Training Widget

Sunday, September 30, 2007

Running to Brooklyn

Day 24 - September 30, 2007

September came to a close today and so did my trip to NY. Today I ran across the Brooklyn Bridge, turned around, and circled back to the West Side. After the bridge, the highlight was finding the courthouse and getting to run up the steps. I guess if you like Law and Order you'd understand.

Chris

Day: 24 .....Time/Date: 7:30AM 9/30/2007 .....Weather:Clear, 58F
Run: Brooklyn Bridge..... Miles: 4.7 .....Time: 34:08..... Pace: 7:16 min/mile
Miles to Date: 87.8..... Total Running Time: 11:06:18



Saturday, September 29, 2007

Lost in NY

Day 23 - September 29, 2007

I should not be allowed out on my own without a map. I made my way down to the path along the West side and enjoyed the view as I ran toward the Statue of Liberty. The rising sun reflecting off the distant shoreline made the filth of the city seem tolerable. At the southern tip of Manhattan, I turned back into the heart of the lower east side thinking I would run a few blocks up, hit Church St., then cruise on back to the hotel. What was I thinking that I knew where I was. After about 10 minutes of running away from where I needed to go, I found myself under the Brooklyn Bridge. Ooops. I stumbled onto Wall Street and decided that was as good as any to run on, and eventually found a subway map that pointed me back to Church and I managed to keep the run under 5 mile.


I don't know how people run consistently in the city...too many streets to cross, too many wind tunnels between the buildings, too much construction to dodge. It was weird running between the buildings, like running in the woods without any trees. I'll take my country back roads any day.

Chris

Day: 23 .....Time/Date: 6:45AM 9/29/2007 .....Weather:Clear, 60F
Run: Lost in NY...... Miles: 4.4 .....Time: 34:30 .....Pace: 7:51 min/mile
Miles to Date: 83.1 .....Total Running Time: 10:32:10

Friday, September 28, 2007

Was that a left or a right?

Day 22 - September 28, 2007

As tough as it was to get up this morning - that was nothing compared to what the run had in store for me. With the late night last night and the trip to NY today, I thought I'd muddle through a 2 mile quickie and get back ASAP. I started out running down 512, but the lack of sidewalk and busy traffic made me uncomfortable. When I reached the turnaround point, I decided to run back up through the industrial park that parallels 512. I thought that the roads in the industrial park were laid out in a nice neat grid, but apparently not so. As I was running back on S Commerce, the lack of moon and sun failed to alert me that the road had gently turned 90 degrees. That little twist completely threw off my sense of direction and when I reached the 4 corners, I turned right. That proved to be the worst of the three choices. Left wold have brought me out just below where I wanted to be and straight would have taken me exactly where I wanted to go. Not having Google maps along with me, I turned right and ended up a mile from where I wanted to go.

In the end, it turned out to be a good run and I'm glad I got the miles in. Hopefully tomorrow in NY I won't end up on the wrong side of the Hudson.

Chris

Day: 22 ..... Time/Date: 6:30AM 9/28/2007 ..... Weather:Partly Cloudy, 62F
Run: Industrial Park 512 ..... Miles: 5.1 ..... Time: 37:28..... Pace: 7:21 min/mile
Miles to Date: 78.7..... Total Running Time: 9:57:40

Thursday, September 27, 2007

3 Weeks down, 140 to go

Day 21 - September 27, 2007

It has been a long time since I ran 21 straight days without a day off. Fortunately, I don't have any real aches and pains to talk about. I ran through the Achilles soreness from last week and stretching has alleviated most of that pain. The one thing I have noticed is my increased need for sleep - 5 hours isn't cutting it anymore. Hopefully as I build endurance I'll be better able to deal with that.

This morning's run seemed especially dark due to the layers of fog in the air. The full moon was even dimmed to a yellow-orange glow as it burned through the thin clouds. At one point I was completely enveloped by fog which gave me the feeling of running on a treadmill in the dark. It was very ethereal to see the exact same thing (or lack of seeing) with each stride. I have a feeling I will get to experience that a lot as the calendar marches deeper into autumn.

