On the Shelf: 6/28 to ???

Hiroko and I went to Toning Class last Tuesday and during class I began to have a bit of a cough.  Later that night, my cough turned into a cold.  By Wednesday morning, a fever had set in and it was apparent that I had the flu.  Wednesday was crazy bad, fever, joint pain, wretched cough, delusions about ganache recipes (Random and odd).  Thursday was better, but Friday was worse and I felt very weak.  Throughout the weekend, I kept thinking that I would surely feel better the next day, only to be disappointed.  Everything has gotten better except for a persistent hacking cough that keeps me up all night.  I went to the doctors, and am now on tons of meds (the even gave me an inhaler!), but the cough is still here.  I've lost over 7 pounds since I have been sick just from the fever, night sweats, lack of appetite.  Last night, I coughed so much that I strained my next and gave myself a headache.  I won't be running or working out until I get this sorted out; however, I can't imagine it lasting much longer.  I am trying to look at this in a positive manner but being sick just sucks . . . and being sick in the summer is even worse.  Yuck!

Weds. AM Sports Conditioning Class: 6/22

This class marked my fourth day of not running part of it was planned, but part was just bad luck.  The class was boring but effective.  This class is one that doesn't change and at all.  I am just not fond of how it is structured, but it is a good workout, so I still attend from time to time.  Anyway, here is a song that I really love.  "Once in a Lifetime" by Talking Heads.  I just love this song.  Enjoy.

Tuesday Toning Class -- 6/21

Hiroko and I were planning to run on Tuesday, but the air was filled with smoke from some wild fires in the eastern part of the state.  However, a lot of people around here were wondering if it was the UNC athletic department burning all the football players' parking tickets . . . hmm!?!  Anyway, we decided to do the Toning class at the Y instead and spare our lungs.  The class was pretty good.  It went heavy on the abs, which both Hiro and I need.

Monday AM Sports Conditioning Class -- 6/20

Monday, I decided to attend the morning Sports Conditioning class at the Y rather than run.  I skipped my long run on Sunday to spend the day with Hiroko and to give my body a rest.  It seems like a good week to change things up a bit, rather than run the risk of burning out or injury.  I've enjoyed my races over the last two weeks and think that I have learned a great deal about the way I have been running.  I have come the the conclusion that I am just going to have to focus more on doing the things that I don't like during training: getting up earlier, more cross training, and speed work, if I plan to give a better effort during a race.  Really, how can I ask myself to dig deep on race day if I am not used to it during training.  Therefore, I drug my sorry ass out of bed Monday morning at 4:30AM and got ready for the 6am Sports conditioning class at the Y.  I enjoyed the class a great deal, which made it well worth the effort.

Tuesday Toning and the Greatest PSA ever . . . Don't Talk - Angry Voicemail (Uncensored)

Yesterday's toning class was pretty good.  I went to the gym in the morning for some stretching, to use the foam roller, and to workout my vastus medialis, which often needs some extra attention.  I returned later in the day with Hiroko and we took the afternoon Toning class.

Today, I came across the greatest PSA in the history of PSA's.  Personally, I am not fond of text messaging and I fucking despise people who use their cell phones in a movie theater, so I love that the  kicked her out and then used her voicemail to make her the subject of even more ridicule.  Love iiiiiiiiiiiiit!

Wednesday Afternoon Sports Conditioning 5/25

Great Class!  lots of Squats, Push ups, Burpees, Suicides, Crab walks, Walking lunges, and high knees.  Fun stuff!

Here video of one of my favorite Japanese comedians  Gori Matsuura and his alter ego or Gorie.  Gorie is suppose to be a 15 year old girl who thinks she is super cute and dresses and act accordingly.  However, she looks like a dude dressed as up like a 15 girl to everyone else (which of course she is).  The real comedy is that most people try not to shatter Gorie's self image or hurt her feelings, but in the end, Gorie always pushes people beyond the breaking point.  This is a music video that is a result of Gorie cheer leading, which is one of her many super cute activies:

Wednesday X-rays and Thursday Class.

