Date: 8/21
When: 6pm
Where St. Ed's
Run: Joe put together a really tough 4 mile loop at St Ed's he calls "All Rights." It's basically a combination of 6 loops always clockwise slowly working your way to the top of the climb. The course was tough, but it was made harder because I tried to keep up with Larry. We ran the first loop together which, admittedly, was easy for him and killer for me. But it's the workout I needed, pushing the pace. I feel myself getting more confident with the shorter/faster runs, but I still have a long way to go. I cut the second loop short, totaling only 6 (tough) miles.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Monday, August 18, 2008
Timber Knoll Revisited
Well, I kind of blew it at Timber Knoll. Don't get me wrong, I ran OK and felt good doing it, but I didn't accomplish the things I set out to do. I did re-learn some things about myself though.
From the very beginning of the race, I went out too fast. I got caught up in the lead group for the first 3 miles and kept telling myself I should slow down and let them go. I felt OK, but my goal was to focus on nutrition, not to race. Still, as I got to the first aid station at 5 miles I was breathing heavy and flew right past the stop. Why did I do this when it was the exact opposite of what I promised myself I would do? Good question, and that leads in to the first thing I re-learned about myself. I am competitive and I like to suffer, and nothing I say or do before the race will change that. I'm not racing others out there, I'm pushing myself as hard as I physically and mentally can. I'm never going to be able to run a race as "just a training run" like some other people can do, it's just not in me. Call it lack of discipline or shortsightedness, but it's who I am. Just like I don't train smart, constantly pushing when I should be recovering, I also don't race smart.
Anyways, back to the race. I finished the first loop in 1:19, on pace to finish 3 before the 4:30 cutoff. And I still felt pretty fresh, so I grabbed a cookie, refilled my water bottle, and went back out. Most of the second loop was great, I felt great, the drizzle was cool, the sun went down and I was alone in the dark on new trails. I love the feeling of not knowing where I am or whats around the next turn. I was passing people and feeling good, so I knew it was time to admit my plans for running slow were out the door, I would go ahead and keep running hard until I couldn't. 3.5 miles into this loop, at the aid station, my achilles started hurting. It was the same achilles that made the last 20 miles at Tahoe pretty miserable, and I knew it would be a problem now. I debated whether I should stop after two loops. That debate lasted about 3 seconds, at which point I was once again reminded of my flaw: I am competitive and I like to suffer.
It's not something I'm proud of or embarrassed of, it's just the truth. I don't run to get faster or to stay in shape, I don't do it because of the places it takes me or anything else. I do it because it fulfills my need to push myself as hard as I can, prove that I can take more pain than I thought possible. The more I want to quit, the more important it is to me not to quit. I used to be a wrestler and my coach would tell me "It's the days you don't want to push yourself that you HAVE to push yourself." I can never get that out of my head.
So when I reached the aid station at the completion of the second loop, I grabbed some fruit and left again. At this point I was still on pace to finish the third loop in time for a fourth, but my achilles was unlikely to let me keep up the pace. Sure enough, I was behind pace in no time. It was OK, I wasn't bothered by it at all. I just ran when I could on flats and ups, walked when it hurt too bad on the downhills, and finished as best I could. In the end, I missed the chance at a fourth loop by 8 minutes. Despite some of the pain, I had a great time out there. After the race I was able to hang out and meet quite a few others that ran the 6 hour event. All in all, a good weekend trip that I'd like to make an annual tradition.
From the very beginning of the race, I went out too fast. I got caught up in the lead group for the first 3 miles and kept telling myself I should slow down and let them go. I felt OK, but my goal was to focus on nutrition, not to race. Still, as I got to the first aid station at 5 miles I was breathing heavy and flew right past the stop. Why did I do this when it was the exact opposite of what I promised myself I would do? Good question, and that leads in to the first thing I re-learned about myself. I am competitive and I like to suffer, and nothing I say or do before the race will change that. I'm not racing others out there, I'm pushing myself as hard as I physically and mentally can. I'm never going to be able to run a race as "just a training run" like some other people can do, it's just not in me. Call it lack of discipline or shortsightedness, but it's who I am. Just like I don't train smart, constantly pushing when I should be recovering, I also don't race smart.
Anyways, back to the race. I finished the first loop in 1:19, on pace to finish 3 before the 4:30 cutoff. And I still felt pretty fresh, so I grabbed a cookie, refilled my water bottle, and went back out. Most of the second loop was great, I felt great, the drizzle was cool, the sun went down and I was alone in the dark on new trails. I love the feeling of not knowing where I am or whats around the next turn. I was passing people and feeling good, so I knew it was time to admit my plans for running slow were out the door, I would go ahead and keep running hard until I couldn't. 3.5 miles into this loop, at the aid station, my achilles started hurting. It was the same achilles that made the last 20 miles at Tahoe pretty miserable, and I knew it would be a problem now. I debated whether I should stop after two loops. That debate lasted about 3 seconds, at which point I was once again reminded of my flaw: I am competitive and I like to suffer.
It's not something I'm proud of or embarrassed of, it's just the truth. I don't run to get faster or to stay in shape, I don't do it because of the places it takes me or anything else. I do it because it fulfills my need to push myself as hard as I can, prove that I can take more pain than I thought possible. The more I want to quit, the more important it is to me not to quit. I used to be a wrestler and my coach would tell me "It's the days you don't want to push yourself that you HAVE to push yourself." I can never get that out of my head.
