I'd like to publicly apologize on behalf of my two year old daughter, to the older woman we often see eating alone at Wegman's on Friday nights, who looks like she's wearing a wig that sits too high on her head.
I'm not sure if you heard her say it, but if you did, I am sorry that my child said that you have "a critter on your head" and that you were the "critter lady."
That is all.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
The Ten 5k Challenge - Race #2 Recap
I made a New Year's Resolution to run ten 5k races in 2010. Here is a recap that I wrote this past Sunday, for the Father's Day 5k in Fulton.
Felt great the entire run today, finished with a clocked time of 24:09 (my watch said 24:07 but there was a 1-2 second delay as I was a few rows back of the front row of runners). Knocked out the first mile in a cool 7:31, which was good. A slight hill in the first mile as it went up and away from the lake, and a water stop at the 2:30 mark that I ignored. Since this was a up and back race this stop was more strategically placed for the end-run.
Knocked out the second mile in exactly 8 minutes, so I was at 15:31 for 2 miles. This was after reaching the turnaround point and dousing a cup of water on my back. I realized that I had been coasting a bit at the 2 mile mark, so I turned it up, found a nice rhythm and some shade and upped it a bit. Got to the third mile at 23:17, so I was a 7:48 for the third mile. The race ended around the corner from the start and they threw one more big hill in at around the 2.8 mile mark, but I had enough juice to push up the hill. Didn't even try to drink the water, just dumped it on my back again at that point.
Finished 35th out of the first 135 runners to finish when they posted the times... and there were still people finishing when they posted it. I suspect they had over 150 finishers. The 24:09 time put me fourth overall in my M35-39 age group, which was won by a guy about 75 seconds ahead of me. UPDATE: Results updated, finished 34th out of 180 runners who finished and 3rd overall in my age group.
I think if I keep improving I could actually finish first in my age group in one of these smaller races, that has 100-200 entrants. And that would be a real coup! In the interim I was happy to be 69 seconds faster than my race time from two weeks ago. Next race isn't for another 5 weeks so I have time to work on it. God damn, it is fun to do these races I must admit. Way more fun than I thought it would be. Having success, finishing high in my age group, helps to make it more enjoyable. It's such a contrast to my horrific golf game, where I'm the worst golfer in my league.
UPDATE #2: Registered to run a 5k next weekend in Virginia while there visiting my cousin.
Felt great the entire run today, finished with a clocked time of 24:09 (my watch said 24:07 but there was a 1-2 second delay as I was a few rows back of the front row of runners). Knocked out the first mile in a cool 7:31, which was good. A slight hill in the first mile as it went up and away from the lake, and a water stop at the 2:30 mark that I ignored. Since this was a up and back race this stop was more strategically placed for the end-run.
Knocked out the second mile in exactly 8 minutes, so I was at 15:31 for 2 miles. This was after reaching the turnaround point and dousing a cup of water on my back. I realized that I had been coasting a bit at the 2 mile mark, so I turned it up, found a nice rhythm and some shade and upped it a bit. Got to the third mile at 23:17, so I was a 7:48 for the third mile. The race ended around the corner from the start and they threw one more big hill in at around the 2.8 mile mark, but I had enough juice to push up the hill. Didn't even try to drink the water, just dumped it on my back again at that point.
Finished 35th out of the first 135 runners to finish when they posted the times... and there were still people finishing when they posted it. I suspect they had over 150 finishers. The 24:09 time put me fourth overall in my M35-39 age group, which was won by a guy about 75 seconds ahead of me. UPDATE: Results updated, finished 34th out of 180 runners who finished and 3rd overall in my age group.
I think if I keep improving I could actually finish first in my age group in one of these smaller races, that has 100-200 entrants. And that would be a real coup! In the interim I was happy to be 69 seconds faster than my race time from two weeks ago. Next race isn't for another 5 weeks so I have time to work on it. God damn, it is fun to do these races I must admit. Way more fun than I thought it would be. Having success, finishing high in my age group, helps to make it more enjoyable. It's such a contrast to my horrific golf game, where I'm the worst golfer in my league.
UPDATE #2: Registered to run a 5k next weekend in Virginia while there visiting my cousin.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Five Fun Things To Do at a Urinal
1. Sidle up next to someone already using a urinal and start using the same urinal at the same time. But be nonchalant about the whole thing.
