What I've Learned

O.K., I was off the blogging grid for a while.

A quick check of previous posts on the site shows that the last time I wrote something regarding the streak was back in March.  I don't think it was something that I needed to get away from necessarily as the streak has continued on.  I'm not really voluminous when it comes to writing, so I think perhaps it was a matter of running out of things to say.  Or maybe it was just a focus thing.

And if indeed it was a focus-related break, that would make sense.  You'd think running 365 consecutive days would be consuming (it wasn't). Or monotonous (I don't think so).  What it became, though, was kind of routine.  It's something that just becomes part of what you do every day.  Like brushing your teeth or eating.

I have learned a few things though.

       In order to get a least a mile in every day for the past year, there was some planning involved.  Like, what time of day should I run tomorrow?  Pre-work. Lunch. Post-work.

       Do I need to do a load of work-out gear laundry?

       I'm hungry most of the time.

       What am I going to eat tomorrow?  I can usually eat most anything I want, but in order to keep my weight up, I found needed to consume at least 2800 calories a day. Basically ensuring I eat three meals a day.  I can tell you that this has not typically what I've done over the years, so now I have to make an effort to eat more for breakfast everyday.  Bring lunch or go home for lunch and then eat something healthy at night.  And snacks in the morning and afternoon.  Protein shake after full workouts.  Protein drink after just a run.  Every time.

       Don't eat a half of a bag of Cheetos and a turkey sandwich a half hour before you go out to run.

       My monthly mileage has gone down over the months.  During the summer, I was getting in 15-20 miles a week in.  But as work started to really ramp up in late August and into September, there have been a lot of times where I have been only getting in a mile a day.  So, there have been times were I've only ran 10-12 miles in a week. I think also since I haven't been training for a road race, there hasn't been the urgency to do more in order to ensure I'm really in shape for a longer event. Also, a lot of my runs take place indoors on a treadmill (something I'm not really fond of).  So, like anything else, a few changes (run outside and sign up for a race, for example) and Bob's your uncle.

   As you know, it's a great way to see the country.  In the last year I've ran along the coastal trail in Alaska. I've ran in Saskatchewan, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota, North Dakota, Michigan, Ohio, Idaho and Wisconsin. I've ran when it's hot and humid and when it's cold and windy.

   Map My Run has my mileage for the year at 756.2.  During the summer, the heaviest months during the streak, mileage for May was 78.19, June was 72.63, July was 74.25 and August was 74.43.

   My dog, Daisy, is getting older.  Me, too.  That means we're getting slower.  When she was younger, we wouldn't stop.  At least she didn't have to.  When I was training for a marathon a couple of years ago, I took her back to the house in the middle of a training run after 11 miles (I was doing a 19-mile run that day) and took off.  She was looking out of our house, wondering where I was going.  Now, she stops and sniffs flowers quite often. 

   If you're planning on running after work once you get home, do it then.  Don't eat and don't sit down to watch TV. 

   I can run a mile on a treadmill in under eight minutes.  I can get under nine minutes on pavement, but I'm not sure I can do under eight minutes on pavement.

   A couple of weekends ago I was with our men's hockey team in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.  There's a lot of snow and it's really cold there so, my workouts were in the fitness room at the hotel. Basically one treadmill, an eliptical machine, a medicine ball and a TV in a small room.  Our last day there, a Saturday, I got up and had an excellent continental breakfast. Then back to my room to check out the national cross country championships where we had a young gal (Lily Paul) competing. I followed along online, then did a release on her results. Then turned my attention to our home football game, which started at noon.  The bus for the rink was leaving at 4:45 p.m., so I should have had enough time to watch the game online, pack, workout, shower and get dressed for the game.  I started doing some social media as the football game went along. Some screen grabs I took off of the video stream and some graphics.  The game went long and before you knew it, it was about 3:45 p.m.  I put on my gear and hoped there wasn't anyone on the lone treadmill in the workout room. There wasn't and I got my mile in.  Hustled back upstairs.  Packed, showered, got dressed and made it downstairs and on to the bus with a couple of minutes to spare.

I don't recall being sick during the past year.  I've had a couple of minor colds, but that's been it and haven't missed any work.

It's kinda been fun and although I don't know for how long, I'm going to continue to run daily.  I need to sign up for a race. There's been a half marathon in Mankato in the spring the past two years, but I don't see it listed anywhere now.  Maybe the Rochester Half March 2nd, instead. St. Peter Freedom Run (8K on July 4) has become a tradition.   For sure Ragnar in August (the week after Seth & Amanda get hitched) and I think our men's hockey team is home the weekend that the Mankato Marathon and Half Marathon takes place (Oct. 18-19).

Veni, vidi, vici.