Sunrise Services

Was feeling a bit blue this morning and not really in the mood to run but once again, the idea of going back to bed and skipping a simple 2 miles is just too ridiculous. So I go out and run instead of going back to bed. Kind of like, here, have a cookie. It's tasty.

Anyway, today was foggy and blurry and fit my mood as I started down the road. But the fog started to lift and the sun started to rise and the run, and the day, started to look a little bit better. So I carried on down the road and finished my run and began my day.

Photo:
It's getting spooky out!

Weather:
Temps were about 65F. Lots of ground fog and heavy humidity. Light wind. Sky was mostly clear.

Fluids and Fuel:
Had a little coffee before the run. Plain water during the run. Recovery was three slices of toast, three sausage links, two eggs, and coffee.

Aches and Pains:
Some lingering numbness in my left foot but nothing major. Comes and goes. No pain, just feels like my sock is bunched up in my shoe sometimes.

Gear:
Wore a long sleeve top and shorts. Also sported my headlamp since I was tired of carrying a flashlight in my hand.

Today's Motivation:
I sound like a broken record but really, this short distance stuff is the bomb. I also thought about delaying my run until this afternoon but I wasn't sure if I'd be running with the kids or not. So I knew I had to get it in this morning.

Naughty Neil:
Did better with eating yesterday. Didn't hit my mark on everything but convinced myself to eat a BLT instead of a big ass burger. And I skipped the fries but went with mac and cheese. In the end, I ended up just 25 calories over my mark. Not perfect but better than the day before.

Splits:
Lollipop 1 - 12:49
Lollipop 2 - 13:23
Finish - 26:13

2015 Oil Creek 100k Race Report

I'm not sure where to start. Maybe with "I finished" or "I'm still alive."

But let's get into the nitty gritty details. As usual, be warned, I may talk about some bodily functions that may not be appealing. And I may talk about some body parts that are peeling.

I started my trip with a long drive to my mom's house. About halfway there, I realized I had forgotten my GenUCAN hydration and fuel mixes. I nearly panicked but stopped at a bike shop, Dicks, and running store to come up with some weak alternatives. I've used Hammer products before but I wasn't going to buy a giant sized container of Perpeteum and their Perpeteum chews make me want to eat dirt. But they had Fizz, which I like, but only in Grapefruit, which I don't like. So I got a tube anyway. And they had NUUN, which I've never used before. But I was desperate enough to try something new on race day.

By the time I got to my mom's I wasn't as panicked about my electrolytes and nutrition. It was going to be whatever it would be. I would just need to deal with it and live off of the aid stations. And that's what I did.

Friday I packed my drop bags, got my gear ready, and went to see THE MARTIAN. Solid movie but the book is better. Isn't it always that way? Then it was time for the pre-race dinner and packet pick-up. As usual, the dinner was pasta with salad. Not gourmet but better than what I could  make. And they had a company there that gave away ice cream. Handmade ice cream. Way tasty. Then it was home to bed.

Race morning I stopped to pick up fellow 100k runner George. It was nice to have some company on the short trip to the Start line. There was the usual pre-race brief, adjustments, bathroom breaks, then off we went into the night. The first loop went fairly well. Pretty much walked all of it. Did a little bit of running but not much. Before I got to the first aid station, I passed an older gentleman who was also doing 100k then shortly after that I linked up with Christine who was also doing the 100k. I passed her shortly before the first aid station but she caught up to me by the time I got ready to leave. At the first aid station I had a boiled egg and a couple of pieces of boiled potatoes with salt. I knew electrolytes would be an issue so I wanted to stay on top of that

Anyway, as I was leaving the first aid station Christine was just coming in. I don't think she or the older gentlemen finished. Although it's distinctly possible they passed me later in the night but I know based on my pace and theirs at that time in the race, they probably didn't make it.

After the first aid station, I headed out into Section 2. I knew it was easier but also knew it would eat me alive if I didn't take things easy. So I cruised along feeling good. Stopped at the water table for water, then headed on to Aid Station 2. This is the halfway point in the loop so I knew I'd have my drop bag there if I needed anything. I got lucky and had extra clothes in my trunk because I put a long sleeve thermal on for the start and was able to take it off here and just wear my t-shirt and shorts. I changed socks, re-lubed my feet, put a little pain killer gel on my left foot, ate two slices of pizza, some grilled cheese, and I think some chips.

Then it was into Section 3. The sucky section. But I knew it coming in. Hit the first water table. Hit the Boy Scout water table. Then made it to Aid Station 3. This was my first dose of pickle juice. It tastes like hell but damn, it's exactly what you need when your electrolytes are jacked up. Don't think I had any food here and only stayed a few minutes before moving on to Section 4. Again, another rough section that included my Quitting Rock. I told the rock I'd sit on it when I came back around the second time.

At the Middle School (aka Aid Station 4), I saw my mom. She helped me get some food and drink and hovered over me while I took care of my feet (new socks, pain killer gel, lube, lancing a blister). I tried to lay down for a few minutes to elevate my feet but I was too worried I'd get stuck there and not want to leave for my second loop. So after a few minutes I gave up on resting my feet and headed back out for more.

I had my long sleeve shirt back on and also added pants and a kilt. It sucked going back out. Especially when I had to start using my headlamp as soon as I got back on the trail. That was a major mental blow knowing that it would be dark nearly the whole second loop. But I was determined so I moved on.

Section 1 was the same as before. I made it to Aid Station 1 again and laid down to put my feet up. The volunteers were awesome but a little worried something was wrong. I reassured them that no, I just wanted to elevate my feet. Unfortunately, I put my hydration pack in a chair, then put my feet in the same chair, and ended up getting my headlamp band wet. And the seat had a giant puddle. Sorry.

I had more pickle juice, half a hamburger, then moved out to Section 2. Hit the water table. Made it to Aid Station 2. Talked a little to a semi-local runner I know from my area while I took care of my feet. I didn't lay down here but did change clothes. I knew laying down here was dangerous too as it would be an easy place to quit. So I moved on to Section 3.

This time around it sucked. I swear that trail grows and grows and gets longer every time you go by. Just before making it to the first water table, I ran into Lucas who was moving about my speed. He was in the 100k too and I figured we'd be in it to the end. Until he pulled up short and said he was going to be sick. He barfed a good 5 times but I kept going. I felt bad for leaving him there but I knew if I heard more barfing I'd be doing the same thing. We'd eventually play leap frog a big through Section 3. He caught up to me at the first water table where I managed to take a short wrong turn. Then it was on to the water table at the Boy Scout camp. Somewhere after that, I found him laying on the side of the trail taking a nap. We were both so tired that we were trying to figure out how to take a nap without a bench and without getting cold. I saw no rock or stump or log that looked comfy enough so I kept staggering forward. When I passed him I asked if he was okay. He said he was so I kept moving to Aid Station 3.

