The Road to Boston (week 5 of 16)

Ok folks, I am declaring this a freeform week.  I am working in North Texas all this week and do not have the luxury of staying in a hotel on a college campus with lots of lovely paths for me to explore, nor the lovely icy weather in which to explore them.  No, I am staying in a hotel (nice though it is) that borders the Interstate, in a town that is not very runner friendly.  The last time I tried running up here, I was urged by several motorists to "get a car you bum".

If I ran here every day, my middle finger would be exhausted.  So I may have to resort to the dreadmill for at least some of my runs.

Anyway, the good news is that I finished out Jantastic with 100% and am now into Febulous.  This works along the same principles - you commit to doing a certain number of runs a week - but now you also have to specify how long each of your long runs will be during the month.

So I've set my goals at 5 runs a week, with long runs of 20 miles, 20 miles, 12 miles and 20 miles.  We'll see how that goes.

Saturday January 28th
Spent the day traveling back from Oregon via Las Vegas (and what a zoo that place is).  Needless to say, no running.  Did manage to finish "Miss Peregrine's Home for Unusual Children" (wonderful read) and got into Blake Crouch's "Run" (very creepy and disturbing, but a great page turner - perfect airplane fodder).  I love my Kindle.

Sunday January 29th
Nancy suggested I have a lie in with the boys as I'd been away all week and didn't get back until late.  Agreed and enjoyed a very pleasant morning before setting out on the road again.

Monday January 30th
On my travels again.  No run today.  Worked late, and then watched the documentary "Ride the Divide" back at the hotel, which left me whelmed.  Not over or under, just whelmed.  Nice music though.

Tuesday January 31st
Hit the dreadmill in the hotel tonight.  Listened to the "Mockingjay" audiobook on my ipod to distract me and could still only manage 2 miles before boredom set in.  Did the 2 miles in 12:26 (6:13 average), and then had a go on the stair climber which was marginally more interesting.  May have to venture back onto the mean streets tomorrow.  Oh, and I finished reading "Run", which really does make you want to hide in your hotel room and never come out!!!

Wednesday February 1st
Ok, I guess this week is designated speed week.  Hopped on the treadmill tonight with the goal of running 2 miles at a sub-6 pace.  That was before I realized the thing topped out at 10mph, thus rendering that goal impossible.  Still, finished the 2 miles in 12:06 (6:03 average), which was just about enough to finish me off too.  Cooled down with a few minutes in the company of my old friend the stair climber while listening to the adventures of Katniss Everdeen on the old ipod.  In non-running news, I watched "V for Vendetta" last night which has left me feeling ever so slightly rebellious, started a new book on the Kindle - "I Sing the Body Departed", and I think I'm going to go out for Indian tonight.  Mr random strikes again!!!

Thursday February 2nd
Tried to kill myself on the treadmill again tonight - 2 miles in 12:02 (6:01 average).  Ouch.  My legs are tighter than Scrooge at Christmas - am looking forward to reverting to longer slower runs again.  On the plus side, I'm headed back to Austin tomorrow.  On the downside, I'm off to Virginia on Monday.  But at least I get to enjoy the weekend at home.  In other news, the Indian I went out for last night was far and away the worst I've ever had, and just a bizarre experience all round.  Played it safe tonight and went to TGI Fridays, where I put away a cobb salad, chicken pasta and a huge slice of vanilla bean cheesecake.  Suitably sated, I am looking forward to a nice night in the company of Messers Miles Davis and Mr Kindle.

Oh, it's also worth mentioning that I have taken the opportunity of being away as a chance to catch up on some of the "Marathon Talk" podcast.  I am now only about a year behind!!!

Good luck to all running the Rocky Raccoon 100 this weekend.  Rather you than me.

I Love a Rainy Night

Yes I know I've been trying to stop using song lyrics as my blog titles, but this one just fits so well.

I'm writing this from my hotel room in the small college town of Corvallis, Oregon in the Pacific Northwest.  I'm working on the campus of Oregon State University all this week, and I've been enjoying something that has been in very short supply in Texas for the last year - rain.

