Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Single

Today I went to Corvallis for computer repair. I had some other errands to run in Corvallis, and the since it was going to be done in two or three hours I decided to spend some time at the waterfront. As I walked down front Street I decided to go into flat tail for a beer and appetizers like Christina and I would often do in the great restaurants in Corvallis. I sat by myself in the corner looking out to the running path/ sidewalk. As I waited for my order, a man came on and was sat a table over from me, and while he waited for his party we chatted for a bit. His told me his name was Rick Ross I think, maybe around 70 years old? A younger couple joined him, and since I'm not an eavesdropper im not sure if they were related, but they send close. As I sat there I was flooded by my extreme loss of my wife, missing her more today than yesterday, a sense of desperate loneliness. Tears rolled down my cheeks, and I just leaned into that emotion. As it passed I realized that I am single now, and it blows!

~ today I am hopeful ~

Monday, December 19, 2016

Venting

Today I realize how alone I am. I use running as a vehicle to release stress. Today I ran and I ran to escape to loneliness. Mile after mile I ran feeling better emotionally and physically. I took a hot shower, and rested. As my body ached from the trauma, my mind raced to comfort; desire to be comforted. That is missing from my life. Realization is setting in more fully than ever before.

~ today I am hopeful ~

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Boston Marathon–Last training day!

 

Today was my last day of training for the 2014 Boston Marathon!  I arrived in Boston on Friday.  My brother and sister came to Boston as well, and we are staying at a house in Wellesley owned by friends of the family. Thank you Kerry and Sean! My sister and I went to downtown Boston to do a little site seeing and to pick up my number.  Here are some photos I took.

 

Today was a simple three mile run that I took very slow, just to workout the cobwebs if you will.  Tomorrow is the big race!  I am a bit nervous, but very excited.  I’ll post an update after the race.  It will be a magical race, #bostonstrong.

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Boston Strong, Fight against Cancer

 

The reason I started this blog was to share my experiences from the perspective as a spouse fighting against Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC).  In January of 2014, we learned the cancer had returned and metastasized in at least one lymph node. This was devastating news to say the least.  My intention was to share my Boston Marathon training sessions on this blog to memorize the events.  It was difficult to be able to balance work, life, and supporting Christina alone, thus my blogging activity suffered.  Please spend a few minutes to catch up on Christina’s blog as she is a terrific writer http://christinasrealtalk.blogspot.com/. Also, please consider donating money to support travel expenses, surgical procedures, and medical expenses: Capture Courage Fundraiser

Today I’ll update you on my training process.  My last long run was on Sunday at the same time as the Corvallis Half Marathon.  I ran the similar route in which I intersected the race around mile 7, and I ran with the runners for a few miles.  Subconsciously my pace increased when I was in a “race” scenario, and I finished my 12 mile run feeling really good even though it was a little fast.  Just a few more workouts before heading to Boston on Friday!  Below is a summary of all of my Boston Bound workouts thus far:

 

Count: 74 Activities
Distance: 471.82 mi
Time: 66:31:17 h:m:s
Avg Speed: 7.1 mph
Avg HR: 146 bpm
Calories: 69,557 C
Avg Distance: 6.38 mi
Max Distance: 22.00 mi
Avg Time: 53:56 h:m:s
Max Time: 3:03:38 h:m:s
Max Avg Speed: 12.0 mph
Max Speed: 118.2 mph
Max Avg HR: 163 bpm
Max HR: 181 bpm

As the race draws near during my training runs I think of the runners that lost their lives or that were severely injury in the horrendous attack during last year’s race. I draw my strength from these experiences and remembrances, #Bostonstrong I am. Running in the 2014 Boston Marathon will be an enormous personal accomplishment – but moreover, training for the marathon has provided me the time, space, and setting to process just how short life truly is and to live each day as though it were my last.

For those that want to follow me as I run the race sign up here: http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/participant-information/att-athlete-alert.aspx

My BIB number is : 11113

Here are three videos of the Boston Marathon course I created if you want to see what we will see:

 

Boston Marathon Course Preview in 1 minute!
Boston Marathon Course Preview in 10 minutes!
Boston Marathon Course Preview in 20 minutes!

 

 

Today we are hopeful!

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Boston Marathon Training - Week #3 Day #1A - 5M Hill Repeats Cool Down

Summary

Name
Boston Marathon Training - Week #3 Day #1A - 5M Hill Repeats Cool Down
Location
Corvallis, OR
Start Time
1/14/2014 12:00 PM (UTC-08:00)
Category
My Activities:Running
Distance
2.99 mi
Time
00:24:39.0
Time Moving
00:24:38.0
Stopped
00:00:01.0
Average pace
08:14 min/mi
Max. pace
07:09 min/mi
Average heart rate
146 bpm
Max. heart rate
159 bpm
Average power
401 W
Max. power
532 W
Total Ascent
23 ft
+8 ft/mi
Total Descent
-24 ft
-8 ft/mi
Weather

Calories
443 kcal
Notes
After a warmup, run uphill for 60 to 90 seconds at a 10-K race effort; it should feel like the same sustainably-hard effort that you’d make while you’re running at your 10-K pace. After you get up the hill, jog or walk downhill to recover. Repeat that cycle four times. Cooldown afterward.

