As I mentioned previously, I'm trying to do more trail running - i DO live in Colorado after all!
Today was a day off for me so I quickly took to the hills and ran at an open space (i.e. pretty and free) park here.
It was a glorious morning so i was up there at about 10 am and ran for an hour and 10 minutes over 7.5 miles and something like a gain of 1800 feet or so maybe.
I highly recommend it. Getting up to the top without stopping was a pretty good challenge but well worth it when i sat on a boulder at the top of the highest trail (which used to be the top of a ski run evidently!). Beautiful views of the continental divide and such.
No, i don't plan on posting daily but as I get started here I probably will post daily at the outset.
Running today: 7.5 miles
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
I'm back! Training Again!
that's right!
I'm back and planning to run in a few marathons this year.
I'm much healthier nowadays, given my injury-laden past, and am logging long miles with the best of them.
This year I am concentrating on the Boulder (September) and Denver (October) Marathons with an outside chance that I'll also get to do the disneyworld marathon or goofy challenge (a half marathon one day and a marathon the next) in January 2010.
I'm also trying to find my way into trail running races this year. My first one was rained out this last Saturday so I'm a little dejected about that....
I started my race season this year in the first week of April at the Platte River Half Marathon and posted a 2:05.. again, dejected but whatever, it was my first race of the year.
I then did the Cherry Creek Sneak 5k (while my wife did the 5 miler and my 2 older kids did the kids 1.6 mile).
Then I did a 10k in the neighborhoods near me... eesh, the damned hills!
My next race is this Saturday and is the Slacker Half Marathon running from the Loveland Ski Area (10,500 feet on the continental divide) down to Georgetown, CO (about 2,000 feet lower in altitude) and hope for a sub-2-hour performance.
I just started my training for the marathon season this year (last week) and am basing my training off the hardest training plan "Advanced Marathoner B" on the NYC Marathon site here: http://ingnycmarathon.com/training/training_schedule.htm
I look forward to keeping you all up-to-date with my various musings on my fun and occasional mishaps along the way towards my marathon this year.
Running Today: 6 miles in the morning, 2 miles in the afternoon
I'm back and planning to run in a few marathons this year.
I'm much healthier nowadays, given my injury-laden past, and am logging long miles with the best of them.
This year I am concentrating on the Boulder (September) and Denver (October) Marathons with an outside chance that I'll also get to do the disneyworld marathon or goofy challenge (a half marathon one day and a marathon the next) in January 2010.
I'm also trying to find my way into trail running races this year. My first one was rained out this last Saturday so I'm a little dejected about that....
I started my race season this year in the first week of April at the Platte River Half Marathon and posted a 2:05.. again, dejected but whatever, it was my first race of the year.
I then did the Cherry Creek Sneak 5k (while my wife did the 5 miler and my 2 older kids did the kids 1.6 mile).
Then I did a 10k in the neighborhoods near me... eesh, the damned hills!
My next race is this Saturday and is the Slacker Half Marathon running from the Loveland Ski Area (10,500 feet on the continental divide) down to Georgetown, CO (about 2,000 feet lower in altitude) and hope for a sub-2-hour performance.
I just started my training for the marathon season this year (last week) and am basing my training off the hardest training plan "Advanced Marathoner B" on the NYC Marathon site here: http://ingnycmarathon.com/training/training_schedule.htm
I look forward to keeping you all up-to-date with my various musings on my fun and occasional mishaps along the way towards my marathon this year.
Running Today: 6 miles in the morning, 2 miles in the afternoon
Sunday, November 30, 2008
now what?
i'm sure folks might be wondering that...now what? Is he going to do another Marathon or just call it quits?
it's been a while since i posted to this blog last.
Well, to answer you questions here we go:
1) waiting for new baby boy to come (January)
a) finishing guest room - almost done!
b) getting furniture and closet supplies for baby room
2) working, working, working - trying to stay employed, putting in overtime - the usual
3) exercising
what?!? is he crazy? didn't he just run a marathon? what?!?
That's right, I'm still exercising/training. Slowly but surely.
As you all might remember, I plan to do triathlons next. Specifically i expect to race in the Kansas Ironman 70.3 (half-ironman) in June 2009.
To that end, I'm doing what I call "maintenance" training. Defined for our purposes here, Maintenance Training is the exact right amount of training to compensate for any turkey, chips, beer, wine, chocolate eaten while keeping the same weight and general fitness level as before the holidays.
