Thankful

So in preparation of the over eating that was absolutely going to happen today, I decided that a good run was necessary because there is a very good chance of no run the day after (or the day after that)!

So after getting to the in-laws and while waiting on the fried turkey, I hopped in my Brooks and hit the...gravel.

Yeah so the in-laws live out in the country and therefore do not have paved roads.  Which makes for great getting away from it time.  They also live on a small lake, so even better fishing time.  It does not however, make it conducive for a road runner like yours truly. 

So to add to the already cool temps we had the added variable of an unstable running surface as well as the potential for wild animal attacks!  

...OK, so maybe just the unstable surface.
You might have noticed that I used "we" earlier.  I was also lucky enough today to have a running partner.  My sister-in-law from out of town ran with me today. 

OK, time for my obligatory Thanksgiving list of things to be thankful for...

...my dad, my sisters and their families.

...in-laws that are better than most. 

...my aunt who inspires me to run, and her family.

...being able to run.

...new friends that we have made since moving to our little town who don't call the cops as I wheeze by their house late at night!

...my offspring.

One of the things I am most thankful for is My Woman (the Enabler).  She is my biggest fan and supporter.  I would be lost without her.  I'd also probably be back on the couch instead of planning my next 5k.

3.4 miles, 43:56

Later.

I must break you...

The ultimate story of the small time underdog who gets his chance to make it big.

If you spent any time watching movies in the 70's, 80's, and even into the early 90's you most likely watched one of the 5 Rocky movies (all of them if you were lucky enough).  I was one of the lucky ones and Rocky was always one of my favorites.  Anytime it would come on cable I would stop what I was doing and tune in.  Blue collar, underdog, hometown favorite, patriot, legend, there were many reasons for a movie goer to root for the diminutive pugilist.

From tenderizing sides of beef by hand, to taking verbal abuse from his crotchety old bag of a trainer, there are so many parts that define these movies, they stick in your mind.

Rocky, Adrian, Mick, Paulie, Apollo Creed, Clubber Lang (one of my favorites), and the late Tommy "Machine" Gunn.  So many colorful characters made this series of movies one of my favorites.

Tonight's run caused me to think about the movies about the "Italian Stallion".

In Rocky IV, at the height of the cold war, Rocky's nemesis is a Russian super-boxer named Ivan Drago.  First of all, how freaking cool of a Russian name is that!?  Then you get the revenge factor against the evil Iron Curtain after one time opponent turned friend Apollo Creed is killed in the ring by the scientifically "enhanced" Russian during an exhibition match.

Of course Rocky has to avenge his friend's death by taking on the Russian...on his home turf!!  So the red-blooded American boxer travels to Mother Russia to train for the fight of his life.

This brings me to tonights run...

During the movie Rocky trains more old school than he ever has before.  He's running out in the Siberian countryside, up mountains, jumping rope in a 200 year old barn, lifting Paulie and Duke (Apollo's old trainer) in a flatbed horse trailer.  True old school training.

In stark contrast, the uber-athlete Drago trains like a lab rat.  Running on a track in dramatically low lighting.  Lifting hundreds of pounds of weights.  Punching a machine that registers the power of his strike.  And of course getting his daily injections.  All the while his 7 foot Russian model girlfriend goes over his training regimen with the corrupt Russian doctor.  I mean really, how else was Russia going to have a world champion in boxing if they didnt "create" one?

At one point in the movie, Drago is running on a treadmill.  He's hooked up to all sorts of monitors that his trainers and doctors are watching constantly.  Then they start increasing the incline of the treadmill.  Drago is pushed to his limits as they have him running at what appears to be a 45 degree angle!

Most of my nights are like the training that Rocky does prior to his showdown with Drago.  Out in the elements, braving the cold in recent weeks.  Climbing mountains and celebrating when I've reached the peak.

Although, there are times when I have to go Drago...

A few months ago, My Woman (the Enabler) asked me to move the treadmill out into the garage because someone was interested in buying it.  (You know how treadmill ownership goes, you buy it, use it for a while, then it becomes a clothes hanger.  Next thing you know, you're trying to sell it!)  Well lucky for me, this person has not shown anymore interest.  Because on those nights when I dont have Paulie or Duke yelling at me to go run in the arctic temps (like tonight) I go wheezing in the comfort of my luke warm garage.  No 'roids, no Russian doctors, just Pandora.

4.0 miles, 43.27

Later

Killing November

November 11th 2012...

That was the last day I ran during Wheezing Gorilla 2.0.

