I really want to get back into running. After the marathon a few years back, I pretty much quit cold turkey. There were a few days here and there where I’d go out for a run, but overall, they were few and far between. The main motivation for this desire is as a cross-training technique to improve my horse stance endurance and because I know that I can run – or at least jog. Biking would be far better for my knees, but I can never generate any motivation for cycling.
The real challenge with running is finding the time to run. My favorite time is in the morning, but it’s also obviously the hardest time of the day to actually get up and do it. Sleep always seems to find a way to convince me to stay in bed for just a few more precious minutes. Sadly, I don’t think any other time is realistic. After work? forget it. I could do late night, but then I’d get myself all worked up before bed.
I guess I’ll keep setting my alarm clock to go off early, and hope that one of these days I get up and start the routine.
Biking is great! Especially for those of us who can’t run. My motivation for it is my hundred-mile challenge. I’m at 48 right now, but I’ll get there.
Orienteering?
Yay! I’m starting to train for a marathon. Running is awesome.
Yes! The local clubs online schedules:
NEOC – http://www.newenglandorienteering.org/sched.htm
Western CT – http://www.faculty.fairfield.edu/rdewitt/wcoc/Schedule.html
I highly recommended blowing cash on a fancy running watch. Who doesn’t like gadgets?!
I’m running the Seacoast Half Marathon in Nov. Since you just want to run a little in addtional to the kung fu and climbing maybe you should focus on 5k/10k. Well that is if you want to sign up for races, I love running but I can’t imagine doing it with out the excitement of racing in my future. I’m running the Seacoast Half Marathon in Nov.
Orienteering is a big hit amongst smart, analytical, athletic people who love being outside and being as efficient as possible. Does that sound like anyone we know?
Here’s a video piece on orienteering in Connecticut:
http://www.cptv2.org/allthingsct/node/16
The only times I can convince my body to exercise is not before work (I wake up at 5:30 as it is during the school year), not immediately after work, but a few hours after dinner has settled in my stomach. This routine has motivated me to eat dinner much earlier in the day (usually around 4:30) when I’m not eating with friends to ensure the food is digested and I can do some good cardio before the gym closes.
Running stinks. Cycling is great! — and unmatched when it comes to keeping those knees pain-free. And while I don’t really know, it seems that horse stance requires a lot of quad strength and lord knows the cycling would help with that. Bikes!
I would highly recommend the National Orienteering day event on Sep. 20th in Carlisle. Come visit your parents for the weekend, then try out Orienteering with the whole family on Sunday! It’s geared toward newbies so they have training and instruction for you before you run a course. FUN.
Biking is also great because you can get a new view of your surroundings, you’re somewhat protected from little ankle-biting dogs(I have experience with this), and you can rest your legs when coasting downhill.
Bike orienteering?
Full disclaimer: today I’m in a pretty crappy mood and all that internal angst will surely find its way into the following response. I’ll take this into consideration as I write and try and quiet the negativity bias
A general response:
Orienteering
you know? I’m hesitant. I do like being outdoors and I love being analytical – but I’m not overly keen on hiking and I see orienteering mostly as a competitive form of hiking. But that could just be because I haven’t tried it. And while competition is fun, I find that the logistics behind organized competition usually discourages me from participation. Example: I think I’d rather just run 26 miles than sign up for a marathon that can officiate my running 26 miles. There’s a fair bit of pressure in organized competition that makes me antsy. This is true from tennis round robins in high school, to kung fu tournaments within the last few years.
Strangely, pressure-to-perform doesn’t seem to influence my desire to participate in unofficial competitions with friends.
Cycling
I have a decent bike, so I should really try cycling as exercise. Perhaps I’ll go out this weekend. I think my biggest ‘thumbs down’ on biking is that I’m really pretty terrible at it. During my co-op in college, I would occasionally commute to work via bicycle and had a few majorly humbling (and belittling!) crashes (curbs, parked car doors opening abruptly, more curbs, etc.) I still see city cycling as a highly affordable and environmental method for travel, but living in an urban location where street cycling is rare and bicycle lanes are rarer certainly doesn’t sweeten the deal. We do have some nice bike trails in CT, but without fail those tend to be rail trails which have no grade and less benefit from a quad perspective. Unless I really pushed it and went for time.