Tomorrow looks like the first real obstacle to the streak, but with the bus leaving later than I had thought, it should be OK - hopefully I'll be able to post from New York, but if not - have a great weekend and look forward to lots to read on Monday.

Chris

Day: 21 .....Time/Date: 6:10AM 9/27/2007 .....Weather:Fog, 65F
Run: N Carnation-Davis .....Miles: 3.6 .....Time: 27:08 .....Pace: 7:32 min/mile
Miles to Date: 73.6 .....Total Running Time: 9:20:12

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

But I don't want to get up

Day 20 - September 26, 2007

What a slacker I was this morning - but I could not force myself out of bed. I was too tired, too sore, too much of a crybaby. Finally, with no more time to waste, I kicked my own butt out of bed and ran a quick two miles. Not the most consistent run I've ever done, but by the end I was feeling better. I was dragging the first half mile and reached the turn around in 7:43. Realizing I was looking at 15:30 for two miles, I picked it up and ran the last mile in just over 7's. I'm glad I got the run in - the prospect of running after work and Wed. night activities did not excite me. But hey, I'm 2% of the way to 1000.

Chris

Day: 20 .....Time/Date: 6:50AM 9/26/2007 .....Weather:Clear, 67F
Run: Amicus 2 Mile..... Miles: 2.0 Time: 14:46..... Pace: 7:23 min/mile
Miles to Date: 70.0 .....Total Running Time: 8:53:04 .....Weight: 175

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Running High

Day 19 - September 25, 2007

Today I decided to stir things up and left the neighborhood for my run. In the wee hours of the morning I got in the car and drove to Shenandoah National Park. I spent the first 90 minutes there watching the sun rise and enjoying the morning's nature. Around 8:00, I changed into my running gear and set out for an easy run along Skyline Drive. I didn't realize until it was too late that the direction I chose was pretty much all down hill for the first 2 miles - which you guessed it, made it a bit challenging on the way back. But the cool, clean air and the deer darting along the road beside me more than made up for it. There were very few cars to contend with, and the few I did see gave me plenty of room. All in all it was a great run for a Tuesday.

Chris
Day: 19 .....Time/Date: 8:00AM 9/25/2007 .....Weather:Sunny, 57F
Run: Skyline Drive .....Miles: 4.6 .....Time: 35:32..... Pace: 7:43 min/mile
Miles to Date: 68.0 .....Total Running Time: 8:38:18 .....Weight: 174

Monday, September 24, 2007

Heat Relief

Day 18 - September 24, 2007

I think low 50's is about the perfect temperature for running. Crisp and chilly when you walk out the door, but warm enough that long sleeves or gloves are not required. I love that little chill that motivates you into starting. Once you are out on the road, the temperature becomes a non-factor and you can concentrate solely on the run. I enjoy running in the fall more than any other time of year.

Chris

Day: 18 .....Time/Date: 6:30AM 9/24/2007 .....Weather:Clear, 52F
Run: N Carnation-Davis .....Miles: 3.6..... Time: 27:05 .....Pace: 7:31 min/mile
Miles to Date: 63.4 .....Total Running Time: 8:02:46 .....Weight: 174

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Character run

Day 17 - September 23, 2007

Well, it wasn't cooler than yesterday. In fact, by the time I got to run at noon, it was in the low 80's and the humidity was still high. The sun was out and the heat radiating off the road was like opening the oven door. On days like today, I prefer to run in the shade and I worked both sides of the road to maximize the time out of the sun.

Days like today are what I call character builders. You don't want to run, but you do anyway. Not running and skipping the day sounds like the easy option, but when you do, you always regret it later.

Chris

Day: 17..... Time/Date: 12:15PM 9/23/2007 .....Weather:Sunny, 81F
Run: 5 Hill 4.4 .....Miles: 4.4 .....Time: 33:32..... Pace: 7:37 min/mile
Miles to Date: 59.8 .....Total Running Time: 7:35:41..... Weight: 173

Saturday, September 22, 2007

Quick 2 miles on a steamy Saturday morning

Day 16 - September 22, 2007

The humidity was stifling at 7:30 this morning - 66 degrees is not supposed to feel that hot. If tomorrow is cooler, I hope to get in a longer run this weekend, if not I'll stick to the routine.

