Starting Over

My first run was one year ago today. Getting ready to start again.

Keeping at it.

Another easy 3 miles this morning. Keeping it easy. Learned my lesson these past 11 months on pushing too hard too fast. One more short run this week is planned. Next week, may lengthen one of the runs. Need to cross train, too. Any idea when summer is too arrive?

Cross training

Quiet on the blogger front. Not sure about you guys, but I'm switching gears a bit, spending time on family stuff, and seeing where the exercise bug bites me next. For Sunday, at least, I was bitten by mountain biking. The intense running crew that I've written about here (the guys who go out at 6AM on Sundays) really only uses running in the off-season to train for their fun stuff -- mountain biking, some road biking and cross country skiing. I've been thinking about riding with them for probably two years now, but always had some excuse that made my slight fear of riding with them more palatable. Last weekend, with excuses diminished, curiosity peaked (and intimidation still intact), I finally joined the crew.

I met up with four guys promptly at 6AM for a grueling-but-fun, technical, slippery/wet ride in the wooded hills of Waterbury. We did equal shares climbing, switchbacks, and straight downhills over the course of just over two hours. I went over the handlebars (think full-on superman launch) once, walked a couple of times and slid out a few more, but had a blast the whole time. (Full disclosure, the end, which was a full mile uphill on my road home, sucked, but at least it was the end.) I was completely spent, covered in mud, achey and psyched for having done something new in my own backyard.

I was struck by how different mountain biking is from running. On a run, I use the steady rhythm to zone out and go to another place. The mind is left to wander and randomly check back in, while the body runs mostly on cruise control. On the trails on a mountain bike, I have to pay attention to every detail of the terrain, including mud, roots, trees, fall line angles, and who knows what else. It's a technical experience in which I get lost in the details of all that's going on around me. And conquering those details, no matter how small, provides lots of little "wins" over the course of the ride.

It was a great ride, and I'm looking forward to the next one. Oh, and I have run a couple of times here and there. I went out last week for a couple of three milers, which felt good. Not ready to sign on for another race yet, but not burnt out either. Just taking things as they come for a bit.

Hope all's well with this crew.

That's Better.

Three runs in the last 5 days. All 3 mile runs to ease back into it. Re calibrated my watch/footpod on Saturday which was sorely needed. Pace showed a huge improvement today, mostly due to the watch, but also due to shaking off the rust. While the pace/distance may be suspect, the HR is not. Sometimes this is more telling than how you feel or how fast you ran.

Back in the saddle...again.

Work, life, colds, vacations have all provided excuses to not run over the past 6 weeks. Finally pushed them all aside and made it out this morning for 3 miles. The good news is that all previous injuries have healed. The bad news is the ankle is now officially a chronic injury as I could tell over the past few weeks, while at rest, it just wasn't right. I'll just need to manage it. Hopefully the additional 13 pound drop (25 since I started last August) will help reduce the chance of more injuries, especially those impact related.

Big Plans

I have not run since the almost-back-to-back races last week, but am better for the time off and looking forward to getting back on the road. I'll be in SF next week and will hit my usual route along the Bay. I am thinking VERY carefully about making a run at the Adirondack 1/2 Marathon in September. So the strategy would be, start training after Scout Camp in late June, run a shorter race around mid-way, in August, and then focus hard on the 1/2. Maybe. I'll certainly run either the 5k or 10k option, so if anyone wants to make a weekend in the ADKs, let us know. The race is not far from our place.

Vermont City Marathon (aka Tour de Port-o-let)

I ran the Vermont City Marathon yesterday. Completed the race in about 4:05 (haven't checked the official results), but the time for this run was inconsequential. It was all about finishing, mainly because of my limited training. As I wrote of here, I pulled my calf on March 15, and I've been working my way back ever since. My recovery included a bunch of small relapses for a few weeks, no running for about 3 weeks, and then, finally, a conservative, rebuilding schedule that topped out at a two hour run two weeks ago. There was no risk of being overtrained on race day, that was for sure.

