I've Been Running A Lot

UPDATED 11/10/2022 w/ this image of my Longest run from Strava:

I haven't updated this blog or podcast in 5 years. Wow. Sorry about that. I guess I podfaded. My bad. This podcast was something that motivated me to work on goals, especially running consistently. Well, I'm happy to report that this year I have been running consistently and I've been working on building up my long run. I've gotten up to 13.5 miles in one run, and I'm excited about my best half marathon time which I'll share down below:

If you're interested in following my running journey the best place to go is Strava, which you can get to above there where it says "view this activity on Strava."

Someday when I have the time to train more I would like to run a Marathon. Maybe I should set a goal, like, before I turn 40 I should run a marathon. I'll be 39 in 5 months so I'm getting close! Anyways, to anyone who used to listen to this podcast: thank you for listening! And I'm sorry it just stopped abruptly. While this podcast is over, who knows? Maybe I'll resurrect it again someday. I've certainly been running a lot. Here's a quick breakdown of my recent running progress:

JULY 2021.....106.7 Miles

JUNE 2021.....100 Miles

MAY 2021......85 Miles

That's it!

6 Goals | Episode 39

 download the .mp3

In this episode I share two audio running journals that I recorded after going for a run. It's getting a lot colder outside at 6 in the morning!

The Website for this podcast:
http://6goals.blogspot.com/

Music Attribution:
Music by Kevin MacLeod at http://www.incompetech.com
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

6 Goals | Episode 38

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In this episode, I share four audio running journals that I recorded over the course of a month. It's been a while! I also share a bit about the chapter book I'm working on and how I've done with my goals.

The Website for this podcast:
http://6goals.blogspot.com/

Music Attribution:
Music by Kevin MacLeod at http://www.incompetech.com
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

6 Goals | Episode 37

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In this episode I share tons of audio running journals that I recorded after each run because I've been running a lot! I'm so happy to be running consistently. I went for a few runs with my brothers, some runs alone, and tried doing a sprinting HIIT workout for the first time. Listen in to hear how it all went.

The Website for this podcast:
http://6goals.blogspot.com/

Music Attribution:
Music by Kevin MacLeod at http://www.incompetech.com
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Recent Running Stats

I've been running a lot lately! I'm very determined to start running consistently. Running with my brother has helped a lot too! Having someone to run with makes it so much easier and more fun. A new podcast episode is coming soon! Probably next Monday July 25. Here's my stats thanks to the great app Map My Run:

6 Goals | Episode 36

 download the .mp3

In this episode I share 3 audio running journals that I recorded after each run. I talk about finishing the first draft of my next book, and about how much more fun it is to run with someone because I ran with my brother this week.

The Website for this podcast:
http://6goals.blogspot.com/

Music Attribution:
Music by Kevin MacLeod at http://www.incompetech.com
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

6 Goals | Episode 35

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It's been way too long since I've posted an episode of my 6 Goals podcast! But I have been running, a little. Usually I release an episode only for one week but because it's been so long since I've made an episode I had 7 running sections recorded. These are bits I record right after going for a run. Also I ran a race called https://www.bloomsdayrun.org/. It's a 12K race that took me 1:27:20 to complete. That was a long hour and a half but it was really fun too! 

The Website for this podcast:
http://6goals.blogspot.com/

Music Attribution:
Music by Kevin MacLeod at http://www.incompetech.com
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

6 Goals | Episode 34

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I went on a few runs. They felt good though the most recent one was tough. I was very satisfied with it because I ended up running for over 3 miles, but my body was tired. Below is the map of my running loop and the stair step image of the different mile splits for my last run.

Here's the stats:
2.23 miles in 21:17 minutes - 2/8/16 
3.0 miles in 30:29 minutes - 2/9/16
3.35 miles in 35:04 minutes - 2/17/16

Website for the podcast: www.6goals.blogspot.com

Attributions:
"Relaxing Piano Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

6 Goals | Episode 33

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I went on a few runs. Two I've posted below, the one before that is in the last post. I recorded a podcast too! Wow has it been a long time since I've done that! I tried adding some more chill music instead of the hard rock in the background. I like it a lot more. Kind of new age and weird but I like it. Makes for an interesting sound.

