituals. I ate gravy last night (it was
delicious). Didn’t even pack my backpack. It was just a thing I was going to go
do and be done with it.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So I did that thing where you curse the heavens that granted
you the ability to get up at an early hour, prep in your own special way, and go
on your way towards similarly minded fools. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I ran an incredibly stupid 10k this morning. I haven’t raced
or run with quickness on my brain since my 5k to open the year back in early
April. And yet hubris lines up, anyway. I arrived and met up with an old
colleague, as I picked up his race bib for him due to convenience. We walked from
the parking lot, arrived to the park where the race festivities were
transpiring and that buzz of energy of excitement and nervousness made its
presence known. It gets me every time I intend to “take things easy.” Aww,
5:30am self. Cute. Nice try. That never happens. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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I ran a dumb race this morning. I took things out quickly
after waiting around a bit too long (sorry, but it should not take 40 minutes
to get 4,004 half marathon participants out on the unmanaged lakefront trail,
race management---good luck with those 15,000+ runners in your <a href="http://www.chicagohalfmarathon.com/">half marathon</a> this fall! I won’t
miss that cluster, opting for Fort2Base and a later half instead) because of
the joy I feel in pushing myself…and lets be honest, that usually transforms
into “go out hard, die HARDER.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I went through the 5k in 22:34. Ran a 22:39 on the pretty
much flat and completely unimpeded Race That’s Good for Life course in April. I
hit the 4-mile mark faster than I ever have raced a 4-mile event by over 30
seconds, and ran a 38 second PR in the 10k.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I’m an asshole. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Did I maintain composure in the second half? Oh god, no. My
form held pretty well which was nice. I just ceased moving at my initial pace.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But damn if that hubris didn’t flair up as a girl passed me
right before mile 6…so I stuck with her and hammered the last .2 to the finish.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WEqrD__9LT8/U3l7iaB4zDI/AAAAAAAAAdg/F22rANlEuNY/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-05-18+at+6.21.45+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WEqrD__9LT8/U3l7iaB4zDI/AAAAAAAAAdg/F22rANlEuNY/s1600/Screen+shot+2014-05-18+at+6.21.45+PM.png" height="197" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<expletive> What an asshole.<o:p></o:p></expletive></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Maybe it is as simplistic a notion of it actually being 90%
mental. Perhaps I am overwhelmingly stubborn and will myself to move quickly in
a race setting (actually, this is not a perhaps statement) no matter the lack
of miles or training to my legs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever it may be, it’s nice to know that
dumb runner brain is there when I need it most. And I’ll need it over the next
two weekends, with the Solider Field 10 Miler (will my PR streak be in jeopardy?
) followed by my first Ragnar relay from Madison to Chicago. Perhaps I'll even write about it. <o:p></o:p></div>
zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-66618408596740814312014-02-18T22:13:00.002-06:002014-02-18T22:21:07.608-06:00Why I Like Running In The Winter And Dislike Your Incessant, Ninny Bitch Moaning Regarding The Cold<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">Is this even worth typing,
given the soupy mess that currently surrounds the better part of Chicago? Dare
I taunt the weather, risk bringing forth the next </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">Arctic</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> Blas(t)phemy to our
wintered state?</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While walking to lunch with
some of my coworkers last week, the joy of running and races rose to the
surface of conversation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;">An aside, because I am really solid when it comes to tangents: I am incredibly
stilted in my understanding of the populous of the working world, given my
earlier career exploits surrounded by people who considered
health/wellness/fitness (and the competitive notion) something of importance.
Everyone is entitled to the lifestyle of their choosing or something as equally polite-sounding, but sedentary and </span><span style="font-size: 15px;">sizable</span><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"> isn’t for me. I can’t comprehend
walking down the hallway causing someone to be short of breath, yet I see this
daily. Last week, office wellness statistics rated 64% of employees at my 90-person organization to be overweight, 33% of which were classified as obese.
