Maps are awful flat.. The running route was not!

[caption id="attachment_553" align="alignright" width="300" caption="My trusty water bottle, you can see on the back side where the fabric was that I could keep under my hand - while the strap was on top of it. It bounced a bit more than I may have wanted, but did work."][/caption]

A nice short run of ten miles was in the cards for yesterday so I used mapmyrun.com and figured out a route that was 10 miles that would end at my parent's house. ( Yes, even in my mid thirties I am mooching off my parents, although for this day it was simply some water and a ride home!)  I filled up my water bottle and headed out the door.  The last time I ran with my water bottle, the water quite warm shortly into the run.  I thought cool water might be nice while running, so this time around I decided to toss some ice-cubes (Brilliant aren't I?)  Shortly after starting - I had  another brilliant realization - holding a bottle of ice water in your bare hand makes for a cold hand! (Man, I could so be a rocket scientist with cognitive abilities like these!)  I thought of  "I Run Like a Girl's" recent frost-bite experience, so I switched how I was holding the bottle.  I changed it so that the fabric of the bottle was between my hand and the bottle - It wasn't terribly comfortable, but it did avoid frost bite in July.

My big learning moment

Introducing "Freaky Friday!" Strange things found around the Interwebs!

So on Fridays, I have decided  to start showing some of the more interesting and bizarre things that I find on the interwebs and elsewhere.  Whenever I can, I will make a wee bit of an effort to make them running related (or cross-training) wherever possible (since it is a running blog after all...)

[caption id="attachment_588" align="alignright" width="300" caption="The TREADMILL BIKE!!! (Picture from Red Ferret)"][/caption]

I was looking online for a picture that would go with a title of "TREADMILL OF DOOM!!!!" (Not because of any horrendous experience on a treadmill yesterday, but to try to make a boring treadmill run a little more interesting for you, my reader.)  While looking for this, I found one of the craziest things I have seen -  The TREADMILL BIKE!!!

Someone told me that Runners need to do more than just run.

[caption id="attachment_581" align="aligncenter" width="446" caption="I look more like this, than like a "Real" weight lifter. SCRAWNY RUNNERS UNITE!"][/caption]

So, last night I had a 5 mile run lined up - per Hal Higdon's plan.  This is how the evening played out. (Did you notice the clever attempt at foreshadowing, reading you - the reader - to wonder if I did actually end up doing the 5 mile run? I've been working on my writing skills...)

I brought my kids over to the YMCA for the "how to not need a life guard to save you" class, and decided it was time to start adding weights into my routine. I had planned on doing this a couple of weeks ago, and thought about it for months before that - but I move slowly.  I needed the proper timing (yeah! That's it!), and last night was it.  I decided on a nice chest/shoulders/triceps work out.  "Back in the day" I used to enjoy lifting - and wasn't to surprised to find out I still do.  I did find out that compared to running, it is boring without a workout partner.  (Wonder if lifting could be husband-wife "Bonding time")  Despite that, it was a fair (but not crippling) workout - I can move my arms/chest/shoulders today, but they are definitely sore.

Free stuff! Its a Contest! Win a free Road ID!

So, today is contest day! 

I think the Road ID is one of the coolest accessories that anyone that runs, bikes, rides motorcycles, hikes or does anything else that gets them out of the house could have!  They are also great for kids as it ensures your contact information is always with them!  It is important to note that RoadID is not supplying the prize, I am paying for it out of pocket. As such, delivery will be made via electronic giftcard for the amount of the RoadID that the winner selects.  This will allow you to order exactly what you want if you win!  Also, this is my first attempt at a contest - so we will see how it goes ;)  Also keep in mind, at this point my reader-base is low - so  you have great odds of winning!

Week in Review! Week 4!

So! Here we are at week number 4's completion - lets see how I did!

4

Rest

3 m run

4 m run

3 m run

Rest

9

cross

This was what the week was supposed to look like, lets see what it did:

4

Rest

3 m run

4 m run

Serve beer!

Rest

8.8 m

Sit around in pain

On thursday, my work-place did its "Third Annual Savor the Summer" - a wine/beer/food tasting that is one of our fundraisers.   While a few hours standing doesn't seem like much - This combined with standing all day Saturday and Sunday of the previous week (in my VFFs of course!) has really stressed out my left Achilles Tendon.  It didn't occur to me to use the KT tape until yesterday, and it is now showing a remarkable improvement.  It was very noticeable while running Saturday, and even more so - on Sunday after running.

I did miss one short run, but made my long run, so I am not to upset with the week. Although, it makes the fourth week in a row that I have not followed my training plan!

