The hardest workout during last week's freezing and coughing spell turned out to be pushing my car for about 15 feet. My goal of running twice went unfulfilled. No matter, I'll try to run twice this week.
This morning, I got up early enough to complete my body-weight exercise routine (pull-ups, push-ups, squats, walking lunges and planks). I felt a bit lightheaded in the middle of it. I think I was dehydrated. I took a break to drink some cold water and felt better.
This week, Mrs. Viper's work schedule may require me to run in the morning, my least favorite time. Hopefully, getting up earlier today will help me do so tomorrow or Wednesday for a run.
This is the new me, trying not to beat myself up over not running when I say I want to. Finding time to exercise remains the biggest challenge as a new parent.
This year, I hope to learn to better manage my time so I can take care of my responsibilities and still have time for the things I want to do, like running, playing music and reading.
Showing posts with label Parenthood. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Parenthood. Show all posts
Monday, January 13, 2014
Monday, December 16, 2013
2013: Might as Well End it Here
It's the halfway mark of December, but it might as well be the end of the month and thus the end of the year, because that's how it feels. I'm done with 2013. Here is my take on the obligatory "year in review" post that everyone is doing now.
Don't get me wrong. This has been a momentous year, all except for when it comes to my running. While being fit and healthy is important to me, it just wasn't a top priority this past 12 months. And that's OK. There's always next year. But first, let's take a look back.
We have to start with my goals for 2013, which I didn't bother to announce until Oct. 11, exactly a month after my son was born. My goals were meager, but still mostly unattainable. They were:
You Take the Good
At 13, my barefoot mileage is actually more than 10 percent of this year's 129 miles. I should probably keep my not-running streak going to make sure I maintain this singular running achievement.
However, if you want the real good stuff, you have to look beyond the miles I ran in 2013, because babies be life changing. I ran three times after Baby Viper was born, and that was all in October. Instead, I've been focusing on being a dad, which is way cooler than slogging out a few miles a day.
Baby Viper has put on nearly 10 pounds since he came into the world a month early. He's smiling up a storm, and that wipes away any disappointment I may have in regard to other aspects of my life.
Mrs. Viper and I are adjusting well to life as a couple married with children. We're tired and sometimes cranky with each other, but I sense we're growing stronger and learning to better communicate our needs.
Although I haven't played as much music as I had hoped to this year, I've made great progress in learning to play the fiddle. Once I found I could play in the mornings and not wake up Mrs. Viper and not make my son cry in holy terror, I started to get into a good practice routine. There's still a long way to go, as old-time banjo and fiddle guru Dwight Diller says, "It takes 10 years just to start learning to play the fiddle."
Our holiday gift beer should be ready to taste on Tuesday, though I'll probably let it condition a little longer before testing to make sure recipients won't gag on their homemade Christmas gift.
Which brings me to our debt situation. We've paid off one credit card and 25 percent of another, taking us to more than 8 percent of our total since signing up at ReadyForZero. That's good progress in two months.
You Take the Bad
Unfortunately, the rest of my running and health related goals were a bust. I'm sitting at 129 miles for the year, well shy of my revised goal of 200. My weight continues to hover around 190 pounds, but this past month it's consistently been below that undesirable mark by two or three pounds, so hooray for movement toward that 180-pound goal line. As you are all well aware, I didn't run a single race this year, and it doesn't look like Mrs. Viper and I will get ourselves to a 5K this winter. Maybe the spring?
And There You Have the Facts of Life
OK, so I purposefully kept the bad parts of this review contained in one paragraph while lauding my non-running triumphs, but as Johnny Mercer says, you have to accentuate the positive. I know I'll get back to running eventually. I know things won't always be this hectic. Time won't always feel so crunched. Everything ebbs and flows.
Don't get me wrong. This has been a momentous year, all except for when it comes to my running. While being fit and healthy is important to me, it just wasn't a top priority this past 12 months. And that's OK. There's always next year. But first, let's take a look back.
