Saturday 6.5 Miles

I ran 6.5 this afternoon, through the next development over. I ran really slow, around 58 minutes. The only thing of consequence about this run is that I did go over 100 miles for the month of June!

Friday Morning Long Run

I've been talking with Kevin D for months about coming in early on Fridays for a long run. Well the company picnic is today so the fitness center is closed from 11-3. So I finally decided today would be the day. We planned to meet at 6:30 AM.

I was able to get up and get in on time and shortly after 6:30 we were on the road. We ran a little loop downtown before heading north to Lakeside and then back around the Rock Hall / Science Center / Browns Stadium and into the flats. Mid-run there was a hill out of the flats and onto the Detroit-Superior bridge.

We ran the whole run at what seemed like a pretty brisk pace but Kevin started to get away from me on that part of the run. We ran the extra part after crossing the bridge, then Kevin picked up the pace quite a bit crossing back over the 2nd bridge.

Total distance was 7.5 miles. Kevin timed himself at 57 minutes and me at 59 minutes. He said by himself he usually runs that route in about 63 minutes. For me today's run was about 7:50 pace, and a 7:35 pace for Kevin D.

This gives me 27 miles for the week, which is the most I've run in at least the past 3 years. Also, I have run at least 4 times per week for 7 consecutive weeks.

Weight = 182 lbs

Thursday 4 Miles

We had a group today for the first time in several weeks. Kevin D, Milica, Vicki, and I all ran just over 4 miles. (4.16 according to the Gmaps Pedometer webiste)

Rick started with us also but he had run longer last night (9 miles) so he quickly turned off and went on his own. Milica also had run 7 this morning so on the 2nd bridge she fell back and Vicki slowed to run with her.

Tomorrow is the company picnic, so I won't be able to run at lunch. I'm considering coming in early (6:30 AM) and running with Kevin D.

Weight = 181 lbs

Wednesday Speedwork - Short Track

I ran speedwork today with Marty. Marty likes to run intervals on the track at St. Ignatius HS. The strange thing about this track is it is not a 400m track. The inside lane is short. The 4th lane is actually 400m. There are wierd starting lines spaced out all over this track. The 1600m start is at the start of the home straightaway and the 3200m is near the normal 200m start line.

Anyhow, the warm-up and cool-down is about 1 3/4 miles each way. We ran 4 x 800 but I only ran 3 x 800 and a 400 on the last one. The heat was sweltering! We did a 400 jog in between each 800 for recovery.

• 2:59
• 3:10
• 3:13
• 1:37

Total distance 6 miles.

Weight = 178 lbs

Hoodwinked and Bamboozled

I was a little late to run today and Rick was about to leave the fitness center when I arrived to change into my gear. I asked him which way he was going, and he said "Lakefront. You'll probably catch me."

So I changed quick and was on my way shortly. I kept a brisk pace. Every turn I looked up ahead but I never caught Rick or even saw him.

When I got back to the locker room, Rick was getting changed. "I saw you" he said.

"Where?" I asked.

"Well I was going to let you catch up so I ran out towards the pier. But when I turned around you were already going past. I would have yelled but I didn't think you'd hear."

So I was ahead of him the whole time. This of course, made me wonder how he got back first, so I asked him.

"I just came straight back 9th street."

It was kind of funny, me all the time thinking I needed to run hard to catch him, and him seeing me go past and then taking the short way back to the office.

Oh well.

Monday 5 Miles

Rick and I started out to run the modified homeless route today, but Rick was having right knee and left calf issues and bailed out around 1-2 miles, so I ran most of the route alone (and slow).

Weight = 181 lbs

Thursday Bloody Thursday

Thursday was the day the Bloodmobile came to my place of employment. I was scheduled for a 1:45 appointment, so that I could still run at lunch (which I did).

