Christmas Recap

Christmas was busy this year - in many ways more than usual. We had some driving to do such as picking up and dropping off Steph's grandmother so she could spend Christmas at our house. We also hosted Christmas for Steph's immediate family this year - long story short, her parent's kitchen is in the middle of a renovation. We drove down to spend Christmas Eve with my parents and my youngest sister and her three adorable girls... stay tuned for photos. And finally, I drove 6 hours out and 6 hours back to Ohio yesterday to see my grandmother and have an un-official family reunion of sorts, minus one sister and two nephews. Whew!

I did get some nice stuff this year - not the "all running" Christmas theme as last year, but still great stuff - stuff I wanted and needed. Some of the things I received were: new headphones for my mp3 player, a new hat to wear while I run when it's cold (underarmor), some ice/snow cleats for running outside in bad conditions (I wonder if I'll even be able to try these out?), a "marathon freak" sticker for my truck, a "26.2" coffee mug, money - gotta get new shoes (trail and regular)! Oh... I also got some dress shirts, a sweater, a cool long-sleeve t-shirt and some coffee from my favorite coffee roaster on the planet! I L-O-V-E the Hemingway's Hair of the Dog® roast - it is so smooth... the high caffeine doesn't hurt either...

The bad news is that I have not run in almost three weeks, but my reading is going well. I am freaking out on the inside, but remaining calm on the outside. The knee feels good and I have had no pain in a few days - not in the slightest. So, I am planning a run on Saturday. Hopefully I can finish a very easy 3 miles with no pain. If that is the case I will slowly get my base back up to where I was and get ready for training for my spring marathon - The Flying Pig.

As the days of 2006 tick down, I will be spending it designing my remaining plans for 2007. I believe I had hinted at this before, but not only am I planning on the Flying Pig in May, but also the Marine Corp Marathon in October. I'll need to work out the details ahead of time so it is feasible, but these are the big picture items for the year.

I wish you all a safe and Happy New Year!

merry christmas

holiday interlude

'Twas the week before Christmas and there was the sun, The weather was perfect but Dave didn’t run.

His knee was still sore but better each day, Yet he still couldn’t run, not yet anyway.

He took a week off from running is what I hear, In hopes that he’d heal and have nothing to fear.

His knee didn’t hurt all weekend long, But Monday morning came and it was the same old song

So another week off is what he’ll heed, And try this weekend to run like a steed.

I hope you all are enjoying the holiday season, And that maybe you find my poem somewhat pleasin’

I’ll post more about running on my blog, But for now I am going to drink egg nog.

I wish you all the best and hope you have fun, Merry Christmas to all and to all a good run!

the 7 year itch

A sort of non-running related post today... Today is my and my wife's 7th wedding anniversary. Though, back on December 7th was our 10 year anniversary of our first date. In the past 7 years, we have had our ups an downs, just like any relationship I imagine, but we get through it all. Not too unlike running a marathon, or running in general - where there are good runs and bad and times during a marathon when things look bleak, but yet somehow one perseveres. I think running really has helped give me the perspective in all things, not just marriage, to deal with the bad and get through it, so you get get to the good again. Here's to many more years of 'the good'...

Tonight we celebrate with a nice dinner at Agio's - a great Italian Restaurant in downtown Indy, followed by a relaxing stroll through downtown...

patellar tendinitis

" Patellar tendinitis is inflammation of one of the knee-joint tendons. Tendinitis occurs when tissue breakdown outpaces regrowth, and is caused by increased mileage, hills (especially downhills), and pace. Running through tendinitis will make it worse and prolong your recovery, says Davis. But treated early, it can heal in a few weeks. Here's how: cross-train, ice, wear a patella strap, take anti-inflammatories, stretch, and do exercises to strengthen the joint and quadriceps, such as leg extensions."

This is my diagnosis of what is wrong with my knee. It makes sense based on my running leading up to the point when the pain started. The knee is feeling marginally better, so I am thinking it is healing itself, but I do not see any running for me for the rest of the year... at least not until the pain is altogether gone. This will force me into stretches and cross training - both of which I have needed to focus on better anyway... I have until the beginning of January until I will need to start training for the Flying Pig Marathon, so I will determine then if I will definitely be running it or not...

I have also decided to spend some time catching up on my reading. I stopped by the library on the way home last night and picked up this:

I am hoping to distract myself from my non-running with a good book...

confessions of an addict

Okay, I am being a little dramatic... or am I?

It has been 3 days since I ran and my knee is not feeling much better. It doesn't hurt when it is not in motion, it doesn't hurt if I press on it or anything around it. I cannot run until my knee feels better - in fact, I can't really walk without it hurting (if I walk too fast). I am trying to not worry about reaching my mileage goal for the year - no big deal actually. I am surprisingly not depressed, but perhaps it hasn't hit me yet. I would like to get on with running, I need it. I feel a little empty without it. Even with everything else I have to do (work, finish Christmas shopping, wrap gifts, miscellaneous family stuff, etc.) I feel like I am not doing anything.

