Day 100 - I did it!

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!

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

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!!!

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.

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".

Day 86 - Dehydration

No, not me. I took Calvin out again on his bike. Turns out he hadn't had anything to drink all day, and it was 80 degrees and windy. Halfway around I was afraid I was going to have to push him home. He made it, but we had to talk a little about exercise in the summer, and needing to occasionally have a glass of water BEFORE exercising.

So it was a slow run, but it was probably just as well. I got in a decent cardio workout and didn't pound on my joints.

Day 85 - Running Hangover

At my age, sometimes there is a price for irresponsibility with my body. Today I am paying for my adrenaline-fueled long sprint yesterday with no warm-up or cool-down. My calf is really sore. My toe hurts. My ankles are sore. My hamstring is tight.

I got out of the office for my run during the lunch hour today, which is much better than running at 8pm. It is a beautiful day. I stretched well today, and took it easy. I put in 6 miles at a moderate pace, a little over 8 minutes/mile. My calf was pretty sore start to finish, but didn't get worse as I ran, and nothing else was too bad. Hopefully I'll be back ready to run hard soon, but I may need to take it easy for a couple of days and heal again.

Day 84 - Adrenaline-fueled

Well, today was a crappy day. Work started early yet again, and it was a frustrating day. Had another soccer game today with my junior high girls, and another tough loss, 5-2. Then straight back to work for an emergency meeting that ran until 8pm, in which lots of really upsetting things were discussed that left me angry and frustrated, cursing the idiocy of the people who run the giant international corporation for which I inexplicably continue to give my best effort day after day.

By the time that meeting started at 6pm, I was wiped out, and really unsure how I was going to make myself get through the meeting, much less run later. However, when the meeting ended after running an hour longer than scheduled, I was angry and upset, my blood was pumping, and I couldn't wait to get out. I changed, chucked my laundry in the basket, stormed down the stairs, crammed my feet quickly into my running shoes, stomped back up the stairs (forgot my watch), stormed down the stairs (again), slammed the door on my way out, and hit the road.

I did not warm up or stretch. I did not start slow. I just ran, hard. My calf hurt again. I didn't care. My side ached. I didn't care. I just ran. When I got home, I did not cool down, I did not stretch. I kicked off my shoes and headed to the shower. But I did feel somewhat better.

I only did my 3.2 mile loop, but I ran it in 23 minutes flat, more than a minute faster than I have run it any time in the previous 84 days.

And I wrapped up my 12th week of running every day.

Stats for the week:

Miles this week: 42.4
Total miles so far: 459.5
Average miles/day this week: 6.1
Average miles/day so far: 5.5
Longest run: 14.6 miles
Time spent running this week: 6 hours 1 minute
Total time running: 66 hours 12 minutes
Average time running/day: 47 minutes

And I've lost five pounds since Day 1.

Day 83 - Kind of Interval-ish

The day started early again with a rather intense 7:00am meeting. Serious meetings really should start after the caffeine has had time to enter the bloodstream.

However, today I got out a little early, and was on the road in the warm, windy, spring afternoon. I was determined to run some mile intervals today, but being far too sunny to be on the treadmill, I strapped on my GPS watch and headed out. I figured I target a 6:45 pace for five one-mile intervals, with an easy warmup, 1/2 mile of easy jogging between each one, and a cool down.

Just 1/4 mile into my first interval I turned into a strong headwind. Being kind of stubborn, and figuring it would even out later, I tried to sustain my pace. I almost did, finishing a mile in about 6:50, but it took everything I had.

When running interval repeats, for optimal benefit the goal is to run each interval at a consistent pace, so that the last interval is really hard because you are tired, but just at the limit where if you are really working you can still maintain the same pace as the previous intervals.

I did not achieve that goal. I tried to start my second interval at the same pace, but with the wind in my face I ran slower and slower, finishing that mile in a lowly 7:35. The third was about the same, but I just ran 7:35 the whole way and was able to hang onto it. I finally turned again and had the wind behind me for the last two intervals, but at that point I was wiped out, so even though I did run them hard, they were barely under 8 minutes each.

Anyway, even if the training value was less than optimal, I got a good hard workout done, nine miles altogether from end to end.

Day 82 - Bugged

Had a brutal day at the office with a very early start. Left work early to coach my middle school soccer team in  a tough game (lost 6-3). I was exhausted when we finally all made it home. If I had been at Day 10, I probably would have bagged it and started over. however, being this far along, I forced myself out for my 3.2 mile loop again just before dark. I really didn't want to be out there. And I accidentally ate a rather large bug that flew into my mouth as I ran near the creek.

Day 81

A really long, hard day at the office. I was hoping to get in a good workout today, but by the time I got home after nearly 12 high-stress hours at the office all I could manage was my 3.2 mile loop. Hoping I can get in a little longer run tomorrow, but my schedule is not promising.