National Running Donut Day

Since I didn't run on #RunningDay yesterday and today is #DonutDay, I combined them and made a #SheetzRun for my free donut.

Best of all, I survived. As any local would know, 206 is a bit hairy as a cyclist or pedestrian. So I broke out my bright colors and hit the road. Along the way, I had a few encounters:
- 1 driver got the one-finger salute for drifting a bit too close to the white line
- 80% of bus drivers waved (the other 20% had both hands on the wheel and were safely navigating around me so I'm okay with them not waving)
- 50% of Sheriff's Deputies waved (one was working a call, so again, I'm okay with that)
- 100% of runners waved at me (thanks Karyl-Lynne T. !)
- 100% of Blender bottle users waved at me
- 2 dead and very squished snakes
- 1 dead racoon
- one half of a pair of channel-lock pliers

I'm sure I caught a few WTF looks but it was hard to see them and frankly didn't care. All I cared about is if the drivers saw me.

Photos:
Time to make eat the donuts!

Weather:
Temps were about 55F to 60F. Winds were light making things a bit chilly at times. Sky was overcast. Humidity was high but wasn't really an issue due to lower temps.

Fluids and Fuel:
Half a cup of coffee before my run. One bottle of plain water on the outbound leg. One plain glazed donut from Sheetz at the half-way point. One bottle of plain water on the inbound leg. Recovery was coffee, iced tea, two eggs (with yolk), leftover meatloaf, and asparagus.

Aches and Pains:
Lower, right glute felt a little tweaky on the way back. Stepped on a sharp rock on with about a mile left in the run but I don't think I re-aggravated my injury. Calves and shins hurt on the way out but I think it was my gait. First two miles or so I felt all sorts of wonky and unbalanced.

Gear:
Wore shorts and cycling jersey. Carried my .380 with no issues. Wore my belt to carry my phone.

Today's Motivation:
I'll be honest, I was tempted to climb back into bed this morning but I somehow tricked my brain into getting dressed and getting out the door.

Naughty Neil:
Well I'm sure as hell not counting the donut. It was damn tasty and I needed the fuel to make it back home. Last night I limited my snack to just a bowl of chips. Not too shabby after a more normal sized dinner.

Splits:
Splits are from RunKeeper.
Mile 1 - 12:07
Mile 2 - 11:39
Mile 3 - 13:12
Mile 4 - 12:35
Mile 5 - 17:01 (includes me getting my donut)
Mile 6 - 11:35
Mile 7 - 11:51
Mile 8 - 12:10

These are my splits.
Outbound - 49:54
Inbound - 53:25 (includes donut time)
Finish - 1:43:19

Story Time

Sit back for a long back story. It'll be worth it. If you have coffee.

So way back when I was a kid, I went for a ride to White Castle I think. My cousin drove. He was a very cool, older cousin that I trusted. I didn't know it at the time I got in the car but he was intoxicated. The trip was a little scary. Not the scariest I've ever been on but it easily ranks in my top 5 scary rides (top 10 if you count accidents). Anyway, his decision to drive after drinking forever changed my life. While we arrived safe and sound (I think there was another cousin or two along with us), I have always refused to drink and drive. I have a zero-tolerance policy for myself. Even one drink and I'll have somebody else drive. Yes, I may be a light-weight when it comes to drinking (two beers and I'm tipsy). Yes, I may deprive myself of that tasty, cold beer at the restaurant. But it's something that's important to me.

And before I continue, I hold no ill-will towards my cousin. He made a mistake. We all make mistakes. Especially when we're young and stupid. But I've long ago forgiven him and hold no grudges. I've also broken my zero-tolerance policy but only a handful of times over the past 20 or so years. I've never put myself or others in danger and have always been sober enough to drive. It's just my own self-guiding rules that were broken.

So what does all of this have to do with my run? Bear with me. I'm getting there.

This past weekend the family and I went to a wedding. We missed our annual trip to Williamsburg for the Run for the Dream 8k and half marathon (they even added a 5k this year) but it was family so we went. As expected, it was stressful for everyone. A long drive up Friday afternoon, a hectic second wedding for my sister-in-law, and of course, all the family drama that comes with it. Thankfully we had a bit of free time and managed to visit the Crayola factory in Easton. But at the wedding reception, I was thirsty. Sure, there was water on hand and tons of booze. Like Costco-sized bottles of booze. Literally. They said Kirkland on them. Anyway, I needed something to cut through the blazing heat and I had a Coke.

And that's where the weekend went to shit. Coke is one of my major triggers for depression. And even though I can manage a small glass bottle of Coke, I apparently can't manage a small glass of Coke from a can. Shit hit the fan yesterday and it was all sorts of downhill from there. Nothing went right and I was tempted to just stay in bed all day.

There's still some residual depression today and I know from past experience that it'll sit with me for at least two to four days. Worst of all though is I blame myself. I knew it was a bad idea even as I drank it. I knew there would be a price to pay but I still did it.

This brings us to today's run. Which was okay but a bit of a sufferfest. Humidity is through the roof and it felt like I was swimming yet again. Horse flies were out in the lowlands near the swamp but I managed to steer clear of any major encounters thanks to the heavy traffic on the road. Aside from that it was just my best chance to purge the depression and any remaining Coke from my system.

Weather:
Temps were about 70F. Humidity was 100% (I could literally see the water in the air). Wind was light. Sky was overcast.

Fluids and Fuel:
Two pieces of bacon and half a coffee before the run. Water and applesauce during the run. Recovery was coffee, two eggs, two slices of toast, and left over taco meat.

Aches and Pains:
Nothing really hurt but I'm wondering if the laces in this pair of shoes are causing me some foot pain. I'll need to watch it to see. Aside from that, everything felt meh.

Gear:
Wore shorts and t-shirt. Nothing fancy.

Today's Motivation:
Really just wanted to get something going because I knew yesterday was a shit day. Didn't want to get stuck in that rut of depression.

Naughty Neil:
Managed to eat fairly well over the wedding weekend. Didn't over-indulge on too many things and tried to keep it clean. Yesterday though was, well, shit. But even then I managed to keep it mostly in check.

Splits:
Outbound - 32:45
Inbound - 33:51
Finish - 1:06:36

Churn and Burn

Easy recovery run meant plenty of walking. It's the only way I can keep the HR down as directed. But I did pick up the pace here and there just to make sure everything was working and to flush out some soreness.

Run itself was pretty boring. Except I think my TV died. Showing me all sorts of wacky colors which made watching Star Trek a bit disturbing. Felt like the episode was taken over by Andy Warhol so I switched to my Kindle instead.

Weather:
Indoor temps were about 74F (upstairs is 77F but downstairs is cooler).

Fluids and Fuel:
Half a coffee before the run, applesauce and water during the run, and eggs, sausage, and toast as recovery.

Aches and Pains:
More sore than expected from the half. Foam rolled some yesterday because it kept nagging at me. Today seems to be isolated to the quads and hamstrings with the most ache. No real pain though.

Gear:
Shorts and no shirt.

Treadmill:
Time - 53:00
Distance - 2.0 miles
Incline - 3 to 6 (AVG 5)
Speed - 2.0 to 4.0 (AVG 2.4)
Elevation - 570 feet
Entertainment - Star Trek Deep Space Nine

Today's Motivation:
I was tempted to crawl back into bed but managed to throw some clothes on. That gave me the motivation to get on the treadmill. And Star Trek distracted me long enough to get most of my workout in.

Naughty Neil:
Last night I had the last piece of bougatsa from the weekend's Greek festival. Much tastier than the dinner that gave me heartburn. But I did go to bed before 2200 although the thunderstorms kept the kids awake which kept me awake.

Splits:
Finish - 53:00

Blood and Sweat but No Tears

I shed blood and sweat today but did not shed tears. Although I was close with the tears. Seeing a row of pictures with names and dates and ages of people that have died in combat really sucks the happy out of you. And seeing it after you've struggled through nearly the whole race doesn't make it any easier. But I kept it together. Somehow. Then I was emotional the rest of the way to the finish and nearly lost it again at the end. I mean, this is just a half marathon, right? *JUST* a half marathon. I don't know what got into me but it hit me hard today.

