End of year mileage summary

I went through almost four pairs of road shoes, and nearly five pairs of trail shoes.  My total was 2131.7 miles.

Intervals (7.2mi)

Took the dog for about a mile warm up, then ran 1/2 mile intervals.

Easy Run (10.5mi)

I took the dog out for a warm up before hitting the trails.

Recovery Run (8.1mi)

Went for a neighborhood run with the dog before hitting the trails.

Tempo Run (9.4mi)

Warmed up with a short run with the dog, followed by a tempo run.

Saturday Run (11.5mi)

Did a long run with the dog.

Intervals (8.4mi)

Took the dog for a 2 mile warm up, then ran 1/2 mile intervals.

Easy Run (8.1mi)

I took the dog out for a warm up before hitting the trails.

Recovery Run (8.1mi)

Went for a neighborhood run with the dog before hitting the trails.

Tempo Run (9.4mi)

Warmed up with a short run with the dog, followed by a slow paced tempo run.

I'm so glad they kept her safe!

Dutch girl missing after thwarted global sail trip

To summarize:  A young teenage girl, who has been sailing her entire life, wanted to sail solo around the world.  Her country's government got word and promptly stepped in to stop her attempt "for her safety."  Now she's gone missing.

To be sure this would have been a risky endeavor for anyone, but really it is a manageable risk considering that humans have been sailing the world for thousands of years.  Also, with the current state of communications, you can honestly say that help would only be a few hours away, at the outside.  Unfortunately, the idea that a child is exposed to any risk apparently switched off some brains, so she was made to stay at home, where she would be completely safe.  We'll just ignore things like getting hit by a car walking around her neighborhood, being mugged, getting kidnapped, or say, running away from home.

So instead of letting her proceed with her sailing attempt, where they would be able to monitor her constantly via electronic devices, they now have absolutely no fucking clue as to her location or whether or not she's even alive.  Way to go folks!

Oh, and the truly funny part of all this.  The government is trying to find a girl whose passion is sailing by monitoring the country's airports!  What a bunch of dumbshits!

Saturday Run/Walk (12mi)

Did a trail run/walk session.

Run/Walk (6.25mi)

Did a run/walk with the dog.

Run/Walk Intervals (7.7mi)

Took the dog for a 2 mile warm up, then ran 1/4 mile intervals.

Run/Walk (8.3mi)

My ankle is sore, so I took the dog out for some run/walk intervals.

Recovery Run (8.3mi)

Went for a neighborhood run with the dog.

Tempo Run (9.4mi)

Warmed up with a short run with the dog, followed by a fast paced tempo run.

Some time off

Skipped my runs for Friday and Saturday to give my body some more time to recover from over training.  It remains to be seen whether or not this is enough.

Intervals (7.1mi)

Took the dog for a 2 mile warm up, then ran 1/2 mile intervals.

Easy Run (8.3mi)

Went for a slightly faster neighborhood run with the dog.

Recovery Run (8.4mi)

Went for a neighborhood run with the dog.

Treadmill Speedwork (~7mi)

Very cold and rainy today, and giving the dog more recovery time.  Switching to the treadmill to do some speedwork.

Saturday Run (10mi)

Did a solo trail run while the dog's foot continues to heal.

Recovery Run (6mi)

Did a solo trail run while the dog's foot continues to heal.

Intervals (5.6mi)

Ran 1/4 mile intervals while the dog recovers from a cut paw.

Easy Run (8.2mi)

Starting my taper for next week's race. Went for a slightly faster, but shorter, trail run with the dog.

Recovery Run (8.2mi)

Getting back to a normal training schedule with a trail run with the dog.

Tempo Run (8.1mi)

Starting a new training schedule with a short run with the dog, followed by a fast paced tempo run.

Post Race Recovery

Spent Friday through Sunday recuperating from my race.  My activity was limited to warming up and stretching.  Took the dog out for walks in the mornings & evenings to keep her from getting too restless.

XTERRA Topanga Turkey Trot 15K Race

The second race of the 2010 series was much tougher, but I was able to reach my goal time. I came in 2nd for my age group.

Weight: 135 lbs
Time: 1:10:25.17

Preparations for the race went very well. I was adequately rested and had a good pre-race dinner of mashed potatoes. The day was not particularly cold at home, but once I got to the race site it was around 35F. I ended up just wearing my gloves during the run to keep warm.

