Marathon News!
I've decided to train for the Akron Marathon on September 25. Bring on the hills! ... all summer long....
More Photos!
Like I said, I’m behind on posting photographs to my Flickr account. Here are some more fun shots….
Only the sign remains, but it's a nifty one.
I was so excited that I finally saw this sign glowing!
It may be a unisex bathroom, but it has separate men's and women's toilets. Awesome!
Here's the man in charge of Captain Mike's Fun Park. He doesn't have a pipe, though, because someone stole it. Forlorn.
This sign rocks!
This sign looks even better at night!
Old-school 7-Up logo
Older-school 7-Up logo
Spelling fail.
Photos!
Just as I’m catching up on blogging and what not, I’m catching up on posting photography to my Flickr account, too. Here are my favorites of the ones I’ve posted in the last few days….
- Kalamazoo’s Spanish-American War Veterans Memorial
- Apparently, Chicago has a number of hula-hooping senior citizens who cross streets.
Neon + fish wearing Viking helmet and holding a martini glass = awesome!
- Holy neon, Batman! … literally, even!
Catching up Is Hard to Do
Okay, so I’m SO far behind on this blog that it’s not even funny. I’m correcting part of that transgression now, through a mega-update.
Please, people, contain your excitement.
I have divided things up into categories; I’ll put these in alphabetical order, though the first one would also be the most important.
Jess
Jess is short for Jessica, and … brace yourselves … she and I have been dating for a little over two months now. She lives in Chicago, so we’re a bit of a commuter couple, but it hasn’t really negatively impacted things. In fact, it’s forced us to communicate, which is a good skill for any couple to have. She’s a runner (in fact, running is one of the things that brought us together), so she totally gets it when I’m ridiculously sore (even if she thinks it’s crazy for me to even think about running a marathon). She works as an archivist; her current work involves databasing citizenship records from the early parts of the 20th century.
A photo of Jess and me in downtown Kalamazoo
MDOT
The work at MDOT is keeping me really, really busy. That’s good, because (in theory) it demonstrates that I am indispensable and, therefore, immune to any and all budget cuts.
*pause for effect, giggling, etc.*
I’ve been rather busy with updating Transportation Improvement Programs (complicated documents that list projects receiving federal funding) and working through my region’s response to MDOT’s annual Call for Projects. On the latter, I wrote narratives, proofread/edited other narratives, and coordinated the Congestion Mitigation/Air Quality program. On top of all that, I’ve been very involved with Safe Routes to School projects in Allegan and Douglas/Saugatuck. The former has received some national attention, because it focuses on a center-based program for students with disabilities. We’re happily ahead of the curve, and others are taking notice.
Running
It will surprise none of you that I’m happily continuing my running. I’m up to around 1,100 miles for the year now, and have remained fairly free of injury. I’ve had a couple of minor issues with my right leg (hip, calf), but nothing severe. I’ve only raced a couple of times since I last blogged, including a June half marathon in which I posted a personal-best time of 1:45:57. I’m coaching a team in the Summer Safari marathon and half marathon training program offered by Gazelle Sports; my summer Plaidiators are 27 members strong.
As I write this entry, I’m only about 50 days removed from the Road Runner Akron Marathon. So far, I’m right on pace with my training, and look forward to posting a good time on September 25.
That’s all the news that’s fit to print. Feel free to ask questions. Who knows — I might even answer them. 
Hello, Old Friend
Wow, it’s been ages since I posted a blog entry. I fail at that, but I have lots of reasons. An update is coming very, very soon….
This Week in Running: Balance
Sunday, May 16 (133 days to Akron) — 5.74-mile run, 52:18 — I enjoyed a nice, leisurely run around the streets west of Schoolcraft. They’re flat, and there wasn’t a lot of traffic early in the morning. I was briefly stalked by a few red-winged blackbirds, but they decided not to attack.
Monday, May 17 (132 days to Akron) — 45-minute spin class — Kicked. My. Butt.
Tuesday, May 18 (131 days to Akron) — 7.5-mile run, 1:02:32 — I did my speed work this morning. It was, perhaps, the best speed workout I’ve ever hit. I was right on my pace the entire time.
Wednesday, May 19 (130 days to Akron) — 9.14-mile run, 1:27:50 — I posted a nice run with my running group tonight. We had fun and covered the distance well. It was hot and humid, but we got through very well.
Thursday, May 20 (129 days to Akron) — 6.16-mile run, 59:39; 50-minute Boot Camp class — My second morning run after an evening workout went well. Sarah does a great job of keeping me from racing out too fast, and the conversations are always fun. That evening, Boot Camp kicked my butt once again; that being said, I didn’t find myself to be sore the next day. Huge improvement.
Friday, May 21 (128 days to Akron) — 4-mile run, 32:58; 45-minute spin class — I got up early, got in a nice run (though time constraints forced me to run a bit faster than I wanted), and then headed off to spin class. I ratcheted up the resistance versus what I think the instructor was calling for (I had a hard time hearing her). The rest of my Friday was devoted to … wow.
