This week has been an interesting week to say the least. Running has been good, a look at the numbers reflects that:
S: 0
M: 13
T: 10
W: AM-3.57 and PM-7.04 plus 5X200 intervals
T: 0
F: 16.13
S: 7.97
Total 58.36 (yep a new record)
But there is more to it then just numbers, okay first Wednesday is my evening run at the Trak Shak, everyone knows that. If you read this blog you know that. If you are the spousal unit you know that. Heck even some of the neighbors in Subdivision de Preston know that. So when I am on the highway to my evening run, I don’t expect phone call about rushing to the house to take care of something. If you are calling me you better be telling me that my house is burning down or you better be the woman of my dreams! I remember a very wise woman once writing: A failure to plan on your part does NOT constitute an emergency on my part…. I am just saying!
So this so called emergency was that a person was picking up an old sofa and chair at the house. I kept trying to tell SWMBO that it would be easier to just leave them at old Food World off Lorna Road, and that someone would get them. Somehow I was vetoed on this idea, but anyway the furniture is gone, and now our hardwood floors can be refinished. The little diversion required me to change up my run, so Wednesday night I ran the BTC 7 mile route. I started at the parking lot on the west side of Lakeshore, so basically I ran the route the opposite way then the BTC does on Sunday morning. This route goes to Bromwell travel and the back to the parking lot. There is a slight grade on the route, but it is pretty much the flattest thing you are going to find. Did the outbound leg at around 8:00/mi, did the inbound leg progression style to almost BQ pace. It was getting dark so I decided to have some fun and run 5X200 repeats on the road above the trail. Apparently Samford’s track team must do the same since 200m intervals are painted onto the road. I had not run up there in a long while so it was a nice break.
Now lets get to Saturday, what was supposed to be an uneventful race—The Peavine Falls turned into a saga that was more drama then an LA Runner travel experience, wilder then Carin’s great Kayak Commissioning (wish I could have gotten a video of her flipping that thing), yes this Saturday beats all. Let me first tell you the I-65does not have a sign to Oak Mountain State Park, and also let me inform you that the little middle aged grandmotherly redhead that works the park gate does not know where Peavine Falls is. That being said I did make it to the start, after a nice scenic tour of the lake and golf course out there. Oh yes and I ran over a shirt someone left in the grass next to the street. What is even better is that they left a business card with three dollars in my car to mail the shirt back to them; sorry Justin that name on the card isn’t a chick… I know…. DANGIT! Oh yeah I somehow I did not lock my car and amazingly my iPhone and wallet were still in the car (and in plain sight). I did start the race, 20 minutes late though. I talked to the race director about it, and he told me I was not the only person to have had trouble that day. What kills me though is that I left plenty early to get there. I did the run in the end mostly by myself till about the last mile or so. I think in the end that this was better since it kept me from racing the run. I did the route in around 1:15 according to my Garmin. I had a good amount of fun running the trail part too. Oh and I did see the big step of blacktop that claimed LA Runner and Michelle (from work). This year however just me and Blake ran this. Blake is another coworker at the bank; he is a branch specialist (fancy name for a loan officer). He is a heck of a nice guy.
So that is my adventure of a week I had. In good news I get Monday off, since I worked Friday and yes I am still trying to figure that one out. On Friday the state was off, federal government was off, Federal Reserve was off, schools were out… wait scratch that one they are always out, even the Minions of Deathwere off… but oh no I was at work. Yep fighting debit card fraud, resetting PIN numbers for old ladies and my personal favorite explaining to a woman why her credit card was closed by our collections department since 2008. Yep a typical week! This however will be short work wise and then week after that we are going down to Florida for a conference that Carin has to go to. Basically I am tagging along for a free vacation. You know me I am all about some room service and deep tissue massages!
(Disclaimer--I have no idea what a deep tissue massage is.)
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Finally 50!
This week I finally got my lazy butt up in the morning to run the majority of my miles. I tend to prefer getting up early in the morning since it allows me to have my evenings to do nonrunning things. Also since I do work at a bank from 8 to 5 I always tend to feel rushed in the evening when I run. So the week was as follows:
Sunday 0
Monday 11
Tuesday 8.78
Wednesday AM: 3 PM 7.75 (more on that later)
Thursday 0
Friday 14
Saturday: AM: 3.1 PM: 6.05
Total: 53.68
This is my first week over fifty miles!!! Wedensday was a wonderfull run, Justin and I ended up going the TrakShak 1 route. It was a nice run until the big hill when Justin tripped over a coat hanger or handle from a paint bucket. He made a good recovery though. Once past the hill we were heading towards English Village when some random dude stops his car (nearly hitting us) to ask for directions! About a mile after this Justin tripped over was a branch or bush that was sticking out in the street. We finally made it to the clocktower (about 3 miles give or take). I was hopefull that was the end of the crazy incidents. From there he and I got some water and took off. We slowly moved the pace up progression run style till we were at BQ pace. We ran the flat area of the Lakeshore trail at that pace, once we made the turn up Watkins Branch (it is trail) our pace slowed a little on the hill. We were probably averaging 8 mins or so. He was running pretty strong for the whole run, I tended to hang back a little. Once we got to the elementary school where the tunnel is that crosses HWY 31 it was my turn... to trip over something. For me it was a pothole... NICE! I did get some cheers from some dudes in a passing car. I did not however fall but the pothole did cause me to twist my ankle a little. I told Justin to keep going as I stopped and walked it off. I think Justin came pretty close to running a route record, if not it was still in awesome run. Adam and Jason have been MIA now two weeks, maybe they will be there next Wednesday.
