Choices

This was a pretty good week of running.  I did 13 miles on Sunday.  That is the most since the marathon in October.  It seems like it has taken me a long time to get back to this distance.  Both physically and mentally.  The physical thing started with the knee issue.  That got better, but I couldn't seem to push it.  Couldn't get past certain mileage.  For a while, I thought I may have lost my love and desire for running.  It seemed to coincide with my loss of feelings for my business.  I love to build.  I've spent years teaching myself the trade and the ins and outs of the business.  I made many mistakes.  My business plan was to make cabinets and sell them.  Pretty simple, really.  I jumped in and made lots of cabinets.  I loved it and I grew.  I got lots of jobs.  Too many jobs.  Knee deep in cabinets all the time.  I got behind.  I had some horrible customers.  I had some employees that milked me dry.  I was not the best manager.  When I say that, I need to make it clear that I would love to work for someone like me.  Someone who is passionate about what they do, and really only cared that the end product was good.  I am a person who hates being told what to do.  I'm quiet about it, but I hate being told what to do.  Probably makes me not such a great employee.  But my work ethic is strong.  I will work like a mule.  When the economy started to tank, I still had lots of jobs, but not lots of money.  I told myself this is not why I got into the business.  I did not want to be a manager who told people what to do and watched.  I'm hands on.  I want to be involved in the designing, the building, the installation, etc.  I started the business with a cavernous workspace.  Hardly any electricity, no showroom, no office.  On my first appointment, I had a brochure of door styles and a piece of paper to take notes.  I got the job.  I started framing out a showroom and office and making displays.  I worked all the time.  It was exciting.  Every time the phone rang it meant opportunity.  Over time, I became a slave to the business.  Payroll every week.  Overhead expenses.  I would dread when the phone rang.  I wanted to throw my cell phone in the river.  I finally had enough.  I wanted to downsize.  I wanted to be just me again.  But how to finish all these jobs with no employees?  Work all the time is how.  I had to deal with the fact that I was going to be behind, but the product would be nice.  I had some angry customers, but all the jobs got done.  I am proud of all of them.  The jobs, that is.  I got stiffed royally a few times.  Not getting paid at a time that I was already a bit sour on things really added to the fun.  But, I knew it would all be over as long as I stuck to my plan of not taking a job just for the money and not getting dependent on an employee or any other help.  This process took about two long years.  I finally cleared the slate around December of last year...2012.  I took a part time job.  Not because I didn't have work, but to see what it was like to do something else.  A couple days a week.  I like the job.  It is easy.  Just go to work, do my thing and go home.  Rinse and repeat.  It was a bit hard to balance that with the business at first, but I started to get used to it.  I thought maybe I should just get out of the business entirely.

My running during the last few years sort of became my sanity.  I would run when I could fit it in.  I'd save my Saturday mornings for the running group.  I would almost always work after the run, but I wouldn't schedule anything until I had run.  I remember having an appointment after a 13 mile run a few years ago and I could barely stand up.  I am in much better shape now, but then 13 miles was monumental.  I had to ask them if it was okay if I leaned on their table.  I explained that I was training for a half.  I would laugh sometimes at what I thought was going on in people's minds.  Here's this cabinet guy who could barely walk and he's saying he is going to do a half marathon.  He has to be full of crap.  Anyway...my worst days in the business sort of coincided with my best days of running.  2012 had me dreading work yet I was pr'ing in every race I entered.  The year ended with the marathon in October, running wise.  Business wise, it was December.

I still don't blame my knee issue on running.  My knees have gotten much stronger since I have been running more in the last few years.  I blame my job for my knee issues.  Kneeling, carrying...whatever. But, my knee was hurting for a long time.  Did the marathon hurt it?  Did the job hurt it?  Both. probably, but for the first time, I could not do both.  I needed to take a break from running.  Because of the business.  If I can't walk, I can't make money.  Two things that I loved to do were hurting me.  One financially and physically and the other physically.  I considered quitting both.

