Day 365, 0 To Go

December 31, 2013

Happy New Year!!  Yay!  I'm finished!  365 days of running in 2013!  365 days of writing blogs!  365 days of running through rain, snow, sleet and hail!  Ok, that is a bit of an exaggeration since it doesn't really snow, sleet or hail in Florida, but what difference does it make because I am DONE!

Today is January 1st, 2014.  I am enjoying my first day of rest from running in a year.  I kind of don't know what to do with myself though.  I am planning on taking a break from all exercise for at least a week, but I will start doing some workouts next week, just not running.  I will take a 2 to 3 week break from that, depending on how my body feels.

So, how did my last run go?  Did I ignore my good advice and run fast or did I take it easy?  If you have been reading my blog for a while, you probably know the answer.  I always ignore good advice, especially my own.

Here are my numbers:

Time: 30:00

Distance: 4.21 miles

Pace: 7:07/m

Max Pace: 5:47/m

Calories: 448

Avg HR: 162

Max HR: 174

Honey rolled with me on my last run as well.  It seemed only fitting that she bookend my year by at least accompanying me for my last run, even if she could not run herself.  She kept me motivated.  My pace of 7:07 was the fastest of the year!  My average HR was well into the anaerobic zone and my max even higher.  I think my max was probably higher than 174 because right after I finished, my watch said 130 which was impossible.  I ran the last .21 miles at a 6:21 pace, so my heart must have been racing.  I believe the battery in my HR monitor is going.  In either case, 174 is high enough.

It was hard, but not as hard as I expected.  My pace for each mile was 7:06, 7:11, 7:13, 7:07 & 6:21 for the last .21 miles.  I was fairly steady throughout the run which is what you want to do in a short race.  I found myself often going faster than 7:00 and I would slow down because I didn't want to burn out and I only need to beat 7:19.  I banked seconds each mile which I kept track of in case I needed the rest.  I didn't and I would say, if this was a race and I was properly prepared, that I could have gone a bit faster...just a bit.  My 5k time would be around 22:15, although I didn't keep track of it.  Also, if I was just running a 5k (3.1 miles) I could have run faster.  This is good to know when I start my normal training up again because I need to know how fast I should run my intervals.  I think 7:00 pace or slightly faster is a good place to start based on this time trial.  I am considering doing a 5k time trial to get an even better result and one that represents my ability once I am rested.

Ok, enough of that.  Let's take a look at the monthly/yearly numbers:

              Total Miles | Total Time
January          52.24    |    9:25:00
February         52.01    |    8:40:07
March            74.57    |   11:30:00
April            75.59    |   12:00:16 
May              79.51    |   12:31:00
June             82.35    |   12:40:19
July             92.09    |   15:01:00
August          100.52    |   16:15:00  
September        87.29    |   14:21:21 
October         102.79    |   15:45:00 
November        100.29    |   15:13:14
December        104.16    |   15:51:00
Total         1,003.41       159:13:17                  

Here is a week by week breakdown:

Steve's Total Miles Logged: 104.16
Partial Week 1: 6.58
Week 2: 22.79
Week 3: 24.21
Week 4: 23.55
Week 5: 22.82
Partial Week 6: 4.21

Total Running Time: 15:51:00

I logged the most miles of any month this month and I finished with just over 1,000 miles for the year!  I ran for 159+ hours!  That is a lot of time, not to mention the prep time and the showers and the resting.  This goal took a big chunk of my time, but I have no regrets (yet...I have a sinking suspicion that I will end up injured all year due to my exuberance this past year!) and I may even try this again at some point.  Maybe I will try to ride my bike every day or more likely, swim every day.  I would need a pool close by to do that.  Perhaps I will have my own pool one day.  I'd love to have an Endless Pool at my home.  If I had one of those, I would swim every day.

As I wrap up my final blog of the year, I want to thank everyone who encouraged or helped or read my blog or just put up with my daily run.  First, and foremost, I have to thank Honey, my loving wife.  The fact that she ran with me at all was a blessing.  I would never have been able to do it without her help.  I was saddened by her injury and mentally, it hurt in the last month to have to run alone.  I will of course encourage her to run in 2014!  Are you ready Honey!

I want to thank the rest of my family: Mom, Derek, Ayla, Kaylee, Joshua, Cinthia, Fabio (aka Fluffy) my training partners Mike and Daryll and all the people I waved to every day while I ran.  I would NOT like to thank the dogs that chased me though.  You are just lucky I am nice and I didn't kick you in the face!

Lastly, and very importantly, I want to thank you all who read my blog.  Whether you read one day or all 365 days, I was and continue to be thrilled to entertain you.  Not counting this blog, I had 7,881 views.  That comes out to 21.65 views per blog!  Not too bad.  Not enough to get my paid or get a job writing anything other than my grocery list, but still something I am proud of!

I will continue to blog throughout 2014, but it will most likely be a weekly blog.  I hope you come back and continue to read.  Until then....you know...

Run for Life!!

Excited about my last day of running

On your mark, get set....GO!!!

