Crazy Wisconsin weather

They, who ever they may be, say that if you don't like the weather in Wisconsin, wait 15 minutes and it will change. It may have taken longer than 15 minutes but we certainly have had unique weather conditions. On Monday the 28th it was in the low 40's. Maybe a bit damp and cloudy. I did a quick run of about 3.75 miles. I probably could have run in shorts and should have just to say I ran in shorts in January. Tuesday morning it was still in the mid 30's. Although it was a bit breezy it was still a nice day. I got in a nice long run for a winter day-just over 10 miles at a nice and comfortable pace. I left for work a bit early to run some errands in Stevens Point before my 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. shift. About 10 miles from home it was snowing and blowing so hard I could barely see the highway. When I left work at 11 p.m. it was around -10 F with a windchill around -40 F. When I got up this morning- Wednesday- it was -18 F with a windchill hovering around -45 F. Winds were gusting around 40 mph. I like to think of myself as a hearty soul but it was too cold for me to run outside. I relegated myself to the basement and a ride to nowhere on the bike on the fluidtrainer. By the end of the week it is forecast to be near 30 again.
The weather, along with my schedule, has been wreaking havoc on my training. I should be trying to get in some cross country skiing but it just isn't falling into place. I have been getting in a good variety of workouts-running, bike, and some skiing. I just wish I had more time on the skis. I haven't registered yet, but I would really like to do the Birkie at the end of February. This is a 51K cross country ski event in northern Wisconsin. The course profile looks like the business end of a hand saw. I'm not sure there is a flat spot on the course. Okay, I know, just a bit of exageration, but it is HILLY!!! I think I have the endurance but I know I don't have the ski specific strength I need. If I do the Birkie I would like to be able to do it comfortably and not suffer too much. So, I need to find some more time to strap on the skinny skis and hit the trails. Fortunately the area I ski at kind of mimics the Birkie course. It doesn't have the long, steady hills but it is a hilly course without much time to recover and rest. I think if I get in a couple of long (50K) days I should be ready. Then all I need to do is make sure I can get time off from work.
Well, it's been a long day and my beer glass is almost empty so I'll sign off and head to bed. More later......

Finally, back to normal?

Okay, for anyone that is following this, I know, it's been a while. The Holidays were just insane! Between trying to see everyone in our extended familys, work (yes, I worked all the Holidays) parties and anything else that popped up I thought I might actually go crazy! I probably brought some of the stress on myself, but that's how I am. Anyway, the Holidays were great. We got to see all the kids, if only for a short time. My Dad and Step-Mom came down to visit. We had a couple Birthday parties for Grandkids, kids..... and ME. On the 5th of Janurary I turned 47, our Grandaughter turned 1 on the 6th, our Grandson turned 3 on the 7th and Bud and his S.O. both had birthdays on the 11th. WHEW!! Add in a couple more family members out of town and it's a crazy time of the year.
My training has been so-so. I was getting some great early skiing in and then we had our Janurary thaw. 40+ degrees and rain just after the first of the year. It seems the snow base has held up quite well and I hope to get out and get some more miles on the skis. I have eased up on the running just a bit and added some workouts on my road bike on a mag-trainer. Just as boring as a treadmill but if I plan on doing more serious racing this year I figure every little bit helps.
On New Year's Day I ran a 5K in Neenah. It was cold and windy. Temps were in the single digits and the windchill was around 10 below. The sun was out in full force so that seemed to help a bit. I had no goals or predictions going in to the race. I had skied apporximately 15 miles on a very hilly course the day before so I just wanted to do the race as a way to start off the New Year. I didn't push at all and had no idea where I was in relation to the front runners. I felt slow and a bit stiff so I just kind of tucked in with a small pack and went at their pace. I had a fairly strong finish, pulling away from the pack in the last half mile or so. I immediatley went to my car to change into dry clothes and then went and had some food and waited around for results and door prizes. When they announced the age group awards I almost fell out of my seat when they called my name for 3rd place. My time was 22:23 which is kind of slow for me but I'll take it. I'll chalk up the slower times overall to the cold since they did have a good turnout-350+ runners/walkers. It was a great start to the New Year and one I hope I can continue with.
I have decided to list some goals for the New Year on my blog. I figure if I put them down here I might be more apt to try and keep them since someone might actually read this. They aren't earth shattering or anything special. Just some goals I would like to try and achieve if all the stars and planets line up and the Gods smile down on me.

1. I resolve to finally run at least a marathon, hopefully an ultra. I've been talking about this for a couple years and it's time to put up or shut up. No time goal in mind. I just want to do one and enjoy the experience.
2. I resolve to be more well rounded, for lack of a better expression, this year. Not so much time running. I would like to ski, run, bike, maybe rollerblade, hike, etc this year.
3. I resolve to compete more seriously in the WORS series. This is a mountain bike racing series that I used to race in regularly but haven't been that serious since 2001. I would like to see just how well I can do again.
4. I resolve not to be so caught up in the numbers game. Last year I tried to pile on the running miles. 2000+ miles is pretty good for me. I got caught up in some Nike+ challenges and just ran, ran, ran....

That's about it for now. I do have some performance goals in mind but I'll try and put those down later. How about you? Have any goals in mind for the New Year? Something to get the fires burning and get you out the door on these cold, dark winter days?

Well, that's all for now. I hope everyone enjoyed the Holidays and has a great New Year.

Later.....

Pre-Christmas update

Hi. Just a quick ( I hope ) update on my goings on. This week has slowed down considerably, at least at work. A normal 6 day/ 8 hours per day week. 3-11 this week. Actually it should be a five day week since I took an extra day off to visit with family. Tammy and I went to my sister and brother-in-laws home for a little get together tonight. My father and his wife were here from Ashland, WI for the weekend and an early Christmas. With my crazy schedule it was nice to just relax, eat too much and visit. I don't get to see my Dad as much as I would like and when I do it seems to be too short of a visit. I had a great time and just loved listening to the stories and catching up with what everyone has been up to.
I have been getting some runs in. I would rather be skiing but just haven't found time to get out as often as I like. It seems the cleaning/waxing/traveling just doesn't mesh well on 3-11. I did get out one day early this week. The rest has been running. A nice long run today in the fog/mist. 41 degrees on the 22nd of December! Probably could have run in shorts. Felt pretty beat and tired. It was one of the runs I should have cut short but I never have the sense to do that. I slogged through it and the felt drained afterwards. I even took a short 30 minute nap waiting for Tammy to get home.
On the way home from our visit tonight it was raining! That will certainly put a crimp on the cross country skiing. They are calling for the rain to change to snow and possible accumulations of 4-8 inches. We'll see. I am hoping they are right. The snow we had has been disappearing with the warm weather the last couple days.
Okay, off I go. I probably won't post on here until after the holidays so I would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays, what ever Holiday you may celebrate.
Later.....

Yes, it's been a while

Yes, I'm still here. Not that anyone is looking or missing me. Just when I thought it would start slowing down, my life and work schedule is back on the road to Crazytown. After a relatively quiet couple of weeks this week is INSANE! Okay, I've read all about how individuals who run a business or who are medical students compete on an elite level and still maintain some semblance of a normal (what's normal?) life but I need some hints on how they do it. I spent the better part of Monday doing some Christmas shopping out of town. I came home and had a message on the phone asking if I wanted to go to work early to help out with heavy truck shipments. Like an idiot I said yes. In my defense, there are times in my job if you don't work a little extra you are just creating a longer/harder/busier day for yourself. So....day one of 7pm to 7am. Oh, and I did get a short run in before that 12 hour shift. Home in the morning to sleep. Up early for a meeting with our realtor-we're trying to sell our home-more stress and insanity- and in early again. So day two of 12 hours-7pm to 7am. Home again to sleep a few hours. Got up and did a short half hour on the bike on the windtrainer. Then.......yep, in again early to work, 7pm t 7am. Can anyone see a pattern here? Finally a day off! Yeah right. After sleeping a couple hours I went to work 3pm to 11pm on my supposed day off. So, 4 days-44 hours worked, maybe 12 hours sleep. Again, how do people manage to fit in time to train at any level with long and crazy hours or difficult jobs. Yes, I know, people do it. I would just like some hints on how to stay sane with these conditions. I know people do even more; juggling kids, household duties, work, etc.... BUT HOW? Yes, most, if not all of this weeks insanity was self-induced, but as I stated, sometimes I feel like I have to just so my regular shift at work isn't so crazy. So, all this work and no play is making my crabby, moody and slightly depressed. It is now Friday morning and I haven't seen my wife since Tuesday afternoon. I think she is the one who suffers the most during these busy times. I never have said I am an easy guy to live with and this kind of hectic schedule just makes it harder to be around me. I need, yes, NEED, my run or bike or whatever to de-stress and clear my head and when time is short and I don't get it I get blue. That's the best way to describe it. Little sleep, crappy eating, no workouts, too much time at work all add up to one cranky fella.
Okay, time to finish my beer and head off to dreamland. If the phone rings tomorrow with an opportunity for more overtime at work, I hope I have the brains to say NO!!!!
Seriously, any hints, ideas, help with workout schedules would be greatly appreciated.
Next time I hope to address goals for the new year. Maybe if I write them down for all the world to be able to see I will be held more accountable and try to meet them.
Later........

