Ya know, I’m really digging my “running lifestyle.” My runs are getting more comfortable and predictable, and I’m finding it’s a great way to work through stress and challenges, while doing something good for me. Cool.
I’m also enjoying that what I’m doing is helping others. I know that my little races alone aren’t rocking the world, but with enough other folks running them too, these races are making a difference here and there, and that’s another great reason to run.
I’d been waiting for this beautiful medal to come from Get Fit for Bling for a while, and while I was in Philly, it arrived. Given the global events of the last few days, it seemed very appropriate to take on this race.
We’re in the midst of a multi-day deluge of rain in Da Lou. Today, I think the prognosticators are expecting about 3″ of rain. Knowing that the forecast for Tulsa this weekend is for rain, I figured it made sense to get my Hokas and wicking socks on the trail, and see how they did with very wet conditions.
I’d been watching the radar this morning, waiting for a nice long stretch of rain, and finally the next wave started to make its way through. (Silly, eh?) When I dropped in at the Greenway, it was drizzling. I started running, inspired by the great run I’d had in Philly, and trudged down the trail.
The rain was gentle for the first half of the course, and I made pretty good time. Typically, I’ll have some Sport Beans around the halfway point, but today, I decided to try a pack of Gu Energy Chews. They were good enough, but I was still tasting them after I got home from the race, which wasn’t something I was expecting. That’s why I only experiment at home!
With about a kilometer to go, the wind and rain really picked up… and I totally loved it. There’s just something energizing to me when the rain falls, and I can’t imagine better running conditions. Now, when it rains in Tulsa this weekend, it’s gonna be much colder, but I knew I needed to get some wet running miles in before I got down there.
In short, it was a great run, and a great way to escape the state of world for a brief bit of time, as well as continue preparing for Tulsa this weekend.
This weekend was the Rocky Run 5K in Philadelphia. When I heard about this race, I couldn’t resist signing up for it, and putting on my best “Yo, Adrian!”
I’ve said before that I love road trips, and this was one of the sillier ones I’ve ever done. Think of it as an 1850 mile out and back driving course, punctuated in the middle with a 5k out and back running course. In fact, I only spent about seventeen hours in Philadelphia, while I spent about twenty-eight hours on the drive itself.
Leaving Thursday after work, I got to Philly late on Friday, and arrived at Lloyd Hall to pick up my packet with an hour or two to spare. Frankly, I was surprised at the packet pickup. It seems like many, many races I run have some kind of health expo at the packet pickup site. It’s a chance to pick up things you forgot (like gloves, for me on this trip), as well as supplies like Gu and Sports Beans. Here, it was packet pickup, and that was pretty much it. It made things quick, though!
I got to the hotel after a little exercise in one way streets, was checked in, and landed squarely on the couch to rest a bit. I flipped on the TV to find something silly to relax with.
And that’s when I heard about Paris.
I’ve bled myself off the news. There’s so much awfulness in the world reported a 24×7 basis, and this incessant blast of bad news has had an awful impact on me. So, I elected months ago not to watch the news (aside from CNBC — that’s just playing with numbers all day, and is entertaining to my inner math geek). I don’t need to recount the atrocities that unfolded on Friday night, but needless to say, Paris was on my mind all night.
I got up early, and started my race morning routine, knowing that I had about a mile to walk to the race site. I got dressed, and headed toward the Philadelphia Art Museum.
As usual, I arrived at the race site early, and got to watch the crowd filter in. There were all kinds of Rocky’s, Hulk Hogan’s and other costumed characters showing up, all ready to take on the courses. Folks milled around, while the DJ worked on getting everyone up for the race.
Yo!
I knew I had to go over to the Museum, and take my picture with the big statue of Rocky. It’s a pretty cool process. You stand in line — about twenty folks deep when I showed up — and hand your camera to the person behind you in line, and they take your photo. And this goes on and on until everyone’s done. Pretty cool.
No Corral for Turtles?
We started lining up for the 5k, by corrals. And as we all stood there in our running gear, it was hard not to think of Paris, standing in one of America icon cities at a large event that could be thought of as a “soft target”. That’s probably the first time I’ve ever felt a little nervous like that at a race.
We stood, and the singer began belting out the National Anthem. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it sung so boldly. And man, did he have some sustain!!!
After a couple of four minutes “waits” for waves to get off the line, my wave — the final one — finally got going. And what a throng of folks! There’ve been plenty of races I’ve done around here where the entire group of race participants didn’t equal the number of folks in my wave. I couldn’t believe the mass of humanity in front of me as we took off. In fact, starting eight minutes behind the leaders, we starting passing them on their way back just a few minutes into our run. Normally, that’d be a little disheartening, but I was having a great race.
And in this race, I ran about 90% of course, which is big for me. Something just clicked, and I found a great pace to hold through most of the course. I hope that happens at Tulsa next weekend!
Some Surprise Encouragement
Just before the finish, I saw someone holding a sign saying “Way to Go Colin!” I told her my name was Colin also, and I took a quick selfie. The other Colin finished about 15 seconds ahead of me.
Post race, I was interviewed by a guy and his cameraman. I have no idea where that video was gonna wind up, but they asked about the popularity of 5k’s in America, and whether the funds raised for the race beneficiary was a driver for me. They were also quite amazed that I’d driven from Da Lou for the race. If you see video that sounds like that, let me know! 🙂
And with 1850 miles of driving, I encountered some weird driving stuff.
In Ohio, I encountered a line of what we call out here “gang plows”. This is when the snow plows stagger, lane by lane, pushing the snow from lane to lane at high speed. I have no idea why these plows were out, but their blades were painted. One had The Hulk, and others had other characters and scenes.
Also in Ohio, there was a highway information board touting the number of fatalities on the road this year. The next screen on it said “Focus on driving”. Kinda ironic, eh?
I’ve also figured out that the folks in Philly don’t know how to merge. Every traffic delay I encountered either entering or leaving Philly had to do with the fine art of merging. That was pretty ugly.
And lastly, I realized pretty quickly the the posted speed limit in work zones on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is really just a suggestion. 🙂
That’s Heavy!
So, it wasn’t a PR — although it was close — but it was a very successful trip and race. I was really pleased with my run, and how close I came to running the whole distance. What an amazing improvement over this season!
Tonight, I ran the Veteran’s Day 5K. Yeah, I know that Veteran’s Day is tomorrow, but we’ve got heavy weather coming in tomorrow, and I knew I wouldn’t get to do this race on time.
I decided to return to an old course of mine, taking me through the neighborhood. One of the things that drove me away from this route a while back is a huge hill right at the turnaround point. That hill is still there, and it’s still awful to climb. But, climb it I did, and even on this tougher course, I still was under my goal time.
I am thankful to live in a country where I am free to chase after crazy dreams like the running I pursue. I am proud to have served my country in the US Air Force, and to have a brother, father and grandfather who served in the military as well.
If you’re a veteran, I hope you have a great Veteran’s Day. If you’re not, shake the hand of a vet, and tell ’em, “Thanks.”
Yesterday, I ran yet another 5k virtual race. As we approach Veteran’s Day, there’s been a bunch of veterans related virtual races, and I’ve glommed on to a few to run over the next couple of weeks.
Once again, I went into this run at lunch just planning to walk, with the occasional trot thrown in for good measure. As it ends up, I started chugging along at that aforementioned good little trot, and in short order found myself way down the trail, and heading back to the Jeep.
It’s still astounding to me to see how far I’ve come this year. I’ve really committed to running this year. What used to be goals I only reached once a year, are now finishing times I achieve the vast majority of the time. If you’d told me a year ago that I’d regularly take on the 5k distance, and complete it under 50 minutes, I would’ve thought “no way.” Well there is a way, and I’ve apparently discovered that way.
I think it’s just heart and determination. It doesn’t hurt that I’m enjoying the chase for the medals, and loving how running makes me feel. Those things are just gravy. 🙂
Friday, I took on another canine-centric virtual race, the Doggy Dashers 5K. It’s hard for me to avoid a race that benefits dogs, cancer or veteran causes. Or is patriotic in nature. Or has a cool medal.
Every run right now is gearing up for the biggest two weeks on my race calendar, with the Rocky Balboa 5K coming up in Philly next weekend, and the Route 66 5K and half marathon the weekend after that. And as is typical right before big races, I struggle to get out on the course. I don’t want to hurt any body part that would keep me from running, and I start having self-doubts about the races to come. Silly, stupid Colin tricks.
