Life with Tim

Celebrate Success. This week went really well, 6 out of 7 days accomplished. My other goals were a success as well. I got an average of 7.5 hours of sleep and new shoes! This week I noticed it was always a challenge to wake up. I had to find my inner Jacko to try to spring out of bed. I really have to stop hitting snooze... It all came to a head for sleep on Friday. I just couldn't get up. Ended up sleeping in to 5:30a. Felt amazing! Then I felt bad I didn't lift but really I needed the rest. It is my first miss. I think I just stayed up a bit too much celebrating freedom ('merica). The runs went really well but I could tell that I really needed new shoes. I went on 2 trail runs during the week (new construction in my area that isn't paved yet). The runs help me think about things. It really is my meditation time. I really feel so much better on days that I run. Lifting is very enjoyable as well. I found a great training program (thanks Cassi!) based on my 1 rep max ...

Well, I'm off to a great start for 2019. Although I debated if I could run due to some recent knee pains, I decided to run the Shamrock Shuffle 10K. This was the second time running this event for me and it was a great event again. The race started off on State Street in downtown Madison, WI. It did a small loop by the capital, then toward campus. Up the most challenging hills on Observatory Drive. It starts with a single switchback that isn't too horrible. However, after that is a pretty steep incline followed by a steep decline then another hill, then very flat for recovery. Unfortunately, they put a water station right at the end of the hill. The only water station, mind you, granted you hit it twice since it is a down and back race. After the 1/2 way point, we took the lakeside path back. I forget how amazing the campus area is, I need to find an excuse to run downtown more often. Anyway, once I hit Observatory again I walked the inclines and was slow on the declines...

So I've been using Strava for the past couple months, and its great! Features I love: Automatically linking sections I bike/run with marked sections and show how I did compared to others that have traveled that path. When I run with another person and we are both using Strava it tells you about it. Easy to use interface on my phone and my smart watch (Google Wear device) You tell Strava what shoes you have and it tells you when you have put enough miles on them You setup your bike(s) and it tells you how many miles you are putting on them There newest feature, upcoming events. I love having my goal listed so I know why I'm training. So why write all these features? Well, Endomondo came out with Google Wear support, that is why. The interesting thing, its better than Stravas integration.  Yes they both tell you how long you have been running/biking, how far you have gone, and your pace (average only for Strava).  Endomondo took it to the next level, full customizat...

Endomondo is a great service, but they removed the Nike+ integration which makes me sad. So like any other disgruntled user I look elsewhere.  Through friends and Google I found Strava and Runtastic. All of these services have a mobile app, sweet, moving on. Strava and Runtastic both have Android Wear (a new smart watch platform by Google) Support (yes I got one, its amazing, more on that here ).  Endomondo just released Pebble support (its one of the first smart watches), so who knows when they will get Wear. Strava has really clean integration with the smart watches, I can say things like "start run" or "start Strava" to my Android Wear watch and it starts up the app, connects to GPS, and has a big blue go button to click to start. If I say run it defaults to run. If I say Strava it defaults to my default sport (currently set to cycling).  I always have my phone, so it just makes sense to use an app over my Nike+ GPS watch. Runtastic's app and website is...

5/3 River Bank Run Everyone has that home event that they want to do. For me that was the 5/3 River Bank run in Grand Rapids, MI. My home town.  Five years ago I would have never thought it was possible to run so far (25k). After all my hard work, I finally could say it shouldn't be too bad :). I did a lot of reflection back to my old couch potato life building up to this event. It was also really cool because family was going to be there to cheer me on. On race day I was feeling really good. I did a great warm up with one of the front runners. Man it would be cool to be way up there. I decided to be ambitious and start with the 7 min/mile group. I stayed with them for the first 1/2 of the event, however then I decided to cool it off a bit so I didn't die.  My 1/2 way split was 7:05 min/mile. I continued on, and I must say the crowd was great! Every time I was feeling down they picked me back up. My last 1/2 went by pretty fast with some tough hills. I finished at 7:25 min/...

There is always that one race that defines you as a runner.  One that you look back on and say, "yup, this is when I crossed the line." The line that distinguished you from an average joe to a runner. Crazylegs 2013 was that race for me. A year ago I ran this race, it was my first ever beyond the distance of 5K. It moved me beyond my comfort zone, beyond what I knew I could accomplish.  Looking back on it, it's where I started a journey. It all started with a friend making a comment saying, "you should sign up" (thanks Dave), and sign up I did. My goal for this year was simple, beat Tim from last year.  I have been light training all winter.  Running outside about one time per week with friends and inside 0-2 times. This spring I started gearing up for a race I have in a couple weeks. However, the Crazylegs 8K was also on my list. I also switched up my training regiment this year.  I decided to base my training off of Hal Higdon 1/2 marathon intermediate t...