This trip has really reminded me of home.  And it's not just the rain.  The trees, the scenery, and even the architecture of the University takes me back to my days living in Britain.  It really is beautiful and enchanting up here.

And inspiring.  I've run every day this week - in freezing fog, cold and driving rain, it doesn't matter. Every morning I've woken up looking forward to my early morning adventures.

And I've been consistently hitting right around the 8 minute mile mark with ease.

I get back to the hotel with numbed hands, stand under a shower as hot as I can stand until they thaw out, then head downstairs for the wonderful cooked breakfast.  And I'm ready for the day.

I think part of that is the beautiful old campus I've been criss-crossing on my pre-dawn explorations (the pictures on this post are bits of the campus that are part of my morning run - I took them at lunchtime today when it had actually stopped raining).  The place is full of huge trees.  Combine that with the stillness, silence and solitude of running in the rain and mist, along with the happy nostalgia of my own (long since faded) college days, and it's a really peaceful and wonderful way to start the day.

Maybe I'm a bit of a dreamer - a romantic with an old soul - but if it makes you happy, just go with it.

I've also been testing out a spi-belt that Clea gave me so I can carry my phone at Boston and we can find each other at the finish line.  I've worn it every morning this week, with my phone, driver's license and a credit card in there.  I've even left my water bottle (usually my comfort blanky) back in the hotel.  It didn't take me long to get used to it, and I don't think it's going to be a problem using it at Boston.

And did I mention I love my Kindle?  It debuted on this trip, and I'm very glad I bought it.  It's so easy to slip in my pocket and just carry around with me.  I read the whole of Peter Lovesey's Stagestruck on the plane ride up (he's always a good airplane read), and am now getting into the very odd, creepy, but strangely compelling "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children".

Ok, time to shut down.  I ate pasta at a wonderful local Italian place tonight and am nicely carbed up for a cracking run in the morning.  It's supposed to be really cold - in the 20s - fantastic!!!  Then tomorrow night I am driving down to Eugene to have dinner with some friends I haven't seen in a while.

In between that I have a very intensive day of mentoring and teaching. It's going to be a long day, so I'm off to bed, perchance to dream.

Night all.

The Road to Boston (week 4 of 16)

I am sitting here at my computer watching little Dylan eat my oatmeal as part of his third breakfast.  I have a nicely brewed cup of freshly ground coffee in front of me, I have just showered away the sweat and salt of a very satisfying 20 mile run, and Gavin is waiting for me to finish writing so he can play chess against the computer.

Sometimes, life is good.

But this week is really going to test my resolve.  I am on business trips for the next three weeks running, and week number one sees me up in Oregon in the Pacific Northwest.  I will be on the campus of Oregon State University, so there are probably some good running routes around there.  Except that they are having huge problems with flooding and pouring rain, so much so that the university shut down yesterday (Friday), and many of the roads are closed.

But I still have the carrot of Boston and Jantastic to chase.  So I'm determined to get my runs in, even if I have to do Clea-style "go round and round this loop until I get dizzy" runs.

Because the dreadmill is truly an option of last resort.

Date	Saturday January 21st
Plan	am - 20 miles
Outcome	5am, windy.  55F at the start, dropping to 42F by the end.  Another 20 mile hillfest - Stratford, Scenic, backwards Jefferson (uphill against the wind) and some meandering around the Hyde Park neighborhood.  My legs felt a little tight this morning - not surprising, I am probably a little dehydrated since my parents (visiting from the UK) have been force-feeding me tea all week (I forgot just how much tea British folks drink).  But very pleased that we accelerated after the monster hills, and ran a nice negative split.  Run competed in 2:54:23 (8:43 average).

Date	Sunday January 22nd
Plan	am - 7 miles easy
Outcome	5:30am, 55F.  Recovery run after yesterday's 20.  Uneventful 7 miles in 59:31 (8:30 pace).  Make sure to update my Marathon Talk Jantastic submissions, then off to the airport to rainy Oregon

Date	Monday January 23rd
Plan	am - Nothing
Outcome	6am, 31F and freezing fog.  Exploratory run on the campus of Oregon State University.  Found plenty of paths and parks to crisscross the university, even though I couldn't see much through the fog.  An enjoyable 4 miles in 32:41 (8:10 pace).  It's run to run on a university campus when it's so quiet and nobody else is about.  On the other hand, I discovered I'd packed running shoes, 5 pairs of running socks, 5 pairs of running shorts and only 1 shirt.  Whoops!!!

