Not sure what lead to it, exactly, but I seem to be back in form, if not shape entirely.
On Saturday, I went for a trail run with my friend Mark, who unfortunately will be leaving for Boston at the end of June. So in honor of his last couple weeks here, we went up to Walker Ranch Loop for a run. It's about a 8 mile trail, rife with mountain bikers, and with two considerable climbs. Not sure what the total elevation gain was, but it was reasonably significant. (according to one source, around 1200' over the course of 7.8 miles).
I don't know what it was about that run, but when I got back, even though my legs were exhausted, my will to run, and desire, was back.
Today, as an aftershot to the run above, I opted for Mt Sanitas. As usual, I went up Dakota ridge to East Ridge, and then down the main Mt Sanitas Trail. If I remember that one correctly, it's 1300' of vertical and the loop (from my house) is around 5 miles or so. Both the ascent up East Ridge and the descent down Mt Sanitas are technical and difficult (not sure I've ever managed to keep running the whole way up East Ridge).
After those two runs, my legs are a bit tired, a bit sore, but ready.
I'll have to figure out a way to take my camera on more runs. The views on most of them are quite incredible.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
2 months on
It has now been precisely 2 months since my last post. Unacceptable, I know, but posts about the daily drudge of training are not all that interesting, to write or to read.
That, and grad school really got in the way this spring. In early May, during finals, I think I got overly stressed, and my right leg completely tensed up. It was bad enough that I did not run for three+ weeks, and have only been running at this point for a week and a half (about four times a week). But I seem to be doing a fair bit better, so there's hope for this summer yet.
That said, this summer I am not doing my normal training group. I've decided to focus more on trail running and racing, and not do many road races any more. The only road race I have on my schedule at this point is the Pearl Street Mile at the beginning of September. One of my coaches has thrown down a challenge to race him, and hopefully that will be interesting.
Outside of that, my racing plans are: July 5, the Leadville Heavy Half Marathon, August 1-3, the Wild West Relay, September, Golden Leaf Half. We shall see what else comes up this summer. At this point, I'm not even sure I'll be able to do all of those, but we'll see what happens. The key for me right now is just to not run too much. I wore myself out once, and it's not worth it to me to do so again.
That, and grad school really got in the way this spring. In early May, during finals, I think I got overly stressed, and my right leg completely tensed up. It was bad enough that I did not run for three+ weeks, and have only been running at this point for a week and a half (about four times a week). But I seem to be doing a fair bit better, so there's hope for this summer yet.
That said, this summer I am not doing my normal training group. I've decided to focus more on trail running and racing, and not do many road races any more. The only road race I have on my schedule at this point is the Pearl Street Mile at the beginning of September. One of my coaches has thrown down a challenge to race him, and hopefully that will be interesting.
Outside of that, my racing plans are: July 5, the Leadville Heavy Half Marathon, August 1-3, the Wild West Relay, September, Golden Leaf Half. We shall see what else comes up this summer. At this point, I'm not even sure I'll be able to do all of those, but we'll see what happens. The key for me right now is just to not run too much. I wore myself out once, and it's not worth it to me to do so again.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Again from the NYT
The New York Times has an excellent periodic column called "Personal Best." More often that not, this column produces an interesting article, often quite applicable to running. The most recent one is quite interesting.
Yes, Running Can Make You High.
Check it out.
Yes, Running Can Make You High.
Check it out.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Spring Break
As the subject suggests, it is spring break at CU. It's much needed, on my end. Between some family issues, overall stress from work, and the acute stress from the frustration with my department, which I won't go into here, I need the break.
And so far it's been reasonably productive. I've managed to spend most of the time with friends thus far, and yet be productive at the same time. My apartment is looking (and feeling and smelling) fresher and cleaner than it has all winter. Part of that is due to the 60 degree weather and consequent opening of the windows, but much of it is due to two solid days of spring cleaning on the part of yours truly.
As far as running goes, as this is a running blog, it's been up and down. I was a little burnt out a couple weeks ago. I had been running between 42 and 50 miles a week for about 4 or 5 weeks (5, actually) and took one week at 25 miles, and then a week almost entirely off. The 25 mile week I also added a game of Ultimate Frisbee with some friends from the EE department, which reminded me that, with all the running I've been doing, I've neglected some other leg, not to mention upper body, muscles. I don't know that my legs have every been that sore.
It reminded me that, as much as I love running, I really love so many other sports that it's a shame for me to neglect them as much as I have. And I let myself get burnt out running, which is a danger we all face.
In any case, it caused me to rethink a few plans. I still plan to run the Gary Bjorklund half marathon in June (back to the hometown!), but after that, I plan to start mixing things up a little bit. I still plan to run fairly heavily, moving more to trail running in anticipating the Golden Leaf this year, but I want to branch out and do some other activities as well: climbing, frisbee, etcetera . . .
This is, of course, all dependent on what I find to do this summer. Hopefully that'll be a job at NREL, but we'll have to see about that.
And so far it's been reasonably productive. I've managed to spend most of the time with friends thus far, and yet be productive at the same time. My apartment is looking (and feeling and smelling) fresher and cleaner than it has all winter. Part of that is due to the 60 degree weather and consequent opening of the windows, but much of it is due to two solid days of spring cleaning on the part of yours truly.