On Thursday night I get a phone call from one of Carin's coworkers asking if I would run in a relay with them. I said sure why not, I did tell them to make sure the bib read my name on it instead of the person who was supposed to run it. The relay turned out to be the team competition for the Race to the Courthouse run. When I got there I was handed my number and my name was not on it, there was a 40 yr coworker of Carin's on it. The other two individuals that I could exchange with are both older enough that I could not pass for them either. So I decided to make lemonade out of the lemons-- first mile would be an all out effort (turned out to be around 6:13/mile), second mile BQ Pace last mile recovery pace or slower (basically slow enough that some 40 year old males could pass me LOL).
At the start of the race I lined up pretty far back, I wanted to see what kind of runners were running this race. After the gun went off I hung back still, I could see that there were three to five guys who would be competition for the 1st overall spot. One of those was Justin, I saw him at the start--I went pass the crowd in less the 45 seconds, I went past Justin at the first turn. Carin had seen me make that turn and she told me later "I was flying." Before the half mile mark I was gaining on number 2 dude, and the guy in first looked like he wasn't pulling away from me--he might have been a little it was tough to tell since I was now staring into the Sun. I hit mile 1 and shut it down to Boston pace. The two guys ahead then appeared to pull away, soon after Justin flew past me. I told him he was looking strong and to go get the number two guy. I stayed at BQ pace through mile 2, at this point the ladies leader went by as did a few others. However none of them looked like 40 year old males. Once I went through Mile 2, I slowed it down to recovery pace (about 9:30/mile) and finally some folks started passing me. About this time I saw Gordon (the person who talked me into this race) go by going the other way since this was an out and back course. He was running and pushing the baby jogger and was doing pretty well. Also saw Gordon's wife Beth, she is one of the sweetest people I know. I never saw Alison or Jay the other two team members. Near the end of the race (pretty much right before the Mile 3 I slowed it down to about 10:00/mile and moved to the right of the street. The pack had finally caught up and I saw quite a few men that looked over 40 or so pass me so I felt a little better knowing I was not crossing the line and denying someone an age group award. I think I crossed the line around 24 minutes or so.
If my wife's work does this run again I think I will enter it as part of the team. I don't know if I could have won it outright but I am sure I could have been in the top three. I think Justin came in the top five or so. I saw him after the race, he was a little disappointed about his time, but I told him that it was hot and humid so PRs are going to be tough. Also from what I could see I think he did pretty darn well.
So for this coming week I am shooting for 57 miles. I am pretty much off the plan that I posted a few weeks (BIG SURPRISE!) but I know I am a stronger runner then I was a year ago. So all is well.
Sunday 0
Monday 11
Tuesday 8.78
Wednesday AM: 3 PM 7.75 (more on that later)
Thursday 0
Friday 14
Saturday: AM: 3.1 PM: 6.05
Total: 53.68
This is my first week over fifty miles!!! Wedensday was a wonderfull run, Justin and I ended up going the TrakShak 1 route. It was a nice run until the big hill when Justin tripped over a coat hanger or handle from a paint bucket. He made a good recovery though. Once past the hill we were heading towards English Village when some random dude stops his car (nearly hitting us) to ask for directions! About a mile after this Justin tripped over was a branch or bush that was sticking out in the street. We finally made it to the clocktower (about 3 miles give or take). I was hopefull that was the end of the crazy incidents. From there he and I got some water and took off. We slowly moved the pace up progression run style till we were at BQ pace. We ran the flat area of the Lakeshore trail at that pace, once we made the turn up Watkins Branch (it is trail) our pace slowed a little on the hill. We were probably averaging 8 mins or so. He was running pretty strong for the whole run, I tended to hang back a little. Once we got to the elementary school where the tunnel is that crosses HWY 31 it was my turn... to trip over something. For me it was a pothole... NICE! I did get some cheers from some dudes in a passing car. I did not however fall but the pothole did cause me to twist my ankle a little. I told Justin to keep going as I stopped and walked it off. I think Justin came pretty close to running a route record, if not it was still in awesome run. Adam and Jason have been MIA now two weeks, maybe they will be there next Wednesday.
On Thursday night I get a phone call from one of Carin's coworkers asking if I would run in a relay with them. I said sure why not, I did tell them to make sure the bib read my name on it instead of the person who was supposed to run it. The relay turned out to be the team competition for the Race to the Courthouse run. When I got there I was handed my number and my name was not on it, there was a 40 yr coworker of Carin's on it. The other two individuals that I could exchange with are both older enough that I could not pass for them either. So I decided to make lemonade out of the lemons-- first mile would be an all out effort (turned out to be around 6:13/mile), second mile BQ Pace last mile recovery pace or slower (basically slow enough that some 40 year old males could pass me LOL).
