Back to the tried and tested out and back along Cobbs Creek Parkway this evening.
This time last year I was living in"cloud cuckoo land" thinking that I could get away w/ only doing repeats on the track so running in the dark is a tad new for me,I didn't begin pounding the sidewalks till January and even then I began at 6 milers so this whole 10 miles in the dark is quite new to me....that old wives tale about eating carrots helping you see in the dark might be true after all!!!
Two for two so far this week,I think I'll appreciate my Saturday and Sunday runs in daylight!
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Down By The River.....Again
I chose to switch up my routine this evening more out of necessity and the hope that my detour via the bank would help me avoid a overdraft charge w/ the bank.
Rather than wait till tomorrow to deposit my money I figured since I had to run why not run down to the bank and deposit it now and then hit the Schuylkill Banks and the Art Museum Loop for a mile each b4 turning for home and making it my 10 miler??
I will admit to being a "creature of habit" and sometimes too set in my ways,ergo the fact I run the same 10 mile out and back route most days but sometimes it doesn't hurt to mix things up and since hitting the bank this evening was something I needed to do then heading down to the Schuylkill wasn't such a bad thing.
It was also important to not only get the week off to a good start but get used to running in the dark it's something I'll have to get used to for the next few months,if tonite was anything to go by I won't be running in shorts again until indoor season kicks off in January.
Rather than wait till tomorrow to deposit my money I figured since I had to run why not run down to the bank and deposit it now and then hit the Schuylkill Banks and the Art Museum Loop for a mile each b4 turning for home and making it my 10 miler??
I will admit to being a "creature of habit" and sometimes too set in my ways,ergo the fact I run the same 10 mile out and back route most days but sometimes it doesn't hurt to mix things up and since hitting the bank this evening was something I needed to do then heading down to the Schuylkill wasn't such a bad thing.
It was also important to not only get the week off to a good start but get used to running in the dark it's something I'll have to get used to for the next few months,if tonite was anything to go by I won't be running in shorts again until indoor season kicks off in January.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Bridges
Another Sunday,another 16 miler.
Had to fly solo today,Sean was unable to join me,no biggie however our paths did cross early on along the Schuylkill Banks as Sean was returning from his 5 miler,we chatted for 5 mins b4 heading off in our separate directions,maybe next Sunday we'll try the easy 10 miler together and Sean can fill me in on the clubs awards night since I'm not attending again this year.
For the first time in eons I was able to run across the South Street Bridge today,it was reopened yesterday after being closed for repair for a while now and while I'm sure it makes commuting a whole lot easier I was more delighted w/ the fact I can now zip over the South Street bridge,hang a left and more or less be on the Schuylkill Banks instead of crossing the Walnut Street bridge and then pissballing around w/ a set of concrete spiral steps both at the beginning and end of the 10 mile banks/loop 10 mile section of the run.
No doubt the local masses were over at the Ben Franklin Bridge this morning for the 10k,10k's have almost become obsolete these days and while I have no real yearning to return to road racing it's possible next years Ben Franklin Bridge 10k could be one of my fall races along w/ the Radnor Run the week b4.....but that as they say is a story for another time.
I'm enjoying these Sunday 16 milers,I think the change of scenery helps plus I always loved running along the Art Museum Loop,something that went for a burton when I made the switch from road racing to track in 06 but for the next couple of weeks I'm looking to enjoy this trip down memory lane,it'd be foolhardy to think I'll keep the Sunday 16 miler in my rotation once I begin returning to repeats in mid December w/ Saturday being one of my two track days,but who knows if I lose days during the week maybe a long run on Sunday would help make up the lost miles.
Post run I got comfortable on the bed and watched the New York City marathon,of the 14 marathons I ran in 20 years between 85-05 2 were in New York and while I doubt very much I'll return to marathons anytime in the near or distant future let me just state for the record the New York City marathon would probably be the one marathon I would consider.
