Test Run=Success

Last night I went for a test run to see if my calf was healed up. It had been feeling pretty good, and I just wanted to go out for a nice, easy, slow run.

As I was getting dressed and putting my shoes on, my 7-year old said he wanted to come with me, so I told him, "great, let's go."

So we both bundled up and went out for a run in the dark. It was fun running with him, we talked the whole time, and he did really good. We went at a nice easy jog pace, like 11 min/mile, and went a total of 2 miles. The calf didn't give me any problems, so I think I can start running again. Hope to get my son out there with me on some more runs in the future.

Happy Friday everyone.

Beginning Running Again

I haven't run for about 2 1/2 weeks, it's driving me crazy. But, I am giving my calf a few more days before I start running again. I actually feel ready, and feel strong enough, but when talking to a running buddy of mine he said calf strains take 3 weeks to heal, so I am heeding that advice.

My mother in law got me a great Barnes and Nobles gift card for my birthday, and I was really torn between three or four books on running. In the end, I settled on "Runner's World Complete Book of Beginning Running." My wife said, "why are you getting a book on beginning running?" Well, truthfully, I'm still a beginner. I've only been running for a little over a year, and I have TONs to learn. This book is full of great information on running, from Diet and Nutrition, to Training, to Injury Prevention. Some of the things in the book I already knew, some I didn't. Some, I just needed reminded. It will be a great resource to have around, and I've already read a couple chapters. If you're looking for a good resource about running, check this book out.

Yoga? Seriously?

Okay, so I'm taking this week off from running to rest my calf. I'll try running again this weekend.

In the meantime, I decided to try Yoga. Yes, I know, it's not generally a "guy" thing to do, but I had heard that it is really good for building strength and flexibility, two things that I am very lacking in (probably why I keep getting injured).

Through our cable provider, we have "On Demand" Exercise and Fitness TV, with tons of guided workouts, including Yoga. Yesterday I picked a random one called "Yoga Fitness Fusion" or something like that. It was a 45-minute workout. I only lasted 15 minutes. It was hard. I struggled, and I am sore today from that little 15 minute workout. I can really see the benefits of doing it though, and I am going to try it some more. I did another 10 minute Yoga session today. I think I may need to try a beginner's class, the workout I picked is kicking my tail. Hepefully I can get a stronger core and increase my strength and flexibility, which will only make my running better.

Giveaways:

Tri the Dream

The Daily Cadence

Test Run=Fail

I hadn't run for 5 days, I was giving my calf some healing time. It was feeling pretty strong and felt good enough to go for a run yesterday.

But, after about 1/2 mile I felt a twinge in my calf again that brought me to a halt, and I walked back home rather than risk further injury. I am not sure what I did to my calf, but it obviously needs more recovery time. I've thought about getting a deep muscle massage, I've heard that those can help.

So, I went back home and since it was so beautiful out, I put up the Christmas lights. Yes, I know it's early November, and I think the neighbors thought I was crazy. But it was beautiful here yesterday, I couldn't resist.

Also yesterday, sandwiched between my son's last soccer game of the season and 2 kids' birthday parties, I got to watch K-State win the Sunflower State showdown football game with KU. One more win and we're bowl eligible baby. Never would have believed it at the beginning of the season. Go Cats!

Auto-Tune the News

Yeah, everything sounds better auto-tuned.

You're welcome.

4-mile Black Lab Run

No, the "Black Lab Run" isn't a race that I ran in this weekend. It's what happened to me today.

I set out for my run this morning and after about a quarter mile, a stray black lab started running along with me. I didn't really mind, and it was good company. He would run up into people's yards and then come back to join me every so often. I kept thinking that he would stop and go home, or get bored and wander off....but, he stayed with me for the entire 4 miles.

When we got home, I got him some fresh water to drink and gave him some food. He was very friendly. The first thing my son said was "Can we keep him?" I said "No, he probably belongs to somebody." So we got out the phone book to call the local Animal Control to come get him, and by time I went back outside, he was gone. Probably off on another run with another passerby. Anyway, it made for an enjoyable run, to have a running partner.

I tweaked my right calf at about the 3 mile mark, enough that I walked most of the last mile....I am not sure what happened, I was running along fine, feeling strong, and then I felt a twinge of pain in my calf that brought me to a halt. It's not a cramp, maybe a strained muscle or something. So, I'm going to give it a good 3 days rest and see how it feels.

I leave you with a picture of my boys' Halloween costumes, a boxer and a tourist.

A Wave From California

New Places

First off, I have been traveling this past week and have had zero time to blog or read anyone elses blogs, so hopefully I can catch up over the weekend. Thanks to Tall Mom for letting me know I won a giveaway on her blog. Woo-hoo. Some hand warmers just in time for winter.

Prior to this week, I have never been west of Colorado. But a business trip to California changed all of that, and I got to spend 4 days in San Diego.

I loved seeing all the palm trees, but I could have done without the crazy traffic.


view from my hotel room...it was too cold to swim. for me anyway

While there, I had a nice 5.5 mile run my first morning there, and another 4 mile run the next day. There was a great path to run near the hotel. It was a bike path between the sidewalk and the street and was wide enough for a golf cart. There was a curb that was 6 inches high and 18 inches wide that separated the bike path from the motorist traffic. That helped give a sense of security having that extra curb there.

the bike path i ran on...it was nice and wide, with curbs on both sides...

California people didn’t seem as friendly as I’d imagined. I mean, the people around the hotel were nice enough, but that’s their job. And my co-workers from California are all nice. But during my runs, I usually try to wave to people I pass, and during both of my runs I barely got a wave in return.

The first day I passed a walker, a biker, and another runner, and none of them waved or said hello back to me. Even when I found a YMCA membership card on the ground and ran it inside to the front desk of the YMCA, the worker there didn’t even say thank you. Not the best impression from an outsider, but I’m from the Midwest where everyone is friendly. The second day wasn’t much better, I passed 7 walkers and a biker, none of them waved back, and I passed 3 runners, and two of them waved. At least a couple of the runners were nice enough to wave. Maybe everyone was still half asleep. These were some early morning runs in the near-dark.

New Shoes


About a week ago I received some Brooks Glycerin 8’s in the mail to test out. This business trip was my chance to take them out for a spin. They are great shoes, and are set to hit the market early in 2010 I think. They have Brooks’ new DNA technology that allows the sole of the shoe to mold to the specific weight and impact of the person wearing them and change to provide the right amount of support.

They were very comfortable right out of the box and had a super ride and feel. These might be replacing my Asics Kayano’s as my regular running shoes.

The Worlds Largest Running Store

So we’re driving to the place in San Diego for my work meetings and literally a block from the office, we pass a sign that says “The World’s Largest Running Store.” So of course I had to check it out. It was a Road Runner Sports clearance store, and it was pretty cool.

I had them fit me for shoes, even though I don't really need any. The process was really cool, very high tech. They had a glass floor hooked up to a computer that when you walked over it told you what part of the foot was having pressure put on it, and they video taped my feet on a treadmill to determine pronation. Turns out I have a high arch with a slight under pronation and need a motion control shoe. It was fun. I picked up some shoe inserts and some Chafe Free gel.

I didn't get to enjoy California as I had hoped. Didn't get to the beach, or go to In and Out Burger, or the San Diego Zoo, etc. We stayed way too busy with work. So, now I need to plan a family vacation so we can do all the fun stuff next time. We had a 3 hour delay in Denver on the way home (I guess they got 18 inches of snow the day before), and I was relieved to get home in time to go trick or treating with the kids. Happy Halloween everyone.