The day started out cool and never really got hot. But my stride was just sluggish from the start and never got better. I’ll call this walk 10.15.
I won’t say that it was difficult; it really wasn’t until that final steep hill.
I wonder if I’ve gained weight. The weird thing is that pull ups have improved quite a bit and that is inconsistent with weight gain.
Peoria Chiefs: they were down 2-0 early before a 4 run 4’th put the Chiefs up 4-2. But the Cubs got two of their own in the 5’th and it remained tied going into the 8’th. A new closer appeared to struggle, but in the end he kept the Cubs scoreless throughout a tense 9’th and 10’th…he even survived an errant throw made on a ground ball.
Then with 2 out on the 10’th, Cho slammed the ball off of the center right wall to drive in the winning run.
Runner scores. Encarnacion singles, then 2 more score!!
I watched the Chiefs dismantle the Cubs this week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
Tuesday: the Chiefs lead 3-1 going into the bottom of the 8’th and then had a 9 running inning to win 12-1.
Wednesday: 10 -2 victor starting off with a 4-0 first inning.
Thursday: Harry and Vickie were there and the Chiefs won a closer game 5-2
Illinois 52 Western Illinois 3
The Illini drew a very good crowd (56000+) given that the opponent was a bad FCS team (Western Illinois)
Aside from an opening mini drive that made it from their 25 to the Illini 42, it was all Illinois..save one “almost TD pass” in the second half. It was 31-0 at the half and ended 52-3. The reserve quarterback came in half way through the 4’th.
We didn’t learn that much; Duke will be a much better test. Interestingly enough, I saw Navy win its opener against VMI by a 52-7 score in a very similar game (28-0 at the half, with 3 Navy quarterbacks getting to play)
This week: start of class plus the last week of the Chiefs home season. So, no writing in this blog.
But, so I can remember:
walks: Monday: easy 2.2 commuter style Tuesday: usual Bradley Park plus campus loop 10K in 1:28:15 (14:14 pace) perfect weather Wednesday: 2.2 commuter style over lunch Thursday 5.16 (out and back with mini Cooper loop in 1:16:37 (14:51 pace); disappointing given the great weather Friday: two 2 mile commuter style walks Saturday: zero..see weights
weights: Monday: usual; highlight was 3 sets of 5 x 160 on the bench, pull ups: 3 x 10, 4 x 6 Wednesday: highlight: 17 x 134 bench, 3 sets of 6 x 134 on the incline, 10 x 228 4 inch trap bar
Saturday: different order: bench: 5 x 134, 3 x 154, 2 x 170, miss 184, make 180 (UGLY), 3 sets of 5 x 154 high incline; 10 x 94, 5 x 110, 5 x 110 trap bar dead: low 10 x 134, 10 x 184 4 inch: 10 x 228 pull ups (during TV time outs) 3 sets of 10, 4 sets of 6, all pull up stye
I just finished my 7’th Flemming Bond novel: Dr. No. So now I’ve read the first 7: Casino Royale, Live and Let Die, Moonraker, Diamonds are Forever, From Russia with Love, Dr. No and Goldfinger. I’ve also read 4 Dexter Inspector Morse Novels: Last Bus to Woodstalk, Last Seen Wearing, The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn and Service of All the Dead. I’ve also read Run Silent, Run Deep by Beach.
The idea was to jump start my brain and to turn myself into a reader again. With the academic year coming up, my pace of pleasure reading will slow. But I’d like to set a “novel every 2 weeks” pace.
I’ll say more about the books later; let’s just say that I enjoy the character development in the novels and that the Inspector Morse character of the tv series is much more likable than the novel character! But I enjoy Dexter’s writing.
Workout notes:
Saturday: 3 mile walk in West Peoria (16:20 pace) after a deadlift session: Straight bar: 10 x 134, 10 x 184, 10 x 225 (hard!) Wagon wheel with the 60 lb trap bar: 10 x 250, 1 x 300
Sunday: though the weather was perfect, my pace wasn’t. I made 10.2 miles in 2:38:11 (15:06 pace). I did the West Peoria course to Heading, entered Bradley Park, did the spur plus a lower loop (4.2 miles) in 1:06, struggled to a 15:06 mile then puttered around campus to get over 10. I didn’t drink that that was a mild mistake. Endurance is there but I have no speed at all.
1/2 marathon is slated for September 28, provided the USC game is not a night game. I will NOT miss the game. My guess is that it will be a 2 pm kickoff after which I’ll drive to the Quad Cities and spend the night. I won’t make 3:03 (last year) as I have no speed at all. So, 3:15 seems realistic (if dreadfully bad).
I’ll just say nothing. Well, I made it to Friday. No Chiefs games at home this week. Next week: last Chiefs homestand and I’ll make my usual 5 games of the 6, with a Friday night Illinois opener against Western Illinois.
