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Post 5k Report

This past Saturday I did my first 5k run in South Yarmouth located on Cape Cod. It was an overcast morning when I headed out to the Culture Center of Cape Cod where the race was being held. I signed in and found out I qualified for a free t-shirt too which was pretty cool. I went outside to warm up and put my shirt in the car and warm up.

 

My first racing bib!

Being my first race this was a learning experience. I tried to observe how other people warmed up. I tried not to look too much like a newbie. During my training a warm up consisted of a brisk walk for about 5 minutes then starting up. I saw some stretching and some warm up jogs. So i did a little of both. 

Big question I had was my phone/music. I generally listen to music while I jog but wasn't sure I if it was acceptable during a race(officially or just frowned upon by others). I did see others that were using  them so I thought I'd be OK. I had bought arm band to hold the phone but had some issues on best way to use it. It worked alright but was hard to make any volume adjustments or use the touch screen while on your arm. I did listen to music but at a much reduced volume to be able hear whats going on around me.

 

 There's a bridge over a river there somewhere.

It was an overcast and foggy morning. The run was started down the street from the Culture Center itself and circled around it before heading out for the main stretch. The pack stretched as the race went on through the quiet moderately populated neighborhood. The view of the Bass River was covered with a blanket of fog so even seeing the other side river wasn't happening. Temp was in low 70's I believe so conditions were actually pretty good for this type of race.

Being pretty slow and new at this I was bringing up the rear of the pack. Near the halfway point the race looped back onto itself and caught  glimpse of the leaders pass me going the opposite way. Soon I'm among only handful of people. 

I learned not to spend too much time drinking water from the water stations. Throws you off your rhythm of running and breathing. It did help though as I did seem to have a short burst of energy afterwards. Perhaps from just quenching my dry mouth. 

That elusive third mile marker, I missed the others, came insight. I seemed to find an extra burst of energy near the finish. I see the time clock and cones lined up where I'm supposed to funnel into. People are clapping and yelling words of encouragement. I finish only having a vague notion of my time. I grab some water off a table and cool down.

It feels great to have finished my 5k race.Felt proud and happy. It's the longest race I've ran since my Army days over 27 years ago.  After quitting smoking four years ago I had proved to myself it could be done. It felt good to be apart of this group of runners.  I can't wait to do it again. 

Not last!

Vader Cool

Why try?

The expanded edition! 

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day to all the great dad's out there. Many are hard working and caring deserve all the praise in he world. My Dad isn't around to call or send a card to anymore. We had grown somewhat closer before his passing from cancer. Which in our definition I'd see him once or twice a month rather than once or twice a year. Neither one of us were great at initializing getting together.

Even though he was soft spoken he would talk your ear off once he got started. It was usually about everything and anything. Politics, current events, family maters and such. I also got the other side of the story from my parent split which was interesting after many year's of the others side. I kind of knew their was another side to it. I know the truth of the matter lies somewhere in between and I'll leave it at that.

Almost everyone I've encountered talks about what a nice guy he was. It's like a broken record at times. I believe that's part of the legacy he leaves behind. Although if you polled me and my siblings you may get different results. but I digress.

He was a nice guy I admit.It was at times fascinating to listen to him. Sometimes he'd even have some insightful thoughts or advice. He was hard guy not to like once you met him in person. Sometimes getting him to stop was another matter. He spoke softly and often paused on mid sentence or thought and left you hanging until he got around finishing it. It was annoying and endearing at the same time.

Admittedly I was subtly disappointed he wasn't around much when I growing up much. Being guys we rarely spoke of this openly. I did my best keep an open mind and never purposely shut him out. I did like his company and appreciated his insight. Especially when I became a Dad myself. I think we'd still only get so close even in the final stages of cancer were withering him away. In the end what was the purpose of hanging onto old issues any way?

Wasn't sure where I was going on with this. In my own life I've got my own issues being a Dad separated from his kids. A wonderful 12 year old son who's angered at my parting. My 5 year old son, who doesn't speak because of Autism, it's hard to tell how he feels. I miss them both and know I've got a long way to go to earn my Dad stripes. I love them and miss them both.

Pre 5k Run

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Today I hit the trail for my last run before my first 5k this Saturday morning in West  Yarmouth.  My regular training path is the World War 2 Veteran's Memorial Trail located in Mansfield, Massachusetts. It's little more than a mile and half paved path stretching from East Street near the center to Fruit Street across the street from Mansfield Municipal Airport.

I believe this will be a the last full jog(or run) before my first 5k in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts for Run/Walk for the Arts at The Cape Cod Cultural Center. I chose this because it seemed beginner friendly and a low key event.

The first few weeks were perhaps the hardest. Just between the winter weather that seemed to linger on in this area and getting used to jogging regularly. Felt awkward at first but soon got used it. Now amazingly I look forward to it now.

Another motivation was that when I was in the Army back in the Reagan era I did very poorly on the morning PT runs. I probably held the record dropping out of runs at my unit which was not something I was particularly proud of. So to do this and even do something like a 5k run would be a personal victory for me.

 

This is my latest stats(runners love stats, lol). I'm slow as molasses but I am improving. Can't wait for Saturdays 5k. I'm nervous and can't wait at the same time. Later.

Long and Winding Road

 

Took my couch to 5K training to the Cape Cod Canal yesterday. It was a sunny warm day with a cool breeze off the water. It's not my first time here but I usually hit here about once a week. It's an ideal place for beginner runner's like myself. It's fairly level so it's not so intimidating for newbie runner's like myself. 

The area I run is on the south side of the canal in Bourne between the Bourne Bridge and railroad bridge although my circle is expanding as my distance grows. So far I've onlt seen the occasional sailboat or pleasure craft on the water. Usually some guys along the way fishing along the rocks. The canal access road is also popular for walkers, bikes, joggers and just plain sightseer's.

Today's run stat's.

 I've been at this couch to 5k training for little over two month's now as a fun way to lose weight and get into shape. I had packed on the pounds since the fall and when spring time hit fewer of my clothes even fit any more and of course the comment's of my shape increased also. Something clicked inside me to get off my butt and do something.

I had heard of couch to 5k program's and app before and thought it would be good way to start. I figured having a goal would help my stay with it. After looking at a few I did choose Active.com's Couch-to 5k program. Between the mapping run's and using  music it seem to win out. The first few run's were actually the hardest. It was still early spring and as fellow New Englanders will tell you this past winter did not want to go away. Some of the first weeks were were really cold(for me at least) in the 30 and 40 degree range.

The picture above is misleading as I'm actually in my tenth week. Around the third week I had hit a stumbling block.I had a couple of crappy run's between the the app I was using messing up. Probably hitting a button or two which through my rhythm off. So I scrapped that week and decided to do that whole week over. It seemed to be a turning point as it's been steady progress since then.

MyFitnessPal app

Over ten weeks ago I started off at a portly 220 lbs and just this past weekend I weighed in at 211 so I seemed to be averaging a pound a week which was my goal. I'm feeling much better and my cloth's are fitting better too.

I've already signed up for a 5k and I'll post more on that later.

Thanks for coming by.