At the start of the race I lined up pretty far back, I wanted to see what kind of runners were running this race. After the gun went off I hung back still, I could see that there were three to five guys who would be competition for the 1st overall spot. One of those was Justin, I saw him at the start--I went pass the crowd in less the 45 seconds, I went past Justin at the first turn. Carin had seen me make that turn and she told me later "I was flying." Before the half mile mark I was gaining on number 2 dude, and the guy in first looked like he wasn't pulling away from me--he might have been a little it was tough to tell since I was now staring into the Sun. I hit mile 1 and shut it down to Boston pace. The two guys ahead then appeared to pull away, soon after Justin flew past me. I told him he was looking strong and to go get the number two guy. I stayed at BQ pace through mile 2, at this point the ladies leader went by as did a few others. However none of them looked like 40 year old males. Once I went through Mile 2, I slowed it down to recovery pace (about 9:30/mile) and finally some folks started passing me. About this time I saw Gordon (the person who talked me into this race) go by going the other way since this was an out and back course. He was running and pushing the baby jogger and was doing pretty well. Also saw Gordon's wife Beth, she is one of the sweetest people I know. I never saw Alison or Jay the other two team members. Near the end of the race (pretty much right before the Mile 3 I slowed it down to about 10:00/mile and moved to the right of the street. The pack had finally caught up and I saw quite a few men that looked over 40 or so pass me so I felt a little better knowing I was not crossing the line and denying someone an age group award. I think I crossed the line around 24 minutes or so.
If my wife's work does this run again I think I will enter it as part of the team. I don't know if I could have won it outright but I am sure I could have been in the top three. I think Justin came in the top five or so. I saw him after the race, he was a little disappointed about his time, but I told him that it was hot and humid so PRs are going to be tough. Also from what I could see I think he did pretty darn well.So for this coming week I am shooting for 57 miles. I am pretty much off the plan that I posted a few weeks (BIG SURPRISE!) but I know I am a stronger runner then I was a year ago. So all is well.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
So close yet so far
Thursday I finally got to meet one of my favorite blog writer's. We were able to sit and and have coffee for a good hour at a Starbucks near the Galleria Mall. It was so awesome to get to talk to a runner who has made such improvements in the time span I have known her online. It really gives me inspiration for Chicago. We talked a ton about running and just our lives in general. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to her to publically too... for all the crazy cat lady references I have made. If I had known that two of that cats belong to her husband, I would have directed my...umm.. comments towards him... heh heh ;)
Today I ran a 10K (well not quite 6.2 miles) down in Clanton AL. A group of four of us held the lead through the turn for the 5K runners, two of those people were 5K runners. The other person, the already mentioned LA Runner had fallen back a little (she won the ladies 10K), she is nursing a injury to her side (kinda where her rib cage is). So when she faded back that left one person in the lead for the overall 10K winners spot.... ME! I held the lead through about mile 4.62, but from mile 2.5 or so I had this dude stalking me down. He would keep up and then I would kick the pace a little and he would fade back. This went on for a while, but finally around 4.62 he took the lead from me. We had gotten into a little hilly area, and frankly he had run a smarter race. I was able to see him all the way to the finish, but I never could catch him after he passed me that last time, but boy did I try to catch him. I haven't run a race against a person since about high school, and I only ever held the lead in 400m races on a track. There were a couple of places when it was just me up there the pace got really close to breaking 6:00 a mile. It was so awesome being up there seeing the police car lead the way and everything, I got a little excited. Anyway I came in 41:19 on the Garmin and the distance covered said 6 miles even. That is right not even a .01 . I talked to a dude after the race and his Garmin said 6.1 something. I ran the tangents as best I could to run a smart race, all I can figure was the racecourse is short, so while it was an awesome PR, it will have to get an asterisk being the course was short. LA Runner and I ran a nice warm up mile before the race and chatted. Overall an awesome experience, I just hope I can lead and WIN a race someday. Kinda a big age group (25-40 yr old males), took home a basket of peaches for my award.
On July 4th I have Peavine Falls Run kinda on the books. We had planned on a big group of us at work running it, so it may just be me doing it. I have not signed up for it yet, I still need to check with a couple of people at work. I might use that Saturday to do that race then run a long run on Monday since the bank is closed. I kinda like running long runs on weekdays, early in the morning. We shall see though, so back to the higher weekly miles for the next couple of weeks is the only other thing I have on tap running, though it does feel good to know that those extra miles are starting to pay off... now just stay injury free and healthy!
Today I ran a 10K (well not quite 6.2 miles) down in Clanton AL. A group of four of us held the lead through the turn for the 5K runners, two of those people were 5K runners. The other person, the already mentioned LA Runner had fallen back a little (she won the ladies 10K), she is nursing a injury to her side (kinda where her rib cage is). So when she faded back that left one person in the lead for the overall 10K winners spot.... ME! I held the lead through about mile 4.62, but from mile 2.5 or so I had this dude stalking me down. He would keep up and then I would kick the pace a little and he would fade back. This went on for a while, but finally around 4.62 he took the lead from me. We had gotten into a little hilly area, and frankly he had run a smarter race. I was able to see him all the way to the finish, but I never could catch him after he passed me that last time, but boy did I try to catch him. I haven't run a race against a person since about high school, and I only ever held the lead in 400m races on a track. There were a couple of places when it was just me up there the pace got really close to breaking 6:00 a mile. It was so awesome being up there seeing the police car lead the way and everything, I got a little excited. Anyway I came in 41:19 on the Garmin and the distance covered said 6 miles even. That is right not even a .01 . I talked to a dude after the race and his Garmin said 6.1 something. I ran the tangents as best I could to run a smart race, all I can figure was the racecourse is short, so while it was an awesome PR, it will have to get an asterisk being the course was short. LA Runner and I ran a nice warm up mile before the race and chatted. Overall an awesome experience, I just hope I can lead and WIN a race someday. Kinda a big age group (25-40 yr old males), took home a basket of peaches for my award.
