TheRunningRev.Com

Running in Shorts Again!

The last time I ran outside in a pair of shorts was Thanksgiving morning, it was a cold morning but since I was racing a 5k I opted for shorts instead of tights. Since then it has been tights all winter, that is until two days ago when the temperature here in MN hit a balmy 35 degrees and I was once again wearing shorts!

I don't like wearing tights but they do keep me warm in the winter. They feel restrictive as they cling to my body accentuating how truly skinny my legs are! Give me my shorts back.

I had grown tired of winter. Bundling up to run in temperatures hovering in the low teens with the windchill below zero gets old very quickly. Let's be honest, it's no fun when your face goes numb, your fingers start to hurt and even though you're wearing a hat your ears still feel like ice cubes! Many resort to the treadmill during the cold winter months and I have to confess that I ran on the treadmill more this winter than I have ever done, but due to my high hatred of the treadmill, I'm a runner, I like to go places when I run, I persisted in running outside as much as I could bring myself to.

But winter will soon be over (hopefully by mid-March!) and running will once again be a pleasure. I can hardly wait for some warm, even hot summer days to run around Bald Eagle lake with sweat running from every pour in my body reminding me that I am doing something that is good for me and is thoroughly enjoyable!

Securian Frozen Half Marathon

After sliding down our driveway on a coating of ice I was glad to see that the roads were in fairly good condition as I made my way to downtown St. Paul for this race.

It was a balmy 34 degrees at the start with the wind blowing at 15-20 mph, a light drizzle fell from the sky. I left the Securian building about five minutes before race time and took my place between the 1:40 and 1:45 pace groups. My goal was to run an even steady pace that would put me somewhere right between these two groups.

The race headed out of downtown and quickly joined Shepherd Road where we ran west, making our way from the river up to the bluffs across from Fort Snelling before turning around and making our way back. Yes, that means that most of the first half of the race is uphill. I quickly settled into a comfortable pace and made it through the half in about 51:20. I was really looking forward to the run back as it was downhill but it was also into the wind which at times made it very challenging.

At mile ten a Bald Eagle graced us with its presence about 75 feet above our heads, just beautiful.

I continued to run a steady pace and came across the finish line in 1:43 even on my watch, exactly what I'd hoped for. I had wanted to run this race but not push too hard, I finished strong and accomplished my goal. Now to enjoy the afternoon!

Why I Love To Run

I slipped out the door around 7:30. It was cold and dark as I headed out onto the country roads near our home. Wearing a Brooks Nightlife jacket and donning a Black Diamond headlamp I lit up the road with my presence rather than my speed.

As the light of the headlamp lit my path it was hypnotic with every step I thought I might catch up to the light in front of me but never did. It was still, it was quiet and I felt very much at peace with the world. I felt like I could run forever but I was only going four miles. It was a simple out and back, I've run it dozens of times but tonight I had to stop and check my bearings, such was the hypnotic impact of the run.

On the final stretch I was focused on the way my breath drifted across the beam of light and disappeared into the dark. It was a thing of beauty a great momentary piece of art that can never be reproduced.

This is why I love to run... although I'm looking forward to spring!

Running Year in Review...

I just finished my last run of the year, it was a balmy 10 degrees out with a -5 windchill, as I arrived back at our house after six miles just as the sun was dropping below the horizon for the last time in 2009.

Over the course of the year I put in 1,450 miles of running and completed six organized races.

I never thought that this might be the year of the 5k but I set a PR in June and then took 2nd place in my age group at the local Thanksgiving Day run. My one marathon of the year, Twin Cities, was a little disappointing but I wasn't that surprised as I spent a few days in Virginia the week before and stayed up later than I should have but I couldn't pass up on the U2 concert.

My favorite running moment of the year was once again the track workouts at Gainesville Middle School with the folks from The Running Store. They will be sorely missed as we have now moved to Minnesota.

After eight months in MN I'm still trying to find a good trail (with 10-20 miles of trail) to run on that's close to home. The Manassas Battlefield was so convenient, I drove past it every day to and from work.

