Motivation and a dog to kick

Many people spend their running time clearing their minds.  Removing the stress of the day by getting out and hitting the pavement.

...I'm not that way.

For some reason when I run, I tend to find something (or somethings) to focus on.  Numerous distractions at work and home tend to keep that from happening (good distractions, just wanted to make that clear), which many people can relate to.  We are all busy and don't always have time to focus on the things we need to.

Sometimes its a problem at work that needs a solution, sometimes its things that need done at the house.  Many times its spent trying to come up with funny stuff for the blog.

Well tonight was like many other nights.  I hopped in my Brooks, took off down the road, and let my mind unwind and focus on what was recently stored in my temporal lobe.  Well apparently tonight's subject had to do with people.  Not just any people mind you, but people in my life who have recently pissed me off.  These people are both friends and family.  I wont go into great detail, they just happened to be what my mind focused on tonight.

Now I will admit, it doesn't take much for me to be annoyed these days.  And turning 40 didn't increase my tolerance (shocker huh?).  But sometimes people just dont make sense.  I actually had quite a bit more here when I originally wrote the post, but like a government official, I went through and removed any language that the weak-spined media would be offended by.  This is the watered down version.

So what's the point?  Well apparently I turned that pissed-off-ness into motivation.  Good thing that stupid dog didnt come out to chase me...

First 2 miles 19:42, apparently pissed-off gas only gets me 2 miles.

2.55 miles, 25:19

Sorry for the depressing post.  Next one will be drop dead, knee-slapping, ROFL, type material. :|

Later

Like Jordan in the '97 Finals...

Despite feeling under the weather, the greatest of all time gave one of his best performances of his career and in doing so, left behind a game that basketball fans will remember forever.

My run tonight was nothing like that... :)

I was however, feeling under the weather.  I had a case of the sniffles and a sore throat from coughing most of the day.  But just like MJ, I manned up and laced up my Brooks and hit the pavement!

There was no Karl Malone, there was no John Stockton, just me and Pandora.  My opponent was, like it is most nights, myself.  I took off and immediately knew tonight was going to be difficult.  Nights like tonight I set a short goal, then another, and another.  Pretty soon I'm running at a good pace and ready to push my limits.

Tonight I realized early on that distance was going to be difficult.  So I kicked it up a notch and ran a faster pace.

2.13 miles, 22:19

Later

Addicted

Call it writers block, call it no material, no matter how you call it, it's been a bad week.

It's been nearly a week since I ran last. 

Not gonna make excuses, not gonna talk about a week full of birthdays, anniversaries, cross country meets, and parties.  There was time to run, just didn't take advantage of it.

Like a crack fiend looking for their fix, I needed to get out and run!  So I grabbed my Brooks and hit the pavement. 

Being addicted to running is an odd feeling.  You can't wait to get out and push your body beyond where it tells you it wants to go.  You play a mental game between your mind and your heart.  You run a good run and feel like you could've done better.  You miss a day and you punish yourself the next run. 

This was my situation this week.  Punishment.

4.84 miles, 53:34

Later.

Gatorade told me...

Been a busy couple of days but I did run on Tuesday.

First mile was pretty strong, think we (had a running partner) ran it in 10:39. Slowed the pace slightly for the second.  Think mile 2 was done at 21:40, or close to it.  Running partner finished at 2 miles, I did one more mile, because I am motivated by the commercials I watch, and Gatorade screamed at me "one more!!!".  

3.11 miles, 34:11

Later

Run Forest Run!

You might not know this about me, but it shouldn't surprise you when I say that "I can run like the wind blows".

So as I wrote about the other day, MBG asked if I would do a speed workout with her instead of my normal run.  Apparently I was not of sound mind when I agreed to this because it turned out to be more than I bargained for!

My normal runs are usually easy to moderate pace and for an extended duration....Sunday's run was anything but!  We started out with a warm up getting our muscles loose.  Then we ran.  Speed just shy of a sprint for a little over 2 minutes.  Then we rested with a slow walk for another 2 minutes.  Then another hard run for 2 minutes.  Then another slow walk for 2 minutes...you getting the picture?  Yeah.  So we did this for 6 cycles, which when you think about it didn't sound like much.  WRONG!!

When we started I thought, "ehh, shouldn't be a problem".  That was until about half was through the first hard run.  Holy crap!  I didn't know when those 2 minutes were going to be up!  The runs felt like we were doing 5 minutes and the rests felt like 30 seconds!

