Getting Back in the Groove, v3

A few weeks ago I once again dusted off the running shoes and participated in the TKPK5K, my one solitary effort to run for more than 10 feet and simultaneously benefit my community. OK, so maybe that is a tad of a stretch. As opposed to last year's disastrous idea of not training an ounce and just walking up the starting line and running 3 miles, I decided this year to at least fake like I was taking it seriously.

This involved running on a treadmill a few times in the two weeks leading up to the event. This was mainly because I was convinced that I would snap my ankle or get beat by a 7-year-old. Well, the second part still happened (those little kids have boundless energy, I stood no chance). Anyway, I did break one of the race rules by listening to an app on my iPhone while running the race. It's called "Zombies, Run!" and it rocks. It's a story that is told while you are running and integrates your GPS into the story, collecting supplies and outrunning the living dead. Good stuff, I highly recommend it for anyone who likes to hit the trails or pavement for a little exercise.

The best part was that I actually beat my time from last year (just barely broke 30 minutes!), even if my place in the standings didn't improve and they spelled my name wrong. I guess the running talent at the TKPK5K is getting stronger. Well, I'm not. I'm just gonna keep hitting my own pace and the rest of these fools running their 5-minute miles can enjoy the extra glass of juice at the finish line.

Getting Back in the Groove, v2

I had two goals for this year's running of the TKPK5K (the local 5K that is run just a few blocks from my house). 1) Survive and 2) Beat last year's time.

You might think this an easy task but, you see, I had a big hindrance affecting both those goalsL I did zero training. None. Zilch. Sure, I bike regularly now and I'd like to think of myself as a relatively fit guy (I did build a multi-ton patio after all). But I'd done no training for this race whatsoever. Never got on a treadmill to test myself. Never did a preliminary jog or 1-mile run to see what kind of endurance I had. Nope, I was a total idiot and just decided to wake up at 6:30 a.m. on a Sunday morning and go run a shade over 3 miles. Yeah, Kuni knows what I am.

Not training influenced my first goal, because who knew if my body would make it through the race. I certainly wasn't out there to break any records, and I could have just walked the damn thing and technically survived, but we all know that wasn't going to happen. The lack of training also greatly affected the second goal, because beating last year's time was not going to be easy, and that includes not having the wife holding me back (her words, not mine). Only 20 guys got a worse time than me last year, so I feared besting that.

So I woke up, walked over, and ran. And ran. Ran until it ended, and I'm almost talking about my body. Because that last quarter-mile that's all uphill did me no favors for my internal confidence. But I finished, and I fared way better this year. 68 guys finished worse than me, and I shaved 5 minutes off last year's time. I also beat a few kids, who should have WAY more energy than me. Wimps. So clearly, with no training, I'm now ready to conquer anything. I'll be out of pocket for the next few days as I scale Everest.

Getting Back in the Groove

Well, it had to happen eventually. I was getting fed up with not getting enough running in, and after several months of not getting out there enough, it was time to hit the pavement and start getting back into running shape.

About a month ago, I found my motivation. The Takoma Park 5K (comically called the TKPK5K) was coming up, and that was all the motivation I needed. Well, it also helped that the entry fee was super cheap, the race took place 4 blocks from my house and after all that I have been through in the past weeks, having the fees go toward helping students have safer routes to school was all in my wheelhouse.

I hopped back on the treadmill and found that I was way out of shape from my normal rhythm. In my prime of high school, I was running around 7:30 minute miles. Not great, but not shabby either. Up until about two years, ago, I was sitting comfortably around 10-minute miles. Not great, but I'll take it. I'm not looking to break records, just finish and keep the ol ticker in good health. When I got on the treadmill about 45 days ago, it was rough. 12-minute miles. Damn, I felt like an 80-year-old up there. But screw it, I'm not gonna get all that normal pace back in 45 days, so I reluctantly decided to suck it up and just do it. So I ran a few times a week and got myself back into a comfortable pace.

Today was the race. I talked the wife into running it with me, though she has the knees of 120-year-old, and she's much better suited for biking and other aerobics; she's just not a runner. In any case, we ran it, and it went better than I expected. I finished in 35:51, which was 11:30 minute miles. And best of all, we had to stop three times to give the wife's knees a break. I think if she wasn't holding me back (heheheeheee, she'll love that), I think I could have hit around 10:30 minute miles without trouble. So I'm getting back into the game, and for now I'm thinking I can get to maybe 9:30 minute miles if I stay with it.

So I need to keep it up and stay in the game. And, I need to get the wife to run one more with me, because she beat me today and I can't let that stand! (OK, she admits that I let her win, but I'm proud of her for gutting it out and not letting that woman we passed catch up to us in the final sprint).