SO, it has been a long week which is surprising because I spent most of last weekend running. Most weekends that I have good runs transfer good juju into my week, but for some reason I just could not keep my head on straight...possible because I knew that Tim was going to be out for 3 weeks and I always like him to be around as a "safety net" so to speak...
Anyhow, last Thursday and Friday, Mom and I changed up our routine and ran in the morning. I woke up around 5:45...met Mom and we did 3 miles, once near my place, once near hers...both runs went well. I am not TOTALLY sure if I will make the change to full time morning running, but it really gave me a ton of energy for the rest of the day...
Saturday morning, Mom and I woke up early and carried ourselves out to Concord River Park which is my favorite running haunt these days. We ended up running 8.5 miles...my legs felt fine after the run...even with the heat. That is going to be the big thing to handle the next few weeks prior to Chicago...It has been hot in Nashville, hot and humid, which makes for tough runs, even the short ones...anyway, we found ourselves a new trail back in the Concord park that leads to Crockett Park, where the guys from work play disc golf. It is 2.4 miles, a little hilly, but lots of water stops, which is nice, and it connects with the rest of the trail system which will help when we need to manufacture some long runs in the fall.
On Monday night, Mom and I did a fun run with the Fleet Feet people starting at the Tin Roof 2...It was a nice run, a little hilly, hot, but we got to run through several sprinklers, so that cooled us off...most of the runners were not penguins, but that is OK. We did not come in last...there were 4 people behind us...everyone else was most likely a few beers deep. It was nice, we will definitely do it again next week...
18.5 miles in 4 days, not bad...we still were walking, we did not hurt...it was nice...due to some work issues and weather, I was not able to get back out until today...which was Africa hot...I ran about 2.25, then walked it out...I was 1 of 4 runners out there and I did not want to pass out or anything like that...
This weekend, we have a long run scheduled for Sunday morning...then 2 short runs during the week, then the Peachtree Road Race next Saturday in Atlanta...we are really excited! Looking forward to a weekend in ATL...
FYI...I did not proofread this.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Another Video Post
Let me say this first. This was totally unscripted. As many of you know, Tim allowed us to use his flipmino this week to mess around with. We mainly took video of the kids in the pool, it was enough for me to know that it would be awesome to have around. I took this last video the other night.
It took us a bit to get the 3-2-1 point down so you do not have to hear me direct...it actually took several jumps for them to jump in at the right time. Once they got it, they were golden. The unscripted bit was Claire's "This one's for you Mr. Tim"...and Bella's "YEAAAH"...I had told them just to jump in and be silly...
Anyway, Thanks Tim...we appreciate it...
Claire-Bella- For Tim from joe donnelly on Vimeo.
It took us a bit to get the 3-2-1 point down so you do not have to hear me direct...it actually took several jumps for them to jump in at the right time. Once they got it, they were golden. The unscripted bit was Claire's "This one's for you Mr. Tim"...and Bella's "YEAAAH"...I had told them just to jump in and be silly...
Anyway, Thanks Tim...we appreciate it...
Planning for a day at Disneyland
I have a lot of books about Walt Disney World...most of them travel guides, with a few others mixed in, like Walt Disney World: The First Decade, which I guess my Mom and Dad purchased years and years ago, but I kept in my personal library. This was one of my personal favorites, at the time because of the ride pictures. As a kid, it was really exciting to look at. At 36, it still is.
Then there Since the World Began: Walt Disney World: The First 25 Years, this one has a pretty interesting story to it. Back in the earlier days of The Disney Store, they had a section that sold books, granted, it was mostly Birnbaums guides (which I am a sucker for) and kids books, but every so often, you would find something really good. This was one of those finds. As I thumbed through the book at the store, I found a familiar face. It was my Uncle Harry. You see some of my Fathers family actually worked at the park. As I remember it, Harry and his son were painters. I will let Dad or Mom chime in in the comments to correct anything I mis-remember...but I do remember Uncle Harry telling us that he painted many of the carousel horses, also back when RCA sponsored Space Mountain, there was a statue of Nipper, the RCA dog, out front. He did that...as well as some of the early stuff in Toontown...Mickey's car I believe, but I think that has been taken away. We will have to check that out for next years visit. Needless to say, this is one that I still enjoy looking at.
Another one I like quite a bit is Imagineering: A behind the dreams look at making the magic real, it is an older one, due to get re-done this year, I THINK...but it takes an in-depth look at the imagineering to attractions, the parks, etc...the pictures and sketched included in the book are worth the price of admission. I actually just pulled this off the shelf so that I can thumb through it later.
