Speedwork reminds you how fast you can run.

Posted on September 6, 2013 by Robinson — Leave a comment

So on the list for last night was a 6 mile run (although I have since checked,and I messed up – it was supposed to be a 7 mile run. OOPS!) I had done the speed work the night before, which topped out at 1 minute at a 6:40 mile, and an overall average of 8:10 or so (I’m to lazy to look it up!) When I started my run last night, I thought to myself:

“Self… Why are you running 9:30 miles if you are capable of more?”

Self didn’t’ have an answer. Remembering the last time I left the house around 7, I brought my headlamp with me (wrapped around my arm), so that if I was out when the light failed, I could supply my own.. and maybe NOT Scrape up my knee.. Keeping my self-talk in mind, I headed out at a faster pace… And then realized that my new Bluetooth headphones didn’t like my phone on my left arm. Apparently the receiver is on the right side (no you can’t just flip them over.) So I stopped and switched which side my phone was on.. then picked my headlamp up off of the ground and tried to get it wrapped around my arm.

Needless to say that first mile wasn’t any faster. Read more ›

Tagged with: Biggest Loser, first marathon, Marine Corps Marathon, Road running, running, Weight Loss
Posted in Marine Corps Marathon, running, treadmill run

I Just realized I have been neglecting my speedwork!

Posted on September 5, 2013 by Robinson — 1 Comment

Last night was a procrastinating night. I knew my rest-days were over, and I had a 3 mile run on the books. That’s it, only a 3 miler. Well I kept finding reasons to put it off. I spent some time with my wife, then went and played Halo with my kids (and got killed over and over by my 11-year-old. He is much better than I am at it.) Well, eventually you realize that you are procrastinating and have to decide are you going to do it? or not? Well, I’m a runner in training for the Marine Corps Marathon – so what kind of question is that? Of course I am going to do it!

I had however, put it off until it was dark out. If I went running outside with the head-lamp, my wife would worry and get out of bed (she wasn’t feeling well so she went to bed early.) This meant I was on the treadmill again. As I wandered downstairs, it occurred to me that I hadn’t done much speed-work lately. This is a problem, how can I run faster – if I don’t run faster? Time to push that comfort-zone again! THAT had to change NOW! I had the perfect solution to that!

Some of you may remember my posting on The Curvy Roadrunner’s Treadmill Workout from Hell that I posted back in February. If not, I conveniently linked to it so you can read that article ~~and help me get my numbers of posts read artificially inflated~~ if you were interested in her original version of it. (Which, btw – if you don’t follow the Curvy Roadrunner, you totally should! While she is posting more on Facebook than her blog these days, she is an incredible inspiration!) Now last night I ~~wasn’t clearly remembering how the C.R.T.W.H. went~~ decided to do it a little differently than how I had in the past. I still started at 6 mph, and went up to 9 mph, but instead of repeating that – I cycled back down. So it looked like this: Read more ›

Tagged with: first marathon, Marine Corp Marathon, plantar fasciitis, running, speed work, Treadmill, Treadmill Speedwork
Posted in Marine Corps Marathon, Plantar Faciitis, running, treadmill run

Diana Nyad.. An Inspiration.

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Robinson — Leave a comment

I hope that you have heard of Diana Nyad by now. She should be on the Top of CNN.com, with an incredible article, but she isn’t. In fact, the only reason she is mentioned on the front page this morning, is because she is at the very top of trending. Though in order to see that, you have to scroll past countless depressing articles about the typical woes in this world.

You read that right. She is the number 1 thing people want to read about, and are searching for information on – yet CNN doesn’t have an article up on its cover page.

I realize that modern news is a business, and the owners and editors get to determine what we read about on their page. But I for one would rather read about inspiration, then about depression. So I am going to share what I know about her here.

In 1979 Diana Nyad was considered to be the greatest long distance swimmer in the world. In 1974, she set a women’s record in the 22 mile Bay of Naples race (8 hours 11 minutes). She broke the world record for circling Manhattan Island (set the new record at 7 hours and 57 minutes) in 1975 (26 years old), and in 1978 at the age of 28 she attempted to swim from Havana, Cuba to Key West – a distance of over 100 miles, from within a shark cage.

