Beautiful Day.

It's a beautiful day
Don't let it get away

You're on the road
But you've got no destination
You're in the mud
In the maze of her imagination

Thank you U2. This past Saturday's 17 mile team long run was cancelled due to the unsafe conditions out on the course. I had to make a tough decision to either run on the treadmill for 17 long, hot, sweaty, excruciating, boring, monotonous, tedious, boring (had to through another one of those in to highlight the dramatic) miles or get out in the great, magnificent, exciting, motivational, inspirational, wonderful, stupendous, fan frickin tastic great outdoors and run with all the glory and beauty that Mother Nature gave us (no I wasn't planning on running in my birthday suit, well... no, that would just be plain wrong!). Tough choice. Not!  

I decided to go into Boston to run because I figured that they would be pretty well dug out on the main routes at this point.  I took my usual scenic route from the Financial District over to the Seaport, into the North End and then over to Charlestown. Made my way back over to Boston and then along the Charles.  The sidewalks, paths and roads were as I had expected. Pretty much smooth sailing. Well, a bit too cold for sailing in the harbor and impossible on the frozen Charles but that is a totally different story.  

I ended up getting in 18.5 glorious training miles on Saturday. It's amazing what a simple thing as getting the chance to run outdoors again can do for your body and mind. It also gave me the chance to get some more pics for Instagram which isn't a bad thing. Beautiful day indeed.

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Change Is Good.

So they say.  For those of you in and around Boston, you know that all of this snow has forced many temporary changes upon us like constant shoveling.  Very looooooong commutes (longer than normal anyway). More shoveling. Running indoors instead of outdoors.  I've been reminded through this all though that change can be a good thing even if just temporary.

The culmination of record breaking amounts of snow ended up canceling our 12 mile team long run last Saturday.  When I heard the news I was a bit disappointed as I look forward to running out on the course with my fellow team mates. It's a bright spot at the end of a long tunnel.  I understand and respect the decision of the coaches to cancel in the end as they are looking out for our safety and I appreciate that. It's helped me reaffirm that it is OK to have to make changes to the daily training plan and not feel guilty about it. I don't have to feel like I'm doing something wrong by not being rigid and following it to the T.  How did I change in light of the canceled team run?  I decided to go to my gym's new location that just recently opened a few towns away.  Yes, it was farther away than my home gym but I figured that change is good. If I'm going to the gym for 2 hours I might as well have a change of scenery. I'm glad that I did try the new location because I went into it with a much more positive attitude than if I had gone and done the same old thing at my regular gym. It paid off because I had a great workout and the time flew by. Well, it went as quickly as it could for running on a treadmill. 

The huge amounts of snow that has fallen over the past several weeks have provided for great cross training opportunities.  There have been several times now when I've had to change my training and instead of running I've had to spend the time shoveling, shoveling, roof raking (yes there is such a thing!), shoveling some more and then shoveling the roof. I didn't feel bad when I had to shovel instead of running because it is such a great aerobic activity.  You can burn around 300 calories every 45 minutes of shoveling. Who knew?  Since I averaged 2 hours of active shoveling each time, I made out pretty well. I definitely ended up using different muscles than I normally would have in running or other cross training. Change is good. 

Snowmageddon has certainly had a huge impact on commuting into and out of the city.  Late trains, cancelled trains, taking busses instead of trains. Trying to strategize how you are going to get where you need to when public transit throws daily obstacles in your way. It's all good in the end. Yes, it forces you out of the mundane daily rituals that come with commuting, out of a nice warm fuzzy happy place and into changed situations that you may not be comfortable with but that makes you that much better in the end. 

What does this all have to do with running?  I really don't know. Just kidding. It has taught me to change things up and to not stick with the same old regime. Find a new route to train on. Go to a different gym location to change things up. Don't be so anal when it comes to my training schedule and change. If I miss a day or have to move things around, it really is going to be OK at the end of the day. 

Tomorrow's 17 mile team long run has been cancelled due to continued unsafe conditions on the course. It's too bad because this was a special run where patients and their families were going to man the water stops.  17 miles on a treadmill?  That just isn't going to happen.  I guess I'm going into the city tomorrow to run before the next storm hits later in the day.  Oh, that's right, no commuter rail service tomorrow due to the MBTA trying to finish up the snow cleanup.  I guess I'll have to drive in.  Change is good Keith.  Change is good.

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Hot. Sweaty. Mess.

OK, hot as in body temperature and not looks. Far from the looks end of things over here.  Let's just say a "sweaty mess" between us friends. You know that you've had a darn good old fashioned training run when you pause, reflect and can say "damn, that was good!"  All the while, standing there in sweaty running gear splattered in road grime and salt. Brand new sneaks crusted with salt. Wet like there is no tomorrow.  A couple of little stones and rock salt in your sock to top it all off.  There is nothing like it.  I guess there probably is something like it but nothing that I can think of right now.  Last week's long run was 16 glorious miles in the great outdoors.  There is such a feeling of accomplishment when you put your all into it, are rewarded with a runner's high and workout gear that seriously needs to be picked up with salad tongs and put in the washer (no idea where salad tongs came from).   

