Very nice day today, so I went down to English Landing Park for what I thought might be 4, 5 or 6 miles. I'd run kind of hard on Friday, averaging under 9 for 6 miles, then rode 28 miles on Saturday, so all I wanted to do was a few easy miles along the river.
Even though it was only 73 degrees, the sun was high and bright and it seemed warmer than it was. I was content to run my early miles north of 10, and after a couple miles I was nice and loose and thinking I'd definitely go 6. The easy pace helped me adjust to the temperature and I was feeling good.
My pace naturally picked up as I worked through miles 3 and 4, and by the time I started on my fifth mile I was planning to do 7. Miles 5 and 6 were right at 9, and as I got to the turnaround that would give me 7 miles, I decided to go out a little farther and shoot for 8, which would be my longest run since last September. Miles 7 and 8 were in the middle 8's.
Once I finished I felt like I could have gone another mile or two, but I figured there was no point in pushing it. I'm not training for a race.
This makes for a nice start to the week, which will be short because we are traveling during the second half and I don't know when I'll be getting my workouts in from Thursday through Sunday.
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
How About That!
Well, I either did something semi-courageous, or something really stupid this morning!
A week ago, while photographing a basketball tournament, I had to get back to my display area in a hurry. So, I ran across the gym floor to my area. I never did feel any kind of pain or discomfort at all in my knee. In the past when I did something like that, I always felt a sharp pain or two, or at least, some degree of discomfort in my knee.
I've had this on my mind for a week and a half now and it occurred to me that it might be possible for me to at least try to get in some kind of walk jog effort. If the knee flared up, I could always stop!
So, I put on my running shorts and my Hood To Coast singlet for the first time since my knee injury on December 24th, 2011. I can't tell you how good that felt just to put on my running shorts, even though I knew it was going to be iffy.
Since my running shoes had a bunch of miles on them already, I thought it best to head down to English Landing and run, excuse me, walk/jog, on the soft trail. It was also a better decision since I wasn't sure about running on any hard surface.
Well, I started my watch and walked about a quarter mile or so, and then began a light jog. I felt nothing in the knee with regards to any degree of pain, so I kept going until I felt like I should stop and walk. Well, that just never happened! I kept jogging, but soon got to a pace that was more of a slow run rather than jogging.
Well, I ended up running 2.5 miles in 33:58 counting the first quarter mile of walking and around a mile of jogging. My last half mile was at a 10:30 pace. Probably shouldn't have chanced it, but what the hell!
It really felt great to just be able to run. I think a combination of cycling and glucosamine/chondroitin has helped my knee situation. Anyway, I'd like to think so.
Okay, now what? Well, I'm thinking about riding one day and running the next. We'll see what happens, but it sure felt good to run at least one day again!
A week ago, while photographing a basketball tournament, I had to get back to my display area in a hurry. So, I ran across the gym floor to my area. I never did feel any kind of pain or discomfort at all in my knee. In the past when I did something like that, I always felt a sharp pain or two, or at least, some degree of discomfort in my knee.
I've had this on my mind for a week and a half now and it occurred to me that it might be possible for me to at least try to get in some kind of walk jog effort. If the knee flared up, I could always stop!
So, I put on my running shorts and my Hood To Coast singlet for the first time since my knee injury on December 24th, 2011. I can't tell you how good that felt just to put on my running shorts, even though I knew it was going to be iffy.
Since my running shoes had a bunch of miles on them already, I thought it best to head down to English Landing and run, excuse me, walk/jog, on the soft trail. It was also a better decision since I wasn't sure about running on any hard surface.
Well, I started my watch and walked about a quarter mile or so, and then began a light jog. I felt nothing in the knee with regards to any degree of pain, so I kept going until I felt like I should stop and walk. Well, that just never happened! I kept jogging, but soon got to a pace that was more of a slow run rather than jogging.
Well, I ended up running 2.5 miles in 33:58 counting the first quarter mile of walking and around a mile of jogging. My last half mile was at a 10:30 pace. Probably shouldn't have chanced it, but what the hell!
It really felt great to just be able to run. I think a combination of cycling and glucosamine/chondroitin has helped my knee situation. Anyway, I'd like to think so.
