Recently in Ranting and Raving Category

I am still having trouble dropping back into my blogging routine...Mark at Mark Tanaka's Trail and Ultra Running Blog logged an entry the other day that pretty much sums up my feelings about blogging lately:

"Obvious to me for quite some time, but increasingly so as the problem continues to worsen-- blogging about ultrarunning is inherently difficult.

If I have time to blog, then I have time to run. Because of my schedule and a general lack of time to run as much as I'd like, if I have time to run, I need to take advantage of it. For those who don't run ultras, training runs usually take hours, and many ultrarunners get addicted to racing..."

From my perspective I've never met an ultrarunner that is NOT addicted to racing, but I guess there must be a few out there ;-)

In any case I will try to get back to somewhat of a blogging routine, after all the main purpose that I started blogging was to document my training for my own reference...

I'm still runinng, swimming and dreaming about next year's races, but the holiday season has left me preoccupied. I will start writing again after Christmas. Until then have a safe and happy holiday season, call that loved one that you have neglected for so long, try to bless that neighbor who is going through a rough time, and take a second to smile and thank that cashier the next time you are standing in a long line!

I miss my running buddy, after running nearly five months with RB my long runs seem so empty without her. The seemingly endless miles ended all too quickly when she was along, now they never seem to end.

I am very proud of RB, she completed her first marathon and was fit enough the next day to walk around Dresden and the vicinity for hours on end. RB has been taking it easy since we got back from Dresden, running only the twice a week runs with our running club...sometimes I run with her slower group, just to catch up on things.

My 100K training is reaching a peak, I have been pushing my body to the edge and for the first time ever I am really looking forward to tapering which begins in about two weeks.

The 100K race will mark the end of the biggest chunk of my training this year. After that I will be running in maintenance mode, running a maximum of 3 times a week, but still hoping that I can survive a marathon or two over the summer.

I find myself wondering what my running/racing will look like in the future. I have been really enjoying myself, to say the least, but my wife's school ends in July and I know I have to cut back and spend more time with her. To be honest I have mixed feelings about this...running has become so much a part of my life. I hope we can work out a solution for the future, I really love long distance running and seem to be getting better at it!

I'm back from Dresden, I have lots of interesting stuff to blog about. My friend RB sucessfullly completed her first marathon in 4:49:39 and lived to tell about it ;-)

I took lots of pictures, had several great days of vacation in and around Dresden, and made it back just in time to set a new PR for the half-marathon! I'll try to catch up over the next couple days, stay-tuned.

Yesterday I was feeling really tired, the two long runs on the weekend, followed by a run on Monday evening, really emptied my tank. However, I concentrated on my eating and got some extra sleep last night, so this morning I am feeling normal again. I am looking forward to a run with my running buddy after work, followed by the monthly gathering of my running club afterwards.

Gestern habe ich echt müde gefühlt, die zwei lange Lauf an die Wochenende, folgt bei ein lauf am Montagabend hat mein Tank leer gemacht. Aber ich habe ein bisschen mehr gegessen als normal und auch langer geschlafen, heute fühle mich wieder fit. Ich freue mich auf ein lauf mit meine Lauf Buddy heut Abend und nachher Stammtisch mit der Lauftreff.

I love to run, running has become such a part of my life that I really can't imagine any better way of spending my free time. I love racing too, although "racing" is relative, I race against my own best times rather than trying to "win".

This coming Saturday I am signed up for my first race of the year, a 50K race in Rodgau, near Frankfurt, Germany. I have been training hard and the plan has been to try to set a new PR for the 50K distance.

However this past Friday night my wife reminded me that a good friend of ours has her birthday on the same day and we are invited for dinner. A quick calculation made it clear that there was no way I could run the race and make it to dinner on time. My wife said go to the race, she'd go to our friends alone.

I didn't say anything and thought about it for awhile. Later I was on the phone with my running friend Uli and I asked what her and Birgit had on the running plan for next Saturday, it turns out they wanted to start an hour earlier and run 30 km, which would have me home in enough time to make the dinner. I also mentioned to Uli about the birthday and she said when her and her boyfriend were training for their Ironman last year they often had to choose between friends and training, it put a lot of strain on friendships.

After this conversation the fog lifted and I had my answer, I would stay home from the race, there are more then enough other races on my schedule.

I was reading an article a few months ago that talked about people who become "addicted" to running, that is running is no longer their sport or hobby, it becomes an obsession. Clearly, many (most?) ultra runners are obsessive, but as the article went on to say it is the attitude that determines when running becomes an addiction. One of the signs was that you put your running and training before family and friends.

I think it is important that we control our running and not let it control us. In this case it means that my friend's birthday celebration has priority over a race. Although my wife remained nonchalant when I told her I was not going to the race, I know that it was a positive sign for her that my "addiction" is not totally out of control.

Have any of you guys had to decide between your training/racing and time with family and friends? Where has your priority been?

Last night I pretty much took the night off from training. I just finished three weeks of intense training, so want to back off on the mileage this week. I did take about 10-15 minutes and do some light crosstraining in the form of 4 minutes on the stationary bike, and the rest of the time in my weight room in the shed. I finished off with some sets of push-ups and sit-ups, followed by some stretching. After a good night's sleep I feel rejuvenated and ready for a run after work.

My running buddy is can't make it for our run tonight, so I will probably head to the local research center and run a few loops on my own. The weather is beginning to warm up a bit, so it should be more comfortable than it has been the past couple weeks.

On Thursday night I am meeting one of the gals training for the Bienwald Marathon (in March) for a run. Our other running partner usually runs with her on Thursdays, but is on ski vacation, so I offered to fill in. They usually do speed work on Thursday, so I guess I'm in for a workout!

Gestern Abend habe ich mehr oder weniger kein Training gemacht. I habe gerade drei Wochen intensiver Training abgeschlossen, so ich wollte ein bisschen ausruhen. Ich habe doch ein bisschen Crosstraining gemacht, in form 4 Minuten an die Crosstrainer, und 10-12 Minuten Krafttraining und Gymnastik. Nach eine lange schlaf ich habe viele besser gefüllt und vorbereitet vor eine schöne Lauf heute.

My Lauf Buddy kann heute Abend nicht laufen, so ich wurde ein paar Runden rund die Forschungszentrum allein laufen. Das Wetter ist etwas warmer geworden, es sollte etwas mehr bequem so laufen als die letzte paar Wochen.

An Donnerstagabend ich will mit eins von die zwei Frauen das Trainiert gerade für die Beinwald Marathon laufen. Die andere Freundin von uns mach gerade Skiurlaub, so ich habe gesagt das ich kann mitlaufen. Normalweiß macht die zwei Tempotraining an Donnerstags, so ich glaube es wurde ein gute Workout sein!