A minor hurdle.

I woke up Christmas morning to my amazing, beautiful family, and a head cold. Christmas day I had planned to hold off from my training run anyway, but things progressively became worse for me throughout the day. By Saturday morning I was walking around in a haze of congestion. Needless to say, I have been battling this cold ever since.

My 6 month old son now has the same thing, which me such a helpless feeling for him. If only I could blow his nose! Yesterday I was feeling well enough and had the energy to start the program again. Even though it was only 5 days off, it felt like eternity. It felt amazing to get back out and run again, but my legs starting fatiguing a little earlier then I had expected. Hopefully today will start the process of making things a little easier as I ease back into my runs.

Only a few more weeks until the long runs start to get...LONG!


Wishing everyone a safe and Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

And the temptation of Christmas goodies begins. Great run this morning in the new fluffy powder!

Brrrrrr

It was 3 degrees (with wind chill) today when I went for my run. Granted it was only a 1 mile run, but it was brutal. Again the biggest challenge was the snow getting packed in around my ankles. Having ice cubes form in your shoes is not a great feeling. Surprisingly once I got going, the cold wasn't too bad. The wind was harsh on my exposed face, but my body kept me heated enough and I didn't really notice. It was eerily quite running on the fresh powder, and having traffic roll by on the same. My Yaktrax and new gloves proved to be lifesavers today.

I was still able to train outside in "Blizzard 09" as it has been called by our (cough) amazing local forecasters.

My gear, and it's importance.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I'm am tight wad when it comes to anything but the essentials. If you can't see my toe poking out of the hole(s) in my dress socks, they still have some life in them. That being said, I've really come to appreciate the value of good running gear.

In the next few months I'm going to be about ready for a new pair of shoes. Unfortunately I didn't start keeping track of my latest shoe mileage soon enough, but I know I'm probably upwards of 250 miles on them now. Right now I'm running on a pair of Asics GT-2140s. I probably spent a solid 2 weeks earlier this year in search of my next pair of shoes. I have a fussy ankle and hip, caused by multiple injuries from several years ago. I was partial to Saucony, tried a few pair of Brooks too, but ultimately the best "feel" in both comfort and support came from the Asics. Almost instantly some of the normal aches and pains went away. Now that I'm coming up on getting another pair, I'm wondering if I should stick with what I know works, or try something different.

Under my shoes, I've got a few pair of Balega socks. They have been perfect all year for keeping my feet blister free, and comfy. Now that the weather is turning, I need to get another pair that come up a bit further than my ankles. I'm leaning towards a pair of black Smart Wool running socks.

When the weather dropped under 50, I went out and bought a pair of basic Asics leggings. They aren't very thick, and not really insulated at all, but so far they have done the trick. I was out the other day in 24 degree windy and snow, and my legs stayed nice and toasty. I wear a pair of shorts over them for added warmth and mental security. :) They really do help in muscle support and recovery after a run.

Throughout the summer, I learned the hard way that wearing cotton tops is NOT the way to go. I eventually started wearing a Brooks performance shirt that helped wick moisture away. A few weeks ago I purchased an Under Armour Mock Turtleneck from DICK'S (Black Friday sale!). It's compression fitting, which really supports your muscles and keeps the blood moving. That has been an amazing help in the cold runs.

My wife and I had our 2 year anniversary about a month ago, and she got me an Under Armour Cold Gear Illusion jacket. I was having issues either getting too warm, or being too chilly. This thing, is amazing. It has built in wind protection in the chest which eliminates any chill getting in. The underarm and back has thin ventilated areas that keep the air moving through your upper body. At first I thought this might allow for some cold air to get in, but it really just circulates the hot air out at the right time. It regulates your body temperature really well, from warm up to cool down. It's also highly visible, but still looks great.

After using a pair of nylon gloves for all of my previous cold weather runs, I now have a pair of Under Armour Cold Gear fleece gloves. Today was the first time I used them, and they seem to keep the wind out and the heat in!

