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!
off balance
Here we are, on the last week and I've got a slight inner ear infection I'm betting...
I've got slight vertigo, not enough to impair anything other than my nerves staying calm.
Going in tomorrow to see the doc...
I've got slight vertigo, not enough to impair anything other than my nerves staying calm.
Going in tomorrow to see the doc...
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
moving right along, know thy corral
I don't feel completely better yet from my cold but I couldn't wait to get back to even my limited training...ran 10 miles today...
It was like I was expecting some great endorphin rush or something...
I suppose I got it a bit but nothing crazy really - even though my effort was difficult fighting the cold, soreness from a recent massage therapy session and the elements (dramatic wind, hills, the threat of rain, cold). It was a bit of a let-down but I'm glad I was able to do it - all at race pace too (9 minute miles) believe it or not.
I got my registration card in the mail today for the marathon. It's required in order to get your race number from the race Expo (read: place to get numbers and spend a ton of money on marathon shwag) using your registration card. I now have an official race number and a couple other things. I now also have a wave (orange) which tells me I start my race at 10 am, not 9:40 or 10:20am. I also know that my corral is "A" which helps race organizers funnel us, like cattle, into corrals when we are about to start the race (there are 5 or so for my wave).
Getting closer.
It was like I was expecting some great endorphin rush or something...
I suppose I got it a bit but nothing crazy really - even though my effort was difficult fighting the cold, soreness from a recent massage therapy session and the elements (dramatic wind, hills, the threat of rain, cold). It was a bit of a let-down but I'm glad I was able to do it - all at race pace too (9 minute miles) believe it or not.
I got my registration card in the mail today for the marathon. It's required in order to get your race number from the race Expo (read: place to get numbers and spend a ton of money on marathon shwag) using your registration card. I now have an official race number and a couple other things. I now also have a wave (orange) which tells me I start my race at 10 am, not 9:40 or 10:20am. I also know that my corral is "A" which helps race organizers funnel us, like cattle, into corrals when we are about to start the race (there are 5 or so for my wave).
Getting closer.
last chance to give!
http://www.active.com/donate/teamibdkids/jason_white_01
take a moment and give if you haven't already :) One week left!
take a moment and give if you haven't already :) One week left!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
argh... another cold?
i have yet another cold... just a nose/throat/sinus thing that prevents me from feeling anything other than tired and VERY hungry.
I'm trying very hard to give it yesterday and today to go by so that I can run again on Monday or Tuesday without fear of overtraining or hurting myself (because I'm sick).
I tried running yesterday for 3 miles... It took 2 of the 3 miles to actually get into a rhythm. And prior to mile 2 it was as if my abdomen wasn't my own... felt really weird...
Oh well, I guess it's better to have this silliness occur now than on race week...
Getting closer! I'm getting very excited :)
I visited the race Expo for the Denver Marathon on Friday and enjoyed seeing the vendors there - kinda got me pumped a bit quite honestly.
Have no fear, I'll be running again tomorrow or the next day in prep for the big event.
Meanwhile... I have been able to get drywall up on the ceiling of the new room I'm finishing in the basement...
I'm trying very hard to give it yesterday and today to go by so that I can run again on Monday or Tuesday without fear of overtraining or hurting myself (because I'm sick).
I tried running yesterday for 3 miles... It took 2 of the 3 miles to actually get into a rhythm. And prior to mile 2 it was as if my abdomen wasn't my own... felt really weird...
Oh well, I guess it's better to have this silliness occur now than on race week...
Getting closer! I'm getting very excited :)
I visited the race Expo for the Denver Marathon on Friday and enjoyed seeing the vendors there - kinda got me pumped a bit quite honestly.
Have no fear, I'll be running again tomorrow or the next day in prep for the big event.
Meanwhile... I have been able to get drywall up on the ceiling of the new room I'm finishing in the basement...
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
um, oops
I read something today on the nyc marathon site about tapering and it was espousing that you should only run your race pace maybe once a week total from here until race day..... oops.
I ran a simple 5 miler today in 43 minutes... my race pace is 9 minute miles... the pace i ran today (while i THOUGHT i was running slower than a 9 minute mile .. was 8:45 minute miles...
oops...
I'll try harder to run slower from now on ;P
I ran a simple 5 miler today in 43 minutes... my race pace is 9 minute miles... the pace i ran today (while i THOUGHT i was running slower than a 9 minute mile .. was 8:45 minute miles...
oops...
I'll try harder to run slower from now on ;P
whoa, from 37 to 39 in 2 hours!?
This last Saturday I did my final long run prior to the tapering phase of my training.
It was about 15 miles and, remarkably, I was able to do 3, 5 mile loops all at faster paces each time (a progression run).
More remarkable was the temperature...
