……the time feels right..

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I don’t know why I imbedded this YouTube vid…I just needed something to inspire myself….

Today’s the day….I walked away from what was a dream job

Yep that’s me..and the Running Room Run Club gang…….it was a good 9 years. Yes not always the best of times, but there was always something every day that made it a special happy place…….

After telling trains where to go for 35 years, it was quite a change…..but really….I sold shoes; for about 6 of those 9 years, I ran the place….the best part, hiring the best staff ever….sometimes that was a good thing, hiring, and yes there were some mistakes made, but, honestly the challenge was worth it…because when it worked, when the place had the right staff, that store rocked…..

I’m not going to post pictures or name names, but I’m thinking of 6, the super six, that made my life awesome…always positive, always fun, and they all just worked…….hard, and well…the best staff ever…..the best ever…I used to brag abut them, to other runners, other staff, our other stores…….our other store managers, they were that great……I’ll miss that and them….I already do…a special group of people….

So, why am I walking away….?

It’s just time….I walked away from managing about 3 years ago…..for 6 month my replacement was possibly the most miserable person I’d ever met…..awful……terrible….and yes, my life was hell…but…I still loved the place, and still felt a responsibility to it….for it…so worked, ran the run groups, taught virtual clinics, and did whatever I had to do to make it all okay…and in the end, she left, to be replaced by someone I knew work be perfect, and it has been…

Problem…..it’s been 9 years…I’m seriously old….64.3?…..I look old, I don’t really feel like I fit

the other thing…lots of staff…..maybe more than we need……I really don’t need to be there….I leave, others get more hours…..

simple math I guess…I can still run, I can still organize our Run Club, our Run Groups….I can still instruct and help out……I’m not absolutely walking away…….I will still be around..just not working or, selling……

It was weird working today…everything seemed normal…..as usual, I tried to keep it at that……unpacking boxes, doing my thing, selling shoes, being the best I could be……and then at 2:30, walked away….I didn’t even log in or out…I figured, the final day, do need to get paid?

That’s been the weird thing, it’s never been about getting paid…I never really cared…even when I was the boss and could…I would just be there, not on the schedule, not collecting hours, just running and looking after the store….one of my area managers pointed out that I hardly ever worked 20 hours a week, I pointed out to her that just because I wasn’t on our planner, it didn’t mean I wasn’t at the store………and another higher up said that I shouldn’t be at the store when I wasn’t paid….seriously..I couldn’t have cared less……I just liked being there…liked doing…..

Tomorrow’s going to be another day……do I change anything? Yes, that’s changed…..now it’s time to turn a page, and well, reboot?

sad, but an opportunity…..?

and memories…

good bye 2022……the year it was….

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365 days that we’re….

highs, a few lows…I seem to think there were too many lows, but really not?

Most, if not all we’re self inflected….

I have to say, as usual the reality is a lot better then how I felt…or feel, really.

I remember hearing this, well, in this final episode of Cheers, as Mayday Malone said then, words so true….I’m possibly the luckiest SOB on the planet.

Seriously, I do not know how this all happens, but I’ve been pretty lucky…somehow I’ve managed to convince people that I’m a good guy or something……I’ve been given so many opportunities that we’re pretty amazing….not sure how or why, but it happens?

I’ve became responsible for not one but two Run Clubs, two groups of runners, which at times, most of the time, both groups were, are, kind of the same group of people….but wow….every Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, a group of people to run with, new routes…one for the Sturgeon Valley Athletic Club, the other our Running Room crew…not huge, but I run, they run faster…kind of amazed by that, and feeling really, blessed? to have that..

The Sturgeon Valley folks, SVAC, is an amazing opportunity. Actually pretty special….a free membership to probably one of the best gyms I’ve been in. An amazing crew of people…social, and comfortable…it’s kind of become my happy place….I’m always never comfortable….always looking for that trap door….but so far, so good….