We have to start with my goals for 2013, which I didn't bother to announce until Oct. 11, exactly a month after my son was born. My goals were meager, but still mostly unattainable. They were:
- Break
1,000 miles400 miles200 miles. - Weigh
170 pounds175 pounds180 pounds Return to the Akron Marathon and run two trail racesRun a 5K this winter- Run barefoot 10 percent of this year's total mileage
You Take the Good
At 13, my barefoot mileage is actually more than 10 percent of this year's 129 miles. I should probably keep my not-running streak going to make sure I maintain this singular running achievement.
However, if you want the real good stuff, you have to look beyond the miles I ran in 2013, because babies be life changing. I ran three times after Baby Viper was born, and that was all in October. Instead, I've been focusing on being a dad, which is way cooler than slogging out a few miles a day.
Baby Viper has put on nearly 10 pounds since he came into the world a month early. He's smiling up a storm, and that wipes away any disappointment I may have in regard to other aspects of my life.
Mrs. Viper and I are adjusting well to life as a couple married with children. We're tired and sometimes cranky with each other, but I sense we're growing stronger and learning to better communicate our needs.
Although I haven't played as much music as I had hoped to this year, I've made great progress in learning to play the fiddle. Once I found I could play in the mornings and not wake up Mrs. Viper and not make my son cry in holy terror, I started to get into a good practice routine. There's still a long way to go, as old-time banjo and fiddle guru Dwight Diller says, "It takes 10 years just to start learning to play the fiddle."
Our holiday gift beer should be ready to taste on Tuesday, though I'll probably let it condition a little longer before testing to make sure recipients won't gag on their homemade Christmas gift.
Which brings me to our debt situation. We've paid off one credit card and 25 percent of another, taking us to more than 8 percent of our total since signing up at ReadyForZero. That's good progress in two months.
You Take the Bad
Unfortunately, the rest of my running and health related goals were a bust. I'm sitting at 129 miles for the year, well shy of my revised goal of 200. My weight continues to hover around 190 pounds, but this past month it's consistently been below that undesirable mark by two or three pounds, so hooray for movement toward that 180-pound goal line. As you are all well aware, I didn't run a single race this year, and it doesn't look like Mrs. Viper and I will get ourselves to a 5K this winter. Maybe the spring?
And There You Have the Facts of Life
OK, so I purposefully kept the bad parts of this review contained in one paragraph while lauding my non-running triumphs, but as Johnny Mercer says, you have to accentuate the positive. I know I'll get back to running eventually. I know things won't always be this hectic. Time won't always feel so crunched. Everything ebbs and flows.
Friday, November 8, 2013
Flashback Friday: Late Edition
Today's lunchtime walk included spurts of running, three of them, in fact. This is going to hurt tomorrow, isn't it? Having not run since who knows when, my legs aren't used to anything more strenuous than a brisk stroll. Running became necessary when I had passed the point of no return and was in danger of returning to work much later than allowed.
Typically, my walking pace is a little more than 3 mph. There I was, on a three-mile route with only 45 minutes to spare. It seemed like I was making great time when I had gotten to a mile in about 17 minutes, so I decided to extend my walk. After 10 more minutes, I knew I had made a mistake and started running, SLOWLY.
Luckily, I had decided to wear my Merrell Road Gloves to work today, but jeans, a hoodie and light coat don't make for great running gear. After my third running surge, I was starting to sweat through my undershirt, which made me itchy, which made me want to claw my chest off. I took off my coat and let the cool autumn air cool me down.
All told, it couldn't have been more than three-quarters of a mile that I ran, but it was enough to get the heart going and probably enough to make me sore tomorrow because that's what happens when you decide to run after not doing so for, what, like a month or more? TGIF, I guess.
In the middle of all that, I thought about trying out the running stroller this weekend. With the chilly winds, though, I'm worried I'll give Baby Viper frostbite. So, fellow parents with cold-weather knowledge, how should I dress my kid for riding in the stroller in low temperatures? Drop your knowledge in the comments.
Happy Hour is nearly upon us, teammates! Run well and drink well. Cheers!
Typically, my walking pace is a little more than 3 mph. There I was, on a three-mile route with only 45 minutes to spare. It seemed like I was making great time when I had gotten to a mile in about 17 minutes, so I decided to extend my walk. After 10 more minutes, I knew I had made a mistake and started running, SLOWLY.