If you haven't read it yet, I suggest my write up on the 9 mile run on saturday as interesting reading! Bridge Jumpers, video shoots and wildlife!

Saturday's 9 Mile run.

I have ended up behind on my posting as I was focused on Assassin's Creed II, which I just picked up for the PS3.  (Incidentally, it is much more fun than the first one - just as a side note.)  So today - You are all fortunate enough to get  a double-dose of me!  We have my run report for Saturday, followed by the "Week in REVIEW!!!" So, first - Saturday's run.

I was on-deck for a 9 mile run according to the Training Plan. It was brutally hot, but I found the idea of running on the treadmill for an hour and a half to sound like a punishment for criminals - so I chose to head outside.  I filled up my trusty water bottle - and headed out!

The first obvious statement - is that it was hot.  My trusty water bottle became warm in no time - yet still remained the greatest thing in the world.  The run itself was mildly painful (my Achilles tendon has been bothering me, and being a regular Einstein - I didn't think of using my KT tape until monday morning), but VERY interesting.  I ran by the Binghamton court-house, and saw a bunch of people holding up protest signs - something I did NOT expect to see, especially on a Saturday! (Plus, protesters are usually in front of the federal court house.)  I turned around, pulled out my cell phone and snapped a picture.

[caption id="attachment_554" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="This picture was much more interesting 30 seconds before, when they all had their signs up still and weren't yelling at me!"][/caption]

 

Working on Speed - Without moving forward!

[caption id="attachment_535" align="alignright" width="300" caption="This week's Temperatures.. And that 97, is before humidity is taken into account. Heat index for today is 101-108!"][/caption]

Since the thermometer's mercury is rising - I decided to stay inside yesterday and use the treadmill.  I suppose it was easier to breathe, but it was STILL hot.  Oh.. And BORING. (<-- Notice the capital letters? it was THAT boring)  It seems my intense dislike of treadmills has not changed at all.  Some gyms I have belonged to in the past, have had a television in front of the treadmill (you use a radio for the sound.) 

Is it getting hot in here?

[caption id="attachment_529" align="alignright" width="190" caption="I'm sure I looked something like this. (Picture from the Boilermaker)"][/caption]

So, "the plan" had a 3 mile run scheduled for yesterday.  Brought my kids to the "what to do if you are on the Titanic" class, and headed out to run.

It was hot.  Now I know there are people in Texas and Arizona where it is hotter than here.  I live in upstate NY. Now, when people think of upstate NY two things come to mind - Wine and Snow.  Now you don't go running in Wine - which means the Snow must be the word people think of related to weather here.  It was 92 degrees. NINETY TWO!!! Plus humidity! In Upstate NY!!!!!

Marine Corps Marathon Prep - Week 3 in REVIEW!!!!!!!!

So, yesterday was the official "Rest Day" that starts the new week - that makes today the WEEK IN REVIEW!!!!  According to Hal Higdon's "Novice 1" plan - this is what last week should have looked like:

3

Rest

3 m run

4 m run

3 m run

Rest

5

cross

As you know, I started off the week quite well - and did a great job following the training plan.  I must unfortunately report - that this did not remain the case.  Indeed, the third week (out of three) of my training plan makes the third week I did not follow it.

3

Rest

3 m run

4 m run

4.3 m run

Rest

Sell Wine

Sell Wine

As you may notice, my "long run" of 5 miles never happened.  The Fingerlakes Wine Festival was at Watkins Glen International this weekend.  It's where 40,000 people show up to experience as many tastings of fine wines (and some not-so-fine ones to be honest) as they can manage before falling over!

The booth for Magpie Farms Winery - the Makers of Legendary Magpie Mead!

 

A pleasant 3...err... 4 mile run

So, last night was scheduled for a nice 3 mile run, with an intent to take it slow.. So my dear reader - do you think I pulled it off?  Did my "plan-following" succeed this time?  Yes!!!! I am 4 for 4 this week! (Hey, resting on a rest day counts!)  I even went  a bit farther - doing 4.29 miles!

Yesterday was a stressful day in general  - so I needed a run.  I waited until after the kid's "Dad! I fell out of the boat" classes and headed out from home rather than running from the YMCA (I have yet  to find any nice running routes near the YMCA that don't involve more traffic that I like to go by).   In Binghamton NY, we don't have much - but we are fortunate to have a great walking bridge.  It was a car-bridge originally, so it is black top up the middle with wooden walkways on either side of the structure.  I love the "thump thump" of running across the wood planks, and I really enjoy the view up and down the river.

[caption id="attachment_508" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Washington St. Walking bridge in Binghamton NY"][/caption]

Running the plan while not becoming a road-pancake!

