August 31, 2005

Not Quite Right

I haven't felt very good on my runs the past few days. I think I've caught some kind of stomach bug, possibly from Puff. He seemed a little sick this past weekend. This bug isn't particularly bothersome for the most part, but has been causing some discomfort while I run.

Tuesday I ran an easy six miles. The run was basically uneventful other than my stomach grumblings for the last two miles or so. Today I did five miles, with a pit stop in the middle due to the stomach. I hope this thing goes away soon.

I know I've said this before, but I feel like I'm getting more consistent in my running. B has been sleeping better, so that's made it easier to get up in the morning. My goal for September is to get the mileage up to a reasonable level.

August 29, 2005

More Running

Not only did I make it out for a run Saturday, I also made it out Sunday. I ran seven miles again, this time along the Parkway. The weather was drastically different. It went from being cool and drizzly to sunny, warm, and humid. The electronic billboard at the stadium said it was 87 degrees as I ran by. Earlier Sunday I read an article about a local man who had run Badwater and how the extreme heat along the course was magnified by the pavement. I guess it was due to the change in the weather, but I couldn't stop thinking about how the heat radiating off the pavement was making it feel warmer than 87. The run itself was only OK. I ran for just over 56 minutes, but for maybe 15 or 20 minutes there in the middle I felt like the heat was getting to me and maybe I should stop. Then the sun went behind a cloud and I started to feel better. That, or I just got acclimated.

B didn't sleep terribly well last night, but I felt good enough to run an easy five miles this morning. Likely because the 14 miles I ran over the weekend was more than I had done in a little while, my legs were tired. I'll try to be more consistent using the Stick and hope that loosens up the muscles.

August 27, 2005

Good Run

I finally got a good night's sleep last night. B went to sleep about 9:45, and once I was able to tear myself away from the Steelers-Redskins preseason game (about 10:45), I went to sleep. I went to check on B when he woke up a little after four, but J came in right away to feed him, so I went back to sleep. I woke up for good about a quarter to eight when I heard Puff, but had been dozing on and off for an hour or so since then. I haven't written much about Puff lately, but he's adjusted well to the new baby. He was actually a little scared at first--he wouldn't go near B in the hospital--but now he'll give B fives and kisses.

A good night's sleep made such a difference during my run today. I thought it was supposed to be sunny and warm, but it was cool and drizzly this morning. It drizzled occasionally as I ran, but it didn't rain hard. It actually made for a nice run. I ran a loop that was a little shy of seven miles and added on a loop around a parking lot to make it seven. My calves were a little tight, but otherwise my legs felt great. Overall I ran the seven miles at just under an eight-minute pace, a pace I sometimes run on my easy days but a pace I haven't really touched lately.

August 26, 2005

The Weekend

Thank goodness it's Friday! I'm very much looking forward to the weekend and not having to go to work. I don't have anything exciting planned for the weekend, unless you consider cleaning the house exciting. With two kids to look after, it's been a while since we did any substantial cleaning. Hopefully I won't have a repeat of last weekend's running.

I slept in this morning. B woke up twice last night. The first time was about 45 minutes after I fell asleep. It's amazing how tired you fell waking up 45 minutes after you've fallen asleep. Thursday I did a little over four miles. I might have done a little more, but nature was calling and I was near the house, so I called it a run.

August 24, 2005

Partying Hard

I need to amend my statement from yesterday's post. It should be: This evening, I plan on as much partying as two small children and my half-awake state and my in-laws will allow.

My in-laws came over for dinner last night, because J invited them and because they had gifts. We had Emeril's Ka-Bam kabobs and corn on the cob for dinner, which was followed by the opening of presents. I got some good stuff; among other things I got a subscription to Track and Field News, a technical running shirt, running socks, and an iTunes gift certificate. We had cake and ice cream after that, and then J surprised me by saying we were leaving the kids with the grandparents and going to a movie.

We saw Red Eye, which I thought was pretty good. It was interesting and suspenseful. I'd give it three out of four stars. I didn't get to bed too late, but B was up twice during the night, so I didn't run this morning. I figure I'll just play it by ear and run when I get the chance until B's sleep habits improve.

August 23, 2005

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today I turn 25. This evening, I plan on as much partying as two small children and my half-awake state will allow.

I did run this morning. I ran six miles, out and back along the Parkway. I was tired, but the run went pretty well. The weather was great (64 degrees according to the sign at the stadium I ran past). The one thing I don't understand is why I felt like I was running faster than my time indicated. Does lack of sleep really have that big an effect?

August 22, 2005

The Weekend

I had every intention of running this weekend. I was going to get up Saturday morning and run about 7 miles. However, that was before B decided that he didn't want to sleep Friday night. As far as I can tell, the problem was that his grandfather was holding him and he slept from about 7-9:30 pm, and that screwed up his routine. He didn't want to go to sleep, and when he did it was only for an hour or so at a time. Due to my lack of sleep, I felt in no shape to get out the door for a run.

