There's no denying that I'm now officially nervous. In three days, I'll be somewhere on Pikes Peak--hopefully at or near the summit. Otherwise, I will have been right to be nervous. I can't fathom what possessed me to sign up for a race up a 14,110 ft. mountain. Trees won't even grow above 12,000 ft. That might lead one to ask if I'm smarter than a tree. Actually, I'm asking that right about now.
That said, I've trained hard this summer, and if it weren't for the rarefied air and the 8000+ feet of elevation gain over 13.3 uphill miles, I would be looking forward to this race. But, I've spent the summer running among the corn fields here in Hog Heaven, not where the trees don't grow. So, I'm naturally a bit apprehensive. But, we'll know soon enough.
The Ascent is Saturday, August 18. I'll be staying in Colorado for a few days of hiking following the race. So, I won't be home to post my post-mortem until the middle of next week. Stay tuned.
I'll actually be peaking/tapering for two goal races in the next month (the Ascent and the North Face Endurance Challenge on September 15), so I'm paying particular attention to tapering strategies. Here's one that's interesting: http://running.competitor.com/2012/08/training/the-art-of-peaking-for-a-goal-race_7837/1
In the last major track & field competition at the London Olympics, Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich captured the marathon Gold in 2:08:01. American Meb Keflezighi finished just off the medal stand in fourth. The other Americans, Ryan Hall and Abdi Abdirahmen dropped out with injuries. For an account see here:
http://msn.foxsports.com/olympics/track/story/stephen-kiprotich-uganda-wins-mens-marathon-gold-medal-081212
And, finally, here's one last look back at the 2012 Olympics as Runners World picks its top ten track & field moments: http://www.runnersworld.com/olympics/top10/
Showing posts with label North Face Endurance Challenge. Show all posts
Showing posts with label North Face Endurance Challenge. Show all posts
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Friday, August 3, 2012
At long last, track
It's been another week of hot, dry weather and decent training here in Hog Heaven. We finished July with 5 days of 100+ degree heat and less than .50 inches of rain. Not good. August has started the same. My big run this week was a 24 mile effort on Wednesday morning for which I rose at 3:30 a.m. and was out the door and into the darkness by 4:00. It's the last long run I'll do before the August 18 Pikes Peak Ascent. With the North Face Endurance Challenge at Madison, Wisc. coming up one month after Pikes Peak, I'll likely do only an abbreviated taper over the next two weeks. We'll see how that works.
Hooray! Olympic track & field starts today. Don't get me wrong. I've enjoyed the swimming, gymnastics, and assorted other endeavors, but it's time for the meat and potatoes of Olympic competition. All the way back to ancient Greece, running and jumping and throwing have been the centerpiece of Olympic competition.
Today's premier event on the track is the women's 10,000 meters. Everyone seems to expect the Ethiopians and Kenyans to dominate the race. The American trio of Amy Hastings, Lisa Uhl, and Janet Bawcom are given little chance to medal. On the other hand, nobody was supposed to beat the Soviet ice hockey team in 1980!
The weekend brings lots more including the men's 10,000 meter final on Saturday, and the long-anticipated women's marathon on Sunday. Stay tuned!
To get everyone in the right mood for Sunday's women's marathon, here's a pre-Olympics interview with U.S. marathoner Shalane Flanagan: http://www.irunfar.com/2012/07/shalane-flanagan-interview.html
And another with U.S. marathoner Kara Goucher: http://www.irunfar.com/2012/07/kara-goucher-interview.html
Besides being rivals, Shalane and Kara are friends and training mates. I'll be rooting for both at London.
Hooray! Olympic track & field starts today. Don't get me wrong. I've enjoyed the swimming, gymnastics, and assorted other endeavors, but it's time for the meat and potatoes of Olympic competition. All the way back to ancient Greece, running and jumping and throwing have been the centerpiece of Olympic competition.
Today's premier event on the track is the women's 10,000 meters. Everyone seems to expect the Ethiopians and Kenyans to dominate the race. The American trio of Amy Hastings, Lisa Uhl, and Janet Bawcom are given little chance to medal. On the other hand, nobody was supposed to beat the Soviet ice hockey team in 1980!
The weekend brings lots more including the men's 10,000 meter final on Saturday, and the long-anticipated women's marathon on Sunday. Stay tuned!
To get everyone in the right mood for Sunday's women's marathon, here's a pre-Olympics interview with U.S. marathoner Shalane Flanagan: http://www.irunfar.com/2012/07/shalane-flanagan-interview.html
And another with U.S. marathoner Kara Goucher: http://www.irunfar.com/2012/07/kara-goucher-interview.html
Besides being rivals, Shalane and Kara are friends and training mates. I'll be rooting for both at London.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Peak & pique
The weather gods blessed us here in Hog Heaven with decent weather for yesterday's Bix 7-Mile road race. It was sunny and seasonably warm. In contrast, most of this summer has been unseasonably hot. I used the Bix as a training run in my preparation for the Pikes Peak Ascent (now only 20 days away!) and the North Face Endurance Challenge (48 days away). While I didn't race, I did have a time goal, and I fell a scant 10 seconds short of it. So, I was pleased with my effort and the outcome.
With only three weeks left before Pikes Peak, the coming week will be my last hard week before the race. My schedule calls for a couple of maintenance runs (60-90 minutes), a hill workout, and a long run (I'm shooting for a minimum of 20 miles depending on the weather).
I'm doubly excited right now. I've begun the countdown to my "big" races--Pikes Peak and North Face--and the Olympics are underway in London. I watched some swimming yesterday and plan to catch more swimming and some women's gymnastics today. But, the "good" stuff--the running and jumping--doesn't start for several more days. Stay tuned.
I miss the old days when ABC covered the Olympics. ABC put the competition first. NBC can't see beyond entertainment. I guess that explains the prominent roles of such sports experts as Ryan Seacrest and Meredith Viera on the broadcasts.
Okay, I get it. It's not always easy to get outside and moving--especially at the height of summer heat or the depth of winter cold. But, here's a good reason for any season: Regular exercise not only adds years to one's life but it also enhances the quality of those years. See here for inspiration: http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/07/23/exercise-adds-almost-4-years-to-life-span/
Running coach and Competitor magazine contributor Jeff Gaudette questions the efficacy of the 20+ mile long training run here: http://running.competitor.com/2012/07/training/are-you-overemphasizing-the-marathon-long-run_55719
Jeff (and others) might be right, but I'm not convinced. So, I'll keep doing what I'm doing. For the time being anyway. During most of the year, I do NOT do 20+ mile training runs. But, during the build-up to a marathon or ultramarathon, I try to do as many as I can. That's usually 4-6 during the peak weeks of training. It's nice when toeing the starting line to know that you can run the distance. The great unknown for me is how quickly I can cover the distance.
With only three weeks left before Pikes Peak, the coming week will be my last hard week before the race. My schedule calls for a couple of maintenance runs (60-90 minutes), a hill workout, and a long run (I'm shooting for a minimum of 20 miles depending on the weather).
I'm doubly excited right now. I've begun the countdown to my "big" races--Pikes Peak and North Face--and the Olympics are underway in London. I watched some swimming yesterday and plan to catch more swimming and some women's gymnastics today. But, the "good" stuff--the running and jumping--doesn't start for several more days. Stay tuned.
