After work

Oh, getting out tonight was tough. I just wanted to go to the couch, but I put on my running outfit and somehow was out the door. My joints were stiff and it was a bit cool for awhile. I had the wind in my face the first 3/4 of a mile. Headed toward downtown and then over to Riverside Park. Looks like they're setting up for Rotary Lights, the 2 drinking fountains in the park have been turned off. Soon they'll all be off for the season.
After the park, headed back to the house going through the Viterbo campus. About 3.6 miles.

Fall Morning Run

I didn't quite running, I just took 2 days off. Work was physically draining and my ankle has been sore (I have a doctor's appointment on Monday). Excuses, but I needed a rest- going at it a bit strong for a beginner.
Anyway, I was afraid of missing more then 2 days in a row. I did not want it to become a habit of not going out, so yesterday, Friday, morning, I put on the thermals, laced up the shoes, and headed out.
It was cold! Luckily, it didn't take long to warm up and there wasn't much wind. I ended up going about 3.3 miles and it was a great run around downtown La Crosse. 6am is defiantly the best time to see the town. When I got home I checked the temp: 28' F. I'm really glad I did not check before heading out, I might have just went back to bed.
Today I plan on running after work. I'm nice and warm now and I don't feel like getting cold- even for the short time it takes to warm up.

Wind!

Yesterday my run was 4.75 miles. Again I got out a bit and then got really hungry. I have to remember to eat something before leaving. I'm still not used to eating breakfast. The wind was constant and there was a slight rain the entire time. Not bad, but  the wind did make me work a little harder.

Oh , I found a fat little dachshund on my run. I was able to pick her up and somehow find her home.

Yesterday's Run

I was pretty busy yesterday and I just forgot to write about my run.

A little back story.

I'm very goal orientated. Yes, it's true. So when I read about another runner doing it I had to try also. What is it? I bought a map of La Crosse and have been highlighting the streets that I have ran down. My goal is to run down every street in the city. I'm first just trying to get the South side (the true La Crosse in my opinion).

So I ran north to downtown and then over to Riverside park- on streets that I have not (mostly) been on, and then went down 3rd and decided to cross the river to Pettibone Park and back. A beautiful view of the river from the center of the bridge. I had to stop for a minute to take it in.

Oh, I also found a little fat dachshund without a collar, was able to pick her up and found a woman who knew where she lived- happy reunion.(5.5 miles ran)

Week Record

Well, I was going to take today off, but since I can't run tomorrow (or at least I'm not going to run), I didn't want to go 2 days in a row without running plus I was less then two miles from doing over 30 miles for the week. So the short story. I ran.

Did not feel like going out as usual, it was starting to get dark and the ground was pretty wet still from all the rain that came down today. With in the first mile I had the running groove on. I wasn't fast or anything, but I felt like I could just keep going.

I ran to Riverside park and went along the river in the opposite direction then I usually go. I had a great view of the train bridge to the north. It was getting pretty dark as I went though the marsh and had to slow down a bit when I realized that there were tons of frogs around. Cut through UW-L campus and headed home.

So my mileage for the week is 34.56 and I have a total of 155.75 miles since I started the last week of August. (Made it to Level Green on the Nike+ program- WooHoo!)

Another Slow Day

Ok, I'll admit it. I don't look forward to starting a run. I wish I did, but it's not there. Usually the enjoyment does not set in until after about 2 1/2 miles. Today that just didn't happen. I could never get into a good groove and about halfway through my 6.5 mile run, my energy was zapped and I was starving. It did not help that I went past the Sara Lee factory and was smelling some  type of bread. Slow outing- with a few walks in there and a nice long cool down walk. Still glad I went. I'm not sure if I'll be able to go tomorrow and on Sunday I work a 9-9 shift so there wont be a run then.

Note: If you're familiar with the Nike+ program- I'm just 5 miles from reaching Green! If you don't know about it, Green is when you complete 250 km or about 154 miles. My goal was be green by the new year and reach blue by 2012- I think that's something like 650 miles or so. I'll post it once I hit it.

Pushing it.

Well, I thought that I might put a little more sweat in my run. So today I figured that I'd run up and down the bluff that is near my house. Part of the road to the top has washed-out so it's closed, but runners, walkers and bicyclist now have free run of the road.

From the bottom blockade to the top is almost exactly 1.55 miles (round trip 5k) and to the lookout on the bluff, it's 2.5 miles- so 5 miles round trip.

So the 5 miler was my plan. Within the first tenth of a mile I was huffing. I've never done hills before. I think my largest elevation change before this has been about 30'. So maybe I took on more then I should have.

I'd like to say that I powered through to the top without walking, but that's just not true. I decided that I would not listed to the little aches and pains, but I would listed to my heart rate. So if it got to high, it was time for a little walk.

Once about 1/2 way up, I got into a good pace and did not have to walk for almost the rest of my run. I did walk a bit at the very to just so that I could take a moment and look over the city. I've been up here maybe a dozen times before- via car or my scooter, but somehow the city looked more crisp- the wind felt cleaner.

