A Little Bit of Regularity

Longer Run

Went for a longer run yesterday and actually felt pretty good.  Starting to get ready for February's half-marathon.

Post-Rain Run

Gorgeous.

Sneaking a run in

Got a quick run in before I took the 8 year old to ballet.  Going to try to find little time slots more often and make use of a quick 30 or 45 minutes here and there.

With my gal

Went running with my 10 year old the other day.  She did really well and wanted to run farther.

Slowly Back into the Swing

Just a quick run tonight.  I was literally sore for three days after the previous run.  Beautiful weather out.  Makes me want to run.

Getting the Cobwebs Out

Feeling every day of the month-and-a-half I took off.  But the weather is cooler, and the runs are back.

From August 16th

My most recent run before...tonight!  See above

The August Runs

Two from recent days. Heading to Huntington Beach and hoping to get at least one run in down there.

Finally Cooling Down

The weather is finally cooperating and I got in an evening run when it was only 90 degrees. FREEZING, people!

A Couple of New Ones

Not much, but it was 108 degrees today.

Weather Widget Added

I added a weather widget on the side so that the world can know how RIDICULOUSLY hot it is here and why I deserve a medal for even THINKING about going for a run.

Taking the Challenge

I've been challenged to a challenge by a couple of former students who shall remain nameless. These two runs have put me in the thick of things. Both, I might add, were in 90+ degree weather. Far from ideal, but the only time I could get out.

Wanting to run, really

But it's been 107 here the past two days. That's correct. Three digits, ending in a "7". There will be no running.

Summer Night Run

Got out there tonight for a summer night run. Warm, for sure, but I was feeling good. Read an article today in Runner's World that was about upping mileage over a six week span. Looking to do that.

A Goal in Sight

Picking out a race for early 2010. Details soon. In the meantime, let the training begin.

Summer's Here

Working out some kinks with my Nike+ system but I did get two runs in in the last seven days. Summer's here, time is freed up, and the evenings have been beautiful. Here's to getting back into it this summer.

Start o' the Week

Was able to sneak a run in this evening. Continuing my religious experience with the new Jars of Clay album.

Nice Night

Went out for a nice run tonight. Beautiful weather, great new Jars of Clay album (The Long Fall Back to Earth), and old, tired legs. BUT, did the run, got the heart going, and I'm back home to pack.

So Long

I really need to get back out there. No time!

End of the Week-er

Song on repeat: Jars of Clay's Two Hands

5 out of 7 ain't bad

I didn't go seven runs in seven days as I had hoped, but I'm still pleased with five out of seven. I mean, it's not London 2012 but for me it's an improvement. I'm off to the Bay Area after church tomorrow for a wedding of an old friend. No running up there, just celebrating her wedding and, no doubt, busting my moves to YMCA. Wouldn't be sad if that song just went away forever. Happy Easter.

Wednesday & Thursday

I didn't load Wednesday's on Wednesday, but here it is on Thursday, along with Thursday's. The weather has been beautiful with the rain storm Tuesday night freshening everything up.

This morning's was shortened due to the fact that A.) I was tired and B.) I made sure my route passed by Starbucks so I can pick up the New York Times and read the Thursday Styles section. Fun to read articles by people who take fashion SO seriously.

Body's a little worn as I haven't run this frequently in quite a while, but I'm going to try to go Friday and Saturday to keep the streak alive.

So I missed a day...

I'm on vacation.

Spring Break

First run of spring break. Going to try to run everyday, even if it's just to the other side of the kitchen for some ice cream.

Not the way to stay in shape

I've run once each of the last two weeks. Both were extended runs and I have to tell you: this is not the way to stay in shape. I need to throw in at least a couple of short runs here and there. The longer runs just make me sore. Here's one from the 14th:

This other one is from yesterday. I got caught up running around some neighborhoods, looking at houses (we just bought one), and observing the landscaping, details, etc. Having my attention diverted almost took my mind off the pain. Almost.

Long Story Short

To make a long story short, I'm back in business. The iPods are working, the Nike+ sensors are sensing, and the runs are back (so to speak). This most recent run was on the 21st in San Diego where I was attending a conference. One of the things I really enjoy doing is going for a run in the morning in a new city. The weather was great that day and while I was a bit rushed (the conference breakfast was from 7:00-7:45; note to conference organizers--push breakfasts back!), I got the run in and got to explore the San Diego Gaslamp a bit.