I miss the old days when ABC covered the Olympics. ABC put the competition first. NBC can't see beyond entertainment. I guess that explains the prominent roles of such sports experts as Ryan Seacrest and Meredith Viera on the broadcasts.
Okay, I get it. It's not always easy to get outside and moving--especially at the height of summer heat or the depth of winter cold. But, here's a good reason for any season: Regular exercise not only adds years to one's life but it also enhances the quality of those years. See here for inspiration: http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/07/23/exercise-adds-almost-4-years-to-life-span/
Running coach and Competitor magazine contributor Jeff Gaudette questions the efficacy of the 20+ mile long training run here: http://running.competitor.com/2012/07/training/are-you-overemphasizing-the-marathon-long-run_55719
Jeff (and others) might be right, but I'm not convinced. So, I'll keep doing what I'm doing. For the time being anyway. During most of the year, I do NOT do 20+ mile training runs. But, during the build-up to a marathon or ultramarathon, I try to do as many as I can. That's usually 4-6 during the peak weeks of training. It's nice when toeing the starting line to know that you can run the distance. The great unknown for me is how quickly I can cover the distance.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
All That Jazz
I've beginning to sound like a broken record, but so is the weather here in Hog Heaven. Continued hot & humid and bone dry. Most of the state (Iowa) is now officially in a moderate drought. I know that farmers are suffering mightily, but it's not easy for runners.
Nonetheless, I've managed to get in most of my scheduled runs this month. I've cut back a bit on my long runs, but that's the only concession I've made so far. This week is an easy week for me: no long run but a hill workout (Tuesday) and a race (the Bix 7-Mile) on Saturday. The Bix is a big deal locally. (Its namesake, Bix Beiderbecke, is a Jazz Age musician from right here in the Quad-Cities.) The race draws upwards of 20,000 runners including some of the world's top distance runners. Past winners include Olympians Ryan Hall, Meb Keflezighi, and Lisa Uhl. (Lisa, who made the U.S. team in the 10,000 meters is an Iowa native.) I haven't decided how to approach the hilly race: as a race or a training run. Right now, I'm leaning toward training run.
I've run one ultra marathon: last fall's North Face Endurance Challenge 50K at Madison, Wisc. I tried to go out slowly, walk strategically, and avoid any hydration or blood sugar issues. It worked fairly well and the race didn't seem much harder than a marathon. Of course, I suffer in marathons because I refuse to do the same smart things. But, that's another story.
This fall, I'm registered for the North Face 50-Mile at Madison. With the extreme weather here in Hog Heaven, I'm not sure that my training has been/will be up to the task. So, if necessary, I'll drop back and run the 50K again.
I love trails and I like the idea of ultras. But, I know my limits. Imposed mostly by my age. And, as much as I find iconic ultras like the Western States 100 intriguing, it's not likely that I'll ever run them. My goal is to pace my son at Western States or another biggie someday.
Anyway, two of the country's most iconic--and grueling--ultras were contested in the past couple of weeks. If you weren't paying attention, here's what you missed.
The Hardrock 100 is history. Hal Koerner won the men's race in 24:50:13, the third fastest time in Hardrock history. Darcy Africa was the first woman finisher in 29:09:47. See more results here: http://www.irunfar.com/2012/07/2012-hardrock-100-results.html
Here's a brief race recap of the race from UltraRunning magazine: http://www.ultrarunning.com/ultra/features/news/koerner-and-africa-winner.shtml
Hardrock winner Hal Koerner reprises his race here: http://www.irunfar.com/2012/07/surprising-myself-and-others-hal-koerners-2012-hardrock-100-race-report.html
Another of the country's masochist magnets wrapped up this week: the Badwater Ultramarathon. Badwater runs 135 miles from Death Valley, Calif.--the lowest point in the U.S.--to Mt. Whitney, Calif.--the highest point in the Lower 48. This year's run saw relatively cool temps with a high of "only" 109 degrees. Here's a brief recap: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/17/2912087/oswaldo-lopez-of-madera-finishes.html
Nonetheless, I've managed to get in most of my scheduled runs this month. I've cut back a bit on my long runs, but that's the only concession I've made so far. This week is an easy week for me: no long run but a hill workout (Tuesday) and a race (the Bix 7-Mile) on Saturday. The Bix is a big deal locally. (Its namesake, Bix Beiderbecke, is a Jazz Age musician from right here in the Quad-Cities.) The race draws upwards of 20,000 runners including some of the world's top distance runners. Past winners include Olympians Ryan Hall, Meb Keflezighi, and Lisa Uhl. (Lisa, who made the U.S. team in the 10,000 meters is an Iowa native.) I haven't decided how to approach the hilly race: as a race or a training run. Right now, I'm leaning toward training run.
I've run one ultra marathon: last fall's North Face Endurance Challenge 50K at Madison, Wisc. I tried to go out slowly, walk strategically, and avoid any hydration or blood sugar issues. It worked fairly well and the race didn't seem much harder than a marathon. Of course, I suffer in marathons because I refuse to do the same smart things. But, that's another story.
This fall, I'm registered for the North Face 50-Mile at Madison. With the extreme weather here in Hog Heaven, I'm not sure that my training has been/will be up to the task. So, if necessary, I'll drop back and run the 50K again.
I love trails and I like the idea of ultras. But, I know my limits. Imposed mostly by my age. And, as much as I find iconic ultras like the Western States 100 intriguing, it's not likely that I'll ever run them. My goal is to pace my son at Western States or another biggie someday.
Anyway, two of the country's most iconic--and grueling--ultras were contested in the past couple of weeks. If you weren't paying attention, here's what you missed.
The Hardrock 100 is history. Hal Koerner won the men's race in 24:50:13, the third fastest time in Hardrock history. Darcy Africa was the first woman finisher in 29:09:47. See more results here: http://www.irunfar.com/2012/07/2012-hardrock-100-results.html
Here's a brief race recap of the race from UltraRunning magazine: http://www.ultrarunning.com/ultra/features/news/koerner-and-africa-winner.shtml
Hardrock winner Hal Koerner reprises his race here: http://www.irunfar.com/2012/07/surprising-myself-and-others-hal-koerners-2012-hardrock-100-race-report.html
Another of the country's masochist magnets wrapped up this week: the Badwater Ultramarathon. Badwater runs 135 miles from Death Valley, Calif.--the lowest point in the U.S.--to Mt. Whitney, Calif.--the highest point in the Lower 48. This year's run saw relatively cool temps with a high of "only" 109 degrees. Here's a brief recap: http://www.fresnobee.com/2012/07/17/2912087/oswaldo-lopez-of-madera-finishes.html
Monday, July 16, 2012
Chasing the Moon
Despite another ghastly hot week here in Hog Heaven, I managed to get in a decent week of training. The best day was Thursday, and I took advantage by rising at 3:45 and getting in a 24-mile long run before the worst of the heat. On Saturday evening, I toed the line at the Moonlight Chase, a local 4-miler that starts at 9:00 p.m. The late start didn't protect us from the heat though as it was still 83 degrees at the start with plenty of humidity. Despite the conditions, a record 2100+ turned out. I managed a third place finish in my age group and another trophy. I've raced four times this year and captured age group awards in all four: two firsts, a second, and a third. I have four more races scheduled this year: Quad-City Times Bix 7 (July 28), Pikes Peak Ascent (August 18), Run with Carl 5K (September 3), and the North Face Endurance Challenge (September 15). For the Pikes Peak Ascent and the Endurance Challenge, my goal isn't more hardware. It's simply to finish!
