I'm here

Random pic of the new favorite, although Guinness is still the best in terms of hangover forgiving.

No, I didn't quit running, and I'm not back in Colorado, and I'm not depressed.

Just busy. If you recall, I had said my knee was bugging me in my last 5K. Well I iced it that night, and on Sunday night, limped around the grocery store. So another day without a 4 miler. Tuesday, I said. Tuesday came and I was still limping.
Ah, I'll wait 'til Saturday.

So Saturday came and D and I had a date. That didn't involve running. It involved eating chili, putting up the Christmas tree and drinking 32 beers (combined, not just me). In all that, I hit my knee on the coffee table. So, more ice.

The table where I hit my knee. And the table that has our beer cans on it from the day's activities.

Sunday, I said I would run after we went to the mall. 20 minutes into the mall festivities, I was limping again. It feels a lot better and I'm hoping to do something on it on Thursday...

And I still have to find my brace.


Oh, think good thoughts...my SIL found another lump.

Pancreatic Cancer 5K

So, Friday I was exhausted. I did the headbob thing at my desk from 1 to 130 when I said Fuck It and went home. I slept from 2 until 6. I still felt really tired. Nothing exciting happened on Friday night.

Saturday D went to work, and I got up around 830. A and I were doing another 5K. This one was in Grant Park for Pancreatic Cancer (link tells you what PC is since neither A nor I knew). I got to A's around 9:15. It was 55 degrees. We walked down to the Pavillion and signed in. Our reception was a bit frosty since neither of us raised any money for it (again, we didn't even know what it was). So we got our T-shirts that we had to ask for, as opposed to those around us who received them. We also asked about the course, and got, "I don't know." So back to A's we went to put our T's in the car. And back to the pavillion. Opening ceremonies were going on from 10-1045. In that time, I found out that A doesn't mind a black man being over her (politics, sortof), which still has me chuckling. She found out that I haven't shaved my legs in about 3 weeks. Terribly exciting...we still didn't find out what PC was, but that usually you are black, old, a smoker, a diabetic, a man, and have very little chance of surviving...or so said the white, young non-smoker, no-diabetic female survivor. Finally the ceremony was over and we had to walk to the start line.

There weren't a lot of runners (we found out this was the first run, the 3rd walk). The walkers were on a different route. So the race started. I just kind of ran it. My knee was bugging me and it had been so I wasn't out to set a record. We ran near the Interstate and back to the park and up my least favorite hill in GP. Got up to BLVD and ran on the sidewalk. I was very careful because I was sure I was going to slip on the wet leaves (it rained overnight). Mile 1 was 13:45...I knew I was going slowly, but ok. I passed 2 12 year olds and they would pass me then walk, and then I would pass them. Finally on Atlanta, I passed them and 3 more people. Up onto Cherokee. This is an up/down street. The hills aren't hard, just long. I really didn't want to run on the sidewalk but looking at the slope on the street, I knew I would hurt my leg more. Mile 2 came, and it was 28:58. Getting slower.
There were some really good volunteers on the course and they cheered me on. Sometimes being at the back of a pack, you wonder if the volunteers are wondering why you aren't just doing the walk. This is what I thought they thought. There were a lot of cops for the race too. So finally I got to the turn and ran down hill. And all the walkers were on the street and I had to run against them up that same dreaded hill. The cop told me it was the last hill, and I could do it. By now my knee REALLY was talking. I walked half of the hill. I got to the top and resumed running. I passed the start cone. This run seemed really long, like at the cone it should be over.

I continued to BLVD, and then turned into the park. Only .1 more miles. Yay! I crossed the line at 45:27. I was horrified at this time. To make matters worse, they wouldn't record mine or Anne's time (she waited for me at the finish), because "they already know who the awards are going to." WTF! That isn't the point. So that ticked me off.
We went and got some water and they still had some... Yay! And then we walked home. A said her time was off from the cemetery run (part of the course was the same) by 2 minutes. Hmmm so was mine.

So I got home and looked at another GP run we had done, and my time was faster for that and that run was over a year ago, when I started running. Something was wrong. The difference in the courses was the beginning. So out to US Track to map the damn thing. Turns out it was 3.3 miles. Now in the grand scheme of things this isn't a lot, but it is almost a lap at the track, which equates to about 3 minutes, so things started to make more sense.

I'm still irked by that and the lady who wouldn't record my time. But eh...I got a T-shirt, and now I know what Pancreatic Cancer is.

Oh and then on Saturday Night, D and I did a case race of Pipeline Porter. Needless to say I didn't run 4 miles on Sunday.

Time: 45:27 (run)

Mileage: 3.3 (13:46 min/mile)

Calories: 912

Max HR 187

Avg HR 166

In Zone 12:43

Crotch sweat...

