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Friday, December 10, 2010
onward
This will be the last post to this blog for a while. I am taking the time to heal a micro-fracture in my hip due to pushing it to limits in the final stretch of the marathon. If you'd like to follow my acrobatic and yogi training in the interim, go on and:
Saturday, November 6, 2010
harder faster better stronger
Comrades, you are in my sights.
THE DAYS FOLLOWING YOUR FIRST RACE are their own brand of happy insanity. Like doing a run for the feeling you get hours later, you do your first race for the feeling you get in the days that follow. It doesn't matter the distance or how fast or slow you went. Cross your first finish line, and you'll have weeks of unexplained strength, unreasonable optimism, unbridled genius, and the hail of really good ideas around every corner. Within hours of finishing comes your first eureka: Can. Run. Ultra. That afternoon, you attempt a handstand push-up against the living room wall and seriously consider a second career as a world class circus performer. By the evening, you want to call the White House and see if anyone wants to come over for beer and poker. And of course, you want to run. More. Further. Longer. Faster.
In the weeks following my first race, my exaggerated enthusiasm for life in general expressed itself mainly in the form of mileage. I ran like crazy. Finishing a marathon race with more than 20,000 other participants in the nation's capital got me excited about running in a way I never was before. After a forced 18 hours of recovery, I leapt out the door, returning to the roads and fields again to visit my new favorite activity. My usual 6 miler with the occasional weekend 15 miler became my usual 10 miler with the regular weekend 20 miler. I began to keep track of 7 day totals — something I'd attributed previously to only fitness freaks and geeks. I ran twice in one day. I went as fast as I could. I began vigorous hill training. I ran like a giant child, happily sprinting across miles of dirt and pavement without a single dark thought. Final stretch sprints became mandatory.
During the latter half of my runs, I constantly recall the pivotal scene from the movie Gattaca, where the loser asks the winner of an extreme ocean swimming race: "How did you do it? How did you have the energy to make it back to shore?" and the winner responds calmly: "I never thought about making it back." Right On.
— liberally adapted from an article by Marc Parent,
Runners World, November 2010
of beer and burn
Rather than getting stored as fat, the main fate of alcohol is conversion into a substance called acetate.
A car engine typically uses only one source of fuel. Your body, on the other hand, draws from a number of different energy sources, such as carbohydrate, fat, and protein. To a certain extent, the source of fuel your body uses is dictated by its availability.
In other words, your body tends to use whatever you feed it. Consequently, when acetate levels rise, your body simply burns more acetate, and less fat.
A car engine typically uses only one source of fuel. Your body, on the other hand, draws from a number of different energy sources, such as carbohydrate, fat, and protein. To a certain extent, the source of fuel your body uses is dictated by its availability.
In other words, your body tends to use whatever you feed it. Consequently, when acetate levels rise, your body simply burns more acetate, and less fat.
Friday, November 5, 2010
The New Pornographers
Runners World is my new porn. For years I've read Yoga Journal and wanted to love it, wanted to want to read it, wanted to grok the articles... but they all seemed a little wishy washy. It is, after all, a magazine for women.
Now, I am actually compelled to read Runner's World, and the stories of hardships and victories, both physical and psychological, make me shed tears of empathy and joy.
The Race of his Life
What he didn't understand was that the pain of running was beginning to replace the pain of being ignored and unloved. What he didn't understand was that he had developed an enormous capacity for enduring emotional distress, and that somehow that had translated into an equally capacious tolerance for grueling corporeal hardship. What he didn't understand was that he would spend the next decades seeking out more and more punishing physical challenges, and that those challenges would change him in ways he could never imagine -- and still doesn't totally comprehend.
— Runners World, Nov 2010
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
meaning of marathon: inner game
"The marathon is about being in contention over the last 10k. You have run all the strength, all the superficial fitness out of yourself, and it comes down to what you really have inside of you. To be able to draw deep and really bring something out of yourself is one of the most tremendous things about the marathon."
—Rob deCastella
Monday, November 1, 2010
Marathon: COMPLETE
 |
| Karl & I just before the race |
We began our marathon weekend with a great pasta dinner together, "carb loading" on Saturday night. On race day the following morning, we got up promptly at 5:00am and donned our running gear.
 |
| rising up at Pentagon station |
 |
| 3:59, baby!!! |
They fired a large Howitzer cannon, and the race began! It took us only about 3 minutes to cross the starting line together, whereupon Karl took off like a rocket at his natural fast pace. I caught a glimpse of him about 10 minutes later and sprinted forward to say hello. We ran briefly together before he went fast again.
I was feeling really great and ran the first 4 or 5 miles on my toes, top form. About then I paired up with a beautiful runner all clad in pink who was coincidentally a professional pace setter for other marathons. Pace Setters are runners who are very experienced and run every mile at a perfect clock pace so that others can track alongside them and keep a steady pace. We chatted as we ran for about the next hour but I was feeling so good I just took off and ran ahead. She caught up to me again around mile 17 and we chatted for another hour or so. I was feeling so good that I could do anything!
The crowd was truly amazing and seemed to have boundless enthusiasm, cheering and waving signs for every runner. I high-fived so many people I lost count, including a bunch of little kids and even a golden Buddha, which is a blessing of good luck. There was also more than a dozen live bands that played on the sides of the course, from bluegrass to folk to rock and roll. It was really fun dancing to the beats of those bands as I ran, especially the 3 or 4 full on marching bands with drums and brass sections.
At mile 21 my running mate warned me we were about to hit the 14th street bridge, a nasty hill. I kind of laughed, because I love up-hills and trained strong on them in Atlanta. I was actually feeling so good that I suggested we sprint up it for kicks. She looked at me and said "look, I'm running two more marathons in the next 10 days, this is just a training run for me, but you go ahead and enjoy yourself." So I did. My mistake. I sprinted up that bridge, and continued the sprint down the other side, and halfway down got this nasty cramp in my gut, like I hadn't had since high school. I saw my pace mate pass me on the far right in silence. My legs began to hurt badly. By the time I got to mile 22, with a man waving a sign saying "Make Crystal City Your Bitch!", I was smiling yet suffering. My pace reduced to the dreaded jog. At mile 23 I was passed by one of the "groundpounders" a group of 60+ year-olds who have run the Marine Corps more than 25 times each. I knew all I had to do was keep putting one foot in front of the other. I concentrated completely on that task.
Right after the groundpounder encounter though, I heard someone yelling my name. I looked around and was so happy to see Karl, headed up the other direction (this was one of the rare places on the course where the route goes 2 ways on a street). That re-inspired me. I put my all into it, grunting with each and every footfall.
I finally made it back to the start line, which meant less than 3/4 mile to go to the finish at the Iwo Jima Memorial. Someone yelled "keep going! you're on track for 4:00!" This really got me excited. 4:00 was my original goal for this marathon before I even started training, but I had long ago given up on it when my average training pace stayed completely steady at around 10:10 minutes / mile.
But then before I knew it, I saw the finish line, and this huge lightning bolt of energy shot through me. I'm even crying now as I write this, feeling the pure passion of that moment. I began an all out sprint to the top of the hill, almost pushing over some stragglers in the process. I entered the final 100 yards and they had massive football stadium bleachers on either side, and all the crowd was screaming and cheering. I launched across the finish line and let out a great barbaric yawlp!!! I was in total shock. My legs couldn't stop moving, yet I almost felt like I was completely detached from my body. I shared a hug with a young runner named Katie, got my medal, and then re-united with Karl for some cheer and brotherly camaraderie.
