Month: September 2024

YUCK!

I was lazy this morning; did not start deadlifts until 11 am. I decided to take out some nasty mattresses that I should have dumped 30 years ago. So I did that between sets. The mattress ripped and spread it innards on the basement carpet.

Then the delivered groceries came.

Deadlifts: low handle: 10 x 134, 10 x 190, 10 x 225 (all went fine)
4 inch handle: 10 x 244, 1 x 300.

Later: I did a very lazy 4 mile walk around the neighborhood (1:06 or so). This was after watching some football.

Football: I watched the first half of Navy’s 41-18 victory over UAB. Navy is hitting on all cylinders. I don’t see them beating Notre Dame or Tulane. And there are other challenging games, such as Air Force (this week) and, of course, Army, who is also undefeated. But I think that Navy can find 3-4 more victories on its schedule and go to a nice bowl.

I mentioned watching North Dakota State blow out the Illinois State Redbirds; they are just on different levels. Then I watched the Illini lose 21-7 to Penn State. Yes, the Illini fought hard, but PSU was simply too physical up front on both sides of the ball. I see the Illini finishing like this: there is one “going to be hard to win” game (at Oregon), two “should win but these are rivalry games” (at home vs Purdue..Purdue has not lost in Champaign since 2010) and on the road vs Northwestern (Illini won there in 2014 and 2022). Then there are 4 toss up games: two that lean to the opponent (Michigan at home, Rutgers on the road) and two that lean to the Illini (Minnesota, Michigan State, both at home). So I see a 7-5 to 8-4 finish to the regular season. We shall see.

Pro: Bears and Colts both won! I kind of wish I had gone to Indianapolis to see the Steelers at Colts, but it is nice to be home and ready for bed.

5k improvement, football disaster

I walked a 5K in 33:15; it was the Bradley Homecoming race in my neighborhood. I slowed slightly at the end (10:5x ) but each mile was within a few seconds of each other. I was well behind “the bell curve” at the start but gained on the pack just a bit.

Yeah, my right leg was slightly bent. Definite double support phase though. The right knee hurt slightly afterward.

After that, it was to the Illinois State vs North Dakota State game. Sandy (the lady next to me) said that it would be a butt kicking. I thought it might be close.

And while NDSU moved easily at first and had a 14-0 lead (playing slow), ISU pulled out a well executed long pass to the left and then a flea flicker. Soon it was 14-7 at the half.

Second half: total domination. It was 35-7 with NDSU deep in their own territory when their back up QB broke a long TD run. ISU got a face saving field goal drive and NDSU took a knee inside the ISU 10 to end the game.

Ugh…Now I know why old guys buy sportscars

Seeing my half marathon photos was a shock. Yeah, I was all but dead here but, well, a look at my body explains my time (3:03).

For contrast, look at me during my 2002 Quad Cities Marathon walk (4:44), at about mile 20: same size. Yes, I was only 43 here as opposed to 65.

Well, can I do anything about my “old man” body? I guess I can keep it as strong as I can. But man..I don’t like this.

Workout notes: pull ups: 8 sets of 5 (4 of them started each rep with a scapular), plus a 7 and 3.

Bench: 10 x 134, 2 x 165, 3 x 160, 5 x 155, 5 x 150, 5 x 150.
High incline: 10 x 84, 10 x 89, 7 x 94
curls 3 sets of 10 x 44 (Swiss bar)

Then: a 2 mile then 1 mile commuter walk.

Back at it

On Tuesday morning, I had 3 vaccinations: covid, flu (old person’s), pneumonia. Yesterday, I felt sluggish and last night, I got some night sweats and woke up feeling great.

So, lower Bradley Park 4 miler plus a 1.2 mile campus loop for an easy 5.2 in 1:15:30 (14:31). It felt good…nice and cool.

When it shows up…

Here are two photos of me at Quad Cities: the first is me a few days ago:

Quad Cities Marathon – Photo by Tom Moye

Next is me at the first Quad Cities Marathon in 1998. I weigh the same in both photos.

The body type sure looks different, no?

Today: I did 5 sets of 5 singles (scapular/regular), sets of 5
bench: 10 x 134, 8 x 145
incline: 5 x 134, 4 x 134 (missed rep 5), 10 x 115
trap bar dead (all with 4 inch handles) 10 x 134, 10 x 184, 10 x 224, 10 x 240

and 2 commuter walks totaling just over 2 miles.

