last day of 2008

We're closing early today at work (3 p.m.), so I'll hit the gym for a good run. I'm planning on 4-5 miles, but if feeling good, might as well keep going. Gym closes at 6 for New Year's Eve, so have plenty of time available to me.

Then home to clean up and over to DBF's for a low key evening - videos, pizza/salad, and a good bottle of wine.

I'm volunteering at a local 5k tomorrow (forecast for friggin' freezing, so I'm glad I'm not running LOL)!

First things first, I'm starving and can't wait for lunchtime (12:01 p.m.). :-)

I went to the gym last night for what was supposed to be 4 miles, but ran out of time around the 3.25 mile mark. Not to worry, it was a run and for now, it's okay if I come up a little short in the mileage department. The main thing is to actually get there consistently during the week and get a mid-length long run on the weekend.

Tonight, I'm planning on 4-5 miles, treadmill at the gym.

By the way, the New Year's resolution folks have already invaded the gym and are crowding my treadmills. Now, I'm not going to complain and wish that they would just disappear, because I've been one of those folks before, trying to get back on track with my fitness and health, and indeed, that's my plan for 2009. So more power to them. But I still want them out of my way. ;-)

time flies!

Time flies when it's the holiday season! I can't believe 2008 is almost over and that 2009 is almost here. Holy smokes... So, time to look back and time to look ahead.

Looking back, I didn't meet very many of my running goals for the year (the usuals being to run consistently, to PR in all distances, etc.). I lost traction in my goal to run consistently back around July, and never really got back on track. Forget the fact that I was in the middle of marathon training season, I just couldn't get interested in running. As for PRing in all distances, well, I only raced three times last year: a 5k on New Years day (run with 6 inches of fresh snow on the course, so no PR there), the Manhattan Half in late January (a PR by 11 minutes, woohoo), and my NYC Marathon (which was a personal worst due to stomach issues). So, I'm happy to leave 2008 behind from a running perspective.

Looking ahead to 2009, well, I think my main goal is to get consistent again, with a minimum of 4 runs per week. I have a 15k in March, and a half in June. After those, we'll see how things look with regards to doing a fall marathon.

So, repeat after me: CONSISTENCY IS KEY!!

Oh, and while I'm at it, I plan to take off the extra pounds I put on in 2008 while being inconsistent with my running. :-)

I spoke too soon

It started snowing, heavily, this afternoon right around 2 p.m. Watching it pile up quickly, I was thinking our boss might send us home early but no such luck.

So, I leave work at 5 p.m. on the dot. And it takes me 65 minutes to cover the 5.0 miles between work and home. Roads were absolutely AWFUL. Too much snow falling too close to rush hour, no time for the plows to clear the roads, and even if they had, they couldn't have kept up with the snow fall.

That's my long-winded way of saying I blew off the gym. There was no way I was driving any further than my house tonight.

getting caught up

I feel like I'm starting to get back on track with my running, at least with the motivation and consistency of it. Certainly not on the fitness end of things (I'm unfit and slow as molasses at the moment), but those improvements will come with time.

This week so far:
M: srd
Tu: 5
W: 5
Th: 3

Normally I'd take SRD today, but I'm in a 4/5/6 running challenge, where I have to run minimum of 4 days a week, minimum of 5 miles/run, for 6 weeks straight. And this week since I only have 2 5-milers so far, and the challenge week ends on Saturday, well, I have to do 5 today and 5 tomorrow.

On an unrelated note, it just started snowing again. We're due for 6" or so tonight.

Another unrelated note, I have to buy my Christmas tree tomorrow, decorate it, do all my Christmas cards, and shop for my DBF's present and my Mom's present. Yowza.

Not much to say for myself running-wise. Did a 3-miler on WEdnesday, skipped last night, and have a work event tonight. Back at it tomorrow with something in the 1:30-2:00 hour range. I need to start getting some endurance again.

More importantly, please think some positive thoughts for Cody, the little boy in whose honor I ran my marathon. He's not feeling great and his mom is taking him in for tests today.

Looking ahead a bit

Given the small population up here in the North Country, it's difficult to find enough races to fill my race calendar, and it's sometimes necessary to travel to other parts of the state for races. I've been keeping my eye on a race called the Covered Bridges Half-Marathon down in Woodstock, in June. It's hugely popular, and last year, the registration cap was reached in 82 minutes. Yes, you read that right, 82 minutes.

So, with registration opening up this morning at 9 a.m., I had a reminder on my Outlook calendar at work. I jumped on a few minutes early with no luck, so went to my 9 a.m. meeting, When the meeting was out at 9:45 or so, hopped right back on my computer, got the "this site is busy" message a few more times, kept refreshing, and finally got through and got registered.

Sheesh, it's almost as tough as getting Red Sox tickets. :-)

So, my first race of 2009 is on the calendar!

Let's see, where were we??? :-)

My knee seems to be back to normal now, thankfully. Yesterday, I hit the gym for a mixed bag of cardio:

4 x 10 minutes on elliptical, then arc trainer, then back to elliptical, then the rowing machine.

Can I just say that the rowing machine kicked my butt? Partly because I was 5 minutes into my 10-minute interval before I realized I was on the highest resistance setting, and partly because I just don't have any upper body strength. Clearly I need to remedy that!! LOL.

Today, went for a walk along the river w/ DBF after brekkie. BRRR! Then I went home and did some house stuff. Also fit a nap into my afternoon.

Tomorrow, back to the gym after work for a run, 5 miles or so.

You know, I really have no idea what's going on. I've been having pain and instability with my right knee since Sunday. No apparent reason whatsoever. No fall, no twist, no nothing. It *is* my knee with the ACL reconstruction, and occasionally it acts up. But that doesn't make it any less annoying.

I'm finally feeling good and motivated about running again, and now I'm taking USRDs for the knee issue. Very annoying.

Anyways, I'm going to the gym tonight, and will do cardio of some sort.