Nasty day today. It's sunny outside but deceptively so since we're under a wind advisory. Sustained winds of 30-40 mph. And, the local National Weather Service station has reported a wind gust of 57 mph. So, based on that and the weather forecast for the weekend (cool, wet, and windy), I decided to cross train today and do my long run tomorrow. Even so, my 4-mile (brisk would be an understatement) walk was an adventure. I believe that the worst thing about running in Hog Heaven in late winter/early spring is the wind. It seems that it's seldom less than 10-15 mph and as likely as not 15+ mph. Instead of complaining, I guess I should file this under, "What doesn't kill me makes me stronger." The Weather Service promises relatively light (10 mph) winds, sunshine, and mild temps for tomorrow. Carpe diem.
Someone who read my post about iPods (http://runningthrutwenty12.blogspot.com/2012/02/steve-jobs-runners-bff.html.) asked how long I had been running. Here is my admittedly whimsical answer: Back then,
There was no such thing as personal computers. Only universities, big businesses, and the government had computers. They took up entire rooms--wall to wall, floor to ceiling--and you got them to work by feeding them punch cards.
Nintendo was monopoly or checkers. Played on a board. With clunky plastic game pieces. And, they were only brought out if it was raining or dark outside. Otherwise, we were outside running, jumping, climbing trees, playing ball.
Nobody carried around a telephone except in science fiction. They were installed, perhaps on a kitchen counter, and stayed there. If you had an extra-long cord connecting the handset to the base, you could talk in the dining room.
Television was NBC, CBS, ABC, and PBS. Three 30-minute nightly newscasts. No 24/7 sports networks. Married couples slept in separate beds. Honest. George Carlin didn't curse, but Johnny Carson smoked.
Johnny Carson? Johnny Carson was bigger than Letterman, Leno, Kimmel, and Conan combined. Carson was King of Late Night. None of these guys are even princes.
Paul Newman was Brad Pitt. Only cooler. When he wasn't acting, he drove race cars and sold salad dressing.
All four Beatles were alive.
Only sailors had tattoos.
Natalie Wood was Rooney Mara. Only prettier.
Once the king, Elvis was a parody, not yet a legend.
Reality was what you lived, not what you saw on television.
If someone mentioned Honda, they were likely talking about motorcycles, not cars.
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide was the national champion in football. Well, some things don't change.
This could go on and on but you get the idea. If you're still reading and would like a serious look at my start as a runner, check out this: http://www.military.com/opinion/0,15202,167148,00.html
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
Out of gas
With most of the snow from last week's storm gone and bright sunshine streaming through the east-facing windows, it looked almost spring-like outside this morning. Appearances can be deceiving though. Sometimes you have to step outside to experience reality. With an air temp of 26 degrees and gusty northwest winds producing a wind chill of +13, outside reality quickly trumped inside hope. Reminding us once again that hope is more fragile than Humpty Dumpty.
After cross training yesterday, I put in a solid 90 minutes of running this morning. I wore my Brooks PureFlow for only the second time and really enjoyed them. They fit great, and best of all, have ample room in the forefoot. They also seem to encourage a faster turnover. The big test is durability and can't be known for quite a while. But, for now, I'm a happy Brooks camper.
The highlight of this week is a 24-mile long run, but until the weather picture comes into clearer focus, I don't know when that will be--somewhere between Friday and Sunday. Between now and then, I have a couple of days of maintenance runs and a couple of days of cross training. Stay tuned.
With gas prices on the rise--headed to $4 and higher according to the experts--I'm rethinking my racing plans for 2012. It's not that I can't afford the gasoline, it's that I don't want to afford it. Despite the speculators, oil prices (and that of derivatives like gasoline) eventually obey the law of supply and demand. So, if we don't like the high prices, we need to drive less. Ultimately, that will bring down prices. Plus, there's the environmental benefit of less oil/gas consumption.
I'm already signed up for the Colorado Marathon and have a room reserved in Ft. Collins. Not to mention, I've been training for a couple of months now. So, despite the run-up in gas prices, I'm going. It's 843 miles from my garage to Ft. Collins--1686 miles round-trip. My Honda CR-V gets about 25 mpg on the road. So, that's 67.44 gallons of gas. If the price is $4 by May 1 as many analysts are predicting, that's $269.76. Ouch! And, I keep telling everyone that running is an inexpensive activity.
But, my resolve not to encourage the oil companies by driving unnecessary miles means that I won't be signing up for the Pikes Peak Ascent in Manitou Springs in August. It also means that I'm leaning against running the North Face Endurance Challenge in Madison, Wisc., in September. Madison--actually Kettle Moraine State Park--is much closer to my home here in Hog Heaven than Colorado, but it's still 360 miles round-trip. That's not chopped liver. And, it's not like there aren't comparable events close to home.
Like my home-town marathon: the Quad-Cities Marathon. On September 23. See here for more information: http://qcmarathon.org/
The race features a flat, fast, and scenic course that crosses and re-crosses the Mississippi River from the start in Illinois to Iowa and back to the finish in Illinois. The marathon itself--there's also a half-marathon and 5K--attracts a respectable field of around 700 so it's large enough to be competitive but not overly crowded. And, the community support is excellent.
I haven't decided to sign up for the Quad-Cities Marathon, but I'm leaning that way. It just seems like the smart thing to do.
After cross training yesterday, I put in a solid 90 minutes of running this morning. I wore my Brooks PureFlow for only the second time and really enjoyed them. They fit great, and best of all, have ample room in the forefoot. They also seem to encourage a faster turnover. The big test is durability and can't be known for quite a while. But, for now, I'm a happy Brooks camper.
The highlight of this week is a 24-mile long run, but until the weather picture comes into clearer focus, I don't know when that will be--somewhere between Friday and Sunday. Between now and then, I have a couple of days of maintenance runs and a couple of days of cross training. Stay tuned.
With gas prices on the rise--headed to $4 and higher according to the experts--I'm rethinking my racing plans for 2012. It's not that I can't afford the gasoline, it's that I don't want to afford it. Despite the speculators, oil prices (and that of derivatives like gasoline) eventually obey the law of supply and demand. So, if we don't like the high prices, we need to drive less. Ultimately, that will bring down prices. Plus, there's the environmental benefit of less oil/gas consumption.
I'm already signed up for the Colorado Marathon and have a room reserved in Ft. Collins. Not to mention, I've been training for a couple of months now. So, despite the run-up in gas prices, I'm going. It's 843 miles from my garage to Ft. Collins--1686 miles round-trip. My Honda CR-V gets about 25 mpg on the road. So, that's 67.44 gallons of gas. If the price is $4 by May 1 as many analysts are predicting, that's $269.76. Ouch! And, I keep telling everyone that running is an inexpensive activity.
But, my resolve not to encourage the oil companies by driving unnecessary miles means that I won't be signing up for the Pikes Peak Ascent in Manitou Springs in August. It also means that I'm leaning against running the North Face Endurance Challenge in Madison, Wisc., in September. Madison--actually Kettle Moraine State Park--is much closer to my home here in Hog Heaven than Colorado, but it's still 360 miles round-trip. That's not chopped liver. And, it's not like there aren't comparable events close to home.
Like my home-town marathon: the Quad-Cities Marathon. On September 23. See here for more information: http://qcmarathon.org/
The race features a flat, fast, and scenic course that crosses and re-crosses the Mississippi River from the start in Illinois to Iowa and back to the finish in Illinois. The marathon itself--there's also a half-marathon and 5K--attracts a respectable field of around 700 so it's large enough to be competitive but not overly crowded. And, the community support is excellent.
I haven't decided to sign up for the Quad-Cities Marathon, but I'm leaning that way. It just seems like the smart thing to do.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
The wages of inactivity.
It's back! Winter that is. After dodging the snow Wednesday night and Thursday, we awoke here in Hog Heaven on Friday morning with an estimated 4 inches of wet, heavy snow. I don't like it, but I'm trying to be positive. The moisture content will be good for the lawn and trees. More importantly, it'll be good for the farmers. And, Iowa farmers feed the world.
Despite the slushy mess, I managed to get in a brisk 4-mile walk. I had to stay in the streets though since most people hadn't shoveled yet. That's understandable since most of the snow fell overnight. What's not are those sidewalks that will still be snow-covered on Monday morning.
Today (Saturday) dawned cold but sunny. It was still only 17 when I went out running. Add in brisk northwest winds and the wind chill temp was +3. But, once I got going, I warmed up pretty quickly. The idea was to do an hour run and I ended up doing an hour-and-a-half. I need to quash this exuberance before it quashes me. It's still a long way until May 6.
Anyway, tomorrow is cross training. Next week's schedule calls for three maintenance runs leading up to a long run next weekend--this time 24 miles.
While out walking Friday morning, I saw a guy back his car down to his mailbox, stuff an envelope into the box, raise the flag, and . . . drive back into his garage. I was shocked, but I shouldn't have been. I grew up across the street from a guy who backed down his driveway every day to get his mail. I kid you not. We lived beside a church, so he lived across the street from the church. Maybe 100 yards from his sidewalk to the front door of the church. He drove to church every Sunday morning. Rain or shine. We laughed at him but it really wasn't funny. There's an epidemic of obesity and diabetes in this country, and lack of exercise is part of the problem.
Speaking of which: Few people in our neighborhood remove their own snow. Don't even mention shoveling. My wife and I shovel. A double-wide driveway and 100 feet of sidewalk. Always have. One of our neighbors uses a snow blower. Everybody else, within sight of our house anyway, hires someone to plow their driveway. Plow. A big honking truck with a blade on the front. And, these aren't all older folks. Most are in their 40s and 50s. Some have teenage children. What are they thinking?