Now, as some of you know I can never just do the bare minimum so, I've also added "base" training. Base Training is really training to ensure you can perform for long periods of time at a reasonable heart rate. Example: Run 6 miles or so.. but run it at 70% of your maximum heart rate or lower. Before you get bored, understand that for many it's nearly impossible to run at any speed while keeping your heart rate below 70%. The theory here is that by the time you are ready to do speed training for any race in the spring/summer (i.e. Peak Phase) that you can run/swim/bike reasonably fast at a lower heart rate. Make sense? So, by the time I race, I need to run 8:30 minute miles but, because my conditioning will be so good due to base training, i'll not burn out quickly at 8:30 minute miles but sail through them as if i'm lounging... then (on the last 3 or 4 miles of the run portion of the race) I'll put the hammer down, raise the Heart Rate to 90% or so and burn down my competitors as if they were standing still!
Well, that's the plan anyways :)
Either way, I've started incorporating 1 to 2 swims a week (each a mile) and 3 or 4 bike rides (upright bike due to economic conditions preventing me from buying a carbon triathlon bike) of 21 miles or so each a week, and am trying to plan on 4 to 5 runs a week of 5-7 miles each. That sounds like a lot - and it is. Believe it or not though, I'm really just doing what feels good right now... If it doesn't feel good because I'm trying to hard or burning-out or just out of energy or not motivated... i don't do it.. Remarkably though, it's working. I haven't gained a pound since the marathon a month ago. OK, I gained 1.25 pounds over thanksgiving... but that will be lost in the next few days on runs.
Well, that was a lengthy update but it's been a while honestly and I know how much you all miss these updates...
I'll try adding some funny posts along the way as I did before to keep things lively of course :)
it's been a while since i posted to this blog last.
Well, to answer you questions here we go:
1) waiting for new baby boy to come (January)
a) finishing guest room - almost done!
b) getting furniture and closet supplies for baby room
2) working, working, working - trying to stay employed, putting in overtime - the usual
3) exercising
what?!? is he crazy? didn't he just run a marathon? what?!?
That's right, I'm still exercising/training. Slowly but surely.
As you all might remember, I plan to do triathlons next. Specifically i expect to race in the Kansas Ironman 70.3 (half-ironman) in June 2009.
To that end, I'm doing what I call "maintenance" training. Defined for our purposes here, Maintenance Training is the exact right amount of training to compensate for any turkey, chips, beer, wine, chocolate eaten while keeping the same weight and general fitness level as before the holidays.
Now, as some of you know I can never just do the bare minimum so, I've also added "base" training. Base Training is really training to ensure you can perform for long periods of time at a reasonable heart rate. Example: Run 6 miles or so.. but run it at 70% of your maximum heart rate or lower. Before you get bored, understand that for many it's nearly impossible to run at any speed while keeping your heart rate below 70%. The theory here is that by the time you are ready to do speed training for any race in the spring/summer (i.e. Peak Phase) that you can run/swim/bike reasonably fast at a lower heart rate. Make sense? So, by the time I race, I need to run 8:30 minute miles but, because my conditioning will be so good due to base training, i'll not burn out quickly at 8:30 minute miles but sail through them as if i'm lounging... then (on the last 3 or 4 miles of the run portion of the race) I'll put the hammer down, raise the Heart Rate to 90% or so and burn down my competitors as if they were standing still!
Well, that's the plan anyways :)
Either way, I've started incorporating 1 to 2 swims a week (each a mile) and 3 or 4 bike rides (upright bike due to economic conditions preventing me from buying a carbon triathlon bike) of 21 miles or so each a week, and am trying to plan on 4 to 5 runs a week of 5-7 miles each. That sounds like a lot - and it is. Believe it or not though, I'm really just doing what feels good right now... If it doesn't feel good because I'm trying to hard or burning-out or just out of energy or not motivated... i don't do it.. Remarkably though, it's working. I haven't gained a pound since the marathon a month ago. OK, I gained 1.25 pounds over thanksgiving... but that will be lost in the next few days on runs.
Well, that was a lengthy update but it's been a while honestly and I know how much you all miss these updates...
I'll try adding some funny posts along the way as I did before to keep things lively of course :)
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
I think I've been waiting for you all my life!
Most of the folks working the event who were beyond the finish line (paramedics, officials, photographers) were chipper and full of energy. The medical staff was extremely attentive quite honestly - which i availed myself of for a couple minutes because I needed support walking (which you really aren't supposed to stop doing after you finish).
