Snowbound? Snow Way! Bounding Inside, Sans Snow - 4.01 Miles

4.01 miles run

1.00 miles walk warmdown

total: 5.01 miles

course: Cardinal Fitness Glen Ellyn

I wanted to do between 4-5 miles. Legalistically, I made. More importantly, I felt OK. Did some weights too. I've never grabbed on to weights, but sorely need more strength.

In the photo, you don't see the snow. There was plenty of it. Running buddy Amanda M. chastised me to run instead outside. It is relatively warm, and a legitimate question.

Accountability. That's why. While I know treadmill running is not a 1:1 ratio to outside running, I can see my time and pace to the second and 1/100 at any moment. I can fool myself on the trail, or just get so discouraged. On a treadmill, I can remind myself how far is left. I need this while building miles. I prefer to enjoy what running buddy Liz Flowers calls "a beautiful zen run" in the quiet of a snowy trail.

Hopefully I get back there Monday. The rest of today is meant to clean, and to host a small dinner party (eight people in all).

What Can a Long Run Do? Character and a Tough Workout

I recently Tweeted "A long run shows a man's character. I've run hard on the track w/ Brad Webb. He has my vote for DuPage County Board http://votebradwebb.com/"

It occurred to me it may not be obvious to non-runners why this is, or even what I mean.

Brad is around my speed. He is a bigger guy, once a good enough football player to try out for the Chicago Bears. He played in college for Iowa, and is probably useful if I need help moving a fridge. I'm 5'6" and maybe 135 pounds, and am not the guy to call even to move your microwave. If you call three other guys, maybe.

We've run many a 400 meter interval side-by-side on Wheaton College's track. I'm lighter on my feet, and he has power. The 400, when done in repetition, sort of evens out our strengths. Do 3x3 400s, added to a warmup and all, and who a man is shows up. I can't tell on the track what he believes about this or that, but, if he's a cussing man, I'll know. If he is persistent or easily discouraged, it will be obvious. How he handles frustration, pain, and competition is clear. Turn up the Illinois heat to 80 degrees, and exhaustion is felt. That's how training works.

Brad's got specific positions, and those, certainly, are never described in brief over 200-repeats, or a 400-600-800 ladder. There's the website for that. I won't try to push an analogy (or is a metaphor in this case?) that running can tell you all about a man. It can't.

The primary is February 2. I am not a Republican, and am not sure if to vote in the primary, I need to declare a party. I'll work that out. Just the same, I am confident of Brad Webb. This is not because he is a friend; there are friends in politics I will not vote for. It is because I have sweat it out on the track and seen him when he is real and honest, and a few times with his family, and heard of his reputation around town. I have been to his home, have seen how he treats his wife and kids. Always honorably. I don't care what party a man joins so long as he is a man of integrity. I see strengths and weaknesses in each party. What matters to me is deeper than the shallow explanations I read about detractors and supporters of either party. Brad has lived it out what a good man needs to live - honor, honesty, and integrity. This won't get him off the hook next spring when we next show up at the starting line on a Thursday night, but it will get him my vote.

Which Lock is Mine? Unlocking 3.86 Miles

3.86 miles run
1.00 miles hardwalk warmdown

total: 4.86 miles

course: Cardinal Fitness, Wheaton

A relaxed run. This Cardinal Fitness did not have the iPod plug-in. The treadmills were fine enough, but I like this feature.

Met Dan, an RV dealership owner after I thought his locker was mine. Same Masterlock. Why doesn't my combination work? Aha! Because it is not my Masterlock. Mine was a few to the left.

It was nice to be done with my run by 9:15 am. The day was in front of me without the gnaw to run, or the guilt because I made an excuse not to run. I had been sick for over a week, but the last two days were negotiable. I wimped out. Not today.

Legs are tired. Hopefully, again on Saturday.

The tune of the moment:
Mozart - Requiem - Confutatis - 7 - 05-12 218th anniversary of Mozart's death

Sandburg HS Boy Wins Footlocker XC Race

And not only did Lukas Verzbicas a sophomore kid from my neck of the woods (Sandburg High School, Orland Park, IL) blow out the competition (:15 ahead with a 15:08 50000 meters cross country, the girls race had a photo-finish. Megan Gothals of Rochester (Mich.) High won it is 17:07, with Chelsey Sveinsson of Dallas (Texas) Greenhill School finishing in second.

I ran regularly against Sandburg kids in my day. Then, they had two kids who could beat me. Lukas would have run circles around me, but I'd show him a race the first 800 meters. Until he dropped me dead on the field, that is.

As you read the story, you'll be reminded how gutting it out, no matter how much a lost cause the race seems, is sometimes worth it.

As for my own running exploits, they begin again tomorrow as I get over this week-long cold.

Trodding 3.11 Miles of Fat Burning Joy

3.11 miles run
1.30 miles warm down walk

total: 4.41 miles

course: Cardinal Fitness

A simple, easy run after (hear my sad mantra?) a long layoff. I was not entirely inactive, but I did not run. Long walks, packing/unpacking as I moved across town, and, and... and -- OK. That's all I did. Not much.

My pace was around 8:57. Nothing speedy about it. I was surprised I felt a little gassed at around 2.5 miles. Good to be out there (in there?) burning off winter fat.

A fun surprise was meeting a designer whose career has somewhat connected with mine. A post run conversation is always nice.

Sun Blocked and Steady 5.0 miles

5.00 miles (43:25 - 8:41/mile)
0.50 miles warm down walk

total: 5.5 miles

course: Cardinal Fitness

A lovely run on an early Sunday morning. While my pace was hardly excessive, I remained steady throughout.