Luckily, I had decided to wear my Merrell Road Gloves to work today, but jeans, a hoodie and light coat don't make for great running gear. After my third running surge, I was starting to sweat through my undershirt, which made me itchy, which made me want to claw my chest off. I took off my coat and let the cool autumn air cool me down.
All told, it couldn't have been more than three-quarters of a mile that I ran, but it was enough to get the heart going and probably enough to make me sore tomorrow because that's what happens when you decide to run after not doing so for, what, like a month or more? TGIF, I guess.
In the middle of all that, I thought about trying out the running stroller this weekend. With the chilly winds, though, I'm worried I'll give Baby Viper frostbite. So, fellow parents with cold-weather knowledge, how should I dress my kid for riding in the stroller in low temperatures? Drop your knowledge in the comments.
Happy Hour is nearly upon us, teammates! Run well and drink well. Cheers!
Monday, October 14, 2013
The Curse of Convenience
The whole time the Little Debbie Swiss Cake Roll made its way to my mouth, my mind was screaming, "No, don't do it. Don't eat this." Nomnomnomnomnom.
What could I do? It was there. And, might I add, it was the second package I'd eaten today.
Ever since Baby Viper arrived on scene, our lair has been junked up with malnutricious convenience food. Fast food, pizza, take out, hot dogs, snacks, candy, microwaveable meals, etc., etc., etc., all are high in ... everything bad. We know we should be eating healthier, but it's so much easier to grab something on the way home or call for delivery. It's a curse, a vicious cycle of "What do you want for dinner? I don't know. Let's just ..."
And then we eat like crap.
Neither of us wants to cook. We have healthy options in the house, but we're too tired to plan ahead. We forget to take out frozen meat to defrost. We don't think about our meals until we're on the verge of acting out The Hunger Games.
How do you shatter the pattern?
Mrs. Viper and I want to eat better and lose some pregnancy-induced weight gain, but it's hard to find the energy to make better choices about our diet.
What could I do? It was there. And, might I add, it was the second package I'd eaten today.
Ever since Baby Viper arrived on scene, our lair has been junked up with malnutricious convenience food. Fast food, pizza, take out, hot dogs, snacks, candy, microwaveable meals, etc., etc., etc., all are high in ... everything bad. We know we should be eating healthier, but it's so much easier to grab something on the way home or call for delivery. It's a curse, a vicious cycle of "What do you want for dinner? I don't know. Let's just ..."
And then we eat like crap.
Neither of us wants to cook. We have healthy options in the house, but we're too tired to plan ahead. We forget to take out frozen meat to defrost. We don't think about our meals until we're on the verge of acting out The Hunger Games.
How do you shatter the pattern?
Mrs. Viper and I want to eat better and lose some pregnancy-induced weight gain, but it's hard to find the energy to make better choices about our diet.
Monday, October 7, 2013
Revenge of the Bastard
Sneaking out for a four-mile run Sunday morning got me into trouble in more ways than one. Today, soreness is my penance.
Having switched feeding shifts last week, the early hours have started to feel not so terrible. Friday, my extra morning time provided a chance to play my fiddle. Saturday, I just went back to sleep after Baby Viper ate his bottle. Sunday, however, seemed like a good time to run.
I put Little Man back in his crib, making sure he was done being fussy, and kissed Mrs. Viper goodbye. Little did I know that she had hoped to have her own time that morning. I'd be hearing about that later.
The morning was cool, but the humidity foretold the heat and thunderstorms that came later. The only hat I could find to tame my wild morning hair was a winter cap. Otherwise, shorts and a short-sleeve shirt were all I needed.
My route would take me down to my old foe, that old dirty Bastard Garman Hill. It had been quite some time since I last ran up the infamous hill. My pace seemed slow enough to save energy to make the climb, but the intervening month since my last run had drained all my trail-honed hill-running skills. About a third of the way up, my legs said, "No more."
Two more walk breaks were necessary before my run was through. The final tally was an 11:30 mile pace. My calves, hamstrings and quadriceps are all cranky today. That's what I get for being selfish and leaving my wife at home with the baby when she's stuck at home with him all week.
