Friday, March 31, 2006

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Today's Run - 2006-03-30

I wasn't gonna run at all today because I had a 7am call. But I awoke early and out I went. I done good: the Substation 11-mile course in 85.5 minutes - I think my second best ever. This includes 3 miles at tempo pace - 20:06. I'm happy with this one because it was unexpected.

Weight is down to 152! Lowest in a LONG time.

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Today's Track Workout

First time at the track in months. And it was a great run. Smooth, strong and consistent. 8 x 1600 in (6:28, 6:23, 6:26, 6:24, 6:23, 6:24, 6:24, 6:10). Average was 6:23. Altogether 12 in 89.5 minutes. More good news: weight is down to 153!

Yesterday's Runs

I did 4 on the mill in 28 before heading over to Broadview Heights to run 10 with Dave in about 83.5.

Sunday, March 26, 2006

Today's Long Run - 2006-03-26

Good thing I had signed up for this 20-mile training run with the Vertical Runner gang. I needed the motivation. After yesterday's runs and yesterday evening eating and staying late at Iris and Mike's, I felt really lousy. But after the 100 or so of us got going, I felt even worse. At about mile 6 I finally began to feel human again and picked it up, finishing strong. This run was down into and out of the valley twice, so there were plenty of hills. I averaged something like 7:45, stopping my watch at the aid stations. Met some new folks from Chagrin Falls who were running with Eileen Meisler.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

Today's Races - 2006-03-25

I somehow got myself signed up into yet another race series: the Ohio Challenge Series again, after a couple year hiatus. (Last year it was the Hermes Race Series.) This joining was with the hopes that it would make me faster. Based on experience from prior years, as well as today, perhaps the opposite is true.

The Strongsville Super Saturday 1-Mile and 5-K was in the series. They allow you to run both races for only $2 over the regular $15 fee, so of course I considered the cost per mile and signed for both. Only the 5-K counted towards the race series.

So wouldn’t you know it? My better race turned out to be the 1-mile. Finishing in 5:36, my best in years (my only in years), I immediately wondered if it was short. Who knows. But it felt good to run fast and strong (there in Strongsville) the whole way. I was probably about 10th overall, with a smattering of high school punks and other fast guys ahead of me. All in all, pretty good going.

Then came the 5-K. I was hopeful that I could continue that fast running stuff… But it didn’t happen. I finished in 19:43. About a minute slower than I feel like I should be. At least I finished fairly well.

Got 2nd in my AG for the 1-mile. The guy who looked like he might be in my AG was, and he just beat me by a little. In the 5-K, I battled the same guy (who undoubtedly was also taking advantage of the favorable miles per dollar), only to come up short again. And he only wound up third in our AG, so I was out of the money for that one.

So the 5-K was a disappointment, but then, it’s only a 5-K…

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Today's Run

Just a jog over to Nicollet Island and the warehouse district. Calling it 3 in 25. Finally a bit warmer here - low 30s, but some snow.

Get to go home today. Much busier this week.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Today's Run - 2006-03-22

It was a pretty morning here in Minnesota. Cold (21 or so) but pretty. I started out very shaky - dizzy and tired. Heading southbound along the Mississippi, it took me 63.5 minutes to do the roughly 7.5 miles that usually take me under an hour.

I had been planning to do negative splits anyway, but hadn't planned on them being real negative. Turned out that they were though. The wind hit me as I turned back to the north, and it was COLD - just about like yesterday. I tried to pick up the pace, mostly so I could get out of the cold faster. I did - I finished the second half in 54.5 minutes as the sun was beginning to rise and the wind was about to kill me.

Not a bad run.

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Today's Run - 2006-03-21

Woke up early so I did the Grand Rounds. IT WAS COLD!! It was about 23, but the wind was BRUTAL. The worst part was the middle - Minnehaha Parkway heading east. I nearly froze up entirely.

I used to call this 21, but it may be closer to 20. I think I'll call it 20 this time. Despite the cold, this was a solid run. I felt good and strong for the first 6.5 or so down to South Beach on Lake Harriet (55.5). Then came the real cold 5.5 or so on Minnehaha Parkway. That part was miserable, but I did it in 44. The last 8 to 9 wasn't so cold, and I did it very fast - in 62. The last 5 (what I call 5 anyway) was in 36.

