I HeArT(E) Running

I love to play basketball.  It keeps me fit, let's me burn off some stress, and allows for some flexing of the ego (or humility, depending on who else is playing.)  Lately (for nearly a year) I haven't had an open court to play regularly, so I've had to resort to something I never really thought I would enjoy.  Running.

As it turns out, I was right.  I don't like running. It does, however, beat hamsterwheeltreadmillyptically trying to keep from getting a fatter arse.  So, in addition to getting in some miles around town when the weather permits, during the last three months, I have done some running for good causes.

November - Drumstick Dash
Thanksgiving morning, I tend to think more about sleeping and eating than anything else.  For TG2011 it was time to be thankful for always having food on the table and a nice warm place to sleep.

I've run some timed 5K's, and know I'm usually under the 9 minute mark for those.  This was a different race for me. A. It was cold.  Why am I out in the cold on Thanksgiving again?  B. It was 4.5 miles instead of 3.1.  I don't run that far.  C. There were over 15,000 people in this thing. Whoa! That's a bigger crowd than I've tried to wade through.  End result for me was: 08:44 / 39:19.7.  An extra mile longer than I had been used to running and still under 9 min. per mile. I dig it.


December - Jinglebell Run
More like Freezing Balz Run.  17 degrees was the temp at the start.  Pretty sure it was 18 at the end.

I think the hat I'm sporting is a decade old now, right y2kemo?  N & I were running for Arthritis.  Not to get it, though it feels like it some days, but to cure it. I just happen to have someone very close to me who deals with it everyday.

I learned a valuable lesson during this one.  Layers are good. Too many layers are bad.  I had to walk a bit to un-wire, remove a layer, and wire back up again.  I can't run without music.  My fourth (yes, fourth) layer was building up steam.  It was ridiculously cold, and I felt ok standing outside waiting, which should have been an indication that after a couple of miles, I would not be cold at all.  I wasn't expecting the personal sauna that I came to experience around mile marker 2.  Given the walking, the result was: 09:10 / 28:31.2. At least I learned something.


January - Bop to the Top
I have heard about this "race" every one of my 11 years working the the OneAmerica tower, and previously wondered why anyone would do that to themselves.  This time, I figured I should experience it myself, rather than listen to the stories of others.  It benefits Riley Hospital for Children, so what's a bit of suffering? I did a practice climb of 12 flights the night before to get a feel for it.  Breathing was tough at the end, and I learned to not sprint out of the gate and use everything up to early.

I said "don't sprint out of the gate!"  That was in the first few flights of the 36 story, 700+ stair climb that rises 500 feet.  Between floor 24 and the finish, I was a lot less upright than in these photos.  The distance isn't much when you read it, but my legs and lungs were telling me otherwise for the next couple of days.  I did mention suffering, right?

End result here, not that it matches running results, was: 08:29 / 08:29.4.  So if you're looking for a few minutes of hell that will stick with you for a few days, but benefits someone else, come do this one with me next year. I'll definitely do it again. I like that PR idea (for my runner friends.)