Well, Christmas time is here! Sitting here just doing nothing, sipping on a wonderful 21 year old Scotch, wearing the very appropriate Santa Stampede shirt. Watched it snow on and off all day. Drove around last night and looked at lights until the roads started to get a little too slick.
A friends recent Facebook post made me think back on a question. The post I saw says:
Just a reminder-- life is way too short not to tell the people you love that you love them. You never know when tomorrow won't come.
The question that was posed to me a while ago, was why I decided to go with the name "Running Like There's No Tomorrow". Why would I want to run if there is no tomorrow, what's the point? Well, it's simple. You just don't know when that next tomorrow won't come. And I'm not talking about life or death, although that does hold true. You just never know what is next that could stop and prevent you from doing what it is you love. I could step and slip on ice tomorrow and so severely hurt something that I may never run again.
A lot of things have been put into perspective and I've learned so much over this last year. In the scheme of things, we are very small, and the time that we're here isn't that long. But we can accomplish amazing things in that time, both for ourselves, and for our friends, family, and fellow human beings. Take in every minute and make it your best. Tell those around you how much you appreciate and love them. And remember, that in what ever you do, you're never doing it alone. Even if that person is not there physically with you, you never, NEVER, are fighting alone.
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Looking forward to 2014
Well, 2013 is almost over. I've come along way. Five races between September and December, with the final one in Colorado. Wow! I never thought I'd accomplish anything like that. I loved every minute, even the ones with frustrating registration and courses. I can only see things getting better in 2014.
So far, I have registered for the 2014 Crazylegs Classic in Madison at the end of April. Beyond that I've still got my eye on BolderBoulder a month later on Memorial Day. I think there are at least three races that I did this past year that I will run again. So, if you're considering making a donation to an organization this next year, you'll have plenty of opertunities.
First, I have my StandUp2Cancer team, with a goal of $1000 by May 26, the date of BolderBoulder. I really like this one as all the money goes to research. You can made just a general donation, or you can make it in memory or honor of someone you know who has been affected by cancer. Definatly worth checking out.
I do plan on running two other charity races. I plan on running in Carbones Race for Research, which benefits the University of Wisconins's Carbone Cancer Center. This was the first race I ran, and I think will always hold that special place. Hopefully this next year they'll get the distance right. I also plan on running in the Make A Wish run that I did spur of the moment this last year. That one was just so rewarding seeing the Wish kids along the course and hearing some of their stories, or the stories of why some of the teams had formed.
I'm also open to suggestions of organizations to run for. If you have one that you like, please, let me know about it and I'll see if there is a race near by, or if I can kind of hook up with them like it did with SU2C.
So far, I have registered for the 2014 Crazylegs Classic in Madison at the end of April. Beyond that I've still got my eye on BolderBoulder a month later on Memorial Day. I think there are at least three races that I did this past year that I will run again. So, if you're considering making a donation to an organization this next year, you'll have plenty of opertunities.
First, I have my StandUp2Cancer team, with a goal of $1000 by May 26, the date of BolderBoulder. I really like this one as all the money goes to research. You can made just a general donation, or you can make it in memory or honor of someone you know who has been affected by cancer. Definatly worth checking out.
I do plan on running two other charity races. I plan on running in Carbones Race for Research, which benefits the University of Wisconins's Carbone Cancer Center. This was the first race I ran, and I think will always hold that special place. Hopefully this next year they'll get the distance right. I also plan on running in the Make A Wish run that I did spur of the moment this last year. That one was just so rewarding seeing the Wish kids along the course and hearing some of their stories, or the stories of why some of the teams had formed.
I'm also open to suggestions of organizations to run for. If you have one that you like, please, let me know about it and I'll see if there is a race near by, or if I can kind of hook up with them like it did with SU2C.
Monday, December 16, 2013
Training for Colorado
So I was just asked on my Facebook how I prepared for running in Colorado with the crazy elevation change. Other than really working on getting myself physically fit, I did some quick research. A Google search lead me to an elevation training mask, www.trainingmask.com. As goofy as it looks, and maybe as scary as it looks, I'm a believer. The mask can simulate air density from 3000 feet to 18,000 feet.