Also, the guide books...now at this point in my life, I would like to think that I know the parks like the back of my hand...I do. I don't need a guide, but I still buy them. It is just as much a part of the trip for me as buying tickets to the park...it is part of the planning process. For me, almost every trip in my adult like I have purchased a Birnbaum book...the birnbaum books are the "Official" guides to Walt Disney World. In my opinion, have the best photos (important to show the children) and have pretty good information. The issue is that I have 4 or 5 of them and they all are pretty much the same. Add an attraction or two here and there, prices change, etc. I still like them though...
This is sort of a long post to say that I bought a new book, but looking at my library here, I noticed that I had no Disneyland books, and with our LA trip looming, I needed to be informed, so I went out and purchased my first Disneyland book.
Needless to say, we are all excited to go out and see Ryan and Amanda and visit the park with them as well as a bunch of other touristy crap that we are going to make them do.
Then there Since the World Began: Walt Disney World: The First 25 Years, this one has a pretty interesting story to it. Back in the earlier days of The Disney Store, they had a section that sold books, granted, it was mostly Birnbaums guides (which I am a sucker for) and kids books, but every so often, you would find something really good. This was one of those finds. As I thumbed through the book at the store, I found a familiar face. It was my Uncle Harry. You see some of my Fathers family actually worked at the park. As I remember it, Harry and his son were painters. I will let Dad or Mom chime in in the comments to correct anything I mis-remember...but I do remember Uncle Harry telling us that he painted many of the carousel horses, also back when RCA sponsored Space Mountain, there was a statue of Nipper, the RCA dog, out front. He did that...as well as some of the early stuff in Toontown...Mickey's car I believe, but I think that has been taken away. We will have to check that out for next years visit. Needless to say, this is one that I still enjoy looking at.
Another one I like quite a bit is Imagineering: A behind the dreams look at making the magic real, it is an older one, due to get re-done this year, I THINK...but it takes an in-depth look at the imagineering to attractions, the parks, etc...the pictures and sketched included in the book are worth the price of admission. I actually just pulled this off the shelf so that I can thumb through it later.
Also, the guide books...now at this point in my life, I would like to think that I know the parks like the back of my hand...I do. I don't need a guide, but I still buy them. It is just as much a part of the trip for me as buying tickets to the park...it is part of the planning process. For me, almost every trip in my adult like I have purchased a Birnbaum book...the birnbaum books are the "Official" guides to Walt Disney World. In my opinion, have the best photos (important to show the children) and have pretty good information. The issue is that I have 4 or 5 of them and they all are pretty much the same. Add an attraction or two here and there, prices change, etc. I still like them though...
This is sort of a long post to say that I bought a new book, but looking at my library here, I noticed that I had no Disneyland books, and with our LA trip looming, I needed to be informed, so I went out and purchased my first Disneyland book.
Needless to say, we are all excited to go out and see Ryan and Amanda and visit the park with them as well as a bunch of other touristy crap that we are going to make them do.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Another Video Post
Today, Claire and I went to Target after I picked up an inflatable basketball goal for the pool. I think that this may be the best $18.99 we spend all summer. Now, Bella was at VBS tonight, so we will have to get her tomorrow night, but here is a video of Claire and her first "dunk"...we have gotten better since then...
Been a quiet week as far as running is concerned. With Claire being at camp this week and me working some abbreviated office hours so that I can ferry her back and forth, I have been working through lunch. Mom and I MAY try to run early at some point this week...I am guessing Thursday, we will see. We do definitely have a long run scheduled for Saturday, at least 8...
Joe
Claire's First "dunk" from joe donnelly on Vimeo.
Been a quiet week as far as running is concerned. With Claire being at camp this week and me working some abbreviated office hours so that I can ferry her back and forth, I have been working through lunch. Mom and I MAY try to run early at some point this week...I am guessing Thursday, we will see. We do definitely have a long run scheduled for Saturday, at least 8...
Joe
Monday, June 15, 2009
Testing Testing Testing...
OK, so I have been wanting to test other tools to update you all on our running and what is going on around the house. One of my friends from work has a flipmino and he was gracious enough to allow me to borrow it to do some testing. I took this after I picked up Claire from camp today.
The picture was ridiculously clear. It is small, easy enough to store in my fuel belt when we are running...which is good. The flip attaches easily to my laptop via USB which made the conversion simple. The plan is to see what sort of footage I can take during a run, then I may have to make a purchase if I am still happy...
Let me know what you think.
