Hot & Humid Run, June 10th

I'll keep this short and sweet. Wednesday after work and before the Blackhawks game, I got in a 3.6 mile run, up to the Wooddale Forest Preserve. Temps were around 85 degrees and extra humid. My legs didn't seem to want to move as fast as I would have liked, but the heat wasn't going to let them move any faster. Next run should be on Thursday, my body is extra sore and tight from the heat that I had to deal with, so today will be a rest day. Maybe I'll be smart and do yoga to help with the soreness.

Highlights from my run:

My runs the last few days

6/6/15 Run

So I have managed to get a few decent runs in, in the last few days. Neither of them felt great, my legs have felt sluggish. All that tells me is that I need to get out a little more often and to be drinking more water throughout the day rather then right before my run. I have enjoyed making friends with all the wildlife along the trail in the forest preserve.

As you can see my mile times aren't as good as they have been in the past. Let's hope the next few runs start seeing some improvement. I'm planning on trying to get out one of these morning before work. My thought is that my legs might be a little fresher in the morning without having the long work day wear down my legs before I go. 

I have been lacking at doing other workouts besides running. I haven't done any yoga for awhile, which I know will help my flexibility and soreness in my hips and hamstrings. 

With lots of possibilities this summer, I have to make sure I stay focused and put time aside for my runs. I'm also hoping to try to rework my nutrition. I don't nearly watch what I eat, when I know I should. Still looking for a race to do soon, I'll post as soon as I sign up. Happy Running!

6/8/15 Run

So far this month:

My 6/3/15 Run

This run was a little tougher then my more recent runs. I haven't done a run the day after one on the previous day for awhile. I was sluggish to start, but started to move a little quicker the second mile, but just never really felt race ready. Take a look at my splits. 

These are no where near some of my best times. I guess I have something to work on going into the summer and race season! Here's a map and another look at my run. Start to finish. 

So a decent start to the month, Still have some work to do but hanging in there on the leaderboard with the ladies. Happy Running!

Yesterday's Run

My run yesterday was very short and I took it fairly easy. Still managed to run 7:39 pace, but it fely much slower than that. My legs have felt heavy recently, but I think I just need to get out a little more and need to watch what I'm eating. I've realized lately how important my nutrition is to my running. Its very hard since I love to eat, but I don't want it costing me run days. 

I'm happy that at least I put some mileage in here at the beginning of the month, so hopefully my stats later in the month will be better than last month. 

Today the search for a race starts hot and heavy, I'll be looking for a 5K to run before the end of June. Let me know if you have any suggestions, I'd be up for running any race as long as it has a good cause and is located in the Chicagoland area. It would also be cool if it wasn't over $35. Happy Running Everyone!

First Race Checklist

Since a lot of you ask what I should be ready for, when running my first race. So, I decided to put together a list of items and my usual routine going into a race. Some of these things are common sense but if you are in a hurry this list might be handy as you are sprinting out the door.

Now all of this makes much more sense if give you a sense of what to get ready for as a first race approaches. As for me, it kind of is my first race all over again. Yes, I have run races before, and yes, I've been running a lot the last few months, but this again will be my first race after recovering from my left Achilles tear.

Thinking back to my recovery of my right Achilles, my first race back was the Naperville St. Patrick's Day Run of 2012. I was extra excited to run that day, showed up about a half an hour before the race and did some sprints to the registration tent to grab my packet. My heart rate never seemed to calm down. After I did some stretches and jogs, I felt slightly better.

Once I got to the line to start the race, my adrenaline spiked, and I took off once that gun fired. Wearing the goofy green top hat was making me extra warm since there wasn't anywhere for the heat to escape, I ended up having to carry it the last 1.5 miles of the race. Because I was too excited at start of race, I never got my watch set. Once I passed the second mile marker it said my time was 12:50, I knew my 2nd mile was 7 minutes, I realized my first mile was a sub 6 minute mile! Way too fast!

So now I keep thinking what could I have done differently to ensure that I wouldn't die the last mile like I did in the St. Paddy's Day race. Leading up to my first race this time, I will try to describe my pre-race routine and anything else that I may think of. As of now, here's my basic list of starter items that will help make your race a little easier:

The obvious:
Shoes, Socks
Shorts/Legging/Pants, underwear
T-shirt/jacket
Hat/gloves (when needed)

Not-so-obvious
Headphones attached to iPhone
Sunglasses
Heart rate Watch
Water Bottle

My next posting on this will focus on Pre-race food, I'll will look at foods to have before, during and after the race. Thanks for stopping by!

