Seems like it is easier to maintain my running schedule when I was on the road, than the past 2 weeks at home. At home seems like something is always going on or needs done. On the road I take time to run, because it's about the only thing to do except hang out in my room or hit the bars, niether of which rank very high on my "must do list".
Been a busy couple of days, had to get the RV packed away. No, I don't make that much money, it's a 1975 model. Clean, runs well, ugly on the outside and interior screams 1970's, but the kids love it. How can you argue with that. Also, winterized the boat. Throw in my trip north of Chicago, a very late Friday night at the office, my Mom in the hospital, and it's been a bit chaotic.
Ok, enough about my life, we all live hectic ones. I resumed running tonight. 3 miles on a treadmill at the YMCA in downtown Des Moines. Usual rust to shake off, but other than being on the treadmill, it felt good. Tomorrow morning I'll get in a few more miles and some weights. It feels good to get back into the swing of things.
I can't wait to get an opportunity to run with my SICR friends again. It's been too long since we hooked up for a run.
12 November 2007
08 November 2007
The leg bone is connected to the...
Anyone remember that song?
I just came in off the road from doing a marathon drive to Rockford, IL and back, left out at 6 am and pulled in the drive about 10 pm. Luckily I only had to drive half way, with one of my managers meeting me half way between Louisville, KY and Duluth, MN, so I'm going to keep this kind of brief.
A couple of months ago I thought I had a groin pull. Turned out it was inflamation of the soft tissue which, if torn, produces a sports hernia. I kept training, the pain remained, but varied in intensity day to day. Last week the pain seemed to move back to the point of origin and felt like a simple (did I just say "simple") groin pull. Last Saturday's long run produced a lot of pain in my hips, specifically the outer muscles. I chalked it up to worn out shoes, knowing I was about 3 weeks over due for a new pair.
Monday morning I ran on the treadmill at the Y and then started circuit training. My last exercise was to be squats, I decided to keep the weight light, 4th rep of my 1st set....POP! Pain streaked across my lower back. Funny thing, as soon as my back muscles "popped", the pain and tension in my hips was gone and later that day I discovered that the same leg movements that typically caused me to grimace from the groin injury, no longer produced pain. It will be interesting to see what pains return as my back heals up. It's feeling much better tonight.
What to take from this? The body is not made up of compartmentalized components, all parts are intertwined and compensating for one part, effects another, etc., etc. Be sure to warm up, stretch at the end of your runs, and rest injuries.
I just came in off the road from doing a marathon drive to Rockford, IL and back, left out at 6 am and pulled in the drive about 10 pm. Luckily I only had to drive half way, with one of my managers meeting me half way between Louisville, KY and Duluth, MN, so I'm going to keep this kind of brief.
A couple of months ago I thought I had a groin pull. Turned out it was inflamation of the soft tissue which, if torn, produces a sports hernia. I kept training, the pain remained, but varied in intensity day to day. Last week the pain seemed to move back to the point of origin and felt like a simple (did I just say "simple") groin pull. Last Saturday's long run produced a lot of pain in my hips, specifically the outer muscles. I chalked it up to worn out shoes, knowing I was about 3 weeks over due for a new pair.
Monday morning I ran on the treadmill at the Y and then started circuit training. My last exercise was to be squats, I decided to keep the weight light, 4th rep of my 1st set....POP! Pain streaked across my lower back. Funny thing, as soon as my back muscles "popped", the pain and tension in my hips was gone and later that day I discovered that the same leg movements that typically caused me to grimace from the groin injury, no longer produced pain. It will be interesting to see what pains return as my back heals up. It's feeling much better tonight.
What to take from this? The body is not made up of compartmentalized components, all parts are intertwined and compensating for one part, effects another, etc., etc. Be sure to warm up, stretch at the end of your runs, and rest injuries.
05 November 2007
Did You....?
Replace the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors when you set your clocks back.
We had a close call with a vent pipe that came loose from our furnace when they were roofing our house. When we fired up the furnace for the first time, it was pumping exhaust (CO) into our house. Thankfully the CO detector went off, otherwise there likely wouldn't have been James, Jina, Jared, Jaden, & Jordan the next morning. Perhaps the best $35 I ever spent.
Another piece of equipment runners need to pay attention to are there shoes. According to most estimates, a quality pair of running shoes should last between 300-500 miles, however, water and sweat can help to break them down even faster. Does your 3 mile run leave you with soaking wet socks and shoes? If so, you may find your shoe life on the short end of the range.