Officially Ridiculous

So this is officially ridiculous. I returned my new Nike Zoom Structure Triax+ 11 because they were misshaped along the insole and it was starting to bother my foot after only a few runs. The 3.97-miler the other day was that shoe's Waterloo. So I sent them back to Nike on Tuesday. On Wednesday, my daughter and I went for a run (with my old pair) only to realize...
I LEFT THE NIKE+ SENSOR IN THE PAIR I SENT BACK!!!

So again, no digital record of the run, but we did indeed complete it. It was the usual route so it was a good 1.7 or 1.8 miles. My daughter did great and only walked about a 50 yard portion of it. She enjoys running and it's a good time together.

Two for Run

I realize it's getting suspicious, but this past Friday, I went for a run and couldn't get my Nike+ sensor to work with my iPod Touch. I did the run (at the Clovis High track), but I wasn't happy about it. It was eight laps (two miles for you non-P.E. types) but I have no proof other than a little scar on my inside ankle where my right foot clipped it.

Long story short, I finally got things working and went for a run today during halftime of the big game (apologies to The Boss). I felt good and this time there's some Nike+ love to back it up:

Cold Weather Buster

My running pants arrived today and I'm looking forward to putting them to use sometime this week. It's been a packed week with meetings, meetings, Open House, and more meetings. But because of THE PANTS, my evenings could become prime work-out time. I've heard alcoholic beverages referred to as "liquid courage." I'm hoping my pants will offer "Dri-Fit courage" to brave the cold.

Nano is No Longer

My iPod Nano died. I need to check with my Apple buddy, Ed, for help on this. It makes iTunes go crazy when I try to sync it. I went for a run on Friday afternoon (with my new sensor) and when I got home I tried to load it onto my Nike+ page and it basically froze everything. I'm going to be running with my Touch for a while until I get the Nano restored. I realize this is the second claim for a run that has no proof, but I promise you, I'm telling the truth!

Didn't keep going and going and going...

Got out for a quick run before dinner this afternoon (really nice day--cloudy and cool but not cold), only to find that my Nike+ sensor's battery is dead. According to the message on my iPod, I have to get another one. I'm also going to pick up a new sensor kit because we just got my nine year-old daughter a pair of running shoes that are Nike+ ready as well. I'm hoping to get her out to run more and maybe even run a race together this spring.

Anyway, I did my short 18-minute or so run but, because of the sensor issue, I have no record of it (other than the soreness in my legs).

The Body is Willing but the Time is Short

I've wanted to run, I really have. I've just had a difficult time finding time to do it. The colder weather and shorter days haven't helped. By the time I'm able to run, it's cold and dark out. But I've found a solution:
I'll tell you what, people, it's hard to find good running pants for men. Either you get the tights (and we've all blushed when we've seen dudes wearing tights) or you get the baggy kind that have more fabric than a funny car's parachute. I think these (the Nike Knit Men's Track Pants) are a happy medium, but only the shipment from Eastbay will tell. Hopefully these will help keep the gams warm and get me through the winter.

Two in One

That's right people:  two runs in one week.  It's been awhile but I'm starting to feel it again.  It helped that the sun broke through today and it warmed up a smidge.  I kind of surprised myself that I actually made it out there.  

It was a Saturday afternoon (prime naptime), a football playoff game was on (very relaxing; could take a nice nap on the couch), and what's more--I actually DID take a nap.  That after-nap grogginess was begging me to stay put and watch the next NFL playoff game but I broke through, strapped on the running shoes, and made a go of it.  Felt good, but was going quite slow.  Patience, patience.

How FongHistory Got His Groove Back

I finally broke out of my winter-long slump for a new year's run this past Sunday the 4th.  And I tried it out with my iPod Touch.  It was a bit clunky in the back pocket of my shorts (yes shorts--it was FREEZING) so I moved it up to the chest pocket of my jacket.  There were a couple of kinks but overall the Touch was fun to use. 

The run was probably further than I should have gone after being off for so long.  However, it was good to get back out there.  I realized that if I'm really going to run this winter, I definitely need a few items like a good pair of running gloves, a hat, and some pants.  I'm going to keep my out for that stuff and probably pick something up soon.  I'm shooting to run again this week so I'll post that one soon.

In Touch

A buddy I've known now for about 24 years (REALLY now?), Big Ed, works for Apple.  Big Ed and I were also roommates in college where he was a biology major.  After graduation, Big Ed could have gotten a job in science or been a professional video gamer since he and I played Sega Genesis virtually non-stop during our junior and senior years.  Instead he's a who-know-what for Apple (something about the Apple store networks?  Ed?  Am I even getting close?).  Anyway, what this means for you and me--just me actually--is that Big Ed generously gets Apple stuff for me at a nice little discount.

