Running in the Rain and Other Stuff

One of my favorite times to run when I was training years ago was when it was raining. I liked it because it helped to cool me down as I ran, and because it helped me be less self conscious about how much I sweat because everyone who ran during the rain came back soaked. Last week on one of the days it was raining. I left the house in my running clothes and waterproof jacket. I made it to the end of the driveway as the cold rain started hitting my exposed legs. I then promptly turned around and went back inside. I guess I just didn't have the grit to do something hard that day. I've thought a lot about it since and have decided next time the rain comes and I am scheduled to run, I will just go and not use the weather as an excuse.

On other news, my bike is fixed after years of neglect and being left in out shed. So I was able to go out and ride for an hour on Friday with our little guy. He hasn't realized that his hands follow where he looks as he rides, so there were many instances of swerving from being ran into and reminders to look where you're going. It was nice to get out and do some riding and spend some time with our little guy that wasn't related to going stir crazy in the house.

On a running progress note, I made it out yesterday for a 1 mile run, I ran 2 minutes and walked 1 minute. It was a good run, my legs just felt weak. I will be doing the 2 run / 1 walk for now and will change when I feel it's right. I want to be able to run without stopping again and am not feeling like I can with my weight where it's at. I'm making changes to my diet, I've made changes to my physical activity, and am not drinking my calories like I used to. I'm struggling with my blood sugar and that being in check will be a sign I'm moving in the right direction. So with the changes I've been making and getting my blood sugar under control I should see more success in decreasing my weight, in turn making it easier to run.

I got one day of running last week, and am changing that this week. I have adjusted my training schedule, and hope it will work and not lead to injury. I am increasing miles at a rate that I should be fine and get me the time on my feet that I need. If I am not at a fast enough speed by mid May I will need to change my half marathon on June 14th to a 10k, so I can finish the race in the time provided.

That's it for today. Thanks for reading.

-Riley

Balancing Life and Running

Balancing life and running seems simple enough, so plan to run during times that won't impact your time with the family, school, work, or hobbies. Running is a hobby, but it does a lot for me mentally and physically than other hobbies. This balance is hard to maintain, life gets busy. I wish I could say that's what's been preventing me from getting out the door, but it's not the entire reason over the past 3.5 months. I lost momentum and motivation and got depressed. I'm still struggling with the depression, but have taken steps to hopefully decrease it. The running has helped. Gradually, motivation has started to come into the picture again, which should help build momentum.

So, what am I doing to balance life and running this time? I am doing this my way. It sounds a little arrogant when I write it out, but it's where I have found success. Doing it my way means I will research to plan my training. The next thing I am doing to balance life and running is to do my runs and cross-training during my lunch hour when I can. Since I work from home, I can have my running gear ready or on at the beginning of my lunch, removing one hurdle from making it out the door. The last thing I'll write about regarding that balance is scheduling my day. I will have to be organized to accomplish this. I have a rough schedule on a spreadsheet, but I will be reworking it to be more specific about how I spend my time. I will keep in mind that I must remain flexible so I don't get discouraged by curve balls as they come at me.

The race I signed up for is another half marathon. It'll be June 14th in St. Charles (a city close by). I started training again this past Wednesday, and I did 1.56 miles. It was slower than my last run in November. It was a good run, I did the 1:1 run walk. Then, on Thursday, I did 2 miles. Again, 1:1 run walk. My legs were jelly by the end of Thursday because I hadn't trained in so long. It should come back quick. My legs didn't recover until yesterday. So, I didn't do my long run yesterday and will be doing that tomorrow during lunch instead of my easy run. I will make sure to get my long runs in; they will be crucial to my success in this training cycle. I am thinking of doing a 10k the weekend before the race because it's the length of my last run before my taper.

If I'm ever going to get this post up, I will need to end right there.

Thanks for reading.

-Riley

At Least it's Windy Outside

Pre Run

Just getting ready to head out my my lunch time 40 minute run. According to my Garmin I am in a strained state because I have been sleeping like rubbish the past week. I have also not been very consistent, which is a struggle. I was supposed to get out for my run yesterday, but ended up not getting it in. So I am doing it today, and doing my biking tomorrow. I'm just getting ready to head out for 40 minutes at a 1:1 run/walk. I've done 30 minutes like this, but this will be my first time past that. My long run Saturday didn't happen, I really need a better night sleep tonight. Saturday was a few days into my bad sleeping, and it was hard to do anything. I was just so tired.

Post Run

After 40 minutes I'm back. It was a steady run/walk. I only missed one notification to run, so got 3 minutes of walking in at the beginning of my outing. It was a good run, I'm feeling better than I was when I left. It was a windy 80° outside as I ran the path next to a somewhat busy road. The wind was strong enough to make it so I couldn't hear my book I was listening to for a while but it cooled it off some as it blew in my face.

The Day After

I didn't finish my post yesterday, but wanted to get something up. It took a bit for my heart rate to come down after my run, it was a bit high during and after. My legs ached a bit afterward as well, so I think I went a little too hard, but it was a good feeling. I'm happy with my effort yesterday in spite of being as tired as I was. Today will be the stationary bike at the gym after work, I might try the elliptical instead to see if it goes better than my biking attempts, but I'll make that decision later.

It's taken me long enough to post this. Thanks for reading.

-Riley

Starting Yesterday the Off Season Strengthening

Yesterday started my off season training to get ready for training for my next goal race in March (Running From Yeti). My three goals for the next couple of months are to be consistent, get stronger, and get my nutrition hammered out. Those are three goals that need to be better defined.

Be Consistent: I will follow my scheduled workouts throughout the week. Or if not my scheduled workout something for at least 20 minutes.