Okay, now what? Well, I'm thinking about riding one day and running the next. We'll see what happens, but it sure felt good to run at least one day again!
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Well, That's Just Great!
Just wonderful, two days of either unpreparedness or near disasters!
After yesterday's fiasco with Rob and his flat tire with no tube, no air and forgetting to give me the keys to his truck which would have resulted in another 12 miles of riding back and forth. Not to mention that Rob, who gave me a shot in the previous blog Re: Giving me the driving directions 3 or 4 times when there was only two turns to remember, also forgot to mention that he told me to be sure and turn right on Main Street (in Grandview) which would take me right to the high school where we parked. He did say that the street might be named Grandview Road and, since he lived in the area for years, he knew that was the directions to the high school.
BTW, if you are ever riding/driving south on Raytown Rd. and want to go to Grandview High School, turn right on HIGHGROVE RD. not Grandview Rd. or Main Street. It's a good thing ONE of us remembered the truck keys and had enough common sense to realize Highgrove Rd. was the correct turn to get to the high school.
Okay, now that I've covered my ass with yesterday's fiasco, you would think today's ride with Sean Joyce would be uneventful. Not so! On the way to the Smithville Trails we heard a strange sound at the back of my car. It sounded like my deck lid wasn't shut all the way and I may have hit a small bump and it bounced up and back down. At least that's what it sounded like. Not so! When we arrived at the Anita Gorman Trail Head and got out of the car, Sean noticed that the left side main strap that hooked to the top on my trunk lid had broken loose and our bikes were tilted to the right side of my car. Lucky for us, the rest of the bike rack held together long enough for us to make it to the trail head. We immediately thought of Rob the Rescuer.
We called Rob and informed him of our dilemma. He told us to call him back when we were almost finished with our ride and he would meet us at the trail head and truck our bikes back home. I thought about telling him to check the air in his tires before setting out, but we were in too much of a pickle to give him any stuff.
The ride itself was very interesting compared to past rides on the Smithville Trails. We saw 17 Rabbits in the first 22 miles, a deer, a huge, and I mean HUGE, turkey with three little hens, and about 40-50 turkey vultures in a tree. That scene was almost out of a Hitchcock movie!
We also saw a guy on a product called a fly board that was powered by a jet ski. The propulsion from the jet ski shot him in the air about 10-15 feet where he either hovered or floated around in his choice of direction. It was very cool to watch this. I'll have Sean forward the pics he took.
Here's to better days on the roads and trails
After yesterday's fiasco with Rob and his flat tire with no tube, no air and forgetting to give me the keys to his truck which would have resulted in another 12 miles of riding back and forth. Not to mention that Rob, who gave me a shot in the previous blog Re: Giving me the driving directions 3 or 4 times when there was only two turns to remember, also forgot to mention that he told me to be sure and turn right on Main Street (in Grandview) which would take me right to the high school where we parked. He did say that the street might be named Grandview Road and, since he lived in the area for years, he knew that was the directions to the high school.
BTW, if you are ever riding/driving south on Raytown Rd. and want to go to Grandview High School, turn right on HIGHGROVE RD. not Grandview Rd. or Main Street. It's a good thing ONE of us remembered the truck keys and had enough common sense to realize Highgrove Rd. was the correct turn to get to the high school.
Okay, now that I've covered my ass with yesterday's fiasco, you would think today's ride with Sean Joyce would be uneventful. Not so! On the way to the Smithville Trails we heard a strange sound at the back of my car. It sounded like my deck lid wasn't shut all the way and I may have hit a small bump and it bounced up and back down. At least that's what it sounded like. Not so! When we arrived at the Anita Gorman Trail Head and got out of the car, Sean noticed that the left side main strap that hooked to the top on my trunk lid had broken loose and our bikes were tilted to the right side of my car. Lucky for us, the rest of the bike rack held together long enough for us to make it to the trail head. We immediately thought of Rob the Rescuer.
We called Rob and informed him of our dilemma. He told us to call him back when we were almost finished with our ride and he would meet us at the trail head and truck our bikes back home. I thought about telling him to check the air in his tires before setting out, but we were in too much of a pickle to give him any stuff.
