Well, I made it. The last couple of weeks were pretty tough, but I managed to keep running.
Friday I got in a solid 5.8 mile run during my lunch break. I ran a good pace, under 8 minutes/mile, even though the temperature was in the 80s and it was a bit windy.
Saturday my son, his friend, and my wife rode their bikes along with me as I did a "celebratory" run, the long way (3.75 miles) to Starbucks. We stopped for coffee/hot chocolate and pastries, then continued on the 1.4 miles back home. The weather was perfect, and it made for a great victory lap around the neighborhood.
Final statistics for my 100 days:
Total miles: 541.2
Average miles/day: 5.4
Longest run: 14.6 miles
Shortest run: 3.2 miles (about 50 times)
Time spent running: 77 hours 25 minutes
Average time running/day: 47 minutes
Weight lost: 6 pounds
So what now?
First, I'm taking a day off, maybe two. My knees, ankles, and feet are a little sore. I'll give them a chance to heal.
But my goal was to jump-start my training again. I'm really happy with how far I've come in 100 days, but I certainly don't want to stop now. On the other hand, I can't just run every day. If I'm going to race again with any seriousness, I need to make time for the gym and for speed work on the track. Given my schedule, that will have to happen instead of running on some days, rather than in addition.
It will be nice to come home after a long day of work, and possibly coaching a soccer game, and not feel like I absolutely have to put on my running shoes, but I also will have to figure out how to not let myself get away with too many days off.
So I think my next challenge will be to pick an upcoming race, and figure out a training plan to try to stick to that will get me there. Running every day is probably not part of that plan, but running 4-5 times each week in addition to other training needs to be. I also need to figure out how to schedule more long runs. That has been hard.
So I think I'll continue this blog with updates roughly weekly, but for now I'm going to enjoy having checked this goal off my list!
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Day 98 - 2 days left!
Another quick 3.2 miles late.
14 weeks complete. Due to an atrocious work schedule and a number of other commitments, I ran less miles this week than any week so far. Almost all my runs were quick spins around my 3.2 mile loop. But I kept running! Also, my average pace for the week was the fastest of any week so far at 8:02/mile. It's easier to run fast when you are running shorter distances.
Stats for the week:
Miles this week: 27.1
Total miles: 530.3
Average miles/day this week: 3.9
Average miles/day so far: 5.4
Longest run: still 14.6 miles
Time spent running this week: 3 hours 38 minutes
Total time running: 76 hours 0 minutes
Average time running/day: 47 minutes
14 weeks complete. Due to an atrocious work schedule and a number of other commitments, I ran less miles this week than any week so far. Almost all my runs were quick spins around my 3.2 mile loop. But I kept running! Also, my average pace for the week was the fastest of any week so far at 8:02/mile. It's easier to run fast when you are running shorter distances.
Stats for the week:
Miles this week: 27.1
Total miles: 530.3
Average miles/day this week: 3.9
Average miles/day so far: 5.4
Longest run: still 14.6 miles
Time spent running this week: 3 hours 38 minutes
Total time running: 76 hours 0 minutes
Average time running/day: 47 minutes
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Day 92-97 Catching up
It's been tough to run the last few days, just from a standpoint of making time in my schedule. hasn't been easy finding time to write either. But I'm still going!
Mostly the last few days have been late-evening short 3 mile runs. I did manage 6 miles Saturday, in 95 degree heat, and still held a pace under 8:15/mile. I was pretty happy with that. Sunday I got in 5 miles, running the first two easy to warm up, then running the next two in just under 13:30, again even in pretty warm weather. Felt good to go fast, but I hope I can find time to get in a nice long run soon.
Three days to go!!!
Mostly the last few days have been late-evening short 3 mile runs. I did manage 6 miles Saturday, in 95 degree heat, and still held a pace under 8:15/mile. I was pretty happy with that. Sunday I got in 5 miles, running the first two easy to warm up, then running the next two in just under 13:30, again even in pretty warm weather. Felt good to go fast, but I hope I can find time to get in a nice long run soon.
Three days to go!!!
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Day 91 - Snake Jumping as an Alternative to Work
Got a break today. Looked like another tough day. But the three hour meeting I had on my schedule in the morning only lasted an hour and 15 minutes. When the call ended, instead of getting other productive work done, I grabbed my gym bag and headed for the locker room. I got out quickly into the sunny morning, with temperatures still in the 70s.
I started out on the single-track trail through the green space behind the office, and quickly noticed an abundance of lizards. Then I almost stepped on a 4-foot snake. I pulled up short and backed up, as I couldn't tell if it was a rattlesnake (common here) or not at first. Apparently I bothered it enough that it moved off the trail. In the next half-mile I had to leap over or dodge two more 2-3 foot common field snakes basking on the trail.
The next several miles I ran on mostly paved bike trails, and only had to jump over one more large garter snake that I saw well in advance. It was definitely a run that called for a Samuel L. Jackson comment. I'm not sure if it was just coincidence this morning, or if this was a good spring for snakes, but I'll be watching out over the coming weeks.