The toughest thing so far about becoming a parent is adjusting to the rearranged schedule. Our time is not our own. Although I've taken advantage of the early hours for some me time, I need to remember to make sure my wife also gets time for herself.
Having switched feeding shifts last week, the early hours have started to feel not so terrible. Friday, my extra morning time provided a chance to play my fiddle. Saturday, I just went back to sleep after Baby Viper ate his bottle. Sunday, however, seemed like a good time to run.
I put Little Man back in his crib, making sure he was done being fussy, and kissed Mrs. Viper goodbye. Little did I know that she had hoped to have her own time that morning. I'd be hearing about that later.
The morning was cool, but the humidity foretold the heat and thunderstorms that came later. The only hat I could find to tame my wild morning hair was a winter cap. Otherwise, shorts and a short-sleeve shirt were all I needed.
My route would take me down to my old foe, that old dirty Bastard Garman Hill. It had been quite some time since I last ran up the infamous hill. My pace seemed slow enough to save energy to make the climb, but the intervening month since my last run had drained all my trail-honed hill-running skills. About a third of the way up, my legs said, "No more."
Two more walk breaks were necessary before my run was through. The final tally was an 11:30 mile pace. My calves, hamstrings and quadriceps are all cranky today. That's what I get for being selfish and leaving my wife at home with the baby when she's stuck at home with him all week.
The toughest thing so far about becoming a parent is adjusting to the rearranged schedule. Our time is not our own. Although I've taken advantage of the early hours for some me time, I need to remember to make sure my wife also gets time for herself.
Thursday, October 3, 2013
The Switch
Up until last night, my job was to take the 2 a.m. feeding shift for Baby Viper, while Mrs. Viper took the 5 a.m. shift. After talking to the doctor and learning that it would be OK to let him go four hours without eating overnight, we decided to switch shifts. She would take the 2 a.m. shift, and then I'd wake up at 6 a.m. to feed our son and then just stay awake, allowing me extra time to do stuff in the morning before work (e.g., go for a run, play my fiddle).
This was going to be great. I'd get up, Little Man would gulp down his bottle, I'd put him back to bed, and then I'd hit the streets (you know, since the parks are closed) for three or four miles. Fitness goals: back on track!
The kid was having none of it.
At a quarter 'til 5 a.m., he starts bawling. ZOMG! WHY ARE YOU STARVING ME? I grabbed his little body and shuffled downstairs to make his bottle, which he clearly thought it took too long for me to do, as he continued screeching bloody murder. He drained half his food in two seconds and then took FOREVER to finish the rest. My head bobbed to a groggy beat as I nodded off repeatedly.
By the time he finished his bottle, got a new diaper and was returned to his cradle, it was a quarter after 5. No way in hell I was just going to miss that much sleep. I got back in bed to wait for my alarm, and then hit snooze until 7 a.m., completely missing my window to run. But I did manage to fit in my morning routine of pull-ups, push-ups and planks. So, there's that.
If there's one thing we've learned about this whole having kids process it's that our plans will never work the way we expect them to ever again. Better luck next time, right?
This was going to be great. I'd get up, Little Man would gulp down his bottle, I'd put him back to bed, and then I'd hit the streets (you know, since the parks are closed) for three or four miles. Fitness goals: back on track!
The kid was having none of it.
At a quarter 'til 5 a.m., he starts bawling. ZOMG! WHY ARE YOU STARVING ME? I grabbed his little body and shuffled downstairs to make his bottle, which he clearly thought it took too long for me to do, as he continued screeching bloody murder. He drained half his food in two seconds and then took FOREVER to finish the rest. My head bobbed to a groggy beat as I nodded off repeatedly.
By the time he finished his bottle, got a new diaper and was returned to his cradle, it was a quarter after 5. No way in hell I was just going to miss that much sleep. I got back in bed to wait for my alarm, and then hit snooze until 7 a.m., completely missing my window to run. But I did manage to fit in my morning routine of pull-ups, push-ups and planks. So, there's that.
If there's one thing we've learned about this whole having kids process it's that our plans will never work the way we expect them to ever again. Better luck next time, right?