The ride itself was very interesting compared to past rides on the Smithville Trails. We saw 17 Rabbits in the first 22 miles, a deer, a huge, and I mean HUGE, turkey with three little hens, and about 40-50 turkey vultures in a tree. That scene was almost out of a Hitchcock movie!
We also saw a guy on a product called a fly board that was powered by a jet ski. The propulsion from the jet ski shot him in the air about 10-15 feet where he either hovered or floated around in his choice of direction. It was very cool to watch this. I'll have Sean forward the pics he took.
Here's to better days on the roads and trails
Saturday, July 20, 2013
It had to happen sometime
Okay, well, NOW I'm prepared.
I knew when I bought my first patch kit a couple weeks ago something like this was going to happen. Denial was so sweet.
Mike and I drove into the eye of the storm Saturday morning for a ride around Longview Lake in Grandview. Dark clouds loomed just to the west, and as we rode away from the truck, a light rain started falling. Since there was no lightning, we decided to chance it anyway.
By the time we'd ridden maybe 3 miles the rain had stopped. The going was a bit slow, as there were dozens of runners from Runner's Edge on the trail, several of whom we knew - or Mike did. We stopped to tale with a few of them, including Dan and Amy.
About mile 3 I realized I'd left my water bottle in the cooler in the truck, so now I had to share Mike's supply.
A couple miles later we got separated when Mike stopped to talk with an RE runner. I decided to give him a call to see where he was, but there was no phone. That, too, was still in the truck.
We hooked up again and rode on. The trail was really nice - more scenic than we remembered it from years past, and there were a lot of riders, runners and walkers all over the place. A very active venue.
We got to the north side of the lake and rode across the dam on the nice, wide shoulder of the road. One of us mentioned how clean and roomy the shoulder was, and that's when it happened. First, one tire pinched a rock and it shot out like it had been fired from a gun. Immediately after that my rear tire crushed a piece glass. It was flat 15 seconds later.
We were 10 miles out. I had a patch kit, but neither of us had air, or, for that matter, a tube.
I reached for my truck keys as I suggested Mike ride back for the truck, but he wasn't sure of the way via the short route - the streets - so he suggested I ride his bike while he walked. That didn't work because my clips didn't match is pedals (neither one of us thought about swapping shoes).
After giving Mike the directions to the truck 3 or 4 times (straight, left, straight, right), he was off.
Three minutes later, he was back. I never had given him the keys to the truck. Whew! Close call.
I got a nice 2.35 mile walk in while Mike rode to the truck. Along the way, two or helpful nice people asked me if I needed assistance, but I declined. Mike made it back quickly, since the street route was 4 miles shorter than the trail route had been. I was glad to see him even if I did have to listen to his cracks about how I was no Boy Scout (right, and where was HIS spare tube and pump when we needed it?).
Neither one of us got our intended workout in, but there was one positive - I got a chance to learn how to replace a rear tube myself. Plus, since a tube is nothing without air, I bought a small pump that I could attach to the frame of my bike.
Now I'm prepared.
I knew when I bought my first patch kit a couple weeks ago something like this was going to happen. Denial was so sweet.
Mike and I drove into the eye of the storm Saturday morning for a ride around Longview Lake in Grandview. Dark clouds loomed just to the west, and as we rode away from the truck, a light rain started falling. Since there was no lightning, we decided to chance it anyway.
By the time we'd ridden maybe 3 miles the rain had stopped. The going was a bit slow, as there were dozens of runners from Runner's Edge on the trail, several of whom we knew - or Mike did. We stopped to tale with a few of them, including Dan and Amy.
About mile 3 I realized I'd left my water bottle in the cooler in the truck, so now I had to share Mike's supply.
A couple miles later we got separated when Mike stopped to talk with an RE runner. I decided to give him a call to see where he was, but there was no phone. That, too, was still in the truck.
We hooked up again and rode on. The trail was really nice - more scenic than we remembered it from years past, and there were a lot of riders, runners and walkers all over the place. A very active venue.
We got to the north side of the lake and rode across the dam on the nice, wide shoulder of the road. One of us mentioned how clean and roomy the shoulder was, and that's when it happened. First, one tire pinched a rock and it shot out like it had been fired from a gun. Immediately after that my rear tire crushed a piece glass. It was flat 15 seconds later.
