Rich Running

2012-02-06T06:45:00.000-08:00

Ok, finally getting to it. This weekend I continued my journey through the Big Baz WTRS Trail Race Series (which is exactly what the T and the R and the S stand for!). Oh well!
So, I plodded through the 12k. I slogged through a sloppy slippery 15k. Now I was on to the 18k. Weather was just about perfect for this one. Started off halfway decent and fell in with group of runners along the single track. Hard to pass so basically we went roughly 3.5 miles in line. Then there was a separation and I ended up with 2 other runners. Basically we were together all the way to the end. A lot of carnage on this race. One of the victims was Doug Malewicki.
He wouldn't clean his wounds until everyone got their pictures of them!
There were quite a few others who came in with blood dripping. One had cuts on his forehead from doing a faceplant .
I got through unscathed! Finished in about 2:12 which I seem to be every race 10 minutes slower than 3 years ago.
Oh well, guess it ain't no big deal. As long as I finish.
Stiffened up by the time I got back to San Diego. Spent the rest of the day drinking fluids and trying to recover. Had a nice nap. Got up from my nap and THEN went to bed!
Next morning was feeling pretty good and put in a run with some nice hills in it and worked out any stiffness I had.
21k coming up in 2 weeks. After that not sure about the 30k.

2012-01-25T19:07:00.000-08:00

Actually feeling really good running right now. Able to run back to back days 2 times this past week. And 3 of those 4 runs I did without my compression sleeves! YAY!!!!!

Had the trail race on Saturday of 9 miles, then did 5 miles on Sunday. Rested on Monday. Ran 7 miles along the harbor Tuesday and tonight I did 5 miles with a lot of hills. So my legs are holding really good right now. Was worried ahead of the 2 trail races I did because my shin stuff was flaring up. But after both races it felt great until I started running on pavement. So I gots to limit my road running. No doubt.
I've incorporated a lot more stretching before and after runs. Even trying a product called Recover-Ease. Don't know if it is a coincidence or not but I ain't changing now! Plus I am back to my running weight that I was at 2-3 years ago when I was at my running bestest! Weight, even a few pounds, makes a lot of difference I feel. Less stress on everything when you run.

2012-01-21T16:21:00.000-08:00

Rainy cold windy muddy... Great combination for a trail race. Big Baz WTRS 15k in the books people!
Headed out of 619 (San Diego!!!) and weather was good . All the local weather hotties said we would wake up to rain. Maybe they did. I don't know what time they get up,,, unfortunately! But I woke up and left to a really nice looking day. Well that kinda changed when I hit Temecula and it started spritzing. Nothing much. Once I got to Lake Elsinore it was coming down quite a bit more. Worked my way up 74 to the start area and it came down a lot harder. It was cold, too. 44 upon my arrival. At least I was parked close to the start area and went to pick up my bib. Pouring and my little jacket was drenched by the time I got to the sign up . Hightailed it back to the truck freezing my ganoobles off! Sat in the truck til 8:15.

I then headed out to the start to listen to the wisdom of BAZ. Race started and I decided to start a little slow. Ran up the pavement to hit the trail head about a mile. Started TOO slow. Got stuck on the single track trail in a group of runners I should have been ahead of. But, not much I could do about it . No passing on a one runner wide trail. Trails were extremely muddy also. So pretty much had to just ride it out. And this was the part of the race that was my time to shine. Well I had no shine today... This was supposed to be MY fast part of the race but... what the hell... it's all good. Once we hit the uphill you know I fade like Herm Cain once the shit hit the multiple women fan!!! Mud, slippery yet somehow sticky mud made for ginger (even though I am a Mary Ann fan) running. Once we made it down we then had to go up. I got so tired near the end that I didn't even have the energy to dodge the water. I figured what the hell at this point and just ran straight thru the middle of every water hazard. Finally got back to the pavement and what the hell is up with people telling me I LOOK GOOD? I know they are lying... I feel like crap, I look like crap and I might even need to take a cr... No not really but hope you get my point.

Finished worse than last race, so now is where I have to say I will be better next time... Sound familiar? But I survived the conditions and that's the main thing for this one.
Headed back down the mountain and stopped at Subway for a sandwich.Yummy!

I'll be back!

