Harry's Blog
Hello, I have been running for About 5 years now! I live up on the Iron Range and do the majority of my runs up here, though I do run in races all over. I have run 8 marathons, and a few Half Marathons! Lately my focus has been on getting in more Half Marathons, because after running my first one in June 2012, I decided I loved the distance! Running is a huge part of my life, and I plan on doing it for many years to come. I love participating in races, they are always such a fun time and you can meet many interesting people at each event. I have met several runners over the years and have heard many interesting stories about their runs, and places they have traveled! Running is a great hobby that I feel most people can do, for me it is about competing with myself, and staying healthy at the same time!
April 27, 2009: Signed up for my first race of the year
I just went to the Hibbing college and signed up for the Cardinal Fiesta run for this Saturday. This will be my first race this year, and I am hoping to do all the 5k/10k races around the Range this year. I am planning on the Sam I am run being my first ever 10k on May 31st, So I am really looking forward to that. Then I am hoping to do the Superior Hiking Trail Half Marathon in September. I still have not run more than 11.5 miles, and I am hoping to do at least one 15 miler before the Hiking Trail half Marathon. Does anyone know that route at all, and if it is generally flat, or pretty hilly?
One another note, my friends I have talked into running are doing great. We have met four times in the last 8 days, and most of them can run around the lake, which is 1 mile, now without walking. They have made great improvements, and I think next time we will be attempting twice around. The best part is they are having fun doing it, and some are running on their own, on days we do not meet. So far we have had about 6 show up each time, with about 10 of us total who have run at least once so far. If there are any other runners, or want to be runners who read this and would like to join us sometime, just let me know. We have a stop watch now, so we are becoming very professional!
April 22, 2009: Virginia Runners meeting tomorrow and Saturday
This is kind of short notice, but I will be meeting with a few friends tomorrow morning at 10:00 to do a quick run around Silver Lake. Any one in the area is welcome to join us, it is a short run, because most the participants are just getting their feet wet with running this past week. As time goes on the distance and routes run should get more challenging. This is the perfect opportunity for any one who is not experienced at running, but wants to give it a shot. You can email or comment back if you are interested, we meet on the 200 block of 4th St North. We will also be meeting on Saturday at 10:00am if any one is interested to run then.
This will be our 3rd meeting in 6 days, I am happy so far with the scheduling workingout. Not every one has made it to the previous 2 meets, but 7 on Sunday and 4 on Monday, and it looks like about 6 or so will be out tomorrow. It is fun talking afterwards, because they seem to enjoy it, my evil plan to get my friends into running is working so far Mwah ha ha ha! One day we may have the start of a Running Club here!
April 21, 2009: Where I am at
I have started increasing my runs the last 3 weeks, starting with 4 and 5 mile runs. Then I did 6 miles, and after I felt great on these, I could have went farther. So then I went 8, I felt that, I was a bit stiff after but mostly all healed the next day. Then this last Wednesday I went 9.5 miles, and I was a bit stiff again and felt it the next day a little. So Sunday I decided to run the Mesabi Bike trail from my house in Chisholm, and I set my goal to go to Buhl and back. It totaled about 11.6 miles, and around 2 miles to go I was really feeling it, and it took a lot of will power to get through them last few miles. I took it easy yesterday doing a nice mellow mile and a half with some friends who I have finally talked into running, and today I am going to go rollerblading, to give my legs a little break. I think I am going to stick with running 6-8 miles for a while, and then try again for a 10+ run and see how I feel. I think my body needs some more adjusting to longer distances. Also I am still in the final stretch of being sick, which I am sure affected me Sunday.
Also I have talked about 10 of my friends, many of whom have never run before, and are not in the best shape, into running with me a couple times a week. We have gone out twice now, last Saturday and Monday. They seem to have had fun so far, and after a few weeks I hope they like it even more. We run around Silver Lake in Virginia from my buddy Tims house, it is about 1.25 miles, and they all did really well. I am planning on keeping this going, hopefully the majority stay with it, and it will stay consistent enough to become a running club. It is hard planning around all our schedules, and neither day so far has had everyone there. If anyone is in the area and would like to join us let me know, we do not have a set schedule at the moment, and still are working out days to run. Eventually with more runners it will be easier to get a schedule together, and then we can run different routes and distances. We can also break off into smaller groups of different running skills. Any one interested can email me at harryshears@gmail.com or respond here if you would like to come out with us. No running skill at all is needed for this group, it is kind of a running start for most. Experienced runners are also welcome to come share their wisdom, and encourage new runners.