Although I am traveling for work today, I got up early and ran two miles. On the street, on the sidewalk in front of the hotel - back and forth maybe two times. Cool and nice, very windy in one direction, not so windy in the other. Thank goodness for the Garmin, a reliable mile-keeper even in strange places. I mostly had the sidewalk to myself, so not too scary. One truck full of landscapers passed by, and I noticed that at least one of the gardeners inside craned his neck around to get a better look at me. That was a little inkling of the dangers of running in the suburbs.
Overhead I heard, but did not see, Canada geese. I saw them yesterday, as I was going to dinner with my co-workers. 'Tis the season.
There were crows heading out to wherever crows go this morning, just like on my morning run at home. It is comforting to be in the presence of crows. And lucky for me, crows are smart, adaptable, and weedy -- when we corrupt and destroy most of the rest of the planet's natural systems, I hope that at least crows will remain, if not prosper.
Distance: 2.00 miles
Time: 22:18
Avg Pace: 11:10 min / mile
Showing posts with label Garmin. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Garmin. Show all posts
Friday, September 12, 2008
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Santa Cruz Here I Come
My last week of training is behind me. The week ahead is taper week -- easier workouts preceding the big run (try as I might, I cannot call it a race).
Today I was scheduled for 3-mile run for the beginner 10K schedule, but I decided to see how I felt at 3 miles to see if I could go for 4 miles. At the 3-mile mark (I love my Garmin!), I asked my body to complete 4-miles, which it did, albeit grudgingly. Toward the last quarter-mile I had a nice chat with myself--to remind myself that in November I was officially a non-runner. In December I started with C25K again (I started with week 5), and just kept running. Until my lazy spell last month.
Now that I'm back on a pretty regular running schedule, I again feel that sense of well-being again. Why oh why do I keep forgetting about that feeling?
I timed my 4 miles to end at a house where a particularly nice yellow lab lives. He's just a goofy dog who comes barreling out with a bit of an intimidating woof, but I've learned to ignore that. We've had a couple of generous belly and ear rubbin' sessions, so now he kind of knows me. Well, today he fell in love with me. Even though I didn't even know his name.
After our scritchin' session, I guess he decided it was a Day for An Adventure. So, he followed me as I walked back home, about 3/4 mile away. He's followed me before, but I always thought he was kind of scared to leave his home turf (not that there are a lot of loose dogs around here), because he always stopped after about 100 yards and turned around. Not today!
Today he just kept following me. I was joking with him that he wanted to find out where I lived--a dog stalker, if you will. We passed by a beekeeper tending his hives (bee veil and all) and he was slightly tormented by the bees, but I don't think he was stung . (No yelping.) When that happened, I just figured he'd follow me home, I'd stick him in the car and drive him back. Even though he could probably find his way home, I didn't want that burden on my heart.
So, he trotted a hundred feet ahead of me, looking back to make sure I was still there, wandering off into the orchards every now and then. When we got to my house, I opened the back of the Jeep, but he didn't jump in. So I had to put his front legs up, then hoisted his hind legs up and then closed the hatch. Then I ran into the house and got the car keys and drove him back home.
When I got back to his house, his person, Marie, told me his name was Duke (is that a cute name or what??). Anyway, I explained what happened and let Duke out. She held onto his collar, and I drove off. BUT, he tore away from her and ran into the street. It's a good thing I was driving slowly, because he ran across the street. I'll be darned if he didn't run alongside my slow-moving Jeep. Well, seeing this, I figured I'd just speed up and see if I could leave him behind so he'd turn around and go home. No go! He turned into a yellow-lab greyhound, for goodness' sakes! He did that full leg extension run that you see on the side of a Greyhound bus!
So I stopped the Jeep in the middle of the road and hauled him into the back of the Jeep...again. I had to hoist him again, too, because I don't think he was too keen on going back to boring, safe old home. Today was his Big Adventure, you see.
Anyway, we went back home, where Marie was waiting for him. We tried to lead him out to his kennel, but he started doing these Gandhi passive resistance moves on me. When I tried to lead him to the back of their property, he just laid down in protest! Marie tried to tempt him with the call of treats, but since she didn't actually produce the goods, he literally didn't take the bait. Anyway, we finally got him into the garage. I told Marie to keep him in there for a while so he could mellow out a bit. When I got home I told Daniel to be on the lookout for a yellow lab named Duke who was looking for adventure.
Duke knows where we live. And I'm sure he'll be back.
Today I was scheduled for 3-mile run for the beginner 10K schedule, but I decided to see how I felt at 3 miles to see if I could go for 4 miles. At the 3-mile mark (I love my Garmin!), I asked my body to complete 4-miles, which it did, albeit grudgingly. Toward the last quarter-mile I had a nice chat with myself--to remind myself that in November I was officially a non-runner. In December I started with C25K again (I started with week 5), and just kept running. Until my lazy spell last month.
