I don't have much to say these days.
I'm doing my runs on the treadmill, which I hate. It's ok for interval runs where you have a series of quick goals to reach, but it sucks for long runs.
I didn't get outside last week for my 14K because of the snow. I ran on the track - 56 laps!
Most importantly I still don't have any pain in my knee. I'm not sure what happened, whether it's the small adjustments in form or what, but something is working.
Friday, February 4, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
I'm still here!
I’m still running, still training…but not blogging! Everyone has been sick at my house for 2 weeks, so I’ve been busy doing stuff at home and basically being a good house husband. (Otherwise my wife beats me.)
But just to update you on the running side of my life…I’ve been running on the treadmill at work, which I have to say I freaking hate! It’s right in front of the window, which would be ok except the window has those horizontal blinds so as you’re running your eyes get all fucked up. If you focus on what’s outside then the blinds look like they’re moving and nausea sets in…if you focus on the blinds, well, you’re focusing on blinds. And blinds are boring!
Also, the machines are set in miles and I can’t change them to kms (Rob gave me a tutorial in how to change the setting…it didn’t work). So that’s annoying. I prefer the smaller numbers that come with the pace per km.
Anyways if it ever stops snowing here I will run outside again. I’m hoping to run my longest run yet – a 14K – outside on Saturday.
And I feel good. I have dropped my massages down to every second week, and am seeing the physiotherapist on the alternating weeks. He wants to try acupuncture, which I might take him up on. He assessed my running technique and said I need to take about an extra 20 steps per minute for optimal results – it’s apparently called your running cadence and 180 steps per minute is the ideal. He also said I have to lean forward a bit more. I have been doing both of these things for the past week-and-a-half and I haven’t had any pain in my knee. So something appears to be working…but I don’t want to jinx it.
And the news of the month is that Rob qualified for the NYC marathon, so I’m heading to NYC whether I make it into the lottery or not. There are three of us going. We’re staying in the extreme Upper West Side (aka not the Upper West Side – despite being advertised as such on the rental agency web site). It’ll be good, and most importantly it will remove the bailer stigma that I unfairly acquired following the 2009 Boston Marathon fiasco!
But just to update you on the running side of my life…I’ve been running on the treadmill at work, which I have to say I freaking hate! It’s right in front of the window, which would be ok except the window has those horizontal blinds so as you’re running your eyes get all fucked up. If you focus on what’s outside then the blinds look like they’re moving and nausea sets in…if you focus on the blinds, well, you’re focusing on blinds. And blinds are boring!
Also, the machines are set in miles and I can’t change them to kms (Rob gave me a tutorial in how to change the setting…it didn’t work). So that’s annoying. I prefer the smaller numbers that come with the pace per km.
Anyways if it ever stops snowing here I will run outside again. I’m hoping to run my longest run yet – a 14K – outside on Saturday.
And I feel good. I have dropped my massages down to every second week, and am seeing the physiotherapist on the alternating weeks. He wants to try acupuncture, which I might take him up on. He assessed my running technique and said I need to take about an extra 20 steps per minute for optimal results – it’s apparently called your running cadence and 180 steps per minute is the ideal. He also said I have to lean forward a bit more. I have been doing both of these things for the past week-and-a-half and I haven’t had any pain in my knee. So something appears to be working…but I don’t want to jinx it.
And the news of the month is that Rob qualified for the NYC marathon, so I’m heading to NYC whether I make it into the lottery or not. There are three of us going. We’re staying in the extreme Upper West Side (aka not the Upper West Side – despite being advertised as such on the rental agency web site). It’ll be good, and most importantly it will remove the bailer stigma that I unfairly acquired following the 2009 Boston Marathon fiasco!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Where I start to enjoy the track
Well I did something stupid and signed up to play hockey on Saturday nights. Rob has me doing my long runs on Sundays. See what I mean? Stupid!
So this Sunday when I was supposed to do 12K, I ended up doing 10. Then last night, which was supposed to be a rest night, I felt guilty so I went and did 8 at the track.
But the good thing about going to the track last night is that I developed a new appreciation for it. Despite the fact that there were A LOT of people there who had obviously resolved to get in shape for the New Year (good for them), and there were a couple of track teams in training and generally being lane-hogging knobs, it was a good run. I had a couple of people to chase, which was way more interesting than running alone every night with no goal except the time.
Anyways I’m supposed to run 6 tonight, but I also signed up to play dodgeball (which is stupid in itself) and it starts tonight. So I’ll try to squeeze my 6K in before the game. Otherwise I’ll move the 6K to tomorrow night…whatever, I’m feeling good. I’m still running my distances each week, just not always as Rob plans them for me. Hopefully he doesn’t read this blog. Heh heh.