Sometimes the groups are larger, sometimes smaller, sometimes just me and one other who’s really really quick….way too quick for me……but there’s also a benefit for because of that…I’ve become a little quicker…not super quick, not like me as a 30 year old, but a lot stronger…..I’ve had to get there just to keep up, or try too.

Our Running Room club was a surprise,

but a pleasent one, and one more thing, chance….I get to run, yet another evening, another group….and again, it seems like the same group week after week, 3 times a week…..how cool is that.

Racing has been almost non-existent… I did miss a few, a few did not starts….but a trip to Vancouver, only an 8K, but that was fun too…..and hey, a trip to the west coast, worked a shift at the Expo, which was kinda fun…and stayed in an Air B&B on Melville Street..the perfect location..I look like I’m actually enjoying myself…had a blast when the start, with that half hour late start…..but Vancouver?…I’m skipping the event this year to run here at home, but may head their at some point later in the year….

August got me to a 10K in Edmonton, a good pace, a good morning…actually felt effortless….and fun…I got to connect with a few folks to run with, and with a STRAVA friend…and yeah, I was outa breath…

The fall got me to my first 5 Peaks race for a while…and had an absolute blast…

The trails of Devon..again surrounded by so many people I knew, not sure why I skip so many of these things…like the Woodstock of running….

And yeah, a year of instructing clinic after virtual clinic….wasn’t sure how that would work at first, but as usual the Running Room asked, I said sure…

I actually like it….huge groups, the Zoom meets have been good, an amazing group of runners, Learn to Runners, 5K, 10K, and Half Marathoners….people from Vancouver Island to Newfoundland, Yellowknife, Whitehorse, from the States, and Peru…..

The best part, guest speakers. I never know why, but so many have helped, guest speakers, experts in everything, and they just help, and those in the clinics, and I, get to learn so much….grateful is way to simple a word, but thankful, feeling blessed…..I just reach out and ask…..so many connections with so many amazing people….

Seriously, the topics seem endless..I have to say getting to set up a talk on women and running for two groups so far has to be the most amazing thing ever…a topic I knew was important, but never found the perfect a way to make those connections…and it happened, and seriously I never want to say anything like this was the best, but it was perfect..just what the doctor ordered..

But again, blessed, it happened with a lot of help from a lot of people…..

Seriously, this as been the story of my life…it seems like people, some friends, some random, some just through connections, but everything just seems to work out….with the help of a lot of, friends?

2023? Hope for more of the same. I know I’d like to make my 65th year on this planet special…there seem to be some hurdles in the way, but as 2022 has shown me, things are possible….with a lot of help from a lot of people……grateful, thankful, appreciative, blessed? Yep…..

Goals…….a Run Sunday morning, what used to be called the Resolution Run, 5K….I’ll do a little extra before…..gotta get to about 12K total…

There’s a few other races….but, the first Five Peaks race of the year will be in May, July a visit to do leg 6 at Sinister 7 (I’d better start running hills, a lots and lots of distance) and then why not a full Marathon in Edmonton in August…

I know I have a few issues that may derail those plans……life, family……but I’m selecting races far enough apart so that a little bit of improvising will always be an option…

More and more clinics…may see if there’s some way I can get to that on my own…and why not see if I can get myself certified at something along the way……because, why not, I’m retired and I have 365 days to fill…

That’ll be key for 2023…remembering that….I’m retired.

I’ve all the time in the world to do everything and anything…..yes,

I have no excuses..I can do almost anything at any time….I know I’m old(er) so I’ve gotta be careful, but, well, just do it!….and get rid of a lot of fat…

Bring on 2023!……

w

32 to 64. Dipped my toe into the snow….

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Okay so I’m devistated…….rest in peace Christine….does this get any sadder

Maybe it’s that time of year, next week, 42 years since John Lennon…..33 years since 14 women were killed at the Ecole Polytechnique, two shocks, horrible horrible shocks……but this…just sad.