Here's the stats:
2.0 miles in 20:11 minutes - 1/29/16 
2.0 miles in 24 minutes - 1/22/16

Attributions:
"Garden Music" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/


Cover to Sword and Urn and some art from the Children's picture book I mentioned:

Went for A Special Run Today

This morning I woke my 7 year old son up at like 6:15 and we went for a run together. We ran for around 17 minutes and maybe ran about a mile. I'm totally guessing on the distance. It was really fun and special. He's a good little runner. He never wanted to stop and walk and he loved it. He said it was really fun and asked if we could do it every morning. It was really special.

Finally Went For a Run

Yesterday I finally went for a run. It felt good. I went nice and slow and slowed down even more halfway through then picked it up a bit at the very end. Today I'm very sore in my legs but also in my sides. Just goes to show how out of shape I really am. I felt great the rest of the day. I can't wait to run again.

A Little Run, It's Been A Long Time

I went for a little 22:52 minute long run today. I heard some co-workers talking about running yesterday and they were like, hey Dan you're a runner right? I and I was like, I haven't in forever but I really love it and want to get back into it. So I checked this website and saw that the last time I went for a run was in September of last year. That was enough motivation to get me out on the trails. I have a new schedule as of this week. My wife got a promotion and so I'm working part time now. Hopefully this means I will start running consistently. I enjoyed the run. I went out and hit some trails until one of them ends at a bit of a cliff or really steep hill going down into a valley. It was beautiful and I wanted to get there in 10 minutes. I ran pretty hard on the way out and made it there in 10:45. On the way back I didn't have the motivation and was super tired so I went quite a bit slower.

6 Goals | Episode 32

I went for one run and I finally ran in under ten minute mile pace. Other than that I did a fantastically bad job of hitting any goals because it's one of the busiest weeks of the year at work.

Download the .mp3

My websites:

Blog for this podcast
http://6goals.blogspot.com/

My writing blog
http://www.DanDanTheArtMan.com/

6 Goals | Episode 31

In this episode I go through the 6 goals and share how I've been doing. Frankly I have not been hitting many goals. I did one sketch, though it was more of an illustration, I went for one run, I wrote one for about 900 words, and other than that I just didn't achieve many goals but I did have a pretty good week because at least I went for a run.

Download the .mp3

My websites:

Blog for this podcast
http://6goals.blogspot.com/

My writing blog
http://www.DanDanTheArtMan.com/

Skipped a Nap for a Hot Long Run

3 mile run. My dog came with me and it was in the middle of the day. It was in the middle of the day and the park was packed with people for kids birthday parties and general hanging out. I like it much better at dawn when it's just me, my dog, and maybe one other jogger. The run was tiring because I started in reverse direction from usual which put me running up a pretty steep hill right off the bat. It felt like I never really recovered from it. Still, I almost took a nap but as I was laying there falling asleep I thought 'I should go for a run.' Even though it was long and hot, I'm glad I went. 6 Goals podcast episode 31 should drop tomorrow. Usually I release episodes on a Monday, but it's been a really busy week at work. Thanks for stopping by!

Here's the stats:

3.0 miles in 34:29 minutes - 9/16/12

6 Goals | Episode 30

In this podcast I talk about what I've been up to including writing a couple novels, finally going for a couple runs, and a few other things.

The book I read: What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast: A Short Guide to Making Over Your Mornings--and Life

The blog post I wrote about reading that book with plans for how I'm going to make over my mornings.

Listen to chapter one of my work in progress novel called "The Truth About Zombies."

See my novel experiment where I am writing a novel longhand with no outline.

My latest short story "Stuffed Monster" is available as a FREE ebook:

I forgot to talk about doing 6 sketches a week, something I haven't done lately. The latest art I've produced can be found in a comic I started based on a novella I wrote for last years NaNoWriMo.

My websites:

Blog for this podcast
http://6goals.blogspot.com/

My writing blog
http://www.DanDanTheArtMan.com/

Download the .mp3

A Couple Runs at a New Park

The few runs I've done from my new house were on trails behind a huge sports complex out in the woods. My wife had a nightmare that I was killed by a bunch of gang members selling drugs on those trails so I chose to go running at a nearby park instead so she wouldn't worry about me and go back to sleep. It turns out the park is exactly one mile around, so I'm thankful I went for a run at the park.

