Tag Archives: being a dad

Week of 11/2/15 in review …

Miles this week: 25

2015 YTD: 1110

Although the week started out slowly, I finally feel like I’m starting to get back into the swing of things. After a nice 7 mile run early in the week, I deliberately took a few days of rest to finally kick this nagging chest cold that seems like has been hanging on forever.

That brought me to the weekend, and it was awesome!

Saturday morning started out sleeping in (more rest for the cold) followed by my favorite time of the week – breakfast with my girls. Eggos all around! I run to eat worse, vs. eat to run better!

After swim lessons with the oldest, it was off to 7/11 for Slurpees (new tradition I guess, we’ve done it two weeks in a row) before heading out on the first of three runs over the weekend and our last stroller run of the season. Even though it was a bit chilly, we enjoyed it. No monsters or alligators chased us on Saturday – just leaves. And lots of ’em, it was VERY windy.

After the stroller 6 miler, I dropped her for a nap and headed out for a quicker second lap. It felt good to get a little speed in the legs.

My wife and I had a chance to get out, as adults, on Saturday night and enjoyed an awesome meal at Principle Food & Drink. If you’re ever in Kalamazoo, try it. It’s awesome – specifically the spicy pork craklin’s and the Korean BBQ wings. Wow, wonderful indeed!

Speaking of food, my wife killed it in the kitchen too by making two of my favorite meals and chocolate chip cookies (they’re the best chocolate chip cookies). I’m a little scared of what the scale’s going to say in the morning.

Hey – I thought this was a running blog, not an eating blog …

Ok… back to running …

That brings me to this morning’s run, and it was AWESOME. Wow, what a sky full of stars. My wife told me Saturday night there was supposed to be a meteor shower overnight. I’m glad I made it up in time to run under the stars. This was the first time I ran w/o my headlamp. I had it with me, and turned it on a couple times when there was a car nearby, but most of the time it was off so I could enjoy the stars. I did see two meteors along the way as well!

I did cut he run short though. My route took me past the house about half way. That was a mistake – the coffee was calling my name and I bailed on the last few miles. In the end, it was for the best. My girls woke up right after that and it let me make banana bread with them while my wife slept in.

All in all though, 25 miles this week is finally a number I feel decent about again.

As for Western States – it’s time for those who’ve qualified to enter the lotto. There are a few folks I follow on Twitter or Strava who are throwing their name in the hat. I wish them all the best! Two more years and I expect to do the same!

Week of 10/26/15 in review …

Miles this week: 18

2015 YTD: 1085

Definitely not my favorite week of running. This was supposed to be the week that I begin rolling with my training for the Yankee Springs Winter Challenge 50k. Instead – I was sucked further into ‘The Hole.‘

Monday started off well enough with an easy 6 miler to test the ankle. The early morning brought lots of stars and a beautiful fat moon setting into the early morning sky. My ankle held up ok, but was still a little sore through the day.

Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday was disappointment after disappointment after disappointment after disappointment.

I couldn’t get out of bed to run. For anything. I’d been fully sucked into the hole.

With some prodding (begging?) from my wife I made it out for a 6 miler on Saturday, and it was beautiful. Cold, pouring rain, beautiful. One positive out of the run, I ran a mile in under 8 minutes. I haven’t done that in a while, but 45 degrees and pouring rain can make one move a little faster.

One of my employees asked about my weekend today – I told him I ran. It rained. And I was wearing a t-shirt and shorts. So you went right home then? Nope. I ran faster. And it was awesome. You’re crazy. Aren’t we all?

Sunday was about as beautiful as a day comes in Michigan – Perfect cloudless sky and about 60 degrees. I took the family over to Kellogg Forest for a hike

Family Hike – Kellogg Forest

The girls had a great time learning about moss and ferns and petting a little garter snake we found. My oldest daughter taught us what a beech leaf was. She’s 4. My wife and I are a wee bit older. I Googled it – and she’s right – my wife told me as we rounded another corner. At least we’re getting our money’s worth at the Nature Center preschool??

After the run, the girls went home for a nap and I was back at Kellogg Forest to run trails.

Sometimes Ma’ Nature stops me in my tracks and all I can say is ‘Whoa!’

The 6 miler took me past some of my favorite areas of Kellogg Forest – including the geocache where I proposed to my wife. With a ring pop. Time has changed things. It was a bit overgrown now, and the pine trees that were about knee-high at the time towered over me.

I also spent some time running along the North Country Trail – the same trail I’m planning to run my first 50 mile race on in August – albeit a section much further North. It’s cool that it’s so close to home.

That was the week – in a nutshell.

On side note, October was an odd running month. It was by far my lowest total mileage for the year (barely over 70), but yet I crushed the Grand Rapids Marathon – so I feel great about that.

(By the way – I hear the coyotes raising hell outside at the moment. I love hearing that.)

Let’s see what November brings. For now, I’m off to see if I can find the Northern Lights. They’re supposed to be visible here tonight.

Week in review – 10/12/15

Miles this week: 31.6

2015 YTD: 1064

I started the week with an easy 5 miler through the breezy drizzle. As long it it’s not a hard rain, or 34 degrees, I typically enjoy running in the rain. There’s something refreshing about the cool rain drops hitting my face that I enjoy – like a baptism by nature. I also love how the rain / puddles play with lights in the dark morning.

That 5 miler would be my last run prior to the Grand Rapids Marathon. I’d hoped to sneak another one in mid-week, but that didn’t happen.

Friday was a rare ‘off night,’ if you will. Typically I’m up early to run on Saturdays. That’s when I get my long runs in – before the ladies awake for the day. My wife tolerates, for the most part, my running – as long as I’m home to hang with the girls in the morning so she can sleep in. And let’s face it, that’s not really a chore. Weekend breakfast with my girls is my favorite time of the week. Especially when it involves strong coffee and waffles.

Anyway, since I was running the Grand Rapids Marathon on Sunday, Friday was an off night. I took my oldest to the local hockey game. I spent the night carb loading, for my Sunday marathon, with Bell’s Two Hearted Ale and cotton candy. The K wings lost, but we had a great time!

And then Sunday was my third Marathon. Great week!

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