So when I reached the aid station at the completion of the second loop, I grabbed some fruit and left again. At this point I was still on pace to finish the third loop in time for a fourth, but my achilles was unlikely to let me keep up the pace. Sure enough, I was behind pace in no time. It was OK, I wasn't bothered by it at all. I just ran when I could on flats and ups, walked when it hurt too bad on the downhills, and finished as best I could. In the end, I missed the chance at a fourth loop by 8 minutes. Despite some of the pain, I had a great time out there. After the race I was able to hang out and meet quite a few others that ran the 6 hour event. All in all, a good weekend trip that I'd like to make an annual tradition.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Timber Knoll Game Plan
Tonight I'm running a 6hr race out at Pedernales State Park called Timber Knoll. My game plan is very simple, just run 6 hours. I'm just now getting into these shorter distances, and I'm hoping to make the next 6hr run next month a fast one. But tonight, I just want to run 6 hours and have some fun.
Now, I've often said I would just take a run like this easy, then I get caught up and try to race it anyways. That's why I'm writing this down, so it's official that I will take it easy.
I do have a second goal tonight, which is to focus on drinking lots of fluids, taking in lots of calories, and avoiding nausea. I know I can run 6 hours with only water and gatorade, but in an effort to make this a fruitful training session, I will focus on consuming as much as possible and finishing relaxed and able to keep going. Running on the bare minimum is what made my nutrition so difficult out at TRT100.
No running yesterday or this morning. Just taking it easy so I'm fresh for tonight.
Now, I've often said I would just take a run like this easy, then I get caught up and try to race it anyways. That's why I'm writing this down, so it's official that I will take it easy.
I do have a second goal tonight, which is to focus on drinking lots of fluids, taking in lots of calories, and avoiding nausea. I know I can run 6 hours with only water and gatorade, but in an effort to make this a fruitful training session, I will focus on consuming as much as possible and finishing relaxed and able to keep going. Running on the bare minimum is what made my nutrition so difficult out at TRT100.
No running yesterday or this morning. Just taking it easy so I'm fresh for tonight.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Tempo Run
Date: 8/14
Time: 6pm
Place: Walnut Creek
Run: Tempo run. I did a 5 minute warm-up and took off. I have no experience doing any speed work, so I still don't know my pace very well. I was planning on a 40 minute tempo, but after 25 I was crashing. I stuck it out to 30 and almost puked when I stopped. I walked/jogged back to my car, which ended up being a 20 minute cool-down.
I made the same mistake I always do, I ran without water and got really dehydrated. I may have finished the full 40 minutes with water, but it was over 90 degrees and I got really dry. I have got to start taking water with me on these runs. Seriously.
Time: 6pm
Place: Walnut Creek
Run: Tempo run. I did a 5 minute warm-up and took off. I have no experience doing any speed work, so I still don't know my pace very well. I was planning on a 40 minute tempo, but after 25 I was crashing. I stuck it out to 30 and almost puked when I stopped. I walked/jogged back to my car, which ended up being a 20 minute cool-down.
I made the same mistake I always do, I ran without water and got really dehydrated. I may have finished the full 40 minutes with water, but it was over 90 degrees and I got really dry. I have got to start taking water with me on these runs. Seriously.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Easy 5
First off, am I the only one that is annoyed that the Chinese had 12 year old girls competing in gymnastics? I really don't care about gymnastics, and I don't even agree with the age restriction, but if everyone else follows it then they should enforce the rule. And if someone tries to say that those girls were 16, they are blind. But like I said, I don't care about gymnastics, let's get started with track and field.
Yesterday's workout was easy and felt good.
Date: 8/12/08
Time: 7pm
Place: Gym (treadmill)
Run: easy 5 miles, 8 minute pace. I wanted to get on the trail, but I got stuck at work late again, and by 7 I just wanted to squeeze in my run and go home t osee Micah before he went to bed. I'm saving my tough run for today.
Yesterday's workout was easy and felt good.
Date: 8/12/08
Time: 7pm
Place: Gym (treadmill)
Run: easy 5 miles, 8 minute pace. I wanted to get on the trail, but I got stuck at work late again, and by 7 I just wanted to squeeze in my run and go home t osee Micah before he went to bed. I'm saving my tough run for today.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Ladera Norte
I'm going to try a short term change of focus on the blog by logging my runs. My running goals for the last 2 years has been to lengthen my runs and finish a couple of hundreds, but no time goals. Now I'm going to try some shorter stuff, and going faster, so I feel like maybe I should start keeping track of what I do.
So I'll kick that off today.
Time: 7am
Place: Ladera Norte / Far West
Run: short hill run, 1 time up ladera norte, 1 time up far west. It uhrt because I hit them hard, but it was over quick. I had planned on two laps, but I waited around 20 minutes for 2 guys t oshow up but they stood me up. I needed to get to work, so I just ran one lap.
I felt pretty good after an easy weekend. No pains, although my legs felt heavy towards the end. I'm gonna do this every Monday, so hopefully it'll get faster.
So I'll kick that off today.
Time: 7am
Place: Ladera Norte / Far West
Run: short hill run, 1 time up ladera norte, 1 time up far west. It uhrt because I hit them hard, but it was over quick. I had planned on two laps, but I waited around 20 minutes for 2 guys t oshow up but they stood me up. I needed to get to work, so I just ran one lap.
I felt pretty good after an easy weekend. No pains, although my legs felt heavy towards the end. I'm gonna do this every Monday, so hopefully it'll get faster.
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