I started at 8am or so and it was 37 degrees... By the time i was done (an unspecified amount of time later) it had gone all the way up to 39 degrees.
Well, should NYC be really cold on race day... hopefully this will have prepared me. If not, I'm joining the Navy SEAL's...
It was about 15 miles and, remarkably, I was able to do 3, 5 mile loops all at faster paces each time (a progression run).
More remarkable was the temperature...
I started at 8am or so and it was 37 degrees... By the time i was done (an unspecified amount of time later) it had gone all the way up to 39 degrees.
Well, should NYC be really cold on race day... hopefully this will have prepared me. If not, I'm joining the Navy SEAL's...
TAPER!
Hallelujah, praise the lord... my taper has arrived, much like a christmas gift I waited for as a child.
Why is this so important to me? Well, there are a number of reasons:
- shorter runs
- more time with my family, as a result of shorter runs
- less emphasis on logging the high miles
- more emphasis, heavy emphasis really, on knowing what my race pace feels like so i can recreate it.
- milestone closest to the actual event
- even closer to wearing new running shoes (right after the race really)
- let the healing begin...
This last one is the most important really. The taper is not so much about reducing training in order to peak or something... that's just a nice side-effect. The taper is meant to allow the body (muscles, bones, cartilage, blisters etc.) to HEAL. I know that might sound silly right? Why would a runner, a theoretically in-shape being, need to recover from something? Is there a real injury that every marathoner has that we don't know about?
Well, to be quite honest, yes. Each marathoner who works hard and piles on the miles is doing some level of damage to their muscles at the very least. The good news is that all that stuff heals during "recovery" which might be a day off a week or two. The bad news is that your body never fully has time to heal enough to get back to where it was before. Believe me, this is true.
The Taper is meant to allow your body to take a break prior to the big event. Reducing weekly mileage by 10-50% has a DRAMATIC effect I'm here to tell you. Whole muscle groupings complain less (if at all) anymore. Seemingly insurmountable aches and pains reduce to mere inconveniences that sporadically pop up from time to time unexpectedly (if at all).
All that said, I'm REALLY happy to be tapering - but not for any of those silly technical reasons... I like it because I can be lazy (to some extent) and, in this case in life... it really pays off to be lazy :)
Why is this so important to me? Well, there are a number of reasons:
- shorter runs
- more time with my family, as a result of shorter runs
- less emphasis on logging the high miles
- more emphasis, heavy emphasis really, on knowing what my race pace feels like so i can recreate it.
- milestone closest to the actual event
- even closer to wearing new running shoes (right after the race really)
- let the healing begin...
This last one is the most important really. The taper is not so much about reducing training in order to peak or something... that's just a nice side-effect. The taper is meant to allow the body (muscles, bones, cartilage, blisters etc.) to HEAL. I know that might sound silly right? Why would a runner, a theoretically in-shape being, need to recover from something? Is there a real injury that every marathoner has that we don't know about?
Well, to be quite honest, yes. Each marathoner who works hard and piles on the miles is doing some level of damage to their muscles at the very least. The good news is that all that stuff heals during "recovery" which might be a day off a week or two. The bad news is that your body never fully has time to heal enough to get back to where it was before. Believe me, this is true.
The Taper is meant to allow your body to take a break prior to the big event. Reducing weekly mileage by 10-50% has a DRAMATIC effect I'm here to tell you. Whole muscle groupings complain less (if at all) anymore. Seemingly insurmountable aches and pains reduce to mere inconveniences that sporadically pop up from time to time unexpectedly (if at all).
All that said, I'm REALLY happy to be tapering - but not for any of those silly technical reasons... I like it because I can be lazy (to some extent) and, in this case in life... it really pays off to be lazy :)
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
side project - which one?
Some of you know me well, some very well, some only a little.
I think that even the folks who know me a very little know that I'm happiest when occupied. I'm also very content when striving for seemingly unattainable goals. That said, I typically have a couple side projects going in my life.
- Most know that me and Lisa (the wife) have another kiddie on the way - a boy! We are due late January 2009.
- All of you know I'm running the NYC marathon on Nov 2nd.
- All of you know I'm soliciting donations for my favorite charity right now :)
- Not many know but, I also am finishing a basement room (previously an unfinished work room) into a full-on bedroom for guest - because the 4th bedroom will become babies room and we still need a guest room.
ON that subject - I've been able to do the demolition of what was in there previously, framed the room with 2x4 studs, replaced a window with an energy efficient one, relocated all the wiring and also partially insulated (as of yesterday).
While running provides some level of stress relief and balance, doing home improvement provides somewhat of an artistic outlet as well.
