Wrapping up January

Last day of January! I struggled through but I made it... Now if I can just push on through February I might just be able to start doing some real running.

I capped off the month by venturing outside for the first time this year for a brisk 2 miler with my 2 dogs (a Jack Russell Terrier and a Chihuahua mix). They've been sadly neglected as far as outdoor activity has been concerned so as we headed out the door they were raring to go. We hit the first mile in 8 minutes flat and then finished up with a 7:15 second mile. I couldn't believe it but those little dogs were pulling the whole way. When we got back to the house they weren't even tired. I don't understand it... all they do is lay around the house pretty much all day and then they can go out and whip out a 2 miler like it was nothing... a short but sweet way to cap off the end of the month.

I finished the month with 58 miles run. Not great, but not a bad number to build on. Here's looking forward to February!

Low mileage is better than no mileage

I've been a bad runner lately... 43 miles ran so far this month and averaging about 3 times a week. And despite the low milage my legs are feeling pretty battered. Still I'm not too disappointed. After all, low mileage is better than no mileage. If I can just keep it going a little while longer I'm confident that my enthusiasm will return as the weather begins to become more accommodating.

Not only have I been a bad runner, but I've been a even worse blogger! It's funny how 50 hours of employment can really cut into what previously felt like limitless free time. On top of that I have yet to get a computer at work which makes it extremely difficult to accomplish my job and nearly impossible to spend all day screwing around on the internet read and write blogs. And then, when I finally get home, there's my wife also returning from work and for some reason she doesn't appreciate it when I head directly to the computer and start blogging (especially if I just spent an hour at the gym running). She says that she "wants to spend time with me" because she "loves me"... Sheesh, the things I have to put up with!

But enough excuses. Bottom line is that I need to start adjusting my schedule. I need to make more time for running. After all my first race of the year is coming up in less than 2 months and I'm hankerin' for a PR.

New Shoes

Today I bought a brand new pair of shoes today. Adidas Supernova Glides. I immediately headed to the gym to break these bad boys in. 4 miles on the indoor track. 5 miles on the treadmill. 1 last mile on the indoor track. First 10 miles logged on the shoes. The run felt good. Feet are a little sore. I'll need to break them in some more tomorrow.

Blah Blah Blah...

Blah Blah Blah Blah.... running in the cold.... blah blah blah... blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...hate the treadmill... blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah... forcing myself to maintain some milage... blah blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...waiting for spring...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...15 degrees...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...blah blah blah...

Yep that pretty much sums it up.

Clean Slate Revisited... Goals for 2010

When I mentioned that I wanted to start 2010 with a "clean slate" in my previous post I meant it metaphorically. Today as I wake up with sore quads and hamstrings from the easy 3-miler I put in yesterday I'm wondering if it was more of a self-fulfilling prophesy? 2 weeks off and now 3 easy miles makes me sore??? Really?!? Come on body!

In spite of my soreness I'm still optimistic for 2010. 2009 was my awakening as a runner. 2010 I will begin my rise to greatness!!!

It all begins with goals. Most people begin the New Years with a New Year's resolution... usually it amounts to some kind of lifestyle change, breaking of some bad habit, or a commitment to try something new. Now that I'm a runner I'm glad to know that I no longer need to make a resolution. I'm already resolved! Instead I set goals for the New Years.

Now I realize that New Year's resolutions and New Year's goals seem like pretty much the same thing. However, to me there is a subtle difference. New Year's resolutions seem to typically consist of some paramount change of body and soul (usually something that is destined for early February failure). As a runner, New Year's goals are made to focus the efforts that I am already committed to. No matter what I'm going to continue and run and exercise this year. The goals just help define the "Why?". They'll also help to push me out the door on those days when the bed is feeling particularly snugglely and the pillow is feeling particularly soft. They'll push me to venture onto the track instead of the road, and to squeeze out an extra 400 meter repeat. They'll push me from conventional weekend warrior to running greatness!

So without further ado... EZEthan's goals for 2010.

1. Break 20 min in the 5k... Currently my 5k PR is 22:11 from the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure last May. However, I'm pretty sure I've run consistently faster than that in Tempo runs during last years marathon training. Shaving 2+ minutes off my 5k PR may seem ambitious but I feel that it's realistic. Hopefully my feelings are in line with reality.

2. Break 1:35:00 in the half-marathon... Current half marathon PR is 1:39:29. However, this was run on an extremely difficult course (the race was advertised as the toughest half-marathon in Illinois)... My next half will be on am extremely flat course. Also the race is May 1st so I would expect decent weather conditions.

