Last run of 2007

I had a very nice 4+ mile run this morning from home to close out the 2007 year. I saw my friend Jenna Carlson out there running which was nice. She is a great runner at St Olaf College. I am very glad to be ending 2007. I had some good times but overall 2007 had many hard area's for me. The excitement up running Leadville 100 this summer is very fun !!! Plus I hope to be fully healthy !!! Happy New Year People.

P.S. It was a very tiring this year to be a Viking fan, oh well there is always next year Huh !!!

Weekend of 12/29- 12/30

I was pretty happy with my weekend. After having a crappy midweek I felt like I came on strong.

On Saturday I got out after work. I was hoping to go in the morning but Sonya and I both needed to sleep in some so we both got a tad more sleep then I let her go for the morning run. I will have to say I was proud of myself. Getting out at night has been a problem for me as of late but I hauled my but out there and had a great 42 min run by the lakes. The footing was pretty good as well. My Puma Trailfox shoes have been great in the snow. I think I have run almost every run in them the last 2 weeks or so. My ipod has been very big in helping me nock out these runs !! I think distance wise I was like 5+ miles or so.

Sunday I got up early to meet Nick for a run. I was looking to ramp it up to a 2 hour day. I left my house at 7am and ran to Nick's which was like 30 min's. From there we did a great loop in part of Theo Wirth and then back to the lakes where Nick and I split off from each other and I went home. I was pretty happy with how I felt other than the last 10 blocks where I felt like I was going to blow from having to go to the bathroom. I did find out that I need to not use my waist water pack and go to my Nathan hydration vest. I think the other water pack puts to much pressure on my mid-section where I had my hernia surgery. I ended up with 2h hours and 12 min's for what I am guessing is like 18 miles or so ?

A Winter Waddle

Got out today with my good buddy Nick. We ran a nice loop from his house that was through the neighborhoods and by the lakes. I felt pretty good which was nice. I know he was feeling a bit tired so we kept it nice and easy.

I ran in my new Puma Trailfox shoes once more. They are pretty nice. I am in the process of trying a bunch of shoes so I can decide what I want to train in and race the Leadville trail 100 mile in August. But so far so good with the Puma's.

After the run I had a bunch of work to do the that night Winter Waddle 5k race the store puts on. This year it was at Lake Calhoon. I thought the race being there and partnering up with Whole Foods worked real good. Other than not having my snow boots on I kept pretty warm.

Not much in Blogland

Well the title says it all for me. Not much going on for me to Blog about. I have not run in 3 days !!! Man this sucks. I am looking forward to running with Nick tomorrow morning. Jan 1st is my line in the sand day as far as getting my training going.

Here are a few pictures from our Christmas day with the family.

X-MAS EVE RUN

**Evan is so excited for Santa he can not keep his pants on

After a short day at work I got to get in my Christmas Eve run before going off to church with the family. It was not to busy at work but nice to visit with a few runners coming in for their last minute stuff.

After work I hurried home. I knew I had enough time for about 1 hour of running before having to get to church so I got a move on. I wanted to run farther down the parkway for a change so I went down to the 42nd ave bridge and cut down. With the 50th bridge out it sure messes up some of my favorite runs. But on the bright side this made me run some area's I do not do very often. It was very nice both temp wise and it was very sunny. It was a bit slick in a few spots because of the freezing rain we had the other day but I made the best of it. Rocking with my ipod I had a great 50+ min run. I felt very good.

P.S. I forgot to mention the Ben Harper cd- Lifeline on by best of 2007 list.

Top 10 list pt. 1

Today just did not workout for a run. I am a little bumbed out about this since I felt like I was on such a roll and was looking for a 6 day week of running. I guess I will have to settal for a 5 day week. On a bright note I did get my longest run up some 30 min's and had a few 1 hour type days.

Since it is close to the end of the year it is time for some year end top pick list. This is my top 10 cd's I bought this year !! These are in no order.