So this Sunday when I was supposed to do 12K, I ended up doing 10. Then last night, which was supposed to be a rest night, I felt guilty so I went and did 8 at the track.
But the good thing about going to the track last night is that I developed a new appreciation for it. Despite the fact that there were A LOT of people there who had obviously resolved to get in shape for the New Year (good for them), and there were a couple of track teams in training and generally being lane-hogging knobs, it was a good run. I had a couple of people to chase, which was way more interesting than running alone every night with no goal except the time.
Anyways I’m supposed to run 6 tonight, but I also signed up to play dodgeball (which is stupid in itself) and it starts tonight. So I’ll try to squeeze my 6K in before the game. Otherwise I’ll move the 6K to tomorrow night…whatever, I’m feeling good. I’m still running my distances each week, just not always as Rob plans them for me. Hopefully he doesn’t read this blog. Heh heh.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
10 best albums of all time
My wife bought me the 2008 Guns N Roses biography for Christmas this year. Actually I saw it on sale for $6 while out shopping on Christmas Eve, and since I'm a sucker for a rock and roll biography, I grabbed it and told her to give it to me for Christmas.
I knew the basics of how Guns N Roses formed, and had some knowledge of each of the guys, but the book made it clear these were 5 guys who -- despite the major problems each one had or developed -- were destined to get together for a couple of years and put out one amazing album.
And if Appetite for Destruction isn't one of the 10 best albums ever made, well I'll eat my tracky bottoms. Especially considering the conditions they wrote it under. It's actually pretty astounding. Please let me know if you think you can name 10 albums that are better or more meaningful in the grand musical scheme of things.
And I'm not even talking about the songs you hear on the radio. The best songs are the triumvirate of It's So Easy, Nightrain and Out Ta Get Me. Throw in My Michelle and you've got 4 songs that no other hair metal band will ever come close to touching. Not that Guns N Roses was really hair metal. They were as punk as any punk band you can think of. Sure they wore tight leather pants and bandannas, but they were punk in every important way. Especially Izzy.
Anyways, there's a tie-in here: I've been listening to Appetite for Destruction on most of my runs since Christmas. It's a great running album. It's about 10K long, and it keeps the legs moving.
I took Tuesday off because I was out for dinner, but I got back at it yesterday with my 7K. I felt great and ran it in just over 34 mins. And tonight I ran my 8K in 40 mins. Both of these times are very close to what Rob planned for me; I remain on track for my half-marathon target of 5 mins per km.
However the London half-marathon isn't until May 1. My shorter term goal is to run a much faster 10K in Guelph in early March. I'd like to do it between 42 and 45 mins. I'd be happy with that. Of course I'd be happier if it was faster, but we'll have to see where I'm at in a few weeks!
I knew the basics of how Guns N Roses formed, and had some knowledge of each of the guys, but the book made it clear these were 5 guys who -- despite the major problems each one had or developed -- were destined to get together for a couple of years and put out one amazing album.
And if Appetite for Destruction isn't one of the 10 best albums ever made, well I'll eat my tracky bottoms. Especially considering the conditions they wrote it under. It's actually pretty astounding. Please let me know if you think you can name 10 albums that are better or more meaningful in the grand musical scheme of things.
And I'm not even talking about the songs you hear on the radio. The best songs are the triumvirate of It's So Easy, Nightrain and Out Ta Get Me. Throw in My Michelle and you've got 4 songs that no other hair metal band will ever come close to touching. Not that Guns N Roses was really hair metal. They were as punk as any punk band you can think of. Sure they wore tight leather pants and bandannas, but they were punk in every important way. Especially Izzy.
Anyways, there's a tie-in here: I've been listening to Appetite for Destruction on most of my runs since Christmas. It's a great running album. It's about 10K long, and it keeps the legs moving.
I took Tuesday off because I was out for dinner, but I got back at it yesterday with my 7K. I felt great and ran it in just over 34 mins. And tonight I ran my 8K in 40 mins. Both of these times are very close to what Rob planned for me; I remain on track for my half-marathon target of 5 mins per km.
However the London half-marathon isn't until May 1. My shorter term goal is to run a much faster 10K in Guelph in early March. I'd like to do it between 42 and 45 mins. I'd be happy with that. Of course I'd be happier if it was faster, but we'll have to see where I'm at in a few weeks!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Hey strangers!
It's been awhile since I rapped at ya! (Jim Anchower anyone?)
