My parents are both gone now. Though my parents were from the sticks they were both athletic. Dad could do a standing back flip and had outstanding eye hand coordination. To see a random guy in the 60s in a white t-shirt do a back flip seemed unusual. My Mom was super competitive and though there were no sports for girls in high school, she was voted most athletic in her graduating class of 1960. She said no boy could out sprint her until high school age. My parents encouraged sports and we played them. Actually if I say so myself my brother and I did fairly well. Our parents loved to watch us compete in sports and enjoyed discussing it with us. I think for them it was an extension of not having the opportunity themselves. Having attended the smallest class of school for sports was awesome because if you worked hard you played. You knew everyone and it made things pull together well. I liked running especially because you could actual see the results.
I am back in the area we grew up in. It brings back memories. My son just handed me a deer tag I filled out in 1980. Not sure why Mom kept that, but she did. My son and I just agreed that maybe we go deer hunting this year. He’ll be 25 and I never took him hunting. We grew up on it and basically ate wild game all winter. It has been so long and believe me I feel it. I’m going to have to make adjustments if I want to stay in this running game another 10 years. Hard to believe, but I entered my sophomore year of college in the fall of 1980. There always seems to be another good 10 years until there isn’t.
Friday, January 25, 2019
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
Will it go around in circles
When running encompasses just going out for an hour jog about every day and then double or triple that most weekends, it doesn't seem like much to ask. Pretty simple to manage. When aspirations abound for some reason it becomes more of a hassle. No matter if it is work, play, or personal stuff, it always seems we'll get ahead of it. One can make it better. Most times you just go do it. That is and has to be the way for work most of the time. On the personal side of things you have to march the line between serendipity and Black Sheep Squadron. What is left after that you do is stuff.
I've been doing stuff for decades and it is real cool. A lot of my stuff involves the act of running, but potentially even more time is spent thinking about running. When I was younger it was baseball cards, but for whatever reason I think running a bunch. And even though I don't have to draw a line in the sand, I do have to come to the realization that someone else has won. Someone else has picked up whatever imaginary torch is there. You passed the test long ago...you made the grade. You are flying missions which do not exist and even more importantly there is really no need to put those racing flats on and conduct a two mile lightning session.
Look, Ice Age is always on the table. I'm there to run the best I can that day. That probably won't change for a couple more years. If I just keep jogging 8-9 hours a week I'll finish fine. The problem is I am now exploring or acting on things such as core, weight, rest, and even cross-training. All so I can potentially run what they call better. As much as I try and pull myself out of this I just can't. All those items require head space to think about and act on and I am not someone who has free roaming brain space to manage these.
Not to deceive anyone, but the cross training has been getting the dog out 3-4 times a week for a slow jog or walk. This is maybe 10 miles a week, but frankly it is wearing me out. I get in my sleep. I'm sleeping by 7:00 - 7:30pm this time of year and up at 3:00 - 4:00am. When we actually have daylight in the evening this changes. I could blabber on, but the bottom line for me is just do what you've been doing with a few minor adjustments and leave the lightning rounds to the game shows.
I've been doing stuff for decades and it is real cool. A lot of my stuff involves the act of running, but potentially even more time is spent thinking about running. When I was younger it was baseball cards, but for whatever reason I think running a bunch. And even though I don't have to draw a line in the sand, I do have to come to the realization that someone else has won. Someone else has picked up whatever imaginary torch is there. You passed the test long ago...you made the grade. You are flying missions which do not exist and even more importantly there is really no need to put those racing flats on and conduct a two mile lightning session.
Look, Ice Age is always on the table. I'm there to run the best I can that day. That probably won't change for a couple more years. If I just keep jogging 8-9 hours a week I'll finish fine. The problem is I am now exploring or acting on things such as core, weight, rest, and even cross-training. All so I can potentially run what they call better. As much as I try and pull myself out of this I just can't. All those items require head space to think about and act on and I am not someone who has free roaming brain space to manage these.