My goals for the marathon were 1. Don't re-injure myself, 2. Finish, 3. Experiment with pace by going out slowly and trying to finish strong. I'm glad to report that I didn't suffer any injuries, I finished and I went out relatively slowly and finished with a couple of 9:30-ish miles. I was happy with that... especially given my gastro-intestinal situation for the race. I'll skip the details and leave it at this: Over the course of 26.2 miles, I urinated in a field on the side of a road and visited three pot-o-potties and a gas station. My stomach was not right throughout.

My big story for this race, though, was the feeling I had afterwards. Unlike past marathons where I felt like I left something on the table and had to try again, I finished yesterday feeling that I was done with this distance for a while. It wasn't a negative feeling, like I was defeated or had a negative experience, I just don't have a reason to go back right now. I'm ready to move on to things like biking, maybe some tri's and definitely some half marathons. The marathon provides anyone who finishes with a huge sense of accomplishment. That is worthwhile. But it also hurts. It's a painful race, and without a real reason to run -- a reason that drives you to push through the pain -- it's not happening. After four marathons in two years, I don't have a compelling need or reason to do another.

I'm very excited by this new development. A new phase of long distance training begins for me today...ok, maybe tomorrow. Today, I rest.

Two Races

I ran the NYRR Healthy Kidney 10k on Saturday. It was great. I went alone, and ran alone, ignored the crowds and the fanfare, talked to myself the whole way, controlled my pace through the hills, and ran a surprisingly consistent race. I hit the mile markers at precise 10 minute intervals. When I reached the five mile mark in exactly 50 minutes I thought, I've done it, the race is over. So I put the pedal down and ran my fastest split in the last mile. I did not run that much the four weeks leading to this race and didn't think I was in great shape for it, and I am now utterly convinced that the right mental approach to a race has a material impact on performance. My time was 1.01.29; the first half time was 31.14.

Last night was the American Heart Assoc Wall Street 5k run, and I ran with a colleague. Due to construction on a portion of the course the distance was actually 3 miles, even. The race started at the World Trade Center site and did a clockwise loop around lower Manhattan, finishing at the World Financial Center. The last mile was beautiful, 65 degrees, along the Hudson, The Statue of Liberty on my right. I ran it in 28.33. I felt that I could have run it faster, and blame the narrow streets downtown and SUPER crowded field. The first mile was wicked slow.

My colleague is a former big-time collegiate track and field athlete. She ran the three mile course in 21.08, and was disapointed.

So, lots of running this last few days. Planning to head out tomorrow and maybe this weekend, but hoping to get some cycling in soon, as a change of pace.

Peace, fellas.

Deferred

I deferred the marathon last week. I ran 16 miles last Wednesday and felt lousy near the end. If I'd had like 4 more weeks I'd have been OK but my training has suffered as a result of working so much. Here I am posting at 12:45 AM . . . this is the story of my life. I'm bummed, kind of, but I'm at peace with it -- it's one less source of stress for me. I'm targeting some shorter distances and will get out sometime tomorrow, hopefully. I might even run a fall one, I've got a decent base, I just lacked the emotional and mental room to start a company and train for a marathon. Keep up the good work, I'll be back soon. Good luck this week VTR, see you Saturday.

Run 28

I got in my planned run last Wednesday, May 13. The route was a variation on Run 27, cutting across the Park at 102nd Street and then taking the Great Hill in reverse instead of head-on. I don't know the distance traveled on Runs 27 and 28 but I ran for 30+ minutes each night.

One hour

Ran one hour this morning. No issues. Saw some fresh moose tracks, a pair, heading towards the beaver pond, but no moose. Beautiful day.

Off to the Outer Banks tomorrow for the week.

Run 27

Ran for 30 minutes tonight. It's a great evening for in NYC. Temps in the hig 60s, I think. Clear. Light breeze. LOTS of very fit women on bikes buzzing past. Interesting.

Took a slightly different loop, leaving the Reservoir path on the East Side at 95th Street, up the Park Road on the East Side, down the hill behind Lasker Pool and then partway up the Great Hill until my exit near home.

I'm working on having a positive outlook about the Healthy Kidney 10k, sponsored by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates. (Weird.) So far, so good. I'll run Wednesday evening, then knock off until the race on Saturday.

