October 2012 - AVR Reviewed - A Veteran Runnah

October was a great month for me!!!

A Veteran Runnah is now a self-hosted blog!!! Yes I finally took the step and you can read about it here: A Veteran Runnah is Now Self-Hosted. I am excited about the change and the opportunities that I can now pursue without worrying about the constraints of WordPress.com’s Terms of Service! Ryan at WP SiteCare did a GREAT job of working with me during the transfer and answering my many questions.

I got to go to the Runner’s World Half Festival as a FitFluential Blogger. While there I got to meet face-to-face many of the bloggers that I “see” on social media sites, which was to me – the highlight of the weekend. I also set a PR in the Half Marathon of 1:41:10 (it was my first time running a half in a race) and a this year PR for the 5K of 21:23 (I also finished second in my age group for the 5K).

Something I learned while down in Bethlehem for the RW Festival was that the Runner’s World editors are really great people, who are so enthusiastic about the sport of running. I also got to meet people from Altra, ICON, Swiftwick, The Stick, Aardvark Sports and Zensah, who also showed their enthusiasm for running and their products.

Meeting all the different people who I met was for me, at least, the highlight of my trip, we can run just about any where, but it is the people who make trips like this special. Meeting other runners was also very cool: Bart Yasso, Shalane Flanagan, Amby Burfoot, Golden Harper, the AltraManiacs , Michelle, Amanda and so many others.

Unfortunately, after the half marathon I finally decided to rest my body. My hamstrings haven’t been quite right since August and during the half, they really bothered me. When I tried to run an easy 5.0 on the following Wednesday, they told me how unhappy they were about it and I decided to take 10 days off from running this is day 8. I needed the rest, since the most time off I have taken this year has been a few 4 day rest/recovery days. So I have been listening to my body.

The Central Maine Striders have restarted their Sunday group runs, unfortunately, it started during my down time, but hopefully this coming Sunday I will get to participate. Central Maine Strider’s Group Run

Yes my mileage is way down this month, but between my taper for the RW Festival and rest afterwards, it doesn’t bother me. I have accomplished my original mileage goals and the Runner’s World Half Festival Races were my big races this year. Also I have to learn to build in a couple of these 10 day off periods into my training cycles, just to let my body and mind recuperate from running.

As I get older, I am finally figuring out that I do need more down-time, not something that I really want to believe or will give in to quickly or easily, but it is the reality of my aging body.

Running In October Summary 2012

October Total Miles Run: 117.1
Days Run: 20
Days Off: 11
Longest Run: 13.1 – 1:41:10 Runner’s World Festival Half Marathon – 10/21/12
Fastest Run: 6:53 – 21:23 Runner’s World Festival 5K – 10/20/12
Best Week: 41.74 – week ending 10/14/12

Most notable run: The Rise ‘N Shine 5K – where I established a PR for a 5K for this year Smile .

Shoes Run In

Mizuno Elixir 7 - Media Sample through the Mezamashii Project. 77.2 Miles. I have been running a lot in these shoes since I received them. They are comfortable, fast shoes that let me run the way that I do. Ran PR in Half Marathon in these shoes. Mizuno Wave Elixir 7–50 Mile Review.
Mizuno Ronin 5 – Personal Purchase. 13.7 miles. Initially I thought that they would be too snug in the forefoot. However, when I run in them I don’t notice it and ran a this year PR of 21:23 for a 5K in them. They feel fast and don’t cause any hotspots.
Altra Instinct 1.5 – Media Sample – 7.1 miles. I got them from Altra and wore them almost all the time while walking around and then on a treadmill and easy 4+ miler, before shutting everything down for my 10 days off. They feel a little softer than the 1.0 and I like the looks better. The toe is designed to be off the ground a little more than the 1.0 which gives it a little faster feel to me. It will be interesting to see how they do after I get my hamstrings healed back up.
Altra Instinct 1.0 – Personal Purchase. They have a 166.7 miles on them now and I have been running in them a little more often, but mostly on shorter runs. I ran in them during our Rave Run in the rain around Bethlehem and they did great.
Adidas Adizero Sonic 3 – Personal Purchase – 108.7 miles. I haven’t been running in these shoes, but have started using them as my primary walking shoes.
Skora Base – I received these as media samples from Skora and they are definitely Minimalist shoes – here is my initial review. Skora Base Initial Impressions

I am still in the process of moving to more minimalist shoes like the Altra’s and Skora’s, but until my hamstrings really heal up and I can run a few weeks without any discomfort, I think that I will stay with my Mizuno’s. That way I am not switching between the different styles, but I foresee a three shoe rotation, plus my trail running shoes over the course of the next year.

Racing

My scheduled races in November are: None, but I am thinking about the Champions 10K in Waterville if my hamstrings are completely healed up.

Weight

I ended August 145 and today 11/1 the scales read 144 – I did get down to 141 for a day, but I am not trying to lose anymore weight and want to maintain my weight right around 145. My goal weight at the start of the year was 155, so I am doing great on this goal.

At least 50 pounds lost since June 2012

Injuries

I have been fighting discomfort that was getting worse in my hamstrings, pereformis and right hip since August. After my half-marathon, my hamstrings crossed over from discomfort to pain, so since the 25th I have not been running to rest them and plan to give them a full 10 days to rest and recover. After having a massage on the 30th, other parts of my body needed the rest too . It is just time to rest, a lot of training and not very much rest is part of the reason for my issues – at least I believe that is the problem.

Run Blogging

Top Ten Blog Posts for September – based on page views

My personal favorite posts this month were: The Hardest Part of Running is Not Running and Central Maine Striders – Resurrection

Reviews

One of the things that I really like to do is to review new gear. Whether I buy something myself or provided a product to review, I enjoy trying it out and seeing if it works as advertised or not. But more importantly – whether I like it or not and why. Blogging about running related products makes me think differently about what I am using – which is a good thing.

