Tights

What do you wear for winter running?  Shorts, sweat pants, or tights?  Tights, for men?  No way, maybe the ladies can wear tights but men don't wear tights.  I know what your thinking, men in tights....blech!  There is nothing wrong with men in tights.  Okay only if you are an elf or in a medieval movie.

Or if in Ballet, I forgot that is an acceptable use. 

I have been wearing tights during the winter for 3 years now.  I love them.  No I don't dace or sign songs in them, but they keep me warm.  You know what else keeps me warm in the winter, sitting on the couch.  But if I am out running I don the tights, no shorts.  I think that shorts over tights is dorky.  Who am I to speak I am wearing tights.  I didn't know how socially unacceptable men in tights were until I was forced to go out in public in them.  I was getting ready for a run when the wife notified me of a clog in the toilet.  We had no plunger so I went to the hardware store all dressed for my run.  I picked out the perfect plunger and went to the check out line.  The cashier offered help to check me out, and then looked and my tights, then me, and back to the tights again.  She flashed me the not impressed face and silently did her job, that was a long awkward silence. Hey to my credit I did go out and run 13.1 miles.  I felt like I should have told everyone that gave me a weird look I was going to run a half marathon later.  

My favorite pair of tights, my only pair of tights has a hole in the crotch.  Too much chub rub I guess.  I need a new pair to train for the winter.  As funds are low my wife offered me her pair to use.  That got me thinking, what really is the difference between men's and women's tights.  To me they look the same.  Today I borrow my wife's tights to see if there is any difference.  I am able to report, I think there is.  I don' t like them there is a difference.  My butt kept hanging out the back end and the calf was too loose at the ankle, and too long.  I need a pair of MAN tights.  

Do you wear tights when you run? 

When I run in tights I like to think that I look like this. 

But I probably look more like this.....

Build Week #7 (Final Week)

This was my final week of the build phase.  I started the week with a mile walk and later that day a 1.8 mile run.  The next day was 2 miles on the bike and some weight work.  2 days off and then a nice 5k.  A day off and then my long run of 13.1.

I ended my build phase with 13.1.  I felt good about the time.  Only 17 seconds slower than when I started my training phase in 2013.  So with all that has happened I feel good about that.  Especially being injury free and ready to move to the next phase.  Monday begins my 23 week training schedule.
December 1st the start of a new journey.

Thankful

     I know it sounds corny and cliche but I am thankful for running.  I have been given life and breath from the creator.  With this life I move my body in thankfulness.  The gift of running has helped me connect to other people and has helped me connect to myself and helped me connect to God.  God created our bodies to move, when my body moves as a run I am praising my God for what he created.
Acts 17:25 He Himself gives to all people life and breath and all things (running)

    There was a time this year that I was not able to run and my personal life suffered.  My psyche was trashed and I was not in a good place.  I needed to rely on my God and his patience to get over my injury.  This Thanksgiving I am truly happy to run.
Acts 17:28 For in him we live and move and have our being.  

     When I'm out running I usually pray.  I pray for others, or my family.  I pray to get through the current run sometimes.  It is my time to talk to God.  While my body is praising God through movement my mind is in communication with God.  I am excited to continue my journey in life and running.  2015 has some big things on the horizon.  I desire to grow closer to God in 2015.  However I need to rely on Him for the gift of running.
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.

Build Week #6

This week personally was stressful.  I was glad for the times when I could run.
The week started Sunday with 6.2 on the trails after a fresh snow.  It was just me at the snow.

Monday was 3.1 on the treadmill at the gym.  Wednesday my man friend joined me at the gym for 3.54 miles it was nice to catch up since its been a while.
I ended the week with 8.1 miles on the Interurban trail with my cousin, another person that I have not seen for a while.  8.1 miles feels easy and goes by fast when you have a lot of catching up to do.


21.1 miles total.  Good week, feeling good in my legs.

Build Week #5

Wow.  I can't believe that 5 weeks have pasted already.  This week started a mile walk to church.   Monday I was able to run my 5k route.  Tuesday was a mile warm up on the bike then weights.  Wednesday I rested and Thursday did 4 miles on the treadmill at the gym.  Friday was movie night with family.  Saturday I had all hopes to run 10 miles.  By Wednesday I felt like 8 would be okay, I checked the weather and thought 6 indoors would be great, by Saturday it is going to be football and beer.  Friday night I was eating cookies while planning my route for Saturday's long run.  I had set out to run 7.25.  When I woke up Saturday my phone said 8 degrees. No. Thank. You.  So I went to the gym and figured 6.2 was good enough.  Once I got on the treadmill I thought blah and ended at 2 miles.  I'll go out tomorrow at noon when its 32 degrees.  I just didn't have it today.  I went and lifted for 25 minutes and even that was not satisfying.  Overall I am feeling good.  11.2 miles this week and 66.2 total for the 5 weeks.

 There is an event coming soon that I would like to sign up for.  Last year was the inaugural event and I missed it.  The cost is 20$ plus a toy.  If I were to sign up for this I would not have enough funds to sign up for my spring race that I have my eye on.  The race is a 20k or 10k indoor on a .285 mile track.  My spring race that I have my eye on is 80$ and sells out in less than 8 hours.