Joe
Test from joe donnelly on Vimeo.
The picture was ridiculously clear. It is small, easy enough to store in my fuel belt when we are running...which is good. The flip attaches easily to my laptop via USB which made the conversion simple. The plan is to see what sort of footage I can take during a run, then I may have to make a purchase if I am still happy...
Let me know what you think.
Joe
Friday, June 12, 2009
Slave to the TrafficL...I mean Garmin...
I ran without my Garmin this afternoon and it was honestly like I was running naked. I never realized how much I depended on it to keep my pace. I used my normal watch to track my intervals and came in around the same time I normally do for my 3 milers, it was tough getting there. You see, for some reason, without that magic GPS telling me how fast I am going, I started out really fast...by my calculation, somewhere in the 9:30 -10:00 minute range. Now, for most folks, that is a fine pace, but for a pack of the packer like me, that is blazing. I figured that out around mile 2 when I was cashed...I slowed down for the final mile and everything was good. I also hit an exciting milestone. Per my running ahead, I broke 200 miles. Now, I have run a lot more than that, but we started using runningahead sometime in February...nevertheless, pretty cool stuff...
More Good News from Friday:
Claire FINALLY got her boot off. Here is a picture of her excited that she is able to wear 2 shoes. She has been a trooper for the last 3 weeks and did everything the doctor said she was supposed to do. She really wants to run/walk the Race for the Cure in the Fall. We will talk with her Mom to see if it is OK.
Also. I received a package from here:
What was it?
My number for the Peachtree! We were very excited. Karen and Mom also go theirs today. That is all I have for now. I am most likely going to take tomorrow as a rest day. Mom, Gordon, and possibly Karen's parents are coming over to celebrate Karen and I's wedding anniversary(Saturday) and my Birthday(Sunday)...we are going to run out and get some burgers and stuff from Costco and possibly visit the Allanti Bicycle store in Brentwood.
J
More Good News from Friday:
Claire FINALLY got her boot off. Here is a picture of her excited that she is able to wear 2 shoes. She has been a trooper for the last 3 weeks and did everything the doctor said she was supposed to do. She really wants to run/walk the Race for the Cure in the Fall. We will talk with her Mom to see if it is OK.
Also. I received a package from here:
What was it?
My number for the Peachtree! We were very excited. Karen and Mom also go theirs today. That is all I have for now. I am most likely going to take tomorrow as a rest day. Mom, Gordon, and possibly Karen's parents are coming over to celebrate Karen and I's wedding anniversary(Saturday) and my Birthday(Sunday)...we are going to run out and get some burgers and stuff from Costco and possibly visit the Allanti Bicycle store in Brentwood.
J
Thursday, June 11, 2009
I Love Running
I am not afraid to commit it to the internet either. Most of the hobbies that I have are fairly sedentary, video games, etc...but I have really taken to running. It honestly makes me feel better than anything else...not just the thought of the healthy thing that I am doing for myself...but the exhilaration I feel when I am done with a training run is not like anything I have felt before. After my lunchtime runs, I still can't believe that I can make my body do what it is doing. I can't believe that I can run the distances I have run multiple times a week. I guess I am still in the "Did I do that?" phase.
I have had a cruddy week, mostly self-inflicted...as usual...I am trying to schedule myself 2 run days during the week and it has been difficult to get both of them in over the past few weeks. Whether I forget some of my gear (like yesterday) or it storms out, something seems to come up. Today, the rain subsided enough for me to decide that I was going to head out to do between 3 and 4...I went outside, checked out the clouds, all was well. I went back in to change, got my stuff together and went back out. OF COURSE, it had started raining. Luckily, it was not thundering and there was no lightning, so I decided to head on. I can brave a little rain...it could rain on race day you know. Anyhow, I get out and run a little over 3, it rained on me some, but most of the Concord Y trail is covered by trees, so I was fine. While I was out, I listened to Gordon's latest RuntoDisney podcast. Another great one, he interviewed Mika Scopa and Michelle Scribner-Maclean from Team AllEars and he also had a segment where he gave out tips on running the Walt Disney World Marathon. Needless to say, it made for a great run. After I was done and back to the office, I ate my salami wrap and rice chips and it was like a switch was thrown and I was suddenly in a great mood. The rest of the day was great.
Tomorrow, if the weather holds, I just may do it again. Next week, I am upping my during the week mileage to 4 miles...we have 3 weeks until the Peachtree and 7 weeks until the Chicago 1/2...I need to step it up, but in the meantime, I feel good and I know I can finish any race I start.