I took Wednesday off from working out because I woke up with some swelling in my foot, appropriately enough, just below "the little piggy that stayed home."  I kept thinking that t would be just my luck to find out I have a broken foot or something the day after I decide to due my first half marathon.  Hiroko and I both could feel some swelling around the bone at the base of my toe, so it wasn't a case of my imagination run amok.  However, I could still move the toe, didn't have any discoloration, and could put weight on it (with some pain).  I was pretty sure that this was a sprain because I've sprained several fingers in the past and they felt a lot like this.  But, just to be on the safe side, a trip to the doctor would be on the agenda for Wednesday morning rather than a trip to the gym.  The doc agreed that I most likely injured the toe when I rolled my ankle.  I may not have noticed at the time because the ankle was hurting worse or I could have aggravated the toe recently, either way, I was off for X-rays.  Luckily, the x-rays came back negative, so it will be more sprain treatment for my foot!  I know that I shouldn't run on my foot until it heals, but  . . . I also know that I can run on it . . . if I am careful and take some precautions. So, of course, I'll run on it until it is clear that I can't. 

Thursday morning I went to Plycore class in the morning and had a great workout.  45 minutes, tons of core work, but a good full body workout that didn't put a lot of stress on my toe.  My foot is still swollen, but I have started treating it with ice and elevation.  I want to try to avoid anti-inflammatories if I can, but if things done improve, I'll add them in as well.   

Weds. Sports Conditioning: Abs Hell Day 4/20

This post will be short and sweet. 

• Ran to the gym in the morning, but Old Bob was out of power
• First naked run (sans Garmin) since buying OLD Bob: kind of liked it . . . kind of didn't.  Hmm not ssure what to make of it.
• Took Teresa's class again . . .
• As we left on Monday, she told us that Wednesday we would do Abs until we puked
• I didn't puke
• Wish that I had.
• My abs still hurt
• Ouch
• Ran home after class
• Thought that I might die.
• Ouch
• Biked to work
• Ouch
• People at work said that I looked like I was either about to die or about to puke . . . opinions varied
• Ouch
• My abs still hurt . . . I am not sure my internal organs are in the right places . . . ouch.

Monday Morning Wake UP Call From Boston: 4/18

After running in my local 5k and failing to get my PR, I went to the gym and took Teresa's Sports Conditioning Class: the last place that you want to go when your opinion of yourself is on shaky ground.  It is rumored that she is a former Drill Sargent, and I have no reason to question the validity of the rumor.  There is no bullshitting about in her class, she picks difficult exercise, piles on reps, and people who finish first are rewarded with being the first to begin the next exercise.  There are no breaks.  The class is an unending onslaught of exercise  and pain from start to finish.  If you want a break it's on you.  If you die, we'll call your next of kin after class ends.

I hadn't attend Teresa's class in months, but I knew what I was getting into.  The class was brutal and left me destroyed! 

After Teresa's class I weighed myself and saw that my eight was 10 pounds higher now than it had been during the race I PR'ed the 5k.  Those 10 pounds cost me a PR on Sunday.  I've no excuses for this. I let injuries and mental fatigue get the better of me, and I got complacent.  I have improved since the New Year, but I know the truth.

It is time to face some facts, I love running.  I want to run all the time, but I need lose weight for so many reasons that extend beyond running, and running alone is not the most effective way for me to lose weight.  I'll either breakdown or plateau.  I enjoy the fitness classes that I take for the most part, but I tend to shy away from the more difficult classes these days.  I hate weights, but they are an extremely effective way to lose weight. 

All of these ideas realities were floating around in my noggin as I started tracking AR and Emily as they set fire to Boston.  Now, I have NO dreams of EVER running Boston.  None, none, none.  But, I do have dreams of running faster and longer distances.  I also have dreams of being able to walk when I am in my 60's, being able to dress myself, and play with any children that I might one day have. 

All of this stuff just kept churning away as I watched AR turn in Rock Star negative split on bum knee, and I just couldn't escape the fact that if I want to achieve my goals I need to pick up some frickin weights, maybe try some yoga, take a break from races, and work.  I need to get up early and work my ass off, which is what I am going to do.  Work is what every single person in Boston has done, and even though Boston is not my destination, I'll except this wake up call from Boston . . .That's right operator, I'll take the call!

