It's the last few days before the big run and I couldn't be more pumped. Everything seems to be going well, from my work situation, to my training.
I've been taking it easy for the last few weeks. Still running, just not a lot. As such, I've gained about five lbs., which I think will be nice to have come race day. More cal's for me to burn. And damn if I'm not gonna need a lot of them.
Tomorrow I set off for South Bend, and the next day I will run South Bend.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Can't Stop
Pulled six on the Joe Stengel trail yesterday, followed by a badass dinner with friends.
Life sometimes is so good.
The trail was a bit crowded (read: I saw three whole people while I was out). Which was different from the usual solitude. Two of the people I saw on the trail were runners, and one of them was actually running in bare feet. Her friend had trainers on, but the barefoot runner was the one setting the pace.
Sometimes it seems like the universe likes to come by and validate your cause.
8 more days until I head to South Bend. Can not wait.
Oh, and one more thing, if you're stopping by from reddit, thank ya much for taking a look. I know I'm not a 'real' marathon runner, but it's better than the alternative. Cheers!
Life sometimes is so good.
The trail was a bit crowded (read: I saw three whole people while I was out). Which was different from the usual solitude. Two of the people I saw on the trail were runners, and one of them was actually running in bare feet. Her friend had trainers on, but the barefoot runner was the one setting the pace.
Sometimes it seems like the universe likes to come by and validate your cause.
8 more days until I head to South Bend. Can not wait.
Oh, and one more thing, if you're stopping by from reddit, thank ya much for taking a look. I know I'm not a 'real' marathon runner, but it's better than the alternative. Cheers!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Non-training
The hardest part of training is non-training. With the marathon fast approaching, my regimen has been dialed back significantly. I want to run, but my feet are a bit blistered for that. I figure that it's better to let them heal than to keep destroying them.
Two days in between runs instead of one. Three, four and maybe five miles instead of tens have been the distances.
Not to be a drag, but for the majority of this year the thing that I enjoy most has been running. I take that back, real life is just a break in between running. And real life is sub-mediocre when compared to the freedom of moving for miles and miles unhindered.
Luckily, a friends dad came through with some parts for my bike. I should have been cross training since the beginning, but, well I didn't have parts for my bike. Now I do. I think tomorrow's prescription is a long ride. See where the road takes me.
So yeah, back to subject. The hardest part of training is not training.
11 more days.
Two days in between runs instead of one. Three, four and maybe five miles instead of tens have been the distances.
Not to be a drag, but for the majority of this year the thing that I enjoy most has been running. I take that back, real life is just a break in between running. And real life is sub-mediocre when compared to the freedom of moving for miles and miles unhindered.
Luckily, a friends dad came through with some parts for my bike. I should have been cross training since the beginning, but, well I didn't have parts for my bike. Now I do. I think tomorrow's prescription is a long ride. See where the road takes me.
So yeah, back to subject. The hardest part of training is not training.
11 more days.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Four @ Lowell
Still on the recovery tip from the 19 mile brutality. Still got out and did a little mix up of two trail miles, and two miles on pavement. The two miles on trail is the best of course. The first mile is basically straight up (a cut through of an access road called the Hair-Pin), which is followed by two miles of pavement.
The best part is getting to cruise back down that first mile of trail. If one is not careful, warp speed can easily be achieved when going back down. Speed builds and builds and builds.
At the end I took a little detour off into the woods and found a pillar of rock that made for a great perch for an after run chill session where I sat and took in all the sounds of the forest.
Incubus has been providing a lot of the music I run to. That mix of heavy/soft with a good beat provides a nice formula to pace to. So yea, nice to know you..
17 days left until the Sunburst.Oh yes.
The best part is getting to cruise back down that first mile of trail. If one is not careful, warp speed can easily be achieved when going back down. Speed builds and builds and builds.
At the end I took a little detour off into the woods and found a pillar of rock that made for a great perch for an after run chill session where I sat and took in all the sounds of the forest.
Incubus has been providing a lot of the music I run to. That mix of heavy/soft with a good beat provides a nice formula to pace to. So yea, nice to know you..
17 days left until the Sunburst.Oh yes.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
One Nine aka 19 mi
Went for the twenty this Thursday, but didn't get it. Came up with nineteen instead. Lost it all on the last mile. My best guess is I ran out of sodium, or calories. In short I wasn't as prepared as I needed to be. Too bad, I had a hell of a pace going.
Felt great all the way through the half marathon (13 miles). Stopped and ate a banana, should have waited a bit and noshed a granola bar too. But I was too excited, feeling too good.
That all changed at the last mile. My route, which covered the previously mentioned Joe Stengel trail with a road run extension, took me out about 8.5 miles, then back 8.5, then it was supposed to be out 1.5 and back. I made it out 1 and then shut down. I was able to walk and eventually jog back the last quarter mile, so it wasn't serious, but damn it sucked.
Here's the data:
Time: 3:09:46
Distance: 19 mi
Avg. Speed: 5.93
Avg. Pace: 10.11 min/mile
Calories: 2196.66 (!)
So the lesson learned is:
1. I can run massive distances
2. Calorie up before long runs
3. Re-up during the run
4. Pace is critical (I hammered out the first five overly quick)
At the end of it all my feet were bruised and a white rime of salt coated my arms and face. (However, I did stay perfectly hydrated, took down about 30 oz. of water from my Camel Back) My legs, and indeed my entire body was sore (still is a bit), but as usual the pain has faded to almost nothing over the last two days. Time to get back out on the road.
