Outside It's Cold and Dreary, But I'm Bright and Cheery

As corny as that title now seems written out, it still is very true.  The weather here in Minnesota has turned towards winter.  Last Wednesday it was 60 degrees and even with a light drizzle it was pleasant.  The next day it was 39 degrees, with a 20 mph sustained wind, giving a 29 degree wind chill.  Oh, it was also raining sometimes changing over into snow.  However, I still went out for my run and enjoyed it.

The temperatures have remained in the 40s and will so for the next few weeks.  That is if they do not go lower by then.  Still I’m staying very positive and the weather isn’t bothering me in the slightest.

Two things are keeping me upbeat.  First, I’m feeling like a “runner” again.  I haven’t been running that far or anything, but I am running on a consistent schedule again after dealing with my chest cold.  I kept holding myself back from pushing too hard at first, but now I’ve gotten to a point where I can fully tax my body again.  I’ve even been able to tie some personal best times for some of my shorter routes.  Now I can actually think about finally signing up for a 5K or other race, which will probably be in the form of a “Turkey Trot” when I’m at my parents for Thanksgiving.

The other way I’m staying “bright and cheery” is quite literal.  I finally got around to updating some of my running wardrobe.  I had updated my short-sleeved shirts but that was it.  My shorts were (embarrassingly) going on seven years old.  I also have some long-sleeved shirts that were a few years old as well, but more importantly were black – not the color you want to be running in with sundown so much earlier.  I also needed a new running/cycling jacket, as my old one was getting a bit weathered and dingy.  Plus it was also grayish white – not a color you want to be running/biking in once the snow is flying.

I didn’t necessarily plan to buy everything within a span of two weeks but that’s what happened.  Luckily, I purchased everything very frugally.  Maybe it happens to every rational person once they start living on their own, but I now purchase everything on the cheap – looking for the best deals or using coupons at the right time.

To put that in perspective, let’s start with my new shorts.  I guess they’re not actually that bright and cheery being black and gray, but just wait until further into this post.  These shorts are the C9 brand made by Champion, apparently exclusively available at Target (I looked that bit up).  I did indeed stumble upon these at Target at was glad to find that these were just as good as my trusty Nike running shorts I had been wearing.  They are also a bit longer than the Nike shorts too, hopefully reducing the issue of my shorts riding up on longer runs.  (Sorry for the specifics.)  Best yet was the price.  For some reason I can distinctly remember back all the years to when I bought the Nike shorts, paying $30 per pair.  These C9 shorts?  They’re $16.99 per pair.

 

Bringing on the bright colors, I also stumbled upon good deals for long-sleeved shirts.  In the picture below, the left and center shirts are C9 brand as well (and were of course purchased at Target).  The shirt on the right is by Tek Gear, the house brand athletic label of Kohl’s department stores.  Again, these are not only just as good as the premium brand shirts I had, but were far cheaper.  The C9 bright orange shirt (a bit thicker than the others) was $24.99, the neon yellow C9 shirt was $16.99, and the Tek Gear orange shirt was $18.99.  Those prices are even better than the severe closeout prices I’ve seen at various marathon/running event expos.

Lastly, I have my new running/cycling jacket.  It’s made my Pearl Izumi, what I would call a premium name brand, and is a wind and rain resistant jacket.  Just like my older Pearl Izumi jacket, it also converts from a full jacket into a vest.  Compared to the shorts and the shirts, this is my splurge item but I still got a deal.  The normal price on the jacket is $110.00.  However, I used a 20% off coupon I had from being a REI member, getting it instead at $88.

So why am I sharing all these deals?  Well first, it’s my blog and I can do what I want…  Really though, I wanted to show that running and biking gear doesn’t have to be expensive.  There seems to be a trend with running, cycling, and triathlon that the gear needs to be expensive and somehow that exorbitant price makes you faster, etc.  In truth, it’s really just the marketing – better marketing, making people pay more, in turn generating higher marketing budgets for even better marketing.  In terms of quality and function, they’re really not that much different from the generic house brands.  As I’ve said, I even like my new cheaper house brand running clothes more than the premium brand clothes I’ve used before.