I have done the following product reviews this month:

FTC Disclaimer – Unless indicated by {Personal Purchase} I was provided products from these companies free of charge, to review them on my blog. I received no monetary or other forms of compensation to do the review. My opinions about each product are my honest observations, based upon my experience while using the product.

Running Goals

A slight change to my goals – is to make sure that I am enjoying running and not letting it become too much like work.

Good progress, while I worked hard at my running, I didn’t allow it to become work. I still look forward to my runs and don’t get too wound up about them if they are not what I am looking for that day :-) .

This year my big goals are:

Run 1,200 miles – I have 1,571.6 miles for the year – I met this goal pretty easily and am going to try for 2000 before the end of the year.
Run a sub 20:00 5K – No changes here – This will be very tough to do, I did run a 21:23, but this one is going to be a real tough nut to crack before the end of the year.
Get through 2012 without any significant down time or injuries (running related or others). I am in the middle of a 10 day rest and recuperation so it is not really an injury, but something that I think that all runners should do to let their bodies heal.
My unadvertised goals from the start of the year are to be able to finish a half-marathon. I ran the Runner’s World Half Marathon in 1:41:10 . Very Happy with the results.
Run a few trail races when the weather gets better – I did 4 of the Bond Brook Recreation Area 5k Trail Race series.

My long-term goal is to run the 2013 Marine Corps Marathon. I finished the 1983 MCM Marathon and to run/finish Marine Corps again 30 years later would be very cool. This is one of the major goals that I have in mind for my running and it would be even more fantastic if I could qualify for Boston that same day. Therefore, I am doing a 2 year work-up to the Marathon distance, just to see if my knee will hold up.

The reality is that

October was a busy and a great month for me.

Changing A Veteran Runnah to a self-hosted blog allow me more freedom in my writing or if I decide to do other things with it that I couldn’t on WordPress.com. So that is something that I am very excited about, but plan to go very slowly and not rush into anything.

Running at Runner’s World showed me how many great people who there are out there who run. I also figured out that I am in control of my race-day anxiety issues now and can enjoy running in bigger races, as long as I get there early. Participating in the Runner’s World Festival as a blogger and runner was a great experience and a once in a lifetime thing that I will always remember .

I am also glad that the Central Maine Striders are working to rejuvenate, resurrect or whatever term you want to use their presence in the Central Maine running scene.

The biggest thing that I learned this month was that while running might be about getting out the door or stepping on a treadmill to see how far or how fast you can go, it is more about the great people that you meet. In running you can form positive relationships with people that can last a lifetime. While running is often done by yourself, going to races or group runs is when you get to learn about the social side of running. The part that unfortunately, I missed for over 25 years. That part that I don’t want to miss over the next 25!

Keep smiling and good things can happen .

Originally written by Harold Shaw published at A Veteran Runnah © 2012 – All Rights Reserved. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Harold Shaw and A Veteran Runnah with appropriate and specific directions or links to the original content.

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12 comments

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Carrie

November 1, 2012 at 9:14 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment


You’ve come so far in such a short time. I think it was smart of you to take some time off to recuperate. I’ve pretty much took the month after the marathon off and while it’s been difficult at times, it has also been nice to take a break and sleep in a little more and not be a slave to a training schedule. I think it will be time to get back into it regularly this month…my husband has been more often noting that a run might be good for me and my mental health. Apparently I’ve been nagging more than usual. Haha!
1. hshawjr
  
  November 1, 2012 at 9:42 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
  
  
  Carrie – Thanks! It is just tough for any runner to take the time off, but I think between now and the end of the year I will run less miles and go more the enjoyment of running than training for anything in particular. Better start getting out there and running again, hubby’s are observant about their wive’s mental health, especially when they start to “nag” a little more than usual hehehee.
eric

November 1, 2012 at 9:40 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment


Your site looks awesome! Glad you are self hosted. I am short on funds, but when I get them I will likely self host as well!
1. hshawjr
  
  November 1, 2012 at 9:44 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
  
  
  Thank Eric, know the feeling on the funds end, but knew that I had to do it sooner or later and figured I had to suck it up and just do it and I chose Hostgator’s 3 year plan, so it should work out I hope
Krysten Siba Bishop (@darwinianfail)

November 1, 2012 at 10:29 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment


WHAT AN AWESOME MONTH!! Love the picture of your and Bart!!
1. hshawjr
  
  November 1, 2012 at 11:18 am (UTC -4) Link to this comment
  
  
  Thank you Kristen
Michelle @ Running with Attitude

November 1, 2012 at 2:51 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment


Great month Harold! Sorry your hamstrings are giving you trouble – hopefully the downtime will help. Congrats on going self-hosted – your site looks great!
1. hshawjr
  
  November 1, 2012 at 8:22 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
  
  
  Thank you Michelle – Too much running and not enough rest has a habit of catching up with you . The rest is nice and necessary. I am pretty happy with the transfer and how it turned out.
RunToTheFinish

November 1, 2012 at 8:09 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment


it was really hard not to race in RW, but I am glad i did because I feel pretty good for this weekend. I so hope we all get to do something together again!
1. hshawjr
  
  November 1, 2012 at 8:25 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
  
  
  Amanda that would be a great time and something that I would look forward to
elizabeth

November 1, 2012 at 10:24 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment


you had a fabulous month! love the change too. and, love the way you recapped the month-taking notes
1. hshawjr
  
  November 1, 2012 at 10:44 pm (UTC -4) Link to this comment
  
  
  Thank you