So recently when we decided to get an iPod Touch (long story, but we decided to get one), Big Ed came through the same way he has for the past 24 years.  I'm excited to try this thing out while running since it has the Nike+ sensor built in.  It's a bit bulky, but I'm going to give it a go.

Oldie

I've been meaning to post this one for a while, but...

I'm back on this page after a long break (too long).  I also did a run with my buddy Nately in Del Mar on November 22 but alas, I didn't bring my Nano with me.  Sometimes talking with friend is even better than listening to music (sometimes) and with Mr. Lee, it always is.  

Coming Back

It's been a while but I'm planning to get back on the horse this weekend. Also, on Monday I'll have a little running-related announcement that I'm pumped up about. Stay tuned!

Lakeside Run

(Above: the boat dock at Hume)

Had a great time at Hume Lake this past weekend. The food was delicious and it was almost like being on a cruise ship; we ate all the time.

I made some time to get out and run around the lake which was really cool. My buddy and retreat roommate Curtis told me that I would probably hit a wall right around the dam, so I made sure that I started slow and took my time. My overall time kind of reflects that. It was my first time running at altitude (about 5,000 feet) too. I tried to pick up the pace a bit over the last half mile or so and I felt good at the end.

Getting Serious

I'm trying to make my runs a bit longer so here's last Thursday's:

Mental

So much of running is mental. I went into REI the other day and after about 30 minutes of browsing (and racing my daughters up the stairs while they took the elevator--it's the simple things, really) I was inspired.

Being around bicycles and canoes and backpacking equipment and tents and Keen shoes made me want to get outside and do something. What really got me pumped was flipping through the Bicycling and Runner's World magazines they had on the shelves. So Saturday I did indeed get out there for a nice run.

I hope walking into Williams-Sonoma doesn't inspire me to eat dessert all day.

Smart Buy

Purchased these little bad boys by SmartWool at REI today. Used them for the run tonight and I must say I was very impressed. Comfy, dry, and so far blister-free. What more could you ask for?

What's that? Make the body's agony go away during running? No. That it most definitely did NOT do.

Sparked by the Sis

My little sister gave me some inspiration in two ways recently.  First, she teased me about how short my runs have been (see comment on this post) and less than a week ago completed her first marathon, the Chicago Marathon.  Her time was 4 hours and 15 minutes.  I barely sleep for 4 hours and 15 minutes.  She was actually EXERCISING for 4 hours and 15 minutes.

So tonight I followed her advice and went for a slightly longer run than usual and hope to continue to throw the longer runs in there with more regularity.  Props to you Li'l Sis.

My Girl

My nine year-old decided not to play soccer anymore.  Thank goodness.  I thank God for her athleticism, her coordination, and her competitive desire, but when she decided she wouldn't mind trying out a different sport, I was frankly not disappointed to get our Saturdays back.  

She decided to take tennis lessons but they had to be cancelled a couple of times so she really wasn't getting much exercise for a couple of weeks in a row.  I decided to take her with me on a run, something my wife and I had talked about a couple of times.  I wasn't sure if my daughter would (1) be interested in going for a run, (2) enjoy it once we were out there, or (3) want to walk after 35 seconds.

So last Friday, October 10, (I know, this is a late posting) I was pleased when she (1) agreed to go, (2) actually enjoyed it, and (3) ran the entire time--all 2.02 miles of it!  I was very proud of her and am even thinking that maybe she and I could do the Santa Monica Classic 5K in May.  Am I getting too Tiger Woods' Dad-ish?

Coming soon...

a father/daughter run

Finally

After setting my goal, I didn't run for over a week.  Not good.  So now I have to average 3 runs per week for the next three weeks.  I finally got one in today and it was the first time in a long time that I ran before 8:00 in the evening.  It's finally getting cooler so running while there's still daylight is a viable option now.  Only 8 more runs to go over the next 20 days--yikes!

New Goal

I'm shooting for a new goal now that the weather is cooling.  I'm going to try to do 9 workouts in 4 weeks.  Should be interesting because I plan to be out of town for a couple of weekends in the next four weeks so it'll take some dedication to get those runs in while I'm in San Diego (go Chargers!) and at Hume Lake (go Men's Retreat!). 

Back to Back

Working on some U.S. History stuff for tomorrow so I'll just throw this one up for now. 