Anyway, other than watching for impromptu reptilian mini-hurdles, I had a great 7.5 mile run, and got back for my next meeting. And I can relax tonight without worrying about trying to squeeze in a run late in the evening again.
13 weeks down! Stats for the week:
Miles this week: 43.7
Total miles so far: 503.2
Average miles/day this week: 6.2
Average miles/day so far: 5.5
Longest run: 14.6 miles (still)
Time spent running this week: 6 hours 10 minutes
Total time running: 72 hours 22 minutes
Average time running/day: 48 minutes
Day 89-90
Due to tough work schedules and soccer, the last two days have been quick runs late in the evening on my 3.2 mile loop. Wanted to run more, but haven't had time. Anyway, only 10 days left to my goal! Hard to believe that the last day I didn't run was early February.
Day 88 - Easy 8
Out in the afternoon with temperatures in the high 80s. Wanted a longer run today, but didn't run too hard. Got in 8.5 miles in about an 8:30 pace, and felt pretty comfortable most of the way, though I was slowing at the end.
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Day 87 - Warming Up the Emotions
Yesterday, Calvin asked me, as he was struggling in the heat, "Dad, why don't you ever make the girls bike with you?" Good question. Actually, I know sometimes I twist his arm a little because I want him to get out and exercise, but I never really thought of it as a forced march or anything. I guess that's my perspective. His may be different, especially on a hot day.
Nevertheless, today I insisted that Rose and Sabrina bike with me and I gave Calvin the day off. Rose resisted at first, but as usual she really enjoyed it once we got out there. I actually did have to force Sabrina to go against her will. But then again, anything you ask a 13-year-old girl to do will likely be against her will. It seemed fair. She needs exercise too occasionally. And it is not like either of them have to sweat much to ride 7mph on their full-size mountain bikes, unlike Calvin on his 20-inch wheels.
Until she decided to pay me back for making her go by complaining non-stop. Literally, non stop. I got to hear about her ill-fitting tennis shoes, her sore hip, her hands that are too sweaty to hold the handlebar, her shoelaces getting in the way, her water bottle tasting too "plastic-y", the weather being too hot, her sister riding to close to her, her sister having a nicer bike than she has, her sister going too far ahead and not riding close to us, and on and on.
After about 30 minutes of trying to block her out, and telling her every few minutes that I was tired of hearing it, I finally got so angry that I snapped. I actually yelled at her to shut up. I told her that sometimes in life she will find herself in a group doing something she doesn't want to do, and that fact does not give her the right to ruin the experience for everyone else in the group. I immediately felt terrible. I should not have let myself get that angry and yelled at her that harshly, I know, especially since it was partially my fault for bringing her in the first place.
On the other hand, it worked. She didn't complain again for the rest of the ride. Not even once. In fact, she actually started to appear to enjoy the ride after a while, though it is highly unlikely she would ever admit that. And though she did not follow her sister and take her bike for an extra gleeful spin up, down, and around the little dirt motocross course we passed near the bike trail, she did seem to have some fun.
All in all it ended up being a good 9.5 mile run on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, once we all got through the difficult "warm-up".
Nevertheless, today I insisted that Rose and Sabrina bike with me and I gave Calvin the day off. Rose resisted at first, but as usual she really enjoyed it once we got out there. I actually did have to force Sabrina to go against her will. But then again, anything you ask a 13-year-old girl to do will likely be against her will. It seemed fair. She needs exercise too occasionally. And it is not like either of them have to sweat much to ride 7mph on their full-size mountain bikes, unlike Calvin on his 20-inch wheels.
Until she decided to pay me back for making her go by complaining non-stop. Literally, non stop. I got to hear about her ill-fitting tennis shoes, her sore hip, her hands that are too sweaty to hold the handlebar, her shoelaces getting in the way, her water bottle tasting too "plastic-y", the weather being too hot, her sister riding to close to her, her sister having a nicer bike than she has, her sister going too far ahead and not riding close to us, and on and on.
After about 30 minutes of trying to block her out, and telling her every few minutes that I was tired of hearing it, I finally got so angry that I snapped. I actually yelled at her to shut up. I told her that sometimes in life she will find herself in a group doing something she doesn't want to do, and that fact does not give her the right to ruin the experience for everyone else in the group. I immediately felt terrible. I should not have let myself get that angry and yelled at her that harshly, I know, especially since it was partially my fault for bringing her in the first place.
On the other hand, it worked. She didn't complain again for the rest of the ride. Not even once. In fact, she actually started to appear to enjoy the ride after a while, though it is highly unlikely she would ever admit that. And though she did not follow her sister and take her bike for an extra gleeful spin up, down, and around the little dirt motocross course we passed near the bike trail, she did seem to have some fun.
All in all it ended up being a good 9.5 mile run on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon, once we all got through the difficult "warm-up".
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