Friday, December 04, 2009

Stinky Shoes

Ashland Dave talked about stinky shoes in his podcast of 26 September 2009 -- it was somewhere in the first 15 minutes of the podcast:

Running in the Center of the Universe

Stinky shoes are a real problem for me. I am a profuse sweater, so my shoes are always pretty soggy when I finish a run. They are relegated to a place on the porch when I finish running. They do all right until...

...until I run in the rain. For some reason, that seems to push them over the edge. Even though I take out the insoles and stuff the shoes with newspaper to get them to dry, getting them soaked that way seems to bring out the smell and make it permanent. I can wash them and, while it helps, they still stink. I've tried to spray them with Fabreeze and that works until I run again.

Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Until I find a solution, though, Shoes, you stay outside!

Run well, y'all,
Bob

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Thursday, December 03, 2009

Runner-Friendly or Unfriendly?


While I'm sure there's more to the story than this particular take on it, Portsmouth, NH doesn't sound like a runner-friendly place to run RW Daily: Portsmouth to Runner: Drop Dead!

As I read the story, I was reminded of how fortunate I was to have lived in the Far West End of Richmond, VA for 4.5 years. Not only are there a lot of friendly runners there, it's definitely a runner-friendly place -- wide streets and courteous drivers. I only recall two aggressive drivers and they had probably just had a bad day. I did have to dodge a couple of school buses. Nothing like Portsmouth, NH.

Run well, y'all,
Bob

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Friday, November 27, 2009

Exercise Prepares Our Bodies for Stressful Situations, Study Indicates - Mind Hacks - Lifehacker

Interesting. We runners knew this, naturally. After a long run, we're so stress-free that nothing fazes us except having to move out of the recliner.

Of course, one logical conclusion from this study would be that running only makes you calmer when you get dunked in cold water -- if, that is, you're a running rat.

Exercise Prepares Our Bodies for Stressful Situations, Study Indicates - Mind Hacks - Lifehacker

I'm taking a few days off from running -- 8-10 days. I have some fairly minor aches and pains and just don't have the want to that I've had. This will be the first planned break in 6.5 years.

Run well, y'all,
Bob

2 Comments:

Blogger Michelle said...

Wow I hope your ok!!! A break is good sometimes, makes you come back stronger and then the want will be there!!!!

Hope you had a great Thanksgiving bro!!!

Friday, November 27, 2009 3:43:00 PM EST  
Blogger Shilingi-Moja said...

I'm fine, just want to stay that way. That's my hope, too -- to come back stronger.

Saturday, November 28, 2009 12:36:00 AM EST  

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Saturday, November 21, 2009

Key Factors in My Running

I took off this morning intending to do 5.5+ miles. For some reason, I just couldn't do it and ended up cutting it short a bit. Lately, more often than not, my runs have just been hard. I think I have to face the facts.

OK, yes, I'm running at altitude (5500'+) and every run is hilly (there's just no flat run here). But, I'm also running more slowly than I did at sea level -- 8:00-8:30 at sea level, 8:30-9:05 at altitude -- so I shouldn't feel completely wiped out. Also, I'm bored with my routes -- without driving somewhere else in town (which I'm loathe to do), my options are limited. I'm used to the 300+ routes/variations I had access to in Richmond.

But, I think there are two factors that are probably more important than those -- weight and base mileage. Basically, I'm 12 pounds +/- heavier than when I was running my best. So, I just need to get rid of it. Secondly, and maybe even more importantly, my mileage has slipped. Rather than running 30-35 miles per week (or even more when getting ready for a race), I'm running 15-20 miles per week. That means a 5 mile run is 25-33% of my weekly mileage now but was only 14-17% 6-12 months ago.

So, I think I have some work to do.

Run well, y'all,
Bob

5 Comments:

Blogger Mel-2nd Chances said...

take care, it'll all come together for you :)

Saturday, November 21, 2009 12:04:00 PM EST  
Blogger Mark said...

I'm with you, Bob! The weight is so hard to keep off!?

Saturday, November 21, 2009 3:33:00 PM EST  
Blogger Shilingi-Moja said...

Thanks, Mel. I hope it comes back together. There was a period, about March 2007-March 2008, when I really enjoyed my running, looked forward to long runs, and didn't feel nearly so wiped out by them. The last year+, though, I still like running and really miss it when I can't/don't run but more often than not, it's just hard. So, I want the good times to return! :) They will, I just want them here now!

Yeah, Mark, it is hard and it's somewhat discouraging since I generally eat well and am running. Age is catching up to me, I think.

Thanks for stopping by.

Sunday, November 22, 2009 9:16:00 AM EST  
Blogger yukrh said...

........................................................

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 4:08:00 AM EST  
Blogger Christina said...

What if you run your routes backwards? Surprisingly I find my running my routes backwards very different than my usual direction.

Tuesday, November 24, 2009 7:38:00 PM EST  

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

RW Daily: One Gift You Don't Want to Unwrap

For all of you runners who have wondered what to give your family and friends for Christmas, check out this Runner's World article. Somehow, I don't think my family or friends would have much appreciation for my race picture on a mug.

RW Daily: One Gift You Don't Want to Unwrap

I did 5.6 miles in the mud this morning at a slow pace of 8:54 mpm. One water puddle covered the whole road! And these are paved roads (in Nairobi)!

Run well, y'all,
Bob

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Sunday, November 15, 2009

For the West End (Richmond) Runners

This post is dedicated to my friends and running pals who ran the Suntrust Richmond Marathon and the McDonalds Half Marathon yesterday. You are my heroes -- I saw some good times in the results. Maybe these thoughts from Meb will resonate with you:



(Stolen from Half Fast who stole it from Running is Funny who stole it from ...?)

The words for the week are: rest, recover, refuel. Then enjoy running.

I got in my longest run to date in Kenya -- headed out after our worship service for a slow (relative, I know) 6.38 miles in 58:21. With the altitude and the hills, I figure that ain't too bad.

Run well, y'all,
Bob A

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3 Comments:

Blogger GISRunner said...

Thanks for the comment on my blog! I really enjoy Ashland Dave's podcast as it's so much fun to hear him speak of places that I know & love such as the OBX. I read a few of your posts on your blog tonight & will now add you to my reader. At least I can tell my husband now that I'm reading an international blogger along with all of the others!

I agree completely about the connection running blogs offer ... it's nice knowing that there are others out there like me who are newbies still struggling to find the motivation & will to integrate running into their lives. It's also inspiring to read the words of those running bloggers who are successful & prove that it can be done.

Thanks again ... I especially like the scripture from Isaiah.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 12:03:00 AM EST  
Blogger Shilingi-Moja said...

Thanks for stopping by. Yeah, the Isaiah passage is one of my favourites.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 12:43:00 PM EST  
Blogger SeaBreeze said...

Thanks for the link. I missed the episode, but it was worth checking out.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009 3:23:00 PM EST  

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Sunday, November 08, 2009

Our "Home" City, 2005-2009


This is a shout out to my homies in Richmond -- John Rolfe 10K Training Team, John Rolfe Patrick Henry Half Marathon Training Team, Posse running group -- many of whom are running either the Richmond Marathon, Half Marathon, or 8K next weekend. Good luck -- you all are so ready for this. (Don't worry -- that's the end of my attempts at urban language.)

From May 2008 until July 2009, we lived in Richmond, VA. While we would have preferred to have been overseas, Richmond was a good place to live and a great place to run. This video gives an overview of some of the reasons for that (we didn't do all that's rapped about in the video) -- and it's a fun look at the city.



Run well, y'all,
Bob

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