Looking to push myself to new limits this year, running serves as a gateway to new adventures, friendships and experiences as I've gone from running novice to marathoner. This blog serves as a personal journal in self-discovery and motivation to others.
Addicted to running

Even dogs need to run

"In life we don’t get what we want, we get in life what we are. If we want more we have to be able to be more, in order to be more you have to face rejection." - Farrah Gray

I'll give Riley credit - the dog just doesn't want to be left behind when it's time to run. And today he gave me that pitiful look as I did just that.

My plan was to leave him behind because he'd gone out 3 straight days with me, and last year during one week of over exuberance, he ended up needing doggy pain pills to overcome all the miles he ran with me. And since I don't really want to repeat that experience, I figured its best just to let him ease back into running this year.

Still, after returning from a 7-mile run, he was waiting for me, letting me know that he was ready for his run. He ran circles in the yard. He sprinted past me, ball in his mouth, trying to encouarge me to take him. He was ready and he apparently wanted me to know it.

Well, I came up with a compromise: Instead of dropping by the poll before work to cast my vote on the flood sales tax today, I decided to hop on the bike and ride there with Riley in tow. It's not very far from home to the polling site, probably less than a mile round trip, but it gave Riley a chance to run - and now I don't feel guilty for leaving him behind for my workout.

Posted by: RunningSpud on 6/30/2009 at 12:02 PM | Comments (1) | Permalink

Tags: health and wellness, pets, running

Cool morning breeze

"I'd rather be a failure at something I love than a success at something I hate." - George Burns

One of the benefits of working a later shift this week is having to do my runs in the morning, and not feeling rushed to get one done. In my hopes to get back to completing the majority of my runs before work, this will help tremendously.

Plus, it might be tough to find many things that feel better than a breeze cooling you during a good run. Normally, I'm cursing the wind during our cold months, but it feels great on our summer mornings when you're clipping along at a pretty good pace.

Many of the runners I've talked to are planning to run the MSUM 10K on July Fourth, a pretty good race held every year. If it weren't for the Fourth being on a Saturday, and a long weekend accompanying it, I'd lace up the shoes to get a good gauge of my current 10K fitness. Instead, I'll head to the lakes, and try waking up early enough Saturday to drive to Park Rapids, where there's Firecracker Footrace with 5K and 10K distances. Last year, more than 400 people participated, with the 5K attracting the overwhelming majority of runners.

Also, the Run for Your Life race is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, in Fargo. Benefitting the Dick Beardsley Foundation, proceeds go to help those with chemically dependency issues. The store named after the Minnesota running great is the sponsor for the 5K race.

Finally, congratulations to Laura Hermanson, who placed fifth at the U.S. outdoor national championships Sunday. She broke her own school record, topping the mark she ran 2 weeks ago at the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Posted by: RunningSpud on 6/29/2009 at 12:03 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink

Tags: dick beardsley, fitness, health and wellness, msum, ndsu, park rapids, running

Lightning bolts

"Learning to live in the present moment is part of the path of joy." - Sarah Ban Breathnach

After cutting yesterday's run short because Riley was struggling in the humidity, I had hoped to get out in the evening for a run. It didn't happen.

But this morning, my plan was to go out for a nice double-looped run - a short one with Riley to get him some exercise before dropping him off before heading back out for a little longer run. The sun and breeze helped me get lost in the effort, turning the run into one of those perfect summer workouts where you seem to appreciate everything a little bit more and realize how good life really is.

Dodging the sun under tree-canopied streets, my legs felt electric - like someone had injected lightning bolts into my veins and let me loose. After that run, everything that happens is just icing on the cake for a perfect day.

One of the things I'm struggling with is trying to manage my running schedule. It really shouldn't be that difficult, but I find myself missing my early morning runs - they set the perfect tone for the day - but not wanting to give up group runs during the week. There has to be a balance, and the answer may lie in my training program for my next marathon. It may prompt me to add more miles by running twice a day, at least a few times a week. The trick, though, is spreading the hard workouts out during the week to allow my easy training days to really provide the needed recovery. 

While it will all work itself out, if I just sit down and figure map it out on a calendar, right now I'm just going to try to "run in the moment" and repeat the feeling from today as often as I can.

Posted by: RunningSpud on 6/28/2009 at 12:20 PM | Comments (1) | Permalink

Tags: exercise, fitness, health and wellness, running

A little too much

After some short runs this past week, I was looking forward to getting out the door this morning before work and extending my time on the roads with 6 or 7 miles.

But I couldn't leave Riley at home, so I figured I'd do a short loop and then go back out alone. Well, I was a little overly optimistic as the run started, figuring I might be able to convince him to do 5 miles and I altered my route. But he soon reminded me that he doesn't do well in the warmer morning temps, and we cut the run short. I'll have to head out later today to get some more miles in, or do a longer run Sunday.

Riley goes bonkers if I try heading out the door without him, and I hate leaving him behind, but anytime the temps are above 60 degrees, he just doesn't do well. I probably wouldn't either if I were running around in a fur coat.

On a more serious note, NDSU's Laura Hermanson continues to advance at the U.S. Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore. On Friday night, she qualified for Sunday's final in the 800 meter run. Best of luck Laura!

Posted by: RunningSpud on 6/27/2009 at 11:13 AM | Comments (1) | Permalink

Tags: running

Bring on the heat

"Aim at the sun, and you may not reach it; but your arrow will fly far higher than if aimed at an object on a level with yourself." - Joel Hawes

A lot of people don't like running in our warmer weather, but I can't say that I mind. In fact, I'd be happy if it was warm year-round, and we never experienced winter.

While it's not perfect running weather, and I like 50-degree temps for my runs, it's been a good week. With the marathon about a week behind me, I've managed to get out for short runs 3 times this week. Last night, even with temps in the mid-80s, I enjoyed a quick 3-mile stroll through Fargo's northside.

For those who might have missed it, Laura Hermanson qualified yesterday for tonight's semifinals of the 800 meter run at the U.S. Outdoor Championships. If she advances tonight - the top 3 in each heat and the next 2 fastest times advance - she'll run in the finals Sunday. The top 3 runners go to the world championships in Berlin later this summer. The U.S. championships can be viewed online.

Posted by: RunningSpud on 6/26/2009 at 11:52 AM | Comments (0) | Permalink

Tags: running