Getting the Miles In

It was one of those times where I just had to get the miles and the time logged.  I had the desire to run, I told myself earlier this week that I'd get at least two runs in each week, but didn't feel physically well.  So I took a different route, slowed the pace down, and got the run in.  I guess it's what a golfer would call "grinding."

Too Full

If it's possible to gorge on Jamba Juice, I believe I did that tonight.  Well, there was a little bit of Chipotle thrown in for good measure.  Basically, I was too full so the first mile or so I was fighting heaviness...and the gassies.  To the woman I passed who was walking her dog, forgive me--it wasn't your dog.

Startin' Up

It's been over a week since my last run and I need to get back out there. I'm loving the fact that the weather is getting to the point where I can run almost anytime without fear of death from heat exhaustion. Of course running when it's 91 degrees is no picnic but it's so much better than 106.

So I'm shooting to get out there sometime very soon. This week is a crazy one though with Back to School Night tonight (right now as a matter of fact) and duty at a football game Thursday night. And I'm going to try to go at least twice a week from here on out. We'll see!

Keeping On

Didn't plan on running tonight but as the day went on I kept thinking about it.  I'm really trying to finish the book I'm reading but I felt like I needed to run.  At the end, I reminded myself that I'm shooting to be around for my girls' weddings.  Considering Kate is only turning four next week, I'd better keep the running going.

Black Beauty

I know this is my running blog but bicycling requires one foot in front of the other too and it's also the one other sport at this point in my life in which I participate somewhat regularly.  When I was in the Bay Area a couple of weeks ago I stopped by Palo Alto Bicycles which had a new Gary Fisher Simple City 3 by the entrance.  It's a great looking bike with European roots and it definitely caught my eye.  Nice little around-town bike.

Back in the Saddle

Finished my first post-Nike Human Race run.  I really didn't feel like running, but I thought I probably should just to remind the legs what it felt like.  I hadn't run since the race but had stepped up the bicycling (even riding to school to chaperone the back to school dance--thrilling as usual) to make up for it.  

As an update to my race blog entry, my final standing in the Nike+ Human Race was 5,139th place.  As long as 5,140 people didn't beat me....

Here's tonight's back-in-the-saddle run:

Complete: Nike+ Human Race 10K

My first 10K is in the books.  I pounded out my run for the Nike+ Human Race 10K this morning and I'm happy to have completed it.  Mind you, I ran it on my own with my Nike+ iPod gizmo so there were no other participants, no cheering crowd, no pre-race jitters, just a quick prayer for my friends Roger and Jennie, the Provosts, and those who are aided by the United Nations Refugee Agency (the charity for which I was running) and I was off.

After a brief warm up around my block and a bit of stretching, I embarked on the longest run of my life, both literally and figuratively.  There was a nice little breeze and the temperature was lower than normal around here which was one of the reasons I decided to come back rather than stay in the Bay Area to run (that and my family, of course).  However, keep in mind that 102 degrees instead of 103 degrees qualifies as "lower than normal" in these parts though today there was an appreciable difference:  the high was 90.  So the morning was warm but pleasant.  

The iPod was churning out the tunes starting with my current favorite song, Jars of Clay's Closer--SO good.  That song plays automatically on their website when you first arrive there if you want to have a listen.   After about 2 kilometers (about 10 minutes) I started to feel kind of heavy and slow.  I kept pushing and by the time All These Things That I Have Done by The Killers came on the Pod, I was feeling pretty beat.  Even though there was a light breeze and the shaded areas felt good, when I hit the sun it was as though I could feel each individual ray poking my body.

Here's how I knew it was not my day:  by about kilometer 3 I had to start playing several of my mental cards.  I was desperate for inspiration.  I played the family card and thought about my wife and kids, I thought about my faith in God, I played my UN Refugee Agency card ("Come on, Cameron, think of all the little kids with no clean water!!!"), I thought about my friends in Albania--Roger, Jennie, and the Provosts--and I even played the Team Hoyt card.  

Even after all of that, I still wasn't feeling great and I was only on about kilometer 5 or 6.  But I kept on going and tried to finish strong over the last kilometer and a half or so.

In the end, my time for the 10K was 49 minutes and 53 seconds (the information in the graph above includes the little extra beyond the actual 10K).  So it breaks down to about 8:03 per mile which I am happy with.  A little over a year ago I ran the Santa Monica Classic 5K and my pace was 7:55 per mile so I'll take an 8:03 pace over 10K.

So why did I feel so slow and heavy out there?  I thought about it later and recounted the previous day's meals.

