Getting Away

Back from the 3 day, 20 year anniversary weekend at Steamboat. We had a great time, and I got away from work.

Ran a couple of mornings. Ran the bike trail along the Yampa River. And, we took our cruising bikes and rode a couple of days too.

I've kind of punted on the training for the Thanksgiving 5k. I'll run it, but it isn't going to be for a record time.

Ran 6 miles this evening. Felt good. Work is still a pain. Hopefully the travelling is over, but never say never.

Pilates

I'm back home. Headed to Steamboat for a 3 day weekend. It's our 20th anniversary.

Wed participated in a pilates class for the 1st time. It was ok. Not sure I'll do another.

I'm taking running stuff and we are taking our bikes. We'll see how much exercise we get.

Courage, introspection and sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t

Today was tempo day. It was supposed to be 20 minutes at tempo. I ran 5 minutes at tempo, 2 ½ slower, 5 at tempo, 2 ½ slower, etc. So, the 20 minutes were really 15 at tempo and 5 a little slower. I guess sometimes you fell like a runner and sometimes you don’t.

I’m struggling to stay mentally tough. My job is tough, and besides the financial part, not very rewarding. The last few years have been a grind. I can fall into self pity. But I don’t want to. I want to be strong.

My wife sent me the following in an email today, I added the quotes:


We often think of courage as a quality required only in times of great danger or stress. But in fact, courage is an everyday virtue, essential to living a life without regrets. Why do we need courage?
1. We need courage to seek the truth even when we know it may be painful.
2. We need courage to change when it’s easier to remain comfortable.
3. We need courage to express our convictions when others challenge us.
4. We need courage to overcome obstacles when progress will come no other way.
5. We need courage to learn and grow, especially when it will display our weakness.
6. We need courage to take the high road when others treat us badly.
7. We need courage to be leaders, when being in front makes us an easy target.
“It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare. It is because we do not dare that they are difficult.” Seneca
“Courage is often nothing more than the power to let go of the familiar.”
John C. Maxwell
“Courage is resistance to fear, the mastery of fear—not the absence of fear.” Mark Twain
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Martin Luther King, Jr.

What is courage for me? See the truth, move on? To stick it out, overcome obstacles?
And, bottom line, if I have courage in my personal life, can I run the 20 minutes without quitting, or at least compromising with myself?

Dark to Dark

Up this morning, in the dark. 4 miles on the treadmill. Didn't get to sleep until 1:00. Up at 5:25 to get the run in. Here it is 10:30. Why am I not in bed? Up tomorrow at 5:25 again, for a 20 minute tempo run.

I don't think the road agrees with me. And, I have a new theory for the way I felt this weekend. I don't think it was the Mexican food. Saturday night we went to a dinner party. Really it was a gourmet dinner. The entre was Halibut (caught by the host in Alaska) grilled on cedar. I think I'm alergic to cedar. But, it tasted great. And something didn't agree with me.

Oh well, time for bed. One beer in the bar, but the rest of the day was work. So, in other words, back in the dark. I think the sun shines in Mississauga. But, I can't be a direct witness.

Back in the GWN

Yes, I'm back in the Great White North. Mississauga. Raining when I arrived at the airport. Doesn't feel like it could turn to snow, but what do I know.

Ran 3 miles last night. Got up this morning and ran 5x400m intervals. It will probably be a treadmill day in the morning. I did bring running clothes for outside. But with the rain, pre day break and unfamiliar surroundings, that will have to do.

Yesterday, had a big lunch. Mexican food. Smothered burrito, tamale and relleno. I've been paying the price every since. I don't think my body is used to that much fat, beans or quantity. Maybe I'm just getting sick. Or maybe it was thought of being on the road again.

Oh well, I can get through this trip. Cross my fingers and nothing more is scheduled. This coming weekend is supposed to be 3 days in Steamboat, it's our 20th anniversay. We have accomodations at a B&B. Planning on taking the bikes, I don't think a lot of snow has been flying up there. So, something to look forward to, hope Thursday is here fast.

Up this morning at 6 for a quick 3 miles. Tomorrow is interval day. And, I made it back home.

Music

I did manage to drag myself out of bed for a 30 minute run this morning. It was tough, I was up until 1 AM last night catching up on work (and I'm still behind). I'm glad I dragged through. It is plenty warm in the mornings in Austin. I was sweating 60 minutes after my shower.

As I've implied, I'm still in Austin. If I have to be out of town, there are worse places than Austin, mainly because of live music. Tonight at the brewpub (dinner), there was a duet, guitarist and singer. It seemed that 90% of their play list covered my CD collection. And, they did a great job.

