Welcome to A Veteran Runnah

Welcome to A Veteran Runnah

Running has been one of my passions for many years. It has helped me through some very tough times, is part of some fantastic memories and allowed me to meet people, who I never would have met otherwise.

Fortunately, I have been around long enough to be considered a veteran runner (age group) – one of the joys of being an old fart.  Also I served 21 years in the Coast Guard and am that kind of veteran too.

Ayuh – I am from Maine and instead of “er” we often say “ah” thus the term Runnah.

Hence the blog’s name “A Veteran Runnah”. Read the full post »

Where the Food Comes From

One of the reasons that I run is to be healthy and another part of being healthy is how and what you eat. In fact, what you put into your body is more important than anything else that you can do for your health in my opinion. It is even more important than how much I run which for me is saying a lot ;-)

With the costs of food going through the roof  (but there is no inflation – just the food packaging getting smaller, at a higher price) and knowing how the food is being grown, has become more and more important to us. So we have increased our gardens’ size a bit over the past year. Notice that I said gardens ;-) .

Spring Pea Garden – nothing but Peas

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Effort is There – Speed Isn’t 5-28-12

I got busy and almost forgot to post my running log today ;-) .

Monday’s are becoming my rest or shorter run days or so it seems. The schedule is working out that I am doing my long runs mainly on Tuesday now, so I will just go with it for a while, one of those be flexible things I guess.

Today I was just going to run an easy 3.1 and not worry about the time. Once I got out there I started feeling pretty good and picked it up pretty good during the second mile – almost getting to race pace – that was surprising. However, when I realized how fast I was going, I backed it down a couple of notches and just ran comfortably.

Splits 5-28-12

I am getting closer to that magic 8:00 minute average pace for my shorter training runs and I am feeling pretty good about that. The only thing is my mind believes that the effort that I am putting out, should be a 7:00 minute pace, not 8:00 and doesn’t believe how much harder I have to work to go faster now a days. The speed is no where near what it used to be for the same level of perceived effort. :-) Read the full post »

Nike Free 4.0 v2 – After 50 Miles

Nike Free 4.0

What can I say – I ran 50 miles in the Nike Free 4.0 V2 this week!

Never in my running career have I run 50 miles the first week I have had a new pair of running shoes. Never.

That says a lot right there about these running shoes.

Here is the link to the Nike Free Run site.

Disclaimer: I purchased these shoes at Dick’s Sporting Goods on 5/21/12 with my own money.

Construction / Fit

The Nike Free 4.0 just fit me right. Read the full post »

AVR – Week In Review 5/27/12

Nike Free 4.0 v2 – making a difference

Today’s Run

I ran around noon today, so the temps were close to 80, but there was a nice breeze. I needed 5.0 miles to go over 50 miles for the week, so I did the Notta Road O/B.

I wasn’t going to go all that fast, but when I got off the dirt road I picked it up pretty well (even though I had to stop and dig a larger rock out of the sole of my left foot, the tap, tap, tap was driving me crazy.

By the time I got back to the dirt road again, I admit it, I was tired and slowed down a bit too much. However, I got the 5.0 done in 42:30, which is an 8:30 pace, so I am satisfied.

I was surprised that I had enough energy/strength left to still run faster than my average pace on a week, when I have run further than I have in a long, long time.

Running Summary This Week

RunLog Week of 5/27/12

Weekly Summary 5-27-12

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Hot and Humid 10 Miles

I knew that I was in trouble on this run when at mile 7.0 my hat brim was dripping sweat like it was raining out and no it wasn’t raining. I almost didn’t run this one because it was so humid and I am a little tired from the mileage bump. But the sun wasn’t out yet, so the temps when I started were only in the low 70s. I know that I need to acclimate to hot and humid, so I decided to just do it.

However, because of the humidity, I started out slow and stayed slow staying around 9:30 pace.

Split chart 5-26-12

As you can see as the run went on I kept getting slower, the humidity really sucked it out of me at the end. I am happy with the run though, no stopping and I kept my pace under 10:00 minutes over all – not a great run, but a darn good one for the conditions.

That and I am in uncharted territory with my mileage now. This is the most I have run in a week, since 1988 probably and definitely 1986. So I am taking it careful, but everything feels like it should, the knees are barking a little, but not bad and everything else feels really good.

I don’t care what anybody says – your running shoes do make a difference. I can’t remember a pair of shoes that I ran this many miles in the first 6 days that I had them (even when I was training for the MCM in 1983, I only had around 40 miles my first 6 runs in them according to my logs, so this is a new record for just running a pair of new shoes.

I think that will go for 5.0 tomorrow and get a nice 50 mile week, the first one in a long, long time.

 

 

 

 

 

Hilly 5.0 and Feeling GREAT 5-25-12

Today was supposed to be an easy 3-4 miles or be off.

Instead I just ran a how I felt 5 instead on my hilly course and did a decent 8:30 pace, so I was happy with the run.

Elevation-Pace 5-25-12

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Almost Got 10.0 Today 5-24-12

Todays run 5-24-12

Today was almost a perfect day for running 65, overcast, but just a little too humid, but I will take it :-) . I had planned to do 5 or 6 today then before the run I felt pretty great, so I decided to do 7-8, well while I was out there, I decided to do the 10 mile course.

I felt really great the entire way even though the last 3.0 were a little slower. The hill on Bartlett was a little tough, but not nearly as bad it used to be.

The Nike Free’s were just comfortable the entire way for me. 4 runs over 30 miles and no issues with my shoes – this is what I have looked for a long time. I just have to be care to not over do it and get myself injured, so tomorrow is a short run – only 3-4 miles.

I continued to work on my form and keep my stride short with a higher cadence, which really seems to be making a difference, in how my legs feel after a run. Read the full post »