still running?

[yearround]

anyone still running?

tomorrow i try myself on the Pikes Peak Ascent. 13.3 miles, 7800 vertical feet from 6300 to 14100. last year the race was called and turned around at 10 miles because of lightning, snow, cold, etc. had to turn around and run back down, made it a 20 mile half marathon.

goal is to be under 4 hours and beat the weather

[wolfeman131]

I've discovered that 4:00 AM is a great time to run. Absolutely no cars or people on the road and the temps are perfect for running.

Ed,

Wish you lived closer! That seems to be just about the time my 18 month old son decides to start screaming and interrupting my beauty sleep. You could stop by and put him in one of those jogging strollers to keep you company on your runs. :)

[madriding1]

anyone still running?

tomorrow i try myself on the Pikes Peak Ascent. 13.3 miles, 7800 vertical feet from 6300 to 14100. last year the race was called and turned around at 10 miles because of lightning, snow, cold, etc. had to turn around and run back down, made it a 20 mile half marathon.

goal is to be under 4 hours and beat the weather

I am also in Colorado Springs. Do you know Woody Noleen? He does the ascent all the time. Big Tri-athelete.

[yearround]

Hey mad,
nope don't know him. i run a bit with a guy who does tri, i do du's a bit myself. i tried to run the ascent last year, but was turned back with the weather. the weather is not too good right now, and not looking too good for tomorrow, but i going to make it!

ed, pushing the stroller is great hill training, i'm sure you feel better having 40 pounds off, was any of the loss due to your health stuff too? if you are running, then you must be back to feeling pretty good too.

[yearround]

oh man ed, you're gonna try and get me on the guilt stuff? the running is not the problem. it is getting 6 people to florida that is the problem.

i have a few half marathons this fall, i am looking for a marathon for winter time that i can afford. usually the hotels and transportation are the big problem.

i am not counting out yet! i think my current training/conditioning is about 4-6 weeks out for a marathon, anything less than 20 i can make with out concern, may not set PR, but i would run it.

i finally put the roo sticker in the mail last friday. hope i put enough stamps on to get to you.

[deerfield]

Ed - Want to share a running story. My youngest son recruited a friend last school year to join the high school swim team. The friend is a runner -- not a swimmer. The friend stuck with it and was an asset to the swim team. Fast forward to early August of this year and my son's friend talks my son into joining the cross country team. My son is a swimmer and has NEVER run in his life. I never thought it would last. I gave it a week and the novelty would wear off. I was so wrong. He is the slowest on the team and usually pretty sore. But he makes virtually every practice - on his own - and keeps going back for more. Today was the first meet of the season. He was exhausted when done. Certainly not a marathon length like you guys are training to run, but I was so proud of him. I hope you guys can keep to your training schedule and get to that marathon you've got in your sites. - Deerfield

[deerfield]

More pictures from yesterday's boys' and girls' high school cross country meet.

[yearround]

glad he is sticking with the activity! i like cross country. do you take a cow bell? we have these huge cowbells that we ring for our runners. some times they are really annoying, but when you are running and you here your crew and family ringing for you, it is the best power gel you can take.

keep supporting.

[MrsZ]

Deerfield, I like those pictures of the cross country runners flying! I think when I am running, my feet dont both leave the ground that high. I think I am a "low-runner". :)

[kaneboats]

Based on that assessment I think my youngest has potential (thanks Mrs. Daze for this pic from our 2008 Flint River get together):

[MrsZ]

I remember that picture from last year! I love it.

[deerfield]

Last weekend one of Chicago's public high schools hosted a cross country meet. The venue was Lincoln Park. a wonderful, green oasis north of the downtown area that includes a zoo and nature museum. There must have been at least ten schools represented, including a high school from Palo Alto, California. My son continues to stick with it and is making a season of cross country. Still one of the slowest runners, but I am proud of him with every stride he takes. Thought I would share a few pictures from the meet. Enjoy.

[yearround]

great fun glad he is sticking it. i remember my HS days in XC. i like the kid with the skinny legs in the fourth pic!

i have a half marathon this sat, my wife starts a 5k 1 hr later, my goal is to beat her to the finish line. she said i would be a wife beater if i did and she does not want to be married to a wife beater. what should i do?