Once there I took the best worst nap I've ever had. I sat in a camp chair by the fire and told the volunteer to wake me up in 20 minutes. I fidgeted for awhile then dozed off. My head was either way back like a broken PEZ dispenser or way forward like I was trying to lick my belly button. But I got some sleep. At some point Lucas had come in and was doing the same thing, napping by the fire.

I had some coffee, pickle juice, food (I think) and carried on. I knew this section would suck too but also knew that it wasn't as long as it looks on paper. With only 6ish miles on the trail, I knew the 8ish miles to the Finish wouldn't be that bad. Well, I was wrong as usual. It sucked. I walked and walked and walked. Made it to the water table and kept walking. And walking. Finally, FINALLY, I made it to the hiker check-in box which I knew was only a mile from the trailhead.

Well, it still dragged on and on, even after knowing I was that close. By this time the sun was coming up. It was just about light enough to see without a headlamp so I turned mine off and stowed it. I also started taking a layer or two off but would eventually put some back on as I got on the shady side of the hills.

Once off the trail, I had one mile around the Drake Well Museum and a mile on the bike path. And wouldn't you know it, after 60 miles, I needed to take a dump. I couldn't wait to make it back to the porta-potty so I did my best to crawl into the woods out of sight and off the path. And, wouldn't you know it, shortly after that my monkey butt flared up so much I needed to address it. No worries, I threw the mini-stick of Body Glide away after that session.

Then it was a zombie shuffle to the Finish on the bike path. I made the final turn, tossed my hydration pack in the grass, and shuffled across the finish line in 28:35:40 (that's 28 hours, 35 minutes, and 40 seconds).

Weather:
Temps were just about perfect. About 45F to 50F at night and 60F to 65F during the day. Sky was clear the whole time. Saw the Moon and Mars rising as I started. Only had a smidge of wind at the very end. Stopped just before Aid Station 3 on my second time through and turned my light off and stared at the night sky through the trees. Swear the sky glowed. Maybe I was seeing things again.

Fluids and Fuel:
Before the race I had a small coffee and a banana. During the race I took 3 GenUCAN Hydrates, about 5 Hammer Fizz, about 5 NUUN (which didn't work), about 5 to 8 shots of pickle juice (worked great), plain water (kept it at a minimum), half a hamburger, one boiled egg, two boiled potatoes, two slices of pepperoni pizza, two grilled cheeses, one slice of avocado wrap, a few chips, some perogies, and I'm sure a few other things to eat and drink that I don't remember. Oh, and about 2 cups of coffee. Recovery was a bacon Whopper, lousy fries, and a little Coke. I've been trying to not eat everything under the sun since then.

Aches and Pains:
This is the remarkable section. Sunday, the day I finished the race, I struggled to walk. But generally speaking, was in good shape. I had one blister on my right heel that I lanced after I finished and some butt chafe and that was it. Since then, my left foot/ankle/lower leg has swollen a little but nothing too terrible. Each day I've been getting better and better and by Tuesday I was able to go up and down the stairs in my house with minimal effort and pain. I had some minor stiffness in my upper back from the hydration pack but I think keeping my posture straight during the race helped a ton. Oh, and let's not forget about my taint shedding a layer of skin like a gross snake. But that's normal. At least for me.

Gear:
Wore North Face shorts and my KREndurance t-shirt, and Nathan hydration pack the entire time. When it got cold, I would add an UnderArmour long sleeve top and some pants as well as gloves. Once again my BUFFs saved me so many times. So easy to take on and off as needed. My Smartwook socks were awesome and even though I rarely change socks during a race, I'm glad I did. Felt nice. Finally, my Altra shoes kicked ass. One small blister after 62 miles is hard to beat!

Today's Motivation:
I finished in 2012. I DNF'd in 2013. I joked in 2013 that I was there to get a new sticker because my finisher's sticker from 2012 got scraped off my car window (totally my dumb ass fault). Since then, I've been a bit haunted by the DNF. One odd tidbit of motivation, I didn't wash my light jacket from 2013 since my DNF. Well, I may have washed it once, but it's gone at least a year without being washed. Not a terribly big deal since I don't wear it much. But it helped motivate me.

Naughty Neil:
My recovery meal was from Burger King. But, I restrained myself and only had a little Coke. But I did eat a lot of food before and after the race. I wish I could blame my mom but I'm a sucker for having somebody cook for me.

Splits:
Splits are going to be broken down by Sections (1 through 4), Aid Stations (AS1 through AS4), and water tables (WT), there was one in Section 2, two in Section 3, and one in Section 4 - these were unmanned tables with just water. And all times are listed as HH:MM:SS (hours, minutes, and seconds).

Start to AS1 - 02:23:29

AS1 - 00:05:07

AS1 to WT - 01:20:50

WT to AS2 - 01:12:01

AS2 - 00:18:08

AS2 to WT - 01:09:03

WT to WT - 00:35:17

WT to AS3 - 01:30:41

AS3 - maybe a couple of minutes

AS3 to WT - 01:10:11

WT to AS4 - 02:11:04 - 50k - halfway point of race

AS4 - 00:30:19

AS4 to AS1 - 02:58:41

AS1 - 00:23:41

AS1 to WT - 01:28:21

WT to AS2 - 01:37:02

AS2 - 00:24:22

AS2 to WT - 01:32:14

WT to WT - 00:48:49

WT to AS3 - 02:07:48

AS3 - 00:44:05

AS3 to WT - 01:19:20

WT to AS4 - 02:44:54 - 28:35:40 total

Burning Bush

Not the miles planned but more than I could have hoped for if I had gone back to bed instead. And I wanted to go back to bed but somehow dragged myself into some running shorts and headed out the door.

Speaking of bed, I could really go for a third coffee right about now.

The run was fairly uneventful as expected. The weather was a bit cooler than I expected but aside from that things went well. I did wear a long sleeve shirt but really should have worn gloves.

Photos:
Don't know what kind of bush this is, but it's about as bright as my shirt.

Weather:
Temps were about 55F to 60F. Sun was out. No wind. Humidity was low.

Fluids and Fuel:
Had a little coffee before the run and plain water during the run. Recovery was two eggs, two slices of toast, four sausage links, yogurt, and more coffee.

Aches and Pains:
Toes hurt a bit after yesterday but that's my own dumb fault for not trimming my nails. Always seems to happen.

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

Today's Motivation:
Just keeping my streak alive. Just passed the halfway point. Getting a little nervous about making it through to the end of the month.