Then my thoughts start going to the questions like: "Why now?" "Is it serious?" "Should I go to the doctor?" "What do I do if he says no running for a long time?" "What if he says I need surgery?" Obviously my mind jumps the gun a bit - and if it had it's own stomach, it would have an ulcer by now, but I am coping. One day at a time. But man, I need a running fix really bad...

i don't knee-d this...

I woke up this morning and my right knee was a little sore. I had noticed during my run yesterday that it was a little sore, but it wasn't sharp, it didn't affect my running, so I continued. It wasn't the first time I felt something like that, so I didn't pay much attention to it. But this morning, it was different. I stretched it gently and flexed it only to hear it making a snapping noise... not good. I decided to test it out on the treadmill to see how it felt.

Well... I got a total of 3/4 of a mile and the pain was too much for me to take. So, no running for me today, and maybe none tomorrow. Maybe I just ran too much during the week... though I did have Wednesday off.

I will try again tomorrow morning if it feels better, but otherwise will rest, ice and repeat as necessary...

Not the way I want to end the year and hopfully I can still reach my 1,000 mile goal...

even my tree is in the running spirit...

93 to go...

So far so good. My plan to get to 1,000 miles for the year is well on it's way. I am right on track to reach my goal. I was able to take Wednesday off this week, so I can give my body a little rest, and I ran this morning at a nice easy pace. I am feeling pretty good, a little tired as I am squeezing my runs in whenever I possibly can.

On another note, our Christmas tree was put up last weekend (a vintage 1960's aluminum christmas tree, complete with color wheel). Last year was the first time we put it up and we really liked it - nostalgic and sentimental for my wife (it was her grandmother's). As for Christmas shopping, I am 95% done with it, with only my wife to finish up. I am mailing off my three sister's and grandmother's gifts today.

Saturday is my wife's family Christmas party. We will head up to Muncie, Indiana to her aunt's house for the festivities.

Anyway, that is all for now. I will update my progress in a couple of more days... stay warm out there!

104.8

No, this isn't the temperature (far from it). This number represents the miles I have remaining to reach my 1,000 miles in a year goal (running only - no biking or walking). Last year I tallied up my mileage and it was 924... a little short of the 1,000 mark. So this year I am making the push to get there - sort of in the spirit of Dean Karnazes, but without anything remotely "ultra" about it...

Actually, by my calculations, I only need to run 4 miles every day through the end of the year, so I expect to have no problem getting there. I'll keep you posted...

jingle bell run

It was my last race of the year... the Jingle Bell Run 5k. I had high hopes of posting a quick time, and while it wasn't what I asked Santa for, it was a respectable time...

It was a very sunny, but very cold (28 degrees) morning. I got to packet pick-up with 40 minutes to spare before the race, so I took my time, did an easy jog to and from for a warm-up to find out I needed my hat! I almost NEVER wear a hat (not too shabby for a "folically challenged guy"), but this morning my ears were cold to the point they hurt. So I grabbed my hat when I got back to my truck and then headed over to the starting line with jingle bells attached to my running shoes...

The race was chip timed, but there was no starting mat, so I tried to start right at the front, but once again got behind too many people (I underestimate how fast I have gotten over the last year and a half) and I spent the first half mile weaving around people - but there was plenty of room for all runners and it was a great time. I love this race because it is kind of fun to run and hear almost nothing but the sound of jingle bells for the entire 5k! They had Christmas music playing on the track where the race started near and finished on.

I spent the enitre run thinking I was going too slow, and feeling sluggish. I tried to push as much as I could at the last mile - the slight hills felt like nothing surprisingly though. All of the races I have run on this same course (and there are a lot of 5k races that use the same course) I slowed on these inclines, but this time they were not a factor - I was keeping my stride.

I do not know how I did for each mile - I chose not to time myself, but just run by how my body felt. My overall performance was 23:51 for a 7:40/mile pace. A new PR! I was slightly disappointed that I did not place in the top three in my group, which was the "Santa weight" division instead of my normal age group, though I faired better in this race placing 5th.

So the remainder of the year is going to be focused on my mileage and trying to get over a 1,000 miles for the year... I have seen a lot of runners post much higher mileage for the year, and that is my goal for next year so I will hopefully become a stronger, faster and leaner runner...

Happy Holidays to all!

he who hesitates...

will find himself without a race...

OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon sold out with 35,000 entries 500 Festival celebrates record registration

INDIANAPOLIS (November 27, 2006) – The 500 Festival announced today the 31st Running of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini-Marathon has sold out with 35,000 entries in record time. This comes five months in advance of the May 5,2007 race. This year participants from 50 states and seven countries have registered. Entries postmarked on or before today, November 27, will be accepted.

This marks the earliest sell-out for the event. The 2006 event sold out December 2, 2005 with 35,000 entries. The 2005 event sold out by December 13, 2004 with 30,000 entries. The annual road race celebrating the Indianapolis 500 has continued to grow since its inception in 1977 and a field of 800 participants

Well, it looks like I lost track of time and didn't get signed up. I was indecisive on whether I would run the Mini again or try something new. I guess my mind has been made up for me... I now have to choose a new race to run this spring... I am thinking it is time for a spring marathon... and my decision is the Flying Pig...

Training will commence in January -- I can't wait!