Date	Tuesday January 24th
Plan	am - 6 miles
Outcome	6am, 39F and driving rain.  A soggy, slippery run through the OSU campus this morning, but very refreshing.  Did 5 miles in 39:31 (7:54 pace).  Good thing too, since the cooked breakfasts at the hotel are no doubt fattening me up!!!

Date	Wednesday January 25th
Plan	am - 6 miles
Outcome	6am, 52F.  What, no rain today?  After yesterday's all-day downpour and warnings of mass floodings, woke up this morning to find it mild and dry.  Even stranger is that apparently Austin is being bombarded with Noah-style rain.  Did 5 miles through the OSU campus in 40:20 (8:04 average).  The highlight was taking a sharp right turn while running through a dark park, skidding on some unseen mud and sliding several yards on my hip.  Ouch - glad nobody was around to see that.

Date	Thursday January 26th
Plan	am - 6 miles
Outcome	6am, 42F.  No rain this morning.  Ran another 5 miles through the OSU campus in 39:03 (7:48 average), then loaded up on a huge hotel breakfast that included toast, Western omelet, waffles, a danish and a cookie.  Do you see why I've run every morning that I've been here?

Date	Friday January 27th
Plan	Nothing
Outcome	6am, 25F and frosty, icy underfoot.  Cranked out another 5 miles around OSU - I've now run every day I've been here.  Cold one this morning - finished with my arms and hands like frozen chicken, and it took a good while of standing under a piping hot shower to defrost them.  Still, managed 5 miles in 38:21 (7:40 average).  Will be sorry to say goodbye to this fun route when I fly home tomorrow.  Maybe I'll sneak in another sly run before I leave for the airport.

The Road to Boston (week 3 of 16)

I hit 50 miles last week, which is something I haven't done in a while.  Consistency is paying dividends, as I had some strong runs in there, including a nice 8 miler done at 7:26 pace.

And with some cold weather forecast for this week, I am very much in my element, and hope to keep putting in some strong runs.

Date	Saturday January 14th
Plan	am - 19 miles
Outcome	5:10am, 25F.  Coldest morning of the winter resulted in me adding a pair of gloves to my standard shorts and t-shirt.  Met Clea at the bakery, and we ran down through UT and along to the trail to the rock to meet Stephanie and Teresa.  Had a relaxed Jefferson run, then Clea and I retraced our steps along the trail, back up Congress and through UT to the bakery.  Enjoyed the run and the conversation, though I did get several odd glances on the trail from folks wrapped up in coats, scarves, hats and looking like ninjas.  We did 19 miles in 2:45:47 (8:43 pace) and I felt very comfortable, though I did discover several blood blisters at the end of my toes post-run.

Date	Sunday January 15th
Plan	am - 7 miles easy
Outcome	5:30am, 30F.  Not as cold as yesterday, we did the Danish loop in reverse with some new variations.  It's amazing how different a familiar running route looks when run in reverse.  Finished out in 58:48 (8:24 pace).  Time for some coffee and biscotti.

Date	Monday January 16th
Plan	am - Nothing
Outcome

Date	Tuesday January 17th
Plan	am - 10 miles (aim for sub-8 minute miles)
Outcome	After a series of late nights working in the garage, I just didn't make it out this morning.  Settled instead for an untimed 2 mile trot around the neighborhood.  Saving myself for taking on the rabbit in tomorrow's speed run.

Date	Wednesday January 18th
Plan	am - 8 miles (aim to get under an hour)
Outcome	5am, 37F and breezy.  Some days you take a beating, and on others you hand them out.  Today I was doing the handing out.  Felt good and comfortable throughout the run and finished the 8 miles in 59:49 (7:28 average).  Was so comfortable that I almost missed ducking under the hour, but made it courtesy of a 6:50 last mile.  Am thinking of making my Marchvellous goal a sub-58 minute 8 miles on this Wednesday pace run.

