15 Mile Training Run Complete!

Another Long Run in Davenport.

Another day in Davenport... And Cheryl just completed her 15 miler for the week.   And this time there were no hitches... No dizziness, no tilting world...   Just a single long run muscled out by Wonder Woman.  

Clear skies, and Trails! 

Ok...  There are certain details that may be enhanced a bit... to fill out the blog post, of course!   Normally they would not be worth mentioning... but,  What am I if not an author of fiction? Or non-fiction.... ( That sentence sounded funnier in my head.  But Moving on! ) 

The plan was for 15 miles.   With the "Option" to go further if the conditions and mental state of the athlete were favorable.   I did not get the memo on the option, so I went in figuring Cheryl would try to make up for the lost two miles from last time.  The weather was certainly better than that day, as well as the conditions of the trail.   So I had prepared myself mentally for 20+ miles...  ( Hey!  Biking 20 miles is hard fir chubby, middle aged, non-athletes!)  The training plan had Cheryl backing off  to 15 miles,  so technically,  she is on pace with the Marathon plan. 

We took off straight away and had no problems.   She is still working on her fueling plans on what miles are the best.   Normally, she only does the fueling during a race!  But certain individuals have persuaded her to give mid distance fueling a go during training runs.   And also adding in an Energy Drink as the "Pre-run" prep.   

The Energy drink is rather annoying... for ME!   Because she is literally bouncing off the walls like the squirrel in Over The Hedge.   I can't get the bike off the car fast enough...  I can't get all the gear assembled fast enough... I can't go to the bathroom fast enough!   All the while she is hopping around telling me she does not want to stop and that I'm ruining her time.  Just say "NO!" to Red Bull or any of their highly caffeinated imitations! 

Yeah!  Kinda like that....

As a result.. other than bothering me, it caused her to scream out of the gate at a blistering 8:05 pace.    She maintained that right up until the 15 mile mark.... when she started walking and forgot to turn off the Watch.   Basically, she burned out just before heading into overtime.  This is why she needs a running partner who's pace is just a few minutes slower than hers.  (That is a joke.... Mike will get it.) 

Note:  This is not really the 10k mark.

A Win is still a WIN! 

Other than that detail that no one will ever really care about or understand... She did fine.   15 miles at a fairly fast pace is nothing to complain about.  And because training runs are where you test and experiment with things that could add or subtract from the performance, this was the perfect time to figure out how energy and fueling all work together.   And to NOT get hurt in the process!  ( Another reason she called it at 15 miles is because her knee and hip started acting up....) 

So.... Hopefully Cheryl has burned all that Caffeine and Sugar up and will drop into the sofa in a semi-comatose state. I will finish this blog and spend the rest of my day contemplating the inner workings of the world and how I can exploit them for world domination.   OR just veg out with a video game.   Which ever one is easier.   

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Monday.   Tomorrow is supposed to be even nicer, but Cheryl has other things planned, I think.  Possibly getting the title officially transferred for the Cherry Bomb.  Perhaps Winter will lighten up a touch and bring more friendly weather for the runners.   Fingers crossed!   Thanks for stopping in.

Another 10 Mile Run.

Cheryl is on a roll!   (Role?   Roll as in Roll Over?  Eh,  Who cares....English is weird.)  We just completed a 10 mile training run today.   The weather was nice and she was feeling pretty good.  That makes 46 miles for the week....  Not too shabby.  

We hit up the Terry Trueblood trail for the event.   It has been under construction of maintenance for the last few days, so we were forced to get creative in our route.   I personally like the "Soccer Field" path, since do not go that way often.  

Overall,  pretty nice.  It started off in the teens but warmed up to the 30's by the end.  Both of us were overheating.    Cheryl says that we have two more decent days before the bad weather hits back again.   We shall see what we have in store before then.

In the mean time,  not much to report.   We finally got the title for Cherry Bomb Subie.   So first thing Monday will be getting all of the legal owner stuff taken care of. Other than running and walking in the afternoon, we have pretty much been staying inside where it is warm and comfy.  All this makes for rather boring blog posts, but I figured I will try to check in every couple of days.   

