Last night after the Phillies won the World Series, way to go guys, I hit the streets for a short run. It was a fun time running while cars drove through the neighborhoods honking horns and yelling "Phillies". It was nice, well up where I was running, I heard there were some burned cars in the South part of the city. Well, I guess these things happen, unfortunate but true.
I was able to really get a decent pace and keep it up for my 3.65 mile route. This was the first night I had to break out the running tights and thermal top. I am not sure if I will have to keep using them but last night it was a bit chilly. Good times.
Next Tuesday, I will be voting for Barack Obama like most of the country.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
How's Monday?
I had a pretty productive weekend, I ran about 4 miles on Saturday and 9 miles on Sunday. It went pretty well but for one thing. My Garmin is now dead. I have had the thing a year and a half and the lcd has burned out. The poor captain (my name for my garmin) has been laid to rest. We had many a good time the Captain and I, we ran a couple of half marathons together and a full marathon. It is sad that he won't be joining me any longer. I am not really sure how to handle this news.
Now I am faced the reality of replacing the poor fellow. I am leaning toward getting a 405 rather than the 205 I was using. Is this an excuse to get a new toy? I do admit that I will miss the poor Captain, but I am also looking forward to new technology.
Oh well, I have to move on, I will miss the Captain.
Now I am faced the reality of replacing the poor fellow. I am leaning toward getting a 405 rather than the 205 I was using. Is this an excuse to get a new toy? I do admit that I will miss the poor Captain, but I am also looking forward to new technology.
Oh well, I have to move on, I will miss the Captain.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Martial Journal
I have always been a bit on the fence about including my martial arts thoughts on this blog. There are couple of reasons for this. First, I had really started blogging to talk about my running experiences and progress. As I was excessively overweight, I really wanted to focus my attention on the running aspects of what I was doing. Secondly, I had started a blog dedicated to just martial arts related things. I found there that there are a large number of folks who comment on martial arts related material that are largely only interested in being negative and getting into some sort of pissing contest. There is too much testosterone out there.
But I think that I should try to vary things a bit on my blog. This may add a little spice to it and keep things mixed up a bit. I may switch to an approved comment format to weed out the negative comments. Rest assured that I will make sure that all comments from the folks that normally comment here will find there way on to the blog. It just won't be instant.
Well Rob, what is your martial background?
A: I have been training in martial arts since I was 16 years old, I just turned 40 in August. I did not train solidly during this time period but off and on. At 16, I trained in Tae Kwon Do for about 6 months. It was fine and I had a good time, but it wasn't for me. At this time my family moved to another city and I started training in Chinese Kenpo, this became my training style for the next 5 years. I liked it a lot and enjoyed many aspects of the training. From this point I entered the travel portion of my life and spent a year here and there at different schools. But I trained in Tang So Do, Wah Lum Kung Fu, Bok Fu (White Tiger Kung Fu), and Choy Li Fut Kung Fu. I spent a few months in Danzan Ryu JuJitsu and Hapkido, nothing serious. Then when I went to law school, I attended a Tang So Do school for a year, it was close to my house and I liked the instructor quite a bit. Finally, I have been at an American Kenpo school with a great instructor since February 2007. It is hard to say how long all told I have been studying I think somewhere between 10 to 12 years.
Will this new focus affect the running portion of the blog that we all love so much?
A: No. I will still try to update my running adventures as often as I can. I hope that by adding more content I will always have something to post every few days.
What is with your running these days?
I have been dealing with a tweaked knee. It is hurt but not injured. I just started back again last night. I hope to have much more to say on the running front in the near future. Sorry for not updating sooner.
Back to this Martial Arts stuff, what kind of belt do you have?
Leather, I got it at Sears do you like? Seriously, it is what is in your head that matters not what you wear around your waist. That said, I have a black belt in Chinese Kenpo and ran a school for a time. I also have been in instructor in Bok Fu and Choy Li Fut, I never reached black belt in these disciplines. I will admit that it has been quite a bit of time since I did any of that. So to be frank, this is sort of tracing old foot steps. I am journeying toward black belt again. I am currently a blue belt working toward green in American Kenpo. This is a mid level rank. Personally, I care very little about rank. But I do my thing and when my instructor tells me to test I do. So you are all welcome to enjoy or dismiss these posts as they come along.
