Running: The Way You Run

On Monday I was over at TCR Sport Labs to have a gait analysis done. I've been sore ever since.
The major objective to the whole exercise was to improve my running efficiency, of course. Basically, it involves a transition from a gait with a lot heel strike to more forefoot/mid-foot landing with a lean from the ankles to use more gravity to proper myself forward. Unfortunately, this has brought into play more than few muscles which are not used to being used in this manner. The other aspect of the change is keeping a higher cadence with a shorter stride. I've put on a lot of miles as a heel striker, so I didn't expect this to be easy. It certainly has made for some speedier running with the same effort.

Unfortunately it would seem I've overestimated just how much my muscles are rebelling. I've been doing a lot more core strength and stretching than I have running miles since the gait analysis. With all the sore and tight muscles I didn't want to overdo things, but I have done so anyway apparently. My right hip flexor was giving me trouble after a couple laps around the U of C indoor track today, so I called it quits on the running and did more core and stretching. It almost hurts sometimes now. I guess this means I will be making very slow progress again for a while.

So in the mean time core and stretching is the order of the days.

I am considering my options for coaching too. There are a number of individuals I can approach about coaching in a variety of forms in the immediate area. I don't know exactly what to do about it at this point other than I will undoubtedly benefit from any coaching I get. The big thing is the amount ground I need to cover literally and figuratively to make it through until October 2010. A coach could only help in achieving my goals for the Alberta Triple next year.

More news to come.

Life: Running, Colours and Puppies... Oh My!

So it's been a while since I last wrote anything here. What exactly is going one these days?

We got permission from the landlords to have a dog in the house. So now the challenge is to find a breeder we can get a pup from without a docked tail - which seems to be common for the breed. The means we will likely need to have puppy shipped in from Europe, but at the same time it might actually be cheaper than getting a pup from eastern Canada. In the mean time we're spending time training ourselves with books on puppies, dog training, looking into toys, crates and food, investigating pet insurance, and otherwise deciding what we need that will help stimulate the economy.

The nice weather means I've been outside to run a few more times. Unfortunately there's little interesting terrain to run that isn't flat pavement or completely covered in ice. Running on the escarpment across the river with my crampons works well, but that's about the only time they are worth wearing. I'm glad to have them though since it means I can cross the ice flows on the trail with ease. I've increased my workout volume since the new year, and I'm looking forward to better weather to spend more time outside for longer runs.

Aerin and I are past the halfway point for our Colour Theory continuing ed class thankfully. We're both very glad we get free courses as part of our benefits because the cost of materials and the time necessary to complete the assignments has been significant. Unfortunately this wasn't communicated very well, and some of our classmates are having a heck of a time with it. Even I'm not particularly thrilled, but once it's done I'll be happen to take the knowledge I've gained an move onto something else. Our next class in digital photography starts the end of April so I/we can use the Powershot G10 Aerin and family got me for Xmas to the fullest.

Running: Back to the Outdoors

I ran outside for the first time since last November (when I started in with the three week cold) on Sunday. What a rush! Since I was last running outdoors I've been trying to work on strength and core in the gym, spending time recovering from illness (some more), and generally getting my brain back into training. Getting back outside was so enjoyable even with the -10C and sunny weather.

I started out from home heading east before crossing the river and heading back west. The south side of the river isn't the best below the escarpment between Crowchild Tr and Edworthy Park, but I had packed my Kahtoola crampons knowing this from last year. Not a single problem with traction was had. I crunched through packed snow and ice with ease.

I got home in just over an hour. I had run 9 minutes, walked 1 minute for most of it except for a few minutes I had to wait for a train before crossing the tracks. And was I ever in for a shock when I got home and checked my Garmin. My average heart rate for the run was 84% of max HR! I could hardly believe it. It didn't feel like I was working that hard. I certainly wasn't running a blazing pace. But I was enjoying myself and probably running an adrenaline high.

Whatever the reason for the high HR I had a blast and really enjoyed the run. I didn't feel burned out afterwards or the next day. There was some stiffness the next day in my legs because I haven't run on an uneven surface in a while, but other than that I felt great and went to the gym on Monday for a light workout. More core and stretching between now and my run on Thursday on the gym. The weekend is looking great, so I'll definitely be out again on Saturday and probably Sunday too.

Yeah fun!

Life: A Dog's Life

So Aerin and I talking seriously about getting a dog - financials, care, training, breed, grooming, feeding, etc. The breed we have zeroed in on is the Black Russian Terrier. This is not a small breed by any measure. They are a cross between Rotteweilers, Giant Schnauzer, Airedales and Newfoundlands. After much reading about Blackies, we've been very impressed with their list of attributes: intelligence, sociable, great strength and endurance, even temperment, protective, and loyal.

We wanted a dog that could do a number of things. One of the first things was a dog that we could take backcountry without worrying her (yes, we want a female puppy) taking off after every little movement. A Blackie is also big and strong enough that we can put a dog pack on her to carry her own food and bed. The sociable aspect is important since we don't want to just leave her in a boarding kennel, so her ability to be around people is a definite plus. Her endurance is also great as a working breed, so I can take her running for exercise too. There's lots of things we want to do in terms of training, so her intelligence is a great plus.

