Finally, the 3 mile mark in this journey. I had a couple of good days over the weekend with 2.4 and 1.8 miles and then climbed up 2500 stairs at work yesterday so I just had to take a day off. It's more of a positive thing maybe because I still tend to want to run every day and as far as I can. Have to keep disciplined and look at my goal here.
The run last night was great except for some residual throbbing in my knees from all the stairs at work. As I ran the lightning was flashing on the horizon and it's still that time of year that you don't hear any bugs so it was just awesome with the silence at 1200 midnight.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
4 weeks
Today is 4 weeks completed toward my 100 mile race goal. I suppose my progress is really a matter of perspective since it seems to hurt just as much when I run as in the beginning. Sitting back a bit and really looking though I can see that my stride has become more confident and I don't actually think any longer that I will experience cardiac arrest after a workout.
It has really helped to spend my workouts on the track now instead of the pavement and I've been able to adapt my workouts so that I mix quick paced walking with my running. Last couple of days it's been to run two laps and walk a half lap 3 times. I've also started (once so far) doing some long 3-4 hour hikes which use completely different muscles so I'm stiff all over again. My weight is down to around 172 so a 15 pound loss in a month so I'm starting to see a difference there.
One other note; I subscribed to two running magazines, "Marathon and Beyond" and "UltraRunning." Both excellent publications and I would recommend both very highly.
It has really helped to spend my workouts on the track now instead of the pavement and I've been able to adapt my workouts so that I mix quick paced walking with my running. Last couple of days it's been to run two laps and walk a half lap 3 times. I've also started (once so far) doing some long 3-4 hour hikes which use completely different muscles so I'm stiff all over again. My weight is down to around 172 so a 15 pound loss in a month so I'm starting to see a difference there.
One other note; I subscribed to two running magazines, "Marathon and Beyond" and "UltraRunning." Both excellent publications and I would recommend both very highly.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Still winter
Windy, cold and sleeting. It would have been easy to stay in yesterday but... well, I have to continue developing that habit again of running each day no matter what. My workout turned out to be great though with 3 miles of walking and .75 miles run and then another .5 at the end of the workout. The biggest satisfaction was that when I finished stretching afterwards I stood up and my first thought was "wow, I feel great."
Today I walked a vigorous 8-9 miles on mud and lots of hills. I ran some of the gentle downhill slopes to the extent of about .75 miles. Good workout and my leg that was cramping is a bit tight but still not cramping like it was last week.
Today I walked a vigorous 8-9 miles on mud and lots of hills. I ran some of the gentle downhill slopes to the extent of about .75 miles. Good workout and my leg that was cramping is a bit tight but still not cramping like it was last week.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Slowly but surely?
I'm not sure about the 'surely' but the 'Slowly' hits the nail on the head. I've just spent the most painful week with massive cramping on one of my calves. Still, each day I was out there walking to try and loosen up but as soon as I would try to run and this old body would slam down on that leg ... it was over for that day.
Yesterday I walked vigorously 3 miles and adjusted my stride a bit and ran .5 miles. Today, after working a 14 hour shift and walking 12+ miles with work boots I came home and was able to carefully run .75 miles. Well, doesn't sound like much but these are all the first steps toward my goal of a 100 miler.
Yesterday I walked vigorously 3 miles and adjusted my stride a bit and ran .5 miles. Today, after working a 14 hour shift and walking 12+ miles with work boots I came home and was able to carefully run .75 miles. Well, doesn't sound like much but these are all the first steps toward my goal of a 100 miler.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
UGH!
Wow, I my legs are killing me. I've had 3 days of disappointment with barely being able to walk let alone run. I felt great on Sunday and then my right calf locked up on me. Icing and heat didn't seem to help at all. Tonight after a 14 hour shift at work I did the smartest thing so far and that was to just stretch and stay off that leg. Tomorrow I'll go for a brisk 4 mile walk and then see how I feel on Friday. I know I'm pushing too fast but I don't know how much 'less' I can do since I can barely run a mile on a good day.
I get to feeling a bit overwhelmed at times looking at all the modern running knowledge and hardware out there. What happened to the good old days when I just ran out the door with shoes and old worn shorts and felt the breeze on my face and blowing through my hair (oh! I still had hair - haha.) And I'm not sure how I ran all those 25+ milers with no water and still survived. Actually I'm looking forward to actually running a long one with water in hand.