Props to Shalane Flanagan on her second place finish in her first ever marathon and to Meb and Dathen for their 6th and 8th place finishes in the men's race but most of mad props and much respect to Edison Pena the Chilean miner who finished the marathon,Pena said he spent a lot of his time while trapped in the mine running,God bless him.
45 miles for the week having lost three days let's see what this week brings period much less w/ the clocks going back.
Had to fly solo today,Sean was unable to join me,no biggie however our paths did cross early on along the Schuylkill Banks as Sean was returning from his 5 miler,we chatted for 5 mins b4 heading off in our separate directions,maybe next Sunday we'll try the easy 10 miler together and Sean can fill me in on the clubs awards night since I'm not attending again this year.
For the first time in eons I was able to run across the South Street Bridge today,it was reopened yesterday after being closed for repair for a while now and while I'm sure it makes commuting a whole lot easier I was more delighted w/ the fact I can now zip over the South Street bridge,hang a left and more or less be on the Schuylkill Banks instead of crossing the Walnut Street bridge and then pissballing around w/ a set of concrete spiral steps both at the beginning and end of the 10 mile banks/loop 10 mile section of the run.
No doubt the local masses were over at the Ben Franklin Bridge this morning for the 10k,10k's have almost become obsolete these days and while I have no real yearning to return to road racing it's possible next years Ben Franklin Bridge 10k could be one of my fall races along w/ the Radnor Run the week b4.....but that as they say is a story for another time.
I'm enjoying these Sunday 16 milers,I think the change of scenery helps plus I always loved running along the Art Museum Loop,something that went for a burton when I made the switch from road racing to track in 06 but for the next couple of weeks I'm looking to enjoy this trip down memory lane,it'd be foolhardy to think I'll keep the Sunday 16 miler in my rotation once I begin returning to repeats in mid December w/ Saturday being one of my two track days,but who knows if I lose days during the week maybe a long run on Sunday would help make up the lost miles.
Post run I got comfortable on the bed and watched the New York City marathon,of the 14 marathons I ran in 20 years between 85-05 2 were in New York and while I doubt very much I'll return to marathons anytime in the near or distant future let me just state for the record the New York City marathon would probably be the one marathon I would consider.
Props to Shalane Flanagan on her second place finish in her first ever marathon and to Meb and Dathen for their 6th and 8th place finishes in the men's race but most of mad props and much respect to Edison Pena the Chilean miner who finished the marathon,Pena said he spent a lot of his time while trapped in the mine running,God bless him.
45 miles for the week having lost three days let's see what this week brings period much less w/ the clocks going back.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Easy Does It
Ah,the weekend a few days off work,a lie in or two.....and a "to do" list that more often than not has too much on there to ever be completed in two days....am I right?
Thanks to the scheduling gods Spurs had the early kick off today which worked in several areas,I had to be up b4 8.45am for the kick off and given the game ended at 10.45am I could now go out and attack my 9 miler rather than wait till 1pm if we'd had the late kick off and thus get an early jump on my day.
One thing I learnt during my three week lay off in early to mid October was that going out to get my run in on the weekend more often than not helped me get that jump start on the weekend.
Unless the weather is complete pants I prefer to get my run taken care of first thing,for starters it means I don't have it hanging over my head all day knowing it needs to be taken care of and also by the time I'm done I normally feel ready to get stuck into whatever happens to be on my"to do" list.
Today was a easy day, post run and pre grocery shopping I planted myself at a Starbucks for 90 minutes or so,savored a Green Tea{I gave up Coffee two months ago....I know the last of my vices....}and wrote my diary and began making lists for up coming mix tapes.
Since going on a reading kick in September I've also gotten back into the routine of making mix tapes,something I'd gotten away from for a while,more's the pity.
It helped that the first three books I read were music/mixed tapes related,"Love Is A Mix Tape""31 Songs/Songbook" and "Cassette From My Ex" and since reading them I've knocked out 4 mix tapes,two for my brother which I reviewed in my blog and two for the girls in the Wound Center that sadly due to time constraints didn't get reviewed.
