9.2

I meant to run 9 miles today, but I used the USATF website to plot my path and then veered a little and ended up running 9.2 instead. The longest distance I've run up to now without stopping is 7 miles. I had an 8 mile long day last week, but I had to break it up into two 4's because of a time thing. So today I plotted a course along the Long Beach bike path and took off. It was a good run. I wasn't exactly looking forward to it because, honestly, I never, ever saw myself wanting to run these distances (or more) in the past, but I genuinely enjoyed this run. I kept saying to myself, "it's a strange thing to want to run this far," but I never wanted to quit. In fact I thought, "yeah, I could run a half no problem." I wouldn't put in a great time, mind you. But I could do it. I'll run two or three this year and then go for my first marathon in 2010. I'll post my lame ass times for today's run just for shits and giggles so you all can see how slow I am. Since I don't have a Garmin, just a Timex Ironman watch, I had to keep my eye out for my mile marker checkpoints and as a result, I got a little confused during mile 5 and 6 so the times for those two miles are unknowable. I know, I know. Time to get serious and upgrade. Or maybe I'll just claim to be a purist who isn't interested in times...just the experience.

Mile 1: 9:21

Mile 2: 8:51

Mile 3: 9:16

Mile 4: 10:02

Mile 5 and 6: N/A

Mile 7: 13:19

Mile 8: 10:24

Mile 9: 11:08 (this is 1 mile plus .20)

During mile 7 I slowed down to eat 3 Clif Bar Shot Bloks and go the restroom. This was also one of those weird, anomalous times when the wind is at your back going one way and miraculously at your back going the other. Gotta love that. At first I thought my trip back was going to be hell, but I lucked out I guess. Anyway, next week is the Seal Beach 10k and I'm hoping to come in around 51 or 52 since my only other 10k time was 54 and change and 2 to 3 minutes is a lot to shave off. We'll see. I'm also looking forward to meeting one of my fellow bloggers Billy (of LA Runner fame). Anyway, gotta drink some wine now to reward myself. I hear it's good for the heart. Gulp.

On the Kristen front, her foot is doing better, but she still can't pound the pavement yet. On top of that she's studying for her next architecture exam. Not many people know this, but to become a licensed architect you have to take 9 separate exams and quite frankly, each one is like taking the BAR exam. Sort of. So think about it. To become an architect you would have to take the BAR exam 9 times. There's a passing rate of about 45%, too. Needless to say, she's going a little nuts right now. BTW, being a licensed architect really only means that people can sue you. Awesome.

The Kristen Report

A quick update on Kristen's foot. Last Sunday she started the Los Alamitos Race on the Base, but just over a mile she injured her right foot. X-rays didn't show any signs of a break, but that doesn't preclude a hairline fracture so she's going to get an MRI this week to get to the bottom of this thing. She continues to use the Precor or cycle (against my suggestion, but since when do husbands and wives listen to each other?!), but after a session yesterday she was really hurting. The swelling has gone down and now it looks like the injury is located on the top of the foot right at the middle two toes. She's optimistic, but hates not being able to run. She's signed up for the Seal Beach 10k (I signed us up before she injured her foot) and hopes to be recovered by race day, April 4th. Unfortunately she had to bail on the Toyota Desert Triathlon that is happening this upcoming Sunday. She's really bummed, but what can you do? We're keeping our fingers crossed.

The Anti-climax

Kristen and I ran the 28th annual Los Alamitos Race on the Base yesterday where I posted my first 10k time ever: 54:26! Go ahead. I'll wait for the thundering applause to stop (insert cricket sounds here). Thank you. What's more impressive yet tragic is that Kristen ran her first mile at a 6:45 pace and was well on her way to posting a sub-40:00 10k when she blew out her flip flop and stepped on a pop top. Just after the 1 mile marker she injured her foot so bad she had to hobble off the course and quit the race. This really sucks. She's been training hard to run the 10k leg as part of a two person team (they won 1st place last year) competing in the Toyota Desert Triathlon in La Quinta, CA coming up in March. Her foot is swollen at the top right behind her toes and she can barely stand on it. Not sure if it's a fracture or torn ligaments or what. She'll see a doctor this week and get the prognosis. Unless by some miracle it heals quickly she's going to have to bail out of the Desert Tri and possibly the Seal Beach 10k we're supposed to run in April. I hope it only looks and feels worse than it is. We're keeping our fingers crossed.

Okay, so the race course is touted as flat and fast which is very true, but it is also a bit dull on the senses. You run a 6.2 mile course laid out over the airfield so there isn't much to look at except concrete and grass. If you've ever been out on a military airfield you'll know what I'm talking about. Looong runways and some lawn. BTW, I don't know what most people think about when they're running, but there was so much grass to look at I couldn't help but think about how to make my lawn at home look better. Seriously.

I've run this distance before, but never for a race so this was really an exercise in pacing. My biggest fear (like many people I assume) is to push too hard in the beginning and have no gas left in the tank at the end. So after my first mile I settled into a pace that wasn't comfortable, but it wasn't hard either. Eventually the pack thinned as it does and I picked a guy in front of me as my rabbit. He was very consistent so I stayed on his tail the entire race and just experimented with my own style and technique. I would open up my stride if I felt like I was being too choppy. I would lean my torso forward slightly and look 20 or 30 yards ahead and notice my speed quicken without much change in my overall output. I'd raise my knees a little higher to take some of the sharp, blunt strikes off that spot just below the knee. It was educational and fun, but the finish line was approaching and I had to get ready.