This week promises to be hot and humid again with daytime highs in the mid- to upper-90s. My schedule calls for another 40-mile week: a hill workout, a couple of maintenance runs, and an 18-mile long run. Looks like another week of 0 Dark Thirty wake-ups ahead.
If you're still looking for a reason to start running, take a look at the findings of Paul Williams, a a scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory who runs the world's largest study of runners' health, known as the National Runners' Health Study. For example, after studying over 100,000 runners for over 20 years, Williams reports that "One of the things that pleases me is how broad-spectrum the results are. Nobody in our cohort really gets sick at all until they're about 60." For more see here: http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Scientist-has-only-good-things-to-say-about-3700504.php
I'm not a big fan of the 1500 meters, but I am a fan of Jenny Simpson. And, Jenny runs the 1500. So, I was watching the Olympics Trials 1500 at Eugene, Ore. and will be watching at London. Morgan Uceny won the 1500 at the Trials with Shannon Rowbury and Simpson neck-and-neck in second and third. If you didn't catch the race at Eugene, here's an account: http://running.competitor.com/2012/07/news/morgan-uceny-leo-manzano-win-1500m-finals_54917
I'm also not a fan of beer, but I know that lots of runners are. So, here are the results of a study that shows that moderate--key word here--beer consumption is good for runners: http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/07/09/benefits-of-moderate-beer-consumption/
This week promises to be hot and humid again with daytime highs in the mid- to upper-90s. My schedule calls for another 40-mile week: a hill workout, a couple of maintenance runs, and an 18-mile long run. Looks like another week of 0 Dark Thirty wake-ups ahead.
If you're still looking for a reason to start running, take a look at the findings of Paul Williams, a a scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory who runs the world's largest study of runners' health, known as the National Runners' Health Study. For example, after studying over 100,000 runners for over 20 years, Williams reports that "One of the things that pleases me is how broad-spectrum the results are. Nobody in our cohort really gets sick at all until they're about 60." For more see here: http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Scientist-has-only-good-things-to-say-about-3700504.php
I'm not a big fan of the 1500 meters, but I am a fan of Jenny Simpson. And, Jenny runs the 1500. So, I was watching the Olympics Trials 1500 at Eugene, Ore. and will be watching at London. Morgan Uceny won the 1500 at the Trials with Shannon Rowbury and Simpson neck-and-neck in second and third. If you didn't catch the race at Eugene, here's an account: http://running.competitor.com/2012/07/news/morgan-uceny-leo-manzano-win-1500m-finals_54917
I'm also not a fan of beer, but I know that lots of runners are. So, here are the results of a study that shows that moderate--key word here--beer consumption is good for runners: http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/07/09/benefits-of-moderate-beer-consumption/
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Tweak, tweak
I tweaked my right calf while racing on Sunday. Near-panic ensued. It was, after all, only two weeks before the long-awaited Colorado Marathon. I soaked my legs in cold water and swallowed some ibuprofen. And, waited. On Monday morning, I walked 3+ miles. There was soreness but no real pain. On Tuesday, I did a very slow and very easy one-hour maintenance run. Again, the calf was a bit sore but not painful. The near-panic began to ease. Today, I did another one-hour maintenance run--this time not as slow and easy. And, most of the soreness in my right calf seems to be gone. Tomorrow is cross training so there's another day of recovery. I'm hoping that by Friday's one-hour maintenance run I won't even think about my calf.
There's a tweak in the long-term weather forecast for Ft. Collins. As of today, Accu-Weather is forecasting warm, sunny conditions for May 6. Warm as in a high temp of 80 degrees. Close to 50 at 6:15 when the marathon starts. That is not optimal. I am hoping for a starting temp closer to 45 and a temp no warmer than 60 at the finish. But, it's early yet. The forecast will change several times between now and May 6.
Here's more dog bites man news: http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/04/22/keitany-and-kipsang-triumph-in-london/
The Kenyans dominated the London Marathon. Who knew? Wilson Kipsang convincingly won the men's title with a 2:04:44--over 2 minutes ahead of his closest rival. Fellow Kenyan Mary Keitany won the women's race in 2:18:37--the third fastest women's time in history. They have to be the favorites to win Olympic Gold three months from now in--where else?--London.
Here's a bittersweet news item from the London Marathon: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/24/11366341-runner-who-died-in-london-marathon-inspires-500000-donations?lite
Thirty-year-old Claire Squires collapsed in the 26th mile of the marathon and died. An autopsy is being done to determine cause of death. That's the bitter part. The sweet part is that Squires was running the marathon for a local charity that works to prevent suicide. News of her tragic death caused contributions to soar. At last count, she had raised over $500,000.
Check out the North Face Endurance Challenge updated website here: http://www.thenorthface.com/en_US/endurance-challenge/
They now have complete info on all the races in the series including detailed Course Guides.
There's a tweak in the long-term weather forecast for Ft. Collins. As of today, Accu-Weather is forecasting warm, sunny conditions for May 6. Warm as in a high temp of 80 degrees. Close to 50 at 6:15 when the marathon starts. That is not optimal. I am hoping for a starting temp closer to 45 and a temp no warmer than 60 at the finish. But, it's early yet. The forecast will change several times between now and May 6.
Here's more dog bites man news: http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/04/22/keitany-and-kipsang-triumph-in-london/
The Kenyans dominated the London Marathon. Who knew? Wilson Kipsang convincingly won the men's title with a 2:04:44--over 2 minutes ahead of his closest rival. Fellow Kenyan Mary Keitany won the women's race in 2:18:37--the third fastest women's time in history. They have to be the favorites to win Olympic Gold three months from now in--where else?--London.
Here's a bittersweet news item from the London Marathon: http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/04/24/11366341-runner-who-died-in-london-marathon-inspires-500000-donations?lite
Thirty-year-old Claire Squires collapsed in the 26th mile of the marathon and died. An autopsy is being done to determine cause of death. That's the bitter part. The sweet part is that Squires was running the marathon for a local charity that works to prevent suicide. News of her tragic death caused contributions to soar. At last count, she had raised over $500,000.
Check out the North Face Endurance Challenge updated website here: http://www.thenorthface.com/en_US/endurance-challenge/
They now have complete info on all the races in the series including detailed Course Guides.
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
Friday, April 13, 2012
LSD for you and me
Taking advantage of almost-perfect weather (sunny, light wind, temp in 40s and 50s), I ran my final long run before the Colorado Marathon on Thursday. Went slow and easy--two minutes slower than projected marathon race pace--and had no problems. Today, I did a brisk hike for recovery/cross training. Saturday's schedule calls for a one-hour maintenance run and Sunday is more cross training. The three-week taper to the May 6 marathon has begun here in Hog Heaven.
Since yesterday was another long, long run, I decided to re-visit the LSD debate once again. On the one side are writers/coaches like Jeff Galloway (Olympian, writer, and running shoe entrepreneur) who advocate for lengthy, slow and easy, long runs. Galloway claims that by extending the long run to 26 miles, runners can expect to improve their marathon times by 10 to 20 minutes. See Galloway's marathon training guide, Marathon: You Can Do It!