Day 364, 1 To Go

December 30, 2013

It's back to work for a couple of days before I get another day off on New Year's Day.  That's means that the real fun is tomorrow.  Not only is it my LAST day to run for the year, it is the day when you are expected to get rip, roaring drunk!  Since I won't need to run on Wednesday, I can handle a hangover.

Who am I kidding...I can't handle my alcohol.  I don't know what happened.  I used to be able to drink a little bit, but now, I just need to look at a beer and I end up with a headache the next day.  I think I am just out of practice.  Maybe I need to practice more next year.  That is a good New Year's Resolution: Get better at drinking!

I ran alone today since I was working a little late and it was too dark for Honey to Rollerblade.  I mean, she could have done it, but it might have been a little bit dangerous.  Come on Honey, live dangerously!!  Here are my numbers:

Time: 30:00

Distance: 3.55 miles

Pace: 8:26/m

Max Pace: 7:05/m

Calories: 367

Avg HR: 134

Max HR: 144

It was a little bit chilly today so I wore long pants and a shirt with long sleeves.  I felt pretty loose today too, so I ran a little faster today.  I know I could have gone quite a bit faster, but I didn't want to make my last day too hard.  I had planned on making my last day a really fast day, but I don't know if I will have it in me or not.  I think I will just run as fast as I feel.  If that means I run 10 min miles or 7 min miles, so be it!

My fastest pace so far this year was 7:19 back in April when I was only running 20 minutes a day.  I know I can beat that, but I don't know if I should!  I know if I try to run that fast I will hurt my hip more, my ankle more, and probably a few other things.  I don't want to take too much time off in the new year, so it may be more beneficial to my plans for next year if I take it easy.  I have a hard time doing that sometimes! 

Stay tuned tomorrow for my last blog of the year tomorrow along with my end of the month and end of the year numbers!  I want to thank all of you who have continued to read my blog throughout the entire year!  With your support and the support of my family, I am only 1 day away from reaching my goal!

Run for Life!!

Day 363, 2 To Go

December 29, 2013

Honey and I made a cake today.  My mother's cousin, Annita, was turning 90 and she asked for a small cake for her birthday.  We had planned to do something simple, but somehow, it turned into something more complex.  The worst part, we didn't take any pictures of the damn cake!  WHAT!  All that work and nothing to show for it.  It's not like we are going to be eating it, so not only do we not have anything to put on our website, www.cupncakesgourmet.com, we didn't even taste the damn thing!

So we spent almost the whole day doing that except for a little run during the afternoon.  Yes, Honey joined me on her Rollerblades today again.  That was a nice pick me up for the day.  I only have 2 days left and I needed the motivation!!  I am getting pretty excited that I am almost done.  My body is even more excited and it is begging me to stop!  Don't worry, body, only 2 more days and you'll get your rest.

Here are my numbers for today:

Time: 30:00

Distance: 3.35 miles

Pace: 8:58/m

Max Pace: 7:46/m

Calories: 348

Avg HR: 134

Max HR: 147

Hey, I broke 9 min miles today.  It's been a slow month and it is nice to know I have not lost all my speed.  I know that rest is one of the most important parts of your training, and it allows you to heal and to get faster.  If that is true, in a month, I should be able to run a 4 min mile!  Ok, that is completely unrealistic, but a runner can dream, no?

I would actually rather run a 3:30 marathon than a 4 min mile.  Actually, I would like to qualify for Boston, but that would mean I need to run a 3:15 marathon!  Yikes!  That is a 7:26 pace.  I can do that for 30 minutes on a really good day.  I guess my strategy will be to keep running the pace I am running now until my 70s, then I can qualify!!

Ok, folks, it's time to sign off.  Talk to you tomorrow!

Run for Life!!

Day 362, 3 To Go

December 28, 2013

Only three days left!  As I get closer, I get more and more paranoid that I am going to get hurt.  Every time I step out of my room, I encounter a minefield of children's toys: balls, dolls, cars, and the worst...Legos!  One errant step on a Lego will not only cause intense pain, it will ruin my last three days!  If you don't believe me, go over a friend's house who has children and don't look where you are walking.  You'll eventually step on one and you will realize that the pain is worse than childbirth (not that I would know that personally, but I've heard...)

The problem with being paranoid is that you end up making what you are afraid of happen.  A self fulfilling prophecy, so to speak.  I just need to relax and try to enjoy the last few days.  I know I have been struggling lately, but since I am going to take a few weeks off, I will probably miss running, so I should enjoy it while it lasts.

Here are today's numbers:

Time: 30:00

Distance: 3.16 miles

Pace: 9:28/m

Max Pace: 6:12/m

Calories: 316

Avg HR: 124

Max HR: 146

I am so slow this month.  I am on course to have my best month as far as miles is concerned, but I definitely won't have my fastest month.  Sometimes, though, long and slow is the way to go!  Don't believe me, ask you wife if she likes is fast and quick or long and slow!

Today was an early run and Honey actually Rollerbladed with me today! It was nice to have the company and it help stave off the boredom.  Hopefully she will come with me again tomorrow.