My part time job offered me a full time position this week.  I had a few days to think about it.  My running, to me anyway, pretty much was not going well.  I was thinking why bother anymore.  I can lift weights, and do other things.  Then, this week happened.  13 miles and it felt good.  Sprint work a few days later and that felt really good.  5 miles and dinner with some great friends on Wednesday, and today another 6 with more great people.  After my run today, I installed a bathroom vanity that I custom made.  My customer told me what nice work I do.  I called the part time people and told them that I was going to stay part time.  I've decided to stick with the business and the running.  I have way too much invested in both to quit.

I've been reading a book by Og Mandino.  The Greatest Salesman in the World is its name.  I haven't read a motivational book since my days in the mortgage business, but I thought I could use it.  Here is a quote that I like from it.

"I will live this day as if it is my last.  And what shall I do with this last precious day which remains in my keeping?  First, I will seal up its container of life so that not one drop spills itself upon the sand.  I will waste not a moment mourning yesterday's misfortunes, yesterday's defeats, yesterday's aches of the heart, for why should I throw good after bad?

Can sand flow upward in the hour glass?  Will the sun rise where it sets and set where it rises?  Can I relive the errors of yesterday and right them? Can I call back yesterday's wounds and make them whole?  Can I become younger than yesterday?  Can I take back the evil that was spoken, the blows that were struck, the pain that was caused?  No.  Yesterday is buried forever and I will think of it no more.

I will live this day as if it is my last."

Now, I've got to get some sleep.  I have to run in the morning and I have lots of shit to build.

Running in Manteo

Despite having to take an unplanned rest day for sudden shin splints, I had a great Tempo Run this morning putting 3 miles behind me in 20:54 after a mile run at 8:30 pace then followed those miles with almost 3 and a half more at below 8:30 pace.  That part of my training, speed with some distance, is going well.  However, after my 10 x 200 workout on Sunday, I know that my lactate turn stuff needs improvement.  Especially since I have the 800 to run in Maryland on the 24th.

I have those workouts on the schedule so I'm confident it will come together.

But for today's blog I wanted to give y'all a look at my long run on my "original" training route in Manteo, NC.

I start and finish at my house (duh) right at the rose arbor I built a few years back.

 

Crepe Myrtles are pruned and ready for spring.

 

 

I head up the street, right to left in the picture above, and around the corner to head up to the North end of the island.

 

After rounding the corner, I run along the sidewalk where I blew up my ankle by stepping on a pine cone in the dark, and then past the high school and my church then come up to the next corner where I turn right to head towards the sound.  Right at the half mile point and at that corner is a house where I've done a bunch of work.  I transformed an unfinished garage with a dirt floor into a two room efficiency with a kitchen, laundry room, and bathroom with one of the coolest decorative ceilings I think I've ever designed.  I also created the paint scheme and selected the colors for the house which was nothing but peeling white paint before I got ahold of it.  We actually used 3/8 paint brushes to do the railings.  But even now almost 6 years later it looks fantastic.

 

 

There are 8 different colors on the front door alone.

 

 

From there I chug down Scuppernong (a street name), past mile marker one and turn left to run along Mother Vineyard that parallels the Sound.  Along there is a couple of my favorite spots.  A tunnel cut out of cedar trees,

 

 

and the 1.5 mile mark where I can look out across the Sound to Nags Head.  Many mornings I've seen the sunrise from this corner, and the view is always something that makes me smile.

 





 

 

The road bends back around to the left here and I have almost a half mile exactly before turning right and heading North on the bike path.  This is a long stretch, about 3 miles, but full of niceties along the way.  Mainly there are always people out here and more than half of them I'll know.  Along with their dogs.  It's always fun to hear, "Hey Ed!  In town this weekend?"  Of course sometimes I'll yell back, "Nope," and watch their faces crinkle up then laugh.

 

One of the neat places I pass is Island Farm.  It's a place set up to show what things were like on the island back in the 1800's.  Complete with cows and native horses.

 

 

They ignored me when I called them today.

