Not gone, just focused on vineyard and training

I was just sitting down at the computer, catching up on stuff, trying not to focus on the fact that I am not supposed to run!#$%! One spends so much time adding up the milage, getting into the rhythm of jogging all the time, only to taper back the week of the race. I am going to go for the full distance.  Although I feel like I missed out on a lot of training, I feel that I am between being ready for a 1/2 and a full. So might as well go for the full monty.  Three weeks ago I was able to do my longest run, just short of 20 miles.  It was 78 degrees, and I ran out of water and snacks at mile 12.  In the heat (this was the first really warm day of the year, and it was humid out) and without water, I went down to a power walking pace for the last few miles, and still felt good at the end.  I figured from that day, if I could complete a very hilly course, without proper nutrition at almost 3,000 feet elevation, I could finish 26.2 at sea level with proper food and water. And so for the month of June, my life has been nothing but vineyard and training for this Saturday.

Of course, after my really long run, I talked with my friend Shawn. I told him about my adventure and my choice of course.  The course was a hilly 9+ mile trek out into the middle of no-where and back (during the entire 4 hour ordeal, I only saw one car, and cell phone reception is not really consistent). After my story, Shawn asked why I did not choose a shorter route, and just run multiple laps, that way, I could stay properly hydrated and if something went wrong, I was close to civilization and help. Logic stinks!!!

Doubts and Fears

Last night I was up, unable to sleep, thinking about the upcoming marathon.  In less than four weeks I am supposed to participate in the Seattle Rock and Roll Marathon, this coming weekend, I am supposed to run 20 miles as part of my training.  I feel completely unprepared for both.  This past weekend, I went out for a long run and almost died at 13 miles.  The shoes I have bought and started to break in during my short runs have caused me to develop foot pain (on the top of my foot!).  My mind is filling with doubt!  I have never raced a full marathon (or even a 1/2 marathon).  Would it be better to do the Seattle 1/2 and target a race in the early fall before harvest to run the full?  The Portland Marathon would be perfect for me, it would give me more time to train.  Is the doubt I am having more pre-race jitters or real concern about how much training I have missed? For the next few days, I am going to be resting to let my foot heal.  At 1:30 in the morning, I went online and found a pair of my favorite shoes of all time (the Mizuno Wave Alchemy) and ordered them to be here by the weekend.  This Sunday, I am going to go for a 20 mile run.  I looked at the course details for the marathon I am training for, there will be a water station every 1.5 miles.  On my training run, every 1.5 miles I am going to slow and walk for a minute, drink water and eat some energy gel, trying to simulate a race strategy to complete the full marathon.  For my first marathon, I want to finish strong and not be dead for the next week.  I want running marathons to be a long term hobby, not a once in a life bucket list item.

Where does all the time go?

My marathon is now just over one month away, and I am starting to doubt I will be fully ready.  The last few weeks have been, to put it simply, crappy on the training front.  Work and life seem to creep in and make getting the required training in hard.  It is easy to still find the time for my shorter runs (anything under 6 miles) but it is hard finding the time for the longer training runs and the really long run every week.  Any thoughts of a great first time in my first marathon are gone, now I am buckling down with the simple goal of completing and not dying!

You'll take this treadmill and like it!

As most of you do not know, last week my wife graduated from college. To celebrate, we took off for a week and headed to Las Vegas.  But what about your marathon training!?  Although I did not get in all the miles I was hoping for, I did accomplish one goal, I learned to run on a treadmill!  For those of you who do not know, I HATE treadmills!  Put a wire mesh cage around one and you end up with a human hamster wheel.  Squeak, Squeak, Squeak!  That thought, and the thought of me shooting off the back in front of all the other people working out at the gym was enough for me to keep my distance.

If I am going to keep on running, past the marathon and truly make this a lifestyle, I realized that I needed to embrace the treadmill...or move to an area where there is perfect/decent running weather year round.  Since I cannot take the vineyard with me, I am going to have to learn to run indoors when it is a blizzard outside.  So during my vacation, while my wife slept, I slinked off to the fitness center at our hotel and practiced running on their treadmills. (yes, I know, I could have gone out and run on the strip, especially in the morning, with all the other runners.  With my luck though, I would have biffed it in front of 75 camera toting Japenese tourist.  Been uploaded onto YouTube, and become an instant meme over in Japan. How does one say, "I've got two left feet" in Japanese to their version of Matt Lauer?) The end result, I can now easily run on a treadmill for an hour.  To celebrate this great achievement, I got my shoes laced up and am of to run through good ol' mother nature!