Last Sunday evening we talked to a breeder over the phone, and she was kind enough to hook us up with someone in Calgary with one of her dogs. So on Sunday morning we get to meet a Blackie for the first time since neither of us has seen one in the flesh before.

And just for fun, who doesn't love video of cute puppies?

Games: One Era Ends. One Era Continues.

On Sunday I sold my complete collection of BattleTech miniatures and books to one person for the sum of $850. This was a great relief to me (and Aerin too). I had feared I would just end up having the lot picked through until all I had left was the hard to sell stuff, but now it's all taken care of. It's going to a good home, but I've been ready to move on for a while now.

Of course, I've already made plans to spend some of the proceeds to further expand my Flames of War collection. While there are still a ton of options for armies that I could buy, I've tried to keep myself focused on purchases that will actually see the tabletop at some point. For all that I want to actually see everything painted, I've decided to mainly work on just getting everything together. I know I keep changing the plan, but at least if it's not sitting in blister packs I can actually get something onto the table to play with.

There are a few things that still need reorganizing. I still have a bunch of Heavy Gear mins from Dream Pod 9. I really like these minis, and I definitely want to use them again at some point. However, it will probably be with another game system in all likelihood. I haven't even seen a set of the Blitz! rules, but I like the Flames of War game mechanics too much not to try a conversion.

So that's were things stand.

Life: Sleep...

I just reread my last blog entry, and it's odd to think I'm writing another one at this late hour due to my inability to fall asleep.

I'm really not sure exactly what it is that's left me with a whole week of poor quality sleep. I've been waking up hungry from any number of stupid dreams. This hasn't happened to me often in the last year since I started taking fibre before bed to fill my tummy up. And not just stupid dreams either, but ones that get my heart rate up and the adrenaline flowing. This just makes it even harder to fall asleep again.

One oddity that has me wondering what's really going on in the dusty recesses of my brain is how I can feel so tired all day, and yet when I finally lay in bed I suddenly feel wide awake and ready to come sit at the computer to write a blog or work on the Flames of War proposal for a couple of hours. I lay down and suddenly all the things I would have liked to think about or ponder during my day rush to the front of the stage with a full orchestra and chorus.

I think about running. I think about work. I think about Aerin. I think about what to do in the backcountry this summer. I think about the future. I think about the past. I think I might just go crazy or have some dangerous lapse of attention at work. Sigh...

Aerin tells me I seem to be doing that a lot lately. The sighing that is. My body seems a bit uptight about something, and is forgetting to breath. Maybe I could hold my breath for a bit until I pass out, and then I could wake up in the morning when the alarm clock goes off again...

Something is there. I'm anxious or worried about it. What 'it' is I won't figure out anytime soon probably. I wish it was something simple like the unfulfilled desire to hold Aerin in my arms for a long, long time while the world goes away. But it's probably something to do with the job, running or my apparent inability to sit down and work on my large stack of unfinished minis. Or most likely at this moment my inability to quickly fall into a deep, restful sleep.

Or maybe I just can't wait to see the first episode of the last half of Battlestar Galactica.

Let me know if you have the answer. 42 doesn't seem to be it.

Life: Welcome 2009!

Didn't we just celebrate New Year's 2008?

I have to say, that from my end of things, the passing of 2008 was definitely NOT slow. I will always remember an episode of Daily Planet a few years back about how a person in 2004(ish) perceives time passing eight times faster than someone in 1904. That would mean we haven't even made it to my birthday before we're celebrating New Year's again. Talk about getting the short end of the stick!

I'm happy to be back on the road to running after few months of nothing much leading up to Christmas. Between injury (not running related) and illness (damned 6 week chest colds and my second this year) I got in little running between October and few days ago. Even a minimal amount of core work hasn't done much to keep me sane or maintain any level of fitness. The stress of moving and lack exercise was a horrible combination. So it's back to building, and I have some time to do that properly and with some enjoyment that was missing from this year's training.

Aerin and I are both pleased with our new place, and invites to the house warming party will be going out to friends in the near future. We'll probably never move into anything smaller than a two bedroom apartment now that we have all this space. Unfortunately I think we may be a little beyond future living area with the items we've purchased to make our place truly functional, but I don't foresee any great need to depart anytime in the near future unless under duress.

I've been doing some life inventory to spend time on the things I really enjoy doing. So there's time with Aerin, friends and family, being outdoors with running and backpacking, and building and playing my Flames of War armies. I'll be spending some time exploring industrial design related classes through Continuing Education, and Aerin and I will take the digital photography course to get the most out of my Christmas present, a Canon Powershot G10 (essentially a professional-grade point-and-shoot). That's all I have on my radar for the coming year. I still won't have as much free time to spend on these as I'd like short of winning the lotto, but I'll be happy to be able to do it.

Another Flames of War player and I are also collaborating on a writing project for a campaign book for our shared interest, but that's still in the development stage. Our plan is to have a proposal submitted by the end of January. It'll be interesting to see what happens.

I'm having a little trouble getting to sleep, but I'm getting closer to sleepy now. I hope everyone had a great 2008, and that you're looking forward to another great year in 2009. I know I am.

Happy New Year!