Why I run
I've been asked by several people why I've been running, and not sure I've explained it here. This blog has been more or less just a notepad to keep times, and some record of my first year of running. But here's the story:
In 2001, my dad was diagnosed with CLL during a routine blood test.
In late 2003 and pushing 40, I decided I would try to get myself in some kind of shape. I ran four 10Ks that year with not a lot of training. I had started running a bit earlier that summer. My first 10K in September, my goal was to run in under an hour. I finished with a heartbeat of 210 (displayed on my newly acquired Polar heart monitor) and with a time of 59:59.6. The next three 10Ks went successively better, with the last one of that year in 54:10, a decent improvement.
The running season over, I proceeded to pack on a large amount of weight, nearing a ludicrous and embarrassing 200 pounds. In ealy 2004, my buddy from Canada suggested we go ice skate during our work lunch hour, at a nearby rink. Having never skated before, I could barely stand up on the skates. On my 39th birthday, April 7th 2004, I purchased an annual pass to the ice rink and started dedicating myself to learning how to skate so I could maybe play hockey one day. I did a little running during the summer to keep me in shape for hockey. But nothing over 4 miles. By late 2004, I was itching to buy hockey gear and "get in the game".
By Feb 2005 I had purchased the gear and started drilling on some skills, eventually playing pickup games. Even scored some goals. At one point I was playing 8 games a week. Hockey was good, it got me off my ass and the competitive spirit kept me sharp.
I ran the Shamrock Shuffle in April 2005, in 41:39, just before turning 40. I enjoyed the smashed rat in the middle of the course.
Later that year, I opened a checking account and got to pick my charity associated debit card, so I chose the red LLS card. When I received a mailer from Team in Training (coincidence?), I thought I would go to one of the meetings, with my dad in mind. As luck would have it, I changed jobs in Jan 2006 and the meeting was right by work (in Barrington IL). By then I had to give up hockey due to the rink no longer being accessible. I started running on the treadmill in the fitness center at work in Feb 2006. On Feb 14, I saw a presentation given by Barb Friedman about her son Kevin and I was hooked. I immediately signed up for 3 events for 2006 (even though I was advised against it). I've been running and fundraising for LLS, while keeping an eye on my dad's progress (he's doing fine so far).
Since then, I have been sticking to a combined TNT/Hal Higdon Beginner training plan to train for both the Sunburst marathon in June (4:08:45) and the Chicago in October (3:47:25), my first and second ever marathons.
Before these marathons, I ran the Shuffle again (37:20), Indy Mini for TNT (1:54:53) and Chicago Distance Classic (1:48:21).
I plan to run at least two marathons in 2007, and will continue to raise money for this great cause. I hope to return to the ice this winter.
In 2001, my dad was diagnosed with CLL during a routine blood test.
In late 2003 and pushing 40, I decided I would try to get myself in some kind of shape. I ran four 10Ks that year with not a lot of training. I had started running a bit earlier that summer. My first 10K in September, my goal was to run in under an hour. I finished with a heartbeat of 210 (displayed on my newly acquired Polar heart monitor) and with a time of 59:59.6. The next three 10Ks went successively better, with the last one of that year in 54:10, a decent improvement.
The running season over, I proceeded to pack on a large amount of weight, nearing a ludicrous and embarrassing 200 pounds. In ealy 2004, my buddy from Canada suggested we go ice skate during our work lunch hour, at a nearby rink. Having never skated before, I could barely stand up on the skates. On my 39th birthday, April 7th 2004, I purchased an annual pass to the ice rink and started dedicating myself to learning how to skate so I could maybe play hockey one day. I did a little running during the summer to keep me in shape for hockey. But nothing over 4 miles. By late 2004, I was itching to buy hockey gear and "get in the game".
By Feb 2005 I had purchased the gear and started drilling on some skills, eventually playing pickup games. Even scored some goals. At one point I was playing 8 games a week. Hockey was good, it got me off my ass and the competitive spirit kept me sharp.
I ran the Shamrock Shuffle in April 2005, in 41:39, just before turning 40. I enjoyed the smashed rat in the middle of the course.
Later that year, I opened a checking account and got to pick my charity associated debit card, so I chose the red LLS card. When I received a mailer from Team in Training (coincidence?), I thought I would go to one of the meetings, with my dad in mind. As luck would have it, I changed jobs in Jan 2006 and the meeting was right by work (in Barrington IL). By then I had to give up hockey due to the rink no longer being accessible. I started running on the treadmill in the fitness center at work in Feb 2006. On Feb 14, I saw a presentation given by Barb Friedman about her son Kevin and I was hooked. I immediately signed up for 3 events for 2006 (even though I was advised against it). I've been running and fundraising for LLS, while keeping an eye on my dad's progress (he's doing fine so far).
Since then, I have been sticking to a combined TNT/Hal Higdon Beginner training plan to train for both the Sunburst marathon in June (4:08:45) and the Chicago in October (3:47:25), my first and second ever marathons.
Before these marathons, I ran the Shuffle again (37:20), Indy Mini for TNT (1:54:53) and Chicago Distance Classic (1:48:21).
I plan to run at least two marathons in 2007, and will continue to raise money for this great cause. I hope to return to the ice this winter.
posted by Babka Boy at 10/24/2006 11:00:00 PM
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