Eeeks. So it’s good to know that there are people in proximity who enjoy being active
in the face of many whom equally don’t comprehend any sort of fitness or the actions such entail. For
example, I was sent this visual tidbit earlier today as I enjoy getting out and walking around the Loop during lunch. Guh..faw?</span></span></i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><i><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></span></i></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHMnBr_Nvek/UwQlpnChylI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/BsdTDr2bFWY/s1600/Walk+Around+the+Block.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oHMnBr_Nvek/UwQlpnChylI/AAAAAAAAAbQ/BsdTDr2bFWY/s1600/Walk+Around+the+Block.png" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I feel that someone dropped the ball by not forcibly including a Cathy comic with this visual. <br />
And probably a bowl of candy.</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;">Anyway. When someone
mentioned distain of the cold weather and reliance on a treadmill during these
winter months, I made the saddest of faces (go back and read some of my poorly
written entries on why I don’t run on a treadmill from a few years ago). Then I
went and ate a sandwich. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt;">Wait, no – that isn’t the point of this entry. And it wasn’t
that good a sandwich to ruminate over.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was asked why I enjoy cold,
slick, icy, snowy running, and I surprised myself, shifting away from a near
boilerplate response of “Midwestern, Character-Building, Mental Toughness, Its Always
Colder Somewhere Else” babble. I still believe all that, to be fair. But I
finally vocalized it in an oddly succinct manner, which I will now painfully
drag out in the written form. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the midst of a sub-zero
six miler last Monday night, I was struck by the level of focus that running in
the wintery cold requires. Can’t really put your head down and go, close out
the excess of the world around you (which is exactly what my colleague said
they enjoyed about headphones on the treadmill). Be it careless automotive efforts that you cannot
control, planning how to launch over a sizable snow pile, keeping an eye out
for impending slick spots of icy doom. Even knowledgeably layering, thinking about
the direction of the wind or where snowplows have or haven’t yet appeared (looking at you, River
Forest). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">These runs in the colder
elements are not thoughtless efforts.</span></div>
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<span style="background: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I think for me, a presence of clarity
arises from these jaunts that feels different than just a normal, feet on the
pavement effort. I feel mentally alert and fresher afterwards, ripe with stupid things to tweet--and it comes as no surprise that there is a correlation betwix <a href="http://runningmagazine.ca/regular-activity-can-spark-creativity/">fitness and creativity</a>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Briefly mentioned it in my overview of 2013, but I decided to run a half marathon at a state park whilst under the weather. At a bit past mile two, I was flustered and frustrated as I just felt unhappy that it wasn't going to be my day. So I stopped and gave myself about thirty yards to walk and figure out what I wanted to do. I decided that instead of keeping my head down and feel awful for another 10ish miles, I slowed down, kept my head up and took in the scenery around me on a hilly training run. It was the right decision, an odd and cathartic thing for me to do, but there is something to be said of those people we pass by who keep focus on the ground/locked in a 100-yard stare off into the distance, or those who keep their heads up and see what surrounds us. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px;">IS THIS LOOKING UP AND DOWN NONSENSE A METAPHOR FOR POSITIVITY? WELL SHIT. I need to wrap this up. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">I've encountered ridiculously pleasant and talkative people while out on colder days, people who wouldn't have noticed me or had nothing to say if not for looking up at a stop light, crossing over the highway or while walking the dog near a park. Uh. Yeah...Dogs!</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-OwiH_4qLw/UwQsiqWRsOI/AAAAAAAAAbg/lTdH7YrzpbI/s1600/20140217_171338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L-OwiH_4qLw/UwQsiqWRsOI/AAAAAAAAAbg/lTdH7YrzpbI/s1600/20140217_171338.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are my mom's canines. But they don't care for your moaning, either.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">I think it's kind of cool to have one of these historic winters as an experience to reference down the road. Sorry baby boomers, your '67 Blizzard stories just don't hold water anymore. So take it all in for what it's worth, but I swear if you bemoan the humidity and warmth of the summer, so help me. </span></span></span></div>
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zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-67515779805305304292014-02-10T18:34:00.000-06:002014-02-10T18:34:48.522-06:00About Me<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I created the sub-sections of this page (photos, contact me, etc.) within the last two weeks, and absent-mindedly never really put anything on them. I’ve slowly starting to flesh them out one by one, but the most viewed ‘About Me’ page remains blank. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">This void, combined with the fact that it currently is 80 degrees (so says my rowing machines thermometer on its display, its greatest feature as I rarely use it) in my apartment as air flow isn’t transpiring (such is the life of a loft) and the AC refuses to exist, my mind is slightly gooey and unable to produce a new topic for this evening, so I’ll cathartically tackle that section. Hmm, so where to begin…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">It shouldn’t be so difficult to wax poetic on oneself, but it’s hard starting at the beginning. Back then, there was always running. I started running with my mom in my early youth (around age four) and apparently pouted my way through the process of varying races in the suburban Chicago countryside. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A3puPWaQz5s/TcteMsFS54I/AAAAAAAAAJw/UaaiP9djXPg/s1600/img127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A3puPWaQz5s/TcteMsFS54I/AAAAAAAAAJw/UaaiP9djXPg/s320/img127.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The </span><a href="http://www.brookfieldzoo.org/CZS/zoorunrun" style="font-family: inherit;">Brookfield Zoo Run Run</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> was a mainstay on the Kind running </span>circuit in the velvet hat era<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">.</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Fun fact: my favorite color is blue. Why are my mom's shoelaces yellow?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I remember that race, circa 1993. I was in third grade, and (probably by default) earned an age group award for my efforts at the Indian Boundary YMCA 5k. I was so damn proud of my accomplishments that I wrapped the light yellow tassel attached to my red ribbon around my wrist and wore it to school the following day. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I can recall always doing well in the gym class runs out on the field of my elementary school, looping out and around the metal backstop of an arbitrary baseball field out on the playground and back to the stereotypically masculine lady gym teacher. I wasn’t the fastest, but I beat some of the more popular girls. I was a tomboy and got picked to play kickball with the boys when no other girls did. Thus started my notion of being a fearless competitor.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">With my older sister devoid of height (and I not much taller), potential athletic endeavors were limited to the sisters Kind, save joining the all-accepting cross country/track team in junior high. I followed in my sisters footsteps at my mom’s urging and even in my baby fat-filled, sub five foot tall days, found slight success in running 1.5 mile races or 800/mile ventures on the track.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Moving on to high school, my freshman year saw me as one of the better members of the freshman/sophomore squad. Between the middle of eighth grade until a year later in HS, I grew about six inches and shed easily 20 pounds of that aforementioned baby fat. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From that point on, I committed fully to being a runner: mentally, physically, emotionally. If cross country/track athletes could be considered jocks at a high school that loved football, I certainly was. My dream was to qualify for the Olympics. I moved up to being one of the top five-six runners on the team in my first two years of school, and improved immensely my junior year, becoming the team’s top runner. I upped the ante the summer before my junior year of setting a goal for myself to qualify for state, and had a breakout track season that year, serving as the anchor runner of the 4x8 relay that qualified for state after winning the 800 and mile at conference, both indoors and out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">While I found more success in track, my love was the uneven rustic nature of cross country. One of the greatest races of my life fell at the Niles West sectional as a senior, where after placing 10<sup>th</sup> at the regional, I <a href="http://www.ihsa.org/activity/ccg/2001-02/ccg5023.htm">finished seventh</a> amidst some pretty heavy competition, leading the whole team to qualify for state, an appearance where I wet the bed and faltered in my attempt to earn All-State accolades in my final race at Detwiller Park . <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I began seriously discussing college possibilities with various coaches and teams around this time, which continued on through the spring during track season. I turned down scholarship offers to attend the best school I was accepted to academically in Miami University, meeting with the coach who would allow me to join the team as a walk-on. The lure of photos of All-Americans on his walls that entered school with my own meek PRs at the time was too great. I wanted to wear a uniform and represent at team and get up on that wall. I could feel it being a very real possibility. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After concluding my high school career as an all-state athlete in the 4x8 as well as qualifying individually in the mile (a race that people I bump into when back home still bring up nearly a decade later, akin to how people in Texas ruminate over championship football games from the days of yore), the summer prior to my freshman year of college saw my feet begin to falter. After bashing the inside of my foot into the edge of the sidewalk during a run while still in high school (I fell off while talking about sex with my teammates, go figure), it became painful to run, hindering my ability to train. Presumed to have a stress fracture upon arriving to Miami, the coach didn’t want me until “I was up to par with his program” (a stinging phrase that really hurt at 18 and perpetually rings in the back of my mind) and it became painful merely walking around the campus I wanted to compete for. I almost failed out of school due to the intense discomfort paired with the loss of my competitive running, my sense of self. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I returned home at fall break and was diagnosed with accessory navicular, or an extra piece of bone present in my feet. Its rare occurrence (only 10% of the population has such) was known upon hitting the edge of that sidewalk, seriously aggravating the tendons keeping my feet together. I had this piece of bone removed from each foot in the summer of 2003. </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HbnG-gO8u5E/Tctc-MChaQI/AAAAAAAAAJo/un1ON5BwDA4/s1600/foot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HbnG-gO8u5E/Tctc-MChaQI/AAAAAAAAAJo/un1ON5BwDA4/s320/foot.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: xx-small;">Faint and hard to see via my iPhone's camera, but the inch-long scar remains. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Various bouts of physical therapy over the next few years never really helped. My stride and gait completely changed and I lost all fitness, not to mention my etched in stone sense of self.