On this, her first attempt, she swam for 42 hours. She was stopped as the strong winds and waves were slamming her into the cage, and pushing her off course toward Texas. Her distance covered was 76 miles. Read more ›

Tagged with: Box Jellyfish, Cuba, Diana Nyad, Key West, swim from cuba to florida, swim from cuba to key west, World Record
Posted in Inspiration

A Runner’s High and Elevation are two VERY different thing!

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Robinson — Leave a comment

So this weekend, like all of my recent weekends (and upcoming until Oct. 27th) is my long run. My habit is to do my long runs on Sunday. I had a heck of a time mapping out a route, as the side-walks are plentiful, for runs of 5-6 miles or less. Unless I wanted to do several laps (I hate laps), I was going to have to expand my routes past the comfort zone of sidewalks.

I used my Dailymile to map out a route of approximately 14 miles (it was 14.45), although I took a slightly different beginning, as I decided to START with side walks, even if I wasn’t going to have them most of the way – it let me work out the “Beginning-run” kinks (and plantar fascia pain) without dodging cars! I was trying this run with no KT-tape, for two reasons.

1) I couldn’t remember where I left it.
2) I didn’t want to put tape over my open wound (and I was kind of holding a grudge against the tape, despite it’s wonderfulness)

As soon as I turned off the first road that was one of my standards, I noticed something. It went up. Now, I know that Sir Isaac Newton is quoted as say “What goes up, must come down.” But I have never held that as a truth in running. In my experience, I have found that the running-version of Sir Isaac Newton’s quote should read:

“What runs down, must run up.”

This means, that while I didn’t think anything of running THAT up hill, it certainly did not reassure me that there must be a downhill. Johns Hopkins road, had some houses at first, then moved into being quite pretty, if I do say so myself!!

John Hopkins Rd, Crofton MD

KT-astrophe! @kttape

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Robinson — Leave a comment

So, anyone that has read my blog for any period of time knows how much I like my KT-Tape. As a side note- I am a guy.

How are these two related you ask? Well, the instructions on the KT-Tape Website clearly say:

“Hint: Tape that is still strongly adhered to skin after 5 days may be loosened with baby oil for 15-20 minute”

Well, I had noticed that it was sticking very well to the calluses on front (the pad? That part where a fore-foot striker hits the grounds with..) and the heel of my foot. I didn’t really think anything of it however. Well on Friday night, I pulled the KT Tape off from the previous weekend (put on saturday night, and worn through the beach-run.) Well, it seemed it was VERY well attached as it pulled out a part of the callus! (Sorry, I have really ugly feet…)

It literally pulled a sliver of callus out all the way down!

It literally pulled a sliver of callous out all the way down!

New Items for the Raffle/Giveaway!

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Robinson — Leave a comment

We have some more items being offered in the raffle/giveaway!

For any Washington Redskins fans out there, we have a Prize pack:

We have also received some wonderful Water Bottles from Epson, and we have some other items to be added to those when they ship out!

With the number of donators we have at this time – your chances of winning something (as it stands right now!) and receiving a fantastic thank you gift is 100% So why wouldn’t you want to go donate now? Just click the Fannie Mae/Once and Future Runner/Help the Homeless banner in the top right corner of the screen, or just click this link here! Even a small donation of 5 or 10 dollars makes a difference! (and a 10 dollar donation gets you an automatic Volunteers of America Chesapeake water bottle!) You can see a list of all of the available items for the raffle at: http://onceandfuturerunner.com/giveaways/

Thank you for your donations!

Tagged with: Donation, Help the Homeless, Homeless, Marine Corp Marathon, Volunteers of America, Volunteers of America Chesapeake, Washington Redskins
Posted in Help the Homeless

Running at Midnight.

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Robinson — Leave a comment

Ok, So I exaggerate a little.. I was actually done before midnight.