Naughty Neil:
I totally ate a bowl of cereal last night and had zero guilt about it. I was strong enough to not put a brownie in there.

Splits:
Outbound - 33:17
Inbound - 32:14
Finish - 1:05:31

Meet BARC - Introductions and Review of the Star Wars Bike from Huffy

Okay, so we're all a little weird or damaged or just plain crazy, right? Well, here's a wee bit of a story about how I continue to meet those requirements. But before you read on, this is broken up into two major parts with photos at the end. The first is where I prove and disprove how crazy I am. The second is getting into the more technical aspects of the bike and a bit of a review.

I'm Crazy Not Crazy

I won't go into the long backstory of my Star Wars fandom but I'll set the record straight by telling you that I'm a fan but not a fanatic. Some family members and friends may disagree but I do have a life outside of Star Wars. Or at least I think I do.

Anyway, with the recent Force Friday excitement, it was no surprise that William and I were both like kids in a candy shop at Target last weekend. Elizabeth was only slightly amused and Yvonne, well, she just left us the three of us there acting like kids. There were a lot of toys and clothes that looked neat but nothing really struck me as something that I absolutely had to have.

Except for the bike. I had to have the bike. I hemmed and hawed about it because it was a lot of money to spend. I didn't want to spend it but I also knew I had to have it. It isn't often that you find something that's Star Wars AND has a Stormtrooper. And it's pretty much impossible to find anything with TK-421 on it. Trust me, I've looked.

Now let me pause here for a minute. Way back in 2000 or so, I got a personalized plate in North Carolina that was "TK 421." When we moved to Virginia, I had to settle for "TK-42ONE." I do a lot online with that name and I am always on the lookout for it in toys and other merchandise. With Star Wars movies taking a break, there was nothing new. And the Clone Wars cartoon didn't help because TK-421 was a Stormtrooper. He didn't have the Sandtrooper pauldron, he wasn't a Speeder Bike Scout, or a Snowtrooper. Just a plain old boring Stormtrooper. Trust me, there's a difference. And no, he wasn't even close to a Clone Trooper.

Now, back to the story. So I recently got a Star Wars shirt with TK-421 on it from a cousin. It was awesome. I love it. It's so rare to find that name on anything that I was happy to have it, and even happier that it was something I could wear. So seeing the bike in Target with TK-421 on the front forks made me squee like one of those Star Wars fanatics I claim to not be.

I left it in the store on Saturday but called Sunday to see if they still had it. They didn't. So I ordered it online and it was delivered yesterday. As I assembled it, a massive rain storm was going through so I couldn't ride it. Which meant I couldn't name it.

And that's where I get even weirder than you thought I was. You see, I name my bike (now bikes). And my shoes. And some of my equipment. If I recall correctly, it was born out of necessity when I had several pairs of Altra Instincts that were the same size and  color and I couldn't keep them straight in my running shoe rotation. So I named them. I've been naming them since. Booger. Snot. Slick. Yela Wolf. Silver Back. You get the idea. My bike is Shifty because, well, you have to shift the gears.

As part of the tradition of naming my shoes and bikes, I only name them during the run (or ride in this case). It feels natural to not have something picked out until you're out there. Sometimes I don't come up with something until after the run or ride but that's just my brain moving slowly. The key is, I may have great ideas before, but I don't decide until during or after.

Which brings us to the unveiling of the newest member of the .... family? No, it's not a member of the family. It's important but not that important. So without further ado, here's BARC.

Review

So a bit of a review on the bike itself. First of, it's not a bike I would recommend using for any sort of training. This is a casual bike for casual riding. Not anything even remotely close to something I would use for any sort of high performance races or sporting events. Think of it as a cruiser, not a tri bike.

I ordered mine online and paid list price ($349.99) plus shipping ($42.79 - but shipping was free) plus handling fee ($40.00) plus taxes ($20.76) for a grand total of $410.66. I could have paid more for shipping to get it here sooner but I'm glad I didn't because it arrived pretty quickly. I ordered on my phone on Sunday night and it arrived that Thursday. Not too shabby on speed.

The box arrived surprisingly intact. I've worked in shipping before and I know how things get beat up. Aside from a few dings, things looked good. The bike inside was also packed fairly well but not great. At first glance it looked like the paint on the frame was scratched but it was actually just how it was painted to look weathered. There were plastic caps on the point parts, foam around the frame, and cardboard placed in certain spots.

Once out of the box, the front tire was loose and the handebars were only attached by the cables. The pedals were also not installed and the seat was loose. The seat was an easy fix. Simply tighten the speed release and you're done. The handlebars were a bit tricky. The instructions stated to put the disc brake on the left side but I didn't see that until I already had it installed. So I loosened it, flipped it around, then tightened it back down. And to clarify, "it" was the handlebar stem that sits on that post which is the top of the forks when they come through the threadless stem.

Okay, with the handlebars installed and the brakes on the right side, which was the left side as you sit in the seat, it was time to move on to the front tire. Pretty easy install and only took a minute.

The pedals were just as easy to install thanks to convenient left and right stickers.

Then we had some issues. The bike was fully assembled but the front fork stem was wobbly as it went through the threadless head. Because it was threadless, I had to do some research on how to fix it. I just needed to tighten the bolt that goes through the top but only a quarter turn at a time. There still needs to be play in the front tire so it flops left and right. Do a quick search and you'll see some good videos on it.

Then there was the seat. It was at the right height but the front was angled way too high and would have given me a high voice if I didn't fix it. A few minor adjustments and I was able to tilt it down enough to make it comfortable without feeling like I would slide off onto the top bar.

Finally, there was the chain. I still haven't fixed this but it rubs on the rear tire when it's in 1st gear. Gears 2 through 7 work fine (it only has seven gears). But when you shift down to first, it gets too close to the tire and rubs. Not good. A washer or some adjustments to the derailleur may fix it but I'm not smart enough to figure that out yet.

After a test ride this morning, another issue cropped up. And it was further exaggerated by my father giving the bike a short test ride too. You see, they just don't work. Again, I'm not smart enough to know how to fix it but I know what the problem is. The front brakes are disc. But when you apply them, two things happen. First, you have to pull the lever way too far back to make the bike stop. Second, as soon as you apply just a little pressure on the lever, the piston comes out, and bends the disc on the wheel. Not good. And it bends it a lot. The rear brakes are just pads, which I guess is the bike version of drum brakes. Well, they squeek like a cat and a rabbit are both in a bag fighting a bird and all three are squeeling like a dog whistle. It's painful to listen to. And it's apparently starting to take some of the paint off the rim. Not what I want to see on a brand new bike. But any which way I look at it, I think it will need to go to a bike shop for a tune-up before I start putting any extended miles on it. Especially any route with hills.

