Hey man, I am busy at work and with other things. The running has been burning up time. I did decide on a cut back week of 80-90 miles. Best to heal up a bit and absorb a bit of the effort put in. I just told myself yesterday this true statement. You are going to be 60 next year. Flintstones, meet the Flintstones. And butterflies are free to fly. He used to love that Econoline. Forget it Jake...
Last week 120 miles.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020
Saturday, January 11, 2020
Hand me down my walkin' cane
I got around to piling up miles during the week. Actually, they are starting to come normally. During the beginning of the work week I primarily run. As I tire mid-week I begin to work the run 4 minutes and walk 2.5 minutes for some of the miles. One can easily average 13 minutes a mile with this, in the dark, with some questionable running surfaces, and while under load. It does help with recovery. I covered 86 miles over the 5 days before Saturday. Saturday is a freezing rain day and I wanted to get 20 in with about half of it running only and the other half with the run/walk effort. I managed to accomplish this in my own particular way.
Here are a few things I am beginning to find out. You can cover many miles in a week when trying to stay slow. You also become slow. I'm at the point where there is no more time to train in a day. Part of the idea was to get tired enough so you could replicate what it would be like to do 4.167 miles in an hour when dead dog tired. For me, at least so far this isn't happening. Even today in crappy conditions I'm doing these in 53-54 minutes. Which is where i want to be anyway, but I really can't add more miles during the week. I suppose this should be a good thing. Part of the goal is to get to the point where loops don't feel difficult day after day. Well they don't. You can't replicate what is going to happen in a last man standing event in day to day running. Not even close, so I guess there will be 1-2 trials necessary. I am thinking at least one at 40-50 miles, but we shall see.
My energy levels feel decent. I should target a recovery week, but I'm somewhat determined to aim at getting in 500 miles this month. This is as close as I'll ever get. Certainly it means squat, but that's how some brains work. I'll admit my achilles in both feet are starting to wonder if we are ever getting off the island, but I keep reminding them that Gilligan says we are close. With travel coming up it is going to be extremely difficult to find the time to accomplish this. Outside of this venue and a few close friends, I don't tell anyone how much time I spend out there. It is certainly not healthy. Now that winter is here you can be sure the blue skies and tuna fish sandwiches for everyone attitude is under attack. Let's see how this plays out.
Here are a few things I am beginning to find out. You can cover many miles in a week when trying to stay slow. You also become slow. I'm at the point where there is no more time to train in a day. Part of the idea was to get tired enough so you could replicate what it would be like to do 4.167 miles in an hour when dead dog tired. For me, at least so far this isn't happening. Even today in crappy conditions I'm doing these in 53-54 minutes. Which is where i want to be anyway, but I really can't add more miles during the week. I suppose this should be a good thing. Part of the goal is to get to the point where loops don't feel difficult day after day. Well they don't. You can't replicate what is going to happen in a last man standing event in day to day running. Not even close, so I guess there will be 1-2 trials necessary. I am thinking at least one at 40-50 miles, but we shall see.
My energy levels feel decent. I should target a recovery week, but I'm somewhat determined to aim at getting in 500 miles this month. This is as close as I'll ever get. Certainly it means squat, but that's how some brains work. I'll admit my achilles in both feet are starting to wonder if we are ever getting off the island, but I keep reminding them that Gilligan says we are close. With travel coming up it is going to be extremely difficult to find the time to accomplish this. Outside of this venue and a few close friends, I don't tell anyone how much time I spend out there. It is certainly not healthy. Now that winter is here you can be sure the blue skies and tuna fish sandwiches for everyone attitude is under attack. Let's see how this plays out.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
I’m no fun anymore
I’ve stayed the course with my plan to learn to go slow and build up miles. Once I get up to the higher weekly mile range the goal is to figure stuff out as it comes. So you do get tired at times. It is then when one gets to practice how they can devise strategies on the move to maintain goal pace. Even tired, averaging 13 minute pace is plenty doable. It makes me wonder how many miles a week would one have to cover to truly mimic that in a last man standing event. Now I get it. There is the idea of arranging the schedule to key in on doing precisely that with say a 40-50 mile practice run, but I’m also trying to pound the body to find and overcome my deficiencies. My back/hip has not been an issue. I have increased the elevation in one of my shoes to even out the leg length discrepancy. As odd as it may sound, I’m not willing to skip around potential body issues on lower miles. I have to survive the training and for me that is finding a way to get it done daily. Off course I have other niggles, but it is amazing to me so far that they come and go. Trust me some days I go to bed and wonder what tomorrow will feel like. Surprisingly I generally am ready to go and the mild January weather has helped.
Not sure what the end game is here. As of today I have a few concerns on a couple aches and pains, but it seems the easy pace does not draw them out like intense marathon training would. The event is April 3rd. Currently I think I will still chase miles and peak out around mid February because past that it won’t be beneficial. Talking to Grub we both have experienced in the past that once you get past a certain point piling up mileage seems easier mentally. I’d like to say that’s where I’m getting to. Off course getting up at 4am and showering a lot is tiresome at times. The reward is getting out there and then after awhile you don’t want to come back. Not many people get to experience the feeling of time standing still. Pure darkness and beard covered in a glaze of ice. Running down the middle of the road seeing a car once a mile. Good times.
Last week 110 miles.
Not sure what the end game is here. As of today I have a few concerns on a couple aches and pains, but it seems the easy pace does not draw them out like intense marathon training would. The event is April 3rd. Currently I think I will still chase miles and peak out around mid February because past that it won’t be beneficial. Talking to Grub we both have experienced in the past that once you get past a certain point piling up mileage seems easier mentally. I’d like to say that’s where I’m getting to. Off course getting up at 4am and showering a lot is tiresome at times. The reward is getting out there and then after awhile you don’t want to come back. Not many people get to experience the feeling of time standing still. Pure darkness and beard covered in a glaze of ice. Running down the middle of the road seeing a car once a mile. Good times.
Last week 110 miles.
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
The Giants win the pennant
The year 2019 is in the books. It is funny how over time one begins to look at how the way things are, were, and could be and discovers much of what goes down can be farcical. I primarily keep to running because this is a blog about running. Stay with me for a second as I just make a personal observation. Is it because I'm actually older that about everything I am exposed to I'm finding a huge amount of bias being weaved in? I process the info, pull out what my responsibility may be and move on. I'm talking about everything from TV, work, community, running, interpersonal, sports, etc. Hey I had a really enjoyable 2019 and I'm not trying to be negative at all. I'm just now learning to listen and keep my thoughts in most cases to myself. I find these three things the most challenging.
I've been a field guy at all levels for 35 years. How about a few of you actually read or research what has been given to you, or is it "funner" to pull me off the road to point out were it is in the email.
How a simple request to grab your dog becomes a lecture on how Albert Schweitzer like your dog is.
Professional sports are almost a complete waste of time and serve no real purpose to me.
Okay that's not the big three I could really share, but these are good enough for this blog.
I ran 2,658.0 miles in 2019 and December was my biggest month at 404.7 miles. I think I had one bigger month in 1978. Nothing sticks out in terms of performance other than I ran Al's Run 8k in the mid 33's. That's good for me. We had a shake up in who I ran with the most this year. Dewey has been the number one wing man for about 5 straight years, but getting a hip replaced knocked him all the way down to second banana.
1. Tim = 43 (state champ)
2. Dewey = 34 (crew of the decade)
3. Robert = 16 (up and comer...primary nemesis)
4. Andrea = 5 (legendary polar plunger)
4. Tim L. = 5 (the flying Dutchman)
6. Crawford = 4 (Ginger Rockstar...goal crusher)
7. Arena = 3 (Ice Age master)
7. Clem = 3 (Ice Age royalty of the first degree)
7. Blanchard = 3 (running and car guru)
7. Steve HK = 3 (speed demon...talent to spare)
Tim, Dewey, Robert, and Tim L all runs primarily at Menomonee Park. I did not list the dog. Of which I must sign off as it is time to get her out.
Last week was 100.4 miles.
I've been a field guy at all levels for 35 years. How about a few of you actually read or research what has been given to you, or is it "funner" to pull me off the road to point out were it is in the email.
How a simple request to grab your dog becomes a lecture on how Albert Schweitzer like your dog is.
Professional sports are almost a complete waste of time and serve no real purpose to me.
Okay that's not the big three I could really share, but these are good enough for this blog.
I ran 2,658.0 miles in 2019 and December was my biggest month at 404.7 miles. I think I had one bigger month in 1978. Nothing sticks out in terms of performance other than I ran Al's Run 8k in the mid 33's. That's good for me. We had a shake up in who I ran with the most this year. Dewey has been the number one wing man for about 5 straight years, but getting a hip replaced knocked him all the way down to second banana.
1. Tim = 43 (state champ)
2. Dewey = 34 (crew of the decade)
3. Robert = 16 (up and comer...primary nemesis)
4. Andrea = 5 (legendary polar plunger)
4. Tim L. = 5 (the flying Dutchman)
6. Crawford = 4 (Ginger Rockstar...goal crusher)
7. Arena = 3 (Ice Age master)
7. Clem = 3 (Ice Age royalty of the first degree)
7. Blanchard = 3 (running and car guru)
7. Steve HK = 3 (speed demon...talent to spare)
Tim, Dewey, Robert, and Tim L all runs primarily at Menomonee Park. I did not list the dog. Of which I must sign off as it is time to get her out.
Last week was 100.4 miles.
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