Things are finally moving forward with some alacrity now. I raced about 3 weeks ago, and ran a 21:12 at Glio Blastoff, something I'm not very happy with given what I'm capable of, but it will do based on about a month of solid base training.
Since then I've rattled off a couple of 50 mile weeks, and I feel like I'm starting to get on top of running again. I haven't started running much speed yet, other than the race, that will be this summer's task. I feel like this will be a strong summer for that, and that I'm really not starting that far behind the 8 ball, as much as I did earlier. Some of the training I did in the last few years is still buried in my body somewhere...
Dexter-Ann Arbor half marathon in six days. Hoping for sub 1:36, maybe even faster. We'll see if it's enough...
Since then I've rattled off a couple of 50 mile weeks, and I feel like I'm starting to get on top of running again. I haven't started running much speed yet, other than the race, that will be this summer's task. I feel like this will be a strong summer for that, and that I'm really not starting that far behind the 8 ball, as much as I did earlier. Some of the training I did in the last few years is still buried in my body somewhere...
Dexter-Ann Arbor half marathon in six days. Hoping for sub 1:36, maybe even faster. We'll see if it's enough...
Finally feel like some of this running is starting to string together some successes. Last week was my fourth week of 30+ miles, something that I haven't done in almost a year. I was able to string together a couple of 30s in September, and again in January, but it has been a long time...this week I take aim at 40 for the first time. I feel like I'm starting to follow in the footsteps of 2007, where I did a lot of the same recovering from injury to put together a pretty successful 2007 and my first marathon back in October. I think I can do the same this year, hopefully with better times than in 2007...
- Current Music:Poison - Play Dirty | Powered by Last.fm
Haven't posted in too long.
I'm currently rebuilding my fitness after about 9 months off from a stress fracture, followed by a nasty case of plantar fasciitis, followed by patellar tendonitis. I think I've run about 300 miles in the last 9 months...maybe. Hopefully that will change. I'm starting by running lots of slow easy short runs, and go from there! I still have some small muscle imbalances, but I think those will go away over time and some strengthening exercises.
The stress fracture was a real bitch. I had been running a 10K, and I was hunting the elusive sub-40. I was well under 20 at the fiveK, and then completely blew a tire, and had to walk home. Walking on a foot stress fracture HURTS! I don't ever recommend it. Ever.
I'm currently rebuilding my fitness after about 9 months off from a stress fracture, followed by a nasty case of plantar fasciitis, followed by patellar tendonitis. I think I've run about 300 miles in the last 9 months...maybe. Hopefully that will change. I'm starting by running lots of slow easy short runs, and go from there! I still have some small muscle imbalances, but I think those will go away over time and some strengthening exercises.
The stress fracture was a real bitch. I had been running a 10K, and I was hunting the elusive sub-40. I was well under 20 at the fiveK, and then completely blew a tire, and had to walk home. Walking on a foot stress fracture HURTS! I don't ever recommend it. Ever.
A rainy day in May, a great day to race! I love the whole end of the marathon training period. First there's the taper, then there's the race itself, and then there's the easy recovery period, and finally there's the post-marathon race, which post-Bayshore got me a huge 10K PR, even on a short course. This year, the post marathon race turned out to be the Heart of a Spartan 5K. I was planning on a more local 10K, but a friend of mile and I agreed that it was time for us to race again, and it became this 5K in East Lansing.
( How did it go?Collapse )
Executive Summary:
Chip time: 19:00.3
overall place: 9th
ag place: 2nd!
splits: 6:10-6:14-6:05
Almost sub 19! Almost! I wanted a PR (my PR before this was 19:20), but I didn't think I could take a full 20 seconds off of it! I consider this my best race since Bayshore last year. Except for a little slowness early on, I always felt fully in control and even a little on the edge toward the end of the race. Not quite negative splits, but I like the progression toward the end! This gives me hope that Dexter-Ann Arbor will be an awesome race experience.
( How did it go?Collapse )
Executive Summary:
Chip time: 19:00.3
overall place: 9th
ag place: 2nd!
splits: 6:10-6:14-6:05
Almost sub 19! Almost! I wanted a PR (my PR before this was 19:20), but I didn't think I could take a full 20 seconds off of it! I consider this my best race since Bayshore last year. Except for a little slowness early on, I always felt fully in control and even a little on the edge toward the end of the race. Not quite negative splits, but I like the progression toward the end! This gives me hope that Dexter-Ann Arbor will be an awesome race experience.
