For Patti -
I've made the decision to run the Seattle Rock and Roll 1/2 marathon in 2012. Only this time I have a reason.
Last summer, August 2010, my aunt Patti passed away after a long hard fight with cancer. She showed a strength and determination right up until the very end that inspired me to do something that would help others that are still fighting.
Lately, I've had Patti on my mind for several different reasons and it's inspired me to sign up with the American Cancer Society DetermiNation team. As part of the team I will get to run in memory of Patti and in her honor. I feel like I have a purpose in doing this and in a small way will be able to do something that will help many others. Having this goal and dedicating the effort to a loved ones memory has given me a strength, desire and focus that I didn't have in my running before.
It's been interesting as I've started training again how much I think about this goal and about adversity and challenges and how much strength people have. I wonder if I have the strength that Patti showed. In my memories Patti was always giving. She gave her time and her talents. She was always quick to give someone a smile or share a funny story. Patti had that rare quality of being able to brighten any room she walked into. She had the ability to make you feel good when she was around.
Patti is not with us for now, but all those who know and love her remember her every day. I've been touched by those that have shared their thoughts and memories on the FaceBook page her family set up. I guess this run is my way of doing something for others just like Patti always did.
I know as I train and when I run in the event she'll be on my mind and there in spirit to cheer me on and make me feel good about what I'm doing. In a way she'll be with me as I get to pin a ribbon with her name on it to my race shirt. In a sense she'll be a part of the event and still helping others like she always did.
If you'd like to help please click this link and make a donation to the American Cancer Society
Brad
2012 Dodge Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon and 1/2 Marathon DetermiNation
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
It's been way too long....
I didn't realize I hadn't posted anything for such a long time. So here is the latest update...
I'm still running, although not nearly as much as I should be or want to. Scheduling seems to be the biggest stumbling block. I've switched my shift to the front end of the week and so now I've been running when I get home from work at roughly 10AM Monday thru Thursday. I got more runs in last week than I had in the previous two weeks and my times and distances were improving each day.
The Seattle RnR 1/2 marathon is next Saturday. Unfortunately we won't be running it this year. Nate and I are just not ready and Lisa was just cleared by her Dr. and physical therapist to start walking with some light running, so obviously she isn't ready either. I'm glad she's back. I like having a running partner, especially one I'm rather fond of...
The decision for me not to run has sort of been nagging at me, just my own feeling that I'm just not ready. Also, after talking to a trusted friend and fellow runner who is a veteran of a couple of these bigger runs his advice was don't do it!! He said if you know you aren't ready you'll just hate it and probably end up injured trying to push yourself too hard.
So we're going to go down Friday night to the expo and get our packets, shirts and other goodies and just get a feel for the atmosphere. We might decide to go back down Saturday and watch some of the race and again get a feel for it and see what a big race looks and feels like. Not sure on whether Saturday will happen just because of the logistics of getting around down there when the race is going on. I remember last year when I was at my old company. The race started out on Interurban Ave. in front of our building and over about a 4 day period truck after truck loaded with honey buckets were getting them set up for the start. There had to be around 200 of these things all over the place just at the start. Roads are closed and getting around town is a lot of work. We just have to decide if it's worth it...
Anyway, I'm still logging the miles. Still working on getting my weight down (which is actually happening as I get more consistent days on the road). Still enjoying it, or more accurately I'm enjoying it again. There was a time there when I wasn't having fun and almost bagged it all. A hop on the scale one morning changed that thought process and got me back out. A couple good runs with good distance and time and I can honestly say I am enjoying it again. I am looking forward to the runs now, as the weather is starting to get a little better and I leave the jacket and gloves home it is fun again.
Onward!
I'm still running, although not nearly as much as I should be or want to. Scheduling seems to be the biggest stumbling block. I've switched my shift to the front end of the week and so now I've been running when I get home from work at roughly 10AM Monday thru Thursday. I got more runs in last week than I had in the previous two weeks and my times and distances were improving each day.
The Seattle RnR 1/2 marathon is next Saturday. Unfortunately we won't be running it this year. Nate and I are just not ready and Lisa was just cleared by her Dr. and physical therapist to start walking with some light running, so obviously she isn't ready either. I'm glad she's back. I like having a running partner, especially one I'm rather fond of...
The decision for me not to run has sort of been nagging at me, just my own feeling that I'm just not ready. Also, after talking to a trusted friend and fellow runner who is a veteran of a couple of these bigger runs his advice was don't do it!! He said if you know you aren't ready you'll just hate it and probably end up injured trying to push yourself too hard.