Shamrock Shuffle 10K, more like Shamrock Shiver 10K.  It was a chilly one. With a real feel of -5 degrees one couldn't possibly think this was a good idea.  I brushed off the negativity in my head, and geared up for the start.  This was a typical Madison event, going by my favorite hills on Observatory Drive.  I like these hills because of how challenging they are.  When you finish one you go right into another, 3 in total.  It is super challenging, and you feel some form of pride when you are done. The way out wasn't bad, we were going with the wind.  I did a 6:50 for the first 2 miles, I was surprised as I didn't think I was going that quickly but I continued on.  On the turn back I hit the 5k mark at 21m 40s, and then the wind hit.  It was cold, it was strong, but we continued on.  I actually caught myself drafting people, it actually helped a bit.  Once we left the shoreline it wasn't as bad, and back to the hills.  On th...

So its March already.  I don't think I wrote in this thing since January. I get I was just so busy with Feb, it just slipped by.  I just setup my plan to run the Grand Rapids River Bank Run (25k) in May. I can finally start training after I had some weird foot/heel issue that I was dealing with. I have 10 weeks to get up to a 15.5 mile distance. I think I can do it since I've been running this whole winter (except for the past week or so).  My schedule is going to consist of: * Monday - Weights + Yoga * Tuesday - "Fun" Run at EH * Wednesday - Track day (sprints | tempo alternating) * Thursday - Weights & Light Run * Friday - Rest * Saturday - Long run * Sunday - Cross train (bike, racquetball, etc...) or Light run I based the schedule on a 12 week 1/2 marathon training on  http://www.halhigdon.com . It should be rough since I'm starting a bit later than I planned, but alas. Better late than never :-).

Last year was the most challenging year of my life.  I did two of the most stressful things that you can do.  It made me a stronger person, and I am a better person for going through these experiences.  I started a new job, which is wonderful! I am so happy there. It is a very rewarding job, and the people are great! However, with any transition it is stressful. I also got a divorce which is pretty obvious why its stressful. Weird saying it still, but it happened. I think I am doing pretty great though! I have an amazing family who is very supportive and great friends who are super fun to hangout with.  I also got a new kitten.  Her name is Mia Mittens aka Miacat (pronounced mer-cat).  Her and Otis are starting to get along just fine.  It is cute, they are friends.  Watching a 20 lb cat get chased by a 4 lb kitten never gets old. I also got a new nephew! He is a bundle of joy, just adorable.  I wish I lived closer to all of my family but ...

Running in winter can suck, but its all about your attitude.  If you go into it thinking that its going to suck, guess what, it will. There are a lot of great things about running in the winter.  You most likely won't overheat.  Less traffic on the trails.  Quietness, beautiful scenery, nature! There are a few extra precautions I take while running in the winter months. 1) Visibility Clothing.  I do this a lot of the time, but in winter it is extra important.  People don't see you, and in winter they are really not looking for you. I mean, who would go out and run when its snowing outside? :) 2) Head Lamp and rear light.  Since a lot of people run either before work or after you end up running at night during the winter.  This can be an additional issue #1 doesn't really help with.  That being said, a good head lamp really goes a long way.  I also recommend wearing a light on your back.  Ever see a car with only its daytime r...

There is only one time that you can do something for the first time.  For me, it was the first time I had ever ran beyond the wall (20 miles for you non runners).  The last 20 weeks or 500+ miles of training all came down to this day, the day that I ran a full distance marathon. courtesy of  http://www.madisonmarathon.org/ I used Hal Hidgon's novice training plan for first time marathoners . It was a great training program.  It never made me feel to tired or "worn out".  Its due to the design, 2 weeks of increase of about 10%, then a recovery week, and cycle.  I actually did the 1/2 marathon training, but then when I was done with that, I wanted more. I found a late season marathon in the great city of Madison, WI.  It was a smaller marathon, about 7000 runners between the full and half distance. 11 weeks of training after my first 1/2 marathon I had the normal 3 week of tapering.  This was following my 20 mile run (longest run of the trai...