Wading into the Fray and Tuesday's Toning

Common Ground for FL and I

Tuesday Hiro and I attended Toning Class and It was uneventful.  Nice class, good to give my legs a rest, but not a lot worthy of a post.  However, yesterday Frayed Laces put up this post after hearing an NPR story about Boston's changes.  Here is basically what FL had to say on the subject:

"I know this is a hot topic, and there are many heated opinions about this. I've kind of kept my opinions to myself about this since I don't want to piss off any readers, but when I got to the "Chicken Nuggets at the End!" part of the story I started to get pissed off. The context of that statement is Team-In-Training runners. To motivate the runners to finish their 20 mile training runs they reward them with chicken nuggets at the end. Chicken Nuggets? Are you friggin' kidding me?!? If you can eat chicken nuggets at the end of a long run you may want to consider kicking things up a notch. I can barely keep down a recovery drink at the end of my long runs. I am a runner, and technically they are runners, but to lump us both in the same category is a bit ridiculous. I may not be setting any world records, and when I did start out I wasn't nearly as fast or serious about training as I am now. In the past few years I've dramatically changed however, and it really dills my pickle when someone hears that I do Ironmans and they say "Oh yeah, I did one of those once. It only took me two hours!" when in fact they're referring to a sprint triathlon they did 20 years ago. (Same thing goes for marathons) I usually just keep my big 'ol mouth in those situations, but what I want to scream out is "I train 20 hours a week! I push myself in training to the point of puking! You're doing this once to cross something off your life goal list, and I train harder-harder-harder to get faster each year! I eat, sleep, breathe this sport!

So, are there too many marathon runners? No, there aren't. There are too many "chicken nuggets at the end!" marathon runners and not enough "eat, sleep, breathe" runners. I think it's great that so many people are embracing fitness and tackling the goal of a marathon, but don't lump us all in the same category."

After reading FL post, I gave this rather sarcastic reply:

"I got started running last year and am not the type of person that anyone would look at and say "that guy looks like a runner." I'm 6'1 275. So, I am really careful not to call myself a runner because I don't want to risk offending people I who consider themselves "runners". Here's my question . . . I've done 15 race in the last 10 months, ran in the snow, ran in the rain, ran during my lunch hour, ran an 8k while on vacation in Hawaii, run 5k's at close to an 8 min. mile pace, suffered through Plantar Fasciitis, get up at 4:30am to run, have a subscription to Runner's World, keep a running blog, plan social events around my running, talk about running so much it annoys my wife, sprained an ankle running, read "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running", own more pairs of running shoes than dress shoes, and know who Bart Yasso is . . . so when will my calling myself a runner not irritate people who BQ? Because honestly, it keeps me up at nights. Sometimes, I even get a little weepy just thinking about it and want to take up curling -- but I'm screwed because I live in NC and we only get snow like twice a year."

In a follow up post Follow up to "the" post FL used my comment as an example of the responses her post has gotten and elaborated on her opinion in order to clarify that she wasn't attacking slower runner.  Personally, I never thought that was her intent.  I got that she thinks that a person, who runs a Marathon just to say they have done it, shouldn't be considered a "Marathoner."  Personally, I see the difference, and I think that most reasonable people would or should.  My issue is that a lot of people make these kinds of judgments based upon completely arbitrary criteria and superficial observations and then proceed to treat people like something akin to dog poo.

Now, I realize that is not FL's intent, but I think that making these type of judgements about people is a very slippery slope (If you need an example of this, just look at all of the Team in Training bashing that went on in response to FL's comment.  You would think that Team in Training were the biggest bunch of posers to ever put on a pair of running shoes).  Personally, my response was more than a little bit fueled by the looks of disdain that I get from people when I show up at events.  They don't know anything about me or my commitment to running, but they see a big guy with a new running jacket and just look at me a some sort of window shopper denigrating their sport. 

Now, I realize that these people are not representative of every "Runner" out there and are most likely asshole outside of their running life, and this elitism is only how their prick-ishness manifests itself in this setting, but it is this type of elitist BS that intimidates some people and keeps them from participating in something that may awaken and hidden passion.  It also can lead to efforts to devalue the accomplishments of slower runners, such as different color medals based upon finishing times, which one comment spoke about in response to FL's post.  Personally, I am the biggest person at nearly every non-major charity race I attend, and it is intimidating at times to line up with people that are in much better shape than I am.  There is no way for me to show them that I am just as serious about this sport as anyone else.  Honestly, I don't care what motivates a person to run.  I am glad to see people out there doing it, and their reasons good, bad, or ugly are their own and have no effect upon me.  I am a  runner.  I don't need a BQ or anyone else's nod of approval.  I don't care if some 400 lb Sumo Wrestler completed the LA Marathon in 9 hours and a bunch of media outlets wrote stories about it.  It doesn't water down how I feel about my accomplishments.  And, I hate to see people like FL, who have a lot people's respect buying into the idea and not realizing where such sentiments can easily lead.