You know when you have been running and you know you are the shit? I mean, you know you can run up hill in the snow for 20 hours straight... Why is it then that a piddly 3 miles on the dreadmill will kick your ass.

That was me last night. D and I went to the track. There was no parking at the school...something was going on. And Bootcamp was already on the track. So around the corner to the gym we went.

Let me first say, I didn't want to run on the track or on the treadmill, but I got home to late to run through the hood. It was too dark. I was in tears over something and just wanted to be by myself. When leaving for the track, I snapped at D and cried some more...All the more reason to go run.

Back to story...
So we got to the gym and changed to short sleeves (we had a backup plan for once). By this point I wasn't talking because I knew if I did the dam would break. So I started my walk. Then I started my 5K. The music playing at the gym was shit. I think I listened to REO Speedwagon, Journey and Air Supply. Not great running music. I focused on that the first mile. I finally finished that mile at 13:38, and started the 2nd mile. It wasn't great. At one point, I leaned my arms on the treadmills, so my legs wouldn't have to carry any weight. Why the hell am I so tired, I was wondering. It wasn't the speed. Why is my HRM reading 77bpm? The guy next to me left and my HR went up to 177. Answered that question. Ah the hills. You can do it, AL. 4 minutes into the hills, I'm going, "No fucking way can I make the hills." So I put the incline back at 0. Finished mile 2 at 27:28.
Mile 3: Just kill me now. How did I run 4 miles last week? Hell how did I run 3 miles Saturday? If I'm still shuffling my feet at speed 3.7 is that considered running? I basically played with (read slowed down) my speed for the last mile in dying torture. I finished at 43:42, I think. I walked .1 mile afterward and thought my legs would give, so I went and got on the bike.

On the bike, I rode 2 miles. While on the bike, I smelled crotch sweat. I don't think it was me. I smelled it when these 2 guys stood behind me (1 was on the stairmaster and the other wanted the bike I guess). When the bike waiting guy would walk around the gym, the smell would lessen. So I am guessing it was him. 10 minutes on the bike I was done. I now couldn't get crotch sweat out of my mind.

D and I went home and he cooked dinner. Just to be on the safe side that it wasn't me, I washed all my shorts with Dawn and Tide, and took a shower.

I didn't have time to think about what had upset me before the run. I guess that's what running, biking and crotch sweat is for.

Time: 43:42 (run)

Mileage: 3.1 (14:06 min/mile)

Time: 6:00 (walk)

Mileage: .3 (20.00 min/mile)

Calories: 727

Max HR 185

Avg HR 140

In Zone 3:42

So...

I'm fat. There I said it. Again. I don't know how many times I've said it in this blog. But here it is again. D is not happy with himself either. He also isn't happy with the amounts of beer being consumed in the house, especially since he is at work so much when those beers are consumed.

So Alb and D, now that you know you're fat what are you going to do about it? This is the question that plagues us every Thursday (when we weigh-in). The answer is something that we don't want to think about but made us happy once we started doing it before...
Hal Higdon's Novice 10K Plan

You see, his plan isn't all about running. You have to lift weights, with both of us like because we can be in and out of the gym in 45 minutes. There is cross-training which D perceives as walking the dogs while I'm on my stationary bike for 30 minutes. And there is running which makes Thursday our favorite day because it is only 2 miles.

So we began on Week 4 of the plan yesterday. We lifted weights. We have a plan that I devised from somewhere, and I had our weights (what we lift) written down, and dates. We hadn't lifted weights since 3/22. I was surprised how strong I still was. This morning I am reminded how much the abductor and the adductor make my legs hurt.

Today is a 3 mile run. I don't know if D knows this or not.

As for food, we are fine. We have to make an extra effort not to eat out when the mood strikes us (every day of the week). We figure this will help the weight and the wallet. As for the beer...hmmm.

I ran fast... for me...sortof...

So today was the 3rd Annual Romp and Stomp 5K at the Chomp and Stomp Festival. I really wished D didn't have to work but he did, so it was just A and me.

It was 44 degrees when we left, so Anne actually wore short sleeves instead of her usual tank top. I wore long sleeves and shorts. We got to Cabbagetown at 730 and there was no place to park. Finally found a place and went and got our numbers. We chatted to some of A's friends that she ran into, and before you know it the race was off.

As I crossed the Start line, I turned on my watch (you know Atlanta doesn't do chip timing!). The start of the race was kind of hilly. Not massive hills but up down up down. No big woop since I've been running in my 'hood. Oh there is the lady I passed last year...I will pass her again. And I did. Around and up to Milltown. I really wanted to go in...we haven't been in awhile...my medical bills put a dent into my social funds. Down another street, Mile 1. I looked at my watch...12:45. OK no wonder I'm breathing hard. If I can keep this pace I can finish under 40 minutes. Can I? I can't compute .1 so maybe not.