Either way – if you take my advice or leave it – I’ll be out running in my new inexpensive running clothes.  Considering their brightness, I know you’ll be able to see me.

Note: I suppose I should mention that Champion, Target, nor Kohl’s influenced my purchases or this post in any way.  This was done on my own accord and with my own money.  Now if they did want to give me money or product…

Like A Caged Animal

This post was going to be about how I’ve been sick with a chest cold lately and can’t go for a run.  Not that it kept me from running, but to top it all off I also got an infected bug bite and have been on antibiotics.  In the last three weeks, I’ve only run 3 times for a total of six miles.  I scheduled myself to run 15 times and 47 miles in that stretch.  Unfortunately in those three runs I did do, I think I went too hard after being sick and made myself sick again.  With all that now explained, I originally was going to write how I’ve felt like a caged animal being sick and not being able to do what I wanted to do most, run. 

 

But then I said the hell with it and ran.

I learned my lesson from my last runs and didn’t push it, just enjoyed being out running.  It was just nice to move my body, to test it a bit (again not too much) and to be outside.  I love the beauty of nature in the fall, but I couldn’t help being a bit disappointed thinking about all the colors I missed during my missed runs.  On one of those three runs I did do these past few weeks, I did my favorite run.  It’s a short 2 miler that goes through a neighborhood park and around the park’s lake.  On that day the sun was just beginning to set, glimmering on the lake and shining through the autumn colors of trees like a stained-glass window.  I ran through warm streaks of yellow, gold, orange, and red.

I did that same run today and much of those colors are now on the ground.  It was a bit depressing having to trample over the colorful leaves and crunch them as I ran.  The lake just didn’t seem to have that same glint either.  However, I then realized it’s still better to be out experiencing nature than being stuck inside.  Who cares if the sun doesn’t shine off the lake as well today?  It’s still one more lake sunset I wouldn’t have seen from the couch.   Sure the colorful leaves may now be browning and on the ground, but there’s something to be said for that satisfying crunching sound as you run.  I mean what other time of year is running so percussive?  

In retrospect, I taught (or re-taught) myself a few lessons today.  First, it’s ok to not push myself as hard as possible every run.  Sometimes I just need to simply run and have an easy day.  Second, it’s better to be outside than in.  I may be regretting those words in January and February, but even then there will be much truth.  There’s a reason I despise treadmills and love running outside.  On a treadmill you can’t experience the wonders of an ever-changing nature, but instead just have the experience of the same repeating strip of belt tread and maybe a TV in front of you.  Lastly, the third lesson from today?  The best fall run recovery drink is a steaming mug of hot chocolate… or two.

Sore Today, In Pain Tomorrow?

With my current running schedule, Monday’s and Friday’s are rest days.  On these two days, it always leaves me feeling pent up with energy, because my body isn’t going out for a run as it does the majority of days of the week.  Yesterday I had enough and although I still gave my legs a rest, I gave my core and arms a good onceover.

First I did my usual ab workout (that is when I actually do one), that I picked up from Runner’s World a few years ago.  The routine is apparently based off one done by Iowa-raised Lola Jones, but I’m not so sure that she wasn’t just used for eye candy.  Well in any case, that worked on someone and if I have a stronger core because of it than no harm no foul really.  

You can see the different exercises from the link.  They’re alone enough to make you tired, but I also usually add side crunches as well as half jackknife crunches.  I couldn’t find a good link for half jackknifes but it’s similar to these full jackknife crunches but I bring my knees into my chest when I do the upward crunch.  