On the other hand are writers/coaches like Jeff Gaudette (2:22 marathoner and coach) who argue that long runs over 18 miles are not necessary for the average marathoner. For Jeff's views see here: http://runnersconnect.net/running-training-articles/marathon-long-runs/
Another Jeff, Jeff Horowitz, also contends that long runs over 18 miles are not necessary for good marathon performance. He would substitute the extra-long runs with more intense running and more cross-training. For Jeff's program, see his training guide, Smart Marathon Training.
I'm not taking sides. I do what seems to work best for me. Like most things in running (shoe choice, nutrition, etc.), there is no one-size-fits-all training regimen. Experiment and find what works for you.
Here's another excellent piece on the late Micah True, aka Caballo Blanco: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/track_field/wires/04/02/2080.ap.ath.missing.runner.2nd.ld.writethru.0856/index.html
The Associated Press has reported that friends of True have set up a foundation that will continue his work to aid the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico's Copper Canyon. One of those efforts, the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon that True started in 2003, will continue in 2013 with the support of the foundation. See story here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/foundation-formed-to-keep-alive-runner-micah-trues-ultra-marathon-in-copper-canyon/2012/04/09/gIQAtSje6S_story.html
An autopsy has been completed, but results haven't been reported.
If you're near a computer Monday, you can stream the Boston Marathon live from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (ET) at UniversalSports.com. It's sponsored by Timex and it's free. For more, see here: http://running.competitor.com/2012/04/news/timex-sponsoring-live-stream-of-boston-marathon_50624
Since yesterday was another long, long run, I decided to re-visit the LSD debate once again. On the one side are writers/coaches like Jeff Galloway (Olympian, writer, and running shoe entrepreneur) who advocate for lengthy, slow and easy, long runs. Galloway claims that by extending the long run to 26 miles, runners can expect to improve their marathon times by 10 to 20 minutes. See Galloway's marathon training guide, Marathon: You Can Do It!
On the other hand are writers/coaches like Jeff Gaudette (2:22 marathoner and coach) who argue that long runs over 18 miles are not necessary for the average marathoner. For Jeff's views see here: http://runnersconnect.net/running-training-articles/marathon-long-runs/
Another Jeff, Jeff Horowitz, also contends that long runs over 18 miles are not necessary for good marathon performance. He would substitute the extra-long runs with more intense running and more cross-training. For Jeff's program, see his training guide, Smart Marathon Training.
I'm not taking sides. I do what seems to work best for me. Like most things in running (shoe choice, nutrition, etc.), there is no one-size-fits-all training regimen. Experiment and find what works for you.
Here's another excellent piece on the late Micah True, aka Caballo Blanco: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/track_field/wires/04/02/2080.ap.ath.missing.runner.2nd.ld.writethru.0856/index.html
The Associated Press has reported that friends of True have set up a foundation that will continue his work to aid the Tarahumara Indians of Mexico's Copper Canyon. One of those efforts, the Copper Canyon Ultra Marathon that True started in 2003, will continue in 2013 with the support of the foundation. See story here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/foundation-formed-to-keep-alive-runner-micah-trues-ultra-marathon-in-copper-canyon/2012/04/09/gIQAtSje6S_story.html
An autopsy has been completed, but results haven't been reported.
If you're near a computer Monday, you can stream the Boston Marathon live from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (ET) at UniversalSports.com. It's sponsored by Timex and it's free. For more, see here: http://running.competitor.com/2012/04/news/timex-sponsoring-live-stream-of-boston-marathon_50624
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Run a Mile Days
The late spring weather we've been enjoying for the past few days will morph into mid-spring weather tomorrow. That's okay since mid-spring is a great time to run in Hog Heaven. Mid-spring is in the forecast for the next 10 days. Rejoice.
I ran one-hour maintenance runs both yesterday and today. Took it slow and easy since I've noticed a bit of a tweak in my right groin area. I don't think it's serious, but I'm going to take it easy anyway. It's too close to race day--May 6 for the Colorado Marathon--to take a chance. There's too much training in the book--over 3 months worth--to get sidelined now. Tomorrow is cross training. I'll see how I feel on Thursday morning before deciding what to run. Or not. Stay tuned.
An organization called the American Running Association (ARA) is sponsoring a Run a Mile Days event from May 6-12 in honor of the May 6 anniversary of the first sub-4:00 mile run by England's Roger Bannister back in 1954. The ARA's short-term goal is to get schools and clubs across the country to sponsor mile runs during the week of May 6-12. Their long-term goal is keep kids running and exercising year-round. For the full story, see here: http://running.competitor.com/2012/04/news/national-run-a-mile-days-set-for-may_50181
Runners' World magazine posted this eloquent tribute to ultra running legend Micah True, aka Caballo Blanco, on its website: http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/04/02/rip-micah-true-run-free-man/
Countdown Calendar: Colorado Marathon--34 days
Pikes Peak Ascent---138 days
Madison North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Mile--166 days
I ran one-hour maintenance runs both yesterday and today. Took it slow and easy since I've noticed a bit of a tweak in my right groin area. I don't think it's serious, but I'm going to take it easy anyway. It's too close to race day--May 6 for the Colorado Marathon--to take a chance. There's too much training in the book--over 3 months worth--to get sidelined now. Tomorrow is cross training. I'll see how I feel on Thursday morning before deciding what to run. Or not. Stay tuned.
An organization called the American Running Association (ARA) is sponsoring a Run a Mile Days event from May 6-12 in honor of the May 6 anniversary of the first sub-4:00 mile run by England's Roger Bannister back in 1954. The ARA's short-term goal is to get schools and clubs across the country to sponsor mile runs during the week of May 6-12. Their long-term goal is keep kids running and exercising year-round. For the full story, see here: http://running.competitor.com/2012/04/news/national-run-a-mile-days-set-for-may_50181
Runners' World magazine posted this eloquent tribute to ultra running legend Micah True, aka Caballo Blanco, on its website: http://news.runnersworld.com/2012/04/02/rip-micah-true-run-free-man/
Countdown Calendar: Colorado Marathon--34 days
Pikes Peak Ascent---138 days
Madison North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Mile--166 days
Monday, March 26, 2012
Running Trends
After weeks of June-like weather, March returned to Hog Heaven today: 39 degrees, overcast, and blustery. No fun at all. Especially after all that warm sunshine over the past few weeks. But, March is waning fast and April promises . . . What? I'd settle for April. But, who knows anymore?
I did a one-hour maintenance run yesterday while it was still June. (O.K., June-like.) This morning, three months earlier, I did a one-hour hike for cross training. Tomorrow's schedule calls for a 1.5 hour maintenance run. Right now, Thursday looks like the best day for this week's long run. If that holds, I'll cross train on Wednesday and try to run 24 slow and easy miles on Thursday. This after bonking at 20 miles on my last long run.
I ran across this survey from Running USA recently: http://www.runningusa.org/statistics.
Here are some of the highlights: More and more runners are finishing races. I interpret that to mean that 1) more people are running, and 2) they are signing up for--and finishing--more races. For 2010, the latest year for which data is available, there were some 13 million finishers of road races. That's a 13% increase just since 2005.