The same people have someone come by once a week during the summer and mow their grass. On a riding mower. Even the people doing the work get no exercise. My 86-year-old mother does her own yard work. All of it. Maybe that's why she's 86 and fitter than most of my neighbors. Just saying.
Despite the slushy mess, I managed to get in a brisk 4-mile walk. I had to stay in the streets though since most people hadn't shoveled yet. That's understandable since most of the snow fell overnight. What's not are those sidewalks that will still be snow-covered on Monday morning.
Today (Saturday) dawned cold but sunny. It was still only 17 when I went out running. Add in brisk northwest winds and the wind chill temp was +3. But, once I got going, I warmed up pretty quickly. The idea was to do an hour run and I ended up doing an hour-and-a-half. I need to quash this exuberance before it quashes me. It's still a long way until May 6.
Anyway, tomorrow is cross training. Next week's schedule calls for three maintenance runs leading up to a long run next weekend--this time 24 miles.
While out walking Friday morning, I saw a guy back his car down to his mailbox, stuff an envelope into the box, raise the flag, and . . . drive back into his garage. I was shocked, but I shouldn't have been. I grew up across the street from a guy who backed down his driveway every day to get his mail. I kid you not. We lived beside a church, so he lived across the street from the church. Maybe 100 yards from his sidewalk to the front door of the church. He drove to church every Sunday morning. Rain or shine. We laughed at him but it really wasn't funny. There's an epidemic of obesity and diabetes in this country, and lack of exercise is part of the problem.
Speaking of which: Few people in our neighborhood remove their own snow. Don't even mention shoveling. My wife and I shovel. A double-wide driveway and 100 feet of sidewalk. Always have. One of our neighbors uses a snow blower. Everybody else, within sight of our house anyway, hires someone to plow their driveway. Plow. A big honking truck with a blade on the front. And, these aren't all older folks. Most are in their 40s and 50s. Some have teenage children. What are they thinking?
The same people have someone come by once a week during the summer and mow their grass. On a riding mower. Even the people doing the work get no exercise. My 86-year-old mother does her own yard work. All of it. Maybe that's why she's 86 and fitter than most of my neighbors. Just saying.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Two 2012 Marathons to savor
The snow storm that pummeled Colorado last night was predicted to be here in Hog Heaven by this morning. But, I awoke to . . . light rain. To celebrate, I did a hill workout: 6 x .5 mile (4% grade) at 5K effort. Darn near 5K pace which surprised me. A hill workout so soon after my last long run (22 miles last Saturday) might not have been the smartest thing, but I felt fine and wanted a hard effort today. So, we'll see how it goes. I'll do cross training tomorrow and likely run a slow and easy 7 miles on Saturday.
BTW: The snow has just been delayed. The Weather Service is still predicting 2-4 inches overnight tonight. But, one week from today will be March. And, March usually brings spring even in Hog Heaven.
I'm counting down the days 'til spring and to the May 6 Colorado Marathon. I'm actually excited about two marathons this year: the Colorado Marathon where I'll be trying to improve on my recent marathon times and the Olympic Marathon in London: August 5 for the women and August 12 for the men. If you haven't seen it yet, here's a link to the Olympic marathon course: http://www.london2012.com/documents/general/london-2012-marathon-route-map.pdf
The course starts (and finishes) on the Mall near Buckingham Palace and runs through central London, much of the way along the Thames River. The organizers selected the route for its scenery and it passes Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, and Nelson's Column, among other London landmarks. Whether the runners notice or not, it should be an interesting route for television viewers.
For a preview of the front of the men's pack at the Olympics, watch the results of the April 22 London Marathon. All the prominent Kenyans--who won all six of the Marathon Majors in 2011--will be there including world record holder Patrick Makau. If the Kenyans should falter, their fellow east Africans should benefit. I wouldn't be surprised if the Olympic medalists didn't come exclusively from east Africa: Kenya, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. Yes, tiny Eritrea. Three of the top twelve marathoners in the world come from there.
The African women should be strong in London, but the rest of the world has a better shot than in the men's race. My favorites are Kenyans Mary Keitany and Florence Kiplagat, but there are a number of women from outside Africa who could surprise. I continue to believe that American Shalane Flanagan has a shot at a medal. The home town favorite, of course, will be world record holder Paula Radcliffe. But, Radcliffe has a history of faltering in the Olympics (dropping out in 2004 and finishing 23rd in 2008) and she is 38-years-old.
Bring it on!
BTW: The snow has just been delayed. The Weather Service is still predicting 2-4 inches overnight tonight. But, one week from today will be March. And, March usually brings spring even in Hog Heaven.
I'm counting down the days 'til spring and to the May 6 Colorado Marathon. I'm actually excited about two marathons this year: the Colorado Marathon where I'll be trying to improve on my recent marathon times and the Olympic Marathon in London: August 5 for the women and August 12 for the men. If you haven't seen it yet, here's a link to the Olympic marathon course: http://www.london2012.com/documents/general/london-2012-marathon-route-map.pdf
The course starts (and finishes) on the Mall near Buckingham Palace and runs through central London, much of the way along the Thames River. The organizers selected the route for its scenery and it passes Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral, and Nelson's Column, among other London landmarks. Whether the runners notice or not, it should be an interesting route for television viewers.
For a preview of the front of the men's pack at the Olympics, watch the results of the April 22 London Marathon. All the prominent Kenyans--who won all six of the Marathon Majors in 2011--will be there including world record holder Patrick Makau. If the Kenyans should falter, their fellow east Africans should benefit. I wouldn't be surprised if the Olympic medalists didn't come exclusively from east Africa: Kenya, Ethiopia, and Eritrea. Yes, tiny Eritrea. Three of the top twelve marathoners in the world come from there.
The African women should be strong in London, but the rest of the world has a better shot than in the men's race. My favorites are Kenyans Mary Keitany and Florence Kiplagat, but there are a number of women from outside Africa who could surprise. I continue to believe that American Shalane Flanagan has a shot at a medal. The home town favorite, of course, will be world record holder Paula Radcliffe. But, Radcliffe has a history of faltering in the Olympics (dropping out in 2004 and finishing 23rd in 2008) and she is 38-years-old.
Bring it on!
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
In baseball, a marathon is 360 ft.
Mother Nature reminded us that it's still winter here in Hog Heaven with a dollop of snow overnight. Fortunately, it didn't stick around for long as temps warmed into the upper 30s. The sun even made an appearance but not before I'd finished my morning run. I went out for a one-hour run, but ended up doing 7 miles. Felt good and kept going. Time will tell whether that was a good idea or not. Anyway, tomorrow is cross training. I'll either do a hill workout or a one-hour maintenance run Thursday. Cross train on Friday. That sets me up for a speed workout on Saturday. The Weather Service has put rain back in Sunday's forecast, and I've decided that rain or shine I'm skipping the Chili Chase 4-Mile.
Since I don't run with an iPod (see here: http://runningthrutwenty12.blogspot.com/2012/02/steve-jobs-runners-bff.html), I have to think about something to pass the time. This morning, I thought about baseball. Baseball was my first athletic passion in life and remains an interest. At some point, running replaced baseball as my primary athletic passion. It matters that I can still run, but I can't still play baseball. In fact, I even gave up slow-pitch softball long ago. But, I continue to follow baseball. I don't have the patience to watch baseball on television--except for "Baseball Tonight"--but I like to get out to a couple of games every season. Mostly the local minor league franchise. I did see the Mariners last year while visiting my son in Seattle. Nice stadium, boring team. Except for Ichiro.
So, what got me to thinking about baseball in February? Well, in Iowa it's February. In Florida and Arizona, it's spring. As in Spring Training. Training camp are open, pitchers and catchers have reported, and position players will all be in camp soon. Kind of like the robins returning to Hog Heaven.
I know what you're thinking: Why baseball on a running blog? Well, baseball and running have some things in common. Both are best done outdoors. And, both require running. The difference is in the amount. Running is 100% running. Unless you're following Jeff Galloway (Marathon: You Can Do It!), in which case it's not. Baseball players usually run 90 feet at a time--the distance between bases. The most that a player runs without a rest stop is 360 feet and that only on the rare occasion of an inside-the-park-home run. A marathoner, on the other hand, must run 138,336 feet. To be fair, a marathoner doesn't have to hit a projectile streaking toward him/her at 98 mph.
I don't have a favorite team. I grew up as a Yankees fan. Two words: Mickey Mantle. I stopped liking the Yankees after the Mick retired. While I don't have a single favorite team, there are several teams that I actively root against: the Cubs, Red Sox, Mets, Brewers and Tigers to name five. I tend to like smart teams that get the most out of what they have: Tampa Bay and Minnesota, for example. I like teams with great pitching: Giants, Phillies, Texas. It's early, but I'm picking two of those teams--Philadelphia and Texas--for the 2012 World Series.
The Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues kick off on February 29. The regular season begins March 28 with Seattle taking on Oakland in Tokyo. Opening Day for the other clubs is either April 5 or 6.
Play ball!
Since I don't run with an iPod (see here: http://runningthrutwenty12.blogspot.com/2012/02/steve-jobs-runners-bff.html), I have to think about something to pass the time. This morning, I thought about baseball. Baseball was my first athletic passion in life and remains an interest. At some point, running replaced baseball as my primary athletic passion. It matters that I can still run, but I can't still play baseball. In fact, I even gave up slow-pitch softball long ago. But, I continue to follow baseball. I don't have the patience to watch baseball on television--except for "Baseball Tonight"--but I like to get out to a couple of games every season. Mostly the local minor league franchise. I did see the Mariners last year while visiting my son in Seattle. Nice stadium, boring team. Except for Ichiro.
So, what got me to thinking about baseball in February? Well, in Iowa it's February. In Florida and Arizona, it's spring. As in Spring Training. Training camp are open, pitchers and catchers have reported, and position players will all be in camp soon. Kind of like the robins returning to Hog Heaven.
