Monday Mantra

 it's funny...  how often someone will stop mien the hallway at work and ask me about my running...  

yes...  I'm that guy in my office building...  the one who heads out into a thunderstorm to run...  or in the oppressive heat of August...

and often they will confess to me...  completely out of the blue  "man, I need to start running again but I'm just so busy right now"

I just smile and encourage them to come out running with me sometime...  But I often think the following:

Not Running

 

 

Hello my name is Michael and I am an alcoholic Runner.

 

Everyone in unison: ("Hi Michael")

 

Today I am happy here to say that I've been sober  not running for 37 days.

 

::polite applause::

 

HoBoy…

 

I hear many people say that running is hard….  But *not running* is no cakewalk for me…

 

Ya see…  I love to run…  I'm a natural introvert… I need that time…  and while I have been cycling a lot…  lifting weights and staying really active…  nothing can completely replace the place that I can go within myself, a kind of personal cocoon, when I'm running.

 

 

I have really not taken any significant (more than 3-4 days in a row) off running in probably 15 years with the exception of what turned out to be a torn quad in 2011 (http://allaboutpace.blogspot.com/2011/03/21-days-in-rehab.html ) and even then I spent a significant amount of time doing "running type" training (elliptical etc)  Yep that's right sportsfans since I quit smoking back in 1996 I have really not taken a break…  and  It. Has. Been. Fabulous.  J

 

So why now?

 

Well…  to say that I over-trained in the first 6 months of 2013 would be a bit of an understatement…  and all the while… one niggling injury here…  bad knee creaking everywhere…  and an ache and pain there…  led to a compensation in running form and a weird snowballing effect of awesome aerobic capacity that I could no longer physiologically support…

 

So…  I've backed off…  working on Balance, core, strength, flexibility….  And cycling

 

I will be a runner again soon.

 

it was a Dark and Stormy November

I know...  I'm turning in my homework really late but maybe I can at least get 1/2 credit. plus...  here is a picture of a dog.

 

Okay not really but we did do a couple of rainy/windy night rides…  and I do look forward to the Tuesday night ride all week.

 

 

 

Another big cycling month…

 

Run  59 miles…  one of my lowest mileage months in recent years…  December will see me running even fewer.

 

Bike 49ish hours

Swim  800 yards – sticking the proverbial toe back in the water

Races Pink 4 Jon 5k – a first year event… so close to home we simply walked home after the race.  The course was not to well-marked basically all of the top 10 or so went off course in some way or another including me…  

Current Reads I finished wheelmen…  funny the more I read the less I cared about the whole deal…  Good news!  The last Lance doping book I'll ever have to read…  yay!

I also read this one…  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Brother_Sam_Is_Dead

 

 

It's an often assigned novel for High School kids…  I normally like the Young Adult genre and this was not a disappointment.

Current Obsession riding my cross bike…  yep… still

Current Bane of My Existence a sore foot…  not bad enough to go get it checked out but pesky nonetheless.

Current Goal  No run December…   that's right kids…  I'm planning to take the whole month off

Current Excitement  FSU vs. Auburn in the Nationals Championship…   I'm not much of a college football fan but I grew up going to Seminole games….  Go Noles!

How did your month shape up?

  

    

 

 

 

your system.

Wings on My feet

 

I have wings on my feet

That no one can see

Tho my shuffling, sweating body

Makes that hard to believe

 

These wings lift my spirits

Higher than calf or thigh

Perspective is sharpened

From my viewpoint on high

 

endorphins and elation  

Exertion and pain

understanding and peace

I long for time and again

 

-M. Cowart

 

 

 

October

 

Okay.. I totally ripped off this format from boB (thanks Beth)

 

 

Run  70 miles – Houston we have a problem…  it looks like fall running season will not get off the ground this year.  Mileage is not the problem legs are the problem.  More on this in a future post

 

Bike  40 hours on the bike…  yep…  ridin' like it's a part time job

 

Swim I am beginning to seriously consider it =;-)  in all seriousness…  I will return to triathlons in 2014…  and ergo swimming too

 

Races – Just the aforementioned CX stuff

 

Current Reads

 

A pretty good novel about the Norman invasion of England in 1066 and the aftermath.  I plan to read the other 2 books in the trilogy.

 

Right now I'm reading :

 

Interesting…  it's lots of stuff I did know along with a few very interesting details of which I was unaware.  The book really tries to unravel the interconnecting relationships and conspiracies behind the Lance Armstrong story.

 

Current Obsession cycling aside…  Playing Golf.  After a 10 year hiatus..  and no surprise…  Judi is pretty good.

 

 

Current Need A new pair of mountain bike shoes. These fell apart midway through a Cyclocross race.  My "sole wrenching" did not help my podium chances

 

 

Current Triumph – Getting CPR and First Aid certified

 

Current Bane of My Existence keeping the 3 bikes I have in working order

 

Current Goals

 

Racing:  Southern Cross 55 mile endurance Cyclocross race on 22 Feb 2014

 

Personal development:  Judi and I are half way to being certified to teach spin at the YMCA.  Just two more classes which we will finish up in six weeks or so.

 

Current Indulgence Brown Ale

 

Current Blessings the best family and friends a guy could have

 

Current Excitement  Tuesday night rides in Guana Park