Expect to see me

Anything I have said or communicated prior about training for Ice Age is out the window.  Now that the three of you know let's start from scratch.  Ice Age looks to be 11 weeks out from today.  This week in Iron Mountain, MI on a Wednesday I talked myself into the day to day plan.  Whatever seems right, doable, and works with the weather and work...that's what I got.  If anything I will lean on consistency, a few key long runs, and getting the heart rate up once in a while.  I could go cut and paste from other blogs about the reality of being older and you'd never know the difference.  I told Tim today on our run there are two things as Americans that I believe we all stand united on.  We all believe in our heart of hearts that we are above average drivers and when it comes to aging some of those things just don't apply to me.

2/17 = AM 9.8k in 63:49
2/18 = OFF
2/19 = OFF
2/20 = AM 3k walk on treadmill at mostly 5% grade in 30:00
2/21 = AM 4.0 miles on treadmill w/ 3 miles at 7:08 pace
2/21 = PM 9.2k in 62:36 w/ Dewey and Tim
2/22 = AM 10.1k in 66:38
2/23 = AM 22k in 2:24:12 snow w/ Tim for half of it
Total = About 37.6 miles

I did run the John Dick 50k through the slushy snow on 2/2 in 6:53:46.  I can cover a fair distance, so now I need to shed about 8-9 pounds and get some of these aches and pains reduced.  The PF is good, the back and hip not so much.  I should probably do those exercises more than once a week.  Hey, I'm not trying to sand bag anyone.  I fully intend to try and go sub 8:20.  That's 10 minute mile pace.  The body needs a bit of a remodel and I need to channel the LeBron 'activated' for playoff  mode, but it will be one day at a time. 

As it usually happens every year, other runners motivate me to want to train enough to potentially get up in their wheelhouse.  It is not something that is thought of, or intentional, it just happens.  After all, this a race and beating people is what some folks do.  Nothing personal, it makes it fun.  Kind of like Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid.  Who are those guys?  Also this classic from Red River comes to mind.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=john+wayne+ill+kill+you+matt&view=detail&mid=DD3413AF610714CB4CE5DD3413AF610714CB4CE5&FORM=VIRE

Seeing the light

The schedule has been laid out.
The time to begin is here.
No one else has summoned the que.
Is there time to rest?
Winter running no problem.
Does it have to be fast?
Close to saying uncle.
And birds are free to fly.
I already have enough schedules.
My friends ride bikes and smile.
What’s the skinny?

Baby I just don't know

About mid February and time to crank up the pain train for Ice Age.  That used to be a comical spin about laying down some good miles, but now-a-days there is pain involved.

For the actually running piece I have to get fired up to run harder/faster in crappy conditions.  Nine minutes a mile is sometimes arduous outside...bummer.

Though not crippling, the PF, hip and back soreness, slight knee glitch, groin (hurts when I cough also) and overall malaise is something you just work with.

The final pain is the actual getting all the other things in life done (to my own, or someone else's expectations) and attempting to be a good citizen.  I never anticipated that along with running that work, social, family, and dog stuff would/could be taxing.

Stick around and I'll be posting my running efforts as a way to stay 80% on track.