The Week Past:The Week to Come

Last week I was excited to be back out running. Then, long nights/mornings at UPS, and sickness in the family. My wife and two daughters down with some sort of nasty flu. Remy and I have escaped it so far, and I hope that if I haven't caught it yet, then I won't (although I feel a little off today). So, no other running besides last Mondays' jaunt. Remy and I went for a short walk to get the paper this morning. Brisk out. This week starts tonight at 11:45pm when I get up to be at work for 12:30am (Monday). Only 6 days left of "peak." I expect to be busy, with probably no running, especially as the sickness here has yet to wind down. But, on the 26 Dec., pretty much all major package shipping comes to almost full stop, except for a little overage from Christmas, and it's back to normal (or more normal) hours, you know, around 4am or so...

gotta get those miles.

Back at it...

Went out for a cold 4 miles today with Todd. Not to bad considering I've been off the run, due to work and some other issues. When I get in 15-20 miles in a week I feel pretty good. Then I read Anton Krupica's or Uli Steidl's training logs and I think that I am a shameful example of an ultra runner. Granted, they are ultra Racers, not just runners. Steidl just picked up $10k for winning a 50 mile race in NorCal, and Krupica is putting in almost 100 mile weeks in the snow in Montana. But, that's definitely not where I'm at, not now. Maybe someday I'll be gunning for a win somewhere...


ps. Only 11 more days of peak season at UPS! Send out those packages!!!

Running, not runnin'

At work last week I spent a day going out with a driver to help deliver packages (known at UPS as running). Things went from 0-60 in one day at UPS last week. Many, many packages (tomorrow morning has a 2:15am start time!). I've found a new training regimen. If I go out to help deliver, I won't need to run at any other time. It was in and out the package car, jogging to houses and businesses for 4.5 hours. And they need help often this month. So, if I take my opportunities wisely, I may be ahead in my training come January. Well, my training wasn't more than keeping up running about 4 times a week until 2008. So this should put me ahead. I was worn out the next day, definitely needed a nap...

Holidays and Kazoos

A little downtime here around the Thanksgiving holidays. It's cold and dry, not like my last run on Sunday evening in a downpour which had lasted all day and didn't finish until early Monday morning. I started a minor cold that evening and had to get a lot of sleep to kick it. I'm spending the next few days away from running, at least until I feel "better." On a light note, our nine-month old son has picked up the kazoo as his instrument of choice. We're suprised he can manage the humming, but when he gets his hands on any other toy instrument, he just trys to hum... Hope all you Americans ate lots of turkey and those of you out of the country enjoyed a normal day of the week.

More miles

The miles are slowly piling up. Plus, I'm feeling my body getting back into it. I seem to have a quick return to prior fitness (minus the endurance). This has been good, as I seem to work at a higher pace than I expected, my runs are quicker than I thought they would be. The weather has turned nasty today, windy and wet. I tend to enjoy this, as I "run hot," temperaturewise, that is. Hopefully, I won't get too tired of my loops before I move onto longer distances. At least I have a good book on the ipod.

Week One

Turns out that Week One didn't really go so well on the running end. Colds at our house hampered the return to running. But the single job, now that is awesome! I seem to have got on the Nap Plan, made easier by having a cold. It's on the way out for me, hopefully, we won't just pass it around for weeks on end. I'm usually done with work and home by 10am. And then its household stuff, running, and TIME WITH THE KIDS!! YES!! Hanging out with the 3 of them has been great. Just yesterday Isabel, Ava and I took out the tandem and trailer for a trip to the park. It's not running with kids, but it is cycling...

I hope the next entry will reflect a return to running without hacking out my lungs...

ps. This pic is just an example of our bike set-up, not our normal ride to the park.

Day 1

Ran 4 miles in around 32 minutes. Not bad at first day back. Only one job now. Yes!!!! A schedule of 4 days a week, easy, with some cross-training until after Christmas. Got to get those base miles in. Then we'll see. Got to get ready for the Marathon in May.

Let the countdown begin...

It's now official. I've given my notice at one of my jobs, somewhere in Oct (possibly Nov.), I'll be down to one job and plenty of time with the family. Ang and I will be running the Eugene Marathon together, I told her I'd run it with her, and when she went to register, our oldest daughter won a free entry in a raffle. So, a twofer!!!

Yesterday, Todd and I went up to crew for Lewis in the McKenzie River Trail Run Invitational. A stellar field of fast men and women put on a great show, with a ultra rookie winning in 3:44 (for 50k/31 miles). Hal Koerner (2006 Angeles Crest 100 Mile and 2007 Western States 100 mile winner) took second in 3:46 and our own Lewis came in 3rd in 3:49. Three runners under 3:50, the course record is 3:42, almost broken by Dan who had never run 30 miles before. Hal and Lewis were closing on Dan, and Lewis on Hal by the end. Meghan Arbogast came in 4th and broke the Women's course record by 3 minutes in 3:58! A totally great race.

I'm hoping to start really running again in early Oct. Go slow through Dec. and then start training in earnest after Christmas. We'll see...

Benelux

Above, Lewis, intent...

