Thanks Baby! Thanks Sis! I know that I'm loved.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Fly by Running Blog Post
We were gone for a three day weekend. I got my running in but not my blogging!
Week in recap:
The week before last, I really pushed it, piling on the miles during the week and then making a major jump forward on my long run. I've been tracking my training now for nine weeks now and running faster and longer with every week. I was also developing a collection of little twinges and aches so I decided to take a rest week. I still ran on all my assigned days but kept the distance and pushing to a minimum.
It seems to have worked. I'm happy to report a total lack of twinges, aches, pains, soreness or any other training related unpleasantness. Woo hoo! I feel tanned, rested, and ready for my first run of the week. I want to duplicate my week from before the rest week:
Forerunner update:
I took it with me to the weekend family reunion (which was with a group I see maybe once per decade and am not actually technically related to). I did eight slow miles in some very powdery sand, while listening to Steve Runner's recount of running the Falmoth (sp?) 10k road race - great stuff! The Garmin performed very well.
Week in recap:
The week before last, I really pushed it, piling on the miles during the week and then making a major jump forward on my long run. I've been tracking my training now for nine weeks now and running faster and longer with every week. I was also developing a collection of little twinges and aches so I decided to take a rest week. I still ran on all my assigned days but kept the distance and pushing to a minimum.
| Aug 23, 2005 |  3.57 | |||||
| Aug 24, 2005 | 1 | |||||
| Aug 25, 2005 | 3.77 | |||||
| Aug 27, 2005 | 8 | |||||
It seems to have worked. I'm happy to report a total lack of twinges, aches, pains, soreness or any other training related unpleasantness. Woo hoo! I feel tanned, rested, and ready for my first run of the week. I want to duplicate my week from before the rest week:
| Aug 16, 2005 | 3.57 | |||||
| Aug 17, 2005 | 6.20 | |||||
| Aug 18, 2005 | 4.92 | |||||
| Aug 20, 2005 | 14.28 | |||||
Forerunner update:
I took it with me to the weekend family reunion (which was with a group I see maybe once per decade and am not actually technically related to). I did eight slow miles in some very powdery sand, while listening to Steve Runner's recount of running the Falmoth (sp?) 10k road race - great stuff! The Garmin performed very well.
As recommended I set it to show my pace per lap and my lap distance to be one mile. I set it to beep at each mile but I’m probably going to cancel that as I have the ear buds in at the same time. After the run it was difficult to resist being antisocial and just sitting in the corner, playing with my new toy. I could see a simple little map, showing me leaving the beach house, crossing the dunes, and then running up and down the beach. The contour of the shore matched that of a map to be found in the house. I can’t wait to try out the recommended mapping software when I get all caught up (it could happen!). Thanks guys!
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Calling on Garmin 201 Owners Everywhere
OK, tonight was marked by the maiden voyage of my new Forerunner 201. I didn't have any trouble getting it to synch with the satellites and didn't mess with laps or anything - just put it on and ran once around the lake like I did on Tuesday. Being able to see the miles tick off was great. I now know where the first mile mark is, the second, when I have reached the halfway point, etc.
Even though it was a good 20 degrees warmer today I was able to push it and run about as quickly. In fact, when I finished I was surprised to find that I was only 14 seconds slower for the entire run. The biggest surprise was that were the Parks Dept. website lists the trail length as being 3.57, Garmin measured 3.77. I don't know how the Parks people did their measurements. Did they follow the trail as it cuts in and under the various street bridges or did they simply circle the lake, cutting across the streets? I also don't how accurate the Forerunners are. What should I do - trust the government or my own electronics?
Even though it was a good 20 degrees warmer today I was able to push it and run about as quickly. In fact, when I finished I was surprised to find that I was only 14 seconds slower for the entire run. The biggest surprise was that were the Parks Dept. website lists the trail length as being 3.57, Garmin measured 3.77. I don't know how the Parks people did their measurements. Did they follow the trail as it cuts in and under the various street bridges or did they simply circle the lake, cutting across the streets? I also don't how accurate the Forerunners are. What should I do - trust the government or my own electronics?