Chris

Day: 16 .....Time/Date: 7:30AM 9/21/2007 .....Weather:Clear, 66F
Run: Amicus 2 Mile..... Miles: 2.0 .....Time: 14:32 .....Pace: 7:16 min/mile
Miles to Date: 55.4..... Total Running Time: 7:02:09 .....Weight: 175

Friday, September 21, 2007

Friday Five

Day 15 - September 21, 2007

Not a lot to say about today's run other than it was a lot faster than when I ran this same route on Day 4. I was really surprised to see that my time was 2 minutes faster today. I'm looking forward to the nice weather forcast for this weekend and the chance to run in the daylight. Today was a good start to week three, which I think should go pretty smoothly. Next Friday will be the key to keeping the streak going due to the early morning departure for NYC.

TGIF,
Chris

Day: 15..... Time/Date: 6:10AM 9/21/2007 .....Weather: Clear 55F
Run: Beazely..... Miles: 5.1..... Time: 39:04..... Pace: 7:40 min/mile
Miles to Date: 53.4..... Total Running Time: 6:47:37 .....Weight: 176

Thursday, September 20, 2007

How I know how far I run

Day 14 - September 20, 2007

Ask 5 different people how they measure how far they run, and you are likely to get 5 different answers. The worst answer I've heard is the infamous "by how long it takes me". Very few people have the internal pedometer and cruise control to maintain a consistent pace from day to day. When I first started running, I would drive the course that I had run, and measure with the car's odometer. This works well, as long as you always run on the road and one way streets don't interfere. Of course this fails the first time you go for a trail run. A few years ago, I received one of those GPS tracking watches. It was one of the first generation, but worked very well. The downside to the GPS was that heavy tree canopies and cloudy skies could cause the watch to lose contact with the satellites. There also was a lot of variability - if I ran the same run 3 days in a row - it might vary by as much as a tenth of a mile each day. This is close enough for me, especially if I averaged the run over time to get a consistent distance.

I recently found a free website that allows you to track the distance of your run using a tool based on Google Maps. http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ is a simple tracing program...simply zoom to the location where your run is starting, click record, and then drop some waypoints along the course. The program automatically records the distance of each waypoint and the total distance. You can even save your course to use again or share with others.


Today's run was another recovery day - just a few hills to make it interesting. Hopefully will try and push a little harder tomorrow. But hey - 2 weeks completed!

Chris
Day: 14 ....Time/Date: 6:10AM 9/20/2007 ....Weather:Clear, 52F
Run: Carnation-Goldenrod ....Miles: 3.8 .....Time: 29:24 .....Pace: 7:44 min/mile
Miles to Date: 48.3..... Total Running Time: 6:08:33 .....Weight: 175

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Recovery from yesterday

Day 13 - September 19, 2007

Today was all about recovering from yesterday. I felt much better today and avoided all but the one hill on Carnation. I was no where near as sore as I expected to be and was able to enjoy my leisurely pace. Nothing special to note about today's run - just another notch on the wall to indicate progress.

Chris

Day: 13..... Time/Date: 6:30AM 9/19/2007 .....Weather:Cloudy, 45F
Run: N Carnation-Davis Miles: 3.6 .....Time: 27:44 .....Pace: 7:42 min/mile
Miles to Date: 44.5..... Total Running Time: 5:39:09 .....Weight: 173

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

That was a very bad idea

Day 12 - September 18, 2007

Formula # 1 for a running disaster:

Skip the morning run + big heavy lunch + sit on butt all day at desk + run toughest hill in area for finish = bluahk

That was not what I would call a fun run. It started out ok - I slowly climbed the short distance to the top of OHill and cruised down the back side. I enjoyed the pace as I ran down towards 5th St Extended but after about a mile, I started regretting that big lunch. The constant motion started to cramp up my innards as my body tried to limit the sloshing. When I reached the bus stop at Cleveland I contemplated turning around (or just hitching a ride) but instead chose to stop and stretch. In the past, this was part of the routine, run a couple of warm-up miles, stop and stretch, then blast out the remaining mileage. So, I didn't think too much about stopping this first time. Feeling better, I continued on down to 5th Street.

