Thanks to these guys for redefining midlife to include us "runningprofs."
Also, note the form of the guy on the right.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Rest Day
Usually rest days happen because the work schedule demands it. Such rest days are not therapeutic, as they are usually accompanied by (1) no stretching; (2) long periods in uncomfortable chairs sitting in a twisted position.
Today, I decided to take a voluntary rest day, accompanied by light calisthenics and massive amounts of stretching. This is a practice usually reserved for the marathon taper, done grudgingly. It feels like a guilty pleasure, but it also feels like I may have timed it correctly. Nothing is acutely wrong. Lots of things are out of kilter. As I sit down to write, I realize, I may have to do this more often. Perhaps once or twice a year, whether I need it or not . . .
Today, I decided to take a voluntary rest day, accompanied by light calisthenics and massive amounts of stretching. This is a practice usually reserved for the marathon taper, done grudgingly. It feels like a guilty pleasure, but it also feels like I may have timed it correctly. Nothing is acutely wrong. Lots of things are out of kilter. As I sit down to write, I realize, I may have to do this more often. Perhaps once or twice a year, whether I need it or not . . .
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Speed Work -- Part Deux
Note to self: Speed work is a different animal, and needs to be approached with respect.
Okay, the theory behind doing a speed workout on Tuesday was, (1) usual running buddy is out of town and SBRC folks go to the track on Tuesday; (2) I'm recovered from the Marathon, right, it's been over two weeks; (3) one of my Spring goals is to improve my 5K time, and that's going to take doing some speed work; (4) one of the technical issues with my form has been opening up my hip on the left side and rolling through, speed work will force me to fully rotate; (5) there is no reason number 5; (6) it would be fun.
All of these things turned out to be correct. The group split up into different workouts. Three of us decided to do quarter mile repeats. I have been at this long enough to know that 90 seconds is about what I can do. I don't do a lot of speed work, but when I do, a loop of the track always feels pretty much like this: (first turn) wow, it feels good to open up my stride, this is cool; (back stretch) gee, this isn't so hard, maybe I should speed up a bit; (second turn) uh oh, maybe that was a bit fast, my legs are beginning to feel this, and so are my lungs; (last part of second turn) oh f*ck this is beginning to hurt; (home stretch) $%$&*&^%^#$%^$; (end) 90 seconds plus or minus two again??? Gasp, gasp, gasp.
The session ran pretty much true to form. One of us was doing 80 second loops, and two of us were around 90 (92, 88, 92, 92, 91). It really was fun. I'm usually by myself, and having a gang there doing various workouts really helped. Misery loves company, and encouragement. I left feeling like I should do this more often.
Then reality hit, or more appropriately, hit back. Hmm. That angry tendon in my right foot has now been joined by an angry left achilles. Was that a spasm in my ITB? Why is walking suddenly so difficult? Apparently, I really beat myself up. With a nice slow warm up, and a nice slow warm down, it was a six mile run. I stretched and rolled out afterwards. Why do I feel like I ran a 20 miler? I took yesterday off due to work, and this morning, I had a lovely, very slow, run, working out the kinks, but the after effects are still very much present. I guess the good news is that the parts that hurt are on the side that needed more work . . .
Back to the bike and pool for a few days . . .
Okay, the theory behind doing a speed workout on Tuesday was, (1) usual running buddy is out of town and SBRC folks go to the track on Tuesday; (2) I'm recovered from the Marathon, right, it's been over two weeks; (3) one of my Spring goals is to improve my 5K time, and that's going to take doing some speed work; (4) one of the technical issues with my form has been opening up my hip on the left side and rolling through, speed work will force me to fully rotate; (5) there is no reason number 5; (6) it would be fun.
All of these things turned out to be correct. The group split up into different workouts. Three of us decided to do quarter mile repeats. I have been at this long enough to know that 90 seconds is about what I can do. I don't do a lot of speed work, but when I do, a loop of the track always feels pretty much like this: (first turn) wow, it feels good to open up my stride, this is cool; (back stretch) gee, this isn't so hard, maybe I should speed up a bit; (second turn) uh oh, maybe that was a bit fast, my legs are beginning to feel this, and so are my lungs; (last part of second turn) oh f*ck this is beginning to hurt; (home stretch) $%$&*&^%^#$%^$; (end) 90 seconds plus or minus two again??? Gasp, gasp, gasp.
The session ran pretty much true to form. One of us was doing 80 second loops, and two of us were around 90 (92, 88, 92, 92, 91). It really was fun. I'm usually by myself, and having a gang there doing various workouts really helped. Misery loves company, and encouragement. I left feeling like I should do this more often.
