Yesterday was my first 15-miler of the season and my first time covering this distance since the Around Cape Ann race. Some friends of Noah's were hosting a group run from their place in Chestnut Hill about a mile and a half off the marathon course, so we signed up - me to run, him to eat.
I was lucky enough to get the first 5 or so miles in with another guy doing the group run - Steve, a 5-year Boston Triathlon Team member, father of 2 and all around nice guy. We chit-chatted about training, covered the basic "getting to know you" info and before I knew it, we were parting ways at the firehouse and I had another 10 miles ahead of me solo.
It was one of the hilliest training runs I've done all season - an out and back starting at the top of Heartbreak Hill, with the turnaround point in Wellesley. This means I got to run all the Newton Hills out, scale Grossman's Hill, get a few other little kickers in, then turn around and run down Grossman's and over all the Newton Hills again. I actually never thought I'd be so glad to be at the base of Heartbreak, about to run up it -- it meant I was almost done with my run.
While I was out there, though, I did a lot of thinking. Lately, I've been using my running time to turn off my brain and just go on auto-pilot, but this time I let my mind wander. I thought about how the last time I was running the course that far out (past Newton) was last April. Thought about how hard that day was and how the patient partners and cancer survivors along the course got me through it. I thought about the people whose memories I run in each year. I thought about my grandfather who lost his wife to cancer but lived to see his 90th birthday. I imagined him watching me run and holding a sign that said "you can do it." I thought about the new job I'm about to start tomorrow. I thought about the one I left behind a week ago. I thought about what a difference a year can make and how sublimely happy I am right now. I thought about how nice it feels to be unconditionally loved by a wonderful man. I thought about what a beautiful day it turned out to be and how lucky I was to be running in the sunshine. And sometimes, I just thought about what a great run I was having.
I was the last to arrive back at group run headquarters as I covered the farthest distance that day and was by far the slowest runner in attendance. When I got there, I had coffee, eggs, homemade muffins and friendly faces waiting for me. My legs were tired and I had that sensation of "I don't want to take another step today," but I had the satisfaction of a solid run behind me and a full day ahead of me. And it's a good feeling.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Death By Tempo Run
As usual, I'm exaggerating.
Yesterday was my second legit tempo run since I started training with Vic and it was certainly challenging but once again left me feeling incredibly alive (and exhausted). I was instructed to warm up 10-20 mins, run at tempo pace for 30 mins, then cool down 10-20 mins. I opted for the full 20 on both the warm-up and cool-down, since my poor legs take so long to warm up in the winter - even on a balmy 32 degree day.
As my Garmin ticked over to 20 minutes, I thought "HIT IT!!!!" in my head and picked up the pace accordingly. About 7 minutes in, I was dying and all I could think was that perhaps my over-pacing on Tuesday left me with nothing for Thursday. Then I finally hit a clear straightaway on the river with no trees and the satellite caught up with my watch, displaying a cool 7:14 pace. Oops... about 45 seconds faster per mile than I should have been going. NO WONDER I felt like I couldn't sustain that pace!
I dropped it back down and tried to really focus on what my tempo felt like. It was tough. I've become quite adept at knowing what "Zone 2" feels like and am getting a lot better at judging "perceived effort" but for some reason my body just can't seem to remember the difference between steady state, tempo and 5K pace. I'm sure it will come with time.
When I finally hit my 30 mins of suffering, I had to stop and walk a few steps after hitting the lap button on my watch. My legs and body were spent, and the thought of another 20 mins of running - even a cool down - was not appetizing. But once my body recovered and I found myself delightfully joggling along the river in the sunshine it was quite pleasant. I arrived at my doorstep with just shy of 8 miles under my feet and totally ready for the hot shower that this time was actually waiting for me.
I swear, this training might actually kill me. But if it doesn't, I'm going to have one hell of a race on April 19 :)
Yesterday was my second legit tempo run since I started training with Vic and it was certainly challenging but once again left me feeling incredibly alive (and exhausted). I was instructed to warm up 10-20 mins, run at tempo pace for 30 mins, then cool down 10-20 mins. I opted for the full 20 on both the warm-up and cool-down, since my poor legs take so long to warm up in the winter - even on a balmy 32 degree day.
As my Garmin ticked over to 20 minutes, I thought "HIT IT!!!!" in my head and picked up the pace accordingly. About 7 minutes in, I was dying and all I could think was that perhaps my over-pacing on Tuesday left me with nothing for Thursday. Then I finally hit a clear straightaway on the river with no trees and the satellite caught up with my watch, displaying a cool 7:14 pace. Oops... about 45 seconds faster per mile than I should have been going. NO WONDER I felt like I couldn't sustain that pace!
I dropped it back down and tried to really focus on what my tempo felt like. It was tough. I've become quite adept at knowing what "Zone 2" feels like and am getting a lot better at judging "perceived effort" but for some reason my body just can't seem to remember the difference between steady state, tempo and 5K pace. I'm sure it will come with time.
When I finally hit my 30 mins of suffering, I had to stop and walk a few steps after hitting the lap button on my watch. My legs and body were spent, and the thought of another 20 mins of running - even a cool down - was not appetizing. But once my body recovered and I found myself delightfully joggling along the river in the sunshine it was quite pleasant. I arrived at my doorstep with just shy of 8 miles under my feet and totally ready for the hot shower that this time was actually waiting for me.