We were 10 miles out. I had a patch kit, but neither of us had air, or, for that matter, a tube.
I reached for my truck keys as I suggested Mike ride back for the truck, but he wasn't sure of the way via the short route - the streets - so he suggested I ride his bike while he walked. That didn't work because my clips didn't match is pedals (neither one of us thought about swapping shoes).
After giving Mike the directions to the truck 3 or 4 times (straight, left, straight, right), he was off.
Three minutes later, he was back. I never had given him the keys to the truck. Whew! Close call.
I got a nice 2.35 mile walk in while Mike rode to the truck. Along the way, two or helpful nice people asked me if I needed assistance, but I declined. Mike made it back quickly, since the street route was 4 miles shorter than the trail route had been. I was glad to see him even if I did have to listen to his cracks about how I was no Boy Scout (right, and where was HIS spare tube and pump when we needed it?).
Neither one of us got our intended workout in, but there was one positive - I got a chance to learn how to replace a rear tube myself. Plus, since a tube is nothing without air, I bought a small pump that I could attach to the frame of my bike.
Now I'm prepared.
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
Short Hot Ride
Meant to begin my ride around 6:30-7:00 but didn't get out of the house until 11:30. Went to Smithville and intended to ride out and back on both trails, but called it a day after hitting the Bone Bender and Smoken' Davey trails. It was just too hot and I ran out of motivation to complete the ride. Maybe tomorrow, maybe not!
Thursday, July 11, 2013
This was supposed to be posted yesterday!
Rode 24 miles on the Interurban Road from Ferrelview to just past Camden Point. Nice day, but it was getting hot by the time I finished. Corn getting high as an elephants ass. Is that how that song goes? Anyway, I intended to ride 40 or so today, but it just wasn't going to happen. My old legs need the rest. I'll tackle that goal tomorrow!
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
False Start
I am still battling a bad chest cold I caught last Tuesday. Over the weekend, I got a lot of rest, and by Monday felt good enough I packed my bike for a Spin Pizza ride after work. But late afternoon, I didn't feell 100% and it was really hot, so I headed over to my air conditioned gym where I ran exactly 1 mile. Turns out I wasn't ready to come back yet. Felt like crap after the 1 mile run, so I walked a second mile and headed home. Tuesday, my cold was worse, not better, so I'm back to cold medicene and a planned doctor's visit at week's end if I can't kick this one out by then. I'm losing a lot of time here, but getting healthy has to be job one.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Back to Back Rides
I usually don't ride the dad after a really long ride, but I just felt so good this mornig I thought I would get in some extra mileage. My intent was to ride an easy 20, but by the time I got out the door it was too hot. However, I did manage to get in a 10 miler, albeit slow. Only averaged 11.9 mph, but wasn't concerned.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Longest Ride/All new territory!
Since I missed the last four days, due to soreness in my quads, I decided to make it up, big time!
I have logged two rides of 60+ miles, with the first one occurring two years ago on the Prairie Spirit Trail with Sean Joyce. The second one was three weeks ago, again with Sean, but began the ride with Bill, Jerry and Rob who bagged it at 40 miles due to family obligations.
Okay, so I pretty much knew I could ride 60 miles or more, but how much more? Last night I made up my mind to set a goal of riding 80 miles today. Wasn't sure how it was going to go, but I packed five water bottles (two were in the freezer), three Cliff Bars, 25 glucose tablets, a quart of chocolate milk and a P B & J sandwich. Okay, so I was prepared, now what?
I left the house at 5:37 and headed to the Smithville trail with a plan to ride the north trail twice and the south trail twice. I parked at the Anita Gorman parking lot, unloaded my horse, packed my saddle bags and rifle (coyotes, you know), and headed across the bridge to the Bone Bender trail head.
The weather was cooperative with a slight breeze and temps in the 70s. I rode past the right 90 degree turn that ends at the Smokin Davy Trail head and continued just another 2 tenths of a mile or so. At that point I was at 11.20, I believe. Turned around and headed back to Anita Gorman. Was surprised that I didn't see any deer yet, but that was to come. However, I did almost run over several damn squirrels.