Then reality hit, or more appropriately, hit back. Hmm. That angry tendon in my right foot has now been joined by an angry left achilles. Was that a spasm in my ITB? Why is walking suddenly so difficult? Apparently, I really beat myself up. With a nice slow warm up, and a nice slow warm down, it was a six mile run. I stretched and rolled out afterwards. Why do I feel like I ran a 20 miler? I took yesterday off due to work, and this morning, I had a lovely, very slow, run, working out the kinks, but the after effects are still very much present. I guess the good news is that the parts that hurt are on the side that needed more work . . .
Back to the bike and pool for a few days . . .
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
First Speed Workout of the Spring
5*440 . . . Now I know what my HR Max is. I think I dropped my left achilles tendon somewhere in Red Hook . . .
Monday, April 1, 2013
First of the long(ish) rides
Every year about this time I start to prepare for the summer riding season. This year I have on my plate a 24-hour race and a 1200K. I have not had success in either endeavor in the past.
There's no way to get ready to ride long than to ride long, circular though that may sound. On Sunday my buddy D__ and I launched from Arlington, across the street from Lost Dog Pizza, heading west along the W&OD rail-trail to Purcelville, then south through Middleburg to the town of Marshall. Yes, that Marshall: "This is a Constitution we are expounding!"
And then back.
It started raining in Leesburg, was pouring when we first reached Purcelville, and the rain (with varying force) stayed with us more or less all the way from there. As with every first long ride, after 100 miles everything hurt. I take that back: the legs feel fine. Pedaling a bike at a moderate pace isn't that hard. Sitting on a bike, leaned over, absorbing road bumps through your wrists, elbows, and shoulders; suspending your weight between your sit-bones and your hands; and abrading your contact points against soggy padding in your too-cheap bicycle tights -- that is hard.
140 miles there and back, give or take a few. Not what Jack Daniels would prescribe for a two-weeks-pre-marathon workout, but if I don't get started now, where will I be in June?
There's no way to get ready to ride long than to ride long, circular though that may sound. On Sunday my buddy D__ and I launched from Arlington, across the street from Lost Dog Pizza, heading west along the W&OD rail-trail to Purcelville, then south through Middleburg to the town of Marshall. Yes, that Marshall: "This is a Constitution we are expounding!"
And then back.
It started raining in Leesburg, was pouring when we first reached Purcelville, and the rain (with varying force) stayed with us more or less all the way from there. As with every first long ride, after 100 miles everything hurt. I take that back: the legs feel fine. Pedaling a bike at a moderate pace isn't that hard. Sitting on a bike, leaned over, absorbing road bumps through your wrists, elbows, and shoulders; suspending your weight between your sit-bones and your hands; and abrading your contact points against soggy padding in your too-cheap bicycle tights -- that is hard.
140 miles there and back, give or take a few. Not what Jack Daniels would prescribe for a two-weeks-pre-marathon workout, but if I don't get started now, where will I be in June?
Being Competitive
Ezekiel Emanuel is a distinguished bioethicist and key advisor on health care in the Obama administration. He also is the older brother of the mayor of Chicago and Hollywood super agent Ari Emanuel. This is a highly competitive family as you might expect. Zeke's academic achievements were a spur to Rahm and Rahm's accomplishments a goad to Ari. So whom did Zeke compete with?
Apparently me. I was the kid (at least as he remembers it) who always did a little better than him in grade school to the point of driving him crazy. I learned this when I was contacted by the ghost writer for the memoir a year and a half ago and now it is in the memoir itself.
We were classmates, neighbors, and good friends until the Emanuels moved to the burbs after fifth grade. I still see his folks from time to time, but haven't seen Zeke for more than forty years. But the story of how he remembers things (see pages 80-81) was all new to me, except the part about him tripping me in first grade, biting my tongue, and then needing stitches. Not really sure what to make of the line "I became obsessed with beating Spencer Waller, indeed for better or worse, part of me still is to this day."
Wonder if he runs marathons. Check athlinks.com for the answer....
Apparently me. I was the kid (at least as he remembers it) who always did a little better than him in grade school to the point of driving him crazy. I learned this when I was contacted by the ghost writer for the memoir a year and a half ago and now it is in the memoir itself.
We were classmates, neighbors, and good friends until the Emanuels moved to the burbs after fifth grade. I still see his folks from time to time, but haven't seen Zeke for more than forty years. But the story of how he remembers things (see pages 80-81) was all new to me, except the part about him tripping me in first grade, biting my tongue, and then needing stitches. Not really sure what to make of the line "I became obsessed with beating Spencer Waller, indeed for better or worse, part of me still is to this day."
Wonder if he runs marathons. Check athlinks.com for the answer....
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