And, as anyone who's been paying attention could tell you, women are responsible for much of the increase. In fact, females were 53% of all race finishers in 2010. Female race finishers almost doubled in the decade to 2010, ballooning from 3.6 million to 6.9 million. YOU GO GRL!
Even as other races have grown, the half marathon has led the way with the number of finishers increasing 200% between 2000 and 2010. Marathon finishers rose only 44% over the same period. Again, females have driven the half marathon growth.
Let's make 2012 another record year.
I did a one-hour maintenance run yesterday while it was still June. (O.K., June-like.) This morning, three months earlier, I did a one-hour hike for cross training. Tomorrow's schedule calls for a 1.5 hour maintenance run. Right now, Thursday looks like the best day for this week's long run. If that holds, I'll cross train on Wednesday and try to run 24 slow and easy miles on Thursday. This after bonking at 20 miles on my last long run.
I ran across this survey from Running USA recently: http://www.runningusa.org/statistics.
Here are some of the highlights: More and more runners are finishing races. I interpret that to mean that 1) more people are running, and 2) they are signing up for--and finishing--more races. For 2010, the latest year for which data is available, there were some 13 million finishers of road races. That's a 13% increase just since 2005.
And, as anyone who's been paying attention could tell you, women are responsible for much of the increase. In fact, females were 53% of all race finishers in 2010. Female race finishers almost doubled in the decade to 2010, ballooning from 3.6 million to 6.9 million. YOU GO GRL!
Even as other races have grown, the half marathon has led the way with the number of finishers increasing 200% between 2000 and 2010. Marathon finishers rose only 44% over the same period. Again, females have driven the half marathon growth.
Let's make 2012 another record year.
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Channeling Imelda Marcos
It's been more like early spring here in Hog Heaven over the past two days with high temps in the 60s. That's still above average though. Our average temp for today is 53 and our average low is 32. But, we've been about 10 degrees above average since Dec. 1 so this feels about right.
I ran a speed workout yesterday. 3 x 1-mile at 5k pace. Add in a mile of warm-up and 3 miles of cool-down and my total run was 7 miles. Today, I did a brisk 4-mile hike and 8 sets of 25 push-ups for cross training. Tomorrow's schedule calls for a 1 1/2 mile maintenance run. Slow and easy.
Next week's schedule includes my penultimate long run in the train-up to the Colorado Marathon. After bonking on my last long run, I'm hoping to do better this time. My goal is 24 miles. I'll also do three maintenance runs (1 to 1 1/2 hours) during the week and three days of cross training.
I channeled my inner Imelda Marcos this past week and ordered two new pairs of running shoes: a pair of INOV-8 Roclite 285 and a pair of New Balance MT 110. Both are trail shoes and were purchased to celebrate my decision to register for the Pikes Peak Ascent and the Madison North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Mile. The NB MT 110 is a lightweight shoe and I hope to use it on Pikes Peak. If it works out over 13.32 vertical miles, I'll consider it for North Face. I plan to use the INOV-8 for training on the local trails in preparation for both Pikes Peak and North Face. I also have the Saucony Peregrines that I ran in at North Face Madison last fall to use for training this summer.
There's one other shoe that I'm seriously considering for purchase later this year: the Saucony Kinvara 3 that debuts May 1. The Kinvara 3 will replace a pair of the Kinvara 2 that won't last the summer. A trail version of the Kinvara, the Kinvara TR, will be out in July. But, I'd like to take a look at it and read a few reviews before adding it to my wish list. There's also an intriguing lightweight shoe from Salomon, the S-Lab Sense, coming out this summer that might be worth a look. I'm afraid that at 6.5 oz., it won't offer enough protection or durability. But, it's worth a look anyway.
I ran a speed workout yesterday. 3 x 1-mile at 5k pace. Add in a mile of warm-up and 3 miles of cool-down and my total run was 7 miles. Today, I did a brisk 4-mile hike and 8 sets of 25 push-ups for cross training. Tomorrow's schedule calls for a 1 1/2 mile maintenance run. Slow and easy.
Next week's schedule includes my penultimate long run in the train-up to the Colorado Marathon. After bonking on my last long run, I'm hoping to do better this time. My goal is 24 miles. I'll also do three maintenance runs (1 to 1 1/2 hours) during the week and three days of cross training.
I channeled my inner Imelda Marcos this past week and ordered two new pairs of running shoes: a pair of INOV-8 Roclite 285 and a pair of New Balance MT 110. Both are trail shoes and were purchased to celebrate my decision to register for the Pikes Peak Ascent and the Madison North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Mile. The NB MT 110 is a lightweight shoe and I hope to use it on Pikes Peak. If it works out over 13.32 vertical miles, I'll consider it for North Face. I plan to use the INOV-8 for training on the local trails in preparation for both Pikes Peak and North Face. I also have the Saucony Peregrines that I ran in at North Face Madison last fall to use for training this summer.
There's one other shoe that I'm seriously considering for purchase later this year: the Saucony Kinvara 3 that debuts May 1. The Kinvara 3 will replace a pair of the Kinvara 2 that won't last the summer. A trail version of the Kinvara, the Kinvara TR, will be out in July. But, I'd like to take a look at it and read a few reviews before adding it to my wish list. There's also an intriguing lightweight shoe from Salomon, the S-Lab Sense, coming out this summer that might be worth a look. I'm afraid that at 6.5 oz., it won't offer enough protection or durability. But, it's worth a look anyway.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
The rest of 2012
The calendar finally says spring, but the weather outside here in Hog Heaven has been shouting spring for some time now. Today's forecast high temp of 81 degrees will make this the sixth straight day of record highs here. It's supposed to cool down a bit later this week, but temps will remain well above average for this time of year.
Today, I did a hill workout: 6 x .5 mile hill repeats at a 5K effort. I'm pretty pleased with the result. Tomorrow will be a one-hour recovery/maintenance run, and Thursday will be cross training.
It's a good thing that I've been keeping up with my hill workouts this winter. Yesterday, I finally pulled the trigger and signed up for the Pikes Peak Ascent. See here: http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/entry.htm
Run in Manitou Springs, Colo., on August 18, the Ascent is the little brother of the Pikes Peak Marathon that is run the following day. Both run up the east face of Pikes Peak. The Ascent stops at the summit; the Marathon returns to the start. The Ascent gains 7815 feet of vertical over 13.32 miles.
The Marathon field closed early in the first day of registration. Field 1--the competitive runners--closed in 3 hours, 27 minutes. Field 2--you and me--closed in 1 hour, 1 minute. The Ascent remains open but is filling fast. If you're interested, better get going. The Marathon is limited to 800 runners, and the Ascent is limited to 1800.
There are qualifications for both races. The Marathon requires an Ascent finish. The Ascent requires meeting a time standard in a marathon or half-marathon run in the past three years.
I completed my 2012 dance card yesterday by registering for the Madison, Wisc., North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Mile ultra. See here: http://www2.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/
I ran my first ultra--the 50K--at last year's Madison North Face Endurance Challenge so this will be a homecoming of sorts for me. The North Face events also have registration limits, but it's early yet for Wisconsin (races are September 15-16). If you want to join me there, you still have plenty of time.
The Pikes Peak Ascent will be the first time I've raced above tree line. North Face Madison will be 19 miles longer than I've ever run before. Life's an adventure. Stay tuned.
