Springlike Saturday

Summary Data
Total Time (h:m:s)	2:03:04	9:23 pace
Moving Time (h:m:s)	2:02:15	9:19 pace
Distance (mi )	13.11
Moving Speed (mph)	6.4 avg.	13.4 max.
Elevation Gain (ft)	+318 / -318
Avg. Heart Rate	156 bpm	Zone 4.4
Temperature (°F)	42.8°F avg.	42.8°F high
Wind Speed ( mph)	SSW 13.8 avg.	SSW 14.9 max.

Start Time 1:24:29 PM

As I was leaving to go out on this run, Zofie asked me when she would get to start exercising. I stopped and explained that she exercised all the time---running and playing---and that the main problem when you get to be an adult is that you no longer spend enough time playing. Over the course of the two hours out, this led in several ways to consider children, exercise, and play time (for adults and kids). I do not really have the energy to go into these thoughts in detail here, but here are a few key areas:

• I just don't get how parents let their kids get fat. Children want to run and play---and the biggest problem they have is that they don't know how to set priorities so that they get their playtime in. That is to say, it IS hard to find time for computers (web), gaming (xbox, wii, etc.), television, movies, books (given the former, it is a wonder any of them still read)---and serious, long, play in the park. When I was in High School, we would drive over to a park every day after school (when we were not in a sports season) and throw a frisbee around---now, I imagine, kids would just go play games.
• Managing this competition for kids attention among so many priorities---and I use priorities because I don't want to suggest that gaming, etc. is not really important to these kids, my nephews have convinced me that this is a pretty critical part of life---is so critical to becoming a solid adult that PARENTS need to intervene. Parenting is tough, though, so it is easy to cave along the way.
• It is especially hard for kids to learn the importance of play if their parents do not also play. This goes back to the thoughts about 'why we do this' from a couple days ago. In addition to the way that exercise centers me, I exercise to be a model for my kids. I want them to grow up around books---reading and being read to. I want them to grow up being affirmed and affirming others. And I want them to grow up seeing what it is like to be a healthy adult. It is amazing to me how similar I am to my folks---how much I have become them even unconsciously.

Anyway, these among some of the thoughts along the thirteen mile run. Nice to get back down by the Shedd today---I had not run down there before, but I ride it regularly and since I have been off of the saddle for a month, I have begun to miss it. That said, I think I am heading to Northerly Island when I do 14---finding a good turnaround point on the North side of the Museum campus is not as obvious as I would like it to be. The Chicago Yacht Club is a perfect turnaround for 15 (that is a standard turnaround for a quick ride) or the river gets me close to 16---plus as long as I have been in Chicago, I have never been out on Northerly....

Good run today, my neck gets sore after awhile as does my right shoulder, but no leg pains to speak of---I think the knee/back issue is resolving itself. This was the longest running week ever. It marks the beginning of a switch to a rotation between higher- and lower-mileage weeks. My hope is that I have longer-term good results and build strength more effectively by doing something like a 30+ mile week one week and then a 20-ish mile week the next. The body is not complaining of over training with the 10-mile jump this week; we are planning to add a fourth very short run and a fourth swim each week---always wanting to push it all up a bit and get the body used to doing both, in case I want to do an -athlon sometime.