11 Months

11 Months, on my third calendar year of running, day 1176, was a good one. I felt great, pressed for time, I pushed.

This brings me to 684mi this year, on pace for 746 for the year. Pressing a little in Dec, I should hit 750mi.

Day 1177

A short, quick run today.

16:00
1.66mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/79930590

Day 1176

Nice, long, slow run with my wife. A little chilly, but no wind.

41:18
3.01

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/79839614

Refreshed

The streak almost ended recently, but it didn't. In fact, I pressed on, even though I was tired one day, and I felt like I'd worked myself, even though I was tired. The next day I felt even better, even more refreshed and strong.

I've said it before, but the mental benefits of running every day, even when I'm tired, outweigh the physical ones. I just feel like I did something. Especially on those days when I might have worked outside, or be tired, but maybe didn't press that hard. Getting the run in makes me feel like I've actually done something positive for my health.

Day 1175

Good run, late, on the treadmill with wind outside.

24:00
2.47mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/79670786

Day 1174

Outside doing chores all day, tired, and crunched for time, so a short one. However I felt good, so I pushed.

22:00
2.32mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/79671134

Day 1173

Good run on the treadmill with a ton of wind outside. Pushed hard and almost completed 9:00/mi for 2. Only a few seconds off.

22:00
2.32mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/79365628

Day 1172

Back home, cruising down the road on my regular route and it felt great on a cool autumn day.

23:13
2.4mi

Day 1171

A morning run before skiing, between Fraser and Winter Park. Chilly, but beautiful

18:41
1.88

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/79200212

Day 1170

Another morning run, trying to get things knocked out early. The club was closed, so I ran around the neighborhood in Fraser, avoiding ice and jogging easy.

17:19
1.38mi
http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/79201012

Day 1169

Tough one, hurt ankle, I barely made it through.

14:00
1.37mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/78782320

Almost a bad day

I was walking the other night after a movie, on some brick sidewalks and stepped into an uneven area. My left ankle turned a bit, and luckily I collapsed my left leg before it was too bad. It hurt for awhile and was slightly sore the next day, but it wasn't too bad and didn't prevent me from running.

It was a mistake on my part, not being careful in the rest of my life. I am fairly careful while running, watching the ground fairly often to be sure I don't hurt myself, but I forgot to pay more attention in the rest of my life.

Day 1168

Easy jog tonight.

16:00
1.61mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/79201880

Day 1167

An easier run after skiing today.

 18:00
1.61mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/78555474

Day 1166

After a day of skiing, a nice easy run.

16:00
1.54mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/78555590

Day 1165

Another nice, easy run with my wife, just jogging down the trail

46:05

3.4mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/78164934

Day 1164

Felt great on this run. a slight pain in the right knee,but didn't slow me down much.

20:00
2.11mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/78013290

Day 1163

Late in the day, struggling a little to get into the run. Not physically, but mentally. Powered through a shorter one.

18:00
1.82mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/77887048

Day 1162

A nice easy job with my wife down the road on a nice CO day. Slow for me, but a nice easy pace with the dogs for her. Felt good to hold back a bit.

45:30

3.29

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/78165062

Day 1161

Easy run on the treadmill with the wind howling outside. Good to be back home.

22:00
2.27mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/77540930

Tiger Balm

I've mostly run for years without any help, other than my cho-pat strap occasionally. However the last few months, with heavy travel and upping the mileage, I've been getting some tight and sore muscles, and I've ended up trying something.

I took Tiger Balm with me on a few trips, and I'd rub it on my calfs before running, loosening them up  much more than I expected. I'd used it before baseball and karate a few times, but lately I've added it to the running routine and it's worked out well.

I have icy hot in my other bags, and I'll have to try that running sometime but for now I like what Tiger Balm has done for me.

Forced Outside

I've seen broken treadmills. I've had slow treadmills that were maddening, but I hadn't run into a stopped treadmill. Up early on Sun morning before I needed to get to the airport, I hit the fitness center. I hopped on the treadmill, hit start, and things lit up, the numbers changed, I could enter my weight and age, but the belt wouldn't move.

I tried a few things, and even though I was in a Holiday Inn Express, I didn't know how to fix it. Three minutes after pressing a lot of buttons I gave up and headed outside, jogging through the local neighborhood as the day started in the New York neighborhood of Corona.