The trip down was nice and easy. Kept a fast, in control pace and enjoyed it immense

Well, I thought that I might put a little more sweat in my run. So today I figured that I'd run up and down the bluff that is near my house. Part of the road to the top has washed-out so it's closed, but runners, walkers and bicyclist now have free run of the road.
From the bottom blockade to the top is almost exactly 1.55 miles (round trip 5k) and to the lookout on the bluff, it's 2.5 miles- so 5 miles round trip.
So the 5 miler was my plan. Within the first tenth of a mile I was huffing. I've never done hills before. I think my largest elevation change before this has been about 30'. So maybe I took on more then I should have.
I'd like to say that I powered through to the top without walking, but that's just not true. I decided that I would not listed to the little aches and pains, but I would listed to my heart rate. So if it got to high, it was time for a little walk.
Once about 1/2 way up, I got into a good pace and did not have to walk for almost the rest of my run. I did walk a bit at the very to just so that I could take a moment and look over the city. I've been up here maybe a dozen times before- via car or my scooter, but somehow the city looked more crisp- the wind felt cleaner.
The trip down was nice and easy. Kept a fast, in control pace and enjoyed it immensely. Once back at my car, I thought about doing a second run up- maybe I should save that for later.

Made at MapMyRun.com

Wednesday- Day off

I had to work today and with the long run on Sunday and feeling sluggish the past 2 days, I thought that it would be a good idea to give my body a rest. So what do I do? Run? No, I read about running, of course.
Yesterday I bought 2 'runner's interest' books. First Marathons and Dean Karnazes' book Ultra Marathon Man- just finished it. Man that guy is nuts- Steve Austin has nothing on him. He got me pumped up to push a little harder. Although I'm NOT going to get hurt (mantra).

Motivation? Where?

I had to drop my car off at the shop this morning and instead of having my wife follow me and give me a lift home (I have the day off), I figured that I could just run it. Like I said yesterday, it is only about 2.5 miles away.
I never really got into it today. My legs felt as heavy as lead and I couldn't keep a good pace. I did manage to loop past my house and put in 3.56 miles.

-You will notice that I like to go at least 5K per run

Monday- day off?

After yesterday's 10-miler, I just had to get out and stretch the legs a bit. I decided to drive over to the park and have a run around there. The road within the park was closed- I presume due to previous flooding so I had a quiet car-less road to run. I followed the entire outer edge of the park and watched the water and leaves. I wish I could have settled down a bit, but I for some reason, I couldn't get "Pinball Wizard" out of my head. I looped around past the car a bit so I could finish my run at 3.1 miles.

Tomorrow I have to drop my car off at the shop and I plan on running home. I've mapped it at about 2.5 miles if I go direct. I wonder how long it will really be.

Warrior Waddle Results are in

Well, I hate to say it, but I was a little behind the winner. I finished the 5k in under 30m which put me in the top half of 578. I'm really happy with that. My goal was to finish my 1st race at sub 35' and finishing in the top half is a nice boost.

I'm signed up for a few more 5Ks that take place over the next few months and I expect my times to be much slower because of the snow/ice. I'm not planning on breaking a bone for a 5K.

Sunday the 17th (the day after the race)

Well, the race is over and the results have not been posted. I guess I'll just have to wait.
Today I figured that since I have today and the next couple of days off work that I'll try for a long run. So far my longest has bee about 6.5 miles. I started out around 10am and went north of town to the trails through the marsh and then headed west to the Mississippi. From there I followed the river south. I was about to head home but noticed that if I went straight there I'd be at about 9.25 miles. Well, being that close to 10, I just had to stretch it. My final distance was 10.23 miles- a new record.

After the run came sore legs and 2 hot baths. Maybe I should take tomorrow off.

My First 5K !

I slept better then I expected. I woke up a couple of times durring the night, but was able to go back to sleep without any trouble.
The alarm went off around 5:15 and we were out the door by 6:00. A stop for coffee and then the drive to Winona, MN for the 3rd annual Warrior Waddle. We arrived a few minutes before 7 and then got our race packs. At 8:00 the gun was fired. There seemed to be about 500 people in the race. I started about 3/4 the way back. Although I wish that they would have had a special lane for those with strollers.
I felt like I was going faster then usual, but I did not feel winded, our that I was trying to run someone elses race. A little before mile 1, the route went from road to paved trail, so it got a little tight. At mile one I crossed just shy of 10 minutes, shy of 20 min at Mile 2. There was a sign at 1/2 mile before the finish, and a cheering group at about 1/4 mile. From there I picked up the pace. It might have been a little early as my stomach did not like the idea- I thought about slowing down (maybe I did), but then I heard footsteps comming up from behind so I got a burst of energy and sprinted the last 50 feet to cross the line just before the owner of the feet behind me. My time: just shy of 30 minutes. Official time to come.