OK old man, why are you only running up the hills? Together Old Man and I passed 3 women. We got to the Krog Street Tunnel and went through. There were a lot of people still around me...was I really going fast or was everyone else going slowly. I don't know. Damn! There is a person in that car. I thought it was parked. I guess they didn't appreciate me almost running into it. OK Mile 2...26:45. 14 minute mile. One extreme to the other.

This next mile was quite boring...these 2 women would pass me and then walk. On a hill I would pass them and then they would run past me. They must have gotten tired of me, because the last half mile they ran all the way. I wasn't even in the mood to chase them. We passed the Coffee Shop that I won't go to. They are "dog-friendly" but don't allow Pits. Then you aren't dog friendly and you don't know squat about dogs. (don't get me started on that). Old Man and I still were together. The last turn, I saw the 3 mile sign. I got to it at 40:0?. The 2 women had disappeared by now, but Old Man was going to eat my dust. I saw the finish line and Anne. I was very glad I had my watch...they had already turned off the clock. (Annoyance). Woman with stroller stopped right on the finish line, I almost ran her down. My time 41:40.

I was really disappointed with that time. I was sure last year was lower. So we were herded into a line for shirts which they apparently had run out of, except they had XXL and M, so A and I scored. We also go spoons for the Chomp and Stomp later on (the Chili is free, a spoon is $5).

Our bitch of the run, you ask? No water again! WTF? They opened the beer truck, but it did us no good as I didn't have cash and A doesn't drink beer. So we came home.

I came home and looked at last year's time. 41:48. I improved. Go me!

Time: 41:40 (run)

Mileage: 3.1 (13:26 min/mile)

Calories: 789

Max HR 190

Avg HR 164

In Zone 2:50

And A New Reign of Idiocy Begins!!!

No, I'm not talking about election day results. I'm talking about female drivers from Coweta County.
I'm on the Connector this morning and see not 1, not 2, but 3 women all from Coweta doing this!!!

November = 4 miles

So somewhere in my crazy head I had decided each month would mean add a mile to my weekend run. This means November brings 4 miles. So yesterday, D and I planned on running. Instead we went to Taco Mac. We intended on going to the Georgia Tech game vs. FSU. We drank lots at Taco Mac. We intended on having a good dinner. We left Taco Mac and went to the liquor store and bought more beer. We were within 4 blocks of Tech campus and never got to the game.

So fast forward to today. We hung out, went to lunch and to the grocery store. Terribly exciting. I got on the computer and mapped out 4 miles, because I didn't feel like going to the track. Although, it would have been an easier run. So I did the hood run, except I added a dreaded hill, and ran 2 other hills twice. This got me to 4 miles. So studying the map, and then I got dressed and got Guinness ready for her "walk." We did the .25 mile warmp and she did her business. Then we returned home to discard her business and start the run. The first mile starts on a downhill and then loops up a hill back down to the front of the subdivision. I then went back up that hill I just had gone up and back to the front of the sd. Then up the hill that I had gone down. Turn and a long hill. There is a loop, so I did that twice. By this point I had gone 1.5 miles. I ran past the German Shepherd house, and the usual routine. The "Friday" house was empty. Actually most people were indoors. Of course I started my run at 4 when the Falcons were on, so this might be why.

I ran past the PitBull House. They scare me; not because they are pits, but because they are viscious. The Rottweiler there is scary too. They all like to show their teeth, and one of the pits that I have seen up close has too many scars for a normal house animal. I think some Michael Vick goes on in that house. Anyway, we got to the school, and ran around the front, and then had to go to the side. On the side of the school there is a park at the bottom of the hill. As Guinness and I ran down the hill, I nearly fell over from the gravity...that's how steep it was.

There were some people in the park with their 4 dogs not leashed...pissed me off. Of course the dogs came over to us, and one of them wasn't nice. I usually just ignore, but one wouldn't leave us alone. It licked my leg, Guinness showed teeth, and I kicked it. This was a total reflex. The people said shit but I said the dog needed a leash. All the while I continued my run. So back out of the park was the dreaded hill, but Guinness and I focused on leaves on the ground to pass. And finally we got to the top. I was so proud of us. The rest of the run was uneventful. When we got home, I leashed up Porter and took her on my post-run cool down walk.

Time: 65:15 (run)

Mileage: 4.06 (16:04 min/mile)

Time: 32:32 (walk)

Mileage: 1 (32:32 min/mile)

Calories: 1125

Max HR 184

Avg HR 153

In Zone 28:58