Running: 20 questions

Twin Cities in Motion does a neat 20-question interview with people, so I decided to answer it:

1. Name: David Kolfax

2. Age:  masters division (“masters” implies a degree of competency, but actually means “old.”)

3. City:  western TC suburbs

4. Profession:  middle management

5. When (or why) you started running:  I’m in a vicious battle against Old Age, which I will eventually lose, but it’s nice to be ahead at least for awhile.

6. Best Run/Running Experience: Had a personal best time by over 2 minutes in a local 5k . . .

7. Worst Run/Running Experience: (continued from no. 6) . . .  and still ended up fourth out of five in my age group.

8. Dream Training Partner: someone I can keep up with

9. Training Shoe: it’s worth getting actual running shoes.

10. Favorite Running Route: trails with no vehicle traffic

11. Favorite time of Day to run: get up, pee, have a cup of coffee, pee, and go out running

12. Pre-Race Food: nothing – can’t run after eating

13. Post-Race Food: bananas and Cheerios

14. Favorite Running Accessory: once in awhile, take my camera along

15. Current or Future Goal:  would like to run a high-altitude race in Colorado

16. Upcoming Race: this year a mix of 5ks, 10ks, 10-miles, and a half marathon.

17. Favorite non-running activities: writing this blog

18. Mode of Transportation: why, running, of course, and sometimes walking.

19. Pump up Music: No music while running – I need to hear what’s around me so I don’t get run over.

20. Advice for a Brand New Runner: Running is cheap and convenient. Most people can simply step outside their door and start running, and other than having a decent pair of shoes, you don’t really need to spend much more unless you choose to. You can also make it as serious or casual as you want, and sometimes participate in the same events as elite runners and out-of-their-element couch potatoes.

Book review: 'My Life on the Run'

“My Life On the Run” by Bart Yasso (pub. 2008):

From the Runner’s World icon, a great collection of stories, especially of extreme races that most of us would never ever considering attempting for one reason or many.

Going through deserts, up mountains, naked, with burros, biking across the US (twice),  on Antarctica, Mt. Kilimanjaro, India, training a group from a rehab facility for a 22-mile relay, the US Mountain Running Team, getting married in Italy and running a marathon the next day, and finally being inducted into the Running USA Hall of Champions – the list goes on, each an interesting tale. The distance alone rules out most of us. Then add the extreme conditions or circumstances. He also tells of battles with addiction and Lyme disease. All told with humorous touches.

Yasso also describes inventing the “Yasso 800s” workout, which in many cases, gives a reasonably accurate prediction to a marathoner’s finishing time. There also is the reaction from one guy who didn’t get it right and changed the name (it rhymes).

The book also includes several suggested training schedules for everything from a 5k to a full marathon, each at three levels for beginner, seasoned, and hard-core. I myself will stick to my on-the-fly daily jaunts rather than a rigid schedule because, at my level, it works for me and keeps me interested.

As for apparel, there’s a discussion about running being a free-for-all as to what’s acceptable to wear. Unlike other sports, almost anything goes. Some “stunt runners” will do an entire race in boots or costume. I keep it on the plain side, but I guess I fit in.

At the end, is a series of short items about specific runners and another series about races around the world. About our own TC Marathon, besides the now familiar term as the “most scenic urban marathon in America,” Yasso also describes it as one of best-organized marathons in the country. Agreed.

Bart’s slide show is entitled “Never Limit Where Running Can Take You.” More great advice from someone who’s been there, literally.

Running: fall season and deer hunting

My running season is about over for the year. Not due to motivation – weather and lack of daylight.

I love getting up early, have a cup of coffee, and be out there to start running the minute I can see well enough what I’m stepping on; then enjoying the sunrise as the day brightens.

In summer, it’s easy to get 6 miles, breakfast, and a shower all in and still make it to work on time easily. These days, it’s just dark, and getting worse.

So I’m reduced to running a few more times on weekends only. One of my a favorite places is a nearby trail, but it’s next to a good-sized woods. And that means deer hunting.

Last weekend, I got spooked at the thought of essentially running through the woods with hunters around. Didn’t want to be the next headline: “Runner shot by hunter.”

Instead, I opted for a wide open route where I could see and be seen. It still was eerie hearing shots being fired in the distance, but at least I knew they weren’t directed at me.

Running: best photos from Twin Cities Marathon

Been digging through all the cover of the Twin Cities Marathon and 10 Mile races.

Here's just a terrific set of photos from the Pioneer Press/Twin Cities.com. Oh, the joy and the pain!

Some other interesting ones:

• Photos along the way

• Chewbacca costume

• Dave Ryan show

• narrative of the 10-Mile

Running: favorite moments in the Twin Cities 10 Mile

• The weather: despite gloomy predictions, it opened up into perfect running weather, at least most of the morning.

• The start: I was concerned our corral would go out too fast, but they didn’t. Twenty yards in, I thought “This will be easy.” Nice confidence-builder.

• It must have been easy. I was unofficially timed at 0:00 flat for the first mile (forgot to start my watch).

• Crossing the Franklin Ave. bridge, with the sun just starting to peek out, was a peaceful scene.

• Even more spectacular, approaching St. Thomas – against the sun with many runners’ breath visible in the crisp autumn air.

• The “Holiday Road” music blasting at Summit and Oxford was a great lift. Thanks.

• I wanted to yell something like “Lower my taxes!” while passing the governor’s mansion, but somehow missed the opportunity.

• On the final descent past the cathedral, one guy had a camera and was shooting pictures on the run. Hope he got some good ones.

• The sweat check and pick-up was remarkably efficient and well organized. Clearly, this wasn’t a government-run operation.

