We all set goals. Some are small and easy to achieve. Some are big and seem unobtainable. I've set a lot of goals over the last two years. Every goal I have set, no matter how big or small, I have either reached or crushed. I'm working on a new goal. And I know I can do it. It's going to be hard, but I'm going to do it, and I will come out on top.
So last week, my friend who kind of got me going with the running for cancer research, broke the news that she would be going away for the next 12 weeks to work on getting healthy. The details are a little vague, but, she has a right to privacy. The good news was that there were not any new tumors, just the leukemia. So I guess that's a positive. So anyway, for the next 12 weeks, she's going to be in a fight, and promises that she's going to kick this think in the butt. So I thought to myself, why not show a little extra support. After all, no one fights alone, and when you've got friends, you're never alone.
So for the next 12 weeks, I'm going to running an extra mile a week. This week, I'm simply going to toss in one, 1 mile run, somewhere in the week. Next week, I'll do a 2 mile run. The week after that 3 miles. So each week, on top of what I'm already doing, I keep adding a mile on to a run. So at 12 weeks, I will have one 12 mile run to do. Seems like a tough distance, seeing as I'm currently maxing out at 6 miles. But, I know I can do it. I've always made every goal I've put out there. Even if at 12 weeks I'm a mile or two short, I won't feel bad. I'm fighting for every mile. What I'm battling for is nothing compared to what others have to deal with. Sure, my feet, lets, joints, might hurt after. But that pain can quickly be replaced by know that deep down inside I'm doing something good. Something amazing.
So remember this. You're never fighting alone. As long as you've got close friends, they will be with you where ever you are, even if they are far away. You might not be able to call them, Tweet to them, Facebook or anything like that, but they are with you. Just never give up on yourself, and they will never leave you behind.
Monday, June 30, 2014
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Wonderful day to run
Today was my second 10k race. This time, Oregon. No, not state. Oregon Wisconsin. Today was their annual Oregon Summer Fest. They have both 10k and 5k races. I really want to work on my 10k time so I can hopefully move up a wave or two in Boulder next year, and just get better at that distance overall.
The weather for today was to be a little on the iffy side. Chance of rain. No rain. Sunny and warm. Already well into the 70s by 9am. Things felt good today. I really felt like I had a good shot at improving my time over BolderBoulder a month ago. And I did! Official time (gun time) 54:46, 31 out of 57, and 11 of 16 in my division of men aged 30-39. For reference, my BB time was 57:34. So close to a 3 minute improvement. And since May, I've only run the distance once or twice before today. A lot of very strong runners out there today, quite a few in high school. The only time anyone ever passed me was just out of the start as we were getting settled in and sorted out. After the first 3/4 mile, no one passed. That's always a good feeling. I don't think I passed anyone either. I was kind of alone, just the way I like it.
Still trying to figure out this eating thing the night before a race. I've done the pasta thing, that did nothing. Sushi and burgers seem to hit the spot. Last night was some amazing ribs, chicken and potato salad.
But today was a success. The next 10k that I know for sure I'll be running is the Berby Derby on Thanksgiving Day. Might sneak one in before then, just have to wait and see what comes my way.
Oh! And speaking of BolderBoulder, my official stat sheet came in the mail today! Another great service included in the registration price. Gotta love those guys!
The weather for today was to be a little on the iffy side. Chance of rain. No rain. Sunny and warm. Already well into the 70s by 9am. Things felt good today. I really felt like I had a good shot at improving my time over BolderBoulder a month ago. And I did! Official time (gun time) 54:46, 31 out of 57, and 11 of 16 in my division of men aged 30-39. For reference, my BB time was 57:34. So close to a 3 minute improvement. And since May, I've only run the distance once or twice before today. A lot of very strong runners out there today, quite a few in high school. The only time anyone ever passed me was just out of the start as we were getting settled in and sorted out. After the first 3/4 mile, no one passed. That's always a good feeling. I don't think I passed anyone either. I was kind of alone, just the way I like it.
Still trying to figure out this eating thing the night before a race. I've done the pasta thing, that did nothing. Sushi and burgers seem to hit the spot. Last night was some amazing ribs, chicken and potato salad.
But today was a success. The next 10k that I know for sure I'll be running is the Berby Derby on Thanksgiving Day. Might sneak one in before then, just have to wait and see what comes my way.
Oh! And speaking of BolderBoulder, my official stat sheet came in the mail today! Another great service included in the registration price. Gotta love those guys!
Wednesday, June 25, 2014
Wow!
