3-8-14 The extra long run

Alright, my long run was a good run. I ran more than I thought I would. I was only supposed to run 11 miles, but messed up my distance tracking at the beginning. I realized it when I reached mile 4 (which is at an entrance to a park with a route that forks, that's the only way I know). So at the end of my run, it said I ran 10.72 miles, until I made the map adjustment, and it added an extra mile.

My average pace would have let me finish a half marathon at the same speed I ran my previous one at. So I am looking forward to see what kind of time I will be able to finish the SLC half in. I will be using that race day magic to see how fast I can finish.

My wife is doing a couch to 5k (or at least that's what she has told me). Our local running store has a training program that's being sponsored by Altra shoes (which is a local company). I think I will be trying to run in my Altra again this week. I do have the additional run, so I will have an additional chance to run in them.

When i got to Salt Lake I missed the main body of the group by about 6 minutes. I really wanted to run with them. With the daylight savings time starting on Sunday, the Saturday run time is going to move to an hour earlier. Which means I need to get to bed about an hour earlier. Back to arriving at the meet up point to run, all the sudden I had to use the restroom. It's still March so most of the restrooms on the route are closed. It was at mile 8 that I finally got to use it. My guts hate me right now because of this.

After my run I went to Maverick (a gas station/convenient store for those who don't know what they are) and picked up a Pepsi Max fountain drink and added there cherry concentrated flavor to it. It changed it to taste like Dandelion & Burdock, which I haven't had in a couple of years. Right now I have yet to really eat anything substantial because my stomach is still not doing hot.

This coming summer I won't be doing school, due to being burnt out. I need a break. Which will make it easier to run Ragnar and also go on vacation. We are most likely going to head to St. Louis. Which will be fun because I will be able to run at sea level again, oh yeah, see family and take a break as well. I am starting to get a little hungry so food here I come.

Thanks for reading,
-Riley

3-6-14 Third time is the charm

Today I got dressed to run 3 times and the third time is when I finally made it out the door. I really wanted to run outside today, but each time I just couldn't get myself to do it. It was so hard, so by the time I got out it was pouring rain and the gym. I saw someone I am in classes with and talked to him for a few minutes (which was good).

So today was speed drills. They kicked my butt. I started out with a 2 mile warm up, then 4 minutes at a 10:30 pace, then down to a 14:00. Then back up to 10:45 for 4 minutes, then back down to 14:00 for 3 minutes, finished with a 11:00 pace, then did an easy run my last half a mile. The reason I wanted to go outside and run was because I had this awesome 5 mile run planned. I will make up for these 4 indoor miles on Saturday with my 11 mile long run.

For my run Saturday I will be loading up on the Salted Carmel and the Peanut Butter GU. I may bring my sports beans with me since I found a bunch in my gym bag. Starting Monday I will be adding an extra day to my running routine. It will be my mid range run (1/2 of my land run distance). I am still very hungry since I just finished my run and am going to go and rectify that situation.
Thanks for reading,
Riley

3-4-14 Running in the Rain

What a day today, I went to SLC, and it started to lightly rain as I was driving. By the time I got to where my coach was, it was pouring rain. It continued to do so until after I got groceries. Which I did in my running clothes (I lived life on the edge with that one).

So I ran in the rain today, and was supposed to do 2 easy miles then increase speed for #3 and increase speed again for #4. So I thought I did for number three, but was caught at two busy roads (which I am convinced took a minute of my time). while I was running it was nice to have a pocket that wouldn't make my shorts fall down (which are too big for me and need to be replaced).

By the time I got back to the Salt Lake Running Company (which is our starting point and finishing point of Tuesday runs), I was soaked. The other runners were also wet, only one person brought a towel to dry off and it wasn't me. I ended up buying a new running shirt, another runner did the same, and one other picked up new shorts as well. It was amazing how much rain was coming down.

On another note I am now down to 288 lbs. I have lost 4" off my hips and around my mid section. I am now wearing XL button up shirts (which I wasn't able to wear 2XL when I started running last May). I have been doing well with my calorie watching, and the amount of calories drops every time my weight does so there is a slight adjustment to get use to it. I know this because I went out and bought a new pair of jeans, which are a size 38, a XL button up shirt, and a sweet red Marty McFly vest. I am happy because I am steadily losing weight, and am making some better choices with eating.

Well it's time to do some drawing.

Thanks For Reading,
Riley

3-1-14 Long Runs Mean Extra Food

One of my favorite things about long runs is that I get to eat more. So tonight I am going to enjoy some Japanese curry. It's delicious and even more so when you are really hungry.

I made it 8.6 miles then drove home and changed to go to the gym to finish my run. The trail was closed at the 3.4 mile mark and I was too big of a woos to bend the rules to finish my run outside.

This is horrible I am too hungry to focus so I am going to make some dinner.

Thanks for Reading,
Riley

2-27-14 Evening Run

My run tonight was satisfying. I have been feeling really depressed lately and running has helped some which is a plus. My work load at school is really heavy this semester, but I am still making it out to run which feels great. I found out if I don't get into my BFA program by next spring I will be able to graduate with a BS after a summer class next year.

But onto running, 51 days until I face the SLC half marathon. I plan on crushing my PR this time around. I am already feeling faster, and have lots of energy even at the end of long runs. I was informed that we will be incorporating speed work into my long runs next month (next Saturday). For my 10 mile run I have some peanut butter Gu and Salted Caramel Gu that I'll be having. I am kinda looking forward to them.

It's getting late, have a good night!

-Riley

2-25-14 A Simple Post

2-20-14 Running in the right clothes

I planned on running the 5 mile option today with the 3 minute run hard, 1 minute run less hard, but I got out later than I intended to. So I had to sacrifice 13 minutes to the homework gods. It turns out those 13 minutes were sacrificed in vain because I get home and the Masonite board with my drawing mounted on it has yet to dry completely. So I will wait these extra 13 minutes I had set aside to work on my painting and type up this post.

I wanted to get out early and run today so I could work with a clear mind all day, but I set off one of my mental illness triggers (which I am still fighting through the after affects right now). The trigger was letting my stress build up without venting it out properly, then staying up to late, and not eating healthy food. To my understanding most people can recover quickly from this. It knocks me out of sorts for only a day or two if I can identify it and make the needed changes right away. Running helps to subdue it, and I was happy I was able to make it out and run. I have gotten to the point where I still function relatively well when I experience these bumps in the road, just because I stick close to my daily regime. When things like this happen I am not able to sleep and am often up until 2 or 3 AM when I am used to being in bed by 11 most nights. My thoughts become severely pessimistic and I start to withdraw.

Ok the title of my post is about the right clothing for running. I have probably had a post with a similar title already, but this one was spurred by getting ready for the gym. I grabbed my compression shorts, one of my first pair I bought after I started running. I realized they weren't compressing any more. They have started to become a loose pair of tight fitting shorts. It's coming time to replace them, not due to wear, but due to me losing weight. This is a great problem to have in my opinion. By summer I am hoping to need to get new running shorts because of the same reason. I am also able to fit in a dry fit Under Armor top that I got about a year ago that was fairly tight on me. Soon I will be back in my non running clothes that I wore when I was teaching karate.

Well, I believe my drawing is dry and I can start work on my painting.

Have a great day!
-Riley