Stepping out

Monday is the beginning of my last 4 weeks as an employee anywhere (or so I hope). I need to begin to seriously transition my role. The first step is going to part time. The second step is caring a great deal less about how what will soon be my former job is done by my successor. So Monday, I will care a great deal less.

X's and O's my friend.

X's and O's.

My plan is to irrelevant about mid February and then just play out the string.

After March 1st I will begin that work fast I spoke about. One never wants to say never but I think about 90 days of not thinking or talking about work will go a long way to putting me into the neutral zone in transitioning my work life.

75% test: 33:36

Wow! Another Saturday of sleeping in and missing the club workout. This is getting to be a real trend. I did make breakfast and caught up with Dimitri who may have a stress fracture. He hasn't run in weeks. He had an MRI last week and will find out the results next week.

I did finally run but waited until after high noon to go out. Blue skies had given way to clouds coming in. I had decided to run my test course at 75-77% of max so I got out fast (based on today's standards). I felt good but even though the weather was cool, I still had to slow somewhat to keep my HR at or under my target. Of course that is the idea. Run fast until you have to slow down.

I got back home in 33:36 which was about a minute and 18 seconds faster than when I last ran the course at 70%. For some reason I think that 70% was better in its class versus this run. but then when I stop to think about it, 78 seconds faster ain't just hay. Afterward I slowed down to a jog and ran the clock to one hour.

Anyway, 33:36 is my 75% target time to beat.

Old Forbes Mill

I drove over to old Forbes Mill. Jake couldn't make it. Some sort of flu bug. I had a nice run anyway covering 70 minutes on the trails. It was cool and the ground was wet with runoff from recent rains but it all worked out anyway. I kept my HRM in the low 140's most of the way.

Felt Good

47 minutes this morning. On the cool side but thanks to a bountiful, carb loaded Tuesday I actually felt OK. I originally was just going to run an easy 45 minutes but decided to up it to 50 when I ran into one of our club members and we stopped to chat. By the time I finally headed home I was back to the 45 minutes plan but was too far away to avoid going over that and eventually landing on the BIG Forty-Seven.

Who Dat?

I ran early today to head off the rain that never came. I paid the price for eating comfort food on Sunday. Ribs, Chinese food, chocolate, lemon scone and a banana for good measure. No coffee in the morning. Just launched myself out the door for 70 minutes of dead legged, no good carbs, running. OK, sort of like running in jello but running never the less. The girls were back walking at the track (Who Dat?). Strange group of females and because I am not a young alpha male, they take no notice of me which means I am sort of invisible. I ran my loops stopping once at the bathroom and continuing to grind out the yards until I finally gave myself permission to head back home.

Obsolete

If it weren't for the friendship I have with my present boss (the last boss I will have..hopefully) I would be out of my job right now. Two weeks is even too long much less 5 more weeks. I am going to have to act like a obsolete battleship and just swing at my moorings until I can pull the flag down. Of course I am not obsolete but it is good to have a cover story.

60 minute run

So I dragged ass all week and hadn't run since last Monday. The trip to Seattle, the Governor's birthday, the trip back. Overloaded with restaurants, banquet halls , airports and airplanes. I don't travel well. I used to (once I cleared jet lag) but that was a million years ago. I got home early enough yesterday from SJC to run but instead laid around the house and surfed the web and watched TV.

So today was it but I delayed the inevitable, slept in, had a giant mug of coffee and drove over to the vets to pick up Amber's ashes.

I let her ride up in the front seat with me. She would have liked that.

I finally got out in the early afternoon and ran 60 minutes with the HRM grooved in the 140's most of the way. Nice run. I totally missed the showers that wet things down in the morning. Mostly it was sunny and breezy. No complaints.

The Last Runner Sitting

.The last runner standing has become the last runner sitting. Rain has lashed the Bay Area for the past 3 days. I ran Monday because I had all day to run and dry out. Tuesday was my normal day off. Wednesday is a travel day to Seattle for my father in law's 100th birthday. Of course it is raining up there too. I decided to just chill and run Friday afternoon when I get home or Saturday which is a normal running day. It makes little difference these days if I miss several runs. I can pick it up later on

Blown Around for 75 minutes

A big storm came in and drenched the place. I waited until late morning before heading out the door for 75 minutes of slow running. I got blown around quite a bit but except for a few short periods the rain was never that bad. My college loop course was compromised. I now know what all weather surface means.

Water stands on top of it.

The far side of the soccer field was flooded. I pranced through it anyway and got my feet soaked. I pretty much had the track to myself.

I was glad I did the run. Very Chicago Bears, monsters of the midway type of running (and I am not even a Bears fan).

Test Course: 34:54...HUH!

I ran an easy 15 minutes this morning before joining my club at breakfast. At noontime I went out and ran my test course at 70%. Last time out I did a 37:38 which was a 25 second improvement over the time before that.