2. Work on your arc -- see how far you can stand from the urinal without making a mess on the floor.
3. Exclaim loudly to someone using the adjacent urinal about how much fun you're having.
4. Bring a toy sailboat and put it in your urinal, to leave it as a nice surprise for the next guy.
5. Tell your urinal neighbor about the time you met Bea Arthur at adjacent urinals.
2. Work on your arc -- see how far you can stand from the urinal without making a mess on the floor.
3. Exclaim loudly to someone using the adjacent urinal about how much fun you're having.
4. Bring a toy sailboat and put it in your urinal, to leave it as a nice surprise for the next guy.
5. Tell your urinal neighbor about the time you met Bea Arthur at adjacent urinals.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Running Updates
Yesterday, I ran my fastest ever 5k. I felt great, the weather was warm and sunny, and I loosen up quick in those conditions. I ran hard right out of the gate and finished my first mile in just 7:25. I then eased up for the last two miles and ran closer to my normal 8 minute pace, and finished in under 24 minutes for the first time at 23:58.
It's hard to believe that seven months ago, when I started running, I labored on a treadmill to run 2.15 miles in 30 minutes, and I ached in fifteen different muscles the next morning. I am proud of my progress.
This upcoming Sunday I am running in a Father's Day 5k in Fulton, New York. It's in memoriam of a guy like me, who was 35 with two young kids before having a heart attack and dying. Sad story, and it makes me appreciative of my health and my family both.
Last year this race had about 140 participants. So this will be smaller than the 1200 runners I ran with 10 days ago in the Paige's Butterfly Run, but bigger than the 20 or so people I ran against last week in the 5k-that-wasn't.
I hope to get two more practice runs in this week, one tomorrow afternoon and one Friday afternoon. The goal, right now, is to continue to improve my finish times and maintain my health in the process.
It's hard to believe that seven months ago, when I started running, I labored on a treadmill to run 2.15 miles in 30 minutes, and I ached in fifteen different muscles the next morning. I am proud of my progress.
This upcoming Sunday I am running in a Father's Day 5k in Fulton, New York. It's in memoriam of a guy like me, who was 35 with two young kids before having a heart attack and dying. Sad story, and it makes me appreciative of my health and my family both.
Last year this race had about 140 participants. So this will be smaller than the 1200 runners I ran with 10 days ago in the Paige's Butterfly Run, but bigger than the 20 or so people I ran against last week in the 5k-that-wasn't.
I hope to get two more practice runs in this week, one tomorrow afternoon and one Friday afternoon. The goal, right now, is to continue to improve my finish times and maintain my health in the process.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Like Forrest Gump, I'm a Runnin Fool
Just home from my first ever competitive 5k, and I have to say that it was by far the most fun I ever had running. Without question.
I did everything my running friends all told me not to do, and common sense dictated, last night and this morning -- last night I had a big panini for dinner, and then gin drinks at home, and a big bowl of cereal and milk this morning. I figured I'd be best off keeping my normal Friday PM/Saturday morning AM routine intact. Got there ridiculously early -- about 50 minutes before race time, and just milled about. I was hoping to encounter someone I knew, but apparently most of my Syracuse friends are doughy fucks. I did knock back a cup of coffee.
Big crowd at this race, I saw registration numbers up into the 1300s. I fell into the starting group about 20 rows or so back from the start.
Got going into a nice pace about 15 seconds after crossing the starting line, felt awesome. Sweet running weather -- overcast, a light breeze. A little humid but nothing oppressive. Hit the first mile split at 7:55 net time (I used my own watch to track my time). Had a half a cup of water and nearly choked on it... I don't usually drink anything while running so I wasn't sure how to drink out of a cup and run at the same time.
Hit the second mile split at 16:05 net time, about what I've been doing in my practice runs.
Last water stop, just shy of mile 3, I took a few sips and dumped the rest on my back (I can't dump them on my head without getting a lot of water on my glasses). Third mile I hit at about 24:15. Again, not my best ever pace but the course was pretty hilly. A nice run, along the inner harbor of Syracuse. Lots of kids and adults cheering the runners on as the race went, which was cool.
In the home stretch I noticed a little girl, running at a good clip. I asked her how old she was. "Nine and a half." I told her she was awesome and I was going to try and keep up with her to the finish line. It didn't happen -- she dusted me in fact. Not only that but two guys caught me in the last 10 feet, even though I turned on the jets at the end.
