Terri – Page 3 – No Crappy Excuses

Dark Run – 10.23.15

Last year at this time, I had access to a gym and could go run indoors when it got dark early. I still had to navigate there/back in the dark, so a 15 minute walk might turn into 30. This year, the training is outdoors, and we’re just going to have to deal with it (as well as a temperamental weather dog).

Tonight was the first dark run, and it was in the rain to boot. The leg out wasn’t too bad, as we were going into the light, even when we were in the trees. However, it got more challenging on the way back.

The lesson from tonight is that until DST ends in the spring, we’re just going to need to run with the tether. Even if I can’t see a thing as we’re running, I plan on doing it. For two simple reasons – I trust my guide completely and with my life, and I refuse to be a prisoner of the dark.

After the run, we headed over to a meet & greet at a local Binny’s. Meeting Mr. Wilson (’85 Bears) was a great way to end a long week!

Cold Run – 10.3.15

I went out with Terri on her last pre-taper run (8 mi). It was a cold and windy day, but the first 4 miles wasn’t that bad. We stopped at the Knoch Knolls Nature Center to use the bathrooms and then turned around.

While the first 4 weren’t bad, the next 1.5 was the absolute worst. Running into a 30 mph+ headwind is no fun for even a short distance, let along 1.5 miles. Until we got back into the shelter of the forest, it was hard to run for long stretches.

And even back in the forest, at 6.5 it was just too much. I think running that 1.5 into the wind took too much out of me, and I ended up walking most of it from that point back.

While it was not the best of runs, two positive things from it:
1) The chalk sidewalk message (see photo)
2) Getting a taste of what it could be like for the Lakefront Half. I just hope we’re not running into the wind then.

Final Bike Training Session – 9.12.15

Saturday marked the final bike practice of the year. We did about 9.5 miles on the usual path. It was a nice day out and a great way to end the season.

While I’ve mentioned it several times before, I wanted to thank Art Black of Oswego Cyclery again for his generosity. Being able to use it throughout the entire spring-summer season helped immeasurably, and I’m truly grateful. I hope that he’s able to rent the tandem out to people for their fall rides!

If you’re in the area, stop by for your cycling needs and bike maintenance. www.oswegocyclery.com

Final Outdoor Swim Weekend – 9.5 – 9.7

With Centennial Beach closing after Labor Day, we made the most of the final weekend. During it, we swam at least 1.5 miles total, along with a 4 mile run/walk.

While the outdoor pools are closed for the season, we will find an indoor pool to use for continued practice. And while the outdoor season is over, it was an INCREDIBLY productive one. I can’t thank Terri enough for all of her help and coaching.

At the beginning of the season, I I had a hard time doing the basic freestyle stroke. But by the end, I not only had it down but we were doing 100m+ sessions. Along with doing 2 (soon to be 3) Triathlons.

8.30.15 – 1st Half (AKA WTF was I thinking?)

Shortly after the SlyFox 10K in April, I was presented with an opportunity to run the Batavia Half Marathon. While a 10K was the longest thing I had ever run at that point, I said yes. The simple reason being that I saw it as a challenge and a continued part of the large goals.

So after the Naperville Triathlon, we started increasing distance, including the 10 mile run I posted about earlier. And while the shorter distances seemed like child’s play after the 10M, the Half was a whole other beast.

Things started out well, with only minor foot cramps at about mile 6. By mile 9, they were really hurting. Terri helped with getting them back to being flexible for another 1.5 miles at that point. However, by about 11.25 miles, I just couldn’t run at all. So we ended up walking the last 2+ miles.

While that was a bit frustrating, two important things came out of it – I finished a Half Marathon, and I think I figured out a way to deal with what happened.

The finish time was 3:07, including having to walk the last 2+ miles. So we were probably on pace before that happened. That’s encouraging, as I’ve got another Half Marathon in January (the true WTF was I thinking moment — 13.1miles in Jan along the Chicago lakefront). . .

Media Snowball – 8.25.15

The media snowball continues to grow and grow. The current full list is below. There are still a couple things in the works, and I’ll add to this article as they do.

Daily Herald Article by Marie Wilson

Video by Bev Clark

Marie Wilson talking about us on ABC7

Post-Race Article by Bob Susnjara

Naperville Running Company article by Kim Weeks

Western DuPage Chamber of Commerce Speech (added 12/5/15)

Chicago Triathlon (Bill Bird) (added 07/15/16)

Camp NoSightNoLimits Video (NBC San Diego) — in background (added 1/28/17)

Child’s Play – 8.25.15

It’s all relative. When the distance was 6 miles in total, it was a challenge to get through it. But after doing 10 on Sunday, the 5 miles on Tuesday seemed like child’s play. This coming Sunday will be 13.1, so then in theory 10 should be child’s play in the future.

A challenging, but good weekend – 8.21 – 8.23

With about a week to the half marathon, I knew we’d be stepping it up. This is a summary of the weekend —

Friday – 6 mile run through the forest, followed by some really painful stretching.

Saturday – Flag football in the morning followed by a bike session in the afternoon.

Sunday – 10 mile run followed by 40 min in the pool. At about 8.5 miles, my legs started to cramp badly. We still chipped away (less than the 3/1 normal interval), but that last 1.5mi was painful.

While Sunday was the most draining of the weekend, and I hit a wall, that wall keeps moving. A year ago, 1 was struggling at 3mi – now it’s 8.5. And other things are getting easier/better as well. Onward and upward….

No rest for the weary… – 8.4.15

The clock hands never stop moving… they go from one minute onto the next. Just like that, while I got a day off after the Tri, on Tuesday it was back to work.

The next race is a half marathon at the end of August in Batavia. To this point, the longest that I’ve run is a 10K. So the race will be more than twice that length.

To get back on track, we went and did a 6 mile run. It went well, but the post-run stretching was not.

Race Day – 8.2.15

So after all the training, race day finally arrived. We showed up at transition to get the final body marking done and set everything up. By 6:45, we were in line to get started in the water, and we took off at 7 with the elites.

The swim was a challenge because people kept trying to swim through us as we were tethered. I also had one d-bag that climbed over me twice. The first time I just pushed him off and back; the second time he just went over. We made it out of the water and back to transition for the bike.

After a long time from the water to bike, we made it out onto the course and did 12 uneventful miles. Back in transition, we made a couple of quick changes and then went out on the run.

At about 1/2 a mile, my IT band (left side), started acting up, and I had to stretch it and walk for quite a while. But eventually everything felt okay to run, and we picked it back up. We finished the race to a cheering crowd (family friends and people in general). There are a couple of great finish pictures that were taken by PEM that I’m still waiting to see.

Our total time was 2:20:37, and we ended up with awards for the PT division. I also ended up being interviewed post-race — the article is here

It was a great day. Thanks to everyone who made it so! I’ve been constantly watching the event site for 2016 registration. Hope to see some of you there!