Blue Bell Fun Run - 10K

Hooray! This morning I completed my first 10K race. It was the Blue Bell Fun Run, over in Brenham, TX. A bit of a drive, but I thought it might be a nice change of scenery.

Overall, I'm pleased with my performance, though not thrilled by it. The course was much more hilly than I am accustomed to, plus this is the farthest I've ever run, plus it was my first time in ages to be running without my dog.

I finished in 57:00, which works out to a 9:11 mile. I was hoping for 9:00/mile, so that's not too bad. Here are my stats compared with the rest of the runners:

• Total runners: 246/918 (26.8%)
• Total men: 168/385 (43.6%)
• Total men 40-49: 42/76 (55.3%)

I find it fascinating that I do worse (percentage-wise) the more narrow my field becomes. That means there are a lot of really fast old guys. I guess that most of them have been running a lot longer (or more consistently) than I have.

One thing I did come to realize while running this race was that I've been somewhat holding back in my 5Ks. I run them at a nice pace, but not really exerting myself. That's going to change this year. Any 5Ks I run, I'm going to really push myself just to see what I can do.

Just a few quick notes about the run. I was hoping for better scenery, but mostly it was just running along country roads. There were farms and horses and cows, but no bluebonnets or rolling hills.

As we were lining up to start the race, I look around me and nearly everyone is strapping on their iPods. This didn't bother me as much as it does for a 5K, but still, can't people be non-media stimulated for even an hour? But that's not even why I mention it. After we start, I hear some "Eye of the Tiger"-type music playing, but I didn't think much of it, assuming it was just something for the race. But after a few minutes when the second song starts up ("Mr. Brightside" by The Killers), I thought to myself, "Shouldn't I have passed the speakers by now?" Then I discovered that some guy has portable iPod speakers on a backpack. Come on, dude! I realize that I'm in the minority 20% who don't have earbuds in, but what gives you the right to deny me of my self-imposed silence? Needless to say, my pace for my first mile was a bit quicker than the rest as I tried to put as much distance as I could between us.

Little Thoughts

Crap, two whole months without a post. That's pathetic. Well, rather than bore you with one really long post, I've decided to bore you with a semi-long post comprised of really short snippets. Enjoy!

Running

Since my last post was about my running achievements from last year and goals for this year, I might as well start with an update about that. I'm pleased to say I'm doing rather well. Karen and I have started running together on the weekends, which works surprisingly well. We go to Memorial Park, which has a 2.92 mile circuit. She runs at a much slower pace, so she and I and the puppy go around once together. Then I take the puppy and go around again while she relaxes and reads. This helps me moderate my pace, plus gives me my long run for the week. I've already logged 60 miles running this month, which is a new high for me. This experience has made me much more confident in my long running ability, and I'm eager to run my first 10K next month.

Wisteria Hysteria

Yesterday was yard work day. Aside from the usual lawn care, I had the special task of taming a wild plant-beast in our backyard. If you're not familiar with it, wisteria is a vine-like plant with pretty purple flowers and a nice fragrance. Normally, this plant is trained to grow vertically on a pergola to provide shade and a pleasing view. Unfortunately, when left alone, it spreads like an evil virus.

It had dozens of tendrils, each extending for at least 15 feet along and under the ground. It was a major task getting it under control. The reason I felt like mentioning it here is because of the weird difficulty in removing it. It was actually rather complicated. The network of roots and vines were very like the wiring in a complex bomb. I had to trace each one to the source, sometimes having to remove a different one before I could remove the first. And after I had removed many smaller root clusters, each one containing plenty of challenges themselves, I was finally able to tackle the big one. I hacked and cut and dug and swore. I attacked side roots to weaken the main root. I dug around it to get different angles of attack. And when I finally defeated it, I felt exactly the same satisfaction I feel after defeating a particularly gnarly big boss in a video game. "Game Over, Wisteria-Man! I've rooted out your evilness."