 

 

Further up the path, at about the 4 mile mark is Fort Raleigh Park.  That's where the first English colony was established on this continent back in 1587.  And, yes, it's the famous "Lost Colony" which vanished without a trace before supply ships returned to them after being away during the war with Spain.  When I want to go 11 or 12 miles I'll duck down into the park here and run through the trails in the woods around the Fort.

 

 

 

After that it's just a mile to the end of the island and the Mann's Harbor Bridge.  That's where over 300,000 purple martins roost every summer.  Watching them come in at night is something everyone should see.  It'll take your breath away.







 

 

 

 

What's totally cool is that I took that video after running 5 miles in under 40 minutes and I'm barely breathing.  Love it.

 

From here it's back down the path passing all the same stuff, but from the other direction.  (Captain Obvious strikes again.)  Including "the Hill."  Every time we come to this point we yell, "Hill!!" and charge up it.  All three strides....

 

 

Hey, It's a flat island.

 

 

And here's a shot of the bike path I took on the run.  It's sort of the same view a dozen other times along this route...

 

 

A little farther down the path is one of the several horses people own.  This one decided to at least look at me.  I guess it knew I hadn't brought any baby carrots with me because he didn't come over to the fence to see me.

 

 

 

Just before I make that last turn onto my street there are three little houses called the Toy Boat Houses and they're a great place for folks to stay when you come here for Relay for Life in May! 

 

 

Note the totally cool tree house!

 

Just google "Roanoke Island Accomodations" and the first link is to a friend of mine's website.  It's an amazing site that will give you all you need to find in the Outer Banks.  I'd put the link up but telling you to just google that proves that this guy owns Search Engine Optimization.

 

 

 

And when you come visit I'll be right on this front porch to welcome you.  I probably won't be sweaty and have the red eyes from running in the freezing cold...unless of course we go for a run!

 





A post not about running, training, P90X, cross-training or any other super searchable words

So let me tell you how things work in my house.

My wife told me the tank on our toilet seemed to be sloping backwards.  I took a quick look at it and tell her it's because it's an old style toilet with only two bolts.  These things sit up straight because the rubber seal between the tank and the bowl has four little feet on them and after awhile they get squishy and it slopes forward or back.  "I just need to replace it," I say, "Only take fifteen minutes."

"We'll stop by Lowe's after church," she said while brushing her teeth.

We get into Lowe's and walk around to the plumbing supply area and I can't find the part I want.  I start describing it to the guy (there's always 'the guy' at Lowe's) and he says, "Yeah, that's an old toilet. We'd need to order that."

Debbie pipes up and says, "Let's just get a new toilet."

Fine.

So we cruise around two aisles and pick out a new one.  On sale!

"Hey," Debbie says, "We've talked about remodeling the bathroom anyways.  I hate that shower unit."

The Old Shower

"Sure," I chime in.  "We can tile the walls, get a nice tub and new fixtures. Let's see if we can find a tub that will match the toilet."

So we walk around the corner and immediately find a great one on sale because it's a display model and they were discontinuing the model.  There were only two left and we grabbed the left hand drain one and put it on one of those big ol' trolleys, leaving the toilet on it's own little one.  Fortunately, the designs of the two looked remarkably similar so we were really pleased with our luck.

From there we hit the flooring department to look for tile, and went to the piles of them they had on clearance.  There were several different kinds and I had figured we only needed about 60 tiles.  We narrowed it down based on color wanting to keep it fairly neutral in case we decide to sell or rent the place in the future.  The tiles we settled on were only 58 cents a piece which is just ridiculously cheap, so we decided we'd bump up the design a little bit with some sort of accents.

Normally in showers where I'm doing 12 x 12 tiles I'll go about 5 feet (tiles) then rotate the tiles at 45 degrees.  Makes a nice look.  In this case we also picked up some cool glass accents that I'll use to create a 3" divide between the first 5 tiles and the angled ones at the top.  It's going to be really nice.

So we haul everything home after miraculously getting it into the Equinox I'm driving right now.  Then from there I got it all upstairs.

We decided to just set it all in the guest room because it was going to take me a bit to get all this work done since I was only going to be able to work at nights and on weekends.