Yes I’m digging through vinyl, CDs, old t-shirts and posters, whatever Fleetwood Mac….I guess, former bandmates Dann Kerwin, Peter Green, Bob Welch and Bob Weston are up there, Christne McVie has joined the band…….beyond sad.

Got my ass out the door…-23C with wind chill making that feel like -30C this morning…I needed to get those hill repests in..only 4 with a short warm up and cool down, AND IT FELT GREAT!

I really wanna go over everything I wore….it worked, was it too much…nah, it was -30C with the windchill – I loved learning about that though, wind chill is just how it feels, it’s not the temperature, if it’s -30C, it’s -30C, if the weatherman says it’s -40C with the windchill..yeah, that means exposed skin will develop frost bite ASAP….but, well my take away, it’s subjective..

Let see, my Saucony Peregrine+ were perfect.

I didn’t need to resort to my YakTrax…yet!

the snow on top of the ice gave me enough traction….my Stance Rolling Stone socks

were not the best, I needed something maybe warmer…..but again, after about 30 minutes I was okay…my Running Room tights

worked, they sometimes feel a little restrictive, but those panels on the thighs work….the underwear

to keep that body part warm and protected is important too…..really, once I begin moving my lower body parts never really feel that cold…bearable I guess if the right word, I know when I strip off afterwards I can see my skin has turned red and has yep, gotten cold..

Upper….3 layers..one close to the skin to keep me warm, from the Running Room, a little thicker,

the next is my handy dandy Craft top

I think I bought it 6 years ago, it works…then my thermal New Balance Jacket (yes that is my snot….)

…..and on my head, the Maple Leaf Buff

stuffed into the top of that jacket to keep the warm in, the cold out…the balaclava to cover my mouth at times

..and that Brooks toque…..

I’m going to have to dip that toe into the cold a few more times before I feel comfortable…it’s not like throwing on a pair of shorts, a t-shirt and shoes anymore…it’s about being carefull….frost bite is not a good thing right?

and oh yeah my hands..really fun gloves from Running Room and my Little Hotties

Also with it being darker later into the morning, and darker earlier in the evening..a headlamp and lots of reflective stuff will become more and more important…

it was a good morning, glad I did it, my heart rate was good…avg was 138, upper was 159….so that’s low….I’ll be back out on Saturday for something short…Sunday long, am concerned about what the traction will be like, but…well, that’s part of the leaning curve as well…

Hello. I’m a Runner and I’m 63

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I turn 64 is about 153 days.

I’m the father of 3…two are adults, autistic, and are still at home.

I sell shoes for the Running Room.…I lead 2 different Run Clubs, 4 runs every week.

I have run marathons (10) half marathons, every other distance you can think of..5K 10K 15K 4 milers.

I’ve taken part in a variety of triathlons…Olympic, half and full Ironman…

Took 2 shots at Ironman Canada….2009 finished the bike portion and bailed, 2010 finished upright and smiling.

I’m now navigating how a retired older guy is supposed to be.

Some days I feel 30ish, some days 63.

I have had a fractured lower left fibula in 1998.

I fractured my occipital bone in 2019.

I own three bikes, my Felt B12

The Cannondale CAAD 8

and my main form of transportation…the good old Marin Bear Valley

and obviously a lawn mower….

I love riding, just don’t currently do it enough…..and still love running and swimming…

It’s been a while since any kid of serious race..my last triathlon, Ironman 2010 in Penticton

my last full marathon…..2015 – Edmonton as a pace bunny..and oddly enough, I don’t have a picture

just this one of the Edmonton half marathon in 2016?

But I have run the SeaWheeze Hal in Vancouver, my last half marathon in 2019

Kind of slow and I show it huh?

