I Hate Colds

So, I was doing really well running. 5 straight weeks with few missed days. Then I got a cold last week. It's been a minor deal, and if I were working less, I probably would have kept running, but given my late nights I felt it was best to get some rest over the last week, which I have. The cold never progressed beyond an annoyance and hopefully won't.
I really do hope to get back on the road tomorrow and continue working toward my 5K. And there's a race next week here in Madison. It might be my first race in the Five Fingers. I have to decide whether or not to do the race, but I don't really see any reason not to.
That's all really. Just wanted to share that I've been waylayed by a cold. Something that doesn't usually happen to me. I'm not a get a cold kind of guy, but then there's a lot of germ sharing at work. I'll just have to be more careful.

Carry on Drunkrunners, Drink on!

Has Anyone Seen My Saddle?

So, here's where I'm at. I'm trying to get he mojo and motivation back up, and would like to run the Madison Marathon again next spring. The problem is that I've got a lot on my plate. I work about 40 hours per week, sometimes only 32, but those weeks seem harder to come by. In addition I try to put in about 10-15 hours per week working on my dissertation. Add it all up, and by the time I spend some quality time with the hubby, I feel like there isn't much time for running. To further complicate matters, my body isn't the type that can get up early to go for my runs. 1) I need 8 hours of sleep minimum. 2) I need at least one hour between wake-up and run start, or I'm too stiff to make the run worth my while. Oh, and I work on my feet. Yeah, I know, it's a lot of excuses.

  So, what I'm trying to do is to go running in the morning, but I may end up going in the evenings after work, once winter gets here and I can get out of work before 11 p.m.

Aside from all of this, I have re-started my running program. I'm starting with a couch to 5K program. I actually found the couch to 10-K to be too strenuous once it reached week 4, there wasn't any recovery time built in to make up for the longer runs. And that's that. I'll work up to the 5K, and then I'll find a running program somewhere to get me the next step and then the next and then the next. I've 5 months to get in shape before I need to start a 16 week training program, and it may be possible.

Yeah, Yeah, I know I've made brave and proud marathon proclamations before. Perhaps that is why this one is more reserved. I haven't "run" a marathon since 2009, and I'm out of shape. I'd like to do better on this one, than on the last one. So, I need to head into the race injury free.

By the way, this will all be done in a pair of Vibram Five-Fingers. I've been running in them exclusively for the last few months, and they are awesome. No knee pains, no leg pains, no back pains. Just a little tenderness on the foot itself, which should go away as I break my feet in to the work they have before them.

Week 3 Day 1

Holy christ is it hot out there today!!!!! At the moment it's 87, but "feels like 91". Obviously that person is not running. :-)

So week 3 seemed like a steep jump in distance. Running 1:30 and walking 4:00 minutes - ten times. Ended up running over 4 miles, and, let me tell you, my calves feel it. They feel great, but they will be sore tomorrow.

That's going to be the largest hurdle for me long term with the Five Fingers. It's a killer calf workout. Don't get me wrong. My calves look even more amazing than they used to! The calf, however, is a slow muscle to develop, so it will take some time. I'm thankful to have a standing job so that my muscles stay loose during work and I actually seem to be gaining recovery time through this.

By the way, I just need to let you all know how excited I am to be back on the trails again. It's been a year, and I had forgotten how much I missed it.

Week 2

So, I'm in week two of my training and it's going great!!!! I've decided to do the Couch to 10K. First, because I enjoy longer runs. Second, because I'm switching entirely to the Five Fingers. It's going to be a long road ahead, as this is a 14 week program. However, it's slow and at a pace that will help me get used to the shoes while also getting back in to running.

I'm headed out at noon today for week 2 run 2, which involves a 5 minute warm-up and then running 1 minute walking 4 minutes (8 times). It seems easy on paper, but those last two runs usually kick my proverbial ass. Sunday is the same work out.

So far so good. My calves hurt quite a bit. More than I remember them hurting during build ups, which I attribute to the shoes. They are training me to use my calves as the shock absorbers they were designed to be. Otherwise my body feels pretty good.

Me too

I was thinking the same thing and was wondering if anyone was still running and just not sharing the good news!

Are there any runners still out there?

I'm trying to get back on the road again. Anyone still listening? Any DrunkRunners still hittin' the pavement?

Five Fingers: A Perhaps Pre-Mature Update

I was a little rushed writing the post yesterday, so wanted to follow up with a little more information.