I know what you're thinking: Why baseball on a running blog? Well, baseball and running have some things in common. Both are best done outdoors. And, both require running. The difference is in the amount. Running is 100% running. Unless you're following Jeff Galloway (Marathon: You Can Do It!), in which case it's not. Baseball players usually run 90 feet at a time--the distance between bases. The most that a player runs without a rest stop is 360 feet and that only on the rare occasion of an inside-the-park-home run. A marathoner, on the other hand, must run 138,336 feet. To be fair, a marathoner doesn't have to hit a projectile streaking toward him/her at 98 mph.
I don't have a favorite team. I grew up as a Yankees fan. Two words: Mickey Mantle. I stopped liking the Yankees after the Mick retired. While I don't have a single favorite team, there are several teams that I actively root against: the Cubs, Red Sox, Mets, Brewers and Tigers to name five. I tend to like smart teams that get the most out of what they have: Tampa Bay and Minnesota, for example. I like teams with great pitching: Giants, Phillies, Texas. It's early, but I'm picking two of those teams--Philadelphia and Texas--for the 2012 World Series.
The Grapefruit and Cactus Leagues kick off on February 29. The regular season begins March 28 with Seattle taking on Oakland in Tokyo. Opening Day for the other clubs is either April 5 or 6.
Play ball!
Monday, February 20, 2012
Flowing Along
Another nice late-winter day here in Hog Heaven. It was 30 degrees with bright sunshine when I stepped outside for my morning run. Today was a one-hour recovery/maintenance run following Saturday's long run and Sunday's cross training. I felt okay with just a hint of soreness in my quads. I fully expect that even that will be gone by tomorrow. This will be mostly a maintenance week with additional one-hour runs tomorrow and Thursday and cross training on Wednesday and Friday. I'll end the week with a session of speed training on either Saturday or Sunday. Sunday if the weather cooperates since there's a local race--Chili Chase 4-Mile--on Sunday that I'd like to do. If inclement weather is forecast for Sunday, I'll do my speed work--6 x 1-mile--on Saturday. Stay tuned.
At the Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon Expo last November, I picked up (euphemism for bought) a pair of newly-released Brooks PureFlow shoes. The PureProject series includes four shoes: PureConnect, PureFlow, PureCadence, and PureGrit. The Connect is the most minimal of the four and weighs in at 7.2 oz. The Flow adds more support and cushioning and weighs in at 8.7 oz. The Cadence is the heaviest at 9.5 oz. and offers the most support and cushioning. The Grit weighs 8.9 oz. and is the trail version of the collection.
I ran in the Flow for the first time today and was impressed. I liked the light weigh and found the cushioning and support adequate. The ride seemed especially smooth. I like to keep my feet close to the ground, and the Flow facilitated that. Another of my goals is to increase turnover, and the Flow also appeared to help in that regard. Perhaps the biggest positive for me is the ample toe box. My feet are wide at the forefoot and are cramped in most shoes. I'm always battling blisters and calluses. I don't think that's going to be a problem with Flow.
So, my initial impression of the PureFlow is favorable. Maybe even enthusiastic. Certainly hopeful. But, it is a first impression and comes with several caveats: 1) running shoe flaws have a way of materializing over time, 2) the issue of durability--and given the cost of running shoes, it's a big one--can't be answered after a single six-mile training run, and 3) no running shoe works for everybody.
As I use the Flow more--including hill workouts, speed training, and long runs--I'll report back on my experience. With luck, I won't have to backtrack.
At the Amica Insurance Seattle Marathon Expo last November, I picked up (euphemism for bought) a pair of newly-released Brooks PureFlow shoes. The PureProject series includes four shoes: PureConnect, PureFlow, PureCadence, and PureGrit. The Connect is the most minimal of the four and weighs in at 7.2 oz. The Flow adds more support and cushioning and weighs in at 8.7 oz. The Cadence is the heaviest at 9.5 oz. and offers the most support and cushioning. The Grit weighs 8.9 oz. and is the trail version of the collection.
I ran in the Flow for the first time today and was impressed. I liked the light weigh and found the cushioning and support adequate. The ride seemed especially smooth. I like to keep my feet close to the ground, and the Flow facilitated that. Another of my goals is to increase turnover, and the Flow also appeared to help in that regard. Perhaps the biggest positive for me is the ample toe box. My feet are wide at the forefoot and are cramped in most shoes. I'm always battling blisters and calluses. I don't think that's going to be a problem with Flow.
So, my initial impression of the PureFlow is favorable. Maybe even enthusiastic. Certainly hopeful. But, it is a first impression and comes with several caveats: 1) running shoe flaws have a way of materializing over time, 2) the issue of durability--and given the cost of running shoes, it's a big one--can't be answered after a single six-mile training run, and 3) no running shoe works for everybody.
As I use the Flow more--including hill workouts, speed training, and long runs--I'll report back on my experience. With luck, I won't have to backtrack.
Saturday, February 18, 2012
LSD Logistics
Today was LSD. 22.02 miles. And, it was a grind. You just never know. My last long run--20 miles a couple of weeks ago--was about as comfortable as 20 miles can be. I felt good to the end and easily could have gone farther. Today, however, was a grind from the start. I hung in there and got it done though. The hopeful thing is that I ran the 22nd mile only twelve seconds slower than the fastest mile. Of course, a good portion of the final mile was downhill. (I can't decide what I'm going to like best about the Colorado Marathon: the gorgeous scenery or the gradual downhill course.) I can't blame the weather. Today is another Chamber of Commerce late winter day in Hog Heaven: high temp in the lower 40s with brilliant sunshine and light winds. Tomorrow is cross training: a 3/4 mile recovery walk. I'll be on the lookout for residual fatigue and some soreness in the quads.
Unsupported long runs (as most training runs are) present a logistics problem. To avoid bonking or worse, runners must hydrate and eat along the way. You can usually carry enough food, but water is a different story. Here's what I do. The period between May 1 and October 31 is no problem for me hydration-wise. We have lots of city parks and they all have fountains. I just plan my route to pass through a park every hour or so, and I carry a 10 oz. water bottle to refill at each park. During the cold season, however, the park fountains are turned off. Otherwise, they'd freeze here in Hog Heaven. What I do is put water bottles in my mailbox and loop past the house every hour or so. That gets boring but that's life in the winter. I chop energy bars into bite-size pieces (c. 30/40 calories each, one for every two miles), put the pieces into a plastic bag, and stuff the bag into a pocket. Summer and winter. I eat yogurt and a banana and wash it down with a cup of coffee before leaving the house. Thus fortified, I don't eat again until around mile six. Thereafter, I eat a piece of energy bar every two miles. It seems to work for me.
I keep waiting to get stopped by the cops. Think about it: Here's this guy running down an empty suburban street. He suddenly stops, opens a mailbox, and grabs what's inside. Then, he runs off. What's a motorist who witnesses such behavior to think? Most of my neighbors would recognize me, and while they might wonder what I was up to this time, they'd let it pass. But, a random motorist might decide to do his/her good deed for the day and alert the authorities. "Yes, I'd like to report a robbery. On Hobgoblin Road. A man on foot took something from a mailbox and ran off. He's dressed in a black outfit and he headed north." Try explaining that when you're on the ground with your hands behind your back.
Last summer, it was unseasonably hot and humid here. For my long runs, I'd try to get out by 4:00 in the morning when it was still pitch dark. Even in the suburbs, running in the dark can be eerie. Perhaps, especially in the suburbs since there's not much moving around at that time. Not even other idiots like me. A couple of times, I saw the paper carrier driving slowing through the neighborhood. It's nice to have company. Around dawn, lights would begin to flicker on in houses, and before long, a few cars would appear on the streets. I actually began to enjoy being out so early and watching the day begin. Of course, early morning runs mean afternoon naps. Whoever said "Living well is the best revenge," probably just woke up from an afternoon nap.
Unsupported long runs (as most training runs are) present a logistics problem. To avoid bonking or worse, runners must hydrate and eat along the way. You can usually carry enough food, but water is a different story. Here's what I do. The period between May 1 and October 31 is no problem for me hydration-wise. We have lots of city parks and they all have fountains. I just plan my route to pass through a park every hour or so, and I carry a 10 oz. water bottle to refill at each park. During the cold season, however, the park fountains are turned off. Otherwise, they'd freeze here in Hog Heaven. What I do is put water bottles in my mailbox and loop past the house every hour or so. That gets boring but that's life in the winter. I chop energy bars into bite-size pieces (c. 30/40 calories each, one for every two miles), put the pieces into a plastic bag, and stuff the bag into a pocket. Summer and winter. I eat yogurt and a banana and wash it down with a cup of coffee before leaving the house. Thus fortified, I don't eat again until around mile six. Thereafter, I eat a piece of energy bar every two miles. It seems to work for me.
I keep waiting to get stopped by the cops. Think about it: Here's this guy running down an empty suburban street. He suddenly stops, opens a mailbox, and grabs what's inside. Then, he runs off. What's a motorist who witnesses such behavior to think? Most of my neighbors would recognize me, and while they might wonder what I was up to this time, they'd let it pass. But, a random motorist might decide to do his/her good deed for the day and alert the authorities. "Yes, I'd like to report a robbery. On Hobgoblin Road. A man on foot took something from a mailbox and ran off. He's dressed in a black outfit and he headed north." Try explaining that when you're on the ground with your hands behind your back.