3. Break 3:20 in the 2010 Chicago Marathon... Four solid months of training got me to 3:39:34 this year. Hopefully 1 year and 4 months of training, actually having a running base, and previous experience will help me shave 20 minutes off that. I'd like to say I could qualify for Boston this year but I'd like to keep the goals realistic... I still got 9+ months of training ahead of me so plenty of time to revise this one.

4. Join a local running group... Namely the Illinois Valley Striders. My transformation into a runner started in my own mind. I then ventured out into the blogging community. The next step is to announce my presence on a local level. I'm ready to get more involved. Maybe work some races. Hopefully make some running buddies and do some group runs.

5. Donate to charity through running... The Emerging Runner had a great idea to "Pledge your own race miles in 2010" . I plan to follow his lead. I'll pledge 2 dollars for every kilometer raced in 2010 with a bonus dollar per kilometer for every PR achieved.

6. Hit the track... With only four months to train for my marathon last year I decided to avoid speedwork for the most part. I did a few fartleks and the occasion hill sprint during some of my tempo workouts but for the most part stuck to building endurance. Now that I'm in better condition I think its time for some real speedwork! Soon as the snow melts and the spring birds start chirpin' I'm hittin the track!


And Finally...

7. Have loads of fun... Definitely needed to shout out to Kenley over at Essence of Running who reminds us that despite of how serious and focused we can get about the sport that we're all pretty much running for recreation and that we should remember to enjoy ourselves (even when we're puking on the track after that last 400?).


So there you have it... goals for 2010. Have a great year everyone and let's hope that we can all achieve!

Clean Slate

If you follow this blog then you’ve probably noticed that I’ve been absent from the blogosphere for the last 2+ weeks. No worries… I was on vacation; both figuratively and literally.

As some of you may or may not know I’ve been laid-off from work for the last 9 months. I used those 9 months to the best of my abilities… I got myself into shape, became a runner, finished a marathon, completed plenty of projects around the house, honed my cooking skills, and did some volunteer work… but despite efforts to remain productive I have to say that all in all 2009 pretty much sucked and despite the fact that I haven’t been gainfully employed for the last 9 months that period of time was hardly a vacation. Now don’t get me wrong. All in all I had it pretty good; I have a loving wife with a stable job to provide us with income and health insurance. We pinched pennies and got through 2009… Still being laid-off is depressive and it’s hard not to feel a little down, frustrated, and worthless in spite of the fact that the situation was more or less completely out of my control.

But the last 2 weeks have been different. In 2 days (Jan 6), I start a new job. So for the last 2 weeks I haven’t felt laid-off anymore. I’ve felt like I’ve been “on vacation”. I got to enjoy the holidays with friends and family. I spent New Years in Chicago visiting friends, and getting krunk on all you can eat Sushi and all you can drink Saki.

Also, I decided to use this “vacation” as an opportunity to take a long needed vacation from running too. I ran the Chicago Marathon on October 11th and have been nursing various nagging injuries pretty much ever since. Shin splints, ITBS, tight hamstrings… pretty much one thing after another.

I knew that it was in my best interest to take some time off and let myself recover but I couldn’t bring myself to stop. There were just too many reasons to keep running. For one, I was in the best shape I’ve been in for a long time and I didn’t want to let any of that fitness go. Secondly, with the lay-off, running was the only thing keeping me sane. It gave me a purpose, a routine, and a sense of achievement. Lastly, I’m a total endorphin addict! I needed that feel good feeling that I get from a ball-busting workout… I need to feed the beast!!!

With the holidays I finally got the excuse I needed to take a break from it all. No more blogging about running, reading blogs about running, reading books about running, looking at the latest running gear on-line, and especially no more running!!! I was finally on vacation!!!!

But today, I’m back. I started the morning by getting on-line and registering for some 2010 races. First race on the docket: An 8K (the 2010 Shamrock Shuffle on March 21st) and a Half-Marathon (the 2010 Illinois Half-Marathon on May 1st). Then I got on my running shoes and hit the gym for an easy 3 miles (I’m finally feeling good and I’m going to ease into building the mileage back up). And now here I am blogging again.

Today I’m renewed. I have a clean slate. My legs are fresh. My spirits are rejuvenated. 2009 is over and I’m ready to stride into 2010. Vacations are good but it’s great to be back!