Saturday Morning Run - Holy Cow that was a lot of people

First off let me just say that I run with an amazing group of people! I'm not sure exactly how many people were out there at 6am for the second group (yeah that's right second group, some of them had been out there since 4:30am) but we were like a tribe as we headed out of Crow Creek park.

Today was the perfect day for a run in my opinion, mid 40's low wind, overcast skies, simply awesome morning for a run. We headed out going south down Devils Glen and hopped on the bike path for 45 min before heading back. As always the main group broke up into a couple smaller groups as runners of different abilities settle into their own rhythm. This is one of the reasons that I love running with the group so much, their is a wide range of runners, like John who is training for The Leadville 100 mile Ultra Marathon to
Marathon trainers and people who are just out getting in 10-12 miles for a half marathon or shorter. Today I spent the majority of the day running with Jay who is making a comeback to running after back to back injuries that have left him sidelined for the past couple months. He broke his jaw during a fall and then after recovering from that he had a back injury, just the mere fact that he was out running is a testament to his dedication and perseverance.

I have run with this group 3 or 4 times over the last month and each time I get to meet someone new and spend some quality time getting some quality miles in. You really get to know someone over the course of an hour or 2 while running, and its funny the range of topics you might cover, everything from blister prevention to your child's activities and everything in between. It's funny some of the people I've met only a couple of times and spent only a handful of hours with but I have had more in depth conversations with them than I have with some of my closest friends whom I've know for years.

After finishing up with our 90 min loop we all met back at crow creek where some other LU members along with the PV Girls cross country team were waiting to join up for the next round. I was only going to join them for another 2-3 miles since I was almost to my miles and had to get headed back home soon. After a quick photo op we headed out of the park with 20+ people, we were like a gang of runners, it must have been a funny sight for the people driving by us as we headed out on our way down Devils Glen, I can only imagine what it must have looked like...pretty awesome...or strange depending on your perspective I guess.

I finished up with Anne and Jay who turned around at the same time I did, with 13 miles in just under 2 hours at a 9 min mile pace which once again is still remarkable to me. I am running just as fast on my group long runs as I am on my shorter solo runs. Days like today when running feels easy and almost effortless I get a glimpse at what kind of potential I have to get better and it only fuels my desire to keep pushing my body further. I felt better at the end of 13 miles than I did at the beginning, I felt like I could have kept going had it not been for time constraints and done 18 miles today, how smart that would have been is a whole nother debate. But when running feels like it did this morning, its easy to understand just how addicting it can be...best drug in the world!

After I got home from my run I wrestled with the boys for awhile before doing 3 rounds of 20/20 crunches and push ups and the boys joined me afterwards, then I taught them how to do headstands, don't tell their mother not sure if shed appreciate at that or not, ha-ha!!!

Time now for the boys first soccer game, then I'm going to hit the pool at the Y and try and get a good work out in since I missed 2 swims this week, than we have a birthday party to go to this afternoon, busy, busy day, but I wouldn't want it any other way.


Until next time...Do today what others won't, so tomorrow you can do what others can't.

Dealing with changes when plans don't go according to plan

This week has been a mixed bag of missed workouts and running breakthroughs. I've missed 2 of my 3 swim workouts because of exhaustion and/or horrible sleep, thank you thunderstorms last night for making my neurotic dog go crazy all night. I was up at 2:30 and couldn't get back to sleep until almost 4. Alarm was set to go off at 4:30 and i was exhausted, needless to say I didn't make it to the pool this morning. Couple that with the fact that I skipped my bike workout last night cause I was just too wiped out, and i could be really down about my training right now. But I'm choosing to look on the bright side of things, this week I've really made some breakthroughs with my running. First I was able to get in 2 evening runs with little to no complications like dizziness or feeling faint like I normally do when i try to run at night. In fact I had one of my best tempo runs on Wednesday night, which started off as an easy 3 miler.

I realize that in training much as in life things are not always going to go as planned, and my outlook on these unexpected changes is what's really important. I could choose to dwell on the poor efforts or missed workouts, or I could celebrate the small victories and use those as motivation to get back on track.

Stuff happens, I just have to deal with it. And the fact that i have been able to roll with it this week instead of relentlessly obsessing about it and driving myself and others crazy with my antics shows me a new level of maturity, and that I can take pride in.

Going to try and hit it hard this weekend with a long run on deck for tomorrow, until next time...

Do today what others won't, so tomorrow you can do what others can't.

Sunday Fun-Day

So my day started off with an easy 2 hour ride on my bike trainer (yeah I know the words easy and 2 hour bike ride don't belong in the same sentence and I'm seeking professional help for it, well not really). Watched a movie and then caught a half hour of Joel Osteen before getting ready for church.

After church and lunch did some yard work before heading out for a bike ride with the family. This was our first real time going for a family bike ride since both boys have been out of training wheels and they both did awesome, can't say the same for Deanna. She was struggling to keep up with me and the boys and by the time we reached our designated turn around area I think she was ready to be done. We took a little break and let the boys play for a bit before heading back. Deanna jokingly suggested (I think) that me and the boys could ride back, get the car and come back and pick her up faster, she was a trooper though and solider on. We eventually made our way back to the car and I'm pretty sure Deanna was glad it was over.

After our bike ride it was time for some burgers and hot dogs on the grill. Deanna made us some healthier baked fries and some amazing spicy red pepper turkey burgers. Grilling out was the perfect end to a great day and a great weekend. Back to the grind tomorrow, but we already have plans for another bike ride next weekend maybe and definitely some more grilling.

Until next time...

Do today what others won't, so tomorrow you can do what others can't.

Family Fun Night at the Mallards game

So last night the whole family went to watch the QC Mallards hockey game, and we had a blast. After last night I'm convinced that Caden is going to be that rabid sports fan that yells at his tv. He was screaming to shoot it shoot it every time a Mallards player had the puck, and when the other team scored you would have though his world had ended.

All in all it was a great night and we all had a fun time.

Saturday group long run

So my schedule called for 9 miles today, but the LU group was running 15, I debated on whether I was going to join them this week or not. The plan was to meet at the Isle of Capri parking lot and run an out and back to Credit Island, so if I wanted to turn around after 5 miles I could. Besides doing a long run with others is so much more enjoyable and the miles always go by quicker. This run felt easy, which is weird to say considering I averaged nearly a minute per mile faster than my normal long run pace, and it was easily the longest run I've done in some time but the miles ticked off and I felt like I had a lot left in me even after we finished.

It is so awesome to get to run with a great group of people and it certainly helps having much faster and capable runners to help push me past my comfort zone.

After the run I called to let my wife know I was on my way home and she told me she had a surprise for me when I got home. I knew exactly what she was talking about and I enthusiastically proclaimed "PANCAKES!" over the phone. To any of you non-runners married to or in a relationship with a runner, trust me when I tell you nothing says I love you quite like a stack of warm pancakes after a long run.

After devouring a stack of cakes it was off to our first soccer practice of the year. Now a little downtime before an early dinner and then the family is going to a hockey game tonight, Living Uncommon at its finest today.

Until next time...do today what others won't, so tomorrow you can do what others can't.