Rae day started at 0400 with a shower. I greased up my undercarriage and a few other strategic spots, made a coffee, and headed out the door. I made it to my parking spot in plenty of time and almost went into the WalMart, my usual place for pre-race dumps. I wasn't feeling it so I walked to the Start/Finish area and headed into Wegmans instead. The other stall was occupied so I got the big room to myself. And it was, quite literally, the best crap I've ever taken before a race. Nearly perfect on so many levels. Once I did my deed I headed out the door and through the security checkpoint. This is the first time I've seen a checkpoint at a race so it was actually a bit unnerving. It was quick and easy to get through but it made me feel less safe than in other years where nothing like this was present. Seeing the guys under a canopy using binoculars made it worse.

But the race went off without a hitch. Or at least it did for me. For the most part. I knew the heat and humidity would be a factor so I knew I needed to take it slow. I was so *NOT* in a rush that I hit the porta-pottie with 10 minutes to go before the race started. I knew I had plenty of time and sure enough, it took me about 8 minutes to cross the Start line.

Once across I promptly ignored my battle plan and cranked out a few fast miles. I pulled in the reins around Mile 3 when the sneaky hill snuck up on me. I was glad it did because it was getting damn hot outside. Once through the sneaky hills and the 5k mark, it was a fairly easy cruise through town. I had enough room to run the tangents and easily saved a few minutes doing this because there were plenty of turns. I saved probably another 5 minutes by skipping all but two of the water tables. I had my pack and I was good to go.

Once through town, I hit the lowest spot on the course, geographically and mentally. Lots of self doubt was creeping in and I knew that damn hill was coming. And the ones behind it. So I slowed a bit and tried to conserve some energy to get up the hills. I really should have had more fuel on hand but I made due with what I had. Which was nothing.

By the time I reached the bottom of Hospital Hill, I was overheating. I could feel the chills set in when the wind picked up and knew I needed to take it easy. And of course I ignored that and promptly attempted to run up the first section of hill. I made it about half way and then started walking. My heart was pounding so I kept the walk going until I felt recovered enough to run. Then I'd run a few paces and stop to walk. Pretty much my game plan for the whole race but on a smaller scale with the steep hill. I made it to the last little section of hill and made my second and lost stop for water. This was mostly to rinse my hands and douse my legs. I was a little surprised that it was the last water stop on the route but I had enough fluids on hand to make it to the end.

After Hospital Hill, it was the hills on Cowan. Nobody tells you about those shitty things but I know the course well enough to plan for them. Lots of walking later, and a near sob-fest, I made it over the interstate and to the home stretch. It's still uphill a bit but much gentler and easier to crank out a bit of a shuffle. I had enough gas to push the last little bit to the Finish but not anywhere near enough to do my usual kick at the end.

Once across the Finish, I got my medal, cold water, and headed to the beer tent. I made a pit stop to cool off a bit and have a picture taken. I drank my beer and made my way back to my car. I should have stayed at Wegmans to eat lunch but wasn't thinking until I was halfway out of town. So I caved and stopped at Burger King.

Then I pulled over on the way home and ate then watched the big motorcycle rally go down the road. Kind of neat. Not as moving as seeing the faces of the dead but cool to see so many, and I mean many, people stand behind a cause.


Photos:
Before shot.

After shot.

Money shot (yes, that's blood).

These guys were at the front of the Some Gave All ride.

The bikes went as far as the eye could see (and then some). The red arrow is pointing to the road about a mile away. I'd guess about 3-5 miles of bikes passed me.

Looking in the other direction.

Vine:
https://vine.co/v/eAZ57EL0tTQ


Weather:
Temps before sunrise were 70F with a dew point of 70F. Temps climbed to 80F by the end of the race. Humidity stayed at 100% and there were even a few rain drops here and there. Sky was overcast with very little sun. When there was a breeze, it was very light.

Fluids and Fuel:
Coffee on the way to town. I forgot my applesauce so I was left with a serving of GenUCAN mixed with their Hydration mix at the start. From there I continued with the GenUCAN Hydration and some water. Recovery was water and beer at the finish then part of a frozen mocha followed by a Whopper, fries, and iced tea.

Aches and Pains:
Yeah for graphic crotch talk! I somehow missed a few spots with the A&D Ointment after my shower and it became extremely apparent where when I took my second shower. But no bloody nipples, no blisters on the feet, and no dick chafe. Legs and feet are sore but nothing I didn't expect from pounding the pavement so much. Aside from that, I feel fine.

Gear:
Wore shorts, t-shirt, hat, and hydration pack. Wore my sunglasses some of the time but in certain sections I had to take them off because they would fog up. I think my bladder is leaking so I'll need to swap that out with my other one. My small Amphipod bottle worked great. May need to try it as a handheld to see how I like it. Everything else worked as expected.

Today's Motivation:
It was a race. I paid for it. I was going to do it even if I had to walk.

Naughty Neil:
The Whopper. I'm still kicking myself for not eating lunch at Wegmans. At least it had onions, lettuce, and tomato on it. That's healthy, right?

Splits:
Waiting to cross - 7:57
Mile 1 - 12:51
Mile 2 - 12:57
Mile 3 - 13:16
Mile 4 - 12:29
Mile 5 - 14:09
Mile 6 - 14:25
Mile 7 - 13:06
Mile 8 - 13:12
Mile 9 - 13:28
Mile 10 - 13:43
Mile 11 - 15:52 (Hospital Hill)
Mile 12 - 14:45 (hills on Cowan)
Mile 13 - 14:24
Finish - 2:58:43

River Rescue

What I had hoped would be another adventure in town on a new trail turned into what felt like junk miles. Almost like I was just phoning in the workout. The only excitement along the way was the local fire/rescue teams doing some river rescue training. The rest of the run was, well, boring as fuck.

Photos:
The river today.

One of the signs along the trail.

Weather:
Temps were about 50F to 55F. Wind was light. Sun was out in full.

Fluids and Fuel:
I rarely eat before my runs but today was an exception. Or a gamble if you prefer. Had two eggs, three strips of bacon, two pieces of toast, and hash browns for breakfast. And iced tea to drink. Nothing during the run and only cold coffee as a recovery. Although I nearly fell for a donut after the run.

Aches and Pains:
None really. Just mental apathy. Maybe I should include my mental status under this category going forward. Hmmmm. Something to think about.

Gear:
Wore shorts, t-shirt, and hat. Took along a BUFF which I used as a single glove here and there. Once again it proves to be the best piece of clothing I've ever bought.

Today's Motivation:
I told my coach I would run and so I did.

Naughty Neil:
Had a late lunch yesterday and a normal sized dinner. Then had a snack later even though I wasn't hungry. Should have skipped the snack but I felt the mental need to eat.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 12:59
Mile 2 - 14:21
Finish - 31:37

I just don't give a

That pretty much summed up my day yesterday. And most of this morning so far. But things are getting better. I'm not sure what the trigger was but something sent me into a downward spiral of a funk. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel, I just don't know if it's a train or a positive attitude.

I'm staying positive as best as I can and hoping it's not a train. Meanwhile I just did what I could yesterday to make it through the day. By the time afternoon rolled around I felt better but still not where I felt I needed to be. Or wanted to be. This morning was a bit of a relapse but I still made it out the door to get my run on. I slogged it around the neighborhood three times do clock in just under the hour planned. Well, it was a 4x1 mile repeats, under an hour, and a warm-up. So as usual I ignored the plan and just went round and round for an hour and then called it quits.

First loop was tepid. Second loop I caught a little heat for looking at my neighbor. Well, it felt like she was giving me the stink eye. And while ploughing her fields wouldn't be a bad thing, it's not like I'm a creep just for looking at you. Although the stink eye may have been because I was listening to Eminem.