I know I could always go off on some rant about the chaos of the universe, but I have to be inspired for something like that.  And lately,  there just simply are not enough memes to post.   So... I'll keep thing brief.  

Hope everyone has a great weekend and stays warm.   Thanks for stopping in.

Cold Day, Cold Day, Long Run!

  Finding the somewhat perfect conditions for a long run have been a challenge this year.   Today,  the temps rose to a balmy 35 degrees. The last two days, the temps have been in the negatives or single digits.  And tomorrow... the temps are predicted to fall once again.    Good thing we got the long run in today. 

That is right!  10 miles!  In Iowa City of all places.  I'm shocked that the wind was mild, the trail was clear, and we had a fairly easy go of it.  I will note that several sections of the trail were blocked off for maintenance. ( Cutting down trees, I guess...  and working on the railroad.) But we managed to veer around and seek an alternate path. 

Today, after completing the run, we headed to Panera for a lunch with David Dickey.   We caught up on the lack of job opportunities at Pearson and all other troubles disgruntled e-employees have to say.   Just kidding...  We are not disgruntled.   Most of us are just angry at our poor life choices and take it out on Pearson...  It is really just the type of job that people of our caliber seem to gravitate towards....

It was a good visit!  With new and exciting Panera foods that we have been missing for oh so long.  Did you know they no longer offer Clam Chowder on the menu?   I know!  That reason alone should be enough to keep me away forever.  But Cheryl found a pretty good salad that she liked.   And the Bagles are always decent... So.  Cheers!   

Mostly, the best part of Panera is the ability to visit with friends.   The atmosphere is quiet and pleasant.  And the coffee is bottomless!   So that is a plus.  

Looks like next week might be the next warm spell...  With rain!  So I will not make any predictions about any long runs until they actually happen.   Hope everyone is staying warm.  This month has certainly been cold enough, given the Green Christmas we had last month.   I guess it has to get cold sometime during the winter... right?   Thanks for stopping in and stay warm...
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The 18.5 Mile Long Run In Davenport.

18.5 miles is a lot.   Today was the only day this week where the temps were manageable.   So there was plenty of pressure to get a long run in...   Cheryl has been pretty focused on her Marathon Training this year, especially given that the last two years were a Marathon Bust!   But that means long runs during the winter.   And those have always been challenging. 

The predicted snow actually was present.  Granted, it was not as heavy or deep as one would expect or fear.   Instead, it lightly covered the trail with a fine powder that conveniently hid all of the icy spots.   There were crews out plowing the trail, which was nice.   But it still presented a challenge. 

The first 13 miles were fairly easy.   We had Music to pass the time and keep us motivated.   The wind was mostly to our backs and not very strong or gusty.   I would even say Cheryl maintained a consistent pace for the entire distance. 

But shortly after that,  the music bugged out.   ( battery lasting less than 2 hours?) and the aches and pains and annoyances of running "forever" began to pile up.  I actually figured we would complete 20 miles, but as we turned to face the wind again,  the wind had picked up.  ( It was predicted to get worse around 11 AM.)   Cheryl decided that 18.5 was enough, because she started to feel bad.   A combination of "strobe lights" and "tilting earth" syndrome.  With the cold wind, slippery, hidden ice, and  lack of music, I figured that was enough for me as well.   So.... only 18.5 miles. 

Like a train running out of steam....

Still....  18 miles is a LOT!  Especially for running in the snow.  I certainly feel it anytime we bike over 14 miles.  Stiff neck, sore knees and elbows and wrists.. It creeps up on you.   

There is bound to be nicer weather in the future, so we may try another long run then.   But for now...  Time to be a bum with the cats on the couch.  I figure we have earned it.  

Hope everyone is staying warm.   Temps drop again after today.  They said 32, but it stayed 27 all day today.   At least the snow was not as bad as it could have been.   Deep drifting snow is a pain to run and bike  in and makes training outside impossible. 