Wed. Sports Conditioning & Pre-Race Leg Issues: 4/6

OK, after Tuesday's workout, my same old cranky left leg decided to start complaining.  Everything felt fine but as the day wore on and I toiled away at my desk my quad started to feel sore and weak just above my knee on the outside of my leg.  I tried to put it out of my mind, but I wasn't at all happy about the timing considering I have two races in the next ten days.  I hit the foam roller as soon as I got home and my leg genuinely felt better.  I decided to go to the Afternoon Sports Conditioning class, just to get some work in before my Race on Saturday. 

The class was a standard Stations class with 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds of rest for seven rounds.  The class was really uneventful except that we did to different exercises that targeted my already cranky quad.  I tried to be smart about the exercises and not push too hard.  After the class, I did made sure to stretch, hit the foam rolled again when I got home, and use some muscle cream.  

I am fairly sure that my quad issues are the result of a imbalance between my vastus lateralis and vastus medialis.  I have noticed over the last few months that a lot of my workout classes hit the same muscle groups over and over, which I think is causing my to over work some muscles while under working others, so I have begun to read up on the different muscles and how to better work them, which I hope will over time alleviate a lot of my issues. 

In order to avoid going going Gary Busey crazy about the condition of my leg before the race on Saturday I decided to rest for the next two days and try to go into the race with well rested for my 10k.

weds. sports conditioning: 3/30

Needed to get in some good conditioning because Thursday would be a day of dental repairs and Friday I would be help out at a charity event for to assist Japan.  I still felt rundown from Tuesday's workout by the time I went to Class, but I was able to force myself to attend.  The class was exactly what I needed because it had a nice blend of stationary exercises and cardio stations. 

How many people have this burned into thier mind?

Recently, I purchased a new GYMBOSS Interval Timer, which I love!  I had one that I used most of the summer, but I accidentaly left in the gym.  I fianlly admitted to myself that I was never going to find it and ordered another one.  The GYMBOSS is a nice inexpensive gym tool that is an effective way to incorerate interval training into your workout.  I am a big fan of intervals because I hate trying to count reps.  I would much rather work for a designated period of time.  The GYMBOSS is nice because it allows you to set up to different interval periods, which can be set for different lengths of time, and will also count down the number of sets you do from whatever number you designate up to 99.  I used to love using it for skipping rope as well as for regulaer exercises.  I don't run intervals, but I can't see why the GYMBOSS couldn't be youed for running in tervals as well.  The only issue that I have with it is that it has a tone of features but only three buttons, so trying to remember how to program your settings can be difficult at first.  But after a little while, it becomes second nature.  It sort of reminded me of tring to remember the cheat for CONTRA on Nintendo 64.  I am not one for plugging products on my blog, but I really think that the GYMBOSS is awesome (and I have no connection to the company or anyone that works for them.  Just incase you are wondering).  I have used it in the past and don't think many people are aware of it, so I don't mind taking the time to spread the word because I searched high and low for something like this for a long time before I stumbbled upon it.

Lastly, I have decided to start logging my bike commuting totals at the end of the month, but I will cover everything I have done until now just to get it out of the way.  Since 2/14 I have commuted 76 miles by bicycle.

Morning Run & Class: 3/16

You'll have to forgive the tardiness of the next few posts.  I've gotten a bit behind in my blogging recently.  Last Wednesday was Hiroko's Birthday, so we both took the day off to celebrate together (insert Aaahhhh's **here**). 

I got up early and ran to the gym before Hiroko woke.  I enjoyed the run more than I can really explain, but I'll try.  Early morning before the sunrise is my favorite time of day, always has been.  One of my best memories from childhood is of a pre-dawn trip, my aunt took me on, to a local pre-Starbucks era coffee shop/cafe.  Being up and out before the sunrise always feels like stepping into an alternate reality, and the people that you see moving about are different, like members of a secret Illuminati-esque society.  They' re more aware of the people, who cross paths with them than people who keep regular hours and seem to be searching for a secret gesture or signal that indicates if you're part of their pre-dawn cabal.  Perhaps, it is just my over active imagination, who knows, but the point is that I really enjoy this time of day. 

