Running at Midnight.

Ok, So I exaggerate a little.. I was actually done before midnight.

[caption id="attachment_1204" align="alignright" width="300"] Here is a picture of a puppy. For no reason at all.[/caption]

Having been up late (hey! 11 is really late for me! I'm old!) the night before, there was no chance of getting up in the morning to work out.  I had every intent of working out right after work, but I had forgotten it was my son's night for his school open house. With It being middle school, this meant we got to follow his schedule and go from 15 minute class to 15 minute class as the teachers gave us their syllabus and told us all about how great our kids were.  Over all I was impressed with all of his teachers but one.  We showed up to her class, and she started a conversation with one mother for 5 (remember there is only 15 available) minutes.. Then expected us to stay past the time to move to the next class, so she could finish her speech.  It bothers me when people expect respect, but don't respect you..  But that is a whole other story.

My wife had promised the kids frozen yogurt after, so a cold treat it was!  Needless to say it was after 9:30 when we got home.   Since I had skipped out on my run the night before, it was NOT an option last night.  I didn't relish the idea of running through the streets of my town at 10pm.  I don't know that it would be unsafe - but it seems silly to take that chance.  My kids deserve to grow up with a father after all! (Did you notice the subtle pull at your heartstrings there?)

Some times plans fail.. and thats a good thing!

Last night was a night of TWO runs!  My son told me he wanted to start running with me again, so he and I headed out together! (I love running with him!  Great father/son time.)



He is still battling having a side-stitch while he runs, but he ran through it - with only two walks being necessary. He kept a really nice pace throughout, and we enjoyed ourselves chatting the whole way.  (I am looking for input on ideas to give him to help with these, if anyone out there has brilliant solutions!)

Pace seems to be subjective

Its interesting, I read a blog and see someone talking about their "slow" seven minute mile, and I think - "Crap! That isn't even my FAST mile!"   Then I post how I took it easy, and ran a 9:15 mile.  The response I get are often the same.

One of the great things about running, is that "Fast" and "Slow" are both subjective.  Last night I headed out to do 4 miles. (It seems that this is my new "short" run - considering I am training for 26.2. )  My goal was to average an 8:30 pace.

I have no idea what happened.

A couple of runs, and a boy returns!

Another beautiful week begins!!!   I can't speak for everyone out on the interwebs, but for me - it was a great weekend.

4 Miles on Saturday, 3 miles on sunday and my son got back from Bermuda!

Saturday:

I went with a simple out and back course, so I didn't have to worry about dodging cars on roads with no side walks.  (My four mile loop has a mile with no sidewalks and very little shoulder!)



I saw plenty of runners..

More Donation Swag!

A new development in my "Help the Homeless"  Marine Corps Marathon fundraiser!   For every $10 and above donation - You will get a water bottle as a think you gift!



$5.00 (and every $5.00 there after) gets you an entry into the raffle-of-prizes, and $10.00 gets you a water bottle!

What can I come up with Next?  Spread the word!

With these great thank you gifts (and remember, if you donate now - you will STILL be eligible for any additional thank you levels I add!) – please consider donating to my Help the Homeless fundraiser for Volunteers of America Chesapeake’s homeless services.

The fundraiser is through the Fannie Mae – “Help the Homeless” walk program, which means they match every dollar you donate, with a dollar. So even a $5.00 donation immediately doubles in size!

If you want to read more about the good works of Volunteers of America Chesapeake, you can check out their blog!



Please show that you too are "Called to Care", by donating!

T-Shirt Designs

The question was raised - what am I going to wear when I run the Marine Corps Marathon?   It seems that since I am running it as a fund-raiser for the agency I work for, that some of the employees want to come out and cheer.  This made me realize that I need to have a shirt that says what I am doing on it..

 

Here is design idea 1:

The Shirt will of course be Tech Fabric, and the VOA symbol will be all-white.

Thoughts?

Speaking of that fund-raiser - please consider donating to my Help the Homeless fundraiser for Volunteers of America Chesapeake’s homeless services. We have some small gifts we will be raffling of to those that have donated, and it looks like everyone over a certain (and currently un-set) dollar amount will receive a Volunteers of America Chesapeake water bottle! More information to come on that!

The fundraiser is through the Fannie Mae – “Help the Homeless” walk program, which means they match every dollar you donate, with a dollar. So even a $5.00 donation immediately doubles in size!

If you want to read more about the good works of Volunteers of America Chesapeake, you can check out their blog!

Holy Jeepers Cats! Its the day AFTER the day after that hurts!

[caption id="attachment_2844" align="alignright" width="216"] Me (you believe that right?) Doing a shoulder press![/caption]

LOL! Ok, so yesterday I had posted about how my soreness was less than expected, and in different places than I expected.