Look what I found!
Lunchtime Friday was brilliant — blue skies, and perfect temps in the 50s. I couldn’t have asked for a better day to get out. It was my intent to just take it easy, and simply put some miles in to stay ready for the big races to come. And basically, that’s what I did, spending about half my time at a trot, and the other half at a fast walk. These are foundational runs for me, because I see the results of all my training this year. Last year, I was painfully striving for 5km times under fifty minutes. Now, that’s pretty regular, without really having to try very hard to do it. It’s a huge difference mentally for me, since almost every time I run, I beat the goals that I’ve held for so long.
There are more runs to come over the next week leading up to the long drive to Philly on Thursday night, and I can only hope they go as well as this one!
Last night, I just wanted to walk. It was the end of a successful beginning to the week (nothing too convoluted about the time in that phrase, eh?), and I wanted to get my new Hoka’s a little more broken in… and it was lovely outside. Mid-60s… in November? In Da Lou? Well, you get the picture. And, I had the next to last Patriot’s Day racing medals in hand, and needed to earn it.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t really thought about the time change very hard. There’s a lesson in this, yet to come.
I got into my running clothes, and hit the Greenway around 4:30pm. I saw that the sun was low, just sitting atop the ridge west of us, but I figured I had plenty of time. I was really wrong.
Now, part of that was my own doing. Since I was headed west to start, I had sunglasses on. I didn’t bring my regular glasses on the trail, and so after the the little golden orb did a big fat plop! below the ridgeline, things got really dark. Quickly. Without my sunglasses, things weren’t so dark, but without any glasses, I was like a drunken monkey out there on the trail.
I made a quick decision to turn around at Highway 109 — usually my quarter-distance point — and try to finish the 5km nearer to the lights of the shopping center that starts my path on the trail.
In short order, I was back where the Jeep was parked, and discovered I was only about 2.8km into the walk. I needed clicks, and I needed them quick as darkness had truly fallen. Palpably. Noticeably. I think I could even hear it. 🙂
Now, bear in mind I passed the Jeep. I coulda stopped and gotten my regular glasses… but that never crossed my mind. So like a blind man, I toddled up the other end of the Greenway to the footbridge, every now and then, taking my sunglasses off so I could see the distance on my Garmin.
Oddly enough, I had a bad case of monkey butt going on — chafing of a kind I hadn’t had since switching to wicking underwear for my running. And it was starting to be evident that I might not make 5km before the dark and my backside conspired against achieving my distance.
I got back to where the Jeep was parked. My backside had stopped barking, and I saw that I was sitting a little over 4.5km. It seemed like a waste not to finish the distance out, so I set out to circle the storefronts to get my mileage.
Note that I was passing the Jeep a SECOND time, and didn’t get out of my sunglasses.
A full lap around the buildings, and I found myself back at the Jeep again, and with about 4.85km on my Garmin. I headed back up the trail for a quick little walk to finish out the distance.
Again, you should note that I was back at the Jeep for the THIRD time, and didn’t think to doff my sunglasses.
I crawled up the trail the short distance I needed, and got back to the Jeep in the dark of sunset coming almost an hour earlier… and still wearing my sunglasses. Triumphantly, I changed into my regular glasses and pointed the Jeep toward home.
So, lessons? Sure, there were lessons.
First, if I’m gonna go running after work this time of year, I need to make sure I get to the Greenway right at 4pm to give myself a fighting chance of finishing while I can still see.
Second, for after work runs right now, I should carry my regular glasses with me so I can change before I become that crazy old man in sunglasses after dark who can’t walk a straight line.
And lastly, when presented with an opportunity to change gear by passing my parking space… DO IT! 🙂
There were a bunch of races around October 21st, celebrating the day Marty McFly was to have arrived in the future. Alas, Marty never showed up. Hate it when that happens.
Along the way, I ran into a race that was a true trip backwards in time. The plan was to start the race November 1st, around 1:45am, and run through the time change, and you’d finish before you started. Cool.
Unfortunately, I don’t really have a place where I can run in the middle of the night, so I had to run the race this morning. Once again, the Greenway was my target.
I planned to run a little father this morning, building on the success from Friday, and get to the end of the trail, at the photography studio on Pond Road. Just like Friday, I got on the trail, and everything felt right. I ran a ton, and walked a little, and after getting back to the Jeep, I had a painless 6km in the books.
