Putting the house on the market

18. April 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: Massachusetts, moving, Richmond


Today, we met with our Realtor (Erin) to discuss the price for selling the house. I will be taking the pictures in the morning and the house will be officially for sale on Wednesday. Erin was very impressed with how much work we have done on the house, including how much we have cleaned out to make the house appear much larger than when she first walked through the home.

The challenge is to have all of the photos taken by Monday at the latest, then have her create and print fliers by Wednesday or Thursday. This is a whirlwind compared to last time we sold our home in Phoenix (10 years ago). There, we plopped a sign in the yard and it sold. The real estate market today is very different today.
I leave on May 10th, so everything that I need has to be packed and ready to go prior to that. The challenge is that we still need to have the house until school is out. We have the added challenge of camp for both kids, although that is higher with my spouse than I. Perhaps it’s my incorrect gut feel, but with a limited amount of time allocated for temporary housing and a limited amount of funds to sponsor an extension of that time, that I really want to be in a house by late June, even if I am sleeping on the floor and waiting for our furniture to arrive in a week or two.

Timing, they say, is everything.

Monument Avenue 10K

05. April 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: Monument Avenue 10K, Richmond, running

Today, I ran the Monument Avenue 10K in Richmond. The weather was interesting – warm and damp. The race has grown to more than 30,000 participants (runners and walkers), which is both good and bad. The good is that the greater Richmond community has embraced the race to get people out of their chairs and moving. The bad is that there are too many stinkin’ people in the race to make it fun for anyone running. I guess you always get the bad with the good. Four of us left our normal parking area at 6:30 AM so we could access our good secret parking area where I have been parking for years.

The elite runners took off at 8:30, and we took off at 8:57. Lori, Sara, and Quina were running with me for a bit, although we all splintered off as the race wore on. Richmond is a very small town – not in population, but the fact that you can be anywhere and see people you know. My physical therapist (sports med doc assistant) was almost beside me at the beginning and the end. Lots of folks from church, work, etc. were all there. I even ran into and spoke to the one newscaster I know from WTVR who had just completed an interview when I arrived.

The race was okay – I had a new PR for a 10K, although it was not what I had hoped. 1:03:06. I brought my own Accelerade which worked well. The only water I took was one cup at mile 5 to pour directly over my head to cool me down. It rained on and off, but never hard. I didn’t walk other than at the one water stop and to regroup during the 6th mile. I made the mistake of taking off too fast, especial for mile 2, about 30 seconds per mile too fast. So, a slow mile six made up for it. I ran a 10:09 initial mile out of the crowd, then had a single negative split into mile 2 (9:37). I was warmed up and feeling good, but let my legs outrun my head. Towards the end, I was out of energy, another negative of eating at 6 AM for a 9 AM start. I’m not sure how to get around that in the future, other than to get a ride to the race closer to the start and not have to worry about parking!

This was the last race for a while. Details shortly.

I am a new hybrid owner

03. April 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: Camry, change, hybrid, kid at heart, Richmond

Starting on Monday, and concluding today, I purchased a 2009 Toyota Camry Hybrid. This car is loaded to the gills, with a full navigation system, XM radio, heated leather seats, and moon/sunroof. I never thought I’d pay this much for any vehicle, but with my job situation likely to change in the next few weeks, I will have a much longer commute each day. The car is very comfortable and will also make the 18-hour drive back home for a weekend or two worth while!

Here is a picture if you want to see (CLICK HERE).

One of the things I like most is the Bluetooth integration. From the steering wheel, I can initiate calls or answer calls. From what the people I’ve spoken to say, the clarity is excellent – much better than with my Bluetooth headset in my truck.

The other thing I like is the dead silence when the car is stopped. No noise what-so-ever. After running tonight, I asked Melanie to tell me if the car was running or not. She said no… then I put it in drive and edged away. She was surprised to say the least. Give me a few thousand miles to figure out if I really like it!

Half Marathon – here I come…

13. March 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: half-marathon, knee pain, Richmond, running, Shamrock Half Marathon

Today was the last mid-week run before the half. We ran a measly 4 miles – very short even by mid-week standards. I ran slowly at first, got rid of the congestion that has been plaguing me for the last week, then increased my speed with each consecutive mile.