Lastly, are the Yaktrax. A few days ago when we got hit with all of this snow, I didn't have them and still was able to keep good footing. This was in part because the snow was still fluff, and not ice. The day I picked up the Yaktrax, the sidewalks were packed snow and ice. It took some effort to get them strapped onto my shoes. I felt like they might break if I stretched them too much. The tight fit ended up helping in my overall confidence of them on my run. The first patch of ice I approached, I instinctively tensed up, only to be surprised at how well the Yaktrax actually worked. There was no slip at all. Through snow, slush and ice, they kept just as good a hold on my shoe as pavement. My only complaint is that you really have to be running on a surface that is covered with snow or ice. I'm not sure how long they will last if you do run on pavement with them, but it's not recommended. I came across a few patches on my first run, and noticed some scuffs and gouges on the wires. For all I know, they might hold up great, but I don't want to test the durability too quickly. For days like today, I was torn as to whether or not I should wear them. I didn't, and regretted it when I came by the slick spots.

All in all, I think my winter gear collection is getting close to being set. A new pair of socks, something to keep my neck warm, and maybe some gaiters for those snow drifts. I hear we are supposed to get slammed with a winter storm in the next few days, so I'll really be able to test out my own limitations on the extra wintery days.

It's officially winter!

I woke up yesterday to about 9 inches of snow. Overnight, it turned into a winter wonderland. This time last year I think we had already seen our first few storms come and go. I'm not thrilled with the road conditions, but the snow helps get everyone in the Christmas spirit, and helps all of those lights I put up really shine!

There was a small window of time for me to run yesterday. I decided to brave the blizzard at about 8am. Of course none of the roads or sidewalks had been plowed or shoveled yet, so that made things a bit interesting. Traction really wasn't much of an issue so much as snow being packed in my shoes. My new running jacket kept me perfectly toasty, but I really quickly found out what my Christmas list would have on it: new gloves, gaiters for my shoes, something to better protect my ears, wool socks, and traction control.

I went out this morning an purchased a set of Yaktrax from Striders in Grandville. Now that everyone has had a chance to clear the sidewalks, I'm sure it won't be quite as forgiving as fluffy snow. I had done quite a bit of research and asking around about what the best option was for traction. I found Yaktrax and Stabilicers were the most used. I read good and bad about both, and decided to try my luck with Yaktrax. I'll let you know my thoughts after my run in a few hours!

Here comes the snow.

It looks like I might have to get my snow gear ready pretty soon!

The past few days have been trying in more ways than one. It was the one day of the year my boss decided to treat me to lunch. That would have been great except for the fact that he wanted Chinese, which always leaves me feeling...blah. I managed to get by with a side of steamed rice and a bowl of hot and sour soup (extra hot). Usually I would have opted for the 2lb platter of Kung Pao Chicken. Somehow it still managed to do a number to my stomach.

My run yesterday was an easy 1 miler per the training guide, which was quite a change of pace from what I've been doing. It seemed like I no longer walked out the door, and I was cooling down coming into the driveway. Last year I had an episode of pain that lasted about a month, coming from my anterior hip area. Lately the sensitivity has been back, but not as bad as it was before. I'm trying to be extremely conservative with my pace now, and am really focusing on warm ups, cool downs, and stretches. I would be devastated if my journey came to an early end because of an injury I could have prevented. I know the only reason it would get any worse at this point is from overuse, which I learned last year.

Unfortunately today has been a fairly unproductive day in the office, mainly due to a lack of sleep. Last night one of our "canine kids" suffered some sort of neck strain that sent her into a tailspin of agony, and uncontrollable, heart wrenching yelps. I ended up taking her to the Animal ER at about 8:30pm. She was given an IV of Morphine, and was sent home with an extensive treatment plan, including more meds. We didn't get back home until about midnight, and poor Pepper was so wobbly from the Morphine it took another hour to get her settled in. What I wouldn't give for animals and infants to have the ability to talk.

The rest of the week should be (knock on wood) fairly uneventful in regards to the training program. The way things have been going this week, I'm not going to complain, but rather welcome the more relaxed weeks of training while they're still here.

Beautiful day.