On July 4th I have Peavine Falls Run kinda on the books. We had planned on a big group of us at work running it, so it may just be me doing it. I have not signed up for it yet, I still need to check with a couple of people at work. I might use that Saturday to do that race then run a long run on Monday since the bank is closed. I kinda like running long runs on weekdays, early in the morning. We shall see though, so back to the higher weekly miles for the next couple of weeks is the only other thing I have on tap running, though it does feel good to know that those extra miles are starting to pay off... now just stay injury free and healthy!
Sunday, June 7, 2009
A Celestial BOGO
On Saturday evening I was treated to clear skies and a occulation of Antares by the Moon. I had heard about this event earlier in the week and made a mental note of it. Just like the Saturday of the Titan transit, I would wake up and go for a run (this time 14 miles). While running I noticed some high altitude cirrus clouds--usually not a good sign. By the end of the run (almost two hours later) I could see some big puffy clouds developing. Puffy clouds during the day are pretty common here in the south, so while I was a little concerned I figured they would burn off. Once home I spent the day smashing out tile in the bathroom, we have a water leak that is causing damage to the flooring so we are getting it fixed.
Sundown occured and a little before nine and I walked out into the yard to see where the Moon was. I was unable to see the Moon at all, so I walked down the street till I could. I would end up setting the telescope (the FS78) up in the my neighbor's driveway. I am sure they wouldn't mind! I was able to watch the Moon dissapear around 9:06. I had read before that Antares when along the Moon's limb looks like a fire on the Moon because the red color the star has. I could see that effect last night, but I think fire might be a bit of stretch. Antares was to reappear on the other side of the Moon at 10:22 CDT, however I missed the actual reappearence. I was distracted by seeing a satellite cross the Moon! I have seen airplanes fly across, but the shape of this object and speed it was traveling made it clear that is was a satellite. After doing some research I was able to determine that it was the Lacrosse 3 spy satellite. This is a satellite I have seen numerous time, but to see it pass across the Moon is pretty cool!
Sundown occured and a little before nine and I walked out into the yard to see where the Moon was. I was unable to see the Moon at all, so I walked down the street till I could. I would end up setting the telescope (the FS78) up in the my neighbor's driveway. I am sure they wouldn't mind! I was able to watch the Moon dissapear around 9:06. I had read before that Antares when along the Moon's limb looks like a fire on the Moon because the red color the star has. I could see that effect last night, but I think fire might be a bit of stretch. Antares was to reappear on the other side of the Moon at 10:22 CDT, however I missed the actual reappearence. I was distracted by seeing a satellite cross the Moon! I have seen airplanes fly across, but the shape of this object and speed it was traveling made it clear that is was a satellite. After doing some research I was able to determine that it was the Lacrosse 3 spy satellite. This is a satellite I have seen numerous time, but to see it pass across the Moon is pretty cool!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
A 15 Year Date
Right now Saturn's Rings are what astronomers call "edge on" to our gaze here on Earth. As Saturn travels in orbit around the Sun, we get different views of it from Earth. Over the course of a 15-year cycle the rings will go from being fully open to edge on. The edge on phenomenon happens twice in a complete orbit of Saturn- or in other words once in a "year" on Saturn. Saturn takes 29 years or so to make one orbit of the Sun.
When the rings are edge on there are narrow windows, lasting about a few months where an astronomer with a small telescope can see the shadow of Titan a moon of Saturn pass across the disk of the planet. Titan is the only moon with an atmosphere of any real substantial amount and is under frequent study of the Cassini spacecraft in orbit around Saturn. In 2005 the Hugyens lander was released from the Cassini spacecraft and landed on Titan.
I have wanted to catch the shadow of Titan transiting the disk of Saturn for several few months, however weather just would not cooperate... but that changed on Saturday May 31. I awoke that morning and went for a nice run, while out there I was thinking how nice the sky was looking. I knew that there was a transit that evening, so needless to say I was pretty excited seeing clear skies. The transit began at 11:34 CDT and Saturn was getting pretty low in the sky, and was hanging between a tree
and my neighbor's chimney. I knew I would not be able to see the whole event, the transit would last several hours. It was not until about 5 minutes after first contact could I see the indention of the shadow in Saturn's disk. I was able to watch the transit till about midnight when Saturn finally set behind the chimney. In even that short amount of time I was able to clearly see the round circle of the shadow of Titan on the disk of Saturn. Here is a picture an amateur astronomer took from Hawaii.
There are several remaining transits that will be visible from Alabama, however the one I saw this past weekend was the best of the remaining for this window of transits. While viewing this event was not a "once in a lifetime" event (well I hope it isn't) I still think I have been very fortunate to see this rare event of our solar system.
