IP Man

My son and I watched this martial arts movie and I rather enjoyed it.  It brought back memories of discussions I had with a friend who has practiced for years.  I was intrigued by the mental and physical training and saw many similarities between what he did and running.  He did as well and I enjoyed those discussions.  The movie got me to thinking again as a runner this is my art.  I have and will practice this as long as I can because it is way beyond just doing it to keep in shape.  Though competing does not hold as much as importance as it once did, I still find myself doing it because I want to get better.  Though I often jog around at 9 pace I find my schedule has morphed into a solid platform for me.  I run hard over short distances twice a week just for the shear enjoyment of running faster and then really spend the rest of the week running getting a few easy miles in.  I told Mallach several weeks ago that I have been enjoying running now as much as any time in my life. 

TV party tonight!

Well another Al's Run has came and went and I am glad to report we won the Corporate team event out of 44 teams.  Some pretty solid efforts as everyone did what was needed.  I broke 30...barely with a 29:58 and had to get on the gas the last half.  The question is...what's next and I have no idea.  Want to get back over 50 miles a week.  Really enjoying running now.  Work has taken away most of my free weekly time with more travel, but I look forward to getting to bed early and hitting the bricks for an AM run with Jamie and his son Nate.  The dogs provide some humor as well.  Mentioned to Brother Grub I will entertain the idea of doing the Kettle 100 as an ultra hobby jog.  I think I am slowly getting to where I want to be.  Run what I want to, race an occasional fast one, and only commit to about 6 weeks of specific training for Ice Age.

I've been sleeping more.  It makes a big difference in life.  Watch little TV.  Even sporting events aren't that appealing.  Ahhhh...the life of a running bum.  It's not too bad.  Not bad at all.

Krakatoa

Last 5k tune-up on the track this morning before Al's next Saturday.  Because of last weeks good result I tend to hedge a bit.  I hate to say it, but I ran by "feel" the first 1600m and went through in 5:53.  I figured no biggie just keep doing that, but the second 1600m was 5:59 which meant I better crack it down if I wanted to get ahead of last week.  Third 1600m in 5:50 and it was work, but I had enough to finish the last 200m in 37 which is good for me.  Final result was 18:19, so under race conditions at an 8k I should be capable of around 29:35 - 29:40.  I may do a 1600m on Tuesday at near 5:40 just to air it out a bit.  I used to do a 3200m at race pace, but need a confidence booster.  It would not surprise me if I went through the first mile at Al's in 5:40, but woulf prefer a 5:45.  You just don't know on race day because you see everyone flying out there and it is tough not to get carried away.  I'd like to get through 4 miles at 24:00 and put the hammer down, but everyone knows it's harder to do on race day then on the day your typing it in the computer.

Into the shadows

Darkness.  You can already see it coming as an early AM runner.  Like the old grizzled veteran Clement Grum said about AM running, "It's like you cheated the day."  It does kind of feel like that.  Come home from work and you are D-O-N-E.  Crank up the air and break out the iced tea Braaaaaah.

2 mile this morning for a tune-up.  Out in 5:58 and finished with a 5:46.  I worked, but again not as hard as I had to last year.  Another 5k on the track Saturday and possibly another 2 mile next Tuesday at 6:00 pace.  I'm starting to like this...because it is different, easier, and takes less time.  I ran 12.2 last Wednesday morning and that was my longest run since Ice Age.  Most other days are hobby jogging of 8:30 - 10:00 pace.  I know I can bring the mail.  I don't have to prove to myself everyday I can do it.  Actually thinking of signing up for the Discovery Run 15k.  Think I'll bolster up to 55ish a week for a month and give it a go.

Looking forward to participating with Jeff Mallach on his good will running tour.  I have some notes about what to talk to, but I'm sure it will turn into complete rambling about crap Jeff and I have learned over the years.  After all, that is all running is about.  Lacing em' up and seeing what happens.  It is fun to see people get excited about basic traing and racing.  Should be fun.

2 mile lightning

That's what you called in when you lit it up the first couple miles in the day.  Now-a-days it's all about pace control...at least for me.

Two weeks to Al's (8k) and I ventured to the track for the first time this season for a 5k pace run.
Last year I ran an 18:26.  I went out well today, but somewhat under control.  I can just sense what 6 pace is.  First 1600m in 5:57 and feeling okay.  Tried to stick with the pace, looking at the watch every 800m.  Through the next 1600m in another 5:57 and felt much better at this point compared to last year.  I moved on and it wasn't to the last 3 laps that it started to become hard work.  That's about 2 - 2.5 laps ahead of how I felt last yeat.  Third 1600m in 5:51 and ran the last 200m in :38 for a 18:23 run.  I'll put that in the bank, the calculator said it was 5:55 a mile pace.

Going to continue with a few more pace runs, rest and hopefully do a bit better than last year at Al's.
I've been primarily doing 4 mile tempos twice a week at 6:40s to 7:10 at about 80% effort.  It seems to have paid off.  I did three treadmill run of about 2.5 miles at 5:55 - 6:05 so I had the feeling I could do what I did today.  I'm about 175 lbs., so if I can get to 170 I should be good to go.

Put your helmet on

Jog around with the dog a couple days and then light it up for a few miles.  Pretty much my last month or so.  Miles kind of low, but I have enjoyed running this way.  No schedule, rarely approach 10 miles.  I've done some 11 minute miles...so what, I also ran some times in the sub 6 range and felt like I was walking on sunshine.  Al's run 8k is September 15th and I feel ahead of last year.  Who knows...sub 29:30 may be possible.  Run by feel...no watch except if someone has one or I hit the T-mill for a barn burner.  Not sure what people think of the gray haired guy sending sweat everywhere, but that belt is smokin'.  Believe me it is all for effect...I have nothing else.

Hobby Jogging

I have enjoyed running my daily 6 miles in the AM with Jamie and the dogs.  We try and leg it out a bit on Tuesdays and Fridays for 4 miles.  Not that 7:20 - 7:50 is blazing, but it is honest work and enough to feel good about ourselves.  This past weekend I made an effort to get back to 10 a day on weekends so I can stay around 50.  I'm going to run Al's again and feel instead of 30:00 as a goal I might as well try and leg out a sub 29:30.

Not sure about anyone else, but when I lay down my head to go night night, I still think about running.  My mind subconsciously dreams up running goals, or the occasional flash back of a run with runners of the past.  Those runners weren't much different than the ones of today.  Running is something we did weaved around our weekly lives.  I somewhat miss the story telling that went on after the races as everyone shared the experience of the race.  In cross you always had the guys you finished around and you told them how you beat them, or how you didn't have it that day.  Occasionally one of us would pop a good one and beat a few varsity guys.  We rallied around those times.  Most of our world beating took place in practice which coach never frowned on, but the varsity guys hated it.  Call it whatever you want, it was all we had.

In indoor the 2 mile was the last event before the 4 x 440 and coach allowed the guys who just ran the 2 mile to form 2 relay teams.  Every one was gassed, but those were good battles.  You were basically about as anaerobic as you could get afterwards and we would lay in the pole vault pit and talk trash on each other.  Good times.

I would like to do Hardrock some day.  The ultimate hobby jog.