The Road Begins

At this point it is five months until I start the Indianapolis Marathon. In the morning, I will run a 5K in my neighborhood to kick off the training season for me. I have come up with a plan which I will detail in a later post. It is similar to the program I followed last year, and I think it will get me where I want to be - a 5:30 marathon.

Marathon training takes a lot of time and effort. My friends and loved ones know my limited free time will be even more limited. Truth be told I love training. I love the process of it. I love figuring it all out. How I can shave some time off a previous run, etc.

This week I have two races, the 5K and the Soldier Field 10 Mile Run. This will be a good indicator for me as to how I am at the start of the training.

So the Road to Indianapolis begins....let the fun begin.

Charlie

Good Run

My runs have not been long this week, but I like the quality of the runs. Today I ran 2.05 miles and felt good. Again I was on the track running, while my friend Mark walked. He is trying to get to a point where he can start running, so I am encouraging him.

I am planning on a longer run tomorrow, especially if it is nice. I start my marathon training in earnest in the next week. I will also be coaching a beginning 5K program at work. I am very excited about this.

So all is good on the running front.

Charlie

Oscar Can Compete

A while back I posted about this amazing athlete from South Africa - Oscar Pistorius. He is the double amputee with the cheetah blades to run with. He has gained the opportunity to compete for an Olmypic bid. I am so happy about this.

While studies showed it takes him a bit less effort for running, I still believe he has to run and hard in order to be competitve. The blades do not run for him. Some think he has an unfair advantage. I don't.

Here is more on this story.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/16/AR2008051601089.html?hpid=artslot

Charlie

Speed Work

I have a 5K this week, so I wanted to get some speed work in. I ran to the Loyola Track and ran 3x300. Not too bad time wise:

1:46
1:46
1:45

Definite room to grow on this. My overall time for the 3 miles I ran was 32:00, a very good time for me.

I am still tinkering with my marathon training schedule. I will be going over it soon with all of you, so you can see what lies ahead this summer.

Charlie

Simple, Light Dinner

Last night I just was not in the mood for a heavy meal. Summer's coming, so why not a salad? Here is what I had...

Spring greens
Sliced tomato
Cooked chicken
Sliced onions
Crushed walnuts
Hard boiled egg
Baby carrots

That was all mixed with some lite ceasar and a sprinkle of parmasean. That really satisfied me. Got some key nutrients and protein in that meal, and it was darned yummy.

Charlie

Fun Run Crew

Today I ran with the Fun Run crowd. There were about 20 folks running the 3-6 mile route. I ran with the last group, and we ran 4.7. I really enjoyed it. It gave me the opportunity to talk with some fun folks about running. One woman had never run more than 2 miles on a treadmill, and today I told her she had just run more than double that. She smiled!

I was also told today that I will officially be a coach of a beginning 5K program. I am very excited about this. I have never been a coach, so this will be something new and exciting for me.

Charlie

Back to Running

I did manage to get a couple of runs in so far this week. Wednesday was a nice 3.5 mile treadmill run at the gym. I did some hill work and a bit of speed work, so I was pretty pleased with the effort.

Yesterday I ran with David along the Lakefront Path. We ran 4.2 miles at an easy pace. I am liking running with someone from time to time. Lord knows after this week I loved the running. David is great to run with. We chat, we run....it's all good. We are not setting any blazing records during these runs. I told him that slower runs help build stamina. He is recovering from surgery, so he doesn't need to run fast at this point. He is training for the Chicago Half Marathon in September. Eventually he and I will be doing some speed and hill work.

Of course all of this gets me thinking about my marathon training. My goal is to start training in earnest the first week of June. This will be tricky, because I will have to juggle a lot around work. Since I have a management position, I can't have as flexible a schedule as I had last year.

I will be working on a training plan in the next couple of weeks.

Charlie

The Importance Of Insurance

Ordnarily I don't go off topic, but I really need to vent about my experience this week.

My friend Mark had two seizures a couple Sundays ago. It was suggested he go to the county hospital because he doesn't have insurance. On Monday we went to the John Stroger Hospital of Cook County. To be able to see a neurologist, Mark had to be seen in the Emergency Room by a doctor. We arrived at 10:45 am. He did not see a doctor until 9:15 pm.

