Sidewalks for dogs, streets for runners

You want to know why runners don't like to run on the sidewalk, why the street is normally the better choice despite the many ignorant drivers out there? Uneven surfaces, cars blocking the way, low-hanging trees, hoses, people backing out, children playing.

And then this morning ...

This isn't the real woman
and dog, but it's close.

Narrow sidewalk. Just a connector from one trail to another for a couple of minutes. I'm approaching a young woman on a walk with her dog. A pit bull. On a leash connected to a sturdy full-body collar. The animal is young, good looking and muscular. It doesn't look mean, but is obviously interested, maybe concerned, about me.

I'm on alert. Woman and dog stop and move to one side so I can pass. And that's my plan: stay on the sidewalk and pass on the right. Isn't the sidewalk primarily for humans? Animals can give way. Owners should see that their animals give way. Some do, and some don't, but she did., and I was going to take my piece of the sidewalk.

As I came within speaking range, the woman spoke. She was pleasant, but firm.

"He does not want to play."

Oh, I said.

OH! I thought as I realized what she was saying. Come too close and risk losing a leg. I get it.

Deftly and in stride I veered onto the grass and donated the whole sidewalk to the animal.

I should have been in the street anyway.

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For the week I had 34.1 miles

Good and Bad!

Yesterday was supposed to be a total rest day since I ran Saturday, but I wanted to check out the construction of the new trail going into Riverside.  I ended up walking around three miles without any knee issues. 

Today, I chose to run again and tested myself again at English Landing with a 2.5 mile run.  The run itself went just fine with the first mile in 12:09 and the second mile in 10:39.  The last half mile was 4:25 which meant I was on an 8:30 pace.  I fully intended to run another 1.5 miles for an even four miler, but when I bent over to stretch my back I almost went to the ground in pain.  I've done something to my back now.  Jeez, always something!

Took 600 mg of Ibuprofen and applied an ice pack.  Seems better, but not quite right yet.  Will apply two Michelob Ultras before bedtime to help sleep.  Hopefully, all will be well tomorrow.

A race, sort of

The Star was a sponsor for Sunday's Komen run, and as such had several comps to hand out. I know I said I wasn't going to race anything this year, but I like the idea of this event, and it was free to me, so I signed up for the non-competitive 5k. That meant I didn't get a chip and wouldn't figure in the official results.

I got downtown early and went for an easy 4 mile run to loosen up prior to the race, and to get in the mileage I wanted to start the week with. Those miles were done at a 10:32 pace.

Untimed and timed runners were allowed to start together, so I lined up in the 9-minute pace group with "real" runners all around me. I thought if I could come in at 27 min. it would be just fine with me. I like the idea that I wasn't being timed and was under no pressure to truly race.

If you've ever run the Komen race you know it's always crowded at the start. If you're serious about time, you have to start at the front. Otherwise, you'll be trapped in the middle of the herd for a good half mile. That's where I was, and actually it allowed me to ease into the race and gradually build my speed.

The first mile is mostly downhill, and I did it in 8:45. The next mile is all up hill, and it's kind of a grind, but I was able to do it in 8:10. The last mile is about 50-50 up and down hill, but none of it steep, and I finished with a 7:42 mile. My self-computed time was 25:33, for an 8:10 pace.

The results for this year's race aren't posted yet, but I would have placed 4th in the same age group a couple of years ago with 25:33.

Racing again was kind of fun, but I still have no plans to do it again this year. Maybe I'll throw in a nearby turkey trot later in the year.

Still Surprised!

Well, I tested the waters again this morning.  I went down to English Landing with a goal of running (no walking) for exactly three miles.

Since my hips were really sore and tight from cranking it with Sean yesterday, I took it very slow to let the hip muscles warm up, and loosen up, as evidenced by my beginning pace.

I decided to just get the three miler in without a goal pace in mind.  Goal pace, that seems like a foreign term to me now.

Anyway, the knee never gave me any indication of discomfort, so I kept going.  As it turned out, I could have added an additional mile, but I have nothing but time.  There's no hurry, so why take the chance?

My mile splits were:  14:55, 12:58 and 10:23.  I got down into the low tens and high nines for awhile in the last mile.  It just took me forever to loosen up the hips.

Since the bike is in the shop, I'll run again tomorrow and I'll keep building mileage, just like I was training for some kind of road race, until my knee starts giving me trouble again.

Another Long Ride!