I'm currently working on two tapes right now my brother's long overdue"See You Jimmy" a mix of all things Scottish and for the gals in the Wound Center"A New Version Of The Old Scene" a bunch of cover tunes.
I have 12 lists I'm compiling for future tapes,the plan is two tapes per month for "Our Kid" and the Wound Center,as time allows I'll try to review them.
So my day is done, a little catching up w/ some dvrd tv from the week and a fuck off bowl of Muscles and Linguine b4 tomorrow's 16 miler.
Thanks to the scheduling gods Spurs had the early kick off today which worked in several areas,I had to be up b4 8.45am for the kick off and given the game ended at 10.45am I could now go out and attack my 9 miler rather than wait till 1pm if we'd had the late kick off and thus get an early jump on my day.
One thing I learnt during my three week lay off in early to mid October was that going out to get my run in on the weekend more often than not helped me get that jump start on the weekend.
Unless the weather is complete pants I prefer to get my run taken care of first thing,for starters it means I don't have it hanging over my head all day knowing it needs to be taken care of and also by the time I'm done I normally feel ready to get stuck into whatever happens to be on my"to do" list.
Today was a easy day, post run and pre grocery shopping I planted myself at a Starbucks for 90 minutes or so,savored a Green Tea{I gave up Coffee two months ago....I know the last of my vices....}and wrote my diary and began making lists for up coming mix tapes.
Since going on a reading kick in September I've also gotten back into the routine of making mix tapes,something I'd gotten away from for a while,more's the pity.
It helped that the first three books I read were music/mixed tapes related,"Love Is A Mix Tape""31 Songs/Songbook" and "Cassette From My Ex" and since reading them I've knocked out 4 mix tapes,two for my brother which I reviewed in my blog and two for the girls in the Wound Center that sadly due to time constraints didn't get reviewed.
I'm currently working on two tapes right now my brother's long overdue"See You Jimmy" a mix of all things Scottish and for the gals in the Wound Center"A New Version Of The Old Scene" a bunch of cover tunes.
I have 12 lists I'm compiling for future tapes,the plan is two tapes per month for "Our Kid" and the Wound Center,as time allows I'll try to review them.
So my day is done, a little catching up w/ some dvrd tv from the week and a fuck off bowl of Muscles and Linguine b4 tomorrow's 16 miler.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Remember,Remember The 5th Of November
"Treason,treason the spectre looks again treason,treason the realm is safe and then
Oh no move away from harm I need a spell and a charm
Fly like the rainbow I'm no pawn,so be gone,speed on and on.
Kill the king strike him down,kill the king he'll rule no more
Strike him dead the people roar"
Kill The King-Rainbow
I realize this side of the Atlantic November 5th means very little unless it's a b'day or anniversary but growing up back home as a kid you lived for November 5th.
November 5th is Bonfire Night/Guy Fawkes Night/Firework Night.
The origins of all this go back to 1605 when a plot to kill King James of England was hatched by a group of catholics who felt killing King James and his family would allow the catholics to take the throne the plan was to blow up the Houses of Parliament,so 36 barrels of gunpowder were smuggled in to a cellar below,however legend has it somebody got squeamish and sent an anonymous letter tipping off the authorities and the plot was uncovered in the early hours of November 5th.
One of the would be perpetrators who was caught was Guy Fawkes but after confessing to being part of the plot to overthrow King James he took his life rather than face being accused of treason and facing the ultimate punishment,being hung,drawn and quartered.
The night of Nov 5th people were encouraged to light bonfires to celebrate the fact King James was still alive and there you have the origins of November 5th.
When I was a kid it was common practice for children to make a "Guy" and ask for money for fireworks hence the expression"penny for the guy sir"....unless you lived one one of the council estates in the neighbourhood then it was"give us yer wallet or we'll smash your face in"....I prefer penny for the guy,don't you??!!
From what I gather Bonfire Night is still a big deal back home,my cousin mentioned going to a fireworks display on Southend beach tonite,it's good to see traditions I grew up w/ all those years ago are still around.