Things are different now.  Different year, different equipment, different attitude, different Gorilla.

I have the treadmill setup in the garage in case the temps get down lower than the R-value of my Nike Pro Combat compression tights.

I've completed my first 5k and am looking for my next one.

I started this blog.

I've dropped 2 pants sizes.

This winter will not get the best of me.

3.13 miles, 32:30

Later.

Mr. C would be proud

He knew Metallica and Algebra.

He could talk about current events or Quantum theory.

He was my favorite teacher in Junior High (and possibly ever...I didnt like any of my HS teachers).

He was also my wrestling coach.  And outside of my dad, was the man who challenged me to reach my potential as a student and as an athlete.

He was one of those coaches that treated you like a man and expected you to act as such.  He was the type of coach you didn't want to disappoint.  Not because you were afraid of getting yelled at (which he rarely did), but because you didn't want him to think less of you.  You wanted his approval.

Every kid needs a coach like that.  Someone who will demand the best from you and not accept anything less.  I've run into Mr. C over the years.  Other than a bit of grey hair, he still looks the same.  Same glasses, same hair, probably same pants.

What does that have to do with tonight's run?

Well, during wrestling season, there's a lot of condition...which means running...a lot of running...then a little more running.

During the holidays Mr. C wouldn't assign homework...he would assign running.

Now I don't think he would follow us on our holiday runs, but if you didn't run during Thanksgiving or Christmas break (we had Christmas breaks, not winter breaks) he definitely knew.  I don't know how, but he he did.

Many times we would run in the wrestling room.  And for those of you who aren't familiar with a wrestling room, they tend to have a certain...funk to them!

Often times though we would run outside.  Didn't matter what the temperature was, we were running.  He would make sure you had proper attire...which amounted to a stocking cap.  You know, because you lose heat through you head.  Boy if I had a nickle for every time he said that...

Well I'm sure at the time I failed to see the value in running in the great outdoors.  But now that I am running because I want to, I do.  With the help of My Woman (the Enabler), I've equipped myself with the proper cold weather running attire and can run in pretty frigid temps.

I hope that Mr. C would be proud of the running I've been doing...especially in the cold!

3.13 miles, 32.33

Later

TJ5K

Well, I did it.

Today I participated in my first 5k.

It was a trail run into a 30 mph wind, and it kicked the living crap out of me! I kept telling myself all week to pace myself in the first mile. And to not try to keep up with the quicker and faster runners. I did not realize that many of those quicker and faster runners would be 5, 6, and 7 year old children!

So I did what any self respecting the grown man would do, I tried to beat the kids.

I got through the first mile and wasn't feeling too bad. The first mile of the course had a little elevation change but not much. Then going into the second mile is where the elevation changed and started to push my endurance as a runner. Remember when I wrote about the bottlenecks that I would experience while running? Well today was a perfect example of all of them showing up at once!

I walked more times than I wanted to (my goal was none).

I took longer than I wanted to (my goal was sub 11 minutes)

And I almost missed my third goal...NOT puking.

I didn't go into the race with that particular goal, but about half a mile before the finish line it became my primary one.

As soon as I crossed the finish line I kept going so that I was outside of earshot of the people surrounding it.  They didn't need to hear me working on keeping my breakfast down. 

Luckily I was able to settle down and keep from being "the guy who threw up".  A friend brought me a bottle of water and I made my way back to the finish line.

Overall I'm proud that I finished.  It was a fun time as there were other people there that I knew.

I couldn't have done this without the support of My Woman (The Enabler), my kids, and My Aunt (My Coach).

I didn't win anything, but then again that's not why we do it is it?  (unless it's a Turkey Trot) ;-)

3.1 miles, 35-36 minutes (I think)

Later

Runner's Lament

Getting closer I can feel it.

Saturday is only 3 days away.  (Wednesday's post)

Good thing is that I'm getting closer to where I was before the backslide. 

Bad thing is I'm still not where I want to be.

Ugh.

3.55 miles 38:24

Later

I don't get it...

On a busy day I will use my phone so much that the battery will give out before I get home.  Don't believe me?  Just ask My Woman.

Tuesday was one of those days. Heavy use of email, text messaging, and the assorted social media, caused my battery to give up the ghost.

So by the time I was ready to hit the pavement my phone was on the sidelines. So I did what I had to do and I broke out my iPod Shuffle.  Now don't get me wrong, I've got plenty of good beats on that little device to get me through my workout. From Metallica to old school hip hop, that little Shuffle has enough music to lay down the beat for a good long run.

