Black mtn.
Another nice run with Abram. Looking forward to increasing mileage, but I can feel some warning signals from my left ankle again. This year can go either way at this point.
Workout:
- Type: Run
- Date: 01/02/2012
- Time: 20:01:12
- Total Time: 1:03:00.00
- Calories: 793
- Distance: 6 miles
- Average Pace: 10:30.47/mile
Filed under: Run
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A hike and a challenge
This morning I enjoyed a nice hike with my amazing wife of 18 years. Today, being our anniversary, gave us a nice chance to get out and enjoy the outdoors together without the kiddo’s. New years day always seems to present an opportunity to reflect on the past year and decide what you might like to do differently in the year to come. The standard outcome of this annual ritual, at least for me, is I want to do more of the good things I’m already doing, and subtract some of the things I could really live without. I think this year my outlook may have shifted.
The underlying cause of this shift is based on the fact that I’m already doing what I want to do. Part of the adventure of living is seeking out new frontiers and moving forward with the one you love. The hike we took this morning was a good analogy of the path Miykal and I have been on. We had a good opportunity to discuss the year ahead as we were meandering up a single track trail on the side of Black Mtn. Miykal just completed her two year transfer degree in science, and she is anticipating a spring start date for nursing school. This is exciting, and a little daunting considering all the other things we have on our plate, but who ever said life was supposed to be cookie cutter basic without any challenge.
We have five children who range in age from 3 to 16. I love having a big family! I love the fact that my girls cheer for me on the porch almost everyday when I get home from work. I love the fact that they need my arms to snuggle around them at night when we’re reading a story or watching some goofy reality show. I love it when my 14 year old asks me to go lift weights with him, and how he loves to figure out complicated math problems out with me. My 12 year old, who now stands 6′ and looking eye to eye with me likes to try and spontaneously tackle me. I didn’t say I loved that, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I also think it’s pretty awesome that my 16 year old runs ultra marathons with me, and sometimes as we run up a steep grade I will feel a hand start pushing me up the hill. OK, so I probably need to do more deep lunges in my workout routine. All of this family stuff is good. I love it.
I’m also married to an amazing woman. Miykal is willing to go anywhere in life with me. We are both on the nursing track. She was already working on her pre-reqs for the nursing program when I decided, at age 38 to go back to school. I entered the community college setting thinking school would be extremely challenging, but I found I actually really enjoyed the challenge and thrived. This was a mid-life shift that was a really good fit for us. I didn’t say it’s not challenging, but I cant imagine working the rest of my productive years without really stepping out of my comfort zone. It’s kind of like signing up for that first ultra marathon.
The first time I spoke of running a marathon, one of my friends gave me the warning that, "You know a lot of people don’t even finish. They try to run the distance, but they might not even make it." If you listen to those voices, you wont even try. So I signed up for my marathon and finished; leg cramps and all! It’s amazing what the exponential difference is between an encourager and a discourager is. In 2009 I started thinking about running my first ultra. The Chuckanut 50k would be the run I would try to enter, but the race was sold out and I didn’t really mind. So I decided I would volunteer instead. A couple of my boy’s and I worked an aid station with a seasoned group of runners. Two of these runners were Vicky and Barb, two ultra runners who were in their seventies and still ran an average of one one hundred mile ultra per year. These ladies had me so pumped up after that day, that I immediately decided to do some research on the next local ultra. The next on that was coming was in June, and it was the Northface Endurance Challenge, in Bellingham, WA. There were varying distances between 10k, marathon, 50k, and 50 mile. So I signed up for the 50 miler and started training for the big day. What an amazing feeling it was to complete my first ultra. I would recommend it for anyone who thinks they cant. Challenging? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.
So what do I look forward to in the new year? I reflect back to a challenge in the past and look forward to upcoming challenges faced with the ones I love. One of the nice things about sweat365, is it’s very name challenges us to keep moving every day. We don’t sit still. At least not for too long. I’m up for new adventures in this 2012, and some of the hills might very well be steep and long, but you have to lace up those shoes and start with the first mile. Keep moving forward people! Happy 2012.
Workout:
- Type: Walk
- Date: 01/01/2012
- Time: 11:00:00
- Total Time: 1:45:00.00
- Calories: 485
- Distance: 6 miles
- Average Pace: 17:29.56/mile
Filed under: Walk
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Black Mtn
Enjoyed a nice relaxing trail run this morning with my son. Almost time to sign up for my 50k, but I’m thinking about replacing it with a 50 miler. I need to do some research. Happy new year everyone!
Workout:
- Type: Run
- Date: 12/31/2011
- Time: 14:13:47
- Total Time: 1:04:00.00
- Calories: 806
- Distance: 6 miles
- Average Pace: 10:40.57/mile
Filed under: Run
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antother pit run
Workout:
- Type: Run
- Date: 12/29/2011
- Time: 18:11:20
- Total Time: 00:32:10.00
- Calories: 517
- Distance: 4 miles
- Average Pace: 8:02.57/mile
Filed under: Run
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4 mile pit run
Workout:
- Type: Run
- Date: 12/28/2011
- Total Time: 00:33:00.00
- Calories: 531
- Distance: 4 miles
- Average Pace: 8:15.19/mile
Filed under: Run
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Black Mtn. loop
Ran the loop with Abram.
Workout:
- Type: Run
- Date: 12/26/2011
- Total Time: 1:03:00.00
- Calories: 793
- Distance: 6 miles
- Average Pace: 10:30.47/mile
Filed under: Run
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three mile pit run
Just a good warm up run this morning for Christmas.
Workout:
- Type: Run
- Date: 12/25/2011
- Time: 12:31:06
- Total Time: 00:25:30.00
- Calories: 410
- Distance: 3 miles
- Average Pace: 8:29.92/mile
Filed under: Run
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last three runs
Just catching up on three trail runs over the past couple weeks.
Workout:
- Type: Run
- Date: 12/23/2011
- Total Time: 3:06:00.00
- Calories: 2341
- Distance: 18 miles
- Average Pace: 10:19.62/mile
Filed under: Run
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3 great runs for Thanksgiving weekend
2 six milers and one 4 miler up Black Mnt. w/Abram. Super elevation. Did some trail maintenance before our Saturday run. The windstorm blew some good size trees over the trail so we took the saw up to cut them out of the way. Great, relaxing, fun, family filled weekend. I cant wait for next quarter to start! Calculus here I come!
Workout:
- Type: Run
- Date: 11/27/2011
- Time: 20:31:29
- Total Time: 2:55:00.00
- Calories: 2203
- Distance: 16 miles
- Average Pace: 10:55.74/mile
Filed under: Run
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3 miler
Short run to finish the weekend. Don’t know my time, just got it done.
Workout:
- Type: Run
- Date: 11/13/2011
- Time: 04:30:00
- Total Time: 00:25:00.00
- Calories: 402
- Distance: 3 miles
- Average Pace: 8:20/mile
Filed under: Run
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