Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Run for life!

A new published research article entitled, "Life-long endurance running is associated with reduced
glycation and mechanical stress in connective tissue", supports my philosophy of "run for life". More evidence for a better quality of live and longevity, run for life. http://download.springer.com/static/pdf/920/art%253A10.1007%252Fs11357-014-9665-9.pdf?auth66=1405014836_c82b6759725a1787d58e9776a8975368&ext=.pdf

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Living to run! A morning run with my buddy.

July 3rd, what a beautiful morning to be alive and a runner. I woke-up this morning at 5:40am to let the dogs out for their morning business and discovered it was 48 degrees F, no wind, and blue skies. I said to my 13 year old  German Short-haired running buddy, Harriet, what a beautiful day to go for a run. She knows what the word run means as she goes over to her leash and starts to point it.

 I quickly got my running clothes and put my Glycerin 12's on. Ready! Like I have to ask. Of course she's ready. She was born ready to run, just as I was.

Out we go at 6:05am. Before we are down the driveway, a mama deer and few week old babe cross our path. Full speed ahead! We are off and running. Or should I say, flying at sub 5 minute per mile pace according to the Garmin GPS. Eventually the deer turn off the road and run out into the field. Ah, recovery time and return to 6'40" per mile pace.

Now we've gone a whole 1/2 mile and a wild turkey runs out on the quiet country road. What do you think happens next. Come on, Harriet is a bird dog. It back to sub 5 minute mile pace. As we are closing in on Harriet's prize, two body lengths from her jaws, the turkey wisely takes to flight and goes off into the woods. Ah, recovery time and return to 6'40" per mile pace.

Now we've covered a mile, had two speed sessions, and gone up two 14-20% incline hills. Good thing the next mile is down hill on about a 7% grade. We are both feeling alive and enjoying the morning cruising along at 6'10" mile pace. I call out left and Harriet makes a left hand turn as we start our assent up a 0.7 mile hill at a 5-14% grade.

Once we crest the hill and get onto a grass trail, there they are, two bun buns. Off we go again for another speed session. After a sprint down the mowed grass path, the two bunnies wisely split and run into the tall grass. When I say tall grass, I mean tall grass. I live in Kansas were its not only the corn that is as high as an elephants eye, but also the grass. Harriet says bye bye to the bunnies and ah, recovery time and return to 6'40" per mile pace.

We are now descending down the dam into the the land of squirrels. The park below the Tuttle Creek Lake seems to have a squirrel at every other tree this morning. You know what that means. Yes, lucky us, more speed sessions. Harriet is a big fan of squirrels. Lucky for the squirrels there are plenty of trees to climb to retreat from the jaws and paws of my running buddy that doesn't realize she is 13 years old going on 14 this fall. Well, like owner, like pet. What can I say, age is only a state of mind.

So how does this morning outing end. Twelve miles logged, two big smiles, and a little refreshments and food to rehydrate and refuel. I'm off to work and Harriet rest. What a great day to be alive.