Happy Thursday To You
Rookie Runner Questions:
1. What is the difference between and ironman and a triathalon? Does triathalon refer to any number of events that involve the three activities but with swims, bikes, and runs of differing lenghts. Is there such thing as a half triathalon - a quinthalon?
2. How do you run down hill? Do you basically keep the same stride but try to go easy? Do you come down on your toes instead of the heel? Do you come down even more on the heel?
Ever get a few hours into your day and realize its really Friday when you thought it was Thursday? That is sort of what happened to me today. I work four tens in summer and just realized today isn't Wednesday. Woo Hoo! My butt and my office chair will not know each other tomorrow!
I've been taking it easy with the runs this week (as directed). Tuesday I did once around the lake. Plenty of hydration and stretching and unlike the Tuesday before I took it easy out of the starting gate. I had some shin soreness and this funny ache I have developed on the left side that starts below the inside of my ankle as my stride comes down that shoots up and around the front. After about the first mile or mile and a half I loosened up and both pains went away. I poured a little more on, a little more, and by the time I got to the last section I was flying along, passing people left and right. Who knows, I might have even have been able to keep up with Jeff or Keith for that last mile. I got a bit of a sideache which I welcomed because I'm trying to learn to push my lungs and breathing to the max and then learn how to combat or overcome sideaches. I ended up with an overall 8.27 with the first mile probably being closer to a ten. My overall average since I've started running (according to coolrunning) is a 9.27, so I was making pretty good time.
Yesterday turned out to be a 13 hour work day but I still put in a little run before going home to my darling sweet bed. I'll do another short easy run tonight and then this weekend I'm going to run on the beach. Woo hoo!
Running Toys:
I got a Forerunner 201 for my birthday. Set phasers to stun! Yay!
My third iPod Shuffle in a month and a half crapped out on me. Apple - Boo!
Hydration belt off Ebay and on its way. Look out long runs in rural places!
----------------------------------------------------------
Addendum to this post, Added 08/25/05 12:43 PST
I called the Apple support number (on my ten minute break of course), was on hold for less than a minute, and they were on their way to sending me a new one within another 4-5 minutes. The technician said, and I quote, "Sounds like your audio jack is totally bonk."
If this time goes like last time, the courier will have the new one in my hand in a little over 24 hours. I guess Apple is striving hard to maintain that whole cool/customer service thing. Maybe I'll fill this next one with cool music, hook a solar panel power supply into the USB port and encase the whole thing, cord and all, in a solid cube of lucite.
Going for my run in T-minus 3 hours, ten minutes.
1. What is the difference between and ironman and a triathalon? Does triathalon refer to any number of events that involve the three activities but with swims, bikes, and runs of differing lenghts. Is there such thing as a half triathalon - a quinthalon?
2. How do you run down hill? Do you basically keep the same stride but try to go easy? Do you come down on your toes instead of the heel? Do you come down even more on the heel?
Ever get a few hours into your day and realize its really Friday when you thought it was Thursday? That is sort of what happened to me today. I work four tens in summer and just realized today isn't Wednesday. Woo Hoo! My butt and my office chair will not know each other tomorrow!
I've been taking it easy with the runs this week (as directed). Tuesday I did once around the lake. Plenty of hydration and stretching and unlike the Tuesday before I took it easy out of the starting gate. I had some shin soreness and this funny ache I have developed on the left side that starts below the inside of my ankle as my stride comes down that shoots up and around the front. After about the first mile or mile and a half I loosened up and both pains went away. I poured a little more on, a little more, and by the time I got to the last section I was flying along, passing people left and right. Who knows, I might have even have been able to keep up with Jeff or Keith for that last mile. I got a bit of a sideache which I welcomed because I'm trying to learn to push my lungs and breathing to the max and then learn how to combat or overcome sideaches. I ended up with an overall 8.27 with the first mile probably being closer to a ten. My overall average since I've started running (according to coolrunning) is a 9.27, so I was making pretty good time.
Yesterday turned out to be a 13 hour work day but I still put in a little run before going home to my darling sweet bed. I'll do another short easy run tonight and then this weekend I'm going to run on the beach. Woo hoo!
Running Toys:
I got a Forerunner 201 for my birthday. Set phasers to stun! Yay!
My third iPod Shuffle in a month and a half crapped out on me. Apple - Boo!
Hydration belt off Ebay and on its way. Look out long runs in rural places!
----------------------------------------------------------
Addendum to this post, Added 08/25/05 12:43 PST
I called the Apple support number (on my ten minute break of course), was on hold for less than a minute, and they were on their way to sending me a new one within another 4-5 minutes. The technician said, and I quote, "Sounds like your audio jack is totally bonk."
If this time goes like last time, the courier will have the new one in my hand in a little over 24 hours. I guess Apple is striving hard to maintain that whole cool/customer service thing. Maybe I'll fill this next one with cool music, hook a solar panel power supply into the USB port and encase the whole thing, cord and all, in a solid cube of lucite.
Going for my run in T-minus 3 hours, ten minutes.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Elvis Says "No."
From :
Sent : Wednesday, August 24, 2005 1:36 AM
To : "Clark Creek"
Subject : Re: New Las Vegas Marathon Question
No
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Clark Creek [mailto:cchome@hotmail.com]
>Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 11:01 AM
>To: elvis@newlasvegasmarathon.com
>Subject: New Las Vegas Marathon Question
>
>Hi,
>
>Will there be any other distances run on December 4th, 2005 besides 26.2.
>The website talks about the marathon and lists results for last year's half
>marathon but makes no mention of a half this year. Will there be one?
>
>Thanks,
>Scott
Sent : Wednesday, August 24, 2005 1:36 AM
To : "Clark Creek"
Subject : Re: New Las Vegas Marathon Question
No
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Clark Creek [mailto:cchome@hotmail.com]
>Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2005 11:01 AM
>To: elvis@newlasvegasmarathon.com
>Subject: New Las Vegas Marathon Question
>
>Hi,
>
>Will there be any other distances run on December 4th, 2005 besides 26.2.
>The website talks about the marathon and lists results for last year's half
>marathon but makes no mention of a half this year. Will there be one?
>
>Thanks,
>Scott
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Mileposts
Warning; long rambling description of one day’s run follows. If you don’t have a few minutes, hit your Back Button now.
OK Internet, I have confession to make. I was bad. It was fun and exciting but I know it was wrong and could ultimately lead to me getting hurt so I promise I won’t do it again. I’d like to especially apologize to Riona, to whom I particularly promised that I wouldn’t over do the training.
All that being said, I think that yesterday I may just have had my best run ever to date – both as a distance accomplishment and as an experience. For the past several Saturdays my long run has been three times around
I did my warm up, stretching, hydration, took my hammer gel after the second circuit and by the end of the third was feeling really good. I took a second gel, stretched for about a minute and then set off for a fourth loop. Running down to the other end of the lake and then starting around the other side, I continued to feel good and like a ship chugging along with all my diesels firing in a line. Then I got this funny sensation of warmth in my quads and calves like someone had poured warm butter down my shorts. I was passing the family picnic park area where I usually have to run through a drifting fog of baked beans and roasting hot dogs smell, but the sensation had nothing to do with greasy oil. My muscles had actually reached fatigue. I was feeling the burn. That hasn’t happened to me since the first week or so of training. Losing my breath, or getting a sore tendon or knee or something, sure, that happens all the time, but my muscles actually tiring before something else starts to quit? Nosir.
As I got to the steel foot bridge that means that my car is only about one quarter of the lake ahead, I got the strangest chill. The temperature was in the upper seventies but suddenly I felt so cold that I almost shivered. Was I bonking? Would a leg soon fall off? I don’t know what caused the chill but it went away almost as quickly as it came on. Somewhere around this time a podcast came on. It was one I’d never listened to before by an English audio enthusiast who was describing and then demonstrating different rates of echo and reverb added to an audio track of himself speaking. He had a really heavy accent that I could barely understand and he kept replacing words with nonsense words that sounded almost like the word replaced so that you could still make out the meaning of the sentence. I think the English call it rhyming slang. All the echoes and reverberation were making me feel sick and dizzy and I felt like this guy was an unwelcome guest in my skull. Suddenly my iPod, which is usually a trusted ally against the physical discomfort and mental boredom of a long run, had turned against me. I punched the next track button several times in succession and ended up with an Iron Maiden track which wasn’t great but was still an improvement. (Note to self; add The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner by Maiden to iPod). The areas of directly sunlit trail and areas of under tree shadow are also particularly vivid in my memory from this stretch of the run. I assume I must have been starting to suffer from low blood sugar by this point.
About halfway between the steel bridge and my car I developed a mean stitch in my side. It was really low and in the front, right about where your tummy gets tired first when you do sit-ups. Suddenly I really had to work to keep breathing. My body was drumming along just fine but I couldn’t get any air. I’ll be damned if I was going to quit because of that. If a muscle or joint or something had started really complaining I’d have stopped and walked but as far as I know it is just about impossible to hurt yourself from pushing through a stitch in your side – your diaphragm isn’t going to tear or your lungs come spooning up through a nostril. I concentrated as hard as I could on taking in a full breath and then letting it out again. I could see the tail end of my car ahead of me but it was like traveling across the plains, looking at the mountains that never seem to get any closer even though you go and go. A couple of times I sort of snapped out of it as my stride broke from a run into a walk and stumbled back into a run. Some of you might know what its like to be so tired that you fall asleep while marching. It is like dreaming and being awake at the same time – a feeling I hadn’t felt in a long time, like my body kept trying to hold a quorum while I was away and vote to start walking. Then suddenly I was there. I tore off the ear buds, grabbed a bottle of Gatorade and did a little victory cool down walk. I had just done something I couldn’t even imagine doing three months ago.
Today I played golf and worked in the studio for several hours. I carried my son on my shoulders through the woods to my parent’s house without any aching or fatigue. When I roll my ankle I can feel a little tightness in my calves. My quads are a tad bit sore and my shins are a little warm but overall I feel pretty good. I’m going to take it easy, not running for the next two days and then keeping the mileage low for a few more. I think I got away with it. I ran four lakes and like the saying goes, they can’t take that away from me.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
RBF Vegas Technical Shirt Design 3
I don't care if you're headed to the Vegas Marathon or not or whether you're even a running or know any runners. What do you think of this proposed design? What works? What doesn't work? What should change, stay the same?
Email me if you'd like a higher res. image.
Email me if you'd like a higher res. image.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
rbf2
Jeff did a little research into online shirt printers, shocking me out of my lethargy and general slackerness in the process. He found one site that will print on technical shirts and that sounds good to me - I've got a drawer full of mostly unworn cotton tees already too.
If you want an RBF shirt to wear in or to the Vegas marathon, go to the site and review their options for logo location, size, etc. The next question is should we place one order or each place our own. I’m willing to be the one to place the order if we want to go that route. I could either mail you your shirt or just hand it to you in the land of sun and slots. If you place your own order, I can email you the image I created, but you’ll end up paying the shipping and have the hassle with the logo image. Another question we should address is what to say on the back. Any suggestions for something different than what I have on the example image?
Please make a comment on this post if you are interested in Vegas shirts, saying how many you want and which way you think we should go on the shipping/ordering issue.
Thanks,
SD
If you want an RBF shirt to wear in or to the Vegas marathon, go to the site and review their options for logo location, size, etc. The next question is should we place one order or each place our own. I’m willing to be the one to place the order if we want to go that route. I could either mail you your shirt or just hand it to you in the land of sun and slots. If you place your own order, I can email you the image I created, but you’ll end up paying the shipping and have the hassle with the logo image. Another question we should address is what to say on the back. Any suggestions for something different than what I have on the example image?
Please make a comment on this post if you are interested in Vegas shirts, saying how many you want and which way you think we should go on the shipping/ordering issue.
Thanks,
SD
I've got nothing to complain about so I won't do it
I'm healthy, in my prime, and I get to run whenever I want to but I find myself strangely unsatisfied after last night's run. I ran around the lake once, which is what my training plan calls for. My time was a little lower than average. I had a little lingering pain but nothing amazing. The 40-something Hispanic guy who usually glowers at me as we pass even smiled at me for the first time so I’m not sure what my problem is. I think maybe I’ve gotten used to being able to report big gains and spoiled by that being the status quo. According to coolrunning, this is the 8th week since I started seriously training. I guess I should own up to the fact that after two months the amazing gains are going to come to an end and its going to be slow, steady progress for a while. According to the Hidgon plan I’m supposed to be doing 3/4/3/5 this week and I’m doing 3.5/7/5/12 so I guess I should count my blessings and stop being such a gain-junkie.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Nope, not yet anyway
I haven't gotten my packet for the Vegas run yet. Has anyone else? Have you? Huh? Have you? huh? huh?
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Week in Review and More about Vegas Tees
I had a pretty good week with my highest total mileage since I started keeping track and a successful long run.
I was thinking we could get cotton tees printed up for the non-runners that were all one color and logo (I was think orange too Riona!) and then make up a stencil that runners could apply to the shirt they will run in. I could just mail the stencils to people and hand over the teeshirts on the Saturday before the run at Jeff's shindig, which I assume we'll all be attending? Whadiya think?
| Aug 9, 2005 | 3.57 | |||||
| Aug 10, 2005 | 6 | |||||
| Aug 11, 2005 | 4 | |||||
| Aug 13, 2005 | 10.71 | |||||
I was thinking we could get cotton tees printed up for the non-runners that were all one color and logo (I was think orange too Riona!) and then make up a stencil that runners could apply to the shirt they will run in. I could just mail the stencils to people and hand over the teeshirts on the Saturday before the run at Jeff's shindig, which I assume we'll all be attending? Whadiya think?
Bath of Ice, Nipples of Fire
Quick post, here, about today's run. I'll post more later about the run shirts idea. I'm really pleased that so many people are interested. Party in Vegas!
Ran the same run today as last Saturday - three times around Lake Sacajawea, which is 10.7 miles (17.2 Kanadian Miles). Unlike last week, it was hot hot hot today, at least by local standards. I drank all of my liquids (two liters) and sweated it all out apparently as I weighed 3 pounds less when I got home than I did yesterday at about the same point in the day. I was a good half a minute per mile slower than usual but felt pretty good all the way through and had to restrain myself from increasing the mileage. I'll let myself do that next Saturday if all goes well.
Peace Out,
SD
Ran the same run today as last Saturday - three times around Lake Sacajawea, which is 10.7 miles (17.2 Kanadian Miles). Unlike last week, it was hot hot hot today, at least by local standards. I drank all of my liquids (two liters) and sweated it all out apparently as I weighed 3 pounds less when I got home than I did yesterday at about the same point in the day. I was a good half a minute per mile slower than usual but felt pretty good all the way through and had to restrain myself from increasing the mileage. I'll let myself do that next Saturday if all goes well.
Peace Out,
SD
Thursday, August 11, 2005
RBFs
RBFs
Originally uploaded by gene_poole. Brit asked me to think about possible teeshirt designs for those who will be in Vegas with the idea being that the runners are more likely to recognize the cheering squad if they are all a mass of one color.
Any thoughts?
Long Training Babble
So far I'm on track this week for my training runs.
Tuesday I was feeling pretty good by the time I got to running, in spite of not eating right or stretching enough, and so I decided to pick up the pace on my short run. Normally I make no effort what so ever to run any faster than my feet want to. Out of curiousity I decided to try to run a little faster and see what happened. I don't know if that was what caused it, the not stretching, the new shoes or what but man, did I get the worst shin pain I've had in a long time. It seemed to echo or reverberate with every footfall. I tried stopping to stretch a couple of times. Running on the grass seemed to help somewhat and it receded to a dull thump by about mile 2 or 2.5. I ended up running an 8.27 pace, which is about a minute lower per mile than usual but it wasn't fun. Maybe I'll try a fast run again next Tuesday and see if I can manage it with the shin soreness this time.
Yesterday I was still a little apprehensive and almost didn't go running but in the end decided to take the dogs and run on the road at our house, which means running hills, or more specifically one moderately sized hill up at the end. I went really slowly and felt my legs relax and loosen up in the first couple of miles. I ended up doing six miles and quit not because I was tired but because it was getting late and I'd said I would cook dinner.
Tonight is a moderately long trip around the lake. Woo hoo! Can't wait.
SD
Tuesday I was feeling pretty good by the time I got to running, in spite of not eating right or stretching enough, and so I decided to pick up the pace on my short run. Normally I make no effort what so ever to run any faster than my feet want to. Out of curiousity I decided to try to run a little faster and see what happened. I don't know if that was what caused it, the not stretching, the new shoes or what but man, did I get the worst shin pain I've had in a long time. It seemed to echo or reverberate with every footfall. I tried stopping to stretch a couple of times. Running on the grass seemed to help somewhat and it receded to a dull thump by about mile 2 or 2.5. I ended up running an 8.27 pace, which is about a minute lower per mile than usual but it wasn't fun. Maybe I'll try a fast run again next Tuesday and see if I can manage it with the shin soreness this time.
Yesterday I was still a little apprehensive and almost didn't go running but in the end decided to take the dogs and run on the road at our house, which means running hills, or more specifically one moderately sized hill up at the end. I went really slowly and felt my legs relax and loosen up in the first couple of miles. I ended up doing six miles and quit not because I was tired but because it was getting late and I'd said I would cook dinner.
Tonight is a moderately long trip around the lake. Woo hoo! Can't wait.
SD
Long Training Babble
So far I'm on track this week for my training runs.
Tuesday I was feeling pretty good by the time I got to running, in spite of not eating right or stretching enough, and so I decided to pick up the pace on my short run. Normally I make no effort what so ever to run any faster than my feet want to. Out of curiousity I decided to try to run a little faster and see what happened. I don't know if that was what caused it, the not stretching, the new shoes or what but man, did I get the worst shin pain I've had in a long time. It seemed to echo or reverberate with every footfall. I tried stopping to stretch a couple of times. Running on the grass seemed to help somewhat and it receded to a dull thump by about mile 2 or 2.5. I ended up running an 8.27 pace, which is about a minute lower per mile than usual but it wasn't fun. Maybe I'll try a fast run again next Tuesday and see if I can manage it with the shin soreness this time.
Yesterday I was still a little apprehensive and almost didn't go running but in the end decided to take the dogs and run on the road at our house, which means running hills, or more specifically one moderately sized hill up at the end. I went really slowly and felt my legs relax and loosen up in the first couple of miles. I ended up doing six miles and quit not because I was tired but because it was getting late and I'd said I would cook dinner.
Tonight is a moderately long trip around the lake. Woo hoo! Can't wait.
SD
Tuesday I was feeling pretty good by the time I got to running, in spite of not eating right or stretching enough, and so I decided to pick up the pace on my short run. Normally I make no effort what so ever to run any faster than my feet want to. Out of curiousity I decided to try to run a little faster and see what happened. I don't know if that was what caused it, the not stretching, the new shoes or what but man, did I get the worst shin pain I've had in a long time. It seemed to echo or reverberate with every footfall. I tried stopping to stretch a couple of times. Running on the grass seemed to help somewhat and it receded to a dull thump by about mile 2 or 2.5. I ended up running an 8.27 pace, which is about a minute lower per mile than usual but it wasn't fun. Maybe I'll try a fast run again next Tuesday and see if I can manage it with the shin soreness this time.
Yesterday I was still a little apprehensive and almost didn't go running but in the end decided to take the dogs and run on the road at our house, which means running hills, or more specifically one moderately sized hill up at the end. I went really slowly and felt my legs relax and loosen up in the first couple of miles. I ended up doing six miles and quit not because I was tired but because it was getting late and I'd said I would cook dinner.
Tonight is a moderately long trip around the lake. Woo hoo! Can't wait.
SD
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Monday, August 08, 2005
Vegas or Bust:
I added a new sidebar item today:
These are folks that I know to be headed to the Vegas Marathon. Who have I missed?
These are folks that I know to be headed to the Vegas Marathon. Who have I missed?
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Week in Review
Miles/Times:
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: One Lake, 3.57 miles, 33:19 (9:19/mile)
Wednesday: Two Lakes, 7.14 miles, 1:06:03 (9:15/mile)
Thursday: Farked Off
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 10.71, 1:43:41 (9:40/mile)
Sunday: Rest
All in all I had a good week. Even though I skipped a training run for the first time since I started keeping track I had a really good long run. I ran farther and felt better than at anytime previously - a physical high that carried on until sometime Sunday when I managed to finally beat it back into submission by eating bratwurst and drinking beer all afternoon.
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: One Lake, 3.57 miles, 33:19 (9:19/mile)
Wednesday: Two Lakes, 7.14 miles, 1:06:03 (9:15/mile)
Thursday: Farked Off
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 10.71, 1:43:41 (9:40/mile)
Sunday: Rest
All in all I had a good week. Even though I skipped a training run for the first time since I started keeping track I had a really good long run. I ran farther and felt better than at anytime previously - a physical high that carried on until sometime Sunday when I managed to finally beat it back into submission by eating bratwurst and drinking beer all afternoon.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
A Day of Firsts
I went down to the lake today for my long run and to test out my new gear. Thanks to Jeff, Keith, and everybody else who made recommendations.
This is like a party day for me - getting to run basically as far as I want without having to stop for fear of over training. I wore the new name brand technical gear I bought yesterday and also applied the new body glide I bought yesterday. Other firsts included two 32 ouncers of gatorade I mixed up and froze, a packet of vanilla flavored Hammer goo stuff, a ventilated hat, double layered Wright socks, socks and two sweat bands - basically my entire haul from yesterday minus the new shoes. The sales guy yesterday recommended that I put vasoline on the bottoms of my feet to help prevent blisters. Even though I forgot to try that, the blister on the ball of my left foot that I got last week while jackassing around with the jogging stroller and crummy socks didn't seem to get any worse.
The longest run I've done up to now was last Sunday when I ran 8 miles. Today I did three lakes, which is 10.71 miles. I hydrated and changed my head sweat sopper uppers every circuit and took the Hammer gel one hour and seven minutes into the run. That was a disconcerting new sensation. I didn't get cotton mouth, dry lips, general haziness or any of the other rad symptoms of depletion I have experienced in the past. I felt like I could run a fourth time around with no troubles by the time I finished the third circuit but even I'm not that stoopid..
On the way home I stopped and bought two blocks and a bag of ice and had my first ice bath. In honor of Jon in Michigan I also got some Oberto Beef Jerky (which I never once dropped in the bath). I tried Jeff's method of putting regular bath temp water in at first and then diluting that with colder water out of the tap. I don't know if ice baths really help with your tendons and stiffness or not but it sure was pleasurable. I stretched in the tub and rubbed the ice down my shins and muscles. I know what is going to be waiting for me in my hotel room freezer in Vegas.
This is like a party day for me - getting to run basically as far as I want without having to stop for fear of over training. I wore the new name brand technical gear I bought yesterday and also applied the new body glide I bought yesterday. Other firsts included two 32 ouncers of gatorade I mixed up and froze, a packet of vanilla flavored Hammer goo stuff, a ventilated hat, double layered Wright socks, socks and two sweat bands - basically my entire haul from yesterday minus the new shoes. The sales guy yesterday recommended that I put vasoline on the bottoms of my feet to help prevent blisters. Even though I forgot to try that, the blister on the ball of my left foot that I got last week while jackassing around with the jogging stroller and crummy socks didn't seem to get any worse.
The longest run I've done up to now was last Sunday when I ran 8 miles. Today I did three lakes, which is 10.71 miles. I hydrated and changed my head sweat sopper uppers every circuit and took the Hammer gel one hour and seven minutes into the run. That was a disconcerting new sensation. I didn't get cotton mouth, dry lips, general haziness or any of the other rad symptoms of depletion I have experienced in the past. I felt like I could run a fourth time around with no troubles by the time I finished the third circuit but even I'm not that stoopid..
On the way home I stopped and bought two blocks and a bag of ice and had my first ice bath. In honor of Jon in Michigan I also got some Oberto Beef Jerky (which I never once dropped in the bath). I tried Jeff's method of putting regular bath temp water in at first and then diluting that with colder water out of the tap. I don't know if ice baths really help with your tendons and stiffness or not but it sure was pleasurable. I stretched in the tub and rubbed the ice down my shins and muscles. I know what is going to be waiting for me in my hotel room freezer in Vegas.
