John’s Comments (group member since Jul 08, 2010)

John’s comments from the Running, Track and Field group.

Thanks Doug. In the time between our posts Alabama got devastated. Thoughts go out to them.

I do have a bit of running in my next novel, a paranormal mystery. Protagonist is actually out for a run at one point when he's beset by thugs. Fortunately he has a bit of compact weapon to help even the odds.

Douglas wrote: You live in Raleigh, North Carolina. We have all seen reports about the devastation wrought by the storms there last weekend. I am sure that I speak for all members of this Group when I write that we trust you and your family are well, safe and unhurt.

Please let us know how you are.
, ..."

Thanks for the good wishes Doug. Me and mine are fine but the storms were devasting in other parts of Wake county and other counties. At least 17 dead if I have it correct, some of those young children, who will never have a chance to run.

Good luck with your youth track team. Youths need all the encouragement they can get. So happens my parents were up during the storms and I was helping my dad fix my storm door and door jamb that one of my dogs -- chow / shepherd mix -- chewed the hell out of because of the starting gun at the middle school track meet a few weeks prior.

Interesting stuff. The only book I've read that had running in it is Marathon Man

She's higher than she looks, Raleigh's Landfill park, and last weekend I tried for the summit at the end of my jog. Had to stop once but the view -- one of the highest in Wake County, NC -- was very cool.

http://www.wakegov.com/parks/northwak...

Good use of a trash heap!

Hey Doug,

My wife is more a proponent of stretching after runs than before them, so I think you're on the right track (pun!) by do so. Like you, I also like to stretch a bit prior to a run as I'm normally stiff from whatever I did the day before and it loosens me up for the torturous journey about to unfold.

I do envy you natural runners.

My wife has to be careful about a knee tendon these days but still does six miles at clip most of the time. No more marathons but she might do a couple triathlons locally. Nothing in SC unless Myrtle Beach might have something ...

Today is Sunday and while 44 degrees is not optimal, I don't want to hit the gym elliptical so it's outdoors for my 5 miler. I'll be wiped afterward but glad to have gone. Hope the iTunes carry me through ok.

take care my friend,

John

Hey Doug,

I'm a bit amazed the Doc didn't see much difference. Is the issue Pre-stretching vs. No Stretching, or Stretching in general vs. No Stretching.

Pre-stretching with cold muscles with just five minutes before running may not make much of a difference, but I guarantee if you don't stretch at all you will have an injury sooner than if you'd stretched.

Cutting corners on stretching led to a couple injuries for me, in weight training and kicking/punching, and ever since I do a fair amount of stretching. As a physical therapist who sees a good number of hard-core runners, my wife can vouch for the running side of things.

Ran the park trails with the dogs at 6:30 pm last night. Biggest fear ... vampires, killers, bears?

Exposed tree roots.

As it became too dark too soon.

Now the days are getting shorter and I'll have to start running at night, or in the morning. Neither is optimal. Car lights can show the way but can also create deceptive shadows.

Douglas -- very cool, your entering a couple races next summer. Best with your training.

You must be a true runner, not someone like myself who pushes through runs 2x per week as a means for cardio alternatives to weights and bagwork. I'm thinking you've got speed enough to run circles around me.

Bad news ... my wife likely has a stress fracture. She LOVES to run, and has done numerous triathalons and one marathon. It's bringing her down but we're hoping recoup time of six weeks max but she sees the doc soon. She's a physical therapist who knows what it will take.

Good luck to all exercisers ...

Sunday long run (for me, 5 miles is long, so try not to laugh) went ok, considering we had air travel stuff until 1:00 am and wasn't all that rested.

Sun was nice though, high eighties.

tips, events, how was your run?

I've had some family issues and been getting my latest publishing effort ready for market, so haven't been here much.

But I have been running about twice a week still, sometimes 2.5 when I mix a jog in after hitting and kicking the bags in the garage.

Today I'm going out again and am naturally tired, like most Wednesday afternoons. Still, a little juice into the ipodius maximus will help get me out there, at least.

Ben, cool recommendations and all the best with 99 Problems!

John

Hey Doug,

Nice of you to say, but I'm afraid I'm not that well known ... maybe someday. I've got a couple things I'm working on that are queued up.

Today's longer Sunday morning run of five miles was a challenge, as always. It was a little cooler out but the old body wasn't cranking so well after the first three.

My wife suggested Hal Higdon's book, Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide by Hal Higdon

and website http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/Mar...

thanks
John

So I managed four miles last night, and my new Godsmack song never came up in the Shuffle rotation. Had two cramps to run through, nothing disastrous. Did slow a couple times but not bad for a middle-of-the-week run.

Ah, a runner I've actually heard of ... Mr. Bolt. Amazing in the Olympics. Seemed almost effortless.

Time and again we find athletes letting us down by cheating with steroids or the latest doping method. I hope it is not the case with Bolt.

Lance! Everybody who doesn't like him claims he cheats. I think he's proven he doesn't dope time and again and still won. Not this year; guess he's human afterall. Still, quite an achievement, all those Tour de France wins.

Thanks Douglas!

Wife got third in her age group again. This time there were 800 contestants, some Elite - class.

Me, I'm going to download a new song by Godsmack to help me do maybe 3.5 miles tonight in the heat, lol.

Probably even hotter in SC where you are ...

Hey guys,

Fiction writer with a day job here.

I'm a recreational runner. 2 - 3 times / week to mix with my other workouts. Usually go about 3.5 miles during the week per session, then a 5 miler on Sundays. Not a natural runner ... I slog through most times but always feel better afterward. Take the iPod with me most of the time.

Last night's run was better than expected given the heat, even at 7 pm. Some days surprise me that way. Sunday's run sucked, as I was stiff from weightlifting on Saturday and the heat at 10:30 am was also pretty stiff.

Wife is doing another triatholon this Saturday. She's nutty that way ... and a natural runner.