So that was my race. Those last few miles were actually the hardest thing I've driven myself to do in my entire life. I accomplished my internal goal of completing the marathon while running the whole time, even while drinking water :) I even accomplished my lofty goal of 4 hours. And I really cherished the experience of sharing that with my brother. I hope our family can run many more in the future!
OO-RAH!!!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
edges
I was called to do an "easy 5" today.
It just felt like I had to.
Hell, just the fact that I can say "easy 5" astounds me.
2 months ago 5 miles was a challenge.
I've also been really excited by my pace improvements in the 10+ miles,
and wanted to see what I could push out on a short run.
Starting out, things did not feel totally good.
My right hip felt a little loose. That's the challenge between acroyoga and running. Extreme flexibility is not necessarily an asset for a runner.
To my surprise, my quads also were just a bit generally sore. And my quads have not been sore even once since I started this training. Then I remembered: I busted out 60+ tight form pushups today. In tight form, your whole body is activated, maintaining rigidity from shoulders to ankles by tightening all your muscles at once, abs to butt to thighs to calves. And my thighs were feeling it. Kind of how the abs really feel it the next day when you do tight form pull-ups... ANYWAYS:
All this got me thinking about form again. And I did a truly joyous full out top form sprint down the big hill in Riverside. The pace charts don't show it, but I am positive I was cracking a 7 minute mile, and it felt SO GOOD!
Around 2/3rds way through the run I got really excited about maybe breaking into an 8:30ish pace zone. And really started to push it. That's when the shin splints hit. FUCK. Its OK, that's why we do this. To learn the limits. So I backed off and almost slowed to jogging pace. And then I'd get excited again. And then I'd push it again. And then the left shin would jank again. After 3 or 4 cycles of this, I took a hint, and went slow for all but the final 1/2 mile. Still beat a 9! :)
All this, and I finally understood what Melissa meant when she talked about 'connecting the muscles' We were doing aerial one day and she gestured from her forearm to her obliques, saying "you've got to connect all these muscles". Doing hollow body pushups, and then doing perfect form running, I feel the contraction, the tightness, the joy of my body as it grows stronger every day.
It just felt like I had to.
Hell, just the fact that I can say "easy 5" astounds me.
2 months ago 5 miles was a challenge.
I've also been really excited by my pace improvements in the 10+ miles,
and wanted to see what I could push out on a short run.
Starting out, things did not feel totally good.
My right hip felt a little loose. That's the challenge between acroyoga and running. Extreme flexibility is not necessarily an asset for a runner.
To my surprise, my quads also were just a bit generally sore. And my quads have not been sore even once since I started this training. Then I remembered: I busted out 60+ tight form pushups today. In tight form, your whole body is activated, maintaining rigidity from shoulders to ankles by tightening all your muscles at once, abs to butt to thighs to calves. And my thighs were feeling it. Kind of how the abs really feel it the next day when you do tight form pull-ups... ANYWAYS:
All this got me thinking about form again. And I did a truly joyous full out top form sprint down the big hill in Riverside. The pace charts don't show it, but I am positive I was cracking a 7 minute mile, and it felt SO GOOD!
Around 2/3rds way through the run I got really excited about maybe breaking into an 8:30ish pace zone. And really started to push it. That's when the shin splints hit. FUCK. Its OK, that's why we do this. To learn the limits. So I backed off and almost slowed to jogging pace. And then I'd get excited again. And then I'd push it again. And then the left shin would jank again. After 3 or 4 cycles of this, I took a hint, and went slow for all but the final 1/2 mile. Still beat a 9! :)
All this, and I finally understood what Melissa meant when she talked about 'connecting the muscles' We were doing aerial one day and she gestured from her forearm to her obliques, saying "you've got to connect all these muscles". Doing hollow body pushups, and then doing perfect form running, I feel the contraction, the tightness, the joy of my body as it grows stronger every day.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
building speed
if i ever quit drinking, i might make Boston :)
My brother and I had a pact not to drink at all in October, to get our bodies into maximum tuning for race day. However, i kicked our the pact when he told me he would drink a bit on holiday. So I downed a six pack last night, with 6 cups of coffee this morning to perk up, then time to run!
It was a spectacular run. I practiced real power sprints (fun!), and had so many great ideas! I even paused for a few minutes to whip out my voice recorder I got so excited. :)
some thoughts:
1. perfect form takes a lot of strength to get to. very similar to acrobatics. strength emanates from the core. tight abs and ass, then extend out through torso into legs and arms. doing a proper forefoot strike makes for extreme speed and performance, it also takes it out of me. still I practice it. also strong abs keeps the core stable. strong calves stabilize the ankle. i feel ideal form has absolute minimal sway in the trunk, the only reason we pump the arms is to counterbalance the footfall: chin up, chest forward, strong push off, only land on toes, lightning mudra in the hands :) learned a lot about core stabilization through recent high performance bike riding up nasty hills... maximizing downward pedal force while minimizing wobble took massive arm power to accomplish. same applies to running.
2. just like acro, once achieved, perfect form also requires less effort. It is simply the most efficient way to run. The trick is training the body and muscles to do it.
3. the cause of most injuries is sloppy form. When the body is loose (i.e. jogging), it allows for twisted ankles, torqued hip joints, sloppy heel hits causing shin splints, planar fascia, etc. A proper toe strike has almost zero body impact because the impact is fully absorbed by the time the heel ever so lightly touches and bounces back up off the pavement.
So that was a lot of my thoughts. I turned off all tech devices (excepting my beloved iPod, gotta have music, yo!) and figured I was running 13-15 miles at about a 10:15 pace. Great surprise to find my actual pace was sub-10! Good omen for race day. Feeling strong. Did 10 minute cooldown walk, 15 minutes of deep stretching, and a 20 minute ice bath upon return.
Now am feeling *completely* chill. :)
My brother and I had a pact not to drink at all in October, to get our bodies into maximum tuning for race day. However, i kicked our the pact when he told me he would drink a bit on holiday. So I downed a six pack last night, with 6 cups of coffee this morning to perk up, then time to run!
It was a spectacular run. I practiced real power sprints (fun!), and had so many great ideas! I even paused for a few minutes to whip out my voice recorder I got so excited. :)
some thoughts:
1. perfect form takes a lot of strength to get to. very similar to acrobatics. strength emanates from the core. tight abs and ass, then extend out through torso into legs and arms. doing a proper forefoot strike makes for extreme speed and performance, it also takes it out of me. still I practice it. also strong abs keeps the core stable. strong calves stabilize the ankle. i feel ideal form has absolute minimal sway in the trunk, the only reason we pump the arms is to counterbalance the footfall: chin up, chest forward, strong push off, only land on toes, lightning mudra in the hands :) learned a lot about core stabilization through recent high performance bike riding up nasty hills... maximizing downward pedal force while minimizing wobble took massive arm power to accomplish. same applies to running.
2. just like acro, once achieved, perfect form also requires less effort. It is simply the most efficient way to run. The trick is training the body and muscles to do it.
3. the cause of most injuries is sloppy form. When the body is loose (i.e. jogging), it allows for twisted ankles, torqued hip joints, sloppy heel hits causing shin splints, planar fascia, etc. A proper toe strike has almost zero body impact because the impact is fully absorbed by the time the heel ever so lightly touches and bounces back up off the pavement.
So that was a lot of my thoughts. I turned off all tech devices (excepting my beloved iPod, gotta have music, yo!) and figured I was running 13-15 miles at about a 10:15 pace. Great surprise to find my actual pace was sub-10! Good omen for race day. Feeling strong. Did 10 minute cooldown walk, 15 minutes of deep stretching, and a 20 minute ice bath upon return.