Radiohead- In Rainbows
Kings of Leon- Because of the Times
Eddie Veddor- Into the Wild Soundtrack
Modest Mouse- We were dead before the ship even sank
Arcade Fire- Neon Bible
Brandie Carlile- The Story
Ryan Adams- Easy Tiger
Wilco- Sky Blue Sky
The White Stripes- Icky Thump
Linkin Park- Minutes to Midnight

Let it snow

I woke up this morning to get ready for my morning run with Nick to find some good snow on the ground and more falling from the sky. I am not sure if I have ever said on here how much I love running in the snow. Something about it is just so cool to me. Plus with the new snow I thought I would use this as a chance to try my new Puma Trailfox running shoes. I am looking to try a few different type of trail shoes this winter and spring. My hope is to find that perfect shoe for my upcoming race in August at the Leadville trail 100. Yea I laid out my $215 dollars or what ever it was this last week !! So I guess I know of one race for sure I am doing.

As I started out I could tell it was still pretty nice temperature wise. I think it was still like 30' out ? I was looking for 1 hour of running so I met Nick at the band shell and we took of from there. We thought it would be nice to do the cemetery loop since it had been awhile since the last time. Well it turned out to be a good choice. With this snow being the sticky kind the trees looked so cool !! It was great to be running with Nick on this loop. I was feeling really pretty good. I can tell the hills knock a bit out of me at this time but I am ready to keep getting better. I am real happy with how this week has come along so far. By the time I got home I had 1 hour and 5 min's on the watch. I am guessing that was like 8 miles or so.

I LOVE RUNNING !!!!

Back at it with Sonya

Man today was so nice out !!! With the great weather Sonya and I took Evan with us in the jogger. It was great running with the gang. We both said how much we missed doing our runs together with Evan now that it is winter time. Plus Evan likes it because he gets in a great nap. Sonya is still feeling like crap post Sunmart but is still tiring to get in some shorter runs. I feel like she is ready for a good break. Unfortunately given the warm weather at Sunmart she did not end the year the way she hoped. But I keep telling her you got to take the good with the bad. I do not think she finds it funny at this time ? Well back to the run it was great and I felt real good. We ran like 41 min's for 5 miles.

Rockin with Russell

So knowing that I would be running a longer run on Thursday morning with Patrick "PR" Russell I took Wednesday as a off day. It was a great idea given the fact we where going 30 min's farther than I have gone so far post sports hernia surgery.

I was meeting PR at his house at 5:15 am !! Man was it early, but I was very excited to run with Pat. I have always loved running and sharing idea's about running with Pat. I think we both have a deep passion for the sport and connect on many idea's on running and how the sport can be better. As we made our way around the streets of St Paul I was feeling very very good. We where talking up a storm and keeping the pace nice and easy. We both had our heart rate monitors on so that was keeping us in check. I think it was not till about 1 hour 20 min's or so that I could feel it in my legs that we where longer than I had been in sometime. By the time we where back at his house we got in like 1 hour 40 min's !!! I was very happy. I am not sure how far that was. I am guessing like 13 or 14 miles ? It was a great run and I am looking forward to many more of those runs with Pat.

Go Vikings Go !!

Man look out for my Vikings, they are on fire !! Then aging being a true fan I am always ready for the bottom to drop out so I will not get to heavy into the "punch".

I have had a few good days of running this week. On Monday I got out for a nice morning run so I could be free to watch the Vikes game after work. I ran a good little loop by the lakes. I ran a tad faster at the end then what I have been doing as of late. Maybe it was my need to go to the bathroom had a little to do with it ? Either way I was happy to pick it up some. I ended up with 5 mile run.

For my Tuesday run I went with Nick and Greg S. from Greg's house in St Louis Park. It was good to run with those guys. It had been a long time since I ran with Greg. We ran a real nice loop that we figured was like 7+ miles. I felt super good running with them. I think we ran a pretty solid pace as well. One of the funny things we talked about on the run was our idea to have a running race on a frozen lake. That would be fun by itself but we thought about adding a ice fishing part to it. Something like you get to subtract time off of your "running time" based on how big your fish is you catch. Could be funny !! We think this idea is pure Minnesotan.