My most recent race…the BMO Vancouver 8K this past May

Again I don’t look as happy as you’d think I would…it was actually a fun run……55:54 wasn’t a great time, but enjoyed it…

I am still struggling…I’ve sort of been doing that since 2010 at the Ironman……..just have seemed to have lost my way…

Right now, I do feel good…I have couple of good goals this year….as a 63 year old…..

the main one..a Half Marathon in Victoria

in October…I’ve done it before, I’m pretty sure I can again….I have a few 10Ks before then…..

My main goal, as always…to get myself back to where as I was a 50 year old….so 13 years ago…..

It’s now August 1st……..I turn 64 on January 1st 2023……

I love what I do…I instruct Run Clinics….right now everything is pretty much virtual…but still love that…I don’t know how many clinics I’ve taken on since 2016, but I just divide my life into 10 and 18 week sessions……I like to share, and I have the experience…

I’d like to become certified as something…maybe enough to lead a spin class…..I’m currently working on that..there’s a lot to learn certainly, but why not, I’m retired, I’ve got some free time…

As that, as an instructor, leading run clubs…yes, some personal trainers feel they need to be the best of the best, and maybe their clients expect that….but, well, my best half marathon time was 1:51 about 22 years ago

My best full marathon was I think 4:04..so I’m not a rock star…more mid pack…..but I know what to do, what needs to be done, how to get to wherever anyone needs to go…the best hockey coach wasn’t the best hockey coach right…..

so pretty much have been there and done all that…….am trying to figure out what those shoes are?

So that’s me…all about me……kind of love where I am right now…at 63…but well, 69 days until the Victoria Half Marathon…time to get serious?

A Great Month. Boy am I sore!

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This has been a month of a lot of stuff………biking, spin classes, some strength training, running, walking and swimming….it all adds up, and all good……

This was the morning of a spin..wow, an early beginning…..it was for a fund raising for an Edmonton Children’s Hospital called the Stollery….it was at my gym, the Sturgeon Valley Athletic Club, some of my mates started off a lot earlier then I did, some for 24 hours, me I just thought it’d be a good to wake up at 4AM on a Saturday morning, and rode for a couple of hours…..it was kind of fun, okay it was…..some of the riders had been enhancing the experience with a few spirits, and they were in good spirit…

I think I’m in there at the back……it was fun…..and a, well maybe a good way to wake up…..

I’ve gotta admit the legs have been a bit heavy lately, I seem to have an issue with recovery….and I’m guessing it’s partly age, party, well, I just like doing a lot of stuff……so have come to a bit of a decision…I’m cutting my run training to 3 days a week, making those 3 days count…and then adding cross training, time on the bike, in the pool, in the gym, and spin classes……..am thinking cutting back on the high impact will do the body good, and I’ll still get my endurance from the rest of the training, so all good…..

My run club runs have been great….I’ve a lot of stronger runners to keep up to, so the intensity is there, and my speed is good……and that’s going pretty well…..we sometimes have bigger groups, sometimes smaller…but it keeps me busy

Another virtual clinic is up and running, and along with the few shifts I pull at my Running Room, life is busy/

Next up, the Canada Day 10K is coming up in a week…….looking forward to that, another early day…the start is at 7AM…it’ll be like a nice test, and it’ll be nice to do something with lots of other people, a run I’ve done many, many times before…so all good…..

25 days, 6 random rest days……it’s yep, like lots of play time and play dates…

W

Watching the Devil Wears Prada…….?

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And now I’ve gotta get rid of a a lot of weight……..

I have not watched since, probably 2009?…….and, yeah…I’ve been a pig lately….

burgers, fries, Cheezies, the occasional apple, or banana……I think I gained 10 lbs just today…..

I never diet, but, well…tomorrow….WATER!!!!

Today, a disaster…….daughter’s aid, well, took the day off…so me and Sasha…..lots of basketball, shooting hoops, me making lunch, ordering dinner…..decided to move furniture…..and lots and lots of working on curriculums for three clinics, lots of emails, and generally not moving…

So, another tomorrow….still working on and building this life…

rebuilding, whatever…

can I run and swim and get rid of 10 extra pounds in one day….?