My miles were 10:31, 10:41, 10:15, and a blazing 9:43. I felt fantastic! I almost sprinted up the final long hill (which I generally hate), then kept going. I passed Melanie and Sara both — I think they were shocked… Knowing that I only had the four miles to run helped a great deal. My knee felt great. My feet felt great, and my belly felt great as well. If it weren’t for the congestion, I’d be really happy now.

The half marathon is Sunday. I have decided to head to Virginia Beach on Friday so I can relax on Saturday all day. I need to visit the Expo to do packet pickup, eat some lunch, then cook dinner for my buddies on Saturday night (pasta, of course). Early to bed, then an early rise on Sunday for the race. At this point, I think that I will need to leave the house around 5:30 at the latest to find parking in a public lot. Driving around in pre-dawn light is not my idea of a good, stress free day. After the race, I will relax, pack up and drive home. The best part is that I am off on Monday, have a 4 PM massage scheduled, and will have zero email or BlackBerry all weekend long.

Continued knee pain, then relief!

05. March 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: doctor, knee pain, Richmond, running, Shamrock Half Marathon

Last week after the almost 14 mile run, pain set in. My left knee was a bit sore on Sunday, and very sore by Sunday night and early Monday. Ice and ibuprofen were my only resolutions for then. I went to the gym on Tuesday to attempt to run but was promptly reduced to a slow pace on the treadmill. With each step, excruciating pain. It would have to be a week of rest. On Wednesday, Lori and I walked 2 miles – it was cold and my knee was again not up to it. Time to call the doctor.

I saw the good doctor (she is a tri-athlete). and a good bit of feeling my knee and a few digital x-rays later, she had her diagnosis. Pes bursitis or pes tendonitis. Something about the bursis getting inflamed by the rubbing when I run. So, she shot me up with cortisone, fitted me with a strap to keep the kneecap in place, and put me on high-dose anti-inflammatory drugs. If this doesn’t work, I will be back for other stuff on Friday. I am attempting to run on the treadmill tomorrow (maybe 4 miles), then see how the knee feels.

Saturday, in the park

27. February 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: Monument Avenue 10K, Richmond, running, Shamrock Half Marathon

Okay, so it wasn’t a walk in the park… but, I did run 13.85 miles on Saturday! I was so pleased with how I felt, how I worked through the pain, and how I kept going when stopping was so easy.

As scheduled, we ran the first 4 miles with the 10k team. It was so easy… we started late, chatted with everyone we passed (many of them), and finished up significantly warmer than when we started. Then, we took off again after a few minutes of a break for a short 10-mile jaunt. This was actually easy for the first half of a mile, then I started coughing up a lung getting my breathing down right and letting the Allegra kick in. Once I got back in the swing, I ran pretty good through mile 5 (so that would be of mile 9 total). A few periods of walking and I finished it… I was having a hard time when I finished mile 11, right before the SAG. By mile 11, the muscle fatigue had started but I worked through it.

My diet this week consisted of a goo after mile 4, another one after mile 8, and one more at the SAG at mile 11. Lots of Accelerade throughout, and I was feeling pretty good.

Sunday, I was lame as can be expected, then lame again on Monday. Today, I went to the YMCA to run on the treadmill and my left knee was so sore that I just couldn’t run at all. I walked 2.5 miles, but will try to run 5 miles tomorrow night with Lori.

The longest distance I will ever run?

23. February 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: half-marathon, Monument Avenue 10K, Richmond, running, Shamrock Half Marathon

Tomorrow morning, we are scheduled to run 4 miles, them recoup and run 10 more… that makes for 14 total miles. Since we are training for the half marathon which is a mere 13.1 miles, 14 miles is insane.

If I run all 14, I will know that I can do 13 and finish standing up. If I run all 14, I will know that I will feel like I am 80 years old (and I’m not even 50 yet). If I run all 14, I will have the satisfaction that February 23rd, 2008 will be the day that I ran the furthest distance of my life.

While it seems to be a daunting task, it will make the half marathon in 2 weeks much easier knowing that I can cover the distance.

10 miles and feeling good

16. February 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: half-marathon, Monument Avenue 10K, Richmond, running, YMCA

We just finished a 10 mile “recovery” run and I’m feeling good. Wow – I never thought I’d be able to say that! We ran 3 miles with the YMCA 10K Team in Training group, then stripped down some of the layers, grabbed our fuel belts, and took off to run another 7 miles. The weather was cool, but not cold, sunny, but not in your face sunny. What worked for me was sort of everything. So, in the determination to repeat success, I wanted to document what I did.