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Fast forward a few years, as not much transpired in between the conclusion of college and present day – athletically speaking. With minimal preparation, I’ve run in a few races, but not like I want to—I’m not competing, just a member of the masses. I felt like things were slowly coming together in the spring of 2010 before getting derailed by the presence of a bone chip, floating by my ankle. I signed up for the 2010 Chicago Marathon but couldn’t get past training runs of 15 miles during the summer due to a mental blockage. As I type this, I’m a few weeks from the Solder Field 10 miler, and I’m highly under prepared. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I’m tired of that reasoning following each attempt. This isn’t me. I prided myself on smart tactics and sheer ballsy racing, something still stuck in my brain from nearly 10 years ago, left untouched as I barely go out and hit the pavement on a daily basis, for whatever excuse or reason. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The purpose of this place is to focus my competitive athletic efforts back to a place that I’m happy with, even if it’s not at the same level I left off at when I was 18 and healthy. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">That being said, there is the ultimate goal of running an official sub five minute mile once in my existence before speed is totally void in my legs (I know it’s still there. I can feel it). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Hmm, so I’m putting that goal out there into the ether. Oh well, now all that’s left to do is get after it. I’ll let you know how it goes.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-42505169880129093912014-02-09T21:52:00.000-06:002014-02-09T21:52:08.081-06:00Process<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s never simplistic when it should be. I enjoy writing; on occasion I have even been paid
to do such. I like running, both pertaining to my own journey and that of the
sport.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yet, there is always something more
intertwined into what is (was?) supposed to be my place to madly type away in
regards to training, racing or things running-related. So, this is an attempt
to strip that excess off & out of the effort, see how that feels, and take
it from there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A mistake I constantly made last year was what
I did upon experiencing important moments and milestones that mattered as I
started to race and train with consistency, with a bit of confidence. I’d
write, but what I would do with the output…it didn’t matter. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That changes. Doesn’t matter if you read this
because you know me in some form or fashion, or merely delight in the drifting
anonymity that digital voyeurism provides as you pass by. Either way, welcome. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went
into 2013 with some goals. Let’s see how those worked out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1. Regain moderate sense of fitness & running confidence by
years end.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Indeed, I did. After too many instances of
repetitive, disappointing efforts in the previous few years, I signed up for a
half marathon as a means to see if the interest and focus was still something
within. That certainly served as a nice catalyst in accountability, enjoying a
set routine and challenging myself. I know it led to good things.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2. Be prepared & healthy for every race.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yDD3As3SPj0/UpuZygD6juI/AAAAAAAAAX4/QuM4IAJpUSo/s1600/2013+In+Review.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yDD3As3SPj0/UpuZygD6juI/AAAAAAAAAX4/QuM4IAJpUSo/s1600/2013+In+Review.jpg" height="301" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a dorky thing I made, there is no other means to describe such. I need to work on my captioning skills. </td></tr>
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<b style="background-color: transparent; font-family: inherit;">March O'Madness
1/2 - 1:58:35 (PR)</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Race Thats Good for
Life 5k - 23:10</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Soldier Field 10
Miler - 1:17:23 (PR)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Four on the Fourth 4
Miler - 30:07 (PR)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Run for Walk 4.1
Miles - 30:01 (PR)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Fort2Base 10 Nautical
Miles (11.5 Miles) - 1:34:16 (PR)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Chicago 1/2 -
1:47:00 (PR)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Moraine Run for the
Hills 1/2 - 1:58:02</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Frank Lloyd Wright
10k - 47:22 (PR)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Madison 1/2 -
1:45:19 (PR)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">…Not bad. And while I wasn’t entirely
satisfied with all my efforts because I am ridiculously hard to please and am
constantly forward-thinking, I took something away from each race in a very
new-to-me area of grey beyond good race/bad race, be it enjoying the scenery, camaraderie from fellow
runners, pushing myself or just going after an arbitrary time goal because I'm stupid. That really
was more enjoyable than not racing as I had in 2012. Don’t really feel like
doing a babbling play-by-play of each race, but I’ll touch on a few
momentarily.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3. PR 1/2- marathon by 15 minutes.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>4. PR 10-mi by 9 minutes.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>5. Flirt with 22min 5K.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Time-based goals are tricky bastards, aren’t
they? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Half marathons and I have a very odd,
dysfunctional relationship. I question each time I register for one…yet I ran
four last year. Of the four, each one was so unique an experience, completely
different than the last. March Madness was my first race—that I prepared for,
that I actually was at the starting line for—in a long while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The last time I ran a race of that distance was…2010.