Not sure why I'm sharing this with the world per se - guess I'm just overly proud of what we are accomplishing as a family lately (I say this because both my son and daughter and also my wife are helping build this room).
busy, busy :)
I think that even the folks who know me a very little know that I'm happiest when occupied. I'm also very content when striving for seemingly unattainable goals. That said, I typically have a couple side projects going in my life.
- Most know that me and Lisa (the wife) have another kiddie on the way - a boy! We are due late January 2009.
- All of you know I'm running the NYC marathon on Nov 2nd.
- All of you know I'm soliciting donations for my favorite charity right now :)
- Not many know but, I also am finishing a basement room (previously an unfinished work room) into a full-on bedroom for guest - because the 4th bedroom will become babies room and we still need a guest room.
ON that subject - I've been able to do the demolition of what was in there previously, framed the room with 2x4 studs, replaced a window with an energy efficient one, relocated all the wiring and also partially insulated (as of yesterday).
While running provides some level of stress relief and balance, doing home improvement provides somewhat of an artistic outlet as well.
Not sure why I'm sharing this with the world per se - guess I'm just overly proud of what we are accomplishing as a family lately (I say this because both my son and daughter and also my wife are helping build this room).
busy, busy :)
Each time there is something new....
Each time I think about running these days I dread the next one... It's getting harder and harder to get motivated as I get towards the end of my 18 week training schedule (which was preceded by something like 12 weeks of half marathon training if you remember..).
That said, each time I drag my sore muscles and bones onto the nearest road or trail something new happens.
Generally I see something that stops me nearly in my tracks (like the beautiful afterglow of the sunset in the west over the Rockies tonight - very orange and black :). Other times I run faster than I expected up some hills I used to think were tough and gnarly - again just like tonight.
Mostly, the outcome of each run (that only seems like something new) is the stress relief or balancing effect it has.
For instance, I sat in a meeting at work today that just went on and on and generally frustrated me to no end because it seemed very much pointless. Add to this the fact that the stock market dropped another 500 points today and you have the makings of a distracted father of 2 (soon to be 3!) - at the very least.
Tonight I ran a 6 mile loop starting at home and figured I would suffer dramatically from border-line intense soreness (lactic acid build-up) in my calves. Umm, not so much really... I ran something like a 9:30 minute mile throughout.. (my race pace is a 9 minute mile)... weird, but very good. Also, I noticed that I'm running the hills faster and with less effort even. Then there was the sunset.
Problems solved for the day really. All the stress melted away on the run honestly.
And yes, the sunset literally stopped me in my tracks at the end of my run as I was cooling down :)
Ever dread going out to run? From runners I generally hear that 99% of the times they dreaded it and still found a way to go out and run, it was worth it when they came back with more energy and less stress.
That said, each time I drag my sore muscles and bones onto the nearest road or trail something new happens.
Generally I see something that stops me nearly in my tracks (like the beautiful afterglow of the sunset in the west over the Rockies tonight - very orange and black :). Other times I run faster than I expected up some hills I used to think were tough and gnarly - again just like tonight.
Mostly, the outcome of each run (that only seems like something new) is the stress relief or balancing effect it has.
For instance, I sat in a meeting at work today that just went on and on and generally frustrated me to no end because it seemed very much pointless. Add to this the fact that the stock market dropped another 500 points today and you have the makings of a distracted father of 2 (soon to be 3!) - at the very least.
Tonight I ran a 6 mile loop starting at home and figured I would suffer dramatically from border-line intense soreness (lactic acid build-up) in my calves. Umm, not so much really... I ran something like a 9:30 minute mile throughout.. (my race pace is a 9 minute mile)... weird, but very good. Also, I noticed that I'm running the hills faster and with less effort even. Then there was the sunset.
Problems solved for the day really. All the stress melted away on the run honestly.
And yes, the sunset literally stopped me in my tracks at the end of my run as I was cooling down :)
Ever dread going out to run? From runners I generally hear that 99% of the times they dreaded it and still found a way to go out and run, it was worth it when they came back with more energy and less stress.
Monday, September 22, 2008
just when I thought it would get boring...
If you didn't know already... I'm a BIG fan of switching jobs every 5 months or so to keep things lively and, well, crawl up the income ladder as fast as I can while still having fun... Some of you know exactly what I mean while I'm sure others think I'm crazy...
Weird thing is.. my job isn't getting boring...
Usually after 3 months or so.. I'm convinced I can train a domesticated monkey to do my job. By this time I generally feel as though I could take over the group and steer it towards ("align it with") my own ideas on how to do stuff ("strategic objectives"). So I generally leave and do just that.
This time around though, I must candidly admit that I am really and truly shocked on a regular basis. Now, this doesn't always mean that I'm shocked by something bad. Some would jump to that conclusion and assume I'm sticking around as audience for any comedic event that occurs on a daily basis (and it does) but, they'd be wrong. I quite often learn new things that I never thought I would care about. It, of course, is hard to give examples. In most cases I learn a ton from the way others approach problems - there are endless ways of doing this. Most cases also involve different interpersonal approaches really - which is truly interesting to see unfold.
It feels very strange but, well, I'm enjoying my job right now. Wow, I almost had to spit the words out there...
I think I have to lay down... I'm getting dizzy..
Weird thing is.. my job isn't getting boring...
Usually after 3 months or so.. I'm convinced I can train a domesticated monkey to do my job. By this time I generally feel as though I could take over the group and steer it towards ("align it with") my own ideas on how to do stuff ("strategic objectives"). So I generally leave and do just that.
This time around though, I must candidly admit that I am really and truly shocked on a regular basis. Now, this doesn't always mean that I'm shocked by something bad. Some would jump to that conclusion and assume I'm sticking around as audience for any comedic event that occurs on a daily basis (and it does) but, they'd be wrong. I quite often learn new things that I never thought I would care about. It, of course, is hard to give examples. In most cases I learn a ton from the way others approach problems - there are endless ways of doing this. Most cases also involve different interpersonal approaches really - which is truly interesting to see unfold.
It feels very strange but, well, I'm enjoying my job right now. Wow, I almost had to spit the words out there...
I think I have to lay down... I'm getting dizzy..
and the training keeps going... and going... and..
That's right, the training never ends.
I think I'm on a 19 week training plan and have a little bit more than 5 weeks left...oy.
Trying to find ways to get to motivated. I ran a half marathon yesterday in the hopes of getting motivated. The boulder half marathon to be exact. http://www.boulderbackroads.com
I didn't do as well as I would have liked but i was extremely disciplined in the race so hopefully that translates to a strong marathon in nyc. Motivating? not really... but was nice to run somewhere different.
I've logged more than 300 miles as of today (as part of this training plan)- on my way to 500 by the marathon....
That segways nicely to an injury update!
Knee problems are gone - hallelujah!
Hip pain/soreness is here... and camping out it seems...
Latest issue is overworked Gluteus Medius. Yeah, it only hurts when I... well, when i do anything requiring forward motion. The good news is that I have a great massage therapist, who should be paying me quite honestly - she inflicts pain on a regular basis (read: cleaves muscle from bone) but, like a good masochist... I suck it up and say - "if i were just in better shape this wouldn't hurt"... pfft. It would still hurt.
Other than that, the training continues. I'm up around 40 miles a week or so - which is about all the beating I can take until my next training plan begins.. which I'm targeting for December.
It isn't all doom and gloom honestly. I'm looking forward to the big race in NYC and being VERY healed up for that. I have my last long run happening this Saturday (22 miles) and am looking forward to winding down the miles after that and prior to the race.
I think I'm on a 19 week training plan and have a little bit more than 5 weeks left...oy.
Trying to find ways to get to motivated. I ran a half marathon yesterday in the hopes of getting motivated. The boulder half marathon to be exact. http://www.boulderbackroads.com
I didn't do as well as I would have liked but i was extremely disciplined in the race so hopefully that translates to a strong marathon in nyc. Motivating? not really... but was nice to run somewhere different.
I've logged more than 300 miles as of today (as part of this training plan)- on my way to 500 by the marathon....
That segways nicely to an injury update!
Knee problems are gone - hallelujah!
Hip pain/soreness is here... and camping out it seems...
Latest issue is overworked Gluteus Medius. Yeah, it only hurts when I... well, when i do anything requiring forward motion. The good news is that I have a great massage therapist, who should be paying me quite honestly - she inflicts pain on a regular basis (read: cleaves muscle from bone) but, like a good masochist... I suck it up and say - "if i were just in better shape this wouldn't hurt"... pfft. It would still hurt.
Other than that, the training continues. I'm up around 40 miles a week or so - which is about all the beating I can take until my next training plan begins.. which I'm targeting for December.
It isn't all doom and gloom honestly. I'm looking forward to the big race in NYC and being VERY healed up for that. I have my last long run happening this Saturday (22 miles) and am looking forward to winding down the miles after that and prior to the race.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Check out the older blog postings!
If it's been a while - check out the old postings!
Some even have information about how you can be semi-altruistic and donate to my favorite cause in the hopes that children with IBD or Crohn's can get treatment and research done on the disease!
The window for donations is closing so, please do what you can to give to this worthy cause and prevent me from making the biggest donation of my LIFE in order to reach the 3k requirement :P
-jason
Some even have information about how you can be semi-altruistic and donate to my favorite cause in the hopes that children with IBD or Crohn's can get treatment and research done on the disease!
The window for donations is closing so, please do what you can to give to this worthy cause and prevent me from making the biggest donation of my LIFE in order to reach the 3k requirement :P
-jason
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