Well, here it is. Another one off of the bucket list! My first Boston Marathon! After being really high strung about planning for the Boston Qualifier I used for this race, I was remarkably low-key for Boston. I didn't really get started with training until the first of March (though I had had about 50 or mpw before that), I didn't really have a plan for training beyond one or two workouts a week, and I really didn't have any goals for the longest time, other than to finish and enjoy myself. Finally, as training solidified at the beginning of April, and the weather really started looking up this week, I decided that instead of just having fun, it was time to go after it and see how things would work.
The strategy I used was roughly the same as I used at Bayshore, use the early downhills and pick up a small to medium cushion during the first half (about 5-6 seconds per mile). On the Newton Hills hang on for dear life and try to work the downhills into Boston for a fine finish.
( How did it go?Collapse )
Chip time: 3:13:12
overall place: 3190/22,000
ag place: 1899
splits: 1:35:08/1:38:04
I gotta say, despite the pessimistic sounding report, I'm really happy that I was able to perform this well. In order of goals: I requalified for next year (which is what I wanted to do as of 30 days ago). I PR'd, which was my goal as of last week, but I fell short of 3:13, (which was a pretty arbitrary goal I created when the weather forecast really started turning for the better). I didn't train as much as I had for Bayshore, but I still managed to run much the same splits (like within several seconds each way) despite the much more difficult course. I think with enough training, I can break through 3:13, that is if life works in my favor someday soon.
I can see why this race is so addicting. The crowds on this course are amazing. This is one of the few best chances that a normal mortal like you or me can have people cheer them on as if we were superhuman like a Meb, or Kara, or Hall. They were positively uplifting turning down Hereford, and up Beacon. The crowds are AWESOME!
I don't think I would change much about the race strategy if I do it again. I'll still aim for 3:10 ish and try to hang on through the hills to make it to the downhills on the other side. I just hope that I can put something together next time to make a run at it!
The strategy I used was roughly the same as I used at Bayshore, use the early downhills and pick up a small to medium cushion during the first half (about 5-6 seconds per mile). On the Newton Hills hang on for dear life and try to work the downhills into Boston for a fine finish.
( How did it go?Collapse )
Chip time: 3:13:12
overall place: 3190/22,000
ag place: 1899
splits: 1:35:08/1:38:04
I gotta say, despite the pessimistic sounding report, I'm really happy that I was able to perform this well. In order of goals: I requalified for next year (which is what I wanted to do as of 30 days ago). I PR'd, which was my goal as of last week, but I fell short of 3:13, (which was a pretty arbitrary goal I created when the weather forecast really started turning for the better). I didn't train as much as I had for Bayshore, but I still managed to run much the same splits (like within several seconds each way) despite the much more difficult course. I think with enough training, I can break through 3:13, that is if life works in my favor someday soon.
I can see why this race is so addicting. The crowds on this course are amazing. This is one of the few best chances that a normal mortal like you or me can have people cheer them on as if we were superhuman like a Meb, or Kara, or Hall. They were positively uplifting turning down Hereford, and up Beacon. The crowds are AWESOME!
I don't think I would change much about the race strategy if I do it again. I'll still aim for 3:10 ish and try to hang on through the hills to make it to the downhills on the other side. I just hope that I can put something together next time to make a run at it!
- Current Mood:
accomplished
Posting has again become very sparse. But it is now 8 days to Boston, and after much hemming and hawing, I feel like I have a goal time that is worth settling on: 3:13:00. Now we'll see how it turns out. That's a 7:21 pace over 26 miles. We'll see how well that works, it just doesn't seem that fast to me right now, and it's what my marathon pace runs have been at, for the most part.
Training over the past few weeks has turned itself right around. Another sub 1:30 half at the Flushing Half-Marathon three weeks ago made me realize that I am in pretty good shape. Would have liked to do more in mid February still, but I'm at peace with it now.
Looks like the weather has a shot at being good, so it's time to be about it!
Training over the past few weeks has turned itself right around. Another sub 1:30 half at the Flushing Half-Marathon three weeks ago made me realize that I am in pretty good shape. Would have liked to do more in mid February still, but I'm at peace with it now.