Last summer, it was unseasonably hot and humid here. For my long runs, I'd try to get out by 4:00 in the morning when it was still pitch dark. Even in the suburbs, running in the dark can be eerie. Perhaps, especially in the suburbs since there's not much moving around at that time. Not even other idiots like me. A couple of times, I saw the paper carrier driving slowing through the neighborhood. It's nice to have company. Around dawn, lights would begin to flicker on in houses, and before long, a few cars would appear on the streets. I actually began to enjoy being out so early and watching the day begin. Of course, early morning runs mean afternoon naps. Whoever said "Living well is the best revenge," probably just woke up from an afternoon nap.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
The Naked Truth about Nude Running
It just keeps getting better. This winter's weather that is. Today is another gorgeous late-winter day: high temp in the 40s with abundant sunshine. The only negative is a stiff northwest breeze, but that can be ignored unless you're running into it. I did an easy one-hour maintenance run--my final run before this weekend's 22-mile long run. I still haven't settled on a day--either Saturday or Sunday. Tomorrow is cross training. I prefer to do the long run on Saturday, but I'll let the weather dictate the date. Right now, Sunday looks to have an advantage, but it's slight. Mostly a difference in wind speed. That's not enough to change my mind. So, unless the forecast changes, it'll be Saturday. Stay tuned.
Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit issue came yesterday. I don't subscribe to the magazine, but my wife brings it home from her dental office. Not just the swimsuit issue. Every issue. Of course, I read it--the swimsuit issue--for the articles. The truth is that there's not much in the way of sports' writing--or any other writing--in the issue. It's mostly nearly-naked--or naked in the case of the models wearing nothing but paint--women in exotic locations strutting their stuff. And, I guess SI is to be commended for not pretending the issue is something it's not. This is about s-e-x. Pure and simple. Sex is used to sell almost everything else, so why not sports? Or, at least, sports' magazines.
I subscribe to two magazines: Trail Runner and Backpacker. To my knowledge, neither of them has done a swimsuit issue. But, in its latest issue (March 2012), Trail Runner does have an article on nude racing in which they promise to reveal "The Naked Truth" on the subject. Of course, this kind of thing invites bad puns. If not bad runs. Maybe this is why the editors call Trail Runner "One Dirty Magazine." Or, not.
Among other things, Jen Burn, the author, introduces us to Sue and Gary Butts--yeah, I know--who run a series of clothing-optional events along the east coast. The piece even includes a sampling of nude events including the Bouncing Buns 7K Trail Run in Pennsylvania.
I can't see myself racing naked. The world's not ready for that. But, with naked runners in the field, I bet there'd be less crowding at the starting line. But, before you conclude that nude racing is for you, you need to answer one question: Where do you pin the race number?
Sports Illustrated's annual swimsuit issue came yesterday. I don't subscribe to the magazine, but my wife brings it home from her dental office. Not just the swimsuit issue. Every issue. Of course, I read it--the swimsuit issue--for the articles. The truth is that there's not much in the way of sports' writing--or any other writing--in the issue. It's mostly nearly-naked--or naked in the case of the models wearing nothing but paint--women in exotic locations strutting their stuff. And, I guess SI is to be commended for not pretending the issue is something it's not. This is about s-e-x. Pure and simple. Sex is used to sell almost everything else, so why not sports? Or, at least, sports' magazines.
I subscribe to two magazines: Trail Runner and Backpacker. To my knowledge, neither of them has done a swimsuit issue. But, in its latest issue (March 2012), Trail Runner does have an article on nude racing in which they promise to reveal "The Naked Truth" on the subject. Of course, this kind of thing invites bad puns. If not bad runs. Maybe this is why the editors call Trail Runner "One Dirty Magazine." Or, not.
Among other things, Jen Burn, the author, introduces us to Sue and Gary Butts--yeah, I know--who run a series of clothing-optional events along the east coast. The piece even includes a sampling of nude events including the Bouncing Buns 7K Trail Run in Pennsylvania.
I can't see myself racing naked. The world's not ready for that. But, with naked runners in the field, I bet there'd be less crowding at the starting line. But, before you conclude that nude racing is for you, you need to answer one question: Where do you pin the race number?
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
R.I.P. 2160 Trail
Today is a nice winter day. Despite some clouds, the temp is a relatively comfortable 35 degrees and the wind is light. I set out for a one-hour maintenance run and ended up doing an hour-and-a-half. Obviously I felt good, but I probably should dial back the exuberance. It's still too early in the season for that. Anyway, if Saturday's 22-mile long run goes off as planned, this will be my first 40-mile week in the train-up to the Colorado Marathon.
Yesterday, I hit 500 miles on my ASICS GT-2160 Trail shoes. My usual rule--probably as a result of being brainwashed by the shoe companies and their agents at the running magazines like Runners World--is to discard any shoe that makes it intact to 500 miles of service. The truth is that few running shoes are that durable--at least in my experience. I love the ASICS GT-2100 series because of their durability, and even though I'm trying to move to a more minimalistic shoe, the GT-2160 (road and trail versions) continues to be my go-to training shoe. I'm thinking of giving the Saucony ProGrid Guide 5 a try though. It is lighter than the GT-2170 (the latest iteration of the GT-2100 series) and has a smaller heel-to-forefoot differential yet still offers decent cushioning. Whether it is as durable as the GT-2100 series shoes is another question.
I never completely retire running shoes that appear to have life left in them. They get a second life as yard-work shoes. Waste not, want not.
I say that, but some runners--even elite runners--make me feel like a wastrel. I was watching "Unbreakable," a documentary on the 2010 Western States 100 ultra marathon a couple of days ago and couldn't help but notice elite ultra runner Antony Krepicka's training shoes. They were gnarly. What's more, he was shown repairing/altering them by shearing off part of the soul with a knife. Here's a guy who likely gets all the free shoes he wants and he's wearing these hacked up, beaten down shoes. Plus, he runs 150+ miles per week without injury. Go figure. Maybe my 500-mile rule is too arbitrary. Just saying . . .
Speaking of shoes: In addition to the Saucony ProGrid Guide 5, I'm also considering a new trail show, the ASICS Gel-Fuji Racer, and a couple of training shoes: the Altra Instinct for the road and the forthcoming (Fall 2012) Inov-8 Trailroc series for the trail. I've never run in either Altra or Inov-8 shoes, but I've heard good things about them and would like to try them one day. You never know when you're going to find another Mr. Good Shoe!
Yesterday, I hit 500 miles on my ASICS GT-2160 Trail shoes. My usual rule--probably as a result of being brainwashed by the shoe companies and their agents at the running magazines like Runners World--is to discard any shoe that makes it intact to 500 miles of service. The truth is that few running shoes are that durable--at least in my experience. I love the ASICS GT-2100 series because of their durability, and even though I'm trying to move to a more minimalistic shoe, the GT-2160 (road and trail versions) continues to be my go-to training shoe. I'm thinking of giving the Saucony ProGrid Guide 5 a try though. It is lighter than the GT-2170 (the latest iteration of the GT-2100 series) and has a smaller heel-to-forefoot differential yet still offers decent cushioning. Whether it is as durable as the GT-2100 series shoes is another question.
I never completely retire running shoes that appear to have life left in them. They get a second life as yard-work shoes. Waste not, want not.
I say that, but some runners--even elite runners--make me feel like a wastrel. I was watching "Unbreakable," a documentary on the 2010 Western States 100 ultra marathon a couple of days ago and couldn't help but notice elite ultra runner Antony Krepicka's training shoes. They were gnarly. What's more, he was shown repairing/altering them by shearing off part of the soul with a knife. Here's a guy who likely gets all the free shoes he wants and he's wearing these hacked up, beaten down shoes. Plus, he runs 150+ miles per week without injury. Go figure. Maybe my 500-mile rule is too arbitrary. Just saying . . .
Speaking of shoes: In addition to the Saucony ProGrid Guide 5, I'm also considering a new trail show, the ASICS Gel-Fuji Racer, and a couple of training shoes: the Altra Instinct for the road and the forthcoming (Fall 2012) Inov-8 Trailroc series for the trail. I've never run in either Altra or Inov-8 shoes, but I've heard good things about them and would like to try them one day. You never know when you're going to find another Mr. Good Shoe!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Does size matter?
Say it ain't snow. It started to snow while I was on my first cup of coffee this morning. The snow was (and still is as I write this) light, but that's like putting lipstick on a pig. It's still snow. The Weather Service is predicting 2-3 inches between now and tomorrow morning. Another nuisance. Likely too much to ignore and wait for warmer temps.
Since I'm adjusting my schedule to run long on Saturday (and not Sunday), I did a one-hour recovery/maintenance run this morning instead of cross training. I've moved today's cross training to tomorrow. Although it was snowing when I ventured out, the wind was light and the temp was 28. So, not too bad at all. I set my cruise control on low and just enjoyed being out and about. For whatever reason, I always feel more virtuous after a run in inclement weather: snow, rain, bitterly cold, hot. What I should probably feel is foolish. But, for better or worse, I don't.
I noticed this news item recently and it set me to thinking: http://www.marathonguide.com/pressreleases/index.cfm?file=ChicagoMarathon_120206
Check it out and you'll find that the 2012 Chicago Marathon opened registration on Feb. 1 and closed on Feb. 6 when it reached its 45,000 limit. That's 45,000! That's not a marathon field. That's a small city.
I've been in a few races like that. Nothing that big, but big enough. Last October, I ran the Army 10-Miler. They closed registration in a matter of hours at 30,000. Now, that's impressive. I enjoyed the event, but I must admit that the crush of runners was not my favorite part. From start to finish, I was in a crowd. Even in the final mile, there were runners from curb to curb around me.
Some people love that and treat the race as a moving party. Nothing wrong with that. At least they're out there and moving. And, enjoying it. Here's another rule to live by: Never find fault when people are having fun doing something wholesome.
I can tolerate--and have a positive experience--in big crowds. But, most of the time, I prefer less intimacy. Last year at the Madison, Wisc., North Face Endurance Challenge 50K, there were times when I could not see another runner. Okay, it was a trail race and much of it single-track, but the solitude was nice.