My technique is to get to the 6 mile marker and then drop the hammer for the remaining .2. It was great! I blew past people that I had been trailing for most of the race and posted the time I was aiming for. I know 55 minutes for a 10k seems like a slow time to shoot for, but the last time I ran 6 miles off the treadmill I did it in 61 minutes so I figured my training would bring me in under that by about 5 minutes. Here are my splits:

Mile 1: 8:24

Mile 2: 9:04

Mile 3: 9:11

Mile 4: 9:06

Mile 5: 8:52

Mile 6: 8:55

So while I was excited about my run, it was a bummer to learn that Kristen injured her foot and will be out for awhile. Kinda takes the fun out of the race. But she's tough and I know she'll come back stronger than ever...like Seabiscuit.

10k

I'm running my first 10k this Saturday at the Los Alamitos Race on the Base. While training, I notice that my legs get tight around the 5 mile mark. Is that just my threshold I'm approaching or would salt or something help? I was thinking of mixing a little Gatorade in with my water. Or is a 10k too short to do anything other than drink water and train harder? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks!

No more 5k's

I decided yesterday after the race that I don't want to do anymore 5k's for quite awhile. I posted a PR 5k time last week in Huntington Beach and I figure that the only way to really knock that 24:28 time down to 20 or 21 minutes is to train hard for 10k's and half's. I figure a year of training for longer runs will put me in great shape to run a killer 5k. What do you guys think?

Pouring rain and nipple rash

Ran the Lakewood Mug Run 5k today in the pouring rain. The starting line was walking distance from our house so we couldn't not run just because of the rain. It wasn't miserable. Cold, yes, but no wind so it was an experience. I fell off in my third mile by about 60 seconds so I don't know what happened there. My shoe lace came untied during the last mile and I probably weighed a little more with the soaked clothes, but 60 seconds is a lot. I must have subconsciously told myself not to push too hard. I also had no idea where the finish line was until about 100 yards out so I couldn't anticipate it earlier and kick in harder. Oh well. It was still a good workout. I also got a little nipple rash on this one so I got that going for me, which is nice. At least I beat the 10 year old kid that was trying to pass me in the 3rd mile. I tried to drift over and force him into traffic, but thought that might screw up my time too much so I just shoved him into the grass instead. Hey, it's dog eat dog out there. Better he learns at a young age.

Kristen ran the 10k and got first place again, of course. When she came through they said her time was 41 and change, but the "official" time was 42 something so I think they screwed up. Oh well. This was just for fun since it was in our 'hood.

Now...onto the wine.

Walking a wine line

It's no secret. Everybody who's ever had a lick of liquor knows what the next day brings. It comes in varying shapes and sizes depending on the previous night's imbibing. Slight morning fog. Grogginess. Maybe a dull headache. Some aches and a curious "pop" or two in the old bones. Or maybe you had too much fun and it reaches a full blown, 3 alarm ass-kicker. The "it" I'm referring to is obviously a hang-over. Regardless of your grog of choice, you've had "it".

Obviously by the title you know what the grog of choice is here. Vino. My wife, Kristen, and I are big on the inky stuff. From inexpensive weekday labels to the better weekend brands all the way up to the expensive "my boss just invited me to his holiday party" bottles. Kristen and I even have a few wine club memberships here in California (down from a pre-economic meltdown 6 or 7 memberships). I also love the barley pops. Beer, to use the parlance of our times. I like all styles and I also dabble in my own home brewing. We're not alkies or anything. You can't run, lift weights and compete if you booze it up too much. So this is what I call "walking a wine line." The balance of power between quaffing our favorite liquid and running marathons. Okay, so I've never actually run a marathon. Neither has Kristen...yet.

In addition to countless 5 and 10k's, Kristen has run the Long Beach half marathon and is training for this year's Huntington Beach half marathon. She's a natural. Fast, great VO2 max and determined. She's also hell on wheels, whether it's a mountain bike or road bike. She might train for a marathon this year and has expressed interest in competing in triathlons. She's competed as the running leg of a team for a couple of triathlons, but I'm sure she will soon be an army of one.

I was more reluctant to get into the distance running game. In my younger days (I'm 35 now) I played soccer, baseball and ran track (100 meter dash, long and triple jump). I haven't done any of that in years, but I've always loved going to the gym to lift weights. I was raised on water and snow skis as well. My turn to hitting the pavement came about in a rather pathetic way.

I was never really into distance running, but my wife's enthusiasm finally got to me. She entered a cross-country 10k race in Palos Verdes in 2007. Being the supportive, dutiful husband, I dropped her off and went to a local greasy spoon and had breakfast. When I returned to pick her up I discovered that she'd won 2nd place overall in the woman's category. I stood around and watched as everyone there shook hands, smiled broadly and patted each other on the back. It was a great, communal vibe and I felt lame for not being a part of it. I also felt lazy and shameful for being full of a big, crappy breakfast. And that was that. From that moment on, I pushed myself forward, mile after mile, to get myself into running shape. Since then I've run a good handful of 5k's and will be running my first 10k in February at the Los Alamitos Annual Race on the Base. It's like a drug now. Kristen and I have 3 races in February and will be competing in a lot more throughout the year. I will post our current races and PR's soon. Hers are amazing, mine suck, but the point is to keep on keeping on and hopefully my future PR's won't suck so bad. Only time will tell.

So that's what this blog is about. Running the fine line between Wine and The Finish Line. How to manage that delicate balance between staying in shape to run and enjoying lifes little indulgences. We will also explore other aspects of our days in what is our ode to what Teddy Roosevelt called "The Strenuous Life." Camping, hiking, drinking, running, competing and just staying active.

P.S. - I can totally out drink Kristen. I don't know if that's a good thing or not, but it's something!

Cheers!