Now am feeling *completely* chill. :)
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
baik at it
Bad news first: my calfs still hurt like hell 10 days after the "FiveFingers Incident". I am downgrading status from soreness to injury. Shame on me for "trying out" a radical new shoe on a 3 hour run. But dammit, Donna Kastern trains 500 miles a month! Alyson talked to me today, and said "Daddy, you're gonna win the marathon, right?" I was like, "Honey, this one I'm going to finish" and she says "well, you better keep running them until you win one. You know, the winners get paid."
Good news: I ran an "easy ten" today. Funny... the first time in this training I ran 10, it almost killed me. I ran the same route today. Today I thought basically, 13 was easy, I nailed 23 the other week, 10's gonna be simple. And, awesomely, I actually ran it. No jogging, no walking. No looking at the stats during the run, either. Just went with feeling. Was pretty sure I was breaking a 10:00 pace, but was really pleasantly surprised to see my actual 9:15. That's the fastest run I've had in months, of any distance!
Regarding mobile training apps, I did Nike+ for a while but the user interface on the website simply sucks. I like RunKeeper a lot. DailyMile is nice too.
Rested in an ice bath, then hopped on the bike and knocked out another 15 on that, with some *nasty* hills :) in fact, pushed so hard that I shredded the pedal right off its post! Time to upgrade to my Trek in waiting :)
Good news: I ran an "easy ten" today. Funny... the first time in this training I ran 10, it almost killed me. I ran the same route today. Today I thought basically, 13 was easy, I nailed 23 the other week, 10's gonna be simple. And, awesomely, I actually ran it. No jogging, no walking. No looking at the stats during the run, either. Just went with feeling. Was pretty sure I was breaking a 10:00 pace, but was really pleasantly surprised to see my actual 9:15. That's the fastest run I've had in months, of any distance!
Regarding mobile training apps, I did Nike+ for a while but the user interface on the website simply sucks. I like RunKeeper a lot. DailyMile is nice too.
Rested in an ice bath, then hopped on the bike and knocked out another 15 on that, with some *nasty* hills :) in fact, pushed so hard that I shredded the pedal right off its post! Time to upgrade to my Trek in waiting :)
Sunday, October 17, 2010
breakdown
pulled my back out jumping for a baseball yesterday... it wasn't even that hard of a jump, dammit!
Realised the other day while running, thinking about this past weekend, that I am in the upper 5% age bracket in my acrobatic practice.... though I must say, 50% of the top artists are also my age! Acrobatics is beautiful in its combination of strength and grace... the more you do it, the stronger you get, but the real mantra is: less effort, better results. i.e. we find and are coached to the pathways of maximum grace in our movements... and perfect balance negates the need for extreme power. :)
Today:
intention to run test marathon. lower back failed during trail running in Gold Branch Chatahooche Rec Area. Decided to get car ride home as opposed to serious injury. Must quit drinking. At least I'm wearing comfy shoes now :)
Realised the other day while running, thinking about this past weekend, that I am in the upper 5% age bracket in my acrobatic practice.... though I must say, 50% of the top artists are also my age! Acrobatics is beautiful in its combination of strength and grace... the more you do it, the stronger you get, but the real mantra is: less effort, better results. i.e. we find and are coached to the pathways of maximum grace in our movements... and perfect balance negates the need for extreme power. :)
intention to run test marathon. lower back failed during trail running in Gold Branch Chatahooche Rec Area. Decided to get car ride home as opposed to serious injury. Must quit drinking. At least I'm wearing comfy shoes now :)
Friday, October 15, 2010
pain management
7 miles
hurt like hell the whole run
sprinted several times and it hurt only mildly more at high speeds
although the last mile i just said 'fuck it, i'm going to beat these calves into submission' and busted out a fast mile+
got home and jumped into a cold cold cold bath which felt *awesome*
didn't feel like I sweated at all, but tale of the tape (double measured) shows
start weight at 162, end weight at 156... like the old wrestling days!
still going for 20 on Sunday.
they'd better feel better by then, or i will beat them 'til they do! ha!
going to see my most skilled massage partner on tuesday.
hurt like hell the whole run
sprinted several times and it hurt only mildly more at high speeds
although the last mile i just said 'fuck it, i'm going to beat these calves into submission' and busted out a fast mile+
got home and jumped into a cold cold cold bath which felt *awesome*
didn't feel like I sweated at all, but tale of the tape (double measured) shows
start weight at 162, end weight at 156... like the old wrestling days!
still going for 20 on Sunday.
they'd better feel better by then, or i will beat them 'til they do! ha!
going to see my most skilled massage partner on tuesday.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
the golden gate
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| vehicles of grace and pain |
and the trails are great.
16+ miles
in my fivefingers
on serious hills
then on to 6 hours of acrobatic training
i can barely walk now my calfs are so sore
i think it was the hills
plus the acro :)
luckily my lovely acro playmates also gave me 2 hours of deep massage :)
had a truly spiritual experience at like mile 12
amazingly huge hawk was drafting in the wind
so perfect in form that i became convinced it was a custom kite
i ran up under her, and she flew down to me
i spread my wings, and she came even closer
i back arched and spread my wings max wide, and she glided closer still, directly above me
she ended up hovering about 8 feet above me, we mirroring eachother, for more than a full minute
in fact, it was a truly timeless moment of rapture and direct communion with nature
i was able to snap a few pictures of the approach before dropping my camera in completely stunned rapture. :)
Thursday, October 7, 2010
inspiration
for today's post, i borrow from an online brother:
The legendary running coach Jeff Galloway has probably trained more marathoners than anyone on earth. Jeff teaches a unique training system that includes regular, brief walking periods. He’s also among the few running coaches who encourages those athletes preparing for a marathon to do training runs exceeding 26.2 miles (including the walking segments). Those who follow his advice report that the inclusion of walking segments makes these “overdistance” workouts perfectly manageable. Going beyond the distance of the actual race is also a great confidence builder, especially for first timers.
I recommend a slight modification to Jeff’s approach that I simply call Runabout. Inspired by the Australian Aboriginal practice of Walkabout, it works like this: After you’ve put in some good training and built a fairly decent level of fitness, pick a weekend morning to set out the front door of your house with a running pack, the contents of which should include some cash, a credit card, a cell phone, some fluid and some snacks—maybe also a map or a GPS if you want to get really sophisticated. Choose a direction (i.e., north) and start running. Keep running until you feel like taking a break, but don’t. Just slow down and jog or walk, but don’t stop moving. The important thing is to keep upright and maintain forward progress. If you get really tired, run by Starbucks and grab a latte. Stick a straw in it and drink it as you shuffle along.
Try to make a complete day of the outing. Better, end up at one of your favorite nearby resorts or spas, and make an evening of it as well. Don’t worry about how many miles you actually run. Focus instead on keeping on your feet and on moving forward, one way or another (be it running, jogging, hiking or walking), for at least six to eight hours. Mostly, have fun and enjoy the experience.
Not only will you get a great workout, it’s an interesting and spontaneous way to spend a day (or series of days!). Funny things happen out there. You have chance encounters, you see things you wouldn’t normally see during your typical daily runs, and it can be quite captivating. Rarely in our modern society do we spend an entire day outside, and there’s just something enchanting and magical about watching a day go by from the exterior of a building rather than stuck inside one. There’s a lot to be learned from those Aboriginals, despite not having a single Starbucks in the outback.
Keepin’ it fresh,
Dean Karnazes
The legendary running coach Jeff Galloway has probably trained more marathoners than anyone on earth. Jeff teaches a unique training system that includes regular, brief walking periods. He’s also among the few running coaches who encourages those athletes preparing for a marathon to do training runs exceeding 26.2 miles (including the walking segments). Those who follow his advice report that the inclusion of walking segments makes these “overdistance” workouts perfectly manageable. Going beyond the distance of the actual race is also a great confidence builder, especially for first timers.
