Get the Dogs Under Control

So I've been running on the Creek Turnpike trail for a few weeks now. I am enjoying it so far--more people than I am used to seeing, nice hills, new scenery--but with each run, I am becoming more and more annoyed with a few dog-related situations I have been noticing. Now, before I continue, let me just say, I like dogs. I've had dogs for most of my life (although currently, we are waiting for the kids to get bigger before we get another one), and I look forward to being a dog-owner again sometime in the relatively near future. Despite this affection, the dog issues on the Trail are beginning to bother me a little.

First, there is the issue of not leashing one's dog. Look, I'm for dog rights just as much as the next guy. I'm also for snake rights, spider rights, ugly-kid rights, gun rights, nuclear weapon rights, etc. assuming that all of these rights stop short of inconveniencing me on my morning run. You see, I don't feel like having to slow down or stop just because some guy is taking his unleashed dog for a walk on the Trail, and the dog (naturally) thinks that it's more fun to run than walk, so he decides to follow me instead of his walking master. So to borrow loosely from Pulp Fiction: pretty please...with sugar on top. Leash the [friggin'] dog.

Second, there is the poop maintenance issue. Look, I know it's humiliating, but it's necessary--you taking your dog for a walk on the trail? Take a bag! (cue Seinfield's bit on aliens and dog-walking) I'm out there dodging poop like a GI in a Normandy minefield! Old poop. New poop. And in a variety of earthy colors. I wish I had a dime for every pile of poop I run past. Rather, I wish I had a dog leash for every pile of poop I run past, so that I could distribute them to the people who fall into category 1 above.

Finally, an issue more with owner behavior than dog behavior: when I go running down the running trail that was specifically designed for runners, walkers, and bikers (and did I say runners?) do not glare at me when I, merely by running (a natural and expected behavior on this track), cause your Rottweiler to want to lunge forward at my leg, neck, spleen, etc. as though I were somehow intentionally provoking the animal. The energy expended in glaring at me, a runner on the running track, may be better used in picking up the 7 pounds of poop said Rottweiler just deposited on the track.

Dog issues aside, yesterday's and today's runs were very nice. Great weather. And yesterday's 8-miler was one of those that felt like it could just go on for another 18.2 miles. If I could only figure out how to recreate that combination of both internal and environmental situations on demand! I did slow my long day down at TATUR Dave's behest, and it was indeed very pleasant.

Hopefully this Saturday, I will actually make it out to the training with the Runner's World group. That's my plan. (But of course, it was my plan last week too.)

5-27-09
Distance: 8.12
Time: 1:10:55
Avg. Mile Pace: 8:43

5-28-09
Distance: 6.00
Time: 50:56
Avg. Mile Pace: 8:28

To Yale...and Back

I was up early Saturday morning (6:00) with plans to run with the Runner's World group for my first time in weeks. Got dressed, got my Garmin and MP3 player ready to go, got a snack, checked the weather, etc. Before I knew it, time was slipping away from me. No problem, I thought. If I head straight out there right now, I should make it before they actually depart. So I jumped in the car, headed up 169, across on 51 expecting to cross over on 44 and head south to Helmerich Park to make it there in just the nick of time.

I'm not sure what happened with me next. Still half asleep? Distracted thinking about the 3-day weekend? Wondering which song would come up next on the radio? I don't know, but by the time the brain fog I was in passed, I was still on 51, almost to Harvard. Wow. I was in disbelief that I had missed the 44 interchange. My disbelief quickly turned into frustration when I looked at my clock and realized that there was no way I could catch the group before they left the park at this point (6:58). I exited and turned around and dejectedly headed back to my new/old track on the Creek Turnpike trail. (I was really mad at myself when I later learned that I had missed out on some good trail running on Turkey Mountain Saturday morning!)

Back on the Creek Turnpike trail, I started heading west. Awesome song on my MP3 player--inspiration to start off fast--and there goes a good bit of my strength right off the bat. (Flashbacks of OKC. Ugh.) I scolded myself for going out too fast, the punishment being that I would have to run the full 8 miles I had originally planned to run despite the fact that I knew I would be getting tired.

I crossed Memorial just fine. It was later in the day than I was used to running, and it was already pretty hot and humid (where was that promised rain??), so I stopped at Sheridan for a drink and then continued on. Past Sheridan, I circled around and down the trail, under the highway (Thank you Cheryl). Then I saw it: the "challenging" hill I had heard of between Sheridan and Yale. Wow. I puffed my way to the top, turned around at Yale, and headed back down the same hill. Another drink at Sheridan, across Memorial, over the steep side of the Memorial hill, and across Mingo again back to my car. It was a challenging run but a good one despite an overly lofty start.

Monday's run ended up being cut short. I headed east on the trail this time, occasionally checking my Garmin for my mileage. One mile...then, 1.64 miles. Knowing that I still had a little way to go before the turnaround, I stopped looking at my Garmin. Some time later, knowing I had be getting close to being 3 miles out, I checked it again. The distance quadrant read 1.64 miles. (What??) I still don't know what happened, but for whatever reason, it had stopped at 1.64. I'm not familiar enough with that trail yet to know landmarks, so, wanting to get back home to be with my family on this holiday Monday, I decided to just turn back. I started my Garmin again and did the math when I got back to my car. It ended up being closer to 4.5 miles than 6, but I felt like the run was a good quality run, so I wasn't too bothered by its diminutive distance.