Another crazy week!

Well, just when I think it can't get much more insane between home and work, of course, it does. I worked 11-7 last week, or graveyard shift as some people call it. Unfortunately the mill does not shut down for Thanksgiving, or any holiday for that matter. That means trying to schedule Thanksgiving between my family and Tammy's family. We spent Thanksgiving at my Mother's house and then off to work I went. Our meal at our home was on Sunday. I ended up working 12 hour shifts, again, so I tried to sleep, visit and eat and then, what else, off to work. 56 hours last week. Now, I know I gripe about work on here. I don't want it to seem that I don't appreciate the fact that I do have a job. I do! There must be some sort of a happy medium though. One day off per week and 50+ hours 3 out of the last 4 weeks! Yes, I also realize that lots of others work longer/harder hours. Shift work just seems to make it just a bit harder. The human body just never adjusts to changing work schedules every 7 days.
Well, enought whining. My training/running has actually been going well. I have been averaging 50+ miles per week even with my crazy schedule. I'm not training for anything at the moment. Just trying to get in some long runs and build endurance for x-c ski season, if we have one. It's been mostly moderate pace and mostly longer runs. No speed, or tempo, or hill work. Just miles. I am trying to reach a goal I set on the Nike+ site of 200 miles in 4 weeks. After that I think it will be time to add some cross training. I have my road bike set up on the fluid trainer and as soon as I clean it and do some maintenance I hope to add a couple of workouts per week on that.
Well, thanks again for the opportunity to blather away. I am going to finish my frosty New Glarus Coffee Stout and hit the hay so I can start another crazy day. More later........Sven

Busy weekend

It's been over a week so it's about time I updated this. I worked 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. last week. Since I am not an early bird this isn't my favorite but once I am up it gets better. It was supposed to be my weekend off. I would have been done at 3 p.m. Friday and not had to go back to work until 11 p.m. Tuesday. Well.... it was also opening weekend of gun deer hunting season also. I am one of the few who does not hunt. I was asked months ago by someone who does hunt if I would trade days off that week. No problem. Hopefully when I need a weekend in the future he will reciprocate. Anyway.... I ended up with Wednesday off. Kind of a hectic day off. Waited for someone from the city to come do repairs on the water meter in the basement. Then I was supposed to babysit for some of the grandkids. Then plans changed and I didn't have to babysit. While all that was transpiring I moved my plans around. Still ended up being a good day. By trading days off I moved to 3 p.m -11 p.m. for the weekend. I don't mind that shift so much. I can get up and still do things around the house, run errands, and hopefully get in some kind of workout. About 10 a.m. on Saturday I received a call from work. The person who would relieve me at 11 p.m. was going to be off. Would I like to split 12's- 7 p.m - 7 a.m. Since this seemed like a better choice than 3 p.m. - 7 a.m. I said yes. It kind of screwed up my weekend but 12 is always better than 16. Same deal on Sunday. I still got in 10 miles on Saturday and 7+ on Sunday but I was pretty wiped out. My job for the weekend required that I be on my feet most of the time. Not really physical but alot of walking and moving about. This also messed my day off this week (Monday) since I slept half of that away. Managed to get in a damp and overcast run on Monday and then attended one of my daughters choral concerts. LONG DAY! Now 11 p.m - 7 a.m. this week.
Hopefully I can get in some good miles this week. I have been doing 50+ per week and feeling pretty good. The runs I do with my better half really seem to help. Since she is a new runner the pace is more relaxed. It's like active recovery for me. I am hoping to keep the miles up this week yet and then maybe do a race on December 1. If I race next weekend I will ease up on the mileage. If Tammy runs it will be an easy run and still be fun. If she decides not to run then I may push and try to race. If Tammy runs it will be a 5 mile race, otherwise I will do 10 miles.
Well, I better get moving and accomplish something during the day before I try to get in a nap before work.

My day off

Finally got to enjoy a complete day off. Kind of cool and damp. Maybe mid 40's and overcast. Didn't do the half marathon today. Just didn't feel like the two plus hour drive one way, wasn't feeling that great and my better half deserved my complete attention for a day. Spent part of the day at an auction and of course we came home with some "treasures". We did get in a run together later in the afternoon and spent the night relaxing. Needed a day like this. 3-11 shift seems to really tire me out since I can't come home and head right to bed. I need to relax and unwind and by that time it is usually the wee hours of the morning. Then I feel guilty if I sleep too late and by the end of the week I just feel exhausted. So in a way this was my down day. Still need to get some things done around the house but that will have to wait a couple more days. Now off to bed at a decent hour for a change.