Up the Abby hill with That Guy

Beer tastes so good after a bike ride!

That Guy and I headed out after work tonight. He got on my case for not riding to work this morning. I swam last night for the first time in about 3 weeks and my shoulders were sore and didn't feel like leaning over handle bars for 17 miles at 6AM.

That Guy on the way to
Mt. Angel Abby

We headed out after work to do the Mt. Angel hill loop with a side trip up the hill to the Mt. Angel Abby. The best part of the ride up is the ride down!  Well the view isn't bad either.

                  

Road by some future beer on the way out to the Abby.

It was a good ride, not just physically, but mentally. Last weekend Rachel's sister moved in with us. It has been a physical and mental adjustment for us and I haven't adjusted very well. The bike time was a good mental break. I'm glad we are able to help her but I have grown use to living with just Rachel and the animals. All experiences are learning opportunities though, hopefully I'll learn and so will Rachel's sister.

Back home with That Guy

Back home nice to be on home turf again, even if it wasn't one of those 'pleasurable' runs. That Guy needed a couple of walk breaks on this route.

That Guy on one of
his walk breaks

I'm feeling the lack of gym workouts, my back has been tight the last couple of runs. It reminds me the importance of continuing the core work I've been doing. Now that I'm home I should be able to get back to a routine and get to the gym a couple nights a week again.

That Guy catching his
breath at the
bridge after the run.

There was a biking event going through Silverton this morning. As I ran against traffic cyclists were heading the opposite direction. Since temps are to hit 100 today, getting an early start for them was important.

That Guy must have jet lag & Quiet Strength

Seaside, 4.5mile loop, just under 9 minute pace. That Guy didn't make it out for this run. He must be feeling the jet lag from traveling from Indiana yesterday.  What a wuss.

Surprised by how good I'm feeling on recent runs. Aches are minor, legs feel fresh, effort comfortable. I've also been pleasantly surprised by the consistency of my runs while traveling. Often times when I travel getting out the door in the morning to run is a challenge. I'm a person of habits and traveling throws a wrench into my morning routine. But this trip to Columbus, Geneva and now Seaside I've gotten out the door more days than not and the days I didn't run were due to foot pain and a morning flight. It feels good to be running relatively pain free after these years of enduring it. I look forward to the morning run and more times than not recently I've been rewarded with a pleasurable one.

In addition, running without pain allows the mind to wander.  On this morning's run I got thinking about mom and her influence on me and the rest of the family. Below are some reflections on that.

Quiet Strength
When I was growing up I looked up to my dad. He was my first baseball coach, later my high school track coach. He was a leader in the church and community. He was on church committees, library board, president of the Lions Club and I'm sure involved in other things that I'm not aware.

When I was in middle school he went back to college to become a teacher, changing careers in his 30s. He took night classes while helping raise three kids and working full time.

As a teacher and middle school basketball coach he touched the lives of hundreds of kids. The significance of this was on display at his viewing when he lost his fight with cancer.
I had always seen him as the strength of our family. He was a superb role model who demonstrated kindness and giving back to the community. I'm please when see his traits in me.

After he died I came to recognize the quiet strength of my mom throughout my life.  Mom was always present, often times working side by side with Dad. She attended our games and meets, made sure we were nourished and no doubt did too much for us when it came to laundry, cooking and cleaning.

My parents were the perfect couple. I don't recall them arguing in front of us. They provided us with a solid foundation of love, discipline, trust and support.  Even though mom played the role of being the person who checked in with us on the challenges of navigating middle school and high school, it was my dad that I viewed as the strength of the family.

My first indication of her importance to my dad and our family was when dad called to tell me she was in the hospital with an aneurysm. I heard the fear in my dad's voice as he tried not to cry describing her condition. I realized just how connected they were to each other and for the first time saw the vulnerability of my parents.  Mom recovered, but dad had started showing a constant cough and losing weight. Cancer was invading his lungs.

I learned what wailing sounded like when he died about a year later. Mom was devoted in the care she gave him. Being at his side through chemo treatments and the agonizing aftermath. I was able to come home a couple of times that year and see the love and compassion she had while caring for him. I was fortunate to be home his last week. When he finally passed all the emotions, pressure, fear, love and more was released by my mom. All I could do was wrap my arms around her as she had done to me on so many occasions.