My history at Quad Cities:

Quad Cities History
1998: 3:55 as a runner (hot)
1999: 3:45 as a runner
2000: 1:40 for half of a relay
2001: 1:49 for half marathon (week after giving blood)
2002: 4:44 marathon as a walker
2004: 5:12 marathon as a walker
2005: 5:34 marathon as a walker.
2007: DNF at mile 23 (walker)
2008: 2:25 half marathon (walker)
2009: 5:28 marathon (as a walker)
2010: 2:39 half marathon (as a walker; knee surgery in July).
2011: 2:22:27 (half marathon powerwalk)
2013: 2:20:59 as a runner
2014: 2:24:17 powerwalk.
2016 DNF mile 20 (run/walk) heat
2017 DNF mile 20 (walk) heat
2018: Marathon powerwalk 6:14:11.
2019: Marathon powerwalk 6:42:06

2020: virtual 1/2 3:33:50

2024 Half Marathon walk 3:03:37

My arms hurt

Got pneumonia, COVID and “old person’s flu” today. Walked my lower Bradley park loop at 15:09, though it was an easy pace.

Half Marathon debrief:

November 22, 2000: 10.1 miles at 16:35 (painful)

January 5, 2024: 10.3 at 14:22. Note: 3 years and a month in between. But this made me sore and I didn’t go 10+ miles again until:
June 29, 2024: did this in 2 parts: 4 in 15:12, drink, 8 in 15:32.

July 6, 2024: 11.2 at 15:13
July 18, 2024 11.2 at 15:07
July 26, 2024 10.2 at 15:12
August 3: 13.1 at 14:09
August 10: 13.7 at 14:50

August 17 14.35 at 14:58
August 24 11.2 at 15:32
August 31 14.0 at 15:29
September 7 10.5 at 14:40

So, in a nutshell, I had enough “long” walking to safely complete the distance but not enough to push the pace, and 3 hours is no longer an “easy” pace for me.

I might try again when the weather cools off a bit.

Day after

Well, I am sore but still operable.

2 one mile commuter walks plus weights:

10 (ok, sloppy), 2 sets of 5 (with scapular reps), 7 + 3, 5, 5, 5, 5

bench: 10 x 134, 6 x 150, 5 x 150, 5 x 150

high incline: 3 sets of 7 x 94
curls: 3 sets of 10 with Swiss bar

I’ve thought about my half marathon, and, to be honest, I forgot how long I was out of walking.

On November 22, 2020, I limped through an 10 mile walk at 16:35 per mile. In January, 2024, I finally hit another 10, this time at 14:22 mpm. That is 3 years and a month. I didn’t get my next 10+ until July 6, at 15:13. Then I had one (11) on the 18’th of July, 26’th of July (both 15:XX) then the Mahomet race.

Bottom line: I have not walked enough long ones and I had a massive gap between doing them. I am a raw beginner, again.

Not what I had hoped for.

Note: the Quad Cities Marathon races: I did the first one (marathon, as a runner) in 1998. I “ran” a 3:55 on a blistering hot day. I’ve done this race many times, including virtually in 2000 and I power walked the marathon several times.

So, this time, I treated myself to a hotel right at the start line (loved it) and did the half marathon. I was kind of cool to leave my room 20 minutes before the start.

Weather:

Cloud cover, not quite 70, but very humid. That made it slightly tough, but it was easier weather than the Mahomet race this year.

I made some mistakes not eating enough for dinner last night and the wrong stuff pre-race. I should have had pancakes, toast, bagels, etc. And I let my electrolytes get too low. Nuun worked better; Powerade zero is not strong enough. Should have used tablets and taken in some calories.

But, nevertheless, I wasn’t really hurt by this until the very end:

1: 12:59

2: 13:46 (bridge)
3: 13:03

4: 13:14
5: 13:39 (1:06:43) (almost 1 minute behind Mahomet)
6: 13:21
7: 13:17
8: 14:12 (bridge) 1:47:34 (1:30 behind Mahomet)

9 13:47 (tired)
10: 13:42 (2:15:04, 20 second behind my Mahomet pace)
11: 14:44 (reality)
12: 15:34 (gone; 3 hour pacer catches me)
13: 16:34 (survival)

3:03:37 final time. I did not collapse as badly as I did at Mahomet but, again, different weather.

After the race: had to use the bathroom twice, threw up twice (in the room; lost the ability to digest water for a while) but I was able to sip a diet pepsi on the way home.

So, yes, I made more than 4 minutes worth of mistakes BUT the reality is, at this stage in my life, a 3 hour half marathon walk is HARD. I don’t run anymore and so don’t have the extra cardio, and I am not doing “marathon training” type mileage (maybe 150-160 walking miles per month).

Other aspects: it was fun seeing other runners at the hotel, and lining up at a race again. In February 2022, I thought this period of my life was over for good.

Note: the day before the race, I weighed in at 186. That WAS a good weight for me, back in 2012. I no longer have the muscle mass to justify weighing that now.

Before the race, I saw Roger Mohr and MarySue Baker (and her husband). I chatted with a few half marathoners through the race and cheered on the lead marathoners as they passed us.
One minor mistake: I should not have gotten in front of the 3 hour pacer; I followed the 2:50 pacer who had a rough day. Both got away from me in the final 2 miles (see the pace).