Apples and Oranges

Speaking of plants, here's something else. I actually posted this somewhere completely different a while ago, but I amused myself enough that I'm repeating it here. I really don't get the whole "It's like comparing apples and oranges" phrase. Those are two very comparable things-- they're both fruit, grow on trees, mostly round, often found in Christmas stockings. One can easily compare them: I like apples more than oranges because you don't have to peel them. I like oranges better than apples because they are sweeter. It just doesn't make sense to me. If you really wanted to negate a comparison, shouldn't the objects be as disparate as possible? "That's like comparing apples and sheet music" or "That's like comparing John Boehner and oranges." Okay, maybe that last one doesn't work, but I think you see my point.

Whedon World

I've been enjoying the series Dollhouse on Netflix lately. I really like how it is a "sex and violence" show that really plays with deeper sci-fi concepts of mind and personality. I'll be sad when I reach the end of its run.

But it got me to thinking how cool it would be if Josh Whedon were able to put together an amusement park like old Walt's place. Of course, a huge portion of the park would have to be dedicated to Sunnydale and Buffy's exploits therein. You could walk the halls of Sunnydale High, hang out at the Hellmouth, or grab a brew at The Bronze. Nearby would be the big city where Angel worked.

Obviously, the most popular section would be The 'Versed, based on the reality created for Firefly. You could have a truly frightening "Reavers of the Caribbean" ride and a full mock-up of Serenity. The best would be a Firefly rollercoaster: lots of ups and downs, but you're forced to get off right when it gets really good.

Lastly, there's the Dollhouse. I'm not exactly sure how this would play out, but it most likely wouldn't be appropriate for children. Do you get to pretend you're a different person, or do you just custom order a person for your own, um, pleasure?

I certainly hope Mr. Whedon keeps creating. I've never had any interest in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but otherwise I think he's produced really excellent stuff. If he keeps it up, maybe someday we really will get a Whedon World.

Running Year

Well, I finally went for a run this morning after a two-week hiatus. I didn't mean to take such a long break, but the cold as well as being a little under the weather myself kept me away. It felt really good to be back out there (even though it was cold), and I hope to increase my weekly frequency as well as my mileage. Anyway, it got me to thinking I should recap my running like I did some of my other hobbies.

Last year I didn't really set a hard and fast goal for myself. I don't think I'm cut out to run a marathon, but I may look at trying a half-marathon this year. The most intimidating thing to me is not the physical exertion of running (although I know I'm not in shape enough for it yet). What bothers me is the sheer boredom of running for four hours. I guess that's why so many people carry iPods.

I log my runs at the Runner's World website. They have a free log that suits my purposes just fine. I'm sure there are many others, probably some better, but I don't need much. Unfortunately, it's difficult to pull useful stats. I can't even say how many miles I ran last year.

My average pace seems to hover right around 8:45/mile. That's not bad, but I'm disappointed that it doesn't appear to have changed over the course of the year. So, this year I will make it an actual goal to get that time down. Let's say 8:00 a mile, by this time next year.

I ran in five different 5Ks last year, so that's pretty good. They're just for fun, not competition, but it is nice to get an official time on a measured course. I wouldn't mind doing a few more this year, but I think five is fine. However, I will set a goal for myself to run at least one 10K this year.

Looking at my stats, I'm surprised to see that June was the month I ran the most in, with about 55 miles. I would have thought the heat would keep me back. Next most were October, then December. The trick for the coming year will be to get back to a solid schedule and make sure I run at least four times a week. I should also make a bigger effort to get in a longer run each week.

Okay, that's it. Not a very exciting post, but it was more just for my own benefit. It's a good idea to have goals in writing, and even more intimidating to have them in public where people can check you on them. The Houston Marathon is coming up in the next week or so. I'm nowhere near that level today, but I'm curious to see how I'll feel about it in a year.

Great Pumpkin Fun Run

This post is a little overdue, but I've had lots of other things going on in my life the last couple of weeks. This will just be a quick post anyway.

For the first time in many months, I ran another fun run. I like these little 5K runs because it's casual, quick, and makes me feel like I've accomplished something so that I don't feel guilty for laying on the couch drinking beer and watching movies for the rest of the day. Not that I ever do that, of course.

My stats this time were:

• Time: 26:26; Pace: 8:30
• Overall position: unknown, out of probably 1,200
• Men's 40-44 position: 27 out of 74 (36.5%)

That's a good pace, especially compared to my last race. I know for sure that I run faster in colder weather (which I think is true for all runners).