This past Sunday was the end of week 9 of training.  It felt like it was Ground Hog's Day was celebrated this week instead of last week because boy did it feel like Déjà vu.  It felt like it was Ground Hog's Day was celebrated this week instead of last week because boy did it feel like Déjà vu. Sorry, I had to. Snow.  Treadmill.  Snow. Treadmill. I did brave a night run on Beacon Hill and along the Charles a couple of days after a storm. All set there thank you very much. Wow, two lane streets turned into very narrow one lane streets. Cars still completely buried in snow from the first snow storm several weeks ago.  The only visible sign that a car was in a snow mound?  The tiny sliver of what resembled a side mirror.  I felt like I was the poor little frog caught in that 80's classic video arcade game Frogger. Ribbit. A player inserted their quarter, grasped the joystick and was now skillfully navigating me across streets while dodging cars, trucks and busses.  Moving onto the top of the screen and the river.  The Charles river.  Instead of dodging logs, alligators and turtles, it was ice, snow drifts and more ice.  Ribbit.  With another snow storm this weekend, I'm guessing I'm going to be spending a bit more time at the gym than I had wanted to.  Oh well, spring has to get here sometime with warm weather.  Right?  Warm weather to make me even more of a hot, sweaty, mess.  That's right.  A sweaty mess.

Until next time, keep on runnin'!
 

Rick Astley.

You know the rules and so do I
A full commitment's what I'm thinking of
You wouldn't get this from any other guy

I know, if you were around in the late 80's you are probably saying to yourself "Rick Astley, seriously?  What the heck?"  If you were not around then you are probably saying "who the heck is Rick Astley?"  Either way you're also probably saying "what does he have to do with a post on a running blog?"  Well...

Today was the end of week 5 training and the cold snap in New England this week wasn't all that conducive for running outdoors.  I ended up putting on my big boy pants though and ran every scheduled day outdoors except for Thursday when the wind chill was -24.  I figured that I really wasn't in the mood for frostbite.  I like my fingers and piggy toes just the way they are!  Thursday turned into a gym day instead.  Yes, the "treadmill".  OK, I can completely say that I absolutely, 100% cannot stand the treadmill.  Well, 100% cannot run the treadmill.  Get it?  "Stand"...  "Run"...  I know, that was a bad one!  Anyway, it was excruciating.  I ended up stopping at 3.8 miles and did cardio for rest of the session.  That was the first time back on the treadmill doing actual running since last winter's training (I have done fast paced walking at an incline of 15 recently for some added cardio but that is it).  I felt like a hamster running around the living room floor in one of those clear plastic balls.  Everyone who has had a hamster knows what I'm talking about.  Everyone else is like, "what the frick is he talking about?".  Running on a treadmill is the absolute most boring thing imaginable.  OK, maybe it is not the most, but it is pretty darn close.  For me, it's like fingers down a chalk board.  It's like oil and water.  Snowmen and blow torches.  I think that you get the point.

You are probably asking, "what about Rick"?  Oh right!  I found myself not very motivated yesterday morning.  Woke up at 6:00 AM and was on the road at 7:00 AM.  It was 11 degrees out.  Very crisp.  Another freezing cold run was ahead of me.  I needed a quick pick me up as I was driving north on 95/128.  The sun just coming up in my review mirror.  What could give me that push that I needed?  A song.  Yes, that would do it.  I turned on the radio and (you have to say the following in a stereo typical DJ voice) "easy listening 99.1 on your FM dial...  Here's Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley".  Oh boy.  Seriously?  I hadn't heard that song since I was a DJ at a roller skating rink back in the early 90's.  It was a kid favorite during the Saturday 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM all skate.  It wasn't my cup of tea, but it was a good song to synchronize the star burst lights on the ceiling to.  I was wicked crazy when I turned the disco balls on at the same time.  Sure fire way to mess up the kids skating every time!   What it did do for me yesterday was bring back some old memories.  It got my toes tapping a little, made me chuckle and gave me that extra push that I needed for the cold run.  I knew that I could rely on my running list to do the rest once I got out on the run (there is absolutely no Rick Astley on it at all).  I just realized something.  Why the heck was I listening to "Easy Listening" in the car?  It's not like it is a doctor's office or elevator.  It must have been the last person driving the car that tuned that station in.  That has to be it.  Oh, wait.  I was the last one to drive the car before yesterday.  Busted.

I completed the week with 34 frigid miles, a good chuckle and a true appreciation for the great outdoors.

