I have decided (based mostly on the facts that Boston was full and I have some people to see in Virginia) and registered for the Fleet Week Half Marathon in Norfolk! I am, as always, terrified that I will fail, but I think I might be in better shape than the last time I ran a half. I would love to come in at or under two hours, but I'd be happy just to beat my last "PR" of 2:13.
With that in mind (although the foul Boston weather followed me home), I must get on that training stuff and hop on the treadmill.
Wish me luck!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
High mileage.
I haven’t written much (mostly to let others have a turn), but have been bustling with good news. The last two weeks have been my highest mileage weeks ever (well, this week will be after tomorrow’s five miles)! Also, after skipping a run on Sunday (dehydration and ennui), I doubled up on Monday with five miles before and after work. For the last five miles, far from being sluggish as I feared I might be, I ran fast the entire way. I must have started doing around nine-minute miles and sped up each mile, ending somewhere under an eight-minute mile for the fifth (tenth?), averaging about 8:30. Trust me, this is fast for me, particularly to maintain. It just felt good, so I kept upping the pace, and never quite reached a point that felt like too much.
Have also managed two ten-milers on the towpath since my last post. The first felt okay, though slightly like death by quads by the last mile. I finished stronger today, though overall think I should have been faster (I averaged 11:18, but I think I ran the first three around 11:30-11:00, 10:00-9:00 for the next four, then 11:00-10:00 for the last three), and MAN am I exhausted! I suppose there’s just something to be said for completing longer runs (these two were the longest since the half-marathon in May, and ten miles each, though I’m used to running eight at a time). I have had more altercations with deer (and a poll of customers who use this particular trail has yielded advice to make noises at them, not just wave), though today it was mostly woolly bears.
Also, to spare you all the drudgery, and to improve my running habits, I started a running log and have been attempting to detail each and every run to determine trends and chronicle successes (and failures). I will let you know how that goes.
Tomorrow, I’m off to Boston for a quick vacation. Kristina and I have tentative plans for a run over the weekend (pending her knee situation, though I have no details- get well soon!), during which I may just demand she wear that tutu. Terribly excited about Boston (and very proud of myself for high speed and high mileage weeks!).
Have also managed two ten-milers on the towpath since my last post. The first felt okay, though slightly like death by quads by the last mile. I finished stronger today, though overall think I should have been faster (I averaged 11:18, but I think I ran the first three around 11:30-11:00, 10:00-9:00 for the next four, then 11:00-10:00 for the last three), and MAN am I exhausted! I suppose there’s just something to be said for completing longer runs (these two were the longest since the half-marathon in May, and ten miles each, though I’m used to running eight at a time). I have had more altercations with deer (and a poll of customers who use this particular trail has yielded advice to make noises at them, not just wave), though today it was mostly woolly bears.
Also, to spare you all the drudgery, and to improve my running habits, I started a running log and have been attempting to detail each and every run to determine trends and chronicle successes (and failures). I will let you know how that goes.
Tomorrow, I’m off to Boston for a quick vacation. Kristina and I have tentative plans for a run over the weekend (pending her knee situation, though I have no details- get well soon!), during which I may just demand she wear that tutu. Terribly excited about Boston (and very proud of myself for high speed and high mileage weeks!).
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Everything is possible
Tonight I was reminded that running reduces stress and alleviates mood disorders, while reading a back issue of Best Life magazine. It's funny because I actually completed a run this very morning. As much as running is billed as a solitary sport for the rugged individual, I have to disagree. I think I'm just as influenced by my peers and by public literature, when it comes to running.
What I like about running is that no matter what is going wrong or is pushing you against a wall in life, you can feel satisfied in the accomplishment of putting yourself through a pointless exercise of endurance, and surviving to conquer the pointlessness, for the sheer exhilaration of it.
What I like about running is that no matter what is going wrong or is pushing you against a wall in life, you can feel satisfied in the accomplishment of putting yourself through a pointless exercise of endurance, and surviving to conquer the pointlessness, for the sheer exhilaration of it.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Some kind of happiness is measured out in miles.
Well, I have successfully done TWO sessions of lifting/core work this week, one Sunday night during Mad Men, and one this morning to the podcast of Car Talk. And I must have done a good job the other night, as I hurt all over on Monday morning (but in that good, I-just-used-all-my-muscles way). My quads were tight and my neck stiff, so I held off running that day and instead did a reasonably quick five miler last night. Quads complained, but held up and I made it through feeling quite strong. I want more of my runs to feel like this. All of my runs (short of three ever since 2005) make me feel better after, even if I don’t run as far or as fast as I set out. Maybe a little more than half make me feel awesome and powerful while actually running (the others, while almost never painful, just don’t feel like I’m in control; I feel off balance, overextended, or just like stopping). I want to develop or cultivate a relationship with running in which I love the act itself (more), not just enjoy its rewards. And I want to reap those rewards, too: a leaner musculature, faster PRs, more mileage (the longer the run, the greater the feeling of purification and release). I want to set goals and MEET them, whether that’s as huge as running a whole marathon or having flat abs, or as small as fitting back into my skinniest jeans (and I can still zip them, it’s just not okay) or setting the treadmill faster and/or its incline just a little higher next time, and finishing strong.