Catching up

Ran for 40 minutes on Monday, 30 minutes on Thursday, and 2 hours today. No issues to report. The marathon is still in sights although I will pull the chute at any sign of issues with the calf. So far, no issues, so on I go.

Enjoy Mom's day.

Run 26

After a frustrating work day I headed out last night around 7:45p, ran down the hill from the house, and then up up up Route 9 towards Westport. I was surprised by my uphill stamina. There were no flats on this route, it was either up or down the whole way. I walked some of the ups, but overall I had the heart pumping hard for 45 minutes altogether. My calf muscles ached towards the end, and my shins are sore this morning.

Next week's 10k looks like kind of a big deal. Professional male runners will be participating. I'm sure I won't see them, but that's still sort of cool. The course is the entire park loop, starting at Columbus Circle and running clockwise, up the West side, down the East side. I'm going to use the water stations on this one.

Run 25

The 10k is around the corner, May 16. After a short chat with VTR I got out and ran my standard 5k route in about 28 minutes. No stops, no excuses. It was cool out but I came back sweating. Going to try to get on a full 10k this weekend up in the Champlain Valley.

Run 24

I snuck in 25 fast minutes on the treadmill on Friday night, before the long drive to PH. I'm not much for treamills, as I have said here before, but this was a pretty good run. Caught a rerun of "Friends" on the gym TV. It was only my second run last week (first was on Monday) and I didn't run this weekend, beyond 30 minutes sprinting around the yard, playing hide-and-seek with the little FAs. I'm now inside two weeks of my 10k, and even though I haven't hit the road like I did for other races I feel optimistic and am excited for it. I've had some good dreams, running well and feeling good. Aiming to run 10k this coming weekend in preparation but otherwise am just aiming to get through the week.

Peace, fellas.

Good Long Run

Just mapped today's run -- 15.6 miles. I hit the road around 7 AM. I walked the first couple hundred yards -- I was not motivated but knew I needed to get out. I did last year's long route with the intention of going out about 8 and coming back. I went out about ten and change and came back 5 and change and then I started walking home and called for the ride. I really didn't feel like suffering into my neighborhood so opted for this plan, about part way out. I also chose the route once I got to a point where I could go one of two ways -- there really was no plan, just running. I ran for about 2:35 or so and am happy with that. A little more consistency during the week is one goal and then a three hour run next Saturday -- Sunday is Mother's day, and I can't leave for three hours then!

It was a good route, some good long hills, some tough short little ups. It goes through my town and two others through some lovely bucolic land, wooded marshes and horse pastures etc. It also passes over the Framingham line of the Commuter Rail, under Route 9 & I-90 and crosses Route 30.

I'm on a zen running kick -- no HR monitor, no watch (though I had my celly and that gave me the rough time) and no real plan when I leave the door. I really need to get some more Body Glide though, my nips got scorched and I bled through a polypro and a technical but didn't really feel it until afterwards. I think this run rocked and helped me realize that with some hard work this month, I can run this marathon. By the end of today I was covered in sweat, salt, spittle, snot, blood and Gatorade -- a good long run!

One hour

It was a perfect day for a run weatherwise. Clear, mid to high-fifties, puffy clouds. Trees are just starting to pop up here, which makes for a nice contrast of green to brown as you look up the slopes.

I got in an hour run. I figure it's around 7.5 miles. No issues. We'll see how this week goes.

30 minutes

Ran for 30 minutes this morning. No issues with the calf. This is the old injury from the March 15 half marathon. With only a couple of weeks out, I'm not optimistic that it will be strong enough to run the race, and I'm not up for reinjury. The plan is to try to get in a couple of moderately long runs over the next couple of weeks to see how they feel, then decide whether or not I have to defer the race to let the calf fully heal.

You'll see my progress here.

One More

Got in another 5 today. It felt OK, not great, but pretty good, better than yesterday. It was much cooler. Took Child 2 with me. He chattered for 4 miles then fell sound asleep in the last mile. He slept in the stroller while I chatted for 15 minutes with a neighbor then in the front yard for probably another 40 minutes while we prepped dinner. Very worried about this marathon. My "training" has been a joke.