Never gonna give you up
Never gonna let you down
Never gonna run around and desert you
Never gonna make you cry
Never gonna say goodbye

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Good Intentions.

The last time I checked Saturday's weather on Friday, it was supposed to be in the low 40's and a chance of rain later in the day.  Perfect.  I'll get up early, go into the city and get a run in before the rain made its way in.  That was the plan anyway.  I went to bed early Friday nigh and woke up bright and early Saturday to the sound of dripping water in the gutter outside my window.  I laid there staring at the ceiling contemplating whether that was really rain drops or maybe just fog that had condensed on the roof and was finding its way to the conveniently located gutter.  Drip.  Drip.  Drip.  Nope, it was rain.  Crud monkeys.  Yes, that is correct.  Crud monkeys (don't ask).  I turned on the Weather Channel hoping that it was just a passing "stray" shower that just had lost its way.  Nope, it was part of a swath of precip engulfing the region and then some.  I have to say that the color patterns on the radar map, which were made up of the varying degrees of intensity of rain/snow, were exquisite.  Something that could be framed and hung in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts.  An absolute masterpiece. 

The forecast now was for rain/snow for the entire day.  Not quite the conditions that I wanted to partake in.  "The gym it is", I exclaimed!  I quickly had to change my mindset from excited and invigorated outdoor running to humdrum indoor treadmill running lacking any sense of vigor.  OK, it wasn't that bad (it seemed like it while in the midst of it though).  I made the most of it and ended up with 7.5 miles while focusing on speed work.  All of this while having the option of watching Dora the Explora, sports highlights from the night before on ESPN or a variety of local news shows with the same stories and breaking news on the large screen TVs.  Wait, how could I forget the other option for my viewing pleasure?  The Weather Channel with continuous coverage of the rain and the magnificent precipitation radar map.  Decisions, decisions.  Hmmm...

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Star Trac #7630 Pro.

Yes, I know, it sounds so official.  So tantilizing.  So mysterious.  "Star Trac #7630 Pro".  Well, it really is not that exciting.  A bit of smoke and mirrors more than anything else.  It's the model of treadmill that I run on everytime I go to the gym when "the weather outside is frightful".  OK, it isn't that tantilizing or mysterious now that you know what it is.  Right?  I felt that I had to spice it up a bit instead of "treadmill" or my favorite "dreadmill".  I guess I should show some respect to the equipment that is helping me to get my miles in.  Just a little bit of respect.  I ended up with 7 miles today consisting of mainly straight miles with some speed work and just a dash of hill work (am I a chef now?).  I want to get another 7 miles in tomorrow but it looks like it is going to have to be on the "Star Trek 7630".  Beam Me Up, Scotty.  Oh, sorry, "Star Trac 7630".  Beam me up, Bob Harper (the guy from The Biggest Loser- people say that I look like him.  Hmmm...).

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Slowly Becoming Friends Again.

 OK, I cannot believe that I'm going to say this but, the treadmill and I are slowly becoming friends again.  That's right, at one point we were the best of friends.  That is, before I started running outdoors more and more for my training and realized that I LOVE to run outdoors so much more.  Technically, it is much better to train outdoors on pavement so that your body is used to the impact of running just like on race day so I have that on my side.  That said, it is not always convenient to run outdoors, especially when we are right in the midst of Winter's mighty grip. 

This past Thursday, the Boston area was in hyper freak-out mode because of Hercules coming to town (first Nor'easter of 2014).  Every local TV channel had a team of at least 15 reporters out in the field showing us everything from how the plows get put on the front of the trucks, ginormous salt piles, traffic tracker vehicles broadcasting live footage from the road and "Breaking News" (just the live broadcast from the road, they wanted to play that dramatic music and show their cool "hey we have to interrupt the regular news for this extra special news" logo, along with extended news coverage which seemed like eternity.  Come on already, I'm missing my favorite shows just because of a couple of snow flakes?!  While everyone else was rushing to the grocery store for the remaining staples of any great storm, cartons of milk and loaves of bread, I was rushing to the gym to get my 6 miles in before they closed early for the storm (hey, I'm originally from Buffalo so this storm was nothing).  I pounded out 6.26 miles with both straight miles and hill training and then finished up with some weight training (trying to add in this type of training to build my upper body and strengthen my core).

Yesterday's bitter cold temperatures made it necessary to visit the gym again and to have another opportunity to work on coming to terms with a necessary dependence on the gym and the treadmill.  I ended up working on speed (which I absolutely love) and hills (not loving it so much but I know that it is a crucial part of my training).  I ended the session with 7.25 miles which I felt wasn't too bad.  I had thoughts of running a long run today in the back of my head the entire time so maybe that was my motivation for the day.  Who knows?  I think that was really it.

Until next time, keep on runnin'!