I swear, this training might actually kill me. But if it doesn't, I'm going to have one hell of a race on April 19 :)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
A Quiz
What's worse than running 7 miles in 30 degree weather, on occasionally questionable sidewalks, into a headwind while trying to hit your "steady-state" pace of 8:17 - 8:32?
...
If you guessed "finishing your run and coming home to no running hot water" you're right!
Oh yeah. Got in the door sweating and freezing, turned on the shower and nothing came out of the shower head. Then I turned on the faucet in the sink - nothing came out when I turned the hot nozzle, but the cold nozzle worked fine.
Now here's an easier question: What has two thumbs and immediately got in the car, drove to Noah's and showered there?
The answer of course is "this girl" (while pointing to myself with said thumbs).
Despite the conditions on the river today, my run went surprisingly well (sort of). I actually over-paced the whole way, running consistently in the sweet spot of my tempo pace (not my steady-state pace). It was tough and I was one heart rate zone too high, but it didn't feel as tough as a tempo should have been (e.g. I didn't think I was going to die) and I at least know I got a solid workout in. And I also doubly enjoyed the chicken soup I had for lunch afterwards because everything tastes better after a hard workout.
...
If you guessed "finishing your run and coming home to no running hot water" you're right!
Oh yeah. Got in the door sweating and freezing, turned on the shower and nothing came out of the shower head. Then I turned on the faucet in the sink - nothing came out when I turned the hot nozzle, but the cold nozzle worked fine.
Now here's an easier question: What has two thumbs and immediately got in the car, drove to Noah's and showered there?
The answer of course is "this girl" (while pointing to myself with said thumbs).
Despite the conditions on the river today, my run went surprisingly well (sort of). I actually over-paced the whole way, running consistently in the sweet spot of my tempo pace (not my steady-state pace). It was tough and I was one heart rate zone too high, but it didn't feel as tough as a tempo should have been (e.g. I didn't think I was going to die) and I at least know I got a solid workout in. And I also doubly enjoyed the chicken soup I had for lunch afterwards because everything tastes better after a hard workout.
Dear City of Cambridge,
Please care for the paths on your side of the river. Boston manages to keep them bare after a snowstorm. What's so hard about it for you?
Love,
All The Runners
Love,
All The Runners
Monday, January 11, 2010
Lots of Good Runs
Yes, you read that right. I've been having (knock on wood...) nothing but really awesomely-satisfying runs since my last training recap. In Vic I trust! I also discovered that I'm probably a little masochistic because I love tempo runs. There's just something about pushing my body to its limit that makes me feel incredibly alive.
So far, I've been nailing all my paces and I'm right on track with my training. Unfortunately, my marathon predictor got snowed out (track work in the snow seemed like a recipe for disaster), so I'll have to wait a few more weeks before I can see my predicted finish time. Have I mentioned how brutal this winter has been for running? It's been nothing but cold and snow for a few weeks now. I'm ready for summer already.
Yesterday's group run had me tackling 12 miles on the marathon course in 7 degree weather (that according to weather.com felt like -5) and I was fortunate enough to run the first 6 with Kristan. She and I seem to always finish races within seconds of each other, so I try to train with her when I can. As usual, I was amazed at how quickly the miles passed and for the second week in a row, I was equally amazed at how strong I felt on the Newton Hills, pacing right around a 9 min/mile. Noah has taken great interest in my training since I started working with Vic, so we've been talking a lot about it and marveling at the accuracy of Vic's program and predictions (he feels the same way I do about it). I can usually feel when I've slipped out of my heart rate zone, even by a few beats, and similarly - when he gives me a run based on heart rate and time, his predicted distance is usually right on the money.
So far so good. Here's hoping the rest of my training season keeps going this smoothly.
So far, I've been nailing all my paces and I'm right on track with my training. Unfortunately, my marathon predictor got snowed out (track work in the snow seemed like a recipe for disaster), so I'll have to wait a few more weeks before I can see my predicted finish time. Have I mentioned how brutal this winter has been for running? It's been nothing but cold and snow for a few weeks now. I'm ready for summer already.
Yesterday's group run had me tackling 12 miles on the marathon course in 7 degree weather (that according to weather.com felt like -5) and I was fortunate enough to run the first 6 with Kristan. She and I seem to always finish races within seconds of each other, so I try to train with her when I can. As usual, I was amazed at how quickly the miles passed and for the second week in a row, I was equally amazed at how strong I felt on the Newton Hills, pacing right around a 9 min/mile. Noah has taken great interest in my training since I started working with Vic, so we've been talking a lot about it and marveling at the accuracy of Vic's program and predictions (he feels the same way I do about it). I can usually feel when I've slipped out of my heart rate zone, even by a few beats, and similarly - when he gives me a run based on heart rate and time, his predicted distance is usually right on the money.
So far so good. Here's hoping the rest of my training season keeps going this smoothly.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Quote of the Day
"Running a marathon is like getting slowly roasted over hot coals." - Coach Vic
Hmm... doesn't seem to have the same ring as "go out slow and finish strong" or "the hay is in the barn," does it?
Hmm... doesn't seem to have the same ring as "go out slow and finish strong" or "the hay is in the barn," does it?
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