I recommend a slight modification to Jeff’s approach that I simply call Runabout. Inspired by the Australian Aboriginal practice of Walkabout, it works like this: After you’ve put in some good training and built a fairly decent level of fitness, pick a weekend morning to set out the front door of your house with a running pack, the contents of which should include some cash, a credit card, a cell phone, some fluid and some snacks—maybe also a map or a GPS if you want to get really sophisticated. Choose a direction (i.e., north) and start running. Keep running until you feel like taking a break, but don’t. Just slow down and jog or walk, but don’t stop moving. The important thing is to keep upright and maintain forward progress. If you get really tired, run by Starbucks and grab a latte. Stick a straw in it and drink it as you shuffle along.
Try to make a complete day of the outing. Better, end up at one of your favorite nearby resorts or spas, and make an evening of it as well. Don’t worry about how many miles you actually run. Focus instead on keeping on your feet and on moving forward, one way or another (be it running, jogging, hiking or walking), for at least six to eight hours. Mostly, have fun and enjoy the experience.
Not only will you get a great workout, it’s an interesting and spontaneous way to spend a day (or series of days!). Funny things happen out there. You have chance encounters, you see things you wouldn’t normally see during your typical daily runs, and it can be quite captivating. Rarely in our modern society do we spend an entire day outside, and there’s just something enchanting and magical about watching a day go by from the exterior of a building rather than stuck inside one. There’s a lot to be learned from those Aboriginals, despite not having a single Starbucks in the outback.
Keepin’ it fresh,
Dean Karnazes
Monday, October 4, 2010
because I had to: extreme living
72 hours of fasting, 36 hours of non-stop dancing, hiking, acro-yoga-ing, cuddling, massaging, fire poi spinning (thank you alchemy festival!!), 11 hours of straight glorious recovery sleep, 2 cups of coffee... and what next? 4 hours of non-stop running, naturally!
I had passed the 3 hour test last weekend, so this was just a bodily reminder of what I needed to do on raceday. I am also in the "sober zone" now, as my brother and I made a pact not to drink any alcohol for the month of October, in the interest of boosting our health and performance on race day. So now I'm in the double zone of no sex (that began September-ish), no alcohol. Damn, that's a hella lot of energy for running! :)
The run went pretty well, though it was laced with a bit of pain. My legs began to feel very heavy at about 2 hours in. I stopped for a vitamin water, which may have saved me. I chugged the whole thing down fast and kept running. At three hours in my calfs were pretty much completely numb, I felt like they were two leaden prostheses hanging off of my thighs. I vowed to call Krista for a serious thai massage session. I had to make a few 30-second stretch stops, which really really helped.
I also stopped for a protein-grapefruit-raspberry-strawberry-papaya smoothie, which aside from a near skull-freeze, tasted very very good.
Even with all the lead-foot, I was able to press myself into a sprint for the last 5 minutes, which felt good. Returned to a cold Powerade and a hot bath.
Also able to think a lot about L and the events of Alchemy. I'm still torn between making a life with her and moving on to something else. Good choices in both directions. As usual, the important thing is not to make the right choice, but to make a choice and stick with it. Period.
And for those interested in the details of the run, proceed at your own risk:
http://runkeeper.com/user/AcroYogi/activity/17784184
I had passed the 3 hour test last weekend, so this was just a bodily reminder of what I needed to do on raceday. I am also in the "sober zone" now, as my brother and I made a pact not to drink any alcohol for the month of October, in the interest of boosting our health and performance on race day. So now I'm in the double zone of no sex (that began September-ish), no alcohol. Damn, that's a hella lot of energy for running! :)
The run went pretty well, though it was laced with a bit of pain. My legs began to feel very heavy at about 2 hours in. I stopped for a vitamin water, which may have saved me. I chugged the whole thing down fast and kept running. At three hours in my calfs were pretty much completely numb, I felt like they were two leaden prostheses hanging off of my thighs. I vowed to call Krista for a serious thai massage session. I had to make a few 30-second stretch stops, which really really helped.
I also stopped for a protein-grapefruit-raspberry-strawberry-papaya smoothie, which aside from a near skull-freeze, tasted very very good.
Even with all the lead-foot, I was able to press myself into a sprint for the last 5 minutes, which felt good. Returned to a cold Powerade and a hot bath.
Also able to think a lot about L and the events of Alchemy. I'm still torn between making a life with her and moving on to something else. Good choices in both directions. As usual, the important thing is not to make the right choice, but to make a choice and stick with it. Period.
And for those interested in the details of the run, proceed at your own risk:
http://runkeeper.com/user/AcroYogi/activity/17784184
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
pleasures & explorations
One of the pleasuers of maniacal running: guilt free eating.
My newest delicacy:
a slab of salted butter atop a square of raw chocolate chip cookie dough.
don't knock it 'till ya try it.
YUM!!!
Extra special thanks to Miss Rosie for introducing me to raw cookie dough as a snack during my tenure at Treasure Island. :)
late night 90 minute run tonight around the hood, 9ish miles
you learn a lot about what's going on in your neighborhood when you walk, cycle and run around it all the time. Last week was the finals of the FedEx Cup, some big deal golf tournament with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson etc. Since I was running and biking the police let me right through the security barricades. Woot woot.
And tonight I've noticed more and more actitvity around this old graffiti'ed warehouse complex. So I stopped and chatted with the police officer for a bit and he told me it was the 14 day filming of Fast and Furious 5, with Ludacris, Vin Diesel, etc... then he showed me the cars, they had like 4 identical tricked out blue Porsches sitting right there in the lot... schweet!
pace felt strong and fast most of the way
got very lost on the way home so my 1/2 mile sprint turned into a 2 mile sprint.
hahahahaha!
felt really good and strong tonight, even with running immediately after 2 tacos and 3 beers. GOOD!
My newest delicacy:
a slab of salted butter atop a square of raw chocolate chip cookie dough.
don't knock it 'till ya try it.
YUM!!!
Extra special thanks to Miss Rosie for introducing me to raw cookie dough as a snack during my tenure at Treasure Island. :)
late night 90 minute run tonight around the hood, 9ish miles
you learn a lot about what's going on in your neighborhood when you walk, cycle and run around it all the time. Last week was the finals of the FedEx Cup, some big deal golf tournament with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson etc. Since I was running and biking the police let me right through the security barricades. Woot woot.
And tonight I've noticed more and more actitvity around this old graffiti'ed warehouse complex. So I stopped and chatted with the police officer for a bit and he told me it was the 14 day filming of Fast and Furious 5, with Ludacris, Vin Diesel, etc... then he showed me the cars, they had like 4 identical tricked out blue Porsches sitting right there in the lot... schweet!
pace felt strong and fast most of the way
got very lost on the way home so my 1/2 mile sprint turned into a 2 mile sprint.
hahahahaha!
felt really good and strong tonight, even with running immediately after 2 tacos and 3 beers. GOOD!
discipline
scheduled for 8 miles tonight. Again, fear & loathing... and a tad bit of excitement.
Many of you have mentioned, and I can completely empathize with, the boredom about "I ran this many miles today in this many minutes." So for those, please allow me to clarify:
My Numeric obsession comes from competition. I will be running this marathon with my brother. He is Adonnis, and I am the exec cum yoga teacher. My brother has been physically stronger than me my whole life. From age 10 on, we wrestled and fought for many hours each day. Traditionally we met every summer at the family beach house, and continued this battle. In fact, this past summer was the *first* summer that I returned home with nary a broken bone in my body. Yes, we fight that hard. And yes, it is all in good fun... with a little bit of alchohol added for danger, natch.
