Sun, Feb 18-Sat, Feb 24

Sun Feb 18: PM. Ran four loops around Lake Wingra in 3 hours then did a 5000m on the Edgewood track in 18:45 (6:00, 6:00, 5:59, 0:45).  Running total ~45k (~28 miles) in ~3 hours 20 mins.  It was sunny and in the mid-upper 30s.

Mon Feb 19: AM. A 62 min run on the Capital City Trail and Southwest Path.  The sun was rising over partly cloudy skies.  Temp of 18°.

Tues Feb 20: AM. In Middleton, A 78 min run on the South Fork Path and over trails in the Pheasant Branch Conservancy.  Saw at least 20 deer and a couple nice bucks.  The sun was rising over clear skies.  Temp of 28°.

Wed Feb 21: AM. A 60ish min run on residential (and presidential) streets.  It was partly cloudy and 43°.  PM. On the track, did 5x1600m (5:42, 5:42, 5:38, 5:38, 5:37), then ran a 45 min loop around Lake Wingra.  It was partly cloudy and 57°.

Thurs Feb 22: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt.  The sun was rising over clear skies with a temp of 34°.  PM. In Middleton, A 30 min run on the South Fork Trail.  It was dark and 48°.

Fri Feb 23: AM. A 75 min night run on the Capital City Trail and over residential streets on the east side of Madison (the good old bad part of this college town).  It was dark and in the upper 30s.

Sat Feb 24: AM. A 90 min run around Lake Monona.  It was sunny and 10°.  PM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Pt.  It was sunny and 31°.

This was a good week.  I felt strong running ~45k on Sunday and the 1600m repeats on Wednesday felt easy.  On Thursday night/Friday morning I was having trouble falling asleep.  Rather than walking to Insomnia Cookies on State Street (my usual fix for when I can’t sleep), I ran about ten miles.  When I got back from the run I laid down on my bed, closed my eyes, and slept the sleep of the gods. That is, until my alarm clock went off a few hours later and I had to get up and go to work. 

Night Thoughts

I am running in the night.  I like running in the night.  There is something about running in the night that makes me feel alive.  Really alive.  I live for nights like this.  The night air is very refreshing.  The sky is clear and the moon is big and full.  It is a relatively quiet night.  Of course, there is still the occasional honking of car horns, wailing of sirens, and screamings of madmen.  These are inevitable sounds one is bound to hear year-round in Madtown.  On this night, however, the screams don’t seem to be quite as loud or as frequent as they usually are.  

It is a chilly night, but not too cold.  Actually, it is fairly mild considering it’s February.  There is a slight breeze in the air which makes it feel colder than what it really is.  I probably should've worn my good deerskin gloves, the ones my mother gave me for Christmas.  All I’ve got on my hands are my white felt gardening gloves—the same type of gloves that Bill Rodgers wears.  Sometimes I like to envision myself as Bill Rodgers when I run, cruising along at five minute pace, twenty miles into a run, breathing easy and feeling strong.  I am breathing easy and feeling pretty good right now.  Except my hands are just a little cold.

I look at my watch.  It is quarter after two.  I am thinking about the way the world is turning.  Sometimes I wish it would stop.  Maybe not stop completely, but at least just slow down a little.  Give me some time to catch up.  I think it was Bob Dylan who said, “Time is a jet plane, it moves too fast”  Time certainly does move too fast.  Now I have that tune stuck in my head.  

I turn a corner and head down a narrow alleyway.  This alleyway is dark and sort of creepy.  An old tomcat darts in front of me.  I ease up on the pace a bit and call out to him, “Here kitty kitty kitty, here kitty kitty.”  He doesn’t pay attention to me.  

Not far up ahead, I notice a tall, shady looking man wearing a trench coat.  He is walking towards me, on the other side of the street.  There is a cigarette dangling between his lips and a bottle of Jack clutched in his right hand.  “Good morning!” I say to him in my friendliest voice.  He looks at me, looks away, looks back, and tells me to bug off.  I keep running slowly.

Something shiny catches my eye, under the glow of a streetlight.  A quarter.  I stop and bend over to pick it up.  Nope, only a washer.  Darn it!  I stick my hands into the pockets of my running jacket.  They are empty.  No quarters.  I must’ve lost all my quarters in the washer down at the laundromat last Monday.