So, the big question on everyone's mind - is obviously - "So, did the Once and Future Runner manage to follow the training plan yesterday?"  To which the answer is - YES!  After dropping my kids off at the anti-drowning class (also known as swim lessons), I headed out of the door of the YMCA to do some pounding of the pavement.  If I head out the door and to the left, there is a portion of "17c" that splits and then comes back together. This struck me as not being to long of a loop, and that I could go run that loop and be back in no time.

[caption id="attachment_500" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Run this loop - and cars can pretend to be trying to hit you too!"][/caption]

Running Errands and... Well.. Running.

With my kids learning to not drown every evening at 4:50, it gives me 50 minutes to go exercise.  I can lift weights, I can run.. or I can go run errands after convincing my wife to pick the kids up.  In terms of my Marine Corps Marathon training, the first two choices seem to do much more for me than the last one, however in day to day life - the last is more productive.  Well, last night turned into an errand-running night - But WAIT!  Before you think to your self - "Well, he blew the training plan for week 3 also - and on the first day of running!"   I have to say this.  NO I DIDNT!!!!  After running errands (which seemed an awful lot like running in circles), I went home and ran my 3 miles per my Hal Higdon training plan.

The run felt quite good.  I was inspired by my negative splits at the boilermaker - and decided to not just go run my normal 9:30-10 minute mile, but pick up the speed a little.  My splits were:

8:40, 8:47 and 7:53 with an average speed of 7.1.  It wasn't as fast as I might have liked, but considering my body was still hurting from the boilermaker - I have no complaints.  Tonight however, I have a four mile run listed on the plan - and THAT one will be taken at a nice easy pace.

I might be doing wine tastings this weekend at the Finger Lakes Wine Festival for Magpie Farms Winery, makers of LEgendary Magpie Mead - which may interfere with my running (and proper hydration) for my long run on Sunday, but planning is on hold - so I am no longer sure I will be there. (If you go, we are not in one of the main 3 tents - but in the one that is off to the side come by and see us!)

If I don't have the privilege of passing out samplings of the nectar of the gods, I am thinking of doing the Forest Frolic 15K Trail Run in Virgil NY.  I really liked the distance of the Boilermaker, and thought this could be fun to drag my buddy Dustin along on - and just run it (not for time) as I haven't done a trail run before, and they look fun to me.  As an added bonus I have wanted to see how my VFF's (bikilas) perform on trails.

Marathon Prep - Week 2 in Review

So, Yesterday was the "Rest Day" which makes today (drum roll please!) THE WEEK IN REVIEW!!!!!!  According to Hal Higdon's "Novice 1" plan this is what my week should have looked like:

2

Rest

3 m run

3 m run

3 m run

Rest

7

cross

And continuing my Short-standing tradition, it didn't really look like that, but instead looked like this:

2

Rest

Weight Lifting

5.7 mile run

3.3 mile run

Lounge Around doing Nothing

Rest

9.3 (Boilermaker)

I ended up doing MORE miles during the week, but less days of running than the plan suggested.  I'm not real pleased with that - I should have headed out on friday for at least a mile or three.

This is what week three is supposed to look like:

3

Rest

3 m run

4 m run

3 m run

Rest

5

cross

I was thinking I might try and make this the week that I actually do what I am supposed to.  Though, as my wife or my mother could tell you - that has never been my forte.  I will be running tonight however, as my body is QUITE sore from the Boilermaker - and if I don't, I won't feel much better tomorrow, plus - I really want to go!

Race planning currently - for 5Ks,  the Kelly Lebarre 5k (Aug 8)at the Spiedie Fest (running with my 8 year old son), the Chris Thater (Aug 28) and the St. James 5k (Oct 23).  For longer races - thinking of the Wyoming Valley Summer 10k (July 23)and the  Turning Stone Half-Marathon (Aug 21).

Race Report - Utica Boilermaker 15K - 2011

[caption id="attachment_478" align="alignright" width="150" caption="You can see the port-a-pottie lines in the background!"][/caption]

What a fantastic day for a race!  It was a gorgeous 58 degrees as the cannon went off! (I think it was still 58 degrees, 11 minutes later when I actually reached the start line as well!)  Can I say that 11,000 runners make for a very large crowd (and VERY large lines at the port-a-potties?) 

We showed up VERY early (I was not going to drive 2 hours just to get to "packet pickup" and drive home the day before - when I could show up 2 hours before the race and get it!), with one of my friends that was running riding along, and my wonderful wife there to root us on.  As we arrived (getting a parking spot less than 1000 feet to the starting line,) I realized that I had forgotten my license, a requirement to pick up the race packet.  As we got to the table,I was quite  lucky - the packet pickup lady was not a stickler for the rules - so after much begging, pleading and groveling (or I MIGHT have just explained the situation and she was quite reasonable.)  So luckily, I didn't get up at 3AM just to watch other people run - That was a good start.  Then I got to use a port-a-pottie that no one had used yet - they smell surprisingly "Fresh" when that is true.  Definitely another new experience!