Every other day seems different, one day up, way way up..and then cerash…way way down….that would be today

tomorrow, who knows…

I need to find a way to stop bouning back and fourth like a tennis ball….

and yeah, diggin’ Prada, brings back my last visit to NYC

Cleaning out a Freezer and a run!

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I know, I know, I should have taken pictures……OMG!….Yep, that’s become my job…cookin’ and cleanin’ so I figured I might as well get to work…

That freezer thing, the bottom compartment of our fridge…it must have been a year since….is it too hard to wipe things up after spilling stuff????

Cleaning wasn’t the hardest part….first moving the fridge out of it’s cubie hole….it’s heavy, it’s in a corner, out flooring is a little softer, so, yep, it was like a work out…..

Lots of hot water, and muscle power, but now, spic and span…organized, everything now in containers….freezer bags, and lots of waste…not a good thing in these tough high grocery times, but freezer burn and stuff beyond their best before dates….

Let’s see how long this all last……

I’ve gotta learn how to do selfies…..a great group…..fast medium and new……we did about 5K…some did 9K…..and it felt alright…

the Run Club is nothing about training, it’s about the group….that’ll be tomorrow…

But a good day, just wish winter would just go away!

I just went for a run…..

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started out the day watching a bit on a runner named Mary Lollar.

…https://www.ctvnews.ca/lifestyle/71-year-old-canadian-woman-runs-every-single-day-for-more-than-1-000-days-1.6331659

71 year old, ran every day for 3 years?….kind of inspiring.

As usual I screwed around most of the morning, wonder, oh my what should I do?

Did some grocery shopping to kill some time…and then, well, I went for a run

Yeah, yeah, yeah, I was going to swim as well, but really, I just needed a good adventurous 5K to clear my head….and to get in touch with my inner Tom Sawyer?

I found ice…..

Yeah, eve though spring has arrived, the paths, at least some of them weren’t exactly HOKA friendly….

I think life is about to get a little busy, or busier…..so, I’ll have to get my fun done when I can…

I think I’ve settled on a plan…..I’m just going to train, and as events, races present themselves, I’ll do them….

I’ve had to already had to punt a few, jusr too many things to do all at the same time on the same days, but leaves a lot of days still with a lot of fun…….my guess is trails runs, possibly at least 1 triathlon….and let’s say a half marathon in Edmonton in August…and possibly another half in Victoria in October….

I just added more virtual clinic, a 5K …to go along with the Learn to Run and 10K……my days should be pretty full….

and working events and races….yeah, active in more ways than ever..

Having trouble focusing,,,,

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This is typical me, a typical day……

The goal was to eat healthy..started off with two cups of coffee I didn’t need, then a Starbucks with lots of calories, and then tonight, because the kids asked, a McDonald’s McChicken and a Coke.)

The plan this morning was a spin, some strength work…..and that didn’t happen.

I finally got out of the house, late……and, well…went for a run…..

I don’t know, I do this way too often….I finally get out the door….I vacillate … seriously I didn’t have any idea where I was going and my run route…..nothing planned….

And yes, the Kinsmen Sport Centre, the Edmonton River Valley, the same old, same old….same old my go to route, but there was a reason.

Not sure if all know, but two of our Edmonton Police Force were killed in the line of duty last week, the funeral was today….so being in the Valley, close to the city centre procession, and lots of blue ribbons everywhere……

The run was good….started out a 5K, forgot to hit the start button on my watch a few times, ended up just over 9K….and for some reason I decided to add a few stairs in the route, and lots of ice, slippery sections…….but a good, nope a great run.

So now, planning the rest of the week..

I’m really not aiming at anything right now…..maybe a few things in August and October, but things have changed, life changes….so, training has become, just training….with no goal…maybe that’ll be this week….working on that plan….