Yesterday afternoon I took off on my 3 mile run, which started out quite chilly. Around mile 2 I was nice and toasty, minus my hands. I can't seem to find the right pair of gloves to keep my hands warm and not bulky. Right now I'm using a pair of nylon gloves, but the wind resistance does not exist with those things. My hat doesn't quite cover my ears either, which led to an after run ear ache. A long sleeve mock neck cold gear Under Armour shirt under my running jacket kept my upper body a perfect temperature. For my legs, I've got a cheap pair of leggings under my shorts. I prefer the tight compression fit feeling over loose fitting pants when I run. They seem to be less obstructive, and keep me warmer.

Before I started the training program a few days ago, I had been running between 3.5-4 miles, 2 or 3 times a week. My fear with starting the beginner program was that I'd start to lose my stamina for longer distance by the time the program gets up to those distances for the beginner set. What I didn't take in to account, was the fact that I'd be taking part in this program for not 2 or 3 days a week, but 6. Initially I thought I would just do the experienced program for a few weeks, then back down to the beginner program. That since has changed. When I hit mile 3 this morning my legs were no longer with me. The past 6 months I have been able to hit my runs, increasing speed, with virtually no strain on my legs. The back to back training runs are obviously more than my body is used to, so I don't want to strain myself right away. Starting tomorrow I'm going to back down to the beginner program just to ensure I don't burn out too quickly, or end up with an injury 3 weeks into the program. All in all, I feel great and can't wait to start crossing more days off the calender! If every morning was like this morning, I would have no trouble at all getting up for a nice brisk run.

Still fighting tryptophan?

My alarm was set an hour earlier today so that I could start a routine of running in the morning. Last year I got in the habit of running before work, and it started to become part of my daily routine, even more so than my much needed coffee. I'm not sure if it was the long weekend, the turkey and pie, or just the lack of momentum in my motivation but I missed the boat this morning. For the past 9 months I've been running almost only in the evenings, so tonight won't be much of a change, but I'm hoping tomorrow morning I'll be able to beat the alarm clock.

It's a chilly day in West Michigan today, and I'm going to be busting out my cold gear for tonight's run that's for sure. For now, it's work and coffee.

And so it begins...

If you would have told me a year ago that I would be starting a 25k training program two days after Thanksgiving 2009, I would have laughed. Today, after my first official training run, I'm excited to say that I can't wait for the challenge to continue.

A little over a year ago my wife and I found out we were expecting our first born. The excitement, anticipation, and fear was like nothing I had ever experienced. Around the first of the year I decided to set a goal for myself of being able to run the Fifth Third Riverbank Run 5k for myself and my new family. I was never one to enjoy running, mostly because I felt I couldn't run long enough, or far enough for it to be effective. I also had no stamina when it came to running, so I would just exhaust myself and never had fun with with.

I started running inside on a treadmill, and gradually worked my runs outside as the weather began to warm. The first thing I noticed was that I was able to enjoy outdoor runs because I could choose what paths to take, and it was never the same twice. My addictive personality started taking over fairly quickly, and before long I was up at 6am running every day in preparation. Before long, I felt like I was ready for the race. The day of the race was rainy, but my excitement level was high. It was an unbelievable experience, from the camaraderie, to the rush of crossing the start/finish lines, to sharing it with my family and showing them I accomplished my goal.

Once I had my first race under my belt, I wanted more. Since the race I have run one other 5k with ease, shaving time off of my first race. For the most part I have stuck to a fairly strict schedule for my running, and have increased my long distance run to 6 miles at times. When I received the mailer about the 2010 Fifth Third Riverbank Run this past week, my wife suggested I challenge myself and go for the 25k. Although I've only been running a year, I have enough confidence in my physical fitness and determination to be comfortable knowing I can reach that goal by May. The support of my wife helps as well.

I started this blog to detail my personal journey to the finish line May 8, 2010. If this is only a reflective journal for my own use throughout the process, I'm fine with that. If it helps motivate someone to embark on their first 5, 10 or 25k even better! I hope to engage discussion on anything from training tips, to gear suggestions, to diet. I need as much guidance in all of those areas as I can get, and hope to share my ups and downs with each as well.

My first run was a comfortable, uneventful 2 mile run. I can now cross my first day of training off the schedule! Here we go!

P.S. We have a healthy, adorable 5 month old baby boy now that means the world to me.