New Year, New Goals

I am not one to make "New Year's Resolutions." Instead, I set goals for myself for the coming year. Among my goals for this year:

1. Improve my swimming.
2. Bike or run to or from work at least 3 times a week.
3. Run a 5K under 22 minutes.
4. Run a marathon under 3:30.
5. Make the OneWorldRunning shoe collection an ongoing thing.
6. Learn to play guitar.

I'll be using the power of Blogger labels and Google Calendar to update the progress of these goals. Wish me luck!

For a Taper, This is Hard Work

I've been easing back as I prepare for next weekend's Philadelphia Marathon. But this weekend there was a lot to do. Saturday I did a group run with some people from NVRC. Then I spent about two hours hauling and stacking firewood (I was trying to get as much done as possible before it started raining).
Yesterday I spent another hour finishing up the firewood, then Sue and I went to the gym for some strength training. I swam for about 15 minutes as well. I am learning the Total Immersion technique, and while I have the stroke down, there is still some work to do. For example, I have to remind myself to breathe sometimes, so I wind up with a little oxygen debt that's hard for me to make up. Also, I am so focused on keeping my head down that I failed to realize how close I was to the wall a couple of times.
After all that, I played a few games of volleyball. I thought my legs might be tired, but I crushed a couple of spikes. My timing felt better than usual.

Focus on Running

As the marathon approaches, I'll be spending a lot more time running. And the Knights of Columbus 5K is this weekend, so I've been training with Sue and Joseph, and I really think that they are ready.

I do need to get in some more strength training: I did lower-body on Tuesday, and I will try to do upper body today. And yoga, I need some yoga!

Went for a Run

Last night, I went running with Sue and Joseph. We did a 5k course around campus, and they did great: they walked for about 3 minutes, right around the 2-mile mark, but ran the rest of it. I think they are ready for KofC. After they finished, I ran a second lap of the course on my own, because I need to get in some extra miles.
I am just about to go do some upper-body strength training. Time to get huge!

Weekend Off

Sue and I went to scenic Pittsburgh last weekend. We didn't really do too much in terms of exercise, and actually we did a lot of sitting, talking, and eating fatty foods. But an occasional break is OK, as long as it's the exception and not the rule.

So back at it this week, starting with a three-mile run with Joseph on Monday. Yesterday I did the lower-body strength training. And while I was definitely seeing spots after the 3rd set of knee-tuck jumps, overall I did not feel as well-trained afterwards as I would have liked. You know what that means: time to take up the weights!

Tonight Sue, Joseph, and I are going running. They will do three miles, but I need to do about twice that. Then tomorrow I will do upper body strength. Saturday I'm on a relay team for the Tussey Mountainback 50-miler. I get to do the always-challenging Leg 4, and then the relatively easy Leg 12. That's 10.6 miles total, at a hard pace. Should be good to build some endurance!

I'm back

I admit I've been slacking on the blog recently. I was sick last week, so I didn't do much of anything. But I'm back with a vengance this week.

• Sunday: Did an easy, 18-mile bike with the crew from Central Penn Racing. It was Sarah's last ride with the group, so good luck to her! That might I played two matches (6 games) of volleyball. We won 5 of 6.
• Monday: an easy 30-minute run with Sue and Joseph.
• Tuesday: a yoga session with a private instructor. It was rough, man: my legs were shaking during downward dog!
• Wednesday: upper-body strength training, which did not leave me feeling as well-trained as I would have liked. Time to take up the weights!
• Thursday: I did a great 10-mile run in the cold rain. It was originally supposed to be 8.4 miles, but I felt so good I just kept going. And here's something else about that: because I got there late, I had to run solo. A reporter who had come to take some pictures also got there late. I was the first one he found as he drove up the road behind me, so he took some pics of my and my chi. If he ever publishes them, I will see if I can post one here.

I'm not sure what I'll get down this weekend: Sue and I are going to scenic Pittsburgh, but I hope we'll be able to use the gym facilities at the hotel.