Think everyone knows I get the flu shot every year. I haven't gotten the flu for a couple of decades at least, but started getting the shot anyway when Mrs. Dave decided it was important for me. People should also know that it's not 100% effective, based on a few things, like the exact strain that's going around each season and how virulent it happens to be. Mrs. Dave had the flu last week. She went to the doctor and was tested. It was negative, which also happens - medicine, like life, isn't pe
Total Miles Ran: 20.03
Total Miles Cycled: 47.73
Minutes Other Cross Training: 239.73
There are only 4 days left in February but figured a January recap was better late than never. With all the crap of last fall, and my lack of a gym membership, I admit I wasn't very committed to getting any type of exercise in. Luckily, the new year sparked the idea of a fresh start in me so I got myself two new motivations: the first, a spinning bike and the second, a membership to the local Orangetheory.
Hey gang!
I say yes quite a bit when I should probably say no to commitments. Buuuut, when the opportunity came up to pace Zooma Bermuda, I said yes. Zooma is an all-women's race series and they hired OnPace out of the Green Bay area to pace their races. I paced Zooma Great Lakes in Wisconsin in 2018 and 2019 with them and can't say enough wonderful things about them. They're also helping me with some more adventures later this year.
I flew in Saturday afternoon and left early Monday m
Just completed week 6 (8 total) of my heart/time based half train plan, repeating weeks 1 and 2 to time the 18 week plan for the Bayshore half on Memorial Day weekend.
Weekly Total 36.8 miles, 6:05 run training time, 32 min strength training.
Monday: 60 minute AB (Aerobic Base) run at my aerobic heart rate of 118 bpm, +/-5 bpm, run on a treadmill. 6.3 miles (by Garmin, usually a little more by the treadmill), average heart rate of 118 bpm. When I do these runs on the tread
Not feeling fast or particularly good, but I'm grinding along, putting in the time. 6-7 miles a day, mostly moderate paces. 40 miles each of the last two weeks and 50-ish this. Pretty much on schedule for an early April marathon if it comes to that. Of course, now Mrs. Dave is asking about something in March.
Although, I decided the legs were ready for a tempo run and did 5 pushing it during Monday's 7. Between a potty stop at the gas station and traffic lights it was almost more an interva
Since the 2018 NYC marathon, besides enjoying not having to train for a marathon, I've been evaluating what I want to get from running as I head for the back half of my 50s. I came to running late, but I've been at it now for 12 years or so, and I would like to keep at it for as long as possible, even as PRs feel more distant and I can practically sense my speed slipping away with every run. These thoughts, as well as worries about aging parents and my oldest child's college preparations, made 2
(to the tune of Eight Days a Week)
I've had this bloop idea, and the accompanying earworm, for weeks now, so now I foist it upon you.
When I started blogging I would run 3 times a week. At best. Only rarely would I get to four. I managed to run a few marathons on three days a week, but it was really only good enough to let me finish with a lot of walking. As the Loop motivated me to get serious, I got up to four days a week whenever I wanted to get serious. It has become the defining l
Every day it seems there's something that reminds me that I'm past the stage of "getting older." I'm the old guy. I've been with my company longer than most of the newer employees have been alive. 3 of my 4 children are older than many of the people I work with.
There's sadness but no longer shock when someone from my high school class shows up in a death notice. Young to be dying, but also not so out of the ordinary. Heart attacks, cancer. People should die when they're 80 or 90, not 60, b
I’m tired. This past week was a cut back week for running but there’s no cut backs on master’s degree work for another 9 or 10 weeks* (well I think I get a “spring break” but since it is an on-line class the professors don’t always honor that – last year one did and one didn’t) This isn’t really harder than I expected, but it is just as hard as I expected. Training is going pretty well for Asheville, especially considering how little spare time I have. One 18 miler is done, and I have one more o
January 2020 in Review - Happy New Year!
Total mileage for the month: 230.2
Dec. 30-Jan. 5: 79.2
Jan. 6-12: 68.6
Jan. 13-19: 63.8
Jan. 20-26: 13.1 (PR for the most days I've taken off running when not injured, at 5!)
Jan. 27-Feb. 2: 45.5
Jumping January returns!
Races:
Jan. 19 - Chevron Houston Marathon in 2:58:45 for another chance to use the title "Houston, we had a problem...". With as sick
For one day, at least. That's apparently all winter had to offer.
It was on Monday, I think. And it was 50o. I ran in shorts. I'm in the grind it out, put in the miles phase of training so I won't say it was glorious and left me feeling amazing. But it was certainly a high point of 2020 so far.
Then it was cold and overcast again, and yesterday we got a couple of inches of snow. The heavier stuff went to the north and we ended up with not much.