Not too often I've done back to back days of running. Yesterday, I got up early, 5 AM, and went on a short run, well, 2 and a half miles. It felt good. A good start to the day. Maybe I'm a little crazy, but I guess you need to be to be that active so early in the morning. And then today after work, the weather was so nice out. 6.35 miles in 53:40. That really kicked butt! Averaging just under 8:30 a mile, I couldn't be happier. If I can pull that off in my next 10k that would rock. Speaking of, next 10k is this Saturday.
In other news, Team Munky still needs your support. Currently raising funds for Stand Up 2 Cancer and the UW Carbone Cancer Center.
Wow, I'm tired. Going to sleep good tonight.
In other news, Team Munky still needs your support. Currently raising funds for Stand Up 2 Cancer and the UW Carbone Cancer Center.
Wow, I'm tired. Going to sleep good tonight.
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Do what feels good, not what you feel you have to do
So went on a run today after taking a few days rest. I really had been pushing myself hard, and not doing the right thing and taking care of myself. Sure I was eating good, but I wasn't sleeping well. I wasn't doing anything to manage the pain. So after a couple of days off, I went out on a run today. I set out with no goals, no expectations. When I left the house to run, I told Shelly that I the only thing I was going to focus on was "Do what feels good, not what you feel you need to do". And that's exactly what I did.
I set out on from the park as usual, starting at what ever pace felt comfortable, not rushed. For the first time in what feels like forever, I listened to music as well. It felt good. 75, breezy and sunny. Things felt good. I didn't look at my watch for about the first mile and a half. I figured there was no need to as I still felt fresh. Reached a road that crossed the trail and turned around. Nothing was going to stop me.
As I continued my run back to town, I started thinking about the cyclists doing the Hilly Hundred. For years, I haven't had a good opinion of them. They run stop signs, take up the road and not let vehicles pass. Generally they're rude. I'm sure it's like anything, I've seen the ones that give the rest a bad name. But today, I saw them in a different light. They were out there pushing themselves for 100 miles on some of the hilliest roads in south west Wisconsin. As I got back into town, I ran past some of them while they rested. Wait. You mean these guys are human? They need a break like the rest of us? For all the what ever that they show, they still need to stop and show weakness? Hmmm, maybe they aren't all bad.
It gave me a bit of drive. It kind of lifted me up seeing them push hard. Looked at my watch, around 5 miles. I can do more! I kept going. I decided that when the trail hit the county road, I'd take the road back and make a loop back to the park. This last stretch of the run I was running downhill as the cyclists were going up. I've been shown love by so many people on runs, people who are not running, but show up to support all of us. I decided to do the same for these men and women. Ever little group that passed me, I clapped for. From one athlete to another. I could tell they appriciated it. I got smiles, thank yous and a high five. It felt good. I know when people have done that for me, it's given me that little bit of a boost. I never knew it worked both ways.
Yup. It was a good day. I did something good for myself, and made some people smile.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/607684561
I set out on from the park as usual, starting at what ever pace felt comfortable, not rushed. For the first time in what feels like forever, I listened to music as well. It felt good. 75, breezy and sunny. Things felt good. I didn't look at my watch for about the first mile and a half. I figured there was no need to as I still felt fresh. Reached a road that crossed the trail and turned around. Nothing was going to stop me.
As I continued my run back to town, I started thinking about the cyclists doing the Hilly Hundred. For years, I haven't had a good opinion of them. They run stop signs, take up the road and not let vehicles pass. Generally they're rude. I'm sure it's like anything, I've seen the ones that give the rest a bad name. But today, I saw them in a different light. They were out there pushing themselves for 100 miles on some of the hilliest roads in south west Wisconsin. As I got back into town, I ran past some of them while they rested. Wait. You mean these guys are human? They need a break like the rest of us? For all the what ever that they show, they still need to stop and show weakness? Hmmm, maybe they aren't all bad.
It gave me a bit of drive. It kind of lifted me up seeing them push hard. Looked at my watch, around 5 miles. I can do more! I kept going. I decided that when the trail hit the county road, I'd take the road back and make a loop back to the park. This last stretch of the run I was running downhill as the cyclists were going up. I've been shown love by so many people on runs, people who are not running, but show up to support all of us. I decided to do the same for these men and women. Ever little group that passed me, I clapped for. From one athlete to another. I could tell they appriciated it. I got smiles, thank yous and a high five. It felt good. I know when people have done that for me, it's given me that little bit of a boost. I never knew it worked both ways.
Yup. It was a good day. I did something good for myself, and made some people smile.
http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/607684561
Smile! It's picture time
Finally got around to ordering my pictures from BolderBoulder. Looking at them, they bring back so many good memories. I really can't wait until next year!