I went and read the information, and got checked in. While waiting for my turn, there was a minor emergency. A girl from the cookie table became very pale and looked as if she was about to pass out. This got everyone's attention as they moved her to a cot, put her feet up, and covered her with a blanket. Her whole body was shaking! Getting her under control took several minutes of time for all the medical personnel and slowed things down significantly.

Finally it was my turn. The nurse first marked my arm (with a magic marker) to give herself a target. She then went away to tend to another patient. When she came back and looked again, she decided she needed to mark a different spot, a few millimeters over.

She stuck the needle in and the blood started to flow, and then it stopped for some reason. She came back and wiggled the needle, getting the blood flowing again, but while she poked around it felt all of a sudden like I had a charley-horse on my arm.

After a minute or so the blood stopped again. Now I have given blood every 2 months, this would have been my 4th time and I've never had any trouble before. But this time another blood-worker came over and they decided to stop and give up. They gave me a small ice-pack to hold on my arm.

I did get to have juice and cookies but it was very frustrating to spend that much time over there and not be able to successfully give blood.

Thursday 4.5 Miles

Rick and I ran the Burke Airport route again today to see if there was any action out at the site of the Grand Prix.

Alot of set-up going on but we didn't see any race cars warming up or taking test runs or anything. Maybe tomorrow. We did see the Worlds Largest Grill!

Rick was really hoping to see some Beach Volleyball, but all we saw was a pile of sand. It wasn't even spread out into a court yet. Oh well, maybe tomorrow.

Weight = 181 lbs.

Wednesday Speedwork

I ran speedwork today with Matt. Rick started with us also but the pace wasn't to his liking so he continued doing his own work on a different block.

I ran 4x800 today, my times were very consistent:

• 2:54
• 2:52
• 2:53
• 2:51

With 1 1/2 mile warm up, 1 mile cool down, and 1/4 mile jog in between, today's total distance was 5 1/2 miles.

Weight = 181 lbs

Tuesday Night Running Club - Plus Bikers

We had great attendance at tonight's running group. Ken, Randy, Brad, and myself all came from the East and all drove separately. Someone made a joke about the low prices of gas!

In one car from the west came Keith, Greg, Gabrielle and Danielle. The girls are twins, coached by Keith this year in high-school track and cross country.

We also had 7 bikers. My wife Victoria with George in the baby seat, and our 5 elementary kids. It was a good night. I bought 3 boxes of Popsicles!

Monday 4.5 Miles

I ran today at lunch with Rick. We did the Burke Airport route. I'll probably do that a few times this week as they are setting up for the Grand Prix Of Cleveland, to be held this weekend. Rick works out in the morning with our company President, and since we are one of the main sponsors, Rick is getting free tickets to the race. Very cool!

Anyhow, back to today's run. It was very hot and muggy out. I was glad to be done.

I did make plans with Matt to start up speedwork again on Wednesday.

Weight = 179 lbs

Saturday 6 Miles

I ran 6 miles today, on the same metroparks bike path where we run on Tuesday nights. This path is a little over 13 miles long and is on an old railroad track, so it is very straight and flat.

For the first time ever, my wife accompanied me (on her bike). She also had our son George along riding behind her in his seat. Even though she bikes faster than I run and was ahead of me for quite a while, it was very nice to have her out there.

Friday 6.5 Miles

I ran 6.5 today, the Burke Airport / Aviation HS route. I ran with Marty and Matt. Marty runs this route pretty much every Friday. I've run it before with him, but apparently not since I've been blogging my runs.

I felt a little sluggish today, heavy legs, but not really too bad. It would have been worse but neither Marty nor Matt pushed the pace like I would have expected. It really was just an easy, conversational run.

I got some "cross-training" in this week in a fun way. I played soccer with my kids at soccer practice for about 45 minutes on Wednesday night, and basketball at the park for about 1/2 hour on Thursday night.

Weight = 182 lbs

Wednesday Easy 4 Miles

I ran 4 by myself today, the shorter Tremont route. There were 2 very interesting things to write about.