Here's my problem...

With the abundance of creativity, money, and bleeding edge technology, how in God's name can this company produce such awful earbuds for so long!?!  Could there be a more uncomfortable piece of technology than those crappy little white, perfectly round earbuds?

I'm not a total Windows snob and I know that Apple makes wonderful products, but seriously!  I don't get it.  How can this be overlooked?  If I wanted to surrender the extra money in site I could find a good after market pair.  But why should you have to?  I'm not saying they need to be Dr. Dre Beats good but make them at least comfortable.

I guess the latest ones are an improvement over models past but why take so long?

Good thing it was cold tonight so my crappy earbuds could be held in place by my hat. 

Quick run tonight.  Run Tracker failed to keep the time and mileage.

Best guess is 25-30 minutes just shy of 3 miles.

Later.

Rocky and Bullwinkle

If you were one of the lucky ones who grew up in the golden age of the Saturday morning cartoons (or at least re-runs of some of the greats) you more than likely sat down in front of the idiot box to enjoy one of the greats.

Rocky and Bullwinkle, Boris and Natasha, Peabody and his pet boy Sherman, and of course, Dudley Do-Right.  This cult favorite, which only ran for a total of 5 years, brought humor to both young and old.  Writers of the show mixed good old fashioned slap stick comedy and adult humor.

One of my favorite things about the show was the way they ended nearly every show.  The narrator would announce two humorous titles for the next episode which were really more about the current show's predicament rather than the plot of the next episode.

Tonight's run reminded me of the episodes I used to watch.  Specifically the show endings.  So in true Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends fashion, here's the rest of my blog.

Be with us next time for "Stretching a double into a single" or "Its a bad night for squirrels".

Now to elaborate.

Stretching a double into a single...

Back in the day I was a pretty good athlete.  I spent the majority of my late teens, 20s, and 30s playing softball as much as I could.  I worked a lot of physical jobs so I stayed in pretty good shape.  I was quick and strong, 10 feet tall and bullet-proof.

Then I hit my mid-thirties, found a job in IT, and discovered my mortality.  Weight didnt fall off like it used to, joints started creaking more, and injuries didnt heal like they used to.

Twisted ankles, sprained wrist, and a torn groin later and my role as a softball superstar morphed into the solid "old man" role.  So now when that shot finds the gap between left and left center, what was once a double, potentially a triple, is now a round the bag at first and call it good.  Live to play another day is the motto this old softballer had adopted.

How does this apply to tonight's run?  Well as I've written before, my recent lack of training has really got me struggling to get back where I was before.

Tonight I took off at a faster pace than normal, thinking that I would push myself this week in preparation for my 5K on Saturday.  ...uh, mistake.

I took off at a sub 10 minute first mile.  Unfortunately that killed my next mile.  By the time I got into my third mile, I had come to my senses and was running at the pace that got me to where I was before.  Methodical pace with short bursts of speed.  (You'd think after 8 months of training, I'd have figured this out by now).

Its a bad night for squirrels...

I see my share of animals, both dead and alive, while running.  Tonight was a bit odd though.  Saw 2 dead squirrels on the town roads.  Thought those little suckers were quicker than that.  Wish it was the little black and white varmints.

Overall not a bad run once I got back in the groove.

0.00 miles, 45 minutes.  (GPS failed to work, figured at an average of 5.5 mph, I ran a touch over 4 miles)

Later

9 Days...

Single digits...

It is now 9 days until my first 5K.  (7 technically since I'm writing this on Saturday)

And with the recent lack of training, I'm a little worried.

Its only 3.1 miles but right now it feels like 31.

I feel like I'm getting back to where I was before, but definitely not where I want to be by my first race.

I think the biggest fear I have is having to listen to myself breathe during the race!  I haven't picked up my packet yet so I don't know if headphones are banned from the race or not.  But from what I understand, it's poor race etiquette to run with headphones.  And you all know what a stickler for etiquette I am.  (as I look up the definition of etiquette)

Scaring my neighbors on the evenings that I run was bad enough, but scaring perfect strangers as they are forced to run along side me is a different story.  If anything let them wear headphones! 

I'm sure my Aunt Sonya can chime in on this as the voice of race experience.

But who am I kidding?  My competition will most likely not even be in earshot to my wheezing!

All kidding aside, here is a link to the race.

http://www.redteamracing.com/races/tj5k

Tonight's run wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.