Today, I did a hill workout: 6 x .5 mile hill repeats at a 5K effort. I'm pretty pleased with the result. Tomorrow will be a one-hour recovery/maintenance run, and Thursday will be cross training.
It's a good thing that I've been keeping up with my hill workouts this winter. Yesterday, I finally pulled the trigger and signed up for the Pikes Peak Ascent. See here: http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/entry.htm
Run in Manitou Springs, Colo., on August 18, the Ascent is the little brother of the Pikes Peak Marathon that is run the following day. Both run up the east face of Pikes Peak. The Ascent stops at the summit; the Marathon returns to the start. The Ascent gains 7815 feet of vertical over 13.32 miles.
The Marathon field closed early in the first day of registration. Field 1--the competitive runners--closed in 3 hours, 27 minutes. Field 2--you and me--closed in 1 hour, 1 minute. The Ascent remains open but is filling fast. If you're interested, better get going. The Marathon is limited to 800 runners, and the Ascent is limited to 1800.
There are qualifications for both races. The Marathon requires an Ascent finish. The Ascent requires meeting a time standard in a marathon or half-marathon run in the past three years.
I completed my 2012 dance card yesterday by registering for the Madison, Wisc., North Face Endurance Challenge 50-Mile ultra. See here: http://www2.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/
I ran my first ultra--the 50K--at last year's Madison North Face Endurance Challenge so this will be a homecoming of sorts for me. The North Face events also have registration limits, but it's early yet for Wisconsin (races are September 15-16). If you want to join me there, you still have plenty of time.
The Pikes Peak Ascent will be the first time I've raced above tree line. North Face Madison will be 19 miles longer than I've ever run before. Life's an adventure. Stay tuned.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Decisions, decisions
Today was another reminder that winter isn't over here in Hog Heaven. It is cold and brisk, if sunny. At least it was still sunny early in the day when I went out for a 7-mile maintenance run. Again, since I'm coming off a 24-mile LSD on Thursday, I took this one slow and easy. The good news is that I seem to be completely recovered from my effort on Thursday. Tomorrow is cross training.
Time's a wastin'. I still haven't decided which (long) races to schedule for later this year. I'm registered (and training) for the May 6 Colorado Marathon. After that, who knows? The problem is that several popular races that I've been considering begin (and end) registration this month. (The Colorado Marathon is capped and usually closes early too, but I knew last fall that I wanted to run it. Good thing since it closed before Dec. 31.)
The ever-popular Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. opens registration this week: March 7. The Marathon takes place on October 28 meaning that decisions have to be made almost eight months in advance. Even though it's the fourth largest U.S. marathon and the 9th largest in the world, last year's marathon sold out in just 28 hours. So, you can see the dilemma for runners: either decide within a couple of days or miss out. Since I don't see myself deciding by Wednesday, I'll likely be left out. For those who are interested, here's the site: http://www.marinemarathon.com/
One week later, the equally popular Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon opens registration: March 15. The Pikes Peak races are on August 18 (Ascent) and 19 (Marathon). Registration is capped at 1800 for the Ascent and 800 for the Marathon and usually closes within days. I'll probably miss that deadline too. But, for those who are interested and more decisive, here's the link: http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/entry.htm
Fortunately, my other alternatives--North Face Endurance Challenge in Madison, Wisc.; the Quad-Cities Marathon in my backyard; and the Amica Seattle Marathon in my son's backyard--remain options. The North Face events are capped, but registration for the Madison venue did not close last year. The other two are not capped. The North Face Endurance Challenge events can be found here: http://www2.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/ The Quad-Cities event here: http://qcmarathon.org/
I'm also waiting to see what happens with my son. Right now, he doesn't know where he'll be and what he'll be doing this fall so he can't make plans. If he's going to be out of the country over Christmas, we'll visit him for Thanksgiving. If we're going to be out in the Seattle area over Thanksgiving, we might as well run the marathon. The link for it is here: http://www.seattlemarathon.org/ I ran this race last fall and swore that I'd never run it again. But marathons are a bit like child birth. Or, so I hear. It doesn't take long to forget the bad parts and savor the good parts. The race itself is well-organized and run. The weather on race day last year was nasty: cool, rainy, and windy. (But, it was fall in Seattle.) And, there are a couple of wake-up hills in the second half.
Time's a wastin'. I still haven't decided which (long) races to schedule for later this year. I'm registered (and training) for the May 6 Colorado Marathon. After that, who knows? The problem is that several popular races that I've been considering begin (and end) registration this month. (The Colorado Marathon is capped and usually closes early too, but I knew last fall that I wanted to run it. Good thing since it closed before Dec. 31.)
The ever-popular Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. opens registration this week: March 7. The Marathon takes place on October 28 meaning that decisions have to be made almost eight months in advance. Even though it's the fourth largest U.S. marathon and the 9th largest in the world, last year's marathon sold out in just 28 hours. So, you can see the dilemma for runners: either decide within a couple of days or miss out. Since I don't see myself deciding by Wednesday, I'll likely be left out. For those who are interested, here's the site: http://www.marinemarathon.com/
One week later, the equally popular Pikes Peak Ascent and Marathon opens registration: March 15. The Pikes Peak races are on August 18 (Ascent) and 19 (Marathon). Registration is capped at 1800 for the Ascent and 800 for the Marathon and usually closes within days. I'll probably miss that deadline too. But, for those who are interested and more decisive, here's the link: http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/entry.htm
Fortunately, my other alternatives--North Face Endurance Challenge in Madison, Wisc.; the Quad-Cities Marathon in my backyard; and the Amica Seattle Marathon in my son's backyard--remain options. The North Face events are capped, but registration for the Madison venue did not close last year. The other two are not capped. The North Face Endurance Challenge events can be found here: http://www2.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/ The Quad-Cities event here: http://qcmarathon.org/
I'm also waiting to see what happens with my son. Right now, he doesn't know where he'll be and what he'll be doing this fall so he can't make plans. If he's going to be out of the country over Christmas, we'll visit him for Thanksgiving. If we're going to be out in the Seattle area over Thanksgiving, we might as well run the marathon. The link for it is here: http://www.seattlemarathon.org/ I ran this race last fall and swore that I'd never run it again. But marathons are a bit like child birth. Or, so I hear. It doesn't take long to forget the bad parts and savor the good parts. The race itself is well-organized and run. The weather on race day last year was nasty: cool, rainy, and windy. (But, it was fall in Seattle.) And, there are a couple of wake-up hills in the second half.
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.
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.
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, January 31, 2012
Destinations
The calendar says January, albeit the last day, but the weather outside is shouting early spring. It was in the 50s here yesterday and should reach the 50s again today. The early warmth seems to have put a spring in my step. I ran today's 6-mile maintenance run at a quicker pace than I intended, or is probably wise. But, it felt good at the time. When I can shed some layers and don't have to worry about icy spots, my body just wants to go faster. Go figure.
The nice weather also has me looking forward to lining up and racing! That plus the fact that I got an email this morning announcing that today is the first day to sign up for this year's North Face Endurance Challenge events. More later.
Of course, older runners--like moi!--must think long and hard about the length of their racing season and the number of their races. In both instances, too much can lead to injury and/or ennui. This is another case where each individual runner has to figure work what works for him/her.
While some experts recommend limiting marathons to two per year, others are more liberal. Jeff Galloway (Marathon: You Can Do It!), while not endorsing the practice, notes that it's possible to run another marathon as soon as a month later. While I know people who race (5K, 10K, 5-Miles) almost weekly in the summer months with no apparent ill effects, the experts that I heed recommend limiting such races to no more than twice a month. Again, one has to find what works for him/her.
I live to run, not to race, and I use races to measure how I'm doing. As a result, I choose my races carefully. I usually use December as a recovery month and do only light running. Then, in January, I ramp up my training. At that time, I check my notes and select the races that I'd like to do over the coming months.
I like to begin with a spring marathon. Last year, I ran the Capitol City Marathon in Olympia, Washington. (My son lives in the Seattle area and ran the marathon with me.) This year, I've chosen the May 6 Colorado Marathon in Ft. Collins, Colo. I try to do a second marathon in the fall. Last year, I ran the Amica Seattle Marathon in November. As things turned out, it was a race too far for me. I had already done the North Face Endurance Challenge 50K at Madison, Wisc., in September. Eight miles into the Seattle Marathon, I injured my right calf, and while I hobbled the rest of the way, it was slow and painful. I don't won't to do that again.
This year, I'm going to limit myself to a single marathon or longer event in the fall. Among the races I'm considering are the Madison North Face Endurance Challenge and the local Quad-City Marathon.
I do two local races in the summer: the Moon Light Chase in July and the Run With Carl on Labor Day. This year, I'm considering the Pikes Peak Ascent in Colorado Springs, Colo. We visit Colorado Springs every year, and there's no reason we couldn't time our visit to correspond with the Pikes Peak Ascent in mid-August. Neither my son, who lived in Colorado Springs for several years and ran in the mountains, nor my wife is very supportive of my interest in running the Ascent. We'll see.
If you're looking for races, you can find lists in lots of places including http://www.runnersworld.com/, http://www.ultrarunning.com/, http://running.competitor.com/, and http://www.trailrunnermag.com/index.php
Check out the Colorado Marathon here: http://www.thecoloradomarathon.com/ Unfortunately this year's marathon is full, but there's always next year.
Check out the 2012 North Face Endurance Challenge events here: http://www2.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/index.html
One year soon, I'd like to do the Endurance Challenge at Bear Mountain, NY, but not this year. It's the same weekend as the Colorado Marathon and they already have my money. The Kansas City event is being moved from August to November. Wise decision. August in KC is too hot/humid for a marathon, much less a 50K. There is no 50-Mile race in KC. The KC event also is unique in that it's run on roads, not trails. Right now, I'm considering running in Madison, Wisc. in September or KC in November. I'm still debating distances. I hope to try 50 miles one day, but don't know if I'm ready. Anyway, my experience in Madison last year (50K) was very positive and I'm eager to return. At some distance. Registration for all North Face Endurance Challenge events opens today (January 31).
The Pikes Peak Ascent/Pikes Peak Marathon has just posted entry information for the 2012 races. You can find it here: http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/entry.htm
The nice weather also has me looking forward to lining up and racing! That plus the fact that I got an email this morning announcing that today is the first day to sign up for this year's North Face Endurance Challenge events. More later.
Of course, older runners--like moi!--must think long and hard about the length of their racing season and the number of their races. In both instances, too much can lead to injury and/or ennui. This is another case where each individual runner has to figure work what works for him/her.
While some experts recommend limiting marathons to two per year, others are more liberal. Jeff Galloway (Marathon: You Can Do It!), while not endorsing the practice, notes that it's possible to run another marathon as soon as a month later. While I know people who race (5K, 10K, 5-Miles) almost weekly in the summer months with no apparent ill effects, the experts that I heed recommend limiting such races to no more than twice a month. Again, one has to find what works for him/her.
I live to run, not to race, and I use races to measure how I'm doing. As a result, I choose my races carefully. I usually use December as a recovery month and do only light running. Then, in January, I ramp up my training. At that time, I check my notes and select the races that I'd like to do over the coming months.
I like to begin with a spring marathon. Last year, I ran the Capitol City Marathon in Olympia, Washington. (My son lives in the Seattle area and ran the marathon with me.) This year, I've chosen the May 6 Colorado Marathon in Ft. Collins, Colo. I try to do a second marathon in the fall. Last year, I ran the Amica Seattle Marathon in November. As things turned out, it was a race too far for me. I had already done the North Face Endurance Challenge 50K at Madison, Wisc., in September. Eight miles into the Seattle Marathon, I injured my right calf, and while I hobbled the rest of the way, it was slow and painful. I don't won't to do that again.
This year, I'm going to limit myself to a single marathon or longer event in the fall. Among the races I'm considering are the Madison North Face Endurance Challenge and the local Quad-City Marathon.
I do two local races in the summer: the Moon Light Chase in July and the Run With Carl on Labor Day. This year, I'm considering the Pikes Peak Ascent in Colorado Springs, Colo. We visit Colorado Springs every year, and there's no reason we couldn't time our visit to correspond with the Pikes Peak Ascent in mid-August. Neither my son, who lived in Colorado Springs for several years and ran in the mountains, nor my wife is very supportive of my interest in running the Ascent. We'll see.
If you're looking for races, you can find lists in lots of places including http://www.runnersworld.com/, http://www.ultrarunning.com/, http://running.competitor.com/, and http://www.trailrunnermag.com/index.php
Check out the Colorado Marathon here: http://www.thecoloradomarathon.com/ Unfortunately this year's marathon is full, but there's always next year.
Check out the 2012 North Face Endurance Challenge events here: http://www2.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/index.html
One year soon, I'd like to do the Endurance Challenge at Bear Mountain, NY, but not this year. It's the same weekend as the Colorado Marathon and they already have my money. The Kansas City event is being moved from August to November. Wise decision. August in KC is too hot/humid for a marathon, much less a 50K. There is no 50-Mile race in KC. The KC event also is unique in that it's run on roads, not trails. Right now, I'm considering running in Madison, Wisc. in September or KC in November. I'm still debating distances. I hope to try 50 miles one day, but don't know if I'm ready. Anyway, my experience in Madison last year (50K) was very positive and I'm eager to return. At some distance. Registration for all North Face Endurance Challenge events opens today (January 31).
The Pikes Peak Ascent/Pikes Peak Marathon has just posted entry information for the 2012 races. You can find it here: http://www.pikespeakmarathon.org/entry.htm
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Rarin' to Go
With much-improved weather today, I managed a solid six miles with a Magic Minute thrown in for good measure. I borrowed the Magic Minute concept from Jeff Galloway. It's a mile run at close to 5k tempo. I try to run them at c. 85/90% of 5K effort. I ran today's MM in 7:38. Not bad for me since I've done no speed work since mid-November.
The big news today, of course, is the results of yesterday's Olympic Trials Marathons. In a bit of an upset Meb Keflezighi defeated favorite Ryan Hall, who finished second. The third male qualifier for the Olympic Marathon was Abdi Abdirahman. On the women's side, favorite Sharlane Flanagan took the top spot. Desiree Davila and Kara Goucher round out the women's team. Congratulations to them all. I'm counting the days until the London Games!
