A big race weekend for the runningprofs, it turns out. Great news on Spencer's and Matt's half marathon with a roll-back-the-clock performance from the finally healthy Professor Waller. Waiting for hopefully good news on Ted's triathlon. (Can't find the results link on the Warrior Triathlon page.) I ran the Nation's triathlon in DC for the third time resulting in a PR and a rare a.g. podium finish. (Misleading because the top members of my age group entered the "elite" wave, and quite likely beat me as well.)* Am I missing anybody?
Back slaps and high-fives all around for a good start to the fall, when running really gets fun.
*Here's an "egg on my face" story: when signing up for races I frequently tell some seemingly innocuous fib, like listing myself as a U.S. Representative when asked for my job title. Another time I've been named Haile Gebraselassie. And so on. This is largely a protest against race organizers' gathering personal data that to me seems incredibly, well, personal. At Nation's, they have a "CQ Roll Call Congressional Challenge." Many local races have something like that -- bragging rights for federal agencies and all. But at Nation's, they called the podium finishers from that event up to receive awards. (I've never seen that before.) With me so far? Turns out that (fictional) U.S. Representative Max Huffman took silver. Needless to say, I did not take the podium for that award.
Monday, September 9, 2013
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Sag-Ler Report
I am pleased to report that the Loyola Chicago portion of the blog averaged a sub- 2 hour half earlier this morning in low 70s but seriously muggy conditions. We were saved by a cloud cover and some breeze. Matt scored a 1:55 and I finished in 2:03 (9:24 pace).
I held a sub 9 minute pace through mile 8 and then gradually gave back time until the final push around mile 11-12. Having Matt pace me proved a great incentive to stay respectably under 10 a mile. Matt was kind enough to hang back with me through a 1:32 10 mile until I turned him loose to finish for a blazing final 5 K. Great finish given the conditions, his handicap (me), and his 4 mile warmup at his building's gym before we picked him up to head down to the race.
As usual, my bad habits of too much walking and a nature break in the brushes at mile 11 prevented me from sub 2 land but my time was my best since 2006.
Non-athletic novelties included running into my high school prom date and her family just outside the finishers' area and getting a ride home from someone in Matt's running group who is a former civ pro student of mine whom I have seen at several races over the years.
On to Sacramento but I am seriously thinking about substituting 6 or more halves next year instead of the all or nothing training slog for a full marathon.
I held a sub 9 minute pace through mile 8 and then gradually gave back time until the final push around mile 11-12. Having Matt pace me proved a great incentive to stay respectably under 10 a mile. Matt was kind enough to hang back with me through a 1:32 10 mile until I turned him loose to finish for a blazing final 5 K. Great finish given the conditions, his handicap (me), and his 4 mile warmup at his building's gym before we picked him up to head down to the race.
As usual, my bad habits of too much walking and a nature break in the brushes at mile 11 prevented me from sub 2 land but my time was my best since 2006.
Non-athletic novelties included running into my high school prom date and her family just outside the finishers' area and getting a ride home from someone in Matt's running group who is a former civ pro student of mine whom I have seen at several races over the years.
On to Sacramento but I am seriously thinking about substituting 6 or more halves next year instead of the all or nothing training slog for a full marathon.
Saturday, September 7, 2013
Martha's Vineyard Warrior
So, I'm organizing my gear for tomorrow's Tri, the Martha's Vineyard Warrior Tri. I'm feeling pretty good, but certainly not overtrained. I went down to the beach this morning and swam a bit in the vicinity of the swim course. The buoys weren't out yet, so I had to guesstimate, but still, it was a good confidence builder. The water temperature was pleasant, not too much wind or chop. Hopefully I'll manage a good (for me) swim. The bike course is on roads that I know well. It should be a fast course, no big hills, mostly straight. Wind will be the principle impediment. I'm hoping for a very fast ride, but who knows what will happen. The run is anybody's guess. I've been running better recently, and my heel feels reasonably sound. Wish me luck!!
Two Halves Make a Whole, Right?
Tomorrow I tackle my second half of the year, the Chicago Half Marthon. It is the half marathon I have run the most number of times and the site of my only sub-2 hour finish. Hoping for low 2s tomorrow. Matt Sag will run with me after he puts in an even earlier 4-5 mile warm up so he can stay on pace for his date with destiny at the Chicago Marathon in October.
Me, I am mostly healthy and mostly just putzing around until I start my serious ramp up for the December 8th Cal Int'l Marathon. Running a lot of high 20 mile weeks with lots of 10-14 mile long runs so good and ready for a half. Weather even looks promising for tomorrow for a change. Thanks as always to L. for being willing to drive us down to Hyde Park at the crack of dawn.