Got back to the car with 22+ miles logged, refreshed my water bottle, ate a Cliff Bar, and headed out for the 18.4 round trip on the AG trail. Weather still great with a little wind, but very nice!
Plan was working perfectly, as I logged my 40+ miles when I returned to the car. Same routine as last paragraph with regards to refreshing myself. Okay, big mental boost as I was half way to my goal!
Headed across the bridge again to log another 22+ miles. Still no deer! I was 4 hours and 2 minutes into my ride before I saw the first deer. She came from my left and practically jumped over the trail in front of me at about 20 feet away.
Made the same turn at the "T" and headed back to AG. Second deer at 4 hours 38 minutes,
was a complete surprise to both of us! I came around a right hand turn and there she was
about ten feet away. I startled her and she startled me! She leaped into the forest and that was that!
Got back to the car and was mentally and physically relieved that the hard part was pretty much over. WRONG! See refreshment paragraphs.
Headed down the AG trail for one last out and back. Was feeling pretty good at this point, but the sun was starting to pop through and the temp was rising fast. I still had some cloud cover, here and there, and the shade helped as well.
Was starting to tire around the 70 mile point, but was energized by the fact that it was my longest ride ever! Mentally, this also kind of made up, to me anyway, for bailing out at 46 miles at the Rock Island Ramble.
Made the turn at the Cabin Fever trail head and headed back to the car. At this point my water was not cool, but wasn't hot and I made up my mind that I would kill the bottle with five miles to go. I figured I could make five miles out with a half bottle of water in me.
At five miles to go, it hit me, big time. I was tired, hot and hungry! Oh, I knew I was going to make it, I just wanted it to be over! It was over soon enough and it felt like finishing my first marathon, well almost.
Totals: 6 hours, 36 minutes of ride time, 81.18 miles logged at 12.20 mph average with top end at 24.7.
I have logged two rides of 60+ miles, with the first one occurring two years ago on the Prairie Spirit Trail with Sean Joyce. The second one was three weeks ago, again with Sean, but began the ride with Bill, Jerry and Rob who bagged it at 40 miles due to family obligations.
Okay, so I pretty much knew I could ride 60 miles or more, but how much more? Last night I made up my mind to set a goal of riding 80 miles today. Wasn't sure how it was going to go, but I packed five water bottles (two were in the freezer), three Cliff Bars, 25 glucose tablets, a quart of chocolate milk and a P B & J sandwich. Okay, so I was prepared, now what?
I left the house at 5:37 and headed to the Smithville trail with a plan to ride the north trail twice and the south trail twice. I parked at the Anita Gorman parking lot, unloaded my horse, packed my saddle bags and rifle (coyotes, you know), and headed across the bridge to the Bone Bender trail head.
The weather was cooperative with a slight breeze and temps in the 70s. I rode past the right 90 degree turn that ends at the Smokin Davy Trail head and continued just another 2 tenths of a mile or so. At that point I was at 11.20, I believe. Turned around and headed back to Anita Gorman. Was surprised that I didn't see any deer yet, but that was to come. However, I did almost run over several damn squirrels.
Got back to the car with 22+ miles logged, refreshed my water bottle, ate a Cliff Bar, and headed out for the 18.4 round trip on the AG trail. Weather still great with a little wind, but very nice!
Plan was working perfectly, as I logged my 40+ miles when I returned to the car. Same routine as last paragraph with regards to refreshing myself. Okay, big mental boost as I was half way to my goal!
Headed across the bridge again to log another 22+ miles. Still no deer! I was 4 hours and 2 minutes into my ride before I saw the first deer. She came from my left and practically jumped over the trail in front of me at about 20 feet away.
Made the same turn at the "T" and headed back to AG. Second deer at 4 hours 38 minutes,
was a complete surprise to both of us! I came around a right hand turn and there she was
about ten feet away. I startled her and she startled me! She leaped into the forest and that was that!
Got back to the car and was mentally and physically relieved that the hard part was pretty much over. WRONG! See refreshment paragraphs.
Headed down the AG trail for one last out and back. Was feeling pretty good at this point, but the sun was starting to pop through and the temp was rising fast. I still had some cloud cover, here and there, and the shade helped as well.
