Philadelphia Weather

My miles have suffered these last few days. On Wednesday morning, we had about 2.5 inches of snow, certainly not in the blizzard category, and as the day progressed, the temperatures rose slightly and it rained some.

Now, Philadelphia is in a budget crunch and has significantly reduced it snow plowing operations. Not that these operations were stellar to begin with. Things just went from bad to worse. So, when the cold front came through Wednesday evening, most of the roads in my neck of the woods were nothing but ice, of the kind where tire tracks were left frozen in place. And on many roads around the house here, those frozen ruts are still present, only slowly melting some during the day.

As everyone knows, this makes for some hard running, always trying to pick out a running line when seeing bare spots of asphalt. It reminds me a little of mountain biking on technical single track, where you have to ride your lines. The good news is...I haven't fallen.

Sarah, meanwhile, hates it and my zig-zagging down the roads to avoid icy ruts confuses here. She's more of a "point me in the right direction and let me go" type of dog. And I think she has slipped and nearly landed on her butt more times than I have.

Need a Running Partner

This is Sarge, a 1 to 2 year old German Shepherd up for adoption through the Save A Shepherd Rescue Alliance in the Philadelphia area. We'd love to adopt Sarge, but with two already, we'll wait. But he looks like a great runner!

But this post isn't about Sarge, per se. It's about anyone, anywhere, looking for a running partner. There are so many great dogs in shelters and with various breed rescue societies that need a running partner. They're just waiting and as a running partner, here's what you get:

1) A loyal and fun companion.

2) Someone who will take you running anytime you want.

3) Someone who will adjust to your pace.

4) Someone who will be patient and listen to you as you rant and rave about that heel or knee injury.

5) Someone who doesn't need a lot of runnng gear.

6) Did a I mention a loyal and fun companion.

7) Someone who will never forget that you decided to be their running partner.

Running and Cars

On an easy day, I run more than the number of cars I've bought in the last 22 years. Since 1987, the grand total being 3, with today being #3, a brand spanking new 2009 Honda CRV. My first Honda was in 1987, a Civic, and then in 1997, an Accord. That Accord had 135,750 miles, while the Civic had 125,000. Fond memories!

I drove that Accord to so many races, I can't even begin to recall them all. It went to Ohio for the Great Buckeye Challenge triathlon; Sarasota, Florida, for the start of a Florida Coast-to-Coast 3-day adventure race; to North Carolina for the Tsali off-road triathlon; several trips to Ohiopyle, PA, for adventure racing; someplace in Georgia for the North Gerogia Adventure Race; Indianapolis, New York, and Vermont for marathons; New York, Vermont, Maryland, and Virginia for ultra-marathons; just to name a few.

I almost feel like a snob with all 35 miles on my new CRV. I mean, it has a CD player. My Accord didn't have one and I'm not sure CD's were around in 1987 when I got my Civic.

I'm sure it will only be a matter of weeks before it goes on its first road trip to a race. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!

I Feel Like a Wimp

Why?

Yesterday morning (Thursday), I awoke with a killer tooth ache, but did 6 miles nonetheless. But the discomfort was too much for eating. I was eventually able to see an oral surgeon, and at 4:30 yesterday afternoon, out goes the tooth, in goes some stitches, and back home I go, in some discomfort and a noisey stomach from not eating.

So this morning, temperatures in the single digits, a sore mouth, and a still empty stomach, I sucked it up and did three miles. Three miles...ONLY three miles. I feel like a wimp.

Why?

Ramblings from a Mortal Runner

Like most mortals, I will never log 100+ miles a week, and I am no longer able to do those 6 minute miles. In my younger days, the 70 mile weeks were common, as were sub 40 minute 10Ks. But at 59, those days are gone for the most part.

Still, I'm resolved to run every day in 2009. Wednesday would normally be my rest day, and if I were following that plan, my weekly total this time of year would be 45-50 weekly miles. But with that seventh day in there, my total is actually down...intentionally, for now.