About Time

This comes late in the season of summer ultras. Big things have happened, for both the Todder and LC. Lower-Case ran WS100 in under 24 hrs. Very good, maybe not his expectation, but awesome none the less. The Todder came alive in late July. I thought he was a little short on miles, but his training paid off well at the PCT 50/50, where he ran a 50 mile race for the first time. He came in at about 9hrs. 38 min. Great, considering his projected best time (from himself) was 10:30!!!! So, onward and upward for both the Todder and LC to Where's Waldo 100k. This year, the event was the National Championships in the 100k distance (that's 62 miles for you non-metric people!) for the Masters Division with $1000 on the line for 1st place men/women! A course sabotage derailed LC, although his finish time of just over 12 hrs. was still fantastic and enough for 17th? place. The Todder blew through the course in just barely over 14 hrs. An awesome fisrt 100k. The Waldo course is extremely difficult. I had run the first half as part of a relay with the Todder in 2005. 34 miles in over 6hrs. UHhhhhh... I paced the Todder for the last 18miles, including up and down Maiden Peak in the last 13 miles. I was beat up for the next few days for sure. High Five Borat style for the Todder and LC for their awesome seasons so far... The Todder finishes us at either a trail marathon up at Mt. Hood, or at the Sisters Poker Run. I think LC's final big race may be the Mckenzie River Trail Invitaional. 20 men, 10 women, all who have run under 4:30 for 50k (31 miles), 4:15 for the men. It's a who's who of NW fast people. Should be good. My situation stays the same, at least for now, there may be upcoming changes to my schedule... I'll let you know.

Clarification

As a friend said, "I don't understand what you're saying, but I like the pictures." This blog so far has been following the running exploits of two of my friends, not me at the moment, because I'm taking some time off to work two jobs. The three of us primarily run ultramarathon events, 50k or more (31 miles+). T. or now The Todder and L. now lowercase, are my two training partners. And my boss calls me Benelux. So there's us three. Now lowercase is the serious one. He's won a race and placed highly in others, including a 50 mile race and a 100k race. He's also going to race in the Superbowl of ultrarunning, the Western States 100 Mile Trail Run. Which he got into by virture of his victory in the highly contested Way Too Cool 50k back in March. This is a very big deal. A very big deal. The Todder is also serious, although less so, he and I spend a lot of time chit chatting while running. He is working towards his own goals and has enjoyed a number of races without me as I had a leg fracture last season, and now the two jobs. Hopefully, the next few posts will be clearer on the running part and will include some other characters. Until then...

Benelux (you know, BElgium, NEtherlands, and LUXemburg)

Late but not never

So, much has happened since we last viisted together. L. has now joined the inaugural list of dads running with kids, joining me and T. Congratulations L. and R!! Speaking of T. He ran a long one at Peterson Ridge Rumble. A long day for him on a great course. One that I really enjoy. And L., where to start? He runs Way to Cool for a spring warm-up to American River 50 and wins! Automatic entry to Western States 100. Continues on to American River 50 miler as "training" for Western States and takes 3rd behind his training partner in 2nd. Goes to "training camp" on the Western States trail and has to leave "early" to make it home to see his daughter born!

As for me, it's still the running of the jobs, although I did walk some of my mom's marathon in Eugene on April 29th, her 1st at age 56!!! 6hrs.11mins. and she didn't even feel sore the next day. Awesome.

There's always plans for more running. T. and P.(that's you over in Thurston!) will be running Mac Forest in a week or so. and L. is always gearing up for WS100. I hope for a few miles someday soon.

Here's a photo or 2 of RSR for you all away from him.

Cold and Wet at Hagg

My fellow rwk (runner with kids), T. went up to Hagg Lake 50k Saturday. All alone, as RSR is consuming most of the effort around here. A good run for him in the early season. 5:25 complete with knee-deep water, 37 degrees, and totally soaked body. It's going to be awhile before he and I can get back on our training together. And L. will join the rwk club in a couple months, but his schedule is much more ambitious (and fast). It's back to work this week at both jobs, although without T.S. at my bike job. T.S. appears to be my dark? side, not in a bad way, but with very similar upbringings and different adult lives, we often joked of his black to my white (not skin colors here). T.S. is off to Chico. Here's to a new beginning for him. Prost!

Track Team

It's now T+4. We've got a boy! R.S.R! As our new secret agent he is highly skilled. Things have been fairly smooth so far, with a little flak sent up by little A. But nothing too difficult. We are adjusting at home and I have a week off to our act together (read here sleep schedule for going back to the dual jobs). My wife is in great shape, spending most of her time relaxing on the couch. RSR and I have so far enjoyed such guy things as Rocky II and III and the Daytona 500 (although he slept through most of it). Now for the other two kids, I. and A. are thrilled with their new brother. And I also picked up a good hazing line for their future husbands from Lost: "If you're not good enough to drink my Scotch, what makes you good enough to marry my daughter?" Enough said.

La Premiere

It's T minus 5 days and counting. This is Running with Kids, not Ryan Wayne Kargel (for all of you who notice what people with the middle name Wayne do, that's probably a good thing). I'm about to start running with le troisieme, up now from two other kids. And running means at this time, life in general. No knowledge on whether there's going to be a b. or g. but that will be known on the 14 Feb. around midday. I don't expect chaos, at least not yet, but I do expect even more busyness in the upcoming days to go along with the 2 jobs, 2 kids, and maybe even some foot running. So, here's to a good arrival for Remy or Lucie. We're waiting...