That’s usually where I end things, but yesterday I decided to add some arm work in the mix too.  I found this upper body strength workout online on Runner’s World and, as I don’t have a stretchy resistance band, just did the push-ups and chair dips.  I was already in a weakened state by this point, but still managed to do 15 push-ups – not that I could have probably done many more in a fresh state.  The triceps chair dips finished me off though.  I guess I mistakenly did the straight leg version that Runner’s World shows second in the video, which apparently makes it harder.  Well luckily I have that going for me, as I was only able to do 5 reps.  I pushed to get to 5 as well, making my triceps have a deep muscle burn for minutes afterward.  

After doing all the aforementioned workout, my whole body was weak and I could tell I was going to be sore.  It wasn’t bad last night (it never is that soon after a workout) but this morning I was sore.  To get up out of bed I couldn’t just sit up.  My abs just were too tired and sore.  I had to do bend one of my legs to my chest, then grabbing it to bring my upper body up, and then sort of rocking forward into a sitting position.  Even sitting here in the desk chair typing, if I turn the wrong way my side abs (or obliques?) twinge.  

I could be worse off though.  Like I said it’s just my stomach that’s sore and if anything my arms are just a bit stiff.  Both are noticeable enough though that my 3 mile run today was a tad bit slower.  Tomorrow though could be a different story.  They always say that two days after a workout is the worst.  You’ll be sore the day after, but in pain (the good kind though, right?) two days after.  Well, I’ll see tomorrow I guess, especially for my run which is again 3 miles.  One thing is for sure though.  Friday is going to be a full on – no running, no ab workout, no arm workout, no anything – rest day.

Running Away From O'Hare

(Note: I wrote this while waiting for a plane at the terminal in Chicago O'Hare.)

I hate Chicago O’Hare.  I’m sure everyone has disdain for this airport at least a bit but I really hate it.  In July upon returning from Ireland, my wife and I had a 7 hour layover at O’Hare before a 10:30 pm United flight to Minneapolis.  That layover became much longer as the flight was delayed until 12:30… and then eventually cancelled because “the pilots were too tired.”  We were given a room for the night and meal vouchers (for next morning of course because everything was closed by then), but we were quite frustrated and exhausted after being up for 27 hours.  It took almost an hour and a half before we got from the gate’s desk to our hotel room and lied down for the night, getting only 3 hours of sleep before arising at 5:30 am to catch our new 8:45 flight.

With all that said, it was with much hesitation that I again booked a flight itinerary that stopped through O’Hare.  This past week I helped my brother-in-law and his girlfriend move from the Twin Cities to Ann Arbor, MI.  Since we drove a U-Haul truck there, I needed a one-way flight back home.  Sure, there were direct flights from Detroit (the nearest real airport to Ann Arbor) to Minneapolis, but United flights connecting through O’Hare were a third of the price.  Although I was shaking my fist in the air the whole time, I booked the cheaper option through O’Hare. 

Today, stepping off my flight from Detroit and into the C concourse just brought back every bad memory of the bad experience in June.  Mean coincidence had my arrival gate be just steps away from the gate we wasted our lives away waiting for a flight that wouldn’t happen.  In another twist of fate, my United flight today is co-numbered as an Aer Lingus flight – the airline that we took to and from Ireland back in June.  (On writing this, I’m also realizing that the random quiet-ish spot I found to write today may be the departure gate for the flight that did finally take us to Minneapolis back in June.)  

I should probably get something to eat or at least get up and walk around, but I want to avoid experiencing this crap airport as much as I can.  The quality of food is poor at best.  For example its Applebees or McDonald’s isn’t just worse than their respective non-airport locations, but they’re even far worse than other airport locations.  That isn’t to mention that O’Hare charges exorbitant prices for food, even much more than at other airports.  Oh and good luck not waiting in line.  O’Hare is so crowded with people because the number of flights, and the number of passengers, has far surpassed the load that the airport can actually handle.  Just a few minutes ago when I was walking around, one could barely get through the terminal because of the amount of people in line for McDonald’s.  It stretched from one side of the terminal to the other, being eight lines (or eight people) thick.