107.1, Radio Free Austin or KGSR (http://www.kgsr.com/frames.html) is a station in the mold of the pre Clear Channel days in Colorado.

When running alone, which is most of the time, I listen to an MP3 player. Nice and light, and I can change or download music whenever. It holds about 150 songs, which is a lot of miles.

I need a life

Back on the road again, on short notice. I'm in Austin. Did get a tempo run in on the treadmill Tuesday, but otherwise work keeps getting in the way. Hope to get up early tomorrow, we'll see.

Intervals

Ran 4x400m intervals this morning. Haven't run those in a while, it's tough to stay mentally tough. But, now that there done, sets up to be a great day.

Home

Made it home yesterday. Almost didn't. I had my reservations all messed up. Checking out of the hotel on Friday, flying home on Saturday. Didn't discover this until I tried to check in to my flight on Friday. So, I had to go standby, but I made it home.

Today was a busy day, youngest daughter had a rec volleyball match. Then off to Ft Collins and Colorado State for band day, my son is a freshman in HS, plays the sax. They did a great job. Wednesday is their regional competition, if they do well, next Saturday is state.

After that, made it home for a 3 mile run, easy pace.

Ending on a High

Not only am I going home tomorrow, but today I got the email that my application for the Boston Marathon is accepted. And, my wife scored a gift certificate for $150 at a restuarant of her choice. So, no complaining for a few days. Life is too short and I'm pretty lucky or blessed, depending on your perspective.

Up this morning for the spinning class. It was good.

Saturday I start the 6 week training regime leading up to a 5k on Thanksgiving. No more coasting.

I'm looking forward to being home. Lots of kids stuff this weekend; band day, 3 volleyball games and who knows what the oldest is up to.

Mississauga Blues

When do I get to go home?

At least I got a run in at the health club (45 minutes on the treadmill), which is free if staying at the Radisson. It's a really nice health club. And, the Radisson has free high speed internet. And, the food in the bar at the Radisson is pretty good, the beer (especially Guiness) excellent.

I miss home, I miss my family.

Friday.

What day is it?

Spinning

I understand it snowed a few inches in Colorado. Hopefully I don't have broken trees when I get back.

This morning got up and went to a spinning class at the local Health Club to the Radisson here in Mississauga. It's a lot of sweating. Ended up working for another 12 hours after that. So, I'm not feeling that verbouse. Will go back to the club tomorrow (5:15 wakeup), but expect to run the treadmill.

I can't wait to get home.

treadmills suck

The choice was no run, run in the dark (and cold, not to mention I get lost when it's daylight in a strange city) or run on the treadmill. On top of it, I had to be on the treadmill at 6:00 to have any time for a 7:00 clock everybody else for the car pool from the Hotel to the office.

So, 30 minutes on the treadmill. I did run hard, over 4 miles including some time at a sub 6 minute/mile pace. But, if I had to run on a treadmill everyday, I wouldn't be a runner.

Tomorrrow I'm hoping to go to the neighboring fitness center for a little more of an experience.

We'll see.

it's winter here in Mississauga

We went into the local office a little late this morning. The sun isn't up until after 7:00, able to run for ~40 minutes. It was cold. Was wearing a running fleece and it was still cold, mostly because of the wind.

Tomorrow is a big or busy day, not sure if I'll get a run in or not.

Quick trip to Mississauga

Found out yesterday that I had to make a quick trip to Mississauga

So, spent today travelling, no run. Yesterday was insane, no run. Did get a chance to run on Wed night, for 30 minutes.

So, it's kind of been a bad week. But, not a killer especially since it's maintenance mode and not really training for any specific or other goal.

Hope to get up tomorrow and go for a quick run before heading to the local office. We'll see.

DC

Flew into DC on Friday. Ran Saturday and Sunday mornings on the National Mall. The weather was awesome.

Saturday ran a loop that included in front of (East side) the Lincoln Memorial and down the Mall, behind the Capital and back. While running up the hill in front of the Library of Congress, was passed by a pack of 4 runners, settled in about 30 yards behind them and ran at a really fast but good pace for at least a half mile. That was fun. Usually I run alone, if I run with people (usually someone from the office) it's a slower pace.

Today, added a mini loop to the Saturday run by going around the White House. There were a lot of people out and about because of the Breast Cancer run. After my run we rode the train down to Mount Vernon. A girl got on the train with a running bib on. Last year I ran Central Park in NYC a couple of mornings. During one of the runs I had to stop and wait while a race came by. It would be fun to do a local 5 or 10k while on the road.