I had to look that up, to be honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In the training miles leading up to March, I wanted
to be out there. I didn’t think I would be ready, but I wanted to prove to
myself that what I wanted still mattered. Probably could have selected a much more
forgiving race, but the drive out to a suburb unknown, the moments of quiet
solitude on the course and feeling humbled by the hills –it was all great. And
invigorating. If not for that first race, I probably wouldn’t have done much
last year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The humidity and a slight case of hubris got
the best of me at the Chicago ½. Under the weather, I made a decision that the
Moraine ½ was going to be an easy training run after realizing it wasn’t going
to be my day, and was treated with discovering the beauty of a state park
previously unknown. Felt like I ran out of gas come November, but once I got
going in Madison, I went for it and closed the year with a PR, only missing my
goal by 20 stinking seconds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Got my PR at the 10-mile distance on a perfectly
cool day in May, largely in part of breaking away from a fear of running with
someone, and finally, oddly enough in hindsight, only raced a single 5k, in
April. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Ran the last 3+ miles of a training run in
mid-fall in upper 21 minutes, so that one doesn’t bother me as much—I
established that possessed the speed, I just never paid for the opportunity to
do it in a race. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A lot happened in 2013, but to pare it down
to a bite-sized nugget of a notion, I got to reap the benefits of caring about
myself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">As for 2014? I know, given the date on the
calendar that this combined recollection/looking at the New Year comes off as a
bit tardy, but the year hasn’t started off all that great. Frailty in the wellbeing
in my family (or lack thereof), saying goodbye to a friend of indescribable
importance, adjusting to a new work environment, apparently it was abnormally
cold out, and hell, my childhood dog died. Been quite a six-week stretch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">(So much for that separation I desired at the
beginning of this.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Like I said, it’s always something. Yet, in
the face of all that is heavy and hard, I’ve got my wits about me. More
importantly, I found a means of crafting balance and control internally. Don’t
think I would have been able to find that if it wasn’t for what running
provides both mentally and physically. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Enough of that. So to more accountability,
here are my goals for 2014. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>1. Write more
frequently.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve been writing a lot, taking advantage of taking off at lunch
and sitting somewhere to scribble. I just fail to take the next step in putting
it out there for eyes and criticism. I’m going to be better about that. I’m
excited about my upcoming training cycle, and I’m figuring out how to write
about it that makes sense to me. Stay tuned. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>2. Become
more competitive in my age group. </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The world tells me I’m on the cusp of a highly notable shift as
I enter my third decade as a person. Hooray? I had four top-10 finishes in my age
groupings last year. Once I get into the 30-34 territory, it’s going to be even
harder, especially for some of the larger races. I’m excited. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>3. Attend one
summer all-comers track meet.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">This is the most foolhardy and more personal of goals I will
openly state, but I’m putting it out there. I cannot wait to race on a track,
even if it means slightly embarrassing myself in the process. Once I stopped allowing the notion of failure in past experiences to define me, failure doesn't really scare me much anymore. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I’ve had these
forever, I got them when my feet were still (for lack of a better term) broken.