And, I find my connection to this pre-dawn world is much stronger when walking, running, or on my bike rather than in my car.  Recently, I've shed my I-pod on my runs, so Wednesday's morning run just seemed to come alive much more than it ever has with, depending on my mood, Adam Lambert, Wolfmother, or Johnny Cash streaming into my ears.  Wednesday's morning's air was cool but still warm enough to wear short sleeves.  The feeling of the air on my skin mixed with the sounds of all the birds just beginning their day put me in a great frame of mind, which I needed because I've been struggling and letting frustrations from one aspect of my life bleed over into others.  Running's been the area of my life where the lines have held firm.  As I made my way to the gym, I listened to my breathing, the sounds of the city and my feet falling on the pavement, and began to long for my next run in Umstead.  I decided in that moment that my next run their would be a 7 miler, my longest distance to date.  By the time, I arrived at the gym the decision was set in my mind.

The workout class was Lisa's interval Sport's Conditioning where we do three exercise a 30 seconds, rest 10 seconds in between each one, then run back and forth across the gym, before moving on to the next set of exercises.  By the end of class, I was pouring sweat, but I wasn't exhausted to the point where I thought that the run home would be difficult.

The run home was a different than the run to the gym because t he sun was nearly up and the streets  more activity.  But, I was feeling really invigorated and looking forward to spending the day with Hiroko.   By the time I arrived at home, I felt awesome and was ready to cook Hiroko breakfast, and start the birthday festivities.


first run -- 1.65 15:02.77 9:07
1 9:29.95
.65 5:32.82

second run 1.63 15:12.21 9:19
1 9:30
.63 5:42.21

Random Search Terms and Toning Class: Tues 3/22

First off, I need to issue an apology.  AR has a a regular feature on her blog where she shares some of the more exotic search terms that led readers to her blog: Angry Runner's Search Term of the Day.  I never paid much attention to the search terms people used to find my blog, instead I've always been more fixated upon why I had five hits from Slovenia last month.  However, after reading AR's post I began taking notice.  Mostly the search terms were rather boring or run of the mill things I have talked about in my blog: "First five miler", "Free to Breathe 5k", or "Gary Busey Teeth", OK . . . these terms all fit, I used a picture of Busey in one of my posts, wrote a rather scathing race report about a Free to Breathe 5k, and made a post about my first 5 miler, so I feel that the people that made these searches at least found something close to what they were looking for.  Yeah, the guy looking for "gary busey teeth" might not have found the Dr Bailey’s Instant Smile Cosmetic Dentures False Teeth Novelty he wanted, but he at least got a picture of Gary Busey's teeth.  However, this morning I noticed a search term which led someone to my blog to whom I feel compelled to issue an apology.  My deepest heart felt apology goes out to the individual brought to my blog by searching "i like pissing my panties,"  clearly my blog did not satisfy your interest in any way and for this, I apologize.

I am not so sure there is a good way to transition to Toning class from here or if it really even matters.  Hiroko and I went back to Toning class for the first time in a few weeks.  The class was just what I hoped and expected.  I can tell that I am starting to recover my over all fitness from slacking off over the winter.  This class was the first time that I was able to complete every exercise in a long time.  also, I used 10lbs. dumbbells throughout the class.

Don't Run Angry! You Gotstobe Kiddin': 3/17

I have spoken before about how prior to my run I might sometimes come across as a etsy bitsy intsy weensy bit anti-social, which is kind out of place at a . . . um . . . social run.  I've suspected for awhile that because I don't talk all that much before my run and am a ginormous guy that people tend to wonder if I'm going to loose it, go into some crazy Frankenstein "Fire bad!" freak out, and smash shit.  Well, on Thursday Hiroko kept asking me if I was alright before the Fleet Feet Social Run.  I was fine for the most part, a little put off by the smoking ashtray right outside the store, but other than that no problem.