2012-01-17T20:47:00.000-08:00

Excellent run tonight! Just what I needed. Went to inmotionfit training run. Ran all the way with Juan. And you better want to run fast if you intend to stay with him! Quite a bit faster pace than I had planned on but it was really good to push myself to hang with Juan.
Started out kind of slow.Finally passing everyone to lead the pack to the Hilton. Saw our fearless leader and local TV personality Katie fresh off her appearance on the Sunday local news to tell us STUFF...about running! Anyways, we waited for the pack and then headed back to the Star of India. Juan increasing the pace little by little. We decided to run to the Coast Guard turnaround. We ended up running in the low 8:00 pace for the last 2+ miles. Got in 5 miles and felt great afterwards.
Juan is off to Maui for a half marathon this weekend and a lot of other people are doing Carlsbad Sunday. I'm off to the mountains again for another spectacular blazingly fast trail race Saturday!!!

2012-01-09T22:00:00.000-08:00

A little late with this post but that happens! Did the Baz WTRS 12k trail race Saturday. Turned out to be perfect weather. Headed in to pick up my number and heard someone calling my name... One of my many fans??? Well yeah kinda, the ONLY one at this race. Lauren was there volunteering and taking pics all day.

Started the race off too fast. Finally pulled off to the side and left the pack I was with. Caught my breath and tried to hang with the next group of runners. Never quite got in my comfort zone til a little over 3 miles in. Tough recovering when I start too fast. I seem to have that problem mainly in trail races I do. Road races I seem ok with. Somehow I seem to think I should be maintaining the pace on the trail as I do on the road and consequently I run way too fast at the start. Then it all blows up and I struggle to get back to a pace I can maintain just to finish. Need to race smarter!

Anyways, finally got feeling ok and comfortable but still feel I should run more and walk way less. Love the downhills that were just before the final roughly 2 miles up to the finish. Plus the last little run into the finish on the pavement was nice too!
Finished right at about 50% of the field. 75th out of 148... Will do better in the 15k in a couple weeks!
Stuck around for the post race Bazfest. It's worth the drive just to be there there for Baz to hand out the awards and then the raffle. Truly one of a kind!!!

Overall I guess I should be happy but I always look back at what I should've and could've done different. Doesn't help this race but maybe future ones.

Was happy to see Lauren and it takes people like her volunteering all race day to make it possible. And she got me to pose for a pic! Not an easy task!

2011-12-25T20:47:00.000-08:00

New way I may carry my water now!

2011-12-17T11:58:00.000-08:00

8.5 mile run this morning. Decided to go to Mission Bay and run. Does every running group in San Diego run the same place??? Maybe that's why I'm not part of a group anymore. Man there was a ton of runners! So, lesson learned ... Big mistake . Need to run later in the morning. On the way back in it was a lot less congested. Started at the north end of Mission Bay heading towards SeaWorld and went through the SeaWorld parking lot and made the turn around .
Had kind of a nice steady run and as long as I stay injury free I am happy (running).

2011-12-13T20:52:00.000-08:00

5 miler from Star of India to the south end of Harbor Island. Tried out some new shoes tonight and they felt really good. And they are black, my favorite color!
Ran nice and smooth all the way. First run in quite awhile that I have felt that way. On the way back ran past Dave and Katie from inmotionfit running program. Have seen Dave about 3 runs that I have done in the same area recently but first time seeing Katie, who IS inmotion... We high fived each other and then I finished up my run and I was home in no time!

2011-12-11T20:15:00.000-08:00

Put in an 8 mile run today. Nothing spectacular just a run. Did see a new hot dog stand! Had a California AND a TJ Hot Dog! Man, if only I ran with money... The picture of me running back with a Cal Dog in one hand and a TJ Dog in the other would have been fan-dam-tastic!!!! So glad I had no dinero! Anyways, that was pretty much the highlight of today's run. So I will be back to my normal schedule and looking forward to races after the new year... Maybe avoid that hot dog stand too! That's a weakness I have... HOT DOGS!

