Friday, December 31, 2010
Barefoot on the beach
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
The best moments
I did a 5K run this morning, right before we take off for a week south. For the next week, I get to say goodbye to the running layers to throw in some beach mileage.
So this post will have to suffice as maybe the final one of year. About a nice time to recap on my favourite running moments of the past 12 months and some 1900 miles. This was prompted the other day while I was just on an average run that brought back big returns. So presenting my top running moments of the past year:
10. Taking a break from a long run to enjoy the view. A sunrise, the city scape, a view of the trail that I'm only using
9. The first time I put on my Vibrams and went for that first 'barefoot' run. I felt like a kid again. That run hurt after but after learning to adjust and buying those toe socks, I love my FiveFingers.
8. Standing at the back of the first wave, getting ready to run Boston, staring at awe at the runners in front of me. And 13 miles later at the Scream Tunnel.
7. Running the first three miles of the National Half Marathon in DC, I ran alongside and then past running royalty for about 20 seconds. I've never forget what i said to Bill Rodgers. "it's a pleasure to run with you."
6. Carrying the pace sign for the first time at the Niagara Half Marathon. Never felt so privileged to give back a little. And 1:45:02 after the start, hitting my target pretty much dead on.
5. Stopping at any race to say hi to my sweetie. Did it on Boylston and again on 5th Ave. in New York. Speaking of Boston, how about Beer on the course!
4. At the end of all my long marathon training runs. I can't think of a better tonic to the week. You feel exhausted, but in a good way.
3. Standing with hundreds or thousands of others at the starting corrals at any race. It is my most zen moments of being a runner.
2. Feeling so stir crazy at the end of most work days and the first steps to put on my gear. I know pain and joy are on their way and the stress will melt away.
1. Those moments after each of my five marathons this year. That post-race shuffle is well earned because it's really the pause before the next victory lap.
So this post will have to suffice as maybe the final one of year. About a nice time to recap on my favourite running moments of the past 12 months and some 1900 miles. This was prompted the other day while I was just on an average run that brought back big returns. So presenting my top running moments of the past year:
10. Taking a break from a long run to enjoy the view. A sunrise, the city scape, a view of the trail that I'm only using
9. The first time I put on my Vibrams and went for that first 'barefoot' run. I felt like a kid again. That run hurt after but after learning to adjust and buying those toe socks, I love my FiveFingers.
8. Standing at the back of the first wave, getting ready to run Boston, staring at awe at the runners in front of me. And 13 miles later at the Scream Tunnel.
7. Running the first three miles of the National Half Marathon in DC, I ran alongside and then past running royalty for about 20 seconds. I've never forget what i said to Bill Rodgers. "it's a pleasure to run with you."
6. Carrying the pace sign for the first time at the Niagara Half Marathon. Never felt so privileged to give back a little. And 1:45:02 after the start, hitting my target pretty much dead on.
5. Stopping at any race to say hi to my sweetie. Did it on Boylston and again on 5th Ave. in New York. Speaking of Boston, how about Beer on the course!
4. At the end of all my long marathon training runs. I can't think of a better tonic to the week. You feel exhausted, but in a good way.
3. Standing with hundreds or thousands of others at the starting corrals at any race. It is my most zen moments of being a runner.
2. Feeling so stir crazy at the end of most work days and the first steps to put on my gear. I know pain and joy are on their way and the stress will melt away.
1. Those moments after each of my five marathons this year. That post-race shuffle is well earned because it's really the pause before the next victory lap.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Another sole, spiked
Believe me, I've looked for winter running shoes for a long time. Gave that up years ago, I just use my good old usual Asics and live with the cold feet and on occasion the Yak-Trax I clamp on during my snowy and icy runs.
Say hello to my Asics Arctic WRs
Yep, that's a spiked outsole. And I'm also excited by the "highly water resistant upper". Of course, I really can't use the spikes until it the weather gets to that point.
Running is going well. I've decided that I'm taking these Christmas weeks (last week, this week and the next) a little easier so that marathon training, while on the horizon, is kinda on hold. That's fine, I'm still hitting the 30 mile mark but I'm not going to give up family time for running. That is, until I get stir crazy. That's bound to happen.
Say hello to my Asics Arctic WRs
Yep, that's a spiked outsole. And I'm also excited by the "highly water resistant upper". Of course, I really can't use the spikes until it the weather gets to that point.
Running is going well. I've decided that I'm taking these Christmas weeks (last week, this week and the next) a little easier so that marathon training, while on the horizon, is kinda on hold. That's fine, I'm still hitting the 30 mile mark but I'm not going to give up family time for running. That is, until I get stir crazy. That's bound to happen.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Tracks
There are favourite runs you look back on years later, and in a way they define you as a runner.
Tonight didn't quite rank up there, but in mid-stride in my winter's first snowy jaunt, it made me remember why I run.
Years ago, before they started clearing the waterfront trails of snow, my winter runs were always a little adventurous. One running memory I conjured tonight -- while the snow lit the foreground while after-work commuting cars brightened my periphery -- took me back to a midafternoon about four years ago.
Back then, with no snowploughs to clear the running and biking trails, a six or 10 mile run on the waterfront on a snowy day meant you might as well put on some snowshoes.
While it made running hard with the lack of traction, I always imagined myself as a little pioneer, making tracks that I would use on the way back, footsteps that blowing snow would hide, but for an hour or so, it made the next runner's adventure a little easier. It was even more fun when I was forced to run with Yak-Trax, those clip-on cleats. It made running more like playing, and who would argue with that?