I don't keep a detailed log anymore, but have learned to judge the condition of my shoes by my knees. When they started feeling sore after a road run, it was typically time for a new pair. What happens when you're running on treadmills? Well, you will likely extend the life of your shoe, because of the cushioned running surface. But in my case, I sweat more, and this contributed to increased deterioration, but the cushioned treadmill helped hide that fact. My long run on Saturday became a torture session, but not on my knees, the pounding was transferred up into my hips, and I'm still sore.
Here are a few helpful hints, mainly gleaned from other sources, so I won't take credit for them.
1) Visit a reputable running store to be outfitted for your first pair of running shoes. They can select the correct type of shoe (neutral, stability, motion control, etc.) for you, based on your running form and feet.
2) Correct fitting running shoes from a running store are, in my experience, not significantly higher priced than your local mall shoe store. But typically the sales people are runners, not folks just working a job.
3) If cost is a major concern then, after finding a pair of shoes you like, shop online. For some shoes you can save money, for my personal shoe choice, our local shop is competitive with the online sources. But remember, these same local owners typically support the local races with volunteers, timing clocks, prizes, etc.
4) Realize that in some cases increased mileage may require a different shoe. When training for the 1/2 Marathon, my wife's shoes, which were good for 3 mile runs, proved to have too small a toe box to accommodate her foot "spread/swell" when she got into 7 mile or longer training runs.
5) Don't cut corners. You can survive without matching running outfits, technical shirts, and race shorts. Put your money on a quality pair of shoes designed for running. Your specific form and needs.
.................................................
Have you thanked God for something today? Just checking. And while I'm preaching, "GET THOSE BATTERIES IN THE DETECTORS!"
We had a close call with a vent pipe that came loose from our furnace when they were roofing our house. When we fired up the furnace for the first time, it was pumping exhaust (CO) into our house. Thankfully the CO detector went off, otherwise there likely wouldn't have been James, Jina, Jared, Jaden, & Jordan the next morning. Perhaps the best $35 I ever spent.
Another piece of equipment runners need to pay attention to are there shoes. According to most estimates, a quality pair of running shoes should last between 300-500 miles, however, water and sweat can help to break them down even faster. Does your 3 mile run leave you with soaking wet socks and shoes? If so, you may find your shoe life on the short end of the range.
I don't keep a detailed log anymore, but have learned to judge the condition of my shoes by my knees. When they started feeling sore after a road run, it was typically time for a new pair. What happens when you're running on treadmills? Well, you will likely extend the life of your shoe, because of the cushioned running surface. But in my case, I sweat more, and this contributed to increased deterioration, but the cushioned treadmill helped hide that fact. My long run on Saturday became a torture session, but not on my knees, the pounding was transferred up into my hips, and I'm still sore.
Here are a few helpful hints, mainly gleaned from other sources, so I won't take credit for them.
1) Visit a reputable running store to be outfitted for your first pair of running shoes. They can select the correct type of shoe (neutral, stability, motion control, etc.) for you, based on your running form and feet.
2) Correct fitting running shoes from a running store are, in my experience, not significantly higher priced than your local mall shoe store. But typically the sales people are runners, not folks just working a job.
3) If cost is a major concern then, after finding a pair of shoes you like, shop online. For some shoes you can save money, for my personal shoe choice, our local shop is competitive with the online sources. But remember, these same local owners typically support the local races with volunteers, timing clocks, prizes, etc.
4) Realize that in some cases increased mileage may require a different shoe. When training for the 1/2 Marathon, my wife's shoes, which were good for 3 mile runs, proved to have too small a toe box to accommodate her foot "spread/swell" when she got into 7 mile or longer training runs.
5) Don't cut corners. You can survive without matching running outfits, technical shirts, and race shorts. Put your money on a quality pair of shoes designed for running. Your specific form and needs.
.................................................
Have you thanked God for something today? Just checking. And while I'm preaching, "GET THOSE BATTERIES IN THE DETECTORS!"
01 November 2007
November
Note: At the very bottom of the page is a new section to communicate training and events for SICR. More to come...
Not that every day shouldn't be one of thanksgiving, but seems even more appropriate this month.
What are you thankful for? Do me a favor, take a moment to think about that today, and not just the easy answers, you know, family, job, salvation, etc. Stop and think about it a bit. I'll challenge you to say a prayer of thanksgiving every day this month.
Tonight finds me in Branson, MO. As has become my norm for saving the company a few dollars, I fly into Fayetteville, AR and drive 2.5 hours to Branson. The alternative being to fly into Springfield, MO and driving 45 minutes at approximately triple the airfare. So I take the cheaper flight and longer drive. The drive I enjoy, through the Ozarks, with no cell phone service to interrupt the beauty around me.