Looks like the weather has a shot at being good, so it's time to be about it!
- Current Music:Haken - Celestial Elixir | Powered by Last.fm
13 and a half weeks til Boston, and now the body and mind is starting to respond to training quite well. This will will be three weeks at 60+ mpw and six days of running a week. Next week is the off week, at just about 60-62 in 7 days.
The weather has been pretty fantastic this winter, with only about 8 inches so far, and we have a string of 32+ degree weather coming up between now and next Friday. The roads and sidewalks are about 95% clear, next week they will be all clear. It's really a pity that I'm not running hard next week, but what can you do?
I'm still not quite on pace where I want to be on the speed work. I'm still about 15 secs off pace for my tempo runs, though I think much of that has to do with the road conditions lately. Yesterday I did 6 miles of tempo work that was supposed to be at 6:45, and was more like at 7:00-7:05. Saturday I have 9 miles of tempo work during my long run at marathon pace. If I can hit (maybe +5 secs to account for the cold) that given the projected weather (awesome), I will be in good shape. I'm looking at my first race of the year right now at the Super Bowl 5K in Novi in three weeks (Feb 6). I haven't raced since mid October, which I can't call a race at all, it was pretty sad. I need to get out there again and run fast against other people...it's time. I can't expect sub 20, but I expect to run well given how things are going right now.
Two weeks from now....70!
The weather has been pretty fantastic this winter, with only about 8 inches so far, and we have a string of 32+ degree weather coming up between now and next Friday. The roads and sidewalks are about 95% clear, next week they will be all clear. It's really a pity that I'm not running hard next week, but what can you do?
I'm still not quite on pace where I want to be on the speed work. I'm still about 15 secs off pace for my tempo runs, though I think much of that has to do with the road conditions lately. Yesterday I did 6 miles of tempo work that was supposed to be at 6:45, and was more like at 7:00-7:05. Saturday I have 9 miles of tempo work during my long run at marathon pace. If I can hit (maybe +5 secs to account for the cold) that given the projected weather (awesome), I will be in good shape. I'm looking at my first race of the year right now at the Super Bowl 5K in Novi in three weeks (Feb 6). I haven't raced since mid October, which I can't call a race at all, it was pretty sad. I need to get out there again and run fast against other people...it's time. I can't expect sub 20, but I expect to run well given how things are going right now.
Two weeks from now....70!
So, this blog has been out of action for a while. It's been a pretty rough fall, and as what generally happens during busytimes, I just run out of contact.
But, lets sum up the last few months since the last post in August.
Running:
Started running out of mental steam for running at the end of August. Reached 2000 miles for the year during the first week of September. Started breaking down a bit mid-september and had to cut back pretty seriously through November. Ran my last race of 2009 at Brooksie Way injured, and finished in 1:40, twelve minutes slower than my PR. Tootled along for the rest of the year at a reduced pace, recharging. Finished with 2644.0 miles. Slowly ramping up to a Boston training schedule.
Work:
Been a many and varied year at work, let alone 6 months. In the same job all year, but switched projects a couple of times. Now working almost exclusively on high performance computing.
Music: Bought lots of new stuff (what else is new). Prog Power was awesome this year, as always. As long as there is a Prog Power, we'll be there. A top 20 list definitely needs to be generated for music last year, I just haven't had time.
Gaming: Still gaming with the core people of the old group from when I moved here. It's been 9 years now. Crazy. We decided that it was best if I moved a short term game that I was running into the long-term category, and now I'm back into running games every two weeks or so. It's gone extraordinarily well, but that's because I'm not generating everything on the fly, rather using pregenerated chapters and filling in the gaps. Hopefully it continues to go well.
That's pretty much everything. I hope I can get back to a regular schedule of posting again!
But, lets sum up the last few months since the last post in August.
Running:
Started running out of mental steam for running at the end of August. Reached 2000 miles for the year during the first week of September. Started breaking down a bit mid-september and had to cut back pretty seriously through November. Ran my last race of 2009 at Brooksie Way injured, and finished in 1:40, twelve minutes slower than my PR. Tootled along for the rest of the year at a reduced pace, recharging. Finished with 2644.0 miles. Slowly ramping up to a Boston training schedule.
Work:
Been a many and varied year at work, let alone 6 months. In the same job all year, but switched projects a couple of times. Now working almost exclusively on high performance computing.