I think its time to use them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qJb5qSzRsig/UvhKgBzsC2I/AAAAAAAAAa0/_F8eWIEyW2w/s1600/9Feb2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qJb5qSzRsig/UvhKgBzsC2I/AAAAAAAAAa0/_F8eWIEyW2w/s1600/9Feb2014.jpg" height="273" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In black & white to reduce leg pastyglare. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>4. 8-10 CARA
races (Run DG 5 Miler for the first time in 13 years).</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Still figuring out my schedule, but June 22 in my hometown is in
my sights. Two days before my birthday, no less.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>5. Patiently
build up to prepare for marathon in fall 2014/spring 2015.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s certainly fair to point out that I gave myself some cushioning
in this, and I personally construe that as cheating in a way, but I have a half
marathon benchmark (time withheld) to attain before I go after a
marathon. But I’m letting my Wisconsin Marathon effort in early May dictate if
I sign up for the Monumental Marathon (in Indianapolis) or focus on shorter and
faster efforts for the fall. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>6.Break 20
for 5k, (Current PR 23:10 Lifetime PR: 20:28)<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>7. 67 minute
10 mile (1:17:23 in 2013)<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>8. 1:30 half
(1:45:19 in 2013)</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><br /></b></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Make no little plans. I want to do what I can to stay healthy,
tap in/hone my speed, and have a great year. I firmly believe that ability
never fades. I think it’s time to prove that. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">My running club decided that on top of the
list of goals, we should select a single word that sums up what we want to
accomplish in 2014. Thought about it a bit, and I had to go with the notion of:
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u>Process</u><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I like it because it’s flexible. To me, it forces
hard questions to be asked of the self.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How
do you take in what you experience?” “How do you break things down and make
that which is overwhelming manageable?” “What keeps you from quitting?” “What
steps are required to be successful?” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And the big one: How do you achieve that which you care about, even
when others may find such laughable. Or worse, not even acknowledge. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">That’s what I want to work hard for this year, and
I think my goals reflect that. I won’t disappoint.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-69728135877999649402013-07-25T12:58:00.000-05:002013-07-25T12:58:09.865-05:003 Sets 2x800 Wednesday Speedwork - 7/24Nice to be back on the track after a few warm weeks away. Mile warm up, 2 laps dynamic warm ups, stretch, striders x 4. Did about 100m in between 800s, did a lap in between sets. 2 lap cool down (felt lazy).<div>
<br /><div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Set one: 3:24, 3:34</div>
</div>
<div>
Set two: 3:27, 3:28</div>
<div>
Set three: 3:24, 3:28</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Energy was low, wearing heels to work was stupid as it tightened my left leg considerably and my legs just didn't have any turnover in general. First weekday afternoon run in a while (6:30p is LATE). I was oddly consistent the first 400m on pretty much every one, coming in right at 1:40/1:41. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Kinda felt like a crappy workout as I know there is more in the tank but really, besides the 2nd 800 (where I really pulled back) I can't complain about being pretty even-keeled. I don't know how that will translate to my 4+ mile race on Sunday, but if the weather is decent, I think I can comfortably aim for 7:15-20 pace....or be totally all over the place as usual. </div>
zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-37873506235649866582013-06-06T13:04:00.000-05:002013-06-10T11:37:20.451-05:003x1 Mile Wednesday Speedwork - 6/5Nice, cool evening with a few sprinkles of rain before starting out. About a 2-3 minute rest in between repeats.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Mile 1 - 7:03</b><br />
<b>Splits</b><br />
400 - 1:44<br />
800 - 1:45 (3:30)<br />
1200 - 1:46 (5:16)<br />
1600 - 1:46 (7:03)<br />
<br />
<b>Mile 2 - 7:21</b><br />
<b>Splits</b><br />
400 - 1:42<br />
800 - 1:50 (3:32)<br />
1200 - 1:54 (5:27)<br />
1600 - 1:54 (7:21)<br />
<br />
<b>Mile 3 - 6:58</b><br />
<b>Splits</b><br />
400 - 1:40<br />
800 - 1:47 (3:27)<br />
1200 - 1:49 (5:17)<br />
1600 - 1:41 (6:58)zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-41290368054017333262013-05-31T08:16:00.003-05:002013-05-31T08:16:43.912-05:00Soldier Field 10 Miler - May 25, 2013<b><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"> Overall
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Mile
Split Overall Pace</span></b><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">7:55.64<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">2.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">15:38
(7:42.93) 7:49<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">3.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">23:15
(7:37.24)
7:45<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">4.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">30:53
(7:37.88)
7:43.25<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">5.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">38:30