Dinner Friday – pasta with meatless sauce, 2 pieces of whole grain bread with butter, a salad and a beer. I had done my best to hydrate all day on Friday and then continued with water in the evening. A few nuts to snack on before bed and in bed by 11. All of my clothes were out, with a few options depending on how cold it was overnight.

Saturday – up at 5:30, 2 ibuprofen tablets and some water, back to bed until 6:30. Up at 6:30 – breakfast by 7:00 – sweetened oatmeal and 1/2 mug of coffee – lots of water. Two immodium tablets for the IBS. Clothes: shorts, socks, shoes, and the first layer Nike shirt too tight to wear solo. Then, my new long sleeved layer with the zipper at the neck. Hat and sunglasses. For the first 3 miles, I added my jacket and gloves but stripped them off when we picked up the rest of the group before the final 7 miles. Of course, two paper towels folded and in my shorts waistband for the sinuses, glasses, and sweat.

I ate a PowerBar Gel (goo) after the first 3 miles, and topped up with Accelerade. Another Gel after 4 of the 7 miles (at 7 miles overall), and drinks of the Accelerade along the way. I felt good, with almost no walking at all today. I ran an 11:06 average pace which I will take over 10 miles anyday! Here is the link to the results: CLICK HERE

12 miles… a new personal distance record!

10. February 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: half-marathon, Richmond, running

I completed a bit over 12 miles today, while the gals did 13. I was hurting during the last 2, so decided not to to the 13th mile. My orthotics were putting pressure particularly on my left knee, and I’m really feeling the pain tonight. We ran three miles to warm up with the 10K training team (Lori is a coach), then stripped down to more appropriate clothes (I went down to shorts and a top, leaving behind a jacket, gloves, and long pants).

That said, it was a good workout – a bit over 2100 calories worth – by far the most ever. Oatmeal for breakfast (single serve instant), a goo after 3 mile warm up, another goo after 7 and one more at 10 (our SAG) and lots of Accelerade along the way. By the SAG, I had set my new personal distance record by over 1/2 a mile.

After the SAG, I was really dragging, though, and my legs felt like jelly. I decided to blow off the last mile so I wasn’t completely spent for days, and it was a good decision. We all got a smoothie at the grocery store, including a protein shot. Then, home, a shower, and a quick nap. I think I won’t have a problem sleeping tonight.

And the distance continues to increase…

02. February 2008 · Write a comment · Categories: half-marathon, Richmond, running

Today, five of us started out together with four different distances in mind. I was running 8 (run to the SAG), another 9 (modified the course), another 10 (first 5 with us then back), and the other two 13.1 miles – a full half marathon distance. I kept up (mostly) with the 13.1 group (Sara and Melanie), and got a return ride at the water / SAG stop that Lori set up. This was planned – although I could have gone a bit further but didn’t want to push too far too fast and risk injury.

My orthotics worked well, although I pushed the envelope of how long I should wear them. The run today was well over an hour which is the limit that I’m supposed to stick to for the first week. The limits are a bit loosy-goosy though, so it’s what I’m feeling comfortable with. So far, they have felt great when I’m running, but I have some knee pain afterwards from the foot straightening that they are doing. In time, all will be well! I replaced my shoes about the time that my foot problem occurred, but they are just a newer model of the same shoes I had, just without hundreds of miles of road wear. One good thing to note is that my old shoes showed even wear, meaning I don’t have any signs of pronating.

Nutritionally, I tried a different goo and broke open a pack of these gummy-bear like shot bloks from the makers of Clif Bar. Three of us shared them (a bit less than a serving each). You absolutely have to stop and chew them, though, since I believe you will choke if you try to keep running. The ones we had were orange and quite delicious – eaten at about 4.5 miles. I also had a vanilla goo with no caffeine a couple of miles later. To start the day, I had my usual single serving of instant oatmeal which works with my belly. I got a solid night of sleep last night as well, so all of the stars were in alignment to run well.

Next week, 3 on Tuesday, 6 on Wednesday, and 3 on Thursday, then 14 on Saturday. We are going to run the 3 with the beginning 10K team first (Lori is one of the coaches), then take off for another 10. I think we will freak out the beginners if they find out.

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