Shopping Trip Success
Well, I finally made it down to Portland. I ended up getting everything I wanted at the first store I came to, which was Portland Running Co. The guy asked me about my running schedule, then poked around inside my shoe, scrutinized the outside and sole and then had me run down the block and back. Then he asked me if I've been experiencing the exact pains in the exact places I've had on days when I push it - thereby establishing major credability in my book. I tried on some Nikes, which as always, were too narrow and ended up with some Brooks Adrenaline GTS 5s with more support on the inside of the foot than my old New Balances had. I tried on a size 15 but ended up taking home the 14 2Es, which is one size bigger that my street shoes generally run.
Off for a long run today. Gotta have my first experience with the Hammer Gel I bought a whole box of yesterday.
Off for a long run today. Gotta have my first experience with the Hammer Gel I bought a whole box of yesterday.
Thursday, August 04, 2005
Checkity Check It
Check out the new duds. Skin by Zoot. Today, I officially have the coolest running blog around!
Easy day yesterday - twice around the lake at a nice slow pace. Today is supposed to be freakishly hot so I'm going to wait until tonight to run. Am taking my son in the joggers. Should be fun.
Places to visit this weekend for the long awaited shoe buying binge:
Easy day yesterday - twice around the lake at a nice slow pace. Today is supposed to be freakishly hot so I'm going to wait until tonight to run. Am taking my son in the joggers. Should be fun.
Places to visit this weekend for the long awaited shoe buying binge:
- Portland Running Co.
- Fit Right Northwest
- Foot Traffic - this one actually got two recommends; one from Athena and one of coolrunning
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
All Systems Go, No Spacewalks Required
Every morning now, when I first get out of bed, I do a careful physical inventory. One of the first thoughts that goes through my head as I begin to sort the day ahead is what my running goals for the day are. As I walk around the house I begin to semiconsciously check those goals against what I'm feeling - knees OK? Check shins? Check Ankles?
Today I feel pretty good physically. I this is the second week of my newly modified workout regime and I'm still very curious as to whether it will be sustainable. I think, for me, the slow steady progression of 10% increase in overall mileage per week might not be such a good idea as making a small advance, holding and normalizing on it for a few weeks and then stabbing forward again.
What do you think? Its this marathon training heresy? Courting disaster? Pretty durned ordinary?
Today I feel pretty good physically. I this is the second week of my newly modified workout regime and I'm still very curious as to whether it will be sustainable. I think, for me, the slow steady progression of 10% increase in overall mileage per week might not be such a good idea as making a small advance, holding and normalizing on it for a few weeks and then stabbing forward again.
What do you think? Its this marathon training heresy? Courting disaster? Pretty durned ordinary?
Monday, August 01, 2005
Week in Review
Monday: none
Tuesday: 3.57 on the flat
Wednesday: 7.14 on the flat
Thursday: 5.03 on the flat
Friday: none
Saturday: none
Sunday: 8.2 miles with hills
By and large I had a good running week. I'm incrementally increasing my mileage and adding in new challenges like hills and jogging strollers without any real hint of injury thus far. Yesterday I ran over a mile further than my longest run to date. Woo hoo! The trip to the running store got postponed until this coming Saturday - allowing me to hopefully benefit from the comments made by those of you who emailed me while my crapp-o comments were broken.
I am supposed to start the Hal Higdon training schedule for the Vegas marathon officially today. I’ve been sort of following it for the past month or so since I decided to do the run and now at the official starting of the schedule I’m ahead of where I should be, at least according to the plan. I decided to sort of modify the Higden three shorts and a long plan. I've been wanting to add more total mileage but not do it in a haphazard fashion. Instead of running three short maintenance runs all of the same length during the week I decided to try the following:
Monday: rest
Tuesday: shortest run of the week
Wednesday: second longest run of the week - about what Hal says I should be running
Thursday: don't push it. I won't make myself stay at the short run recommended by the training schedule but I won't go too much past it.
Friday: rest
Saturday: rest
Sunday: Long run - challenge myself to run further than I have. Don't make myself stop unless my body is seriously protesting, go for the runner's high!
I don't want to set myself up for a training injury. Does anyone think the proposed is too risky?
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