Day 82

We got back from vacation at 8:30, unloaded the car, one kid in bed, one in the shower, and I went running.

1.3mi

14:00min

257cal

2.0 incline.

Good to be back at a "low" altitude.

Day 81 - Winter Park Day 3

I was thinking I was feeling energietic, we didn't ski a lot, I could do more.

I couldn't. I tried a 1.5incline and 6.2, but had to go down to 1.0 in a couple minutes and 6.0 in another. Still I huffed and puffed my way through it. I felt better by 10 minutes, but was still struggling a bit.

1.3mi
14:00min
156cal
1.0 incline.

Day 80

Running at altitude is hard. After skiing for a little over half a day, I changed at our condo in Winter Park (9,000+ ft) and then went over to the Winter Park Athletic Club. After getting access and paying for 2 days, I got on a Bodyguard treadmill, a little lower quality than I've been running on, and got going.

I knew I'd be tired, and the altitude might affect me, so I set a 1.0 incline and tried 6.4, but that didn't work. I huffed and puffed at 6mph for 8 or 9 minutes and then went up to 6.4 again and finished off.

1.4mi

15:00min

244 cal

1.0 incline.

Day 79

Leaving town in an hour for a skiing vacation, hopefully skiing today in Winter Park. So I got up early for the run.

1.3mi
14:00min
256cal
2.0 incline

Running in the mountains in winter will be challenging.

Day 78

Starting week 12. Legs, especially the upper backs of the calves, have sore muscles. Took it slow and steady again. I like the 6.2mph pace.

1.42mi

15:00min

277 cal

2.0 incline

Finished Planet of the Apes. Need to search out a new movie for the next week.

LifeFitness 95T

While I was in Seattle, I got to run on a LifeFitness 95T treadmill and it was really nice. It's a large, commercial quality treadmill, and the ones at the top of the Seattle Sheraton had an additional workout screen added to them with interfaces for TV, iPod, and MP3 players.

I was skeptical, but I turned on the personal trainer for my first run. It was interesting in that some virtual avatar was there encouraging me along. That along with the virtual track, showing my progress around (4 laps/mile) and it helped pass the time. Unfortunately the TV wasn't plugged into my treadmill because I got just static when I tried.

The next day I took my iTouch up there and plugged it in. The have an iPod bottom connector, not a 2.5mm plug, and so you get all your playlists and things on the screen. That was cool, but honestly there isn't a scroll wheel, just a series of buttons, so you want to just pick a playlist of artist and let it run. Trying to change things (other than forward/backward) while running didn't work well.

It's an interesting high tech workout. There are other tracks, including a cross country, hilly 5k track that I didn't run, but I used it as a reference during one of my runs, going 2.4k or so.

The deck felt well, the motor kept the speed up well, and overall it was a good treadmill I enjoyed running on.

Eleven Weeks

I've been running for 11 weeks today, 77 days, and I'm amazed. I never thought I'd have a streak this long. I joked about getting a Nike Plus when I hit 100 days, not sure that I'd actually get there.

Now I can imagine actually getting there. If I can get past the skiing days over the next month, I'll get there before Christmas.

Over 11 weeks, I've run through some pulled muscles, including sore ankles, pulled calves (slightly), pulled hamstrings, and a pulled groin this week. By moving slow, steady, and keeping my speed under control.

I can actually imagine getting to a year now, though that's a long way away. Moving through ski season, more travel, and baseball will be a long journey.

Day 77

I pulled a groin muscle last night at karate, so I took it easy today. A nice, steady 6mph lunchtime run.

1.28mi
14:00min
251cal
2.0 incline

11 weeks!

It's All Relative

I've noticed in trying to run while out of town recently, and then again back at home, that when I start my warmup, which is 2 minutes at 4mph, it feels fast. I have to hold onto the side arms sometimes and I'm racing to keep up to the pace of the treadmill until I can get to the 2 minute mark and start to jog.

However when I finish my run, and then go into my 1:30 cool down, again at 4mph, it feels leisurely, like I'm strolling along.

Speed is all relative. I watched some guy in Seattle running at 8mph and it looked like he was coasting, whereas I probably look like a lumbering rhino at that speed. However with my long legs, maintaining a 4mph pace is fine, while that gets my little girl into a slow jog.