Monday, September 23, 2013
Pending Parenthood No Longer Pending
OK, so it's been a minute — or 28,800 — since my last post. But I have a good excuse.
On the two-year anniversary of our nuptials, Mrs. Viper and I learned we'd enter parenthood sooner than expected. After an ultrasound that morning, our celebratory plans were replaced with a scheduled inducement that night. At 4:29 p.m., on Wednesday, Sept. 11, our son was born.
As the Bard says, "Shit just got real."
The Little Man is a featherweight, but he's eating like a champ to level up. Everyone is home and healthy, albeit in a constant state of tired.
I haven't run since the Monday before he was born, a run where a GPS faux pas resulted in a tabulation of some eight miles, which sure, why not? My legs felt sore enough, having emphasized exploding up the hills while trying to avoid blowing up my run in the process. I've had plenty of time to recuperate, but who knows when my next run may come?
On a side note, the wife has been requesting Guinness, with brewer's yeast a supposed aid for producing breast milk, so that's a bonus.
All in all, life is good.
Photos, you ask? Well, I'm dubious about posting those. I'll think about whether my son is ready for this particular limelight.
On the two-year anniversary of our nuptials, Mrs. Viper and I learned we'd enter parenthood sooner than expected. After an ultrasound that morning, our celebratory plans were replaced with a scheduled inducement that night. At 4:29 p.m., on Wednesday, Sept. 11, our son was born.
As the Bard says, "Shit just got real."
The Little Man is a featherweight, but he's eating like a champ to level up. Everyone is home and healthy, albeit in a constant state of tired.
I haven't run since the Monday before he was born, a run where a GPS faux pas resulted in a tabulation of some eight miles, which sure, why not? My legs felt sore enough, having emphasized exploding up the hills while trying to avoid blowing up my run in the process. I've had plenty of time to recuperate, but who knows when my next run may come?
On a side note, the wife has been requesting Guinness, with brewer's yeast a supposed aid for producing breast milk, so that's a bonus.
All in all, life is good.
Photos, you ask? Well, I'm dubious about posting those. I'll think about whether my son is ready for this particular limelight.
Monday, August 19, 2013
All the People Running
Everywhere you go, you will see runners. In the morning, skinny high school boys float by, showing off their ribs as they get ready for the cross country season to start. After grocery shopping, younger children take laps around the park on Mull Avenue, and you'll wonder, is this a race? During a drive down Market Street, brightly dressed men and women of all shapes train for the Akron Marathon, which is just over a month away. You will see runners everywhere.
This will be the first time since 2007 that there won't be some kind of race report from the Akron Marathon on this blog. No accounts of running the relay barefooted, nor of setting the bar low for my personal best as a married man, nor of finally breaking four hours on the fifth try at the marathon distance. This year, we'll be on the home stretch of a different kind of marathon: pregnancy.
Almost There
It's the the cheer you'll hear most often from marathon spectators. No matter where you are on the course, someone will say, "You're almost there!"
Mrs. Viper has been counting down the days until the due date. With 48 days left, the urge to think that we're almost there is overwhelming. She's at the point where it's getting increasingly more difficult. She's uncomfortable and swollen. We spend our days on the couch, her legs propped up on a mound of pillows. Daily massages help with the swelling, but not enough. We're considering her going on maternity leave early to get her off her feet.
My Only Comparison
Running a marathon is my only comparison for what my wife is going through, and that's probably not even close. The idea of hitting the wall, or more like a series of walls, seems to fit well. As does fighting through pain, though sore legs don't compare to a sore vagina. I hope I can at least lend some mental toughness along the way.
Ever since we started dating, my wife has be at all but one of my races to cheer me on to the finish line. Now, it's my turn to cheer on my No. 1 fan. Seeing all those people running just reminds me how close we are to the finish line. In a couple months, they'll be recovering from their races and we'll be parents wishing for rest.
This will be the first time since 2007 that there won't be some kind of race report from the Akron Marathon on this blog. No accounts of running the relay barefooted, nor of setting the bar low for my personal best as a married man, nor of finally breaking four hours on the fifth try at the marathon distance. This year, we'll be on the home stretch of a different kind of marathon: pregnancy.