I hope you all enjoy.
But I think that I should try to vary things a bit on my blog. This may add a little spice to it and keep things mixed up a bit. I may switch to an approved comment format to weed out the negative comments. Rest assured that I will make sure that all comments from the folks that normally comment here will find there way on to the blog. It just won't be instant.
Well Rob, what is your martial background?
A: I have been training in martial arts since I was 16 years old, I just turned 40 in August. I did not train solidly during this time period but off and on. At 16, I trained in Tae Kwon Do for about 6 months. It was fine and I had a good time, but it wasn't for me. At this time my family moved to another city and I started training in Chinese Kenpo, this became my training style for the next 5 years. I liked it a lot and enjoyed many aspects of the training. From this point I entered the travel portion of my life and spent a year here and there at different schools. But I trained in Tang So Do, Wah Lum Kung Fu, Bok Fu (White Tiger Kung Fu), and Choy Li Fut Kung Fu. I spent a few months in Danzan Ryu JuJitsu and Hapkido, nothing serious. Then when I went to law school, I attended a Tang So Do school for a year, it was close to my house and I liked the instructor quite a bit. Finally, I have been at an American Kenpo school with a great instructor since February 2007. It is hard to say how long all told I have been studying I think somewhere between 10 to 12 years.
Will this new focus affect the running portion of the blog that we all love so much?
A: No. I will still try to update my running adventures as often as I can. I hope that by adding more content I will always have something to post every few days.
What is with your running these days?
I have been dealing with a tweaked knee. It is hurt but not injured. I just started back again last night. I hope to have much more to say on the running front in the near future. Sorry for not updating sooner.
Back to this Martial Arts stuff, what kind of belt do you have?
Leather, I got it at Sears do you like? Seriously, it is what is in your head that matters not what you wear around your waist. That said, I have a black belt in Chinese Kenpo and ran a school for a time. I also have been in instructor in Bok Fu and Choy Li Fut, I never reached black belt in these disciplines. I will admit that it has been quite a bit of time since I did any of that. So to be frank, this is sort of tracing old foot steps. I am journeying toward black belt again. I am currently a blue belt working toward green in American Kenpo. This is a mid level rank. Personally, I care very little about rank. But I do my thing and when my instructor tells me to test I do. So you are all welcome to enjoy or dismiss these posts as they come along.
I hope you all enjoy.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Better Safe than Sorry
From running in shoes that were not quite right, I had done a little damage to my knee. It was hurt but not injured. I could tell some rest was in order so for the past week and a half I have not been running. I have been running for a couple of years now and I have found out when I need rest. This was one of those times.
My right knee was giving me some trouble even when I was walking. I felt like it was time to just let it rest a bit. Well now I am running again, well as of tonight. I have to say I think I did the right thing. My right knee didn't give me a peep. I am not sure if that would have been the case if I had tried to run through this one. I have to admit knees make me paranoid. I will try to run through almost anything but knee problems, no way. That is my wimp reflex. Knee tweak ... hold on lets rest a bit. That is my baby factor. I like to think I am pretty tough when it comes to pain, but there is my soft spot. Anything else and I will grit it out.
How did it go tonight, well I did 4.6 miles and everything felt fine. I have to kick it up now to get ready for the half marathon at the end of November.
My right knee was giving me some trouble even when I was walking. I felt like it was time to just let it rest a bit. Well now I am running again, well as of tonight. I have to say I think I did the right thing. My right knee didn't give me a peep. I am not sure if that would have been the case if I had tried to run through this one. I have to admit knees make me paranoid. I will try to run through almost anything but knee problems, no way. That is my wimp reflex. Knee tweak ... hold on lets rest a bit. That is my baby factor. I like to think I am pretty tough when it comes to pain, but there is my soft spot. Anything else and I will grit it out.
