Running

An Eclectic Post

Eclectic
~ Guy Hall ~ 1 Comment

So, I decided to attempt one today because it has been such an incredibly long time since my last post. However, my mind is blank. Nothing is pressing upon which I wish to write. I have no struggles needing to talk out to get a different perspective. Hell, I can’t even come up with a title for this post at the moment. No doubt, one will bubble up from this low expectation stream of conscious chatter.

Sigh. I guess I can recap.

Obviously, I’ve not written about any exercise. A while back, I switched from running to using Nordic Walking Sticks. However, my back continues to be bothersome. I decided to take a break. My last activity was on September 20th. I managed a long walk, but it paid hell on my back. Hence the break. However, I plan to attempt a walk or run today. I haven’t yet decided which.

Another area of my life upon which I have not written is education. I ended up dropping out of two semesters in a row. I just didn’t have the mental capacity to stay focused. I was quickly overwhelmed and found myself unable to muster the motivation to work on assignments. Well, that seems to have changed. I once again signed up for classes. Two, as usual, for the six-credit minimum to qualify for loans and scholarships. I find I can muster up the motivation to get my work completed on time. I also find I can get through assignments with relative ease. The prior semesters saw me struggling to comprehend class expectations.

Meanwhile, I have been moving through three different jobs over the past two years. The one job I lost due to, well, being fed up with the incompetent leadership. I finally decided to stand up to the mistreatment and was fired for “insubordination.” That’s corporate-speak for not being willing to put up with being mentally and emotionally abused. The following job found me working for a company that had no leadership at all. The owner, who titled themself as “Program Director,” showed up for all of three or four hours a week. And when they did show up, it was to proclaim edicts that would leave us unsupported. When the mandates didn’t deal with our situation, they would apologize and state they should have probably gone with what we wanted. When another problem arose, they would repeat the cycle. I have now found a new job. Suffice it to say; I don’t usually post about current employment. However, I will make a small exception and say I am happy with my job. And that’s all I have to say about that.

Wait. Was that a feather that just floated past?

Okay, let me backtrack a bit. I forgot to mention during my expounding on education that I received high praise from one of my instructors. They informed me I was a “powerful writer.” I would pat myself on the back, but my stiff and sore body does not allow for such actions. Oh, and I figured out a title for this post.

About the Incremental Marathon

Just Keep Running
~ Guy Hall

I know it has been a while since I’ve posted anything about my running. My last post was on July 4th. I have run since then, but not much. Only four times, one of which happened today. And July 11th was broken up into running and walking. Maps and stats are below.

Serious Lack of Effort

Just Keep Running
~ Guy Hall

Yes, it has been quite some time since last I ran. Twenty days, to be exact. And my break from exercise has had its detrimental effect. I decreased over a minute in my pace per mile.

I’ve not any plans to proclaim a commitment to improve my effort. I’m just looking to get back into my usual routine of running. Nothing more, nothing less. Part of today’s intent was simply to move. I wasn’t looking to break records in pace, heart rate, or distance. I simply planned on generating a sweat. And what with the weather – it had just stopped raining before I left the house – sweating was not a problem.

Multi-workout Post

Just Keep Running
~ Guy Hall

For the month of June I have switched up my exercise efforts. However, I will start by posting my first and, so far, only run for June:

Now, allow me to admit to my habit of being scatterbrained. I have, on occasion, failed to stop my workout app after completing a run. It means I have walked around the house while still recording stats. However, I managed to find a way to fix this mistake. It turns out Strava has a cropping feature. It allows me to backtrack to a point on the map where I know I completed my workout. This discovery has been beneficial, as will be explained further down in this post.

The map above shows our walk at Amnicon Falls State Park. A little park a short distance from US Highway 2. As you can see, we didn’t take the trail to the falls. Tina and I took a longer path devoid of people. It was also in the woods and kept the direct sunlight off us. A good thing, too, as it was 90 degrees. After finishing the walk, we enjoyed a simple picnic of sandwiches and pasta salad. Unfortunately, it was at this point when I forgot to turn off the Strava app. It recorded the drive from the Park office to the picnic ground. It was when I pulled up to the picnic site that I realized my error. Anyway, after finishing our meal, we headed for Pattison State Park, which was less than 20 miles away.

Pattison State Park was our second walk of the day. It was 95 degrees. Yet, despite the heat, we were comfortable. We didn’t push ourselves. Well, Tina’s back did start to get the best of her, but she toughed it through. However, as mentioned earlier, I tend to forget to stop my Strava app, precisely what happened for the second time yesterday. Unlike at Amnicon, which was a quarter-mile, I managed 7 miles at 55 mph before realizing my error this time. I am grateful for having found the cropping ability, efficiently eliminating the driving portions of both walks.

And finally, it brings me to today. I decided to break out the old bike and resume the Tour De Rook.

I am pleasantly surprised at my stats. They are not personal record-breaking. But having not seriously ridden a bicycle for several years, it was nice to go as long as I did at the pace I achieved. An average speed of 11.3 mph, a max speed of 21.3 mph, an average heart rate of 126 bpm, and a max of 141 bpm.

I caught the Waabizheshikana Trail in Riverside and took it to the taconite rail that separates Denfeld from Lincoln Park. Well, except for a small section that is closed off due to shoreline erosion. Hopefully, the city will repair it soon.

Having Fallen Behind, I Catch Back Up

Just Keep Running
~ Guy Hall

Let us return to the IM of the past. That’s because, before today, it has been 18 days since last I ran. Why? Because I started a new job and I was not feeling the best physically. So, I took a break.

Keeping The Pace

Just Keep Running
~ Guy Hall

I decided to take a walk on Friday instead of running. With today’s run, I did four days of exercise this past week. Today’s run was a surprise improvement of pace without an excessive heart rate.

An Above Average IM

Just Keep Running
~ Guy Hall

I am surprised at the pace. My first mile was under 13 minutes—a vast improvement over the past month. My overall pace of 13:10 is also an improvement for the past month. Over the past year and a half, my physical health took a beating. From a numbness affecting the left side of my face to an overall feeling of lethargy and fatigue, I’ve not been able to exercise regularly. I was even struggling with work.

It feels like I might be coming out of a bleak period in my life. At least physically. I am once again able to maintain regular runs. Next, I plan on adding some upper body exercise. However, that’s always been tough. About three or four years ago, I regularly engaged in planking and push-ups, helping reduce my pace. I even came close to cracking the elusive 9:00 minute mile. But it was not as enjoyable as simple running.

So, I have been mentally debating the resumption of planking and push-ups. I’m optimistic I’ll finish the debate with a win towards resuming upper body workouts. Until that time, I will continue to push for regular runs.