I forgot one key thing about strength training.. It's not the next day that hurts.. it's the day AFTER the next day... I woke up in the middle of the night, and the majority of my body hurt.  THAT was apparently a good workout!  I know it wasn't from yesterday's, as yesterday was a 4 mile run (with my bicycling shadow!), followed by a long period of stretching.  Hardly the things that sore shoulders/chest/arms/back are made of!   I feel much better about that workout, and I am looking forward to using my bowflex tonight!   

Never sore where you think

[caption id="attachment_2831" align="alignright" width="300"] Me resting after using the bowflex.... (ok...ok.. the image MIGHT be from http://www.bowflex-help-online.com/is-a-bowflex-home-gym-worth-the-money.html )[/caption]

Last night I hit my bowflex for a nice workout. My thought is that by swapping days of running and lifting, I give my Plantar Fasciitis a chance to heal (in theory), while working on the upper body/core that I have spent years ignoring. It seems like a good way to develop a balance that I have been sorely lacking.

Now, the thing that surprises me with the bowflex, is that I am usually sore in different places than I expect. With out giving you all the details of last night's workout (imagine how exciting THAT would be... I pushed.. relaxed.. pushed.. relaxed..,) I was sure that today - I was going to be facing some seriously sore triceps. SURPRISE!!!! The Arms are fine, and your back is letting you know it was a great workout!

I'm certainly not complaining, as I know it was a good workout either way.

Running and Rolling

So, my last couple of posts have glossed over any training - while focusing on my fundraiser/giveaway.  Rest assured, I have still been working on my training!

Last night, I went out for an easy 3ish miles (I accidentally gypped myself .14 of a mile.. so it is 3ISH not 3...).  I demonstrated the previous taping technique I was using, with great results.  I have tried a new one, as that taping method is not water-resistant.  KT Tape (You may recall that I used this back when I made a habit of pulling calf muscles) had helped me in the past, I thought it was worth trying now! (Plus, in the interest of full disclosure, my wife went and bought a roll for her knee pain..)

[caption id="attachment_2824" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Screenshot from KTTape.com. Click to go to their page to see the video![/caption]

Giveaways/Raffles for Donators

So, I have been out running in the heat some more, but that isn't what I want to talk about today.  I'm excited for my next steps with my Marine Corps Marathon Fundraiser for Volunteers of America Chesapeake!

While donating and helping the homeless does good things for your karma, as well as making you feel better - I wanted to be able to give a more physical joy to you as well!  So I have begun picking things up that I can give away to those that donate and share my blog!  While this portion of it isn't ready to be "officially" announced - it's getting there..

I will give you a glimpse of some of the things I have ordered:

1) Cell Phone External Battery charger - Lets face it.  There are many runners that use their phones for tracking their run.  There are many people who use their cellphones non-stop. 

Running the Marine Corps Marathon to raise money to help the homeless

As you are no doubt aware, I have registered to run this years Marine Corps. Marathon on the 27th of October.

Everyday, I am aware of how fortunate I am.  I have a wonderful job, a great family and a fantastic town house that I rent.  I am also aware that there are many people who do NOT have all of these things.  In order to change someone’s life – the first step to long-term change must be housing.

Homelessness affects people who started in all walks of life. With out a
place to lay your head, it can be hard to find a job, support a family
and even find healthy food to eat.



Volunteers of America Chesapeake helps fight homelessness in Virginia, Maryland and Washington  D.C..  From the Lighthouse Center in Virginia Beach, to the Hilda Barg Homeless Prevention Center in Northern Virginia, and the Transitional Housing programs in Baltimore – VOA Chesapeake is helping those that need it the most every single day.

Please consider donating to this wonderful cause, and help make a difference. Show that you were Called to Care!

If you would like to make a donation, please go to: http://www.hthwalks.org/goto/runningthemcm

If you are running the Marine Corps Marathon and would like to help me raise money for Volunteer’s of America Chesapeake’s homeless services programs, please contact me at onceandfuturerunner@gmail.com.

 

Its time for #Junathon - Day 1, 2 and 3...

Well, I'm not off to a good start on the blogging portion, now am I?  Here I am, according to the "Rules" of Junathon - supposed to exercise and blog every day, yet I am already combining my blog-postings into one, instead of three!

That's ok though, because this weekend was awesome enough that NOT blogging simply has to be forgiven.    Coinciding with Junathon - my wife and I are doing an "almost no bad food" month.  (It would be a NO bad food month, but our anniversary is this month.. There is no way we aren't celebrating that!  9 years of marriage and no murder-charges? YES!)  So, in order to start this off right - we headed out to the Anne Arundel Farmers market.  I love farmer's markets.  The people selling things they grew/made, the people buying the local items.. Fresh Air.. Fresh Produce.. Whats not to love?

[caption id="attachment_2739" align="aligncenter" width="490"] Photo from the Anne Arundel Farmer's Market Facebook page.[/caption]

In fact, it is partially in thanks to that wonderful market that my day's food looks like: