Category: Fitness

Posted on

Mile Marker

Mileage 4.5
Time 7PM
Location Indoors – Treadmill
Weather Humid +++

This will probably be my last run before the Rock and Roll Half as I am having lots of trouble breaking through to anything meaningful as far a miles. I know I need to adjust my eating habits but most of all I need to do something about my sleep patterns. Getting 4 or 5 hours of good sleep a night is not enough to achieve my running goals or any other goals that I have set so far. Starting Monday (this sounds like a new years resolution) I will be going to see my doctor, my accountant and look for a new lawyer all in that order.

Posted on

Mile Marker

Mileage 3.5 Miles
Time 1:40PM
Location Indoors – Treadmill
Weather Hot and Humid

 

The Chicago Rock and Roll Half Marathon is fast approaching and I am having trouble increasing my miles. I am actually going backwards as each run seems to be a major effort and I feel more tried than usual during the effort. I feel fine afterwards but I just cannot increase my miles without feeling flat out exhausted during the run.

I only have 1 week till the race so I have already resigned myself to the fact that I will need to walk run this one to even survive. A bit depressing but it is better than just giving up and not trying and besides I can’t let my brother down and not hear him play.

Posted on

Mile Marker

Mileage 3
Time 7PM
Location Outdoors
Weather Hot and Sticky

 

Today was really tough for some reason. Found it very hard to breath which cut my 6 miler into a 3 miler with a few extra walking miles. I’m really going to have to step it up to even make a decent showing at the Chicago Rock and Roll Marathon on August 1st.

Time to pick it up.

Posted on

Mile Marker

Mileage 5
Time 3PM
Location Outdoors
Weather Hot and Sticky

 

Summer is definitely upon us here in the Chicago area. Today it was in the upper 90’s with what felt like 99% humidity in the air. Not the best running weather but we need to take advantage of the time we have to get our miles in.

As soon as I stepped out side I could feel the sweat beginning to bead on my body and once I started to run it only took a few blocks before my shirt was showing a few soak through spots. One thing I inherited from my dad was his sweat glands and although it can feel great to work up a good sweat, my clothing gets soaked pretty fast during a workout. My other problem is trying to wear any type of sunglasses during a long run as the sweat ends up depositing droplets on the inside and outside of the glasses until it gets hard to see. I have to keep taking the glasses of to clean away the moisture as I run otherwise the vision starts to get blurry and a bit dangerous. I used to just use my shirt but it gets harder and harder to find a dry spot on the shirt during a run so now I carry at least one small washcloth for the purpose of cleaning the glasses.

What do you do to stay cool during a race or a workout when it is unbelievably hot? Put ice in your water bottle? Run early in the morning or late at night?

Posted on

Mile Marker

Mileage 4 Miles
Time 8:00AM
Location Elknorn, WI
Weather Hot and Sunny

We were up at the lake for the 4th of July weekend holiday with most of the family members. Jenna could not make it as she was still in Arizona for the volleyball tournament and would not arrive back in Chicago until late Saturday night. Matt and I waited until Saturday night to go up as he had to work until 5 and I wanted to take advantage of the day to clean the garage and get it in order (yes I know boring but necessary).

Since I knew Saturday would be shot as far as activities, I made plans to go for a run with my sister in law on Sunday morning before everyone got up. Little did I know that I would again be bitten by the sleep depravation bug. I usually sleep in a certain room at the lake but by the tie I got there the room was already taken, leaving me with only the room that has two twin beds, not made for, in my opinion, anyone over 5’10” in height. Anytime I sleep on those beds my feet hang over the edge and make it had to get comfortable. Plus I felt like it was about 90 degrees in the room that night. I ended up tossing and turning till about 3 am them finally I finally put a pillow on the floor and got a few hours of sleep.

We had planned on getting up for our run at 7 to beat the heat, but my alarm could not coax me off the floor that early. I decided to rest for 8 and give my self one more hour as it was cooler in the morning than the night before and was actually very comfortable.