All of this and I then went on to pick up my finisher medal and it was like I can only imagine serving chocolate cake in prison would be like... GIVE ME THAT! I WANT MY MEDAL NOW!
And the folks there were also doing the best they could to satisfy demand. The one person I came upon when it was my turn didn't get that from me - partly because i was still sucking wind honestly. I stood there patiently and waited my turn.
When i got up to her and it was my turn, I realized that this poor girl (who wasn't the prettiest girl in sight but was quite sweet to be doing what she was doing while also being shorter than all these demanding folks) could use a kind word.
I looked her straight in the eye, managed to find the calories somewhere in my system needed to burn so i could smile and speak and said "I think I've been waiting for you all my life!" - in a good way of course. She was visibly uplifted by it, and it made my experience there so much better to be able (even when I was completely depleted and nearly falling down) to give a little happiness back to someone who was working so hard to take care of the needs of so many others.
All of this and I then went on to pick up my finisher medal and it was like I can only imagine serving chocolate cake in prison would be like... GIVE ME THAT! I WANT MY MEDAL NOW!
And the folks there were also doing the best they could to satisfy demand. The one person I came upon when it was my turn didn't get that from me - partly because i was still sucking wind honestly. I stood there patiently and waited my turn.
When i got up to her and it was my turn, I realized that this poor girl (who wasn't the prettiest girl in sight but was quite sweet to be doing what she was doing while also being shorter than all these demanding folks) could use a kind word.
I looked her straight in the eye, managed to find the calories somewhere in my system needed to burn so i could smile and speak and said "I think I've been waiting for you all my life!" - in a good way of course. She was visibly uplifted by it, and it made my experience there so much better to be able (even when I was completely depleted and nearly falling down) to give a little happiness back to someone who was working so hard to take care of the needs of so many others.
what does it take? just jog up the hill right there...
The theme of the NYC Marathon this year was "What does it take?". Like what does it take to win, or finish.
I'm here to tell you that it takes, at least on your first marathon, a LOT to finish.
I could regale you with stories about the crowds and the excitement or all the wind and the cold weather or even the list of excuses I have for not running it exactly as fast as I would have liked (bathroom breaks, sinus infection, chest (breath-wise) hurting from sinus infection-turned bronchial thingy, REALLY old shoes).
That would be peripheral noise and self-pity to some extent though.
What it took, for me at least, to finish was to find a way to start back up running again after I broke down at mile 20.5 - this was the pivotal moment in the race where i was looking for the nearest exit and/or chair to sit in.
I had to find a way to get my ass in gear and keep moving - which seemed impossible. I thought it was all over. I was commending myself for actually listening to the do-gooders who told me i should carry a pre-paid subway card just in case you couldn't run anymore. I was thinking, "These people are CRAZY". How was I to be expected to keep running uphill (not on an extreme grade but still uphill) for something like 8 miles?!?? And THAT was AFTER the first 14 were run!
Then I remembered all the training miles I had logged on the roads nearby and all the preparation. I remembered all the tougher things I have done. And then, I remembered the primary reason I'm running the race - the medal. Now before you think me extremely materialistic and shallow, please remember that the race medal (for completing the race) is more symbolic than anything. Also please also remember that the medal isn't really even for me (i like the race t-shirts more than the medals truth-be-told) but, more for the kids to see something that they can aspire to and achieve. They LOVE the medals from these events. They even earned one at a recent 1 mile kids race. We hang them all on a door nob together, the fancy ones and the plastic ones (from their 1 mile race- which they loved). Eesh, I don't even like the design of the medal this year quite honestly. Melt it down and make an ingot out of it for all i care...
Needless to say, the image of them seeing that medal and perhaps my race number as well and then their happy faces motivated me to pick up the pieces and keep moving to the finish line as quickly as I could.
The verdict? OK, let's get down to brass tacks. In the end, my time was approximately 4 hours 15 minutes (having used the stop watch feature for bathroom breaks, my time was actually less than that but I'm not perfect) while my "official" time was 4:21. If you take into account what people say about normal marathons and the difference in expectations for NYC (add 10 seconds per mile to your normal marathon time and 10-20 minutes overall on top of that), then I didn't do so bad i suppose. I might have even run a 4 hour marathon in other locales. Well, we'll see on some other day I'm betting.
Am I disappointed? No way. I got to run through all 5 boroughs of NYC while not having to worry about traffic and while also having people provide gatorade and such... that was cool. I also enjoyed the pageantry of the crowd quite a bit.