So we're going to go down Friday night to the expo and get our packets, shirts and other goodies and just get a feel for the atmosphere. We might decide to go back down Saturday and watch some of the race and again get a feel for it and see what a big race looks and feels like. Not sure on whether Saturday will happen just because of the logistics of getting around down there when the race is going on. I remember last year when I was at my old company. The race started out on Interurban Ave. in front of our building and over about a 4 day period truck after truck loaded with honey buckets were getting them set up for the start. There had to be around 200 of these things all over the place just at the start. Roads are closed and getting around town is a lot of work. We just have to decide if it's worth it...
Anyway, I'm still logging the miles. Still working on getting my weight down (which is actually happening as I get more consistent days on the road). Still enjoying it, or more accurately I'm enjoying it again. There was a time there when I wasn't having fun and almost bagged it all. A hop on the scale one morning changed that thought process and got me back out. A couple good runs with good distance and time and I can honestly say I am enjoying it again. I am looking forward to the runs now, as the weather is starting to get a little better and I leave the jacket and gloves home it is fun again.
Onward!
Friday, March 18, 2011
Where we're at today
We've had a couple set backs in our training plans. We are still planning on being ready for the 1/2 marathon in June but we've had to slow down a bit in our training.
I don't remember if I mentioned the lung problems I was having but I went to see the Dr. and he determined that I have a sports induced asthma. He gave me an inhaler to use before I run. I used it for the first time Wednesday and it did seem, to make a difference. I was able to push myself a little harder and farther than I have been recently. It felt pretty good.
Lisa also had a setback this week. She has been making great progress but developed a pretty severe pain in her hip. She went to see her Dr. and has been told to take it easy on the running for a while and also see a physical therapist to get the hip and calf issues worked out.
I'm confident we'll bounce back from this and still be ready in June but it's frustrating to not be able to do what we want.
But it will pass and things will go on as they should.
I don't remember if I mentioned the lung problems I was having but I went to see the Dr. and he determined that I have a sports induced asthma. He gave me an inhaler to use before I run. I used it for the first time Wednesday and it did seem, to make a difference. I was able to push myself a little harder and farther than I have been recently. It felt pretty good.
Lisa also had a setback this week. She has been making great progress but developed a pretty severe pain in her hip. She went to see her Dr. and has been told to take it easy on the running for a while and also see a physical therapist to get the hip and calf issues worked out.
I'm confident we'll bounce back from this and still be ready in June but it's frustrating to not be able to do what we want.
But it will pass and things will go on as they should.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Still here
It's been a busy few weeks since I last posted anything.
We've sort of been in an lull since the race. We've had things going on that have made it difficult to get our workouts in. We took a little trip over to Boise to see Lisa's folks and then took them to SLC so Lisa and her parents could spend a couple days at the Family History Library.
We managed to get a run in Boise. They have a great trail that runs along both sides of the Boise river and there is a lot to see and the people that we passed were all very friendly. Even though it was very cold we enjoyed it. Lisa mentioned that every time we visit Boise we find one more thing we like about it.
I caught a cold on our way home and so I haven't felt like running much. The other thing, and this has been going on for a while now, is that when I'm running I get to the point where I can't breathe. It's not because I am running too fast either, trust me on that one. I'm going to go see my Dr. for it, it has me that worried. When I was running in the spring and summer last year it wasn't a problem and even when I started back up in the fall it wasn't an issue. Now though I have to stop and walk until I can start to feel like air is coming in again. If I am willing to go the Doc it must really be bothering me. Hopefully it's nothing but I guess I'd like to know for sure before I get out on a run and have a real problem.
I've also been having a little motivational crises lately. I tell myself I want to run but when it comes time to get out the door and actually do it I look for any excuse to avoid it. Part of the problem is that I know my lungs are going to hurt and I don't want to deal with that. I went back tonight and re-read all my blog posts and I am feeling better about things. I was able to remember some of my really good early runs and review why I am doing this and it has made me fell a lot better about things. I think what I want to do is get back on a treadmill again and get my legs feeling better and see how my lungs feel in a controlled environment and then see how I'm feeling. I'll see my Dr. early next week and then go from there.
At this point we're still on track to run the races but I need to work a couple things out and get feeling healthy again.
We've sort of been in an lull since the race. We've had things going on that have made it difficult to get our workouts in. We took a little trip over to Boise to see Lisa's folks and then took them to SLC so Lisa and her parents could spend a couple days at the Family History Library.