So numbers are the primary way that my brother and I encourage each other on this journey towards the marathon. I send him my last run, he sends me his last run, and we generally try to one-up each other... which makes for fairly good and aggressive training. All of it is in the interest of maximizing our joy, and minimizing our pain, on race day.
Its also in the interest of communication. Because in between all those numbers, we speak to eachother about our lives... and that is something that has been sorely lacking in our relationship for years and years and years. I can honestly say that since we've signed up for the marathon, I've communicated to my brother more frequently and more honestly than I have in 10 years... and if miles are the agent of this bonding, then I am in celebration of them.
Finally, I want to note that, until I ran 15+ miles the other day, I had an on and off doubt that I might not be physically capable of completing the race as a runner (I don't care to walk a marathon... already got that merit badge, on the Appalachian Trail in 2009, thanks). So the miles are like... what, waypoints along the road to winning... where in this case, winning = completion on my own terms.
So when you see numbers, equate them to realisations and epiphanies.... and as with any good athlete, the better you get, the harder you have to push it to get to those wonderful thresholds of joy and pain and insight. So what I used to receive in 5 miles, now I have to run 11 to get it.
All that said, from now on I will really try to communicate my mental and emotional journeys more than the miles. Cause we all know, come October 31, I'm running 26.2 miles, and accomplishing something that I've been aching to do for more than 10 years. And every number up to there, is well, just moving meditation.
xo,
G
Many of you have mentioned, and I can completely empathize with, the boredom about "I ran this many miles today in this many minutes." So for those, please allow me to clarify:
My Numeric obsession comes from competition. I will be running this marathon with my brother. He is Adonnis, and I am the exec cum yoga teacher. My brother has been physically stronger than me my whole life. From age 10 on, we wrestled and fought for many hours each day. Traditionally we met every summer at the family beach house, and continued this battle. In fact, this past summer was the *first* summer that I returned home with nary a broken bone in my body. Yes, we fight that hard. And yes, it is all in good fun... with a little bit of alchohol added for danger, natch.
So numbers are the primary way that my brother and I encourage each other on this journey towards the marathon. I send him my last run, he sends me his last run, and we generally try to one-up each other... which makes for fairly good and aggressive training. All of it is in the interest of maximizing our joy, and minimizing our pain, on race day.
Its also in the interest of communication. Because in between all those numbers, we speak to eachother about our lives... and that is something that has been sorely lacking in our relationship for years and years and years. I can honestly say that since we've signed up for the marathon, I've communicated to my brother more frequently and more honestly than I have in 10 years... and if miles are the agent of this bonding, then I am in celebration of them.
Finally, I want to note that, until I ran 15+ miles the other day, I had an on and off doubt that I might not be physically capable of completing the race as a runner (I don't care to walk a marathon... already got that merit badge, on the Appalachian Trail in 2009, thanks). So the miles are like... what, waypoints along the road to winning... where in this case, winning = completion on my own terms.
So when you see numbers, equate them to realisations and epiphanies.... and as with any good athlete, the better you get, the harder you have to push it to get to those wonderful thresholds of joy and pain and insight. So what I used to receive in 5 miles, now I have to run 11 to get it.
All that said, from now on I will really try to communicate my mental and emotional journeys more than the miles. Cause we all know, come October 31, I'm running 26.2 miles, and accomplishing something that I've been aching to do for more than 10 years. And every number up to there, is well, just moving meditation.
xo,
G
Monday, September 27, 2010
the zen of distance running
I get this deep deep deep inner calm after distance running, very zen like. like those near-infinite percussions of bam bam bam bam of my feet on the earth and pavement totally jiggle the body, and when I'm done, all is quiet and well and still. Its also a kind of total body exhaustion unlike most other exercise / play I've done. And the farther I run, the longer that peace lasts. I'm currently 12+ hours out from my 2h45m run, and still feeling that ease and grace.
In most long runs, my skeleton is the limiting factor. I can basically breath deeply and even sing songs while running that 10, 12, 15 miles... I'd safely bet that my heartrate isn't even pushing past 100... which bothered me for a while, because I really like to push myself... but every time I pushed myself to faster paces, my knees and hips begin to scream and threaten to break / destabilize. And as I learned last year, it is imperative to listen to your body while doing distance running (or any activity for that matter :)
So I keep going at my lazy pace, just knowing that first I'll get the musculo-skeletal endurance in place, and then I'll improve my speed.
In most long runs, my skeleton is the limiting factor. I can basically breath deeply and even sing songs while running that 10, 12, 15 miles... I'd safely bet that my heartrate isn't even pushing past 100... which bothered me for a while, because I really like to push myself... but every time I pushed myself to faster paces, my knees and hips begin to scream and threaten to break / destabilize. And as I learned last year, it is imperative to listen to your body while doing distance running (or any activity for that matter :)
note to readers: last year I entered a bet that I couldn't run 10 miles... so to win, I ran, cold from the couch, two back-to-back 13 mile days. In the middle of the second run, I felt something like a knife go into the small of my back, but I just chose to ignore the pain and continued to run another 6 miles. Upon my return home, when I finally stopped running, I actually collapsed into the ground, and the full extent of the pain enveloped me. I literally crawled on the grass to the front door, crawled up the stairs, and laid in bed for the next 12 hours. It took me 2 full days until I could walk again, and another 60 days before I could even think about running again. So that was my lesson of Yes, mind can win over matter, however, there are prices to pay for exceeding the body's current training limits
So I keep going at my lazy pace, just knowing that first I'll get the musculo-skeletal endurance in place, and then I'll improve my speed.
Sunday, September 26, 2010
going the distance
15.65 miles
night time run
ran first 3.5 at an 8:55 pace,
first hour was in the rain
next hour was in total darkness by river
final 45 minutes was along very hilly roads with cars and no sidewalks
had to take 3 shits in the woods, so happy it was dark
lost 6 pounds of water (165>159)
overall I feel pretty good at that distance
still had enough energy to sprint the last 0.5 mile
think monday / tuesday will now seem easy, can try to add a little speed
your racing companion,
G
night time run
ran first 3.5 at an 8:55 pace,
i like that pace. it feels fast and free
i like running in the rain :)
next hour was in total darkness by river
i like running next to the river :)
final 45 minutes was along very hilly roads with cars and no sidewalks
i do not like nasty cars with high beams and running blindly into the grass and ditches
had to take 3 shits in the woods, so happy it was dark
lost 6 pounds of water (165>159)
overall I feel pretty good at that distance
still had enough energy to sprint the last 0.5 mile
think monday / tuesday will now seem easy, can try to add a little speed
your racing companion,
G
Saturday, September 25, 2010
more inspiration
The year: 1960
The place: Rome
The event: XVII Summer Olympiad
Abebe Bikila enters the marathon as a last minute substitution
when team mate breaks ankle.
Bikila runs entire race BAREFOOT...
Goes on to win GOLD in world record 2h 15m...
First black African ever to win Olympic gold.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQmqEIYI-GU&feature=player_embedded
G
The place: Rome
The event: XVII Summer Olympiad
Abebe Bikila enters the marathon as a last minute substitution
when team mate breaks ankle.
Bikila runs entire race BAREFOOT...
Goes on to win GOLD in world record 2h 15m...