Saturday, May 22 (127 days to Akron) — 13.11-mile run, 2:00:32 — I ran hills … lots and lots of hills. We’re talking about Oliver, Austin, Wheaton, Maple, Bronson, and Parkview. I’m thrilled with this run. Win.
This Week in Race Training: Oaklawn 10k
My total mileage dropped this week, because I was able to return to spin classes at WMU. That’s a plus; I’m sure my body will appreciate the break from the roads.
Sunday, May 9 (139 days to Akron) — ran 5.62 miles, 49:08 — Today was a very introspective day for me; that impacted my running, too. I found myself thinking (and e-mailing a friend) about being “high profile” (not my words) in the running community, and the impact that’s had on my relationship with running, and on my life in general. It’s much, much harder for me to run to “get away” unless I go out of my way to run alone. Sometimes, I think it comes off as a bit stand-offish of me to want to run alone; I feel sometimes as though I’m expected to want people running with me. There’s a lot less anonymity for me, too. I went on three dates in April, and saw other people I knew on two of those occasions. I don’t mind seeing my friends, for sure, but I’m finding that it’s harder for me to just blend in. Don’t get me wrong — I love having the opportunity to help others improve their health and fitness, and I’m flattered and honored that folks look at me as someone who can help them get there. Every opportunity, though, includes an opportunity cost, and I haven’t entirely figure out how to make it all balance. Given that balance is one of my big personal goals for 2010, it’s something on which I need to work. For now, to borrow a line from Shakespeare, “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.”
Monday, May 10 (138 days to Akron) — ran 5.75 miles, 48:01; spin class, 42 minutes — I hadn’t planned to run today, but I really needed to get out and think. It helped a lot. I still need to dial back my pace big-time. This is not sustainable, nor is it a good training pace. The spin class was great, though, even if Alissa was brutal. Really, she kicks my tail every single time I take one of her classes. Then again, if the trade-off is owning Mount Olivet hill halfway through a half marathon, I’ll take it.
Tuesday, May 11 (137 days to Akron) — ran 6.75 miles, 57:57 — Ah, speed work. I’d say that I have missed you, but … yeah, not so much. For sure, you are good for me, but … blech. I did five 0.5-mile VO2 max repeats with 0.25 mile of recovery in between.
Wednesday, May 12 (136 days to Akron) — ran 8 miles, 1:17:47 — I’ve had a tough time training at the right pace. Fortunately, a good run with my Wednesday night running group helped me to relocate my easy run pace. Win.
Thursday, May 13 (135 days to Akron) — ran 7 miles, 1:05:18; Boot Camp, 50 minutes — I didn’t get to run in the morning because of thunderstorms. I got my run in that afternoon, but it didn’t do well for me when I showed up at Boot Camp that evening. The only thing you need to know to understand how hard the class was is this: Alissa is the instructor. As of Saturday night, my arms were still sore.
Friday, May 14 (134 days to Akron) — ran 4 miles, 39:22; spin class, 40 minutes — I enjoyed my run and spin class with Sarah on Friday. The run went really well; I felt way better than I thought I would. The spin class wasn’t particularly challenging, but that was a good thing.
Saturday, May 15 (133 days to Akron) — race 10k, 45:58; 1-mile warm-up, 8:52; 1-mile recovery, 9:17 — I had a great race today. I went out a little fast, but I did a good job of bringing that under control. I listened to my body about mile 2 when it told me that I needed to ease off just a little (down to about a 7:45/mile pace), and then listened to it again at mile 4 when it told me it was ready to go all out. Had I been able to find just 3 more seconds, I’d have tied for 3rd place in my age group. Eh … it’s all good. Even better, though, is the fact that a few of my Plaidiators posted great times in races today. Corrine gets a special nod for bringing home the team’s first piece of hardware; she finished third in her age group. Hooray!
For my part, here are the final stats:
Time — 45:58
Pace — 7:24/mile
Age group — Men 30-34
Rank in age group — 4/16
Rank in gender — 38/109
Overall rank — 46/185
Music to Match the Weather: Christmas Songs
Michigan is under a freeze warning tonight, making it feel more like Christmas than spring. Given that, I’ve been listening to some Christmas songs tonight, and I thought I’d share a few of my favorites with you.
Let’s open with Chris Fleischer “Once in Royal David’s City.” I really wanted to find the Sufjan Stevens piano version, but I couldn’t find a video of it; that’s too bad, because the Stevens version is special. This is a nice performance in its own right, though.
If you haven’t seen A Charlie Brown Christmas, you probably don’t know “Christmas Time Is Here” by Vince Guaraldi. I probably also don’t know you. Oh, Charlie Brown, my heart hurts for you sometimes, because I sometimes find myself in exactly the same place.
Sticking with that special little bit of Americana, here’s the version of “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing” from that show. Despite coming from a cartoon, the prelude borders on haunting.