When 8 came I got up, woke my sister in law and we were out the door by 8:30 for our 3 plus miles. It was just starting to heat up as we got on the asphalt but despite the heat we both felt very comfortable for the first 3 miles. It was at about the 5K mark that we both noticed we were having extra breath sounds which made the run increasingly difficult. We had wanted to do 5 miles but ended up stopping just short of 4 this morning. Strange that we would both experience the same breathing difficulty, but her son had a major allergy attack the night before so perhaps there was something in the air.

I have less than 1 month before the Chicago Rock and Roll 1/2 Marathon where my brothers band Scarecrows Grin will be playing, so I need to pick it up here in the next few weeks.

Posted on

Mile Marker

Mileage 5 Miles
Time 5:40PM
Location Indoors – Treadmill
Weather Hot and Sunny

A solid 5 miles at a decent pace, but the more I use this treadmill (7000+ miles on it now) the more I realize we need a new one, or I need to get my ass out of bed and run outside in the morning. Time to make a doctors appointment about this lack of sleep thing.

Posted on

Mile Marker

Mileage 5
Time 1PM CST
Location Indoors – Treadmill
Weather Hot and Sticky

 

I have a co worker and his family coming over for dinner tonight so I wanted to get my run fairly early so I could get all the shopping and prep work done before they get there. It was a little tough to get through as I am still feeling pretty sluggish and blob like, but I managed to get all five miles in while watching the US/Ghana World Cup match. The match was depressing but the run was promising.

I am going to be good tonight and stick with veggies, fish, protein and a little bread to see how I feel tomorrow. We will start off with some Roasted Red Pepper Hummus and Pita triangles for the appetizer, then a nice spring green salad with blue cheese crumble, dried cranberries and cranberry walnut vinaigrette. We will be making some New York strips, Cedar Plank Salmon and Sweet Potatoes on the grill for the main course.

Should be a nice evening out on the deck, despite the extended humidity we are experiencing.

Posted on

Mile Marker

Mileage 3.5
Time 2PM
Location Indoors – Treadmill
Weather Hot and Sticky

Today was a tough day for a run. I had zero energy and just getting the 3+ miles in was a chore. I am convinced I need to revamp my diet as I am not loosing any weight despite my running. I know I have to increase the frequency and the mileage to see better results, but that is tough when I have no energy.

What do you eat to stay fit?

Posted on

Mile Marker

 

Mileage 2.2
Time 12:30PM
Location Indoors – Treadmill
Weather Hot and Sticky

I am leaving to day for Canada for a few days so I only had time for a couple of quick miles. I felt really great during the run and was able to do some quick sub 9 minute miles. I know that is not too impressive, but I have been battling lack of sleep for a few weeks now and it makes it very difficult to number one get motivated, and number two, have the energy to complete the runs I try to get it. So even though it was only two miles, I will take it. Even junk miles can get you back on the path to success.

I am heading to Lethbridge on business and have heard a rumor from some of the guys up there that there might be a Kris Versteeg with Stanley Cup sighting this week, as Lethbridge is Kris’ home town. I have packed my Blackhawks jersey (sweater) just in case. I don’t know where the guys got their info, but I want to be prepared if I get lucky enough to see the cup again.

Update: The cup will be in Lethbridge on Saturday July 3rd and unfortunately I will not.

Posted on

Mile Marker

Mileage 3.0
Time 2:00 PM
Location Outdoors
Weather Rain

I actually got a decent amount of sleep last night thanks to a few Nyquil gel caps. I have not been getting much sleep and it makes it very difficult to to get my runs in when I feel so sluggish.
So even though it was pouring rain, I wanted to take advantage of the energy and get at least a few miles in.

Today was pretty busy client day so I only had about 40 minutes to spare for the run and post shower before I had to get back to work. That was enough time for a run to the park, two laps around the park and the run back. My time was ok with an average of 8:41 per mile. Not the best but it was positive enough to fell that I am getting back on track.

I head to Columbus tomorrow and look forward to getting in a few runs with my cousin while I am there.