When I slowed to turn back up Harris, the cramps came back with a vengeance. Not wanting to waste the nine bucks I spent on lunch, I decided to stop and "stretch" a second time. When the cramps subsided, I started back up Harris and started doing the mental math required to figure out how much longer I'd have to run just to finish. Some days this is all that can distract me from the pain of knowing I still have 2.5 miles and a major hill to go.

As the minutes clicked by I thought it was getting better, but sure enough, when I got to Cleveland I felt like the bus plowed through the stop and come to rest on my stomach. For the third time in 30 minutes, I was forced to stop and regain my composure. This was now bordering on embarrassing. I've been running consistently for 8 years. This shouldn't happen to an experienced runner...but then again experienced runners should know better.

I forced myself to take that first step towards Alderman. This wouldn't have been too bad, but I knew that I still had to climb 2/3, and the steep 2/3, of OHill to get back to the car. I turned the corner to start the climb and was greeted by 2 runners speeding down. They just grinned as they went by - probably laughing inside at the horrid look on my face and knowing that I hadn't even hit the tough part of the hill. And they were right - what a fool I was to think I was ready for that quarter mile of hell. When I finally arrived at the car, I was breathing so hard I had to double over. I couldn't even keep my eyes open and my teeth hurt.

Have you ever run so hard your teeth hurt? I can't explain it, but I've had that feeling before. I guess its a result of me gritting my teeth, but I wish I didn't do it. Not exactly an endorphin rush. But, I finished, no matter how ugly it was.

You have to have bad days to appreciate the good ones. Tomorrow will be better.

Enjoy your evening,
Chris

Day: 12 .....Time/Date: 5:05PM 9/18/2007..... Weather:Sunny, 70F
Run: OHill-5thSt.... Miles: 6.0 .....Time: 43:28 .....Pace: 7:15 min/mile
Miles to Date: 40.9 ..... Total Running Time: 5:11:25..... Weight: 175

Monday, September 17, 2007

Recovery and maintenance

Day 11 - September 17, 2007

Today was all about working out the soreness and getting a couple of streak maintenance miles in. My Achilles tendons felt like they were about two inches shorter than normal and I didn't want to put a lot of stress on them. I'm going to start doing more stretching before and after the runs and hopefully that will help.

As I move farther along this 1000 day path, you'll see plenty more recovery days. The only way to keep a streak like this going is to stay injury free.

Chris

Day: 11 .....Time/Date: 5:45AM 9/17/2007 .....Weather:Clear, 42F
Run: Amicus 2 Mile..... Miles: 2.0 .....Time: 15:33 .....Pace: 7:46 min/mile
Miles to Date: 34.9 .....Total Running Time: 4:27:57 .....Weight: 175

Sunday, September 16, 2007

Spring HIll 5K

Day 10 - September 16, 2007

I woke this morning to the coldest temperatures of the fall. A chilly 43 degrees greeted me as I took that first step outside and loaded the family into the car. I was a little nervous that the cold might affect my breathing during the race, but as the sun rose, the air warmed up, and it turned out to be a perfect morning.

As I walked up to the starting line, the cold dew put a bit of a chill on my toes, but once the gun went off, it was the farthest thought from my mind. The race started at a cautious pace as the leaders jockeyed for position and tried to maintain their footing on the wet grass. Right from the start, it was clear who the eventual winner would be, but the remaining places were all up for grabs. Heading into the woods, I was in fourth, but slipped into third as I let it roll down the first hill. I maintained about a one step difference from the second place runner, but as the first hill came, my lack of training kicked in. I quickly lost a place back to fourth as the runner I had just passed charged up the hill and moved into second. As the second and third place runners started to gain separation, my focus shifted to climbing the hill.

