Mornings

I have switched. I am now waking up naturally at 6:00. I don't even need to set my alarm. However, today I did not want to get up. I tried to justify the opportuity I might have to run this afternoon instead. But by 6:20 I found myself getting out of bed and getting ready for a 4 mile run. (4.3 actually)

Today's run included a finish up Garfield hill. (I should measure it sometime) It's basically two blocks at a pretty steep incline. The one measurement I remember is that last time I ran up it my max heart rate got to 184, this time it topped out at 189. I don't know if that means I am more fit or if I am that much closer to a heart attack.

Bloomsday Training

I don't even know if I will be able to run Bloomsday yet. I would have to fly over as I have a meeting in Ocean Park on the day before the race. And I haven't decided if I can afford the flight and/or if I want to push my schedule to get to a flight on time in order to pick up my registration and all of that.

Assuming I am still on for Bloomsday here is my proposed training schedule:

Sunday February 21: Long Run 9, week’s total, 22
Sunday February 28: Long Run 10, week’s total, 24
Sunday March 7: Long Run 10, week’s total, 25
Sunday March 14: Long Run 11, week’s total, 26
Sunday March 21: Long Run 11, week’s total, 28
Sunday March 28: Long Run 12, week’s total, 28
Sunday April 4: Long Run 12, week’s total, 31
Sunday April 11: Long Run 13, week’s total, 33
Sunday April 18, Long Run 13, week’s total, 33
Sunday April 25, Long Run 10, week’s total, 19


Sunday May 2 Bloomsday 7.2 Goal: Under 1 Hour.

Now how did Pat get his training schedule to look so nice?

Finally getting it

I ran my long run yesterday. Well for the most part.

About 1.2 miles into the current long run route there is a park. As I am cruising by I notice a church member. Instead of just waving and continuing on I stopped and had a bit of a chat. Then I ran the next 6.9 miles of the run. No walking breaks. That is the first time I have done that on a long run. I slowed the pace down a bit. Afterwards looking at the heart rate monitor I noticed that I kept at about 167 the whole time and 9 minute miles. Then of course on they way by the park my church member was still there so I stopped again and had a little chat.

So 9.3 miles overall but I am very happy with the bulk of the run and feel like I held my pace well.

I am frustrated with the weight. 162.5 today. I want to lose more. 1/2 a pound a week is not what I am looking for. Oh well.

$107.50

OK, I am committed. I have registered for the Portland Marathon!

YIKES!

I loved this section of the registration . . .

Number of Marathons completed . . . 0

Number or Portland Marathons completed . . . 0

Predicted Time . . . Uh, how about I hope to finish, and I damn well better finish faster than Oprah or those folks from Biggest Loser . . . but I'm not likely to qualify for Boston either . . . Uh I dunno how about 4:00 . . . well better make it 4:20 . . . OK 4:20 is the absolute slowest I hope to finish in. Hope that doesn't put me with the walkers . . .

Todays run was an easy 3.2 mile jog. 9 minute miles. Average heart rate 153.

Running along

So, Lent begins tomorrow and I have a post up on "grace and stuff" about Pancake Tuesday.

This being the running blog it will be interesting to see how I seperate the running and the daily devotions for Lent.

The run began today in a beautiful feeling of just running. I didn't have to think about it, I didn't have to push on, it was just smooth and for the most part the entire 3.2 miles was like that. Just a nice easy pace to start the day.

Now for a tweet? nah I'll wait for Ash Wednesday to start that little adventure.

Monday Update

Monday weigh in: 163

I ran 9.1 miles yesterday. At the begining of the run I wasn't sure I was going to make it 5 miles, I felt tired. By about 3.5 miles I stopped thinking about it and just kept going until the turnaround. The second half was good although I did take a couple walking breaks.

At this point the Sunday run along the lake is begining to create a little community. There are a few familiar faces met along the way of others who seem to like a run on the lake around 3:00 on Sunday afternoons. I run by with a wave and a smile wondering if some of them will be running the Portland Marathon. Yesterday there were a number of families and couples walking.

I am growing curious about the heart monitor and my running pace. What I seem to be doing is running at about a 174 beats per minute pace and then taking a walking break. The websites suggest I am going too fast. But to slow down much would feel just to darn slow. The first half of the run shows an average of 160 then the return has an average of 170. So obviously I was working harder on the second half.

At this point I will remain curious.

