Hmmmm....forgot about this place actually. In retrospect I don't know what to call it...a blog? Not sure. An online journal...place to keep my own thoughts and experiences on running? Maybe so. After all, nobody ever read this thing anyway.
2008 was my last post. I have come so far as a runner since that point in time. So far as a person, a father, a friend... Life is funny. If I could recap the past two years in very few words I would say AMAZING and FRUSTRATING. Amazing because of what I have mentioned above. I really have had some great life experiences and life lessons. I truly feel blessed for that. To sum it up, I've grown and found the true meaning of things that most of us want to feel, but few of us ever get to experience. At the same time it has been a frustrating 2 years. While the running has been great, I want it to be better. I can deal with that. To me, its about longevity...I mean, I have found something I truly love...I am passionate about this.
In real life...the economy and political climate have just worn me down. Back in 2008 I moved to an awesome company with great potential and a bright future. I still have that, but the economic climate has made that progress slower than anticipated and its really meant having to sacrifice financially and take a few steps back. Its wearing on me pretty hard these days but I keep my head up and just "grind". Sometimes you have to do that. I was recently watching one of my favorite shows, "Deadliest Catch" and learned that term "grind" from Captain Sig Hansen...I love it. Life sometimes is about "grinding".
As for what I mentioned previously...about the "true meaning of things", well let's just say as much happiness that brings...its also very frustrating. I mean, its just something I simply don't have and can't have the way I want it to...at least for right now. It kills me sometimes. So I think of all the good it brings me, and grind!
The point of my so called blog was never for people to read it...a few did and that was cool. But I look back on what I posted and like the "journal" feature of this. I have memories of things I totally forgot about.
Life is good...I want to make it better!
So hopefully I'll bring myself back here to at least journal for myself...and maybe share with a few others. Who knows...at least its a place for me...running...and life!
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Loving LSD
So its been ahwile since my last post...almost 2 months. AT that point I thought I was back...thought I was almost over the injury and back to a strong finish to the 2008 running season. I WAS WRONG.
Shortly after my last post, I went to see the Sports Doc. He confirmed that I did have Achilles Tendonitis and gave me some remedies...surprisingly he did not say to take time off. He said running easy every other day would be fine. I took m own advice and took the two weeks off anyway. It killed me mentally but I got through it.
So, late September/ealry October, I began my journey into the world of LSD. Long-Slow-Distance. For the past month I have done nothing but run...long and slow. Gradually increasing my mileage, staying away from speed and hills. Just long and slow. The mileage has ticked up and now, I am in my last week of recovery...and almost 50 miles.
The pace has been nice, and while there is a litlle tenderness in the lower leg, it has been manageable. So, from here all I can do is stretch and ice, and deal with the day to day...
Still got my eye on the 5K in December...
Shortly after my last post, I went to see the Sports Doc. He confirmed that I did have Achilles Tendonitis and gave me some remedies...surprisingly he did not say to take time off. He said running easy every other day would be fine. I took m own advice and took the two weeks off anyway. It killed me mentally but I got through it.
So, late September/ealry October, I began my journey into the world of LSD. Long-Slow-Distance. For the past month I have done nothing but run...long and slow. Gradually increasing my mileage, staying away from speed and hills. Just long and slow. The mileage has ticked up and now, I am in my last week of recovery...and almost 50 miles.
The pace has been nice, and while there is a litlle tenderness in the lower leg, it has been manageable. So, from here all I can do is stretch and ice, and deal with the day to day...
Still got my eye on the 5K in December...
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Fall running and coming back...
So what is it I notice about this time of year? Well let me tell you, its getting harder to wake up...yes, I cannot get out of bed in the morning. When I look at the clock and its 5:00 am and still dark outside, I just shake my head and go back to sleep for another hour or so...its tough to get moving these days. The long days of summer and 5:00 am sunrises are gone, at least for now, and the seasons are changing. I"ll be the first to admit that fall here in the Bay Area is nothing special...it still gets pretty hot, and the trees are good until December...maybe we'll get an occasional rain. This is unlike the rest of the country. Take Colorado for example...signs of autumn come as early as the third week of August when the aspens begin to turn. By November, it can be downright cold. Other places experience warms days and cool nights, sometimes brisk fresh days, and vibrant colors as the trees all begin to lose their leaves.
I'll take fall though...even here in Nor Cal. This time of year signals change....football, back to school, holidays around the corner, and the close of another solid race season!
What I like best about this time of year can be summed up in today's run. I left the house about 6:15 and the sun was just coming up...the air was cool and crisp after a 95 degree day yesterday...it felt great. I only did 5 miles, but I could have run forever! Too bad I have work...but the mortgage needs to be paid!
So now, for the "coming back" part. I think I am just about done with this achilles thing. I have given it solid rest and the most recent runs its felt okay. I can't push it 100% yet but I am almost there. I need to run or I will literally go nuts! Its nice sometimes though...to slow down and go easy. Today was perfect...me, the dog, and the hope that we get may more good autumn days! I'll take some rain too!
