Catching up

Well it's been a while since I posted anything, so I figured I would just touch base out there.
Well the training continues, although I do have to say that I haven't been in the pool for a bit.  I was trying to go 2 or 3 times a week, coupled with the mileage on the roads and the refereeing that I do.  A lot of my co-ref's ask me why I sprint following the ball.  I do it mostly to get somewhat of a sprint workout in.  I generally do anywhere from 3 to 5 games a day (when I do do them) and I have read that a player will generally run 1.6 miles a game and since the ref's dont get any time off (but generally will run 3/4's of the court, I simply track it as 1 mile per game as a sprint workout. 
Anyway, I just have to concentrate now on getting some of the weight off, and slowly creeping up my mileage base by the end of March.  By mid-March I will get back in the pool and I can hit the bike in April.
That will give me 10-12 weeks before my first triathlon in 11 years, and hopefully a Trail race or two or three or what else I can find this summer and fall.
Until then, Be Well ~ Sank

Beating myself up.

You know sometimes you just have to sit back and realize when you are, for lack of a different term, being lazy.  Now I'm not saying that I have done nothing and just propped up in front of the TV; but I have NOT been out on the roads, except for once this year.

Now I have been refereeing a ton for the past several months, including 9 games this weekend.  That coupled with Hannie's basketball team in full swing, at least I have been somewhat mobile.  But the cold, snow, rain, tough trail conditions, daylight savings, early nights; have made it just to easy to jump in front of the computer and goof around on either Facebook or Warcraft.  Yeah I'm a gamer, though after my 8 month hiatis I am not spending near the time I did before.

But that all has to change.  I felt so much better getting out there and running.  The legs and knee are feeling pretty damn good after refereeing and refereeing usually brings out the worst in the them.  Nancy has asked me to do the Timberman Triathlon with her in the summer, and I have to start hitting the pool and roads to get my endurance up.   I did my last one 10 ('gulp' is it really ten) years ago, and although I did it ok for the limited training, I swore to myself that I would never do another one without an adequate base.

Hopefully posting this (and staying with posting) will keep me on track.  Feel free to send me grief or support or congratulations or whatever you think is appropriate at the time.

Be well - Sank

Back

Seems like forever (well actually just a week) since I posted.  Tons of refereeing this weekend and the herniated discs sparked back up the migraines.   That coupled with the fact that eating whatever and as much as I felt like and a way to many beers, so kind of a lost couple of days and feeling pretty crappy.
Oh well poor me - I really need to get going on the roads.  I still have an outside shot at hitting my first 100 mile month (in about 15 years), which I am really going to try to do, but I just wish I could get out there consistently and feel good.  Not just mentally but a good stride, pace, breathing; without having to think about what I am doing.
My goal a little while ago was to:
1. get the little nagging legs issues under control (which thankfully I seem to have), and
2. stay on the roads only to try to get some consistency
But I just cant seem to get that flow going while running.  Oh well, just need to keep sticking to it, and stop whining about it I guess. 
My replacement Garmin 405 shows up today, so at least I will have a new toy to go out with me while I figure it out.  :)

Thanks all - if any New Englanders are out there that know of any good running clubs that do a fair amount of Trail Running - PLEASE comment me their information.

Take care, be well - Sank

Refereeing and getting old!

I'm told that New Hampshire and Vermont are peak this weekend but the leaves are really starting to turn here in good old Massachusetts. The pool this morning had a fairly decent layer so I guess the pool guys will be coming out soon to close her down. That truly is the benchmark for the end of summer. Oh well.

Fall also brings the start of the AAU and Rec League basketball which is good by me as it helps to put some $ in my pocket by refereeing. The only downsides, it really gets tough on the body trying to ref somewhere between 5 to 10 games over a weekend and get in a run (trail or road). But the money is good and I try to consider it like a sprint workout. Last weekend I reverted back to my old habits and didn't stretch AT ALL. Big mistake as I tweaked something in my lower back into my left hamstring. I did a couple runs this week and once I got out a bit it warmed up ok, but the mornings were tough getting up.

 

Well it sucks to get old, but what are you going to do, they haven't found a cure for that yet.

Took this picture yesterday as I was walking down Boylston Street - yup this is the "needs to be painted badly" finish line of the Boston Marathon.  Right around the corner from the hotel I run.  Hopefully I will be running over that in just less of 200 days. 

Be well all - Sank

On the Road again and I added a Beer of the Week section

Wow what an absolutely crazy 4 days.  Friday involved picking the rosters for 4 youth basketball teams, one being my daughter Hannah's.  Saturday and Sunday was refereeing and more refereeing.  I looked on line to see what the average distance coverered when refereeing a high school game and it said between 3 and 5.  Well I couldnt really see that so I put it in at 2 miles per game and 2.5 for this one beast of a game.  I say beast only in that these were two of the best 17 year old teams in the New England and my partner and I ran our asses off.  Fun game to do though, lots of action above the rim.  Now generally before I started up running a month or so ago, the next day I would be doing my best Walter Brennan imitation limping around the house but I have to say that both Sunday and today I felt pretty damn good.
So tonite I get home a bit late and after doing all the games I decide that I will do a short 2.3 miles.  I was little concerned as I had tightened up a bit as the day progressed sitting in the office chair for a large part of the day, coupled with almost a 90 minute extended ride home but I went out regardless.  As I started the back of my legs were keeping me in check, but as I finished the later part come over a small hill I was pretty happy with my run.  8.25 pace and I thought after last week's run that it was going to be closer to 8.  I guess I have to think that the 7.49 pace was an error somewhere either distance or the watch.  Oh well it gives me something to shoot for, breaking 8 again.
Ok now to the libation part of the blog.  I finally added a Beer of the Week section to the left, along with a past winners section.  Just a place to show what I am drinking at the moment, a different beer related type of post or just a beer that I tried and liked enough to take the time to add it.  If you have one that you particularly like, please send it on over and I will happily try it out.
Be well all - Sank