Weekend wrap

It was a pretty good weekend overall on many fronts for me. I got is a good two days of running and had some great time doing holiday things with Sonya and the family.

Saturday got off to a good start with a nice morning run. I did a good little 5 mile loop from home running some of the parkways and some neighborhoods. I really like running in the neighborhoods around Minneapolis. I guess the reason I like it is because to me they feel real. You know back in the day when not every 3rd house looks the same ? Do not get me wrong I did grow up in a western suburb, and I am very big on running in different places and appreciating them for what they are. I love running a great trail by the river, or running a nice dirt road, or a great city loop. But I like to mix it up. The same thing every day even if it seems great will get old to me in time.

Sunday was a day full of shopping for Sonya, Evan and me. We got to it pretty early, but had a lot of fun. Evan was a trooper that was for sure. We broke the day up wit a great run from my parents house. It was my longest run yet !! A big old 9 miles with my honey. It was so great to get to run with Sonya. With the weather and all we have not had many chances. It is hard to put Evan in the jogger when it is so cold and snowy out.

After the run we hit up a few more places for gifts and such. At the end of the day I felt like we got allot done. That is a great feeling to have. The only sad note of the weekend was Sonya's Steelers loosing !!! Oh well there is always next week huh.

Friday fun run

So far it has been a good week. My goal leading into the week was to run 6-7 days this week. Well after my Friday run I am on track for that.

Wednesdays run was from my parents house once more. Like last week, it was good to get a run in back on a loop at mom and dads. This works good to break things up. As much as I love my loops by the lakes it can get a bit old. When I went out it was very cold out. I was very happy to have my nice and warm Montrail Mountain Hardware team jacket on. I felt pretty good overall. The footing was good and there was some great holiday lights to look at along the way. I belive I ended up with like 5+ miles.

Thursday was a day off for me. I had wanted to run but after a long day doing stuff around the house with Evan I was not feeling up to it by the time Sonya got home from work. What's funny is that I used to love running after work and such at night but now if I do not get out during the day it becomes very hard for me to get out the door ? Go figure.

Friday was a great little fun run. I made it out the door in the morning. I felt great and was very happy that I took the day before off. As I was out there all the kids where getting on their way to school. Something about seeing that always makes me happy ? I belive in the end I got in like 5 miles. Like I said before I felt pretty good overall but my right hamstring was a bit sore toward the end of the run. I do not think it was much.

Great start

After having the weekend off of running with Sonya being gone and all I am ready to roll this week. I told myself I was looking to run at least 6 of the days if not all 7. I believe I am getting to that point. I have been feeling pretty good and am still keeping it slower and having some shorter days as well.

I got off to a great start this week wit a nice run on Monday with Liz after work. I ran to her place from our house and we did a real nice loop. It was great to talk and see what's up with her. I was feeling good and was very happy to get my longest run of like 7 miles that day !!

On Tuesday I ran with Nick after work. We had a great 5 mile loop from his house. What was nice as well was that the pace was pretty good to. Maybe just a bit over 7 min mile pace. It was nice to stretch my legs a bit from my 7:45- 8:00 min pace I have been doing as of late. Plus as a bonus I got to see his pretty little baby girl after the run !!! I love seeing my friends kids. It is also nice to see how much Nick and Cindy love her. They are good friends and are very lucky people.

I am looking forward to the rest of the week and maybe some run's with my friends Patrick and Paul in the mix ? We will see but it is great to be back !!

USATF Ultra running championships

So the list of races that make up the 2008 USATF ultra running championships is out. I think it is great that we have these. Now do not get we wrong, there is MUCH more to be done to make these " championships " more attractive to all the top runners out there. But it is a start and I am happy about that. There will be more on my opinion of the state of Ultrarunning as a sport soon.

