Spokane River Run

I did it! Well, not the big race, that will not come until the end of June, but I did run and complete my first race in a decade!  And I did not die!  Last Sunday was the Spokane River Run, a great 10k trail run through Riverside State Park.  At the end of the race, I was kicking myself for multiple mistakes I made, like thinking I was going to be the slowest person there and lining up in the far back.  After a couple of days, I realized how happy I was for just getting out and participating.  My time, 1:02.12.

9 min 30 sec up, 14 min 22 sec down...what the #%!?

First, let me write that I love my new Garmin GPS running watch!  It is additive to see exactly what my current pace, overall pace and distance run is by just glancing quickly at my wrist.  Running outside of Wilbur, using my watch, I have learned that a country mile is actually the same as a regular mile, it just seems to take forever and a day when you are on a straight, 6 mile long road.  Yesterday, I got a real surprise on my splits when out for my daily training.

Outside of Wilbur, one of my training routes has a section that features a long, straight, 3/4 mile long medium grade hill, topped with a flat 1/4 mile stretch before the road turns north.  Yesterday, when I took off, the wind was not that bad...yet.  While on my jog, I came around a big bend, and started up the grade.  I could not believe how easy the climb!  It felt like I was flying up the hill.  When I got to the end of the stretch, I looked down at my watch and discovered that I had done the hill in an amazing (for me) 9 min 30 seconds!  Then I turned to head back down.

Have you ever tried to run into a sustained 30+ mph wind with gust over 40?  It felt like hitting a wall.  I could not believe how hard it became to even breath. Every deep breath caused the wind to dry out all the saliva in my mouth. No matter how hard I dug in, it felt like I was standing still.  At one point, I stopped jogging and just tried to power walk into the wind.  When I finally reached the bottom of the hill, to my amazement, I clocked in a 14 minute 22 second mile.  What the wind hath giveth, the wind can take away!

Introducing the vineyard treadmill

I like to say that one should never complain about being to busy in business because the alternative is far worse.  When I created and named this blog, little did I know how fitting the title. What a crazy couple of weeks! It really became hard to find any time to train, especially when my weekly milage is going up. That is why I created the vineyard treadmill! It is exactly 1/5 of a mile from the front gate to the back gate in the vineyard. During this time of the year, the center area is a nice firm grassy running surface. So I run back and forth. The first couple of laps are always nice and enjoyable. I mean, how cool is it to be running through a vineyard in the middle of the woods along the side a of lake! By lap 5 it becomes old. I am now at the point in my training were I do 5 to 8 miles a day. Do you know how many laps that is in the vineyard? The big horns watching me up on the cliff, their only thought must be "We're losing our territory to this nut ball species?"

From UC Davis

Ladies and Gentleman, cue up the music please. Ah, yes, a nice soft violin will work as I tell you my sob story. I currently find myself on the campus of UC Davis, participating in an executive continuing education conference on wine. For a week, my schedule is nothing but drink wine, talk about wine, drink some more wine, eat a gourmet meal, take an afternoon break and talk about what wine we drank over some beer, and then back to more wine. I know what all of you are thinking right now.  Now that is a tough life! I mean, when are you getting time to train for your marathon? And back to hanging out on a college campus drinking all day? Who would ever want to revisit that part of their life? But cry not to much for me dear friends. I attend these conferences in order to be the best winemaker that I can be for you. I have even found a little time to keep training for the big race in June. Behind me hotel is the UC Davis Arboretum, a long, beautiful 100 acre park with a three mile running trail. What a great running path! The arboretum is long and stretches along one side of the campus and runs between campus and the interstate. With streams and larger ponds along the path, the course sits down low, with pedestrian and car bridges running above feeding people into the main part of the university. Its a really neat area, with the sights of nature all around, but the sounds of cars, and the occasional break into another area of the campus. Nothing beats a run were one minute you are in the woods, the next you are running past some stoners playing hacky sack in the quad. In order to perform my training, I actually skipped out on the first part of a wine and cheese tasting! I know, true sacrifice and dedication! Instead of getting to drink wine and taste cheese for three hours, I only went for two! I am such a beacon of light, shinning my bright light of self sacri...owww! Hey, I think that lamp just slipped out of your hand and hurled itself at my head! 

And now a treat for my dogs...And now a treat for my dogs...

I think Spring is definitely on its way. Just went for a 5 mile run, and in getting ready for that run, I drove my dogs nuts. The weather has been cold all year.  Even when there was sunshine, one still had to bundle up a little, because the air temp was frigid. Today, it is gray and dreary out, but over 50! So used to layering up and bundling up, that in getting ready for my run, I went through the normal routine.  Only to step out side and start to burn up! So, back inside, the dogs start to bark thinking I am home, I take off a layer, give them a biscuit and head back out. Only to still be overdressed! Back inside, barking dog, layer off, give them a treat, step outside...still over dressed! My dogs got four treats before I went out in shorts and a long sleeve running shirt. And even though it was raining, the rain felt great and I was the perfect temperature for the run.  Now it is off to nacho night at the tasting room!
Enjoy the wine, enjoy the journey!

And so it begins...

When I first started this blog, March, let alone June 25th, seemed to be so far away. Why did I care about March? The significants of March, is that it is when the 16 week training program leading up to the Seattle Marathon begins. Back in Late December, early January, my thoughts were on how great of shape I would be in when March rolled around. I thought I would easily be ready to not only run a marathon,  but qualify for Boston! Such are the delusional thoughts of an early runner enjoying a very warm January. Thank God that February was a very short month!
The month started out great, with me even doing a very strong and long 8 mile run while on the road for work. Then like the best laid plans of mice and men...work, tweaked back and the return of winter all created obstacles to the training. I fought through, and emerged a little slower, but not to far off where I had started the month. Now the training really starts.
I currently have not missed a day yet, nailing my two 3 mile runs called for in the training plan. And, I would have to type, feeling nice and strong after each. The only down side, is that winter is still here and I am having to keep my running gear handy and wait for the perfect time to get the training (call me a wimp, but running on icy streets in the snow does not seem like fun). Yesterday, is was at 3:30 pm before I had to go to a meeting and then dinner. Today, it was 30 minutes ago at 8 pm at night (yes mom, I run with ID and bright reflective clothing on well lit streets).
Enjoy the wine, enjoy the journey!

Welcome to the doldrums...now that helps inspire!

Running and training has become routine. It is to the point, that if I do not get a workout in during the day, I become a little cranky, but the drive and enthusiasm to workout has waned. The workouts, they are becoming less a challenge. My long run is now up to 8 miles on the weekend. This distance has made the shorter runs during the week seem pedestrian. Just a few short months ago, I would have thought that saying or describing a 3-4 mile run as being routine as crazy talk. The earlier excitement of the endeavor has worn off, and the race is still aways in the future. Then I got a message of Facebook.
Some of our wine club members sent me a message saying that I had inspired them! After talking with me at the tasting room, they went out and signed up for a half marathon in August. In addition, they signed up for some shorter runs in the Spring and Summer. They have been out training for over a week! I smile now just thinking about this message.
The day after I received that Facebook message, my "routine" daily run did not seem routine. There was an extra pop in each of my steps. Since then, my motivation to get out and workout is back up. I have enthusiasm in my training.
How do you thank some one for thanking you? That message that was sent to me, has become my inspiration.
Enjoy the wine, enjoy the journey!