Utica Boilermaker 15K!

So, two days from now I will be doing the climb that starts the Utica Boilermaker 15k!  It seems that whatever nit-wit designed the course thought that the first four miles should be up hill.  Can I tell you how not-amused I am by this?  I mean SERIOUSLY!!!! Don't they realize that there are those of us that spent more time thinking about training - then actually training?  SHEESH!

Ok, so really - I'm not that worried about it.  I expect to finish it really tired, and to really enjoy my free beer - but my bigger concern at this point - is where do I park?  I managed to find one article on-line regarding parking, but mostly it seemed to be about the road closures - and assumes you know the area when it discusses parking.   The actual boilermaker website has the helpful sentence of: Participants are encouraged to park at locations near the start line.   umm.. Ya think?  I had been planning on parking about 10 miles away and running to the starting line, but I guess I will take their advice and park close.  (To any race planners out there, if you are hosting an event that might have out-of-town people coming in - PLEASE give addresses for some parking areas.. it's a big help)

This will be the longest run I have done yet, and should give me an idea of what it is like to run within a huge crowd (though significantly smaller than the MCM's 30,000.)  With the help of my KT Tape (seriously, this stuff is a god-send) I am not worried about my calves - so all I should suffer from is severe muscle exertion and over use! WOOT!! Now if THAT isn't a good time, what is?

[caption id="attachment_461" align="alignright" width="640" caption="Boilermaker 2010 - Picture Stolen from a Facebook Friend that was there last year. I think the girl in the red shorts in the bottom right corner just realized she needs to use the potty...."][/caption]

Some neat things - Time Warner Cable will air live coverage of the 2011 Boilermaker 15K starting a 7:30 am on July 10, 2011. Set your DVR's! Time Warner Cable Sports Channel 23, 813 (HD), or 577 for on demand if you miss it.  You can also sign up to receive updates via text message as to where your runner is.

 

Can't follow instructions...

So... I am now starting to freak out. I am on to my second week of my 18 week "Marathon Training Schedule - Novice 1" program by Hal Higdon.  Week 1 is:

1

Rest

3 m run

3 m run

3 m run

Rest

6

cross

As you can imagine, this was a nice easy week 1... And I blew it.  Yup, that's right - the very beginning of my training program and I'm already doing it wrong... mine looked more like this:

1

Watch kids swim practice

Run 3 m*

Think about eating cake.

3 m run

Play Video Games

Swim laps/play in water & 3.4 m run

Think about how I should do 6 miles.

Now if you look at those two grids... See how they are different?  No, seriously - go back and look - I'll wait here.  Yup, although at first glance it looks like I did exactly what I was supposed to, the actual similarity is that they are both written in grid format.  The contents? Waaaaaaaaaaay too different.  I am thinking that I may need to do something about this if I plan on getting past mile 6 (or so) of the 26.2 miles that make up the Marine Corps Marathon. 

Now, I realize that you, my wonderful reader - are in shock.  While I give you a few moments to recover I will show you what week 2 is/was supposed to look like:

2

Rest

3 m run

3 m run

3 m run

Rest

7

cross

This (no doubt) has made you wonder what the week DOES/Will look like... so lets see:

2

Rest

weight lifting (orientation at YMCA)

5.7 miles

3 m run (will do tonight)

3 m run... maybe.

swim maybe? might lounge around instead

9 mile run

You can see how well the two grids match this time... They both have one row, and 7 squares... and have writing in them... It's where the similarities seem to end.  You would think I would be able to follow the plan for at least the first two weeks - apparently not!

Sunday is the Boilermaker up in Utica.  I have wanted to run this race since Highschool, so I am really looking forward to it. Based on my stellar training recently, I have decided to take it slow and easy to make sure I can finish it. I briefly debated going for the record (42:54 in 1997 by Joseph Kimani) but decided not to show up the other runners that way -  It strikes me as rather rude to show up, run it my first time, and make everyone else just feel silly.  So, Keeping the big picture in mind - this year my goal is to give everyone a false sense of security when viewing me as competition - I am hoping to finish in the top 10,000 finishers, with a time of 1:30-1:40.  I figure THAT should really make them rule me out when sizing up the field in 2012.

It should be fun - Here is what the starting line looked like last year:

[caption id="attachment_452" align="alignright" width="423" caption="Don't drop your soap!"][/caption]