That was more than 20 years ago. Since then mom has continued to thrive and continue to nurture and be involved in the community. She has become the matriarch of the family and of Geneva. The "go to" person when someone has a question about Geneva's past.  She has been a prime caregiver for my sister who has MS and needs daily assistance. She walks and rides her bike for exercise and errands. She goes to water aerobics even though she's had a long time fear of water.

These past 20 some years have shown me that mom was the quiet strength of the family. Always there, supporting us and dad in whatever we were doing. She has shown that one can continue to grow as a person after losing a partner and sole mate. She has taken on the role of offering advice, criticism, support and always love.  She has confided her fears and doubts to me, but that only makes her seem stronger, she has the ability to share those, something I hope to learn. I'm pleased when I see her traits in me.

That Guys says "See you later" to Geneva

Last trip around the Rainbow Lake until November. Took the new rails-o-trails path out to the Covered Bridge Park, past the old Snow Cemetery. What a great running path. 4 miles round trip from grandma's, add a loop around the lake for 5 and change.

That Guy came along on this run and enjoyed the cooler weather this morning. Mid 70's less humidity and a slight breeze, a pleasant mid west day for a morning run. My body is feeling good, no real pain, my left toe has recovered from it's soreness. Pretty sure it must be a bit of arthritis that comes and goes. That Guy commented on the backwardness of my home town. Not much I can say to that. With at least 4 black lawn jockies spied around town and a new bar/restaurant opening called, The Kunes Den what can I say, I've from a racist oblivious community to put it mildly.


It's always good to run "back where it all started." The distances seem shorter than I remember but the humidity more brutal than I recall. This visit was fun, I was able to run some of my favorite routes when I was in high school and run around town taking pics for the when the family returns in November and the scavenger hunt I'm planning of creating.

I'm especially pleased that the runs have been pain free, except for the toe arthritis issues early in the week. The runs have been relax and at a decent pace. It's encouraging for gradually upping my mileage and added some races this summer.

A tour of my home town with That Guy

Today was a much cooler day. Since it was the third straight day of running, I decided to take it easy, a slow run around town taking pics of memories. It was a slow, easy pace with lots of stops, a good way to do a recovery run and great way to roam the town reminiscing.

Geneva Fire Dept. Site of the soup feast after the Rainbow 5k Thanksgiving weekend.

Site of the former Stucky Gas & Appliances store.

Mast head of Geneva High School.

Ray Gerber Field, Home of the 1972 State Baseball Runnerups.

Ray Gerber Field.

This is probably why I look at the pavement so much when I run, wanted to avoid the 'road apples'.

Showing That Guy where it all started

Showing That Guy where it all began.

Geneva, Indiana. The origins of over 45 years of running. The routes are as familiar now as they were in high school, my tolerance to the heat and humidity not so much. It was 86 degrees ad 91% humidity during the 7AM run.

Running the loop around Rainbow Lake to the doctor's office road, back home via Winchester Rd. It's a four mile loop that was a favorite of mine, still is. There are other routes, all on country roads that at the time were gravel, now most are paved. These routes bred by love of country roads. Quiet, low traffic, scenery, often not so pleasant farm odors. The miles spent on those roads were good miles, happy miles, miles of dreams. Miles where a shy kid could express himself. Miles that also bred the love of solitary runs.

Home stretch of the Family Championship course on Thanksgiving weekend.

Even That Guy was impressed

Though he decided to sleep in on the drizzly morning, That Guy was impressed. Today was the first time since Sept. 7, 2015 that I ran this 6 mile loop. Sept. 2015 was the last time I had run 6 miles.

I have had several weeks of 5 mile long runs and decided this was the week to bump it to 6. Running had been comfortable with few aches and hip feeling much better. It was a perfect day for a longer run, light drizzle, moderate temp.

Starting out my hip was slightly tight but no more than usual. I would see how it was at the decision point where I either turned to make it a 4.8 run or a 6 mile run.  Til that point I was fine, cruising along reminding myself to keep the pace conservative.  When I got to the decision point no hesitation, turned to go 6. Pace was comfortable.

Photo is an attempt at a smile at the halfway point of the run.

The last 2 miles my left hip flexor began to get sore and the last .5 is was very sore so slowed down to a cool down pace for the last half mile. Did some stretching overlooking the creek and it felt better walking to the house.

Pleased with the run. It's been a long time getting back to a 6 mile run. Maybe That Guy will join me one my next one.