With an elevation of just over 1000 feet here at home, and about 5300 feet at the race venue in Colorado, I needed something. I've been going out to Colorado for the past few years, maybe twice a year. Each trip was never involving anything really physically demanding. That was probably a good thing. Even just walks around a park were enough to get me winded. I started with it at it's lowest setting, 3000 feet. I did my normal workouts with it on. At first I could only last a few minutes. Soon I was going 30 minutes to an hour no problem. Time to turn it up! All this started about 2 months before the race. Kept working up, eventually doing my workouts at the 12000 foot setting. I ran with it a couple of times at 3000 feet. It sure felt different. But 3000 feet wasn't going to cut it. And really, that would be close to 4000 feet when you take into account the existing elevation. I was still 1000 feet short. So on a couple of my last runs before heading out west, I adjusted it to the 6000 foot setting (now simulating 7000 feet). I was now running at an simulated elevation well over what was needed.
I flew into Denver on a Wednesday morning with the intention of giving myself a good day or so to adjust and run late Thursday. I didn't wait until late. I went out Thursday morning, found a great park, and knocked out 2.5 miles no sweat. Felt great after, and for the rest of the day. Lots and lots of water. If you've never been to the Denver area, water is one of your biggest friends. You can't drink enough out there. Between the altitude and being high desert (that's right, desert), you dehydrate easily. Rested pretty much the remainder of Thursday. Went on a long walk around a museum and the zoo on Friday. No alcohol on Friday, as much as I wanted a beer with my sushi.
Up early on Saturday. Had my Shakeology breakfast, about 24 ounces of water, and then 8 ounces of water mixed with Cellucore's N0 Extreme about 30 minutes prior to race time. During the race, I had two bottles with 8oz of water mixed with Cellucore BCAA. I think I only touched my water once during the race. I really felt good. Not a lot of huffing and puffing coming out of me. There were a lot of people slowing and really working hard to breathe just after the first mile alone. I just kept going. The final sprint was up hill, and really was amazing. When I finished I really did feel like I could have done more, and it almost seemed like it was short. But between the race map being accurately measured, and my running app, it was correct, maybe even just a little longer. After I got back to my hotel, I did crash. It was mostly one of those tired from being up at 5 in the morning and the emotional drain of it all.
Rocked that race out! Looking forward to doing all again for a 10k in May!
With an elevation of just over 1000 feet here at home, and about 5300 feet at the race venue in Colorado, I needed something. I've been going out to Colorado for the past few years, maybe twice a year. Each trip was never involving anything really physically demanding. That was probably a good thing. Even just walks around a park were enough to get me winded. I started with it at it's lowest setting, 3000 feet. I did my normal workouts with it on. At first I could only last a few minutes. Soon I was going 30 minutes to an hour no problem. Time to turn it up! All this started about 2 months before the race. Kept working up, eventually doing my workouts at the 12000 foot setting. I ran with it a couple of times at 3000 feet. It sure felt different. But 3000 feet wasn't going to cut it. And really, that would be close to 4000 feet when you take into account the existing elevation. I was still 1000 feet short. So on a couple of my last runs before heading out west, I adjusted it to the 6000 foot setting (now simulating 7000 feet). I was now running at an simulated elevation well over what was needed.
I flew into Denver on a Wednesday morning with the intention of giving myself a good day or so to adjust and run late Thursday. I didn't wait until late. I went out Thursday morning, found a great park, and knocked out 2.5 miles no sweat. Felt great after, and for the rest of the day. Lots and lots of water. If you've never been to the Denver area, water is one of your biggest friends. You can't drink enough out there. Between the altitude and being high desert (that's right, desert), you dehydrate easily. Rested pretty much the remainder of Thursday. Went on a long walk around a museum and the zoo on Friday. No alcohol on Friday, as much as I wanted a beer with my sushi.
Up early on Saturday. Had my Shakeology breakfast, about 24 ounces of water, and then 8 ounces of water mixed with Cellucore's N0 Extreme about 30 minutes prior to race time. During the race, I had two bottles with 8oz of water mixed with Cellucore BCAA. I think I only touched my water once during the race. I really felt good. Not a lot of huffing and puffing coming out of me. There were a lot of people slowing and really working hard to breathe just after the first mile alone. I just kept going. The final sprint was up hill, and really was amazing. When I finished I really did feel like I could have done more, and it almost seemed like it was short. But between the race map being accurately measured, and my running app, it was correct, maybe even just a little longer. After I got back to my hotel, I did crash. It was mostly one of those tired from being up at 5 in the morning and the emotional drain of it all.
Rocked that race out! Looking forward to doing all again for a 10k in May!
Sunday, December 15, 2013
Success in Colorado!
Colorado was awesome! Some great running out there. I flew in bright and early Wednesday morning, hit up my favourite breakfast place then off to Fort Collins for a brewery tour. Brewery tour turned into a beer or two after along with an amazing maple and bacon waffle. Then back to Denver to rest and hydrate.