Well, I have to keep plugging away and though my goal is 18 months for a 100 miler is a bit ambitious I've got a good 30 years to accomplish it.
I get to feeling a bit overwhelmed at times looking at all the modern running knowledge and hardware out there. What happened to the good old days when I just ran out the door with shoes and old worn shorts and felt the breeze on my face and blowing through my hair (oh! I still had hair - haha.) And I'm not sure how I ran all those 25+ milers with no water and still survived. Actually I'm looking forward to actually running a long one with water in hand.
Well, I have to keep plugging away and though my goal is 18 months for a 100 miler is a bit ambitious I've got a good 30 years to accomplish it.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Two weeks
Just two weeks into my training or, as it sometimes seems, my rebirth. Every muscle in my legs hurt and I've seen that even though I'm only running 1 - 1.5 miles I need to kind of back off a bit and let my legs adjust to this abuse. I am also slowly losing weight and that's really important here to save my feet from the pounding.
I have been sneaking into the locked stadium in town to run on the softer surface and that seems to help. Last night I was feeling great and thought I might try 2 or more miles but my calf cramped so badly after a mile that I could barely walk home.
Thoughts have been sneaking into my head as to whether or not I might be able to do this and yet deep down I'm committed. It's been 20+ years since I've run but I had never quit a race.
My schedule calls for a marathon by this fall not matter how slow. My first 50 miler next spring and hopefully an ultra 100 miler next fall. Even if I find out that this is too ambitious of a goal I'll keep running and may have to move it back a bit to 2 years before the 100 miler. I've been looking at various events and haven't decided yet which to choose for my 100 miler. more on that later. Gotta go limp out a half mile or so.
I have been sneaking into the locked stadium in town to run on the softer surface and that seems to help. Last night I was feeling great and thought I might try 2 or more miles but my calf cramped so badly after a mile that I could barely walk home.
Thoughts have been sneaking into my head as to whether or not I might be able to do this and yet deep down I'm committed. It's been 20+ years since I've run but I had never quit a race.
My schedule calls for a marathon by this fall not matter how slow. My first 50 miler next spring and hopefully an ultra 100 miler next fall. Even if I find out that this is too ambitious of a goal I'll keep running and may have to move it back a bit to 2 years before the 100 miler. I've been looking at various events and haven't decided yet which to choose for my 100 miler. more on that later. Gotta go limp out a half mile or so.
The beginning
This is my first entry in my journey to completing a 100 mile ultramarathon. This post should actually be post dated for March 25th but I am moving my blog space.
One week ago I sat in the control room at work wondering why I felt so trapped. What happened to the challenges in my life that I enjoyed so much when I was younger? Why and how did I come to this point when I accepted each day and it's many worries as the necessary next step to old age? Well, I'm only 45 and here starts the grand finale fling of adventures that hopefully will consume me for the next 20 or 30 years.
The span of years that I was a runner may have been relatively short but extremely fullfilling and eventually led to an unofficial marathon as well as my brief foray in the ultra marathoning world when I completed a 30 mile run on a bet. well, now it's been 20 years since any running at all but hey, I've always loved a good challenge. So my goal here is to complete a 50 mile ultra next spring and by next fall hopefully a 100 mile run.
One week ago I ran around the block and nearly died. Yesterday, with only 6 days of working out I ran 1.5 miles. Can't necessarily say it was a delightful experience but that day will come. I definitely need to lose the weight to save my feet from being demolished so I'm starting at 185 lbs and hopefully can get down to 145 or so where I should be.
One week ago I sat in the control room at work wondering why I felt so trapped. What happened to the challenges in my life that I enjoyed so much when I was younger? Why and how did I come to this point when I accepted each day and it's many worries as the necessary next step to old age? Well, I'm only 45 and here starts the grand finale fling of adventures that hopefully will consume me for the next 20 or 30 years.
The span of years that I was a runner may have been relatively short but extremely fullfilling and eventually led to an unofficial marathon as well as my brief foray in the ultra marathoning world when I completed a 30 mile run on a bet. well, now it's been 20 years since any running at all but hey, I've always loved a good challenge. So my goal here is to complete a 50 mile ultra next spring and by next fall hopefully a 100 mile run.
One week ago I ran around the block and nearly died. Yesterday, with only 6 days of working out I ran 1.5 miles. Can't necessarily say it was a delightful experience but that day will come. I definitely need to lose the weight to save my feet from being demolished so I'm starting at 185 lbs and hopefully can get down to 145 or so where I should be.
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