However, I started to wonder that if my own wife thinks I look pissed, then the rest of the people must be of the opinion that I am teetering on the cusp of a total mental breakdown.   I know that after about the first mile, I'll often begin talking, and by the end of run I'll be downright chatty, but before a run . . . it just isn't happening.  I need to focus because when I just bebop into a run is when the injury bug is going to hit.  I am keenly aware that people my size are not really cut out for distance running, and according to Yahoo!, the Heaviest man to ever complete a Marathon until a 400 sumo wrestler did it (in Nine hours, 48 minutes, 52 seconds), was a guy 275 pounds, which is about my current weight.  I know what you're thinking: damn Greg, there goes your chance at a record! That I shouldn't take things so seriously.  And, I shouldn't.  Maybe it is because I am a Cancer, and we internalize everything, or perhaps it is because I was an only and am not properly socialized, I don't know.  I do know that running is my release.  My frustrations, petty grievances, rages against a world that I don't really get, and fears that I wasted the best years of my life watching M*A*S*H reruns instead of living, all melt away for a little while as the miles click off.  Therefore if you happen to see me before a run, and  I look like William Foster trying to get breakfast at Whammyburger 11:37 don't be alarmed because I am about to go for a nice little run and sort myself out.

Thursday's cathartic little run was3.01 hilly little miles which I did in  28:15.42 for a 9:23 pace.

Doing Away with the Crap: Wednesday Sports Conditioning

Three straight crap runs were reason enough for a change, but the changing I ended up doing wasn't what I had in mind.  I used Tuesday as a rest day because I had run on Sunday when I should have rested.  The time change made the morning classes difficult to attend, so I only attended the afternoon Sports Conditioning class.  Cross training is going to be really important if I want to avoid injury over the spring and summer.  The weather is getting nice and the urge to run everyday is going to get stronger as the days get longer.  I'll need to go to the gym in the morning to avoid the temptation because it will be difficult to force myself into the gym on a beautiful day after work.

The class was a standard stations class with intervals.  We did seven sets of one exercise before moving on to a new station.  Each set was 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds rest.  The exercises were sprints, bicycles, Bosu step ups, push ups, side shuffles, mountian climbers, and hamstring pulls with the exercise ball. 

Yes, my litter box is clean!

I began with sprints and ended with the hamstring pulls, which I think was for the best.  The hamstring exercises were awesome and  really hit my hammy's hard. Sprinting after doing those would have just sucked.  The push ups were the most difficult of all of the exercises, and cost me the most becasue I challenged Hiro do 15 in her last set.  She busted out 15 (girl push ups) in 20 seconds meeting the goal that I set.  Her reward was that I would clean Basil's litter box next time it needed cleaning.  Next time, I will maker her do 10 guy pushups because Basil is a really awesome cute cat, but a litter box is still a litter box!

In Search of . . . A Halfway Decent Run: nOg Run 3/14

Nimoy is such a creepy dude . . .
God, I have a crazy non-Star Trek related Man Crush

Anyone out there remember that old TV show, In Search of . . ., hosted by Leonard Nimoy during the years between Star Trek the TV show and the movies?  I watched In Search of . . . when it was in syndication an Looovvved it!   The show was a bunch of mini "documentaries" about controversial and paranormal X-files worthy stuff,  mysterious historical events and personalities, and your random myths and legends.  Basically, In Search Of . . .was the 70's kick-ass cool forerunner of just about half the crap shows on the History Channel, The Discovery Channel, and NatGeo!

Now, I didn't just launch into this so I could post the Awesome picture of Nimoy that I found!  I bring In Search of . . . up because after two utterly wretched runs, I am left to wonder just what the heck is going on with me?  Granted, I have made several poor choices that have contributed to the misery of these runs, but two weeks ago I was feeling all Rockstar and now am feeling very not Rockstar!  I keep thinking I did too much prior to my race or I didn't do enough last week.  Also, last week was awful at work, and after the earthquake in Japan, the week just became really stressful.  Hiroko's entire family is in Japan along with her friends as well as mine.  We spent most of Thursday and Friday contacting people, luckily everyone was alright.  However, the stresses of the week were weighing heavily on my mind during those crappy weekend miles, and by the nOg Run on Monday, I am most assuredly In Search of . . . A halfway decent run.

The weather was nice but a bit breezy, and my right foot was cranky.  The tendon on the bottom of my foot has begun to flare up again, which has caused me to get proactive with treatment.  The foot doesn't hurt while running.  Instead, it flares up while as I sit at work.   Rolling it on a tennis ball during the day helps alleviate it.  But, it was still worrisome by the time I arrived at the nOg.  I wasn't expecting the wind and was feeling the chill a little more than I wanted but was confident that it wouldn't matter by the end of the first mile.  Hiro was there but was going to be with a friend of her hers that was attending for the first time, which meant I would be running on my own.  I didn't mind because running alone allowed me to focus on my own run and not worry about anyone else, which I need after two bad runs. 