Thursday brought another wonderful sunny morning. Had breakfast and then headed out for a run. There's a great park in Stapleton, on MLK boulevard. It's on the site of the old Denver airport. The tower is still there. Lots of paved trails and open spaces. That run felt really good. I only ran about 2.5 miles in 22 minutes. Fairly steady pace. It was fairly warm, great running weather. Not even 24 hours there and I was moving. Not even winded. Went back to my hotel room and got cleaned up for what ever the rest of the day had in store for me.
Saturday morning came. It was cold, about 20 degrees when I got to the venue. But the sun was out so that helped. Met a family also from Wisconsin who was out there on vacation and their 9 year old daughter was running in the 5k as well (it was also her first Colorado race). After the national anthem we all walked down to the starting line, formed some sort of blob and started. The course was fairly narrow, think two lane bike path. For the first mile or so it was a lot of passing off of the path. The first mile went by fast. Soon things got sorted out and I found a comfortable pace. No huffing and puffing from me, but there sure was from quite a few other people. The course followed a creek, and was quite scenic. Overall I'm very happy with how I did. Finished 197 out of 777, 14th out of 28 in my 35-39 mens group, with a time of 28:58.
Thursday brought another wonderful sunny morning. Had breakfast and then headed out for a run. There's a great park in Stapleton, on MLK boulevard. It's on the site of the old Denver airport. The tower is still there. Lots of paved trails and open spaces. That run felt really good. I only ran about 2.5 miles in 22 minutes. Fairly steady pace. It was fairly warm, great running weather. Not even 24 hours there and I was moving. Not even winded. Went back to my hotel room and got cleaned up for what ever the rest of the day had in store for me.
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| Stapleton, CO. |
Saturday morning came. It was cold, about 20 degrees when I got to the venue. But the sun was out so that helped. Met a family also from Wisconsin who was out there on vacation and their 9 year old daughter was running in the 5k as well (it was also her first Colorado race). After the national anthem we all walked down to the starting line, formed some sort of blob and started. The course was fairly narrow, think two lane bike path. For the first mile or so it was a lot of passing off of the path. The first mile went by fast. Soon things got sorted out and I found a comfortable pace. No huffing and puffing from me, but there sure was from quite a few other people. The course followed a creek, and was quite scenic. Overall I'm very happy with how I did. Finished 197 out of 777, 14th out of 28 in my 35-39 mens group, with a time of 28:58.
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| Hudson Gardens, Littleton, CO |
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| Out on the course |
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| Feeling good after a great finish |
Sunday, December 8, 2013
Bring it on!
Well, here I am. Less than a week from heading to Colorado. I'm feeling good. Ran this morning in the cold, 13 degrees, and did it in under 26 minutes with my mask set to 6000 feet. The snow is starting to fall now. I was planning on running on Tuesday before I head out West, but that might not happen. The cold isn't really as much of an issue as how the road or trail conditions will be after the snow. So, this might have been my last run before heading out. That's ok. It'll give me time to rest, and I'll try to run on Thursday.
It really is amazing how much positive thinking can help with performance. Yes it was cold. Yes I was giving myself a "disadvantage" by wearing my elevation mask. And yes I hurt a bit. But I thought of all the positive things while out on my run. How compaired to other things in my life, or in others lives, this is nothing. It's 3 miles. I can do it! Even when I felt myself slowing, I'd dig deep and find something to help push me along. Todays run was just under 26 minutes. I'm happy with that. Very happy. Between the cold, the rutted up trail and sucking air through that mask, I killed my run. I am so ready for next Saturday. I'm sure it will still be a challenge, but I am ready. I'm ready to go there, run, finish and find my name on that results sheet. I'm ready to see all the names with Colorado cities next to them, and then find my Wisconsin city name, and show them that some guy from the lowlands can compete just as good if not better.
Bring it on Colorado! I'm coming for you.
It really is amazing how much positive thinking can help with performance. Yes it was cold. Yes I was giving myself a "disadvantage" by wearing my elevation mask. And yes I hurt a bit. But I thought of all the positive things while out on my run. How compaired to other things in my life, or in others lives, this is nothing. It's 3 miles. I can do it! Even when I felt myself slowing, I'd dig deep and find something to help push me along. Todays run was just under 26 minutes. I'm happy with that. Very happy. Between the cold, the rutted up trail and sucking air through that mask, I killed my run. I am so ready for next Saturday. I'm sure it will still be a challenge, but I am ready. I'm ready to go there, run, finish and find my name on that results sheet. I'm ready to see all the names with Colorado cities next to them, and then find my Wisconsin city name, and show them that some guy from the lowlands can compete just as good if not better.
Bring it on Colorado! I'm coming for you.
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