2010 will hopefully be a great year with at least one marathon and a couple of ultra's thrown in for good measure!

Prefered Temperatures for Running

As I was running in 20 degree weather today I found myself daydreaming of summer track workouts with Ian Connor and the The Running Store folks. Running intervals in 90 degree temperatures sounds like the greatest thing in the world right now,  and to think that Minnesota normally sees only a handful of 90 degree days in the summer.

So here's my list from best to worst of temps to run in...

1. 40-65
2. 65-80
3. 32-40
4. 80+
5. 20-32
6. below 20

You may disagree and that's fine, but when you haven't had cold temps like this for five years they most certainly hit the bottom of the barrel.

Fast Before the Feast

It was a cool morning and the wind wasn't making it feel any warmer. I hit the starting line with my good friends Brian and Jan. Neither Brian nor I figured we'd beat Jan but we thought about going sub-20.

When the race started we ran together and made it through the first mile in 6:27 in spite of a long hill on the way out. The second mile was mostly flat and ran about the same pace for that mile. Unfortunately for me mile three included a long uphill that slowed me down and allowed Brian to push ahead of me. I didn't see him again until after the finish.

I pushed hard for the finish and then Jan, Brian and I ran out to meet the rest of my family, Jenny was running with our girls and we ran in with them. That's the way Thanksgiving is supposed to be, fun with the family!

We waited around for the results as Jan was the first women and then it came to the age group awards... Men 40-44 first place... Brian!!!! Second place... Neil!!! What a thrill to be able to take the age group award with a good friend on Thanksgiving morning, yes, that was a highlight of the day.

I admit our youngest got pushed in the jogging stroller and Jenny pushed her up the hills, but all five our family members crossed the finish line. It was a great day and I'm most certainly a proud dad.

From 50 miles to 5k

Tomorrow is the JFK 50. I wish I was there. I have never had as much fun running a race as I had last year in this one.

So with no 50 mile races on my calendar I think I'll have to settle with a 5k or two over the next couple of months. Oh well, perhaps I can finish is under 20 minutes instead of 10 hours!!!

Fast Before the Feast - or not

OK, we have a local race on Thanksgiving morning, Fast Before The Feast and I'm thinking about running it. They offer a 5k and 10k option. Two of my three daughters are determined to run the 5k.

For the last few years we've run the VA Run Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving and thoroughly enjoyed it. The big difference between VA and MN at the end of November is the weather and the fact that our church was one of the sponsors and took care of all the post race snacks so it was a good opportunity to see 20-30 church members that morning.

Do I want to get up early to freeze my buns off? Perhaps, but then again why? It's not as if either 5k or 10k is my preferred distance. I ran some intervals today, 400, 800, 1200, 800, 400 to see if I had any speed in my legs and I may still have a modicum of speed still there.

The ten day forecast is suggesting a low of 24 for thanksgiving morning. of course that could change, it could get colder. What to do? Please don't say, "welcome to MN!" And if I do, which distance?

PR for Half Marathon at Twin Cities Marathon

I was just looking over the race results again from the Twin Cities Marathon and despite not running the race that I had hoped for it turns out that I ran a 6 second PR for the half-marathon!

I think I may need to race a half-marathon soon so I can put the idea of a PR for the half out of the realm of possibility in my next marathon. It's been a couple of years since I raced a half, it was the Rock'n'Roll Half in VA beach 2007.

First Cold Run of the Season

Last night we had the first snow of the season! Today the temperature reached a balmy 35 and there was a 15mph wind blowing from the west creating a wind chill of 25. Brrr, this was serious winter running in Virginia but only the tip of the iceberg for Minnesota (pun intended).

I thought about taking the day off, heck I ran a marathon a week ago. Then I realized that if I start making excuses today I'll be making them all winter. So I donned my tights and jacket, hat and gloves and went for a 5 mile run.

It was amazing! Having spent the last few months training for the marathon I was now free to run how I wanted to. I'm not bound to a training schedule and it felt fabulous to be outside running free. I'm really looking forward to the next few months of running before the build up for my next marathon, but for now I'm running free!