You might have noticed that the Zakoseks are missing.   That is because they are currently in Florida, enjoying Margareta's on the beach and working on their tans instead of running. Just think of all the cold weather training they are missing out on by drinking on the beach.  

Now, don't feel to bad for them.    I'm sure Mike will be able to run a little while he is there.   But he is missing out on "the struggle" of wind, snow, ice and cold.    Does all that struggle make Cheryl a better runner?  I think so.  But I will admit I'm slightly biassed when it comes to miserable training.   A call back to the Army days.  ("If the training is easy,  it is not effective!")  Good times!  

Thanks for stopping in.

Cold Days....

Cheryl and I have been doing very little other than running, walking, and sleeping.   It is simply too cold to do anything meaningful outside.  ( Good thing I'm not a Farmer... The Cows would starve!)   We ran 7 miles the last couple of days, and 4 miles this morning.   After a brief rest, we head to the YMCA for some walking laps each afternoon.   It takes about an hour.

The temps have been in the single digits for three days straight!  And negatives are back!  Add in wind chills when the temps are slightly above zero, and the result is still the same:  Negative numbers and cold!   But we manage to do the normal training run.   That has to mean something.

Rocket and Leo snuggle...

There is snow predicted for tomorrow.  There was a dusting of snow a few days ago, but luckily, it did not amount to much.  With a little more luck, the same might be true for this wave.   And the temps are supposed to be warmer as well. ( 30's I think)   with a bit of a wind, so... still cold!

Rocket, Leo, & Hiro Snuggle with Haru on the floor.

You don't need a weather man to know it is cold outside, just look at the cats!   Especially the outdoor ones.   Yesterday,  Leo ( the puffy one) stayed inside all day!  (And that is saying something!   Since he does not mind the cold with that long fur coat of his. ) 

Haru came inside earlier than normal,  showing up during daylight hours.   And when they were finally all inside,  all four of them cuddled up together on the couch!   That means is it too cold for them.... and that means it is too cold for me.

Best weathermen in the biz!

Hope everyone is staying warm.   There really is not much to blog about, but I feel odd taking so many days off.   I figured I would just check in for the cat pics.   Time to make a warm cup of Chicken Bouillon.  Thanks for stopping in.  243.

Two Days, 26.2 Miles, and An Encounter With A Vegan Restaurant.

Over the last few days,  Cheryl and Mike have been training  for the upcoming Marathon.   And with the Challenges of the recent snowfall,  they were forced to split  their training into two days   Monday,  they ran 14 miles.  While yesterday,  They continued by running an additional 12.2 miles to get a full 26.2 miles.    Does it count if you split the long run up over two days?  I think so...  Distance is distance, after all...   And  skipping a recovery day has to account for something.

At least they were able to capture the nicer weather.   The temps dropped to the single digits last night.  Add in that the trail was "partly clear" on Monday...  Forcing them to run inside adds another layer of complexity.  In the end,   we all had a fairly good time and got in the miles.   What else is there to say?

Well,  I guess I could point out the things that had nothing to do with running.   Because.... let's face it,  Running is boring to those who don't, won't or can't run....But the sideshows are always fun.   And that is what I will focus on.

A slightly festive addition to the city of Davenport was the  set up of a bunch of Ice Sculptures. There were many! And even with the temps creeping up to 40 degrees, most of them remained intact.  I'm sure if they survived yesterday afternoon, they are going to be there for the rest of the week, since the temps are not supposed to climb above 24 this week.  

I liked the Ice Bar... and the throne.   If I had to guess, I would think that the Brewery funded the whole thing.  But there is also plenty of evidence that the parks and rec people might have had something to do with it.  Or maybe they just had a competition/festival and we were lucky to see the remaining models before they melted.   Either way,  I love sculptures and art.  It was a welcome distraction from the running. 