I did go for a run yesterday which covered about 2.5 miles of ground. There was a lot of walking, because I wanted to make sure I didn't kill my legs with the first run. I know it's going to be a long transition into these shoes. The guy that sold them to me, has been wearing his for about a year, and he told me there is a long break in period. Not for the shoes, but for your body.

The shoes felt immediately comfortable, and I never felt any terrible jolts of pressure even when I started running the first time. My calves are killing me today, because of the run, but it's not an injury pain. It's more like, I just ran 5 miles up hill and then got in my car without stretching, kind of pain. So, this has me quite encouraged. Not because the pain is so bad, but recently even with the shortest run I come home and have knee pain.

The shoe sales man is training for and running the Boston Marathon in a pair of these. Granted, he's a lot younger than I am, but I know something he doesn't. The average age of the marathon runner is about 39. That's the average. And, although the salesman is much younger than I, if these old guys and gals can run marathons, it's certainly not too late for me to try out a different method.

I'll be running again tomorrow, but in regular shoes. I have to balance breaking in my body with completing my training for the swiftly approaching Madison Marathon!

Five Fingers

Hey all,
Just wanted to stop in and see if anyone had ever heard of these shoes? Five Fingers Shoes. I bought a pair today and went for a short run. They were incredible. My calves hurt, but otherwise my knees feel fantastic. It's like running barefoot. Can you say Kenyan running method?

Because you are basically barefoot, you naturally have a mid-foot to fore-foot strike, which most science is telling us is better for us. It certainly felt better. I'm also told that it's better for your knees, because moving the strike further forward allows your calves to do their jobs as shock absorbers. Anyone know anybody that's used these for awhile? It's only one run, but so far I'm sold.

Sixpack

Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled

I'm testing things out today. The Marathon Training has hit a critical point. Clyde and I both need to get running or we are getting into dangerous territory where we start skipping runs to catch up and then end up injuring ourselves. So, With a few runs done I wanted to see how this Garmin thing works.

You may remember I purchased the Garmin before leaving for Berlin, but it took Garmin almost a year to develop the software for the mac, so I was stuck. Now I've got it and I'm ready to explore it's possibilities.


Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Untitled

My runs are short right now. Yesterday was 25 minutes, but they'll be growing the training program I have been looking at for the warm-up period is a slow build up. Week 1: 10 min Tuesday run, 15 min Thursday run, 20 min Friday run. Week 2: 15 min Tuesday run, 20 min Thursday run, 25 min Friday run, etc. It's pretty good for building up to the big mileage. My biggest fear is the treadmill. I'm not sure how 6 miles on a treadmill is going to work. I'm definitely going to need to run in the winter cold. It's going to suck!!

Starting next week I'll be doing a lot of treadmill running, because I'll be in a hotel for 7 weeks. Thank God they all have at least a treadmill. Wish me luck!

Updates On All Fronts

First, Janet's cancer has been confirmed. She has a tumor about 1.75 inches in diameter. The wise doctor knew that he was not capable of deciding if it was operable, so she is going to be visiting University Hospital in Wisconsin (one of the best) to see what can be done. I'm afraid I don't have many of the details, but I'm trying to stay informed. The good news is that the cancer has not metastasized. It's my understanding that this greatly improves the prognosis.

We all gathered at her home last week for a family reunion of sorts. They're easy to do with the McClards because everyone lives pretty close to one another. In fact, I'm one of the furthest away, and I only had a two hour drive. It was great to be around family, and the gathering was beneficial for everyone there. It seemed to help Janet to have everyone around and try to take her mind off things for a few minutes.

BTW, please let me know if you would rather not hear all of this other news. I'm feeling that the blog is a good place to rethink some of the things that have been happening, and I know that most of you would like to hear what is happening. However, if I'm wrong, just chime in, and I'll stick to running.

Which is where we are now. I've survived the first week of training, and must say it was much easier than I had expected. My biggest concern was that I am still working 7 days a week, most days are 10-12 hours. All of this time is on my feet. What I'm learning is that this has already strengthened my quads beyond belief. Yep, you read that right. Want to get in shape? Leave academia!!!! My legs have taken to the extra running quite well, and I'm really glad to know that.

I'm also sleeping much better. With the opening of the sushi bars, I stopped sleeping well. I mean really stopped sleeping well. Last night was the first night since July 20 that I have gone to bed and slept the whole night. There were many many nights when I was awake for an hour or more. When you have to get up at 5:30, it's not good to lie awake at night. Not good at all. So, I'm hoping last night was the beginning of a trend.

Last weeks miles totaled about 4. I have to doublecheck the figures and start my training journal today, so I'll be back with better figures next week. What I do know is that right out of the gate, my first 2-mile run was at a pace of 10:04. Not bad!!! I'm pretty psyched!