Almost There
It's the the cheer you'll hear most often from marathon spectators. No matter where you are on the course, someone will say, "You're almost there!"
Mrs. Viper has been counting down the days until the due date. With 48 days left, the urge to think that we're almost there is overwhelming. She's at the point where it's getting increasingly more difficult. She's uncomfortable and swollen. We spend our days on the couch, her legs propped up on a mound of pillows. Daily massages help with the swelling, but not enough. We're considering her going on maternity leave early to get her off her feet.
My Only Comparison
Running a marathon is my only comparison for what my wife is going through, and that's probably not even close. The idea of hitting the wall, or more like a series of walls, seems to fit well. As does fighting through pain, though sore legs don't compare to a sore vagina. I hope I can at least lend some mental toughness along the way.
Ever since we started dating, my wife has be at all but one of my races to cheer me on to the finish line. Now, it's my turn to cheer on my No. 1 fan. Seeing all those people running just reminds me how close we are to the finish line. In a couple months, they'll be recovering from their races and we'll be parents wishing for rest.
Friday, August 16, 2013
Flashback Friday: Winning the Stroller Wars
About a month and a half ago, you provided some suggestions for a running stroller, here and here. Actually, after going back to look at those comments, only one of you gave any real advice. So, thank you, Jess, for all your help, but it was my coworker who came through with the winner.
The Kelty Speedster Swivel Deluxe gets mostly positive reviews. It retails for between $300 to $400, well above my $200 cap, but my coworker, an avid runner and cyclist, sold me his for $50. He says his daughter is too heavy to push up hills now, and he wanted to clear out some space, no doubt to make room for more child-related accessories. WHY DO THEY NEED SO MUCH STUFF?
He also tried to pass off a bunch of other crap that he didn't feel like taking to Goodwill, but I put the kibosh on that shit. Nice offer, but we already had trouble filling up our registry for the baby shower next month. Besides, don't tell me that baby bath didn't have poop and pee on it at some point. Babies are terrible about holding in their bodily excretions. Do. Not. Want.
So, now that we have the running stroller, what the hell do I do with it? Running parents, I need you to answer my questions:
The Kelty Speedster Swivel Deluxe gets mostly positive reviews. It retails for between $300 to $400, well above my $200 cap, but my coworker, an avid runner and cyclist, sold me his for $50. He says his daughter is too heavy to push up hills now, and he wanted to clear out some space, no doubt to make room for more child-related accessories. WHY DO THEY NEED SO MUCH STUFF?
He also tried to pass off a bunch of other crap that he didn't feel like taking to Goodwill, but I put the kibosh on that shit. Nice offer, but we already had trouble filling up our registry for the baby shower next month. Besides, don't tell me that baby bath didn't have poop and pee on it at some point. Babies are terrible about holding in their bodily excretions. Do. Not. Want.
So, now that we have the running stroller, what the hell do I do with it? Running parents, I need you to answer my questions:
- When can I start running with the baby?
- How long can I reasonably run?
- What do I need to take with me?
- How do I avoid being that asshole with the running stroller who's in your way?
- How do I become that asshole with the running stroller who's passing you?
These things I must know! Any other helpful hints are welcome too.
That's enough for today. It's been a long and arduous week. Let's get to the weekend.
Happy Hour is nearly upon us, teammates! Run well and drink well. Cheers!
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Still Looking for Suggestions
My ideal price would be $200 or less. We already have an everyday stroller, so there's no point in finding a running model that can pull double duty. It doesn't need all the bells and whistles. I mean, have you read this blog? I try to keep things pretty
With this being the day before a holiday, you undoubtedly are all just dicking around online all day, so why don't you make yourself useful and give me some good advice? Fire away!
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Thoughts on Training
This week's running keeps getting delayed. Hanging out with friends, playing music, plans to cut the jungle that is my yard after breaking my reel mower and getting boatloads of rain: These things get in the way. But that doesn't stop me from thinking about the running I'd like to be doing.