There were a few other minor tweaks but for the most part they were easy to fix. I will say, having the right size allen wrenches and open-end wrenches make things easy. It took some searching and trial and error but I finally found some that worked. If you have those on hand already, you'll be a step ahead of the game.

Photos

Yep, that's my license plate. And it's on the forks on each side. You can also see the weathered paint job on the frame.

Small Star Wars sticker on the handlebar. You can also see the screw that needed to be tighten in the middle of that round disc where the stem comes up from the forks and through the threadless head.

Nice little Imperial logo on the frame.

Detail of the TK-421 on the forks.

Never knew it until I saw this but it's a limited edition. Only 2,500 made!

Because the Empire is a pain in the ass.

Giant tires make it a little hard to steer sometimes but I think I'll get used to it. Besides, Stormtroopers can't hit anything anyway, right?

PS - If you don't get the BARC Star Wars reference, that's okay. You should at least get the BARC Lumberjack reference.

Review - Armada by Ernest Cline

Movie choices from September 9, 1985. Back to the Future. Teen Wolf. Rambo. Gremlins. Key movies of the 1980s.

 
It pains me to say this, but this book wasn't that great. I had some seriously high hopes for it, even after reading the review that started off with something along the lines of "this book sucks." That's right, even after reading that the book sucked and that it was a total rip-off of other stories like The Last Starfighter and Ender's Game. Despite the negativity, I leaned heavily on Cline's performance in Ready Player One.

And that's where I was disappointed.

You see, I had glowing words for Ready Player One. It was a good story and the 80s theme was a key part of that story. But in Armada, the 80s theme was forced. In fact, the whole story felt forced. At times it felt like the ending was just randomly shoved in there because there needed to be an ending. Kind of like there was this process of writing and writing and suddenly the editor comes along and says "hey, you need to tell the readers what happens to the hero."

Movie choices from September 9, 1986. The Karate Kid Part II. Aliens. Top Gun. Things aren't looking too hot.

So yeah, I was disappointed in Armada. A lot of writers, TV shows, movies, and so many other things suffer from the Sophomore Slump. And from how this book read, I really do think that Cline had a slump.

Which could be a good thing so hear me out.

You see, think about a movie that you like. Then think about it's sequel. Then the third installment. It's usually the first and third that totally rock while the second one leaves feeling "meh." Well, I think Cline will impress us with his third novel. I'm holding out hope that he'll redeem himself by going back to what he did right in Ready Player One, fixing what was wrong with Armada, and crossing the finish line with his best book yet. I'm hoping the next book will be Back to the Future III because Armada was totally a Teen Wolf Too.

Movie choices from September 9, 1987. Summer School. The Big Easy. Can't Buy Me Love. Now we're back to normal.

 

Mile 99 - The End

Today marks the end of my podcast. It was something brewing in the back of my mind for some time but it was a bit of a instant decision this morning to pull the plug. So I recorded the last episode and will now put it to rest.

Podcast:
https://soundcloud.com/neil-richard/mile-99-the-end

Weather:
Temps were about 80F. Humidity was high. Sun was out. No wind.

Fluids and Fuel:
Half a coffee before the run. Plain water during the run. Recovery was eggs, sausage, bacon, hashbrown, and toast. And coffee. Not good choices.

Aches and Pains:
Nothing hurt but my back has been a bit tight the past few days. Sleeping patterns aren't quite what they normally are so I'm trying to adjust.

Gear:
Shorts and a t-shirt.

Today's Motivation:
I knew I couldn't get the miles in but made do with the time I had. Just a desperate attempt to get something in the books.

Naughty Neil:
Breakfast. ::sigh:: I don't know if I'll ever be able to make the right choice all the time.

Splits:
Loop 1 - 7:22
Loop 2 - 8:10
Short Break - 00:53
Loop 3 - 9:01
Loop 4 - 8:36
Finish - 34:03

Sun Rise Over Soy Beans

Today's run was a bit tougher than expected. More of a mental challenge than a physical one. But I got dressed, got out the door, and finished it.

Photos:
We went to Colonial Beach and took a picture with their Virginia LOVE sign.
 

Sun rising over the soy bean fields.

Right next to the mattress is an old RV. Just in case the mattress isn't big enough.

Weather:
Temps were about 70F. Humidity was high to moderate. Sun was out. Not much wind.

Fluids and Fuel:
Half a coffee before the run. Plain water during the run. Recovery was more coffee, a banana, two egg whites, three sausage links, and two slices of toast.

Aches and Pains:
Right calf felt a little tight but I've been noticing that I'm not drinking as much as I normally do before bed time. I'm guessing this is why I'm a bit parched in the morning and drink so much on my runs recently.

Gear:
T-shirt and shorts.

Today's Motivation:
The fact that I needed 6 and knew I could land 5+ before starting work. As long as I got up and got dressed at least.

Naughty Neil:
I had a burger and fries yesterday. And a grape Nehi. It was delicious.

Splits:
Outbound - 31:42
Inbound - 31:45
Finish - 1:03:27

Day of Neighbors

Felt good about today's run. The weather stank but I still felt good by the end. Along the way today I recorded another podcast episode, took a picture or two, saw a couple of deer out for breakfast, and saw about 10 or 12 of my neighbors out and about. I didn't think I saw that many until I was in my last loop and started counting in my head how many I had seen. Sometimes it's nice to see neighbors but it's always great to live in such a great neighborhood.

Let's see, what else. Nope, that's about it. Oh, if you get a minute, go give @busankevin some love. He's getting back into running after a long break.

Podcast:
https://soundcloud.com/neil-richard/mile-98

Photos:
The fog today was thick.
 

These were from this weekend's run.

Weather:
Temps were about 75F. Humidity was high. Sky was probably clear but there was some dense fog so you couldn't see it. No wind.

Fluids and Fuel:
Had some coffee before the run. Plain water during the run. Recovery was a breakfast burrito (a healthy one), a banana, yogurt, and coffee.

Aches and Pains:
Right leg felt a little janky for a mile or so in the middle of the run. Aside from that, things felt good.

Gear:
Nothing special. Just a t-shirt and shorts.

Today's Motivation:
Busan Kevin and his running challenge for the month of September. I'm not sure I'll be able to keep up with his daily runs, but heh, worth a try, right?

Naughty Neil:
Whoever it is on my team that suggested I try the frozen yogurt ice cream bars is evil. But also my savior. Instead of eating a bowl of ice cream goodness that's full of calories, I'm now able to control my serving size and make things a tiny bit healthier.

Splits:
Loop 1 - 18:51
Loop 2 - 17:27
Loop 3 - 17:00
Loop 4 - 22:25 (about half was walking recovery)
Finish - 1:15:45

1991-06-25 - Train Trip - Day 2

Day 2 of our trip across the country took us through downtown Lafayette, IN. You can hear part of the comment I make about robbing the bank in town and hopping on the train to make a getaway. I think I had a few too many plots from Westerns running through my head at the time. But it was neat to just roll through this city like we owned the place. Of course we were on a train so people gave us the right-of-way but you know what I mean. It was like we were important people and everybody was looking at us. I'm not sure if the train still goes through the city like it did then.

Next up was Dyer, IN where we got off the train. My Uncle Phil picked us up at this tiny station that was more of a road crossing with a bus stop vestibule there. I'm guessing it was a commuter lot of some sort so people could ride the train into Chicago for work. You can hear Phil questioning me like normal about the trip. He was always full of questions. And jokes.It was great to hear his voice again for a change.

Phil and Diana lived in Homewood, IL. It's the source of many of my childhood memories involving the Lester family. One of them is in this video where I play wiffle ball with my cousin Eric. That's right, he hit the ball so hard it went ping. I'm sure the electrical tape on the bat helped. But we played countless games of home run derby in the little front yard and it always spilled out into the island in the street.

The best part of the shot is cousin Glenn. I have no idea how old he is but he's carrying a case of beer. Then proceeds to tell a wonderful story about puking in the baseball stadium and Eric giving directions back to his house. In the background is Aunt Diana having a great laugh about it.

And thus ends the day.

Nosy Neighbors Are Good

Well, maybe nosy neighbors aren't great, but they can be a good thing. Yesterday was proof of that.

After a bit of work stress built up, I went outside for a quick bike ride around the neighborhood. This is pretty normal and it helps me a lot. Not only do I get to clear my head but I get some fresh air and a little exercise. The route is usually only a mile or so long and doesn't take me long.

As soon as I got on my bike, I smelled some smoke. It didn't smell like wood smoke or even leaves burning, but more acrid like burning plastic or rubber. I saw no smoke and the smell wasn't that bad so I continued on my merry way. By the time I got a quarter mile down the road, I could see some light smoke coming from a neighbor's house. It wasn't heavy and I just assumed they were burning something in their burn pile which they occasionally do.

I headed around the loop and didn't think much of it other than maybe going a little slower when I went by their house just to be nosy. By the time I got back around, there was a thick, black column of smoke coming from behind the house instead of their burn pile. My dad's truck was in their driveway and I could see him walking around the house.

My Spidey senses went off so I rolled into the driveway to see what was up. Within a few minutes we determined that nobody was home, there was a small debris pile on fire, and that the fire department needed to come. So as he walked to dispatch, I drove his truck back to my house to grab a fire extinguisher.

I managed to put a good dent in the fire which had continued to grow in size and intensity in just the few minutes I was gone. It had gone from a smallish fire with heavy smoke to large flames with heavy smoke and started to creep up the porch post.

The fire department arrived in a few minutes and quickly doused the flames. Dad and I left our contact info as they were mopping up and then we left. Still no word on what happened but the best guess is a large projection TV was left outside (unplugged) and the clear plastic screen acted as a magnifying glass and started the fire.

In the end, my dad's curiosity saved her house. I'm not sure I would have arrived in time to do that especially since I didn't have my phone on me. My getting the fire extinguisher saved her porch. If we had just sat there and waited for the fire department, it would have caught fire before they arrived. And the fire department obviously saved the day. The fire extinguisher only put a dent in the flames but they made sure everything was clear.

So nosy neighbors do help and can be a good thing. Not necessarily a great thing, and maybe sometimes annoying, but they can be good.

This marks the second active fire that I can remember being a part of. It was the smallest and the only one I helped put out. The other fire was way back in my college days where a dorm three floors below us caught fire and we had to evacuate the building. It was a scary night.

One of the many things to take away from this is you should always know where your fire extinguisher is. And know your address. And carry your phone with you. Some of these lessons should be taught to your kids at a young age.

Finally, I'm extremely happy with what happened yesterday. No, not that some lady's junk burned up. Or that I get the chance to make myself look like a hero. I'm happy that I did the right thing. There are so many times in my every day life that I don't do the right thing or do the easy thing instead of what needs to be done. There's a book or story or something about there about the dog poop and who is going to pick up it. I hate it but it teaches a good lesson. Sometimes you need to just stop and do the right thing. Even if that means it's uncomfortable or dirty. And in those few moments, I made the right decision. And that's what makes me so happy.

If you're interested in somebody that's even better at doing the right thing all the time, check out Wranglerstar's YouTube channel. He does a lot of homesteading videos but his most recent ones are of him fighting forest fires in Washington.

Bazooka Gum and Running

Friday was a fun-filled day of getting the kids to school for their Open House. We got to meet their new teachers for the year, drop off their supplies, and freak a few people out. After that, I came home and got on my bike for what would be the longest bike ride I have ever done. 40 miles. My ass is still sore but it was worth it.

Along the way I got the chance to see part of the county that I haven't seen in years. The highlight of the trip was seeing Buddy's Supperette, which was a highlight of my childhood. I'd get to stop there most of the time we went by to get some Bazooka gum. It was a small treat but it was cool. I mean, the gum was hard as a rock but you got a cool little comic strip with it. After the short stop, we'd continue to the small field where my dad would fly ultralights.

Shortly after stopping there for a quick break, I nearly got my ass ran over by some idiot in a black town car who refused to slow down, yield, pass safely, or just be a cool dude. Instead he was a complete dick and would have lost his window had I not been so focused on being pissed at him. And, to top it off, he turned 15 seconds after he passed me. This is why I feel safer as a pedestrian.

After a very long ride and a very sore rear, I cleaned up and went to dinner. I didn't eat all the food but I seriously thought about it.

Today was filled with running and walking. I headed out to join the local Cross Country team for a workout but didn't have 8 miles in me. So I did about 3 and headed home. After breakfast, I headed back out on the trail and got a few more miles of walking in. Along the way I think I hit every damn spiderweb in the park. Sheesh.

But I also found a shortcut. And even though it spit me out on what was actually a closed trail, I felt comfortable in knowing where I was. Unlike when I was on the bike and was a bit lost a few times. Again. Seems like I need more maps when I ride than when I run.

Photos:

Weather:
Temps yesterday and today were about the same, about 70F to 80F. Humidity was low but it was a bit clammy this morning. Sun was out in full both days with a slight breeze.

Fluids and Fuel:
Yesterday was breakfast like normal but no lunch, which was about the time I left for my ride. During the ride I had a bottle of GenUCAN, a bottle of Hammer Fizz, two applesauces, an iced tea, and a bottle of GenUCAN Hydrate. Recovery was a dinner of shrimp tacos, white rice, chips, and fried ice cream.