It's also time to announce that there has been a slight change in the plans. As it turns out, Green Bay and Madison are not a week apart, but two weeks apart. I'm actually a little nervous about this, I'm worried about how tired my legs might be that second week, instead of just being able to ride some momentum and some adrenaline to the next week. I'll need to do some reading before race day about how to recover a little more quickly for the next race. If we decide that two weeks apart is going to work, we'll actually probably run the Rockford Marathon (where Janet and all the cousins live). This would actually create a nice family gathering, with several people running different levels of the race. We're hoping that this will happen, because it would be fantastic to have everyone working together to help raise money for cancer and to show this support to Janet. Chris has already said that she wants to do something, T.J. has offered to run one of the marathons, Scooter may do something, and I'm sure there will be more.

With all of the work I've put in over the years with running, it would be so amazing to see so many family members taking part in such a positive and healthy way!

That's all for now, I'll probably be back next week with another report. Until then, drink on, DrunkRunners, drink on!

Finding the Reason to Run

First the bad news. Last week our aunt was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. It's unclear as of right now what the full prognosis is, but we are hoping for the best. Until then, it's time to fight!! I can't speak for Clyde, but this has been some very tough news for me to deal with. She's the aunt that has been most supportive, to me at least, over the years. When I told my family of my "condition" she never batted an eye and gave me a great big hug. I'm so angry that this has happened to her, and I have to do something!! Clyde has run and raised money for the American Cancer Society several times, and you may remember that we ran the Madison Marathon together, raising a few thousand dollars in support of them. I don't want to steal his thunder here, but I need to post when I can find an onramp to the interwebs. He has decided to run both the Green Bay Marathon and the Madison Marathon. Because I'm younger and very competitive, I couldn't let him do this on his own. I've decided that, despite my sevendayaweek job that I can find the time to train for and raise money for these two marathons. Because of my schedule it is going to be difficult to do anything else for our aunt, so at the very least I can show some support in this manner.
Clyde tells me that they are only a week apart, which is going to be the big challenge. Running one marathon is, when said and done, not impossible. Running two is going to be difficult. And that's an understatement. What may make it even more interesting, is that I have decided (sorry Clyde if I'm copying you again) that if I raise $3000 I will run both marathons in a dress.
Yes, it's been worn before, but I've never actually run in it. Finding a pair of panties may be an issue, but we'll cross that bridge when we get there. And I promise to deck it out with some rhinestones.

Now on to the running: The plan is quite simple. I'll be working my way back in to things. I need to take it slow, because being on my feet all day leaves me with little opportunity to be lazy because I hurt my knew. I've started a 5K in % weeks plan and will follow that until I can actually run 3.5 miles again. Then depending on how the calendar looks, I'll work up to a 10K before starting marathon training, which I'm pretty sure I have time for.

Today was the first run and it went really well. How far did I go? 10 minutes! That's how far. It felt good and I felt like a million bucks afterward. I was so excited I had to jump in the car and come tell you all.

So that's it. Clyde and I will be attempting something none of us thought we would ever do. 2 marathons in seven days. Yes, we'll be asking you for money, and we may even ask you to support in other ways. Anyone need a scarf? I may be selling them.

Until we meet again. Keep up the running and thank you in advance for your support!!!!

Sixpack Chopra

Complain More Often!

After writing my plea for support the other day, I was able to go out and run 2 miles. It was great. Really slow but great. I am still incredibly sore and will try to run tomorrow.
I'm thinking I might need to whine to you all more often, because it seems to motivate me. That's all.

Drink On, Drunkrunners! Drink On!

Looking for Support

Hey folks,
I've fallen off one wagon and gotten on another. It's been a month since I started my job as a bartender and I haven't run once. I'm finding it quite physically taxing and have been working on ways to make it less so. My body, it seems, simply isn't used to a life that involves standing for more than 10 minutes--running aside. Add to this the frequent occurrence of back to back shifts, i.e. 9:30-2 a.m. followed by 3:30-9:30 p.m., and you have one tired man. It sounds a little wussy to be whining about a work shift that starts at 3:30, but working two shifts and 11 hours within a 24 hour period is quite taxing. I continue to search for ways in which to fit running into this schedule.
This brings me to the wagon I have gotten on to. For the next two weeks I will not be drinking. At this age one would think I would understand the ways in which alcohol consumption effects motivation. A) running with a hangover is not fun, B) it IS a depressant, and that don't help either. So, I'm going on the wagon. For now it's a two-week hay ride. However, I'm seriously contemplating becoming a rather tea-totalling Drunkrunner. Note: I said "rather." I'm not joining AA, but I'm looking at severely limiting consumption. This is also helpful as I work in a bar. It's way too easy to get off work at 9:30 and step to the other side of the bar.
So, I'm writing to ask for advice. I need motivation. Any tips for running around what is a pretty f'ed up schedule? Forest, do you want to get together for some runs? Maybe twice a week? I know the commitment would really help me get out and at least log the miles.
Any advice anyone has would help.