We managed to get a run in Boise. They have a great trail that runs along both sides of the Boise river and there is a lot to see and the people that we passed were all very friendly. Even though it was very cold we enjoyed it. Lisa mentioned that every time we visit Boise we find one more thing we like about it.
I caught a cold on our way home and so I haven't felt like running much. The other thing, and this has been going on for a while now, is that when I'm running I get to the point where I can't breathe. It's not because I am running too fast either, trust me on that one. I'm going to go see my Dr. for it, it has me that worried. When I was running in the spring and summer last year it wasn't a problem and even when I started back up in the fall it wasn't an issue. Now though I have to stop and walk until I can start to feel like air is coming in again. If I am willing to go the Doc it must really be bothering me. Hopefully it's nothing but I guess I'd like to know for sure before I get out on a run and have a real problem.
I've also been having a little motivational crises lately. I tell myself I want to run but when it comes time to get out the door and actually do it I look for any excuse to avoid it. Part of the problem is that I know my lungs are going to hurt and I don't want to deal with that. I went back tonight and re-read all my blog posts and I am feeling better about things. I was able to remember some of my really good early runs and review why I am doing this and it has made me fell a lot better about things. I think what I want to do is get back on a treadmill again and get my legs feeling better and see how my lungs feel in a controlled environment and then see how I'm feeling. I'll see my Dr. early next week and then go from there.
At this point we're still on track to run the races but I need to work a couple things out and get feeling healthy again.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Well that was interesting...
Our first official race is over and it was an interesting experience. It was fun for the most part. There were a couple frustrating things but all in all it was a good experience.
This was a valentines themed race so you had all sorts of people wearing all sorts of different valentines themed outfits. I think the best one was the couple, him in a nice suit and her in a nice dress, that had rigged up a table with dishes and champagne flutes and somehow hooked this on to the front of them. It looked like they were having a fancy dinner while they were running the race. When the pictures get posted I'll see if I can put up a link. I imagine it wasn't easy to run in but it looked cool.
There were upwards of 2500 people that turned out for the race. At the start they try to get everyone to get into groups based on your average pace per mile. This is great in theory as long as the people in front of you actually know what their pace is and don't have it in their mind that they are considerably faster then they really are. We lined up in the right spot for our pace and thought this is would work out just fine. As it turns out when the gun when off we thought we were going to start and then started to shuffle forward but the mass wasn't really moving. So we jumped out of the pack and waited to go at the end. Nate managed to somehow get himself into a position where he was able to move out pretty well and so did Jerry W who started with us but was able to get ahead too. So we finally got back in at the end of the pack and started the zig zag and running around process to get us moving past the walkers and slower runners. The most frustrating part was coming up behind the three women with the jogging strollers walking three abreast on the trail and leaving about 3 feet for the pack behind them to pass on their left. That was annoying because they were oblivious to the fact that they were blocking the trail for everyone else.
Once we got off the Green Lake trail and onto the streets the race took on a better flow and people could move at a pace they were comfortable with and not spend too much time dodging other participants. We pretty much ran a normal pace for us. We thought we were going slower but at the end when we got our official times we found that we were on our average pace. Of course Nate beat us pretty handily and unofficially Lisa and I tied as we crossed at the same time but somehow they placed me at 1922 and her at 1924. There was nobody in between us so I'm not sure how that works....
The gun time below is higher because it actually reflects the time we jumped out of line to wait for space. The time is the actual chip time from when we cross the starting line and registered our RFID to the time we crossed the finish line and recorded the end of the race. Jerry came in about a minute ahead of us.
Bib NO. OVERALL GUN_TIME TIME PACE
674 Nathan 1530 36:00 33:52 10:56
672 Bradley 1922 42:25 38:41 12:29
673 Elisabeth 1924 42:25 38:42 12:29
All in all it was a fun event. The gathering ahead of time was very festive, crowded but everyone was having a good time.
Now we keep training and increasing our mileage while I'm on the hunt for the 10K we want to do in late March or early April.
Onward!
This was a valentines themed race so you had all sorts of people wearing all sorts of different valentines themed outfits. I think the best one was the couple, him in a nice suit and her in a nice dress, that had rigged up a table with dishes and champagne flutes and somehow hooked this on to the front of them. It looked like they were having a fancy dinner while they were running the race. When the pictures get posted I'll see if I can put up a link. I imagine it wasn't easy to run in but it looked cool.
