Day 394-Hilly Run

Long Run today-Lori drove us from gigantor so we could start further down the route we usually take. I am not sure of all the names of the places we were at but it was beautiful. We were running uphill for a good part of the way out. We saw the reservoir which somehow doubled (did not know there were two). We had a great view of the Broadmoor because we were way up above it. We ran through a tunnel which was interesting because visibility was limited half way in. The views were fantastic. Can’t wait for the next run up there. I didn’t realize how much uphill we ran until coming back and it was quite a bit faster.

I do at this time want to address that I seem to have some mental block when it comes to hills. At about the 40-45 minute mark when going uphill I seem to start thinking about my breathing which makes me start to breathe harder which eventually causes me to hyper ventilate. Not sure where this comes from but not exactly the best thing when we are going to run 90 minutes so are only half way. The good news is I made it and am proud of myself for making it. Slower than I would like but made it. I have come to the conclusion that I am not going to run Garden of the Gods 10 miler. I am just not good enough or intense enough on hills yet. Yes I could finish the race but would try to run harder than I could uphill and that would not be fun. I am about running being fun in this journey. Shannon you need to ask Oliver-Horatio what he thinks about hills because so far representing myself as a hedgehog has been a mixed bag. I am looking forward to what the summer brings and where the Taskmaster(Lori) will take us.
Felt like this Hedgehog today-I didn’t have oversized shoes on but felt like it

Run-Day 373

Can you believe it two posts in a row. As I mentioned yesterday I ran with Lori today. We did a very hilly run in Cheyenne Canyon. I promoted myself to a hedge hog yesterday from the turtle in pants. Shannon and Oliver Q. Horatio (the hedge hog) assured me that hedge hogs have speed. What was not mentioned is that they may not have a lot of speed uphill. I was dragging around today. At one point I couldn’t even see Lori anymore. Luckily she came back for me. We ended up running 1 hour and 30 minutes. I was proud of myself that continued on but definitely not my best showing. I do look forward to running all those trails again because it was beautiful. As Lori said it is about enjoying the experience not about worrying what speed we are going at. I definitely will continue on this journey and maybe even throw in a race or two this summer.

P.S tonight we all got together and I got nachos as a celebration of the consecutive days of running. I can’t believe I am saying this but there is credence to the saying too much of a good thing. I think I only ate about 1/3 of the plate but it was delicious. The journey continues.

All of us partying it up tonight. Click on the picture to see us partying

Run Day 372

It is hard to believe that a little over a year ago (a year and a week ago today) I started this journey to run every day. I have run through a kidney stone, the flu, and just plain ol’ days where I didn’t feel like getting out there.

This is the part of my speech where I would like to thank everyone who supported me. Lori (taskmaster), Cody (person who holds me accountable as far as what I eat), Sydney (the 8 year old inspiration who just enjoys running), all the guys and gals at the store-Tommy, Vargo, Shannon, Bitt, Jen, Brandon, Larry, Abby and Scott Nagelkerke (adidas rep who always asks how my running is going.) Mary Smith who for some reason thinks I have a future in writing. Unfortunately there doesn’t seem to be a huge demand in publishing a blog about a midpack runner with a weird sense of humor. My Mom who I think wasn’t sure about this journey but really seemed to get into it when we traveled to Maine together. My aunt Charlotte who follows my blog and aunt Cindy and sister Heidi. I know there are others that read-at least one or two I think and for those of you who do enjoy my blog thank you.

My journey has just started as far as I am concerned. I am running with Lori tomorrow so business as usual. I was going to make a day 365 post but it was kind of anti climatic. I was able to be part of a run for Boston on Wednesday night which was really cool. I learned two important lessons as well. 1. I am not a good night runner-I definitely do much better in the morning. 2. Running twice in one day is something I need to work up to. Tommy assures me it is the way to go but that remains to be seen for me. The run was something special though and is a moment that I will always remember.

I am sad in a way because I am retiring the walking turtle in pants and promoting to a hedge hog which Shannon has told me is much faster. Since I have not met her hedgehog Oliver Q. Horatio in person I will take her word for it. I will continue to blog and run and see where this takes me. For some reason this hedge hog resembles me.

Run day 358

I know, I know I have once more broke my promise to blog on a regular basis. Time seems to get away from me.