2011-12-06T17:22:00.000-08:00

Back from doing the Rock and Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon. Buzzed up on Friday. Stayed at Luxor right next to Mandalay Bay where the race was starting. Checked in . Got some dinner and then all of a sudden seemed real late real quick! Saturday we headed out to the Expo. Nothing beats walking 3 miles when it's nice and cold and really windy!! Plus we are walking BACK!!! Picked up the packet and walked around the Expo trying every free drink and nutrition bar that was being offered. Got the hell out of there and headed for some FOOD! Had my number and was looking damn good!!! Even if I'm the only one that thinks so! This was one of the super eats that I had (actually had all great food on this trip.)
Headed back down the strip checking out some different hotels with Christmas themes.
And then to M&M WorldThen to Coca Cola Store... Boring as hell and sacrilegious to me... Because I am a Diet Pepsiguy!!! Almost like me going to an Obama convention! Yeah, lots of fun!!!! One more year and out, PLEASE!
Later we headed over to the MGM for a nice Ahi Salad.
Sunday we hooked up withmy sister and her roomies for lunch in the Mandalay Bay. I had Salmon plopped on some other stuff(?). Mainly ate only the salmon. Left those reading glasses in the hotel when we checked out... Oh well, I buy them by the 3 packs at CVS!
Went back to our room. Rested and watched Tiger win some golf deal. Got ready for the race and then it was like being herded like cattle through Mandalay Bay making our way to the start area. Once there immediately hit the port a potty ( because I love peeing on poo!!!) and then made the crush and I do meanCRUSH to my proper and almost appointed corral. Once my corral started it was another crush of elbow to elbow walking and then slightly a jog and then an actual run. Jesus, too many goddam runners all in one place! Quite a contrast to trail races I do where the entry is capped in the low HUNDREDS... This Half had over 33,000 entries! It was somewhat of a mess for the first couple miles... Aaah, who am I kidding it was a mess all the way to the finish. Wall to wall people.
My run was absolutely positively nothing spectacular. I just pretty much ran a steady race after the first mile. Averaged 9 all the way and finished at 1:58:14 . Wanted anything under 2 hours so I was happy enough. Took mea little while to recover but was back to my normal self in no time!
Got a shower and recovered and went back to my sister who was a lready finished looking as freshas ever! And this is how she thanked me for the effort I put in to take her pic after HER race! Was only trying to help! Like I always do!!!! Headed out afterwards with my sister for a couple drinks and some eats. Guess she forgave me for the pictures... Well , until this post!
Got to bed around 1 and got up at 6 to get my sister to the airport but first I had to get gas... Nice price!
Overall, a very fun weekend and glad I entered back when I was injured. This was the big motivation I needed to get back to running and am so happy to be through some of my past problems and injuries.

2011-11-30T21:15:00.000-08:00

NASCAR guys are in Vegas for their banquet. Will be hangin' with them!... Kind of... Same State. Same county. Same City. Of course the only one I care about is Jeff Gordon. So if I see him... Oh yeah! Almost forgot there is a little run I am doing. Rock N Roll Half Marathon. Everything is set and ready to go. No PR this race I predict but will just enjoy the run. Never know what will happen once the race starts but am just hoping to be close to 2 hours. 1:50 being my best HM, I honestly don't think that will be within reach this time.
Got in my last long run Monday night as I missed my Sunday run. Really good run . Got in 10 miles. Run again Thursday night and want a short easy run sometime Saturday.
So follow me on Twitter for my absolute most exciting can't miss updates on what the hell I am doing!!! Richrunning92

But if I see Jeff Gordon I may get a PR!!!

2011-11-25T18:12:00.000-08:00

Quick 5 miles tonight. Tried out a new pair of shoes and they felt really good. Ready for one last long run on Sunday heading towards another Half. Feeling ok. I seem to have some really good runs and some bad struggling ones thrown in just to piss me off I guess.

2011-11-22T19:15:00.000-08:00

7 miles down by the harbor through Seaport Village to the Convention Center and then back to the Coast Guard station. Did some stairs at the CC. Excellent night for running. Not a lot of people and just after Americas Cup teams all left.

Then on the way home ran into traffic because of someone who threatened to jump off a freeway bridge. This started at 2 in the afternoon! I made my way through at 6:30! Jump or get off the bridge... Why one person is allowed to fuck up everyone's night is beyond me. Whatever problems this person has in life he needs to make up his mind in the first couple minutes of getting on the bridge. Jump and we get the cleanup crew and traffic keeps moving OR decide it may not be such a fantastic idea to jump off a bridge and land on concrete and traffic keeps moving then too!
I know I'm an insensitive bastard but ... What the hell, I can't change now!

Anyways... Life goes on .

2011-11-20T15:18:00.000-08:00

Nice 10 miler today. Feeling good right now. Couple weeks away from Half. Should be nice running with night race and flat course. Maybe I'm ready after a terrible Trail Half. Cramps and stomach problems made for a long ass excruciating day at Griffith Park. But have had a pretty good week after and will keep my head up and keep digging...