Today was a few sips of coffee, my run, a recovery of a full breakfast. Breakfast was two English muffins, two eggs, two slices of bacon, and coffee. Then I did my walk followed by a recovery of tart cherry juice, iced tea, and eventually a lunch of two BLTs with chips and a cherry Coke. During the run I had plain water and during the walk I had plain water and an applesauce.

Aches and Pains:
Nothing really. Except my ass. That still hurts. And some mild chafing.

Gear:
No special gear but I did carry my ASP. After my close call with the asshole, I switched it to my left pocket so I can grab it and hit a car if need be.

Yesterday's and Today's Motivation:
I knew the 22 miles on my plan wasn't going to happen but I felt like riding. So I tried to challenge myself to doubling my run plan on the bike. I made it home with 38+ miles so I cranked out another loop around the hood just to hit that 40 mile mark.

Naughty Neil:
Well, the ice cream wasn't a great idea but I was hungry. Damn hungry.

Splits:
Bike - 40 miles - 3:47:30
Run - 3.5 miles - 42:47

Walk - 3.87 miles - 1:38:05

1991-06-24 - Train Trip - Day 1

It was June 24, 1991 and I was about to embark on a journey across the country. A trip that I had taken many times before with my father but this time we were taking the train. We left from Fredericksburg, VA and made it to Alexandria, VA before being delayed due to a chemical spill of some sort. I couldn't find any reference to it in the local papers.

As you can tell from the expression on my face, an expression that will be seen countless times through all of these videos, I was not at all pleased to have my father shove a camera in my face. Granted, it wasn't one of those giant camcorders that needed a VHS tape, but still. The constant nagging to "say something" and "speak up" still get on my nerves 24 years later. But after frequent viewings, I'm slowly developing some thick skin.

For those watching, the only editing done was to split this into individual days. So all those beeps and clunks and blue screens are left in there. I thought about editing them out but figured I would keep them in as original condition as possible.

Busy Weekend

I'm not sure I'll remember every little tidbit of what we did this weekend so I'll hit the highlights of what I can remember. And throw some photos in there to make things interesting.

Saturday was a girls vs. guys day. While the ladies of the house went shopping, did some super-secret-stuff, and met us for lunch, the guys went to the gun show, John Deere dealer, and talked. In fact, my dad and I talked so much, William complained that he didn't get a chance to say anything. Which is hilarious because it's usually him that talks so much we can't get a word in edge-wise.

While we were at lunch at Goolrick's, I used the bathroom. I know, not exactly what you needed to hear about but it was my first time. So I had a pleasant surprise when I walked to the back of the building and saw this cool safe.

After that, we got our groceries and headed home. After a short break, we went back out into the wild and had a good time at a local car show. The owner of a 1974 VW Beetle offered William $100 if he could find the radiator. Well, he had no idea what that was but after walking around a bit more I showed him one. He promptly went back to the guy and asked if his offer was still good. It was so he looked all around the engine. I finally gave him my only hint. Turns out neither of us knew it was a trick question and that the engine was air cooled and there was no radiator. After seeing the look on William's face, he was nice enough to allow him to sit inside.

Sunday was full of exercise. Elizabeth dragged my butt out of bed and we went running bright and early. Then it was breakfast (sweet rolls) then after breakfast settled, it was off on a bike ride with William. Both of them were troopers and we had a great time. Most of the photos I took were at his direction.

When we got back, I got to work on cutting the grass and trimming up some of the crab apple tree branches. William helped out a bit and earned a few dollars. Then we went to the pool and chilled out, then home for dinner, then bed. I was pooped by the end of the day. And a little sunburned. But it was worth it. Great weekend that was fun and productive.

Review - Ready Player One by Ernest Cline

It's been ages since I've done a full-on book review. So let's start it in style with the evening TV lineup of August 5, 1985.

No, this isn't the full list of channels that were available. The guide went on to include several PBS stations, a few independent stations, and cable channels. But we didn't have cable. And our antenna wasn't big enough to get those independent channels. And of the PBS channels we did get, they were either fuzzy with static or chock-full of boring programs. I mean, what kid wants to watch the MacNeil Lehrer News Hour? Maybe Alex P. Keaton.

Anyway, what you see above is what I had to pick from. More than what I had to pick from really since we only got channel 4 (NBC), 5 (FOX), 7 (ABC), and 9 (CBS). The big four networks. I can remember watching a lot of different shows as a kid and a few of them are listed here. Happy Days. Mork & Mindy. One Day At A Time. M*A*S*H. The rest of the stuff was after my bedtime. I mean, it was 1985 so I wasn't even 10 years old yet.

So what does this trip down memory lane have to do with Ernie Cline's book? A shit-ton. A metric shit-ton. Ready Player One is a book set in the future that lives in the past. The future is bleak with starvation, over-population, and crime being the norm. It's no wonder everyone wants to escape into the online world of OASIS where you can be anyone you want to be.

Surely there is some hidden or layered meaning behind the dark future and the politics that play out within OASIS, but I ignored it. I've been a fan of dystopian stories for decades so reading another one was nice. At least at the start. Later in the book the real world was a little forgotten and I wanted to see more of it. But maybe that was the hidden tale of the future that I ignored.

OASIS is basically a giant alternate universe that's online. Everyone logs in and lives there life online. Kind of like the Sims or World of Warcraft, but on steroids. Kids go to school here, people wage wars, use magic, live in the past, and anything else you can think of. For a gaming nerd, this book is heaven. For a non-gaming nerd, this book is still easy to understand.

The basic plot is the standard trope of a young kid getting sucked into an adventure. A trope that's often overused but is still believable and easy to relate to. The MacGuffin, yet another standard tool in storytelling, is introduced when the guy behind OASIS dies. His last wish is to send everyone on a grand adventure to find three keys and three gates. If you make it to the end, you win. If you win, you get to become the richest person on the planet.

Along the way the kid gets sucked into all sorts of schemes and plots in both OASIS and real life. Cline does a good job keeping the reader engrossed with action and 80s trivia. Music, movies, TV shows, video games, and anything else that could be found in the 80s played a key role in the book. Even though I never played that many video games as a kid, I was never really lost when I read the book. I'm sure a few references went over my head but it never took me out of the story.

In the end the kid wins. If you didn't see it coming, well, you're clearly not familiar with that trope either. I mean, the good guy always wins, right?

Would I recommend the book? Absolutely. I'd even go so far as to make it required reading for anyone that was a kid in the 1980s because, well, it's just nice to take a trip down memory lane sometimes.