When the rings are edge on there are narrow windows, lasting about a few months where an astronomer with a small telescope can see the shadow of Titan a moon of Saturn pass across the disk of the planet. Titan is the only moon with an atmosphere of any real substantial amount and is under frequent study of the Cassini spacecraft in orbit around Saturn. In 2005 the Hugyens lander was released from the Cassini spacecraft and landed on Titan.
I have wanted to catch the shadow of Titan transiting the disk of Saturn for several few months, however weather just would not cooperate... but that changed on Saturday May 31. I awoke that morning and went for a nice run, while out there I was thinking how nice the sky was looking. I knew that there was a transit that evening, so needless to say I was pretty excited seeing clear skies. The transit began at 11:34 CDT and Saturn was getting pretty low in the sky, and was hanging between a tree
and my neighbor's chimney. I knew I would not be able to see the whole event, the transit would last several hours. It was not until about 5 minutes after first contact could I see the indention of the shadow in Saturn's disk. I was able to watch the transit till about midnight when Saturn finally set behind the chimney. In even that short amount of time I was able to clearly see the round circle of the shadow of Titan on the disk of Saturn. Here is a picture an amateur astronomer took from Hawaii.
There are several remaining transits that will be visible from Alabama, however the one I saw this past weekend was the best of the remaining for this window of transits. While viewing this event was not a "once in a lifetime" event (well I hope it isn't) I still think I have been very fortunate to see this rare event of our solar system.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
A Marathon Plan (and a few other things)!
A few developments from Preston Manor…
First, in running. I have a plan set I think for my next marathon. I had asked for feedback about running long runs on the RWOL forums. I specifically asked about long runs because I have always felt that were my biggest weakness. I going to go ahead and post the entire plan here. I am still pondering how to do the 20 and 22 milers. Here is the rest of the 18-week plan again (at the bottom). Comments, questions, concerns, complaints always welcome (if it is tough to read let me know and I will send an excel version)!
Next and this is important, it looks like there is a group of guys I will be running with. We all seem to have similar goals. I think this will be very helpful in my 3:09 attempt. One of the guys is going for sub3 at Chicago. He is also the minute taker (I think he is also the editor too) of the BTC Vulcan Runner. Another individual is going for 3:10 at Tucson Marathon. A third individual who I ran with on Wednesday is going for 3:15 at the Marine Corps Marathon. Lastly another blogger is moving to the Hoover area, so that is pretty cool too.
Today (Saturday) I went down to the TrackShak to do an 11 miler, basically was going to do the 8 mile run and the 3 mile run to get in the 11 miles. Well the weather turned pretty foul so I was only able to do the first run, for a total of 8.35 miles, oh well. The group of guys was meeting up at 6:45am but I didn’t make it down there till right before 8am. I was really dragging today from Thursday night at the Baron’s Game (Thirsty Thursday!). I am one of those people who needs to get plenty of sleep and if I don’t I get tired and worn down.
So for the week I was able to log 41.08 miles. While I wanted to get a little higher then that, I guess with today being cut short I can’t complain. Next week I will shoot for mid 40’s I guess. I actually enjoy running in a light rain, but if there is lightning and the streets are starting to flood like this morning I usually call it a day!
In other news I got a mount coming for “little scope” my Takahashi FS78. I had wanted to get a Half Hitch mount for it, but at $2400 I had to pass it up. Ironically though I didn’t see one of those mounts at the Texas Star Party…. Maybe the price has something to do with it. I have a used Takahashi Lapides Modified Alt-Az Mount coming for the FS78, so hopefully I will have it coming this week and can get out there with the scope. It only cost me $540.00 including the shipping. I got to play with one of these mounts at TSP last month so I am pretty excited.
The PLAN for Chicago!
06/07/09 Sunday 0
06/08/09 Monday 15
06/09/09 Tuesday 9
06/10/09 Wednesday 8
06/11/09 Thursday 0
06/12/09 Friday 3
06/13/09 Saturday 15 50
06/14/09 Sunday 0
06/15/09 Monday 15
06/16/09 Tuesday 9
06/17/09 Wednesday 9
06/18/09 Thursday 0
06/19/09 Friday 4
06/20/09 Saturday 16 53
06/21/09 Sunday 0