Now that I'm back on a pretty regular running schedule, I again feel that sense of well-being again. Why oh why do I keep forgetting about that feeling?
I timed my 4 miles to end at a house where a particularly nice yellow lab lives. He's just a goofy dog who comes barreling out with a bit of an intimidating woof, but I've learned to ignore that. We've had a couple of generous belly and ear rubbin' sessions, so now he kind of knows me. Well, today he fell in love with me. Even though I didn't even know his name.
After our scritchin' session, I guess he decided it was a Day for An Adventure. So, he followed me as I walked back home, about 3/4 mile away. He's followed me before, but I always thought he was kind of scared to leave his home turf (not that there are a lot of loose dogs around here), because he always stopped after about 100 yards and turned around. Not today!
Today he just kept following me. I was joking with him that he wanted to find out where I lived--a dog stalker, if you will. We passed by a beekeeper tending his hives (bee veil and all) and he was slightly tormented by the bees, but I don't think he was stung . (No yelping.) When that happened, I just figured he'd follow me home, I'd stick him in the car and drive him back. Even though he could probably find his way home, I didn't want that burden on my heart.
So, he trotted a hundred feet ahead of me, looking back to make sure I was still there, wandering off into the orchards every now and then. When we got to my house, I opened the back of the Jeep, but he didn't jump in. So I had to put his front legs up, then hoisted his hind legs up and then closed the hatch. Then I ran into the house and got the car keys and drove him back home.
When I got back to his house, his person, Marie, told me his name was Duke (is that a cute name or what??). Anyway, I explained what happened and let Duke out. She held onto his collar, and I drove off. BUT, he tore away from her and ran into the street. It's a good thing I was driving slowly, because he ran across the street. I'll be darned if he didn't run alongside my slow-moving Jeep. Well, seeing this, I figured I'd just speed up and see if I could leave him behind so he'd turn around and go home. No go! He turned into a yellow-lab greyhound, for goodness' sakes! He did that full leg extension run that you see on the side of a Greyhound bus!
So I stopped the Jeep in the middle of the road and hauled him into the back of the Jeep...again. I had to hoist him again, too, because I don't think he was too keen on going back to boring, safe old home. Today was his Big Adventure, you see.
Anyway, we went back home, where Marie was waiting for him. We tried to lead him out to his kennel, but he started doing these Gandhi passive resistance moves on me. When I tried to lead him to the back of their property, he just laid down in protest! Marie tried to tempt him with the call of treats, but since she didn't actually produce the goods, he literally didn't take the bait. Anyway, we finally got him into the garage. I told Marie to keep him in there for a while so he could mellow out a bit. When I got home I told Daniel to be on the lookout for a yellow lab named Duke who was looking for adventure.
Duke knows where we live. And I'm sure he'll be back.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Team Vegan Week 2
How about that? I get to jump to week 2 already because the San Francisco kickoff was technically week 1!
The trip to San Francisco was a little iffy because of the forecast of rain...but the night before the skies were clear and I could see stars, so I was pretty sure that the rain would hold off. I set the alarm for 5:15am and hoped for the best. On Saturday morning I woke up, made myself some oatmeal, packed my gear and by 6:15am Daniel and I hit the highway en route to the Golden Gate Bridge and Fort Mason Center. Thank to the iPod and This American Life podcasts, we made it through drizzle and a bit of rain (no fog! yay!) to meet up with the group right at 9:15am.
And what a group it was! Everyone was so nice! And so young! And so fit. Marathon Matt is a cool guy -- he thought it was great that I decided to go for the 2-mile run instead of the 1-mile workout. I thought it was pretty cool, too. That I voluntarily ran for twice the distance that I had been asked to is a pretty big deal.
We learned some stretches and got some pointers on form and cadence. (Did you know that it's more efficient and easier on your body to take many small steps than fewer long steps? The magic pace is 180-190 steps per minute, I discovered. The average person's pace is 140 steps per minute.) So we ran and I survived. My Garmin says I ran a pace of a little under 10 minutes per mile, which is, like, screaming fast for me. I kept up with the group is all I know, though I was huffing and puffing more than was appropriate for an "easy" run.
My reward for all that was a lovely lunch at Greens Restaurant at Fort Mason Center, about which I'll post separately.
So, I survived the workout. We survived the pouring rain that accompanied us all the way back to Chico, too -- three hours of nonstop driving rain. Ugh! We were glad to be home again, that's for sure. Poor Daniel drove all the way!
Which brings me to today...Week 2 of Team Vegan training. Today's run was an easy 3 mile run. (I can hardly believe that I can think of an easy 3-mile run, but there you go...bless the C25K program is all I can say.) I practiced my cadence and took tiny steps on the treadmill -- and discovered much to my surprise that many fast small steps are far easier than fewer long steps. They are easier on my stamina, that's for sure. I can't tell for sure whether it's easier on my joints. Right now my left knee is complaining a little bit, but not too bad.