The long wait was only part of the issue. I have never seen a dirty hospital. The men's room had NO soap or paper towels. The toilet paper dispenser was a plastic bag rolled into a circle with the toilet paper hanging off of it. Ironically there were signs encouraging people to wash their hands to "prevent the spread of germs." Also there was a poster telling patients they have a right to ask the health care worker if they washed their hands.

The staff was rude to people. I asked a receptionist for a pen and paper to write a phone number. She rolled her eyes at me. At that point Mark went off on her.

I did ask a nurse why it takes so long to see a doctor. About 50% of the people in the ER are either homeless people who need a place to hang out, and know they can't be denied care or serivce, scam artists trying to get money from people in the waiting room, or junkies.

Mark did not want to see the doctor alone, since I am the one who has seen the seizures, he thought I should be there to tell the doctor. They were not going to let me go back with him. He insisted I go, or he would not get any health care. I got to go back.

The doctor saw him for 10-15 minutes. He thought the medication Mark was on was too strong, which was my theory. He said Mark needs to see a neurologist, and it would take 2 weeks to get an appointment. I found out later he lied...it takes 1-3 months!

As I sat there I thought there has to be a better way to care for people with no insurance or have little to no money. When I got home all I wanted to do was cry.

Charlie

Boston Debate

Nothing gets runners talking then about qualifying for the Boston Marathon. There is a great debate...qualify or enter as a charity runner.

I know I will never qualify for Boston...at least not until I am 80. I have opportunities to run the race if I raise money for charity. My fellow workers would be horrified that I would contemplate such a thing, especially since some are working their asses off to qualify. No before anyone flies off the deep end...I am not seriously thinking about this. It is just on my mind.

My feeling though is that as a charity runner I would certainly train as hard, if not harder than the "other" runners. I know there are some marathoners out there who should probably train a lot harder than they do. I saw plenty of that in the Chicago Marathon.

Still I would love to run Boston. I just don't know if it would happen on my own qualifying power.

Thoughts?

Charlie

Ruuning With a Buddy

Today I ran with the Fun Run folks at the store. I had thought I would do it, but a customer whom I had worked with in the past asked about the group, and I said I would run today, this way he would know someone and the route. As it turns out he is the BF of a friend of a friend of mine.

I really enjoyed the slower than normal pace for me, and chatting with him. We talked about our running, weight losses, and life in general. He is training for the Chicago Half Marathon in Sept. I told him I had been looking for someone to run with occasionally and would he like to join me from time to time. He said he would....cool!

It was a gorgeous morning as we ran 3 miles to the river and back. No world records here. We ran in 38:18. Slower than normal, but good enough to enjoy running and chatting!

Charlie

Happy May Day

Can you believe it is May 1? Where is the year going?

I decided to go for a run after work. I ran a 4.8 stretch from my store to the Chicago River. It is a really nice route, and this was a great evening. It was in the upper 60s, and cloudy with a breeze. I really enjoyed this run, but I was reminded of something. I need to hydrate!!!!!!!!!!!

Let me say that again - I NEED TO HYDRATE!!!!!

I paid for the lack of hydration. I was very tired, and there was a bit of blood in my urine after the run. This means I did not drink during the day. It is important not only to hydrate on runs, but during the day leading to the run.

I ran without music. That was by accident, but I actually liked that. I felt more at peace, and was able to think through things and let some issues go as I ran. This has been a difficult week, lots of crisis going on, so this run really helped.

Tonight....rest.

Charlie

Today's Run

This was not a long run. It was a bit chilly, but I did manage to run outside. I headed to the Loyola track, and ran 5 laps then ran home. Overall it was a 2.73 mile run. Yes, a short one, but I wasn't in the mood for a long, long run.

So what did I accomplish today? I thought about how I should train for the marathon in October. I am still unsure about a training group. I do with I had someone to train with. I have been unsuccessful in my attempts to train with someone.

My goal was to really not think about the sick people in my life. When my mother was ill, I found that I needed time away from everything to be on my own and do something good for me. I find this has served me well.

Tomorrow....a longer run.

Charlie

Running With Issues

Today I need a run. Later this morning I will head out for a run. Running helps me cope. I make it clear I am not running from stress or problems, I run to cope with them.

