"Here we go..."

The title of this post is the most common phrase that passes through my mind as I take the first steps of a run, typically as I hit the start button on my watch, and step over the seam that runs down the middle of our driveway. Where my mind goes after that is different every day.

And so here I go, starting my first blog, a running journal. Since starting running in May of 2009, I haven’t had a real running journal. I did make a calendar for my first 10k training plan and jotted down notes on it, but that’s not the same. I tried keeping track in an old Runner’s World log my Mom found, but that wasn’t much fun. The only real documentation I have for the hundreds of miles I’ve put in so far (about 704 to date, booyah!) is an excel spreadsheet I’ve always kept on my computer at work.

Side note: I genuinely enjoy excel. I’m not the most knowledgeable excel user, but I get a lot of satisfaction out of it. There something gratifying about designing a useful spreadsheet or pivot table. In my new job I get to use it very frequently, and I’m learning lots of new tricks.

Back to running: so my running spreadsheet is simple. I keep a log of each run’s date/mileage/pace. I track miles per week, miles per month, and miles per pair of shoes. That way I know when I can justify getting my next pair! Only 175 miles until I lace up my new green Lunarglides, which I already bought since they were on clearance. They’re so bright; they remind me of little green space aliens. Hang on little buddies! I’ll get to ya!

So this is it, my running blog. I know it’s going to be a difficult read for 99.9% of the people that come across it. They’ll probably scroll down this long, dry post and decide to check out something more entertaining like my lovely wife’s blog (chillsfam.blogspot.com). I understand. My feelings won’t be hurt if none of my friends or family reads this. Truth is, this blog is mostly for my own benefit. If someone out there likes reading it, bonus, and let me know about it.