I can't wait for my Thursday run!
The trip to San Francisco was a little iffy because of the forecast of rain...but the night before the skies were clear and I could see stars, so I was pretty sure that the rain would hold off. I set the alarm for 5:15am and hoped for the best. On Saturday morning I woke up, made myself some oatmeal, packed my gear and by 6:15am Daniel and I hit the highway en route to the Golden Gate Bridge and Fort Mason Center. Thank to the iPod and This American Life podcasts, we made it through drizzle and a bit of rain (no fog! yay!) to meet up with the group right at 9:15am.
And what a group it was! Everyone was so nice! And so young! And so fit. Marathon Matt is a cool guy -- he thought it was great that I decided to go for the 2-mile run instead of the 1-mile workout. I thought it was pretty cool, too. That I voluntarily ran for twice the distance that I had been asked to is a pretty big deal.
We learned some stretches and got some pointers on form and cadence. (Did you know that it's more efficient and easier on your body to take many small steps than fewer long steps? The magic pace is 180-190 steps per minute, I discovered. The average person's pace is 140 steps per minute.) So we ran and I survived. My Garmin says I ran a pace of a little under 10 minutes per mile, which is, like, screaming fast for me. I kept up with the group is all I know, though I was huffing and puffing more than was appropriate for an "easy" run.
My reward for all that was a lovely lunch at Greens Restaurant at Fort Mason Center, about which I'll post separately.
So, I survived the workout. We survived the pouring rain that accompanied us all the way back to Chico, too -- three hours of nonstop driving rain. Ugh! We were glad to be home again, that's for sure. Poor Daniel drove all the way!
Which brings me to today...Week 2 of Team Vegan training. Today's run was an easy 3 mile run. (I can hardly believe that I can think of an easy 3-mile run, but there you go...bless the C25K program is all I can say.) I practiced my cadence and took tiny steps on the treadmill -- and discovered much to my surprise that many fast small steps are far easier than fewer long steps. They are easier on my stamina, that's for sure. I can't tell for sure whether it's easier on my joints. Right now my left knee is complaining a little bit, but not too bad.
I can't wait for my Thursday run!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Week 9 Day 1
I haven't been too consistent this week, I'm afraid. I didn't run on Monday like I planned, so I ran on Tuesday morning outside. We were leaving for MacWorld in San Francisco at 10am, so I started at 9am. Outside, in the real world.
I felt really good in the first part of the run, but then got too tired toward the end and stopped running before I made my 30-minute mark. When I downloaded the data from the Garmin (which is the fun part about running outdoors!), it turned out that I was running way too fast. When I'm on the treadmill I run a steady 12-minute mile (5mph), but when I ran outside my average pace was about 10:30-mile, so no wonder I was tired!
I also gave myself a case of shin splints, I think. My shins were really sore -- the first real soreness I've experienced since I started C25K. I used this soreness to postpone my Wednesday run from Wednesday to now Friday.
Carry on!
I felt really good in the first part of the run, but then got too tired toward the end and stopped running before I made my 30-minute mark. When I downloaded the data from the Garmin (which is the fun part about running outdoors!), it turned out that I was running way too fast. When I'm on the treadmill I run a steady 12-minute mile (5mph), but when I ran outside my average pace was about 10:30-mile, so no wonder I was tired!
I also gave myself a case of shin splints, I think. My shins were really sore -- the first real soreness I've experienced since I started C25K. I used this soreness to postpone my Wednesday run from Wednesday to now Friday.
Carry on!
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Week 7 Day 3
Well, the power went out on Friday. The Chico area had high winds (40-60 miles per hour). The morning started okay -- rainy and windy but within normal bounds. This was at 6:00 am, when my alarm went off. As I lay in bed, contemplating getting up and starting my day (I don't really have to get out of bed till 7:00 am), the wind started to increase and my will to get up decreased even more. By 7:15 am or so the lights were flickering. By 8:00am it was clear that the power was going out for sure. And so they did. And they did not come back on. About 60,000 people in Butte County, California lost power.
Because I do my running on a treadmill, a power failure puts a major crimp in that activity. In skipped my scheduled run on Friday, but tried to run outside on Saturday. The weather was cold and windy, but not raining, so I gave it a try. And I discovered that running on real pavement is really hard! I wasn't able to run the 25 minutes straight that I had hoped to, but I did what I could and called it a day. It was a good inkling of what I'll be up against when I actually run in Santa Cruz!
Note to self: Schedule at least one outside run a week.
Because I do my running on a treadmill, a power failure puts a major crimp in that activity. In skipped my scheduled run on Friday, but tried to run outside on Saturday. The weather was cold and windy, but not raining, so I gave it a try. And I discovered that running on real pavement is really hard! I wasn't able to run the 25 minutes straight that I had hoped to, but I did what I could and called it a day. It was a good inkling of what I'll be up against when I actually run in Santa Cruz!
Note to self: Schedule at least one outside run a week.
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