Goals, I need a solid goal, one goal, one goal to aim at, and training with that in mind, that one, or the next goal…

There were a few things odd this morning……I’ve decided to stop wearing my winter shoes, my Saucony Peregrine Ice + have been retired at least until hopefully next winter.

I still needed gloves and to cover up the ears this morning, hopefully that ends soon……

I’ve gotta get rid of a lot of weight….well, maybe not so much, but yeah, I guess because I’m eating crap, I don’t need to diet, just again focus…..real food dammit.

So a goal? Get fit, stay fit, and be me…more of me…..and hope that short and t-shirt season starts soon…

w

the hardest part about being retired. and a runner

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So yeah…yikes, I just dropped a grey hair on my keyboard!

Yeah, February 3rd 2014 I retired……April 1st 2014 I started working retail for the Running Room, March 14th..I retired yet again!

Then, well, Friday, I signed up for a new position at the Running Room for what I thought would be a few weekends a year, well, may be more than that…..50 events planned for this year, there are only 52 weekends in a year, and we’re into the fourth month of the year….so, it’s gonna be busy?

But, I don’t have to work every event apparently, but still…..oh well, another adventure….

I guess I’m still retiring wrong…

So still sort of retired with a lot of spare time, but not really…..actually I do, I just don’t really know how to use it?

Last week, I was out for a run through the Edmonton River Valley, I had a planned 5 to 6K run, and if time, a swim afterwards…..

I was worried about not having enough time?….. I’m retired, I have nothing but time!

Sort of…..

It was fine…the problem is, I keep trying to fill empty space with stuff….

then worrying about what to do all that stuff, and how to do all of that stuff…

and how to fit stuff all in……?

This past week was great…this weekend kind of sucked, but the week great…running, swimming, stuff…….but now I’m looking backwards and am freaking out because I keep thinking, I didn’t do enough stuff..

Than of course that leads to a Saturday and Sunday morning where I have so much I want to and need to do, that I didn’t do anything…..it’s like my head was stuck in a huge traffic jam…

Tomorrow, another week begins……the week should be fine…I just have to find a way to let go, to stop every so often to remember, I’m retired, I have all the time in the world….and I don’t have to do everything all the time and the same time..

Ch Ch Ch Changes

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Not sure why I like or use this picture so often….way too often it’s me…..more and more

I need to get back to this….and I think that’s happening..

Yep, I can’t remember the year..but that’s me way in the background…..I like that, me, I sometimes actually like me….and again, going thru changes….does everyone change?….Looking for something, anything..

Life now is about so many virtual clinics…..I love that..I miss in-person, and sometimes if one of the virtual people happens to be local, we actually get to meet……and run together. But, there is still looking for that spark, that Learn to Runner that starts not sure, and starts to understand the breathing, understands it’s about the effort, or effortless….and there’s that lightbulb moment right?…and even better, when I cross paths with someone that’s taken one of my clinics years later, and they’re still running….

Last summer at the Edmonton Marathon, I just took on the 10K option, and a couple of those that were in the 10K clinic that just finished….and was ready to go at the start, and came up with a thank you at the end…and are still running…how cool is that..

Anyway I have more of those coming up..so time to get organized, work on that curriculum, line up guest speakers to talk about things I’m not an expert on – nutrition and a physio to discus injuries, and usually someone to talk sport bras – ..

And well, now I’ve gone from selling apparel and footwear and running stuff to setting up and tearing down race events!

Yeah, I land on my heels….not a big deal, as long as the foot lands beneath that center of gravity…

So yeah, yesterday, I made that move…I’m hired, I’m a 64.4 year old with a new job, new skills, and new fun….and yeah, a lot of my weekends are now spoken for……but all good.

Apparently we have about 50 events to look after this year, there are only 52 weekends in a year, so that’s a lot of events every weekend…so instead of doing this

(please don’t look at that time…yikes..it was like a tour of NYC)……and I’ll be the guy tearing all that down…exciting huh?