Guster introduced us to “Carol of the Meows”; here, it’s performed by Penn State University’s Shades of Blue.
This version of “The First Nöel” is performed by Elvis Presley (video by Kindguymd):
For those of you who are of the Jewish persuasion, here’s “The Chanukah Song” by Adam Sandler (video by hmsweaver).
Here’s “Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella,” performed by Sufjan Stevens (video by JTaube0716). I’m particularly fond of this recording; it’s got a simple, soft feel to it.
Sticking with Sufjan Stevens, here’s his performance of “The Little Drummer Boy” (video by eaglephoenix).
Last, but definitely not least, is my favorite Christmas song, “O Holy Night.” I couldn’t find an acceptable video of my favorite version of the song, as it was performed by Mannheim Steamroller — that version can leave me in tears pretty much any time. Neil Diamond’s doesn’t have the same effect on me, but it’s not bad. We’ll wrap up with this.
Stay warm, kids.
New Music: Thanks for the Ideas!
Recently, I posted on Twitter and Facebook about my interest in finding some new music, and several of you folks were kind enough to reply. With that in mind, I’m sharing with you a list of some of my most recent downloads.
- Billy Bragg and Wilco featuring Natalie Merchant, “Birds and Ships” — This featured in an episode of House.
- Cage the Elephant, “Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked” — heard on the radio
- Cartel, “Honestly” — suggested by Jen
- A Fine Frenzy, “Almost Lover” — suggested by Jess
- JJ Heller, “Your Hands” — heard on the radio
- Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You” — a little homage to Mike Greenberg
- Lady GaGa, “Bad Romance” — remixes, folks! Five different remixes: Bimbo Jones Radio Remix, Chew Fu H1N1 Fix, DJ Dan Remix, Kaskade Remix, Skrillex Remix
- John Mayer, “Free Fallin’” (live) — heard in exercise class
- MGMT, “Kids” — heard in spin class
- Jason Mraz, “God Rests in Reason” (live from Montalvo) — downloaded by Jess
- Stevie Nicks, “Stand Back — I like the music more than I like the lyrics, but that’s okay.
- Phish, “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” — selected since iTunes doesn’t carry the Beatles catalog
- 30 Seconds to Mars, “This Is War” — heard on the radio
My Week in Short
This week, I was …
… late to start, but back in the nick of time.
… on the move, but going nowhere.
… pretty much perfect, but not good enough.
… procrastinating a bit, but finished early.
… under the gun, but completely calm.
Last, but not least, way too many people told me, simply, “I love you.” Sometimes, hearing that makes all the difference in the world.
This Week in Running: Chasing the Sunrise
Now that I’m a week removed from the Borgess Run for the Health of It and have another good, solid, long run under my belt, I can consider myself to be officially in training again. Now, I’m targeting the Higgins Lake Sunrise Run on June 19. Let the training reports begin!
Sunday, May 2 — 5.74 miles, 50:09 — I started off slowly, letting myself gradually build pace as I ran. I might have posted a better time if I had used that strategy in the Borgess Run for the Health of It! Oh, well — water under the bridge, right? This was a morning run; I’ll be moving as many of my training runs to mornings as possible this year. I want my afternoons and evenings free for other people and things.
Monday, May 3 — 7.31 miles, 1:05:33 — This was a two-part run. I ran about half of it by myself, and then the rest of it with a number of my friends as part of the KAR Cinco de Mayo (Tres de Mayo?) fun run.
Tuesday, May 4 — 6 miles, 53:35 — I did hill repeats today, and lots of them. I ran four times up and down the part of West Michigan Avenue that passes in front of WMU’s Bernhard Center. When I was done there, I ran up and down the hill on Oliver Street that runs south from the intersection with Stadium Drive. Given that it’s only 144 days until the Akron Marathon (as of May 4), I’ve got to start getting in some hill work.
Yes, you read that right. I’ve decided to train for a marathon after all this year. I’m targeting the Akron Marathon on September 25. I feel like it’s the right decision for me given where I am physically, and I feel like I can effectively balance marathon training with all the other things going on in my life right now. So, I’m giving it a go.
Wednesday, May 5 (143 days until Akron) — 8 miles, 1:13:55 — My Wednesday group run had another solid showing, with 8 folks attending for the run.
Thursday, May 6 (142 days until Akron) — 6.1 miles, 56:28 — This was a fun morning run with Sarah. It’s not easy to get me to have fun that early in the morning, but Sarah and I always have a blast.
Friday, May 7 (141 days until Akron) — 6 miles, 52:47 — I had to run part of this course way faster than I wanted to; however, lightning and metal high-tension wire-carrying poles are not a good combination, especially when I’m right under them.
Saturday, May 8 (140 days until Akron) — 13.16 miles, 1:58:13 — Last year, I’d never have imagined a 13-mile training run under 2 hours. Unfortunately, I was actually a bit fast today. I need to dial down the pace a bit. Still, I really enjoyed getting out there and training.