• Breakfast:  French toast and eggs courtesy of my buddies, the Chens (thanks for hosting me guys--miss you and your girls already)
• Lunch: pepperoni and mushroom slice from Pizza My Heart (have you HAD that stuff?  omgoodness)
• Dinner:  In-N-Out hamburger with grilled onions, side of fries (in Gilroy on the way back home)
• On the road:  tall coffee with cream, green apple jelly bellies, little peach candies
• At home:  small chili with corn chips and a few bites of peanut butter and chocolate ice cream

If you told a nutritionist that you were going to have any ONE of those before a race, they would tell you to leave their office, lest you sue them for malpractice after you collapse on race day.  But ALL of the above?  Slow and heavy.  Slooow and heeeeeavy.

So overall, I'm pleased with the way things went.  I'm happy to have completed my first 10K and look forward to more in the future though I'll be sure to stick with healthy foods in the run-up.  My sister is running the L.A. Human Race as I type.  Looking forward to chatting with her about it tomorrow.  There's a big concert after the L.A. race and Kanye West is headlining so she probably won't be back until late.  My post-race concert consisted of my daughters dancing around the house to the Mamma Mia soundtrack.

Getting Ready

I decided to see if I can even come close to the 10K that will be required on Sunday, so I set out for a longer run tonight and I shocked the world (well, at least my wife).  The conditions were right, the wind was still, and the planets must have been aligned just right because I completed my first 5+mile run.  And I felt pretty good.  I realized that I never really feel good at the beginning of my morning runs but with my night runs I feel good from the first stride.  A new Jars of Clay song downloaded from iTunes helped too--more about that in a future post.

It was nice to gain some confidence before I do the full 10K.  There are some added aches and pains that I have tonight, but hopefully they'll subside and I'll be ready to roll on Sunday.  Looks like I may be running the 10K in the Bay Area as I'll be up there for my childhood buddy's wedding.  It'll be nice to not have to worry about the heat.

Nike+ Human Race and United Nations Refugee Agency Video

Found the video about the Refugee Agency. Only about a minute long.

Nike+ Human Race 8.31.08

(Above: Turn up the volume and watch the 1-minute video above to be inspired.)

So my sister's been trying to get me to join the Nike+ Human Race on August 31st. It's a race in which Nike is hoping to get 1 million runners around the world to run 10K. This Human Race will have actual races in a bunch of cities worldwide. My sis is running in Los Angeles where Kanye West will be performing at the post-race celebration. Because there isn't an actual race in Clovis, I will be running the 10K on my own then uploading my race miles to the Nike+ site along with thousands of other people.

One neat thing is that it is a race for charity and participants get to choose from three options the charity they want to support. One charity you can run for is the World Wildlife Federation and while I like animals, I'm more interested in helping people. So I'm going to be running to benefit the United Nations Refugee Agency. Nike has a short video about how this race will help that agency. Click HERE and scroll down to the "Get to Know the Charities" box and click on the little white and blue button with the UN Refugee Agency logo (otherwise you might be forced to watch the World Wildlife Federation video).  Edit:  see separate entry above containing UNRA video.

Nike lets you pick what country you want to run for (it doesn't really make a difference; that part's just for fun) and I picked Albania (who has had her share of refugees coming and going) in honor of my friends Roger and Jennie Chen and the Provost Family who all live and work there.

My main concern in the Nike+ Human Race 10K is the "10K" part. I've never run that far. I told my wife that I might be one of those people in those human interest stories that are seen at the end of marathons, in the dark, struggling but determined to finish the race after like 16 hours. My wife deadpanned, "But those people usually don't have legs."

For my sister who will be running the Chicago Marathon in October, this will be a short training run. For me, it will be the run of a lifetime. I'm pumped up though when I think about running for the beneficiaries of the UN Refugee Agency who endure so much hardship and my friends Roger and Jennie and the Provosts.

Click here to check out my Human Race page.

Saturday Morn

A nice Saturday morning run.  Was originally planning on going 20 minutes but somewhere along the way I started to feel good and decided to go a bit further.

Olympic Inspired

After watching the athletes of the Olympics, how could one not be inspired.  Constantina Tomescu-Dita:  this one's for you.

Gifted

(Above:  Women's marathon winner Constantina Tomescu-Dita.  Incidentally, her outfit is very similar to the one I wear on runs around my neighborhood.)