One of the (many) things that I like about running is that it can be a solitary activity. I like people. I even love some people. But, I also like my space. And, plenty of it. I sometimes enjoy running with others, but only for a while. Most of the time, I like to run alone with my thoughts. Almost on auto-pilot.
It's hard to do that in races with huge fields. There's a local race here in Hog Heaven, the Quad-City Times Bix 7, that draws upwards of 20,000 runners. I've run it before but not in a long time. There are so many runners that you can't just relax and go. You're always braking for slower runners, looking for a crease, and speeding up to slip past. Only to slow down again. And, I'm not running that fast anymore!
I like marathons where the field begins to thin out pretty quickly and after several miles you've got your very own space. It's not exactly solitary. You overtake and pass runners and are overtaken and passed by others. After enough solitary miles, I'm even in the mood to chat briefly when passing or being passed. Maybe in my misery late in the marathon, the idea of company is more appealing.
Fortunately, there are all sorts of marathons out there. Big, little, and everything in between. So, everybody should be able to find their very own Goldilocks marathon. This spring, I'm running the Colorado Marathon. I'd say that it's "in between." It's capped at 1000 runners and fills up quickly. That should allow for plenty of room and relaxed running--just right for enjoying what looks like an incredibly scenic course.
There are lots of marathon calendars to help you choose. Here's one: http://www.marathonguide.com/races/races.cfm
Since I'm adjusting my schedule to run long on Saturday (and not Sunday), I did a one-hour recovery/maintenance run this morning instead of cross training. I've moved today's cross training to tomorrow. Although it was snowing when I ventured out, the wind was light and the temp was 28. So, not too bad at all. I set my cruise control on low and just enjoyed being out and about. For whatever reason, I always feel more virtuous after a run in inclement weather: snow, rain, bitterly cold, hot. What I should probably feel is foolish. But, for better or worse, I don't.
I noticed this news item recently and it set me to thinking: http://www.marathonguide.com/pressreleases/index.cfm?file=ChicagoMarathon_120206
Check it out and you'll find that the 2012 Chicago Marathon opened registration on Feb. 1 and closed on Feb. 6 when it reached its 45,000 limit. That's 45,000! That's not a marathon field. That's a small city.
I've been in a few races like that. Nothing that big, but big enough. Last October, I ran the Army 10-Miler. They closed registration in a matter of hours at 30,000. Now, that's impressive. I enjoyed the event, but I must admit that the crush of runners was not my favorite part. From start to finish, I was in a crowd. Even in the final mile, there were runners from curb to curb around me.
Some people love that and treat the race as a moving party. Nothing wrong with that. At least they're out there and moving. And, enjoying it. Here's another rule to live by: Never find fault when people are having fun doing something wholesome.
I can tolerate--and have a positive experience--in big crowds. But, most of the time, I prefer less intimacy. Last year at the Madison, Wisc., North Face Endurance Challenge 50K, there were times when I could not see another runner. Okay, it was a trail race and much of it single-track, but the solitude was nice.
One of the (many) things that I like about running is that it can be a solitary activity. I like people. I even love some people. But, I also like my space. And, plenty of it. I sometimes enjoy running with others, but only for a while. Most of the time, I like to run alone with my thoughts. Almost on auto-pilot.
It's hard to do that in races with huge fields. There's a local race here in Hog Heaven, the Quad-City Times Bix 7, that draws upwards of 20,000 runners. I've run it before but not in a long time. There are so many runners that you can't just relax and go. You're always braking for slower runners, looking for a crease, and speeding up to slip past. Only to slow down again. And, I'm not running that fast anymore!
I like marathons where the field begins to thin out pretty quickly and after several miles you've got your very own space. It's not exactly solitary. You overtake and pass runners and are overtaken and passed by others. After enough solitary miles, I'm even in the mood to chat briefly when passing or being passed. Maybe in my misery late in the marathon, the idea of company is more appealing.
Fortunately, there are all sorts of marathons out there. Big, little, and everything in between. So, everybody should be able to find their very own Goldilocks marathon. This spring, I'm running the Colorado Marathon. I'd say that it's "in between." It's capped at 1000 runners and fills up quickly. That should allow for plenty of room and relaxed running--just right for enjoying what looks like an incredibly scenic course.
There are lots of marathon calendars to help you choose. Here's one: http://www.marathonguide.com/races/races.cfm
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Inspiration and Ultras
Winter is still with us. Today dawned sunny, but that sunshine masked cold temps and blustery winds. Tomorrow promises worse as more snow is on the way. I figured that we'd get January sometime. It just happened to be in February. Alas.
Anyway, I braved the cold and wind and managed to complete my first speed session of the season. Considering the conditions, it went better than expected. Anyway, I keep reminding myself that foul winds blow on race day too. Conditions for both of my 2011 marathons were nasty: a cold rain and wind. Of course, both were in the Pacific Northwest. Go figure.
Following Jeff Galloway's advice (Marathon: You Can Do It!), I planned to run my 4 x 1 mile repeats at a 9:30 pace. As it turned out, I was closer to a 9:00 pace. But, I felt comfortable throughout, so I'm guessing that it wasn't too fast.
The focus of the upcoming week is a long run: 22/23 miles. I'm been checking the seven-day weather forecast and trying to pick out the best day for it. Right now, that looks like Saturday. So, I'll adjust the week's schedule with that in mind. Instead of cross training tomorrow, I'll do a slow-and-easy recovery/maintenance run of one hour.
I ate alone Friday night--leftovers!--and was thinking about my running/racing schedule following the May 6 Colorado Marathon. I've begun to narrow down my choices and am leaning toward either the Pikes Peak Ascent in August or the Madison, Wisc. North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Mile in September. Since I was spending the evening alone--the wife was out with colleagues--I watched two running videos: the race video from the 2011 Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon and "Unbreakable," a documentary about the 2010 Western States 100. My wife also is a runner, and watched these with me the first time. But, I know better than to suggest a reprise to her. So, her absence worked for both of us. For earlier comments about "Unbreakable," see here: http://runningthrutwenty12.blogspot.com/2012/01/just-for-hill-of-it.html
Both videos are great advertisements for their races, but "Unbreakable" is especially inspirational. I don't watch many things twice, but I've now seen it twice and expect I'll see it several more times. When you watch something a second, third, etc. time, you notice new things each time. The first time I watched "Unbreakable," I was drawn to the drama of the race among the top contenders--Anton Krepicka, Geoff Roes, Hal Koerner, and Kilian Jornet--the back stories of the four runners, and the remarkable scenery. This latest time, I was struck by the gonzo sound track.
Another takeaway from a second viewing is a deeper appreciation for the four main contenders. On the first viewing, I marveled at their self-discipline, competitive spirit, and heart (as in courage). I saw those traits the second time too, but I also saw in many ways the antithesis of the modern professional athlete. These guys were unfailingly polite, soft-spoken, and selfless. If ultra racing has any prima donnas, they were not present at the 2010 Western States 100.
Back to my soap box: Let's start a groundswell for adding a 100K trail race for the 2016 Olympic Games. After all, they're adding golf.
Anyway, I braved the cold and wind and managed to complete my first speed session of the season. Considering the conditions, it went better than expected. Anyway, I keep reminding myself that foul winds blow on race day too. Conditions for both of my 2011 marathons were nasty: a cold rain and wind. Of course, both were in the Pacific Northwest. Go figure.
Following Jeff Galloway's advice (Marathon: You Can Do It!), I planned to run my 4 x 1 mile repeats at a 9:30 pace. As it turned out, I was closer to a 9:00 pace. But, I felt comfortable throughout, so I'm guessing that it wasn't too fast.
The focus of the upcoming week is a long run: 22/23 miles. I'm been checking the seven-day weather forecast and trying to pick out the best day for it. Right now, that looks like Saturday. So, I'll adjust the week's schedule with that in mind. Instead of cross training tomorrow, I'll do a slow-and-easy recovery/maintenance run of one hour.
I ate alone Friday night--leftovers!--and was thinking about my running/racing schedule following the May 6 Colorado Marathon. I've begun to narrow down my choices and am leaning toward either the Pikes Peak Ascent in August or the Madison, Wisc. North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Mile in September. Since I was spending the evening alone--the wife was out with colleagues--I watched two running videos: the race video from the 2011 Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon and "Unbreakable," a documentary about the 2010 Western States 100. My wife also is a runner, and watched these with me the first time. But, I know better than to suggest a reprise to her. So, her absence worked for both of us. For earlier comments about "Unbreakable," see here: http://runningthrutwenty12.blogspot.com/2012/01/just-for-hill-of-it.html
Both videos are great advertisements for their races, but "Unbreakable" is especially inspirational. I don't watch many things twice, but I've now seen it twice and expect I'll see it several more times. When you watch something a second, third, etc. time, you notice new things each time. The first time I watched "Unbreakable," I was drawn to the drama of the race among the top contenders--Anton Krepicka, Geoff Roes, Hal Koerner, and Kilian Jornet--the back stories of the four runners, and the remarkable scenery. This latest time, I was struck by the gonzo sound track.
Another takeaway from a second viewing is a deeper appreciation for the four main contenders. On the first viewing, I marveled at their self-discipline, competitive spirit, and heart (as in courage). I saw those traits the second time too, but I also saw in many ways the antithesis of the modern professional athlete. These guys were unfailingly polite, soft-spoken, and selfless. If ultra racing has any prima donnas, they were not present at the 2010 Western States 100.
Back to my soap box: Let's start a groundswell for adding a 100K trail race for the 2016 Olympic Games. After all, they're adding golf.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Steve Jobs: Runners BFF?
That *&%$ groundhog. We were enjoying an agreeable winter until that rodent stuck his snout into things. Now, February has become January. Here in my corner of Hog Heaven, it was 28 degrees with gray skies, snow showers, and gusty (20+ mph) NW winds when I ventured out for today's run. No fun at all.
Even so, I ended up stretching a 1-hour maintenance run into a 1 hour, 25 minute maintenance run. At least I was warm as long as I was running. Tonight's forecast calls for low temps around 0 with wind chill temps from -10 to -15. That will make tomorrow morning's cross training chilly indeed.
Next up: Sunday's initial speed-work session in my train-up for the May 6 Colorado Marathon. I'll do 4 x 1 mile repeats at a 9:30 pace. That's the recommendation from Jeff Galloway's Marathon: You Can Do It. Over time, we'll see if that's the Goldilocks pace for me this season.
300,000,000 and counting. That's how many iPods Apple has sold. 300 million. And, they didn't even exist until ten years ago. Apple first announced its now-ubiquitous iPod on October 23, 2001. That means that 30,000 runners managed to finish the 2000 New York Marathon without an iPod. Today, many runners would rather run without shoes than without their iPods. At races, they're everywhere. Most of the people I encounter training on the local roads or trails have a pod in their ear. I usually just wave as I pass. Speaking would be . . . Well, every time I'm tempted to, I think of a tree falling in the forest when there's no one there.
You've probably guessed by now that I don't own an iPod. That doesn't mean that I'm opposed to them. It means that I like to use my running time for things other than listening to music. Back when I was still teaching, I'd often use my daily run to review the material for my upcoming lectures. I once completely revised my interpretation of Napoleon Bonaparte--from World Historical Figure to egoist and tyrant--on a long run.
I no longer teach and seldom think about Napoleon, and then only briefly. But, there are things that I still need to work out. I also find that I spend a lot of time recalling past events and planning future ones. Sometimes, I just let my mind wander, and I find that my imagination is as good as my memory. And, I usually return from a run mentally refreshed. I wonder if that would be the case if I ran with Lil' Kim in my ear.
While I don't think that the iPod would work for me, that doesn't mean that it doesn't work for others. Heck, just look around. 300,000,000 people can't be wrong. But, race organizers don't seem to be fond of them. Mostly due to questions of safety. In fact, the NYC Marathon, among many others, "strongly discourages" its now 45,000 runners against using an iPod--a recommendation that largely falls on deft ears.
Even so, I ended up stretching a 1-hour maintenance run into a 1 hour, 25 minute maintenance run. At least I was warm as long as I was running. Tonight's forecast calls for low temps around 0 with wind chill temps from -10 to -15. That will make tomorrow morning's cross training chilly indeed.
Next up: Sunday's initial speed-work session in my train-up for the May 6 Colorado Marathon. I'll do 4 x 1 mile repeats at a 9:30 pace. That's the recommendation from Jeff Galloway's Marathon: You Can Do It. Over time, we'll see if that's the Goldilocks pace for me this season.
300,000,000 and counting. That's how many iPods Apple has sold. 300 million. And, they didn't even exist until ten years ago. Apple first announced its now-ubiquitous iPod on October 23, 2001. That means that 30,000 runners managed to finish the 2000 New York Marathon without an iPod. Today, many runners would rather run without shoes than without their iPods. At races, they're everywhere. Most of the people I encounter training on the local roads or trails have a pod in their ear. I usually just wave as I pass. Speaking would be . . . Well, every time I'm tempted to, I think of a tree falling in the forest when there's no one there.
You've probably guessed by now that I don't own an iPod. That doesn't mean that I'm opposed to them. It means that I like to use my running time for things other than listening to music. Back when I was still teaching, I'd often use my daily run to review the material for my upcoming lectures. I once completely revised my interpretation of Napoleon Bonaparte--from World Historical Figure to egoist and tyrant--on a long run.
I no longer teach and seldom think about Napoleon, and then only briefly. But, there are things that I still need to work out. I also find that I spend a lot of time recalling past events and planning future ones. Sometimes, I just let my mind wander, and I find that my imagination is as good as my memory. And, I usually return from a run mentally refreshed. I wonder if that would be the case if I ran with Lil' Kim in my ear.
While I don't think that the iPod would work for me, that doesn't mean that it doesn't work for others. Heck, just look around. 300,000,000 people can't be wrong. But, race organizers don't seem to be fond of them. Mostly due to questions of safety. In fact, the NYC Marathon, among many others, "strongly discourages" its now 45,000 runners against using an iPod--a recommendation that largely falls on deft ears.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Shoes R Us
The weather girl on the local Fox affiliate lamented last night that it looks like we're in for another spell of "boring weather." I almost jumped out of my chair. Boring weather is a good thing. To news-people, a string of unseasonably mild, sunny days is boring, as in bad. To the rest of us, it's good news. We can get outside more and stay longer. The furnace will run less and we'll save on the heating bill this month. Where's the downside?
"If it bleeds, it leads," is the mantra of television news. Bad news for you and me is good news for journalists. Have you ever noticed how excited the folks at the Weather Channel get when there's a hurricane churning up in the Atlantic? They seem to forget that hurricanes mean death for some people and loss of homes for many others. To the Weather Channel, hurricanes mean eyeballs, and eyeballs mean advertising revenue.
Anyway, I've been loving this winter's boring weather. And, today is another example. Although we got a dusting (less than an inch) of snow overnight, we're quickly warming into the 30s with sunshine and light winds. I took advantage by doing a leisurely one-hour maintenance run this morning. Since the weather wasn't chasing me back inside, I followed it up with a two-mile walk. Just to be out longer. Burn a few more calories. Be pleasantly bored!
Tomorrow is cross training. Friday is another maintenance run. Saturday is cross training. And, Sunday is the season's first speed workout. I'll do 4 x 1 mile repeats at a pace to be determined. Probably 9:30.
As regular readers of this blog know, I'm a running-shoe junkie: http://runningthrutwenty12.blogspot.com/2012/01/channeling-my-inner-imelda-marcos.html
So, it'll come as no surprise that I'm always on the lookout for intriguing new shoes. I've already reported that I'm looking forward to the May 1 intro of the Kinvara 3. That's not all. Yesterday, I came across another promising new shoe: the ASICS Gel-Fuji Racer. Right now, my go-to shoe for trail races is the Saucony Peregrine. I ran the Madison, Wisc., North Face Endurance Challenge 50K last September in the Peregrine and experienced no problems. What attracted me to the Peregrine was the weight: 10.2 oz. Given the cushioning and support, that's excellent. But, the Gel-Fuji Racer promises to deliver similar cushioning and support in a shoe weighing only 8.7 oz. If ASICS can deliver, the Gel-Fuji will find lots of fans.
I've thought about taking a closer look at the Brooks PureGrit, the trail model in their popular new Pure series. The PureGrit comes in at an advertised 8.9 oz. That's plenty light for a trail shoe. I own a pair of the PureFlow, but I haven't taken them out of the box. I've had them for over two months now and need to give them a try. My son likes his PureFlow's, but is ambivalent about his PureGrit's.
I'm somewhat amazed that Brooks can build a trail shoe (the PureGrit) that's only .2 oz. heavier than its road-shoe cousin (the PureFlow). Considering the extra hazards of trail racing--rocks, roots, mud, etc.--that a trial shoe needs to protect against, .2 oz. isn't much.
"If it bleeds, it leads," is the mantra of television news. Bad news for you and me is good news for journalists. Have you ever noticed how excited the folks at the Weather Channel get when there's a hurricane churning up in the Atlantic? They seem to forget that hurricanes mean death for some people and loss of homes for many others. To the Weather Channel, hurricanes mean eyeballs, and eyeballs mean advertising revenue.
Anyway, I've been loving this winter's boring weather. And, today is another example. Although we got a dusting (less than an inch) of snow overnight, we're quickly warming into the 30s with sunshine and light winds. I took advantage by doing a leisurely one-hour maintenance run this morning. Since the weather wasn't chasing me back inside, I followed it up with a two-mile walk. Just to be out longer. Burn a few more calories. Be pleasantly bored!
Tomorrow is cross training. Friday is another maintenance run. Saturday is cross training. And, Sunday is the season's first speed workout. I'll do 4 x 1 mile repeats at a pace to be determined. Probably 9:30.
As regular readers of this blog know, I'm a running-shoe junkie: http://runningthrutwenty12.blogspot.com/2012/01/channeling-my-inner-imelda-marcos.html
So, it'll come as no surprise that I'm always on the lookout for intriguing new shoes. I've already reported that I'm looking forward to the May 1 intro of the Kinvara 3. That's not all. Yesterday, I came across another promising new shoe: the ASICS Gel-Fuji Racer. Right now, my go-to shoe for trail races is the Saucony Peregrine. I ran the Madison, Wisc., North Face Endurance Challenge 50K last September in the Peregrine and experienced no problems. What attracted me to the Peregrine was the weight: 10.2 oz. Given the cushioning and support, that's excellent. But, the Gel-Fuji Racer promises to deliver similar cushioning and support in a shoe weighing only 8.7 oz. If ASICS can deliver, the Gel-Fuji will find lots of fans.
I've thought about taking a closer look at the Brooks PureGrit, the trail model in their popular new Pure series. The PureGrit comes in at an advertised 8.9 oz. That's plenty light for a trail shoe. I own a pair of the PureFlow, but I haven't taken them out of the box. I've had them for over two months now and need to give them a try. My son likes his PureFlow's, but is ambivalent about his PureGrit's.
I'm somewhat amazed that Brooks can build a trail shoe (the PureGrit) that's only .2 oz. heavier than its road-shoe cousin (the PureFlow). Considering the extra hazards of trail racing--rocks, roots, mud, etc.--that a trial shoe needs to protect against, .2 oz. isn't much.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
sNOw days?