Not to deceive anyone, but the cross training has been getting the dog out 3-4 times a week for a slow jog or walk. This is maybe 10 miles a week, but frankly it is wearing me out. I get in my sleep. I'm sleeping by 7:00 - 7:30pm this time of year and up at 3:00 - 4:00am. When we actually have daylight in the evening this changes. I could blabber on, but the bottom line for me is just do what you've been doing with a few minor adjustments and leave the lightning rounds to the game shows.
Tuesday, January 1, 2019
The Michigan Rag
Looking through the stats for 2018 and not much changed. I did continue to run slower and line up for less races. I like to race. It is something to shoot for. The problem is I'm not much for pre-registering for shorter races and when the day comes I usually decide to keep the $40 in my pocket and go entertain myself with a run. I've also noticed I run so much slower than others. That's fine until it's not. Running 12's on the trail and 10.5's on the road is good by me. Survive for another day to train. There is always a plan to reverse this and I honestly believe it could be done. But it requires more time, attention to other details, and unfortunately a mentality that can suck the life out of other life areas. None of this is new to anyone who does this.
Yesterday was a good day. I felt well and so I ran a couple hill repeats and 2 x 3:00 all at a good effort. I intentionally kept the volume low. In life it is funny how the brain subconsciously interjects great ideas without any governance. It said you SHOULD do this sort of thing 3-4 times a week. When finished the plan was to get back out later on a dog jog. Thankfully we had freezing rain, so I copped out. Truth was stiffness settled in. Cinnamon buns on the counter? Today there is one left. Not a big deal because in reality a nice long easy effort tomorrow will suffice. I'm just out here aimless, or am I? 2018 was a great year.
Top ten people I ran with:
Dewey - 39
Tim - 35
Robert - 15
Christine - 11
Dean - 4
Andrea - 4
Andy - 4
Clement - 3
Blanchard - 3
Swanson - 3
The first three I primarily run with at Menomonee Park. Christine and I train for Ice Age. The next four represents the Minooka group. The final two is the Monday Lapham group I went to in December because I had some Monday's off. I really have to get back to Minooka. That has been my go to group for years, but after moving to the sticks I rationalize the 38 mile round trip too often. It's not about the run anyway and I need to get back into the mix. Just looking at the list I see that everyone on it has ran Ice Age. Combined there are over a 100 Ice Age finishes. Four had finishes last year and two (Clem and Christine) each won three in a row!
I covered 2,423.5 miles last year. That's consistent with annual totals. I ran the Southshore half with Dean, Andrea, and Clem, finished 29th at Ice Age (20 seconds behind Robert), pounded out another Al's Run 8k, and finished the Glacial Trail 50k in October. That's it. Consider this my annual report.
Yesterday was a good day. I felt well and so I ran a couple hill repeats and 2 x 3:00 all at a good effort. I intentionally kept the volume low. In life it is funny how the brain subconsciously interjects great ideas without any governance. It said you SHOULD do this sort of thing 3-4 times a week. When finished the plan was to get back out later on a dog jog. Thankfully we had freezing rain, so I copped out. Truth was stiffness settled in. Cinnamon buns on the counter? Today there is one left. Not a big deal because in reality a nice long easy effort tomorrow will suffice. I'm just out here aimless, or am I? 2018 was a great year.
Top ten people I ran with:
Dewey - 39
Tim - 35
Robert - 15
Christine - 11
Dean - 4
Andrea - 4
Andy - 4
Clement - 3
Blanchard - 3
Swanson - 3
The first three I primarily run with at Menomonee Park. Christine and I train for Ice Age. The next four represents the Minooka group. The final two is the Monday Lapham group I went to in December because I had some Monday's off. I really have to get back to Minooka. That has been my go to group for years, but after moving to the sticks I rationalize the 38 mile round trip too often. It's not about the run anyway and I need to get back into the mix. Just looking at the list I see that everyone on it has ran Ice Age. Combined there are over a 100 Ice Age finishes. Four had finishes last year and two (Clem and Christine) each won three in a row!
I covered 2,423.5 miles last year. That's consistent with annual totals. I ran the Southshore half with Dean, Andrea, and Clem, finished 29th at Ice Age (20 seconds behind Robert), pounded out another Al's Run 8k, and finished the Glacial Trail 50k in October. That's it. Consider this my annual report.
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