Today I ran two miles in 20 minutes and 51 seconds. Pretty slow, but it felt good. Yesterday I ran for 30 minutes, and probably covered 2.5+ miles. My plan is to start doing 3 miles every weekday morning, and a longer run on Saturday with Sunday as a rest day. Let's see if I can do it! I already have two running spots recorded and ready to play in the next 6 Goals podcast episode. It's been FOREVER since I recorded a 6 Goals episode because it's been forever since I have gone running. Hopefully that's all going to change now and I will be a consistant runner. I'm curious what that would like like so I'm going to make a little table right here to see:

Running Schedule

Day	Distance
Monday	3 Miles
Tuesday	3 Miles
Wednesday	3 Miles
Thursday	3 Miles
Friday	3 Miles
Saturday	5 Miles
Sunday	Rest Day
Total	20 Miles

20 miles a week. Not much, but it's a start. I'm still just going to try and hit my 6 miles a week goal, but I'll be keeping this table in mind. I started late this week on Tuesday - it was the first day of preschool for my son and seemed like a nice time to start a new habit - of running. It looks like if I just go on one more run this week I will at least hit my 6 miles a week goal so that is something I'm proud of! Check back next Monday for the latest 6 Goals podcast episode to hear all about it, and thanks for stopping by!

Here's the stats:

2.0 miles in 20:51 minutes - 9/5/12

2.5+ miles in 30:00 minutes - 9/6/12

It's Been A While, But I Have Big Plans

I have a plan to get more goals accomplished including way more running and doing it consistently. My new plan will also allow me more time to put into my creative pursuits. Here's the recent blog post I wrote about my plans which I've been thinking about a lot but feel empowered to do after reading this tiny book. As I'm writing this I am on my third read through it.

This book was just what I needed when I needed it. Isn't it great when that happens? I bought it today on audible for under $3 - it's very short. I already listened to it one and a half times. It addresses something I've been thinking about a lot and never successfully doing anything about for a long time. I've been talking for a while about going to bed earlier so I can wake up earlier and have time to run and work on my creative projects like writing. This book gave me a road map to do it. The author Laura Vanderkam tells you to lay out how you spend your time. She even has an excel spreadsheet you can download for free from her website to fill out to do this. I did, and I saw how I was spending my time in beautiful excel glory. Seeing it like that was very interesting. Laura Vanderkam encourages you to study your time logs and challenge your assumptions about how you think the best time to spend your time is. I was able to rearrange my schedule a bit to have time for things I'm always wishing I was getting done. I looked at what a typical weekday was for me, and then I built my perfect day in a new column. 

Here's what I came up with:

5:00AM - 5:30AM Go for a run

5:30AM - 6:00AM Get ready for the day

6:00AM - 7:00AM Commute and write via recording into phone

7:00AM - 7:30AM Transcribe audio of writing / read paper books & eBooks

7:30AM - 3:30PM Work

3:30PM - 4:30PM Commute and read via audio books

10:00PM - Asleep so I can get up at 5 & achieve some goals!


Now with all that said - I'm not going to start this schedule until the Olympics are over. My wife and I are avid Olympic viewers. There are a few reasons, let me explain why we've been staying up till midnight every night watching our country compete. First of all I just think the Olympics are awesome and have always loved them. Beyond that, I've been a distance runner since third grade. In high school running became a huge part of my life. The distance team ran before school, after school, through the off season and even met three times every week during the summer break. It took me until my senior year to make the varsity team in cross country and that year we won the state championships. It was an amazing experience. Mostly I'll aways remember getting up early and running with a bunch of other guys and then listening to classic rock in the coach's office which was lined with couches and a fridge so we could all seat and eat cereal for breakfast afterwards. As for my wife she did gymnastics as a child all the way up to high school becoming a level 8 gymnast. More recently she did a lot of private club gymnastics coaching and high school gymnastics coaching, as well as gymnastics coaching. So with a couple who are passionate about track & field and gymnastics you can see why we stay up to watch. Once they're over there, I'm going to go all out with this new schedule.

6 Goals | Episode 29

In this episode I talk about my one relaxing run on dirt trails with my dog, how the third draft of my novel is just about done, how I'm losing weight with Advocare products, drawing my web comic/graphic novel character a lot to get his design down, and a few other things.

My websites:

Blog for this podcast
http://6goals.blogspot.com/

My writing blog
http://www.DanDanTheArtMan.com/

Download the .mp3

Character Sketch

I plan on drawing out a novella I wrote for last years NaNoWriMo as a graphic novel / web comic. Here is a recent sketch of where I'm at with the main character's design. I've tried simplifying his design as I'm going to be drawing him a lot! The sketch on the right is more recent and took me 2-3 minutes so it's getting faster. The other is me trying to nail down what I want his facial features to be. I think I'm getting close to a final design for his head, but I'm still not totally sure about his hat and his clothes so we'll see. Thanks for stopping by!