This time I cruised 34:54 which shocked me. The conditions were similar to the last two runs. Afterward I thought that maybe I had missed a lap over at the college but in reviewing the run, I realized that I hadn't short sheeted anything. I had just nailed the course. HR in the 148-152 range the whole way.

I am not totally sure why this level of improvement happened. Maybe it was running only 3 days this week or maybe it is because I am distancing myself from reps and sprints. In any case I will continue to run 3-4 days a week with an emphasis on 3 until I finish working.

Haunting

We're all having problems missing Amber. I was home alone today on the computer upstairs in the den. I heard a slight rustle of dog-like footsteps on the landing The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I shivered slightly and went to the doorway and looked out at the landing where Amber usually burrowed up against the wall. Of course she wasn't there but I felt her presence. Maybe just a very vivid memory of her. I don't believe in an afterlife but as a Christian friend told me the other day, "That's where I am fortunate. I believe in an afterlife. In my world you'll see Amber again."

I am willing to settle for her haunting us as some guardian spirit if that is her wish. None of us would mind.


Amber would do this. Lying on the floor with her leg
and paw across my arm.


I found this on the following site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bar-art/76183167/in/set-1518578/

Another 75 minutes

Jake and I resumed our Thursday runs at Forbes Mill. As usual he was exhausted from too much running and working on his house. I was fresh legged after two days off. We did a couple of up and backs. I had run before and added on some more running afterward. 75 minutes total. My legs felt OK. I had originally planned to run an AT loop but decided against it. Laziness was the factor. It was just cold and early and not the best conditions.

On the work front. The new CEO is on board. Our 3rd in 3 months. Of course since I am leaving for once I don't care. I have made no attempt to meet with him. He is a blank sheet of paper to me. BLANCO. Very similar to my last few months at Transmeta back in 2002. We had just hired a new CEO and people would keep saying "You ought to meet with him. You know the company better than just about anybody." I came close once but when he canceled due to a scheduling conflict I never tried to reset the meeting.

That's what I am doing here.

Leaving.

In a month (or less) I should be as compelling as oatmeal without raisins.

Then I am going to disengage completely from the world of work for 3 months to see what it feels like. OK, if someone calls and it is interesting, I will talk. But the market is quiet and unless I try (and my plan is not to try) I will be retired.

Amber 1995-2010

Amber the wonder dog


RIP

November 13th 1995 to January 12th 2010

75:01

I crushed the 75 minute barrier today!

75:01!!!!!

45 minutes this morning and another 30 minutes at lunch. I would have run further this morning but I was unnerved when I dropped one of my gloves into the urinal at the college. I washed out the glove right on the spot in one of the bathroom sinks but realized that the better part of valor was either tossing the gloves (they are cheap brown cotton gardeing gloves) or getting them home and into the washing machine. I chose the latter.

Luckily it wasn't that cold so my gloveless hands didn't freeze.

My legs were murky at best. I felt no residual soreness from yesterday's sterling 23:38 (cough...cough). If I was of a mind to, I probably could run every day as long as the pace was slow enough. Maybe in the world without work (WWW) I might be motivated enough to try this but I doubt it.

23:38

ran that 5K AT run up in GG Park in SF in 23:38. This was 25 seconds faster than the last time which was about a month ago. The course was relatively flat but still had two good little hills and some rollers sprinkled throughout. I found it harder to drive up my HR because it was cold and damp but at least not windy.

So some improvement over the last time but still quite a bit behind what I was doing back in 2007. If I age grade my efforts now, my run today was worth an 18:12. My 21:08 in 2007 was worth 16:38. So I have slipped down the age grading curve even just running AT.

So what can I do about it? Or better yet what will I truly do about it? Smiling

1. I will run more minutes every other day. Not sure how high I will take this but it will help with number 3 (below)

2. I will do more AT workouts. I have felt awkward running AT but that's really because I have spend very little time at that specific effort. Not like it's that hard but your body gets ready to do something because your body gets used to doing it.

3. I need to lose some weight. I am also heavier by about 5-7 pounds heavier than I like to be. This I can accomplish, as long as I do it slowly. Usually a pound every week or two is fine. I have a small bicycle tire (rather than a spare tire). I can see it when I look in the mirror.

4. I am quitting regular full time work. This could be a biggie. Work was draining me. Back to consulting or retirement (which means no more bosses!!!!!!!)

5. I will add in several days of hour walks. I did a heck of a lot of walking back in 2008 when I was injured. It's funny to say but I will have to get back into walking.

Given all of this I am not sure what the effect will be. Sometimes runners at my age who take time off don't come back. 2008 was a very, very spotty year. I missed a great deal of running and 2009 was basically a get back in shape year but even the track reps didn't really help the way I thought they would. I ran stuff too fast and this combined with work stress probably did more to drain my energy rather than build strength.