Notice how that one box of tiles is opened?  Bottom right of the picture there.  Well Debbie pulled some out and carried them downstairs.  I get down there and she's laying them out on the foyer floor.

"I really hate this old slate in here."

"Only because it's hideous," I reply, "So what are you thinking?"

"How much would it cost to tile the downstairs?"

"I figure we've got just under 790 square feet down here, so not even $500!  I'll call Lowe's and see if they've got enough of those tiles left."

They did and delivered them two days later.  41 boxes of 'em.

While waiting for the tiles to get there I made some attempts to get the slate up.  No dice.  They were installed into a bed of wet cement as opposed to be glued down to a slab.  The kitchen has tile that would pop right up, but then I'd have to level that floor with the foyer.  Same was true about the ugly laminate we have in the dining and living room areas. The laminate was glued down, so it wasn't going anywhere and was a nice flat surface. I checked the bottoms of doors and measured the dishwasher and decided I could just go right over the top of everything.  Not the best way to go about things, but sometimes the most cost-effective.

From there we talked about the layout and snapped some lines to follow to ensure the pattern matched up perfectly from the foyer and around the hall and kitchen.  Then I started removing doors and hauling stuff out of the kitchen, like the big hutch full of dishes, cookbooks and glassware.

Now our house looks like Oscar Madison's place.

 

Dishes on every flat surface

 

Tools on the table and floor

 

 

 

Everything shoved out of the way for the layout work

 

Doors and tile all over

 

Well, since I didn't have any of my tile saws up here I decided to get started doing all I could without cutting anything or putting myself in a tough spot to get a tile under a door jamb when I go to put those pieces in.  I've done that before and it's a big mess and pain in the butt because those pieces have to slide under the cuts I make in the jambs so I've got to leave room to slide the tiles.  And this way I could get that critical layout work done as well as get the dishwasher out of the way.

 

I got a long way prior to going to Manteo for the weekend and coming back with a saw which I needed to use to get things finished under the dishwasher.  Once that was wrapped up and put back together I got to get all the dirty dishes out of the sink and cleaned up at last.

 

So here's where I am right now:

 

Kitchen Floor

 

Foyer Floor

 

Connecting the two in the Dining Area

 



And here's where the toilet is that started it all:

 

... sigh.

 

"It'll take about fifteen minutes."



Back From Hiatus

Ed -

I'm not sure where Hiatus is, but I was told I went there and am now back.

Over the last couple of months I taught myself to play guitar so I could be the lead in a musical at our church.  The show went well despite my guitar playing and it was a lot of fun.  Our church here in Richmond does stuff like this on a big scale.  I say "church musical" and I'm sure most people think of a choir and piano sort of thing, but this was a tad larger.

Made up of only members this show had three choirs, a dozen actors, an organist, a pianist, and a full orchestra.  Complete with harp and French Horns.  Pretty intimidating to get up in front with all of them in the opening number, make my way to front and center, facing over 600 people and hold a stinkin' F for 16 beats.  Sheesh.  I'm too old for notes that high.

In case you never saw it on facebook here's a look at where I started and where I am now with the guitar.

 

The Beginning

 

 

 

8 Weeks

 

I've also revamped my training schedule for the next couple of months, so I'll write an update on that and share the spreadsheet of what I've been doing, and what I'm going to be doing in my pursuit of Sub 5.

 

 

On a completely unrelated note:  My Cancer Compadre, Shane Miles, just ran another 50K trail run.  As us Southernors say when someone's very enthusiastic about something, "He's all ate up with runnin'!"

 

 

I've added his blog over on the bar there, so check it out.  It's "Rants, Reviews, and Rendezvous."  I need to get some editing tips from him and he said I could borrow his camera for filming training runs, intervals, etc!

