Monthly archives for October, 2011

Black Cat Chase Recap

Oct29
2011 Leave a Comment Written by @drose0

Let me start out this recap by setting the record that I have nothing against walkers during a race…. they are just as entitled to the course as the runners. Let me also say, though, that walkers need to learn some course etiquette. If you are a walker, start in the back. I don’t care if you think you are a fast walker… you should start in the back. As a matter of fact, in my opinion walkers should assume they are the only walker on the course, and thus feel obligated to be in the very back.

Did that happen last night? Far from it. I think the walkers of this race assumed everyone was walking and that they would all start in the front. Being the competitive person I am I was going for a PR last night (as I do every race). However, the fact that it took me 3 minutes to clear walkers in the first 0.2 mile really killed that chance. It wasn’t so much that they were going slow, it was that they were walking like a marching band.. side-by-side, in stride…taking up the entire width of the road.

Posted in General - Tagged 3.1mi, 5k, fall, jog, outdoor, race

Almost to the end of the season

Oct27
2011 1 Comment Written by @drose0

I hate this time of the year…. the leaves changing, the air getting cooler, daylight becoming more desired… I hate it almost as much as I hate what it leads to: winter. Winter is that time of the year that just sucks. I hate having to wear coats (or long sleeves for that matter), hats, gloves, long pants, etc. I like to be able to wear shorts and a t-shirt… if I can’t do that, I don’t want that weather. Okay, enough ranting…this is supposed to be about running.

This brings me to my dilemma. With running ‘season’ nearing a close I have to figure out a good game plan for the winter. This is the first year I’ve been a real runner, so I haven’t really had to worry about winter running. Sure, I ran last winter, but it was sporadic and not at all enough. This winter, though, I’m still pushing harder to train. Last time around all I was trying to do was complete the Couch-to-5k program…don’t get me wrong, that was a crucial step to get me where I am now…but now I’m wanting to train for a real marathon. Training for 3 miles is nothing compared to training for 26.2.

Posted in General - Tagged 3.1mi, 5k, outdoor, race

Poll Tuesday… I need your input

Oct25
2011 Leave a Comment Written by @drose0

Since the 2011 race season is about over, it is time to start preparing for 2012. Since I just completed my first half marathon, the next logical (?) step is to go full. Is going 26.2 twice as hard as 13.1? I’ll find out soon. So I need your help.

Posted in Polls - Tagged 2012, marathon, polls, spring

Iron Horse Recap

Oct23
2011 3 Comments Written by @drose0

First off, let me say I’m no good at this… and by ‘this’ I mean adequately judging my own abilities. A year ago I never thought I could run a mile, I was wrong. Eight months ago I didn’t think I could finish my first 5k, I was wrong. Four months ago I didn’t think I could run a 10k, I was wrong. Three months ago I didn’t think I could break 30 minutes on a 5k, I was wrong. Last week I didn’t dream I could run 3 straight sub-9 minute miles in 45 degree weather for a 5k, boy was I wrong…

Which leads me to my latest self-doubt. When I signed up for the Iron Horse Half Marthon I had, what I’ll say was an ambitious goal based on my self-assessment and previous results, of finishing around 2:30. About three weeks ago I had a great run at Legacy Trail where I ran10 miles at a 10:30 pace. After that, knowing how hilly both that course and the Iron Horse course are, I thought…maybe, just maybe I could run that pace again, or a little better, and hit 2:15. In the back of my mind I thought it was equally realistic and a false hope.

Today, I think I’ve learned to stop selling myself short. I busted out my first half marathon in READ MORE »

Posted in Half-Marathons, Races - Tagged fall, group run, half marathon, morning, outdoor, PR, race, run

Final Iron Horse Playlist

Oct22
2011 1 Comment Written by @drose0

Baring any eleventh hour changes, here is my final playlist, in order.

38 tracks in playlist, average track length: 3:53
Playlist length: 2 hours 27 minutes 56 seconds

Playlist files:

Posted in General

24 Hours ‘Til Show time

Oct22
2011 Leave a Comment Written by @drose0

Actually, it is less than 24 hours. As I write this I have 23 hours and 9 minutes until show time. Just a quick morning update here…. target weight is still in tact after losing 0.4lbs yesterday. I think I erroneously mentioned on yesterday’s post that I had gained 0.6lbs the day before, that was actually 0.4, so I’m back where I was two days ago; at target minus 1.0lbs. Since I will not be near a scale tomorrow I’m declaring this a success. Today is the last day of carb loading, hopefully it won’t be too bad (did I mention I’m not a fan of carbs?)

Good luck to all Iron Horsers tomorrow!!!

I’ll be rocking my Run Kentucky shirt, as will lots of people. Pics will follow sometime tomorrow.

Posted in General - Tagged fall, group run, half marathon, morning, outdoor, PR, race, run

Almost There

Oct21
2011 Leave a Comment Written by @drose0

Wow… it is less than 48 hours until Iron Horse….I’m amazed. I’m in the phase now of excited, more so than nervous. I’ve trained for this, I’ve ran this course, so I know I can do it, therefore I have no reason to be nervous.

Yesterday I started the ‘carbo-loading’ that some recommend before a big race. While I’m not going to the extremes that some people do in terms of the amount of carbs, I’ve shifted my eating focal point from my normal ‘protein-heavy’ diet to one mostly focused on carbs. I hope this pays off. I really hate carbs, by the way. When you are trying to lose weight carbs are the enemy. They may be quicker energy, but they can also make you eat more than you want since they are easier to digest, thus leaving you feeling hungry again quicker than protein. But, I’ll take the advice and ‘run’ with it (pun intended). READ MORE »

Posted in Workout

Iron Horse Playlist

Oct20
2011 Leave a Comment Written by @drose0

The order is still tentative, but here is draft #1 of my playlist for Iron Horse.

