And Now for the Random Blog Post...

It's Saturday, 7/30/2011.  Nothing super exciting has happened since the last post, but I am trying to get in the habit of doing more of these things more often, regardless of what might or might not have happened.

I have been on day shift for the past two weeks.  The temperature has been a average of about 186 deg F, with a heat index of about 399.  Yeah, that bad.  It is just so hard to get out of that air conditioned car, with 40 pounds of gear into that blazing sun and standing on the asphalt for up to an hour or more at a time, for a 12 hours shift.  Then once you get home and take off all of the gear, the smell that emanates from the body is nauseating.  It smells like an orangutan had ran a marathon,showered in it's on sweat, and then dried off with a moldy towel.  Yea, that bad.  I'm just excited that the night shift starts soon, and all I have to deal with is the humidity.  Plus one more night shift and two more days on day shift, then it's onto vacation.

Speaking of vacations, we are heading to the happiest place on the planet for a week.  Walt Disney World (enter your woo here_____).  I am so looking forward to this, not because it's Disney world, but we haven't been on a vacation in 4 years, and this will be my three year old's first trip there.  That being sad, I don't know what's worse.  Worrying about spending money on the trip, or all the money needed before the trip.  We just got Tyler a DVD player for the car, stocked up on diapers and snacks for the 8 hour ride, and we have to give the car a tune-up.  Sheesh, this is hard.

One of the highlights of my week was my 10 mile run on Friday.  I didn't know if I was ready for this one.  I had just gotten over a knee injury and stomach issues, plus I had only run 2 miles in about a week and a half, but it had to get done.  This was on of those runs that if something was going to go wrong, today would have been today.  First off, I was planning on getting to Lake Murray dam around 5:30 am.  I didn't wake up till 5.  And because my pre-run rituals my take a while to take place, I didn't get out to the dam till 7.   The temp was not bad, maybe 78 with high humidity and a nice breeze. 

Usually I do the 3.4 mile loop and stop by truck for water and such after each lap.  Well on that day I decided that I didn't want to get bored by doing lap after lap for 10 miles, I decided to run straight for 5 miles, and then head back.  Again the start of my run was not bad at all, temperature wise.  I left my water, and gels in the truck and took off at a slow 2/1 ratio.  I ran the dam and kept going.  Now, that track on the dam is nice a super flat, the hills on either side of the dam are horrible.  I forgot how hard they were and kept trucking for about 3 more miles.  Decided that I was thirsty and failing, and started to head back.  I past about 3 gas stations on the way back, but of course, I didn't bring cash or card with me.

The sun started to rise, but the temp was still not bad.  However, the combination of the hills (and my lack of hill of training) the beaming sun, humidity started to take it's toll.  My nice 10:30 pace with a 2/1 ratio changed to an 11:00 pace with a 1:30/1 ratio.  By the time I hit the dam again, I was wasted.  I ran back to the truck, looked at my Garmin and realized that I still had about 2.5 miles to go.  This just killed my spirits.  I took another gel, drink some water and took off at a 1/1 ratio with about a 12:00 pace or slower.  I just had to get it done.  I finally finished, came home, got some water and an after run Boston Lager.  I deserved it dammit.

I was planning on doing a 5k on Saturday as well.  It was for a good cause; the Richland County Sheriff's Department K-9 unit.  I was looking forward to it, because I was actually planning on "racing" this one, and not just enjoying the scenery.  I really wanted to have a sub 30 minute 5k.  However, no one I knew was going to be there, I had just run 10 miles the day prior, and it's about 45 minutes to an hour away from my house.  Plus I wanted to sleep in.  Oh well, there will be other races.


The weight watcher watch:  I gained .4 pounds, not bad.  I had a few too many beers and excersised a few too little times.  It didn't break my heart, but the weight wathcers app on my phone stated, "It looks like you gained a little."  What an ass!

Week in Review, IPA's and the "Currently" Thing

This past week, week and a half, has been a little hectic.  Did some construction, ran a little bit and went to a friend's house for a get together.  Which turned into, everybody watch their kid so they don't get hurt party, but it was still fun.

I started to have some pain in my left knee last week.  It didn't hurt after a run, but getting out of a car.  It's not excruciating, but I do notice it.  If I walk on level ground it's OK, but if i climb a hill or go up some stairs, it hurts.  All that aside, I took a couple of days off.  Then on Saturday I headed to the Lake Murray Dam walking path at about 5:30 am for the 9 miler.  The temperature was about 70 degrees, slightly humid, but had a nice breeze coming off of the lake.  The walk path is about a 3.4 mile out and back, flat, so it wouldn't bother my knee, and wasn't crowded at all.  However, I think the women walking were a little on edge when they saw a fat tattooed man running toward them.  One of those ladies even shined her LED light in my eyes as I was running by...that wasn't nice.

I did my run in about 1 hour and 50 minutes.  After each lap, I would stop off at my truck, rehydrate and get some gel.  This was nice because I didn't have to carry anything on the run itself.  The ratio for the first 2 laps was 2/1.  I was feeling good for the last lap and cranked it to a 2:30/1 ratio.  I know what you're thinking... but I knew what I was doing.  It was a great run because I ran the 9 miles 4 minutes slower than my 8 miler two weeks prior.