Was starting to tire around the 70 mile point, but was energized by the fact that it was my longest ride ever! Mentally, this also kind of made up, to me anyway, for bailing out at 46 miles at the Rock Island Ramble.
Made the turn at the Cabin Fever trail head and headed back to the car. At this point my water was not cool, but wasn't hot and I made up my mind that I would kill the bottle with five miles to go. I figured I could make five miles out with a half bottle of water in me.
At five miles to go, it hit me, big time. I was tired, hot and hungry! Oh, I knew I was going to make it, I just wanted it to be over! It was over soon enough and it felt like finishing my first marathon, well almost.
Totals: 6 hours, 36 minutes of ride time, 81.18 miles logged at 12.20 mph average with top end at 24.7.
Back to work
It's back to the routine now that my little 10-day break from work is over. I didn't get as much riding in as I thought I would during the break, but did get out a couple of times, once for 41 miles.
The highlight of the period was a run along the Lake Superior waterfront in Grand Marais, Minn. on a cool Saturday morning. Beaches, lighthouses, sailboats, water. Not too hard to take.
I continue to run at a maintenance level - around 25 miles a week. In the last couple of weeks I've finally reached a level of conditioning that allows for much easier hill climbs. In the early weeks after resuming running, those relatively little hills were really tough. Just about the time I thought I was never going to turn that corner, it all improved. You just gotta hang in there, I guess. Still have no plans to run any races this year, at least not until after the Katy ride.
Got out for a 6-mile run early this morning. It was already 78 at 5:45 am, but the sun was behind the clouds and it didn't feel all that bad.
The highlight of the period was a run along the Lake Superior waterfront in Grand Marais, Minn. on a cool Saturday morning. Beaches, lighthouses, sailboats, water. Not too hard to take.
I continue to run at a maintenance level - around 25 miles a week. In the last couple of weeks I've finally reached a level of conditioning that allows for much easier hill climbs. In the early weeks after resuming running, those relatively little hills were really tough. Just about the time I thought I was never going to turn that corner, it all improved. You just gotta hang in there, I guess. Still have no plans to run any races this year, at least not until after the Katy ride.
Got out for a 6-mile run early this morning. It was already 78 at 5:45 am, but the sun was behind the clouds and it didn't feel all that bad.
Friday, July 5, 2013
This post is for Monday July 1, 2013
Rode with Rob and Lowell on the Cliff Drive route. Took them by the house I mostly grew up in (still trying), Northeast High School (alma mater), and James School which was where I attended from 4th thru 6th grades.
We ended up with just under 20 miles, but the weather was terrific!
This post is for Wednesday July 3rd, 2013
Rode the Smithville trails with Rob and his friend Jody. We rode both ends of the trails and logged 41 miles. I have to tell you, that this was the best ride I've experienced for several months. I have never felt stronger, other than when I was in top marathon shape.
I never got tired and was never breathing hard, even though I was really cranking it! I have to believe that it was the result of my body adjusting after the Rock Island Ramble a week and a half ago. That ride was the toughest test ever for me. Even though I bailed out at the 46 mile point, I non-the-less benefited greatly from this ride.
I have really gained a lot of confidence this past week with regards to my biking. I'm now ready for the next challenge.
We ended up with just under 20 miles, but the weather was terrific!
This post is for Wednesday July 3rd, 2013
Rode the Smithville trails with Rob and his friend Jody. We rode both ends of the trails and logged 41 miles. I have to tell you, that this was the best ride I've experienced for several months. I have never felt stronger, other than when I was in top marathon shape.
I never got tired and was never breathing hard, even though I was really cranking it! I have to believe that it was the result of my body adjusting after the Rock Island Ramble a week and a half ago. That ride was the toughest test ever for me. Even though I bailed out at the 46 mile point, I non-the-less benefited greatly from this ride.
I have really gained a lot of confidence this past week with regards to my biking. I'm now ready for the next challenge.
Declaration of Independence
I am still out with a bad chest cold, so no running or biking update. But I did want to tip my hat to Mike DeGhelder who quite a few years ago pointed out that the Star reprints the Declaration of Independence every July 4th. So I've made it a habit to read it annually. I still marvel at the document and consider my now annual re-reading a special part of my celebration of July 4th!
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