5-25-09
Distance: 4.50

5-23-09
Distance: 8.54
Time: 1:12:24
Avg. Mile Pace: 8:28

Tired Today

I'm not sure if it was yesterday's 8-mile run, the longest I had since OKC, or the lack of sleep this week, but this morning's 6-mile run was tougher than usual. I decided to go east on the Creek Turnpike trail. In going an extra mile out this morning, I hit a new hill. One of those things where I'm glad when I see it in the distance, knowing that I need hill work, but once I'm on it, I'm not as happy.

It was a great morning for running. Perfect weather, nice sunrise. Unfortunately in the bottom picture, you can't really see the sliver of the moon that remained when I started this morning.

5-21-09
Distance: 6.01
Time: 50:50
Avg. Mile Pace: 8:22

Continuing Down the Creek Turnpike Track

This morning, I decided to tack a little more onto my morning run. My intention was to take the Creek Turnpike track down to Yale--an out-and-back that would get me 8 miles for the day.

I ran out to Sheridan and crossed the street into new territory. As I progressed toward Yale, I realized that there were some alternate routes, and I even noticed some trails that had been cut through a wooded area. I ended up running north, not really knowing where it would lead me. I soon realized that I was running in Hunter Park. Weird. Not really where I wanted to end up, but it was nice. I circled around in the park and headed back.

Back at Sheridan, I realized that because of the track I chose, I was going to end up a quarter mile short, so I decided to leave the track and run south on Sheridan for an eighth of a mile and back. (I really wanted to hit a full 8 miles!) I headed back east on the track, and amazingly, I did not have to stop at Memorial. That, after not having to stop at Memorial on the way out. What luck!

Sure enough, after not having to stop at all for 7 miles, I hit the small intersection at Mingo and had to take about a 5 second pause while waiting for a few cars.

As was finishing the last mile, I started realizing how important music is to me while running. I've read a number of articles recently that encourage runners to turn the music off. I tried this at the OKC Marathon, and I'll never do that again. Even in distances of 8 miles (compared to 26.2), I find it valuable. It's kind of a constant, despite the terrain, my heart rate, my pace, etc.

Next time, I hope to hit the track that actually takes me to Yale.

Hmmm....trails.

5-20-09
Distance: 8.05
Time: 1:07:35
Avg. Mile Pace: 8:22

Catching Up, So to Speak

I didn't even realize it had been 11 days since my last post until I sat down this morning to blog. It's not that I haven't been running--I have. Just been busy at work, home, etc. I guess.

This week, I began my "pre-marathon training" training. Starting to move back to a normal speed and distance. And no more two-day furloughs. In the past week or two, I've been running the Creek Turnpike trail (I'm sure there's a more official name for this trail, but I don't know for sure what it is. Liberty something maybe?) I'm really enjoying the track, as it is definitely more challenging than the completely flat neighborhood roads I've been running on for the past year. However, there are two problems: the noise and the almost always required stop at Memorial. Running east is not as bad with respect to either problem, but for some reason, I simply like to run west into town better. I plan to alternate, which should help with some of the monotony I experienced when running through nearby neighborhoods day after day.

Met with the Runner's World group last night for our pre-training orientation. It was good to see so many people there--lots of people I didn't know, several people I did know, and a few missing (maybe they'll be there tonight). I am most excited about the formal hill work that will start taking place on Mondays. I can't think of any training (base miles aside, of course) that I need more. I also like the idea of specific, formal pace groups. Between the two additions to the training, I am very much looking forward to the next few months. Unfortunately, I'll have to miss not just the first, but also the second Saturday runs of this training, but for good reason: I'm going on vacation! Despite that, I will still get in my long runs. My guess is that the Gulf coast will be pretty motivating.

5-18-09
Distance: 6.07
Time: 49:58
Avg. Mile Pace: 8:13

5-15-09
Distance: 4.18
Time: 35:23
Avg. Mile Pace: 8:28

5-13-09
Distance: 6.14
Time: 53:24
Avg. Mile Pace: 8:40

5-11-09
Distance: 4.05
Time: 34:51
Avg. Mile Pace: 8:35

5-9-09
Distance: 4.5
Time: 38:39
Avg. Mile Pace: 8:34

Change of Scenery

The alarm went off at 5:30 this morning, and I woke up wondering why I was waking up to run on a Friday morning, as that's not the norm for me. I lay back down and continued to wonder what I had been thinking. Things were slowly coming together in my head: I ran two days ago...two days ago I was in Houston...I came home from Houston on a Wednesday, so yes, I was right to go back to bed because it's Friday and I will be running tomorrow morning...wait, that doesn't seem right...I left Houston on a Tuesday...that was two days ago...that would mean that today...is...Thursday? The mental questioning continues: what did I do last night? I watched TV. Yes, Thursday is TV night at the Posey house...so it must be Friday...but wait, it wasn't The Office we watched...it was Scrubs. That's Wednesday night. It is Thursday! Apparently the Just for Men I use to color my gray hair is seeping through the pores in my scalp and making its way to my brain. Or maybe it's just the gray hair. Anyway, I got myself back out of bed, changed into shorts, and prepared to drive out to the Creek Turnpike trail for my regular Thursday run.