I can tell what kind of day I've been having by how that first two minutes feels. When I've been sitting around or working at my computer, it feels fast. If I've been walking around doing things, like feeding horses or working on fences, it doesn't feel so bad.

I wonder if that's the case with other runners?

Day 76

I found my running and shoes and the routine is back. Or close, a little late today.

1.5mi

15:30min

292 cal

2.0 incline.

Day 75

A lazy day, including me not finding my running shoes, so I used an old pair and ran a bit longer, but easier today. I did do two non-consecutive minutes at 7.5 and felt great, an easy run.

1.77mi
18min
344 cal
2.0 incline.

Day 74

Trying to fit one in between errands and Delaney's birthday party tonight.

1.32mi
14:00min
258 cal
2.0 incline

Good to be back on my treadmill.

Day 73

Up early to run this morning at 7 before heading to the airport. I wanted it done before I left Seattle, but couldn't log it until now.

1.5mi
15min
269 cal
2.0incline

day 72

1.57 mi
17 min
302 cal

Day 72

Forgot to post this last week without access from the convention center. I had the notes on my iTouch with the data.

1.55mi

17min

302 cal

2.0 incline

Day 71

I was sick this morning, tired when I came back to the hotel, but I couldn't sleep, so I went running. Good logic, huh? But it worked, and I feel better.

1.52mi
16:00min
277cal
2.0 incline

For the first time in Seattle, I didn't have any trouble breathing and felt good when running. The 15 minutes came easy.

Day 70

10 weeks!

I'm liking these early morning runs. Today I was on the top of the Sheraton, 35th floor, running while looking NE out over Seattle. Not a bad view.

1.55mi
16:30
252cal
1.5 incline

Day 69

I wasn't sure I'd ever get here. One day from 10 weeks, it's the week of the PASS Summit, and I'm still running. Early morning, huffing and puffing a bit, sore left hamstring, but it loosened nicely.

1.43mi
15:00min
169 cal
1.5incline.

Day 68

It was early, first thing again that I ran. I slept in a hoodie, so I was warmer and felt better. But I didn't push it, not sure how much of a walking day I'd have.

1.44mi
15:00min
171cal
1.5 incline

Day 67

A new city, a new timezone, a new treadmill. Got an early morning one in before heading out sightseeing.

1.44mi
15:00min
169 cal (?- not sure)
1.5incline

I forgot to check the incline and it was about 3 or 4 minutes in that I raised it. It's early here and I felt it, so I didn't push the run too hard. I struggled through about 9 or 10 minutes before finding my groove and running through it. I went up to 7.4mph for a minute around 10 minutes and struggled.

I'm slightly sick, a check cold, and my chest was tight, so this wasn't a great run at sea level.

Day 66

Starting my trip to Seattle with a run before heading to the airport. An early morning one.

1.23mi
13:00min
240 cal

Day 65

Back to the midmorning routine, at least for a day. Felt good to get moving this morning.

1.31mi
14:00min
250 cal
2.0 incline.

Day 64

An afternoon run. Later than I wanted, but I felt good pushing through it.

1.44 mi
15:00 min
280cal
2.0 incline

Day 63

7 weeks of running and I feel good. Had a massage today and all the aches and soreness from yesterday's run is gone.

1.58mi
16:30min
308cal
2.0 incline

Two Months

I thought about writing this at 60 days, then at 61, since both of those are what most of the two calendar length months are. I guess I could have written it at 59 days since February brings us two months with that length, but I decided to go for 62 days, the maximum length for two months.

I have to say I've very proud of myself for getting this far. I've heard that two weeks is the time it takes to make a habit, but I still had to force myself to run through some pain at that point. After 3 weeks it seemed I had a nice stretch where it was easy to run, I started to get them done during the day, I figured out how to get it done on the road, and felt good. Then last week I pulled some muscles and was tempted to skip a couple times. But I persevered.

I don't feel like I'm in great shape, but I do feel like I'm doing something every day and combined with karate, I think I have a good plan for lifelong health. I'm not sure I can keep running forever, but finding 20 minutes to go get exercise every day and building that habit is a good one.