First, I ran past Quicken Loans Arena and saw all the decorations for the NBA Finals, including the huge statue of the Finals trophy! Very cool (even though my Cavs lost last night).

Second, I got stuck waiting for a drawbridge to lower. I was stopped for probably a little over 5 minutes. It was already slowly creeping down when I got there so I waited it out. It was kind of neat to watch.

Weight = 184 lbs

Monday Easy 5 Miles

Rick and I ran the 5-mile homeless route today. We took it pretty easy, it was Rick's first run since he ran the San Diego marathon a week ago yesterday.

The weather was warm and as we ran around Jacobs Field we saw a table selling knock-off NBA Finals gear, including t-shirts that said "San Antonio Sucks."

Weight = 183

Thursday 4.5 Miles

I ran by myself today, it was very warm. I ran the out-and-back course by Burke Lakefront Airport, along Lake Erie. For a while on the way back I picked up the pace to try to catch a guy in a yellow shirt, but I didn't catch him.

I ran in front of the Rock Hall and saw several of the guitars from Guitarmania. My kids and I always enjoy this exhibit.

Weight = 182 lbs

Wednesday Easy 5 Miles

I tried to talk the gang into speedwork today, but to no avail.

Kevin D, Peter, Milica, and I ran the modified homeless route today. We did encounter 1 apparently homeless man with his belongings in a shopping cart.

Peter bailed out around 3 miles and Kevin headed for the office around 4 miles. Milica and I were the only 2 to go the entire route. Kevin had run 7 miles this morning, 3 on purpose and the other 4 trying to meet up with the 7am cardio fitness class.

I added Chris' abs class after I got back.

Weight = 182 lbs

Tuesday Night - 4 Miles

I ran with the gang after soccer practice tonight. Or at least I tried to. I arrived around 8:15 but they had already left. I started west on the out-and-back course and met Greg, Keith, Randy, & Brad a little less than 2 miles out.

Brad let me know that Ken was behind them, so I continued out until I found Ken and turned around and ran back with him. Ken was having some knee pain tonight, and it slowed him down significantly.

Back at the McDonald's parking lot, while eating Dole Fruit Bars, Greg let us know that he was off next Tuesday. Besides hosting the monthly Farm Bureau meeting, it is Greg and Laura's 31st wedding anniversary. Congratulations! Ken is out of town also so it was decided that there will be no run next Tuesday.

Meanwhile Brad and I began making plans to run on Sunday. I said that I had to pick up my kids at 6 PM so we had to run either before that or after that. Keith thought this statement was hilariously obvious.

Brad and I agreed to run at 3PM on Sunday.

Monday 6.5 Miles

Today's run was along the lakefront all the way out to Aviation High School, a 6.5 mile route. I felt much better than I did on Friday!

Weight = 185 lbs

Sunday Easy 3 Miles

I got up this morning and ran 3 miles. Not much remarkable about this, except that I only remember meeting 1 car the entire way. Or maybe I was so much on cruise control that there were others but I didn't notice.

Friday 3.5 Miles Plus Abs

I ran at lunch today with Kevin D, Troy, Peter, and Milica. Or at least I tried to.

We quickly broke into 2 groups, Kevin D and Troy in the front, Peter and Milica in the back. I decided to try to run with Kevin and Troy. I should have stayed back.

The run was enjoyable. Kevin's boss's daughter is running in the Ohio State HS Track Meet today, which brought out a few old stories.

About 3 miles into the run I slowed down considerably. Peter and Milica caught me. I kept up for a while but at 3.5 I stopped and walked the last half-mile back to the office. Milica talked Peter into going on and doing the extra 1.5 miles with the extra hill, but I knew if I tried that I would be crawling.

I did add a little bit by joining the short Abs Class when I got back up to the fitness center.

I know part of my problem was not eating well, 2 days this week I have skipped dinner due to late soccer practice and then wanting to watch the Cavs game. My weight is the lowest it has been in years!

Weight = 179 lbs.