2011-11-08T21:07:00.000-08:00

OMG!!! I forgot my Garmin tonight... But I sucked it up and soldiered on! Even surprised myself!!!! Normally I act like I have forgotten how to run if I don't have my Garmin on my wrist. But tonight I really enjoyed my run. Didn't keep looking to check my pace or my mileage. Just ran what felt comfortable.
Ran down along San Diego Bay starting around the Star of India heading south. Checked out the America Cup boats that will race on the bay this coming week. Watched them crane this one into the water. French team. First pic is looking across the way at the other teams with the USS Midway in background.
Pretty cool to have the best in the world right here... Even if you're not that interested in sailing. Saw the Oracle teams, Koreans, Chinese and well... some other countries!!!!!

Anyways, back to running . I headed past the Midway. Did the fish Market loop then down through Seaport Village, Embarcadero loops and down to the Hilton and back up repeating the same back to the truck.
Felt really good and no anxiety attack about the lack of the Garmin controlling my run. Maybe I should run without it more. Well, I may have to think about that! But am feeling pretty good going into this weekends trail half. Rain and cold weather expected this Saturday in the LA area! Love it! Every trail race should have some rain or snow somewhere.

2011-11-03T19:49:00.000-07:00

Good run tonight. 7 miles through the park. Not many people so I liked it a lot! Haven't been much into group runs. Kind of prefer it by myself for now. I can push it when I want to or take it easy and not feel like I have to keep up with someone.
Not much to say but felt obligated to post something...

2011-11-01T21:32:00.000-07:00

Week and a half before my trail half marathon and am doing good overall but have this kind of problem. It takes about 2 miles now for my lower legs to feel right. They feel kind of tight and tired. Then after a couple miles I have no problem. Has happened on my last 2 runs and don't know what to make of it. Not sure if I need more miles or to ease off. Probably will opt for more miles!
I have a number (could be 1... That's a number!!!) of trail races scheduled for early 2012 and need to make sure I can handle more mileage. So I have already made the commitment, I'm training and now I just need to succeed! inmotionfit.com !

Trails are most likely the only running I will be doing for quite some time. Much more interesting to me. Less the monotony of just pounding the same pavement. Have one half marathon pavement race I am doing in early December but after that no pavement at all! Trail running has a way of a feeling of the miles going by faster... Even though your pace will ALWAYS be slower! Hard to explain how that happens but it seems that way to me. More of an accomplishment type deal just to finish and can't worry about avg. pace.
Oh well, can only do what I can do!... Doing the best I can with what I got!

2011-10-16T19:32:00.000-07:00

Well, I seem to be back. After injuries and setbacks and stuff like that I have been back running and training for the past 2 months. Initially training for a half marathon in December I decided to find out where I was at and if I could handle a race. So I entered the Buffalo Alley 10k race. Wasn't too worried how my leg would hold up but more interested in the overall shape I am in. Gained about 10 pounds from sitting around not being able to do too much. Lost that weight and felt I was running ahead of schedule and there I was at the start line...

Waiting in the start area with an extra 10 minutes added to the start time I realized with 10 SECONDS til the start that I had not double tied my laces... I couldn't do it in that amount of time so I let it go. We started and all I wanted to do was haul ass as fast as I could before the hill started. Not sure how far til the hill starts but once it does it is almost a mile UP. Ran 3/4's of the way up and walked the rest... Well... Until I saw the photographer just before the top! Started running and kept on going downhill and feeling good. A couple small hills and then a big hill which I walked for the most part and then up down up down and then DOWN followed by a nice flat run into the finish. I had one shoe come untied with about 1.5 miles to go. Couldn't stop at this point to tie it now. It was the fastest part of the run. Ran it in all the time feeling like my shoe was going to come off! Made it with no real problems from that and finished in just over 56 minutes. not too bad... Doing the best I can with what I got!!!!

Felt really good about the run and immediately entered a trail half marathon in November!

2011-06-25T11:53:00.000-07:00

Easy 6 mile trail run this morning. First run without compression sleeve and felt super duper rooney... On my way back as long as I keep off the concrete. Am officially in training for Vegas! Luxor here I come!

Last night went for sushi and a hike. Not the greatest sushi but didn't kill me or have me spending the next hour in the bathroom... So all in all it was ok. Just ok. Always leery of half price sushi. Is it old and going bad?... Or was it just shipped in from Japan and maybe has just a smidge of radiation!!!?????... Oh well, no poisoning and the radiation will show up years from now... so I guess I should be happy. Right? Yes! the hike and the rest of the night went just fine.