[deerfield]

Attached are pictures taken at today's cross-country meet. Not the exact same location as last Saturday's meet but still along the lake front north of downtown Chicago. Today's meet included events for junior high (3,000 meters), high school (5,000 meters), and collegiate teams (8,000 meters). First picture is our high school's boys' team. Second picture is one of our girl runners (orange and white outfit). Third pic is a bunch of guys that did a terrific job of providing rhythm and cheers. Last two pics are collegiate runners. Perfect weather. Cool and sunny. I met a coach from the University of Toronto. She ran the 1,500 meter at the '92 and '96 Olympics. Lots of talent, grit, and effort today. Those of you in the Moomba family training and running, keep up the good work!

[zegm]

Hey Ms. Z and I ran a scheduled 4 miles today and it felt great. It was all in the woods and around the farmland!
Last week we went to our normal Bay County Park and to our surprise there was a High School Cross Country meet going on. Well after asking if it was ok to run (and it was) the Girls Varsity caught up to us after our first mile. Well lets just say that I set a personal best (after injury) as I tried to stay with the pack. Nothing like competition to get you going, just can't say that I ever had to run against this type before but again I was able to improve my times! Funny story at the end, so here I am trying to stay with these young runners and at the end I take a left and they go right. I have .25 mile left so I start to give it all, as fast as I can go! After what seemed like hours my Garmin beeps telling me it is over, 4 miles Done Completed! Just as I am slowing down I happen to look down and I almost step on a big Black Rat Snake! Somehow I miss it but I was so worried that my heart which was beating kind of hard earlier now jumped into a higher gear! I thought I might be gone! But all was good and I am still here today!

[yearround]

go ed. keep the miles going.

i did a half on saturday, i did not beat my wife on her 5k, the 5k started 1 hr after the half, both finished at the same place. i did finish at 1:38:42. 18 OA 4 AG

i have started speed work on wednesday's, this is helping my speed. just need to do more.

will get to watch our HS XC this week. have some neighbors who run, wish my kids would.

[yearround]

the Girls Varsity caught up to us after our first mile. Well lets just say that I set a personal best (after injury) as I tried to stay with the pack. Nothing like competition to get you going, just can't say that I ever had to run against this type before but again I was able to improve my times!

those HS kids can be really good. if they want, they toy with you then smoke you at the end. but the do provide great motivation for us old folks.

[deerfield]

Hey, Ed - Silly question for you. What do you guys think about while running these long distances? What keeps you from getting impatient? That kind of distance means you're running non=stop for a long time. Great job on the fifteen miles. Hope the sixteen miles goes as well next weekend. - Deerfield

[deerfield]

i did finish at 1:38:42. 18 OA 4 AG


yearround - I did the math. If I'm right, your mile splits averaged seven minutes thirty seconds. Very cool. Am I right on the time? - Deerfield

[yearround]

deerfield,
yep, you did the math right. i was at 7:32 for my average pace.

as for what do you do/think while running a long time. i often have the same question. what am i thinking about while i run?

i do not run with ear phones. just my preference, i don't really care for the practice either.

for myself, if i am with other people, i like to talk. the strangest subject come up that i don't think would ever happen otherwise. when i am alone i wander. often, i get in a zone, may go a few miles before i get back to reality. just watch the watch and make sure i am on my pace. usually very peaceful and relaxing.

it gets really hard to do the complex math of figuring time, minutes, seconds, miles etc, i usually have a time sheet with splits to help.

[deerfield]

These pics were taken today at the conference meet.

I take my hat off to every kid who competed, regardless of whether finishing first or last. I was particularly impressed today by heavier kids, boys and girls alike, who were out there pounding out the same distance as everyone else and never ever gave up no matter how bad they hurt. That kind of attitude has a way of putting things in perspective for me as I watch their effort and commitment.

Air temperature was cool (mid 40s) but the sun was shinning. Lots of parents on hand. Course was a high school field and completely flat.

To Ed, Yearround, Zegm, and Mrs. Z: Keep up the good work with your running. Every stride is a personal gain and you never know when your example will inspire someone else .

Another good day. Enjoy.

[yearround]

hey ed,
good luck on the time.

i looked at my running log and i am over 500 miles in the last 4 months, for the stuff i recorded.