My Morning Run. Not The Only Idiot.

Only mad dogs and runner go out in this weather but I saw foot prints in the snow of a few other runners so I'm not the only idiot. It took two miles to warm up but the last three were rather comfortable except for my two ring fingers. Weird. 

My Morning Run. One Less Toe Nail.

Yesterday my left Morton's toenail fell off, only two and a half weeks after the Grand Island Trail Marathon. That's a record for me. Usually my toenails hang in there for months post-marathon. This one, however, was surrounded by a color blood blister which must have hastened the demise of the nail. But, alas, no pictures of my nail-less toe. Instead, here are two pictures from my seven mile morning run on the Panther Trail with my new Merrell All Out Fuse shoes. I'm still getting used to the 6 mm heal-to-toe drop but I love the roomy toe box and their light 8 ounces weight.

Clouds over the intramural fields

Same clouds over the soccer and baseball fields. 

My Morning Run. A Turtle and A Train.

I picked up a running buddy just south of the First Baptist church. Not very talkative but he (she?) set a nice pace. 

The corn is getting high but only has a week to reach an elephants eye (between miles 2 and 3)

A railroad runs west of town. Just off the track where the railroad crosses a road I found this cement block embedded with a plate that gives the elevation. (About mile 3)

Charleston is around 696 feet above sea level but I don't see that number or one close to it on the plate. I'll have to look closer the next time I run out that way. 

I read one time that running on railroad ties helped with pre-ski condition. I guess it primes those agility reflexes that keep you on your toes. Not that I ski much any more, but once in a while I'll run along this rail road west of town just to break things up or, as with today's run, for the shade (between miles 3 and 4). It cut's a about a half mile off my run but I could make the up at the end and the shade was nice. I remember taking Paige and Ben on a "hike" along this section of railroad back when we first move to town.

So halfway down the tracks I meet this guy. I let him pass offering no resistance. 

Even if I didn't meet up with the train while this bridge, it's short enough to avoid a Stand By Me episode. 

Looking back (south) from the bride.

I made up the the half mile by running through a neighborhood near home. I saw this statue on Seneca Drive of a boy pushing a girl on a swing. They place it under a large tree who it looks real life. Pretty cool. 

Yesterday I spoke to the EIU Distance Running camp on running nutrition and other stuff. The camp directors gave me a nice EIU Cross Country team shirt and hat. The team is sponsored by Adidas (I wish it was Brooks Shoes) which surprised me but frankly, I'm getting tired of that ubiquitous swoosh in college athletics.

Today's run. 

So recently I passed this running milestone. It took just over 7 years. It's really nothing compared to real runners but it's something to me.

Hey, that's where I work! Actually I work in Lantz Arena (left and middle) in the part of the building just about the fountain and not Stephenson Hall, the tall one to the right.

My Morning Run. Clouds are Cool.

In January I decided to cut back on the caffeine and that's meant, for most days, a single glass of diet Coke. But then Thursday night I dreamed that I was looking for a Dr. Pepper to drink before going skiing. Friday the dream change to a pre-marathon Dr. Pepper search. Two nights of dreams about the dark nectar was sure to be a sign. Perhaps my subconscious informed my dream center that I was planning a 16 mile run Saturday morning. Well, it worked. Up I woke, down a Dr. Pepper and banana, and put on my Saucony's. Good to go. 

This is not my Dr. Pepper can.

One mile from home is the EIU football stadium and outdoor track. It's state high school track and field meet time and that means Big Al breaks out his lemon shake-up trailer for the summer. If you haven't had a lemon shake-up it's like drinking a tumbler of sugar water with a pinch of lemon. Like fry sauce in Utah, they are way over rated by Illinoisans, if you ask me.

Big Al's Lemon Shake-ups.

About two miles from home and on the west edge of town are the Lincolnshire Apartments, our first home in Charleston back in 1990. We lived in a three bedroom apartment on Union Street for 18 months. 

Our first street. 

I was blessed with a cloud covered sky that filtered the sun's rays down to a very bearable minimum.

Sunrise

The mostly deserted Brown Shoe Company stands just off the bike trail. It reminds me of seeing Buster Brown Shoes at Keith O'Brian's in Logan. I always thought they were ugly. 

Buster Brown Shoe Company

Buster Brown Shoes

Ah, the bike trail. This is looking east toward the the beginning of the trail. Being a old railroad line, the trail typically has a right and a left lane to it. This section doesn't get as much traffic thus the weed covered right (or south) lane. 

I took the trail least traveled (right) and it made no difference.

With the cold winter behind us, I think most farmers have their fields planted but that's not why I took this pictures. I took it because I was still grateful for a sky of clouds to cool my way.

I love clouds on a sunny day.

 Running past Charleston High football stadium I spotted this wig on the crossing sign. I don't think it's Molly's but it reminded me of the picture of her wearing great-grandma Freeman's wig. Molly, let me know if you want this wig and I'll go back and look for it.

Flipped your wig?

There it is. A 16 mile deposit in the bank of preparation for the Grand Island Marathon in July. 