Sixpack

I'm A Corporate Gym Sellout and I LOVE it!

Just so you don't think I am all talk and no action, I am once again a proud member of a gym membership. Well, proud is still questionable. Today was my first real day in the gym and there are four particularly good things about the gym I have chosen: 1) an ass-load of treadmills; 2) due to the quantity of treadmills, exceeding the 30 min. time limit doesn't seem to be a problem YET ; 3) lots of windows AND 4) AIR CONDITIONING - even the treadmills have little fans that chuff out cool air.

And while I am exceedingly pleased with this, I also felt a sense of mourning as I completed a 6 mi. run on said treadmill. I am sure it is fleeting and I'll get over missing my outdoor run through tree-lined, hilly streets with glimpses of deer feeding in people's yards... Sigh. Oh well, with 90%+ humidity and rain every single day this week, I can get over that sense of nostalgia really quickly. Or better yet, I'll keep it and look forward to returning to it in October, just as the leaves are changing.

So, with today's run, that already puts me up to 18.5 for the week with an average pace of 9 min/mi, and I am planning another run either tomorrow or Saturday. Looks like I will make my 21 this week. I must say, the thought of paying money for a membership is probably one of the biggest motivators and I intend to get my money's worth!

Tag, you guys are it. Deetschei - How is the Big Smoke treating your running lungs? Did you buy one of those stylin' aerodynamic running strollers to take Iz along? Sixpack, how is the job schedule treating you? Consider doing calf flexes while you are standing behind the bar. Forest, how is the running and the training of other runners going?

I've been a naughty Drunk Runner

Well folks, I've been bad. I have been running and not telling you about it. In the grand scheme of things, it could be a lot worse. I could not be running and telling you about it or not running and not telling you about it, in which case you would be shooting me evil blogger glares.

A while back I believe I blogged something about running a certain number of miles a week. Well, that didn't happen. I have been running but haven't been consistent in terms of distance/week. Now that the semester is over, I am hoping that this will change. I have managed to at least keep one long run (7 mi.) a week in the schedule. The other run tends to be a 3.5 or 5.5 mi depending on how tired I am/how hot it is that day. Blah! What ever happened to that marathon training I did religiously. Maybe I need to slap together a training plan and post it to the fridge like I did for the marathon. That way, I cross off the runs and feel a sense of accomplishment and when I think about skipping a run, I am confronted with a horrible feeling of failure that guilts me into running. Ah, yes. That sounds like a plan.

However, since I don't have any big race to train for, I have reverted back to my old weight loss running plan of 7-7-7, ideally at a 10 min pace. The rationale being that the longer I run, the more calories I burn. It worked once, not sure it is really "tried and true." I only completed 21 miles once and the rest of the weeks have been, as I said above, about 7-3.5 or 7-5.5 kinds of weeks with a faster pace between 8:55-9:20. So really, I totally suck at sticking to my original plan. I need to find a running buddy to keep me in check.

Anyway, that is really all that I have to share. I am still running. I am planning on running with much more regularity now that it is summer. After yesterday's hot/humid run, I am also strongly considering a gym membership for an air conditioned treadmill... I'll keep you posted.

Run on drunk runners/stumblers/couch potatoes. Run on.

Chiming in Again

I started a new job two weeks ago, and it has kept me off the roads. I know I sound like a wuss, but I swear my legs have been really tired. Basically, aside from running I've done nothing very physical for years. I've been behind a desk. That's it. So, when I started working as a bartender and put in an 11 hour shift on my second day, it kind of wiped me out.
I managed, despite the difficulties, to go for a three mile run today. It was beautiful. I've discovered the joy of having your partner ride along with you. Three miles isn't a very long bike ride for him, but it is a good run for me. It was sunny, it was a little breezy, and it was all around awesome!!!!
I couldn't find my running watch, so I don't have figures about pace and actual distance. I ran for 30 minutes knowing that my pace would be 10 minutes or better.

That's all for now! Drink on Runners!