Unfortunately, on the last little hill before the finish line, I did something funky to my right knee. Actually, I did it while running about a week before, but I had not felt it again until this race. For the most part, it doesn't really hurt when I'm walking or running. But from time to time, I'll get a sharp twinge that nearly takes my leg out. I'm hoping that a few days of rest will give it time to work itself out. Could it be I'm actually starting to get old!? Oh no!

Karen ran as well, but we split up right after crossing the starting line (which, frustratingly for me, was about 2:30 minutes after the starting gun because we were so far back). Usually, she has a friend she can run with at her slower pace, but we forgot to coordinate this time. On the way to the race, this really frustrated her. However, by the end of the race she was very happy about it. "I didn't have to chat or anything, I could just focus on running!" she said. Now maybe she'll understand my perspective a little and won't give me a hard time for running on ahead at my pace. Either way, we both had fun.

We're gearing up for the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving. In Houston, you never know whether it's going to be warm or cold for that one, but it should be fun either way.

Tired of Running

Cinderella's name roughly translates as "she of the cinders." Cinders, as in soot, because she was poor and dirty from cleaning all the time (Speaking of which, what's the difference between "dirt poor" and "filthy rich"?). Something that started negative has come to represent beauty. I wonder if that's the same origin of Ashley and Nicole?

Yes, with a random opening though like that, this must be a post about running. I basically took the month of August off from running because it was just so dang hot. I wish I had just opted to accept a slower pace rather than cut it out completely. The weather is getting tolerable in the mornings again, and my body has been aching to get back out there. Unfortunately, that month off has really taken its toll.

This morning I ran 3 miles in 27:29, right at 9:10 minutes a mile. That's not bad, really. And that does include approximately one minute for puppy duty, and another two minutes that I spent walking/resting. The real problem was how tired I was during and after! Even though my muscles were pining for the activity, they apparently didn't realize they weren't as ready as they used to be.

My goal this year was to average under an 8:00 minute mile. I could probably do that if I only ran a mile, but I currently run three and would like to get up to five at least three times a week. That month off makes me feel like I'm starting all over from scratch.

The other good thing about this part of the year is the increase in 5K races in the fall. Those are usually a good motivator for me, so hopefully I'll sign up for one soon.

Run Wild 5K

Whew! This may be my last one for a while. It's just too dang hot. By 7:30 in the morning in Houston, TX it is already 78 degrees with 90% humidity. We've had a lot of rain for the past week, so the humidity is slightly higher than normal. I was really expecting (and hoping, actually) that it would be raining during the race, but alas, no such luck. In fact, the course was designed in such a way that I felt like the sun was shining directly into my eyes no matter which direction I was running!

My stats degraded a bit from last time:

• Time: 27:25 Pace: 8:51/mile
• Overall position: 304 out of 807 (37.5%)
• Men's 40-44 position: 34 out of 63 (54%)

My pace slowed down a bit, but I mostly blame the heat. I also haven't run as much this week as the past several, but I really don't think that had much to do with it. I don't know why they can't organize these things to start around 5:30 in the morning. It might actually be cool then, and I could get back home to take a nap and feel like I haven't wasted the day.

There might be one or two more runs I would be interested in doing this summer, but after today I will really think about whether or not it's worth it. It's just so hot. I should just wait until September when the weather is better, but since I'm running almost every day in this heat, why should a 5K be any different?

Dog Tired

There are 60 minutes in an hour, and 60 seconds in a minute, yet we divide seconds into hundredths. Does that seem strange to you?

These are some of the random thoughts I have while running. I don't like to listen to my iPod when I run, so I'm stuck with my own inner soundtrack. Sometimes this can be a good thing; other times, my thoughts get in a rut thinking the same thoughts over and over (just like a bad song). I really should listen to some of the many podcasts I have trouble finding time for, but I just don't like running with artificial sound. I'd rather be alert to my surroundings, not to mention my own labored breathing.

I like my running route, for now. I leave the house, run to (and around) the park, then back. It totals 1.5 miles. Usually, I take Flower with me for the first lap, then drop her off at home so I can have a little peace for my second lap. When I feel like a longer run, I can just add a lap or two.