So a change…or a little improvisation, innovation…..my first event isn’t untl May, but I’m looking forward to this….

Saturdays have become my rest and recovery day (yep, I looked, there are a lot of Saturday events coming up)…..it’s snowing, I need to do some house and home stuff…catch up on laundry, a stairway to paint, and yeah make dinner…..because I’m part time, my wife is full time, I’m taking on more and more household chores, well because….well, unlike some of my fellow men, I didn’t go from my mom doing everything to expecting my wife to…I know how to cook, clean, and yes iron…it ain’t rocket science….

Anyway, back to work…a 12+K run to plan for tomorrow, for Sunday…and well……lots of coffee..

What I do, sometimes…..

I Ran…and hey, a new Job?..um, yikes?

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Well, my retirement didn’t last long.

Yep, about a week ago, I stopped selling running shoes any our Running Room……at one point when I was the manager, the boss, I guess I called it my Running Room…..but, I still have the 3 run clubs to look after every week…..a couple of virtual clinics on the go more often than not…….my next two…a Learn to Run, and a 10K crew….lots of Zoom meets and emails…..and lots of running!

It was time……others needed the hours, and I was fine with giving that up…9 years, that was enough…

So?

I decided why not help out at events……so, yep, now I get to set up and take down the start/finish lines, map out and whatever else is needed a few weekends, or a lot of weekends…..apparently we’ve 50 events to go this year…..there are only 52 weekends in a year, and this is April?…….that’s going to be a lot of busy weekends…and a quick look means I’m doubled booked with races I want to do, and yeah, with run clubs and clinics….so this 64 year old guy is gonna be busy, possibly busyer?…..yikes..

I wasn’t going to run today…..every other day?…….but the weather was just so good, and what’s another 5K……my pace felt okay, yet for some reason my tights kept wanting to fall down….either I’m getting too fat or too thin?

You know what? Life is pretty good, not bad…not great……kind of happy where I am…..am not sure what the future holds…there’s a lot going on……dad still in the hospital, a handicapped daughter who’s a bit of a handful…and way too much yard work to look forward to this summer….and finances that arn’t fantastic, but, yeah, things are okay….

So, I got a new Job…..a went for a run….a good Friday

A Good Run Day….

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A pretty good day, another pretty good day. A good run…at my age, my pace has gotten better…..am not sure why?

It felt so good….not that yesterday evening didn’t….coaching, helping someone catch this running bug….I loved that, and that felt so good…and running with someone I hadn’t run with before….was kind of looking forward to that, and am looking forward to that again next week, really………that was kind of really, really cool……

This morning, the goal was to do better on the same route….so this was this morning…and last night

A bit of a difference…

The rest of the day went well…I seemed to be busy all the time…….groceries, made something new for dinner for the family that actually turned out…..lots of work arund the house, I was so busy…..

The run was magical…..crossed paths with more than I few people I knew, which was soo cool…..people I hadn’t crossed paths with forever……..one more that didn’t say hi back, that sort of crushed me…..not sure what that was about, I suspect though…..so, that was kind of depressing…I guess I’m no longer a co-worker, so I guess no longer worth the time to say hello?

That’s pretty awful actually…but life goes on….

There’s a few other things…but life is good, maybe I should have retired a 2nd time sooner…..it’s almost like a relief vavle has been opened up…..

But, I’ve gotta reach out…..there are things that are really bothering me…yeah, yeah, I know the past is past, but for some reason I just can’t well let go…..and until I let that all go, I don’t know…depression is still going to be a huge part of me….being active, running, whatever helps me be distracted, but, well…..life’s gotta go on, looking ahead, occasionally looking over the right shoulder and ignoring the blind spot….

Playing the guitar, reading, writing a lot….planning ahead…..and tomorrow, a job interview?…Not sure if it’s for something I want, really, really want……but yeah, life is pretty interesting..