3.73 miles, 39:55

Later

My Pal's Favorite Super

If you have a young son, you will more than likely be familiar with the metal encased superhero IronMan.  Billionaire, genius, playboy, philanthropist Tony Stark and his amazingly cool toys.  IronMan's suit made from space age materials and technology allows Stark to battle villains from this worlds and beyond.

What powers this super suit is a miniature ARC reactor created by Stark while held captive in a cave.  Its the telltale light emitting from his chest that lets you know its an IronMan suit.

By the time IronMan 3 rolled around the ARC reactor had taken on a few different shapes.  One of the suits displays a triangle on the chest.

This is where I actually make a connection to my run tonight and the rambling of my blog.

During a physical therapy session that My Baby Girl had a few weeks ago, the PT (which is also my wife's extremely cool boss) talked to her (and me I suppose) about proper running techniques.  He discussed that when you are running properly with your arms and legs in sync, you also have your chest expanded correctly.  He described it as an upside down triangle and how you should always have it "open".

Now this explanation is much better in person and I know I did a horrible job of trying to describe it myself.  But the whole thing reminded me of IronMan's suit in the latest installment of the movie.

Now when I run, I'm not saying that its anything like IronMan...in fact its more like Darth Vader.  A lot of difficult breathing sounds.

Tuesday night was suspended due to feeling crappy.

Tonight was horrible, couldnt even finish a full 3 miles and I stopped to walk twice.

2.99 miles, 33:48

Later

She's an enabler..

So I've written about how awesome My Woman is in previous posts.  How supportive she's been of my running.  And how she's spoiled me when it comes to my running gear.

Well I've discovered tonight that she's not a supporter...she's what the folks on Intervention call an enabler.

Just when I think I want to quit she says something or does something for me that motivates me to keep going.

Perfect example:
I've been talking about how cold the weather is getting and trying to figure out what I'm gonna run in.  Leave it to My Woman.  I come home on Monday and she's already picked me up some gear to try.

A couple pair of long running pants (I'm not gonna call them tights), long sleeved Duo-Dry shirt, and a thin running jacket.  She's amazing!

...crap.

Now I have to go out and run in this weather.  Not only was it cold tonight, but the wind was blowing.  I think the wind chill was somewhere around -25 degrees or so.

So I put on my new gear and laced up my Brooks and hit the pavement.

F-f-f-f-f-reaking A!  Why am I doing this!?!

I had to go back in the house to put on one more layer!

Once I got going the gear worked great!  Yeah it was chilly but it beats running in a parka! 

Good run tonight.

4.62 miles, 49:19.

Later.

Monday Night's Run

Some nights there's just no material.

Theres just running.

That was tonight.

3.45 miles, 36:09

Later.

Chicken Run

Back in the day it was the place to eat when you wanted killer fried chicken.  People would come from miles around and stand in line for the food.  For the weary traveler it was a welcome respite to rest and refuel (both the body and the family truckster) before heading back out on I-70.  For many folks in the area (including members of my own family) it was the place to work too!  

Nickerson Farms was a place from my childhood that conjures up nostalgic feelings of family and food.  We didnt get to go there often as we didnt live in the same town but the times we did were amazing!  Back before families dined out as much as we do now, going to a restaurant was a special event.  Children would be analyzing the menu slowly trying to decide on their main course as if choosing a college to attend.  When in reality it didnt matter what you chose, it was going to be delicious anyway!

Now the fact that I was probably around 8 or 9 the last time we were at Nickerson Farms probably clouds my perception of what it was really like.  But isnt that the fun of childhood memories anyway?  Things probably aren't as bad or as great as you remember.

Anyway, the reason for another of one of my trips down memory lane is my run this Sunday.  While My Baby Girl was at open gym at the Jr High, I decided to do my run.  I knew it was going to be a painful run as I've run once in the last 16 days...yes, yes, I feel the shame you are all sending my way.  That was one of the reasons I decided to make my running journey public.

So my run tonight was in that same small town as one of my favorite childhood memories.  Nickerson Farms exists no more, replaced years ago by a winery.  I decided that since MBG was going to be at open gym for nearly an hour and a half, a nice 45-60 min run would be good in getting me back in the groove.

...uh wrong!

Probably should be happy I did as good as I did all things considered, but when you get the running bug, you always feel like you could have done better.  I did find out though that it is exactly 1.4 miles from the Junior High to the parking lot of the old Nickerson Farms/now winery.

2.80 miles, 31:03.

Later