Crazy Stupid

As an utra-runner, I've been known to do some stupid shit. Running in extreme weather. Going extreme distances. Testing my body and mind. Well today was a bit different because I think many people would think what I did was just stupid. Many would think it's weird. Some would think it's nice or sweet or some variation of that. But I'm going to leave you guessing. Sort of.

Suffice it to say, I went a little longer today than my body wanted to go but I made it back just fine. I didn't have coffee before the start so I pretty much stumbled out the door and caught my dad walking around the neighborhood. He said he was up since 0200 and had already gone out for breakfast. I just chuckled on the inside because that's about as tired as I felt. Minus the breakfast. Wife's alarm went off, again, at 0510, way before my 0600 wake up time.

So I stumbled out the door and went down the road. I was exhausted. I went down the road, fought off a few horseflies, and made it to the future home of hundreds. Stupid developers are going to force us to live in cities if we're not careful. From there I crossed the major highway and ran down the shoulder. I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people that would move to the left lane to give me space and by the wonderful breeze I'd get from the passing traffic. Sure as hell kept the flies away from me.

Once I reached the cemetery, it took me a few minutes of walking around before I found the grave. I paid my respects, then headed back home. Made the stupid mistake of not really watching the traffic and cut between some cars. Lack of coffee and heat was getting to me. Thankfully that was the last dangerous roadway I needed to worry about on the way back home.

And that was pretty much it in a nutshell.

Podcast:
https://soundcloud.com/neil-richard/mile-96

Photos:

I like big bacon butts.

Weather:
Temps were about 80F. Humidity was moderate. Sun was out but due to my early start it didn't really impact me until the return leg. That's when the temps started to go up. No breeze (except from traffic).

Fluids and Fuel:
Nothing before the run. Plain water and GenUCAN Hydrate during the run. Recovery was two slices of toast, two egg whites, two sausage patties, and coffee.

Aches and Pains:
Pretty much everything hurt. Spent a solid 5 hours walking on Sunday. Then yesterday's walk, bike, and strength training. That left me feeling stiff and sore today. I think it was the lunges and squats. Oh, and the right forearm is sore from using the weedeater on Saturday. Also had some sore feet, likely caused by the loose sand on the shoulders of the road and the wet grass in between the graves. So the wet socks and odd twisting motion gave me a hot spot.

Gear:
No special gear. Just shorts and a t-shirt.

Today's Motivation:
Guilt mostly. I knew I needed some miles in and I knew I'd hear about it if I didn't. The goal of making it to the cemetery helped me find enough motivation to actually get up out of bed. But I still laid there for a minute or two doing a cost benefit analysis of waking up or staying in bed.

Naughty Neil:
I skipped breakfast yesterday. Something I rarely do. Which meant I over-ate at dinner a bit too much.

Splits:
Outbound - 56:00
Inbound - 52:59
Finish - 1:49:00

Lollipop

Was today another flash in the pan or is this the birth of a new runner? Only time will tell. While I gave my daughter a pass yesterday, I was prepared to lay down the law this morning if she didn't get up to go run like she said she would. Thankfully she was feeling excited about it last night and even got her clothes out before bed. So waking her up this morning was not that big of a deal.

Once we were ready to go, we headed out the door. I knew the dead-ends in the hood were home to horseflies and expected them today. I smacked one on her head as we got started but aside from that one, the rest only buzzed us a bit.

Since the flies were buzzing, we did two lollipop routes instead of the full neighborhood loop. That left us with a good two and a half miles which was more than she wanted but easily within her abilities. And mine. Just not within my abilities when going at her pace. She seemed a little surprised when I told her this and said she was running slow.

The time flew as we flew around the lollipop route twice. When she bailed I snapped a quick selfie because, well, because I'm a dork. It was nice to capture the joy of spending time with her. I feel bad sometimes that I don't spend time with her like I do my son. But she doesn't really like G.I. Joe or Star Wars like we do so sometimes it's hard to find a common interest. That's why I'm so excited she's talking about running, actually running, and planning on running next year. I can only hope the trend continues.

Photo:
Post run selfie.

Video:

Weather:
Temps were much lower at 70F to 75F. Humidity was much, much lower. Sun was out in full. Light breeze.

Fluids and Fuel:
Sipped a little water before the run. Bottle of plain water during the run. Recovery was yogurt, coffee, and two slices of toast.

Aches and Pains:
My ass, specifically my gut, was paying me back for some poor food choices yesterday. Felt like I ate 10 pounds of extra food yesterday with that giant burrito thing only to shit out 20 pounds last night. At least it curbed my appetite at dinner and after dinner.

Gear:
Just shorts and a t-shirt.

Today's Motivation:
It was a struggle to not jump up and down like a teenage girl from the 80s in the front row of a New Kids concert. I'm just so excited my little girl, well, not so little any more, wants to run with me. And she started talking about swimming next summer on the swim team and running before practice and my head was past cloud nine.

Naughty Neil:
Yesterday's lunch was brutal. It tasted divine when I ate it but it quickly turned hellish. Payback is a bitch.

Splits:
Loop 1 - 13:42
Loop 2 - 14:36
Loop 3 - 14:41
Loop 4 - 14:09
Finish - 57:10

Unexpected Substitution

I had hoped this morning would be a repeat of my great run last week with my daughter. She surprised me again last night with the request to run with me this morning. But when I went in to wake her up, it was pretty clear she wasn't coming. So I headed out the door anyway.

And promptly ran into my dad out for a walk. So I walked for him for a bit. Nothing exciting but it made some of the miles go by fairly easy. After he was done walking for the day, I headed back out for more miles and found myself walking and swatting at flies. I pulled the old bait-and-switch on them and managed to kill four of them in less than a quarter of a mile. I came across the scam by accident but I've used it a few times and find that it works pretty well. Just stick one elbow in the air and rest your forearm on your head. The flies attack at the highest point so they simply land on your arm. Where your other hand can beat them to a pulp.

So that's what I did. After I killed the four, I was out of their little zone so I didn't have to put my arm up like an idiot.

And that was about it for the run. Had way more miles on the schedule but I knew with the heat and humidity that I was lucky to get what I got. So I quit there.

Podcast:
https://soundcloud.com/neil-richard/mile-95

Weather:
Temps were about 80F. Humidity was about 90%. Sky was overcast. No wind.

Fluids and Fuel:
Half a coffee before the run. Plain water during the run. Recovery was two egg whites, a few ham slices, coffee, and three slices of toast. The extra slice of toast was just because it was the end of the loaf.

Aches and Pains:
Nothing really. Right hip did feel a little tight but it was okay.

Gear:
Just shorts and a t-shirt.