This morning I ran 3.0 miles in 25:34, which is about an 8:30 mile. I'm very pleased, especially since I wasn't particularly trying to increase my pace. Our dog, Flower, helps a lot in that regard. She's always raring to go, and could easily outrun me if it weren't for the leash. By the way, I haven't been keeping up with her kill stats lately, so I apologize. She's taken out five squirrels now. However, she suffered a serious injury to her armpit while jumping up against the fence a couple of months ago, so I'm going to put the score at 5-1.

That's about all I have to report. I'm trying to do a little better about posting more frequently instead of just throwing out huge posts. I still have two that are churning around in my brain, so hopefully at least one of them will make it out this week.

Houston Heights 5K

Last Saturday, I ran another 5K. Just like last year, the Houston Heights Fun Run fell on the weekend after the Astros Race for the Pennant. I kinda like having two races on consecutive weekends. It's like having a second chance when you don't feel like you did well the first time.

My stats this time were a definite improvement over last week's run:

• Time: 26:18 Pace: 8:30/mile
• Overall position: 266 out of 858 (top 31%)
• Men's 40-44 position: 27 out of 53 (51%)

However, that time is only about 15 seconds better than last year's time. If I can get back to my habit of running five times a week, I think I'll have a better chance of improving my time.

When I hit the first mile marker, my pace was actually a minute faster than usual. But instead of continuing on like that, I decided to slow it down to make sure I didn't burn out too fast. It was really hot and humid (shocking for Houston, I know), but the course is very flat and shaded. It's a nice out-and-back route down the main street of one of the older neighborhoods. It's really a nice little run.
The big deal this year, however, was that for the first time ever my wife Karen joined me. We have a "couple" friends who have been trying to run for a while, and they encouraged her to join us. It made it a lot more fun. I was very proud of her for doing the race, and at a pretty decent pace as well.

Even though they all run at a much slower pace than me, it was great to be there to cheer them on when they made it to the end. It's also nice to have people to hang out with afterward. Usually, I'm by myself so I just grab a banana and head on back home.

Race for the Pennant 5K

This past weekend I ran my second 5K for this year, and I wasn't too pleased with the results. They're not bad, I know, but they weren't as good as I was expecting.

The Race for the Pennant is the laughable title of this run, since it is co-sponsored by the Houston Astros and finishes inside Minute Maid Park. Since the Astros seem to be already eliminated from the real pennant, I wasn't too worried about winning this one either.

My stats:

• Time: 27:36 Pace: 8:55/mile
• Overall position: 676 out of 2437
• Men's 40-44 position: 55 out of 123

Compared to my last run, my time is only one second different, but my placement is completely different. My overall position is about 100 spots higher than the total runners in that last one.

I'm also disappointed that my time this year is about 16 seconds slower than it was for the same race last year. That isn't a big difference by any means, but during the run I really felt like my time would be better.

I have another run coming up this weekend, so we'll see how I do on that one. It's a flat course in the shade, so that should help. I'm also planning to really push myself more training this week than I usually do.

Rise & Shine 5k

Well, I've completed my first 5k of the season. This is also the first one I've run since I injured my hip at the Thanksgiving Turkey Trot. The cold weather, the injury, and dealing with my father kept me from running in all of December and January, and I've only slowly gotten back into the habit over the last few months.

My pace and running ease aren't where they were before my running break, but I'm glad I'm finally getting the desire to run more frequently. Taking any time off from exercise can be brutal to your ability to get back into it. I realize that running 5k (3.1 miles) isn't much, but I don't think I'm cut out to be a distance runner.

Anyway, the Rise & Shine 5k was sponsored by some companies downtown, and a friend of ours works for one of those companies. In order to boost participation, his company paid the entry fees for employees, friends, and family. That was even better incentive.

So, here are my stats:

• Time: 27:37 Pace: 8:55
• Overall position: 182 out of 591
• Men's position: 135 out of 296
• Men 40-44 position: 12 out of 24

Just for comparison, the race leader won with 16:43.

Lately, my runs have been averaging around the 26-27 mark, so I'm not surprised or too disappointed in that time. However, my best 5k from last year was the Turkey Trot at 24:20! I was really hoping that the adrenaline of the race would kick me up to around 25, but I guess not.