Off I go, into the wild blue yonder

Yesterday, I went for my longest training run yet, 13 miles!  It was kind of a weird experience to leave my house, knowing that I would be gone for the next couple of hours, doing nothing but running.  My planned jogging route was one that would take me all over the South Hill of Spokane, from east to west and then back.  Loaded up with my camel back on and music player fully juiced, I set out on my journey.  It was amazing how many people I knew and recognized on my trip!  I passed Matt, the wine steward at the Rocket Bakery (thanks for the wave!), Mike Conway, a fellow winemaker, and at one point, my wife who had gotten off from work early!
During my journey, I had many a thought. Some of the more important ones were in regards to what music I put on my mp3 player in the future. Some songs that one would think would be great for running are not while other lessor songs actually help pull you through the tough miles. I also thought a lot about food.  Pre, during and post eating is definitely something I am working on figuring out. So far my list of bad items to eat before running include, nachos, a piece of beef jerky and nothing else, and forgetting to eat all together.  During my long runs, I have learned that 12 oz of water will not get you through 11 miles, GU is good, and that energy drinks need to be watered way down.  Everything seems to taste 100% more sweet when dying of thirst then when resting. So that energy drink at mile 7 ends up tasting like a mouth full of sugar and is not refreshing in any way.  For post race, nothing beats Chocolate milk, Whey protein chocolate milk, or Muscle Chocolate milk.  Jalapeno corndog...not to good.

Running Gear!!!

I am really excited about two new apparel developments at the winery.  First, I just got in our brand new sport tech fiber running shirts for race day and training.  The second bit of news on the apparel front is that I ordered and they should be in next week our 1/2 and full marathon shirts.  These shirts are free to any wine club member who presents a 1/2 or full marathon finisher medal from 2011.  Did not finish a race this year but want to sport this stylish shirt, that will be $26.20!

Newsletter for the week of April 25th

Dear Lords and Ladies-

With the impending wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton taking place this coming Friday, if you, like me have yet to receive your official invitation, I think it is time to stop holding our breath.  My heartbreak knows exact bounds (it goes from my left ventricle to 1.2 millimeters towards the right).  In reality, it is probably better that we are not attending the wedding on Friday so that we can be well rested for Whitestone’s BIG BARREL TASTING in Wilbur on Saturday, April 30^th from 11 am to 5 pm. Comparing the two events, there is no question which event has the wow factor!  I mean, would you rather spend the day at Buckingham Palace or in Wilbur?!  My vote?  Bucki...errr WILBUR!  Brats and Burgers from Egger’s Meats or crumpets and tea?  Um, make mine a double with extra pickles!  Learn how Whitestone makes award winning wine or stare at Prince Charles’s ears?  Tough one, but I will go with the winemaking.  And finally, taste through a three-year vertical of Merlot in the barrel, comparing 2010, 2009, and 2008 French and American Oak and the effect aging has on the wine or try and make a guy in a red jacket with a funny hat crack a smile?  To answer, please pass the wine thief and a glass. 

Our Spring Big Barrel Event will be in Wilbur this Saturday, April 30^th from 11 am to 5 pm.  We will be serving bratwurst and burgers.  We will be having educational tastings on how wine ages in the barrel and all of our current releases open for tasting.  This event is free for wine club members, $10 at the door for non-club members.

Wilbur, Washington is located 60 miles west of Spokane on Highway 2.  Our production facility is located in the middle of town, at 111 E. Main Street (Highway 2).  Please email info@whitestonewinery.com or call 509-838-2427 if you have any questions.

This Friday, April 29^th, from 6 to 9 pm we will be hosting live music at our Spokane Tasting Room (111 S. Cedar Street).  Come on down and pick up your official Whitestone Running gear for Bloomsday!