Today my pleasant drive was interrupted when I fell victim to a larger (read more powerful) than usual rental car, a small town (maybe 1500 people) police officer, and a speed limit that dropped from 55 to 30 for all of 1/4 of a mile. Yes I've sped before, yes on the interstate I run somewhere between 72 and 77 depending on the 65-70 mph limits in my surrounding states, but this time I wasn't even aware of the speed limit. I saw the sign and the cop all at the same time, and with him clocking me while approaching me head on, well, I was toast.
I broke the law, unknowingly and unintentionally, but I did. It's a hard pill to swallow a $100 ticket, but I can't argue that I was in the wrong. I want to yell that I'm a good guy, I try to drive safely, I respect Officers and work hand in hand with them in several locales, but all my good intentions don't erase the fact that I broke the law.
It's a tougher pill to swallow that without Jesus Christ as a personal Savior, the punishment is eternal seperation from God. Hell, if you want it put bluntly in "hell fire and brimstone" context.
We want to think that good people have a shot at heaven, we want to rationalize our own actions and think that picking up an Angel Tree Ornament (which I encourage you to do) makes up for the sin(s) we commit, but the Bible teaches us different.
Romans 3:23 (New International Version)
23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 9:30-32 (New International Version)
30What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works...
This might be a hard fact to swallow, because we all know some "good" people who haven't accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, maybe you're reading this and you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus.
I'm not sure the words I should type to wrap up this post, as it is a bit askew of what I started out to post, but to those of you who read this and can attest to the fact that Jesus is your personal Savior, share that with those around you. If you've read this post and you don't have a relationship with him, but want to know how or have questions, please feel free to contact me, or either of the guys at the blogs over in the column-EHBC, Scotty, Todd.
For today (Friday) I'm thankful for each of you who have taken the time to read my rants and ramblings and who have encouraged me to keep writing something. Thanks
Not that every day shouldn't be one of thanksgiving, but seems even more appropriate this month.
What are you thankful for? Do me a favor, take a moment to think about that today, and not just the easy answers, you know, family, job, salvation, etc. Stop and think about it a bit. I'll challenge you to say a prayer of thanksgiving every day this month.
Tonight finds me in Branson, MO. As has become my norm for saving the company a few dollars, I fly into Fayetteville, AR and drive 2.5 hours to Branson. The alternative being to fly into Springfield, MO and driving 45 minutes at approximately triple the airfare. So I take the cheaper flight and longer drive. The drive I enjoy, through the Ozarks, with no cell phone service to interrupt the beauty around me.
Today my pleasant drive was interrupted when I fell victim to a larger (read more powerful) than usual rental car, a small town (maybe 1500 people) police officer, and a speed limit that dropped from 55 to 30 for all of 1/4 of a mile. Yes I've sped before, yes on the interstate I run somewhere between 72 and 77 depending on the 65-70 mph limits in my surrounding states, but this time I wasn't even aware of the speed limit. I saw the sign and the cop all at the same time, and with him clocking me while approaching me head on, well, I was toast.
I broke the law, unknowingly and unintentionally, but I did. It's a hard pill to swallow a $100 ticket, but I can't argue that I was in the wrong. I want to yell that I'm a good guy, I try to drive safely, I respect Officers and work hand in hand with them in several locales, but all my good intentions don't erase the fact that I broke the law.
It's a tougher pill to swallow that without Jesus Christ as a personal Savior, the punishment is eternal seperation from God. Hell, if you want it put bluntly in "hell fire and brimstone" context.
We want to think that good people have a shot at heaven, we want to rationalize our own actions and think that picking up an Angel Tree Ornament (which I encourage you to do) makes up for the sin(s) we commit, but the Bible teaches us different.
Romans 3:23 (New International Version)
23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 9:30-32 (New International Version)
30What then shall we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. 32Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works...
This might be a hard fact to swallow, because we all know some "good" people who haven't accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, maybe you're reading this and you don't have a personal relationship with Jesus.
I'm not sure the words I should type to wrap up this post, as it is a bit askew of what I started out to post, but to those of you who read this and can attest to the fact that Jesus is your personal Savior, share that with those around you. If you've read this post and you don't have a relationship with him, but want to know how or have questions, please feel free to contact me, or either of the guys at the blogs over in the column-EHBC, Scotty, Todd.
For today (Friday) I'm thankful for each of you who have taken the time to read my rants and ramblings and who have encouraged me to keep writing something. Thanks
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