Here is a picture of a puppy. For no reason at all.

Having been up late (hey! 11 is really late for me! I’m old!) the night before, there was no chance of getting up in the morning to work out. I had every intent of working out right after work, but I had forgotten it was my son’s night for his school open house. With It being middle school, this meant we got to follow his schedule and go from 15 minute class to 15 minute class as the teachers gave us their syllabus and told us all about how great our kids were. Over all I was impressed with all of his teachers but one. We showed up to her class, and she started a conversation with one mother for 5 (remember there is only 15 available) minutes.. Then expected us to stay past the time to move to the next class, so she could finish her speech. It bothers me when people expect respect, but don’t respect you.. But that is a whole other story.

My wife had promised the kids frozen yogurt after, so a cold treat it was! Needless to say it was after 9:30 when we got home. Since I had skipped out on my run the night before, it was NOT an option last night. I didn’t relish the idea of running through the streets of my town at 10pm. I don’t know that it would be unsafe – but it seems silly to take that chance. My kids deserve to grow up with a father after all! (Did you notice the subtle pull at your heartstrings there?) Read more ›

Tagged with: Donation, Fannie Mae, Marine Corp Marathon, plantar fasciitis, treadmill run, Volunteers of America Chesapeake, Washington Redskins
Posted in Help the Homeless, Marine Corps Marathon, Plantar Faciitis, running, treadmill run

Washington Nationals

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Robinson — Leave a comment

So, I had a 6 mile run on the schedule for yesterday, and did NOT get up and do it in the morning. After a full work day, my office headed off to a Washington Nationals game. I was a wee bit excited, as while I am not a baseball fan (the limits to my fandom is I check and see how the Texas Rangers did on the website the next day), I had never been to a Major League Baseball game. In fact, I hadn’t been – and my 9 and 11-year-old have enjoyed rubbing in the fact they have! (Their summer program went to a Nats game.) When work offered the opportunity to go – I could hardly say no!

It looks like an alien has latched on to his arm..

Walking in was impressive, having only been to a minor league stadium it was bigger! Though they had this somewhat frightening multi-arm statue that was kind of scary, right as you came in the gate.

Before the game several of us ate at the little restaurant called the “Red Porch” that was overlooking the field. It gave us a great view of the field-preparations, as well as the players playing catch. Read more ›

Tagged with: Baseball, MLB, NoRunning, Washington Nationals
Posted in running

Rest day and the dreadmill

Posted on August 28, 2013 by Robinson — Leave a comment

So, after my 12 miler on Sunday, Monday was a “Rest” day. So I did nothing. 🙂 Well, I may have done some whining about how sore/tired my legs were – but I’m not positive. I will have to err on the side of caution and assume I did. Mostly Monday was dedicated to being the first day back at school for the kids!

This year they go different ways, to different schools!

This is the first year that they are going to different schools, as my son just entered middle school. They are both excited about it, but as parents? We are more than a wee bit nervous! Read more ›

Tagged with: First Marathon Marine Corps Marathon, Marathon Training, running, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, treadmill run, Washington Nationals
Posted in running

What a weekend! Running on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Robinson — 1 Comment

Ahhh. The beach!

This was one incredible weekend! It was the final weekend of my kid’s summer vacation, and we decided to do something AWESOME for them! We got up in the wee early hours of Saturday morning and headed down to Virginia Beach. We didn’t let them know WHERE we were going until we were in the car, and they didn’t know we were spending the night until we pulled into a hotel (while 4 hours is a long drive, we have been known to do those as day trips). I don’t think there is anything that has quite the energy (or grants as much energy) as being on and in the ocean!

It did not take the kids long at all to jump right in! You could say it took exactly as long as it took them to get their shirts and shoes off!

And They are OFF!

I won’t lie, they aren’t the only ones that love the beach! Read more ›

Tagged with: Cheesecake Factory, GoldKey Timeshare, long run, Lots of Pictures, Mini-Vacation, Running on the Beach, Vacation, Virginia Beach
Posted in Other Exercise, running

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