Now there are lot of different definitions of what makes a hill, but this thing would have made even a seasoned ultra-marathoning trail runner take pause. Steeper than stairs and about 100 yards long, I was breathing like I had just finished a 400 meter dash and trying to not roll backwards down the hill. The best is - the hill had to be repeated on the second of the two loop course. After finishing that beast of a hill, we were rewarded with a long grassy down hill. The challenge here was the sun shining through the tree canopy directly into your eyes. It was so bad in fact that not only did I run into the branches of a protruding bush on the first lap, I managed to do it again (same bush) on the second.

Finishing the first lap, we were greeted by the music of the praise band which was encouraging. Momentarily, I forgot that I'd have to repeat that nasty hill. I was quickly reminded as the race turned back into the trails, and back across the creek. The hill was tougher the second time as the legs were a bit tired, but I maintained a slow and steady pace to the top. I picked up the pace as I headed back down the grassy path and tried to maintain contact with the third place runner. I kept peaking at my watch hoping I would be able to find some motivation to finish strong and be under that 23:15 goal I set.

The finish was about a quarter mile of asphalt up a steady grade before turning the final corner and up the short hill to the finish. Even as I was pounding down the black top, I was concerned I would come up short. Not willing to give up, I put my head down and pushed on, dug deep as I turned that last corner, and drove hard to the finish. As I broke the tape, I looked down and was pleasantly surprised to stop my watch and see 22:17 for my final time.

For a first annual race, Spring Hill did a great job pulling it off. They staggered the runners and walkers to minimize any interference, and had plenty of activities to keep the kids occupied so the parents could enjoy the race.

All in all, it was a great morning and I'm very pleased with my fourth place finish. Not running as quickly as I would have a few months ago was very good for keeping me motivated as I move into the second 10 days of this 1000 day journey.

Enjoy your Sunday,
Chris

Day: 10 .....Time/Date: 8:00AM 9/16/2007 .....Weather:Sunny, Low 50’sF
Run: SpringHill 5K+.... Miles: 4.0 ....Time: 29:02 .....Pace: 7:15 min/mile
Miles to Date: 32.9 .....Total Running Time: 4:12:24 .....Weight: 175

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Glad the weatherman was wrong

Day 9 - September 15, 2007

The forecast for this morning had been heavy rains from the remnants of Humberto. I guess the storm tracked farther south, because this morning was gorgeous. Clear skies and cool breezes made this one of the most pleasant mornings in a long time. This would have been a perfect fall morning to crank out 10+miles. If the weather is even close to this tomorrow, it will be a great race.

This challenge has been good for me already. I haven't been excited about a race since July of 2006. Unfortunately, an unexpected trip caused me to miss that race and my enthusiasm for running spiraled down to near all time lows following that disappointment. I'm really looking forward to challenging the clock tomorrow. It will be good to establish a baseline to judge my progress by over the next few months.

Check back tomorrow to see if I still feel that way after the race.

Chris

Day: 9.....Time/Date: 7:30AM 9/15/2007..... Weather:Clear,windy, 62F
Run: Amicus 2 Mile..... Miles: 2.0 .....Time: 14:25..... Pace: 7:12 min/mile
Miles to Date: 28.9 .....Total Running Time: 3:43:22 .....Weight: 175

Friday, September 14, 2007

Race preparations

Day 8 - September 14, 2007

As I mentioned yesterday, I'm planning to run my first 5K of the year. This is a very low key race as most of the areas top runners will be pounding the roads on Saturday at the Pepsi 10K. The 5K is the first annual Spring Hill 5K to benefit Greene County Public Schools. To be a little different, the race will be run entirely on trail, which is something I haven't done much of since high school. I am very excited about getting back into the woods and off the roads.

I'm not doing a lot to prepare for this race as it is very early in my training- I'll basically use it as a speed workout and just see what I can do, but I will cut back my mileage and pace tomorrow so that I can have fresh legs on Sunday morning. When I get in a little better shape, I'll taper down for my races, but I'm running such short distances these days, any amount of taper and I won't keep the streak active. I'll go on record and set a modest goal of 23:15 for the 3.1 mile course - hopefully I will be well below that.