A look back at May 2015!

Overall, I have to be happy with my monthly performance, but since it all came in the second half of the month, I know I can do better. April was a huge month for me and I know I was in recovery mode for awhile.  As of today it's been 270 days since my surgery and April & May have been 2 of the 3 best months in the last 5 years. I know I just need to keep getting myself out the door and the rest is history. 

Well done to my Nike+ running buddies; Jennifer, Steve, Minna & drummer boy, Brandon!! Huge 80 mile month by Brian!! I have to say, seeing everyone stats push me to get out the door.  I hope I do the same to you!

I'll be looking to sign up for a 5K race soon and more to come after that. If you have any suggestions or requests for run pics, please let me know and I'll do my best to find new things to capture with my lens. Happy running!

A Very Active Spring

So I've been bad since returning from my second Achilles injury with my run blogging. If you are on Nike+, you can follow me here, Ronnie's Nike+ account. Here are a bunch of pictures from my runs:

This Past Week's Runs

I was able to squeeze in 2 runs this week, after missing running on the fourth Sunday in a row. Monday's run was down to the weird building again with the toxic gases sign. This time I ran past it and through the corn field, which was why it was much longer this time. Then Thursday, run was a night run through the neighborhood. Here are the stats and pics.




Monday:
6.9 miles in 58:43 which was a pace of 8:30 ppm
872 kCal









Thursday:
4.53 miles in 35:58 which is a 7:56 ppm
571 kCal

This Week's Workouts

After a long lay off of nothing, I'm slowly getting back into getting my runs in. It also helps that I have signed up for the Soldier Field 10 Mile, it forces me into running so I don't waste my money when I show up downtown and can barely finish. Anyways, here is what I've done over the last week.

SATURDAY - 4.05 Mile Run, After many months of missing the Naperville Riverwalk, I managed to squeeze in a run while Vanessa had an appointment. It was fun running along the river's edge and listening to the high water crash against the shores.

SUNDAY - Nothing

MONDAY - Nothing

TUESDAY - 25 Push-ups, I've been able to knock out some push-ups on my breaks at work.

WEDNESDAY - 50 Push-ups

THURSDAY - 4.37 Mile Run, I ran along Theodore Ave. & Ridge Rd. in Plainfield after work. Night runs are always nice because the temps are a little cooler and its very quiet. Even though I had the headphones on, I still enjoy a run with no one else out and chasing my shadow from the moon light. Also did 90 Push-ups at work

FRIDAY - So far today at work I've knocked out 100 Push-ups. Ive been keeping track of all my Pushups on the dry erase board in the conference room. I'll also try to use the dumbbells that my co-worker has in his office to do some curls, shrugs or lunges when I have the time.


UPCOMING WEEKEND:

Not much planned this weekend, after all the activity we did last weekend, I still feel as if I need to catch up on sleep.Probably will sneak a run in on Saturday and if I can get up for one on Sunday, Ill be happy. I hope everyone has a great weekend. Until next time...

A Look At Week #3 Running

When looking back at Week 3, all I can see are cold runs. Of the four runs I went on. I was snowed on three times. The temps ranged from 19-45 degrees, while my pace averaged out to around 8:17ppm for all my runs. Not great, but not bad after taking a few months off. I'm trying my best to keep up with the mileage while making sure I keep a close eye on any aches or pains that don't go away. I've started slowly lifting again, only in 3 exercise grouping each time I go. I don't want too many muscle area to be sore when I run.




My best run was on Wednesday, in which I set multiple PRs for 1K & 5K.







On Monday when it was 45, I decided to wear shorts and it felt great. The only problem was that the Commissioners Park was full of melted sloppy snow all over the trail.




On my last run on Saturday it was snowing, so I decided to get a short video of the conditions. Here it is:

Meanwhile, on the same run I took pictures of myself at each mile marker to see if there was any snow accumulation, and there was.


Mile 1:


















Mile 2:

















Mile 3:

















Mile 4:



















Here are the maps of the runs this week, with the temp.

A Look Back At Week 3



















A Look Ahead To Week 4

Nike+ Pics: