Miles Biked Update: October 16, 2008

Total number of miles biked in 2008.

Steve 549.8
Kristi 441.7
Kylee 355.2
Kenna 355.0
Landen 32.8

Landen's bike computer broke about two weeks ago. (The wire wrapped around the handle bars twice and snapped.) So, that's his final total for the year, which he rode in about 6 weeks.

After about six months of bike riding this year, Kylee and Makenna's mileage totals are within .056% of each other. Pretty typical for our identical twins.

The last few times Kristi and I have jogged, Kylee and Makenna have pulled Landen in his bike trailer behind their bikes.

Nappanee Apple Festival

We took full advantage of the Apple Festival happenings over the weekend. Some of the events we either attended or participated in included the parade, pedal pull, circus show, baby Olympics, church service, pet parade of fashion, and the 5k run.

Landen won all three events for his age group in the Baby Olympics and both of the girls held their own in the pedal pull.

Kylee ended up running in the 5K race. She won her age division (girls under 10.) She decided to enter when we got there and we didn't have our bikes, so Kristi couldn't ride along with her. We were a little concerned that she would get scared running the 3.1 miles by herslef, so we were so thankful that Dick Pletcher rode his bike along with her. This made it a lot of fun for her. Dick even put a call in to Kylee's grandpa in Las Vegas to let him know her progress during the race. She ran the 5k in 44 minutes, 30 seconds. Dick said she ran at least 80% of the time. Thanks Dick! And great job Kylee!

My goal for the race was to beat my previous best time. Trying to beat 26 minutes was in the back of my mind as well. I ended up finishing the 5K in 24:40. My previous best time was 26:49, so I guess the "race" aspect of the run inspired me.

Thirteen Nappanee Apple Festival Pictures

Ike

I ran two miles through tropical depression Ike today. It was awesome! I finished the two miles within a few seconds of my best time, which was pretty good because my shoes were so wet it felt like I was running with bricks tied to my shoes and I think my drenched Cubs shirt added a few more pounds. I figured running heavy made for an extra good training session (and better than usual work out.)

This was maybe the perfect rain in which to run, lots of drops, steady, yet gentle. I saw some guys braving the elements out on the golf course while I was running. They both looked over at me, obviously having discussed "the guy who's crazier than they are." We exchanged a friendly wave.

When I got back, I laid down in the driveway, exhausted with my face to the sky and simply enjoyed the rain drops hitting me in the face.

When I was taking the girls to quiz practice tonight, we saw some high school aged boys getting ready to swim in the retention ponds by the NorthWood parking lot, pool noodles and all.

Running the 5K

A few weeks ago I signed up for the Nappanee Apple Festival 5K run. The race is now less than two weeks away.

Thanks in part, I'm sure, to the cloudy, cooler weather; today I set a new personal best 5K time, 26 minutes, 49 seconds. I bettered my previous personal best by nearly two minutes. Today was actually the first time I was able to run the whole 3.1 miles without walking part of it.

If I can just strip another 10 minutes off today's time in the next 13 days I just might finish second.

Oh, and I liked it better when they called the Apple Festival's 5K "The Road Apple Run."

Miles Biked Update: July 30, 2008

It's been a couple weeks since I updated the Gall family totals for miles biked in 2008. Kylee averaged 3.84 miles per day over the last two weeks. As of July 30:

Steve 408.4 miles
Kristi 303.1 miles
Kylee 230.5 miles
Kenna 225.2 miles

I've also taken up jogging the past few weeks. So far, I've been jogging exactly one mile. Today I had my best time yet; 8 minutes, 28 seconds. I've been wondering how good (or bad) my times are. Today I found the "Age Graded Calculator" at runnersworld.com. For a 37 year old male, 8:28 comes in with an age graded score of 43.3%. Definition:

Your age-graded score is the ratio of the approximate world-record time for your age and gender divided by your actual time.

Age-graded scores have been categorized into these broad achievement levels:
100% = Approximate World Record Level
Over 90% = World Class
Over 80% = National Class
Over 70% = Regional Class
Over 60% = Local Class

You know who I see almost every single time I jog and bike for exercise? Mark Ingle. He must think I run and bike all day long.