Sunday I was just lazy. Sunday is the only day that I plan to run in the afternoon--it's easier because I don't have to worry about being back in time to get myself and the kids ready for church Sunday morning. Yesterday afternoon was sunny and not terribly warm, but I didn't run.

B's sleep misadventures continued last night, although not as badly as Friday, and after hitting the snooze button twice I decided to bag today's run. The worst part about missing today's run is the cooler temperatures have returned. At least they'll be around for a few more days.

I'm disconcerted that just a few days ago I was upbeat about my running, and now I'm kind of down because I've missed four days. I know things will get better as B gets older, but I also feel like I need to toughen up. Sure, they'll be days when I'm better off sleeping in. But there's also days when I just need to get up and go. With two kids, I can't expect life to happen exactly the way I want it to.

August 19, 2005

Day Off

I didn't get up and run this morning. My alarm went off, but I reset it for an hour later and went back to sleep. Thankfully that has been the exception and not the rule this week. B stayed up late last night and I woke up in the middle of the night when he did, so I got a little more sleep rather than slog through a run.

On another note, I received the latest issue of Running Times in the mail yesterday. Not only does it have a good cover photo of and article on Deena Kastor, the from-the-editor piece was interesting. I was glad to fine out that he's as big as fan of elite running as I am. Hopefully that means I can continue to look forward to getting the magazine in the mail for a long time.

August 17, 2005

Getting My Legs Back

I've actually run the last six days in a row. Things have settled down a bit at home with B. He's begun to get into a routine. Basically he goes down between 10 and 11, wakes up once during the night, and then wakes up around 7 or 8 in the morning. Friday I was ambitious and did six miles, the longest I've run since I decided to take a break. Saturday morning I felt pretty tired, but still managed four miles. Sunday I ran on the in-laws treadmill. My wife, sisters-in-law and I got it for them as a Christmas gift last year as a way to encourage them to exercise. Monday I managed another four miles, and then Tuesday and today I did five miles.

I'm feeling like I'm getting back into my routine. The last two mornings I've felt pretty strong. Over the next few weeks I'll ramp up the mileage. I'm aiming for a period of at least a few weeks at 70-80 mpw before I get into the official marathon training phase.

August 08, 2005

20-2

Twenty wins and two losses. That is the final record of one of the two softball teams I played for this summer. It looks great, until you find out that the two losses came in the last two games of the season and cost us the championship. But it's just a game and I did have a lot of fun playing.

I didn't run this weekend, but did five miles this morning. B actually slept almost until my alarm went off, surprisingly enough. When I heard him and saw what time it was, I just decided I might as well get up. I helped J out a little and then went out for my run. I'm a little sore from racing Friday night, playing two softball games Saturday and then another four on Sunday, but the run went pretty well. I took it very easy and did five miles in just over 45 minutes. Hopefully I'll be able to get into a routine now and start building up my mileage. Depending on how things go, I think I'm either going to run a marathon in VA Beach in March or Charlottesville in April.

August 06, 2005

3k

Is there any better way to spend your Friday night than at a track meet? Maybe, but a track meet was where I was last night. The club I belong to was putting it on. The original schedule for the meet called for a 3000, 400, 100, and mile, but had to be changed once the meet started (more on that later). I was running the 3000, for the sole reason that I needed to in order to qualify in the race series. I need to run five races, and before last night I had only run two. Last night was the third, and then there's only two more I'll be able to run before the end of the year.

I didn't have high expectations going into the race. I hadn't run the past two days, and have been taking it easy for a little while now anyway. Regardless, I seeded myself in the first and fastest heat of the 3000, which was for runners with an expected finish of 11:00 or less (my PR is 10:35; last night I gave myself an expected time of 10:45). The race started out well and I came through 1600 meters in 5:45, which was about the time I was expecting. After that, the wheels kind of fell off and I struggled to the finish in 11:14, I think last in my heat. Not that I've ever felt like I'm that fast, but I don't certainly don't feel like I have any short race speed at this point.

August 02, 2005

A Whole New World

Life with two kids is certainly different from life with only one. The only time you get a break is when they're sleeping, and by that point you just want to sleep too. I wouldn't trade it for anything, though.

Yesterday was the first day I ran since B was born. I'm still taking it easy, and Puff and I did four miles. I still wasn't back at work yesterday either, so we ran at about 11 am. After a little break this past weekend, the heat and humidity are on their way back. I only ran for a little more than a half-hour and was soaked by the time I finished.

Today I did go back to work. I'm easing in, only working two days this week. I ran a little this morning before work, but only twenty-two minutes and change. I don't know what was up with my stomach, but it didn't feel good and caused me to cut the run short. I was surprised I wasn't more tired, given my lack of quality sleep over the past few days. Not only do we have a new baby, but he has jaundice and we've been waking up to feed him every two to three hours to make sure he gets enough to eat.