I am getting sick of the whole fitness expo thing. Its a waste of time and money and a little depressing for the lesser races. Yesterday's pick up was at Navy Pier which is a hike from my office. If coming by cab at least $10 each way, or $12 for parking. My compromise was to walk there and cab back. The exhibits were small and uninteresting. Except for the race shirt which was fine, the goodie bag was "virtual" and included lots of discounts to races in the general Midwest that were of no interest. Usual merch vendors. No giveaways unless you wanted to give your email and spin a wheel for a box of rice.
Only highlights were registration and packet pick up for two later fall Chicago area races which is a great idea. My only purchase was a new pair of Saucony Kinvara 4s at $79, which is a nice price.
The only expo I have enjoyed of late was Rome where the US contingent plus spouses took the subway and wandered a large and reasonably interesting hall and posed for pictures with Roman Centurions. For Chicago, they could have at least had fake Blues Brothers or real Daley Brothers!
Me, I am mostly healthy and mostly just putzing around until I start my serious ramp up for the December 8th Cal Int'l Marathon. Running a lot of high 20 mile weeks with lots of 10-14 mile long runs so good and ready for a half. Weather even looks promising for tomorrow for a change. Thanks as always to L. for being willing to drive us down to Hyde Park at the crack of dawn.
I am getting sick of the whole fitness expo thing. Its a waste of time and money and a little depressing for the lesser races. Yesterday's pick up was at Navy Pier which is a hike from my office. If coming by cab at least $10 each way, or $12 for parking. My compromise was to walk there and cab back. The exhibits were small and uninteresting. Except for the race shirt which was fine, the goodie bag was "virtual" and included lots of discounts to races in the general Midwest that were of no interest. Usual merch vendors. No giveaways unless you wanted to give your email and spin a wheel for a box of rice.
Only highlights were registration and packet pick up for two later fall Chicago area races which is a great idea. My only purchase was a new pair of Saucony Kinvara 4s at $79, which is a nice price.
The only expo I have enjoyed of late was Rome where the US contingent plus spouses took the subway and wandered a large and reasonably interesting hall and posed for pictures with Roman Centurions. For Chicago, they could have at least had fake Blues Brothers or real Daley Brothers!
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Speed is not Ageless
Usain Bolt announces his coming retirement, NPR told me this morning.
If there is one athlete who is not named Michael Phelps but who could be said to be presumed to win every time he started, it is Usain Bolt. His level of dominance is mind blowing.
Or, at least, his level of dominance in this decade. Is he more dominant than was Carl Lewis, with 10 Olympic medals -- 9 of them gold? Carl Lewis's medals, Wikipedia reports, were won in four Olympic games, including a gold in the long jump at the age of 35 years. Perhaps Jesse Owens, an early example of a multi-gold-medalist in track-and-field events?
Of course, for everybody but Carl Lewis, the end comes by necessity more than by choice. One doesn't run world record 100m dashes after age 30. Even Usain Bolt, who will be 29-going-on-30 at the Rio Olympics.
All this said, we at runningprofs know that endurance is not ageless. Carl Lewis famously has discussed running a marathon, but Google headlines and a search of the Houston Marathon 2012 results suggest that this never got beyond discussions. Haile Gebraselassie ran his first marathon at age 29 and did not set a world record until age 34. I'd give most of my extensive running shoe collection for the fun of lining up at a start line near Bolt after his retirement from running on cinders.
If there is one athlete who is not named Michael Phelps but who could be said to be presumed to win every time he started, it is Usain Bolt. His level of dominance is mind blowing.
Or, at least, his level of dominance in this decade. Is he more dominant than was Carl Lewis, with 10 Olympic medals -- 9 of them gold? Carl Lewis's medals, Wikipedia reports, were won in four Olympic games, including a gold in the long jump at the age of 35 years. Perhaps Jesse Owens, an early example of a multi-gold-medalist in track-and-field events?
Of course, for everybody but Carl Lewis, the end comes by necessity more than by choice. One doesn't run world record 100m dashes after age 30. Even Usain Bolt, who will be 29-going-on-30 at the Rio Olympics.
All this said, we at runningprofs know that endurance is not ageless. Carl Lewis famously has discussed running a marathon, but Google headlines and a search of the Houston Marathon 2012 results suggest that this never got beyond discussions. Haile Gebraselassie ran his first marathon at age 29 and did not set a world record until age 34. I'd give most of my extensive running shoe collection for the fun of lining up at a start line near Bolt after his retirement from running on cinders.
Monday, September 2, 2013
Running a little
Okay, so I'm beginning to feel more optimistic about my heel. It's not 100%. There's still tightness in the AT, and a few tender spots. That said, I was able to go for short 3 mile runs off the bike several times last week, and I'm none the worse for wear. On Saturday, I was able to run 8 miles with my running group. I was fine going at a 9 minute pace for 6-7 miles. Then the wheels came off. It's a bit odd to have my body act like 8 miles is a long run, but that comes with the territory. It's good to be getting my stride back.
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