First Race/Sweet Spot

Yao, I know it's been a while. I go in spurts where I have ZERO interest in writing.......this is not one of those times. This past Saturday was my first actual race. It was a 5K charity run/walk for the hospital. It started at Seneca Hill Manor and was all through their property. I got there and got an actual number (805) I felt like a real runner:-). I got into the parking lot and stretched. On all of our runs, we run either around a city block or a half mile at the track just to get warmed up. I didn't do this, and I really felt it. When the race started, I was in 3rd for the first quarter of it, the whole time knowing that I couldn't maintain that pace for 3.1 miles. So naturally, my calves gave out quick and more and more people started passing me. I think mentally I gave up on myself at one point and had to walk. there was probably .8 miles left and I was walking and I ended up next to an old man walking his dog on the route. I asked him how it was going and he said pretty good and asked about me, to which I replied "not as well as I'd hoped." He asked me if I had practiced and I said "yeah, but not enough I guess." Then he said "When you're my age, you won't be able to run like that, so you better do it now." and there was so much sincerity in his voice. (I know this sounds like something out of a movie) but it gave me the little extra boost I needed and I hauled ass the rest of the way. I finished 10th out of about 30 runners and had a time of 25:32 which was about 2 minutes slower than I wanted to finish. But it was a good learning experience.

After the race, I figured out what my problem is, not just at the 5K but running in general. I've been so concerned with moving fast, when I need to be concerned with just moving for a long time. So, during Sunday's run, I slowed my pace down and ended up finding my sweet spot. Did a 6 mile loop throughout the whole city and walked for maybe a block and a half. I was stoked. Everyone did a great job, and Andy played the role of Coach to perfection; driving around town meeting us at different locations offering water, and a hummer in the backseat, if we needed it. I'm really, really stoked that I've found a comfortable pace finally, now all I have to do is MASTER it.

aloha friends

--dave

6 miles? broken?

So, while I do consider it cheating a little bit, I ran the farthest I've ever run the other day. I was at Fuller's Fitness with my man Pat Schrader, and while he got his swell on, I hit up the treadmill. I got to 30 minutes and said, go to 40. Got to 40 minutes and said go to 45. After this tug of war between my body and my "want to" was over, I finished at 60 minutes for a grand total of......6.3 miles! I consider it cheating only because there were no hills (obviously) but still, it felt really good.
Also, I weighed in at 225lbs. I haven't been weighed in a while, but I usually stick between 233 and 235 so weight has officially been lost baby!

Today we met at the track again. We did a half mile warmup, then Andy wanted to see how fast we could run a mile. My goal was 7:20, so naturally moments after I settled on that, Andy said "Alright, Dan and Dave, 7 minutes." To which I replied "I can't run a 7 minute mile, so I don't know what to tell you." Regardless, I set out at a comfortable pace, held it for the first three laps, then had a little extra for the last one. I increased my stride, found a good rhythm, and finished in 6:54. Call up Mr. McCaul and tell him to suck on that. I was very, very stoked. After that, we did a drill called "Strides". It sucked, that's all you need to know:-\

Some people that are close to me have been getting me down about the whole running a marathon lately, for reasons I will never understand. Shoutout to the whole MarathonTeam, (Ben, Jay, Andy, Dan, Snippy, and Erin) and a few other very close friends for being friends.


Until Next Time,

Peace

Feeling like a Runner

Runs have been going really well. Today was the 4th day in a row with a run. Tuesday morning, Ben and I met in the middle of the city and ran the loop of both bridges three times, which was one more than the past Friday. Wednesday, wasn't a scheduled running day, but Jay and I decided to get one in anyway. We ran 4.8 miles in just under an hour. Definitely a slower pace than we're used to, but it was good just to be out there. Thursday, Ben and I met at the classic brisk hour of 5AM and ran a 3 mile loop through the city, I finished in 26min30sec which was slower than I anticipated. the LAST part of that run was going up the Church St. Hill, which SUCKED. I thought people only talked out loud to themselves in the movies, but I literally was saying out loud "Don't walk, run this, run this." and alakazam: I didn't walk. This morning was 5AM again and yet again, Benner had a 3 mile loop mapped out. lots of hills, which I still haven't gotten accustomed to running, I finished in 26min27sec. I was hoping to do 26 flat, but that didn't work out. We're running a 5K next weekend (3.1) miles, and I would love to finish around 22 or 23 minutes. It's not out of the question, but I gotta put the time in next week for sure.