As far as running goes, as this is a running blog, it's been up and down. I was a little burnt out a couple weeks ago. I had been running between 42 and 50 miles a week for about 4 or 5 weeks (5, actually) and took one week at 25 miles, and then a week almost entirely off. The 25 mile week I also added a game of Ultimate Frisbee with some friends from the EE department, which reminded me that, with all the running I've been doing, I've neglected some other leg, not to mention upper body, muscles. I don't know that my legs have every been that sore.
It reminded me that, as much as I love running, I really love so many other sports that it's a shame for me to neglect them as much as I have. And I let myself get burnt out running, which is a danger we all face.
In any case, it caused me to rethink a few plans. I still plan to run the Gary Bjorklund half marathon in June (back to the hometown!), but after that, I plan to start mixing things up a little bit. I still plan to run fairly heavily, moving more to trail running in anticipating the Golden Leaf this year, but I want to branch out and do some other activities as well: climbing, frisbee, etcetera . . .
This is, of course, all dependent on what I find to do this summer. Hopefully that'll be a job at NREL, but we'll have to see about that.
Monday, February 25, 2008
In Mourning
So I lost a dear friend of many years this morning.
My blue Yoko hat, which I have had for 8 years, was taken this morning while I was on my run. As I do pretty much every morning, I wore my hat for the first ten minutes of my run, then left it on a fence post to collect on my way back. On the way back, the hat was gone.
Now, as most runners do, I have quite an array of hats in my possession, collected from various races, training clubs, teams, and sponsors. However, this was a very special hat. I received it my senior year from my XC ski coach, who gave them to each captain. Since then, this hat has traveled with me everywhere I go, including several countries in Europe and most US states. I wore this hat on every run that merited a hat for the past 8 years, and running will not be the same without it.
Whoever took it, you'd best hope I never see you wearing it, because I take no responsibility for my actions should I see you.
Oh yes, and the hat can be seen in the picture here.
My blue Yoko hat, which I have had for 8 years, was taken this morning while I was on my run. As I do pretty much every morning, I wore my hat for the first ten minutes of my run, then left it on a fence post to collect on my way back. On the way back, the hat was gone.
Now, as most runners do, I have quite an array of hats in my possession, collected from various races, training clubs, teams, and sponsors. However, this was a very special hat. I received it my senior year from my XC ski coach, who gave them to each captain. Since then, this hat has traveled with me everywhere I go, including several countries in Europe and most US states. I wore this hat on every run that merited a hat for the past 8 years, and running will not be the same without it.
Whoever took it, you'd best hope I never see you wearing it, because I take no responsibility for my actions should I see you.
Oh yes, and the hat can be seen in the picture here.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Mt Sanitas
I went on one of my favorite runs yesterday: up Dakota Ridge and down the Sanitas Valley Trail. While I'd prefer to tackle Mt Sanitas itself, I didn't have the legs for it yesterday. In fact, my legs are rather sore after my 50 mile week last week, so I've opted to take today off. While it's not my preferred option, I think it's smarter.
In any case, I took my camera for once. I've discovered that my camera is light and small enough that I can just carry it in one hand and it doesn't affect my running. So here are a few pics from yesterday.
Any way, the first pic above is looking down from the highest point on the run. This is where I had my epiphany on why I run (there's a post on it well down there somewhere.
Above is looking south from the same spot, down towards the valley itself with the flatirons in the background.
Looking down the valley again, from a little lower. I love this part, because the trail is so nice that I can just cruise down the valley. I've pulled 4:30 miles down this thing before (doesn't count as a PR when it's all downhill). I got a few strange looks when I did that.I'll try to add pictures of my other normal runs now that I have at least a decent way of taking my camera along. Hope you liked it.
Monday, February 11, 2008
It Seems to be Working
So about a month ago, I started a program to significantly increase my mileage while not overtraining. This basically involves a series of 4-week segments (increase, drop a bit, increase more, go really easy) of easy distance running. I've done a hill workout or two in there as well, as a little extra strength training, but I have not purposefully done any speed work.
So far, it seems to be working. My legs, after last week, feel pretty good after the first cycle. This week kicks off the first week of my second four week cycle, and so is a very long week in which I intend to run 50 or so miles.
So, the results. So far, I haven't raced since I started the program. I had the chance to yesterday, but opted not to due to the long workout the day before. Saturday, the long workout, I ran about 12 miles. The first 8 were at 8 minute mile pace (in a the craziest wind I've ever run in). The last four I decided to pick up the tempo "a bit." I completely surprised myself by pulling the last four in 23:40, which works out to 5:55 miles.
I've never run a 5k that fast. And here, at the end of my longest run of the week, I pull off 4 miles at that pace. It seems as though my training might just be working.
So far, it seems to be working. My legs, after last week, feel pretty good after the first cycle. This week kicks off the first week of my second four week cycle, and so is a very long week in which I intend to run 50 or so miles.
So, the results. So far, I haven't raced since I started the program. I had the chance to yesterday, but opted not to due to the long workout the day before. Saturday, the long workout, I ran about 12 miles. The first 8 were at 8 minute mile pace (in a the craziest wind I've ever run in). The last four I decided to pick up the tempo "a bit." I completely surprised myself by pulling the last four in 23:40, which works out to 5:55 miles.
I've never run a 5k that fast. And here, at the end of my longest run of the week, I pull off 4 miles at that pace. It seems as though my training might just be working.
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