Sun: Recovery
Mon: Strength/Mobility
Tues: 30 - 40 minute run
Wed: 30 - 40 minutes stationary bike
Thurs: Strength/Mobility
Fri: 30 minute easy low effort run
Sat: 60 - 90 minute run

Get Stronger: Do 2 days of body weight strength training and 1 day of stationary bike for cardio.

Get my Nutrition Hammered Out: Start meal prepping easy healthy means Saturdays after grocery shopping. Also limit eating out to once a week.

I think each could use some further exploration on what accomplishing the goal looks like, making them SMART goals would be a good way to do that. What is important to me today is to write them out so they exist at least digitally.

I will be starting today to do a walk run mix for my entire run and not worry about heart rate on Tuesdays and Saturdays. It will go back to getting stronger.

Just wanted to get these thoughts down. 

Thanks for reading.

-Riley

After MO' Cowbell

I finished the race, what more could I ask for. It took longer than my projected 3.5 - 4 hours. I was the 12th from last person to finish. But I finished and that's the name of the game for that race. This race had more challenges in it for me than other races I remember. Some of the more notable challenges were some guy stepping on my ankle just after the race started. He was running backwards looking for someone and stepped on me. I'm a big guy and somehow he still didn't see me. Next challenge came at mile three. I took a corner at the top of a hill and got my footing wrong and about twisted my ankle by not landing on the road. That was a close call. Another challenge was little to no shade, which just translates to it being hot. I wasn't anticipating it being around 75° - 80° for the entire race in October. If it were a short run the weather would have been great, but for 13 miles, that just made it a little harder. Around mile seven is when I hit my first wall. I was thinking about giving up, I was sore and tired. This is also when my watch went from timing just the miles to 1:1 run walk intervals. So every minute was a new lap. I just didn't have it in me to start my walk run at that point. Okay, I started it, but wasn't able to maintain it. This is also the time where the group I had been keeping pace with started to pull ahead of me. So I was a little disheartened because of that. 

I was able to power through to mile 8, where a teen with down syndrome was running his 50th half marathon, in his 50th state. This was really encouraging to see someone work so hard. This helped me get out of my head and move forward to mile 9 - 10.25. I started thinking again that I should just give up, I was at the end of the group for the half marathon, when I passed by a police officer who had been directing traffic, that said, alright here's all the stragglers. That little phrase got me back in my head and then the hills started. I was told there was going to be a group from the Fleet Feet Running Club at mile 10, but didn't see anyone at the base of the hill where mile 10 was marked. I didn't see anyone as I went up the hill, and started progressing up another hill. I was thinking of calling Silvia at that point to come and get me. Around that time is when I saw the club cheering me on. They didn't know me from Adam, yet they encouraged me. They filled my hydro flask twice, I downed the first fill, then they did it again. Then they gave me ice for my hat and the back of my neck. It was what I needed to make it just far enough to stop, catch my breath and move on. I ended up stopping 5 maybe 6 times between mile 10 and the end of the race. By mile 12 I was in really rough shape, my legs were shot, my mind was shot, I was exhausted, and had to keep stopping for fear of tripping over myself. I was passed by 4 more people at the point. One woman stopped for a moment to make sure I would be able to finish. I must have looked like hell (if my finish line picture is any indicator I wasn't looking good). I followed this woman until she started running, I couldn't get my legs to work, it took a couple of attempts but I did run across the finish line to be greeted by medical personnel who promptly asked me if I needed help. They got me to the side of the road after the finish line, got me some ice, then a few minutes later got me to the first aid tent where Silvia and our little guy caught up to me. I was in rough shape, at least from my perspective. I thought I could get up and walk at one point, but then promptly sat back down because my legs weren't working. When I finally left the medical tent I made it across the way and down the road some where I let Silvia know I wasn't going to make it to the car with my legs feeling like they did. I sat on the grass for a while, got some calories in me and waited until I could feel my legs again, then got up and made it to the car.

So for my first race in a decade it was a success. I finished in spite of the challenges I faced. There were also some great things that happened. As I was on the last quarter mile a guy in a purple shirt said to me, "I know you'll finish!" then about a half an hour later he walked by me again while I was wearing my medal and said, "See, I knew you would do it." During the first mile I was feeling great, I was walking and at mile one my watch informed me that I had just finished my fastest mile in a few months. Which was good but I was going to fast out the gate which was not good. I got to go through an awesome neighborhood with some amazing houses. As I was in the medical tent, I put my medal on our little guy guy and got to see his smile. It means a lot to me that I didn't come in last. Now that it's a couple days after the race it's time to sign up for my next goal race, I will be doing Run From Yeti. I will be signing up for that now.

Thanks for reading.

-Riley

MO' Cowbell Half Marathon October 6th

 In roughly 12 days I will be running(ish) my first half marathon since 2013. I have been training for it since May. It's been a different style of training than I've committed to before. So I am trusting the process. It's been heart rate training, like I was supposed to do for last years MO' Cowbell, but I have stuck with it and will actually be doing the race. I've tried my hardest to stay in a lower heart rate zone to build endurance and an aerobic base. Staying in that range has been near impossible, but I am confident I will finish the race.

My longest outing was 10 miles, I did it on a mild night after a long day. So it took longer than I wanted but I got it done. It also spurred the purchase of new shoes that I will be breaking in this week (all reviews of the shoes have said they really don't need to be broken in). I will be sporting a pair of Brooks Ghost Max for the race. I decided I needed a thicker sole because of my size. I've struggled to lose weight training this time. After the MO' Cowbell that's going to be my focus. I need to lose this weight. Especially since I plan on running more races and don't want to have to fight my weight as I run. But the weight issue is a post for another time. 

I'm not sure how consistently I'll be posting on here, but wanted to give an update. I'm getting out and doing the work again, which I'm happy about. 

Thanks for reading!

-Riley