Sunday, February 27, 2011

Any Thoughts?

Yesterday after telling a friend I had run 9 miles earlier in the day, he asked me what I thought about while I was running for almost an hour and a half.  Here is a brief answer to that question. Mile one is almost always consumed mostly with thoughts of slowing my butt down so I don't burn out by mile 3.  Mile one was also a mile of figuring  a route to take so that the wind is avoided as much as possible.  When the air temp is 6 below the wind is best avoided.  On a good day, by mile two the music I have on changes from an outside disturbance to a relaxing whisper.  Miles 3 and 4 are still filled with thoughts of speed regulation, it can be difficult to keep yourself reeled in during the early miles. Mile 5, over half way there, starting to think about picking up the pace. By mile 6 legs got a little achy I was able to remind myself to take a few deep breaths and keep pushing on at the current pace.  Miles 7 and 8 were rather peacful, thoughts of the looming nice weather and good memories can go a very long way.  By the end of mile 8 I am feeling a bit fatigued just as one of my favorite Metallica songs is getting to the lyrics that state 'listen dammit we will win'.  Those lyrics ring through with our goal to beat cancer.  As I proceed, bad memories of wathching a little girl waste away in less than two months start to drag me down even further.  Then I take a breath get lost in the music again and focus, I pick up the pace and no longer imagine myself floating over the pavement.  Instead I try to dig my feet in with every step thrusting myself forward faster.  Finish strong is the only thought I have left in my mind. By the end of mile nine I am a sweaty mess and feel pretty good, better get inside before I cool off and freeze in place, only to be found by sandbaggers in a few weeks.

Remember to keep May 21st on the calendar.  They are hoping to have at least one band for every mile during the Fargo Marathon.  It will be a great time.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

March is coming

Who needs hills when you have 50 pounds of clothes on and you are running against a 20MPH wind on an icy street.  Despite the fact that winter can be a bit brutal up here in the northland a good workout is one of the few benefits. It has been around three weeks since groundhog's day.  Not sure if everyone remembers, but good ol' Punxsatawney Phil told us there was only two weeks of winter left.  Well Phil, don't fret I won't be wearing that groundhog's skin jacket this year.  Instead I am going to let you live with your lie, riddled with guilt I am sure of it.  There is light at the end of the tunnel though, March is only a few days away and things should turn around for us in the weather department. I know it sounds like I am complaining, it should, because that is what I am doing. Ok really, training is going well and I can complain until I am blue in the face but it won't do any good.  So I will continue on like a good North Dakotan and just enjoy the good weather and quit whining about the bad weather.

I would like to end with a couple cancer facts:
this year there will be approximately 569,490 cancer deaths
on a website for the ACS there are over 50 cancers listed (that is not counting all the obscure rare cancers that get grouped into one category)

Google 'Cancer Facts' on the web and you will realize why we need to get this handled.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Ahhhhh Hills

Two runs successfully completed in Dickinson.  The first run (on Friday) was a 6 mile run, the weather was a little questionable but the hills were too tempting.  The 12 mile run on Saturday ended up happening in the West River Community Center in Dickinson.  WRCC is a great facility with some of the best treadmills I have ever used and a nice second floor indoor running track.  6 miles on treadmills and 6 miles on the track worked really well. 

Naturally with a busy lifestyle I was very nervous about finding time to get all the miles completed.  So far so good though.  I have found that searching for places to train has been a great way to find out what each city has to offer. I hate to sound trite, but it really is true that once you put your mind to something it isn't that tough to accomplish a goal.  So as I ramble on about myself please keep in mind that the ultimate goal here is to help all cancer fighters in any way possible. 

30 miles completed this week

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Ambushed!!!

Just a quick bit of info. for fellow runners.  It is perfectly ok to tackle a 13 year old boy in the snow, as long as he threw the first snowball.  I guess it also helps if he is friends with your son and won't go home and tell Mommy what happened.  One thing to keep in mind though. Kids, especially in angry mob form, can make and through snowballs faster than one 32 year old male.  I guess a snowball fight is a good cool down after a 3 mile run.  The nice 30 & 40 degree weather has forced some of us outside to blow off some steam.  I can almost smell flood season in the air. 

We are off to Dickinson, ND for the weekend to butcher pigs.  Should be good cross training.  I am excited to get a couple runs done in my home town where there are hills available.

