My three-week taper to the Colorado Marathon is underway here in Hog Heaven. After a 90-minute maintenance run on Monday and cross training on Tuesday, I ran a hill workout this morning. Taper doesn't mean taking it easy; just cutting back gradually. So, I ran the 6 x .5-mile hill repeats at 5k effort as usual. I won't run hills again until after the marathon. Tomorrow is cross training and Friday is a one-hour maintenance run. I'll follow more cross training on Saturday with a local 5k race on Sunday. That will be the last speed work before the marathon. We are getting close!
Here's a dog bites man story if there ever was one: http://msn.foxsports.com/other/story/kenyans-wesley-korir-sharon-cherop-win-boston-marathon-041612
Who knew? The Kenyans win at Boston.
A hot Boston. 120 runners were hospitalized for heat-related problems and more than 2000 required some level of medical aid. Temps reached into the mid-80s during the race. See more here:
http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-boston-marathon-20120417,0,6276666.story?track=rss
I don't care to run a marathon in 80+ degree heat, but how about these hardy souls who just completed the 7-day, 6-stage Marathon des Sables: a 150 mile jaunt across the Sahara in Morocco. See here for the sweltering details: http://www.irunfar.com/2012/04/2012-marathon-des-sables-results-and-commentary.html#stage6
The following is not running-related, but I post it as another sad example of why we (Americans) are not a serious people anymore. You've perhaps read about the allegations of Secret Service misconduct in Colombia. Well, it is further alleged that a handful of Army officers were involved.
But, instead of waiting for the facts to emerge, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, rushed to express his embarrassment. "I can speak for myself and my fellow chiefs: We're embarrassed by what occurred in Colombia, though we're not sure exactly what it is," Dempsey told NBC News.
Huh? I don't know what happened, but whatever it was, I'm embarrassed by it. He should be embarrassed. See the full story here: http://usnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/17/11241984-top-us-military-officer-we-let-the-boss-down-over-prostitute-scandal?lite
Showing posts with label Boston Marathon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Boston Marathon. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow . . .
Mother Nature showed her bad side to much of the mid-section of the country this weekend, including here in Hog Heaven. Along with spring-time temps, we got spring-time storms. I also noticed from reading the Colorado Springs Gazette that northern Colorado was expecting snow--up to a foot in higher elevations. Since I'm running the Colorado Marathon in Ft. Collins in three weeks, it's not exactly encouraging news. But, it's spring-time and anything can happen in three weeks: good and bad. Weather = variable.
Despite the weather, I managed to get in a one-hour recovery/maintenance run yesterday. Today, for cross training, I took a brisk 3+-mile hike. I'm registered for a 5k race next Sunday (April 22), so this week's training schedule breaks down like this: cross training on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday; 90-minute maintenance run on Monday; hill workout on Wednesday; one-hour maintenance run on Friday. Let the taper begin!
Of course, one of the world's preeminent marathons is coming up on Monday: Boston. For live coverage of the marathon provided by Runners' World and Running Times, see here:
http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/microsite/article/0,8029,s6-239-506-0-14256-0,00.html
Unfortunately, the weather forecast for Monday's marathon is dicey with highs in the 80s forecast. The organizers are going so far as to offer runners a rain check (heat check?) if they choose not to run. Any qualifier who chooses not to run tomorrow will be allowed to defer his/her entry to 2013. That's how dangerous they think the weather could be. Just another reminder of how frustrating marathoning can be. You can train for four months for an event and have all your carefully-laid plans upset by something (the weather in this case) that you have absolutely no control over. Running marathons and ultras is a good way to learn humility.
I noticed that the Boston Marathon is expected to generate $137.5 million. For most of us, running is recreation. For others, it's serious business. See more here: http://running.competitor.com/2012/04/news/boston-marathon-expected-to-generate-137-5-million_50679
I took a chance a couple of weeks ago and ordered a pair of the new ASICS Gel-Fuji Racer. I'm registered for the Madison North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Mile in September and figured this would be a good shoe for that endeavor. Since I'm still training for the Colorado Marathon and haven't been on the local trails yet this spring, I haven't had a chance to try the shoes. But, it's encouraging to spot reviews like this:
http://www.irunfar.com/2012/04/asics-gel-fuji-racer-review.html
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.
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