06/22/09 Monday 16
06/23/09 Tuesday 9
06/24/09 Wednesday 8
06/25/09 Thursday 0
06/26/09 Friday 4
06/27/09 Saturday 20 57
06/28/09 Sunday 0
06/29/09 Monday 13
06/30/09 Tuesday 9
07/01/09 Wednesday 8
07/02/09 Thursday 0
07/03/09 Friday 4
07/04/09 Saturday 16 50
07/05/09 Sunday 0
07/06/09 Monday 16
07/07/09 Tuesday 9
07/08/09 Wednesday 8
07/09/09 Thursday 0
07/10/09 Friday 4
07/11/09 Saturday 18 55
07/12/09 Sunday 0
07/13/09 Monday 16
07/14/09 Tuesday 9
07/15/09 Wednesday 8
07/16/09 Thursday 0
07/17/09 Friday 4
07/18/09 Saturday 18 55
07/19/09 Sunday 0
07/20/09 Monday 16
07/21/09 Tuesday 9
07/22/09 Wednesday 11
07/23/09 Thursday 0
07/24/09 Friday 4
07/25/09 Saturday 20 60
07/26/09 Sunday 0
07/27/09 Monday 14
07/28/09 Tuesday 9
07/29/09 Wednesday 11
07/30/09 Thursday 0
07/31/09 Friday 3
08/01/09 Saturday 16 53
08/02/09 Sunday 0
08/03/09 Monday 14
08/04/09 Tuesday 9
08/05/09 Wednesday 11
08/06/09 Thursday 0
08/07/09 Friday 4
08/08/09 Saturday 20 58
08/09/09 Sunday 0
08/10/09 Monday 16
08/11/09 Tuesday 9
08/12/09 Wednesday 11
08/13/09 Thursday 4
08/14/09 Friday 4
08/15/09 Saturday 18 62
08/16/09 Sunday 0
08/17/09 Monday 16
08/18/09 Tuesday 9
08/19/09 Wednesday 12
08/20/09 Thursday 5
08/21/09 Friday 4
08/22/09 Saturday 20 66
08/23/09 Sunday 0
08/24/09 Monday 14
08/25/09 Tuesday 9
08/26/09 Wednesday 12
08/27/09 Thursday 9
08/28/09 Friday 4
08/29/09 Saturday 22 70
08/30/09 Sunday 0
08/31/09 Monday 15
09/01/09 Tuesday 9
09/02/09 Wednesday 11
09/03/09 Thursday 0
09/04/09 Friday 3
09/05/09 Saturday 20 58
09/06/09 Sunday 0
09/07/09 Monday 15
09/08/09 Tuesday 9
09/09/09 Wednesday 11
09/10/09 Thursday 6
09/11/09 Friday 4
09/12/09 Saturday 20 65
09/13/09 Sunday 0
09/14/09 Monday 15
09/15/09 Tuesday 9
09/16/09 Wednesday 12
09/17/09 Thursday 8
09/18/09 Friday 4
09/19/09 Saturday 22 70
09/20/09 Sunday 0
09/21/09 Monday 16
09/22/09 Tuesday 9
09/23/09 Wednesday 11
09/24/09 Thursday 0
09/25/09 Friday 4
09/26/09 Saturday 15 55
09/27/09 Sunday 0
09/28/09 Monday 14
09/29/09 Tuesday 9
09/30/09 Wednesday 8
10/01/09 Thursday 0
10/02/09 Friday 4
10/03/09 Saturday 13 48
10/04/09 Sunday 0
10/05/09 Monday 11
10/06/09 Tuesday 9
10/07/09 Wednesday 18 11
10/08/09 Thursday 18 0
10/09/09 Friday 4
10/10/09 Saturday 0 35
First, in running. I have a plan set I think for my next marathon. I had asked for feedback about running long runs on the RWOL forums. I specifically asked about long runs because I have always felt that were my biggest weakness. I going to go ahead and post the entire plan here. I am still pondering how to do the 20 and 22 milers. Here is the rest of the 18-week plan again (at the bottom). Comments, questions, concerns, complaints always welcome (if it is tough to read let me know and I will send an excel version)!
Next and this is important, it looks like there is a group of guys I will be running with. We all seem to have similar goals. I think this will be very helpful in my 3:09 attempt. One of the guys is going for sub3 at Chicago. He is also the minute taker (I think he is also the editor too) of the BTC Vulcan Runner. Another individual is going for 3:10 at Tucson Marathon. A third individual who I ran with on Wednesday is going for 3:15 at the Marine Corps Marathon. Lastly another blogger is moving to the Hoover area, so that is pretty cool too.
Today (Saturday) I went down to the TrackShak to do an 11 miler, basically was going to do the 8 mile run and the 3 mile run to get in the 11 miles. Well the weather turned pretty foul so I was only able to do the first run, for a total of 8.35 miles, oh well. The group of guys was meeting up at 6:45am but I didn’t make it down there till right before 8am. I was really dragging today from Thursday night at the Baron’s Game (Thirsty Thursday!). I am one of those people who needs to get plenty of sleep and if I don’t I get tired and worn down.
So for the week I was able to log 41.08 miles. While I wanted to get a little higher then that, I guess with today being cut short I can’t complain. Next week I will shoot for mid 40’s I guess. I actually enjoy running in a light rain, but if there is lightning and the streets are starting to flood like this morning I usually call it a day!
In other news I got a mount coming for “little scope” my Takahashi FS78. I had wanted to get a Half Hitch mount for it, but at $2400 I had to pass it up. Ironically though I didn’t see one of those mounts at the Texas Star Party…. Maybe the price has something to do with it. I have a used Takahashi Lapides Modified Alt-Az Mount coming for the FS78, so hopefully I will have it coming this week and can get out there with the scope. It only cost me $540.00 including the shipping. I got to play with one of these mounts at TSP last month so I am pretty excited.
The PLAN for Chicago!