The race went very well, but was tougher than anticipated. I cut my time by about four minutes from last year, coming in at 1:10:25 for the 15 km. On a level road that time would suck, but this course is pretty gnarly. They like to tell people that the first two miles is straight up, which doesn't feel too far from the truth. By the time we reached the end of the first major climb we've gone a bit over two miles and climbed at least 800'. While this section is on a wide fire road, the next 3.5 miles is on nasty single track.

This middle segment should be a chance to improve your time by building up some downhill speed, but it's just too fucked up for that.  The first mile and a half is just a long series of switchbacks that keep you from building up much speed.  Also, the ground is very loose and crumbly.  In fact, I twice had my footing completely drop from under me as I reached for branches to steady me.  As for the branches, they were EVERYWHERE!  Unless you're 4'3", you had to duck almost constantly through this section.  Needless to say, compressing my lungs by ducking didn't help my ability to run quickly.  Also, ducking didn't always help since I ended up with a bloody scrape along my right temple (which was better than the > 6' runner I saw later with a huge gash going from the center of his forehead all the way over the top of his head.)  Before I forget, I should probably mention the fallen trees (granted, only a few inches in diameter) randomly strewn across the trail.  This is all in addition to the usual assortment of large rocks, dry creek beds, etc. that I've come to expect from the sadists at XTerra.

At around the 5.5 mile mark we finally got out of the brush and onto another fire road.  The fact that it was all uphill didn't make it any less enjoyable since it meant we could at least stop ducking and jumping.  We had another 800' of climbing, but it went quickly since more than half the race was done.  Once we got to the second peak things got even easier.

Last year I did very well on the first climb, but sucked during both downhill segments.  The single track really threw me last year, but I still did well since I got ahead of all but a dozen or so runners before getting to it.  That year, more people passed me in the final three miles because of how slowly I went down hills.  The past several months I've been working on my downhill form, and can easily go faster than a 6:00/mi pace (10 MPH) often sticking to a 5:35/mi pace when I know I don't have to worry about holding back at the end of a race.  This is what I did this year, flying through the last third of the race and coming in around 10th overall and 2nd for my age group.

Striders (3.1mi)

With only one day until my race, I took the dog to the park to run some striders.

Intervals (4.1mi)

Ran 1/8 mile intervals with the dog.

Easy Run (6mi)

With only four days remaining until my race, I went for a shorter trail run with the dog.

Saturday Run (6mi)

For my last "long" run before my race, I took the dog on a short, but more challenging, trail run.

Recovery Run (6mi)

Did a trail run with the dog.

Intervals (5.8mi)

Ran 1/2 mile intervals with the dog.

Easy Run (8.2mi)

Starting my taper for next week's race. Went for a slightly faster, but shorter, trail run with the dog.

Recovery Run (8.1mi)

Did a trail run with the dog.

Tempo Run (9.3mi)

Pushing myself to get back to my normal schedule with a short run with the dog, followed by a fast paced tempo run.

Vacation Week Wrapup (11/9-14)

I actually managed to get out and run all week, but my sleep schedule was so goofed up that I didn't make time for any other exercises.  My tempo run went well, but the next two "recovery" and "easy" runs were way too fast due in small part to my dog's new found speed.  Half-mile intervals went well, too.  The dog is actually getting bored during a 5:40/mi paced 800m interval.  Friday I managed to keep mellow, and still tired the dog out nicely.  Saturday I was way too tired for my usual long hill routine, but I forced myself to do some short hill running with the dog.

I was not good about getting enough sleep most nights, mostly due to playing video games.  I didn't get nearly as much reading as I had hoped (feared?) and almost none of the chores.  I guess that convinces me that I needed the time off to just de-stress and not worry about things.  At this point I'm just happy I kept up with my running, getting through more than 45 miles for the week.

Saturday Run (10mi)

Warmed up with a short run with the dog before a trail run.

Recovery Run (6mi)

Did a trail run with the dog.

Intervals (7.1mi)

Ran 1/4 mile intervals with the dog.

Easy Run (10.09mi)

Went for a slightly faster trail run with the dog.

Recovery Run (8.2mi)

Did a trail run with the dog.