2008 MUT Championships

March 2 – USA 50 km Championship
Caumsett State Park 50 km
Huntington, NY
http://www.newyorkultrarunning.org/caumsett_state_park_50k2004.htm

April 12 – USA 100 km Championship
Mad City 100 km
Madison, WI
http://www.madcity100k.com/home.php

June 8 - USA Trail Marathon Championship (pending)
Deadwood-Michelson Trail Marathon
Deadwood, SD
http://www.deadwoodmickelsontrailmarathon.com/

June 21 – USA Mountain Running Championship
Mt. Washington Road Race
Gorham, NH
http://www.mountwashingtonroadrace.com/

June 29 – USA 10 km Trail Championship
Steamboat Springs, CO

July 19 – USA 100 Mile Trail Championship
Tahoe Rim 100 Mile Trail Run
Lake Tahoe, NV
http://www.tahoemtnmilers.org/trt50/

July 26 – USA 50 Mile Trail Championship
White River 50 Mile Trail Run
Crystal Mountain, WA
http://www.seattlerunningcompany.com/WR50/

August 16 – USA 100 km Trail Championship
Where’s Waldo 100 km Trail Run
Waldo Lake, OR
http://www.wpsp.org/ww100k/

October 11 – USA 50 Mile Championship
Tussey Mountainback 50 Miler
Boalsburg, PA
http://www.tusseymountainback.com/

Hanging with Santa

OK so this morning I went with my Mom and the kids to the MN zoo for a little Santa time. It was a real cool thing that the zoo does for it's members. The kids had lot's of fun !!! It was real funny seeing Evan go crazy for Santa up till it was time to sit in his lap.

back in the hood

Ran tonight after work back in the old stomping grounds. At the parents !!! After yesterdays run I figured I would keep it to like 3 miles. Do not want to rush things you know.

I was very happy with how I felt. I was a bit tired and sore but nothing to bad. As excited as I am about running aging, I do need to take it easy and not get to carried away. Time is on my side.

On a side note my wife Sonya is going to Texas this weekend for the Sunmart 50 miler. It was kind of a spur of the moment thing but she has been feeling good since the Fall 50 miler in late Oct. I am excited for her but sad that I will not be there to watch. It was just to much $$ and we have things this weekend with the kids and all. I will let you all know how it goes for her.

Also it was 1 year ago Steve Hibbs and I went to Hawaii for the U2/ Pearl Jam show. Man was it a great show, and having front row was so cool. Now if only we did not have to spend 27 hours in a line in a parking lot to make that happen.

Miles for the day= 3

It's good to have friends

Tonight I got in my first run with people, yea !!! After taking Monday off from running I was looking forward to running with Nick and Sonya. We set it up the day before so I had all day to get excited. What I did not think was going to happen was us getting another 5 inches of snow. Now this made for some mess running at times.

Nick ran from his house up to the store then we ran down to Lake Harriet to meet up with Sonya. The sidewalks we pretty good for the most part, and once we got to the lake it was very good footing. I forgot how much I like running down there.

I felt pretty good overall. At the start I was a bit sorer than I expected but I am sure the deep uneven snow did not help matters. After 10-15 min's I was loose and ready. We did a nice loop around the lake picking up Sonya along the way then back to the store. I was nice to run in the snow. Much better than driving that is for sure.

I had forgotten how great it is to run with people. It was something I missed so much during the lay off. I am very lucky to have such great friends/ wife to run with. I will never take that for granted.

All in all I believe it was like a 5 mile run, which is my longest yet !! Lookout I am back people.

Miles for the day= 5

Weekend Update

So it was really great to run everyday this weekend. After my maiden voyage on Thursday I did another 2 mile loop from home on Friday. That run was OK but I was for sure stiffer that the day before.

On Saturday I got to run in our first snow storm of the year !!! It was so great. Man I know there are days where you hate the cold but all in all I am so happy for the different seasons for running. Then aging check back with me in 2 months and I might think differently.

Sundays run was also pretty good. I am very happy with how my body has been feeling. I know it is early in the recovery game, but so far so good. I believe I have another week of 2-3 miles per time of running. After that I hope to start making the runs a bit longer. Maybe I can add some cross training in the mix as well. It looks like January 1st will be the time where I can get back to long runs and such !! Better safe than sorry.

Miles for the weekend= 5 total