Third loop brought a second wind which is just about right. Just as soon as I start to feel normal and get into a groove, my run is over. At least the rain wasn't heavy and added some ambiance and mood lighting to the run.


Weather:
Temps were about 70F. Humidity was high. Winds were light. No sun. Light rain.

Fluids and Fuel:
Before the run was two slices of bacon and half a coffee. During the run was ice water. Recovery was two egg and ham burritos, two slices of toast, and the rest of my coffee.

Aches and Pains:
Figures that I stepped on the only damn piece of sharp gravel out there. Outside of that I felt fine.

Gear:
Wore shorts, t-shirt, and hat. Nothing special.

Today's Motivation:
I wanted to go for a run but I didn't want to go for a run. Hard to explain but there it is.

Naughty Neil:
I didn't eat breakfast yesterday. Ate a salad for lunch. Had a frozen mocha in the afternoon. Topped it off with black bean burritos for dinner. The food was healthy (except the mocha) but my stomach was not happy. By the time the day was over I couldn't trust a fart.

Splits:
Loop 1 - ~18:00
Loop 2 - ~18:00
Loop 3 - ~19:00
Finish - 55:01

Lost but not in danger

For the first time in ages, I got lost today. I was never in any danger, I could see buildings through the trees in various spaces so I knew I could get help in an emergency. But I was absolutely lost. I had a general idea of where I was, where I wanted to go, but there came a point where I just had no idea which way to turn. Thankfully the park was small and I was able to easily continue on down the trail and find my way back out to civilization again.

Along the way I went out of my way to go through the water, got creeped out under the overhang, realized I need fuel after 7 miles, and got in a nice workout. And as a bonus I stunk up the joint when I stopped for food after my run. I wasn't smelly enough to smell myself but it was bad enough to get the stink eye and have people avoid all the tables around me. Oh well. I'm not doing this to make my ass smell better.

So after the nearly, nearly 10 mile run, I came home and cut the grass. Wasn't exactly the cool down I wanted but it made me feel less guilty about missing those last few tenths of a mile that I needed to get into the double digit range.

Vine:
https://vine.co/v/emW26hPQIUb

Photos:
De Train! DE TRAIN!

The creepy overhang. Felt like I was being watched. But I knew Lauren would appreciate the picture.

Pretty flowers.

Exhausted after 9.85 miles.

Weather:
Temps were about 70F. Humidity was high. Sun was out. No wind.

Fluids and Fuel:
Had two English muffins for breakfast with coffee. During the run I had a bottle of GenUCAN Hydrate, plain water, and two applesauces. Recovery was a spinach and bacon souffle and a spinach and artichoke souffle with an iced coffee. Side note, frozen applesauce seems to be working well. Keeps the water cold and thaws in plenty of time to eat.

Aches and Pains:
Other than feeling tired, I felt fairly good. Had some hot spots develop that I did my best to mitigate along the way. Feet felt heavy after going through the water (no surprise). Got over-heated around Mile 8 so I slowed down a bit and drank a little more.

Gear:
Wore shorts, t-shirt, hat, and hydration pack. Also carried my gun since I was going through town and into new places.

Today's Motivation:
I knew today was the day to get my run in since this weekend would be busy.

Naughty Neil:
My local outlet for not-so-healthy food had a different treat yesterday. So I snacked on chocolate covered caramel popcorn last night. Thankfully it was a small serving.

Splits:
Splits are according to RunKeeper so take them with a grain of salt.
Mile 1 - 14:57
Mile 2 - 13:40
Mile 3 - 20:32
Mile 4 - 14:52
Mile 5 - 13:19
Mile 6 - 13:21
Mile 7 - 12:52
Mile 8 - 12:57
Mile 9 - 14:05
Mile 10 - 14:55
Finish - 2:22:00

That feeling in the shower

You know that feeling you get in the shower after you've had a good run and you're scrubbing off the dirt and grime and you just feel so ... content. That was today's shower.

Such a wild turn of events since yesterday's run where everything just seemed to suck. Today started out all sorts of lousy. I broke one of my favorite hats trying to kill a horse fly. The little plastic buckle shattered which meant I was lucky to keep it on my head during the run. For a change, having a big head helped. I was lucky that the bugs didn't bug me too much but the turtle scared the hell out of me. The second turtle didn't scare me but still creeped me out.

Outside of that, I guess the run went well. My mind was elsewhere and had plenty of negative thoughts to get rid of. Was mostly successful in that but there's still a shadow lingering there. At least my shower made me feel content. And clean.

Photos:
That green thing hanging down is an inch worm. One of many that attacked me on my run.

This is the turtle that scared the hell out of me.

I have no idea what kind of flower this is but there's very few of them out there and they only show up a few times a year.

Weather:
Temps were about 60F to 65F. Humidity was high. Sun was out with a few clouds. Very light wind.

Fluids and Fuel:
Had coffee and two English muffins before the run. During the run was water and GenUCAN Hydrate and an applesauce. Recovery was iced tea, coffee, and a couple pieces of cheese.

Aches and Pains:
Calves were a little tight but nothing major. Right foot was a little tender after I stepped on a rock. Seems like just as soon as it feels better I step on something to make it hurt again.

Gear:
Wore shorts, t-shirt, and hydration pack.

Today's Motivation:
Seeing 7 miles was daunting. But I tried to take it one mile at a time. I turned around after 3 miles so I knew I had 6 miles in the bag (at least when I got back to the car). I opted for another half mile in the other direction so I'd end up with 7 total. I wasn't sure if I'd make it but I was feeling good so I went for it.

Naughty Neil:
Had a bowl of treats last night. But it was only one and I felt satisfied when it was gone. No urges to go back for seconds.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 14:05
Mile 2 - 14:45
Mile 3 - 15:26
Mile 4 - 15:08
Mile 5 - 13:38
Mile 6 - 14:36
Mile 7 - 12:42
Finish - 1:40:23

Inchworm

Nearly walked into a swarm of inchworms during this morning's run. Quite fitting considering I was moving rather slowly today. Guess I shouldn't have crawled back into bed. But I was tired. Which was pretty obvious since I slept for about 2 more hours. Guess I shouldn't have stayed up quite so late.

Anyway, I chugged along as best as I could. Felt insanely slow and out of shape. Was barely a tenth of a mile down the road and I was already huffing and puffing. Gah. But I kept going and kept trying to tack miles on as I moved along. Along the way I saw a deflated pool raft, a vintage Mustang, and a million and one inchworms.

Weather:
Temps were about 70F to 75F. Humidity was moderate to high. Sky was clear. Winds were moderate.

Fluids and Fuel:
Half a coffee before the run. Water, Hammer Fizz, and an applesauce during the run. Recovery was an egg and bacon sandwich with extra bacon and a slice of toast. Plus the rest of my coffee and some iced tea.

Aches and Pains:
Calves started feeling the burn in the first mile. Outside of that, and the huffing and puffing, things were pretty normal.

Gear:
Wore shorts, t-shirt, hat, and hydration vest. Tested out a new, smaller Amphipod bottle. Gave me quite the scare when it suddenly squirted fluid out. Guess the Hammer Fizz had fizzed enough to build up pressure. Just glad it didn't get me.

Today's Motivation:
I was about to drive to the local trail then opted for a road run at the last minute. Not sure why but I did. Not sure where my motivation came from to keep going this morning but it was there somewhere.

Naughty Neil:
Damn wife keeps buying tasty dessert food. So I had some chocolate chip cookie cake last night. Not much though. I snacked a bit on rice puffs and beef jerky so that helped curb my appetite.

Splits:
Finish - 57:42

The Promise of the Nap King

I fought the bed and I won. Sort of. I really wanted to go back to bed this morning but ended up convincing myself that I'd be able to take a nap later in the day. So that's the little promise I told myself. And one that I hope I can keep.

The rest of the run was fairly normal. Went way slow just because I was tired and because I felt like it. Managed to spot check most of my trail cameras and did some extra, off the books, hiking/running to move them around a bit. And that was it. Just another day in the woods.