Date	Thursday January 12th
Plan	am - 7 miles easy
Outcome	4:30am, 45F - positively toasty.  Relaxed 7 mile reverse Mueller loop with Clea.  Lots of good conversation, and we kept up a nice pace - 57:51 (8:15 average).

Date	Friday January 6th
Plan	Nothing
Outcome

The Road to Boston (week 2 of 16)

I had some great runs last week, which left me with confidence rising going into week 2.  Boston (and Jantastic) has given me a stackload of motivation, which translates itself into consistency, which in turn should result in faster times and better running with less effort.

2011 was not a good running year for me, but 2012 is already shaping up to be a huge improvement.

Date	Saturday January 7th
Plan	am - 20 miles hilly run
Outcome	4:30am, 55F and foggy with 97% humidity.  Met James early and we ran downtown to meet up with Clea.  Had another go at the Stratford hills, then did a Jefferson loop, and then another reverse Jefferson.  This was one of those mornings when I felt great, and the hills seemed strangely easy. Which was bizarre since the humidity was high and I was sweating like a pig.  Did 20 miles in 2:48:20 (8:25 average) and felt like I could go a lot further and a lot harder if I needed to.  Wish that happened more often.

Date	Sunday January 8th
Plan	am - 7 miles
Outcome	5:30am, 47F. Nice recovery run - 7 miles in 59:58 (8:34 pace).  I zipped up my man suit and ran 5 times this past week, so my Jantastic week 1 is at 100%.  Now I'm sitting here drinking hot chocolate and contemplating another.

Date	Monday January 9th
Plan	am - Nothing
Outcome

Date	Tuesday January 10th
Plan	am - 10 miles
Outcome	5am, 42F, cold and windy.  Did not get up when my alarm went off at 4am because little Dylan was cuddled up next to me, and I dare any dad to give that up to go run.  But I did get up at 4:30 instead to go run 7.  Legs felt heavy today and it was like I was running in slow motion.  Still, I managed to squeak under an 8 minute mile by running 55:53 (7:59 average) without really pushing.  Pretty happy with that.

Date	Wednesday January 11th
Plan	am - 8 miles (aim to get under an hour)
Outcome	5am, 34F, lovely and cold.  Legs still felt a little dead today, but apparently it didn't matter as I ran the 8 miles in 59:35 (7:26 pace).  Difficult to believe I ran a marathon at a faster pace than that.  James was my rabbit again.  Didn't catch him this morning - that boy was flying.

Date	Thursday January 12th
Plan	am - 8 miles
Outcome	4:30am, 47F at start, dropping to 37F by the end, and really windy.  The cold front blew through this morning, bringing gusty winds with it.  Met Clea for the 8 mile Mueller loop, and we battled the winds for a very nice 1:05:03 (8:07 average).

Date	Friday January 6th
Plan	Nothing
Outcome

Pressing Matters

This is the latest gadget to come out of my woodworking shop - a tortilla press.  Like freshly made pasta, if you've only ever had store-bought tortillas you don't know what you're missing.  I broke it in last night with a big batch of corn tortillas, which were dispatched nearly as fast as I could make them.  Other than smoking up the house (whoops) they were a huge success, and ridiculously easy to make with my new toy.

I am also planning on using it to simplify making pita, naan bread and Cornish pasties.  Not to mention it will come in very handy while perusing my other Christmas present.

On the running front, the first week of Jantastic is going really well (it's the last few days to register if you're looking for that extra bit of motivation).  Helped by some wonderfully cold weather, I've had 2 great runs in a row.  This morning I met James for our fast Wednesday run with the intention of dipping under an hour for my 8 miles.  Well I managed it by 19 seconds (hooray), and James planted the idea in my head of working on getting that time down to 56 minutes in the months ahead.

Sounds good to me - go Boston!!!

And just a quick word on blog neglect.  Each year, I wrap up the blogging year by doing a post looking back on all the ups and down of the year that was.  I am planning on doing that post, but I've been super busy working (aka playing) in the garage.  The post is coming, but it may be a tad bit late.

Oh, and happy new year everyone.