 





Addendum to the story that should not be told

Bob

I went back and read my last post and I have decided that I sound like a big, whiny baby.  Boo hoo baby pants.  While I was angry at the time, I want to make it clear that I was not crying.  I was having a tantrum, but there were no tears.  If there were tears, and I am not saying there were, they were extremely manly ones.  Like hail they would have been.  Killer hail shooting out of my eyes.  But, it did not happen.  It bothered me that I did not run in an event that I really looked forward to.  I also want to make it clear that I do not blame running for my problems.  I had some knee issues before and particularly doing some of the tasks of my job.  If I were to eliminate anything out of my life it would be work.  Particularly the part of my work that entails kneeling down and fighting to put a lazy susan into a cabinet.  Other kneeling things hurt, but that was the one that got me good.  Shooting pain in the side of my knee.  Like a hot knife.  Felt like I could not get up.  My first thought was I was not going to be able to do the marathon.  Then it happened again and again.  Each time it happened I got up and it felt better.  It got to the point where I would kneel with my left leg sticking straight out.  If my customer would see that action I would typically get, "and you are going to run a marathon soon?  Like that?"  And I would be all like, "well, I ain't gonna be putting in a lazy susan when I'm running, so I should be fine.  And by the way, shaddup!"  My philosophy on running is this.  Running does not hurt runners.  Runners hurt themselves.  Usually by doing something dumb.  Going too far, too fast.  Going too far and too fast.  Or just plain going too fast or too far.  There are times when we step on something, or fall down a hill or get eaten by a bear, or some other thing that is beyond our control, but typically it is from doing something we should not be doing.  Running has been some of my best therapy, physically and mentally.  I was in way more pain before I started running regularly.  The time I hurt myself the worst while running was when I made the mistake of feeling too good.  I was 49 and I felt like I was 20 that day.  I was cruising up and down some hills.  One more, and then one more.  This is great, I said.  The next day I woke up with the worst pain I have maybe ever had.  Could barely walk.  I have told that story before and it could be told again another day, but I said to myself to be careful when you feel too good.  Don't overdo it.  One reason I believe I still have all my fingers is that everytime I turn on a saw I make sure to think where my fingers are.  To concentrate and respect what can happen if I let my mind wander when I am cutting something.  I try to do the same thing when I run.  Not that I don't give it my all.  I do.  Especially in a race.  But I don't do some of the speedwork I would like to do and I don't jump over some stuff that I really want to jump over.  In summation and conclusion, running is my go to therapy.  As much of the other stuff I do, this is what I set my mark to.  The goals I have in running keep me sane.  Life is tough, running makes it better.

The story that should not be told

Bob

Okay.  Here is the thing.  My knee hurts.  It has since the marathon.  I have been running since then, but it has not been the same.  It will get better.  It does when I rest it, but what exactly is rest?   Here is my philosophy.  I have an active job and am on my feet all day, so I can't really rest.  Therefore, if I can't really rest, I may as well run.  This has worked in the past, but not so much recently.  Frustrating.  I did not run in an event on Saturday in order to rest it and not aggravate it more.  Guess what, it felt better.  But...and this is a big ole but.  I am totally aggravated.  Not running, even for a few days makes me mad.  I'm like an angry bear that got his salmon taken away.  The salmon is right there, I can taste it almost, but it got away.  Or the bear can taste it.  I get all mixed up in these analogies, or metaphors, or whatever they are.  Am I the bear?  Or am I like the bear?  Or, am I the salmon.  Or, since I am toxic, am I salmonella?  It reminds me of the old story, Salmonella and the Seven Dwarfs.  Salmonella's evil stepsisters would not let her run with her seven dwarf running buddies and she turned into a pumpkin at midnight.  Right in front of a prince.  So close to marrying a prince and she turned into a pumpkin.  Come to think of it, I could be the seven dwarfs.  When I can't run, I turn into the Sybill of dwarfs.  7 personalities of non running fairy tale dwarfs.  Wimpy, Grumpy, Gimpy, Tubby, Sobby, Ingy and Rex.  In addition, I start to get mad at other runners.  I typically love all runners.  So much fun.  So happy.  Improving.  Running. Running, etc.  But when I am not running, I think, "why are they running?  Where do they think they are going?  They are going to hurt their knee.  Running is bad for you."  I feel, in my case anyway, that the whole being smart and listening to my body thing is not my deal.  Remember Woody Hayes and his three yards and a cloud of dust philosophy?  Mine is close to that, except it is "put your head down, stupid, and run straight."  The point of the whole thing is that I will tell you and anyone else that rest is good.  And it is.  In all seriousness, I am actually kind of careful when I run.  I have been injured before to the point of not being able to run.  I made that better.  I have figured out what works for me and how to work around certain pains.  I said I would not let that happen again.  This one kind of snuck up on me.  I don't consider it an injury, but rather something that is slowing me down to a degree.  I am at the point in my life that I do not want to slow down.  I want to keep getting faster.  I got away from some of my core workouts.  My strengthening workouts.  I gained weight.  None of this is good for someone with some pre-existing problems.  I'm fixing it.  Getting stronger, watching what I eat and concentrating on my form.  The bottom line is that this pumpkin wants to be a princess again.   I really need some new slippers too, but that is a story for another day.