Today's Motivation:
My running partner. Even though she didn't get out of bed, she still got me excited enough to wake up at 6am and go for a run.

Naughty Neil:
I had a beer last night. Then a bowl of cereal. Not too bad but I ate the cereal way later than my normal night-time snacking routine.

Splits:
Partial Loop 1 - 24:01 (includes coffee-induced bowel movement)
Full Loop 2 - 24:11
Partial Loop 3 - 20:02
Finish - 1:08:14

Letting Go of Guilt

My coach said something wonderful yesterday. I didn't read it until this morning but it worked for me. I can't tell you how many times I've completely ignored a coach and just went and did my own damn thing. It's not that I'm necessarily openly defiant, or at least I don't think that way. Maybe my coaches see it differently though. Anyway, I tend to do my own thing but still try to stay within the guidelines set before me. So I try to stay in the lines when I color but sometimes I like to add a little flair. Or something like that.

So what were these words of wisdom from my coach? "Tomorrow is your day to put the guilt behind...it is the day." It was one of those little epiphanies you have in life and you just kind of go "well damn, what the hell was I thinking? of course! duh!"

So yeah, I went out the door this morning and did my best to let go of my guilt. It's not easy. I've struggled with guilt and shame for a long time and the only thing that made today different was that simple line from my coach. Just a few words that spun my mind the right way and set me down the positive path instead of negative thoughts.

With good vibes moving me along, I headed down the road. I did a few hills walking, did some time running, took a break for work, and then went back out for a few more miles. My first round was walking the hills in the newer section of the neighborhood. It felt okay, nothing fancy. My second round was running a couple of loops in the neighborhood. I managed to rescue a shoe that the neighbor's toddler dropped during their walk. After my break for work, I wanted to go out for two more loops but only managed one. Better than nothing.

Photo:
The rescued shoe.

Weather:
Temps were about 70F to 75F. Humidity was moderate. Sky was mostly clear but got a little overcast during the day. Wind was light.

Fluids and Fuel:
Half a coffee before my first foray. Bottle of water during the run/walk. Recovery was two egg whites, two pieces of ham, three slices of toast, and the rest of my coffee. My last round I just took water with me and ate lunch when I finished.

Aches and Pains:
Nothing major. Had some quirkyness in my ankles and knees but no real pain.

Gear:
Nothing fancy. T-shirt and shorts.

Splits:
New Section - (2.83 miles) - 51:41
Loop 1 - 20:50
Loop 2 - 17:23 (speedy running to return the lost shoe)
Loop 3 - 21:48
Finish - 1:51:44

Mixed Bag

Today's mixed bag of tricks was brought to you by guilt. I felt a little guilty in switching up my days yesterday and today but I knew yesterday that I wouldn't be running so pushing the run to today just felt like the right thing to do. But the heavy guilt kicked in around 6am when I promptly rolled over and went back to sleep. Instead of running. In perfect weather. I repeated the process a few times before finally getting up. I just felt sick of feeling down and used that to actually get up.

Once I was up, I ate breakfast then went for a walk. With the internet down, I figured I didn't have to rush to work. It came back online by the time I got back home but I ran into some momma drama as my wife discovered my son peed on the floor in our daughter's room. I found him in there last night but didn't know he was going to the bathroom. She was livid. He was ashamed. So I got to mediate.

After chugging along at work a bit, I headed back outside for more miles. I managed a little more before wimping out and hopping on the bike. At least on wheels I got a little bit more of a decent workout.

Weather:
Temps were 60F to 65F this morning. I missed the opportunity. Instead I had to deal with 75F temps. At least there was very little humidity and the wind was cool. Sky was sunny with a few clouds.

Fluids and Fuel:
Breakfast was two egg whites, two slices of toast, and two sausage patties. And coffee. During the run and ride I had plain water. Right before my ride I downed an applesauce. Recovery was leftover hamburger, mac and cheese, and broccoli.

Aches and Pains:
Shins were hurting on the run. Outside of that, I was fine physically.

Gear:
Shorts and t-shirt. Nothing special. Although I did skip my watch. Didn't feel like watching how slow I was today.

Today's Motivation:
Guilt. Plain and simple. And I think this will be the key source behind my game-changing plan post-Oil Creek.

Naughty Neil:
I didn't snack as much as I wanted to last night but I still had a bowl of chips. I skipped the beer because I'm starting to wonder if that's another trigger. Still need to do some further testing on that.

Splits:
Loop 1 - ~20:00 (walk)
Loop 2 - ~15:00 (run)
Loops 3-8 - ~60:00 (bike)
Finish - ~1:35:00

Best Run In Years

Last night as I was tucking my daughter into bed, she hit me right in the feels by saying she wanted to go run with me in the morning. I was so shocked I barely knew what to say. She saved me by saying that she wanted to get up at 7am. Totally as much of a shock as her wanting to go run. This is the girl that takes after her own father and could easily sleep until noon. Unfortunately there are two other people in the house that are quite the early bird so that'll never happen.

Anyway, once I finally found my tongue, I said 7am might not be early enough and asked if she would be willing to get up at 6am. She scoffed at that but we eventually compromised with 6:30am. So I could barely sleep this morning and tossed and turned until my alarm finally went off. Once I got up, I patiently waited for the appointed hour.

I woke her up, she got dressed, ate breakfast, and we were out the door. While we eased our way around the neighborhood, we chatted about everything and nothing. She said she only wanted to do a mile and a half so we did our one loop together and went back home. She stayed inside while I went to the bathroom and headed back out for more miles.

So that totally made my day. And it helped that it's also my 15th wedding anniversary too. Sure, we've had our problems, but we continue to work through them and end up a stronger couple every time.

Photo:
Sometimes the path to enlightenment is hidden.

Weather:
Temps were about 75F to 80F. Humidity was high. Sky was overcast. No wind.

Fluids and Fuel:
Before the run was just half a cup of coffee. During the run was plain water. Recovery was the rest of my coffee, yogurt, two slices of toast, and two eggs.

Aches and Pains:
Nothing major but my left knee has been janky for a few days. Started feeling it this past weekend but it doesn't seem to hurt when I run, only walking or sitting. Right armpit is also continuing to chafe more than normal.

Gear:
Nothing major, just shorts and a t-shirt.

Today's Motivation:
I had a running partner.

Naughty Neil:
Had a small serving of ice cream last night. That part was fine but it was the bowl of chips after that that I really should have skipped.

Splits:
Loop 1 - 17:49
Aid Station - 3:27 (needed to take a dump after the coffee kicked in - and yes, I can poop faster than I can run)
Loop 2 - 18:32
Loop 3 - 18:13
Loop 4 - 22:21 (mostly walking)
Finish - 1:20:24