New Year's Resolution Week

The first couple weeks of a new year always bring delusions of what the year will bring. It seems like every year we all vow to eat better, exercise more, be more productive at home and at work, save more money, etc. So-called "experts" on making resolutions suggest several ways that might help you actually reach those goals. Two common suggestions are:

1. to make your goals measurable and specific (exercise "more" is too vague - you should quantify this) and
   
2. share your resolutions with others.

Last year, I recall having two specific goals and both were related to exercise. At the beginning of the year, I was hoping to run three half marathons during the year, trying to spread them out over the course of the year. If that were to be true, then I expected to be training most of the year which would have helped me keep my weekly mileage up. Therefore, my first resolution was to run 1,000 miles during 2008. Conveniently, I have a couple of personal excuses for missing my first planned half-marathon (the Kentucky Derby Festival in Louisville), but the bottom line is that I didn't run in three half-marathons and I ran only 800 miles during the year.

My second goal should have been ridiculously easy to do, yet I still failed miserably. Years ago, I bought a Cross Bow (the cheaper version of a Bowflex) in an effort to persuade me to do some resistance training. However, despite Theresa using it now and then, the Cross Bow has mostly gathered dust over the last few years. Last year, I simply wanted to start using it a tiny, tiny bit. And I didn't...at all.

Perhaps my goals were too varied. Perhaps making "extra" time for resistance training and running overwhelmed my tiny, lazy mind. While I still would like to do both this year, I will instead officially resolve to run 1,000 miles. I'm stating it publicly so that ya'll can make fun of me if I don't make it. You can follow my progress in the margin of my blog and help push me along. Note that, as I begin January, my weekly mileage is low (damn holidays!) so it will take some time before I can build to where I need to be (I need to average about 20 miles per week). Of course, if you plan on making fun at me at the end of the year, then you have to commit to buying me a beer if I do run 1,000 miles!

Feel free to add a comment and post your New Year's resolutions for all to see! It won't help you get it done, but if you are serious about it, I'll do my best to help you in any way I can. Even if that means a nice friendly e-mail reminder.

Town and Gown

On October 18th, Ter and I ran in the annual Town & Gown 5K run - Theresa's first race. Despite her concerns, I was trying to convince Theresa that she was adequately trained to run the race. I let her know that when I ran my first 5K, it was the farthest distance I had ever run! On the other hand, Ter had run the distance three times a week for at least a month. I wanted her to really run hard for the first time to prove that she was in great shape.

It was a bit chilly that morning and I planned to be her "pace runner" so that she could be pushed, but not push her so fast that she would completely vomit (which sadly, some people did - probably students who stayed out all night). Anyway, at the crowded starting line, Ter just took off - adrenaline going wild!

I knew that the first challenge would come at about the one mile marker - this is when the body is not quite warm enough to breathe easily but the body is working hard after running a mile. At this point, Ter pulled up with an aching look on her face saying "I can't do it at this speed." But after that initial test, she came around and finished at a consistent pace over the race. Hopefully that confidence will carry her to another race in the future.

Check out the results

The initial conversation about this race was started by Jeff and Heather Prall, who feigned interest in running early in the summer. The gauntlet was thrown down as they challenged us to complete the race and to get Ter to run. I also remember some time ago when Heather thought that 5K was too short and that she was more interested in a longer run (though she quickly brushed off the 4 mile race in the Dells). The Pralls' enthusiasm toward the run quickly waned. On top of that was a rough week with sinus problems, but Heather completed the race (though there are no photos that I know of that actually prove this). Alos I'm not sure if Jeff was one of the vomiters at the end :)

But we all made it. Will there be a next time for us? I mentioned to all the idea of the 5K at the Illinois Marathon, in Champaign, on the day before Easter. Can we all come up with combined times that are better than the Town & Gown? A new gauntlet is thrown...

A tough course under tough conditions

On Saturday, September 13th, I completed the Wo-Zha-Wa half marathon in the Wisconsin Dells in a time of 2:02:55 (a 9:23 pace). Just looking at the time alone, I normally would have been slightly disappointed with the time. However, there were a number of factors that contributed to less than optimal performance.

First, the course conditions were difficult. If you follow the link of the previous posting on this run, you can see the elevation changes, which were significant. The hills were the steepest I've run - ever (remember I live in the flatlands of central Illinois). The course was beautiful, however. It ran through the backroads of the Dells and there's just something about the Wisconsin country that is much more attractive than Illinois. Dairy farmers seem to do better than Illinois bean/corn farmers as the barns are newer and nicer.