Hills are never really that fun for me. In high school I did enjoy racing my teammates up 5th street hill in Lebanon, and I recall that I was often first or second most of the time. Tyler hill was another story! We would get a ride in the van back to the high school from Coach Dannen if we hit our goal time. In four years I got a ride once! Today I was inspired not by coach Dannen, but by Shawn, Christina, and many other that have been diagnosed by a life threatening illness. When tired and wanting to walk I kept pushing. It was only four repeats for about 60 seconds each, but it felt like an eternity. Afterward the three mile cool down was relaxing.
Custom Data Fields:

Tailwind(-) / Headwind(+)


Splits: Mile

Pace

Min.
Max.
Avg.
9.4 min/mi
7.2 min/mi
8.2 min/mi

Splits: Mile

Heart Rate

Min.
Max.
Avg.
106.7 bpm
158.8 bpm
146.4 bpm

Splits: Mile

Elevation

Min.
Max.
Avg.
213.0 ft
244.8 ft
224.7 ft

Splits: Mile

Running, 1/13/-1/19/2014

Start time
Distance
Time
Average
Speed
Athlete
Weight


1.58 mi
00:12:39
7.5 mph
226.46 lb

1.09 mi
00:12:00
5.5 mph
226.46 lb

2.99 mi
00:24:39
7.3 mph
226.46 lb

3.01 mi
00:25:09
7.2 mph
226.46 lb

4.99 mi
00:38:02
7.9 mph
226.46 lb


Created with Activity Documentation Plugin for SportTracks
(see http://www.sporttracks-plugins.com)

Sunday, January 12, 2014

Boston Marathon Training - Week #2 Day #5 - 9 Miles LSD

Cooking is another outlet for me, a little long forgotten lately.  Yesterday I decided to make Colorado Chili using a slow cooking method - aka crock pot. It cooked all night long, and today's plan of attach, 1) Run 9 miles, 2) Eat a delicious batch of Colorado Chili, 3) Watch my Denver Broncos beat the San Diego Charger.  Accomplished all three!  

For today's run I wanted to map out a different routes with hills because I am bored running the same hills.  The run I mapped started at the intersection of Conifer & Conser, then to Walnut, the to Glenridge heading up to Chip Ross Park.  The hills heading up to Chip Ross are pretty step, and I had to stop a few times to get my heart rate to be in the "Easy" zone.  I really need to work on this as according to training software I spent 69% of the workout in Zone 3, not good.

Chip Ross park was super muddy and slick, duh!  I should have known, but you live and learn.  Heading up some of the very steep sections I was walking, and slipped and fell uphill once! Once I made it to the top, heading down wasn't any treat either... tried to stay on my feet, braking on slick mud and grass, and tried to avoid going down at brake neck speed!  I managed to find the parking lot without incident.

The last few miles were mostly downhill, and I just took it easy.  I tried to hit as many puddles of water to clean the mud off my shoes.  

Summary

Name
Boston Marathon Training - Week #2 Day #5 - 9 Miles LSD
Location
Corvallis, OR
Start Time
1/12/2014 10:26 AM (UTC-08:00)
Category
My Activities:Running
Distance
8.97 mi
Time
01:19:45.0
Time Moving
01:18:09.0
Stopped
00:01:36.0
Average pace
08:53 min/mi
Max. pace
06:48 min/mi
Average heart rate
154 bpm
Max. heart rate
174 bpm
Average power
395 W
Max. power
727 W
Total Ascent
630 ft
+71 ft/mi
Total Descent
-680 ft
-76 ft/mi
Weather
46.6 °F
Calories
1,568 kcal
Custom Data Fields:
* Norm. Power:
423
* TRIMP:
184
* TSS:
450

Map: Street - openstreetmap.org (Hike & Bike)

Tailwind(-) / Headwind(+)

Min.
Max.
Avg.
-1.4 mph
1.3 mph
0.0 mph

Splits: Mile

Pace

Min.
Max.
Avg.
29.2 min/mi
6.8 min/mi
8.9 min/mi

Splits: Mile

Heart Rate

Min.
Max.
Avg.
81.8 bpm
174.3 bpm
154.3 bpm

Splits: Mile

Elevation

Min.
Max.
Avg.
215.7 ft
693.4 ft
360.5 ft

Splits: Mile

Running, 1/6/-1/12/2014

Start time
Distance
Time
Average
Speed
Athlete
Weight


4.98 mi
00:41:24
7.2 mph
226.61 lb

3.98 mi
00:33:57
7.0 mph
226.61 lb

4.98 mi
00:39:47
7.5 mph
226.61 lb

5.02 mi
00:40:34
7.4 mph
229.28 lb

8.97 mi
01:19:45
6.7 mph
226.46 lb


Created with Activity Documentation Plugin for SportTracks
(see http://www.sporttracks-plugins.com)