Running with my babies

Although I have been running, I have been in a bit of a rut with it.  It just hasn't felt right for a while.  I have also been fairly lax on my other workouts.  I am doing them, but not like in the past.  My enthusiasm has waned a bit.  Maybe not enthusiasm.  Desire?  Energy?  Whatever it is, it is causing a waning in my activity.  I say I will do it later, then later comes and it just never happened.  Then, of course, Thanksgiving was looming and I just figured that it was a waste to get all fired up about rekindling the workout fire and then eat myself into a coma on the big day.  Friday came and I decided enough is enough.  We did our typical hill run yesterday and it was horrible!  I mean, it was great being with my friends, but the hill almost killed me.  I found that I needed a stroller for my stomach and a backpack for my ass.  I was running and people thought I was exercising with twins.  They came up to me and were all like, "oogie, goo goo.  Look at the babies.  Can we see the babies?"  Then they looked in the stroller and gagged at the sight of my stomach, and when they looked in the backpack they literally threw up.  It was kind of embarrassing.  After a few miles, I decided to call my stomach baby Lards.  I like that it sounds Nordic.  Since my last name is Nourse, people think that I am descended from the Norse people anyway.  My stomach is Lards Nourse.  I just called my ass baby, Asspack.  Because it was in a backpack and I can't think of anything better right now.  Asspack Nourse.  I was running up hills with my little family unit, Lards and Asspack Nourse and I felt like I was going to throw up.  Too much food and I decided that is enough.  It is amazing what a bad diet can do in a short amount of time.  In all seriousness, I have put on weight and I can feel the effect it has on my my speed and endurance.  I think it has to do with not having something specific to train for.  I usually do need something to train for.  A raison d 'etre if you will.  In French, raison d'etre means raison eater and that has nothing to do with running, but I hear those words and it makes me mad.  Makes me want to sign up for a race.  So, some friends talked me into doing a 20 mile trail race in February.  It is billed as 20 miles, but everyone says it is 21.  That is the thing about trail runs.  You can't trust them.  I have been on a 10 mile trail run that turned out to be 13 miles.  Something about satellites and clouds and leaf cover and the devil, but in my case I usually get lost as well.  Not near death lost, but a 1/2 mile or so mosey off the right path lost.  It is a weird feeling when it hits you that there is no one around and you have to turn and find the right path.  Sometimes the path is just marked with a small ribbon.  Other times, they hire a really apathetic squirrel to point you the right way.  Squirrels do not have a pointy finger.  'Nuff said.  A half mile mistake, turns into an extra mile on the trail.  To sum up the situation, I am signed up for a 20 plus mile trail race in late February.  Not far off from the marathon that I said I would not do for a long time.  I plan on doing a somewhat formal training plan for this event and starting in the near future.  In between, I want to lose the weight I have gained and run a pr in the New Years Eve day 5k I run every year.  This is doable.  I have to make sure it is.  This is the event.  www.njtrailseries.com  The Febapple  20 miler.  Maybe I can convince Ed to come up for that.

I'm going to have to end this now, because little Lards and Asspack are due for their feeding.