The second challenge was that it rained a good portion of the race. While the forecast seemed ominous, it didn't rain the entire time and even when it was raining, it wasn't a downpour.

The third challenge was simply how I felt - it was one of those days that I just didn't feel like running. In fact, based on what they were forecasting (heavy morning rains with thunder), I was actually hoping the race would be canceled. Or, if it was going to be raining heavily, I would have skipped out. When the weather seemed reasonable, I suppose I was a bit disappointed that I had to run (or at least I had fewer excuses to NOT run). At about the 3-mile mark, I could tell - I just wasn't into it. I was actually thinking I'd just turn around and call it a day. But then I realized that I had trained for the event and I'd just fight through it and give it my best.

In addition, race organization was poor. There weren't that many water stops - about once every three miles. Most races it's about every 1.5-2 miles. Plus, usually there are volunteers helping out at those stations, smiling and cheering you on. Not at the Dells - here, they set up unattended tables with water cups. Worse than that, one of the stops actually ran out of water which meant you had to go about an hour with no water. That is just unacceptable.

I felt I did do the best I could, but based on the above, it was certainly a challenging race for me.

A whopping 50 people completed the half marathon that day. On the country roads, you surely didn't have to worry about being crowded by the other participants. As I predicted, I came in dead last in my division (male 35-39). Of course, there were only four others in my division. Overall, I placed 30th out of 50 runners and 27th out of 35 men. Hey, don't make fun...this did appear to be a pretty fast group of runners. Based on the weather, it's also likely that only the diehards showed up.

Overall, the run was not an "event" and this made it much less fun. Unlike the Indy mini-marathon or Bloomington's Lake Run, there was absolutely NO crowd support (did the town even know there was a race?), there was no after race hoopla, etc. I know the weather had a bit to do with it, but come on. Didn't anyone want to celebrate completing the race?

I'll try to convince Ter to go to Vegas in December or to Memphis to make up for this poor experience.

But we did have fun at the Dells... more on this later.

Wisconsin Dells Half Marathon

I'll be running my only half marathon this year at the Wisconsin Dells. Based on last year's results for this race, I would have finished dead last in my age division. But this is a small race, so there really aren't too many in each division. I'm most concerned with potential hills on the course combined with the possibility of warm weather. Regardless of what happens, I know there will be a hot tub waiting for me at the Wilderness Resort. That will soothe my aching muscles! Plus, I know my kids will be having a good time at the Dells.

Can I handle the pressure?

I've resisted putting my training runs on my blog since I wasn't sure I could handle the pressure. However, it appears that I am running a half marathon in September and that I'd better be sure to be adequately. Therefore, I suppose I could use the added pressure of outside forces to keep me honest in training. My most recent 5 runs will be updated as I enter them into my online log.

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Ridge run results

Today I ran the "Ridge Run" in the Beverly neighborhood of Chicago. The run felt pretty warm - and we haven't had much humidity yet in the spring. The start of the race was VERY humid along Longwood with virtually no wind (it's at the bottom of a hill). The neighborhood really welcomed the runners however, lots of people out on the street, even passing out water and having their sprinklers near the street (thank goodness!) Based on the heat, I really don't think I could have done much better at 53:25 (8:36/mile pace). I placed 294th out of a total of 917 runners. Within my division, a respectable 23rd out of 57 runners.

The night before, the kids and Aunt Amy went to the Original Rainbow Cone. After Anna dropped hers in the parking lot, both kids ate only the orange sherbet and threw out the other delicious flavors.

Lake Run

Today I ran the Lake Run - the feature event of Bloomington-Normal's Lake Run Club. The race is one lap around Lake Bloomington, which makes it 12k (7.44 miles). Despite living here for about 5 years, I have never seen Lake Bloomington and it was pretty nice. It is a weird setting though - the lake itself has a vacation home feel to it, though most of the houses are ridiculously expensive. But once you leave the roads around the lake, you're back in cornfields - just a bit weird.

Anyway, while the temperature was about perfect (50 degrees), the wind was pretty fierce. The race started with the wind at my back, going downhill - this wasn't so bad. Then around mile 5, I turned a corner that wasn't blocked by the big trees around the lake - acres of open cornfields. The wind pushed in your face for the next two miles. What made it worse is that this was the uphill portion of the race. Late in the race, uphill, into the 30 mph wind - not a good combo.

I fought through pretty well and was pretty happy with my time - unofficially at 1:06:00 (about 8:53 / mile). Next, I run a 10k near my sister's house on Memorial Day.