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Running and running and running....
So I've been a bit like the Energizer Bunny lately. Three back to back days of running. It's been fun. Today's run wasn't the best. My mind was a bit full and thinking of other things other than running, and there were some cyclists who were really not about sharing the trail at all. Less than 200 yards from starting out, they decide to stop right in the middle of the trail. Had to cut onto the grass. Then they started back up again, passed me, but then I actually caught up to some of them. Mirrors on their bikes, but obviously not using them. Riding two or three wide, hardly moving over for oncoming riders. Then I catch back up to them, start to pass and they pick up speed. Either slow or fast people. It was kind of interesting pacing myself with them, as I could keep up, but it also threw me off, and I really burned out after the first 1.5 miles.
I'm like the dog at the track, chasing the bunny. Put something in front of me that's moving, and I want to pass it. I like competition. I like that feeling of catching up, passing, and not seeing them pass me again. So today, even though I was running with people on bicycles, I still had the same mentality. Around 2 miles, I had to slow to a walk. But, after trying to refocus, I was able to pick back up my run, and finished it out strong.
Speaking of finishing strong! I believe I set a new personal record yesterday. 3.02 miles in 23:47 with a 7:52 average mile. I couldn't believe it. The first mile was so strong, I didn't possibly think I could keep it up for 3 miles, but I did. Not once did my average pace go above 8 minutes. I had already run the previous evening, and usually am a lot slower the next day. But I was faster, by nearly 2 minutes. I had thought I'd go more than 3 miles, but things felt so good, I made my turn at 1.5 and came back. I'm glad I did. Why ruin a perfectly good time by trying to extend the distance. If I can do this on a race day, that would be amazing.
So here we are. Just over 9 miles in the last 3 days, and I feel great. So what's next? Well, I have decided to enter into the Milwaukee Brewers 5k sausage race in July, and I've also entered into the Carbone Race for Research 5k. Also on tap is the Haunted Hustle 5k in October. I've also registered for next years BolderBoulder. I think the month of June, is going to just be some running on my own, some more core and cardio work. I might check out a group run I've heard about on Tuesdays through Endurance House. I think it's safe to say, I'm comfortable with 5k distances, and am beginning to like 10k. I'd like to have one more 10k race this year. There's one next weekend, but I'm not sure if I can be fully ready for it (mostly just being mentally ready).
Sitting here on the back deck, umbrella up, Brewer game on in the background, an empty bottle of New Belgium's Summer Helles, I wonder when the day is going to come where every day can be like this. A run in the morning, then working on my plans for the next. I'd like to think that someday it will happen. That someday I can do something amazing enough to be able to earn this as my job? Only time will tell.
I'm like the dog at the track, chasing the bunny. Put something in front of me that's moving, and I want to pass it. I like competition. I like that feeling of catching up, passing, and not seeing them pass me again. So today, even though I was running with people on bicycles, I still had the same mentality. Around 2 miles, I had to slow to a walk. But, after trying to refocus, I was able to pick back up my run, and finished it out strong.
Speaking of finishing strong! I believe I set a new personal record yesterday. 3.02 miles in 23:47 with a 7:52 average mile. I couldn't believe it. The first mile was so strong, I didn't possibly think I could keep it up for 3 miles, but I did. Not once did my average pace go above 8 minutes. I had already run the previous evening, and usually am a lot slower the next day. But I was faster, by nearly 2 minutes. I had thought I'd go more than 3 miles, but things felt so good, I made my turn at 1.5 and came back. I'm glad I did. Why ruin a perfectly good time by trying to extend the distance. If I can do this on a race day, that would be amazing.
So here we are. Just over 9 miles in the last 3 days, and I feel great. So what's next? Well, I have decided to enter into the Milwaukee Brewers 5k sausage race in July, and I've also entered into the Carbone Race for Research 5k. Also on tap is the Haunted Hustle 5k in October. I've also registered for next years BolderBoulder. I think the month of June, is going to just be some running on my own, some more core and cardio work. I might check out a group run I've heard about on Tuesdays through Endurance House. I think it's safe to say, I'm comfortable with 5k distances, and am beginning to like 10k. I'd like to have one more 10k race this year. There's one next weekend, but I'm not sure if I can be fully ready for it (mostly just being mentally ready).
Sitting here on the back deck, umbrella up, Brewer game on in the background, an empty bottle of New Belgium's Summer Helles, I wonder when the day is going to come where every day can be like this. A run in the morning, then working on my plans for the next. I'd like to think that someday it will happen. That someday I can do something amazing enough to be able to earn this as my job? Only time will tell.
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