Tonight, I passed the snowplough that was to clear the way for the snow-covered trail ahead. It was stalled, loading up on salt. I silently cursed it but minutes later, I was loving making my own tracks. I soon followed the footsteps of another runner. Those footfalls were far apart, suggesting the stride of a taller runner. A few miles melted away while I looked down and played in the snow.
On my way back, the snowplough caught up to me, and I waved to the driver, getting back on the trail he just paved. I raced up the hill, beating the cars slowly inching their way toward downtown. A cyclist approached, avoiding the paved road, opting for snow. He was playing too.
I finished the run faster than I started it, my balance barely there, every step a challenge, on the verge of falling. Those tracks showing a runner at play are probably covered up by now, a route that no GPS entry can do justice.
Oh, and did I mention? Marathon training. It is on.
Tonight didn't quite rank up there, but in mid-stride in my winter's first snowy jaunt, it made me remember why I run.
Years ago, before they started clearing the waterfront trails of snow, my winter runs were always a little adventurous. One running memory I conjured tonight -- while the snow lit the foreground while after-work commuting cars brightened my periphery -- took me back to a midafternoon about four years ago.
Back then, with no snowploughs to clear the running and biking trails, a six or 10 mile run on the waterfront on a snowy day meant you might as well put on some snowshoes.
While it made running hard with the lack of traction, I always imagined myself as a little pioneer, making tracks that I would use on the way back, footsteps that blowing snow would hide, but for an hour or so, it made the next runner's adventure a little easier. It was even more fun when I was forced to run with Yak-Trax, those clip-on cleats. It made running more like playing, and who would argue with that?
Tonight, I passed the snowplough that was to clear the way for the snow-covered trail ahead. It was stalled, loading up on salt. I silently cursed it but minutes later, I was loving making my own tracks. I soon followed the footsteps of another runner. Those footfalls were far apart, suggesting the stride of a taller runner. A few miles melted away while I looked down and played in the snow.
On my way back, the snowplough caught up to me, and I waved to the driver, getting back on the trail he just paved. I raced up the hill, beating the cars slowly inching their way toward downtown. A cyclist approached, avoiding the paved road, opting for snow. He was playing too.
I finished the run faster than I started it, my balance barely there, every step a challenge, on the verge of falling. Those tracks showing a runner at play are probably covered up by now, a route that no GPS entry can do justice.
Oh, and did I mention? Marathon training. It is on.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Back to work
"Lactate threshold 8 mi (13 km) w/ 4 mi (6K) @ 15K to half marathon race pace."
God I hate those runs. At the beginning of last winter, I tried that exact run. My knee was aching, and I barely made it through 3 miles at slower than tempo pace. I stood there after barely 5K of 6.4K and just about threw in the towel for the season.
Well, that's only partly an exaggeration, as I didn't give up marathon training. I went on to run the big race, and ran four more marathons last year, but something about that tempo run told me I needed a break from that 'work' that needs to go into fast marathoning.
Next Monday, my next training cycle begins for my April marathon. In the next three days, I'm going to pull out Pfitzinger-Douglas's Advanced Marathoning and plug in all the scheduled runs for 18 weeks. It'll include those dreaded tempo and pace runs, the ones I love to hate, but hate to miss. They hurt bad, but when you're finished a month of training with them thrown in, you're a stronger runner. You get freaky fast.
Last year, I listened to my body when my knee said 'oh no' and when my head said 'again?'. Was good to take a step back. They say that you build up for three or four weeks, then take a week recovery. Well, there's nothing that goes against the idea of going hard for four or five years, and taking a year for recovery. That's what the end of this month feels like, like the end of an easy year. In fact, my mileage this year, probably targetted around 1875 miles, will be much lower than 2008 (2240 miles) or 2009 (2120 miles), though it'll higher than 2007's 1600 miles.
I see my return to speed as a year-long project. I don't know if I can get back to where I was in the fall of 2009, but it's also not my goal to get there by April or May. I want a decent, fast-paced spring marathon. Give me a sub 3:20 and I'll be ecstatic. I'll take that and build momentum in the summer. First step, 4 miles at LT, next week.
God I hate those runs. At the beginning of last winter, I tried that exact run. My knee was aching, and I barely made it through 3 miles at slower than tempo pace. I stood there after barely 5K of 6.4K and just about threw in the towel for the season.
Well, that's only partly an exaggeration, as I didn't give up marathon training. I went on to run the big race, and ran four more marathons last year, but something about that tempo run told me I needed a break from that 'work' that needs to go into fast marathoning.
Next Monday, my next training cycle begins for my April marathon. In the next three days, I'm going to pull out Pfitzinger-Douglas's Advanced Marathoning and plug in all the scheduled runs for 18 weeks. It'll include those dreaded tempo and pace runs, the ones I love to hate, but hate to miss. They hurt bad, but when you're finished a month of training with them thrown in, you're a stronger runner. You get freaky fast.
Last year, I listened to my body when my knee said 'oh no' and when my head said 'again?'. Was good to take a step back. They say that you build up for three or four weeks, then take a week recovery. Well, there's nothing that goes against the idea of going hard for four or five years, and taking a year for recovery. That's what the end of this month feels like, like the end of an easy year. In fact, my mileage this year, probably targetted around 1875 miles, will be much lower than 2008 (2240 miles) or 2009 (2120 miles), though it'll higher than 2007's 1600 miles.
I see my return to speed as a year-long project. I don't know if I can get back to where I was in the fall of 2009, but it's also not my goal to get there by April or May. I want a decent, fast-paced spring marathon. Give me a sub 3:20 and I'll be ecstatic. I'll take that and build momentum in the summer. First step, 4 miles at LT, next week.
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