Photo:

Weather:
Temps were about 50F. Sky was overcast. No wind. Humidity was moderate.

Fluids and Fuel:
Just a few sips of coffee before the run. During the run was plain water. Recovery was three slices of toast, three pieces of bacon, two eggs, and more coffee.

Aches and Pains:
Right foot was re-aggravated yesterday so it was a bit tender in the shower today after the run. Aside from that, everything else felt fine.

Gear:
Wore shorts, long sleeve shirt, and BUFF.

Today's Motivation:
Seeing 40 minutes is nice on my plan. It's a short enough run that I can easily accomplish it without taking too much time out of my day. That doesn't always mean it's an easy run but the time investment is small.

Naughty Neil:
I had a beer last night. Just because. I must be getting old because I felt hungover this morning.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 15:27
Mile 2 - 16:04
End - 8:29
Finish - 40:00

Really Awesome Title

I had a really awesome title for today's run. But I forgot it somewhere in the last mile. Figures. I was all over the place today, mentally, during my run. So much so I revived my dead podcast to record part of an episode. Sheesh, what was I thinking?

Anyway, I snagged my camera cards and went for a nice run in the woods. I know the bugs are coming as I saw my first horsefly today. Damn things. The rest of the run was fairly uneventful. Pissed off a few geese who honked and honked at me.

Photo:

Weather:
Temps were about 40F at the start and quickly jumped to about 50F by the end. Sky was clear. No wind.

Fluids and Fuel:
Half a coffee before the run. During the run I had plain water and applesauce. Recovery was an egg sandwich, two blueberry muffins, yogurt, and coffee. I really, REALLY wanted a donut but got the muffins instead.

Aches and Pains:
Ran over a few rocks that reminded me my right foot was still a bit tender. Aside from that, I was feeling much better than yesterday. Still wheezy a bit and certainly coughed up and blew out a ton of mucus but it was all clear so that's good.

Gear:
Wore shorts, thermal top, short sleeved shirt, gloves, and BUFF.

Naughty Neil:
I should have come home and had a "good" breakfast. But I was in the mood for not-so-good food. And just before I got there, I saw a license plate that looked like it said donut. So I was in the mood for a donut. But I didn't get one. I got two blueberry muffins. I'm sure they were just as unhealthy for me but it made me feel good about making a better choice. The breakfast sandwich I got wasn't great but it was about as healthy as I could get there. And instead of my kryptonite iced latte, I went with iced coffee with a dash of sugar and skim milk. So, good choices this morning. And last night I had popcorn instead of ice cream.

Today's Motivation:
My cameras. It's been a couple of days and I missed them. Starting to wonder if I should name them so I can keep track of them. Hmmm.....let me brew on that for a bit.

Splits:
Begin - 11:08
Mile 1 - 14:46
Mile 2 - 14:10
End - 2:20
Finish - 42:25

I Blame Ethan

Still recovering from my sinus infection and allergies blowing up. Even though I've had two nights of decent sleep now, I'm still hacking and sneezing and dripping all over. Just not as much as before. So I powered through the start of my workout and promptly got smacked about for realizing the amount of effort I needed to finish it. An hour slaving away on the treadmill quickly became a few minutes of wheezing and then stopping for a walk break. That walk break turned into just a walk soon enough as it became apparent that I just wasn't going to make it.

And since walking was making me sweat but still let me breath, I figured it was better than nothing. So I walked. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow, but enough to tread that fine line between passing out from lack of oxygen and dripping with sweat.

Weather:
Indoor temps were about 74F.

Fluids and Fuel:
Before the run was half a coffee. During the run was plain water and half an applesauce. Recovery was two ham, egg, and cheese burritos, two slices of toast, yogurt, and the rest of my coffee.

Aches and Pains:
Aside from the lungs being on fire, everything felt fine. Still some mild tenderness on the bottom of my right foot from the rock the other day but it's healing.

Gear:
Wore shorts and t-shirt.

Naughty Neil:
I at too much for lunch but kept things in check during and after dinner.

Today's Motivation:
Trying to get back on track after being sick. It's rough but I want to keep things in the groove.

Treadmill:
Time - 61:11
Distance - 2.5 miles
Incline - 3
Speed - 2.0 to 4.0 (AVG 2.5)
Elevation - 391 feet
Entertainment - LOST (the episode where they find the Dharma lab where Ethan took Claire)

Splits:
Finish - 1:01:11

Windy Run

Just a short, easy run today with a side of wind. Thankfully I expelled about 5 of the 6 ghosts of yesterday's black bean burritos. But that wasn't the wind I dealt with today, today was just regular wind from Mother Nature.

Weather:
Sun was out with a few clouds. Wind was moderate to heavy. Temps were about 60F to 65F.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was a power sandwich from Panera, coffee, and a frozen mocha. During the run I had nothing (not even water). Recovery was GenUCAN and a salad.

Aches and Pains:
None.

Gear:
Wore shorts and a t-shirt. Dumped the shirt at the halfway point.

Naughty Neil:
Did I mention I ate 6 black bean burritos for lunch yesterday?

Today's Motivation:
Sometimes seeing 30 minutes on your plan is a good thing.

Splits:
Finish - 31:53

Damn Vandals

As a runner, there's a million and one things that piss me off. Litter. Asshole drivers. Vandalism. Running out of toilet paper. Snakes. Bugs. The list goes on. I've learned to deal with most of it but it still gets under my skin sometimes. This morning I had to deal with vandals. Idiots decided to break open the sign board, toss the lock, and rip the signs out. And of course I didn't have any cameras set up to watch. Guess I will now.

And then came the bugs. And inchworms and their spider-like web string things. GAH! So while I tried to cool off from the damage done to the sign board, I had to bob and weave and try not to swallow the bugs. And the gnats were out swarming in the sunshine. Made me wish I had a flamethrower.

And then there were the dogs. I get that you want to walk your dog without a leash, I really do. But if it threatens me with teeth or a retractable leash, I'll be tempted to do something you may regret. Thankfully, all five dogs I ran into this morning were hastily corralled by their owners and were well mannered enough to not even bark at me. Thank you. That made my day a little brighter.

But best of all, I came close enough to a 12 minute mile I could smell it. Probably could have ran it but opted to just chill and ease into things. Maybe next year I can break a 30 minute 5k.

Weather:
Temps were about 50F. Sun was out. Light wind. Humidity was light.

Fluids and Fuel:
Had half a coffee and a banana before the run. Applesauce and water during the run. Recovery was two sausage and egg burritos, two slices of toast, and more coffee. Doing my best to cut back to just 2 cups a day. Rough.

Aches and Pains:
Around Mile 2 I hit a rock. One of those pointy ones. Worst part was that I landed on it on the tender side just behind the ball of my foot. Hurt just about as bad as getting hit in the balls. I walked if off and kept going. About a mile later the hole in my shorts started chafing enough to make things noticeably uncomfortable. No amount of adjusting things worked so I just kept plodding along.

Gear:
Wore shorts, long sleeve shirt, and BUFF.

Naughty Neil:
I really wanted an extra snack last night. But I waited until I wasn't quite so stuffed from my extra helping of grilled potatoes from dinner. By that time it was nearly bed time so I was able to just barely pass on the snack. But I did have a nice serving of Kahlua.

Today's Motivation:
Um, didn't really have much motivation other than the weather was nice and I needed some trail therapy.

Splits:
Start - 10:54
Mile 1 - 13:16
Mile 2 - 14:02 (includes a pee break)
Mile 3 - 12:27
End - 9:58
Finish - 1:00:39

Shady's Back, Back Again

For the first time in, I don't know how long, I got the chance to go back out for a run. I know I shouldn't take it for granted, but I always do. Until I can't run, then I realize what a dope I've been for not appreciating it more. So today, I did my best to appreciate being back out there in the woods, on my feet, having fun.

I went out way too fast with about a 6 minute per half mile pace. Every half mile I added 30 seconds to keep myself in check and it felt nice. I wasn't really in a big rush but I could feel the need for speed.

