CG’s Running Blog

Yeah I’ve been gone for a really long time but I promise to be a more consistent, both in writing and running.  Which on the good note, I have been running more consistently over the past few months.  I just haven’t had time to write about it.

Secretly (I haven’t told many people) I’m trying to run the Gasparilla Bud Light Challenge this coming February.  It consists of a 15K, 5K & 1/2 Marathon over 2 days.  YIKES!!  I’ve begun building my base training so I’ll be ready.  The reason I’ve kept it a secret is part of a self challenge.  See if I can really build up the work and so I don’t end up on racing…similar to the Disney 1/2 marathon.  Such a build up and dissapointment.

Anyway…I’m keeping it short today.  Stay tuned.

I don’t recall if I mentioned it in my last post and I’m too lazy to look back and check, but I experienced something I had never experienced before during my run last week….shin splints.  YIKES they hurt.  I stopped running when I realized I couldn’t run through them and then took some time off based on the remedies I read about.  Well, last night I warmed up and went out for a run again.  I started off slow to make sure I was warmed up and about 6/10ths of a mile into my run it happened….the pain!!!!!  I stopped and stretched praying that it was more of a cramp than something else.  Nope, I couldn’t stretch it out and was forced to walk back.  This gets me to the title of this posting.  I was in near tears realizing that I may not be able to run in this weekends race and that I may have trouble running in the future.  Granted, that last statement may be a little over-exaggerating but it’s a thought that runs through my head.  What do I do if I can’t run anymore?  Again, these thoughts are racing through my head.  I’ve trained for this upcoming race.  Like I told my wife, I’m not looking to win the race, but I am looking to RUN the race in whatever time.  Last night I found that I love to run and I enjoy going to races.  I still plan on waking up early on Saturday, getting dressed and taking the bus over to Epcot and the start line.  The question after that is will I run 13 miles or 1 mile or somewhere in between.   Wish me luck and pray for me.

I do know I will try and figure out how to overcome this problem and keep running.

Oh the potential disappointment….. 

Boy 2-weeks sure do speed by.  Well, I’m in countdown to the Disney Half-Marathon in 2 weeks.  Am I nervous?  Yes!!  I realized over the Christmas weekend that this will be the first race I’ve raced alone.  Now granted I’ve run alone both in training and during the reaces I run in, but this will be the first time I cross the finish line with no one waiting on me or me waiting on them.  THAT is what has me a little freaked out.  I ask myself, what will motivate me to keep running when I want to stop?  Who would know if I walk a mile or two or three of the race?  I guess I have myself to keep me motivated and if you all have been reading any of my earlier posts ya know that is in doubt.  YIKES!!  I’m worried.

 Anyway, I know I’m going to have fun regardless of how well or bad I run.  It is Disney afterall and it will be my son’s first “Disney” experience. 

 My running/training is coming along.  I sort of half expected some running stuff for Christmas but nothing…other than an iPod, but I don’t usually run with earphones preferring the thud of my footsteps and the sounds of nature.

 If any readers are going to be at Disney for the half or full marathon let me know!  I’d love to meet you.

Until next time….

My last post was “short” and I had the nerve to tell you that I was going to “push” 3 miles to see if I could do it.  Well I pushed a big…2.06 miles.  HAHAHAHA Push…psshhhh. 

Yes, yes I am nervous that I’m going to fail in completing my half-marathon in 30 days from now.  It’s sort of like that Grover book you read as a kid..”Monster at the End of the Book.”   well that’s the slow crawl toward this race….everyday it’s AAAGGGHHH don’t let another day pass getting me closer to the race.

 I have noticed something I can blame my lack of running on…my work life.  The busier I’ve gotten over the last 3 weeks, the less I feel like running at night when I get home.  I know, I’m thinking the same thing…go out and run it will help ease the tension, etc…..  I manage to talk myself out of running and onto my laptop to make a small dent in my work.

Anyway, I still consider myself a runner and in pretty good shape to complete my little neighborhood jogs.  I’ll keep pressing forward and beating myself up to run.

Thanks!

{I’m jumping right in}

So, I’ve been gone from this BLOG for over 2-weeks now with no post.  SHAME on me.  Even worse….I haven’t run a step in about the same amount of time.    The last time I left you (in my best early 60’s BATMAN voice) I was heading to Virginia for vacation but was taking my running stuff and going to do some running up there.  Well, it didn’t go so well and I don’t have a good excuse.  To top it off…shamefully I didn’t even run my 5-mile memorial run.  I did stop and think about Ryan but did not get my fat last behind in gear to run.