That Guy needed a recovery day

After 3 days of two-a-days I think That Guy was feeling like this:                       

                                                                                                     

 My legs are shot, went for a recovery 2 miles this morning with That Guy no where in sight. My legs were dead, though the good was nothing hurt. Plan for tomorrow is to increase the long run from 5 to 6. With the travel planned for next week it will most likely be a lower mileage/activity week so a good one for recovery and perhaps a 5k race near my boyhood home.

Rest day

No morning run today, I need a break, two workouts every day this week with yesterday being bike to work day, with That Guy.

I was tired when I got home last night, in by just after 8!  My body was feeling it also, not so much sore as overall tired. The week's workout:


Monday - AM: 5 mile run  PM: gym workout mostly stretching and lunges
Tuesday - AM: 3.5 mile run  PM: 1000 m swim
Wednesday - AM: 17 mile bike  PM: 19 mile bike

Monday's run and Wednesday's afternoon ride were hilly.  Still feeling a bit beat up this morning but not stiff and sore, just body weary.  It's been a good week of workouts though and pleased I've done the planned doubles. Today is pt workout at noon, then tomorrow an off day before a planned 6 miler Saturday morning.  Since I'll be traveling two weeks nice to get in a hard week before that as I know my mileage will be less.

That Guy does not approve of Monday hills

He was there from the start this morning, ready to go, until I told him the route. Hills, this early! It was a 5 mile loop with 3 significant hills in the first 3 miles, then flat 2. That Guy was complaining midway up the first hill!

"Not a good way to start a Monday!"

"Shut up and breathe."

My legs felt it first. That heaviness that turns to a burn. Then the arms, heavy trying to use them to power up, then the lungs, patterning my breathing to match my pace, getting in as much O2 as possible, failing to come up with a damn mantra to get over these hills. Cresting doesn't stop the burn, only seems to intensify it until I've gone too many seconds beyond. Then relief begins to come, briefly, preparing for the next climb.

We ran together in silence while plogging the hills. It had been several years since I'd run this loop. It was the first time that I felt I was in good enough shape to try it. A sunny morning with the temp just cresting the half century. At the top of the 2nd hill a great view of the valley towards Mt. Angel and the Abby hill. I was almost to tired to notice, That Guy brought it to my attention. "If you're gonna make me suffer this early at least enjoy the view!" Sometimes I forget there's more to see on a run than the pavement immediately in front of me.

I walked down the steep section of the last hill. Though my knees were ok, I could feel the mild ache from the many years of pounding the downhills. It seems what fast twist muscles I use to possess have gone into retirement. I just tried to land as light as possible without gravity making me move faster than my legs.

The final two miles home felt quicker than they really were, but no residual aches from the ups and downs. That Guy had finally stopped complaining and we finished in as sunny of conditions as we had started. Another one in the barn.

That Guy and the woman watering the flower baskets

Legs were flat this morning, though the rest of my body felt good. Needed to remind myself to not go out too fast, after a while I gave in and just ran, mind wondering, my favorite kind of run. Checking in on how I felt, where the little aches were today, but allowing myself the luxury of a mental bushwhacking hike.

About halfway through That Guy showed up. "Bout time," I welcomed him between breaths. I noticed he arrived just as the woman who waters the hanging baskets appeared, coincidence? "Nice timing."

"I notice you looking a bit fatigued," was his greeting.

"Started out too fast."

"45 years of this and you still haven't learned?"

"Aren't you a bundle of encouragement this morning!"

He was right though, I'm like the conservatives who value the immediate gratification of consumer capitalism over long term environmental protections. Yes, I had politics on my mind during this run. It seems to me conservative political beliefs are more concerned with current consumer satisfaction for short term economic growth, mostly for the wealthy and corporation America, than long term economic growth and environmental protections that benefits all. They are the horse drawn buggy investor who doubles down rather than invests in the new technology of automobiles.

Back to running, by now my body is as flat as my legs. I approach my decision point of making this a 5.2 or 4.8 run at a plog (plod/jog), at least that's what if feels like. I decide on the shorter run this morning. I try and channel my inner Nick Symmonds or  Lauren Fleshman for the last half mile. Ugh didn't work this time.  The finish line finally arrives, that wonderful crack on the roadside.  Then I hear That Guy, bent over hands on knees, "Nice run."