I watched the women's marathon event in the Olympics this evening.  UNBELIEVABLE.  These women are incredibly gifted.  The leaders were averaging sub-6 minute miles (many of the miles, even in the later stages, were 5:17 and 5:25).  Over the course of 26 miles.  In humid weather.  On the biggest athletic stage. 

Honestly, after watching the race from the start and hearing that winner Constantina Tomescu-Dita of Romania is 38 years old (second oldest competitor in the field) and came from a poor family in Romania, I got tears in my eyes as she entered the Olympic stadium to complete the race.  It was truly inspiring.  I vow to stay under 8 minute pace on my 1.9 mile runs.

Feelin Good

Had a nice evening run tonight.  Felt good from the first steps so I sped up the pace a bit.  

A Running History Music Playlist

The ol' Nike+ iPod thing has been very handy for me.  Not only is the information helpful (pace, distance, calories burned--gotta stay away from Sonic) but running with music really adds something.  I've yet to try running with the classic Gonna Fly Now (the Rocky theme) but have found some music that keeps me going.

Currently playing, in order:

1. All These Things That I've Done--The Killers

Nike is using this song in one of their commercials right now during the Olympics.

2. Life in Technicolor--Coldplay

This little prelude gets me going.  

3. Lovers in Japan/Reign of Love--Coldplay

I know, I'm not really being cutting-edge here, but there's a reason Coldplay is so popular.

4. Marvelous Light--Charlie Hall

I've been hanging around our high school group at church and this is one of the favorites.  Perfect opening line for my purposes:  "Into marvelous light I'm running...."

5. Don't Forget Sister--Low vs. Diamond

Low vs. Diamond is one of the acts my sister works with.  Great band, songs aren't overly done, good heart-pumper.  

6. I'll Be--Low vs. Diamond

My favorite LVD song.

7.  I Saw--Matt Nathanson

A bit slower, but authentic.

8. Fix You--Coldplay

Definitely slow, but when it gets to the climactic swell about two-thirds in, you can't tell me you aren't moved.

POWERSONG

If you're familiar with the Nike+ system, you know that when you hold the center button, it automatically goes to your "Powersong" to give you an extra boost.  In the past, my Powersong was Work by Jars of Clay but it is currently You Never Let Go by Matt Redman.  Great song, but with my ability, my pace quickens by about half a second per mile.  Maybe it should be called the "Temporary-and-ever-so-slight-increased-pace Song."

Unexpected

I set out to do a quick run Wednesday morning and started out feeling sluggish.  About midway through though, I felt okay and decided to give it a little extra.  It's really something how the body, once it gets going, decides to give you a little more.  Amazing machine.

Meat & Potatoes

This morning's run: my meat and potatoes route around my neighborhood. It's a nice 2-miler (about) that I can get done relatively quickly and gives me my little exercise fix for the day.

The wife came through big time afterward with a scrambled egg, bacon, coffee, and toast breakfast. Muy perfecto! (I took three years of high school French.)

Proof

(Left:  Fish tacos, shrimp sticks, and fries in the distance, all from Brad's.)

Here are my two downloaded runs from Pismo.  The first is the long one from Monday morning and the second is the quick jaunt around the beach.  Also, I made mention of the knee-popping during my Tuesday swim.  Wednesday after the quick run, the knee was really bothering me.  I'm feeling better today, but it's all just reminding me that I'm getting old.  I'm not the man of steel with the iron body that I once was.  Okay, I never was that, but I don't remember ever getting injuries the way I do today.  

That was the 4-miler followed by Wednesday's shorter run:

No Lifeguard on Duty

(Above: The pool at the Pismo Beach Athletic Club, site of joint-popping.)

Still here in Pismo and trying to stay fit (though the visits to Brad's , Splash Cafe, The Coffee Bean, and Jocko's are making that goal very difficult). After my long run yesterday, I decided to take the aquatic route today and went for a swim at the adjacent health club. Swimming is hard work. Within the first few laps, I thought I felt both my right knee and hip pop.

I swam for about 30 minutes and it was a nice change from running, but I'm eager to get back out for a run tomorrow morning.

New Blog Features

I added a couple of new things to the blog today. One is the current news feed on selected topics and the other is a widget from Runner's World Magazine. I've also enabled the RSS feed so if you're into that, then by all means, feed away.

Lance Armstrong says, "Congratulations!"