Vine:
https://vine.co/v/ezb1FYTIQZ1


Weather:
Temps were 45F. Wind was light. Sun was out in full.

Fluids and Fuel:
Half a coffee before the run. Water and applesauce during the run. Recovery was 2 eggs, 2 sausage, 2 pieces of gluten free bread, yogurt, and coffee.

Aches and Pains:
Nothing hurt other than some residual aches due to running for the first time in weeks.

Gear:
Wore thermal top, long sleeve top, shorts, BUFF, and gloves.

Naughty Neil:
I would say I feel guilty about eating ice cream last night but it was a celebration so to hell with it.

Today's Motivation:
The end of the busy season at work means less stress.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 13:14
Mile 2 - 14:40
Finish - 27:56

Dinner Table Rules

A teammate asked a pretty interesting question about rules at the dinner table and how they could contribute to obesity. So instead of writing a dissertation on Facebook that would hijack the thread, I thought I'd write one here.

My Childhood

For me, I had two different sets rules at the dinner table because I grew up with divorced parents. When I was with my father, the rules weren't really clearly stated that I can remember other than I had to eat my vegetables. the worst for me was broccoli so I always covered it cheese to hide the flavor. But corn, green beans, and even peas were okay. I won't say I loved them, other than maybe creamed corn, but they were okay.

The unwritten rules were pretty simple though. First, you either ate what he fixed or found something on your own to eat. I rarely did this because I usually liked what he ate. When I didn't, I'd eat a bowl of cereal. The other unwritten rule was to finish what was on my plate. It wasn't really ground into me but there was an expectation to not waste food. So I'd finish what was on my plate. There was a third rule but that was less about eating and more about what we ate. And it wasn't really a rule as much as a trend. We'd almost always have meat, potatoes, and vegetables. Every dinner was a combo of those three in some form or fashion.

At my mother's, the rules were similar but slightly different. I was still expected to eat my vegetables and I was expected to eat what she made or find something on my own. Again, neither of these rules really bothered me much unless we had Brussels sprouts or lima beans or asparagus. But those were rare events and with enough butter and salt, you can hide the flavor of anything. I vaguely recall having the same rule about eating everything on your plate but I'm not positive. I do know there was a big rule about not wasting food. This was especially the case when I went back for a second helping and couldn't finish it. I think I got chewed out a few times for taking too much food. As I got older, there was a new rule put into place that I couldn't get a second helping of anything until everyone else at the table was done eating. This was mostly because I'd eat everything in sight if I was allowed, leaving nothing for my mother or step father.

So fairly basic rules and nothing that seemed out of the ordinary when I was a kid or even now when I'm an adult. But let's get into some extra tidbits that may skew your views a bit.

I've been allergic to poultry and nuts for as long as I can remember. My allergy to gourds came later in life. As a kid, I can remember being forced to eat turkey by my step father. Maybe it was chicken but I'm pretty sure it was turkey. He didn't believe me that I was allergic. Even after I ate it and barfed in the bathroom toilet. I can remember it now, crying at the dinner table on Downs Avenue in Charlotte, NC as I'm eating poultry and being harassed and teased about being a baby and that I wasn't really allergic to it. I recall there was some grumbling about me faking it when I was barfing but I think he eventually accepted the fact that I was indeed allergic to bird meat.

He also teased me when I wanted to eat hamburgers. Something about it was easier to chew and I should be eating real meat like a real man. I'm not really sure what he was getting at but I don't remember it impacting what I ate because, well, hamburgers were delicious.

As a kid that was allergic to nuts and chicken, I had to be slightly picky in what I ate to avoid an allergic reaction. Back in the days of yore when I was a kid (the 1980s), food wasn't labeled as well as it is now but I managed just fine. I knew what I could eat and what I couldn't and I just went on about my merry way. It wasn't until I got older that allergic reactions became more common place. But as a kid, I think that potential for an allergic reaction hanging over my head kept me from trying certain foods and that contributed to me being a picky eater.

But I don't think that's the biggest reason I grew into a picky eater. I think that resides in the nature of who we are and what we like. We change over time. Those Brussels sprouts I hated as a kid I love today. Lima beans, not so much. But I don't think being a picky eater is necessarily a bad thing, as long as it's done in moderation and there's room to grow new tastes over time.

My Kids

Both of my kids have food allergies (nuts and milk) and we've adapted fairly well to them. But they've developed into picky eaters. A little too picky for me but I'm dealing with it. And our rules at the dinner table could use some adjusting I'm sure.

Our latest rule is that we don't watch TV or phones during dinner. Except for Friday nights when we watch The Goldbergs. Or when I just feel like watching TV. But it helps us talk as a family and keep us in touch with each other. We don't adhere to this rule 100% of the time and some people (ahem) still like to surf Facebook but we do pretty good. This rule was my idea because I wanted to actually listen to the kids and learn about their day. And I wanted to involve everyone so we felt more like a family. Plus, when I was a kid, I ate dinner while watching TV with my Dad so we didn't talk much. I think that was a big contributing factor in my zombie-eating.

We also have a rule that's similar to mine as a kid where if you don't like what's been cooked, you're on your own. My wife has used the line "clear your plate" or something similar but I've tried to transition that to "if you're full, stop eating." This is mostly because I'm afraid that they will learn to clear their plate, even when they're full, thus contributing to bad eating habits.

But I do get on them about wasting food. I hate to waste food and I think that's partly because I know food isn't cheap and partly because my parents taught me to not waste my food. Which I'm sure they learned from their parents who lived through the Depression. Anyway, I hate wasting food so eating leftovers is always an option in our house (assuming there's any left).

But the picky eaters in both of them has led me to notice some trends. First, they're both under-weight. They're still trending up normally but they're both smaller than average but they're both proportionally the right size (in other words, they aren't obese). With my son, his medication decreases his appetite so it's always a chore to get him to eat. So much of a chore, that for years now we don't really care about what he eats as long as he eats. I can remember a few times we garnered dirty looks from other people when we'd go out to eat and he'd be eating Oreos and potato chips while the rest of us ate regular food. But with his food allergies and picky palate, that's the only thing he'd eat. And in the interest of not starving our child, we were fine with that. Would I like him to eat vegetables? Or grilled chicken? Or something semi-healthy? Sure. But getting food that's safe for him isn't easy. Just come out to dinner with us a few times and you'll find out.

As for my daughter, I think she's going to be a vegetarian by the time she's in high school. She doesn't like ground meat, rarely likes beef, and only sometimes like pork. She does love bacon but who doesn't?! She's slightly less picky in her eating and at least likes ketchup, the greatest invention ever when you need to cover up how horrible something tastes.

My Parents

As I said, my parents were pretty cool from what I remember as a kid. At least when it came to rules at the dinner table. I don't remember many stories from them about their childhood but I know my dad grew up on a farm with three other brothers and while his eating habits as a kid were probably not all that healthy, he did work a lot. In other words, when you're slopping hogs and milking cows, it's not that big of a deal if you eat some country fried steak.

My mother on the other hand, I know she had some issues with food as a kid. In fact I remember her telling my son that he shouldn't worry about somebody taking his food. And that was a big deal to her because she was the youngest of eight and they often didn't have enough food for everyone. It wasn't until I grew up that I learned that when I was a kid she had a hard time putting food on the table for me.

Bottom Line

I don't know if there is a bottom line. I don't know if the rules you grow up by define who you are as an eater. I do feel that it comes down to the basic concept taught in psychology classes; nurture vs. nature. We are all individual people that have no, or limited, control over certain things. Take food allergies. Despite what some the dumbass Food Babe thinks, allergies are real and can't be controlled in some cases. Yes, there's been some great advances but many of them are based on simply building a tolerance. Can you say iocaine powder?

So we have no (or limited) control over some things but we do have (or have some) control over other things. Going back for a second helping? Pigging out on a third late-night snack? These are things that we should be able to control. But yet again I'm going to sit on the fence because I think for some people, they have no control. I think for some people it's more in line with depression or an addiction. For me, it's more about being mindless when I eat. So that nurture part has trained me that when I watch TV, I should be eating. Just like when I was a kid. That click and hum from the TV is kind of like Pavlov ringing the dinner bell for me.