No fireworks on my 10 miler this evening,62 minutes doesn't constitute as having a rocket up my arse but it was too shabby.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Cherish These Days
Back to the road well travelled this evening w/ a 10 miler on the extended out and back along Cobbs Creek Parkway.
W/ the clocks going back an hour Sunday and potential for rain tomorrow and Friday I knew this could be my last 10 miler during the week in daylight.
Right now sunset is around 6pm but come Sunday that'll be 5pm and given I don't get home till 4.30pm and most days it's 4.40pm at the earliest b4 I hit the road that means it'll be dark by the time I finish my 10 milers.
I didn't feel any ill effects from Monday,in fact I notched a 63 min time most of last weeks runs were 64s,I toyed w/ running 12 milers to try and make up for losing two days but as my ex coach often said"you can't chase lost miles" and given the next two days are hanging in the balance right now there seems little or no point worrying about it.
We'll see what tomorrow brings.
W/ the clocks going back an hour Sunday and potential for rain tomorrow and Friday I knew this could be my last 10 miler during the week in daylight.
Right now sunset is around 6pm but come Sunday that'll be 5pm and given I don't get home till 4.30pm and most days it's 4.40pm at the earliest b4 I hit the road that means it'll be dark by the time I finish my 10 milers.
I didn't feel any ill effects from Monday,in fact I notched a 63 min time most of last weeks runs were 64s,I toyed w/ running 12 milers to try and make up for losing two days but as my ex coach often said"you can't chase lost miles" and given the next two days are hanging in the balance right now there seems little or no point worrying about it.
We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Just What The Doctor Ordered
So much for kicking on after last weeks seventy five miler, a combination of going from zero to seventy five miles in one foul swoop,a dip in the temperature,having to walk home fifty blocks after the Social D gig Friday and generally spreading myself a tad thin over the weekend meant when I caught a chill yesterday I had little in the way of resistance to fight it off and the only thing running was my nose,cue yours truly under the covers taking on as much fluid as I could in the hopes of vanquishing this sooner rather than later.
I took the unprecedented step of taking a sick day from work today,even though I have beaucoup sick time it's rare I take a sick day,in fact my last"sickie" was March of last year after I got stranded in Boston at Logan airport so I don't feel bad about calling out today.
I figured catching up on some rest wouldn't go a miss plus if yesterday was anything to go by on the loading dock a day out of the wind wouldn't hurt any either.
I did of course consider a run but thought better of it,I want to shake this chill so I can get back to training on a regular basis so flying in the face of it didn't seem the way to go,instead I took the "feed a cold,starve a fever" attitude enjoyed lunch sitting at the kitchen table not my desk in my office and then enjoyed the Spurs Inter Milan game.
3.1 to Spurs and w/ two games left in the group phase I'd say we look a good bet to reach the last sixteen and knock out stage in Febuary/March.
I'll resist the temptation to take a second sick day tomorrow,there's really no need for it plus getting back to work should aid and abet the regular schedule of work,training,blog.
I took the unprecedented step of taking a sick day from work today,even though I have beaucoup sick time it's rare I take a sick day,in fact my last"sickie" was March of last year after I got stranded in Boston at Logan airport so I don't feel bad about calling out today.
I figured catching up on some rest wouldn't go a miss plus if yesterday was anything to go by on the loading dock a day out of the wind wouldn't hurt any either.
I did of course consider a run but thought better of it,I want to shake this chill so I can get back to training on a regular basis so flying in the face of it didn't seem the way to go,instead I took the "feed a cold,starve a fever" attitude enjoyed lunch sitting at the kitchen table not my desk in my office and then enjoyed the Spurs Inter Milan game.
3.1 to Spurs and w/ two games left in the group phase I'd say we look a good bet to reach the last sixteen and knock out stage in Febuary/March.
I'll resist the temptation to take a second sick day tomorrow,there's really no need for it plus getting back to work should aid and abet the regular schedule of work,training,blog.
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