Enjoy your Friday,
Chris

Day: 8 .....Time/Date: 5:35AM 9/14/2007 .....Weather:mostly cloudy, 61F
Run: Geranium-Amicus .....Miles: 3.5 .....Time: 26:11 .....Pace: 7:29 min/mile
Miles to Date: 26.9 .....Total Running Time: 3:28:57 .....Weight: 175

Thursday, September 13, 2007

One week down

Day 7 - September 13, 2007

Wow, I can't believe it has been a week already. I didn't log a lot of miles, but I'm pleased that I've completed seven days with no major aches or pains and haven't even considered a day off. I know it sounds cheesy to think that, but prior to this I typically would only run 5 days a week sometimes only 4. I valued my rest days. As I go forward, you'll be able to tell when I'm taking a rest day by the shorter mileage and slower pace.

While today was a shorter run, it would not be what I would consider a rest day. This morning I decided to open it up a bit and see if I could get the legs to turn over a little quicker. I felt pretty good as I started up the first road, so I decided to push it a bit harder. I have a hard time judging my pace when running in the dark, so I didn't know what to expect for a time. How pleased was I when I realized that I had completed the 2 miles in under 7:00 min/mile pace. I think this is a good sign for the upcoming race on Sunday - I talk more about that tomorrow.

Chris

Day: 7 .....Time/Date: 6:00AM 9/13/2007..... Weather:mostly cloudy, 53F
Run: Amicus 2 mile .....Miles: 2.0 .....Time: 13:56 .....Pace: 6:58 min/mile
Miles to Date: 23.4 ......Total Running Time: 3:02:46 .....Weight: 175

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

What a difference a day makes

Day 6, September 12, 2007

The weather was as close to perfect as you can get this morning. Crisp and clear - the stars were out in full force as I stretched on the front porch. I was a bit undecided this morning on how far I would go, but not wanting to waste a good morning I decided against the 2 mile short run and chose the Carnation hill and Davis run. It was a bit too dark to see anything interesting and I was bit pre-occupied by the couple of commuters who put me into the ditch, but I still enjoyed watching the sky transition from deep navy blue to something much lighter. It was cool to see the small sliver of orange on the easter horizon race upwards as if it were trying to catch Venus as it rocketed above the tree line. I suppose I should get used to running in the dark since the sunrise is taking longer and longer to come about these days. I don't look forward to that, but I'll try not to be deterred.

Enjoy the day,
Chris


Day: 6..... Time/Date: 6:00AM 9/12/2007..... Weather:Clear, 58F
Run: N Carnation-Davis .....Miles: 3.6 .....Time: 27:31 .....Pace: 7:39 min/mile
Miles to Date: 21.4 ....Total Running Time: 2:48:49 Weight: 176

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Was that a run or a swim?

Day 5, September 11, 2007

The thunderstorms and heavy rains of last night left this area completely saturated. The air was so thick this morning I was afraid that one deep breath too many and I would drown. I do not enjoy running when it is this humid, but no way I was going to be a loser after just 5 days.

I started out on a route I hoped was going to be about 4 miles. I immediately felt the hills from yesterday in my Achilles. I guess I need to remember to stretch more because the goal is not to just run, but to run injury free.

The run ended up being about a quarter mile shorter than I had hoped, but good enough for the first week. There were enough hills to make it a challenge and I was very happy to click the watch off when I had reached the driveway. Hopefully tomorrow will be less humid.

Day: 5..... Time/Date: 8:40AM 9/11/2007 .....Weather:Cloudy, humid, 74F
Run: Carnation-Goldenrod..... Miles: 3.8 .....Time: 29:20 .....Pace: 7:43 min/mile
Miles to Date: 17.8 .....Total Running Time: 2:21:18 .....Weight: 175

Monday, September 10, 2007

So what counts as a run?