It was a little annoying as I didn't have a route, no phone or GPS, just my watch and me, cruising along uneven, broken sidewalks in a crowded urban setting. Very few people up at that hour, shops shuttered and barred as I headed out. Fifteen minutes later, as I turned and came back, I saw more people waiting for buses, a few shopkeepers mopping out their space, tossing buckets of soapy water onto the sidewalks, and the day beginning.

It was actually a fun run, and he temperature helped. I hadn't prepped well for a fall trip to the NE, but it was actually fairly dry and warm, and a t-shirt and shorts worked out fine, with just a slight chill on my exposed skin.

Day 1160

Broken treadmill in the hotel sent me outside for a nice run.

16:23
1.53mi

View

Running in NYC

When I was in New York City in 2010, I made two runs in Central Park one evening and really enjoyed it. The weather was cool, and there was traffic to avoid, but it was neat to run in an park setting and see the skyscrapers jutting up as I ran through the trees. This year my hotel was further away from the park, almost 10 blocks. However I wanted to get to the park, so I headed out from 51st and 3rd, crossing to Park Avenue and then heading north.

I jogged up the famous street, getting to 61st street before I cut over to the park. It was a sunny morning, a little chilly (40F), but not too bad, as I came in site of Central Park. I crossed into the park, and then headed down a path, moving South towards the edge before coming out and heading back over to Park Avenue for a return to the hotel.

Time was short, and I was in the park for only a tenth of a mile or so, but it was still a joy to run in New York city in the morning.

Day 1159

Cruising up Park Avenue, the over to Central Park to skirt the edge before coming back to the hotel.

A fun run in NYC!

24:00
1.93mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/77273518

Day 1158

Quick one before hitting the airport

20:00
2.04mi

Day 1157

A good run outside, enjoying the fresh air in CO. Took a new route, through another neighborhood and hit some hard hills.

26:31

2.69mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/77549312

Day 1156

After snowboarding, a good run. Not too hard, just cruising along.

20:00
2.06mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/76822882

Day 1155

Easy run today, on the treadmill as I was cooking peppers while running.

20:00
2.05mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/76616392

Day 1154

Nice, easy run today.

20:00
2.03mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/76466020

Starting a streak

I had a friend ask for some advice on shoes lately, asking what I ran in and then some streak advice. For the shoes, I told him to go to a running store, let them watch you and give you advice. I have 2 pairs of Nikes, and enjoy them, but I also have a pair of Asics trail shoes that I like. I can't give you great advice, other than go with what you like on your feet.

For the streak, I say this. Run slowly, slower than you think you should. The first 6-7 weeks I ran, most of the time I went just over a mile, slowly (12-13min) and often felt like I'd barely worked out.

Or not worked out at all.

I participated in other events at the time, starting ski season, and going karate. You can do the same thing, especially if you think of those other activities as optional on any particular day. However for the running, do that every day. Or walk.

Do it for the mental benefits, do it for the excitement of accomplishing something every day. Just don't push faster, longer, or harder each week. Go slow, build slower, and enjoy your accomplishment.

Day 1153

Easy run today, trying the "one true way" a bit for my style change. Not sure how I feel about it and it's definitely harder to maintain speed, but I'll keep practicing and see.

20:00
2.03mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/76308910

Day 1152

Pushed today, faster for a longer distance. Hard, but felt good.

26:00
2.73mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/76155794

Day 1151

Back home, hitting the treadmill with snow outside. A great run, felt great, cruised along.

24:00
2.53mi

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/75966440

Day 1150

A mini-milestone, another beautiful run in Las Vegas with a few friends. A little hard to get started over the highway, struggling to breath a bit, but I felt better as we went along, and it was great to watch the sun rise while jogging back to the Mandalay Bay.

24:06

2.51

http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/75788810

Day 1149

An early morning run, out with friends for an out and back over the highway, chatting. A good way to start the day with an easy 2 miles

25:18
2.34mi

Day 1148

A windy, slightly chilly afternoon run in Vegas. My normal loop was closed with construction, so I had to alter it a bit. Always interesting to run in the desert town, seeing the sights.

21:00
1.96mi
http://www.mapmyrun.com/workout/75622364