Tempo Run (9.4mi)

Got back to work today with a short run with the dog, followed by a fast paced tempo run.

Saturday Run (12mi)

Warmed up with a short run with the dog before a trail run.

Off The Meds For Now

After two different breaks from my thyroid pills caused by side effects (both primary and secondary) I'm officially off them for now.  My doctor wants to check my hormone levels at the end of six weeks to see how things look.

Recovery Run (6mi)

Did a trail run with the dog.

Intervals (7mi)

Ran 1/2 mile intervals with the dog.

Easy Run (8.2mi)

Went for a slightly faster trail run with the dog.

Recovery Run (8.1mi)

Did a trail run with the dog.

Tempo Run (9.4mi)

Took it a bit easier today with a short run with the dog, followed by a slower paced tempo run.

Recovery Run (6mi)

Did a trail run with the dog.

Intervals (6.1mi)

Did some 1/4 mile intervals with the dog.

Easy Run (8.2mi)

Went for a slightly faster trail run with the dog.

Recovery Run (8.1mi)

Hit the trails with the dog again, with some added distance.

Tempo Run (9.4mi)

Did my usual exercises and then took the dog for a short warm up run, then did a 4 mile tempo run.

Saturday Run (10mi)

Ditched the dog again and extended my trail run by a couple of miles.

Recovery Run (6.2mi)

Skipped the muddy trails for a neighborhood run with the dog.

Intervals (5.6 mi)

The rain stopped last night, so I took the dog to the park for some intervals.

Easy Run (8.3mi)

VERY rainy today, so we stayed on the sidewalks for a short warm up with the dog followed by a longer solo run.

Recovery Run (6mi)

The first rain of the season hit this morning, making for a slightly muddy trail run with the pup.

Tempo Run (8.1mi)

Did my usual exercises and then took the dog for a short warm up run, then did a 3 mile tempo run.

Saturday Run (8mi)

Got a chance to get a good Saturday trail run without the dog.

Recovery Run (6mi)

A normal Friday run with the dog, but still skipping cross training.

Intervals (5.42 mi)

The dog seems to be ready for some full speed intervals now.

Catching up

Really felt like crap on Wednesday, with a nasty headache and stomach pain.  I'm pretty sure that the stomach pain is related to either the prednisone killing off the flora in my gut, or restarting the thyroid medication.  Either way, I should see some improvement in the near future.  I've also sent my Dr. an email question about the situation, so I'll just have to wait and see what I get back.

Not wanting to let the dog totally freak out, I did take a quick 2 mile loop with her.  This didn't feel too bad once I got warmed up.

Recovery Run (6mi)

I took it easy, while the dog got a longer run today.  Skipped my other exercises.

Tempo Run (8.1mi)

Took the dog for a short warm up run, then did a 3 mile tempo run.

Easy Run (6.2mi)

Got some more mileage in this morning.  Not very fast, but enough to tire the dog out.

Recovery Run (4.1mi)

A good run today, with the dog keeping up easily.  Still managing to get cross training done.

Banks, Helping People (A Rant)

Just came across this story, and it made me angry for a number of reasons.  On a personal level, it's because of the repeated acts that I have put up with over the years at the hands of idiots employed by these institutions.  Now, before you think I'm going to go off on the evils of financial institutions, I need to explain that what I'm going to rant about is actually related to the idiocy of individuals.  However, corporate policies encouraging "gotcha capitalism" also fall in my sights.

My most recent dealing with this kind of idiocy happened just yesterday, while dealing with Chase.  I have two business accounts that I opened with WaMu years ago, and needed to make some deposits.  However, I realized that my last ATM card had expired and that I hadn't received a new one.  When I called Chase to find out about a new card I ended up having to go through all of the usual steps to confirm my identity and accounts, twice.  Even after that, they refused to send me a new ATM card until I provided the date that I opened my accounts, something that would require me to dig through archived files that I hadn't seen in half a decade.  When I explained this to the person on the phone, she told me that they couldn't do what banks have been doing for years: automatically sending a new card to replace expired ones.  It didn't matter that I confirmed my account number, address, phone number, personal name, company name, SSN, etc. they wouldn't just send a replacement card to the address they had on file until I dug up some old paper.  Finally realizing that stupidity is never cured over the phone, I hung up and went into the nearest Chase branch.  I walked up to the first person I saw, said "I need a new ATM card," gave them my name and account # and told them it could be sent to the address on file.  They said "sure" and I was done.