So I'm happy with it. But I'm happier that it's over.

Monday, March 20, 2006

Today's Run - 2006-03-20

Back in Minnesota today. Probably coulda run outside - it turned out to be not as cold as I had thought. I did want to go out to get better gloves. Anyways, I needed to do some speed and I did.

10 x 1600 @ 6:24 pace. 4 @ 9.3mph (6:27), 6 @ 9.4mph (6:22). Not bad at all. Altogether 16 miles in 1:50:30. Not bad at all. Tomorrow and the next day I will run outside though.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Today's Runs - 2006-03-19

Pretty tired legs today, but I managed three on the mill in 22.5, then some weights, then 3 on the President's route in 25.5. Those last 3 were tough. Good that I could run at all.

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Today's Run and Projector

Pretty good, steady and solid 22-mile run with Dave, Brian and Amy. Went down into the valley via the parkway & back up Snowville. Extra loops in BVH. Steady 8 min pace I think.

Got the projector and the sound system pretty much the way they should be. Debbie has the wall painted - she may put up a border yet. I may add some other cables to improve things a bit. But it's all pretty durn cool.

Friday, March 17, 2006

Today's Run - 2006-03-17

Only 3 on the north of 303 route. Weird (and cold) to run outside again. Slow too - 26.5 minutes. Other bad news - I gained 5 pounds in 5 days. Back to 159. I always do that after a trip though.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Today's Run and Movie - 2006-03-15

I did yet another dreadmill run here in MSP. I was very tired but still managed a 7-mile MP run in 47:55. Altogether I did 14 in 1:40. My toenails are really shot nowadays.

I had some time in the afternoon (it was an easy week) so I saw "Good Night and Good Luck". Very good flick.

Hope I can make it home tomorrow with the coming storm.

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Today's Run - 2006-03-14

Another treadmill run at the hotel. This time I did a 13-mile MP, and it wasn't bad, especially considering yesterday's intervals. Altogether 16 miles in 1:52:40. I plan to take it a bit easier tomorrow.

Monday, March 13, 2006

Today's Run - 2006-03-13

I was ready to run outside for this week in Minneapolis, except the weather turns out to be nasty. I had to run inside today, and it'll probably be that way all week.

Today's run was pretty good - 9 x 1600 at about 6:27. Altogether 16 in 1:53 (15, then weights, then one more on ellipticl). I held on some, but not much.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Party and Projector

Got the projector mounted the other day. It's really cool. Debbie will be painting the wall with screen goo next week. Only problem now seems to be lining it up exactly. We'll work on that.

Big party (18-19 people) for Rita and George here at Shortstack yesterday. I think everyone had a great time.

Saturday, March 11, 2006

St Malachi 5-Miler

Great running weather for a change: 40s with a slight breeze.

I warmed up by doing the 2-miler in about 13:30.

The Five? I finished in 31:52. Very good going, and my best 5-miler in a while. Very consistent 6:22 pace. But this made up my mind: I'm not in outstanding enough shape to take on the Toledo Marathon in a great time, so I'll bag that one and I'll be more patient.

Here are the splits: 6:22, 6:26, 6:21, 6:20, 6:21. Good consistency, considering the hills, including that last one.

I may have gotten an award, but didn't stick around to find out.

Thursday, March 09, 2006

Today's Long Run - 2006-03-09

Not too bad. 16 miles in the wind and rain in 2:12. By then I'd had enough and decided to finish on the mill. I did another 7 in 51 minutes, with 5 at MP. I'd be thrilled with this, but there was a bit of holding on. Still, not a bad run for today.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Today's Running

I did

1 on the mill
12 with Amy and Dave in BVH
4 on the mill in the afternoon with 7 x 400 @ 90 seconds

Not a bad day of running

Monday, March 06, 2006

Today's Slog & Other Stuff

4 miles on the mill in 31 minutes. And 158 pounds after a big eating weekend (Kathy and Mike's Saturday with pizza, fried chicken, yesterday making Chinese for Dave and Jill). Hopefully tomorrow will be better all around.

BTW, Our House's name is "Shortstack". 'Nuff said.

