Posts in Category: Things (lists)
No. 1039
After so little blogging in the past few months, I feel this sudden urge to write about a lot of things. Only problem is having the time to do that. Like everything else outside of work and family, I have to devote 30 minutes a few times a week to sit and write. That’ll happen eventually.
For now, I just need a mind-clearing post and turn some of these into actual posts later on:
* This weekend I’m running the Five and Dime at the Runner’s World Festival. That’s a 5K followed by a 10K. My plan remains like it was when I first mentioned this … which is I don’t know. I certainly won’t “race” these two events. I’m just running them a little faster and with more effort than other runs I’ve had lately. And that, to me, is all I need headed into the rest of fall.
* By “rest of fall,” I mean also taking part in an event that I know I won’t fully “race” — the Richmond Half Marathon. This event to me is all about seeing where I am. Will going for a PR 5 months later at Shamrock be realistic? Will I not go too crazy doing another race and not setting a goal in stone? It’s kind of a race that’ll fit what’s become the theme of my year — a test.
* I’m also raising money for Comfort Zone Camp at the Richmond Half. Help me out and win cool stuff in the process.
* I realized recently that every year I’ve been running I’ve set at least one PR. Some PRs are bigger and more important than others, but it’s a streak that I can’t let end this year. I decided that in December to go for a PR in the 10-miler at the Surf ‘n’ Santa race in Virginia Beach. It’s flat and at sea level. Certainly I can beat last year’s mark at the Virginia Ten Miler. I’ll explain more in a later post … about everything.
No. 1,025
- Writer’s block has hit me hard-core, but only here. Funny, though, that I’m not struggling at work or when I start a post on the #RunChat site.
- I am signed up for a spring marathon. Perhaps I should write about that one day. You can figure it out if you like blog tags.
- I met Patton of Optimal Run this week. Great guy, great company. Can’t wait to get to know him better and share more of our thoughts.
- Instead of writing in my spare evening time, I’m thinking a lot about baby names. It’s funny how one day something sounds just right, then the next it doesn’t. The process of picking names and also keeping it secret is one of the greatest things in life I’ve experienced.
- I have a fundraiser for my half marathon in November. I need to write about that, too, but in the meantime click here to go check it out.
- Quick update on my August goals: 10 running miles so far, 6.5 biking; 145 total push-ups in 6 days; 6 miles was my long run on Friday. Everything is right where it needs to be, except I missed a ride this morning due to thunderstorms.
Specific, but simple, goals
I set a personal worst last month with number of blog posts in a calendar month. It was also the lowest running mileage month for me in a couple of years. The two are definitely somewhat related.
I also moved again in June. I ate too much crap in June because it was easy to. I pushed myself to the exhaustion limit as I stayed up way too late too many times.
Even when I tried to do something great with my running in a 5k, the race distance came up short. I guess that was fitting as that just felt like the theme of my month when it comes to my overall health.
It was a great month, though, in that my wife and I de-cluttered. We had a successful yard sale over the weekend; tons of boxes of stuff that didn’t sale were donated.
While some work remains, I feel a huge burden lifted off my shoulders with endless stuff I don’t need out of the way.
I flip the calendar without any other rehashing of specific areas of June. For my 13 goals for the year, things mostly stayed on track surprisingly. I don’t feel like sorting through the details, though, as I am ready to move on and focus on these next couple of months.
While I’ll still focus on those overall goals for the year, I want to make a list of 3 specific, yet simple, things this month and then revisit them at the end of the month to see how I’m doing. These goals take me back to a time a few years ago when I focused a lot on numbers – they worked well then, so I want to see how I feel about doing this again.
1. Weigh in on July 2 and be 2.5 pounds lighter by July 30
As I said, June was a bad month. I don’t know if I gained weight or what, but I feel bad. And if weight is “just a number,” right now that number feels bad. This will also help in my overall goal of the year of getting below 180.
2. Bike 30 miles
I’m less than halfway to my 200-mile goal for the year and going above what I’ve done in previous months will help.
3. Run 80 miles
In March, April and May I ran a little more than 80 miles each month. I was feeling pretty good in early June, but didn’t even hit 60 for the month. 80 miles will build consistency and base miles for more training in August.
35 “streak” and a 13 goals check-up
I never make a big deal out of my birthday, but there’s something about turning 35 in a few weeks that makes me want to do something different with working out. It’s a gift to myself that’s mostly free.
Every day in June I want to do 35 of something everyday. Or 3.5 of something. Or 35 seconds of something. Or 3 minutes and 50 seconds of something.
You get the point.
Whether it’s running 3.5 miles, doing 35 jumping jacks or doing 35 squats, I’m ready to celebrate my birthday doing 35 of something every day in June.
As I look ahead, it’s also time to look behind and do a check-up on my 13 goals for 2013:
1. 5k PR – official or unofficial
It’s possible that I got slower in May (as well as April). My once or twice a month approach to speedwork is not a good approach to hit this goal.
2. Run at least 2 races I’ve never done before
Still halfway there.
3. Run a 5k – official or unofficial – with my friend Brandon
Summer is coming. His excuses will run out soon.
4. 50 consecutive push-ups
I have no doubt I will do this, but I didn’t focus on maxing out again this month. Just consistency with weights.