And I am sleeping better…

Run Club 2.0….back on the trails!

WarrenLeave a comment

Yep, Wednesday night Run Club…we’re back!…..

It felt weird to walk into my previous place of employment tonight, but still felt comfortable. I’ve my Run Club, and yeah, I still helped around the store like I never left…….it’s just what I do.

It was kind of old times….a variety of paces…..I kept with the newest member of our crew and another long time friend, and enjoyed it……it’s what I do, introduce new runners to what we do…..

I would have liked a bigger crew, but as summer continues things will improve…..

It was the end to a pretty good day with me as Mr. Mom?…..not really, I’ve always been the clean up crew…so yeah that and a little interior painting…shooting hoops with my Autistic daughter (she keeps kicking my ass)…..yep, a good positive day , the run is the cherry on the top

one more coat maybe tomorrow….

Run Club is where I began………about 27 years ago….life carries on

I’m I have to run early or I just won’t go

WarrenLeave a comment

I’m a morning person……if I’ve got anything planned, it’s gotta be done before noon. and I pretty much have to have that thing started first thing…….basically get out of bed, and either that moving, or at least going towards the spot where I need to start moving……..and if I don’t, or am not, I just lose my intestinal fortitude or whatever……and well, the day is done…

Sometimes I’m fine with it…….I just needed that extra sleep, a rest day or whatever…….like this morning. a restless night, after a hard Monday, my body said to relax today, and save myself for Wednesday…

Other times it’s just frustraiting…….but, still, I guess the body, the head, always gets it’s way….

Today was one of those days…a day of rest, and a day to get caught up on things….and, well, to make dinner.

I’m re retired…my wife still works…so I’ve become the chief cook and bottle washer…at least I’ve decided to become that…just do stuff that has to be done, need to be done, should be done….I’ve never divided things like that’s my thing, and that’s someone elses….and now there’s just more that I do….cookin’ cleanin’…….today, besides things like changing oil in the car, washing the car, groceries, putting together diner, laundry…..etc, etc, etc…..I’m at home and not really doing anything, so why not….?

There’s always things that you have to do .. cleaning out the garage, a storage room, scrub out the fridge, re-organize things out……..

I’m really trying to wrap my mind around of running every second day rather then every day……building my training around 10 days rather than a 7 day routine….making sure I have that rest day, and that active rest day……..and on the days I don’t run, still train…..cross train……bike, swim, walk, strength training a spin class on those off days…

It’s really hard to figure that out, there’s really not much in the way of a road map, every published training schedule is build on that work week, 7 days, and I get it, so every long run will always be on the same day, every 7th day, hills and speed training the same day…..10 days, doesn’t do that……I guess a 14 day routine might……

A lot is that mentality….7 days, it’s always been 7 days, long runs are always the same day…..then, well, I’m currently digging through Jeff Galloway’s book on training for us old folks called Running Until You’re 100..and he says that, every second day, not consecutive days….less high impact days…..and weird thing, as I’m writing this, why not build this on a 14 day routine, so that longer day would be on day 14?……

I do like doing lots of stuff…..I love biking and swimming, still wrapping my head around spin classes, but spring is here, so out on the road is in my future as soon as it warms up a bit more…

So, this should work……I do have a handicap though….I’m looking after three run club runs…..and the back to back Tuesday and Wednesday crews, are my responsibility, and Sundays, yep I have to run every Sunday…

So my homework for what is left of tonight, this evening, is to figure out the rest of this week, and next week…there’s a handful of things I have to do, some I need to do, and some I want to……so that’s in mind……and will try and focus..

The other thing I’ve got to keep in mind is, I don’t have any huge races planned, a couple of half marathons, so, my real goal, is to just keep training, and just what races I have on my schedule, will just be a part of my routine…fun events, fun runs, and possible a couple of fun triathlons..