Mile 1 - Big Al's

Mile 2 - Union Street

Mile 5 - Sunrise

Mile 9 - Brown Shoe Company

Mile 10 - Trail less traveled

Mile 11 - Clouds

Mile 14 - Missing Wig

My Morning Run. Go longish or go home.

Last Saturday the warm weather forced me to head home short of my goal. Nicer temps today, just that annoying wind was back, or really, hadn't left. My goal today was 16 miles but I went an extra mile. Here's what I saw along the way and the three marathons options that motivated me.  

It's spring time in the Midwest...finally.

Joggin' on down the road. 17 miles total. 

Planting time.

I promise it's not mine.

More spring time.

After the rightward bend, it's all up hill (and it's steeper than it looks)

And...here' the downhill.

Nice looking row of trees. 

Mt. Zion (aka Kickapoo Church) south of town.

Kickapoo

Last summer there was a house here. 

It was for sale "as is". No one bought it because it was trash so the city razed the mess and is converting the property into a park. 

The three marathons I'm considering this summer are:

Whitefish Point Marathon in the upper peninsula of Michigan along Lake Superior shoreline. It's a 9-10 hour drive from Charleston but it might be worth it. Registration is an unheard of $35, it's very low key and is on June 14. 

Grand Island Marathon, also a Yupper and also a 9-10 drive. The marathon runs around Grand Island, just off the shore of Lake Superior. You take a ferry out to the Island and have to swim back. (Just kidding about the swim part.) It's a little more expensive than Whitefish in part due to the ferry charge but it may be too beautiful to pass up on July 26.

or 

The Utah Valley Marathon

It's the same day as Whitefish so this is more of a back-up option.

My Morning Run. Come Let Us (Me) Run Anew.

This post has something to do with resolutions. My new year resolutions are still ongoing. 
1. Read the Old Testament cover to cover. I'm currently bogged down in Leviticus but that's mostly due to a focus on reading about the Holy week in preparation for Easter. I'll get back to all those sacrificial rules after Easter. 
2. Drink less diet Coke, Dr. Pepper and caffeine in general. I typical have one a day but that's way down from my previous intake volume.
3. More effective prayers. I feel this is happening but still could be much better. 

Motivated by the success with those resolutions, I added a new one right before spring break week in March; to run more. In order to do this I decided to get up when Lesa does at 5:00 a.m., study the scriptures for an hour-ish and then run or ride the stationary bike for an hour-ish except on Sundays and one other weekday of my choosing. I also resolved to do more core and upper body exercises after my cardio stuff. Sit-ups, crunches, etc. The first couple of weeks were a little challenging mostly because of the weather. Even though it was March, it was still cold—and windy—at 6:00 a.m. But, it's been worth it. After two and a half weeks my pants fit looser, my back didn't ache as much, I was running less slowly, and I just all around felt better. Not too bad.

I can't say it's a new me but I like the collective affects of these resolutions. Now that spring has finally arrive to the Midwest, the green grass and shoots of lilies remind me that we can change, year to year. Hopefully, next April I have mastered these resolutions and add from my seemingly eternally long list of flaws new ones to conquer.

I'm pretending to train for the Utah Valley Marathon just incase I actually end up doing it this year. Today as my 14-15 miler. I head south of town to get in some hills but at one point...

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less [hilly],
And that has made all the difference.

In other words, I turned north away from the hilly terrain. I don't think I would have ran 14 miles on the hilly southern route. 

I saw this guy waving me along the bike path. He sits atop Gano Welding Supplies. He seemed really friendly. 

Graffiti on the train underpass. Beautiful, no?

Lilies popping up in the front yard. Looks like spring.

My route.

My Morning Run. What Is It?

Leech? Mud? Wasp? Tattoo? 

My Morning Run. Rain? What rain?

This is when I when I ran.

This is after my run.

My Morning Run. Shoeless Jake.

I't spring and it's windy in Illinois. Nothing new. A brisk wind coming perfectly from the north was the flavor for today. Understand geometry, I had two options. One, have Lesa drive me 12 miles north of town and run parallel with the wind. The other option was to run west and east at a right degree angle to the wind. The long, east-west bike path made the second option the best.  

When I got to the Charleston Country Club it was obvious that no one was on the course so just past the third mile I took a hard right to run through the back nine holes of the course along its cement path connecting holes 11 through 16. This meant I'd have to run a little north into the wind but the holes are located in a small valley which provided a little shelter. 

Near the 11th green I encounter this water hazard. I was coming towards where this picture was taken. Again, knowing my geometry, the shortest distance across the water appeared to be the left of the picture just off the path so that's where I took my leap. 

I cleared the water and landed on grass. Success! But when I pulled my foot form the soft landing pad, my shoe remained behind stayed stuck in the muck. I wanted to take a picture of my lonely Saucony stuck in the mud but I didn't trust myself to balance on one foot in the process. I retrieved my shoe, smacked off as much mud as I could while hopping on my right leg keeping my left sock and foot dry, replace my left shoe and jogged on towards mile 4. I looped back and figured to at least capture a picture of the foot print which now marked the end of my 5th mile. 

I got back on the bike path and ran west to mile 6, did a 180 degree turn and ran back to the Pathfinder arriving with both shoes securely attached to both feet.