Kenyan Nights

3 speed fartlek in Spotts Park. 26:00, 5:15 per lap. Fastest sections on 2 hills. 25:00 ultra slow w/u. 7:00 w/d. 5:00 core. Again stormy weather threatened - and cooled down a little. No rain. This lime last year plenty of t-storms. KW postponed to Thu.

TigerGPS shipped Garmin. Scheduled to arrive Tue Jun 3rd. Summary on device here:

Memorial Park

Memorial Park Trails. Highlight was nearing thunderstorm sent temperature plummeting from 93F to 79F. Some cool gusts near bayou. Avoid rain though. 42:42.

Also ordered another Garmin 405 GPS HRM. TigerGPS has the green version in stock. Called REI and said they expected a shipment to arrive Jun 27th. See how soon TigerGPS fulfills the order and I'll cancel REI backorder.

Memorial Day

Kenyan Way. 33:00 w/u. 6:00 x 3 hill reps. 5:00 rest btwn. 7:00 w/d. 5:00 core. Some breeze and shade to cool off. Session reasonably OK after excesses of weekend.

Terry Hershey Trail

Goal: long run. Result: 9 miles and wiped out after 45:00. Out for 2 hours. Jogging at walking pace on way back as a group of girls walking passed me only after they broke into short runs. Due to heat switched to a morning run. Had been too tired to travel this 4 day weekend. Meant to be climbing 14ers in Colorado. Terry Hershey park was super busy - everyone trying to avoid heat of the day. Cyclists, runners, walkers and backpackers. BTW - what's up with the guys riding mountain bikes that don't yield? On a 2 foot wide path with grass borders both sides on way back from park, a guy tries to mow me down and squeeze by staying on path. I didn't see him and he could easily have detoured onto the grass - especially since he had time to yell at me and that was the first I saw him. I always yield - never a big deal. That's 3 times recently nearly collided because apparently the bikers think they have right of way and have just held their ground. Am I missing something? Anyway - may try long run again tomorrow.

Kenyan Nights

Goal 85% effort. Relay. Teams of 3, Grabbed the closest 2 people. 30:00 w/u. 25:00 session. Av. 30 sec per relay. 3 of us about the same pace. 1:03 av. rest. 7:00 w/d. 5:00 core. Relay held in the dog park. Whistle circuit abandoned due to competition for space with the big dogs. Concentrated on hydrating instead of finding time to stretch correctly between sets.

Memorial Park Trails

Absolutely need to increase the running days. Can't reach goals by just doing Kenyan Way and a long run! Today's 95F was 9F over average for today. However after work, instead of fighting rush hour, the well shaded quiet trails of MP were a joy as always. 37 minutes.

Kenyan Nights

Goal: Concentrate on running form. 1.3 mile w/u. 2x10:00, 1 hill loop. 5:00 rest btwn., 0.7 mile w/d. 5:00 core. Managed 4 loops per rep. Second hot day of summer, but Sean chose a mostly shaded course. Slight breeze. Weekend activity limited to yard work and swimming -so ready for this workout.

Houston Highland Games

This being my thirteenth year in Houston, after moving from Edinburgh, Scotland, I finally made it to the Houston Highland Games. I've been to other gatherings in the US in Colorado and Washington which I've really enjoyed. In Houston great to see the border collie sheep herding demonstration, highland dance competition and upbeat rock/bagpipe/fiddle bands. Although I missed seeing the marching pipe bands.

Bike to work Day

This is my second Bike to Work day with Mayor of Houston. Nice route from memorial park to city hall.

Ordered Garmin 405 GPS HRM

I ordered the Garmin 405 HRM. Unfortunately I missed the initial availability window and it is back-ordered now. It is great a normal watch size GPS Heart Rate Monitor has been produced. Has a touchscreen for operation - same as my camera. The ability to upload and map all runs and have accurate time and distance measurements is cool.

Kenyan Nights

Time Trial: 15:53. 1/2 mile splits: 4:04, 3:55, 4:03, 3:51. Warm 85F. 1.5m w/u. 1m w/d. 5 min core. Feeling it after warm-up. Tried to start steady. But still up with others. Many chose to do 1 lap so many picked it up at end of first. The few that chose 2 laps got away a bit - but I tried to keep with them - could see difference on out-and-back piece after bridge. Not too bad. Breathing manageable. Didn't hammer it at end so surprised on splits.

For comparison last years time trial 2 and 3 were held on similar course:

Posted on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 New course. 2 miles 15:52, 4 loops. 3:52, 3:55, 4.05, 4:00.
Posted on Wednesday, July 25, 2007 Accurately measured 2 miler. 15:44 3:58, 3:51, 3:56, 3:59

Kenyan Nights

Family commitments (and being sick) meant I missed the first week of Kenyan Way 12 week running "maintenance" training program. First hill session in 5 months. Good example of even if take easy, still get a workout on hills. 1.5 m w/u. 2 x 10 min loop with 2 hills. 5 min rest. 0.5 m w/d. 5 min core. Nice and cool: 75F

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Weekend trip to MBJ. Survived Heineken and Oban malt whisky from last nights party. Plan was to run on the beach and sail catamarans. Managed only to go swimming. Spent time traveling to island interior and hang out with travel companion visiting family and friends. Trip always worth it for the fresh food: coconuts, bananas, shrimp, Jerk chicken, festival and Red Stripe. Didn't sample awesome fresh fish this time. Came back with decent supply of 100% Blue Mountain coffee.

Terry Hershy Trail

1hr 25min. 8 miles from home. Slow run in afternoon heat. Housewarming party this evening in Heights.

Sick Day

Caught a cold between swimming at weekend and Mon run. Lasted 2 days.

Memorial Park

Running in the rain. 2 mile w/u. 3 miles. 1 mile w/d.

Memorial Park Trails

1hr 5 min. Revisited some of the trails from last 2 Spring Tour de Bayou races. The 5 race series completed last Tuesday. This is a recovery run from that and last Sunday's 3 hour hill run on Pikes Peak with the Incline club at Manitou Springs, Colorado.

Welcome

So here it is. I've finally made a commitment to blog about the important public aspects of my life: Running, Traveling and Living. Running in all forms has been the only constant in my life. The foundation of almost everything experienced in my life. Traveling has been the framework of everything I have done, and will do. Living (well) is the final result of me as a person. Running is tangible. Living less so - but parallels what is. I naturally lived well when younger: Ran faster, underweight and minimal stress. After 19 years of similar office jobs, it's tough to live well, even with accounting for being older. Now I run slow, am overweight and stressed often.

I believe in the premise that a life of activity is critical to high quality of living in the later years. The modern world I live in simply doesn't promote that.

This blog will record my steps to make changes for the goal of living a better life.