In adding that seventh day, I want to feel as though I still have fresh legs for the paltry 2 or 3 miles I've chosen to run on that day. So, for the other six days, I've back off a few miles, hoping that as I continue to build the mileage count, my legs always remain fresh. So far, it's working. By my humble calculations, even a modest 5% increase in my weekly total will get me to a weekly total of 50 to 55 miles in another few weeks.

So why be greedy at my age with trying to get in too many miles, too soon? Come to think of it, why be greedy at all?

Running Blog Entry

It's not a very creative or inspiring title. This is nothing more, nor nothing less, than a blog entry about my morning run.

For the last 2 days, Sarah hasn't been feeling well...stomach issues...and us dog owners know exactly what that means. So, I've been reluctant to have her join me running, but caved in both yesterday and this morning. She gets so excited when I put on my hat and gloves. She'll sit attentively at the front door, just waiting for me to grab her leash and walk outside.

It was cold this morning, with crystal clear skies, no wind, no ice on the roads and no cars. Still, we had our excitement, or rather, Sarah did. As we rounded a corner to go down this small street, a fox was crossing the street, no doubt still scavenging from garbage cans and the like. Well, when Sarah saw the fox, any signs of lethargy brought on by an upset stomach instantly disappeared and she became an animal...pulling, nose to the ground, tracking the scent, ready to give chase. Did I say she became an animal? Yes, but in that great German Shepherd way. Proud, loyal, and ready defend her family and territory against any and all threats, real or imagined.

Marathon Memories

From 2001 to 2003, I went marathon crazy. Not only did I run about 35 marathons during this period, but they were all over the country and one was in Amsterdam. So, not only was I training and racing, I was flying, making a lot of hotel reservations, and renting cars. It's only when I go through my finisher medals that I remember a few, but some will always live vibrantly in my memory.

Pikes Peak in one. Starting at 7,000 feet, you run up 13.25 miles to reach Pikes Peak at 14,100 feet, then back down. What I recall most of this marathon is the last 2,000 vertical feet or so of climbing. Slightly oxygen deprived, I remember one thing kept me going...if I didn't finish this sucker, I couldn't wear the Pikes Peak sweatshirt or hat. It was a tough marathon, but I finished.

Ah, the Death Valley Trail Marathon. Done on fire roads in winter, heat isn't an issue. The first 12 miles are pretty much all up, then the remaining miles are all down. I recall being about 3 miles from the finish line and being able to see down and in the distance some reflections. I later learned that those were from the white painted roof-tops of the school buses that would take us back to Furnace Creek...race headquarters.

In early October 2003, 3 weeks before doing the Amsterdam Marathon, I was in Big Sur for the trail marathon. I can't recall anything highly unusual about why I loved this run. I just did.

Since my last 2003 marathon, Dallas White Rock in December, I've only done a handful of marathons, concentrating instead on ultras. May 2009 may just be a year to visit my old 26.2 mile haunt.

Logging and Blogging Miles

I've always been good at logging my miles. No, not logging as in writing in a book, but logging with feet on the ground.

Blogging my miles is a little different. Just not the same writing about running as it is actually doing it. Oh well, I'll keep going.

As a runner, I know that other types of training are important...strength training, stretching, and beer drinking. Regarding the first two, I have always found it difficult to follow some specific strength or stretching program. Still, I find that most days, I can get in at least 100 push-ups, 10 to 15 minutes of stretching, and some other similar training. My formula is simple. Find a natural opportunity and just do something. Last evening, for example, I was warming some red potatoes in the fry pan.. So, while slowly warming, I figure that while waiting, I'd just drop down on the kitchen floor and whip out 50 push-ups. Not very scientific and didn't find this method in any book. Just did it.

I do things like that daily. At work, I always walk up the five flights of stairs to my office. After a few hours at my computer or during a meeting break, I do 4-5 minutes of stretching. Or at home before settling down for the night, a quick 50 crunches before jumping into bed.