In the end, I think because we're individuals, we're all going to address the issue differently. What works for me, may not work for you and vice versa. Regardless of what the solution is, I do think we should give it a try. After all, what do we have to lose? Unless you tell me to eat a handful of nuts as a snack. Then I've got something to lose.

Vandals

Yesterday's run went swimmingly. In fact, all of yesterday went swimmingly. But without any swimming of course. The day started off better than Saturday. It seems Friday night was the night for a bunch of nightmares to keep me awake nearly all night. So after a full day of work Saturday, I crashed, still in my clothes, around 2000 hours. I normally don't go to bed until about 2230. That's when I did wake up to finally get into my skivvies and under the covers. I slept until 0700 on Sunday and felt quite refreshed. Guess all I needed was lots of sleep.

So after breakfast and some light housework, I was out the door and into the woods. 7 miles later I was feeling pretty good and headed back home. Turns out my 7 mile run was the easier part of my day. After I showered and ate, it was back outside to do yard work, play baseball, play basketball, ride bikes, and feel old but satisfied in spending time with the family.

Photos:
Tree bands.

Weather:
Temps started out around 45F but quickly warmed to 55F by the end. By the end of the afternoon, temps were up to about 70F. Sky was clear. Light wind.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was coffee, eggs, toast, and yogurt. During the run I had two apple sauces, water, and GenUCAN electrolytes. Recovery was another GenUCAN electrolyte drink followed by a meal of rice and water. Rice doesn't make a good recovery meal.

Aches and Pains:
None during the run or after but my left knee felt tweaky after some baseball with my son. I must have hit too many homeruns.

Gear:
Wore shorts, pants, thermal top, long sleeve shirt, gloves, and BUFF. The gloves lasted a mile or so. Pants came off after about 2 miles. Also took my hydration pack.

Naughty Neil:
Had wacky cake (aka depression cake) for dessert and I don't feel guilty at all. Not even when I had seconds with a small scoop of ice cream.

Today's Motivation:
Just felt like getting outside to clear my head. And I did. Thoroughly distracted and I'm glad for it.

Splits:
Begin -  ?
Mile 1 - 12:21
Mile 2 - 13:52
Mile 3 - 16:31
Mile 4 - 12:57
Mile 5 - 13:48
Mile 6 - 12:56
Mile 7 - 12:18
End - ?
Finish - 1:41:21

Hidden

Saw lots of hidden things on today's run. Things that weren't really hidden but I just never noticed them before. I ran a section of trail that doesn't get a lot of traffic and did my best to have a better run that earlier this week. In the end, I'd succeed in having a good time.

Along the way I saw a building through the trees that I never noticed before, some cleared land that was new, and some vandalism. Outside of that, it was just a nice time in the woods with only a few minor interruptions that I created because I wanted to see where I was on the map in relation to these new things.

Photos:
New name for this section is Briar Patch.

The Tower of Isengard is gone but the swamp has water again!

Pretty normal when you run in the boonies.

The sun will come out tomorrow!

Weather:
Temps were about 40F at the start but warmed a hair to about 45F or 50F by the end. Sky was clear. Light wind.

Fluids and Fuel:
Just some coffee before the run. During the run I had lain water and an applesauce. Recovery was toast, eggs, sausage, yogurt, and coffee.

Aches and Pains:
None really. Stepped on a few pointy rocks but nothing terrible.

Gear:
Wore shorts, thermal top, short sleeve shirt, gloves, and BUFF.

Naughty Neil:
Been managing my snacking fairly well this week. Made a few not-so-healthy choices but they were smaller portions.

Today's Motivation:
A bad run earlier in the week left me feeling a bit empty inside. Today's run helped top off my tank. Or at least put a few dollars in.

Splits:
Start - 1:57
Mile 1 - 13:37
Mile 2 - 15:45 (includes detour)
Mile 3 - 14:53 (includes detour)
Mile 4 - 12:44
End - 2:19
Finish - 1:01:17

Depression: Can you control it?

Probably not, but you might as well try.

That pretty much sums up my run this morning. I wanted to go outside and enjoy the sun, breathe some fresh air, and clear my head. Turns out I wasn't able to do much of any of that. Isn't there a saying about paving roads with good intentions?

Anyway, I was barely a mile into my run when it just started to suck out there. It was cold but my hands had just started to warm up. And yet I just couldn't find any gas in the tank. Nothing between my ears would make me move any better or faster or more willingly.

So even though I couldn't really control the melancholy, I tried.

Photo:
Proof that I broke a sweat and didn't enjoy it.

Weather:
Temps were about 35F. Sky was clear. Winds were light.

Fluids and Fuel:
Had a few sips of coffee before the run. During the run I had half a bottle of plain water. Recovery was a naughty breakfast with coffee. But oh did it taste good. That hashbrown was delicious.

Aches and Pains:
Felt sluggish but no pain.

Gear:
Wore shorts, pants, thermal top, long sleeve shirt, hat, gloves, and BUFF.

Naughty Neil:
Ate fairly well yesterday, including a good snack last night. Breakfast today wasn't so great but it was great tasting. I usually feel guilty eating bad food but not today.

Today's Motivation:
I was hoping to clear my head and recharge my batteries but I ended up struggling to get 3 miles in. Glad I didn't push it to 4 because it really would have sucked.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 15:26 (includes a pee break)
Mile 2 - 14:49
Mile 3 - 13:42
Finish - 43:58

Baaaptism

Today's run is dedicated to the awesomeness of Lauren. Not only is she a great ultra-runner, she's great at writing blog posts, taking pictures, and even breaking cameras. I know I've mentioned her before but today she gets some special attention because she sent me not one but two hats. And, better yet, they're Nanny Goat hats! I've read her reports about Nanny Goat and heard from others here on the east coast that love the event so it felt great to get some swag. Plus it helps re-affirm how awesome the ultra running community is. We really are like family.

Anyway, with my new hat on, I was able to break out of the funk I was in earlier this week and get my run from yesterday done. I'm sure my coach won't like it much but I didn't really stick to the planned intervals. But I got the time in so I was happy.

I felt like running in the dark but running in the dark on the treadmill doesn't really give you any benefit. Other than keeping things a bit more mellow and nearly running off the end of the treadmill in the first few steps, it didn't seem to do much for me.

Overall I felt better after the run and pretty good during the run. Had some tightness in my ankle and calves but that went away when I increased the incline.

Photo:
Don't mind me, I'm just a horny old goat.

Weather:
Indoor temp was 74F.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was a burrito, iced latte, and banana. During the run I had just water and applesauce. Recovery was corn, peas, brown rice, and taco meat. And more coffee.

Aches and Pains:
Left ankle felt tight for a good half hour like I needed to crack it. Finally went away when I increased the incline. Both calves felt tight and sluggish but I dealt with it and tried to push through. I think part of the problem is lack of fluids.

Gear:
My new hat took some adjusting to get it to fit on my giant head. No, really, I have a giant head. Trust me. Once I got it settled in for the ride, things were cool. Wore shorts and t-shirt.

Naughty Neil:
Today's breakfast wasn't super-terrific but it was what it needed to be due to timing. Did my best to pick the best I could and avoid those yummy, deep-fried hash browns. nom nom nom

Today's Motivation:
A hat. I don't know if that makes me needy. Or weird. Or both. Or cheap. Or something else. But yes, a hat made me run today. Sometimes it's the small stuff.

Treadmill:
Time - 42:41
Distance - 2.0
Incline - 0 to 10 (5 AVG)
Speed - 2.0 to 4.0 (2.9 AVG)
Elevation - 521 feet
Entertainment - LOST - Specifically the Fire + Water episode where Aaron and Claire get baptized after not believing Charlie. I'd say she's nuts but, well, we already know how that turned out.

Splits:
Finish - 42:41

Short Shorty

Just a short run with plenty of walking. Nothing terribly exciting.