Believe it people. It's beautiful out here. This morning I went for a run around town and on the beach and it was...uplifting. And while I believe that the word "uplifting" is usually reserved for old people, I heartily endorse the use of that word to describe my run this morning. Along the road, over a couple of wooden bridges that crossed the creek, down into the sleepy beach town, onto and off of the pier, down to the beach, over to the rocks, and back to the pier for a cool down stretch and walk. It was such a great run that I went over four miles (a rarity for this man) and only stopped when I actually gagged. Yes, gagged. It was the first time ever that I gagged from not being able to get enough air in. Still...UPLIFTING!

I mean, that's how good it was; I didn't realize I needed to stop until the body forced the idea on me. And at the end of the run, Lance Armstrong came on the Nike+ iPod thing and said, "Congratulations, that was your longest run." I sure hope he wasn't doping while he was winning all of those Tour de Frances because the congrats would kind of lose something. Anyway...

The one thing I forgot to bring out here was my iPod dock so while the run was recorded on the iPod, I won't be able to download it until I get back home. So those calling for proof of the 4 miler must continue in skepticism for another couple of days.

Bike Break

The ol' shin splints have been acting up so I'm taking a little break to bike more. I'm treating the shin splints with stretches and ice (per the advice of my physical therapist buddy) and in the meantime, still trying to stay fit via my bicycle.  So I bought a few accessories that will allow me to use the bike even more.

A new headlight, tail light, and a trusty lock (a U-lock didn't fit my bike correctly) should keep me going strong the rest of the summer.

This week though I'll be headed to Pismo Beach for our ten year anniversary trip so I hope to get back into the swing of things with my running.  One of my favorite things to do is to run in the morning in a new city to kind of get a feel for the place before all of the people emerge.  Perhaps I'll post something from there.

GOOOOOOOAL!

I set a little goal for myself back on June 27th to run twelve miles in four weeks.  My sister poked a bit of fun at me because it was such a paltry total (mind you, she's running a marathon in October, so she does twelve miles in ONE run).  Nonetheless, it was a goal and I accomplished it!  It's the little victories in life....

This was the run this morning that put me over the top.

So it's off to bigger and better goals.  How about twelve miles in four weeks...hopping on one leg?

It's amazing how much of running is mental.  Last night I was pumped to go running but it just got too late (I was ready to go at about 9:30 when it was finally cool, but the wife and I were also going to watch Charlie Wilson's War, so I decided to do that instead) and I decided to go in the morning.  

When morning rolled around however, I really did NOT feel like going out to run.  I came up with so many excuses in my mind, tried to figure out when I could go instead of at that time, and just wasn't feeling up to it.  In fact, I had reservations right up to the time I opened the door to leave!  But I decided, "Let's just get the legs moving," and while it wasn't the fastest run in history, I completed it and feel good about doing so.

Toasty

Went for a run this morning to try to beat the heat and bad air. I started a little after 8 and it wasn't too bad, but any later than that and I might have become literal toast.

Nike Bad Air

Horrible air quality around these parts forced the cancellation of my oldest three daughters' tennis camp and my youngest daughter's swim camp. It also forced me to stay inside for Tuesday's run. I used our treadmill for the first time in a while. I felt okay but decided to take it slow.

Morning Glory

Went for a morning run yesterday before it became 135 degrees and I'll tell you, I just wasn't feeling it. I felt sluggish, tight (despite a good pre-run stretch), and just plain blah. But, I got the run in and felt good afterward. Shin splints still exist but I think they're slowly going away.

The Shins

Last night's run. The shin splints were causing some soreness for the first 3/4 of a mile but felt fine after that. Much icing post-run. First steps toward the goal.

It's Goal Time

Day Off

Since there's no summer school today I have the day off to get in a nice run and decided to do a 30 minute-r.  Nothing flashy, just a solid 30 minutes.  Also, I realized during the run that I have a long way to go before I even CONSIDER doing anything more than a 5 or 10K race.  

If I ever think about a marathon, that's going to have to be at least a year down the road.  And I also thought (a lot of time to think during these 30 minute-rs) that if I do a marathon, I'm not going to be the kind that crosses the finish line and collapses and needs medical assistance.  

Even if I am on the verge of heart failure, I'm going to act like it was no biggie.  I'm not going to cry for mommy or break down and kiss the earth.  I'm going to be like, "Hold on, lemme wipe my sunglasses.  Where are we going for lunch?"

Me, the Mag, and the Sis

My sister puts me to shame. In October, she's going to be doing the Chicago Marathon. Here I am doing my 1.6 miles a couple of times a week and she's going on 8 mile TRAINING runs. But it's been inspiring for me. She's really taken to running and hearing about her training and dedication pushes me on. I'm hoping to get out there in October to cheer her on. We have some relatives in a Chicago suburb so lodging will be free.

