OAK BROOK, Ill. -- Today I did about 18 holes of disc golf in the Chicago suburbs and decided to run on the 4-mile loop around Hamburger University.
It's a good indicator of my fitness, since the last time I ran it was in September 2007.
While I was running on it I thought of how I've been running on this for 13 years -- I used to run it during my lunch breaks when I worked for a weekly newspaper out here.
I've run in it in the snow and the cold. I used to fear the hills but they're really nothing to me now.
McD's has cleaned up a lot of the goose poop on their portion of the path, which I appreciated.
Time: 4:15 p.m.
Temp: 61 degrees
Gear: SST (MGM), shorts, AP/D2.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
CTS 835 Middlebear H-Loop
Today I was feeling frisky so I decided to tackle the Middlebear H-Loop. It turns out it's the first time in nearly 14 months.
The reason is many times when I get to the turn off on East Ponce, I would opt to go home.
But this time, maybe because of the recent 10-miler on the Silver Comet or the ING Georgia Half-Marathon, I decided to run a longer run.
Having run it, I can tell the quality of my running has changed. L1 really kicked my butt. I passed another runner up L2 and then on L3 I could feel my leg muscles not completely used to this hill.
It's an interesting balance between training and training too hard. I'm pretty sure, though, that these runs will be added to the rotation as I continue to work through the spring.
Time: 11 a.m.
Temp: 61 degrees
Gear: SST (Bally's), shorts, AP/D2.
The reason is many times when I get to the turn off on East Ponce, I would opt to go home.
But this time, maybe because of the recent 10-miler on the Silver Comet or the ING Georgia Half-Marathon, I decided to run a longer run.
Having run it, I can tell the quality of my running has changed. L1 really kicked my butt. I passed another runner up L2 and then on L3 I could feel my leg muscles not completely used to this hill.
It's an interesting balance between training and training too hard. I'm pretty sure, though, that these runs will be added to the rotation as I continue to work through the spring.
Time: 11 a.m.
Temp: 61 degrees
Gear: SST (Bally's), shorts, AP/D2.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
CTS 830: Wanted it to be an easy day...
I thought today would be a slow day but like in the Big Lebowski, this aggression won't stand.
Some guy passed me as I was casually going down Orme and while he took a few steps ahead I gauged his ability to run: the love handles under his shirt, slight calf muscles.
So when the hill to Monroe came, I put it in second gear and dusted him and kept it up to the park.
At the park I made my way up the Middle Earth steps and for the first time since the construction accident at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, made my way through there. Looks like they've put in a really cool car bridge.
Then I came down Piedmont and onto Morningside and back to Highland.
Didn't want to run that hard (the last part of the run is all uphill) but was glad I could do it.
Time: 11:45 a.m.
Temp: 68 degrees
Gear: SST (Race for Research), shorts, AP/D2.
Some guy passed me as I was casually going down Orme and while he took a few steps ahead I gauged his ability to run: the love handles under his shirt, slight calf muscles.
So when the hill to Monroe came, I put it in second gear and dusted him and kept it up to the park.
At the park I made my way up the Middle Earth steps and for the first time since the construction accident at the Atlanta Botanical Garden, made my way through there. Looks like they've put in a really cool car bridge.
Then I came down Piedmont and onto Morningside and back to Highland.
Didn't want to run that hard (the last part of the run is all uphill) but was glad I could do it.
Time: 11:45 a.m.
Temp: 68 degrees
Gear: SST (Race for Research), shorts, AP/D2.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
CTS 829: Silver Comet 10-mile
SMYRNA, Ga. -- It's been 6-1/2 years and I had never found my way to the Silver Comet Trail until today*
One reason was that I was never sure where to access it and I am very unfamiliar with that part of the 'burbs.
So I drove around for a while but lucked out and found a sign that said "Silver Comet Trail" and then "Silver Comet Trail parking" that led me to Milepost 0.
It was fun -- there weren't so many people out and I decided I would run out five miles and then turn around and come back.
At first I didn't really like the angled nature of the path of the first mile or so. My legs were really fighting me -- and later I think I discovered why-- it's a slight grade but totally uphill!
I was happy to meet up with the Mableton trailhead at Mile 4.2 but I decided I'd still continue on until I hit 5 miles on the Hammer of Dawn.
When that happened, I turned around and was pretty pleased it was all downhill the rest of the way.
Ten miles was arbitrary -- I felt that I really had to push it at the end of the ING Georgia Half Marathon, so I should do less miles.
I think my current range is about 8-9 miles. Inside the last mile to go I had to worry about leg cramps.
But I got it done. It will be an excellent place to train and explore from here on out.
Time: 2 p.m.
Temp: 53 degrees
Gear: LST (Ted's), shorts, AP/D2.
*To run on the trail, that is. I did cover the grisly killing of the cyclist for my news organization a few years back at around Mile 16.
One reason was that I was never sure where to access it and I am very unfamiliar with that part of the 'burbs.
So I drove around for a while but lucked out and found a sign that said "Silver Comet Trail" and then "Silver Comet Trail parking" that led me to Milepost 0.
It was fun -- there weren't so many people out and I decided I would run out five miles and then turn around and come back.
At first I didn't really like the angled nature of the path of the first mile or so. My legs were really fighting me -- and later I think I discovered why-- it's a slight grade but totally uphill!
I was happy to meet up with the Mableton trailhead at Mile 4.2 but I decided I'd still continue on until I hit 5 miles on the Hammer of Dawn.
When that happened, I turned around and was pretty pleased it was all downhill the rest of the way.
Ten miles was arbitrary -- I felt that I really had to push it at the end of the ING Georgia Half Marathon, so I should do less miles.
I think my current range is about 8-9 miles. Inside the last mile to go I had to worry about leg cramps.
But I got it done. It will be an excellent place to train and explore from here on out.
Time: 2 p.m.
Temp: 53 degrees
Gear: LST (Ted's), shorts, AP/D2.
*To run on the trail, that is. I did cover the grisly killing of the cyclist for my news organization a few years back at around Mile 16.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
CTS 828.5: Back in the cold
I wasn't satisfied with the last run so I headed out around the park just before dark. I up-armored with a windbreaker, but had to unzip it by the 2-mile mark.
Time: 7:15 p.m.
Temp: 44 degrees
Gear: windbreaker, CFLST, SST (UNLV), shorts, AP/D2.
Time: 7:15 p.m.
Temp: 44 degrees
Gear: windbreaker, CFLST, SST (UNLV), shorts, AP/D2.
Monday, April 6, 2009
CTS 827: The cold is back
Chilly, windy day this morn. Slept a little late, so made the run short, a grocery-getter. Had to bring out the long-sleeved gear.
Time: 12:45 p.m.
Temp: 46 degrees
Gear: CFLST (William's run), SST (Airport 5K), shorts, AP/D2.
Time: 12:45 p.m.
Temp: 46 degrees
Gear: CFLST (William's run), SST (Airport 5K), shorts, AP/D2.
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