Most of all I liked the challenge. It was a crazy-hard thing to do. As one of my friends pointed out - "You are crazy for wanting to do a marathon but I understand... but you are INSANE for wanting to do your first in NYC - on the hardest one available nearly!". I agree but, I've never shrunk from any challenge large or small and I wasn't about to start with an easy marathon as my first one :)
In the end most first-time marathoners say "I'm NEVER doing that again". I'm already thinking about where the next one will be... I'm also thinking about what I promised everyone before - that I'll get back into triathlons after the marathon. And that's true! I'm taking donations (cash only of course) to pay for the bike i need to do that with ;) Until then I'm riding the stationary bike to do my base-building for cycling... I'll also be back running in a few weeks and swimming before even that.
I'm sure as I meet each one of you over the next weeks and months, I'll regale you with the other parts of the experience that were fun but, for now I've captured the heart of what it was all about. And that's about the best I can do with the awesome amount of lactic acid coursing through my legs still :)
I'll leave you with what a race official beyond the finish line said... "congratulations! Now, all you have to do is run right up that small hill behind me and get your things...". He received many choice words from me and others that day - but I believe he was stationed there not only because he was resilient but, also because he had keen insight into both our need to yell at someone and the need for a little levity after such a herculean effort. I'm glad he was there.
I'm here to tell you that it takes, at least on your first marathon, a LOT to finish.
I could regale you with stories about the crowds and the excitement or all the wind and the cold weather or even the list of excuses I have for not running it exactly as fast as I would have liked (bathroom breaks, sinus infection, chest (breath-wise) hurting from sinus infection-turned bronchial thingy, REALLY old shoes).
That would be peripheral noise and self-pity to some extent though.
What it took, for me at least, to finish was to find a way to start back up running again after I broke down at mile 20.5 - this was the pivotal moment in the race where i was looking for the nearest exit and/or chair to sit in.
I had to find a way to get my ass in gear and keep moving - which seemed impossible. I thought it was all over. I was commending myself for actually listening to the do-gooders who told me i should carry a pre-paid subway card just in case you couldn't run anymore. I was thinking, "These people are CRAZY". How was I to be expected to keep running uphill (not on an extreme grade but still uphill) for something like 8 miles?!?? And THAT was AFTER the first 14 were run!
Then I remembered all the training miles I had logged on the roads nearby and all the preparation. I remembered all the tougher things I have done. And then, I remembered the primary reason I'm running the race - the medal. Now before you think me extremely materialistic and shallow, please remember that the race medal (for completing the race) is more symbolic than anything. Also please also remember that the medal isn't really even for me (i like the race t-shirts more than the medals truth-be-told) but, more for the kids to see something that they can aspire to and achieve. They LOVE the medals from these events. They even earned one at a recent 1 mile kids race. We hang them all on a door nob together, the fancy ones and the plastic ones (from their 1 mile race- which they loved). Eesh, I don't even like the design of the medal this year quite honestly. Melt it down and make an ingot out of it for all i care...
Needless to say, the image of them seeing that medal and perhaps my race number as well and then their happy faces motivated me to pick up the pieces and keep moving to the finish line as quickly as I could.
The verdict? OK, let's get down to brass tacks. In the end, my time was approximately 4 hours 15 minutes (having used the stop watch feature for bathroom breaks, my time was actually less than that but I'm not perfect) while my "official" time was 4:21. If you take into account what people say about normal marathons and the difference in expectations for NYC (add 10 seconds per mile to your normal marathon time and 10-20 minutes overall on top of that), then I didn't do so bad i suppose. I might have even run a 4 hour marathon in other locales. Well, we'll see on some other day I'm betting.
Am I disappointed? No way. I got to run through all 5 boroughs of NYC while not having to worry about traffic and while also having people provide gatorade and such... that was cool. I also enjoyed the pageantry of the crowd quite a bit.
Most of all I liked the challenge. It was a crazy-hard thing to do. As one of my friends pointed out - "You are crazy for wanting to do a marathon but I understand... but you are INSANE for wanting to do your first in NYC - on the hardest one available nearly!". I agree but, I've never shrunk from any challenge large or small and I wasn't about to start with an easy marathon as my first one :)
In the end most first-time marathoners say "I'm NEVER doing that again". I'm already thinking about where the next one will be... I'm also thinking about what I promised everyone before - that I'll get back into triathlons after the marathon. And that's true! I'm taking donations (cash only of course) to pay for the bike i need to do that with ;) Until then I'm riding the stationary bike to do my base-building for cycling... I'll also be back running in a few weeks and swimming before even that.