Seriously though, it has been awhile. I've been busy winding up the Xmas holidays, while getting my runs in of course.
Since we last talked I ran my first 10K of the training plan (on Boxing Day), as well as my second 10K (tonight), with a bunch of shorter runs in between. My distance per week is building up, my knee is still hurting, but I'm running through it now and trying not to let it affect my progress.
I got a bunch of outdoor running stuff for Christmas, and have been making good use of it in this cold weather. I'm trying to stay outside for all my runs, and avoid the indoor track down the road.
So tonight I ran my second 10K. Rob had me on a plan, but as usual I couldn't stick to it and ended up running it in 52 mins exactly (a few minutes faster than planned). Now I know I'm in the middle of building up my stamina and speed, so I should be able to destroy that time in a few months, but it's still frustrating that I struggled so much. I feel great and have lots of energy, but at times my knee felt like it would buckle; if I had no knee problems I probably could have shaved 5 mins off my time tonight.
According to my plan for the next two weeks, this week culminates with a 12K run. It's about to get very interesting!
Seriously though, it has been awhile. I've been busy winding up the Xmas holidays, while getting my runs in of course.
Since we last talked I ran my first 10K of the training plan (on Boxing Day), as well as my second 10K (tonight), with a bunch of shorter runs in between. My distance per week is building up, my knee is still hurting, but I'm running through it now and trying not to let it affect my progress.
I got a bunch of outdoor running stuff for Christmas, and have been making good use of it in this cold weather. I'm trying to stay outside for all my runs, and avoid the indoor track down the road.
So tonight I ran my second 10K. Rob had me on a plan, but as usual I couldn't stick to it and ended up running it in 52 mins exactly (a few minutes faster than planned). Now I know I'm in the middle of building up my stamina and speed, so I should be able to destroy that time in a few months, but it's still frustrating that I struggled so much. I feel great and have lots of energy, but at times my knee felt like it would buckle; if I had no knee problems I probably could have shaved 5 mins off my time tonight.
According to my plan for the next two weeks, this week culminates with a 12K run. It's about to get very interesting!
Friday, December 24, 2010
Flat is good
I'm back in my hometown this week for Christmas, and yes I brought my running shoes. I ran my scheduled 6K (actually 6.42) last night and felt great. No pain, lots of energy. I felt like I could have run much longer.
Pretty sure it's because of the terrain here. Unlike my usual training routes, the route here is completely flat. I had to go down a steep bridge at one point, but I just slowed right down and concentrated on taking the impact off my knee, and all was good. It's probably the best I've felt yet while running, and made me feel like I'm making progress with the training.
I have to run a 6K again on Christmas day which I will try to run with Rob, and then a 10K on Sunday.
Pretty sure it's because of the terrain here. Unlike my usual training routes, the route here is completely flat. I had to go down a steep bridge at one point, but I just slowed right down and concentrated on taking the impact off my knee, and all was good. It's probably the best I've felt yet while running, and made me feel like I'm making progress with the training.
I have to run a 6K again on Christmas day which I will try to run with Rob, and then a 10K on Sunday.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Been busy!
First, let me apologize to my many readers for such a long break between posts! I'm on holidays, and I actually have less time to post now, being at home with the kids and so on.
But enough of the excuses!
I mixed things up a bit because of my nagging knee injury, and ran 7K on Saturday, at an average of 5:25/km. Yes I have a hard time sticking to the plan Rob gave me. But at least I'm running, building my distance and stamina. So that's the good part.
The bad part is my knee acted up again - this time as I went down a small hill. It was around the 5K mark. I stopped briefly, but decided to keep going. The pain got a bit better, but overall I knew it wasn't doing me any good to keep running. So I've been resting it since Saturday.
Anyways, I am back on my schedule now, which calls for 6K today at various paces. My normal 6K route is clear of snow, and relatively flat, so I'm hoping there are no issues!
But enough of the excuses!
I mixed things up a bit because of my nagging knee injury, and ran 7K on Saturday, at an average of 5:25/km. Yes I have a hard time sticking to the plan Rob gave me. But at least I'm running, building my distance and stamina. So that's the good part.
The bad part is my knee acted up again - this time as I went down a small hill. It was around the 5K mark. I stopped briefly, but decided to keep going. The pain got a bit better, but overall I knew it wasn't doing me any good to keep running. So I've been resting it since Saturday.
Anyways, I am back on my schedule now, which calls for 6K today at various paces. My normal 6K route is clear of snow, and relatively flat, so I'm hoping there are no issues!
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