On top of my run high, I came home to this. Now, I have learned that I really can not keep up with my Brother as far as thoughtfulness of gifts go, but this time he topped himself. With my birthday coming up this weekend, this showed up at my door. As many of you know, I am a huge Star Wars fan and over the years, Ryan has found some great stuff. My Che Trooper still sits in my office, well, he will have an office mate soon...
Thanks to Ryan for another great gift. I am lucky to have you as a Brother as much as I tormented you in the past...I think Ryan and my sister-in-law Amanda may participate in the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon next year. I need to get my Coast-to-Coast medal...
Thanks for listening...
Joe
I have had a cruddy week, mostly self-inflicted...as usual...I am trying to schedule myself 2 run days during the week and it has been difficult to get both of them in over the past few weeks. Whether I forget some of my gear (like yesterday) or it storms out, something seems to come up. Today, the rain subsided enough for me to decide that I was going to head out to do between 3 and 4...I went outside, checked out the clouds, all was well. I went back in to change, got my stuff together and went back out. OF COURSE, it had started raining. Luckily, it was not thundering and there was no lightning, so I decided to head on. I can brave a little rain...it could rain on race day you know. Anyhow, I get out and run a little over 3, it rained on me some, but most of the Concord Y trail is covered by trees, so I was fine. While I was out, I listened to Gordon's latest RuntoDisney podcast. Another great one, he interviewed Mika Scopa and Michelle Scribner-Maclean from Team AllEars and he also had a segment where he gave out tips on running the Walt Disney World Marathon. Needless to say, it made for a great run. After I was done and back to the office, I ate my salami wrap and rice chips and it was like a switch was thrown and I was suddenly in a great mood. The rest of the day was great.
Tomorrow, if the weather holds, I just may do it again. Next week, I am upping my during the week mileage to 4 miles...we have 3 weeks until the Peachtree and 7 weeks until the Chicago 1/2...I need to step it up, but in the meantime, I feel good and I know I can finish any race I start.
On top of my run high, I came home to this. Now, I have learned that I really can not keep up with my Brother as far as thoughtfulness of gifts go, but this time he topped himself. With my birthday coming up this weekend, this showed up at my door. As many of you know, I am a huge Star Wars fan and over the years, Ryan has found some great stuff. My Che Trooper still sits in my office, well, he will have an office mate soon...
Thanks to Ryan for another great gift. I am lucky to have you as a Brother as much as I tormented you in the past...I think Ryan and my sister-in-law Amanda may participate in the Disneyland 1/2 Marathon next year. I need to get my Coast-to-Coast medal...
Thanks for listening...
Joe
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Back on Track...
So, we summer here, it has been tough finding time to send updates. This morning we were to meet some of our running friends from our runs with Fleet Feet at Percy Warner Park...unfortunately, we ran late and missed our friends, but we went ahead out and ran anyway. It was a good choice, the weather was beautiful, perfect for running.
Percy Warner is a great run...tons of hills, excellent trails with lots of wildlife, today, we saw a group of deer on the way up the initial hill and loads of chipmunks running all over the place. It was very cool.
The only slip-up...Karen is much faster than us...and got lost. There are two trails up there, a 5.6 miler and an 11 miler...when we were up there for training for the Country Music, the half-ers (us) did the 5.6 while the full marathons did the 5.6...it does get confusing up. Long story short, Karen took the 11 mile route...she did great, finished around 2:20...Mom and I took the 5.6 miler and then went out about 3/4 miles further to do our 7. All in all, it was a great morning.
On the way home, we stopped at the s'bucks for coffee, then I had to stop at fleet feet for some more sports beans...
So far, I feel really strong about Chicago...after that, is when things get real...preparing for Florida...
Percy Warner is a great run...tons of hills, excellent trails with lots of wildlife, today, we saw a group of deer on the way up the initial hill and loads of chipmunks running all over the place. It was very cool.
The only slip-up...Karen is much faster than us...and got lost. There are two trails up there, a 5.6 miler and an 11 miler...when we were up there for training for the Country Music, the half-ers (us) did the 5.6 while the full marathons did the 5.6...it does get confusing up. Long story short, Karen took the 11 mile route...she did great, finished around 2:20...Mom and I took the 5.6 miler and then went out about 3/4 miles further to do our 7. All in all, it was a great morning.
On the way home, we stopped at the s'bucks for coffee, then I had to stop at fleet feet for some more sports beans...
So far, I feel really strong about Chicago...after that, is when things get real...preparing for Florida...
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