My previous episode was with a branch of Bank of America.  I had paid off my car, and received a check back from the company for an ~$2 overpayment, drawn off of an account at B of A.  Thinking that it should be a no-brainer to get this cashed I went into a branch across the parking lot from where I was buying groceries and was told that because I didn't have an account there, I would be charged $5 for cashing a $2 check from their own damn accounts.  Fortunately, at this point the teller stopped trying to convince me to open an account there, since it was getting obvious that I was not a fan of their "gotcha" practices.

Another great B of A story isn't directly mine, but my grandfather's.  He's in his 80s, and cannot drive anymore, but still uses his old driver's license as an ID.  This, apparently, is good enough for everyone except B of A, who took exception with the fact he tried to access his account with it after it had expired.  Now, before you say "sure, why should they accept an expired driver's license" keep in mind that a driver's license is a form of identification that also states whether or not the holder is legally capable of driving.  An expired license simply means that as of some date, the identified person does not have the right to drive, not that the person has now changed identities.  This is also why expired passports are considered valid ID in many cases.  Again, idiocy had trumped common sense.

The best example I have, though, comes from many years ago and involved a credit card company that no longer exists.  I used my card to pay my utility bills every month, then paid off the balance.  This worked fine until my card expired and I hadn't received a new one.  I called the company, wanting them to send a new card and also let me know what, if anything had changed on it so that I could continue paying my utilities online with the new information before the card arrived.  No matter what I told them, they refused to tell me anything because of "security."  I explained that they were the ones who had made a mistake in the first place by not sending a new card, a card that was only of value to me if I could pay my bills with it.  Still refusing to give me any information because they couldn't trust me over the phone, I told them that in that case, their card was of no use to me.  I told them to cancel the new card, and that I wanted to close my account with them.  Remarkably, they seemed to think that I could be trusted now and proceeded to close my account based solely on the word of a person on the phone who wasn't "secure" enough to trust with account information just two minutes earlier.

Intervals (5.35mi)

Took the dog for an easy intervals session.

Recovery Run (4.1mi)

Getting back to running, but taking it easy.  Did cross training before hitting the trails with the dog.

Recovery Walk (4.2mi)

Took another day off from running.  Did lower body cross training and a faster trail walk with the dog.

Recovery Walk (4.2mi)

Post race recovery started today.  Stuck to cross training and a trail walk with the dog.

XTERRA Point Mugu 18K Race

The first race in the 2010 series went well, with me coming in 4th 5th place overall and 1st place for my age group.

Fun With The Endocrine System

Well, after ten days of being on thyroid meds, I finally had a possible side effect.  Personally, I'm glad it wasn't one of the nasty ones, like seizures, but hives aren't exactly fun.  Nothing disfiguring, mind you, and I was actually convinced that I just had a couple of bug bites.  When I finally asked my wife if she'd been suffering from bug bites, and she said "no" I thought something might be up, and when the marks appeared across my back I was certain.  My wife is pretty much mosquito bait on feet, so if she was fine, then I wasn't suffering from bug bites.

The doctor confirmed that I was having some kind of allergic reaction, but there's always a possibility that it's from something else (I've been snacking on peanuts A LOT this week) but the safest course is to stop the meds (and the nuts) until the reaction goes away.  Once they clear up for a week I'll go back on the pills and see if they make a return.

Apparently, an allergic reaction is pretty rare in this situation, especially since I've exhibited no other side effects.  I'm hoping that it's just that I overdosed on peanuts this week, but only because it will be easier to regulate what I eat than to adjust my thyroid.

Easy Run (4.12mi)

Pressed for time, I went with the dog for a quick trail run.

Intervals (4.16mi)

The dog and I went for a very short intervals run.

Easy Run (8.26mi)

Took the dog out for a 4mi trail run, then repeated it solo.

Recovery Run (6.45mi)

The dog and I went on a trail run.

Getting it started

I finally realized that being unable to log onto MySpace for a week only mattered in as much as I missed being able to update my running journal.  Eventually, I hope to migrate all of my old posts over to this site, but for now I'm just going to enjoy having more control over my posts while not being bombarded with requests to become friends with "FakeSlut69".