Day 4 - September 10, 2007

So the big question is - What counts as a run? I think I could ask 10 people and probably get 10 different answers. I know that some days it is going to be really difficult to find the time to get out on the road. The weather will be lousy, family will be in town, the kids activities will get in the way. The excuses are endless.

So I need to set a minimum distance at a reasonable pace fort he run to count. For me, I think that will be 1 mile completed in under 10 minutes. That way, walking the dog won't be a temptation to skip a run, but a quick jog with the wife would count. How often will I run that slow or that short? NOt very, but ont he off occassion that I'm pressed to sneak in a run, that should work.

Now, to make sure I don't start short changing myself, I'm also going to set a total distance goal for these 1000 days. Over these 1000 days, I plan to run 4400 miles. I was originally going to set the bar at 5000, but I realized that on a good week, 35 miles was tough to accomplish. And since it will take me a few weeks to get back into 35 mile/week shape, I don't want to start so too far behind.

So why 4400? Well that allows me to mythically run from San Diego, CA, up into the heart of the country and finish somewhere on the East coast - probably either Key West FL or the Outer Banks of NC, depending on where I want to finish. I've got plenty of time to decide, but it will give me another piece of motivation if I can track my progress on a map.

Today's run was quite uneventful. No deer in the mist this morning, but I did enjoy watching the sky go from dark blue, to red, to pink and back to blue, and did see a Great Blue Heron fly up by my side as I crossed Beazley Creek. I was surprised with the ease at which I climbed the long hill despite my heavy breathing at the top. It was good to get out for more than 2 or 3 miles this morning despite the nearly constant stream of Monday morning commuters.

-Chris
Day: 4..... Time/Date: 6:10AM 9/10/2007..... Weather:Clear, 67F
Run: Beazley..... Miles: 5.1..... Time: 41:06..... Pace: 8:04 min/mile
Miles to Date: 14 .....Total Running Time: 1:51:58..... Weight: 176

Sunday, September 9, 2007

Tiny crescent moon

Day 3 - September 9, 2007

Another beautiful morning made it pretty easy to get out and run this morning. Stepping out the door, I noticed the tiniest sliver of light painting a perfect smile on the bottom of the rising moon. I decided today to extend my normal Davis run a little further than normal and introduce an early hill. The hill itself is short (less than a couple hundred yards long), but it is steep enough to get the blood pumping. I pushed up the hill and then enjoyed the gentle grades of the remaining miles. As I passed the same pasture as Friday, the mist was filling all the low areas and parallel pink clouds dissected the brightening blue sky. At the south end of the meadow, a doe and her fawn spot me coming down the path. With one graceful leap, the doe cleared all 8 strands and 6 feet of wire. The fawn took the linebacker approach and bull-rushed the third and fourth wires. I continued on and enjoyed the quiet morning. I had but one car to share the road with this morning. The reamining miles clicked away and before I realized it, I was home. If the next 997 days go like today, this thing will be easy.

Enjoy your Sunday,
Chris

Day: 3....Time/Date: 6:20AM 9/9/2007.....Weather:Clear, 60F
Run: N Carnation to Davis.....Miles: 3.6.....Time: 29:05....Pace: 8:05 min/mile
Miles to Date: 8.9.....Total Running Time: 1:10:52

Saturday, September 8, 2007

Introductions continued:

Day 2 - September 8, 2007

Hey, its officially a streak now - 2. After a late night of backyard camping, I still managed to get out for a short run this morning. It felt a lot warmer than yesterday, but still was a very enjoyable morning. There's really nothing special about this run today - other than being able to avoid a lot of very fast moving cars and trucks. I quickly remembered why I prefer to run early in the morning before the non-running world is beginning their day.