Monday, August 18, 2008
The Old Achilles
Many, its funny how injuries can just sneak up on you. Here I am running strong, then all of the sudden...
WHAM!
...this damn achilles gets sore, and continues to bother me.
Its not full blown to where I can't run, but its there...lingering, sneaking up on me just when I think its done.
RICE
Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
All I can do right now to keep sane!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Racing at Altitude
So this past Saturday my wife Liz and I traveled back to Colorado to run the Georgetown to Idaho Springs ½ Marathon. 13.1 miles at 8,500 feet above seal level. This was the first ½ marathon we ever did, back in 2000. At that time we lived in Denver and, although we were much slower, we were used to running at high elevations.
I went into this race a little worried about the elevation. After all, I have been doing all of my running within a few hundred feet of sea level. I was certain, however, that all of my training…50 + miles a week, would help me and get me through without a problem. I was also thinking that the altitude drop over the 13.1 miles, would be on my side. The race drops a total of 1,000 feet over the entire course, which is significant. I was banking on the fact that the downhill portions would allow me to press harder and ultimately come in with a new PR. I was wrong!
My strategy was to take the first two miles a little slower than normal. This would allow me to acclimate and “breathe easier” through the flat portion of the course, while letting me make up this time on the downhills. Well, after I hit mile 2, I was sucking wind like I would in a 5K. I was running 7:20s and could tell this would be one hell of a challenge. By mile 4, I needed to walk through the water station, but I had picked up the pace a little. There was still a chance I could pull this one off….maybe. Soon, I told myself that it was nice to be back in Colorado and that a 13.1 mile “up tempo” training run, would not be a bad alternative. I was completely zapped of any energy I had, and the breathing never got any easier.
Altitude sickness was setting in…I felt nauseous and had a headache by mile 7…I was done. The downhill portions, only beat me up more…it was not the race I had hoped for.
I still crossed the finish line at a respectable time…and was just glad this was all over. It was an experience I won’t forget and a lesson I will carry with me for a long time. As a serious runner, I cannot take anything for granted, and must respect the nature of a course, elevation, distance, etc. There is always the chance for a bad race. I can accept one every once in a while. I am probably my own worst critic, so I take it all with a grain of salt. If I came back to do this again, the thin air may or may not affect me. From what I have read, it can get you one day, and you might be fine the next…it varies.
For now, I am taking a few days off to rest the Achilles and deal with some recovery issues…then I am gunning for a PR at the Primo’s ½ in October!
My headache persisted until 5:00 pm. Four Advil and a Monster Energy drink helped is subside so I could at least enjoy some margaritas at Dixon’s.
I went into this race a little worried about the elevation. After all, I have been doing all of my running within a few hundred feet of sea level. I was certain, however, that all of my training…50 + miles a week, would help me and get me through without a problem. I was also thinking that the altitude drop over the 13.1 miles, would be on my side. The race drops a total of 1,000 feet over the entire course, which is significant. I was banking on the fact that the downhill portions would allow me to press harder and ultimately come in with a new PR. I was wrong!
My strategy was to take the first two miles a little slower than normal. This would allow me to acclimate and “breathe easier” through the flat portion of the course, while letting me make up this time on the downhills. Well, after I hit mile 2, I was sucking wind like I would in a 5K. I was running 7:20s and could tell this would be one hell of a challenge. By mile 4, I needed to walk through the water station, but I had picked up the pace a little. There was still a chance I could pull this one off….maybe. Soon, I told myself that it was nice to be back in Colorado and that a 13.1 mile “up tempo” training run, would not be a bad alternative. I was completely zapped of any energy I had, and the breathing never got any easier.
Altitude sickness was setting in…I felt nauseous and had a headache by mile 7…I was done. The downhill portions, only beat me up more…it was not the race I had hoped for.
I still crossed the finish line at a respectable time…and was just glad this was all over. It was an experience I won’t forget and a lesson I will carry with me for a long time. As a serious runner, I cannot take anything for granted, and must respect the nature of a course, elevation, distance, etc. There is always the chance for a bad race. I can accept one every once in a while. I am probably my own worst critic, so I take it all with a grain of salt. If I came back to do this again, the thin air may or may not affect me. From what I have read, it can get you one day, and you might be fine the next…it varies.
For now, I am taking a few days off to rest the Achilles and deal with some recovery issues…then I am gunning for a PR at the Primo’s ½ in October!
My headache persisted until 5:00 pm. Four Advil and a Monster Energy drink helped is subside so I could at least enjoy some margaritas at Dixon’s.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Mental Barriers
Running is a physical sport, there is no debate about that. It takes almost every muscle and every body part to be engaged so that the body can propel itself forward. Several factors play into how fast we run, these are: VO2 Max, Running efficiency, etc. These too are all related to the physical acts of running. Sweat, heavy breathing, pain...all come as part of the activity. So does exhiliration, increased energy levels, and stamina, and these too are all physcial.