About a hundred yards ahead of me is another streetlight.  I kick into high-gear till I reach it, then I slow down and run easy again.  Every hundred yards or so, are these streetlights.  I decide to throw in striders between every other light.  Fast, slow, fast, slow, fast, slow.  I continue this fartlek for a couple miles, until the road with the streetlights comes to an end.  A few blocks south of here is a nice, residential neighborhood.  I think I’ll head that way.  

I am running through a maze of residential streets.  Most of the houses’ lights are turned out.  The city is fast asleep and I am wide awake, running quite fast.  A couple blocks in the distance, I can see something pink, glowing in the darkness.  The pink thing is coming towards me.  Could it be?  Yes!  It is another runner.  I am not alone out here.  A girl, wearing one of those neon pink light-up running vests, is also trudging along through the night.  I smile at her and say, “Good morning!”  Unlike that bum in the trench coat I passed by earlier, the girl returns my smile and replies, “Mornin!”  

It is not terribly uncommon to see other runners in the middle of the night, here in Madison.  This is very different from Marshfield, WI, a smaller town in the middle of the state, where I grew up.  Nobody in the Dirty Marsh ever runs in the night, or in thunderstorms, or days when the temperature drops to fifteen below zero.  Only in Madtown, will you find people crazy enough to run at any time of day or night and in any weather conditions.

I look at my watch.  It is 3:05 am.  I have been running for a little over an hour now.  My hands are really starting to get cold.  I ought to start heading home.  Yes, I am going to go home and have myself a cup of hot chocolate.  Maybe I’ll put on some fuzzy warbles.

I am not slowing down

“SLOW DOWN!”  the sign screams at me as I run by.  “FUCK NO!”  I holler back.  “I am not slowing down!”  The rebellious brain inside my head commands me to go faster.

These signs have been popping up all over Madison and it drives me crazy.  It is very demoralizing, as a runner to be clipping along at a good pace and to come to a sign telling me to slow down.  It just really bugs me.  When I’m in a groove and feeling strong, “Slow Down” is the last thing I want to be told to do.

These are the signs that are driving me crazy:

Fear not fellow runners of Madison! You will not have to worry about slowing down for much longer. I have devised a plan to end this insanity...

With a brush and paints, I have made up a bunch of signs that say “Speed Up”.  On my next run, I will stop at each of the “Slow Down” signs, rip them out of the ground, and replace them with a “Speed Up” sign.  That outta fix ‘em.   

 

These are the signs that I will put in place of the “Slow Down” signs:

Sun, Feb 11-Sat, Feb 17

Sun Feb 11: AM. Ran two loops around Lake Wingra in 90 mins, did 5000m on the track in 18:43 (6:00, 6:00, 5:59, 0:43), then ran another 45 min loop around Lake Wingra.  Running total ~35k (21.75 miles) in ~2 hours 35 mins.  I had planned on running an additional 10k loop around the lake, but my left calf started tightening up.  Felt good otherwise.  It was cloudy for most of the run, sun came out a bit towards the end.  Temp in the upper 20s-low 30s. ~RIP Kelvin Kiptum~

Mon Feb 12—Did not run—Resting leg.  Left calf is still achey.

Tues Feb 13: AM. A 32 min run on the Capital City Trail.  Leg was good.  It was dark and 26°.

Wed Feb 14: AM. A 60ish min pastry club run on residential and city streets.  The route was supposedly in the shape of a heart.  It was sunny and 25°.  PM. On the track, did a 1600, 1200, 800, 400, with 1 lap recovery jogs (5:22, 3:57, 2:34, 71).  It was sunny and 45°—Lovely! 

Thurs Feb 15: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  Streets were covered in a couple inches of snow and slush.  Temp of 33°.  PM. A 33 min run on the Capital City Trail.  It was dark and 28°.    ~RIP Henry Rono~   

Fri Feb 16: AM. A 60 min run on the Capital City Trail and Southwest Path.  It was dark and 23°.

Sat Feb 17: No AM run—Tired.  PM. Ran the Subzero Mile in 4:55—the same time as last year.  It was sunny and in the upper 20s.

My left calf tightened up on Sunday’s run so I took a day off to let it heal and recover.  I took it pretty easy the rest of the week mainly because I’ve just been tired.  I felt awful running the mile on Saturday, but my mind is on the marathon and I’m not too worried about it.

Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk

This morning I was feeling blue. But now I have cheered right up.

In fact, I am glowing yellow like a buttercup.

Today is February 11th—National Don't Cry Over Spilled Milk Day.