Sean and I headed up to Smithville for a forty miler yesterday.  Weather was just about perfect with heavy overcast and just a slight breeze.

For the third time since last Saturday, riding with the Riff Raff group, I kept hearing this clack, clack, clack, tic, tic, tic. in my bike.  I shifted around to see if it would stop, but to no avail.

I took it in for the second time this week to determine what the problem was and it turned out to be the lower gear sprocket.

I was just glad they finally found out what the problem was!
I sure couldn't ride it in October with that noise and worry about something breaking down.

At any rate, Sean and I completed the ride okay and we saw three wildlife in the first 5 miles, two more wildlife in the next 5 miles, and several wildlife on the south route.  This was for you, Bill.  Hope you go nuts trying to figure out what we saw.

Since my bike is going to be in the shop waiting for parts, it looks like running is an option, but I'll take it easy and see if I can run three slow miles.

Not sure what to think!

Not sure how much to get excited about this. 

Since I'm riding tomorrow with Sean, and Saturday with Rob, I didn't want to ride today, so I put on my running shoes and headed down to English Landing, not knowing what to really expect.  Although I ran recently, and didn't have any trouble with the knee, I felt I might be tempting fate with another run. 

Throwing the proverbial caution to the wind, I walked for about a quarter mile then reset my watch to zero.  My intention was to just run, not jog, for the two miles. 

End result was two miles averaging 10:41 with a top end of 8:12.  This was a result of just running slowly at around high elevens for the first mile and turning it up a notch, then two notches, for the second mile.


It felt sooooo good just to be a runner again!!!!  Even just putting on my shorts and Hood to Coast singlet felt great!  Those of you who ever played tackle football know what I mean when you put on those shoulder pads and that helmet.  There's just a psychological transformation that occurs and you're ready to go to war.  With me, the war was with myself and father time.

Don't know what the next run will bring, but for now, I can call myself a runner again!

Now, I have to convince Chris that I need new shoes!!!

Moving up in the age group

I needed some way to mark my 63rd birthday, which is today.

People who golf want to shoot their age, but 63 would only get me two-thirds of the way around the course.

I could spend $63, but where's the challenge in that?
I considered running 63 miles, but thought I might not make it to work on time (next week).

So, I ran 6.3 miles. That was easy enough to do, but it got me to thinking that if I'm still running when I'm 90, that 9.0-mile run might be a little tough.I'll probably be retired by then, so at least I'll have all day to do it.

I'll have to check this out, but I think I burned a few extra calories today just because my Garmin watch knew I'd gone from 62 to 63 years old.
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Last week, almost by accident, I recorded my highest weekly mileage of the year: 34 miles. It happened because I ran 8 miles on Sunday instead of my usual 4-6, then ran every day but one because I was unable to throw in more than one day of riding.

I haven't run any distance real fast yet, but I have had a couple outings averaging under 9 min. per mile. My rehab'ed foot sometimes gets a little puffy after longer or faster runs, but it's nothing that a little ice can't handle.

Longest 30 miles ever!

Well, I showed up in Prairie Village to join the Riff Raff riders to give it a try.  If I'd known how tough the course was going to be, I wouldn't have gone!  Hills way too tough on the out trip, but we took a different route on the return that wasn't bad at all. 

Highlight was having breakfast with a large group.  I estimate there was at least 30 riders, but not sure.  We dropped three on the way out and now I know why.  I should have expected something was up when the group groaned after Bob Pisciotta made the announcement that they would be riding Corrington Street.  That street was a real bugger!  Very long and just steep enough to wear your butt out at half way up!

I realize it would have made a difference if I was riding a road bike and weighed less that I do.  However, I don't intend on investing in a road bike just so I can join these group rides.

I told Mitchell that I doubt I would do another group ride due to not knowing the routes ahead of time.  I've done two group rides now, one with the clock tower group and this one.  I think I'll stick to either riding with my buds or just going by myself.  I can pick the course! 

I know all this sounds negative, but I'm at the age now where I just don't want to push myself to that extent.  Too many things breaking down now!

Missed a Week!

Well, I missed just about a week of riding due to work obligations, but did manage to get out this morning for a short ride in Smithville.

Just rode the short trail (18.4) and called it good.  I got started a little late and was kind of tired, so I cut my ride short.

I did see 5 deer in the first five minutes and one on the return trip along with a huge turkey. 

Weather was super nice with heavy overcast, slight breeze and temps in the 60s.

Riding with Mitchell tomorrow along with the Riffraff riders.  Should be fun!