Finished with a gun time of 25:37, net time 25:18. They posted the first 900 finishers (which only went up to about 33 minute times, so they had a LOT of runners out there). I was 252nd overall, and 17th in my M35-39 age bracket. One of the two guys who caught me was 16th in my age group. Drat.
Still, it was really fun to run with other people, in what is usually a very solitary thing for me. Even though I didn't know anyone out there today, I still felt a kinship with the other runners. And, of course, all of my online running buddies who were with me in spirit.
After I finished I knocked back a bottled water and watched other people finish for 10 minutes and then split after they posted the results.
I would do this again in A SECOND. Nice of my wife to take Nate to karate class this morning, and take Isabel along for the ride, so I could do this race. Need to figure out my next race to run.
I did everything my running friends all told me not to do, and common sense dictated, last night and this morning -- last night I had a big panini for dinner, and then gin drinks at home, and a big bowl of cereal and milk this morning. I figured I'd be best off keeping my normal Friday PM/Saturday morning AM routine intact. Got there ridiculously early -- about 50 minutes before race time, and just milled about. I was hoping to encounter someone I knew, but apparently most of my Syracuse friends are doughy fucks. I did knock back a cup of coffee.
Big crowd at this race, I saw registration numbers up into the 1300s. I fell into the starting group about 20 rows or so back from the start.
Got going into a nice pace about 15 seconds after crossing the starting line, felt awesome. Sweet running weather -- overcast, a light breeze. A little humid but nothing oppressive. Hit the first mile split at 7:55 net time (I used my own watch to track my time). Had a half a cup of water and nearly choked on it... I don't usually drink anything while running so I wasn't sure how to drink out of a cup and run at the same time.
Hit the second mile split at 16:05 net time, about what I've been doing in my practice runs.
Last water stop, just shy of mile 3, I took a few sips and dumped the rest on my back (I can't dump them on my head without getting a lot of water on my glasses). Third mile I hit at about 24:15. Again, not my best ever pace but the course was pretty hilly. A nice run, along the inner harbor of Syracuse. Lots of kids and adults cheering the runners on as the race went, which was cool.
In the home stretch I noticed a little girl, running at a good clip. I asked her how old she was. "Nine and a half." I told her she was awesome and I was going to try and keep up with her to the finish line. It didn't happen -- she dusted me in fact. Not only that but two guys caught me in the last 10 feet, even though I turned on the jets at the end.
Finished with a gun time of 25:37, net time 25:18. They posted the first 900 finishers (which only went up to about 33 minute times, so they had a LOT of runners out there). I was 252nd overall, and 17th in my M35-39 age bracket. One of the two guys who caught me was 16th in my age group. Drat.
Still, it was really fun to run with other people, in what is usually a very solitary thing for me. Even though I didn't know anyone out there today, I still felt a kinship with the other runners. And, of course, all of my online running buddies who were with me in spirit.
After I finished I knocked back a bottled water and watched other people finish for 10 minutes and then split after they posted the results.
I would do this again in A SECOND. Nice of my wife to take Nate to karate class this morning, and take Isabel along for the ride, so I could do this race. Need to figure out my next race to run.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
T-2 Days Till Race Day!
After seven months of training for it, I am just 43 hours away from my first ever competitive 5k! My race begins Saturday morning at 9 AM. Today I'm going to be getting my final practice run in and picking up my race packet.
I'm a bit nervous... last year this event, the Paige's Butterfly Run, had nearly 800 participants. I usually run by myself and with headphones on, whereas this Saturday I'll be with hundreds of others and listening to myself huff and puff for a half hour.
Most of my practice 5k's the last month have timed at between 24 and 26 minutes, so I'm hopeful to finish somewhere in that range this weekend.
Feel free to come out this Saturday and cheer me on! I realize that few, if anyone, is actually reading this, but if you are, then come by. The wife will be taking my son to karate class with my daughter along for the ride, so a cheering section wouldn't be unwelcome.
I'm a bit nervous... last year this event, the Paige's Butterfly Run, had nearly 800 participants. I usually run by myself and with headphones on, whereas this Saturday I'll be with hundreds of others and listening to myself huff and puff for a half hour.
Most of my practice 5k's the last month have timed at between 24 and 26 minutes, so I'm hopeful to finish somewhere in that range this weekend.
Feel free to come out this Saturday and cheer me on! I realize that few, if anyone, is actually reading this, but if you are, then come by. The wife will be taking my son to karate class with my daughter along for the ride, so a cheering section wouldn't be unwelcome.
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