5. Ride at least 200 miles
I biked another 22 miles this month, probably less than I was hoping for, but still consistent. I’m at 58 for the year, so I definitely need to step it up. I’m moving to a more bike-friendly neighborhood in two weeks, so I’m ready.
6. Weigh in at less than 180
It’s tough to call it progress, but I did lose 0.4 this month. Before I sabotaged myself for a few days, I had lost 3. It’s an endless cycle and I think anyone who has lost weight knows what this is like. Maybe going for 3.5 pounds in June would be a good goal.
7. Do a plank at least once a week
Right on target.
8. Run a race without a watch
Kinda sorta done. No need to draw it out again
9. Run with my sister Heather
Done!
10. Do an exercise at least once per month that I haven’t done the rest of the year
Chair dips. My arms loved them. Maybe.
11. Eat at least one salad per week
So I didn’t exactly go out and triple my efforts like I said last month, but this is going well. In fact with my new job I’m ready to bring a salad nearly every day.
12. Limit myself to one soft drink a month
If a caffeine and calorie free drink doesn’t count, then I got myself back to even after slipping up for a day in April. My point with this goal was to eliminate empty calories, so I’ll say I’m back on track.
13. Run ON the beach
It’s coming …
No. 1,013
I didn’t fall off a cliff. I didn’t stop running. My computer didn’t get stolen.
I’ve just been following one simple blogging rule I have — if I don’t have anything to say, I don’t write. Not that I really have much to say right now, but I have enough thoughts for a bullet-point post combining life and running thoughts.
- Having “Nothing to train for” remains liberating. I’m looking to see what will fit in my schedule this summer and I know a few things will pop up, but I’m continuing to enjoy not having a major race to think about for a few months.
- I’ve had 4 consistent months of running miles in the low 80s and two months of biking with miles in the low 20s. It’s a nice base to set heading into summer and should make training for the Richmond Half in the fall completely different. I’m not ruling something else popping up, but that’s where my mind is right now.
- I have a new full-time job. I actually had planned to start today, but my allergies have been so bad this week that I decided to hold off until tomorrow. I ended up taking a 2-hour nap this morning.
- Speaking of jobs, I appreciate all the support in these past two months. I didn’t freak out about it, which led to me enjoying more family time and soaking in the small moments with my son. I think my new position will allow me the opportunity to continue to put family first.
Hanging out with my son by the flooded James River earlier this month.
- I’m moving. Again. Just a mile down the road, but to a house that has much more room and will make it much easier with our new addition in September.
- I realized after my last post that I failed to mentioned that we’re having another boy. This whole thing with just boys started nearly 8 years ago when we first got Duke.
13 goals: April update
April 2013 … it’s the month where all things I’ve ever thought about running were thrown out the door. I almost wanted to throw out my 13 goals for the year and start over, but I think that would be unfair to myself.
And I never mentioned here that I lost my job to kick off the month, but that’s another story for another time.
I still have these 13 goals staring at me that I want to complete, but I also will have new running goals in the next couple of months.
So let’s do a checkup on these goals. Some progress was made, and there was one minor setback, but all things considered this was a great month. 80+ running miles, 20+ miles on the bike, a few times in the weight room and a run with a deer head costume made for a good month personally.
Spot the deer head.
1. 5k PR – official or unofficial
I feel like I got slower throughout April, but that’s simply because I didn’t do any speed work the second half of the month.
2. Run at least 2 races I’ve never done before
One down with Disney, more to come.
3. Run a 5k – official or unofficial – with my friend Brandon
He’s trying hard to find me a job close to him. It’s all because he wants me to kick his ass every day at 6 a.m.
4. 50 consecutive push-ups
No max test this month, but I did have a handful of workouts with push-ups and several upper body workouts in the weight room.
5. Ride at least 200 miles
Good progress this month, which makes me wonder if 200 was a bit light. I’m now at 36 for the year, with much more ambition to get on the bike.
6. Weigh in at less than 180
I haven’t been on a scale since early March. I know from photos that I’ve made no progress. I’ve picked tomorrow as a weigh-in day to see where I stand. Then a plan is going in place.
7. Do a plank at least once a week
Right on target.
8. Run a race without a watch
As I’ve mentioned, this is pretty much done, although Disney was not something I “raced.” I thought I’d leave my watch at home for the Monument Avenue 10k, but I wanted to help pace my sister (see below). Another opportunity will come eventually.
9. Run with my sister Heather
Done! And she got a nice 10k PR in the process.
10. Do an exercise at least once per month that I haven’t done the rest of the year
Every month I get to the final few days and remember this. On Monday I did a set of one-legged squats. Tough stuff. Definitely need to do that more.
11. Eat at least one salad per week
I’m right on track for this, but I expect to triple my effort in in the next month. Lettuce is cheap.
12. Limit myself to one soft drink a month
April 20 at the Blue Ridge Half they had ice-cold Cokes. I was tired. A Coke sounded good. That was my second soft drink of the month. I’ll make it up in May by skipping the month. That will at least help me mentally on this slip-up.
13. Run ON the beach
I’m only a couple of hours from Virginia Beach. This will get done no matter what.
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