Thursday, October 26, 2006

Almost Heavan

Wheeling, West Virginia

I'm on the road, again. This weekend is the Marine Corps Marathon. Next weekend is New York and the following weekend is the new Outer Banks marathon. Rather than flying back to Chicago I'm going be base out of my son's family home in Vienna, Virginia. This will ALSO give me a few weekdays with the grandkids!

The knee is, for all practical purposes, fine. At least physically it's fine. I haven't been able to get myself to run/walk more than 3 miles for the past week or so because I'm still worried that the pain will start. Recovering from being injured, whether it's from running or not, is more difficult emotionally than physically in my experience.

And, since I missed the chance to run the Chicago marathon this year, I'm feeling a little grumpy as well.

ORN: 3 miles, 40 minutes, R5/W1

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Apology and Promise


Hi folks,

Well clearly the past few weeks have been a scramble for me. Even more than usual. I'm sorry that I haven't been able to keep up with the Blog.

The photo [and I am wearing MANY layers under the jacket] is of Kyle Petty and me at the end of the "Ride to Victory". I promise to get back to the daily blogging here very soon.

j

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Let's go racing

Charlotte, NC

I'm down here doing some promotion for the Victory Juncttion Half Marathon that we're doing in December. Well, OK, that's the REASON why I'm here, but it's just the beginning of the story.

First, the running. I took three days off to let that knee heal, and it helped some. I was able to run for about 25 minutes yesterday without any pain. I was aware of the knee, but stopped before it actually started to hurt. I'm going out again this morning to see what I get.

Most of the weekend, though, is about NASCAR racing, motorcycle riding, Victory Junction Gang Camp promotion, and getting to know the folks in the Petty organization. Kyle was nice enough to loan me a bike for the weekend so I'll be able to join in the "Ride to Victory" on Sunday.

We're trying to find the NASCAR fans that are runners, and the runners that are NASCAR fans, and get them together. We all think that eventually this will be one of our most exciting events. If you're interested, please go to: www.victoryjunctionrun.com.

ORN: 25 minutes, 5 R5/W1. VERY easy.

Tuesday, October 10, 2006

Ouch!

Chicago, IL

Well THIS isn't a good thing. I got about 25 minutes into today's run and had to pull up lame again. Hmmm! Nothing to do but walk home.

Not sure what's going on. I didn't think I had banged it that badly, but I guess I did.

ORN: 25 minutes 4/1, 35 minutes walking.

Monday, October 09, 2006

Pulling up lame

San Jose Weekend

Some good, some not so good. The good is that the race was fantastic. The venue seems very nice, the course looked good, and from all the reports it was an excellent race.

I got out for a NMBTN [Not Much Better Than Nothing] run on Friday morning, but had to cut it short because my knee was still hurting from where I banged it last Monday in Portland.

After not running Saturday or Sunday I tried again this morning and while it didn't start hurting right away, it DID eventually so I had to stop again and walk it in. BUMMER.

I am rarely hurt enough to not be able to run. I'll just have to take my own advice and let it heal.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

The way in San Jose

San Jose, CA

Another cross-country flight. Back to Pacific time. I'm in San Jose for the NEW Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon here. Weather is PERFECT.

Not much time after the flight. Just enough for a late afternoon BTN run. We're staying out by the airport and there really isn't anyplace to run except the side walks. I'm SURE that here in the valley there are prettier places, we're just not near them.

ORN: 3 miles, 38 minutes, R5/W1

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Blowing in the Wind

Chicago, IL

This was a BTN run. For regular readers, you know that means Better Than Nothing. My flight back from Portland was cancelled yesterday so I got back much later than I was suppose to. I leave first thing tomorrow morning for San Jose and the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon there. So, today was do the laundry, get to the bank, repack the suitcase, get ready to go day.

We had a pretty good storm come through late this morning and the wind was still pretty fierce along the lake. And, it was out of the north which means that the first half of the run was FANTASTIC.

Truth is, I like days like today. There aren't many people on the path, and those that are KNOW we're the brave ones. The waves are crashing against the rocks and the spray just explodes. It works!

ORN: [Obligatory Running Note] 3 miles, 36 minutes, R5/W1 with 6 minute warm up and cool down.

Monday, October 02, 2006

Up the River without a Map

Portland, OR

The good news about having a GPS is that it gives you the confidence to be bold when running in a new city, or running a different route in an old city. The BAD news about having a GPS is that it allows you to be STUPID when running in a new city, or running a different route in an old city.

I wanted to get in a long-ish run. Friends in Portland said that the "new" rails-to-rails path was a 9 mile loop. Perfect. So, I marked the start as a "way-point" and headed clockwise around the loop. At about 2 miles in I was across from where I had started. So far, so good.

It turns out that if you go across at ONE bridge, it is a 9 mile loop. If you go across the bridge that I went across it's an 11 mile loop! I did have the GPS and the river to guide me. But, I wasn't expecting to go 11 miles.

ORN: 11 miles: 2 hours, 35 minutes, R4/W2

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Outside, looking in

Portland, OR.

I've been here for a couple of days working the expo at the Portland Marathon. It's a great race. Well done and VERY "penguin" friendly.

This morning, during the marathon, I needed to get out an get in an easy 3 mile run. The only PLACE to run is along the river where, as it turns out, the marathon course goes. So, I actually had to run across/through the marathoners at about mile 5 to get to the river path.

It was a strange sensation, seeing all the participants running along while I was running on a parallel path. I was kind of running with them, but not really. And coming back, running against the flow, was really odd. As I finished and walked across the marathon course again I felt a little guilty. Not enough to jump in, mind you.

ORN: 3 miles, 36 minutes, R4/W1