There were upwards of 2500 people that turned out for the race. At the start they try to get everyone to get into groups based on your average pace per mile. This is great in theory as long as the people in front of you actually know what their pace is and don't have it in their mind that they are considerably faster then they really are. We lined up in the right spot for our pace and thought this is would work out just fine. As it turns out when the gun when off we thought we were going to start and then started to shuffle forward but the mass wasn't really moving. So we jumped out of the pack and waited to go at the end. Nate managed to somehow get himself into a position where he was able to move out pretty well and so did Jerry W who started with us but was able to get ahead too. So we finally got back in at the end of the pack and started the zig zag and running around process to get us moving past the walkers and slower runners. The most frustrating part was coming up behind the three women with the jogging strollers walking three abreast on the trail and leaving about 3 feet for the pack behind them to pass on their left. That was annoying because they were oblivious to the fact that they were blocking the trail for everyone else.
Once we got off the Green Lake trail and onto the streets the race took on a better flow and people could move at a pace they were comfortable with and not spend too much time dodging other participants. We pretty much ran a normal pace for us. We thought we were going slower but at the end when we got our official times we found that we were on our average pace. Of course Nate beat us pretty handily and unofficially Lisa and I tied as we crossed at the same time but somehow they placed me at 1922 and her at 1924. There was nobody in between us so I'm not sure how that works....
The gun time below is higher because it actually reflects the time we jumped out of line to wait for space. The time is the actual chip time from when we cross the starting line and registered our RFID to the time we crossed the finish line and recorded the end of the race. Jerry came in about a minute ahead of us.
Bib NO. OVERALL GUN_TIME TIME PACE
674 Nathan 1530 36:00 33:52 10:56
672 Bradley 1922 42:25 38:41 12:29
673 Elisabeth 1924 42:25 38:42 12:29
All in all it was a fun event. The gathering ahead of time was very festive, crowded but everyone was having a good time.
Now we keep training and increasing our mileage while I'm on the hunt for the 10K we want to do in late March or early April.
Onward!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
1 Week until our first official run
Next Saturday is the Love em or Leave em Valentines Day Dash at Green Lake. We have been keeping up on our training and we are getting a little longer and stronger.
This week was a little rough but we got through it. I mentioned before that Lisa has been having some trouble with her calf cramping up during the run. We've been researching what to do about it and how to treat it and I think we may have found some help. Lisa did a web search and came across another runner that described what Lisa has been feeling exactly. The other runner said that she was diagnosed with achilles tendinitis and the best treatment was alternating ice and heat. So beginning Thursday night and whenever she could on Friday and Saturday she started doing this and it seems to have paid off on our run Saturday.
The other thing we changed about our runs that seems to have taken a lot of pressure off is that we aren't being so rigid on the actual time we are running. This probably needs some explanation. We are on a training plan that is based on set times for the first 10 or 11 weeks. This means that one day our time goal was 20 minutes. The next run may go up to 25 and so on... We felt this pressure that we had to run this amount of time or we were doing something wrong or not succeeding or something. On Thursday as we were struggling to finish 30 minutes and Lisa was in a fair amount of pain she had the great idea that we didn't need to be a slave to the clock. In all our previous runs we would always stay together and it was very difficult. So we decided that we would start out together and if one of us needed a little walk break and the other didn't then that was fine. So now, instead of being joined at the hip, so to speak we are sort of leap frogging each other along the trail. We still workout for a set time or mileage period so that hasn't changed, just the way we do it. We did this for the first time on Saturday and I think we both enjoyed our workout a lot more. Not that we didn't like running together but this just seemed to allow us to tailor our workout to what our body was telling us. Plus as I mentioned Lisa wasn't suffering the pain she had been feeling and that made it better for her.
At one point on the Saturday run I was a ways back and Lisa was walking. I kept telling myself I'd take a little walk break when I caught up to her... The problem was she wouldn't stop moving. Took me a longer than I wanted before I got my little break. The other thing I noticed is that without the calf pain she is faster than I am. When we were both running she was always bit ahead of me and pulling away. I guess I need to work harder to keep up...
Not sure if I'll get another post up before the run next week. I'll for sure get something up afterwards and share the experience.
This week was a little rough but we got through it. I mentioned before that Lisa has been having some trouble with her calf cramping up during the run. We've been researching what to do about it and how to treat it and I think we may have found some help. Lisa did a web search and came across another runner that described what Lisa has been feeling exactly. The other runner said that she was diagnosed with achilles tendinitis and the best treatment was alternating ice and heat. So beginning Thursday night and whenever she could on Friday and Saturday she started doing this and it seems to have paid off on our run Saturday.