06/07/09 Sunday 0
06/08/09 Monday 15
06/09/09 Tuesday 9
06/10/09 Wednesday 8
06/11/09 Thursday 0
06/12/09 Friday 3
06/13/09 Saturday 15 50
06/14/09 Sunday 0
06/15/09 Monday 15
06/16/09 Tuesday 9
06/17/09 Wednesday 9
06/18/09 Thursday 0
06/19/09 Friday 4
06/20/09 Saturday 16 53
06/21/09 Sunday 0
06/22/09 Monday 16
06/23/09 Tuesday 9
06/24/09 Wednesday 8
06/25/09 Thursday 0
06/26/09 Friday 4
06/27/09 Saturday 20 57
06/28/09 Sunday 0
06/29/09 Monday 13
06/30/09 Tuesday 9
07/01/09 Wednesday 8
07/02/09 Thursday 0
07/03/09 Friday 4
07/04/09 Saturday 16 50
07/05/09 Sunday 0
07/06/09 Monday 16
07/07/09 Tuesday 9
07/08/09 Wednesday 8
07/09/09 Thursday 0
07/10/09 Friday 4
07/11/09 Saturday 18 55
07/12/09 Sunday 0
07/13/09 Monday 16
07/14/09 Tuesday 9
07/15/09 Wednesday 8
07/16/09 Thursday 0
07/17/09 Friday 4
07/18/09 Saturday 18 55
07/19/09 Sunday 0
07/20/09 Monday 16
07/21/09 Tuesday 9
07/22/09 Wednesday 11
07/23/09 Thursday 0
07/24/09 Friday 4
07/25/09 Saturday 20 60
07/26/09 Sunday 0
07/27/09 Monday 14
07/28/09 Tuesday 9
07/29/09 Wednesday 11
07/30/09 Thursday 0
07/31/09 Friday 3
08/01/09 Saturday 16 53
08/02/09 Sunday 0
08/03/09 Monday 14
08/04/09 Tuesday 9
08/05/09 Wednesday 11
08/06/09 Thursday 0
08/07/09 Friday 4
08/08/09 Saturday 20 58
08/09/09 Sunday 0
08/10/09 Monday 16
08/11/09 Tuesday 9
08/12/09 Wednesday 11
08/13/09 Thursday 4
08/14/09 Friday 4
08/15/09 Saturday 18 62
08/16/09 Sunday 0
08/17/09 Monday 16
08/18/09 Tuesday 9
08/19/09 Wednesday 12
08/20/09 Thursday 5
08/21/09 Friday 4
08/22/09 Saturday 20 66
08/23/09 Sunday 0
08/24/09 Monday 14
08/25/09 Tuesday 9
08/26/09 Wednesday 12
08/27/09 Thursday 9
08/28/09 Friday 4
08/29/09 Saturday 22 70
08/30/09 Sunday 0
08/31/09 Monday 15
09/01/09 Tuesday 9
09/02/09 Wednesday 11
09/03/09 Thursday 0
09/04/09 Friday 3
09/05/09 Saturday 20 58
09/06/09 Sunday 0
09/07/09 Monday 15
09/08/09 Tuesday 9
09/09/09 Wednesday 11
09/10/09 Thursday 6
09/11/09 Friday 4
09/12/09 Saturday 20 65
09/13/09 Sunday 0
09/14/09 Monday 15
09/15/09 Tuesday 9
09/16/09 Wednesday 12
09/17/09 Thursday 8
09/18/09 Friday 4
09/19/09 Saturday 22 70
09/20/09 Sunday 0
09/21/09 Monday 16
09/22/09 Tuesday 9
09/23/09 Wednesday 11
09/24/09 Thursday 0
09/25/09 Friday 4
09/26/09 Saturday 15 55
09/27/09 Sunday 0
09/28/09 Monday 14
09/29/09 Tuesday 9
09/30/09 Wednesday 8
10/01/09 Thursday 0
10/02/09 Friday 4
10/03/09 Saturday 13 48
10/04/09 Sunday 0
10/05/09 Monday 11
10/06/09 Tuesday 9
10/07/09 Wednesday 18 11
10/08/09 Thursday 18 0
10/09/09 Friday 4
10/10/09 Saturday 0 35
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
A Little Bit of Everything
Well this is week two back from my vacation. Running is progressing back to where it was before the trip. I did pick up a head cold after I got back, so I lost three days running last week, so this is the first week back feeling pretty good while I am out there running.
I have been getting really excited about running Chicago. Another blog writer John (a sub 3 marathoner at Flying Pig) is going to run it too. He was at Rocket City this past December but we were not able to meet up since I got there late, I was able to get a finish picture of him though. I had to bag running the race but I still went up there, I had two friends trying to get BQs and I wanted to see the new Saturn V building. If you are in Huntsville it is worth checking out, though there is a fee to see it. I also went through the Rocket Park and Museum at the Space Center, it is pretty good, but they really need to something about the lighting in the building.
On Monday a box came from the kind folks at Zombie Runner. I had ordered two things-- a book Once a Runner and a pair of brown arm warmers . I ordered the arm warmers for Chicago… I know it is going to be cold there this year, I just know it, don’t laugh at me for saying it! Also I get some weird feelings (chaffing?) on longer runs with long sleeve shirts so I am hoping these will help. However on the book, they sent me the wrong book, they sent me this instead. I was reading the back of the book and what it is about… I am think I am going to keep it, it looks interesting and I remember hearing about the area of Mexico in Running Times.