2 miles for Clyde

That's what I'm back up to. I know that's not much but after 8 months off I think it's great. I finally found my mojo and it turns out it was in a the bottom of a battle of New Glarus brew "Coffee Stout". Who new????? Turns out I wasn't looking in the right spot. One night I got in and put on my shorts and shoes and was ready for a run but still couldn't get my butt out the door. I got pissed at myself and cracked the top on a delicious Stout. After I drank that I had the desire to run so I did, only a mile but I ran, I celebrated with a another stout and that folks is where my MOJO is. I am only running 3-4 days a week but I will get my mileage up in away that won't injure me again. I am going to concentrate on building a good base then speed. No marathons for me this year but I am thinking of doing 2 half's in late summer early fall. Today I will be doing my first 3 miler in a while..... well one that will be worth talking about any how. So what does this all tell you? Don't under estimate the POWER OF BEER!

So drink on runners drink on!

Ran 3 Today!

Yay!!!! It's all coming along. The hardest part of getting back into running is being in the middle of a torturous 3-mile run and thinking to yourself, "I used to run marathons!" It's a blow to the psyche. I'm telling you.

That said, it was a good run overall. I went to run with the Madison Front Runners, but no one showed. Evidently they moved their meeting location and failed to update the website. Not very professional if you ask me.

It is a beautiful sunny morning so I was not upset with a run alone. The meeting point was actually along the route of the Madison Marathon so I got to relive some memories of that as I ran the 1.5 miles out and back.

Aches, pains and complaints seem to be minimizing, of which I am quite excited. I've had to start stretching the IT Band a little, but that should be done anyway.

I felt like my time was really slow, but I ended up with an average of 9:36, so I'm not complaining.

Keep on keepin on!

Finally Reached The Elusive 6

Well, after months of planning I finally did it. 6 miles in one week. In some respects I'm really disappointed that it took this long. In another respect I'm quite proud.
1) The two miles felt good. I ran it at the Dodgeville High School track, which is at a considerable elevation (1211 feet compared to Madison's 863 feet.) I was a little lightheaded but I did well.
2) I'm feeling no pain. That knee pain I've been complaining about for months seems to be working its way out if I build up mileage slowly. So that is exactly what I will do.
3) If I ran 6 miles this week I can do it again next week. Next Saturday I'll be in Madison and I'll run with the FrontRunners. It will be nice to get back into running with a group again. The last year all on my own has been tough. Having a group at least once a week helps keep me motivated. Just like the early DrunkRunner days when we would meet after school.

That's all for the week. There was nothing particularly notable about the runs, except for their mere existence!!!

Week's Data:

Miles: 6.07
Time: 55:46
Average Pace: 9:11 / mile
Overall Impression: I Can Finally Hold My Head Up High As I Call Myself A Drunk Runner! (ICFHMHUHAICMADR!)

Running Playlist

I have avoided entering a running playlist until now, mostly because I don't run with one. I get very bored very quickly with the same song over and over. So, what I do is set the iPod on shuffle and hit the road. For your reading pleasure I will do that as I write here and enter the results. I'll also be doing what I would do on the road, i.e. Don't like the song? Skip it!

Format: Song Title - Artist, Album

1) I Don't Know What You Want But I Can't Give It Anymore - Pet Shop Boys, Nightlife
2) Some Kind of Miracle - Kelly Clarkson, Thankful
3) Mr. X - Ultravox, Vienna
4) Measure of a Man - Clay Aiken, Measure of a Man
5) The Rose of My Cologne, The Beautiful South, Superbi
6) Wind Beneath My Wings, Elizabeth Withers, It Can Happen to Anyone
7) How Many Words - Blake Lewis, Audio Day Dreams
8) What is Love - Haddaway, Haddaway
9) Mr. Brownstone - Gun N' Roses, Appetite for Destruction
10) I Like the Way You Werk It - Information Society, Synthesizer
11) Reach - Gloria Estefan, Destiny
12) Help Me Remember - Rascal Flatts, Still Feels Good
13) Americanos - Holly Johnson, Blast
14) I Wanna Be A Toy - Dead or Alive, Youthquake
15) Beer For My Horses - Toby Keith, Unleashed
16) Tits on the Radio - Scissor Sisters, Scissor Sisters
17) Stay With Me Tonight - Human League, The Best of Human League
18) Sexkeit - And One, Bodypop
19) Soldat_in oder Veteran - Gustav, Verlass die Stadt
20) Billie Jean - Michael Jackson, Thriller

Okay, those are a few. One more song that has brought inspiration when the run was tough is:
Till I Collapse - Eminem, The Eminem Show

Enjoy.