That same Saturday, was the Saturday that the wife and I were going to put up her closet organizer ( you can take a look at the details on her blog, http://ostranderfam.blogspot.com/)  In short, when we took the old system down it left a lot of large holes.  So a one day putting up a closet organizer task, turned into a 2 day spackle, paint, paint some more the put up the closet organizer.  The most time consuming aspect was putting the anchor on the wall that would hold the system.  After that it was just busy work to put all the pieces together.  It took a while, but it looks nice and now I'm awaiting my closet organizer and two day construction time.

The weight watchers watch: I lost 4 lbs, even after a weekend party of great non weight watcher friendly food and about 10 beers. I think the long run helped a little.

My favorite beer right now is the Sam Adams Latitude 48 IPA.  This is the first IPA that I have partaken in, and I love it.  It's probably my favorite beer right now.  This being said, I decided to do a little taste test and try some other IPA's.  I went to the local Food Lion, and built my six pack with, Magic Hat #9 (I know it says "almost pale ale" but who's counting), Sweet Water IPA, New Belgium Ranger, and 2 Sam Adams Lat IPA. 

After drinking the other beers, I discovered that the IPA has a grapefruity taste to it.  I didn't notice it in the Sam, but now I do and the other beers brought that out.  The first I tried was the Sweet Water.  This had a strong grapefruit taste to it, and was very sweet.  The Ranger had the same taste, not as sweet but leaning more toward the hoppiness that I like.  Magic Hat, again had the grapefruit taste, but was more subdued.  All in all I didn't hate any of them.  I probably won't by the Sweet Water again, but I won't turn it down if someone offered me one.  My favorite is still the Sam.

And now the grand finale, the "currently" thing.  The wife did it on her blog (see the link above) and encouraged me to do one.  So away we go...

Currently

Current Book: Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, by  Chris McDougall.  Great book.  I love the section of the tribes and Caballo Blanco, but I think the sections on natural running and scientific stuff could have been saved for another book.  I am also listening to Once a Runner, by John L. Parker Jr.  My first audio book.  It's on the iPod, and is used for the long runs.

Current Song: "My Hero," by the Foo Fighters.  I'm going through a 90's and early 2000's phase right now.

Current Drink: Sam Adams Latitude 48 IPA

Current Wish: Saucony Kinvaras or some Vibram Five Fingers.  The Vibrams are not for running, just lounging.

Current Triumph: 9 mile long run completed.

Current Guilty Pleasure: Jimmy Dean turkey sausage biscuits.

Current Favorite Blog: Rocky Mountain Dirt Running, by Nick Clark.  http://irunmountains.blogspot.com/.  I stumbled across this one.  He had just completed the Western States 100 and Hardrock 100.  I'm a sucker for ultramarthoners.

Current Goal:  To leave for Disney at 4am like planned on August 20th.

Current Indulgence:  Sam Adams Latitude 48 IPA

Current Bane of My Existence: Tyler playing with the computer mouse and keyboard while I try to type this...hghjyhhjjnjhgjhjrhuyujyujjng44343h3rtfggbgvbegvb3g3g... see what I mean.

Current Excitement:  Vacation is less than 30....

Current Mood: horny

Current Favorite Pic:  Oldie but goodie.

Here you try it.  What is "currently" going on with you??

How Ya Been?

So it's been about a month and a half since I lasted posted anything.  Frankly, I haven't had a race to report on.  However, I have been listening to a lot of podcasts, reading a lot of blogs and I got inspired just to post something.

Since my last post:

1. I started my half-marathon training.  If you have been following me (thanks Cindy), you know that I  have been using the Jeff Galloway run-walk-run method for my previous races and training.  I am going to continue to use it for my first half-marathon. Before committing to the Galloway training for the half, I have been using it just to build my base.  No speed, pace or interval training.  Now that I have started it I will be utilizing those kind of training methods.  This is in preparation for The Myrtle Beach Mini-Marathon on October 23rd or The Governor's Cup Half-Marathon in Columbia, SC on November 5th.

2. I have discovered Body Glide.  Oh, that wonderful, magic paste.  Put it on those special places, in between the toes, on the heel above the shoe and go for hours.  Or until you pass out, whatever comes first.

3.  I finally bought myself a Garmin Forerunner 305. Thanks to some extra hours at work and a Disney Visa, I was able to get that watch.  So far I love it, no complaints.  Yes, it is like wearing a laptop on your arm, but it works great.  Now I don't have to rely on the overpriced Nike+ pedometer (even though I still take it for a backup), and the inaccurate as all give out Android apps. 

4.  I have joined Weight Watchers.  I finally broke down an joined.  I have lost about 15 pounds just by running and exercising, but have plateaued for about a month.  Which I blame on still eating like I usually do.  The wife has been on it for about 6 months now and has lost over 30 pounds.  She is helping me understand it and being a big supporter.

5.  And finally, on a non-running or fitness note.  The University of South Carolina (The Real USC) Baseball Team won their 2nd National Championship in a row.  WOOOOOO!!!!!.  It was probably the most dramatic series in sports that I have ever witnessed.  Many tears and beers were shared when the World Series was over.