It looked and felt like winter today in Hog Heaven: overcast with some sleet and snow flurries and a temp of 29 degrees when I went out running. Fortunately, the winds were relatively light. I felt good enough to attempt a hill workout, and I completed it with no ill effects. I did 6 x .5 mile hill repeats at a 5K effort, and for the first time, I managed to run each repeat faster than the one before. I made a conscious effort not to go too hard on the earlier hills, and that paid off at the end. I'm also seeing some gains from earlier hill sessions.
The next few days will be dedicated to cross training and maintenance runs. My next starred effort will be Sunday's speed workout. This initial speed workout of the season will be 4 x 1 mile at ???? I'm still trying to work out my pace for the speed workouts. Jeff Galloway (Marathon: You Can Do It!) would have me running the repeats in 9:30. That would be the conservative course, but I like to push things. So, we'll see.
It seems that the big blizzard that hit Colorado skipped Colorado Springs. Check out the story and pictures from Sunday's Super Half Marathon along the streets and trails of the city here: http://www.outtherecolorado.com/201202059151/Running/super-half-marathon-a-5k-make-a-great-sunday-run.html
Farther north, Denver had a foot or more of snow, but Ft. Collins--home of the Colorado Marathon in May--received only four inches or so. That's enough to be a nuisance but not enough to cause big problems. With temps warming to well above freezing this week, the white stuff won't last long. And, good riddance. That's from the perspective of a runner and hiker, not a winter sports enthusiast. Skiers, skaters, sledders, and the like probably have a different take on the snow and cold. I live in cold country, so I've learned to tolerate winter. But, I don't have to like it.
It does appear from my vantage point on the space-time continuum that the weather is warming up. That's nothing more than anecdotal. I have no evidence or special meteorological insight. Whether human activity has anything to do with it or not is another question. The earth was warming and cooling long before the Industrial Revolution. What caused those episodes? Just saying.
Anyway, if global warming is real--and continues into the medium term--there will be winners and losers. Yes, some people, places, and things will benefit from warming. A longer growing season will help many, for example. Others, like those living in coastal areas, will suffer. A warmer world will be a different world. Who knows if it'll be a better or worse world? The alarmists would have us believe that we'll all suffer enormously. But, alarmists are rarely right. So far, the world has ended . . . Never.
Nature is much more powerful than man, and only our conceit allows us to believe differently. If natural causes are behind warming, we're not going to stop it. Even if human activity is contributing to warming, what are the chances that politicians will come up with the right answer to save the day? These are the same people who can't do what ordinary folks do all the time: balance a budget. The likelihood is that they'll make things worse while wasting even more money: see ethanol subsidies.
There are lots of prudent things that we can do--conserve, recycle, etc.--that are independent of the global warming debate. Just do it!
The next few days will be dedicated to cross training and maintenance runs. My next starred effort will be Sunday's speed workout. This initial speed workout of the season will be 4 x 1 mile at ???? I'm still trying to work out my pace for the speed workouts. Jeff Galloway (Marathon: You Can Do It!) would have me running the repeats in 9:30. That would be the conservative course, but I like to push things. So, we'll see.
It seems that the big blizzard that hit Colorado skipped Colorado Springs. Check out the story and pictures from Sunday's Super Half Marathon along the streets and trails of the city here: http://www.outtherecolorado.com/201202059151/Running/super-half-marathon-a-5k-make-a-great-sunday-run.html
Farther north, Denver had a foot or more of snow, but Ft. Collins--home of the Colorado Marathon in May--received only four inches or so. That's enough to be a nuisance but not enough to cause big problems. With temps warming to well above freezing this week, the white stuff won't last long. And, good riddance. That's from the perspective of a runner and hiker, not a winter sports enthusiast. Skiers, skaters, sledders, and the like probably have a different take on the snow and cold. I live in cold country, so I've learned to tolerate winter. But, I don't have to like it.
It does appear from my vantage point on the space-time continuum that the weather is warming up. That's nothing more than anecdotal. I have no evidence or special meteorological insight. Whether human activity has anything to do with it or not is another question. The earth was warming and cooling long before the Industrial Revolution. What caused those episodes? Just saying.
Anyway, if global warming is real--and continues into the medium term--there will be winners and losers. Yes, some people, places, and things will benefit from warming. A longer growing season will help many, for example. Others, like those living in coastal areas, will suffer. A warmer world will be a different world. Who knows if it'll be a better or worse world? The alarmists would have us believe that we'll all suffer enormously. But, alarmists are rarely right. So far, the world has ended . . . Never.
Nature is much more powerful than man, and only our conceit allows us to believe differently. If natural causes are behind warming, we're not going to stop it. Even if human activity is contributing to warming, what are the chances that politicians will come up with the right answer to save the day? These are the same people who can't do what ordinary folks do all the time: balance a budget. The likelihood is that they'll make things worse while wasting even more money: see ethanol subsidies.
There are lots of prudent things that we can do--conserve, recycle, etc.--that are independent of the global warming debate. Just do it!
Sunday, February 5, 2012
A Super Sunday . . . For a Run
The mammoth winter storm that walloped Colorado and Nebraska wimped out as it crossed Hog Heaven yesterday. Des Moines got snow--about three inches--but here in eastern Iowa we had a cold rain instead. Rain is good. It adds moisture to the soil but doesn't require shoveling.
This morning dawned sunny and seasonably cold. Perfect for a Sunday morning maintenance run, and I did a nice, easy 60 minutes. I'm mostly recovered from Friday's 20 miles and ready for a new week that will include a hill workout and a first speed workout this season. Tomorrow is cross training before the week's training begins in earnest on Tuesday.
Jeff Galloway (Marathon: You Can Do It!) recommends that you stop hill workouts once you begin speed work. I base my training on Jeff's program, but over time, I've experimented with it and found that some things work better than others for me. I believe that Jeff would approve. In fact, he offers runners alternatives throughout his marathon-training book.
Last week, I mentioned qualifying for the Boston Marathon: http://runningthrutwenty12.blogspot.com/2012/01/after-sundays-long-run-17-miles.html It's not really a goal of mine, although I'd be happy to achieve it. I don't really want to run Boston. Or, even visit. For some reason, I've never liked the city. Just think: Boston traded away Babe Ruth and booed Ted Williams, maybe the greatest hitter in baseball history. To be fair, Boston did provide the backdrop for "Ally McBeal". So, if I should happen to qualify for Boston, I likely wouldn't go. Just meeting the standard would be reward enough.
That said, the organizers of the Marathon (Boston Athletic Association) are raising the bar on qualifying. Beginning next year, qualifying times for all age groups (both genders) will fall by five minutes. For youngsters 18-34 years-old, the new standard will be 3:05 for men and 3:35 for ladies. For the other age group standards see here: http://www.boston.com/sports/marathon/blog/2011/02/baa_announces_new_procedures_f.html
Anyway, the marathon that I most want to run is the Marine Corps Marathon. It's open to everyone, and while it's sure to sell-out, registration is first-come, first-served. With that in mind, registration for this year's marathon opens on March 7. I was in D.C. last fall for the Army 10-Miler, another extraordinary event, and probably won't return this year. But, sometime soon . . .
I'm also intrigued by the Western States 100, but I'm afraid that's not going to happen for me. I waited too late to discover ultras. What might happen is that my son, who ran a solid 50 miles last year in the North Face Endurance Challenge series, will run Western States one year and allow me along as a pacer for part of the race. I figure that once he's run 60 miles or so and I'm rested and fresh that I'll be able to keep up with him. Of course, that requires him getting into the race, and Western States is more exclusive than Boston. Much more. First, you have to run a qualifying race and, then, you enter a lottery. All for the chance to run 100 miles in 30 hours or less over gnarly terrain and in harsh conditions. Go figure.
Just remember: This originated as a horse race. And, lots of the horses didn't make it.
This morning dawned sunny and seasonably cold. Perfect for a Sunday morning maintenance run, and I did a nice, easy 60 minutes. I'm mostly recovered from Friday's 20 miles and ready for a new week that will include a hill workout and a first speed workout this season. Tomorrow is cross training before the week's training begins in earnest on Tuesday.
Jeff Galloway (Marathon: You Can Do It!) recommends that you stop hill workouts once you begin speed work. I base my training on Jeff's program, but over time, I've experimented with it and found that some things work better than others for me. I believe that Jeff would approve. In fact, he offers runners alternatives throughout his marathon-training book.
Last week, I mentioned qualifying for the Boston Marathon: http://runningthrutwenty12.blogspot.com/2012/01/after-sundays-long-run-17-miles.html It's not really a goal of mine, although I'd be happy to achieve it. I don't really want to run Boston. Or, even visit. For some reason, I've never liked the city. Just think: Boston traded away Babe Ruth and booed Ted Williams, maybe the greatest hitter in baseball history. To be fair, Boston did provide the backdrop for "Ally McBeal". So, if I should happen to qualify for Boston, I likely wouldn't go. Just meeting the standard would be reward enough.
That said, the organizers of the Marathon (Boston Athletic Association) are raising the bar on qualifying. Beginning next year, qualifying times for all age groups (both genders) will fall by five minutes. For youngsters 18-34 years-old, the new standard will be 3:05 for men and 3:35 for ladies. For the other age group standards see here: http://www.boston.com/sports/marathon/blog/2011/02/baa_announces_new_procedures_f.html
Anyway, the marathon that I most want to run is the Marine Corps Marathon. It's open to everyone, and while it's sure to sell-out, registration is first-come, first-served. With that in mind, registration for this year's marathon opens on March 7. I was in D.C. last fall for the Army 10-Miler, another extraordinary event, and probably won't return this year. But, sometime soon . . .