Here are the two main issues:

My friend Mark had two seizures on Sunday. His family relationship is a bit strained, so another friend of his I were the ones who took him to the hospital, and argued with the doctors when they said they could not figure out why he was having seizures. He needs a specialist to learn more. I won't even get into how angry I am at his parents.

My dad is in the hospital. Seems he is having high blood pressure, and the red flags were for some more serious issues. He is 90, so health concerns will always be there. Still you hate the thought of a loved one being in the hospital for any reason.

So how does running help? It helps me clear my mind, then focus. I am focusing on the breathing, the running, then I can meditate and things appear clearer to me. We have had rain/snow mix so I am thinking of heading to the gym for a run. I'll let you know how it goes.

Charlie

A Race: The Other Side

Yesterday I was a course marshall for an area 5K race. Let me tell you it was an interesting experience. As course marshall my job is to make sure traffic does not get through on the course. I also am supposed to make sure no one bothers the runners.

For this race there was 3500 registered runners. In Chicago, anytime you have a street event, it is city law that No Parking signs are posted. The signs are posted two days in advance. If you violate those orders, your car is towed. What no one told me is that as course marshall you bear the brunt of neighbor anger. One man got into my face and was cussing at me because his car was towed. I told him over and over how sorry I was, and that he needs to call the city to find out where it is. He ranted and raved and got a camera. He started taking pictures of trees with signs on them. The signs he took pictures of were no parking signs for street cleaning on Monday. The traffic control guy and I told him he was taking the wrong pictures, and he got angrier.

I dealt with the woman who lived on the street and just wanted to go home. She screamed at me how unfair this was. Right behind her...a vacan parking spot. I told her she could park there and walk the block to her home. She refused and screamed some more.

One woman was angry because she had movers coming that morning. I told her the street would be open in 2 hours. She cried and told me this was not right.

The runners came by, and they all seemed so happy to be out running and racing. It made up for all the anger I had thrown at me. Still there will always be some bitter folks.

Charlie

What Died?

Whatever I had started in my sinuses, and has worked it's way to my stomach. God I hate this feeling. I'm sure my co-workers are tired of me being sick this week. I'm sure a few will "thank" me when they get it. Ugh!

So no running as of now.

Charlie

Start and Stop

I really hate it when I feel I am getting into a groove with my running, then something happens. I was coming down with something the other day. Well it is working through my body. Yesterday I felt faint most of the day. Bad sinuses too. Today diarrhea. I really hate this.

I feel the body was getting better as far as heal and knee....now this. God I hate this!

Charlie

Impressive Weekend

Boston was the center of the marathon universe this weekend. Deena Kastor really pulled it out to win the Olympic Marathon Trials. Dire Tune won the Women's Boston Marathon is dramatic fashion, finishing 2 seconds ahead of Alvetina Biktimirova. Robert Cheruiyot won his 4th Boston Marathon, winning over two minutes ahead of second place finisher. WOW!!!

Of course the great Steve Runner finished with a great time - 4:44:13. While that is no PR, it is an amazing accomplishment!

Charlie

Sick

Well I felt it coming yesterday. I am sick. Stuffy news....scratchy throat. I feel gross.

Charlie

Amazing Spring Run

It is a gorgeous day in Chicago. Temps are in the 60s, and I headed up to Evanston. I ran along the lake, then headed into downtown Evanston, then looped home. 6.23 miles altogether. I ran it in 1:13:41. Darned good I would say.


I felt pretty good during the run, and really enjoyed the sights. People were friendly. Many said hello. One guy gave me a thumbs up and told me, "Go man go!" I love stuff like that.

The only problem I had was I feel I am coming down with a cold. So I was sniffly, and felt bit gross. Still I pressed on. I listened to Steve Runner's interval, so I was running while he had been toiling away in Boston today. I am assuming he finished. Way to go Steve!! I felt if Steve could run on a bum ankle, I could run with an oncoming cold.

So today was a good run. Now I will take it easy the rest of the day and hope this cold does not in fact get worse.

Charlie

Time for a Change

I just got an email showing me pictures from the 10 mile race in D.C. , and I thought, "I am too damn young to look that damn old. So I made a change. Tell me what you think!

:-)Charlie