Traveled to Denver on business this week and got a 3 miler in this morning. Urban running is a mixed bag for me. I love the scenery and the people but the "stop and go" is a real pain. I was expecting to feel the effects of the thinner air but I took it easy and it wasn't too bad at all. It didn't hurt that the weather was just about perfect; sunny and temps in the 70's with no humidity.
Ran in my Vibrams because they are so easy to pack. I thought there would be issues running on the paved surfaces. Fortunately Denver takes great care of its sidewalks and I had no problems. In fact it felt pretty good.
The only negative is that my back was a little sore from the hotel bed and I had to mind my gait until things loosened up. I wasn't able to yoga first as I was committed to some morning meetings.
As I write this I am looking out my 19th story hotel window at the snow capped Rockies. Maybe on my next trip out here I can arrange a run up there. I can only imagine right now what it would be like on the steep terrain and thin air. There are glaciers and right now is the beginning of the "melt" so it probably looks incredible. Michelle has inspired me to start bringing my camera on these trips again. I misplaced my charger so I don't have it for this one. Maybe in the future I will be able to include some pics of my runs.
Denver was great and I would enjoy a return.
Back to Houston this afternoon. Can't wait to get home!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Humidity
Hit the road around 8:30AM today and stretched to about 4 1/2 miles. The air was "close" which is to say brutally humid. My shirt was soaked in the first 10 minutes and it was pretty much a steady dehydrate from there. At the suggestion of a neighbor I changed up my route a little and headed out past several lakes in the community before heading for home on the nature trail.
Skipped the Yoga this morning but will get it in this afternoon. I have a short road trip up to Denver tomorrow early returning late Tuesday so Monday will be a "rest/recover day". I am hoping to get a little roadwork in Tuesday morning at altitude and see how it feels and am bringing my Vibrams so that will add to the "experience". I love wearing them but running comfort is very dependent on the road surface.
Weight was down to 155.4 today which is a recent low. Staying off the meat and alcohol but carb loaded today after only having a danish and some fruit yesterday.
Skipped the Yoga this morning but will get it in this afternoon. I have a short road trip up to Denver tomorrow early returning late Tuesday so Monday will be a "rest/recover day". I am hoping to get a little roadwork in Tuesday morning at altitude and see how it feels and am bringing my Vibrams so that will add to the "experience". I love wearing them but running comfort is very dependent on the road surface.
Weight was down to 155.4 today which is a recent low. Staying off the meat and alcohol but carb loaded today after only having a danish and some fruit yesterday.
Saturday, June 25, 2011
YES!
I did manage to get out of the house this morning and 45 minutes later staggered back having run 4 miles in the tropical morning. The sun was bright and the air was close. I passed the last of the inbound Bridgeland Running Club as I headed out toward the nature trail. The mile through the woods on the gravel path was the easiest owing to the relief from the sun and the soft surface.
Today on the road I listened to a podcast of This American Life titled "Life After Death". It interviewed folks who were responsible for (though not "guilty of") causing the death of another and how they lived with that afterward. Like hitting a cyclist with your car but it wasn't your fault. It gave some insight into the baggage we all carry around. As we live our lives our interactions with others connect us to places and people we might never have imagined in our wildest dreams. Some of it is our direct action and some you chalk up to the law of unintended consequences. We all make good choices and bad. It's how we live with them after that demonstrates our character.
I am 44 and I have done and seen my share of right things and wrong things. There are some I would change or have done differently but in the end life has turned out alright. I have a wife and children who love me and who I love. I am challenged in my career. I finally am beginning to understand what is possible and not just what is necessary. Life seems limitless and yet I am more aware than ever that my clock is ticking. I am probably past the "half way" mark and there is so much I want to do.
Amazing what a 4 miler can get you thinking about when you haven't run in a while.
Today on the road I listened to a podcast of This American Life titled "Life After Death". It interviewed folks who were responsible for (though not "guilty of") causing the death of another and how they lived with that afterward. Like hitting a cyclist with your car but it wasn't your fault. It gave some insight into the baggage we all carry around. As we live our lives our interactions with others connect us to places and people we might never have imagined in our wildest dreams. Some of it is our direct action and some you chalk up to the law of unintended consequences. We all make good choices and bad. It's how we live with them after that demonstrates our character.
I am 44 and I have done and seen my share of right things and wrong things. There are some I would change or have done differently but in the end life has turned out alright. I have a wife and children who love me and who I love. I am challenged in my career. I finally am beginning to understand what is possible and not just what is necessary. Life seems limitless and yet I am more aware than ever that my clock is ticking. I am probably past the "half way" mark and there is so much I want to do.
Amazing what a 4 miler can get you thinking about when you haven't run in a while.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Is this just a "drop in"?
Well that job came through...and now we live in Houston. Cypress actually. Running has all but stopped but I have traveled half way around the world and now have more responsibility than I ever imagined I would at work.
Home life has gone through some major changes as a result of the relocation. Michelle and I are now on our own (with our two dogs) here in Texas while all our kids and grand kids (we have two new ones on the way that should arrive in December) are back in Maryland. Suffice it to say that we buy a lot of plane tickets for us AND them.
Life is very full and fulfilling but I miss the workouts and I especially miss the races. I ran a "Warrior Dash" a few months ago which was fun but more about the atmosphere than the race. I am in better health than I have been in a long time if not better shape. We have all but given up on meat and alcohol and sleep is more regular than ever.
This job is never routine but having adjusted to that over the last 8 months may mean I can take another stab at the roadwork. The weather is challenging and the time is difficult to find but I think I need this back in my life. We are just back from vacation in Maryland (Ocean City) and tomorrow is Saturday. Will I get up and go for a run?
We'll see.
Home life has gone through some major changes as a result of the relocation. Michelle and I are now on our own (with our two dogs) here in Texas while all our kids and grand kids (we have two new ones on the way that should arrive in December) are back in Maryland. Suffice it to say that we buy a lot of plane tickets for us AND them.
Life is very full and fulfilling but I miss the workouts and I especially miss the races. I ran a "Warrior Dash" a few months ago which was fun but more about the atmosphere than the race. I am in better health than I have been in a long time if not better shape. We have all but given up on meat and alcohol and sleep is more regular than ever.
This job is never routine but having adjusted to that over the last 8 months may mean I can take another stab at the roadwork. The weather is challenging and the time is difficult to find but I think I need this back in my life. We are just back from vacation in Maryland (Ocean City) and tomorrow is Saturday. Will I get up and go for a run?
We'll see.
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