I'm also intrigued by the Western States 100, but I'm afraid that's not going to happen for me. I waited too late to discover ultras. What might happen is that my son, who ran a solid 50 miles last year in the North Face Endurance Challenge series, will run Western States one year and allow me along as a pacer for part of the race. I figure that once he's run 60 miles or so and I'm rested and fresh that I'll be able to keep up with him. Of course, that requires him getting into the race, and Western States is more exclusive than Boston. Much more. First, you have to run a qualifying race and, then, you enter a lottery. All for the chance to run 100 miles in 30 hours or less over gnarly terrain and in harsh conditions. Go figure.
Just remember: This originated as a horse race. And, lots of the horses didn't make it.
Friday, February 3, 2012
The LSD debate, cont.
With a winter storm headed our way here in Hog Heaven, I moved my long run up to today (from Sunday). The weather was so-so: 33 degrees with fog, low clouds, and moderate wind. Conditions could have been worse and likely will be this weekend as the big storm out in Colorado heads east. The Weather Service is reporting this morning that a foot of snow has fallen in the Front Range and sections of I-25 and I-70 have been closed. That darned Ground Hog!
So, I ran 20 miles at a slow, steady pace--almost exactly two minutes per mile slower than my projected marathon race pace. Jeff Galloway (Marathon: You Can Do It!) would be proud. Since I've done Sunday's long run, I'll cross train tomorrow for active recovery: a brisk 4/5 mile walk. For Sunday, I'll do a 6-mile maintenance run. Weather permitting, of course.
Last month I discussed the long run--more specifically the long slow run--and the differences of opinion regarding it and its efficacy: http://runningthrutwenty12.blogspot.com/2012/01/lsd-works-for-me.html
As an older runner, I have embraced Jeff Galloway's view of the long run as explained in his marathon training guide Marathon: You Can Do It! Jeff encourages prospective marathoners to increase their long training run up to and beyond marathon distance (26.2 miles). Doing so, he says will give one the endurance (and confidence) needed to complete the marathon. Moreover, by running at a pace that's at least two minutes per mile slower than marathon pace and taking the prescribed walk breaks during the long run, Jeff promises that you'll recover quickly and avoid injury. So far, it's worked for me as advertised.
Others are less sanguine about the benefits of training runs beyond twenty miles. Just recently, long-time runner and coach Jeff Gaudette posted a piece at competitor.com that details all manner of ill physiological effects that come with extending training runs beyond twenty miles: http://running.competitor.com/2012/01/training/is-26-2-miles-necessary-before-the-marathon_46463
Check it out. I'm not convinced, but I found the piece worrisome. I know that I'll pay closer attention to my body as I continue to extend my long run this spring in preparation for the Colorado Marathon. I want to be as prepared as possible when I toe the starting line on May 6, but above all, I want to do my best running on May 6 and not before.
So, I ran 20 miles at a slow, steady pace--almost exactly two minutes per mile slower than my projected marathon race pace. Jeff Galloway (Marathon: You Can Do It!) would be proud. Since I've done Sunday's long run, I'll cross train tomorrow for active recovery: a brisk 4/5 mile walk. For Sunday, I'll do a 6-mile maintenance run. Weather permitting, of course.
Last month I discussed the long run--more specifically the long slow run--and the differences of opinion regarding it and its efficacy: http://runningthrutwenty12.blogspot.com/2012/01/lsd-works-for-me.html
As an older runner, I have embraced Jeff Galloway's view of the long run as explained in his marathon training guide Marathon: You Can Do It! Jeff encourages prospective marathoners to increase their long training run up to and beyond marathon distance (26.2 miles). Doing so, he says will give one the endurance (and confidence) needed to complete the marathon. Moreover, by running at a pace that's at least two minutes per mile slower than marathon pace and taking the prescribed walk breaks during the long run, Jeff promises that you'll recover quickly and avoid injury. So far, it's worked for me as advertised.
Others are less sanguine about the benefits of training runs beyond twenty miles. Just recently, long-time runner and coach Jeff Gaudette posted a piece at competitor.com that details all manner of ill physiological effects that come with extending training runs beyond twenty miles: http://running.competitor.com/2012/01/training/is-26-2-miles-necessary-before-the-marathon_46463
Check it out. I'm not convinced, but I found the piece worrisome. I know that I'll pay closer attention to my body as I continue to extend my long run this spring in preparation for the Colorado Marathon. I want to be as prepared as possible when I toe the starting line on May 6, but above all, I want to do my best running on May 6 and not before.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Of groundhogs and marathoners . . .
It's finally February! The question of the day is: What's the best thing about February? No, not Valentine's Day although that's a plus. The best thing about February is that it's not January and spring is a month closer.
Tomorrow is Groundhog Day, but I don't think that it's going to be a typical Groundhog Day. Since winter never really got started, who needs a groundhog to predict its end? In fact, I'm betting that the groundhog never hibernated this winter. Like me, he's been out enjoying our unseasonably warm weather.
That said, today isn't as nice as the first two record-breaking days of this week here in Hog Heaven. But it still isn't bad: cloudy with temps in the 30s and a light wind. I did a one-hour maintenance run at a very relaxed pace. With the Weather Service calling for cooler temps and rain and/or snow Saturday and Sunday, I'm thinking of moving my long run (20 miles this week) scheduled for Sunday back to Friday. So, I wanted to take it slow and easy today in preparation for that. Tomorrow is cross training. Then, we'll see whether the weather favors a Friday or Sunday long run. It's nice having that kind of flexibility. Most folks don't. Until I took early retirement, I didn't.
I missed this when it appeared a couple weeks ago, but Philip Hersh of the Chicago Tribune ranks the all-time best U.S. marathoners (male and female) here: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-01-12/sports/chi-benoit-samuelson-top-list-of-us-women-marathoners-20120111_1_women-marathoners-boston-marathon-joan-benoit-samuelson
Joan Benoit Samuelson tops the women's list. Not only did Joanie dominate women's distance running in the 1980s but she also won the first-ever Olympic Gold in Women's Marathon in 1984. Over the years, she's also become a staple at the Quad-City Times Bix 7, the premier local road race--so much so that a statue of her stands near the finish line.
Deena Kastor, who won Bronze in the marathon at the 2004 Olympics and just missed making this year's team, is second. Desiree Davila and Kara Goucher, numbers 7 and 8 respectively, finished second and third at the Olympic Marathon Trials and qualified for this year's Olympic team. The winner of the Trials and my pick for a medal in London this summer, Shalane Flanagan, isn't on the list. With good reason. The Trails was only her second marathon. Give her five years, and I'll wager that she'll be on this list.
Frank Shorter, Olympic Marathon Gold Medalist in 1972 and Silver Medalist in 1976 heads the men's list. I have a particular fondness for Shorter. Although I ran track in high school, I didn't become a road runner until after watching Shorter's performance at the 1972 Olympics. I think that his performance that day--televised by an innovative ABC Sports team that put a cameraman on the back of a motorcycle to record the leaders--was an epiphany for lots of people and helped spur the running movement that first gained real traction in the 1970s.
Bill Rodgers, another fixture at the local Bix 7 and on the winner's stand at the Boston and NYC Marathons in the 1970s and 1980s, is second. Meb Keflezighi, third on the list, and Ryan Hall, tenth, finished one-two at the recent Olympic Marathon Trials.
Tomorrow is Groundhog Day, but I don't think that it's going to be a typical Groundhog Day. Since winter never really got started, who needs a groundhog to predict its end? In fact, I'm betting that the groundhog never hibernated this winter. Like me, he's been out enjoying our unseasonably warm weather.
That said, today isn't as nice as the first two record-breaking days of this week here in Hog Heaven. But it still isn't bad: cloudy with temps in the 30s and a light wind. I did a one-hour maintenance run at a very relaxed pace. With the Weather Service calling for cooler temps and rain and/or snow Saturday and Sunday, I'm thinking of moving my long run (20 miles this week) scheduled for Sunday back to Friday. So, I wanted to take it slow and easy today in preparation for that. Tomorrow is cross training. Then, we'll see whether the weather favors a Friday or Sunday long run. It's nice having that kind of flexibility. Most folks don't. Until I took early retirement, I didn't.
I missed this when it appeared a couple weeks ago, but Philip Hersh of the Chicago Tribune ranks the all-time best U.S. marathoners (male and female) here: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-01-12/sports/chi-benoit-samuelson-top-list-of-us-women-marathoners-20120111_1_women-marathoners-boston-marathon-joan-benoit-samuelson
Joan Benoit Samuelson tops the women's list. Not only did Joanie dominate women's distance running in the 1980s but she also won the first-ever Olympic Gold in Women's Marathon in 1984. Over the years, she's also become a staple at the Quad-City Times Bix 7, the premier local road race--so much so that a statue of her stands near the finish line.
Deena Kastor, who won Bronze in the marathon at the 2004 Olympics and just missed making this year's team, is second. Desiree Davila and Kara Goucher, numbers 7 and 8 respectively, finished second and third at the Olympic Marathon Trials and qualified for this year's Olympic team. The winner of the Trials and my pick for a medal in London this summer, Shalane Flanagan, isn't on the list. With good reason. The Trails was only her second marathon. Give her five years, and I'll wager that she'll be on this list.
Frank Shorter, Olympic Marathon Gold Medalist in 1972 and Silver Medalist in 1976 heads the men's list. I have a particular fondness for Shorter. Although I ran track in high school, I didn't become a road runner until after watching Shorter's performance at the 1972 Olympics. I think that his performance that day--televised by an innovative ABC Sports team that put a cameraman on the back of a motorcycle to record the leaders--was an epiphany for lots of people and helped spur the running movement that first gained real traction in the 1970s.
Bill Rodgers, another fixture at the local Bix 7 and on the winner's stand at the Boston and NYC Marathons in the 1970s and 1980s, is second. Meb Keflezighi, third on the list, and Ryan Hall, tenth, finished one-two at the recent Olympic Marathon Trials.
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