Sunday, March 05, 2006

30K Today. Hooray.

This was to be my third race at the somewhat obscure 30K distance. The other two were at this same race (NCN Catch a Leprechaun) in 2002 (2:14:30) and 2003 (2:16:30). The course consists of two 15K loops in Avon Lake. A couple of the miles are along Lake Erie along Lake Avenue. Since the race is in early March, it’s often cold and windy.

Today it was very cold again at about 20F for the start, but it was sunny and there was almost no wind. That made a huge difference. My plan was to run the first half conservatively, at about a 7:30 pace, and then to pick it up to a 7:00 pace on the back nine (9.3 miles, that is). This would bring me in near my rather “soft” 2:14 and change PR. I overdressed; I could have used thinner gloves and two, rather than three layers of shirts. But the extra clothes probably didn’t weigh me down or overheat me too much.

Starting conservatively as planned, I did manage to do the first half at about a 7:22 pace, coming in and around in about 1:08:40. That pace didn’t feel quite as easy as I wanted it to, but I did manage to start to pick it up as I hit the nine-mile mark and even more as I started the second half. I had counted about 15 runners ahead of me at that point. Mile 10 was my fastest at about 6:33 or so. I passed about 4 by the 11-mile mark.

Could I keep those sub-7 minute miles going? Mostly. I would’ve liked to do each of the last 9 at that pace, but couldn’t quite make it. Mile 14 or 15 was just over 7 minutes, as were the final 2. After getting to about 12th place (still not sure though) no one passed me, and I passed no one. In fact, I hardly saw anyone other than a few random volunteers from about 11 on.

I finished in 2:13:22; 1st in my age group, and pretty decent placing overall. It’s nice to get the AG trophy right away. That second 15K was 1:04:42 or so, for a 6:57 pace. My pace for the entire distance was about 7:10.

This is all pretty encouraging. A PR at my great old age, albeit a “soft” one. I’ll take it. I think losing those few pounds has helped. Just one mild disappointment: that those last two miles were slower than the previous 7. I’ll still take it.

Saturday, March 04, 2006

yesterday

I ran 7 on the mill with 5 at MP - 49:40 altogether. So so.

Bought the projector along with the mount and a "bulb guarantee". Don't know about that last thing, but got a good deal on the projector itself.

Best Buy says they finally got my reward zone thing straightened out. Needed a new DVD recorder anyway, so we went and got one. It's defective, so I gotta return it. Best Buy STILL has the receiver.

Thursday, March 02, 2006

The Art Auction

Debbie and I went with Kathy to an art auction at a Greek church last Saturday. We enjoyed the art itself, but the actual auction got old fast. We heard all about lithographs, which are copies of expensive art, but made to have "value" by having the artist sign and sometimes number them, or even make them. I wasn't buying into this stuff at all, but when one picture came up that Debbie liked, through a misunderstandin, we wound up getting it for $375. I was very upset - it was nice, but I didn't think it was worth it. The next day Debbie managed to get a refund. Much better now.

More on Identity Theft

I received an email last week - my check request / balance transfer had been processed against my credit card account. This alarmed me because I hadn't requested any such thing. I checked it out: $8,000, plus a $150 processing fee had been taken out - I called them immediately. I answered a mess of questions and they told me that I wouldn't be charged, pending the results from an "investigator". I want to file a police report, but they suggested I wait till I hear from the investigator. This could be up to 10 days away.

I keep checking my credit otherwise. I closed some old accounts today. I've also signed up for a newer, less expensive credit protection. And I added some passwords.

Don't know what else to do.

Today's Runs - 2006-03-02

Lousy going this morning - 4 in 30.5 with lots of holding on (to the mill) and lots of stops. Much better at lunch time: 3 in 21 with 6 x 400 in 90.

Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Today's Running - 2006-03-01

I did my 16-mile route with some hopes of doing it in a reasonable time. Maybe 8-minute pace or so. Didn't happen. While I felt smooth and strong, the time was very disappointing - 2:21. Oh well. It was cold (20 or so) so maybe that's an excuse.

I did manage to get a tempo run in on the mill when I got back - 3 in 20:29, plus another in 7:30 before I headed outside. If it wasn't for that mill, I'd be mighty slow.