September 2003: 2:17 (Appleton Fox-Cities powerwalk division)
January 2008: Austin 30K 3:50:56 (about 2:40 for the half marathon split)
September 2008: 2:25:13 Quad Cities
September 2010: 2:39:13 Quad Cities (surgery that summer)
September 2011: 2:40:53 IVS
September 2011: 2:22 Quad Cities
January 2012: 2:34 First Light
June 2012: 2:30:18 Galesburg
September 2012: 2:24:46 IVS
April 2014: 2:25:26 Peoria Heights
May 2014: 2:19:15 Peoria
September 2014 2:35 (IVS)
September 2014 2:24:17 Quad Cities
September 2015 2:38:13 IVS
June 2017: 2:47:24 Galesburg
July 2017 2:42:19 Chicago RR
August 2017 Mahomet Half marathon 2:52:33
October 2018 Whisky Daddle Half Marathon 2:29:23

August 2024: Mahomet Half Marathon 3:05:09.

September 2024: Quad Cities Half Marathon 3:03:37

Aging: it is tough. Look at the stats for both the half marathon and the full: (in order).

Reality: as a walker, I will be back with the elderly, the injured and with those who are not in great shape or not serious runners. The days of being around the younger hard-bodies is over forever, for me. But, if you look at me, I fit right in with the groups that I finish with.

Catch up a bit (again)

Workout notes:

Thursday: 4 mile lower Bradley course in 56:26 (14:05 pace)

Friday: 2 commuter walks totaling 5k, plus weights as follows:

pull ups: 5 singles (with scapular), set of 5 (scapular first), 5 chins, 5 chins, 10, 5, 5, 5, 5

bench press: 10 x 134, then 4 x 160, 5 x 155, 4 x 155, 6 x 150
high incline: 2 sets of 10 x 84, 10 x 94 (oh-so-slight slide away in the final rep or 2)

curls: 3 sets of 10.

Today: easy 2 mile walk. They hay is in the barn. Weather: some rain expected, starting at 70 F and actually dropping a degree or two during the race. Should not be as brutal as Mahomet. Just keep the 2:50 pace group in front of me until the end, and I should be fine.

Illinois football: I don’t comment much on TV games, but this one: I took Illinois and the points. In public, I said that I expected Nebraska to win a tight battle, but on Off Tackle Empire I was one of the 15 percent that picked the Illini to win.

From the game: I was surprised that the Illini passing attack was as sharp as it was. Receivers were open all day long and the quarterback had time to throw. I was surprised that Nebraska didn’t run better: Kansas had 182 rushing yards against us, and Central Michigan had 142.

There were some key plays: in the first half, a pass in the end zone was ruled as a touchdown, then ruled to be an interception. The overrule was correct by modern rules; you have to “complete the catch.” When I played (high school in the 1970’s) the ruling would have been “receiver in the end zone with possession: touchdown.” So, the game remained tied at 10.

Later, Illinois had the ball on 4’th down and went for it. Referees missed a face mask penalty and Nebraska got the stop, and promptly marched for a touchdown and a 17-10 halftime lead.

Then, with the game tied at 24 and about 8 minutes to go, a strip sack set up Nebraska in good field position. They drove it to the Illini 22 and had 3’rd and 3. Instead of a run or a short pass (open all day), they took an end zone shot. Receiver WAS open but the Freshman QB overthrew him. Then on 4’th, the back up kicker missed a 39 yard field goal.

The Illini could not get close enough and so punted and Nebraska decided to play for overtime.

First overtime: Illinois scored, then on their possession, Nebraska went backwards (though their fans complained about a late hit that would have given them a first down).

My thoughts: Nebraska played a very sloppy, undisciplined game. Illinois did what they needed to do; their coach is a good “road game” coach. Illinois is 4-0 with 2 wins over “ranked, but probably should not have been ranked” teams: Kansas and Nebraska.

This was a good game between evenly matched, “Beef O’Brady’s Bowl” caliber teams.

A word about the 2024 election: it is close.

Ok, this election is probably going to be close. At the time of this writing, the election odds are favoring Harris by 64-36 percent (was about 60-40 for a while) meaning: simulations have Harris winning 60-64 percent of the time. The national polls show about a 3 point lead for Harris.

But, look at the electoral college. ElectoralVote.com has it looking like this:

And, by comparison, look at their prediction maps for September 18 for the 2012 (Obama win), 2016 (Trump win) and 2020 (narrow Biden win)

The current map strongly resembles the 2016 map and NOT the 2012 or 2020 maps. That is very concerning.

My guess: of course, turnout will be huge. Will the Trumpers be motivated to turn out heavily? How about Democrats?

But there is another key aspect: there ARE some Republicans who are repulsed by Trump enough to not vote for him. And there are those on the brink…and THESE might be the key.

And, to be frank, I am not going to persuade a Republican to do anything. But other Republicans can. Peer pressure has to come from “in group” to be effective.