Yesterday's Olympic Marathon Trials have me itching to toe the starting line at the Colorado Marathon this spring. Of course, the marathon is almost four months away and there's lots of training left to be done. If I'm correct, I finished the 10th week of my 26-week train-up today. So far, so good. I've done all the scheduled workouts with no problems or ill effects. There will inevitably be challenges ahead, including bouts of awful weather, but the memory of the Marathon Trials should help to keep spirits up. If that memory begins to fade, there's always the video of the Colorado Marathon posted on the Marathon's website: http://www.ftcollinsmarathon.com/
That video is the reason I signed up for the race. Last fall, I was surfing the web checking out marathons to run in 2012, and I clicked on the Colorado Marathon site. Then, I clicked on the video icon. That was it. I love Colorado anyway and here was this incredibly scenic course. The 1000' of elevation loss from start to finish didn't hurt. And, here I am with 16 weeks to go. Safely registered. Room reserved in Ft. Collins. Training going well. Life is good.
I'm still looking for a fall event: marathon or ultra. I'm considering returning to the North Face Endurance Challenge in Madison, Wisc. to reprise last fall's 50K or perhaps try the 50-Miles. I want to do the Marine Corps Marathon some day. Maybe this year. Last year, my wife and I joined our Army officer son for the Army 10-Miler in D.C. and had a blast. I've even thought about staying close to home and doing our local marathon: the Quad-Cities Marathon. I'm open to suggestions.
The big news today, of course, is the results of yesterday's Olympic Trials Marathons. In a bit of an upset Meb Keflezighi defeated favorite Ryan Hall, who finished second. The third male qualifier for the Olympic Marathon was Abdi Abdirahman. On the women's side, favorite Sharlane Flanagan took the top spot. Desiree Davila and Kara Goucher round out the women's team. Congratulations to them all. I'm counting the days until the London Games!
Yesterday's Olympic Marathon Trials have me itching to toe the starting line at the Colorado Marathon this spring. Of course, the marathon is almost four months away and there's lots of training left to be done. If I'm correct, I finished the 10th week of my 26-week train-up today. So far, so good. I've done all the scheduled workouts with no problems or ill effects. There will inevitably be challenges ahead, including bouts of awful weather, but the memory of the Marathon Trials should help to keep spirits up. If that memory begins to fade, there's always the video of the Colorado Marathon posted on the Marathon's website: http://www.ftcollinsmarathon.com/
That video is the reason I signed up for the race. Last fall, I was surfing the web checking out marathons to run in 2012, and I clicked on the Colorado Marathon site. Then, I clicked on the video icon. That was it. I love Colorado anyway and here was this incredibly scenic course. The 1000' of elevation loss from start to finish didn't hurt. And, here I am with 16 weeks to go. Safely registered. Room reserved in Ft. Collins. Training going well. Life is good.
I'm still looking for a fall event: marathon or ultra. I'm considering returning to the North Face Endurance Challenge in Madison, Wisc. to reprise last fall's 50K or perhaps try the 50-Miles. I want to do the Marine Corps Marathon some day. Maybe this year. Last year, my wife and I joined our Army officer son for the Army 10-Miler in D.C. and had a blast. I've even thought about staying close to home and doing our local marathon: the Quad-Cities Marathon. I'm open to suggestions.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
HAPPY NEW YEAR
HAPPY NEW YEAR to anyone who happens to find this blog. I'm calling it "RunningThru: Twenty 12" because: 1) I considered and rejected such clever titles as "OntheRun," "TakingFlight," "RunningAround," and many more and 2) the blog will cover my running adventures (and misadventures) throughout (hopefully) the coming year. I'm not sure if/why anyone else will/should be interested, but we'll see.
Last year was a decent running year for me. I completed two marathons and one ultra (the Madison, WI North Face Endurance Challenge 50K). I ran three other road races: 1) the Army 10-Miler, 2) Moonlight Chase 4-Mile (third in age group), and 3) Run With Carl 5K (third in age group).
I have an ambitious schedule for this year. I'm registered for the May 6 Colorado Marathon (http://www.thecoloradomarathon.com/) and plan to run the North Face Endurance Challenge in September. I haven't yet decided what distance: 50-Miler, 50K, or marathon, but I'm leaning toward 50 miles. The 50K (31 miles) is the farthest I've run. (My wife--also a runner but not as intense says that I'm crazy.) I'm also considering the Pikes Peak Ascent in August although my wife (again!) and son are trying to discourage me. She insists I'm crazy. He's more diplomatic and suggests that I might want to wait until I'm living and training in Colorado before trying to run up 8000 feet in elevation over 13 miles. Something about the air. We'll see.
So, I'm beginning the eighth week of a 26-week train-up for the Colorado Marathon. Today I ran 5 miles at race pace. Nothing exciting. I'm old. Race pace is slow--marathon race pace is 10:30; 5k race pace is 8:00. Actually, I ran about 15 seconds faster than race pace today. Despite using my Christmas gift from my son (Garmin Forerunner 405CX) for the first time, I still ran a bit too fast. This is Iowa--a.k.a. Hog Heaven--and today's weather was less than ideal: partly cloudy and 33 degrees with winds gusting up to 40 mph. The winds made it hard--actually impossible--to run a consistent pace! I'll be running 30 miles this week with a long run of 15 this coming weekend.
My New Year's running goals (not resolutions) are 1) a sub-4:20 marathon, 2) complete a 50-Miler within the allotted time, and 3) a 5k at 7:45 pace. What would life be without goals?
So, join me online and on the road . . . and trails this year.
Last year was a decent running year for me. I completed two marathons and one ultra (the Madison, WI North Face Endurance Challenge 50K). I ran three other road races: 1) the Army 10-Miler, 2) Moonlight Chase 4-Mile (third in age group), and 3) Run With Carl 5K (third in age group).
I have an ambitious schedule for this year. I'm registered for the May 6 Colorado Marathon (http://www.thecoloradomarathon.com/) and plan to run the North Face Endurance Challenge in September. I haven't yet decided what distance: 50-Miler, 50K, or marathon, but I'm leaning toward 50 miles. The 50K (31 miles) is the farthest I've run. (My wife--also a runner but not as intense says that I'm crazy.) I'm also considering the Pikes Peak Ascent in August although my wife (again!) and son are trying to discourage me. She insists I'm crazy. He's more diplomatic and suggests that I might want to wait until I'm living and training in Colorado before trying to run up 8000 feet in elevation over 13 miles. Something about the air. We'll see.
So, I'm beginning the eighth week of a 26-week train-up for the Colorado Marathon. Today I ran 5 miles at race pace. Nothing exciting. I'm old. Race pace is slow--marathon race pace is 10:30; 5k race pace is 8:00. Actually, I ran about 15 seconds faster than race pace today. Despite using my Christmas gift from my son (Garmin Forerunner 405CX) for the first time, I still ran a bit too fast. This is Iowa--a.k.a. Hog Heaven--and today's weather was less than ideal: partly cloudy and 33 degrees with winds gusting up to 40 mph. The winds made it hard--actually impossible--to run a consistent pace! I'll be running 30 miles this week with a long run of 15 this coming weekend.
My New Year's running goals (not resolutions) are 1) a sub-4:20 marathon, 2) complete a 50-Miler within the allotted time, and 3) a 5k at 7:45 pace. What would life be without goals?
So, join me online and on the road . . . and trails this year.
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