Dreadmilled for an hour yesterday to
It has been a few weeks since I started a new Half Marathon training plan by Richard Diaz that is time and heart rate based. The first thing I had to do was determine my aerobic heart, determined by subtracting my age (62) from 180 to arrive at 118 bpm as my aerobic heart rate. The goal is to do my aerobic runs at my aerobic heart +/- 5 bpm. My weekly training workouts have thus far consisted of three 60 minute runs at my aerobic heart rate, two 30 min strength workouts, and two Motor Ski
I'd sure like to see the sun.
The other day I saw two friends while I was out for 5.
The first was Janet (not her real name), walking her dog. I was surprised because it was in front of the high school, almost two miles from her house. I didn't think she exercised at all and her dog has been sick so going that far was quite a feat, seemed to me.
Then going by a little strip mall with a jewelry store, takeout Chinese and a Papa John's, Mary (not her real name), was walking across t
Throughout my Olympic Trials Qualifying time-chase, I've connected with many amazing women who shared the same goal. Over the past couple of years, I've celebrated with several who have reached the goal. I've commiserated with several who have missed. I've connected with many who kept dreaming.
Before the Houston Marathon, I was included in a message group with the 2:45 pacer and other women planning to run with the group. While I struggled with feeling like an outsider because I was
It occurred to me as I was driving an ambulance, my hands trembling from the rapid descent after a spike in adrenaline: I enjoy my job because it’s a lot like running and racing.
Just a bit prior, I was on my knees in a crowded, semi-lit living room, surrounded by 3 firefighters, 2 paramedics, and 1 other EMT with the same title as myself… hovering over the exposed chest of a male in his 60s who was sprawled supine on the floor. My palms were face down over his sternum just above the xiphoi
I'd have to race first.
Unless anyone's interested in that one I did in 2004.
Did my longest run in over a month, since the hamstring thing. That was Friday, out to the Chili's on Eight Mile and back. Nothing to be especially proud of, but just running is good. Since it was my 61st birthday, I ran ... wait for it! ... 6.1 miles. You heard about the guy who ran 70 miles for his 70th birthday? Yeah, I'm not doing that. Call me lazy if you want.
Missed Saturday, also because I'm lazy
In late 2019, the dog and I were out for a run, quietly. My plan (if you want to make God laugh, just tell Her about your plans) was a run focus over the winter, running 3-4 times a week with no goals other than getting the runs in, and no timing. Of course.. came back from that run with a sore hip flexor, the next day could not walk. Not sure if it was torn or just badly strained, anyway that was a good month off.
I toughed it out for the last Roost Run Club run of the decade, touring the C
Hello,
I am have been a long time reader of the bloop, here and when it was part of the Runner's World web site. I am not much of a writer and sharing information about myself is a little uncomfortable, but in the spirit of new year resolutions/changes I am going to give it a try as I really enjoy reading about the other runners on the bloop . Also I have heard that if you are not uncomfortable then you aren't growing/improving.
I've been a runner for about 12 years, I had
I'm almost afraid to put this into writing...
I'm running....
a lot (for me)... like 45 mpw....
this hasn't happened since March, 2017.
I'm afraid if I start dreaming and hoping it will go away as suddenly as it seemed to come back.
I wrote a training plan.
I've been able to follow my training plan and even add on extra miles.
Unheard of.
I've had a mental mind shift too. I used to be afraid of big work outs.
Long runs used to be my mental kryptonite
You know how you have a pain that's real and feels likely to put you on IR for a long time and really mess up your training plans?
I never worried about this before I started running marathons. Running for fun means you can just stop whenever you want or whenever you don't feel like it or whenever something hurts. Then you can start again a week or two or ten later after you're all healed up.
Of course, planning the months long investment into marathon training sort of makes me antsy n
Races: 7 (1 half marathon, 1 10K, 5 5Ks)
Total miles: 458.7
Number of PRs: 3 (1 half marathon, 2 5k)
Time seems to pass slowly and quickly at the same time! I think about all the writing I want to do, and in the blink of an eye, a month has passed and I've written no words - not on here, not in my journals, no where.
But, as the husband and I have an unusually quiet evening, I figure it's a good opportunity to truly reflect on 2019. I'm not going to lie, sometimes it's easy to forg
Apple Pie asked me about intervals. I've run plenty of them, obviously. Like everything else in this world, intervals have become increasingly complicated. I've never had the patience or memory or even ability to focus long enough on the numbers or the science to know what they all mean. I know that stressing your system just enough will help you get stronger and faster. Do I really need to know all the rest? Maybe I'd be the next Yoshihisa Hosaka if I did. But I'm just Dave, so...
I do rem
My philosophy towards marital bliss is simple. I'm a simple guy, so I figure there's no need to make being married anymore complicated than anything else. The first rule is: make sure Mrs. Dave is happy. Of course I'm not 100% on that, but there are enough hits vs. misses that she's kept me around for going on 39 years now.
Things get more difficult when Rule #1 contradicts some other aspect of life. Like training for a marathon. The older I get, the more I feel like I need a full recovery
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