First black African ever to win Olympic gold.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQmqEIYI-GU&feature=player_embedded
G
Thursday, September 23, 2010
victory is within reach
6 days
36 miles of running
72 miles of biking
gonna take a little chill down now for a day or two.
tonight put in another 9.5 running after 15 biking this afternoon.
not thinking about pace helped a lot.
i think running after dinner is stupid. gonna change that habit.
took the first 3 miles to digest my food
then it was another 3 of struggle
at 6, i ran past an outdoor bar, and seeing all those people see me, i got this huge adrenalin rush, and doubled my speed.
i was able to maintain 50% of that speed gain for pretty much the final 3 miles.
felt pretty damn good.
the FedEx open is right across the street from me, literally.
http://runkeeper.com/user/AcroYogi/activity/17031369
see that blue lake next to the 9 mile mark?
that's east lake country club. my house is the green dot.
all the roads are closed off,
but the police still let me run and bike next to the course.
the Goodyear blimp is here! :)
so the general theme of these runs I'm seeing is, I hurt for the first half, then have some kind of epiphany (thought or physical), and mostly really enjoy the second half. I hope the actual race goes something like that, or even better! :)
Gonna enjoy my 2 days off.
Targeting 15 on Sunday.
36 miles of running
72 miles of biking
gonna take a little chill down now for a day or two.
tonight put in another 9.5 running after 15 biking this afternoon.
not thinking about pace helped a lot.
i think running after dinner is stupid. gonna change that habit.
took the first 3 miles to digest my food
then it was another 3 of struggle
at 6, i ran past an outdoor bar, and seeing all those people see me, i got this huge adrenalin rush, and doubled my speed.
i was able to maintain 50% of that speed gain for pretty much the final 3 miles.
felt pretty damn good.
the FedEx open is right across the street from me, literally.
http://runkeeper.com/user/AcroYogi/activity/17031369
see that blue lake next to the 9 mile mark?
that's east lake country club. my house is the green dot.
all the roads are closed off,
but the police still let me run and bike next to the course.
the Goodyear blimp is here! :)
so the general theme of these runs I'm seeing is, I hurt for the first half, then have some kind of epiphany (thought or physical), and mostly really enjoy the second half. I hope the actual race goes something like that, or even better! :)
Gonna enjoy my 2 days off.
Targeting 15 on Sunday.
the punisher
So today I did 16 on the bike,
10 on foot.
felt pretty exhausted after the very hilly bike ride (4-5:30p),
so had lots of gatorade, big steak dinner, 3 beers.
then time to run the big 10 at 10pm!
running went fairly well.
running in the darkness on unlit roads under a full moon = cool.
running on a path next to a huge river with running rapids under a full moon = cooler.
having a large deer run right up to within 6 feet of me, pause, watch me pass, then sprint off... AWESOME!!
yes, all that happened :)
not pushing pace too hard, because every time i start sprinting, my body complains, and i am being super cautious about injury at this point. i want to finish the marathon.
I am also really thinking of throwing all pace goals out the window.
The 10 I ran today, was at a 10:15 pace.
http://runkeeper.com/user/AcroYogi/activity/16972942
It was supposed to be at an 8:30 pace by my spreadsheet.
Hahahahahahaaaaa.
I do really really want to beat a 4h:30m. Oprah Winfrey did it in 4:30. I *have* to be faster than her!!!!
Am enjoying working through thoughts while I run. Good moving meditation. Good reflections on life, relationships, etc.
10 on foot.
felt pretty exhausted after the very hilly bike ride (4-5:30p),
so had lots of gatorade, big steak dinner, 3 beers.
then time to run the big 10 at 10pm!
running went fairly well.
running in the darkness on unlit roads under a full moon = cool.
running on a path next to a huge river with running rapids under a full moon = cooler.
having a large deer run right up to within 6 feet of me, pause, watch me pass, then sprint off... AWESOME!!
yes, all that happened :)
not pushing pace too hard, because every time i start sprinting, my body complains, and i am being super cautious about injury at this point. i want to finish the marathon.
I am also really thinking of throwing all pace goals out the window.
The 10 I ran today, was at a 10:15 pace.
http://runkeeper.com/user/AcroYogi/activity/16972942
It was supposed to be at an 8:30 pace by my spreadsheet.
Hahahahahahaaaaa.
I do really really want to beat a 4h:30m. Oprah Winfrey did it in 4:30. I *have* to be faster than her!!!!
Am enjoying working through thoughts while I run. Good moving meditation. Good reflections on life, relationships, etc.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
biathlon
15 miles cycling. hills are easy.
8.5 miles running. hills are food.
first part of run *sucked*. felt slow. cramping. thought: another 7 miles of this? urgh.
somewhere around halfway into it I began to pick up the pace
"negative splits" are really really great.
about 2/3rd in I realised I was completely lost when the downtown Atlanta skyline appeared in front of me. I was positive that I was travelling eastbound, and usually my compass sense is good... but Atlanta is actually 10 miles west of me. But somehow, this change of route made me very very happy. I realised unconsciously that I was running towards J's house. J is my acroyoga partner. That made me really happy. I picked up the pace again. I turned to go home along a now familiar route. I sprinted hard uphill for the final mile. Stats say I ran a 6:30, though I find that highly unlikely. Either way, it was a fast mile. Got to my house and found that I had locked myself out! Luckily my landlords were having a little hookah smoke in the backyard, enjoying Jupiter and the moon, and we chatted a bit and they found a way to open my door.
will need to do 10ish tomorrow. Plus will have another 15 on the bike to see the kids.
8.5 miles running. hills are food.
first part of run *sucked*. felt slow. cramping. thought: another 7 miles of this? urgh.
somewhere around halfway into it I began to pick up the pace
"negative splits" are really really great.
about 2/3rd in I realised I was completely lost when the downtown Atlanta skyline appeared in front of me. I was positive that I was travelling eastbound, and usually my compass sense is good... but Atlanta is actually 10 miles west of me. But somehow, this change of route made me very very happy. I realised unconsciously that I was running towards J's house. J is my acroyoga partner. That made me really happy. I picked up the pace again. I turned to go home along a now familiar route. I sprinted hard uphill for the final mile. Stats say I ran a 6:30, though I find that highly unlikely. Either way, it was a fast mile. Got to my house and found that I had locked myself out! Luckily my landlords were having a little hookah smoke in the backyard, enjoying Jupiter and the moon, and we chatted a bit and they found a way to open my door.
will need to do 10ish tomorrow. Plus will have another 15 on the bike to see the kids.
Monday, September 20, 2010
cycling
Been working so hard on the iPhone app, my run schedule is suffering. Ha!
Truck died hard, and I continue to maximize time with kids, which is now a 30 minute bike ride, 90 minute train ride, and another 60 minute bike ride to their house (and the same again back to mine).
So skipped run today and rode necessary 15 miles yesterday, 10 miles today as replacements.
easier on the joints for sure. biking up hills fast is my new cardiovascular challenge. :P
back to real running tomorrow.
RunKeeper Pro rules:
http://runkeeper.com/user/AcroYogi/profile
Truck died hard, and I continue to maximize time with kids, which is now a 30 minute bike ride, 90 minute train ride, and another 60 minute bike ride to their house (and the same again back to mine).
So skipped run today and rode necessary 15 miles yesterday, 10 miles today as replacements.
easier on the joints for sure. biking up hills fast is my new cardiovascular challenge. :P
back to real running tomorrow.
RunKeeper Pro rules:
http://runkeeper.com/user/AcroYogi/profile
Saturday, September 18, 2010
birthday run
11 miles
110 minutes
not as easy as I expected after 2 days rest
and not as hard as I expected after wednesdays struggle
all tracking technology failed, so it was just me and my music and intuitive nav.
knee and hip complained a bit.
but in the end, I felt I had at least another 5 mi in me. :)
Will push the pace on MoTuWe, and go for 200 minutes next Saturday.
So that's 30+ miles for the week... not bad for a novice, eh? :)
110 minutes
not as easy as I expected after 2 days rest
and not as hard as I expected after wednesdays struggle
all tracking technology failed, so it was just me and my music and intuitive nav.
knee and hip complained a bit.
but in the end, I felt I had at least another 5 mi in me. :)
Will push the pace on MoTuWe, and go for 200 minutes next Saturday.
So that's 30+ miles for the week... not bad for a novice, eh? :)
Friday, September 17, 2010
fun run
technically a rest day, but Alyson did her school Fun Run today, and I walked the 2 miles there, and felt it would be good just to check in with the knees.
On the way home, ran a 1/2 mile sprint, all uphill, in 3:30... and aside from being out of breath and 200 bpm heartrate, legs felt fine! cooled down with a 1/2 mile easy run.
So good news for tomorrow! :)
On the way home, ran a 1/2 mile sprint, all uphill, in 3:30... and aside from being out of breath and 200 bpm heartrate, legs felt fine! cooled down with a 1/2 mile easy run.
So good news for tomorrow! :)
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
ouch
wow. ouch.
coming off of yesterday's high,
this one really hurt.
I knew it as soon as I began.
My knees hurt and so did my hip joints and lower back
I think its because this is day 3 in a row.
I had planned 7 in 60, and realised immediately as I clocked in mile 1 at 11:00, that I was either going to run less (distance) or run longer (time).
I chose longer :)
Unlike last week, tho, my knees and hips continued to hurt for the entire hour. I couldn't even sprint down hills.
So, it was a struggle day. Still recovering 2 hours later.
Am thankful that next 2 days are rest days :)
6.5 miles
1 hour 11 minutes
10:50 pace :(
coming off of yesterday's high,
this one really hurt.
I knew it as soon as I began.
My knees hurt and so did my hip joints and lower back
I think its because this is day 3 in a row.
I had planned 7 in 60, and realised immediately as I clocked in mile 1 at 11:00, that I was either going to run less (distance) or run longer (time).
I chose longer :)
Unlike last week, tho, my knees and hips continued to hurt for the entire hour. I couldn't even sprint down hills.
So, it was a struggle day. Still recovering 2 hours later.
Am thankful that next 2 days are rest days :)
6.5 miles
1 hour 11 minutes
10:50 pace :(
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
hills for lunch
60 minute run
9:00 goal pace
iPhone app lied to me on pace, so I ended up running it at an 8:40
8:30 split on mile 6
7 miles total
eating hills for lunch now
clearly feeling more power in legs
pre-fuel of 3 beers may have hurt time a little
9:00 goal pace
iPhone app lied to me on pace, so I ended up running it at an 8:40
8:30 split on mile 6
7 miles total
eating hills for lunch now
clearly feeling more power in legs
pre-fuel of 3 beers may have hurt time a little
Monday, September 13, 2010
baik at it!
baik at it!
today was my most powerful run yet
I felt really great.
did 5.4mi in 46 min
mile 4 was a 8:20 split,
mile 5 was an 8:07
definitely feeling a lot stronger
hills don't even phase me anymore
also helps that it was like 75 degrees as opposed to the 90s I've been running in :)
G
today was my most powerful run yet
I felt really great.
did 5.4mi in 46 min
mile 4 was a 8:20 split,
mile 5 was an 8:07
definitely feeling a lot stronger
hills don't even phase me anymore
also helps that it was like 75 degrees as opposed to the 90s I've been running in :)
G
Saturday, September 11, 2010
back in the hood
late night run
prepped with 3 beers and a huge dinner of fish, peas & potatoes
will need coaching for this "pre-run carb loading"...
the first 1.5 miles sucked. had a grandpa pace of like 11:00 or something. knees hurt. stomach cramped.
then i hit the long up hill.
and kept moving faster and faster.
realised I had gotten the cherished "hill immunity" :)
when I got to the top of the hill, I continued to increase speed.
the final flat mile, I hit in 7:30, a personal record.
total run: 4.4
tomorrow is the big 10-15. stay tuned.
prepped with 3 beers and a huge dinner of fish, peas & potatoes
will need coaching for this "pre-run carb loading"...
the first 1.5 miles sucked. had a grandpa pace of like 11:00 or something. knees hurt. stomach cramped.
then i hit the long up hill.
and kept moving faster and faster.
realised I had gotten the cherished "hill immunity" :)
when I got to the top of the hill, I continued to increase speed.
the final flat mile, I hit in 7:30, a personal record.
total run: 4.4
tomorrow is the big 10-15. stay tuned.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
a good day to die... almost :)
started off today with a 2.8 miler mini run @ 8:40 pace
hopped on the bike and kicked another 3 miles on some hilly terrain
leapt back onto the street and knocked out another 5 miles of running, at 8:00... by far my best pace ever
on the second part of the run, I was on a main road, and leapt off the sidewalk into the road to avoid a pedestrian.
The dude looks at me and screams... just then I hear this loud bang, and it takes me a second to realise that the van that just drove by at 45mph clipped my elbow! It freaked me out for a minute, but my adrenalin was so high that I felt nothing but a minor tingling. I thanked the ped for warning me, worked through my range of motion as I continued my run, praised god above for protecting me and being flexible, and made a promise to myself to be *much* more cautious about road running in the future... and to take more back roads :)
The journey continues...
hopped on the bike and kicked another 3 miles on some hilly terrain
leapt back onto the street and knocked out another 5 miles of running, at 8:00... by far my best pace ever
on the second part of the run, I was on a main road, and leapt off the sidewalk into the road to avoid a pedestrian.
The dude looks at me and screams... just then I hear this loud bang, and it takes me a second to realise that the van that just drove by at 45mph clipped my elbow! It freaked me out for a minute, but my adrenalin was so high that I felt nothing but a minor tingling. I thanked the ped for warning me, worked through my range of motion as I continued my run, praised god above for protecting me and being flexible, and made a promise to myself to be *much* more cautious about road running in the future... and to take more back roads :)
The journey continues...
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
black rock run reports
Squeezed in two runs in Black Rock.
4 miles @ 8:43 and
6 miles @ 10:10
running on flat ground *rules*
especially with sexy chicks handing you water :)
pushed it hard on last mile of 4 miler, again, found myself at very edge of losing bowel control. is there strategy for that on race day?
hopped the fence on the 6 miler and got to run in the wide open desert, city at my back and nothing but sky and sand and mountains in my field of vision, awesome primal / free experience... then perimeter patrol pulled up to me in a 4x4 and said "sir, could you please contain your run to within the boundaries of the city...?" hahahaha!
more on that experience, here:
back in ATL now, have new shoes, will be breaking them in tomorrow.
hope you had a great vacation.
processing my pics and stories from the desert.
probably one of my best burns ever.
G
4 miles @ 8:43 and
6 miles @ 10:10
running on flat ground *rules*
especially with sexy chicks handing you water :)
pushed it hard on last mile of 4 miler, again, found myself at very edge of losing bowel control. is there strategy for that on race day?
hopped the fence on the 6 miler and got to run in the wide open desert, city at my back and nothing but sky and sand and mountains in my field of vision, awesome primal / free experience... then perimeter patrol pulled up to me in a 4x4 and said "sir, could you please contain your run to within the boundaries of the city...?" hahahaha!
more on that experience, here:
back in ATL now, have new shoes, will be breaking them in tomorrow.
hope you had a great vacation.
processing my pics and stories from the desert.
probably one of my best burns ever.
G
Saturday, August 28, 2010
update: distance day
OMG.
started GREAT
ruling the world.
at mile 6ish, started to hit grandpa pace
got a bit lost somehwere around mile 7
was supposed to be 8 mile run
at mile 9ish, hands turned clammy and cold
at mile 10, lost spincter control, and had to clench my butt for the net two miles, an intriguing exercise to say the least
today:
12.8 miles
10:07 pace
RAWR!