Weather:
Indoor temps were about 74F.

Fluids and Fuel:
Coffee before the run. Nothing during the run. Recovery was coffee, 2 eggs, 2 sausage, and 2 toast.

Aches and Pains:
Nothing. Yesterday's headache is gone.

Gear:
Wore shorts and t-shirt.

Treadmill:
Time - 30:02
Distance - 1.1 miles
Incline - 3
Speed - 2.0 to 3.0 (AVG 2.3)
Elevation - 183 feet
Entertainment - LOST

Naughty Neil:
I had the ice cream in my hands last night. Then I put it back in the fridge and had a bowl of cereal instead.

Today's Motivation:
Um, nothing? It was a short run so it was easy to convince myself to do it.

Splits:
Finish - 30:02

Don't Just Talk the Talk

You have to walk the walk.

And yesterday I'd like to think that I did. At least a little bit. I went for my weekly long run and came back feeling good. So I thought I'd try a little experiment and see if my son wanted to take some time and go for a walk. So we headed out to the local trail and explored the planet of Endor. No, it really isn't Endor but that's what we call it because it's pretty swampy nearby. The trail bisects a couple of large swamps so it's fitting that we call it Endor.

Anyway, he was having a rough morning and so I wondered if I could give him a little glimpse of why I enjoy running. I think it worked. By the end of the walk he was feeling better and his mood had improved. I think explaining that his dad is a little weird too and likes to play games with himself while he runs made it easier for him to feel comfortable.

At the very least, if I didn't make a big impact on his future habits, at least we got to spend some time together. I even managed to show him some of the "secrets" of the trail. They really aren't secrets but just well hidden tidbits that most trail users don't know about. But best of all for him, he got to play and explore in the woods. Best of all for me, I snuck in a walking workout of about a mile and a quarter and he didn't seem to mind. Not that he needs exercise but I'll take what I can get.

Unit 421

Yesterday's run was pretty good. Had a few peaks and valleys with energy and for the most part my legs felt like lead weights but I survived to run again another day. Spent most of the run pretending I was some secret agent or security officer running around the woods. Constantly talking to myself and generally just being a complete weirdo. But hey, what else is new.

Photo:
The alligator pond turned green.

Here's the frog that scared me.

Yep, that's a kitchen tile in the middle of the woods.

Vine:
https://vine.co/v/OYIhEuuYUhI


Weather:
Temps were about 45F or so. Wind was moderate to high. Sky was fairly clear with a few clouds.

Fluids and Fuel:
No breakfast but the run was getting close to lunch. Had a cup of coffee before I started. During the run I had a bottle of plain water, two packs of applesauce, and a small bag of pretzels. Recovery was a steak and cheese sub with Hammer Recoverite to drink.

Aches and Pains:
Both legs felt super sluggish, mostly my calves but it was bearable.

Gear:
Wore shorts, pants, thermal top, t-shirt, two BUFFs, and gloves. Also wore my Nathan pack to transport my cameras and wore my new shoes. I ended up naming them YELLAWOLF because I was not going to name them Bumble Bee. So when a frog scared the living shit out of me on the trail, I was headed towards Yella Belly Sap Sucker but that was too long. Then I thought about Yella then I quickly rolled into Yella Wolf. Not to be confused with YelaWolf, even though there's certainly some inspiration there.

Naughty Neil:
Well, I did pretty good during the day. But by dinner time I was starving and ate two helpings of pork, Brussels sprouts, and grilled potatoes. And then I went and had dessert after that. And then a snack.

Today's Motivation:
Mostly I wanted to install my cameras but I also needed some time to get outside and enjoy the woods.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 12:31 (went out way too fast)
Mile 2 - 16:47 (includes time spent installing a camera)
Mile 3 - 15:17
Mile 4 - 14:04
Mile 5 - 16:19 (includes time spent installing a camera)
Mile 6 - 12:40 (tried to finish strong)
Finish - 1:27:39

New Shorts

Almost didn't make today's run due to a last minute emergency run to the grocery store. Well, it wasn't exactly an emergency but it was important enough that I knew I needed to go before dinner. After all, we have trained our children well in being dead-set on what they drink with their meals.

Anyway, that meant I had to postpone the run until lunch-time. Which meant I ended up cutting the run short to get some work done. Which meant instead of the full 70 minute run, I had 50 minutes. But it was better than nothing.

Weather:
Indoor temps were about 74F.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was two slices of toast, two eggs, and two pieces of sausage. Also coffee and a yogurt. During the run I had Hammer Fizz and an applesauce. Recovery was leftover lunch of noodles, corn, and beef. And some marshmallows for dessert.

Aches and Pains:
None.

Gear:
Wore my new North Face shorts. Even though they were a large, they were loose in the crotch (but not enough to chafe). Maybe the wrong things are shrinking.

Naughty Neil:
Ugh. I'd rather not talk about it. Too many snacks at night.

Today's Motivation:
New gear is always a motivation to run. Just wish I had the time to test out my new shoes.

Treadmill:
Time - 49:12
Distance - 2.4 miles
Incline - 3
Speed - 2.0 to 4.5 (AVG 3.0)
Elevation - 387 feet
Entertainment -  The Hunger Games: Catching Fire


Splits:
Finish - 49:12

Pot of Gold

Well, I'm not sure how today's run worked out but I did it. I left a steaming pile of gold in the woods and somehow survived yet again. I'm amazed at how stupid I am sometimes in not going to the bathroom before my run. You'd think that I'd have learned my lesson by now.

Today's lesson began about halfway through my outbound leg. I found the nearest turning point and headed back to the car in an effort to keep things clean but failed to make it. Once relieved of my pot of gold, I continued back to my car where I realized I felt much better and decided to continue my run in the other direction. Which means despite my dumb ass move, I still got my workout in.

Photo:

Weather:
Temps were 45F. Sky was clear. No wind.

Fluids and Fuel:
Had a little coffee before the run. During the run was plain water. Recovery was two eggs, three pieces of sausage, three pieces of toast, and more coffee.

Aches and Pains:
None. Lower right back and left knee are feeling much better.

Gear:
Wore shorts, short sleeve shirt, long sleeve shirt, gloves, and BUFF.

Naughty Neil:
No real weaknesses but my wife did another experiment with bougatsa last night which of course meant I had to test it out. But I only had one bowl of it. I did well with lunch and had a salad and bread. And I failed with getting to bed on time and stayed up working way too late.

Today's Motivation:
No real motivation necessarily, just a desire to get outside and enjoy the 70 degree weather. Guess I was a bit early but still enjoyed it anyway.

Splits:
Start - 3:50
Mile 0.5 - 5:41
Mile 1 - 7:02
Mile 1.5 - 6:29
Mile 2 - 8:56
Mile 2.5 - 7:33
Mile 3 - 7:44
Mile 3.5 - 6:21
End - 3:00
Finish - 56:39

Don't Shift Right On a Treadmill

Even though I knew I needed to keep a straight line on the treadmill, twice I tried to shift right during this morning's run. Those damn zombies were coming at me in the movie and I just moved by instinct. Thankfully I caught myself on the little hand bar before trying to shove myself through the drywall next to me.

The main reason for doing my run today was timing with work. I knew I'd be off work this weekend but that also meant I would have limited time to run this weekend. So instead of doing my scheduled workout, I skipped to the weekend's plan and did that instead. Sorry not sorry Coach. I figured skipping a core workout would have less impact than skipping my long run for the week.

Anyway, I got the run in and finished the movie and started a bit of a new one before finishing up.

Weather:
Indoor temps were about 72F.

Fluids and Fuel:
Had a little coffee and most of a banana before the run. During the run was plain water and an applesauce. Recovery was more coffee and Hammer Recoverite.

Aches and Pains:
None. Felt tired this morning. Tired enough to go back to sleep for an hour but nothing really hurt before, during, or after the run.

Gear:
Wore t-shirt and shorts.