Let me tell you about the pathetic little run I didn’t do on Sunday (11/18).  I barely did 1.5 miles.   Yes, you read that correctly….there is a decimal point in between the 1 & 5.  Honestly, I even struggled with that.  You may ask:  Where there hills?  The answer:  NO.  the only real difference was the temperature (not even that cold) and it was DARK…real dark.  No street lights in the neighborhood, and only a few here and there when I got out of the neighborhood.  Anyway, I struggled to finish it and promised “tomorrow” I’ll run in the daylight and it will be a better run.  NOPE….didn’t even bother trying.  Not even Thanksgiving morning.  I’m  a slug.   Then to top it off, I get home from vacation and get a cold.  Nothing to knock me on my butt, but just enough to make sure I’m run down after work and in no good condition to run.    All told, a sad sad state of affairs with 40 days left until the Disney Half-Marathon.

 Laying in bed last night I made running a priority again and will be giving it 110% over the next 40 days.  No, I don’t plan on going out and hurting myself, but I will remain true to an every other day schedule and put running ahead of such things as PS2 playing and TV watching.

Wish me luck…cause here I go….again!!

He’s back….till next time.

Ok ok…the title might be a little mis-leading.  Let me describe what I’m calling my “upcoming test.”  I’m leaving tomorrow night to visit family in Virginia for a week…the test is will I have the willpower & discipline to run while I’m up there.  There really is no reason not to run, there are great trails, the temperature isn’t too too cold, and I’ll have time.  So, what’s the deal you might ask?  I guess in my head, I’m on vacation am I going to want to run after a day of “doing whatever?”  We’ll see!!  I guess in honesty, I HAVE to run while I’m up there.  The Disney Half-Marathon is quickly approaching and if I plan on having a respectable time and be able to “do the park” afterwards I’m going to need to get in shape.  WE’LL SEE! 

So, this week I’ve managed to “tweak” my hamstring while out in the garden on Saturday & Sunday.  Talk about frustrating….here I run fairly regularly and have no issue…but I get out in the garden and start planting flowers and bang…  So, my running has been curtailed this week, which makes the dilemma above all the more important.  I did manage to run 2.0 miles on Tuesday and didn’t really have an issue witht he hamstring, but I was aware of it during the run.   I plan on going out tonight for a 3.5 miler.  Wish me luck.

Again…don’t forget about the 5.5 Mi Memorial run on Saturday!!

Till next time….

“Every individual has that spark of steel to confront fear face to face,” Ryan Shay wrote in his application essay to Notre Dame.

I think this quote is appropriate not only for running, but for the fact that today is Veteran’s day.  War is nothing that anyone volunteers for, but it becomes a necessary evil when two opposing ideas meet and issues cannot be resolved diplomatically.  For those soldiers who enter battle to support and defend our freedom I sincerely thank you.  Without you willing to put your life on the line, my and many others lives would be significantly different.

So, given the day and the quote from above I am inspired once again to make my running better.  Why does my running need to be better you might ask.  Well, it needs to be better because I always have to strive to be better and never settle for “status quo” or “good enough.”  Those two terms drive me crazy.  While we may never reach perfection why can’t we strive be better at whatever we’re involved in, from marriage, running, parenthood, work, etc….  Tonight I will go out and run what last week was considered my long run of 3.0-3.5 miles will become my new base run.  The 3+ milers came easier than I expected and I definitely enjoy where the run takes me more than where my >3.0milers were going.

I guess I’ll wrap it up.  Remember to thank a Veteran and do something inspired.

..till next time.

Well, I know everyone is waiting with baited breath to know if I ran so, I’ll hold you off a little longer.

My evening was pretty much chugging along right on schedule.  Actually, I finished dinner 10 minutes before the 630 deadline.  LOL  That is after downing 8 tacos.  YIKES!!!!  To top it off, my wife was bored earlier in the day and decided to make brownies (my true weakness).  I held off on the brownies for about an hour and then had 2.  In my world they were to give me that extra boost so, I didn’t get tired as the night went on. HA HA.

 Anyway, I kicked back to watch The Unit and my wife noticed Orange County Wives was on as well.  Well she had me flipping back and forth between the two shows.  It is truly amazing there are clueless people in the world that make and spend the ammount of money these people spend.  Granted, I’d L O V E the chance to make that kind of money but I think I’d jump out a window if I had the “issues” they had to deal with.  I digress….Well 10pm hit…the witching hour, I tried to get my wife to run for me…no such luck.  a. She’s not a runner. b. she’s not a night person.  Finally at 10:52pm I am dressed and out the door for my run!!!  What a great run it was.  I decided to take a different loop and it turned out very nice.  My legs felt rested and willing to handle the pounding, my breathing was on.  Overall it was a darn good run.  I was back by 11:30. I took the dog out back and put my legs in our pool.  ( If you haven’t noticed by now, in my mind, I’m an “elite” runner.  I watch and read what these guys do and incorporate the parts and pieces I have access to into my running.  )  So, there I am drinking water and have my legs in 70 degree water to reduce the swelling. Yes, I did get a chuckle out of it.

 So, this looks like my turning point in running this week.  I actually may get 3 days of running into a 7 day week.  YES!!!  that will be a small but crucial victory.

Till next time….