Running Aimlessly Around the Countryside

It's been a while since I've been here. I've been stuck on a single post for a number of months, just unable to get it how I want it. In the midst of that, I've stopped creating any other posts. My training is going really well this year, so I'm going to take a shot at getting back to this. Father's day this year was very special. I was given a couple small gifts (and none of them were neck ties). What I got was something I have been wanting for quite a while. The whole family went for a run together. We do start out at the same time every so often, but rarely do we run together as a group. And on Father's Day 2012, WE ALL RAN TOGETHER. We left home and stayed together for the first 3.5 miles, at which point Jil and Anna peeled off. Will and I continued on, although it took a little while for Will to break out what I'll call "Needs a Snicker" mode. He was just grumpy and whiny until he settled in around 5 miles. The two of us just cruised a...

Lately everyone in the family has been training. I've been running more and my knee seems to be holding up. My wife and her running partners are continuing with her routine. My daughter has rediscovered some of the joy of running while cross training during the swimming off season. And my son has been training with his middle school cross country team. So what happens? As soon as I am out of town for a business trip the rest of the family decide to go racing. They found a local race with the choice of a 5k and a 10k, and the kids lined up friends to run with. My daughter and her friend did the 10k, with everyone else in the 5k. I wasn't there, but wish I had been. My daughter and her friend ran together until close to the end and went 1-2 in their age group. My wife set a 50 second PR and placed 2nd in her age group. Then to top things off, my 12 year old son went 20:49, a 2 minute PR, 1st in his age group, and 5th OVERALL! I'm really bummed that I wasn't there, but...

Between all of this years travels (both business and family), track meets, baseball games, and wet weather I haven't been on my bike a lot, much less gone on a group ride. That's been pretty disappointing since Will's swim schedule lined up perfectly to remove any conflicts from that angle. Finally last week we got the chance to get out. I have to admit I was a little nervous. With the little of riding I have done, I was worried about my ability to stay with the group for 26 miles and with Will having ridden even less, I was more concerned with him. Last year he struggled to find his form on the shorter, slower ride and the first ride we did together a couple weeks ago showed some of the same signs. I had hope because our most recent ride left him strong and ready for more, not to mention how he dusted me on the hills. I think he may have been a little nervous as well. We showed up at the ride with plenty of time to get a parking space, which isn't always easy with 20...

Note: This post was drafted this while I was travelling 5 weeks ago. My blogging continues to mirror my  activity. Sporadic. After returning from my late March/early April travels, the weather improved and I was feeling good so I hit the roads...probably more than I should have. By the last week of April I had logged a 20 mile week and was en-route to another when I noticed a limp as I walked from the parking lot to my office in the morning. My knee had been bothering some throughout the month, but the limp was finally the sign that I needed to react. I promised myself at the beginning of the year that would listen to my body, so it was time to fulfill that promise. Did I do the right thing? Yes and No. Yes; I listened to my body and stopped. No; for a week I did NOTHING! After that I got back with the program, and did something. Not running, but something. I made it a point to get out on my road bike. I've been feeling good and am trying to slowly build up the length of my rid...

As I look back I noticed that I missed posting for the entire month of March. I think I can explain the reasons for that, but unfortunately, the frequency of posting also reflects the my running activity. Luckily it was not a perfect mirror image. I have achieved some sort of work/life balance, but not the preferred type as I have been overloaded on each end. March was championship swimming for club, spring break in Washington DC, and a business trip to Romania. Anyone of these things in itself would not have derailed my training, but putting all in the same month is a different story! Peles Castle, Romania March was going to be the month that I got everything back on track. Week 1 went by: no runs. Week 2 started off on the right foot with a pre-travel run with my wife. I packed all of my gear for my 2 week tip to Romania, because I was sure that I would have time. I even made the trip with zero jet lag, so what could go wrong. 11 hour days and group dinners left my gear teasing ...

I've spent the last few weeks easing myself back into running after my brief layoff. I have a return to running plan that I got from a past injury when I required physical therapy. The plan has worked well in the past, so it has become my go to plan for rest to run. The plan spends the first 3 weeks with run/walk workouts before finally getting in an all run session. The run/walk sessions have gone very well. Because of the ice narrowed streets and the focus on time rather than distance, I stuck to the treadmill. This week I did take advantage of nicer temps, a good thaw, and the plan switch to all run to get outside. It was wonderful to be in the elements, but I missed the pace control of the treadmill. I'm not sure if it was just being outside, or muscle memory, but I went out harder than I have since beginning my return and was sucking wind. It didn't feel great while I was on the road, but I can feel good about where I am and knowing I am building up to that strong ...

The last few weeks have brought beginnings and ends. I said hello to another return to running while my daughter Anna said goodbye to a new phase in her swimming career. I said hello and started running again using the same return to running plan that I used successfully last year. Thus far, knock on wood, my hamstring has been holding up and I an excited to be moving forward on my stay healthy goals for this year. Anna said goodbye to her first high school swim season in a big way. After a season of continued improvement, she qualified with her teammates for the Indiana high school state meet in 2 relays. At the meet, the 200 medley relay finished their season in prelims, but the 400 free relay advanced to finals. So in the last race of the Indiana high school season, the squad Anna swam on brought home a 6th place finish. As an added bonus, the whole relay team returns next year! For me, it is ready hard to describe my feelings. I'm proud of her putting in all the ...