Today I debated whether to run long (on the taper) or short and then long tomorrow. I opted to run long today. I usually run every other day and my plan is to run again Monday, then Wednesday, then not at all until Saturday's race.
The weather was right nice out - about 60 and mostly cloudy. Took the Lake Virginia round the lake route and felt tired and slow. Surprisingly it wasn't until the sixth mile that I began to feel a rythmn worth keeping. My time was okay and my heart rate was lower than the last time I went around. That means I still have capacity for better time and endurance.
After the run I finally got the ever-loving oil changed in the car and had a fantasic hamburger at the Coyote Grill. The rest of the day was all about replacing the dead pool pump motor. I only disassembled and assempled the thing three times before I got it right.
So - question for the readers: When your t-shirt drawer gets too full from all those race collectables what is your criteria for the keepers and the ones to go to the Salvation Army/trash?
1.29.2005
1.28.2005
Buried in Training Routine
Hey! Need a good excuse to get out of the snow and cold? Forecast for the Gasparilla in Tampa next weekend is about 51 or 52 in the morning and 70 by afternoon. Sounds wonder ful for running!
I'm pleased to be sticking to schedule. Yesterday I did some speed work over at the middle school track. 1600, 1200, 800 and 400 runs inside a mile warm up and cool down. Pushed hard. Felt good. It was foggy, dark and 300% humidity.
Today was the funeral for last weekend's sudden victim of a heart atatck. About 700 showed for her service and it went very well without any chain reaction weeping spells. There were plenty of damp eyes but nobody completely lost their composure. I didn't plan to go to the burial but my boss was driving and he did the eulogy and was obliged to go. Now, that was a lot more heart wrenching. Fortunately it was swift and over. Cemeteries have never spooked me but now that I'm older I have a greater sense of my mortality. When I was a kid I lived next to a cemetery and we used gravestones for bases playing baseball. Old Jim Pomeroy was special. He had a monument and played a mean first base for me. Anything on the fly that hit him was considered an out. My dad presided over many a burial there and I was oblivious to the trauma of the families. Ah, youth. So blind. So innocent.
I'm pleased to be sticking to schedule. Yesterday I did some speed work over at the middle school track. 1600, 1200, 800 and 400 runs inside a mile warm up and cool down. Pushed hard. Felt good. It was foggy, dark and 300% humidity.
Today was the funeral for last weekend's sudden victim of a heart atatck. About 700 showed for her service and it went very well without any chain reaction weeping spells. There were plenty of damp eyes but nobody completely lost their composure. I didn't plan to go to the burial but my boss was driving and he did the eulogy and was obliged to go. Now, that was a lot more heart wrenching. Fortunately it was swift and over. Cemeteries have never spooked me but now that I'm older I have a greater sense of my mortality. When I was a kid I lived next to a cemetery and we used gravestones for bases playing baseball. Old Jim Pomeroy was special. He had a monument and played a mean first base for me. Anything on the fly that hit him was considered an out. My dad presided over many a burial there and I was oblivious to the trauma of the families. Ah, youth. So blind. So innocent.
1.25.2005
Nippy Morning
Isn't it amazing how a race schedule will keep you on task to train as you believe you should? and not skip a day or shorten a run? Today was a crisp 40 degrees and as warm as that bed was I still got up before dawn to dress out in the tights and layered stuff with gloves to go on an easy run after the long run Saturday night. I had this strange sensation as I was approaching the half way point that it sure was taking a long time to get that far ... mind you not in seconds or minutes but in what seemed like attention spans. Too many. It's like I was watching me run from 500 feet and I seemed to be moving slowly.
Well I wasn't that slow time-wise when I got home but it was another out of body experience in running. Ever have that?
My left shoulder is killing me especially when I roll onto that side when sleeping. I'd complain like Jon in MI but I won't. I'll just say I snore more sleeping on my back.
Anyway, training report is that all body parts and systems are still functioning as Gasparilla approaches. The temps will go back up into the 50s in the morning and 70s at peak time this week and next so it's a wonderful time to pack up the snow shoes, hop a plane and come to Tampa next weekend for the race length of your choosing.
I'll be at the Residence Inn.
Well I wasn't that slow time-wise when I got home but it was another out of body experience in running. Ever have that?
My left shoulder is killing me especially when I roll onto that side when sleeping. I'd complain like Jon in MI but I won't. I'll just say I snore more sleeping on my back.
Anyway, training report is that all body parts and systems are still functioning as Gasparilla approaches. The temps will go back up into the 50s in the morning and 70s at peak time this week and next so it's a wonderful time to pack up the snow shoes, hop a plane and come to Tampa next weekend for the race length of your choosing.
I'll be at the Residence Inn.
1.23.2005
A Mile Too Far
A Mile Too Far. That's how I felt about an hour after returning from my long run yestrday afternoon. I knew I had to run long this weekend and I chose to go Saturday instead of Sunday because the threat of rain and cold was higher for Sunday. So Saturday was my decision. I woke up and had a healthy breakfast of oatmeal with golden raisins and fresh starwberrries, plus some coffee. I planned to run in 90 minutes, at 1000. Then the phone rang. A school board member was speaking at a library opening and wanted some brochures to hand out. She gave me an hour. I had none and didn't know where to find them. After 3 phone calls I was on my way to the office and with 20 minutes to spare I was at her door (greeted by her, sheepishly, in "morning dress") with the goods.
On my way home I thought I could still make the 1000 run time. Then the phone rang. A senior executive at work was calling to tell me, while choking back tears, that one of our colleagues had not awakened that morning. Her husband found her in a chair with the TV on. I couldn't believe it. I looked up her house and drove by. Police cars and a priest. It was true; and shocking. The rest of the morning was spent dealing with the necessary calls and anxiety.
By mid-afternoon I was doing chores around the house and keyed on 400 to run. Indeed, I was ready to run off some tension. My goal was 90 minutes and a controlled easy pace. For some reason, my mind was not focused and I took off on a route that was much longer. My pacing was fine and I marked heart rate at each 10 minute interval. I was averaging around a 135 but not covering enough pavement. At a turn I anticipated as necessary to run 90 minutes I was already at 70 and knew I had miscalculated. I took the shorter route decision and headed back to the corral. At 90 minutes I was still 2+ miles from home so took to walking 5 minutes then jogging for 5 minutes. I made it home in 2 hours with 105 minutes of it running. After stretching and showering I was feeling very worn out. My back hurt from its middle down into my butt. My knees were wobbly and joints ached (even in my hands!). And then my left hand was cold and tingly. My circulation was not working too well, I guess.
I had not planned ahead to take a gel with me on the run so I went the whole way with just one stop for a few gulps of water. I didn't feel like I had hit a wall while running but it sure hit me when I reached home. As soon as I came in I drank some water, ate some grapes and had a slice of raisin bread. That helped me recover but I still had the aches and pains and tingle in my left hand. A strange run. A Mile Too Far.
Sunday morning turned out to be cool (50) and sunny. Perfect for running. I should have waited.
On my way home I thought I could still make the 1000 run time. Then the phone rang. A senior executive at work was calling to tell me, while choking back tears, that one of our colleagues had not awakened that morning. Her husband found her in a chair with the TV on. I couldn't believe it. I looked up her house and drove by. Police cars and a priest. It was true; and shocking. The rest of the morning was spent dealing with the necessary calls and anxiety.
By mid-afternoon I was doing chores around the house and keyed on 400 to run. Indeed, I was ready to run off some tension. My goal was 90 minutes and a controlled easy pace. For some reason, my mind was not focused and I took off on a route that was much longer. My pacing was fine and I marked heart rate at each 10 minute interval. I was averaging around a 135 but not covering enough pavement. At a turn I anticipated as necessary to run 90 minutes I was already at 70 and knew I had miscalculated. I took the shorter route decision and headed back to the corral. At 90 minutes I was still 2+ miles from home so took to walking 5 minutes then jogging for 5 minutes. I made it home in 2 hours with 105 minutes of it running. After stretching and showering I was feeling very worn out. My back hurt from its middle down into my butt. My knees were wobbly and joints ached (even in my hands!). And then my left hand was cold and tingly. My circulation was not working too well, I guess.
I had not planned ahead to take a gel with me on the run so I went the whole way with just one stop for a few gulps of water. I didn't feel like I had hit a wall while running but it sure hit me when I reached home. As soon as I came in I drank some water, ate some grapes and had a slice of raisin bread. That helped me recover but I still had the aches and pains and tingle in my left hand. A strange run. A Mile Too Far.
Sunday morning turned out to be cool (50) and sunny. Perfect for running. I should have waited.
1.19.2005
Evening wonder
I never like to run at night, yet I couldn't get my run in in the morning today. I had to be at work extra early to speak to a tough crowd of 400 school administrators. My one liners worked and they applauded me when I was done. In the afternoon my press conference drew good media coverage and I was feeling strong, so the notion I had to leave before dark, get home and run in the late afternoon sun was appealing.
Lo and behold I went for a very pleasant run from sunset into darkness and felt strong and good enough to go longer when I finished. Wow. That was a first. So I'm on pace to run Friday again and long run on Sunday. Next week will be more of the same and then a slow down/taper week before the race, Feb. 5.
Tonight's run did push me over my previous high of miles logged in January which surprised me. I guess it's because (a) I am not as adverse to running in the cold, (2) my job season has changed and I'm not d-e-a-d in January like I used to be and (3) I have a race to train for.
What's to complain about. Not much. Need new shoes.
Lo and behold I went for a very pleasant run from sunset into darkness and felt strong and good enough to go longer when I finished. Wow. That was a first. So I'm on pace to run Friday again and long run on Sunday. Next week will be more of the same and then a slow down/taper week before the race, Feb. 5.
Tonight's run did push me over my previous high of miles logged in January which surprised me. I guess it's because (a) I am not as adverse to running in the cold, (2) my job season has changed and I'm not d-e-a-d in January like I used to be and (3) I have a race to train for.
What's to complain about. Not much. Need new shoes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