How did it go tonight, well I did 4.6 miles and everything felt fine. I have to kick it up now to get ready for the half marathon at the end of November.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
The Shoes
I have been dealing with a little tweak in my right knee over the past couple of weeks. I thought it was just a turn toward colder weather. I have been a bit battered in my life and I thought it was just old injuries letting me know about the change in weather. Not so.
Last night as I was helping my daughter with her homework, I took my running shoe out of the rack and tested the spring in the mid sole. It was dead. I hadn't thought about the miles I put on these shoes for some time and when I looked back I was over 400 miles. No wonder I was getting runners tweak. My ankles and knee had been complaining and this was why. I had a new pair upstairs and switched them out for my night run.
I ended up going 3.75 miles at a faster pace than I had been for the past month or so. I have been somewhere near 10:40 to 10:45 but last night I was at 10:20. I am not where I want to be but I think the new shoes will help me along. Plus, they are green so they must be faster.
Last night as I was helping my daughter with her homework, I took my running shoe out of the rack and tested the spring in the mid sole. It was dead. I hadn't thought about the miles I put on these shoes for some time and when I looked back I was over 400 miles. No wonder I was getting runners tweak. My ankles and knee had been complaining and this was why. I had a new pair upstairs and switched them out for my night run.
I ended up going 3.75 miles at a faster pace than I had been for the past month or so. I have been somewhere near 10:40 to 10:45 but last night I was at 10:20. I am not where I want to be but I think the new shoes will help me along. Plus, they are green so they must be faster.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Bruised and Battered
Today, I went out for my long run. I would say this ... sometimes bad runs happen to good people. It started out fine for the first 2.5 miles when I felt the urge for a pit stop back at home. Upon taking care of business, I went out to finish the run but I could never get back into a groove. I did run 9.5 miles but the pace was a bit slower than I am used to running. I think that this had much to do with the amount of hills on this course. I will take the small victory of having put in some good miles. When it was done I was more tired than I usually am after a long run and really needed a rest. So there is good and bad, much like the rest of life.
In other news, I was back at my martial arts class again. I had been out for a good amount of time, due to some personal conflict. I am taking private lessons until things calm down in my personal life. I do like that better to be truthful. It is nice to have the one on one time. I was happy to get back into the swing of things. Additionally, I was pleased that I still had abot 90% of my speed and power, so that was nice.
In news more related to paragraph 1, I ran more than 20 miles this week. Huzzah.
In other news, I was back at my martial arts class again. I had been out for a good amount of time, due to some personal conflict. I am taking private lessons until things calm down in my personal life. I do like that better to be truthful. It is nice to have the one on one time. I was happy to get back into the swing of things. Additionally, I was pleased that I still had abot 90% of my speed and power, so that was nice.
In news more related to paragraph 1, I ran more than 20 miles this week. Huzzah.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Run Log
I woke up this morning, thankfully. A step in the right direction.
Get up, get up. I have to run. There is a work party tonight and I can't run after, I might be able to walk but there will be alcohol. I have to run.
OK, OK, I am getting myself together. Shirt, shorts, socks ... where are my socks. I have to wear my bridgedales. I need the little extra cushion for the runs. Where, this would be easier in the daylight. The laundry basket, a novel idea, I would have come on this sooner if I had been awake. Put on the clothes, grab the garmin, water bottle (stainless steel - new and very nice) and .... umm what else do I need ah shoes.
OK grab them and out the door. Maybe I should have put them on first. The steps will work and OK they are on. Run ... wait set the garmin, ah mp3 I forgot. Back in grab and out. Set the garmin and walk to the end of the street. Am I awake yet, not sure. But lets go.
I take off and try to shake the sleep off and manage to only go a half mile at about an 11:30 pace but manage a 10:55 for the mile. Not bad. One mile ... awake now. Am I breathing hard, I don't think so but Fuel is reminding me that everything that shimmers is sure to fade away. So that is an uplifting thought.