Music: Bought lots of new stuff (what else is new). Prog Power was awesome this year, as always. As long as there is a Prog Power, we'll be there. A top 20 list definitely needs to be generated for music last year, I just haven't had time.
Gaming: Still gaming with the core people of the old group from when I moved here. It's been 9 years now. Crazy. We decided that it was best if I moved a short term game that I was running into the long-term category, and now I'm back into running games every two weeks or so. It's gone extraordinarily well, but that's because I'm not generating everything on the fly, rather using pregenerated chapters and filling in the gaps. Hopefully it continues to go well.
That's pretty much everything. I hope I can get back to a regular schedule of posting again!
- Current Music:Fates Warning -- Chasing Time
This is the middle part of the racing streak I started since Bayshore. This is a local race held in the big park along the Huron River in Ann Arbor. Trivia Moment: Part of this course is featured in the movie Jumper. I've never done this race before, though I run parts of the course every two weeks or so. I know the course pretty well, so I think any race here would work to my strengths. It's flat, with a quarter mile stretch of wood chip trails to keep you honest. It's a two mile loop, in which you do one and a half loops.
( And the train started rollin'Collapse )
Chip time: 19:22.6
overall place: 16/270
ag place: 1/20
A PR, by a few seconds! As strong as I was running, I was rather suprised that it wasn't faster, but I'll take it! I felt like this was the best race I could run under those conditions. When I was challenged, I fought them off. When I challenged someone else, I was strong enough to work past them. Very nice!
IN two weeks, work permitting, I'm looking at the Northville Classic 8K, which would be my second 8K in a while, and then maybe ten days after that, while I'm in Massachusetts, I have my eyes on a 10K on Tuesday night there that might be fun. All I know, is I'm having a blast at all of these races!
( And the train started rollin'Collapse )
Chip time: 19:22.6
overall place: 16/270
ag place: 1/20
A PR, by a few seconds! As strong as I was running, I was rather suprised that it wasn't faster, but I'll take it! I felt like this was the best race I could run under those conditions. When I was challenged, I fought them off. When I challenged someone else, I was strong enough to work past them. Very nice!
IN two weeks, work permitting, I'm looking at the Northville Classic 8K, which would be my second 8K in a while, and then maybe ten days after that, while I'm in Massachusetts, I have my eyes on a 10K on Tuesday night there that might be fun. All I know, is I'm having a blast at all of these races!
- Current Music:Adagio - Twilight at Dawn | Powered by Last.fm
Here we are, the middle run in three weeks of hard racing. This is the harder of the three races, because the recovery for this race might overlap with the 5K next weekend. I was really wishy washy about either this race, or a 5/10K in Whitmore Lake. But this half was so early in the morning(7am), and the weather forecast was excellent that I had to run it. This race is in Brighton, MI, so it's a little farther away than the Whitmore Lake races, but what the heck!
( The Devil is in the detailsCollapse )
Finish time: 1:28:49.4
overall place: 11/188
ag place: 2/11
Wow! Not a PR, but my fastest half marathon in over 5 years! Great! I guess all it takes is a kick in the pants sometimes. I felt like I was ready to throw in the towel early on, but hanging on with that guy really turned this race around.
This was great encouragement after the week before, and this is more like where I think I should be, but with the hot weather I just don't notice it right now. With my goal race currently the Brooksie Way half marathon in October, I think that I have the opportunity to crush this PR, and drive it near 1:26, perhaps?
Next weekend is a 5K. Hopefully I'll be recovered from this by then?
( The Devil is in the detailsCollapse )
Finish time: 1:28:49.4
overall place: 11/188
ag place: 2/11
Wow! Not a PR, but my fastest half marathon in over 5 years! Great! I guess all it takes is a kick in the pants sometimes. I felt like I was ready to throw in the towel early on, but hanging on with that guy really turned this race around.
This was great encouragement after the week before, and this is more like where I think I should be, but with the hot weather I just don't notice it right now. With my goal race currently the Brooksie Way half marathon in October, I think that I have the opportunity to crush this PR, and drive it near 1:26, perhaps?
Next weekend is a 5K. Hopefully I'll be recovered from this by then?
- Current Music:Circle II Circle - Watching in Silence | Powered by Last.fm