The gym was almost empty. Kind of eery, but most runners likely enjoyed today's gorgeous sun. I opted to stay inside, avoiding the sun with a tightly pulled shade.

No Chariots Running with Me in 4.5 Miles

4.50 miles (38:50 - 8:38/mile)
0.75 miles

total: 5.25 miles

course: Cardinal Fitness

An excellent litttle run in my road to fitness. It felt good. I mostly ran at 8:41/mile. My stride feels most comfortable right now at 8:15 or so, but I held back.

The girl on the treadmill next to me was kicking out a slightly faster 8:34 pace for maybe six miles. The temptation of this red-blooded American male was to quicken my pace to something in the 7s, until she finished her workout. The risk was that she would run another five miles, beyond my ability to maintain my show-off pace, and the next day would be an ache-fest.

The psychology of a long run is complicated. I have long runs behind me; I know what 15 miles means. Tonight, and yesterday too, it felt long. Not that I was tired. I wasn't, and could have gone another three miles as far as 'tired' goes. I chose not to as I build my miles. Faster too. I'm burning fat, and building those blessed little capillaries. My mental endurance is weak. My lungs were cool. My legs, somewhat. But my mind? Not so much. In younger years, resilience of mind was a strength. I had plenty of fight. Eventually, distances like four or four miles will seem short.

I intended to listen to the Chariots of Fire (my movie review) soundtrack's (my CD review) long theme. It is 20:40, long enough to get me halfway through my run. It was not in my running playlist on my iPod and I didn't feel like fumbling through to find it elsewhere. Next time.

4.02 at Twilight and Runners on Twitter

4.02 miles run (34:42 - 8:38/mile)
0.70 miles warm down walk

total: 47.72
course: Cardinal Fitness

Easy going run. Needed it after a frustrating day with my computer bonking off for no apparent reason. Kept it steady for 3.5 miles, then lopped up a notch that last half.

It was really at Twilight. Just thought I'd toss in a nice pop reference to a movie I'll never see.
Not sure if you can see this, but here's a list of running-related members I follow on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#/list/AnthonyTrendl/running

My general Twitter account (usually about running, writing, literature and philosophy)
http://twitter.com/AnthonyTrendl

3.5 Miles During Sunday Morning's Extra Hour

3.5 miles (30:10 - 8:37/mile)
0.5 miles warm down walk

total: 4.0 miles

course: Cardinal Fitness Glen Ellyn

A bright morning, fun music, and legs that are happier than they have been all week.

My weight is inching up after recovery from a bout of something or other, and after not running a few weeks.

Time to head off to Sunday school.

I Have Decided (and Hopefully Will Decide Regularly) to Run Early - 3.5 Miles

3.50 miles run (30:50 - 8:43/mile)
0.50 miles warm down walk

total: 4.0 miles

course: Cardinal Fitness Glen Ellyn

Getting up early is no trouble. Ready to run early is another problem.

I love writing in the morning. My mind is clear and things are quiet. I can lose myself for hours, and, making the change to run a challenge. This gym I've started with opens at 5:00 am, and the word on the street is if the guy is there, he'll let me in at 4:45 am. I have no excuse as far as opportunity goes; it is all about motivation and decision.

The decision to run first thing in the morning is not some grand, big thing. It is a daily thing. Two days, if you consider the choice to sleep early the night before, as well as what to do when I wake up.

Today, I left home at around 7:15. That's hardly early, but it is earlier than I usually run.

My thighs ache from Monday and Wednesday's run. I thought about upping my run to five miles, but, until the aching subsides, I'll hover under four. The general plan as I once swing back into this running thing is to go every other day until my legs feel OK, then add a mile here and there, add one day, then two, until I am at six days a week.

Steppin' Out: 3.0 miles inside

3.0 miles run
0.85 miles warmdown walk

total: 3.85 miles

course: Cardinal Fitness, Schaumburg

Had a busy day, a good thing, and decided to see how useful my new gym membership is. Grabbed an hour, and kicked out a few miles. My legs still hurt from Monday, but I need to get the steps in. More steps, more miles, more fitness.

Getting the hang of this gym business takes forethought: bring stuff to shower, including a towel. I had a towel I use during the workout, but a second towel would have been nice.

Steppin' Out (great old tune)

Please Tread on Me: 3.0 Miles on Treadmill at New Gym

3.0 miles
0.2 miles walk warmdown

total: 3.2 miles

Fast post: First run in long while, and first run at new gym. Great deal at Cardinal Fitness. October special more.

Felt OK, probably too fast as I tweaked the speed. Cool treadmills.

Gotta get to a meeting but wanted to posted before I forgot.

Following the Chicago Marathon? Links for you.

http://www.chicagomarathon.com/

Live Broadcast Information


Searchable Race Results (add your friends here, tracking them all in one place)

Interactive Course Map

A Long Rain, A Short Run, A Fine Time

41:03 (9:40/mile?)
4.25 miles?

total: 4.25 miles

52°F | °C
Current: Showers
Wind: S at 5 mph
Humidity: 92%

Not sure how far. Ran an easy 40 minutes in the humid aftermath of a day long rain.

Good running partners make good runs. Friends Mark and Jody came along, or rather, I joined them. We ran Jody's course at an easy lope, and enjoyed conversation along the way. Mark dropped off so to get the dogs, and when we came round again, the exuberant adult puppies were there to overwhelmingly greet us.

Time for some Hamburger Helper. Trying the Philly Cheesesteak kind. It expired in January, but, come on, who is kidding who?

(Buy some. If you buy enough stuff from Amazon, I can get some new ones!)

Hamburger Helper Philly Cheesesteak, 6.5-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 12)