staggering treadmills

We both managed to squeeze in a run between a 60-minute teleconference, a 40-minute commute, and a dentist appointment. It meant that I stayed in the car an extra 25 minutes wrapping things up while Wil went in to the gym to start his run, and then I joined him later. When he finished, he showered and then walked to the dentist, where I met him after my run was finished.

Didn't really enjoy the run -- I was on one of the noisy treadmills, which means I end up adjusting my stride to reduce the noise. Which is silly, I know. Honest. Now home and STARVING.

75 days!

Just noticed that we are 75 days away from the start of the Goofy weekend. Yikes! It seems both really soon and really far away. And we have literally hundreds of miles to run between now and then. Oof. But we'll get there, just like before, slow and steady.

...

I, Wil, hereby declare that as from Monday October 26th 2009 I will not attempt to coerce, convince or in any way avoid any of our scheduled runs from now until January 10th 2010.

The pre-announced exception to this declaration is the weekend of our wedding anniversary over November 15th 2009 (please consider this to be sufficient future notice of run avoidance for that weekend.)

A caveat may be that any stupidly long runs scheduled to take place on a 'Snow Day' may be reduced in length to compensate the tedium of the stationary treadmill (in these cases a run will take place and an acceptable distance agreed at the time.)

Yours Sincerely

Wil

Nike+ Human Race 2009

Friday evening went to Road Runner to pick up our race packets for the Nike+ Human Race -- figuring there would be a race number, maybe some coupons or gel samples, etc. Was pleasantly surprised to discover that the packets included shirts -- very nice tech shirts -- with this year's "bib". Not bad for a free gift -- thanks Nike.

Was a little surprised to learn that the group run would start at 7:30. Oh, umm... So it will surprise no one that we snoozed past the group run time and joined the Human Race much later in the day, where we ran the 10K loop around to Golden Gardens, up the steep hill, and then a bit of meandering to pad the mileage (kilometerage?) at the end.

All in all a very nice run (really nice to start a run with a downhill!). Tomorrow is a 12-miler, which has been very difficult to plot out. I've got good 16 milers, and a good 10 miler, but the 12 miles doesn't have a logical "location". I don't want an out and back on the BGT, so basically I'm adding some time at the start to go down to the locks and then run along the "missing link" to the BGT. Not the nicest route, but I just can't figure out a good one. I guess we'll see tomorrow.

Take It Outside Week

In this month's "Fitness is Fun" newsletter (from the President's Challenge... yeah, I track my activity there.... so?) I learned that this week is "Take It Outside Week", which encourages people to get outside and play or otherwise exercise. So I was bound and determined to get home and run in the real world after work.

Not the greatest of runs; I felt really sluggish at the start but just kept reminding myself that I always feel better after about 20 minutes if I just force myself through the first couple of miles. Ran out to the lookout and back, adding a couple of blocks in the middle and at the end to fill out the time.

Got home, decided to learn more about "Take It Outside Week" and discovered that the program is part of "Head Start" and "The National Center for Physical Development and Outdoor Play." Oh. So, um, it's for children. Suggested activities include "Moving with Hula Hoops", "Moving with Pool Noodles", and "Moving with Beach Balls". Oh. Isn't it a little late in the year to have the kids playing outside after school? I guess not if they're preschoolers...

today's Garmin report

Here's a link to the map and elevation/speed graph from Garmin.

Cheshiahud loop

Ran our 10-miler this morning down to Fred Meyer, then along the BGT to the Fremont Bridge, and then over to the Cheshiahud trail around Lake Washington. Really nice morning -- trees still glorious, and the weather held (hooray for running outside!). Didn't feel particularly strong or fast, but things went pretty well. Still, my legs were tired at the end. I don't think I can continue to run 3 days in a row.

However, did have one strange victory -- on the steep hill to get back up to Eastlake, I just put my head down and ran up it. Sure, I was taking tiny steps, but I just kept moving and actually felt okay at the top. (Albeit happy that it's a gradual downhill from that point on.)

Tomorrow another well-earned rest day.

another day in the gym

The rain continued all day and all night Friday, and we woke up to steady rain. We looked at the "hourly" forecast and laughed because it just said "rain, rain, rain, chance of thunderstorms, rain, rain, rain..." all day. So, rather than hope the weather improved and postponing our run till later in the day, we went down to the hottest gym in the world and ran on the treadmills for 5 miles. Really boring, really hot. I don't think that gym has any ventilation. I drank a liter of water and was still feeling dehydrated at the end; both of us were completely soaked. (I guess we might as well have run outside in the rain, really...)

Still, got the 5 miles in. Really really hoping for better weather tomorrow.

PTO run

Took today off work... and let me say I'm extremely jealous of housewives and retired folk. :)

It was pouring down rain this morning, so I couldn't face running outside. So I headed to the gym, where I hadn't been in months. (Look, it's been too nice to run inside!) In a very warm room full of cardio equipment I climbed on to a very tall treadmill and ran for 5.23 miles. I got too warm twice and had to slow down to a walk for a minute, but otherwise just ran for the 45 minutes.

Tomorrow we're scheduled for a 5-mile LSD run, with a 10-miler on Sunday. Hope the weather improves!

GCX pics...

I haven't unearthed my camera cable yet... but I did nick these pictures from the photographer's site. It looks like a very pleasant day... nice that the sun came out in time for the run. :)

Wil running strong

Sunny galloping along

with the pretty bridge we've just run across

a strong, smiling finish