Today Lori (taskmaster) and I ran for one hour and 30 minutes. The first 45 minutes was a gradual uphill with some flat areas. We were running in foggy conditions which made the run really cool. It was like you could reach up and touch the sky. I have to admit it did take the wind out of my sails at minute 40 because it lifted a little and I realized the fairly good size hill we needed to go up at that point. I only slowed down briefly and realized we needed to go up it so kept going. I can tell my fitness level is getting better and better because the rest of the run I kept a steady pace with Lori which is no easy task. I, however, know at any point she could leave me in the dust but am glad she plods along with me. The hills after that were not easy but were definitley doable.

The hardest part was right at the end when we had to stop at a stoplight. When we started going again we looked gimpy and like we had both been hit by a truck. I gimped up gigantor to get home. Two great quotes from Lori at the end of the run. “At least we know we can knock out a half marathon if we need to.” I agree that was very encouraging. The other was “If it makes you feel any better you may have to go up gigantor but I have to run further home.” This actually didn’t make me feel better as gigantor is a daunting task. Half way up I realized that getting to my house was in fact as far as hers but liked the diversion tactic. It was a great run and I am looking forward to more. Time to step up some of my during the week runs to longer times. I like this journey I am on and will continue.

PS I had a capri sun vegetable/fruit mix after the run. It is delicious and much better health wise than the regular capri sun but a little more expensive. Bomb/fire cracker pop season is around the corner. both flavors of capri sun that I got.

Team HillCoppers-Day 331 of Running

Yesterday I had the privilege to run on team HillCoppers in the St Patrick’s 5k here in Colorado Springs. The team consisted of Cody, Lori, Sydney (their 8 year old daughter) and myself. It was a little chilly at first but pretty ideal weather for a run once we got going. It was great running with Sydney (you too Lori). She has such a refreshing positive attitude the whole time. I think she may have talked the whole 3.1 miles and didn’t seem any worse for wear. She kept plugging along and I have a feeling in the next year or the year after I am going to be dragging behind her trying to keep up.

Cody started the race with us and saw the chaos that is involved with being in the pack. Weaving in and out of people. I got to experience something that will probably never happen again in a race. I got to run with Cody for a while. At my pace of course not his. I did realize with the height differential even when he is running my speed I feel like my legs have to go the speed of the tasmanian devil to keep up. It was kind of a refreshing compliment that a few spectators didn’t recognize me because I have lost weight. It has been hard on the jeans budget but totally worth it. I can tell my fitness is continuing to improve.

Today I ran 1 hour and ten minutes. It was not easy but was able to keep going. I continue to enjoy running which I would not have been able to say a year ago at this time or maybe even 6 months ago. Garden of the Gods 10 miler in June and then another race to be announced.

Team HillCoppers we did it

Day 324 of Running

Thanks Shannon for reminding me that I should blog. I hope you get your pet monkey/ewok soon. Otis is a very universal name for any pet.

Yesterday the wind was blowing so hard I probably ran sideways more than forward. You haven’t truly tried Gigantor until you are being blown back down the hill. I am counting all the sideways and backward blowing as mileage. I am training for the Garden 10 miler and a race later on that I am not going to announce just yet. I feel pretty good right now (knock on wood). No injuries or weird illnesses. Running seems to be a lot easier without all this. Today it was sort of windy but nothing like yesterday. Lori says I need to be to an hour and a half on my long runs soon in order to be ready for the Garden 10 miler so that is what I am working on right now. I am kind of a lone wolf or if you prefer turtle right now. I continue to plug along and will keep you updated.

Run-Day 282

Back because of popular demand (ok maybe that is an exaggeration) I am blogging again. Today is my 282nd day of running in a row. I will break down the Holidays pretty simply. Around Thanksgiving I had a kidney stone. Around New Years I had the flu. I managed to run through both. It actually helped shift the kidney stone but definitely didn’t feel good. I was running down the street at a weird angle trying to get comfortable. Some of the worst pain I have ever had but managed to get through it. As for the flu, I was hacking up stuff the whole time on my runs but was able to manage. This shows me that I must be into this because it would have been so easy not to run on these days.

I have been running in Bear Creek park mostly. Running mostly on my own because Lori is still trying to deal with her knee. We ran once last week and I realized even with her injury we run a lot faster than when I am by myself. I have been running Gigantor quite a bit or as Sydney (Lori’s daughter) wants to call it Mount Everest. I continue to lose weight which definitely makes it easier to run every day. Today Lori and I ran in MVP and went for an hour. I feel good if not a little slow. I am the turtle with pants but in decent shape. I have some goal races but will talk about that later. Right now I just continue to plug along.