Last Sunday we met at the middle school track again and then Andy led us into the woods. I'll allow a few moments to let your purvurted imaginations run wild. (.............................) Once we got into the woods, we found out that it was a hill day. We ran quite a few hills and because it wasn't smooth terrain, focus became important; one wrong step and it wouldn't be tough to twist your ankle. After we finished, we circled back by where we started and I KNEW we were going to be running the first hill at least once more. Erin's ACL wasn't feeling well, so she sat out and stretched it. Jay said he had one left in him, so he did it once. Andy said he was going to do it twice, so I said I would too. I got back after the 2nd loop and I asked Jay where Andy went and he said that Andy did it again, so I said 'fuck it' and ran one more as well. (Some group members didn't make it that day due to other obligations/injuries so on and so forth)

I'm really wanting to show Ben and Andy that I can do this and that the desire is there. While I'm impressing myself, I honestly want to impress them. I think they're noticing this. There is possible talks of Me running with Andy more because He and Ben think that I can keep up with him and I'm ready for a faster pace. I keep stressing to them that I'm not as athletic as they seem to think, but they disagree. It's not that I'm athletic, I just have a small competitive fire in me, and since I'm not really SKILLED at any sports, (except of course, ultimate frisbee and pin game.....check my resume') I'm finding that I can excel in pushing myself because there's no real skill involved, just will power. I've heard it before, and I think it is true that "Great Will defeats Great Skill."

Overall I'm really proud of everyone so far. The ones that are sticking with it are really sticking with it. It'll be worth it on October 3rd. Sorry this is such a long post, but aayyyy I GOTTA LOT TA SAY!!

Until next Time,

Buenos Dias

Solo Flight

Whatup World,

I know it's been a while since my last post but I haven't stopped running. Still right on schedule. Today isn't a running day but I woke up and it was gorgeous outside, so I decided to get one in. I ran out here at my house. 30 minutes 3.8 miles. I did walk for 1 minute. But differently than most runs, my lungs gave out before my legs, which means my leg strength is improving. 5 Am tomorrow. bad look.

Peace

Track Training

Today we went to the Middle School track, as a team, and did some track workout. We did a few 400 meter sprints, and a crazy 200 meter sprint relay (which we shaved 11 seconds off of the 2nd time we did it). Andy and Ben decided to do a track workout today, because during the week, we're getting our cardio workout. But some people have been saying that their legs are what's hurting them moreso than their lungs and trouble breathing. So we did the track workout to strengthen our lower body. One of my favorite quotes of all time applies; "The legs feed the wolf."

Track workouts could become a regular part of our training. We'll see what happens. It really was a good change of pace for us, and it allowed us to get a little competitive which was cool. But we all supported each other and the positive energy was-a-flowin. Jennie was keeping time in her wheelchair right at trackside. She's still just as much a part of the team as everyone else which is awesome. It was great she came out.

That's it for now. Later

Minus-1

Ben has been staying at the hospital with Jennie, so Tuesday, Today, and Tomorrow, it's just been Dan and I. Our runs are now 25 minutes, and we've done 2.8 miles and 2.7 miles. Watching Avatar....post more soon.

--Dave

"We should've just watched Face-Off."

Yesterday, we all showed up at Casa de O'Connor for our team run....BUT....Mike and Mallory got married Saturday, which means open bar at the reception, which means everyone except Dan and I was very, very hungover. Ryan suggested and we watch Face-Off and for a few moments it seemed like that was going to happen. However, Ben and Andy insisted that instead of a run, we should at least be active for a while, and at least burn some calories and get a decent cardio workout. Enter ultimate frisbee. We went to Shapiro Park and started playing some frisbee. Enter wind. It was way too windy for a frisbee. Enter football. We decided to play football instead. I had a Chris Johnson-esque touchdown run, which probably would've been the talk of game, but SOMEONE whose name starts with a J and ends with an Ennie had to be selfish and steal the show. In a total freak accident, Jennie broke her hip. She's laid up for a few weeks. We all feel terrible for her, but she's one of the toughest women I know, so she'll muscle through it. When the EMT's were putting her on the stretcher, in the middle of the pandemonium, I was sitting in the car with baby Olivia and I heard Ryan say "We should've just watched Face-Off."......agreed.