As I put my shoes on and checked FaceBook, I commented in my status that it would surely be less humid running today than it was two days ago in Houston. Obviously, I had not yet looked outside.

The garage door opened, and I could barely see across the street because of the fog. I drove the mile or so to the Garnett entrance of the east-bound trail and began running. The trail was nothing less than marshy--mossy, murky water on both sides of the trail. That, combined with the foggy vapor pool I was soaking in made for a very sticky run.

It was nice to have a change of scenery, but I do think that next time, I will start my run a little farther down so that I get into the more rural section of the trail more quickly. I've also got to find a good entrance point to go west on the trail, as it looks like the western trail has some nice hills. I also need to remember my MP3 player next time. (Gray hair again I suppose.)

I am now "officially" moving from recovery runs to maintenance runs. Not much different. A slight increase in distance that will continue to climb gradually until marathon training. Maybe a little more intensity, although no real speed work.

5-7-09
Distance: 5 kilometers
Time: 26:11
Avg. Mile Pace: 8:16 (mi)

A Better Houston Experience

I just returned from business in Houston last night. Before I left, I looked at my work schedule and my running schedule, and I knew that I would have to run in Houston at least one day. There was some trepidation following my previous run in Houston, but armed with my Garmin, I felt a little better about things this time.

As we pulled into the hotel, I was glad to see runners circling the complex--and a little envious. (Do you feel envy when you see runners running and you're not?) My hotel was in the middle of a group of restaurants, shops, bars and clubs. I estimated the perimeter of the complex to be around a mile.

Monday morning came and went--no running; this, due in most part to a late night with colleagues Sunday night. "That's OK," I thought, "I ran Sunday morning." But I knew that I did not want another day to pass without getting out. I started getting that antsy feeling, and I even contemplated an evening run on Monday, but the evening was already full; not to mention, I absolutely required a nap.

Tuesday morning, my plan was to get up and join my colleagues for breakfast. The alarm was set for 7:30--I wasn't sure how I was going to squeeze a run in. But apparently, my body was aware of my dilemma, and I woke up without an alarm at 6:30. I took advantage of the opportunity, threw on some shorts, and I was out the door.

My Garmin was having some trouble finding satellites. I knew it was going to be a challenging run when I was having to wipe the humidity off the face of it in order to watch the continuum go from left to right. But I remembered my decision following the OKC marathon to embrace humid mornings, so I chose to view this as an opportunity.

The run was awesome. Just a short 2+ mile circle around my hotel complex and the shops in the vicinity (my estimate was pretty close). It was a perfect time to get away for a while and clear my head. Nearly had my kneecaps knocked out from under me by not one but two cars that were not obeying stop signs, but aside from those moments, it was a perfect run, and I started really recapturing the drive and motivation needed to get me through the next months of training.

I'll start getting back to a regular running schedule as this week ends and next week begins. No serious speed or distance work, but I will move away from my beloved two-mile runs into 5K's and 4-milers for a couple of weeks. I think I heard that marathon training starts back on June 6, and my 26-day recovery ends on Friday, May 22. I will definitely be ready to start back into serious training, but the break has been nice.

5-5-09
Distance: 2.11
Time: 18:07
Avg. Mile Pace: 8:34

The Two-Mile Run

The two-mile run has always been an important run to me. It's the distance I've always started back at after each running furlough I've taken. It's the distance which I've always felt was the threshold between possibly quitting running within the next couple of weeks, and potentially running a marathon. The few times in my life that I have crossed paths with people who are even less experienced at running than I am (and these people are very few and far between), I have asked, "How far are you running now?" Seems like the reply is always two miles. And I say, with the self-righteous tone that could only be compared to that of one taken by a reformed smoker speaking to a "non-reformed" smoker (not that I am either), "If you can run 2 miles, you can run a marathon." Of course, I never could say this from experience until this past Sunday, but I had a pretty good idea.

Forcing myself to keep it at two miles at a slow pace as I am doing this week reminded me of the reason I started running in the first place--I simply wanted to be healthier-maybe lose a little weight too. No marathons (or half-marathons), no pace goals, no Garmins, no Gu. I ran in such an undisciplined manner, never even realizing the significance of the seemingly random number 26.2. And I did so in a heavy old pair of Nike cross-trainers that had who knows how many miles on them. And it was fun.

Now don't get me wrong: I love the feeling I get from hitting the 20 mile mark or by training at a faster pace. I wouldn't trade in my Garmin for anything (except maybe an upgrade), and I know that those Nikes were just bad news, but during the next few weeks, I really do want to focus on recapturing the feeling I had back when I ran simply to run, not to race. No doubt, when this 26-day period of recovery ends, I'll be anxious for speed and distance again (at least as much as an old guy like I am can attain). But for this week, I'm going to embrace the two-mile run.