Monday, September 29, 2014

Word on the Treadmill


Today's indoor treadmill was 10 miles in an hour and 25 minutes. This time I took 2 colors of yarn and tried knitting the word, "remember" into the scarf. I just carried the yarn on the back as I switched colors. I wasn't very careful with tension and spreading out the yarn when I carried the opposite color and so the whole scarf is really wonky. It worked, but not pretty. I won't be using that technique on the run again.

Saturday, September 27, 2014

18 Miler

I added one more mile and it only took 3 more minutes. No, I did not run a 3 minute mile. Last week I did 17 miles in 2 and a half hours. Today I ran 18 miles in 2 hours 33 minutes. I figured out some important information over the past week and I think it has paid off. I sweat a lot. I started adding a little salt to my post-run-recovery drink as an alternative to Gatorade electrolytes. I don't really like the sugar in Gatorade. It really helps. On today's run I ran with two bottles in my hands. One was with salted water, about 1/8th teaspoon with 16 ounces of water. The other bottle was Gatorade. I drank the salted water first and then, when it was all out, I started the Gatorade. It was weird, not in a good way. The citrus or the sugar or something made my mouth pucker right away and made me instantly feel very thirsty. This would be fine if I was stopped and could just sit there and drink the whole bottle, but I still had over 5 miles to go. Lesson learned. I will try to stick to salt and water and skip the expensive sugar water.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Outdoor Marble Gray Scarf

Before the run & After the run

Today was outside for 14.25 miles. I knit a scarf in Marble Gray. I finished the scarf at around an hour and 34 minutes into the run. Total time was 2 hours 3 minutes.

Monday, September 22, 2014

Indoor, Fastest Time for Half

Inside today at the gym today because I had a Monday morning meeting and didn't have time to do the outside run. This way I can shower at the Rec. Center and go straight to class. So I was on the treadmill, and I did my fastest time yet. 13.1 miles in 1 hour 36 minutes. That is an average time of 7 minutes 20 seconds per mile. I know treadmills are laboriously boring, but I like the steady pace.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

17 Miles!

Again I am trying to keep up with the Athletes to End Alzheimer's training schedule. So today I ran 17 miles! It was outside on my big loop which I modified a little to connect with my typical shorter 7 mile route. I was wiped out at the end and lounged around the house a good 2 hours recovering. My time was 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Beige Scarf

Inside today on the treadmill. I did 9 miles in a time of 71.5 minutes while knitting a scarf with Lion Brand's Woolease Thick and Quick in a beige color, "Oatmeal". I really like the color but the loose fibers that make the nice variations get stuck on my sweaty hands.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Slower Again

It is really frustrating to go slower. Today I think it was because it was warmer when I ran. Today was outside on the same 14.25 mile course but with a time of almost exactly 2 hours.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Getting Faster, Slightly


Today I knocked 5 minutes off my time for the 14.25 mile country road loop. I did it in 1 hour and 53 minutes. That averages out to just under 8 minute miles. I have found that there are a few other spots on the loop with dog issues. Today there was a white, with black markings, dog that looked pit bullish in its head and another white dog. These dogs come right out onto the road and are very aggressive. On the road near the golden retriever and collie is a crude spray paint marking of what looks more like a cat and an arrow pointing towards the property. I am thinking that other runners and road race organizers are aware of the dog issue at this house. I am considering getting some sort of spray for protection. Websites all suggest walking through the confrontation and telling the dogs to go home. That kind of stalls my time though.

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

Treadmill Scarf 3


Today was inside at the gym again. This time I set the treadmill the same as before at 7 and 1/2 miles per hour resulting in 8 minute miles. Again with Woolease Thick and Quick, 10 miles in an hour and 20 minutes to finish a complete scarf. This time it is a deep dark purple.

Monday, September 8, 2014

Modified Big Loop


Today I ran a slightly modified version of the same big loop. Google Maps suggests a slight difference which ends up being 14.25 miles instead of the 14.5 that I ran Friday. Partly because it is shorter and it was I think cooler, I ran faster. I did it in 1 hour 58 minutes. It felt good to get in under the 2 hour time. That makes an average of 8 1/4 minute miles.

Friday, September 5, 2014

Catching Up With Training Schedule


The Athletes To End Alzheimer's NYC team has a training schedule, which I had neglected to look at. I realized that I was behind and needed to catch up with some longer runs. The schedule has for Saturday a run of 15 to 17 miles. So for today I plotted out a big loop from my house that is 14.5 miles. This involved country roads and one section where cars were going 50+ mph and no shoulder. Most drivers were cool and moved over in the lane to give me more room. Some were not so helpful. But I didn't get hit, yea! There is one spot on the run where I run past a rural property where 2 dogs came running out and harassed me. It was a large golden retriever and a collie. I just kept running and they didn't get too close. The whole run took me 2 hours and 6 minutes. That is an average of 8 3/4 minute miles.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

Wednesday at the Gym

Today was indoors at the gym on a treadmill, but I didn't do knitting. Today I just focused on running a little faster. I did 8 miles in one hour which is around 7 1/2 minute miles.

Monday, September 1, 2014

Labor Day Run

Today I ran with my wife outside and did 6 1/2 miles. I think we were somewhere over an hour in time. It was a nice day outside.