39 tracks in playlist, average track length: 3:52
Playlist length: 2 hours 30 minutes 52 seconds

Playlist files:

1. Pink – Get The Party Started (3:12)
2. Queen – We Will Rock You (2:02)
3. Michael Jackson – Beat It (4:19)
4. Linkin Park/Jay Z – Numb Encore (3:23)
5. Maroon 5 – Moves Like Jagger (feat. Christina Aguilera) (3:21)
6. Styx – Mr. Roboto (4:50)
7. Linkin Park – In The End (3:36)
8. Paramore – Misery Business (Album Version) (3:23)
9. dc Talk – Jesus Freak (4:49)
10. K7 – Come Baby Come (3:55)
11. The 69 Boyz – Tootsee Roll (4:02)
12. Snoop Doggy Dogg – Gin And Juice (Remix) (5:02)
13. Third Eye Blind – Semi-Charmed Life (4:27)
14. Michael Jackson – Man In The Mirror (5:19)
15. The Black Eyed Peas – Boom Boom Pow (4:11)
16. American Hi-Fi – Geeks get the Girls (2:51)
17. Vanilla Ice – Ice, Ice, Baby (4:30)
18. Blink-182 – What’s My Age Again? (2:28)
19. Nelly Feat. Kyjuan Ali And Murphy Lee – Air Force Ones (4:32)
20. Coolio Feat. L.V. – Gangsta’s Paradise (4:01)
21. Superchick – Hero (Red Pill Mix) (4:27)
22. Superchick – Perfect Day (3:30)
23. The All-American Rejects – Dirty Little Secret (3:13)
24. Styx – Renegade (4:14)
25. Bone Thugs-N-Harmony – The Crossroads (3:49)
26. Tone Loc – Funky Cold Medina (4:08)
27. Devo – Whip It (2:39)
28. Everclear – AM Radio (3:50)
29. Michael Jackson – Bad (4:07)
30. Kentucky Headhunters – Dumas Walker (2:52)
31. Limp Bizkit – Rollin (3:38)
32. 3 Doors Down – Kryptonite (3:53)
33. Kid Rock – Cowboy (4:17)
34. M.C. Hammer – U Can’t Touch This (4:17)
35. Alien Ant Farm – Smooth Criminal (3:31)
36. Queen – We Are The Champions (3:01)
37. POD – Alive (3:23)
38. TMNT – Walk Straight (3:53)
39. Michael Jackson – Thriller (5:57)

Posted in General

Made It?

Oct20
2011 Leave a Comment Written by @drose0

So, if you read yesterday’s post regarding the up and down weight, it probably makes you realize that maybe weighing yourself daily is a bad thing? I guess on the flip side, with the up and down-ness that happens to me, if I picked 1 day a week I may get a bad day and my sample data wouldn’t be very good. Oh well, I’ll stick with the OCD side.

Well, since yesterday’s weigh-in I dropped 2.6lbs. I knew this was going to happen as I spent more of the day in the bathroom than usual. I drank a lot of fluids, but I don’t think the in/out ratio was in favor of ‘in’. This is what I’ve grown accustom to as a ‘purge’ day. It seems I have 1-2 of these a week, but at this point I haven’t figured out why. I’ve drank almost nothing but water for the past few weeks, though I did manage to drink a calorie-free “Arnold Palmer”, which I didn’t realize until after the fact had artificial sweetener in it (something I’m trying to cut out completely). … maybe that contributed to this? My body wasn’t used to it, having only water laely, and it threw it for a loop? Who knows.

Anyway, as the title says, as of now I’m officially under my race-target weight (and also 1.6lbs better than my previous best ‘Adult weight’), now we get to see if the cycle continues tomorrow or if I can keep it down for the next 3 days.

Today will be a testing day… I’m at home with the boys while Jessica is in training. Typically when I’m at home all I do is eat snacks. The remedy for this had been to not buy snacks, but I didn’t do the grocery shopping this week, so that wasn’t an option. Hopefully I can make it through the day without being too bad of a glutton.

3 days until Iron Horse!

Posted in Workout - Tagged half marathon, home, weight loss

Can I Make It?

Oct19
2011 Leave a Comment Written by @drose0

I set a goal to obtain before this weekend’s Iron Horse Half Marathon, now the question is can I make it? As of now I’m 1.6lbs away from that happening. The frustrating part is how up and down it has been lately. Over the last 8 days I’m down 2.6lbs, but it has been a bit rocky. Here is the last 8 days.

October 11th: baseline.
October 12th: No Change
October 13th, Down 1.8lbs
October 14th, Down 0.2lbs
October 15th, Down 1.4lbs
October 16th, Up 1.6lbs
October 17th, Down 0.2lbs
October 18th, Down 1.6lbs
October 19th, Up 1.0lbs.

Now, the good take away is that over that I’m still down, but with the ups and downs it makes me wonder if I can hit the goal I had hoped for. I’ve put myself on “diet lockdown” over the past 10 days, trying to make sure not to deviate from my preferred eating habits. The fact that I did not do the grocery shopping this week, as I always do, and forgot to let my wife know what I needed, does not help me a bit. But that is just something to learn to overcome.

Oh well, I’ll keep the updates coming. I’m wanting to keep a post going more than once every couple months, thus the purpose of this one.

Posted in General

Monthly archives for October, 2011

Black Cat Chase Recap

Almost to the end of the season

Poll Tuesday… I need your input

Final Iron Horse Playlist

Almost There

Iron Horse Playlist

Made It?

Can I Make It?

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