Overall though I'm feeling pretty good about where I'm at physically. The marathon should be no problem, what with all it's Gatorade and snacky stops along the way. I can't wait for South Bend.
Felt great all the way through the half marathon (13 miles). Stopped and ate a banana, should have waited a bit and noshed a granola bar too. But I was too excited, feeling too good.
That all changed at the last mile. My route, which covered the previously mentioned Joe Stengel trail with a road run extension, took me out about 8.5 miles, then back 8.5, then it was supposed to be out 1.5 and back. I made it out 1 and then shut down. I was able to walk and eventually jog back the last quarter mile, so it wasn't serious, but damn it sucked.
Here's the data:
Time: 3:09:46
Distance: 19 mi
Avg. Speed: 5.93
Avg. Pace: 10.11 min/mile
Calories: 2196.66 (!)
So the lesson learned is:
1. I can run massive distances
2. Calorie up before long runs
3. Re-up during the run
4. Pace is critical (I hammered out the first five overly quick)
At the end of it all my feet were bruised and a white rime of salt coated my arms and face. (However, I did stay perfectly hydrated, took down about 30 oz. of water from my Camel Back) My legs, and indeed my entire body was sore (still is a bit), but as usual the pain has faded to almost nothing over the last two days. Time to get back out on the road.
Overall though I'm feeling pretty good about where I'm at physically. The marathon should be no problem, what with all it's Gatorade and snacky stops along the way. I can't wait for South Bend.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Been working
So I did my long run, it was accomplished, and I will have a longer post about with a map and stats and all the etcetera that goes with it. But for now, it is not done. So until then, enjoy this video.
I need to get me one of those watches for sure!
I need to get me one of those watches for sure!
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Lowden
Did something a little bit different this time. Different seems to be my style though.
Found another park to stretch my legs at. Lowden State Park with a seven miler. Well seven miles according to the GPS 'app' that I loaded onto my recently acquired phone.
Big shout out to my boy K. Herbs for hooking me up with one of those so called semi-smart phones. So far the beast has done me well, and was pretty accurate in tracking my run.
According to my first recorded run in this whole training business, I ran..
Total time: 1:13:02
Distance: 7.19 mile
Avg. Speed: 5.91 mph
Avg. Pace: 10.15 min/mile
Calories: 842.02 kcal
Here's a map of the situation. It doesn't make much sense, because of the doubling back, but that's just where my feet pointed me.
The map on the left is the first route I took, and begins at the 4. The one on the right is the return and begins near the 76 and ended at the 4.
Whatever all that means.
I ran, and it was fun. Dipping in and out of equestrian trails, and dodging branches to find a riverside alcove was the game. I took a short break to ease my lungs and then dipped back out and around.
Coming into the final long run of the season. Twenty miles tomorrow. Good god. It's going to take a long time but it is going down. Putting hella miles on the body this week.
Found another park to stretch my legs at. Lowden State Park with a seven miler. Well seven miles according to the GPS 'app' that I loaded onto my recently acquired phone.
Big shout out to my boy K. Herbs for hooking me up with one of those so called semi-smart phones. So far the beast has done me well, and was pretty accurate in tracking my run.
According to my first recorded run in this whole training business, I ran..
Total time: 1:13:02
Distance: 7.19 mile
Avg. Speed: 5.91 mph
Avg. Pace: 10.15 min/mile
Calories: 842.02 kcal
Here's a map of the situation. It doesn't make much sense, because of the doubling back, but that's just where my feet pointed me.
The map on the left is the first route I took, and begins at the 4. The one on the right is the return and begins near the 76 and ended at the 4.
Whatever all that means.
I ran, and it was fun. Dipping in and out of equestrian trails, and dodging branches to find a riverside alcove was the game. I took a short break to ease my lungs and then dipped back out and around.
Coming into the final long run of the season. Twenty miles tomorrow. Good god. It's going to take a long time but it is going down. Putting hella miles on the body this week.
Monday, May 7, 2012
On An Island
The last few days have been for rest and relaxation and a bit of cross training. I ran something like three miles on Thursday, just enough to wake up a bit.
Then Friday, Saturday and Sunday vanished into a Mississippi River island morning haze. Just enough to get my mind right and my body refueled. The cross training that was mentioned was a multi-mile island hike that involved climbing trees (the Treksport's grip bark like tank tracks) and rambling through an excessive amount of itch-weed.
Only a little under four weeks until go time. Last leg then. Good thing I'm addicted. Both to NPR and to running according to an article found on NPR.
The article is entitled, 'Wired To Run': Runner's High May Have Been Evolutionary Advantage and discusses some science that points towards the bodies release of cannabinoids. Which would be the same cannabinoids that deliver the pleasant buzz that one receives when smoking marijuana. Runners high indeed.
The addiction resumes tomorrow.
Oh yes, and one final thing. Dr. Dog, The Beach.
Then Friday, Saturday and Sunday vanished into a Mississippi River island morning haze. Just enough to get my mind right and my body refueled. The cross training that was mentioned was a multi-mile island hike that involved climbing trees (the Treksport's grip bark like tank tracks) and rambling through an excessive amount of itch-weed.
Only a little under four weeks until go time. Last leg then. Good thing I'm addicted. Both to NPR and to running according to an article found on NPR.
The article is entitled, 'Wired To Run': Runner's High May Have Been Evolutionary Advantage and discusses some science that points towards the bodies release of cannabinoids. Which would be the same cannabinoids that deliver the pleasant buzz that one receives when smoking marijuana. Runners high indeed.
The addiction resumes tomorrow.
Oh yes, and one final thing. Dr. Dog, The Beach.
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