It all adds up. As for the beer drinking, I'm logging off now and running to the fridge for a cold one.

Meditation with a Sig 9MM

I grew up around guns. As a kid, I got my first .22 caliber rifle when I was 12, followed over the next couple of years with a .410 shotgun, a .12 gauge shotgun, a 30-30 rifle, and then a 30-06 rifle.

When I entered the military, I found myself in a military speciality requiring constant use of firearms and numerous trips every year to the range for qualification on the M-16, .12 gauge shotgun, .38 caliber revolver, .45 caliber semi-automatic, M-203 grenade launcher, M-60 machine gun, and .50 caliber. There were a few others along the way, including some foreign-made firearms. How can one ever forget those range commands, "ready on the left, ready on the right, ready on the firing line, commence firing!"

After my run yesterday (January 4th), I drove out to my local indoor range with my trusty 9mm Sig Sauer Pro 2009. I've always found shooting to have a meditation-like quality about it. First, when you walk onto the range, you clear your mind of all external distractions. No thinking about work, the stock market, or other day-to-day distractions. My focus is totally on safety...treat every weapon as if it is loaded; and always keep the muzzle pointed down-range.

Then the time for shooting comes. Still with a constant focus on safety, I have to always concentrate on a few additional things. Breath slowly and in a controlled way, inhaling and exhaling slowly. Acquire a good sight picture. Squeeze the trigger, don't pull it; otherwise, I'll pull my shots to the left. Stay patient and don't hurry the next shot. Repeat 100 times or more.

My wife Lori also joined me yesterday, shooting a .22 caliber revolver. Just a beginner, as I watched her, I know that a couple of hundred rounds from now, she'll have tight groupings and an Ultradawg proclaimed level of expert.

It's Coming Together

I spent much of the late summer and early fall of 2008 hobbling around on a sore heel and took nearly six weeks off from running. I had done some ultras in April, June, and July, so no surprise...it was an overuse injury. So for the next six weeks, I spent at least 45 minutes everyday, peddling indoors on my road bike and trainer.

I'm just now getting back to where I can increase my miles, having used November and December as a time to slowly build back my base miles. Seems that my strategy is working. Although I still feel a little heel tenderness, everything else is "full-steam ahead." Today, it was a strong and fast 6.5 miles on trails, followed by a 1 mile road climb...the road being about a 7% grade. Then the final flat .5 mile cool-down...and a post-run breakfast of waffles and orange juice.

Coming off a foot injury, I spend a lot of time thinking about my running shoes. Are they giving me enough support? There was a time, though, nearly 30 years ago, where my running shoes weren't shoes, but were combat boots. I recall fondly my weeks and weeks in Texas running daily in combat boots, black cotton socks, cotton fatigue pants, and a cotton tee-shirt. There was nothing high-tech. We hydrated from luke-warm water sloshing around in a plastic canteen and popped the occasional salt tablets in those pre-electrolyte days. My body no longer misses those days, but my mind does.

2009 Begins

This morning was a good start to my 2009 Resolution of running every day of the year. But, Sarah chastised me for not talking with her about the resolution. She knows she will have to take a few days off when I race, but this still means she will do perhaps 350 runs during the year. So in the future, I need to clear things through her.

Will I stay motivated to run each of the remaining 364 days? I like to not think of them as days, but as running paces, with each day being a pace. So, 364 paces is merely a half mile, or close enough for government work. Now, when I take that first step in a 50K, how many paces am I going to cover? It comes out to be something like 24,000, or properly more as my stride length will often shorten on hills near the end of a race when I'm tired.

But like most ultra marathoners, when we're tired and moving slowly, we still place one foot in front of the other, one step at a time. That's part of how I will think, feel, and stay motivated.

Sarah, too. And if there are any mistakes/typos in this post, Sarah proof read it and she is solely responsible for any and all errors and omissions.