There's nothing further here for a warrior.

I am leaving my job again. It feels normal because that has been a pattern in my work life since forever.

I talked to my boss several weeks back and told her that I couldn't stay unless I had the bandwidth to do the strategic work the company needed versus the tactical work that had become the norm for the last 3 months.

You have to choose, I said.

Do the safe but short sighted thing or do the thing that might save the company.

I didn't envy her. I knew intuitively she would choose the former.

It is so safe to bury yourself in process. In time she'll be looking for her next job.
She made her choice.

So I depart on March 1st. I have been ready to leave since early November.

          There's nothing further here for a 
          warrior. We drive bargains. Old men's 
          work. Young men make wars and the virtues 
          of war are the virtues of young men; 
          courage and hope for the future. Then, 
          old men make the peace. And the vices of 
          peace are the vices of old men; mistrust 
          and caution.

          Ah, yes. But then Aurens is a sword with 
          two edges. We are equally glad to be rid 
          of him. Are we not?

A squall or two

Ran 45 minutes at lunch today. HR in the 130-140 range. Not sure if it was because I was rested or the cool weather. In any case, it was a good run marred only by a rain squall or two that passed over the Baylands forcing me back to my car to retrieve my cap.

The plan for Sunday is to run another of those pesky AT 5K runs. This one is up in Golden Gate Park (again) but the course is more forgiving than last time. I will take Saturday off so I am relatively spry come Sunday morning.

Test Course #1 - 37:38

I ran 60 minutes this morning with test course #1 thrown in at 70%. I covered the distance in 37:38 or 25 seconds faster than last week. Conditions were about the same except that I threw in a 10 minute easy warm up and ran 13 minutes after. One of these days I ought to measure the course. I am guessing 4 miles but maybe not. The distance is less important than my getting faster over time.

I took a day off from work and lazed around not getting out until mid morning.

A preview of my life come spring.

No, I did not run

I didn't run today. No the sky didn't fall in and the earth was not swallowed up in a cataclysmic event. Things just got too tight at work (the job I plan on leaving soon...remember???).

Since I am planning on running Sunday I can still sneak in workouts on Thursday and Friday or possibly Saturday as a backup. In any case I will get my 4 dinky days this week in somehow.

DINKYDINKYDINKYDINKY

Real Double

Did the real double today. 2 x 35 minutes in ole style. I ran 35 minutes this morning before heading off to work and then doubled back at lunch for another 35. I lucked out. Clear and cool this morning and clear and moderate at noon. Perfect running weather.

On the work front, I am architecting my departure. If all goes well I may be out of there by the end of February or early March. At best I stay but part time. I doubt there will be the budget for it and I won't cling or hold on. Well, I acted clingy the next day for several nanoseconds and then got over it.

I will miss the people but not the tasks. I have been over ready to leave since last November.



New Rules (or old rules).

Don't try to extend this thing. If someone asks you to stay, to do the type of work you are best at, then fine but otherwise you are leaving.

Act like a consultant

Use this card if all else fails

Cut Here

Shaking it out

I didn't hurry out for a run. Decided to go for breakfast. Did a 10 minute shakedown before heading over to breakfast but very little shaked out. Got down to Carrows for breakfast with the club. Passed a roaring car fire on my way in.

I waited until around 12:30 PM to finally go out and run. The weather was overcast with mild temps and very little wind. I ran another 50 minutes at a clip (whatever that is). I ran over to the college and did big loops around the soccer field and track.

A 60 minute day.

Test Course #1 - 38:03

I ran a test course at around noon today. The course is from my house, up the railroad tracks, down McClellan to the college and onto the track. I then do 4 big loops around the track and come home the same way I went out.

I don't know the distance.

My educated guess is around 4 miles. It's OK if it's not. Right now I don't care. The purpose of the course is not the distance but rather the average HR and time.

My goal today was to run it at 148-152 HR or 70%. The elapsed time today was 38:03.

I start out quickly which is relative for a guy bearing down on 65 years old. I try to get my HR up in my target range as quickly as possible and then try to stay there for the rest of the run. The painful part is having to slow down to stay down under 152.

My goal is to run the course once a week. Every now and then I will run it at 158-160 HR or roughly 75%.

If the times come down for both the 70 and 75% test efforts then whatever I am doing is working. If it gets slower then I am blowing it.

My focus for 2010 is no longer going to be to see how fast I can at the top end. I enjoyed the workouts last but my right achilles and calf started to come apart.

Now my focus {{{the new focus}}} will be to see if I can improve at 70%, 75% and 90% efforts.

I might run a 70 & 75% effort weekly but the 90%'ers will be about once every 3rd or 4th week.