It just so happened that I actually spilled my milk this morning!  I was wearing my favorite sweater and the milk got all over it.  I didn't cry, but boy was I sad.  Then, I remembered what day it was.  With a laugh, I changed into a dry shirt, wiped up the milk, and proceeded on with my day wearing a smile.  I have decided that from now on I am going to look at the bright side of things.  I am going to try to carry that positive attitude with me everyday from now on.  To look at the bright side of things.  To not stress over the little things.  Life is too short to let the little things bother us.

If a little milk should spill it really doesn't matter.  Ask yourself: "Will this issue matter in a day?"  If the answer is "No," then it's just spilled milk.  How about in a week?  Still a no?  It's still just spilled milk.  If the concern doesn't change the entire course of your life, it's only spilled milk.  Don't worry about it.  Everything’ll be all right.

Don't be like this guy

Here are a couple songs by one of my favorite songwriters, Andy Partridge, that always put a smile on my face:

The Art Song (Something Good With Your Life):

Everything'll Be Alright:

Sun, Feb 4-Sat, Feb 10

Sun Feb 4: AM. A 78 min run with MSRC on the Lake Wingra loop route and on various streets and trails.  It was mostly cloudy and in the upper 20s.  PM. A 78+ min run on the Capital City Trail.  It was sunny and in the upper 30s.  My watch died so I’ll have to guess the length of my runs, till I get a new one.

Mon Feb 5: AM. A 45ish min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  Sun was rising over clear skies, temp of 21°.  PM. A 30ish min run on the Capital City Trail.  It was dark and around 30°.

Tues Feb 6: AM. A 90ish min run around Lake Monona.  The sun rose towards the end of the run, giving way to hazy blue skies.  Temp in the low 20s.

Wed Feb 7: AM. A 60ish min pastry club run on residential and city streets.  It was cloudy and around 30°.  PM. Ran a loop around Lake Wingra in 45 mins, did 10x400m on the track (81, 81, 81, 80, 78, 78, 78, 78, 79, 79), then ran another 45 min loop around Lake Wingra.  It was cloudy and in the low 40s.

Thurs Feb 8: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path.  Sun was rising over partly cloudy skies.  Temp of 41°.  PM: In Middleton, A 30 min run on the South Fork Trail.  It was dark and around 50°.  

Fri Feb 9: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was sunny and 38°.  Blast and damn!  No second run.  Worked late again—third shift in a row.

Sat Feb 10: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path to Picnic Point.  It was cloudy and 28°.  PM. A 50 min run on the Capital City Trail and over trails in Olin Park.  It was sunny and 39°.

I love the mild weather.  It was nice to get some trackwork in this week.  400 reps may seem short for marathon preparation, but it still helps to work on speed.  Even the marathon is a race that is won by the fastest runner.  If my legs are up for it, I’d like to get in a long run tomorrow.   

With these shoes I will never lose

Ahh, forties!  In February!  I love it.  With the warmer temps, the snow and the ice have melted.  The track is clear and dry.  Earlier today, I bought a new watch and headed over to the Edgewood track to get in some speedwork.  While cranking out 80 second quarters in my beloved Saucony A-Type racing flats, I thought up a poem:

With these shoes

I will never lose

I will win the fight

It won’t even be tight

I will run faster than light

ZAPP!  And I’m outta sight

When the A-Types are on my feet

It is you I am out to beat

You will be tasting defeat

As I put on the heat

Burn like the fire

I will fly higher

Never tire

All the way to the wire

Beware of the Mad Cyclist

I had an incident yesterday while running the Subzero 5 miler.  The race started off fine.  However, about three miles into the run, a biker hit me.  I was cruising along on the Capital City Trail at around 5:30 pace, feeling pretty good, when I heard a biker coming up from behind me.  I was running on the right side of the trail, as I’m supposed to, and I could hear this biker as he kept getting closer and closer to me.  There was nobody approaching me on the other side of the trail (the left side).  Instead of going around me and passing me on the left, as anybody with any brains would’ve done, the biker tried to pass me on the right side.  It all happened very quickly.  As I tried to dodge the crazed cyclist, his front wheel came into contact with my left leg.  The biker wiped out, while I staggered for a few steps, though was able to keep my balance.  Being the good samaritan and paramedic that I am, I turned around to see if he was okay. But, as I started to approach him, the biker yelled, “I’M GOING TO KILL YOU, YOU MOTHERFUCKER!”  If this guy is able to cuss at me and threaten to kill me, he mustn’t be hurt too badly.  Scared shitless, I turned back around and ran as fast as I could to the finish line.  I was running for my life, literally.  I crossed the line in 27:10, a 5 mile PR, and kept running an additional mile till I was home safe.  I came away with only a minor scratch to my left calf, but my shoe took a bad beating.  When the bike's tire hit my leg, the top of my foot scraped against the pavement, ripping a giant hole in my $200 Saucony Endorphin super-shoe.  It’s a pity because I really like those shoes, and they didn’t even have that many miles on them.  Arg. I guess I’ll have to go back to my old minimal Saucony A-Type racing flats, at least till I can save up enough dough to afford another pair of super-shoes. Or maybe I should just channel my inner Abebe Bikila and start running barefoot.