Mile two, up the hill. Chop it up, short step, short step. Will it end I feel like I have been looking up at it forever. Come on, just keep going can see the top , not far now. Just up, hell its only a quarter mile now. Cresting the hill, not breathing hard, garmin beep, 10:38 for the mile. Whew down the hill, pick it up. Red light, stop. Water, mmm best stuff on Earth. Green means go, run how am I going 11:15. Give me a break. Pick it up, pick it up. Flat and straight is not big deal, flat and straight is no big deal.
Going home, take the turn toward my house, mile 3, 10:30. Turn the corner and sprint down my street and walk for a .1 to cool off. 3.30 miles. OK, time to go to work, what did I just do?
Time to down a protein drink, chomp a banana and grab a shower. The day is just starting.
Get up, get up. I have to run. There is a work party tonight and I can't run after, I might be able to walk but there will be alcohol. I have to run.
OK, OK, I am getting myself together. Shirt, shorts, socks ... where are my socks. I have to wear my bridgedales. I need the little extra cushion for the runs. Where, this would be easier in the daylight. The laundry basket, a novel idea, I would have come on this sooner if I had been awake. Put on the clothes, grab the garmin, water bottle (stainless steel - new and very nice) and .... umm what else do I need ah shoes.
OK grab them and out the door. Maybe I should have put them on first. The steps will work and OK they are on. Run ... wait set the garmin, ah mp3 I forgot. Back in grab and out. Set the garmin and walk to the end of the street. Am I awake yet, not sure. But lets go.
I take off and try to shake the sleep off and manage to only go a half mile at about an 11:30 pace but manage a 10:55 for the mile. Not bad. One mile ... awake now. Am I breathing hard, I don't think so but Fuel is reminding me that everything that shimmers is sure to fade away. So that is an uplifting thought.
Mile two, up the hill. Chop it up, short step, short step. Will it end I feel like I have been looking up at it forever. Come on, just keep going can see the top , not far now. Just up, hell its only a quarter mile now. Cresting the hill, not breathing hard, garmin beep, 10:38 for the mile. Whew down the hill, pick it up. Red light, stop. Water, mmm best stuff on Earth. Green means go, run how am I going 11:15. Give me a break. Pick it up, pick it up. Flat and straight is not big deal, flat and straight is no big deal.
Going home, take the turn toward my house, mile 3, 10:30. Turn the corner and sprint down my street and walk for a .1 to cool off. 3.30 miles. OK, time to go to work, what did I just do?
Time to down a protein drink, chomp a banana and grab a shower. The day is just starting.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Looking ahead to ... Runtober
I know, I know, everyone does this sort of thing. But I was in a mood what can I say. So I am dubbing October, Runtober well for this year anyway. October will be the most important month of this training schedule for getting prepared for my half marathon at the end of November. September ended fine with 70 miles logged but I would like to build on that for this coming month. I want to say 100 but perhaps that is too ambitious so I will say 90. Here is the plan:
This week:
M: 4 (done)
T: 5.5 (done)
W:
Th: 4
F:
Sa: 3 (intervals)
Su: 10
Next Week:
M:
T: 4
W: 6
Th:
F: 4
Sa: 3 (intervals)
Su: 6
This will be 26 for this week and 23 for next week. The following two weeks of the month will be basically similar except that for the long run I will be at 12 miles. This will leave a 14 miler for the 1st of November and then a taper. I think that should about do it. The miles I am planning do add up to over 100 but I know that my plans don't always go exactly ... well to plan. So 90 is realistic in case something unexpected occurs.
70 miles, not bad. And yes I did plan the distance of my run last night around getting to 70 miles for the month.
This week:
M: 4 (done)
T: 5.5 (done)
W:
Th: 4
F:
Sa: 3 (intervals)
Su: 10
Next Week:
M:
T: 4
W: 6
Th:
F: 4
Sa: 3 (intervals)
Su: 6
This will be 26 for this week and 23 for next week. The following two weeks of the month will be basically similar except that for the long run I will be at 12 miles. This will leave a 14 miler for the 1st of November and then a taper. I think that should about do it. The miles I am planning do add up to over 100 but I know that my plans don't always go exactly ... well to plan. So 90 is realistic in case something unexpected occurs.
70 miles, not bad. And yes I did plan the distance of my run last night around getting to 70 miles for the month.
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