So what about the mental aspects of running? Many people who are not involved in the sport think that running is boring, and not mentally engaging. However, I argue to the contrary. For me today, the mental part of the sport is what I believe is holding me back and hindering my progress at this point. There are times, on ling runs or recovery runs where I can let go and just zone out, but when it comes to reaching my goals, the mental aspect of it is a huge weight on my shoulders. These barriers are purely mental as the following example will show:
19:00 5k
40:00 10K
1:30:00 1/2 (which I have hit)
3:10:00 Full
All of these are times I am capable of reaching. I know that in the case of the 1/2. Broken down, these numbers become a little more daunting. For example, the 1/2 marathon now equates to a sub 7:00 minute pace, the 10K becomes a sub 6:30 pace, and so on.
So can you see where I am going? Mentally, the barrier between the 7:00 pace and 6:50 pace seems like a lot. I am no longer running in that comfort zone. This goes for any pace at any distance. Now, I know I cannot simply go from a 6:20 5K pace to a 6:00 minute pace based on mental toughness, but I do know that 6:20 to 6:10 is achievable. Then I can take on the challenge of 6:00. I am talking about the little steps here. Breaking into the sub 7 or sub 6:30 zone...If I can get through it mentally, the physical pain and discomforts, should not be an issue...then the positive physical side of it should take over.
It seems like a "chicken and the egg" thing. What do I need first, the mental or physical? I would clearly say the physical...the ability to go out and run. From there, the mental barriers can be tackled and broken down accordingly. For me, I fall back to my training...and remember, you race the way you train.
Sub 3:10 still haunts me...I have come within a minute. I know now, this is purely mental.
So what about the mental aspects of running? Many people who are not involved in the sport think that running is boring, and not mentally engaging. However, I argue to the contrary. For me today, the mental part of the sport is what I believe is holding me back and hindering my progress at this point. There are times, on ling runs or recovery runs where I can let go and just zone out, but when it comes to reaching my goals, the mental aspect of it is a huge weight on my shoulders. These barriers are purely mental as the following example will show:
19:00 5k
40:00 10K
1:30:00 1/2 (which I have hit)
3:10:00 Full
All of these are times I am capable of reaching. I know that in the case of the 1/2. Broken down, these numbers become a little more daunting. For example, the 1/2 marathon now equates to a sub 7:00 minute pace, the 10K becomes a sub 6:30 pace, and so on.
So can you see where I am going? Mentally, the barrier between the 7:00 pace and 6:50 pace seems like a lot. I am no longer running in that comfort zone. This goes for any pace at any distance. Now, I know I cannot simply go from a 6:20 5K pace to a 6:00 minute pace based on mental toughness, but I do know that 6:20 to 6:10 is achievable. Then I can take on the challenge of 6:00. I am talking about the little steps here. Breaking into the sub 7 or sub 6:30 zone...If I can get through it mentally, the physical pain and discomforts, should not be an issue...then the positive physical side of it should take over.
It seems like a "chicken and the egg" thing. What do I need first, the mental or physical? I would clearly say the physical...the ability to go out and run. From there, the mental barriers can be tackled and broken down accordingly. For me, I fall back to my training...and remember, you race the way you train.
Sub 3:10 still haunts me...I have come within a minute. I know now, this is purely mental.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Colorado
Man, I miss this place...really, its the ultimate when it comes to offerings that any state has. Weather, activities, people, lifetstyle...I can go on and on. The time I spent living there was probably the best time of my life, and it was the best decision I ever made. Do I regret moving back to California? Hell no! That was the second best decision I ever made. But taking the leap to move out of the comfort zone, to a brand new place at age 26...was huge. I was able to get away from a lot at that point in my life...and free up a lot of burden that weighed on my shoulders. I found out more about myself in that time, than I have in my entire life life combined. This past week out there brought a ton of memories and was a huge refresher to my current outlook on life.
Yeah, California is great. You cannot beat the weather here, no matter what anyone has to say. Its unique in many ways, but the California that once was the envy of everybody everywhere else, has long been gone. The politics of the state have brought it down to a fraction of its former greatness...and I can do nothing about that. So, I set my eyes on Colorado and know I will be back there someday.
A few of this weeks highlights...
Running at 6,000 feet.
River Rafting down the Arkansas River, Class 4 rapids...loving every second of it.
See pic:
Dinner at Cafe Prague in Morrison...right by Red Rocks.
Dinner at The Fort.
Running more at 6,000 feet.
Dinner and beers at the Buck Snort Saloon.
Running again at 6,000 feet!
Like I said...I miss that place. The diversity of the landscape, the lifestyle, and the hour and and half drive to the slopes! I'll be back in a few weeks for the Georgetown to Idaho Springs 1/2 Marathon...can't wait for that and Dixon's margaritas afterwards!
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