Tomorrow, bright and early, I will attack the towpath again! It’s been weeks since I’ve been out to run there, and therefore weeks since I’ve run longer than five miles at a stretch. Since this week has felt so good, I’m shooting for ten miles (also, the longest single run since the half-marathon in May). Wish me luck!
Lots of mediocre music lately, but my playlist has somehow swelled to 189 songs! Toward the end of my run Tuesday, “Hey Bulldog,” by the Beatles came on (BPM 156), hence the title.
Tomorrow, bright and early, I will attack the towpath again! It’s been weeks since I’ve been out to run there, and therefore weeks since I’ve run longer than five miles at a stretch. Since this week has felt so good, I’m shooting for ten miles (also, the longest single run since the half-marathon in May). Wish me luck!
Lots of mediocre music lately, but my playlist has somehow swelled to 189 songs! Toward the end of my run Tuesday, “Hey Bulldog,” by the Beatles came on (BPM 156), hence the title.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Updates.
Have been plodding along as usual, slowly but surely. Generally making mileage close to what I want, but looking forward to a long run this week to be better on target. Have been cheered (and clothed) by Target's sale on athletic wear, so it will be with new sartorial vigor that I attack the towpath.
Am also terribly excited to go to Boston at the end of the month, partially to see the Red Sox, but also because Kristina and I have agreed to go on a run together! It will be "New Sights" in stereo!
Tonight, I will attempt to do some lifting and resistance training, get my core more in shape. I KNOW it is appropriate and good to cross train, and to cultivate muscles in places other than my legs, but have poor follow through in this area. I am publicly (i.e., now) making a commitment to do core/ab work and light lifting two to three times a week from here on out. You are all witnesses.
N. B., photo obviously a Nike ad...
Am also terribly excited to go to Boston at the end of the month, partially to see the Red Sox, but also because Kristina and I have agreed to go on a run together! It will be "New Sights" in stereo!
Tonight, I will attempt to do some lifting and resistance training, get my core more in shape. I KNOW it is appropriate and good to cross train, and to cultivate muscles in places other than my legs, but have poor follow through in this area. I am publicly (i.e., now) making a commitment to do core/ab work and light lifting two to three times a week from here on out. You are all witnesses.
N. B., photo obviously a Nike ad...Saturday, September 6, 2008
race report: ollie road race five miler
Distance: 5 miles
Time: 42:21
Pace: 8:29/mile
Overall: 521/1049
Age Group: 64/184
Start Time: 10:00 a.m.
Temperature: Hades + humid
When I woke up this morning, I peeked out my window at what appeared to be cool, rainy weather. I packed up a little bag with a jacket and thanked my lucky stars that the late start time wouldn't be accompanied by the hot Mexican sun.
When I stepped outside, I realized that my assumptions were quite wrong. Humidity hung in the air like a wet sock and I began to dread the impending scoot around South Boston. A few stops down the Red line and a bus ride down the Silver line later, the dread intensified as I picked up my race packet and goody bag (which did include a cool metal water bottle, pistachio green shirt, and City Sports backpack). I saw some CRC dudes at the start, which reminded me that I need to get a singlet or something CRC-branded to run races in.
The race itself felt like running while breathing through a wet sock. Even the breeze down by Castle Island didn't help much, and there was very little crowd support compared to the Cape Ann 25K. I'm glad it was a flat out-and-back, because major hills on a day like today would have rendered me useless. Many runners did stop to walk around mile 4 because of the humidity--I was sorely tempted but knew that starting up again would feel even worse than just continuing. I was also surprised at how many women wore pants to the race. They must have been miserable. At the end I wanted to barf and pass out, but the immediate provision of ice cold water, bananas, PowerBars, hot dogs, Naked juice, Nantucket Nectars, Turkey Hill duetto, free books, free City Sports gear, and Harpoon IPA distracted me. I will definitely do this race again if only for all the schwag.
I think I started my timing wrong because my watch read 42:11 at the end. Here are the splits I recorded on my watch:
Mile 1: 8:45
Mile 2: 8:38
Mile 3: 8:15
Mile 4: 8:16
Mile 5: 8:15
Monday, September 1, 2008
race report: cape ann 25K
Today I ran the Around the Cape 25K in Gloucester, MA.
Distance: 15.56 miles
Time (as determined by my watch): 2:34:45
Pace: 9:57/mile
Age Group: 42/56
Overall: 390/508
Time of Day: 9:00 a.m.
Temperature: varied from 65 to 80 degrees
The registration form describes the race as: "Challenging USATF-certified 25K (15.56 miles) course along scenic coastal Gloucester and Rockport. Ocean views and old New England villages with waterfront sections spread throughout the course. (Oh, and did we mention the sixteen major hills?) Mile markers and times, refreshment stations, post-race festivities, unique awards, cash prizes, raffle, and much more!"
The ocean views and quaint villages added a unique adorability factor (see also: toddlers spraying down overheated runners with hoses and families playing Eye of the Tiger out of their car stereos to motivate us). Adorability aside, challenging and hilly is right! We were warned of the hills beforehand, so I definitely started with the mindset of taking it easy, especially since my last long run was so bad. I also came in a little paranoid that I would be running alone for most of the race in a repeat performance of the 2006 Leesburg 20K, so I brought my ipod to accompany me. However, there was a good range of runners because of the Gloucester spirit (not just crazy running spirit).
The initial shade and frequent water stops made it much better than my long runs, but after mile 8 and many of the major hills, I started feeling quite bedraggled and discouraged. Adding to this was the biggest and most unexpected challenge--the course is not closed to cars. Some of the beach roads got pretty packed, and on at least one occasion, a cop pulled over a car for almost hitting a runner. One of the CRC guys mentioned that a runner next to him punched a car after almost being hit. I hated being smushed into the side of the road and the fear of being sideswiped--my slowest miles were definitely on the most crowded roads. One of the CRC guys ran with me for the last 1.5 miles. That totally helped my sagging morale--it's amazing how much of a difference a running buddy can make.
Splits:
9:59.20
9:44.60
9:55.35
9:55.62
9:42.01
10:11.63
9:42.36
9:47.96
10:08.10
9:54.62
9:40.72
10:15.60
10:49.95
10:10.61
9:44.44
5:41.17 (last .56 miles)
Two CRC members won awards (one was second overall and the other won her age group). After the ceremonies, we headed over to the CRC president's parents' house for a yummy brunch of lobster omelets, lobster rolls, veggies, fruit, and cupcakes. What a fun Labor Day race!
Distance: 15.56 miles
Time (as determined by my watch): 2:34:45
Pace: 9:57/mile
Age Group: 42/56
Overall: 390/508
Time of Day: 9:00 a.m.
Temperature: varied from 65 to 80 degrees
The registration form describes the race as: "Challenging USATF-certified 25K (15.56 miles) course along scenic coastal Gloucester and Rockport. Ocean views and old New England villages with waterfront sections spread throughout the course. (Oh, and did we mention the sixteen major hills?) Mile markers and times, refreshment stations, post-race festivities, unique awards, cash prizes, raffle, and much more!"
The ocean views and quaint villages added a unique adorability factor (see also: toddlers spraying down overheated runners with hoses and families playing Eye of the Tiger out of their car stereos to motivate us). Adorability aside, challenging and hilly is right! We were warned of the hills beforehand, so I definitely started with the mindset of taking it easy, especially since my last long run was so bad. I also came in a little paranoid that I would be running alone for most of the race in a repeat performance of the 2006 Leesburg 20K, so I brought my ipod to accompany me. However, there was a good range of runners because of the Gloucester spirit (not just crazy running spirit).
The initial shade and frequent water stops made it much better than my long runs, but after mile 8 and many of the major hills, I started feeling quite bedraggled and discouraged. Adding to this was the biggest and most unexpected challenge--the course is not closed to cars. Some of the beach roads got pretty packed, and on at least one occasion, a cop pulled over a car for almost hitting a runner. One of the CRC guys mentioned that a runner next to him punched a car after almost being hit. I hated being smushed into the side of the road and the fear of being sideswiped--my slowest miles were definitely on the most crowded roads. One of the CRC guys ran with me for the last 1.5 miles. That totally helped my sagging morale--it's amazing how much of a difference a running buddy can make.
Splits:
9:59.20
9:44.60
9:55.35
9:55.62
9:42.01
10:11.63
9:42.36
9:47.96
10:08.10
9:54.62
9:40.72
10:15.60
10:49.95
10:10.61
9:44.44
5:41.17 (last .56 miles)
Two CRC members won awards (one was second overall and the other won her age group). After the ceremonies, we headed over to the CRC president's parents' house for a yummy brunch of lobster omelets, lobster rolls, veggies, fruit, and cupcakes. What a fun Labor Day race!
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