I'm sure as I meet each one of you over the next weeks and months, I'll regale you with the other parts of the experience that were fun but, for now I've captured the heart of what it was all about. And that's about the best I can do with the awesome amount of lactic acid coursing through my legs still :)
I'll leave you with what a race official beyond the finish line said... "congratulations! Now, all you have to do is run right up that small hill behind me and get your things...". He received many choice words from me and others that day - but I believe he was stationed there not only because he was resilient but, also because he had keen insight into both our need to yell at someone and the need for a little levity after such a herculean effort. I'm glad he was there.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
25026
That's my number.
I pick it up in less than 2 days at the race expo in NYC.
Today I got my final run in. It was about 4 miles or so - kinda a fool around run. Felt good.
I'm still a little dizzy but it's passing now that I've started taking the antibiotics for the sinus infection.
I'm mostly packed now and have some good old friends wanting to get together for drinks on monday night in the city.
I'm nearly ready!
I can now enjoy Halloween and get up early the next day and ride a plane and watch a movie.
Another half day of work and I can enjoy Halloween with the family prior to departing for the race.
I pick it up in less than 2 days at the race expo in NYC.
Today I got my final run in. It was about 4 miles or so - kinda a fool around run. Felt good.
I'm still a little dizzy but it's passing now that I've started taking the antibiotics for the sinus infection.
I'm mostly packed now and have some good old friends wanting to get together for drinks on monday night in the city.
I'm nearly ready!
I can now enjoy Halloween and get up early the next day and ride a plane and watch a movie.
Another half day of work and I can enjoy Halloween with the family prior to departing for the race.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The final week!
Very exciting!
We are in the final week leading up to the marathon and I'm trying very hard to take it easy, rest the legs and get everything ready.
I'm trying to think of all the little things I need to bring:
1. chapstick
2. bodyglide (anti-chafing for the rest of your body)
3. clif shot gels (energy gels)
4. shoes and 100% synthetic brooks socks i've been doing my long runs in.
5. race outfit (including race hat, fuel belt with bottles, wrist sweat band - the nose runs faster than i do..)
6. outfit for the day after and the flight the next morning
7. race registration card.
8. approved toiletries (for air travel carry on luggage).
9. 1 packet oatmeal (race morning breakfast)
10. any medications (including tylenol for headaches before the race and Advil for the muscles after the race)
11. any warm weather gear for waiting in the cold before the race
12. government issued photo id
13. atm card that does not expire in 11/08 (hopefully the new one is in the mail)
14. iphone (with inspirational music AND movies AND family photos loaded) - including noise canceling ear buds and also my running headphones.
15. other inspirational reading materials (read: running and triathlon magazines..)
16. cash - money
That's all I can think of right now.
Hopefully it all gets remembered prior to me leaving early on Saturday morning!
Last run (and it's short) tomorrow.
It's getting exciting!
Can't wait to see my brother, his wife and baby - hopefully they will root me on halfway through or something!
We are in the final week leading up to the marathon and I'm trying very hard to take it easy, rest the legs and get everything ready.
I'm trying to think of all the little things I need to bring:
1. chapstick
2. bodyglide (anti-chafing for the rest of your body)
3. clif shot gels (energy gels)
4. shoes and 100% synthetic brooks socks i've been doing my long runs in.
5. race outfit (including race hat, fuel belt with bottles, wrist sweat band - the nose runs faster than i do..)
6. outfit for the day after and the flight the next morning
7. race registration card.
8. approved toiletries (for air travel carry on luggage).
9. 1 packet oatmeal (race morning breakfast)
10. any medications (including tylenol for headaches before the race and Advil for the muscles after the race)
11. any warm weather gear for waiting in the cold before the race
12. government issued photo id
13. atm card that does not expire in 11/08 (hopefully the new one is in the mail)
14. iphone (with inspirational music AND movies AND family photos loaded) - including noise canceling ear buds and also my running headphones.
15. other inspirational reading materials (read: running and triathlon magazines..)
16. cash - money
That's all I can think of right now.
Hopefully it all gets remembered prior to me leaving early on Saturday morning!
Last run (and it's short) tomorrow.
It's getting exciting!
Can't wait to see my brother, his wife and baby - hopefully they will root me on halfway through or something!
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