This run got off to a rocky start with nothing feeling good.  I didn't feel horrid, but I had no real push in place where I usually run well.  I couldn't get into anything near a groove and messed up my splits on Old Bob at stop light when I hit the lap button instead of the pause.  By the one mile mark, I was running strong but fighting it. 

The second mile wasn't any better or worse, just more of the same.  My legs weren't dead, but had no jump to them at all.  I struggled on and tried to avoid looking at Old Bob.  Several, skinny fast dude blew right by me during this mile which pissed me off and gave motivated me to keep my pace.

The last mile, was more of the same, but I did pick up the pace a bit as I got passed twice by skinny people.  I was just about to re-pass one of them when I got stuck on the wrong side of a traffic light.  After crossing, the second one blew past me, and I pushed to stay on him, but we were so close to the end of the run it would have been pointless to try to "prove my manhood" and re-pass.

After finishing the run, I looked at Old Bob, who read: 2.86 in 24:53.25 at an 8:41pace.  I was more than shocked.  Nothing felt close to good with this run.  Everything was off just a little, yet my time was pretty good in comparison to my other nOg runs.  Someone please call Nimoy because I am In Search Of . . . Answers!  I got my halfway decent run without ever really feeling halfway decent . . . how does that shit happen?

Wendnesday Two-a-Day Sports Conditioning Double Dip: 3/9

Over the last few weeks, I have begun to add more two-a-days into my workouts.  I know fitness people have strong opinions on two-a-days with some people swearing by them and others thinking that the risks out weigh the rewards.  I have nothing really educated to say on the matter.  When it comes to my workouts, I am kind of subscriber to the Doctor Emmett Brown Zany Scientist approach: I read a lot of idea, listen to people, try things out, and come up with my best ideas after slipping off the toilet. 

My point is that, I have my reasons for following my workout regiment, but I am not sure if it is the best idea ever.  My main goal is to push myself as hard as I can without injuring myself.  I am always open for suggestion, and I am pretty susceptible to peer pressure, so if you have any ideas or dastardly plans you feel like sharing, please give me a shout!  The main concern for me is to push myself out of my comfort zone.  I have lost some weight and done good work, but I am not satisfied with my results or attitude of late.  I hope that doing two-a-days, taking different classes, and trying new forms of exercise that I will be able to meet my goals without burning out or breaking down. 

A few people at the Y have started to notice that I do two-a-days either because of comments from instructors or because they switch between AM and PM classes from week to week and upon seeing me will ask if I missed the morning class.  Most times, they will compliment me on my dedication or talk about me being hardcore.  I won't lie, at first I liked it a little, but now it makes me uncomfortable because I there isn't anyway to express to them the desperation behind my efforts.  I am so filled with regret and frustration for letting myself get to this point and for not having enough self-respect to change my life before now that I am willing to do crazy two-a-days not because I am hardcore, but because my 20's are long gone, my 30's are fading fast, and God knows that I don't want to hit 40 with my ass this large! 

So here is last Wednesday's "Hardcore" regret and shame induced two-a-day:

I rode Frankenbike to the gym in the morning for Holly's Sports Conditioning class.  We did an all out track run for 6 minutes.  Our goal was to try to get as close to a mile a we could.  The track at the gym is 15 laps for one mile, and I completed 11 laps.  Not sure what that pace would, but it wasn't important for what we were doing.  We then did six stationary exercises for one minute each, then ran again for three minutes with the goal being to do more than half of what we had achieved in 6 minutes.  I completed just over 6 laps in 3 minutes.  Following this we stationary exercises for the remainder of the class.   I then Rode Frankenbike home and then to work.

After work, I returned to the gym for Holly's boot camp, which was basically intervals.  We rotated through groups of exercises doing each one for 1 minute.  This class did not have as much space, so we were not able to incorporate that much running, but we did run suicides, carioka's, side shuffles, and some stairs.