We went to the library the other day (Woodward Park branch) where my girls love to fill baskets with books--how many Henry and Mudge's can a kid read? At the end though, my wife and I picked up a few books. I got my Cormac McCarthy book along with a Williams-Sonoma book on bar-b-queing (it's summer don'tcha know) and my wife picked up a few of her own including and The Saffron Kitchen and Women of the Silk. However, I also picked up several back issues of Runner's World. GREAT magazine. There are tips for the hard-core marathoner and the high school beginner. I'm a high school teacher beginner so their help works just great for me.

I've been following some of their tips and hope to extend my training by doing some 30 minute runs in the near future. I'm getting over some slight shin splints in my left leg but should be back to my Bionic Man capabilities soon.

The Sonic Curse

I happen to live about 1/2 a mile from Sonic.  This is one of the great curses in my life.  Those of  you who live close to Sonic can identify with this.  Sometimes, late at night I can hear the chili cheese tater tots whispering, "Hey Fong, I'm over here.  It will take 90 seconds for you to get here.  I'm your friend."

Earlier this afternoon I had a chocolate cream pie shake and have been regretting it for the past 3 hours.

Running Mania

So I have a couple of runs to add. The first IS a first: my first two-run day. In my last post, I put up the graph of my run from June 20th. My first graph today is ANOTHER run from the 20th (that evening). It felt good to get two runs in but I definitely felt it the next day. Here she is:

My next run is from last night. It was a hot evening but I got through and felt good afterward. Rode the bike to school today so I'm feeling fit.

Now, if I'll just lay off the Stewart's Key Lime Soda (oh my goodness, have you had that stuff???) and the Henry Weinhard's Root Beer (yes, "Root"), I might start to get into decent shape!

Catching up on the runs...

I've been out of things a bit with the start of summer but am back to blog again.  Here are a couple of recent runs.  The dates are at the top of the graphs.

And this morning's run:

This morning's run was brief because I stopped at Starbucks for a morning paper (NY Times takes itself a bit too seriously but it's good stuff anyway) and got caught up reading about 1.) some dishonest guys at Bear Stearns and 2.) part of the review for the new Get Smart movie.  I didn't read the whole thing because I didn't want to spoil it.  I want to see that and Iron Man.  Hopefully at the end of the summer, if I step up my running, "Iron Man" will be my nickname.

Fast Break

Had to take a bit of a break from running as I've had a touch of the flu since Wednesday. I'm going to get the shoes strapped on soon though. Now that school is out, I hope to run more, bike more, and leave the car in the garage.

The 100 Mile Barrier

Passed the 100 mile mark today after about 10 months of using the Nike+ system. Yes, some may have run past the mark more quickly, but some also don't have a wife and four kids. And some don't eat Sonic Chili Cheese Tater Tots. And some don't have zero motivation on many days.

Encourage a brother--give me a little comment-love people!

End of the Week Run

I think I'm always a little extra energetic when I run on a Friday.  The end of the week brings a bit of a lighter spirit because the pressure of the work week is over.  And this week was a doozy.  So much going on and some late evenings at school--there until 8:30 on Tuesday night and 7:30 on Wednesday night working.  

Tonight's run felt pretty good.

Energy Food

Another lap around the ol' 'hood.  Feeling a bit heavy.  I thought the Sonic Burger and Mozzerella Sticks with marinara dipping sauce would make me feel energetic.  Weird.

The Return of the FongHistoryRunning Blog

Yes, it's back. And so is my sore groin. And back. And quadriceps.

I've decided to re-ignite the FongHistoryRunning Blog. Period three U.S. History has a couple of distance runners (shout-outs to Emily Hammy and AK) who put me to shame. Girls, no less. Seriously, they run a mile a full 2 minutes faster than I do. But, I've really gotten into running in the last year and a half. Last year my sis and I did the Santa Monica Classic 5K which was a lot of fun. She finished a few minutes ahead of me (again, a female who is faster than I am) but I finished in 200-something place out of 900. Not bad, unless you saw who I beat (many were women. pushing strollers. talking on their cell phones).

Nonetheless, I enjoy being outside, getting the exercise. My favorite time to run is at dusk because the sky is lit just right and it can be inspiring (when I'm not gasping for air). So I will be posting my runs here for friends to see and for Emily and Ashley to laugh at: "It took him 65 minutes to go 1.5 miles? Baahahahaha!"

And you know I love comments (however snarky they are) so post it up.