I have two goals to achieve in a race this year, and reaching either of them would be great. I'd like to get my time back under 25:00 again, and/or I'd like to finish in the top 100 overall. The former is probably more likely than the latter, unless I can continue to find more small runs like this one. Usually, the total runners are about three times this amount.

Lastly, and I promise to complain about this only once, but get the walkers out of the way! I don't know why this bothers me so much, especially considering it happens at every single race. But seriously. If you know you're going to be walking the 5k, or even just barely jogging, that's absolutely fine. But please, please, please start at the back of the runners! Please keep to the right side of the course. Please don't line up four or five abreast and link arms. I don't feel confident or fast enough to deserve to be up at the very front of the starting line, but I am just sick of having to dodge so many people during the first mile. And yet, this happens at every single race, so you'd think I would have accepted it by now.

Running Again

Woohoo, I ran again this morning!

Actually, I ran a little last week, but that hardly counts. This was my first regular three-mile run in over a month.

I had gotten pretty regular, running about four or five times a week. I was even starting to increase my distance to five miles. But then right around Thanksgiving, after I was in the local Turkey Trot 5K, I did something to my hip. It was pretty sore, and I limped for a good two weeks (or more) afterward.

I knew I had to take it easy to let my body heal, but I was afraid that taking so much time off would really break this good habit I was developing. I actually looked forward to running every morning. My pace was gradually getting better, and I loved tracking my stats on the Runner's World website log. I'm happy to say that although this morning's run was not one of my bests, I still managed a pretty good pace.

Although the injury was the primary reason for my lapse, I'll confess that I also hate running in the cold. I would have quit during the coldest mornings anyway.

Another plus, I took Flower with me again. I run a loop around the neighborhood that's about 1.5 miles. I always take her on the first lap, and take her around again if I'm in the mood to deal with her. She loves it, of course.

And speaking of the dog princess, she's racked up another kill. This one was a night kill, which I thought was pretty impressive. So, the squirrel population is down a total of three now. She's got her eyes set on a big opossum that sneaks around the yard at night. I'm not sure how I'll react if she gets that one.

Running

Hoo boy. I just got back from running in Memorial Park. The track is roughly 3 miles, and that's about all I've ever wanted to run. I say this now with full confidence-- if I ever seriously entertain the thought, or even suggest, that I would like to run a marathon, you are fully authorized to shoot me. Don't get me wrong, I like to run-- even when I'm as out of shape for it as I am now. But the very idea of running for more than an hour, let alone 6 to 8, is the sign of a diseased mind.

Anyway, I'm sure there are better sites available for logging run times and tracking progress, but I don't feel like looking for one right now. So, I'll just list it here until I find a better venue.

Time running before resting: 13:36
Total time for 3 miles: 36:28

I have to admit I'm totally shocked by that second number. The last time I ran (about a month ago) my time was 40 something (I know because it was still on my watch). I would have been happy if my time was as good as 43 today. I certainly didn't expect to improve by 4 minutes.

One of my first goals would be to eliminate that first number. It may be a while, but I really need to be able to run the full 3 miles without making walking breaks. Today I had two, one for 5 minutes and another for 7 minutes. The second goal would be to improve that second time. I would love to get it under 30, but I don't expect that to happen for a long time.

My overall goals for running are multiple:
1. Improve fitness. I don't consider myself unhealthy, but I don't get nearly enough exercise and I would like to feel I could easily participate in vigorous exercise without having a heart attack or being out of breath in the first two minutes.
2. Lose weight. I'm a big fan of beer, and my diet isn't exactly the healthiest. That, plus the inevitable toll of age, has produced a bit of a gut. A paunch, if you will. I'm a pretty skinny guy, so it looks even worse on me. I know that running alone won't eliminate it, but it certainly will help.
3. Run 5Ks. I used to really enjoy running in "Fun Runs" or what have you. It was social, usually for a good cause, you got a t-shirt, and often you could gauge your time against other runners. When I first started running in my 20s, it had been a goal to actually win a 5K. I'm not so ambitious now, but I would at least like to see how I fare against others.

Yeesh, that's a long post. I sure do tend to ramble. That's enough for now. I'm about a third of the way through updating the L.A. Newsletters. I'm starting to question the wisdom of posting material that's 5 years old, but I wanted to have it for my own records. New posts and reviews will be coming soon.