Tuesday: I had time for a disappointing 5 miles. 1:17:12 for 5.12 (15:05 pace). Wet pavement after Monday night’s rainstorm, and while it was 78, humidity was 79 percent.
Wednesday: easy 2 mile walk before my 9:40 start; I did learn some new things. Weights: pull ups: 4 sets of 10 pull up, 2 sets of 6 chin up, 2 of 5 mixed. bench: 10 x 134, incline: 3 sets of 6 x 134. high incline: 10 x 94, 2 sets of 5 x 110. Trap bar dead: 2 sets of 10 x 134 low, 10 x 200 wagon wheel, 10 x 250 wagon wheel (60 lb bar).
Thursday: 8 am start, so a commuter 1 miler before work, then a slow (in jeans and shirt) 4.3 through Bradley park (crowded but no difficulties). Later that night; HUGE cramp in the right hamstring. Friday: tight calf led heel pain and foot pain in the left foot: calf stretching helped.
Friday (today) commuter 2 miler. Weights: 4 sets of 10, 2 sets of 5 chin ups, bench: 10 x 134, 5 x 160, 6 x 155, 8 x 150. high incline: 10 x 94, 2 sets of 5 x 110.
Saturday: easy 3 mile walk after some deadlifts.(16:38 pace).
Deadlifts: low: 10 x 134, 10 x 190, 10 x 225 (last two: 60 lb bar) Wagon Wheel (60 lb bar) 10 x 250 (went well), 1 x 300 (one miss, one make)
Sunday: 10.3 mile walk at 15:20. It felt reasonably cool but it was 80 F with 79 percent humidity. The course: out and back in Bradley Park plus a 1.15 mile lower loop, then reverse to the West Peoria course. Then a Rebecca loop then campus to finish the 10+.
Today: easy 2 miler after pull ups (4 sets of 10, 2 sets of 5 mixed, a set of 5 “penalty reps.” Bench: 10 x 134, 3 sets of 5 x 160. High incline: 10 x 94, 2 sets of 5 x 110.
Physically, things appear to be coming together, though I’ll run the gauntlet of admin BS over the next 3 days.
And that means: football season is right around the corner.
Thursday: 10k course in 1:31 (14:45) 78 F with 63 percent humidity almost felt good. Friday: 2 mile walk after weights.
The good news: I got 5 sets of 10 pull ups! (not competition quality, but full extension and chin over the bar). Downstairs: 10 x 134, 5 x 160, 6 x 155, 7 x 150 bench, 5 x 134 incline, 10 x 94, 5 x 110, 5 x 110 high incline. Does not appear to be much but I can feel it.
The title is cryptic. But it has at least one public meaning: my Tuesday walk was, well, on a flat 10K course (6.4) West Peoria 4, but a double back and return via Ayres plus a bit of campus. 15:02 pace. It was ghastly humid (81 F, 73 percent humidity). Gads..too slow.
A few years ago, I was at a Chiefs game. A pop foul came my way and an age peer (60s) was standing just behind me, to my right. He reached out his hand and snatched the ball out of the air.
I looked at him wide-eyed and said “you must have played.” He got a “happy/sad” look on his face and admitted that, at one time in his life, he was a A league minor league player; he now had an office job related to baseball.
And yes, to play A level minor league baseball, you have to be better than the vast majority of college players, who in turn are better than the vast majority of high school players, who I think are pretty good.
But only about 10 percent of those that I watch at Chiefs games will become a Major League player. Just being excellent won’t get you there.
And that reminds me of these two threads posts:
Here is a 28:00 10000 meter, 1:48 800 meter runner who works at McDonalds to finance his training. Yes, he could run for some college teams and get financial assistance for his education. But his times need to be something like 27:20 or 1:43 to even sniff earning a living through his running.
And that is what it is like. An average engineer can make a nice living, as can, say, an average accountant. But even an elite athlete can peak out before the “earn your living at it” level.
Sunday: I checked the rain forecast..no rain. So I started on my walk and..of course…BOOM…it came down in buckets. Ok, I was in Bradley park and usually rain means that car traffic is low, but some huge gathering insisted in going to the sheltered picnic area. Ugh..worst of both worlds: hard rain and traffic. 10.2 miles in 2:48:51. (16:33 pace; the second half was much slower than the first). Rain, slick roads and a tough course kind of did me in. The course: the out and back, two “classic” loops and one lower loop. Then I did an “almost to Moss” loop plus another rectangle to get to 10+
Monday: weights, then a walk to and from Walgreens via Waverly..rain..again.
pull ups: 6 sets of 6 (off), 10 (kind of bad pull ups), two sets of 5 mixed grip bench: 10 x 134, 3 sets of 5 x 160 high incline: 10 x 94, 2 sets of 5 x 110.
Baseball: on Saturday night: well, the Chiefs fell behind 4-1 and lost 4-3. Twice the Chiefs loaded the bases and got no runs out of it. Groan. Sunday: cancelled due to the field not being playable.
Life of an old goat 