Speaking of Running Times, I was down in my basement this past weekend, getting some telescope equipment moved around and I came across an article in an issue by Pete Pfitzenger (I had paper clipped it). He listed 6 things we as marathoners need to do. One of things that jumped out at me was that he thought we needed to do 6 20-mile runs and 2 22-mile runs. I about fell through the floor when I read that, I knew I needed to get my MPW up, but didn’t think that many LRs. In gearing up for CMM I got in 2 20-mile and 3 18-mile runs. So reading about the number of really long runs really hit me, I thought two 20 milers and three 18 milers was pretty good. So I am going to add this nugget of information into my training this time. I haven’t really talked much about what I was planning to do for this cycle, but here is a glimpse. I have experimented with doing two LRs per week (tested it up to a 15-miler and a 14-miler). I had planned on it being two 30K (18.6 miles) runs. Now before you all tell me this is crazy, remember I take regular OFF days usually one or two each week. So running two long runs with an off day or two in the week, I think will be doable. It is not like some of the mileage powerhouses who run weeks and weeks without days off. Yes it will be a lot more then I have done before, but you don’t get to Boston (or someday NYC) by doing 35mpw. So with this new information I am going to try to hit 80 twice during the cycle, using the 22-mile runs as the LRs for those weeks. Another thing I was reading in the recent Runners World magazine (sigh Kara Goucher) was that the Brooks Hansons team would use 7 OR 10 day training segments. We as runners are always thinking about MPW (the W for WEEK) but why not do ten days instead. So I am somewhat kicking this idea around.
Getting back to the 22-mile runs, I think I have route for that too. When I was picking up a new pair of shoes (Brooks Trance 8s), I got talking to Scott Strand at the TrakShak about how he prepared for the marathon distance. Now first off this guy is elite level athlete who ran the 2004 Birmingham Olympic Trials, just getting that out there for context. Well he told me about a route he would go. He would run the TrakShak 1 run once easy. Then he would do the run AGAIN a second time. After that he would finish and change shoes to do the TrakShak Wednesday Night 5 mile route. He would do that 5 mile run at faster then marathon pace. That run he did comes out to 21 miles give or take, so adding some distance to get it to 22 shouldn’t be hard. So I think I have a route to use for that longer run. I like having loop routes because it makes water stops and timing easier.
So I guess I better wrap this blog up see you on the streets!!!
I have been getting really excited about running Chicago. Another blog writer John (a sub 3 marathoner at Flying Pig) is going to run it too. He was at Rocket City this past December but we were not able to meet up since I got there late, I was able to get a finish picture of him though. I had to bag running the race but I still went up there, I had two friends trying to get BQs and I wanted to see the new Saturn V building. If you are in Huntsville it is worth checking out, though there is a fee to see it. I also went through the Rocket Park and Museum at the Space Center, it is pretty good, but they really need to something about the lighting in the building.
On Monday a box came from the kind folks at Zombie Runner. I had ordered two things-- a book Once a Runner and a pair of brown arm warmers . I ordered the arm warmers for Chicago… I know it is going to be cold there this year, I just know it, don’t laugh at me for saying it! Also I get some weird feelings (chaffing?) on longer runs with long sleeve shirts so I am hoping these will help. However on the book, they sent me the wrong book, they sent me this instead. I was reading the back of the book and what it is about… I am think I am going to keep it, it looks interesting and I remember hearing about the area of Mexico in Running Times.
Speaking of Running Times, I was down in my basement this past weekend, getting some telescope equipment moved around and I came across an article in an issue by Pete Pfitzenger (I had paper clipped it). He listed 6 things we as marathoners need to do. One of things that jumped out at me was that he thought we needed to do 6 20-mile runs and 2 22-mile runs. I about fell through the floor when I read that, I knew I needed to get my MPW up, but didn’t think that many LRs. In gearing up for CMM I got in 2 20-mile and 3 18-mile runs. So reading about the number of really long runs really hit me, I thought two 20 milers and three 18 milers was pretty good. So I am going to add this nugget of information into my training this time. I haven’t really talked much about what I was planning to do for this cycle, but here is a glimpse. I have experimented with doing two LRs per week (tested it up to a 15-miler and a 14-miler). I had planned on it being two 30K (18.6 miles) runs. Now before you all tell me this is crazy, remember I take regular OFF days usually one or two each week. So running two long runs with an off day or two in the week, I think will be doable. It is not like some of the mileage powerhouses who run weeks and weeks without days off. Yes it will be a lot more then I have done before, but you don’t get to Boston (or someday NYC) by doing 35mpw. So with this new information I am going to try to hit 80 twice during the cycle, using the 22-mile runs as the LRs for those weeks. Another thing I was reading in the recent Runners World magazine (sigh Kara Goucher) was that the Brooks Hansons team would use 7 OR 10 day training segments. We as runners are always thinking about MPW (the W for WEEK) but why not do ten days instead. So I am somewhat kicking this idea around.
Getting back to the 22-mile runs, I think I have route for that too. When I was picking up a new pair of shoes (Brooks Trance 8s), I got talking to Scott Strand at the TrakShak about how he prepared for the marathon distance. Now first off this guy is elite level athlete who ran the 2004 Birmingham Olympic Trials, just getting that out there for context. Well he told me about a route he would go. He would run the TrakShak 1 run once easy. Then he would do the run AGAIN a second time. After that he would finish and change shoes to do the TrakShak Wednesday Night 5 mile route. He would do that 5 mile run at faster then marathon pace. That run he did comes out to 21 miles give or take, so adding some distance to get it to 22 shouldn’t be hard. So I think I have a route to use for that longer run. I like having loop routes because it makes water stops and timing easier.
So I guess I better wrap this blog up see you on the streets!!!
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