The training continues: Long Run

I did a long run last night, further prep for my 25k which is now 66 days from today. I ran 7.5 miles around Lake Nokomis, did 3 laps, it took me 1:23:19, I only stopped once and that was for about 10 seconds to pet a really cute West Highland Terrier named Scooter, he was a good boy and looked like he needed a pat. Anyway the run went well. I felt good during the entire run so that gave me a bit of confidenece for my big race, knowing that I have 66 days and didn't have to much trouble running 7 miles. I know 15 miles is a lot more but I know that I can do it. Tonight Melissa and I are meeting friends for a bike ride, should be fun, planning on a 15 mile ride. We are going to ride the parkway from lake Nokomis to Lake Harriet do a lap around Harriet and then back to Nokomis. Should be a fun ride. The weather is going to be a little better today so it should be a great night for a ride.

I also just heard that Lebanon Hills mountain bike trail is going to open today so that is good news, I will give it a couple extra days to firm up. I am guessing it is still pretty damp. But I will for sure try to get a ride or 2 in this weekend...

More later.

Cold and crappy

So another weekend has gone by. It was a good weekend. We didn't do much, pretty much took it easy. Saturday was one of the worse weather days I can remember in April, it was snowing, windy and really dang cold out. In fact I really had no desire to even be outside. I did however manage to get a 2.5 mile run in. I was glad that I got out but it was really nasty out. Sunday the weather was a bit better, it was still cold but at least the sun was out. Ugh, I am really tired of this cold spring we are having, but it does sound like it is going to be a little warmer out this week. So that is good.

Last night Melissa and I did a very cold road ride from a parking lot in St. Paul along a nice trail along the river to downtown St. Paul. The ride ended up being 13 miles round trip which was a good ride considering it was pretty cold outside. It felt good to get out though so I was glad that we did.

Tonight I am going to attempt to do my longest run to date, of about 7.5 miles. I am going right after work and I am hoping for the best, I need to start ramping up miles so I can get through my stupid 25k in July...

If I am still alive more tomorrow.

Dirt Season is ON!

So last night officially began the dirt riding season. I meet my friend Dan at the trail at Salem Park. It was the first dirt ride of the year and the first ride on my Yeti. The ride was good; we went 2 laps for a total of 9.3 miles. I thought that was a perfect first ride, I could have gone around again but I guess twice as good. It is raining out again so trail riding is once again on hold.

I really enjoyed riding my new bike, I have never ridden a full suspension mountain bike before so that was a different kind of experience but it was cool. The bike handled great and I think I have it set up pretty good. I am going to try to get a friend of mine that also is a Yeti owner to have a look at it and make sure that I do have everything tuned correctly. All of the fancy shocks and cables and crap make me kind of nervous. Check out my new bike here: http://www.jensonusa.com/store/product/BI301B10-Yeti+575+Enduro+Bike+08.aspx

After the ride I did find 4 ticks on my socks. That really grossed me out; ticks are the one bug that I can’t stand. So ever since the tick findings I have felt creepy crawly and keep thinking I have them all over, which is not a good feeling.

I start my watercolor class tonight which I am really looking forward to, I think it will be fun and it is something that I have always wanted to try so it should be interesting. I have all of my stuff packed in a bag and ready to go. I hope the class is good and fun. I think it will be.

Other than that not much going on again. I am taking the day off from running and biking so I will be running I think 5 miles tomorrow after work. UGH!

Weekend Stuff and more stuff that doesn't matter

So it was another great weekend. Saturday we didn't do much at all. It was pretty much gray out all day and not much was going on, which was fine it was nice to just relax. Sunday Melissa ran a 5k in the morning over at Lake Harriet. It started out pretty gray but it was great weather to run in. She did really good, ran it in 32 minutes. I was proud of her, she cut 2 minutes off her last race, she is really doing well. After the race we headed home and I went and did a 3 mile trail run over at Lebanon Hills Park. Holy crap was that hard. I thought I was going to die a couple times, I had to walk up some of the bigger hills but after the run I felt really good. I am really looking forward to my 25k trail race. I found out that I did officially get in, so there is no turning back now. It is 74 days away and I think I can get there so I will be able to at least finish without dying.

I ended up running 5 miles last night. I felt great after which was a total shock. So I guess training is going pretty good so far. I am going to do 2.5 miles tonight I think and then I am going to bike Wednesday, it is suppose to be nice out and I am ready to get on my bike.

Melissa and I signed up for another 5k in June, should be fun, it is with a running group from her hospital so we are trying to get a group of at least 20 people signed up that way we will get our own tent to hang out in. That would be very cool.

Other then that not much new to report. The weather is finally starting to get nice outside. Which I guess now that it is here I am glad. I am looking forward to getting on my bike and riding. The off road trails are really slow to open this year, so I have been a little road riding but not much, hoping to get more in soon.

We made home made pizzas last night, they turned out really good. We found this whole wheat pizza crust at the co-op and used that. There is nothing better then pizza. I swear I could eat it everyday.