We also toured the Sky Walk in Davenport.   There really is not much to it.  I think it is a sky way over the road so people can travel safely to the riverboat casino. ( When it is there...)   I think...  I have not seen the riverboat there in a while.  Maybe it moved up the river and all that is left is this tall monstrosity..  But Cheryl and Mike seemed to have fun running up and down the gangplank like a couple of kids at Disneyland.   As for me,  I was overdressed and overheating after walking up 8 flights of stairs.  Not sure about Pam. 

And finally,   we went out to eat at some new place that Pam found online.   Mike, in order to help his training and running,  has decided to start "Eating Healthy"  ( whatever that means...)   And has set out to attempt a Vegan Eating Scheme.    The problem is that most places do not offer vegan meals.   For those who might be confused:   The difference between Vegan and Vegetarian is the political baggage that is attached to Vegans.  I could say more, but I want to avoid a rant.  

IN the mean time...  There was food.   And a HUGE menu of meals that were very similar to normal food you would eat anywhere else.   Except... here..  They were ALL vegan.  No eggs, no milk, no cheese, no animals were used or harmed or involved in any of the ingredients.  So how do they get a Hamburger to taste like a hamburger while not being made of actual hamburger?   Science!   Or something.    

Allow me to pause here for a second and note that usually the whole point of eating plants is to eat healthier that consuming lots of fats and proteins from meat.  But if the "Mystery Meat" was conceived in a Food Lab somewhere ( Perhaps China..  Those Chinese are experts at Lab creations....),  Does that make it More or Less healthy?   You be the judge.   ( Need I say:  Soylent Green! )

Normally, I beat the lab experiments, and the Political Agendas by ordering a Pizza.  Made with Olive Oil and topped with Veggys and Mushrooms, I could care less if there was no meat.  ( Or cheese?   IT should have cheese...)   But there was no Pizzas offered yesterday.   Go figure.  (Hopefully it is not Gluten Free!)

However,  the food they DID serve was edible and good.    Take out the politics, virtue signaling, and heavy handed Animal rights and the food was actually pretty good.  Aside from the lack of spices and seasoning.... and salt.   The Tomato Basil soup was fairly bland.   But the Mac and Cheese was pretty good.  ( Not really cheese... More like Tomato sauce.)  

Well, after that, we all decided the best thing to do is head out for some donuts.   Donuts:  The OPPOSITE of healthy.   I guess we all collectively felt we had to undo all that vegan detox that our systems were forced to endure.  And there are very few donuts as unhealthy and delicious as Hurts Donuts.  

Art in the Hurts Donut Shop...WW2 Bomber!

A quick sugar rush and we were all happy once again. Never underestimate  the mental cure of a good donut. And by good, I mean Bad... Very very BAD...  All that sugar and fat....Why does all the good things in life turn out to be "bad: for you.   A mystery I will Ask God someday. 

In the mean time,   We ended the day with a nice chat and said our goodbyes to the Zakoseks, as they will be heading to Florida in the next few days.  Let that be a lesson to all of you... This is what happens when you retire early.    Spending your winters in Florida.. Playing shuffle board in the sunshine and salty air all day.  Fishing in the ocean, exploring the sites, golfing, swimming, beach combing....  Yeah, Sounds pretty grim, doesn't it.  

But I guess Mike will be training in the heat.   Running in the high humidity while dodging Hurricanes and baby sea turtles.  ( The turtles lay their eggs on the beach to hatch and ruin beach experience....Or so I hear.)  Cheryl and I will continue to plow our way through the snow and ice and cold and wind and financial uncertainty of being non-retired folks.  Because,  we like to do things the hard way.  And avoid Baby Sea turtles on our runs.  

I finally almost capture an Eagle!

Ok,  This post is long enough so I better end it now.   I knew it would be, that is why I did not blog yesterday.  Hope everyone is having a fine week so far.  And hopefully you will be able to endure the cold snap that Mother Nature has thrown our way.    It won't last long... hopefully.   Thanks for stopping in.