(7:37.03)
7:42<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">6.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">46:15
(7:44.54)
7:42.5<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">7.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">54:03
(7:47.08) 7:43.3<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">8.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1:01:49
(7:46.53) 7:43.6<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">9.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-size: 7.0pt;"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";">1:09.53
(8:03.91) 7:45.8<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">10
1:17:23 (7:29.74) 7:44.3</span><br />
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Not really feeling like waxing poetic about this race. Onward.</span>zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-53557012164173388532013-05-29T08:21:00.000-05:002013-05-31T08:24:23.975-05:00Speedwork - 10x40010x400, 60 seconds rest<br />
<br />
(Pace Per Mile Equivalent)<br />
1:39 6:38<br />
1:41 6:46<br />
1:48 7:14<br />
1:45 7:02<br />
1:43 6:54<br />
1:43 6:54<br />
1:43 6:54<br />
1:44 6:58<br />
1:41 6:46<br />
1:33 6:14<br />
<br />
Humidity and lack of sleep made its presence known, so I regrouped and found a bit of focus after the 3rd repeat. Warm up of a mile, cool down 3/4 mile. I'd like to be consistently in the high 90s on a better day but its better than nothing.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-40674204779549825512013-05-08T21:27:00.002-05:002013-05-08T21:27:28.977-05:00Speedwork RevisitedMaybe I'll flesh this out a bit, but in case I don't...<br />
<br />
mile warm up<br />
1/2 mile dynamic stretching<br />
six strides<br />
<br />
4x400 with ~90 seconds rest<br />
<br />
1:35<br />
1:38<br />
1:38<br />
1:33<br />
<br />
<br />zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-60616655542656034082013-01-23T15:49:00.000-06:002013-01-23T15:49:13.300-06:00A Month
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<br />
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I’ll attribute this entry to a cup of crappy afternoon
coffee and the calming lull of snowflakes dancing about at the window.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Perhaps I lack the ability to give myself credit where
credit is due. Or I needed to take the notion of running away literally. More
likely: that in the frantic scatterings of my mind, I accessed a tucked-away
cache of former capacity/character/commitment in regards to placing one foot in
front of the other. And repeating. “I did it at 16, and I was as much an idiot
then as I am today. Why can’t I do it now?”<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
2012 was disastrous. I’ll
stick to running at this point in regards to what that means. Re-aggravating an
injury, ill prepared and indifference marked my meager race schedule from spring
to fall. Motivation was nowhere to be seen. At one point back in the spring, I
was running with a bit of frequency but wasn’t happy about it. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I recall going out on Easter morning with the plan of either
8 or 9 miles for a long run (which was totally doable at that point, wasn’t
over doing it); I felt like a mental midget for the first mile and couldn’t
shake the feeling of dread and disinterest, so I returned to my abode and just
sat in a carpeted room. It wasn’t fun or felt like something that was…me. So I
shoved it out of sight, out of mind as it were. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Fast-forward to December. Take it as you will: grasping at
straws, re-opening a toolbox, back to the drawing board. My core identifiers felt
totally adrift, some completely gone. I decided to revisit something that felt
like from a totally different era. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I got considerably faster in my teenage years when I started
supplementing a growing sense of adolescent frailty with running; flushing sad thoughts
away on gravel trails and hill repeats, building up confidence with improved
outcome and race results. And maybe this time (like so many others) I will burn
out, as that has been my thing in my wisdom less 20s. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
But I’ve stuck to it for four weeks straight, lacing up when I’m feeling sad
and lonely. I signed up for the “most challenging ½ course in Northern
Illinois” on March 17, following Hal Higdon’s program (due to sheer habit),
only altering the one day of speed work to longer efforts, as 400 repeats
aren’t going to help me as much at this point. Pleased in an odd way that I’ve
only missed one run so far, and such was due to a faulty furnace that I felt
took priority over three miles that day.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am simultaneously feeling fitter and oh so out of shape on
a daily basis. The weather has been kind on my joints (looking at my ankles in
particular) and the recent “cold” comes without blustery winds, so it really
isn’t that bad (even if it feels like negative whatever out). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I run early in the morning and later in the day, feeling
guilty if I even momentarily consider not sticking to my schedule. I only risk
minimal accident by drivers who feel stopping at intersections or stop signs is
merely suggested --perhaps it’s a River Forest bylaw. I like the quietness out among the suburban
masses, as I don’t tend to pass many other runners (or dog walkers/stroller
pushers, for that matter). I am actually looking forward to going to some
forest preserves as my long runs reach the point of needing more space. I have
a number of loops down to a science with minimal stopping points and would like
to keep that going for longer efforts down the road.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So that’s what I’ve got thus far. Might add in some light
weight work or Insanity as my arms could use it. Next check in will hopefully
be sprinkled with a bit more speed and a lighter gait.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-10090500206630712422012-12-28T12:34:00.004-06:002012-12-28T12:34:48.210-06:00Happy New YearFor the foreseeable future, I will be shying away from any sort of daily log input or running update here. I'll keep using <a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/ZoeA_K#ref=tophd">dailymile</a> for a simplistic running log as I like how easily I can access it on my phone, but I'll be taking the majority of my running-based exploits off the digital grid.<br />
<br />
I'm attempting to break the cycle of running/hurt/less running/no running/running/hurt and I feel that when the slightest thing goes off, feels fairly shameful to write about it, even to a non-existent audience.<br />
<br />
More so, I'm at a point that if I do get hurt, there isn't much I can do about it. If I get to a point in 2013 where I'm staying healthy and getting fit enough to partake in races, I'll start writing here again. 'Til then.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-944153032730779692012-11-27T11:23:00.001-06:002012-11-27T11:23:39.922-06:003.51 Miles3.51 Miles<br />
Watch Location Still Unknown<br />
<br />
If anything can be determined from my piss poor training over the summertime, it is that I deeply dislike warm weather running. I've never been good in it, seeing as I never seem to adjust to the humidity even at my most consistant running efforts. When every run feels so lumpy and heavy physically and mentally, athletic morale takes a beating and goals/plans get derailed.<br />
<br />
That being said, today was awesome. Stepping out the door, weather.com said it felt like 19 degrees. Yup. I am a lover of layering, very happy for that real cold stuff that I will gripe about in non-running terms (my feet will not regain a normal temperature until about...May).<br /><br />
There is something wonderful about that first time during the colder months when you can really feel the chill in your lungs, coating internal things with each inhalation. I got that today, in tights and dryfit things that need to be a bit more dusted off after emerging from clothing hibernation.<br />
<br />
I almost feel settled. Well, as much as possible. Still boxes everywhere, but hopefully with a purpose (is there a specific grace period for when its no longer acceptable to have such about after moving in?). Looking forward to the first snow run and by virtue of having a fireplace (this is exciting), sitting by it after a cold effort outdoors. And as I type that, the weekend forecast is back in the 50s. Of course.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-7053227505157902122012-11-19T19:17:00.000-06:002012-11-19T19:17:04.497-06:003.38 Miles<b>3.38 Miles</b><br />
<b>Watch Location Unknown</b><br />
<br />
Bought a pair of 3/4 length tights on sale this weekend and decided to break them in. Worked well for pants without a drawstring at the waist. It didn't end up drizzling (as it had in the 15 minutes prior to me heading out) as I thought it may so I was a bit overdressed, oh well.<br />
<br />
It's odd, seeing as I used to run the same route a few years back when I was renting a place a mere few blocks from my abode. Felt new and different, especially as the views said fall but the air and the smell of a mini rain said spring.<br />
<br />
My lungs hurt. Days of particleboard fibers and paint mist horrendously coating things within must be horrible. Everything else felt pretty good; even the back of my heels stayed happy for the most part.<br />
<br />
Things are a bit more settled, hopefully even more so in the coming weeks. I'd like to regain fitness, so I shall.zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4096734633359280290.post-9569615326492930712012-10-24T14:54:00.005-05:002012-10-24T14:54:54.199-05:003.5 Miles<b>3.5 Miles - Watch Left Behind</b><br />
<br />
We have this way about us in the Midwest in regards to our weather. It amazes us to no end, does it not? One of the few things we refrain from being polite about, too.<br />
<br />
Bragging about the snowstorms that make us tougher, the blustery spring that never quite starts when its supposed to...complain about the warm weather, but then on a day like today we welcome such with open arms and try and hang on to something we know is fleeting.<br />
<br />
There are lows in the 30s this weekend but it is currently 78 degrees outside. How could I not enjoy what may be one of those last warm days of the year? Would have benefited from some nicer, more cheerful passers-by, but oh well. I enjoyed myself.<br />
<br />
I followed through with a move of intelligence and wore a different pair of shoes that are a bit looser in the heel (my mizunos have a more defined heel cup which I really liked last year when I got them) and lo, didn't feel any pain back there at all. Nice feeling. I have self-diagnosed myself with some sort of bursitis and am trying to keep my ever-delicate feet as happy as possible.<br />
<br />
I felt a nice spring to my step for the first 1 1/2 or so, then felt a bit heavier in my legs. I'm working on my mental approach to my daily outings and while it still isnt easy getting out the door, every little aspect helps.<br />
<br />
An early morning tomorrow followed by some days of heavier moving will put things in jeopardy the rest of the weekend. But I'm still aiming for two more runs for the week. <br />
zoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07868859544378694171noreply@blogger.com0