I can start to see how people do this. My wife wasn't sure anyone could do this for years and years, but I've had what I considered a pretty good hamstring pull and still could run through it. A lightly sprained ankle probably would not have stopped me either. Without a catastrophic injury, which I haven't had in a long time, I think I could run most every day.

Day 62

I started feeling like a cold coming on last night. Sore throat, tired, a little woozy. So I got about 10 hours of sleep and while I'm still under the weather, it's not too bad. I decided to try a lunch run and get things kickstarted.

1.43mi
15:00min
280 cal
2.0 incline.

Day 61

A morning run before I get going. From working in bed to moving on the treadmill.

1.43mi
15min
280cal
2.0 incline

The cho pat strap appears to be helping on the right. The leg felt better, though when I stretch I can feel it tight behind the knee.

Day 60

Almost two months and another hard one. After working in the yard, Kendall's soccer game, dinner with a beer, and Saturday night grocery shopping, I decided I needed to hit the treadmill as soon as I got home.

1.33mi
14:00min
260 cal
2.0 incline.

My knees and hams felt better, but the left ankle seems sore. Have to keep an eye on it and take it easy for another day or two.

Day 59

Pulled the left hamstring last night (slightly), twisted the right knee somehow, probably round kicks. The neck is slightly sore, tired, but I forced myself to try this afternoon.

1.21 mi
13min
237cal
2.0 incline

Passing the Time

It's been 8 weeks of running (actually a little more now) and in that time I've had a few runs at the gym while out of town, a few in town before karate, one near the house, but the majority were on my treadmill here in the basement. Over the 8 or so hours I've run here, I've passed the time once with my iPod and the rest of the time with movies. I've rewatched:

- The Matrix
- Goldfinger
- The Fantastic Four
- The Matrix Reloaded
- Hoosiers
- Live Free or Die Hard
- Goldmember
- Austin Powers
- and part of Vantage Point.

Having a TV in front of the treadmill is great. Music works at times, but honestly I find that staring at the same scene is hard and it's hard to zone out. I get get lost in a movie at times, even when I can't hear it well, and pass the time. A few of the longer runs have been because I've had a movie going.

Day 58

A short one with karate tonight, but after a late run yesterday, I wanted to get one in early today.

1.5mi
15:00min
292 cal
2.0 incline

Day 58

A day run before karate. Taking is easy.

1.4mi

15:00min

Day 57

1.28mi

13:30min

250cal

2.0 incline

Tonight would have been the night to stop. Out all afternoon, out with kids, get home at 8:45, tired, a touch of work to do, not good eating, a cup of coffee in my belly at 7:45pm, definitely an easy night to lie down and not run.

I made myself get up and move. The neck is sore, but I’m glad I did it.

Day 56

Slipped it in before lunch.

1.45mi

15:00min

283 cal

2.0 incline

Moved the cho-pat strip to the left leg. That one felt good, but I missed it on the right one.

8 Weeks

I’ve been running continuously for 8 weeks as of today and it’s been interesting. For the most part I’ve been able to incorporate this into my day without a hassle. There have been a few days where I’ve run late at night or struggled to fit it in between the things in my day. A couple times I had to inconvenience myself a bit to slip the run in, but for the most part, across 2 trips, numerous kids events, and general life here at the ranch, I’ve made it work.

In that same time my wife has started and stopped a few times, mainly since she’s busier than I and has other priorities. Still it’s inspiring to me that I’ve kept it up.

My totals for the 8 weeks:

79.3mi

13.8 hours

I left off the calories as I’ve done enough running away from my treadmill that the count is pretty far off. I might just stop tracking them since it’s very inconsistent.

Day 55

Double nickel, another short one to save my legs after working in the yard and karate later.

1.22mi
13:00min
228cal
2.0 incline

Day 54

1.39 mi
14:30 min
271 cal
2.0 incline

A hard one today after out of the house working all day on chores.

Day 53

I dropped Kendall off at soccer and decided to take advantage of this 70F November day and run a loop near Lowes. I hadn't mapped it, but was hoping it was > 1 mi.

It was, 1.5mi, as you can see from the route below. I think I was about 18-20 minutes on this.