So why do I write this rant on O’Hare?  And why do I write it while at the terminal?  Because I’m ready to get home and run.  Even with lending a hand in moving, I was able to get a run in during the five days I was away from home.  While in Ann Arbor, my brother-in-law and I did a 2 mile run to the Big House, Michigan’s football stadium, and back to his apartment.  Still as nice as the run was, it wasn’t like running on familiar turf back home.  It wasn’t normality and – as nice as it was to run with someone else – it wasn’t my self-exploring (and contrasted with O’Hare) quiet run like at home.

Although I haven’t stepped upon home soil again, I’m already feeling like I need to embrace my “home” running as thoroughly as I can.  Of course having just moved to the Twin Cities area just in July, I’m not yet fully used to all of my running routes or the local running scene.  I was thinking of doing it before my trip to Ann Arbor, but now I’ve decided I must register myself for at least one fall race in the area.  It’ll give that extra spark of feeling even more comfortable with running in my new home.

Until then though (and even after that), I’ll just be hating (or still hating) O’Hare.

(It should be noted that because of O’Hare’s plane traffic being over capacity, my flight to Minneapolis was late on arrival.  Why?  Because we sat on the tarmac for 45 minutes waiting our turn to take off.) 

Dang. I Haven't Posted in a Long Time...

It didn’t really hit me until I looked at the date of my last post.  May 21^st – that was two and a half months ago!  To be fair, I haven’t simply just been neglecting to do any blog writing (as I normally do with such a long interval between posts).  Life has been in a bit of transition lately, with some fun thrown in there as well.

Life’s pieces began to move in June when my wife defended her doctoral thesis and was awarded her PhD.  A week later I left my job, and a week after that we went on a two and a half week vacation to Ireland.  Upon returning home to Madison in the second week of July, my wife and I then had to start packing to move to the Twin Cities (the twin cities of Minneapolis / St. Paul to be specific) as she had found a job that would be starting in August.  So after being in Madison for just a few days, we found ourselves on a Friday morning helping the packing/moving company load all of our belongings into the back half of a semi-trailer.  Then again bright and early Monday morning we found ourselves, again with our friends from the moving company, unloading our possessions into our new place.  Although we only moved a few hours up Interstate 94 and only a state away, it’s taken a few weeks to get adjusted to the new place.

Most pertinent to this blog though is that I have started running again.  My running shape took quite a hit with moving and the trip to Ireland.  I was off of running for exactly a month as my last run before Ireland and moving was June 19^th and my first run at the new place was July 19^th.  Although we did do a great bit of walking/hiking in Ireland, I wasn’t running and my pace now is considerably slower.  As an example, in my last 2-mile run in June I was able to do at a mile pace of 7 minutes flat.  Here at our new place, my first 2-miler (well my first one where I didn’t get lost on the local park’s trails) was at a mile pace of 8 ½ minutes.  Now more or less back into the swing of running though, my pace has come down.  The mile splits for today’s 2-miler were at 7:41.

 

One thing that isn’t helping my times is the fact that there are big hills everywhere here.  Madison by no means was flat, but where we are in the Twin Cities there is literally no flat ground anywhere.  Don’t get me wrong, I love that I’m next to a park with a picturesque lake with lots of running trails.  However, because we’re right by a lake, we live in a valley and every running route starts with a huge hill.  Oh well.  I maybe won’t have to do as many hill repeats as I did in Madison.

Besides the hills, I purposely implemented another change.  This past spring I was running 4 days a week.  As I have more time due to the fact that have not yet found a new job (and am just playing “house husby” as my wife calls it), I have changed my schedule to run 5 days a week.  I have the time to do it so I thought why not.  It should also bring my running times down a bit faster and more importantly get me back into my previous running shape a bit faster too.  I have to be careful not to add on too many miles too quickly though.  The twinges I felt in my shins earlier this week definitely reminded me of that.  Still if I can restore my speed before the end of summer, then I can maybe do a few fall 5Ks before the snow starts to fly… which unfortunately will now be earlier in the year being further north.  Let’s not think about that now though.  Let’s enjoy the 90 degree temps and 80% humidity while we have it.  Wait…