The other thing we changed about our runs that seems to have taken a lot of pressure off is that we aren't being so rigid on the actual time we are running. This probably needs some explanation. We are on a training plan that is based on set times for the first 10 or 11 weeks. This means that one day our time goal was 20 minutes. The next run may go up to 25 and so on... We felt this pressure that we had to run this amount of time or we were doing something wrong or not succeeding or something. On Thursday as we were struggling to finish 30 minutes and Lisa was in a fair amount of pain she had the great idea that we didn't need to be a slave to the clock. In all our previous runs we would always stay together and it was very difficult. So we decided that we would start out together and if one of us needed a little walk break and the other didn't then that was fine. So now, instead of being joined at the hip, so to speak we are sort of leap frogging each other along the trail. We still workout for a set time or mileage period so that hasn't changed, just the way we do it. We did this for the first time on Saturday and I think we both enjoyed our workout a lot more. Not that we didn't like running together but this just seemed to allow us to tailor our workout to what our body was telling us. Plus as I mentioned Lisa wasn't suffering the pain she had been feeling and that made it better for her.
At one point on the Saturday run I was a ways back and Lisa was walking. I kept telling myself I'd take a little walk break when I caught up to her... The problem was she wouldn't stop moving. Took me a longer than I wanted before I got my little break. The other thing I noticed is that without the calf pain she is faster than I am. When we were both running she was always bit ahead of me and pulling away. I guess I need to work harder to keep up...
Not sure if I'll get another post up before the run next week. I'll for sure get something up afterwards and share the experience.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Improvements
We had a pretty good week in our training. First we were able to get all four of our runs in this week. I think this may be a first, or at least a first in a long time. We've certainly tried for four per week but often life gets in the way and we've only gotten in two or three. But this week we got in four good runs, each one a little better than the one before.
Monday was a little rough. I just wasn't "feelin it" if you know what I mean. I had missed a couple runs the week before and was just sort of generally out of sorts that day. I was really huffing and puffing and just generally didn't enjoy myself. Anyway we ran a little over 2 miles (2.08) at a 12'08" per mile pace. Every run since then was significantly better. Saturday we ran 2.29 miles at an 11'07" per mile pace. We are pretty excited to see a one minute per mile improvement over just four runs.
Next week we have to increase our workout times so it will be fun to see how that goes. I feel like I am starting to get into better shape. I'm not seeing the weight loss yet that I want but that will come. It feels good to be getting good exercise on a regular basis and I know it is paying off in improved health and overall well being.
There's been a slight change of plans as far the runs we planned on doing this year. We are signed up for the Love em or Leave em Valentines Day Dash, coming up in a few weeks. I am signed up for the Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon in June. But when I went on-line to register Lisa and Nate I found out that in this particular marathon they don't allow anyone under 18 to run the full marathon. Every other race I looked at allows 16 and up to run the full but not this one. So anyway I signed them up for the half marathon and I will change my registration to the half. Now we are looking for a fall time frame full marathon to run to finish our the year with. I don't know if I've put this out there yet but the plan is to do a 5K (Feb) a 10K(April) a half marathon, 13.1 miles (June) and a full marathon (Sept. or Oct.).
Right now we are just working on staying consistent and showing improvement.
Monday was a little rough. I just wasn't "feelin it" if you know what I mean. I had missed a couple runs the week before and was just sort of generally out of sorts that day. I was really huffing and puffing and just generally didn't enjoy myself. Anyway we ran a little over 2 miles (2.08) at a 12'08" per mile pace. Every run since then was significantly better. Saturday we ran 2.29 miles at an 11'07" per mile pace. We are pretty excited to see a one minute per mile improvement over just four runs.
Next week we have to increase our workout times so it will be fun to see how that goes. I feel like I am starting to get into better shape. I'm not seeing the weight loss yet that I want but that will come. It feels good to be getting good exercise on a regular basis and I know it is paying off in improved health and overall well being.
There's been a slight change of plans as far the runs we planned on doing this year. We are signed up for the Love em or Leave em Valentines Day Dash, coming up in a few weeks. I am signed up for the Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon in June. But when I went on-line to register Lisa and Nate I found out that in this particular marathon they don't allow anyone under 18 to run the full marathon. Every other race I looked at allows 16 and up to run the full but not this one. So anyway I signed them up for the half marathon and I will change my registration to the half. Now we are looking for a fall time frame full marathon to run to finish our the year with. I don't know if I've put this out there yet but the plan is to do a 5K (Feb) a 10K(April) a half marathon, 13.1 miles (June) and a full marathon (Sept. or Oct.).
Right now we are just working on staying consistent and showing improvement.
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