G
started GREAT
ruling the world.
at mile 6ish, started to hit grandpa pace
got a bit lost somehwere around mile 7
was supposed to be 8 mile run
at mile 9ish, hands turned clammy and cold
at mile 10, lost spincter control, and had to clench my butt for the net two miles, an intriguing exercise to say the least
today:
12.8 miles
10:07 pace
RAWR!
G
Friday, August 27, 2010
update 5: better
4 miles @ 8:45 pace
conditions:
85 degrees vs. 98 degrees makes BIG difference
ate hills for breakfast
ready for big 8 tomorrow
28 cumulative miles!! :)
my contact yoga class is tonight
has been significant emotional conversations between J and L and I regarding intimacy. looks positive. 20+ people signed up so far +20 tenatives. the start of something great!
conditions:
85 degrees vs. 98 degrees makes BIG difference
ate hills for breakfast
ready for big 8 tomorrow
28 cumulative miles!! :)
my contact yoga class is tonight
has been significant emotional conversations between J and L and I regarding intimacy. looks positive. 20+ people signed up so far +20 tenatives. the start of something great!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
we are ON
runner passes confirmed!!!!
I will let you know as soon as we need to get them actual registration info so we can get our bibs etc.
YES!!!!!
G
I will let you know as soon as we need to get them actual registration info so we can get our bibs etc.
YES!!!!!
G
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
update #4 of xx: survival good
4+ miles
sub 9:00 pace
secret to success: less than a 6 pack the night before :)
getting much easier
hills even becoming manageable... but hills still suck!
registration update: looks positive, but still need 10 or so days to confirm. keep the faith, bro!
xo,
G
sub 9:00 pace
secret to success: less than a 6 pack the night before :)
getting much easier
hills even becoming manageable... but hills still suck!
registration update: looks positive, but still need 10 or so days to confirm. keep the faith, bro!
xo,
G
Monday, August 23, 2010
YES: status report #3
beat the granpa pace of 10:00
ran 4.1 @ 9:30 pace
hills still suck
iPod has serious issue with overheated flesh. could only get it to work once i ran my hands under cold water. this may be serious issue! :)
gettting stronger every day.
rock on!
G
ran 4.1 @ 9:30 pace
hills still suck
iPod has serious issue with overheated flesh. could only get it to work once i ran my hands under cold water. this may be serious issue! :)
gettting stronger every day.
rock on!
G
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Run Two: Calibration Continues
powered by minor caffeine,
first 2 miles a complete breeze
next 2 miles made on willpower
dunked head in river at mile 3 -- very good idea, air temp 92 and body temp soaring
still have good speed
mile 5, first really big hill
hills suck
everything i could do to keep going
slowed down significantly after that point
had to walk about 3 times, a bit demoralizing
right knee started to really hurt at 8.5 miles
walked for 3 minutes then
finished strong running decent pace last mile
got home and almost cried
original goal: run a marathon and survive
new goal: optimize personal health condition (alchohol low, caffeine low, eating healthy, sleeping healthy) to make running a marathon easy
now am positive that willpower can get me through anything, tho that is not the pretty approach
life was saved by support crew bringing me ice cold water twice during run. may need to start running with camelbak if heat remains high.
Next: on to a 5 hour acroyoga partner session tonight! :) luckily that includes 1.5 hours of massage :)
first 2 miles a complete breeze
next 2 miles made on willpower
dunked head in river at mile 3 -- very good idea, air temp 92 and body temp soaring
still have good speed
mile 5, first really big hill
hills suck
everything i could do to keep going
slowed down significantly after that point
had to walk about 3 times, a bit demoralizing
right knee started to really hurt at 8.5 miles
walked for 3 minutes then
finished strong running decent pace last mile
got home and almost cried
original goal: run a marathon and survive
new goal: optimize personal health condition (alchohol low, caffeine low, eating healthy, sleeping healthy) to make running a marathon easy
now am positive that willpower can get me through anything, tho that is not the pretty approach
life was saved by support crew bringing me ice cold water twice during run. may need to start running with camelbak if heat remains high.
Next: on to a 5 hour acroyoga partner session tonight! :) luckily that includes 1.5 hours of massage :)
Friday, August 20, 2010
Run Report #1
just got back from my inaugural run.
if i can do that, i can do anything.
pre-run warm-up: massive steak, crab claws, bread, 4 beers.
1st mile: SUCKED. thought i was going to have a heart attack. amazed at how superman greg felt so crappy running. left hip felt like it was about to fall out. note to self: practicing extreme gymastic splits and distance running is not good combo.
2nd mile: at grandpa pace (see attached graph), thought about turning around. then committed. will make the circuit. doesn't matter how fast or slow. only rule: must be running. which, remembering from high school, means that only one foot can be in contact with ground at any one time and there must be a brief period of aerial hop between footsteps. got it.
3rd mile: unremarkable. except that it was uphill.
4th mile: still uphill, and amazingly i started to run faster and feeling stronger. deep long breaths. angina gone. hip felt much better and lubed.
5th mile. kind of like this. smiling like a maniac at passing cars. decide my race moniker will be "trailbeast"
did i mention? conditions: late at night on side of roads in massive thunder & lightning storm.
advantage: can drool and spit on my chin and is immediately washed off by rain.
super advantage: 96 degrees in the shade here this summer. remarkably cooler in rain.
Tomorrow: 10!
Oh, this was 4.6 in 46 minutes. I know. pace will improve. promise.
if i can do that, i can do anything.
pre-run warm-up: massive steak, crab claws, bread, 4 beers.
1st mile: SUCKED. thought i was going to have a heart attack. amazed at how superman greg felt so crappy running. left hip felt like it was about to fall out. note to self: practicing extreme gymastic splits and distance running is not good combo.
2nd mile: at grandpa pace (see attached graph), thought about turning around. then committed. will make the circuit. doesn't matter how fast or slow. only rule: must be running. which, remembering from high school, means that only one foot can be in contact with ground at any one time and there must be a brief period of aerial hop between footsteps. got it.
3rd mile: unremarkable. except that it was uphill.
4th mile: still uphill, and amazingly i started to run faster and feeling stronger. deep long breaths. angina gone. hip felt much better and lubed.
5th mile. kind of like this. smiling like a maniac at passing cars. decide my race moniker will be "trailbeast"
did i mention? conditions: late at night on side of roads in massive thunder & lightning storm.
advantage: can drool and spit on my chin and is immediately washed off by rain.
super advantage: 96 degrees in the shade here this summer. remarkably cooler in rain.
Tomorrow: 10!
Oh, this was 4.6 in 46 minutes. I know. pace will improve. promise.
Marathon @ Burning Man
Just realised that week 2 of training will be in the desert on LSD! :)
well, at least there's other athletes about!
well, at least there's other athletes about!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
The Beginning
I did a little bit of design work for a man named Barg. He liked it a lot. 10 days later, he asked me if I could comp up some screenshots an iPhone app for the Marine Corps Marathon. I did. He said the meeting went positive. I said "great, when we get the job, I'll expect 2 complimentary passes so I can run it!" He replied "are you serious?" and I said "absolutely."
A quick phone call later to my brother, and he agreed to run it with me, as long as we began training immediately. The marathon was just 75 days away.
10 days later I got the email from Barg: "We've got the job, and I've got your passes."
Get ready to run.
A quick phone call later to my brother, and he agreed to run it with me, as long as we began training immediately. The marathon was just 75 days away.
10 days later I got the email from Barg: "We've got the job, and I've got your passes."
Get ready to run.
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