Schedule

Here's my schedule of events to keep me motivated for Portland 2010.

• Feb 28, Chilly-Hilly bike ride
• April 11, Whidbey Island Half marathon
• June 6, North Olympic Discovery Half marathon
• July 8, Chelanman Triathlon (sprint)
• Aug 22, Lake Union 10K
• Sept 4, Umpqua Ultimate Triathlon (sprint)
• Oct 10, Portland Marathon

For the Whidbey Island half-marathon, my coach (and wife) made my weekly long run schedule to be:

Week 1: 6 mile run
Week 2: 6 mile run
Week 3: 8 mile run
Week 4: 8 mile run
Week 5: 10 mile run
Week 6: 10 mile run
Week 7: 12 mile run
Week 8: 12 mile run
Week 9: 8 mile run
Week 10: half-marathon (13 mile run)

I'm Back

Sorry about my absence. Had a minor medical issue that needed to be resolved. Okay, wasn't anything minor about it.

For my medical checkup in December, I did a cardio stress in order to make sure that a family history of heart problems wasn't going to get in the way of running a marathon. The EKG portion of the test was not good. (Funny that the medical interpretation of it is called get a "positive" result.) However, the ultrasound portion of the test looked good (was negative). The only way that the doctor would be confident in any of his recommendations to me, I had an angiogram conducted on New Year's Eve Day (Dec. 31). (For more information about the procedure: http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/coronary-angiogram.html)

To cut to the chase, the angiogram was good. The heart is looking good and no indications of blockages. So, my cardio stress test was a false-positive. (At least I've got a 'real-life' example to use in my math class. http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/462146-196/math-of-false-positives-complicates-medical-testing.html)

So, I'm back on the road.

Change

Tomorrow's sermon is about change. I will be talking about computer technology and reminding folks about the fast changes we have already experienced and then point to some of the possibilities of the future. While doing this we will be considering what do some of these changes imply for people of faith and how do we find our center in a time of constant change?

During my long run today I started out too fast. I was feeling good, and what I didn't know the wind was at my back and then I turned around and faced that wind and I knew I was in trouble. Making use of my technological marvel that little Garmin 305 on my wrist I checked my heart rate, 177. Way too close to my max of about 184. I slowed the pace down, walked a few times when I hit 170 and drug myself home for an 8.5 mile run.

When the pace is too fast we have to have ways to slow down. While we cannot control all the changes happening around us we can choose how to live in the midst of all that change. With the exception of my technological toy, running is one refuge from the changes of the world.

I bought a new pair of shoes this week. I amused myself by realizing just how long I have been buying essentially the same running shoe. My standard shoe when I was running in high school was the Nike Pegasus. It is still my default shoe. When in doubt I know that shoe fits and meets my needs. So I told the salesman that usually I start with that shoe and he moved me to an Adidas. Adidas? I know, but it was the most comfortable of the three he brought out. I happened to notice a women running on the sidewalk outside the store with a pair of those about an hour before. (I wonder if the store is getting a good mark up on those?) I didn't mind too much as I want to support my little local running store. I will use them for my short runs next week and see how it goes.

See change. I can change types of shoe, but while the shoes are slightly different, the running is becoming familiar. The steady pace, the thrill of allowing the legs to go on a short downhill, the fantastic feeling for the rest of the day knowing my body has been working hard. All that is familiar and they are welcome feelings. I can even let go to some degree the fact that my pace is about a minute a mile slower than it was 10 years ago. (so far that is, I may yet see a seven minute mile pace.)

OK, time to get to the finishing touches on the sermon.

February 1 Monday weigh in.

First off. . . the Monday weigh in is . . . 164. So that is progressing, but not quite as fast as I would like.

January was a good running month.

I am loving my new Garmin 305. I began using it on the 19th with a 3.25 mile run doing a slowish 9:12 minutes a mile. My long run on the 24th was 7.28 miles at a 8:43 pace. (I guess hills really do make a difference even on the short runs.) The heartrate monitor thing is a lot of fun too. Not that I really know what I am doing with it yet. But on the long run my average heart rate was 172. According to some of the web information my "max" heart rate should be about 180 ish and I hit 181 a couple of times in the run.

Being in better shape is great, except now I may need to buy some new pants. :)

This week I am planning to register for Bloomsday. My first big run of the year. So far I'm not really looking for much else except of course Portland. Don't know when I should commit and register for that.

Peace Y'all,

Bruce