Run for Life!!

Day 361, 4 To Go

December 27, 2013

Today is like Monday and Friday, all rolled into one!  After two days off, I have to work, so that makes it feel like Monday.  It is also my last day of work this week, so it is like a Friday!  It is my Froday...or maybe my Mriday...maybe my Fonday?  Whatever it is, it sucks! HA!

No one is in the office today.  I must have gone at least 2 hours straight without receiving any new email.  That is unheard of.  So, I took it upon myself to catch up on performance reviews.  I had 10 to do and I finished 9!  I supposed I could have banged out that last one, but it was 5pm and I shut off my computer right away!  I am done!!

I ran right after work and here are my numbers:

Time: 30:00

Distance: 3.20 miles

Pace: 9:21/m

Max Pace: 8:06/m

Calories: 320

Avg HR: 127

Max HR: 135

I am down to 4 days left!  That also means I only have 4 days left to solidify my New Year's Resolutions!  Here are some ideas that are banging around in my head:

1. Bike twice a week, even if it is on my trainer.  I will use Netflix and watch Breaking Bad for motivation
2. Run 4 to 5 times a week and work on getting faster and going longer
3. Swim somewhere.  I miss swimming
4. Work on strength and my core
5. Cook at least once a week with Honey.  We need new recipes and we can do it together
6. Eat veggies at least twice a day!
7. Stop drinking soda completely (or at least limit myself to no more than 2 cans a week)
8. Drop the holiday weight
9. Study and pass the test to get my PMP certification 
10. Become independently wealthy so I can quit my job
11. Participate in an Supermodel orgy

 What do you think?  I think they are all good goals.  Ok, the last two are stretch goals, but hey, a guy can dream! What are you resolutions!  Do you have any good ideas!  Comment and let me know.  I am always looking for inspiration!!

Run for Life!!

Day 360, 5 To Go

December 26, 2013

The day after Christmas is like the day after an all night drinking binge.  You have a hangover, but instead of your head hurting and you being dehydrated, your wallet hurts and your bank account as fertile as a desert.  I think I'd rather have a traditional hangover!!

Sure, it was fun and everyone was smiling, but just like after a night of serious drinking where you may have said things you shouldn't have and slept with someone you may regret in the future, you bought things you shouldn't have and you regret the bill that will come in 30 days. 

Nothing like running with a hangover...actually, I don't think I have ever done that.  I don't want to try, that's for sure.  I did run today, of course, and my hangover was of the fiscal variety, so it didn't affect my run.  Here are my numbers:

Time: 30:00

Distance: 3.02 miles

Pace: 9:55/m

Max Pace: 5:57/m

Calories: 287

Avg HR: 117

Max HR: 133

What can I say about today's run other than blah.  I am really feeling the strain mentally at this point.  I know I only have 5 more days, but it feels like 50!  How odd!  In the beginning, I couldn't wait to get out there every day.  After all the physical pain and mental difficulty, I am finally drained.  It kind of makes me feel like a loser...but just a bit.  I am proud of what I have achieved but on the other hand, I was reading an article in Runner's World magazine about a young lady who is basically a professional, at least on par with them, but still in school, and she tells about her first marathon.  Of course it was great.  She also toured the world as part of some exchange program where she got to meet with runners from all over the world.  At the end of the year, she said she had run over 3,000 miles.  It may have been 3,500, but I can't remember the number, the article, or her name.  My 1,000 miles seems puny and insignificant!

I read all the time about people who run every day and do 100 mile races, and they used to seem superhuman to me.  Now, I think they are SUPERHUMAN because I know how hard it is to just run 30 minutes a day!  They human body can be an impressive machine.  Some machines, like mine, are just lacking a few horsepower!

I don't know how I'll feel when I am done, but I hope I feel proud and energized for the new year.  I also hope I have encouraged at least one person to get out there and to try something they didn't think they could do.  I didn't think I would get this far.  I really didn't!  I figured I would fall apart halfway through the year.  I always knew I could handle it mentally, but physically...that was my challenge.  This is the first year I made it all the way through without a debilitating injury!  I hope next year is the same!

Run for Life!!

Day 359, 6 To Go

December 25, 2013

Merry Christmas!!  I'm going to make this nice and short as this is a day for family and celebration, not sitting at my desk writing a blog!!  I hope all of you have a wonderful Christmas and that you are able to spend this day with your family and friends.  It is a day for giving (ok, and receiving!!) and a day to share your love and for some of you, a day to worship your respective gods.  Whatever you are doing, just be happy and jolly and have fun!

Here are my numbers today:

Time: 30:00

Distance: 3.18 miles

Pace: 9:26/m

Max Pace: 8:27/m

Calories: 336

Avg HR: 127

Max HR: 136

I was able to sneak out of the house for my 30 minute run and it is over with only 6 more days to go!  I'll leave you with a picture of what Santa brought our little ones this year:

Lots of fun things that everyone can play with.  I hope it keeps them busy throughout the day, because I need to rest after all that shopping and all of the "some assembly required!!"

Merry Christmas!

Run for Life!!