I will try get myself to give biking a shot this weekend – though deep down I see running as the more realistic option.
They do a few canoe-o’s and ski-o’s up by us in the summer/winter. But I haven’t heard of any bike-o’s.
Dedicated bike-o’s are rare up here. We have the summer urban events (Street Scrambles) that are geared to either foot or bike. And we have one mountain bike-o event every December.
Bike-o really isn’t a good option. Not enough events…. this was more of a joke.
I’m not overly keen on hiking
That’s fair. The less competitive you are about the navigation and the less you run, the more hiking-like it becomes.
I see orienteering mostly as a competitive form of hiking.
Mykal can back me up on this. Orienteering is as competitive as you want to make it. In Seattle, there are probably about as many “recreational” orienteers as there are “competitive” orienteers. It’s like a 5K run/walk. Some people run, some people jog, some people walk.
I find that the logistics behind organized competition usually discourages me from participation. Example: I think I’d rather just run 26 miles than sign up for a marathon that can officiate my running 26 miles.
This is gonna be a roadblock, I think. Because of everything required: creating an orienteering map, designing courses, setting courses, you just can’t go out and find a “pick-up” orienteering meet this weekend. You pretty much need an event organized by the local club. I would go orienteering every day if it were possible, but I just can’t do that.
It’s always really interesting the difference in personalitys people have on things. I love organized competitions, which really doesn’t make much sense considering I am dreadfully slow at all activities I participate in. I have zero chances of ever even winning my age group, but yet I still love formal races, there is just something about waking up at 5am on race day and racing with tons of people and the finishing and I love it. I don’t view myself as competative at all and racing is great. Where I see Mike as very competative and he hates the idea of racing.
Also it’s amusing how Mike was all “I want to start running” and everyone else is “NO do this thing I do instead/also!”
Also if you want a great reason to not orienteer in New England here it is: TICKS. Ticks are gross and all over the place. You’ve got to do long sleeves and pants and spray on the DEET as once you get off trail you can get covered in ticks. Tom and I also do a thourough check down afterwards and umm well that’s easier to do if you have someone around who will help with a full body nekkid tick check. Not sure if you get tick problems climbing too? No matter what if you want to give orienteering a try there are plenty of options in the area.
Also Mike I am sorry you are having a bad day. May your weekend bring good food, friends, fun and excitment to you!
I think running is great! It’s really nice to be able to just put on your shoes and hit the pavement.
Also great? Mike D. I hope your day gets better soon!
That is exactly the kind of joke that I am always taking seriously! And then always feeling silly about.
I think the street scrambles around Boston are always on foot. Not too sure though as I’ve never been to any of the events.
Ok, now I feel guilty for defending biking. Mike, if you want to run, go for it.
Ha! no reason to feel guilty. In fact, I’ll probably end up loving it and thanking you profusely.
Biking is awesome! Good luck on your century ride. That’s on my life list somewhere, I’ve done 85 miles in one day, so I know I can do the century, it’s jus the little matter of getting around to it sometime.
I just realized you might just be aiming for 100 miles total on your bike, not a huge 100 mile ride, either way it is awesome and good luck!
Yeah, I’m going for 100 total. It would be awesome if I could ride 100 at once, but not in my first year. :)
That’s awesome! You’re half way there already!
In addition to “urban scrambles” there’s also “alleycat racing”, which is essentially playing at being a messenger (a lot like orienteering on a bike). They are pretty common in NYC and Boston and other bigger cities, New Haven and Hartford have even had a few.
Also if you want a great reason to not orienteer in New England here it is: TICKS. Ticks are gross and all over the place.
Ohhhhh yeah. I forget about ticks because they aren’t an issue in the PNW.
No worries! It was more of a half-joke. Because there are a few events, but not enough for Mike D to dive into.
I know it’s not gentle encouragement, and sometimes you are in a crappy mood, but when have trouble getting motivated to run I sometimes just tell myself to HTFU (pardon my language) and get it done.
Thanks for the good wishes. Next year, I’ll have to step it up.
Gina and I will be in Portland the weekend of August 1st/2nd. But she’s playing in an Ultimate tournament, and I’ll be orienteering Saturday near Estacada, so I don’t know how flexible the schedule is. We’re staying with some of Gina’s fam in Eastmoreland somewhere.