I was running so fast I couldn't tell what was hurting and what was just my body saying "What the hell are you doing?!?" 

So after channeling my inner Michael Johnson, we did a "cool down" run.  The idea behind the cool down run is to purge the "galactic acid" from your muscles after a hard workout according to MBG.  (Your welcome Mr Alderman)  This can be achieved by a slow jog.  So this is what we did after our sprints.  However, I'm not sure you could describe my "cool down jog" as a true jog.  My feet were moving my body forward at a slow pace, but it think I actually walk faster than my "cool down jog" speed!

With all this being said...I think I'll do that again.  It was kind of fun.  It's not often that an adult just gets to run full speed without another adult also running behind them telling them to "freeze"! 

No run on Monday, woke up early for work, stood out in the cold rain to watch a Jr High football game, kind of tired.

No distance or time kept.

Later

We're moving on up...

Just like those lovable characters from the 70's sitcom, tonight's run was just like that de-luxe apartment in the sky.  Maybe not so much George but a whole lotta Wheezy! 

I don't know if it was the lower temperatures, pollen, or age, but tonight was a very difficult start.  Muscles and joints are usually sore, but that's normal.  My lungs felt like I was trying to breathe peanut butter.  I think it was a combination of cooler temps and the fact that I've only run 2 out of the last 4 days . Not a best effort week for this WG.  I hope to do better through the weekend so Sunday evening isn't and painful and difficult as it normally is.

However, MBG (My Baby Girl) told me that she wanted to do some speed training with me this Saturday. ...wait...what??  Speed training??  Uhhh, ummm, what?  I'm not sure what this new level of hell this is going to turn into but I can only imagine.  She's told me about some of the different drills that her cross country coach does with their team.  Which is obviously good for the kids and their training...but is it going to be smart for this fat man to do?  I know I'm still on this side of 40 (unlike Mama Yaya), but as My Woman keeps reminding me, I'm knocking on the door!  In my younger days I was a pretty fast kid.  At one point I was the fastest kid in my school!  (this of course was only after two kids in the class above me graduated to Junior High, couldn't stand those guys).  My athletic prowess as a 5th grader, was the stuff of legend, my accomplishments on the intramural football field as a 6th grade Tony Dorsett, are still talked about in the halls of my old grade school.  Of course much of that was thanks to 6th grade teacher Mr. Z!  Probably my biggest fan next to my dad (and I wasnt even one of his students!).  But speed training with a 13 year old??  I'm 3 times her age!  ...holy crap, i just did that math for the first time.  Talk about a cold reality slap.

Anyway, outside of the lung trouble, the only other excitement was another near-miss with one of our foul smelling citizens.  Little rat was right on the shoulder of the road that I was running on.  Thank God I happened to look up from the blacktop to see him.  I stopped immediately and waited for his move.  As he waddled his way towards center-line I thought, "if he just gets to the culvert on the other side I could blow by him"!  You know, with all my speed, remember?  And I didn't want to turn around to run the other direction and ruin my pace and momentum!  Anyway, he waddled his putrid self over to the other ditch (only after sniffing some road kill in the other lane and picked up a piece in his mouth, no wonder they stink so bad) and slowly disappeared into the culvert.  He stopped and hissed at me at one point during his journey to the ditch.  Probably couldve dropped some ninja death kicks on his furry butt with my lightning quickness before he reached the other side...but thought I'd better play it safe and just continue my run.  

*#$#@#! cost me at least a full 45 seconds on my time.  I need to check and see if its legal to run while packing heat in our little town.  I guess I havent been stopped or arrested with the two guns I already carry... Watch out Mr. LePew!

4.21 miles, 47:50

Later

Wax Poetic

Nothing exciting or interesting in tonight's run.  Just pain.  Sometimes the body hurts more than normal.  Made me think of something I posted on FB awhile back.  I've revised it and it fits for tonight's run.  I just hope I'm not talking to my body parts as I"m running.

Feet say "Hey, the toes are numb".
My Brooks say "Yeah but look at these cool new running socks with the heel shield we just got"!

Knees say "Man, do you know how much you weigh"?
Ibuprofen says "I'll be here when you get back".

Hips say "Were getting too old for this".
Pandora says "I'll stay out here as long as you do".

Lungs say "This humidity makes it hard to breathe".
November says "Just wait til I get here".

Brain says "Listen to your body, let's just quit".
Heart says "Everyone shut up!  Let's run".

Not a bad run tonight.  Did 3 miles in 31 minutes.

3.59 miles, 38:25

Later