I Swim , Bike , Run. The rest of the time I work on data systems
Started serious training again for races. Wow as I get older startup of this yearly routine is harder. Even if it is a week off or a year it doesn’t matter. There creaks in body, the endoskeleton, the muscles , the tendons, the ligaments. You have to take that 1 thing at a time. Listen to your body. Accelerate when you can, and slow down when you need to.
The basic startup routine for me is 2-4days of running a week, 1-2 days bike . 2-3 days of core. And no swimming unless needed.
For the past 4 months nearly all of my long runs, which I do on sunday, are done with zain in the jogging stroller. I find it is a nice way to get him out . And give Rhian a break from everything else. Continue reading “Sunday long runs”
Started my run focus block this week. Or atleast that is what I keep telling myself.
Now I have to run 4 days/ week. With 1 day being repeats of 100, 200, 400 meters to build that top end speed. The goal run my 5k in sub 20.
I started out-season with EN in November. So part of the first week was we are meant to do vdot tests. VDOT is a number that is used in running using the Jack Daniels running formula. The idea is the higher the number the better runner you are. Also it allows you to relate paces over different distances. So if you can run a 5k in xx:xx time how fast can you run a 1/2 marathon or a marathon. The idea with vdot is that you can train more specifically to build your pace and then when it comes to racing you are able to execute better. Anyway I digress.
Continue reading “vDot Test”
First real race after ironman. Actually I should say first real run after ironman. I decided to the 5k for nyrr in harlem . It would give me a point for qualifying for the nyc marathon. And plus I just wanted to workout. Recovering from ironman is as tough on the mind as training for ironman is. Even with the wedding on the horizon I just felt I need to get out and do some workouts.
The goal was to use this race as the 5k vdot test . It would establish pace goals for the next training block. I really wanted to go sub 20 in the race. I know that is tough (impossible) without any planned speed workout but hey what they hell I trained for the ironman.
The race went as well as can be expected. I lost the kick on the last mile should have/could have turned it up a notch for the mile, but felt I was going to throw up. So I end up with a 5k time for 22:07 min a vdot of 44.27 . Next vdot test I am aiming for above 46 .
Last day of camp. A couple of decided to run the course. We set out from the tennis courts. We running at the same time as the placid marathon. A couple of team members are doing the 1/2 marathon. I run out of town and quickly find out I will be running with the leaders in the 1/2 marathon, a bunch of kids from the Olympic training center. I decide to give them a run for their money and for 2mi pick up the pace to run with them I figure I can always slow it down later. After that i slow it down. Keith runs by me he is doing the 1/2 . I was debating pacing him but decided against it. Run past the turn around of the race and continue on river road till the pink rock which is the turn around of the IM course.
On the way back I run with the rest of the people in the race. It gives me a good bulls eye to catch up wih people and pass them. I run back up the nose bleed hill into town and boy is that painful. Get back to the hotel and it is time to leave.
I was going run on the course before we left placid. It was going to be. 1:30hr run so I figured I could do the whole run. I ran out of town and down the hill to river road. As a runner you quickly realize the way back up is going to be painful and I mean painful. The downhill is free energy. I ran onto river and have to say 1 of the prettiest runs anywhere. The rivers is on 1 side and the mountains off in the distance. You pass by a horse farm which has a sign do not feed the horse, and another sign of the athletes on the road. I like to play mind games while I run and I was imagining some triathlete thinking the horse needed a gu or infint . Or maybe the sign should say do not feed the athletes
So I had scheduled a 1:40hr run on Thursday. On the best of my running days this is painful. When you have a 100 fever and feel sick in your stomach it is an experience.
I came back home debating the run. Decided it was worth it to go out even if I didn’t do the whole workout. The slowish start got me going but by the backstrech of the run where I run past the beach I knew this would be a sufferfest. I was keeping on planned nutrition with infinit, but after 5mi started to feel that toxic taste you get before throwing up. Ran another mile and there it came, yes I am that guy, had to throw up a little and keep running. I felt almost relieved I mean it couldn’t get any worst on a run.
Well I finished my solid 8mi run, and then had 2x2mi repeats. Started running on the toughest part of the course on the uphill back from milford. Finished the 1st repeat had to break and just sit down on the grass by the shell. I was done , ran back home hoping it would be enough for the second repeat. Got home and wen straight to bed.
That is 1 run I won’t forget in a while. Great mental build.
So the 8 days of endurnacenation run challenge are over. I ended up with 44 points. Not even close to being at the top. I was suprised at how much mileage people were putting in this early in th year. For me its been a slowdown since marathon training in the oct-nov. So this is the time of the year when I am putting in less than 30 miles a week. Continue reading “44 points”