First 5k Results

Here are the results from our race yesterday:

Eric
Age 37
Bib Number 220
Division M3539
City Apple Valley MN
Overall Place 203 out of 307
Gender Place 108 out of 123
Division Place 12 out of 15
Finish Time 0:33:42
Mile Pace 10:51/mile
Kilometer Pace 6:44/km

Melissa
Age 39
Bib Number 221
Division F3539
City Apple Valley MN
Overall Place 219 out of 307
Gender Place 109 out of 184
Division Place 19 out of 27
Finish Time 0:34:47
Mile Pace 11:12/mile
Kilometer Pace 6:57/km

The race was really fun; I had a great time and was mostly happy with my results. At about mile 2.8 or so I tweaked my left calf muscle really bad. I was running along really pretty good, at least for me and all of a sudden I had a very bad pain in my calf, I am guessing it was either a cramp or a slight pull. I had to walk for about 10 feet and then I started running again slowly, and the pain worked itself out enough to where I could slowly get back up almost to the speed I was at before the pain. I was able to finish strong but it slowed me down overall. I would have finished in about 31 minutes which I would have been very happy with for my first race, but was still pleased that I was able to finish even though my leg hurt. My goal in this race was to finish and not be last, and I accomplished both. Melissa did really well to; she had a good race with no pain so that was good. I think she is a strong runner, not really fast but more of an endurance runner, she could have probably kept going for another 3 miles with no problem. I really enjoyed my first race and am hoping to do more 5k’s in the future. After the race there was a nice lunch from a local restaurant called Buca’s, normally I am not a fan of that place, but the lunch was a salad, bread and a couple of kinds of pastas, a chocolate chip cookie and sodas or water, it was a very nicely done event and was buffet style which is always fun. Along with the race and lunch everyone got a long sleeved t-shirt and a ticket for a Saints baseball game. I thought it was a great deal and was very glad we did it. The weather was good, it was sunny, but the wind made it a little chilly out. But at least it wasn’t snowing. Overall I was incredibly happy with the race and I had a great time running it with Melissa.

After we got home, we did some of our normal Sunday errands and did some house cleaning. I made a nice dinner and after we relaxed and watched a movie. It was a great weekend.

Looks like the weather is going to be really nice this weekend, so I am going to get out on my bike and also continue my running training for the 25k in July.

First Race

So this weekend is my first scheduled running race. Melissa and I are planning on doing the running of the pigs, which is the St. Paul Saints baseball teams 5k. Sounds like it is really a fun race. It is an out and back that leaves from Midway stadium and returns to Midway Stadium. The fee for the race includes a t-shirt, lunch and a ticket to a Saints ball game. I am really looking forward to it. Although the weather has been really crappy I am hoping it is nice for the run. Other then that we have no real big plans for the weekend.

Life is good, I have been running every other night. That has been going good so far, going anywhere between 2 and 3 miles at a time to start. Taking it slow, I still have not heard whether or not I got into the Afton 25k but for now I am thinking that I have and am training for it. I am looking forward to being able to get on my bicycle and ride on the nights that I don't run. I think that will aid in the training.

Ski season is officially over this weekend, the lifts at Lutsen stop running on Sunday. I am sad, but I guess it is time to move on to my spring and summer things. Now if the weather would just improve.

Famous

So they have this new thing at the Twins games this year. You can take a picture of yourself at the game and text it to this fan site and they pick some and put them on the scoreboard during the 5th inning. Melissa and I decided to try it. We sent the picture attached and sure enough in the middle of the 5th inning there we were grinning away. It was pretty cool and fun to see ourselves up there. The Twins lost the game, but there were a couple of great plays, and Morneau hit one out so that was cool. Melissa and I are thinking about heading down to Kansas City in June to check out a game and eat BBQ. Kansas City is a great town, lots of good food down there. Kaufmann Stadium where the Royals play is a great spot as well, I have been to Arrowhead to see a soccer game but have never been to see the Royals play, so we are thinking about that. June the Royals play the Cardinals which could be a lot of fun, so right now that might be the time to go.

In other news I started running again, I ran a little bit a few years ago and had a hard time getting into it. This time I am enjoying it so far. I signed up for a 25K in July out at Afton State Park. It is a 25K trail run, so that should be interesting. I have officially started my training for it. Starting kind of slow I have ran twice in the past 4 days and have gone a total of 5.8 miles. I am following a training schedule for a half marathon. The training schedule calls for either 3 or 4 days of running and 3 or 4 days of cross training and then 1 day off. I am going to pretty much stick to biking for my cross training which is what they recommend doing. I am looking forward to my big race in July. Melissa and I are signed up to run a 5K next Sunday so that should be fun. I am not even sure if I got into the 25K yet, I sent in my entry and fee and am just waiting to see if I do get in, they only allow 300 people so part of me is keeping my fingers crossed and the other is groaning at the idea of running 15 miles…

Lastly, Jake came home on Saturday. Melissa and I had him cremated. We paid extra for an individual cremation so we got his ashes back. They came in a little box in a black velvet bag that said “Until we meet again at the rainbow bridge.” They vet also provided a little clay paw print which we also picked up. The whole thing was very hard for Melissa, but she is doing better and it is good to have Jake home. I thought everything was very nice and very professional which was good and made it a little easier. Everyone at the vet was very nice and caring; Jake has been going to the same place since he was a puppy so everyone knew him over there.