Despite my decision to DNB the Akron Marathon this year, there's still a strong desire to crack the 20-mile threshold at some point this year. And so that's how I started to build my loose training plan for the Leave No Trace half marathon in August.
The problem is that my buildup has be a little quicker than I'd usually like, but hey nothing's perfect. Going with more of a "15 percent rule" and three days a week, because let's face the fact that I'm barely getting two days a week of running right now.
I'll be honest, the idea of training is freaking me out a little, just as the idea of parenthood freaks me out a lot.
While these two events don't align on an apples to apples comparison, they are both forms of creation. Both require sacrifice, nurturing, consistency and reigning in chaos to produce the desired results. Am I ready to bring this high-tuned running specimen into the world?
Mrs. Viper and I talk a lot about how we want to be good examples for our child. We agree part of that means being fit and active parents.
Some of my fondest memories of my dad are of watching him race the annual 10K in my hometown. I'd go with him to pick up his bib before the race. We'd see him off at the start line. I'd wear the T-shirt while he ran. We'd eat breakfast at the Friendly's that was on the final hill of the route. I can see him waving backwards as he left us behind and how sweaty-gross he was when he returned.
Not that those memories played a part in my becoming a runner, but the importance of sport was always part of my life. When I did start running when I was 26 and decided to enter my first race, I wanted to run that 10K with my dad.
But he wasn't my only influence. Other early memories were of playing in the lobby of the local ice arena while my older brother played hockey. My sister played basketball, then field hockey. My mom used to be a pretty savvy tennis player. I played little league baseball and ice hockey growing up. Until writing this post, I didn't realize how active we were as a family.
With a kid on the way, I want to encourage exercise no matter what activity it may be, and it starts with me and Mrs. Viper. Right now, I may struggle with the fear of training again, but it's important that I find the will to overcome that anxiety. If you scroll down the right column of this blog, you'll see a quote by Dr. George Sheehan, which seems appropriate here.
"Success rests in having the courage and endurance and, above all, the will to become the person you are, however peculiar that may be," he wrote in On Running & Being. "Then you will be able to say, 'I have found my hero and he is me.'"
Despite my decision to DNB the Akron Marathon this year, there's still a strong desire to crack the 20-mile threshold at some point this year. And so that's how I started to build my loose training plan for the Leave No Trace half marathon in August.
The problem is that my buildup has be a little quicker than I'd usually like, but hey nothing's perfect. Going with more of a "15 percent rule" and three days a week, because let's face the fact that I'm barely getting two days a week of running right now.
I'll be honest, the idea of training is freaking me out a little, just as the idea of parenthood freaks me out a lot.
While these two events don't align on an apples to apples comparison, they are both forms of creation. Both require sacrifice, nurturing, consistency and reigning in chaos to produce the desired results. Am I ready to bring this high-tuned running specimen into the world?
Mrs. Viper and I talk a lot about how we want to be good examples for our child. We agree part of that means being fit and active parents.
Some of my fondest memories of my dad are of watching him race the annual 10K in my hometown. I'd go with him to pick up his bib before the race. We'd see him off at the start line. I'd wear the T-shirt while he ran. We'd eat breakfast at the Friendly's that was on the final hill of the route. I can see him waving backwards as he left us behind and how sweaty-gross he was when he returned.
Not that those memories played a part in my becoming a runner, but the importance of sport was always part of my life. When I did start running when I was 26 and decided to enter my first race, I wanted to run that 10K with my dad.
But he wasn't my only influence. Other early memories were of playing in the lobby of the local ice arena while my older brother played hockey. My sister played basketball, then field hockey. My mom used to be a pretty savvy tennis player. I played little league baseball and ice hockey growing up. Until writing this post, I didn't realize how active we were as a family.
With a kid on the way, I want to encourage exercise no matter what activity it may be, and it starts with me and Mrs. Viper. Right now, I may struggle with the fear of training again, but it's important that I find the will to overcome that anxiety. If you scroll down the right column of this blog, you'll see a quote by Dr. George Sheehan, which seems appropriate here.
"Success rests in having the courage and endurance and, above all, the will to become the person you are, however peculiar that may be," he wrote in On Running & Being. "Then you will be able to say, 'I have found my hero and he is me.'"