So with that out of the way, I thought I'd share my running history and how I reached this point in the journey. Growing up, running was just what I did - when I played, I played hard. School was a necessary evil of being able to play sports - it was the break time between football, basketball, kickball, and baseball. When I got to highschool, I played football for exactly 1 season and played exactly 2 plays all season. Apparently my 5'8", 105 lbs, was not what the team needed. So my sophomore year, instead of football, I went out for cross-country. Those first few pre-season training runs were pitiful. I'd run way to fast, exhaust myself, and have to stop. But, with the help of an amazing coach, I learned the value of pace. Going out for the team, I had no expectations of how successful I would be. When the first race came, wow did I surprise myself. On a very talented team, I finished 4th in my first race. By the end of my high school career I had worked up to the #1 runner on the team and earned all-State honors. I went on to run one year at the college level before my lab classes started interfering with afternoon practices. Without a team to be accountable to, my running career was put on hold for several years.

In 1999, I was asked to work with the high school track team and began running with the kids. Slowly I worked myself back into shape and started getting serious about running. I even ran a few local 5ks and did ok. But then I got the marathon bug. In November of 1999, I completed my first of 2 career marathons in a slower than expected, but respectable 3:45. Two years later I would repeat that marathon and lowered my time to by almost 15 minutes to 3:31. Some day I hope to run another marathon, but not this year.

So, I've been running consistently again since 1999 and have now logged over 11,000 miles in my career. Until the last year, I had been very active in the local racing circuit, and hope to return to racing form by next spring. I generally prefer the longer races as I don't have the speed of my youth. My favorite races are 10 milers and half marathons, but I still enjoy a fast 5K.

Over the next couple of days, I'll talk more about my racing and running goals and where I'd like to be on June 3, 2010, when these 1000 days are completed. Until then, just keep putting one foot in front of the other and enjoy the miles as they click on by. Thanks for checking in.

-Chris

Day: 2

Time/Date: 9:30AM 9/8/2007

Weather:Sunny, 75F

Run: Amicus 2 Mile

Miles: 2.0

Time: 15:08

Pace: 7:34 min/mile

Miles to Date: 5.4

Total Running Time: 0:41:47

Friday, September 7, 2007

Introductions and why.

Day 1 - September 7, 2007

Hey - and congratulations on finding this needle in the blogosphere. This morning I decided I needed some motivation. My fitness running has become pretty stale - downright pitiful this summer. To say I've been streaky would be the understatement of the year. After running for 13 straight days, I decided to take a day off - well 1 becomes 2, 2 becomes 4, and 18 days later I'm wondering if I even remember how to run.

But, today is different. I actually got out of bed when the alarm went off, put on my shoes, and set out for a 3+ mile run. And it went well. I cruised up the gentle slope for the first half mile, stayed a pretty even pace for the next half mile, then turned onto Davis RD. That's when it hit me. Something about the sound of crushed gravel passing beneath each stride reminded me of why I love to run. As the sun approached the horizon and the sky started to blush, I looked out across the pasture passing on my left, and there in the mist of ground fog were two deer. Ever alert they watched me pass. It was a postcard moment for me.

As I entered the woods, I began to wonder how many other moments like this have I been missing. Does an extra 30 minutes of sleep really matter or would I better off immersed in the wonders each morning has to offer? As you may have guessed from the title, I've decided to skip the extra 30 minutes and get my lazy butt out of bed.

Now comes the hard part - motivation. Sure it is easy on a perfect morning like today, but what happens when its dark, 12 degrees and windy? I needed a hook - something that I would be accountable to. So - inspired by Reid Stowe & Soanya Ahmad's amazing adventure: http://1000daysatsea.blogspot.com/ I decided that I was going to try and run everyday for 1000 days straight. This will not be an easy task for me - I like my days off. But never the less - I'm going for it and we'll see how far I get.

Over the next several days, I'll share my runs, my experiences, and the bits of running wisdom I have gained over the years. Some days, the posts will get pretty short, but I'll do my best to post something new everyday.

Will I make it 1000 days? Hard to say right now, but when I run tomorrow, it will be 1 day closer to achieving the goal.

Thanks for sticking with me this far. I hope you'll follow me on this 3 year journey.

Until tomorrow,
Chris

Day Time/Date Run Distance Time Weather Today's weight
1 6:15 9/7/2007 Davis Run 3.4 0:26:39 Clear, 70F 175