Treadmill:
Time - 80:00
Distance - 3.8 miles
Incline - 3
Speed - 2.0 to 3.5 (AVG 2.9)
Elevation - 605 feet
Entertainment - World War Z and GI Joe Retaliation

Naughty Neil:
I was all set to splurge with a giant snack last night to eat my stress away but somehow didn't. For a change I was distracted by the TV and didn't go back for seconds. I even forgot to get a beer.

Today's Motivation:
Timing. As stated above, I needed to make sure I got this run in before the weekend when I knew I'd be short on time.

Splits:
Finish - 1:20:00

World War Zeke

I wanted to go back to bed, go outside for a run, and eat breakfast all at the same time. Instead I ran on the treadmill and opted to watch World War Z. Running on the treadmill shouldn't be a big shock but my watching that movie was a surprise. I added it to my playlist because it was free but was always reluctant to watch it because, well, it's a scary movie. And I don't do scary movies. I've never enjoyed them. Even when I was in middle school dating a girl that loved them, I would have rather gone the night without some tongue lashing if it meant I could have skipped the scary movie. And if a teenage body full of hormones can't conquer that kind of fear, then nothing can.

But I gave it a shot. And before I knew it, I was 20 minutes into my run. 40 minutes into my run. 65 minutes into my run and almost time to quit. I maintained a decent pace and only got a little spooked during a few scenes. Thankfully I stayed up-right on the treadmill and didn't bob and weave like they did in the movie.

And to set the record straight, yes, the movie is scary. I might even have nightmares tonight. But it's a compelling enough story so far that I actually want to finish it just to see what happens.

Weather:
Indoor temps were about 75F.

Fluids and Fuel:
Had a little coffee before the run. During the run I had an applesauce and plain water. Recovery was a breakfast of two eggs, four sausages, three slices of toast, and coffee.

Aches and Pains:
None. Lower right back is still a bit tweaky, but it's been getting better over the past week or so.

Gear:
Wore t-shirt and shorts.

Treadmill:
Time - 69:17
Distance - 3.4 miles
Incline - 3
Speed - 2.0 to 4.0 (AVG 3.0)
Elevation - 534 feet
Entertainment - World War Z

Naughty Neil:
::sigh:: In a moment of weakness yesterday I went to the local gas station and got a medium coffee (I usually get a large), a hamburger, and churros. I really wanted french fries but didn't get them. At least dinner was healthy as was my late night snack (which I only had one serving of).

Today's Motivation:
Not really sure I had any motivation today. I just went and did what was on my plan without thinking too much about it. I've tried to make a bit of a mental shift on a few things and it seems to be working. So far. Knock on wood.

Splits:
Finish - 1:09:17

White Doe, White Dough

Today's run was satisfying and depressing and fun and pretty much everything under the sun. Because of all the emotions, it was a bit muted in the end.

The highlight of the run was seeing another runner out there enjoying the trail. She pranced along in the other direction like a doe wearing white, dashing between rocks like it was nothing. Meanwhile I felt like a white blob of dough oozing along the trail. Fortune was with me as I saw her a little later in my run and she wasn't exactly prancing. Not that I wish her ill by any means nor that I wish to speak ill of her ability to run, but she looked more like she was running full tilt downhill with arms and legs flailing. After I chuckled to myself, I realized that she was suddenly well ahead of me on the trail and I couldn't catch her even if I was riding a bike.

Photo:

Weather:
Temps were about 40F to 45F. Sky was overcast. Wind was light.

Fluids and Fuel:
Had half a coffee before the run. During the run I had plain water. Recovery was a banana and the rest of my coffee mixed with GenUCAN and Hammer Recoverite.

Aches and Pains:
None really. Chest was a bit tight but I'm chalking that up to the remnants of my sinus infection.

Gear:
Wore shorts, pants, thermal top, long sleeve shirt, vest, gloves, hat, and BUFF.

Naughty Neil:
It's insane how hard it is, but I'm doing my best not to give in to my nightly, mindless snacks as well as my poor eating habits. So I hopefully put a dent in my bad habits over the past few days.

Today's Motivation:
The desire to run outside. That's about all I needed.

Splits:
Mile 1 - 12:25
Mile 2 - 13:19
Mile 3 - 13:01
Mile 4 - 13:18
Finish - 52:05

FughYouMe

I don't know what happened but something went and stopped working. Which means my electrical outlet that powers my treadmill, TV, DVD player, etc. isn't working anymore. No, I didn't blow a fuse. I checked. No, it didn't make a loud popping sound. I listened. No, it didn't smoke. I smelled. I have no idea what it tastes like because I'm not stupid enough to lick the electrical plug.

So I guess I was lucky that everything else still worked so I just used a handy extension cord and continued on with my run. It just meant that instead of trying to watch more BOSCH on Amazon Prime, I watched WranglerStar on YouTube instead.

Weather:
Temps were a balmy 75F.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was two eggs, two slices of toast, and a banana. And two coffees. Lunch was a roast beef sandwich and a small bag of chips and a rice krispie treat. During the run I had an applesauce and iced tea. Recovery was more tea.

Aches and Pains:
Nothing. But I'm fairly confident my wife gave me the sniffles last night as she breathed all over me. I mean, she was sleeping, but she has a tendency to snore or breath in my general direction. Better than a Dutch Oven I guess.

Gear:
I wore shorts and went topless.

Treadmill:
Time - 30:00
Distance - 1.4 miles
Incline - 3
Speed - 2.0 to 5.5 (AVG 3.0)
Elevation - 233 feet
Entertainment - WranglerStar

Naughty Neil:
Damn bag of chips. Nobody else in the house likes this particular flavor which means I'm left holding the bag. Literally. Gah. I hate wasting food. Maybe that's part of why I'm fat.

Today's Motivation:
None really. I just wanted another day where I actually did what was on the plan.

Splits:
Finish - 30:00

The Will to Run

My will to run was greater than expected yesterday. As I crawled out of bed and promptly went back under the covers, I decided to treat myself to some time reading a book. A few minutes later, the power went out. Guess I won't be running on the treadmill. So I got up, filly-farted around a bit, checked the roads outside and sure enough, the ice that was due to come in the afternoon came early. So we were stuck at home due to icy roads and I was stuck without a treadmill to run on. Guess I get a day off. Right?

Wrong. After some time reading, napping, and more napping, the power eventually came back on. My Navy shower was for naught as I finally worked up enough motivation to get my butt on the treadmill for some quality time with Darth Vader. After sweating to the oldies of Star Trek and LOST, I got to 70 minutes and called it quits. I was only a little shy of my goal time but hey, compared to last week's lack of work-outs, I'll consider it a win.

Picture:
I was happy I went over 1,000 feet!

Weather:
Indoor temps were about 80F to 85F. Even with no power we still have heat in the basement. Quite a lot of heat. That sucker will cook you right out of there if you don't turn it down.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was Pop-Tarts. Four of them. Couldn't really cook anything else and cereal didn't sound appealing. During the run I had Hammer Fizz and an applesauce. Recovery was leftover ground beef, risotto, and peas.

Aches and Pains:
None really. Although my left knee is bugging me a bit the day after.

Gear:
Wore shorts and went topless. Oh, and I wore a headband to catch some sweat. In the end, it just bugged the hell out of my ears.

Treadmill:
Time - 70:35
Distance - 3.1 miles
Incline - 0 to 15 (AVG 7)
Speed - 2.0 to 4.5 (AVG 2.7)
Elevation - 1,004 feet
Entertainment - Star Trek DS9 but mostly LOST

Naughty Neil:
Seems like I've gotten fat again. I clocked in at 239 before breakfast and it pissed me off. I knew my pants were a bit tighter but didn't think much of it. Well shit. Now I'm pissed. I worked hard to get rid of that weight and now it's back. Shit shit shit.

Today's Motivation:
I'd say a third goes to my weigh-in, another third goes to KL, and the last third to Tab. Those last two runners got their workouts in and both mentioned the will to run. Well hell. There's some motivation for ya.

Splits:
Finish - 1:10:35