Monday, April 22, 2013
Dropping the Mike: Pending Fatherhood
Amid the fallout from the terribleness at the Boston Marathon last week, there's a better than average chance most of you missed my "dropping the mike" reference at the end of last Monday's pre-bombing post regarding the pending parenthood at Chez Viper.
I had this smart-alecky idea of sliding in our pregnancy news at the end of that post and then doing a bigger reveal the next day. Well, best laid plans, and all that about going astray.
Mrs. Viper and I are extremely excited. She's due in early October, which gives me six more months to totally freak out about having a baby. Everything changes, everybody always says. ZOMG!!1! What does that mean?!?
The prospect of having a child is both invigorating and enervating, but in the aftermath of last week's events I find fearing the kind of world we're bringing him or her (we're not finding out) into and thinking hard on the type of father I want to be and the lessons I want to teach my child.
This is all very normal, I assume.
All these thoughts jump into my head: What if we screw him up? What if she grows up to hate us? What if we can't give him a good life? What if we spoil her too much? What if he becomes a douche bag? What if she turns out to be a True Belieber? What if he turns out to be a terrorist like those kids in Boston? What if she's caught in a terrible tragedy like that?
And then there are the more selfish concerns: How are we going to afford all this? What's going to happen to our marriage? Will Mrs. Viper and I ever go on a date again? What about our sex life? Will having a kid make us want to strangle each other? Will I ever have time to play the banjo or fiddle? I'm never going to run again, am I? I'm going to get really fat, right?
I'm already calling my weight gain "sympathy weight," regardless of the fact that I've been hovering around this heft since before the New Year. Despite running more regularly and trying to eat better, my scale keeps telling me I'm a mere couple pounds from my heaviest.
This is all stupid, I try to tell myself in more rational moments. But, cripes! This going to change everything! To help me cope with this life-changing event, I'm turning to you, dear teammates. In the months ahead, I will post parenting questions for your consideration. Because this is a running blog, the first one will deal with what I can expect on that front.
PENDING FATHERHOOD QUESTION NO. 1: With six months until D-Day and a pregnant wife at home, how much running should I attempt? One last shot at a big race vs. just enough to keep fit or somewhere in between?
I had this smart-alecky idea of sliding in our pregnancy news at the end of that post and then doing a bigger reveal the next day. Well, best laid plans, and all that about going astray.
Mrs. Viper and I are extremely excited. She's due in early October, which gives me six more months to totally freak out about having a baby. Everything changes, everybody always says. ZOMG!!1! What does that mean?!?
The prospect of having a child is both invigorating and enervating, but in the aftermath of last week's events I find fearing the kind of world we're bringing him or her (we're not finding out) into and thinking hard on the type of father I want to be and the lessons I want to teach my child.
This is all very normal, I assume.
All these thoughts jump into my head: What if we screw him up? What if she grows up to hate us? What if we can't give him a good life? What if we spoil her too much? What if he becomes a douche bag? What if she turns out to be a True Belieber? What if he turns out to be a terrorist like those kids in Boston? What if she's caught in a terrible tragedy like that?
And then there are the more selfish concerns: How are we going to afford all this? What's going to happen to our marriage? Will Mrs. Viper and I ever go on a date again? What about our sex life? Will having a kid make us want to strangle each other? Will I ever have time to play the banjo or fiddle? I'm never going to run again, am I? I'm going to get really fat, right?
I'm already calling my weight gain "sympathy weight," regardless of the fact that I've been hovering around this heft since before the New Year. Despite running more regularly and trying to eat better, my scale keeps telling me I'm a mere couple pounds from my heaviest.
This is all stupid, I try to tell myself in more rational moments. But, cripes! This going to change everything! To help me cope with this life-changing event, I'm turning to you, dear teammates. In the months ahead, I will post parenting questions for your consideration. Because this is a running blog, the first one will deal with what I can expect on that front.
PENDING FATHERHOOD QUESTION NO. 1: With six months until D-Day and a pregnant wife at home, how much running should I attempt? One last shot at a big race vs. just enough to keep fit or somewhere in between?
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