Sunday, February 13, 2011

I'll take 30 degrees

11 miles felt really great on Saturday morning.  The day was about perfect, 30 degrees and sunny with a light breeze.  The air was fresh and crisp with the occasional smell of snowmobile exhaust that got to be more than occasional as the morning progressed.  The snow was perfect consistency for surprising a couple of the neighbors. No direct hits though, one person busted me before the throw and the other was terribly underthrown.  At approximately mile 7 a freind very graciously offered me a can of Mountain Dew as he drove by on the highway.  I declined and requested a beer instead.

I would like to put a bug in everyone's ear about a couple things we have on our agenda.  The first is a 5k run that we plan on hosting in Kindred ND at the end of April.  I am also looking for volunteers to wear a Pookie's Patriots/Running for the Ribbons shirt either as a spectator or a runner for all events during the Fargo Marathon Weekend.  The Fargo Marahton on May 21st is just a few weeks before our Relay for Life event and I beleive the coverage will help us with our fund raising.  We will have all details worked out in about a week so keep it on your radar. 

In the mean time keep up the great work and support for our cause.  Myself and so many others will never enjoy the satisfaction of sitting in a courtroom to see justice served to the monster that killed or tried to kill our loved ones, but that's ok we will RUN the monster down ourselves and savor every moment.  So keep up the great work and don't forget to ask the hard questions.  The ACS does wonderful things but we need to keep them sharp with questions like:  Why are we using cancer causing toxins to treat cancer, when vitamin C was used effectively in the 1940's?  Why are experimental treatments not covered by insurance when they are the only option available for survival?  Why are there immune system treatments that have been used successfully in other countries for years?  Why is childhood cancer the least researched cancer?  These questions are all questions I have been asked, some have merit & some don't but all are deserving of REAL answers so lets keep up the work. 

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Lucky #12

Courts Plus in Fargo, ND is a great fitness facility just 1/2 block from my place of work.  I was able to get my hands on a free one week pass to get me through these sub arctic temperatures this week.  For my 3 mile run on Monday I chose treadmill #12.  Who knew that decision would turn out to be the worst one of the entire day.  I have NEVER had a worse 3 mile run in my life. For whatever reason treadmill #12 seemed like it was running with erratic speeds that I couldn't keep up with.  I felt absolutely horrible for the entire night after the run.  I know it was treadmill #12 and not the buffalo chicken dip, spinach dip, jalapeno poppers, baked potato skin, taco soup and 1/2 a bottle of wine that I consumed at a super bowl party the night before. Tension was high all day Tuesday as I wondered if something was wrong with me or if I just had a really bad day on Monday.  Turns out switching to a different treadmill was the answer.  Tuesday and Wendesday went really well and I will be back outside for the long weekend runs. 

I guess the beginning of this week is a good metaphor for life.  We have good days and bad days, but overall it is definitley worth pressing on.  I just hope something isn't wrong with county road 16 this weekend, I would hate to have two bad runs in one week.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Just two more weeks of winter

As much as I hate running on the treadmill, it is nice to have the option when it is cold outside. This week it is looking like there will be more 20 below wind chills for at least Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  Running outside when it is below zero is not too bad as long as the wind isn't too strong, but out here in the country where there is no shelter it is just impossible to get away from it.  The treadmill at home broke down last week and it may be unrepairable.  Oh well, looks like and indoor track or fitness club will be in my near future. On the bright side I was able to get out for a 5 mile run with my new shoe grips on friday, and a 6 mile run on Saturday.  The best part about Saturday was being able to go out with my old training partner Mattie.  It wasn't quite as tough for her as she has four legs and a fur coat, but beleive me she was just as happy to get outside as I was.

Although I am plagued with equipment woes this week, I am looking forward to it.  Runs are starting to get longer and I seem to feel a little better with every mile.  This is going to be a lot of work but it will be great fun. 

22 miles this week and 66 miles total (should be 71 but I missed one 5 mile run)

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Happy Groundhog's Day!

Okay, this weather is out of control!! Seven degrees below zero has been the highest temperature this week, that temperature paired with the wind has made it feel like forty degrees below zero at times.  The weather is supposed to finally turn around this weekend.  According to Punxsutawney Phil we only have 2 weeks of winter left.  If he is wrong........well let's just say, the Native Americans had buffalo skins to keep them warm, I will have a groundhog skin jacket to keep me warm.

Even though the weather sucks, training has been going well.  The muscle soreness and joint pain have gone away and I now feel like I can concentrate on just training and getting stronger.

9 miles in so far since Monday