RIP

And another thing. After running this morning, my trusty Timex 30-lap watch of 8 or 9 years stopped ticking.  It took a lickin' until it stopped its tickin'. I guess I’ll have to start using Kramer’s method of telling time—by looking at the sun. At least till I can find the time to buy a new watch.

Sun, Jan 28-Sat, Feb 3

Sun Jan 28: AM. A 2 hour 45 min run around the Donnelly Business Park, on country roads (Lincoln, Yellow River, Robin), and in Wildwood Park.  It was cloudy and 30°.

Mon Jan 29: AM. A 40 min run in the Donnelly Business Park.  It was cloudy and 30°.  PM. A 40 min run on the Capital City Trail.  It was mostly cloudy and 35°.

Tues Jan 30: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was dark and 37°.  PM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was dark and 36°.

Wed Jan 31: AM. A 60 min run on the Mendota Lakeshore Path.  It was dark and 34°.

Thurs Feb 1: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was dark and 31°.  PM. A 30 min run on the Capital City Trail.  It was dark and in the mid 30s.

Fri Feb 2: AM. A 48 min run on the Capital City Trail.  It was dark and 30°.

Sat Feb 3: AM. A 45 min run on the Capital City Trail and around Monona Bay.  It was mostly sunny and 33°.  PM. Ran the Subzero 5 mile in 27:10.  Felt strong.  Beautiful out- sunny and around 40°.

Keepin' Busy

I am never going to blog again while at work.  Towards the end of my shift last night, I figured I would do some blogging.  However, at precisely 6:33 pm, a late call came in.  I didn’t get out till 8:20 pm, over an hour after my scheduled end time of 7:00 pm.  It ended up being a lousy shift.  I’d rather run calls all day and get out on time, than run only one or two calls during the day, but get done late.

I wrote the following last night while on shift: 

I am sitting at a desk inside the Sun Prairie Ambulance Station right now.  It is 6:25 pm.  There are thirty-five minutes left of my shift so I thought I’d do a little blogging.  Knock on wood I don’t get a last-second call.  It has been a good shift.  There were only two short calls.  At the station today, I studied up on some lesser-used medic protocols, I finished reading a good Stephen King novella, “Mr. Harrigan’s Phone,” I played my partner in a game of cribbage (I won), and I was able to get in a nice, hour-long walk, all while on the clock.  I walked up and down Clarmar St, the street in front of the ambulance station in Sunny P, at least fifty times.  I am unable to venture off too far, in case a call comes in.  It was a boring walk, but nice to get outside just the same.  After weeks of cold gray cloudy rainy piss shit days, Mr. Sun finally decided to poke his head out of the clouds and say, “Hello.”  I was really starting to miss that guy.  Even the temperature was mild, getting up to around 40°.  The next several days actually look quite promising.  

This past weekend, I went to visit my folks and some friends in Marshfield, WI, my hometown.  Marshfield is smaller than Madison, and doesn’t have nearly as many running trails.  There are also no lakes or rivers to run along.  With a population of around 19,000, Marshfield has the distinction of being the largest city in Wisconsin that is not on, or near a body of water.  There are, however, many beautiful country roads with little traffic surrounding Marshfield that are great for running.  On Sunday, I went for a 22+ mile run over country roads to the southwest of Marshfield.  I ran twice on both Monday and Tuesday, and my legs are feeling pretty good.  A couple years ago, if I'd gone for a 22+ miler, my legs would’ve felt achy and tired the following days.  My body has definitely gotten stronger.  I am going to take off tonight and I’ll plan to take it easy the next few days.  This Saturday, I will be running the Subzero 5 miler and I want to be feeling fresh and ready to run fast. 

AAAAAHHHHHHH

AAAARRRRGGGGHHHH

SHOOT

A call just came in 

I gotta go!