Sports Conditioning: Yeah Sprints . . . Monday Marh 7th

The title of this post is not intended to be read sarcastically.  I honestly enjoy sprints.  No joke . . . Have you ever seen the movie Wild Cats?  Coach McGrath's only way to get her players to show up for practice was to tell that there would be a scrimmage the next day.  Well, I am sort of like that about sprints.  If you want me to show up to an exercise class, just tell me that we are going to do sprints, suicides, or something like that, and I will be there with bells on.  I am not fast at all.  But, I have always enjoyed a good all out sprint.  You know the kind that give you that dizzy feeling and leave you gasping for air.  I know . . . sounds crazy, huh, but I shit you not.  I love sprints . . . never wanted to be a sprinter at any time in my life, just enjoy a good sprint.  So while rest of the people in my class were sort of mailing in their sprints at 5:45am on a Monday morning, want to venture a guess at just who was making a jackass of himself and runnin' flat out across the gym.  That's right, yours truly!! 

Holly was our instructor for this class, which made it fairly hardcore.  I've taken her circuit class before and enjoyed it eventhough I am not that fond of stationary classes.  This class did not have that problem.  The class broke into two groups with one group running sprints and the other group doing stationary exercises like push ups and sit ups.  We sprinted down the long end of the gym then walked the short side and then repeated the process until it was time to switch.  Most of the class seemed to be content to just run a little briskly then do a jog, but I embraced my inner jackass and busted out the sprints. The groups switched after 3 minutes.  After both groups completed this set we switched from sprints to stairs and repeated the process.  We did lunges up the stairs for 3 mins. then switched again.  We alternated our cardio exercises between the sprints and stairs and changed up the stationary exercises throughout the class.  I am fair certain I was the only one that actually enjoyed the sprints.  In fact, Holly actually commented on it at the end of class.  This class was just what I needed following my race. 

Thursday Fleet Feet (Anti-) Social Run: 3/3/11

I didn't really set out to be anti-social, but the star aligned and I just went with it.  Fleet Feet was hosting the pre-race packet pick up for the Run Green 8k on the 5th, so I think a lot of the regulars just stayed away because of the traffic, but that's just a wild guess.  Regardless of the reason, I was the only person running a my pace and distance for the run.  There was a big group of people doing 11 min. miles and a couple of guys doing 9 min. miles, who were planning to run between 5-7 miles.  I planned to run 4 miles at around 9 min pace, so I decided to tag along with the guys going for the longer run for a bit. 

My sinuses were less of a problem than earlier in the week.  I had been rocking the nasal decongestants and was finally feeling something akin to normal (or as close as I get).  I felt better than I had at anytime in the last week, so with a race just a few days away. It was time for me to try pick up my pace a bit and prove to myself that I could challenge my 8k PR this weekend.  I didn't want to do anything stupid during this run, but I also wasn't looking to mail it in either.

After hitting the half mile mark I started to pull away from the two guys that were planning to run longer than I planned.  This wasn't bad form in my mind because we were going to split off at the mile and a half mark regardless.  I was just feeling the need to test my legs.  I wanted to go after my 8k PR, which I thought I could challenge depending upon the course.  I ran on a very cold day when I set it and it took a long time for my legs to warm up, also I was in the midst of my overall Fall Fitness Land Slide!  Currently, I have not returned to my peak fitness level, but I am moving in the right direction, which provided me with some optimism going into the race. 

As I passed the Mile mark, I felt like I had hit a good pace a really wanted to work at maintain it.  Over the next two miles I tried focus on my stride and not allow myself to back down.  I knew that over the last mile I would need to back off a bit because of the climbs that were involved there.  But over these to miles I really didn't want to get complacent or lost in my thoughts.  I ignored everything but the road and traffic around me and just pushed myself forward.  I wanted to run just shy of race pace and felt like I was doing just that.  Also, I was running without my I-pod, which I have been leaving at home recently because I know that it is bad form to wear it in races, and some of the races that I have been registering for have had bans on them, so I just thought that it was time to shed the I-pod.  Surprisingly, I didn't miss it.  And, I was able to keep my pace under 9 mins, which was right where I wanted it. 

The last mile was basically all incline so I backed of a little to spare my achilles and feet any unnecessary strain just before my race.

I ran 4 miles in 36:56.49 for a 9:13 pace, which was close enough to the 9 minute mile I would need if I wanted to get near my 8k PR of 44:44 . . . It looks pretty, but I wanted to see it fall!

Mile 1 8:54.05
Mile 2 8:22.58
Mile 3 8:58.61
Mile 4 10.39.48