• Carrie Tollefson: the lady had a baby four months ago, ran a full marathon today in just over three hours, and a few minutes after that did a full media interview on the big screen without a huff or puff. I was impressed.

Best of all: sharing the last 7 miles with the Twin Cities Marathon course. It was like getting to run a  marathon but cheating. And it was like running the junior varsity race and then settling in to watch really good runners finish.

Running: anticipation for Twin Cities 10 Mile

I wonder what the neighbors think. It’s 44 degrees Wednesday morning. I’m out standing in my driveway in a t-shirt and shorts from 6:30 to 7 a.m.

That’s because I’m training for the Twin Cities 10 Mile. The running will be easy. Two things I’m not good at are waiting and being cold. I expect that I’ll have to multi-task and do both at the same time Sunday morning; that’s why I’m practicing.

My back hurts when I stand in the same spot too long. I doubt they’ll let me bring a lawn chair into the starting corral. So I’m on the home stretch of training for this event. I’ve got over 800 miles of running (or jogging) logged this year. Now the difficult part: the pre-race wait. Dressing appropriately for running and waiting are different things.

I’m also trying to plan ahead. Usually I don’t like to wear a cap running, but Sunday I will because we will be running into the sun. That’s another thing about running: it goes better when I can see where I’m going.

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Why am I doing this?

That’s a question that pops into mind every once awhile. In this case, I can certainly do it cheaper and more conveniently – I can run 10 miles for free any day I choose around home, and without waiting.

Here, it’s the spectacle of the event itself. Almost 10,000 runners crowded into city streets. Something beyond my usual choices, something way beyond my comfort zone. Going to the extreme (when I got this wild hair two years ago, it was “I run 3 miles a day, no problem going 10.”) Not much different, right?

Then add in the start and finish points: the Metrodome, a much better and more valuable facility than many people give it credit for; and the state capitol, where I went in sixth grade to see the golden horses (and maybe learn something).

I’ll either be hooked beyond hope and back every year, or satisfied that this was my one and only entry into a race of this proportion. We’ll be like wildebeests rushing across the Serengeti, which brings up the disturbing question: if someone goes off course and into the river, will we all follow?

Running: one week to Twin Cities 10-Mile

The training is done, except for some tapering. I’m not going to get any better any more.

This will be the largest race I’ve ever been in by far, so we’re trying to figure out some of the logistics of getting where we need to be on time. We can dress for the weather, the running will be relatively easy – it’s getting there (and home) without turning a 10-mile run into a 20-mile walk.

This was the race I eyed up a couple years ago as interesting because of its attractive course – from the Metrodome (while there still is a Metrodome) to the state capitol, two TC landmarks.

We’ve done a couple 10-mile events, a half marathon, and a few long training runs (9.5 yesterday). Finishing shouldn’t be an issue, and time is only a minor goal. I’m looking forward to the experience of everything about it, including the entire TC Marathon weekend.

I still want to do some more waiting practice, because that’s the part that is most difficult. Usually, I can step out the door and start running. Waiting for some time, especially if it’s cold, is a whole challenge in itself.

Outdoors: cold weather conditioning

Summer is over – officially. For some reason, it’s always much harder to get acclimated to weather as it gets colder in the fall (and winter) than when it warms up.

Somewhere I read, perhaps in a waiting room magazine, that “there is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate dress.” That became my mantra for awhile, and to a large degree, it’s basically true.

I’ve become a lot more tolerant of weather in the last few years, even intentionally trying to enjoy the extremes. It does feel better to find the beauty in the snowflakes or the thunderclouds than complaining when it isn’t perfect, because it very rarely is perfect. And when it is, it doesn’t last anyway.

Last year, I learned to run in zero degrees and snowstorms, so there is something to that “appropriate dress” thinking.

Now that I can cope with weather, I’m still up against shrinking daylight. Today marks the autumnal equinox where our light and darkness are equal. That means we have three more months of progressively shorter days.

I suppose the only way to overcome that is to move to the land of the midnight sun.

Running: Bear Water Run results (part 2)

I only ran BWR twice, so I started digging back to get a better feel for the event. Was disappointed to see declining participation, from over 900 runners in 2009 to 650 this year. Hopefully, the White Bear Lions find it worthwhile to keep going, as it is a very well-run event.

Congratulations to Jerry Kozitza who placed 434th out of 436 in the 20-mile, but was first (and only) in his age group of 70-plus. If I have to be alive yet at age 70, I hope I can at least run a 5k.

In the 10-mile, the over 70 crowd is a competitive group. I would have been 4th out of 6 this year and 8th out of 9 in their age group, so I’ll stick to mine.

Otherwise, thanks for the light blue t-shirt. I already have too many lime green ones.

Now it’s on to the Medtronic Twin Cities 10-Mile. More on that another time.

Running: Bear Water Run, White Bear Lake MN

I got up at 4:30 on a Saturday morning, drove an hour and a half, and ran 10 miles around a lake on the other side of the cities. And if the registration fee hadn’t been covered by a birthday gift, I would have paid $40 to do it. (And risk it being 35 degrees and sleeting.) Some people might think that’s crazy.

Turned out to be beautiful running weather. It’s a nice jaunt around White Bear Lake through primarily residential areas. Some inclines but nothing serious. The race is well-organized, and it would be difficult not to go again next year in favor of a closer one.

WBL made the news this week because the lake level is going down; people are blaming the DNR. Ten miles wasn't any shorter, though.

We did 37 seconds better than last year. Lots of great food at the end; seemed like I hadn’t eaten for days.

Best line of the day: After being passed by a woman with a baby in a stroller, the guy next to me said: “We just got passed by someone who’s asleep.”