Tomorrow we do Chi running with emphasis on form.

2011-06-21T23:28:00.000-07:00

Chula Vista golf course run . Smooth and no shin pain. Wearing compression sleeve to make sure. But nice trail run and yes no pain. Gotta love it!

2011-05-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

Ran around 2 nice golf courses that are right next to each other yesterday. Just over 6 miles around both. Finally off the pavement and concrete. Got in some nice trail running. Need to get back to that and do limited amount of road runs. My shins have been acting up but felt a lot better yesterday than in a long time. Still sore but wore the compression sleeves afterwards. Feels good today. No pain. Can walk downstairs almost like a normal person... But then again who wants to be normal!!!
Unfortunately inmotionfit does no trail running so I kind of have to do that on my own I guess. Want to be able to run more days but just can't right now.

2011-05-26T22:43:00.001-07:00

An ok run tonight . In Point Loma for Tanya's run. Hilly run as usual. Just not really feeling it tonight . Some nights you want to run, others you don't. But made it in right behind Frank and then waited for everyone else to finish. Left there . Had some crap chicken for dinner on the way home... Then gyoza for late night snack. getting ready for long weekend. Should be fun!

2011-05-25T17:15:00.000-07:00

Last nights Tuesday Balboa Park was the best run I've had in a long time. Ran smooth and easy.

Did our usual warm up run over to 6th Ave . Then we did Leap Frogs running up 6th. Leap frogs where the last person in line sprints to the front of the group (5 people makes a group for this one!). Used to be called an Indian Run but somehow that term became offensive... Something always seems to offend someone nowadays ! Anyways we were the first and fastest group out . We pushed it and pushed it hard! And they are suppose to be sprints so there SHOULD be no bitching but... We did 4 runs up the hill with recovery coming at the top by making the loop back to the bottom of the hill to start a new run. It was great . Felt better each time up the hill. Strong sprints and really didn't hear any complaints!!!!! Juan is always strong. Joe was strong all the way too. Monica is a strong runner also and did more than she thought she could. In truth she is as fast as anyone in our group... Well, maybe not Juan. that guy just runs and runs and runs...FAST!
And Len, who wasn't sure he even wanted to be in our little group of 5, did great too. It's not how fast you sprint compared to everyone else, it's how you do compared to YOUR sprinting.
So hopefully no hard feelings from Len. He'll get over it! Hope his legs are burning today!

2011-05-20T23:05:00.000-07:00

So, today I filled my tank up and also washed my truck... Rapture day...Kinda stupid if the world ends tomorrow... Should have just saved the money and let the truck be dirty! But I will be left behind anyways. All you true believers will be gone. So maybe I will have a chance to burn that gas after all! 5 more months for me I guess. What the hell!

2011-05-06T00:09:00.000-07:00

Ok, moved to Point Loma this week for Tanya's run. 5 mile basic looperoola type run. Keep making rights and you make a big ass u- turn..
Met at Fresh and Easy lot... I had no idea it was a food place... Thought maybe a douche product,,, but I'm sure that is just how MY mind works!!! Anyways, off on our little run ... headed up down Talbot then turned right on something. Actually ran through an area of Ocean Beach that I recognized! Yep. been there done that... Felt like getting some tacos and brewskis at South Beach... But soldiered on running with Brad and then Tanya caught up to us and Tanya and I took off at an 8:30 pace. Brad having a rough night. I was just happy to find someone willing to push it a bit.

Then on to Voltaire in the OB area. Waited for others to catch up then took off with a group of ladies. Hooked up with Katie on hill back to the start. Roughly just under 2 miles to go. She pushed me all the way up that hill. Awesome pace. You know how sometimes you run with someone... You both push yourself harder than you thought you would... Both doing it because the other person is there! You don't have to say anything... Maybe you CAN'T say anything at all... But you totally respect and appreciate that that person is there to experience it with you. Finally leveled out near the end and Katie pushed it all the way to the end. She accused me of pushing her but I'm SURE she was pushing me. Either way we had a great run!
A lot hillier than Pacific Beach and as my running guru (Katie) says, Hills are the way to increase something(?)...Speed, stamina, leg strength... I really don't remember. I don't listen to EVERYTHING she says... After all, she is married and much more importantly NOT Asian! So I only hear bits and pieces of what she says....