bloghonesty

I am having a hard time writing here. It’s not that I haven’t been running – I have. But I don’t really feel like writing about my running. There is more to who I am than just a runner. Running consumed me at the end of the year because I was training for a marathon but right now it is not consuming me as much.

This is my second blog. The reason I quit writing on my first blog is I felt as if I had to write for a specific audience and increasingly felt like I couldn’t be me. I've considered going back and posting on that blog because most of its readership is gone, but that would be crazy for a multitude of reasons.

So starting soon the subject matter will expand somewhat. I’ll still write about running, but there will be other stuff too.

Neglect

This morning my daughter told me, “You haven’t posted in a while dad.” It’s pretty bad when she is giving me a hard time about not tending to my blog so here it is … a new post.

My sick stuff started going away on Tuesday so I ran 3 on the treadmill. The next day I did some speedwork on the treadmill to King’s X. Born to be Loved and Over My Head are two of the best "run fast" songs ever.

Wednesday I ran 4 outside and felt like a had no power in my legs. It’s the treadmill’s fault. And then yesterday I did some tempo stuff.

I am bummed that it’s going to get cold again. I hate cold weather. Have I ever told you that Tori?

Later …

Ehh ...

I hate cold weather and I feel kinda nasty so I blew running off this morning.



Yesterday I went to the track for intervals. 200X4, 400X2, and 800. I was supposed to finish with a 1mile repeat but I stopped short. I finished with four miles total.

I’m ready to feel better and for the weather to be warm.

"Crazy stinkin runner"

I ran 12 miles this morning (9:05 pace average). I run two four-mile loops back-to-back and then run the first four-mile loop backwards. Make sense? At the end of eight miles I have a water bottle and a Gu hidden in a hollow at the bottom of Mr. Porter’s oak tree. I’ve never asked him if I could put it there, I just do.

As I finish my eighth mile this morning I looked up ahead at the oak tree and who was there? You guessed it … Mr. Porter; shoveling dirt out of the back of his truck to fill in low spots in his yard around the base his oak tree. For a second I thought about running on and just waving hi. But I was thirsty so I slowed to a walk and waved. I don’t think Mr. Porter really even knows who I am.

I stopped and said, “I hope you don’t mind but I hid my water bottle in your tree.”

He gave me a funny look and as I picked up the bottle and Gu I could see that the light went on and he said, “Oh … that’s okay.”

And I said, “Thanks for the good hiding place.”

He said, “You’re welcome.” And as I ran on he gave me that “crazy stinkin runner” look.

Treadmill in the afternoon

Andrea had outpatient surgery today on her foot to remove a neuroma. She is doing well and hopefully this will fix the pain she has had in her foot. She is stuck with the pain in her neck though (me).

Because of the surgery I changed my running around today. I ran in the afternoon since her surgery was in the morning. And I ran on the treadmill so I could be here at home if she needed me. I rarely run anytime other than in the morning and I don’t like to run on the treadmill much. But today neither was all that bad.

A friend of mine gave me the training schedule he used to run a 3:09 marathon at Houston and qualify for Boston. I adapted it to where I am and did some speed work today. I warmed-up with an easy 800, then ran a hard mile (hard for me any way) with 400 recovery. After that 800 with 400 recovery. 400x2 with 400 recovery. 200x4 with 200 recovery and finally 800 cool down for five miles total.

I liked running on the treadmill because I had no choice but to run a consistent pace.

“I liked running on the treadmill” … did I just type that?

Tomorrow it's back outside where I was meant to run.