Bill Menees's Blog

I've written a RunningAHEAD gadget for Windows Vista's Sidebar. It has the following features:

• Displays distance totals, latest workouts, or PRs.
• Has a "View Log" link to open the current log summary in a browser.
• Can show multiple logs and/or stat types by using multiple gadget instances.
• Can directly open workouts when "Latest Workouts" stats are displayed.
• Title can be customized, which is nice when showing multiple logs.
• Rounded corners, so you're less likely to cut yourself.

On the right is an image of four separate instances of the gadget in my Vista sidebar. This way I can view my stats and workouts while also getting in a little log stalking.

Please download "RunningAhead Stats" from the Vista Gadget Gallery and rate it well if you like it.

Labels: Running, Software

I ran 28 races last year, so I had a little bit of racing burn out coming into this year. Over the winter I took about two months off from racing, and I just ran easy to build my base up. I've been running 30+ miles a week since mid-December, and I re-introduced intensity/speedwork around mid-February. So far, I'm staying healthy, running well, and running faster, so I'm sticking with my current mileage level. I'm making sure every mile counts though.

Here are the results from my last six races. I've been fortunate enough to be in the top 3 in my age group (M35-39) in all six races:

• 12/13/08 Frostbite 5K 20:22 AG 2nd
• 2/28/09 Judicata 5K 21:03 AG 3rd
• 2/28/09 Judicata 10K 46:08 AG 3rd
• 3/14/09 Tom King 5K 19:49 AG 3rd
• 3/28/09 Runnin' To Beat The Blues 5K 19:57 AG 1st
• 3/28/09 Runnin' To Beat The Blues 1Mile 05:45 AG 1st

At the first four of the races the weather was complete crap (either freezing, raining, or both). And two of the race dates were doubles, so I was glad to do as well as I did both days.

I plan to run several more races this spring, building up to the Country Music Half and then tapering back down. I'm doing the:

• Purity 10K on 4/11
• Union City Civitan Club's Running For Prevention 5K on 4/18
• Country Music Half on 4/25
• Wild Thang 9M Trail Run on 5/2
• Girls on the Run 5K on 5/9

That's five weeks in a row, including a trip back to my boyhood hometown of Union City, TN. After these races, I'm taking a long break from racing again. I'll probably skip all the summer races until the Striders Picnic 5K on 7/25.

Well, actually, I've already registered for the GJCC Triathlon on Memorial Day (5/25), but I'm not even thinking about that right now. I'm having a great running season, so I'm going to get back to triathlon training in mid-May. I did a lot of lap swimming in the YMCA pools in January and February, but I got absolutely burned out on it. Triathlons may not be for me. So rather than continue to swim and hate it, I've decided to just put off more swimming (and biking) until after my running season is done. At this point, I care a lot more about my running than my first triathlon. I wonder if I'll feel the same on Memorial Day...

Labels: Running