On Friday, I found a running gear I didn’t know I had, and that led to a PR. This morning, I found a “cruising gear” — right around 9:30min/km — that was incredibly comfy to use to just motor along.
Yet another really good morning on the trail!
This race benefitted the Michael J Fox Foundation. The guy who spun up this race, Jimmy Choi, has a great story, and you can read about it here. Jimmy’s running the NYC Marathon today, and I wish him luck. For me, this fight is personal, as my grandfather suffered from Parkinson’s late in his life, and I ran this morning in memory of him.
Yesterday was such a beautiful day for a run. At lunchtime, it was
in the low 50s, and the sun was shining brightly. Perfect!
I’d really just set out to run at a medium pace, and get some miles in. My big weekend in Tulsa is just a few weeks off, and I knew more short runs would help me be ready. I had no idea what kind of run I was about to encounter.
I got to the Greenway, stretched out, and ran up to the trail. Somehow, things just felt right. I breezed through the first kilometer, and got to the little plateau pretty quick. When the beginning of the downhill slope on the backside of the big hill came, I really opened it up toward Highway 109. It felt like I’d found a gear I’d never found before.
And that’s the way the whole run went. I kept looking at my time, kicking hard, and was beginning to realize something special was going on. If I really pushed hard, it looked like I could finish under 45 minutes, which would be a first. For the last half kilometer, I ran like I was trying to beat the clock, and I did!
To put this in perspective, I had a 45:33 at the Mo’ Cowbell 5K, which was a really flat course, and a PR for me, beating a time from the Greenway from a couple of years ago. This time, I finished 5K in 44:43, on that same hilly Greenway course. That’s a PR, kids, and my second one in the 5K this month.
Saturday was a tough run day. Remember? I was totally unmotivated, but got out there anyway. That’s what you do.
Today was a beautiful day for a run! 57° when I started, and all the sun a fella could ask for. And, I knew I had to get this in today. Two weeks off just killed me, and I had to get some footfalls-upon-pavement to get back in stride. It is, after all, only FOUR WEEKS until my first half marathon at the Route 66 in Tulsa.
And I ran. And I walked. Probably more walking than I’m accustomed to lately, but that’s just getting my dang gray matter into the game again. What’s cool is that I had some long stretches of hoofing it at a decent pace — my first kilometer was under 9min, which is just peachy with me. That’s not a sustainable pace for me, shy of a major downhill with some serious tailwinds, but it was nice to show my brain that it wasn’t the boss of my run.
The new shoes are working wonderfully, btw. These Hoka One One’s just rock. I simply cannot get over how much better they feel than my Nike’s. I’ll definitely be pounding the drum over these for a while.
At the end of the run, I was sub-50, which last year would’ve been cause for celebration. Now, it’s kinda average for me, a little above, a little below. And that’ll mean I’m shooting for something a little faster next year. How about 45min???
Yesterday, I simply didn’t wanna run. I mean, not only did I not wanna run, I didn’t wanna get out the house. It was chilly and overcast — which typically I love — which for some reason was just making me not wanna do it.
So, I tricked myself.
I took it one step at a time, and put on my running shorts. I futzed around the house a little, and put on a running shirt. A little while later, running socks and my new running shoes found their way to my feet, and by then, I had no excuses. To the Greenway I went.
By design, I only set out to walk. I’m still trying to figure these shoes out, and I don’t wanna do something silly while I’m breaking them in. And walk I did, five kilometers of it.
What’s kinda interesting is that I notice that when I walk, it seems like the distance takes forever. Now, my jogging speed is only about 60-90 secs/km faster than my walk speed — I don’t stress up too much on speed. 🙂 However, when I jog or run, my brain gets fooled, and it thinks the distance is going by much faster. So, on a day when I didn’t even wanna go out, I muscled through a walk that felt like it took forever.
I’ve said this a lot — done is done. And I was happy to put more miles under my feet and on the new shoes!
Ya know, I’m really digging my “running lifestyle.” My runs are getting more comfortable and predictable, and I’m finding it’s a great way to work through stress and challenges, while doing something good for me. Cool.
What a whirlwind weekend!
Yesterday was such a beautiful day for a run. At lunchtime, it was
