Running and irregularity…

No. Not that kind of regularity my fiber intake is just fine. Lately, I have had a couple of nights in the hospital due to an uncooperative unborn child. I have somewhat considered this a litmus test of what it is going to be like when the baby is finally here. It wasn’t easy, but I think I have everything figured out (I don’t have a freakin clue what it will be like).

Sleep is paramount, but running is just below that. Of course, I see this as a means to be a better father. Running for me is personal. I know I am being selfish every time I head out that door, but the ramifications of the benefits on the rest of my life are even greater. Running allows me to relax, when I need it and challenge myself when I need that as well. It is my drug of choice that gives me what I need when I need it.

I run/workout in the mornings before I go to work, which, I know will be difficult after the baby arrives, but I have changed to mornings instead of nights allowing myself more time with the baby after work. As is prevalent, I know this blog will suffer, but then again I never really had a big audience, so, most people probably won’t notice much and I am okay with that.

Well, that’s all I have tonight.

Lincoln Memorial Race Round-up

The Lincoln Memorial Half-Marathon went okay for me. I went in with a plan of taking it easy and taking in the historic route. As planned, they had an Abe Lincoln impersonator all dressed up for the occasion.* Also, as planned, I took it easy and ran it in 1:59:23.

Alternatively, NOT as planned, the weather was in an in-between stage in the mid 30’s. This temperature can make clothing choices tough, as, 40 degrees is my cut-off for wearing shorts and I knew it would warm-up throughout the race. Because it was sub-40 I decided to wear tights and stay warm as opposed to toughing with the shorts. Well, that one mistake made for a long day on the course. I could tell I made the wrong decision almost as soon as I got there because there were a lot of people in shorts at the starting line. A couple of miles in, I could tell once again because I was sweating profusely. There was only one thing I could do; adjust my top layers. So, there I am running along when I take my top coat layer off. Next was a long sleeve running shirt and finally my bottom layer, a long sleeve compression shirt. For a few yards I was running topless (woohoo…oh wait, jiggling isn’t hot), but I eventually got my middle layer back on and had the other two layers tied around my waist. Even then, I slowed my sweat rate, but not as much as I would have liked.

The course contained a few interspersed smallish hills, but overall the course was fairly evenly tempered. I thought it was only fitting that we ran past Lincoln’s grave site and remembered his body is there…under 6 feet of concrete.** We also started at the Lincoln Library and ran past the old capital building. I am sure I ran past other significant sites, but did not recognize them. Overall, the course was good, water stops appropriate, and the race shirts very nice, but if they could just get the weather to decide to be either cold or hot and inform the runners then it would be perfect.

*Alas, unfortunately, I did not get any pictures because I had to shower and checkout of my hotel.
**In case you didn’t know, he was buried this way because people kept stealing his body and at one point he was forgotten about for years under someone’s floor.

Random title here...

I started this post last Saturday and now it is true once again.

"I sit here this morning drinking coffee not thinking about running, rather, about the day ahead. Saturday is my day off from running..."

Last Saturday my post was interrupted by a definite and instant need for shoes. Not running shoes and no not for me. G and I had a baby shower last Saturday and she needed new shoes to go with new dress, ergo, this had to wait.

Once again, this is my day off and I am thinking about my half-marathon in a week. It starts at 7:30 so I imagine I will be done before 9:30. My plan is to start in the back of the pack, slow and steady and then maintain that pace throughout. I tried this same strategy for my half-marathon in Rockford, IL and I had an enjoyable time. Mostly because people were passing me like crazy for the first two to three miles, but shortly thereafter I was regularly passing people through to the end of the race. The biggest difference this Spring is that I have not done a long run of 16 miles. Of course I was also contemplating doing the full marathon then, but not this time. I am really looking forward to running past all of the history in Springfield. Springfield is integral to Lincoln's history and it is my intent is to drink it all in while enjoying an early morning run.

Smells like Spring spirit...

I can tell it is Spring. Today was quite warm at about 60 degrees and enticed me to get out and do a few things. I got our three shrubberies trimmed and ready to go for the beginning of summer and, likewise, trimmed our decorative grasses that we don't really like, but more put up with.

The second reason I know it is Spring is in my running. Today I did my long run of eleven miles. This entailed two firsts for the year. First, I had to tape my nipples for the first time this year. I had been wearing compression cold weather gear, but traded that in because of the warmth. Second, I used my first GU of the year, which, means my long runs are actually getting long because I don't do long runs in the Winter.

Unfortunately, I did something kind of stupid today. I have been kind of sick for the past week, but I thought it would be a great idea to still run today. Yep, I em so smart, s-m-r-t. Most of the run was not too bad, but the last mile or two was hell. I came in the back door and felt like I had run 18 to 20 miles. Luckily, I am starting to feel a little better as I write this, but the next few days will definitely be about recovery. Racing Abe is a mere three weeks away and I plan to be ready. Now, if I can just learn to take care of myself. So, I now declare it time to go to bed for the night.