Today I was supposed to get up and do a kickass hill work out. I mean it would have been damn tough. I was really looking forward to it, but we went out in San Fran last night and I am still drunk right now.
Beer
Jack Daniels
Wine
Jack Daniels
Several of each of the above are still running through my system right now..and its 8:00 am the next day. Oh, but the "In and Out" burger at 1:00 am saved my ass.
I can run another day...sometimes you just gotta let go and get drunk!
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Getting back my edge
Or did I ever have one? What exactly is an "edge" anyway? To me , its the competitive drive and focus that helps me to achieve a better performance and reach my goals. To others, it might mean something slightly different, but I think we all would agree it comes from within.
I had this edge 16 months ago when I was preparing to run CIM in December of 2004. I was in great shape, almost at the perfect weight, and running faster than I ever had before. I was certain I was on my way. Shortly thereafter I began to train for the 2005 Rock 'n Roll Marathon in San Diego. Somewhere in my training....maybe around 12 to 13 weeks in....I lost the edge. I took for granted that I had recovered from CIM and was running injury free in such a short period of time. I took for granted that I just threw up PRs in the 5K and 10K with what seemed like minimal effort. I took for granted the fact that a schedule was in place for a reason...Which led to a complete breakdown in my final weeks of training and taper.
Sure, I was ready for RNR in June...I was certainly ready. I was going to beat my time at CIM, get a new marathon PR, and qualify for Boston 2006. All that was well planned and was written as a solid goal. Missing a day or two here and there didn't seem to matter. Neither did the longer taper runs that I had missed because I had other obligations that presented schedule conflicts. I pushed all that off and didn't think about it one bit, until mile 15....
At mile 15 of RNR, I don't know what happened. I was right on pace to beat 3:10, but my breathing suddenly accelerated. I tried slowing he pace up a little and changed my stride, but nothing seemed to work. Suddenly, there I was in front of an aid tent with dry heaves....and what I pretty sight it was. At this point I took in some water and began to feel better. I was back on pace in no time but soon enough was feeling like crap again.
Here is where the mental game took over and killed what "edge" I had left. I was internally asking myself "Why am I feeling this way?" Could have it been something I ate, drank, a supplement, not enough of this...too much of that, what was it? Then I began a self doubt spiral that led to my complete breakdown. "Was is the recovery days I missed earlier in May? " "Was my diet not right?" "Was it those taper runs I missed?" All of these questions and more came about....and there was nothing positive to be found.
Did I totally fail? No, not at all. I still put in a 3:26 race and never stopped to walk. I thought about it many times, but kept on running. The bottom line was that if I had my "edge", all of the negative effects would have been pushed aside, or not come about at all. I spent the next several months doing half-assed runs and finding reasons to avoid running with people. Shortly after that, I began running again but very slowly, nothing over 80%. I watched many fellow runners make huge leaps in their performance and running times, while I was stagnant and took steps backwards. Straight up....I was burnt out.
Now here in early 2006, I still feel like I have a long way to go. I am running stronger but not to where I should or could be. I went a long time without gaining any weight, but suddenly I am 6 to 7 pounds heavier. The track workouts that were a breeze last year are now almost impossible. Still, I feel each run getting better and have made an attitude adjustment. I can't worry about last year, last month, or last week. All I can do is focus n today and the future and set challenging but realistic goals. Chicago 2006 is not that far away in terms of training and conditioning, and I am determined to set a new PR.
I have done some searching...both within myself and through external sources. My "edge" is back, and is sharper than before! Where's your "edge"....have you had a sitdown with it lately?
I had this edge 16 months ago when I was preparing to run CIM in December of 2004. I was in great shape, almost at the perfect weight, and running faster than I ever had before. I was certain I was on my way. Shortly thereafter I began to train for the 2005 Rock 'n Roll Marathon in San Diego. Somewhere in my training....maybe around 12 to 13 weeks in....I lost the edge. I took for granted that I had recovered from CIM and was running injury free in such a short period of time. I took for granted that I just threw up PRs in the 5K and 10K with what seemed like minimal effort. I took for granted the fact that a schedule was in place for a reason...Which led to a complete breakdown in my final weeks of training and taper.
Sure, I was ready for RNR in June...I was certainly ready. I was going to beat my time at CIM, get a new marathon PR, and qualify for Boston 2006. All that was well planned and was written as a solid goal. Missing a day or two here and there didn't seem to matter. Neither did the longer taper runs that I had missed because I had other obligations that presented schedule conflicts. I pushed all that off and didn't think about it one bit, until mile 15....
At mile 15 of RNR, I don't know what happened. I was right on pace to beat 3:10, but my breathing suddenly accelerated. I tried slowing he pace up a little and changed my stride, but nothing seemed to work. Suddenly, there I was in front of an aid tent with dry heaves....and what I pretty sight it was. At this point I took in some water and began to feel better. I was back on pace in no time but soon enough was feeling like crap again.
Here is where the mental game took over and killed what "edge" I had left. I was internally asking myself "Why am I feeling this way?" Could have it been something I ate, drank, a supplement, not enough of this...too much of that, what was it? Then I began a self doubt spiral that led to my complete breakdown. "Was is the recovery days I missed earlier in May? " "Was my diet not right?" "Was it those taper runs I missed?" All of these questions and more came about....and there was nothing positive to be found.
Did I totally fail? No, not at all. I still put in a 3:26 race and never stopped to walk. I thought about it many times, but kept on running. The bottom line was that if I had my "edge", all of the negative effects would have been pushed aside, or not come about at all. I spent the next several months doing half-assed runs and finding reasons to avoid running with people. Shortly after that, I began running again but very slowly, nothing over 80%. I watched many fellow runners make huge leaps in their performance and running times, while I was stagnant and took steps backwards. Straight up....I was burnt out.
Now here in early 2006, I still feel like I have a long way to go. I am running stronger but not to where I should or could be. I went a long time without gaining any weight, but suddenly I am 6 to 7 pounds heavier. The track workouts that were a breeze last year are now almost impossible. Still, I feel each run getting better and have made an attitude adjustment. I can't worry about last year, last month, or last week. All I can do is focus n today and the future and set challenging but realistic goals. Chicago 2006 is not that far away in terms of training and conditioning, and I am determined to set a new PR.
I have done some searching...both within myself and through external sources. My "edge" is back, and is sharper than before! Where's your "edge"....have you had a sitdown with it lately?
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
Here comes the rain again....
This 80's Eurythmics hit just keeps playing itself over and over again in my head these days. Not because I am a fan of it....but the subject of rain simply can't be avoided here in Northern Cal. 26 days of rain in March, a new record. Now, we are 11 days into April and 10 have been rainy. 17 days is the record and I am sure we will make a run to beat it.
Lance Armstrong was quoted as saying, "When I look outside and its raining, I just put on my rain jacket and go!" That is great in theory but when it comes down to it I would rather stay inside on the couch with some hot coffee. Maybe I can get away with that for a day here and there, but in realty, its the running that keeps me going and brings balance into my busy life.
TREADMILLS ARE FOR HAMSTERS!!!!
Running inside, just kills me. I don't mind a few miles here and there, at a busy gym. I can put on my headphones and watch a game, listen to music, or randomly people watch. Anything more than that, forget it...let's go back outside.
Today, we have better equipment and apparel that is designed to keep water out and not bog us down. This makes a huge difference when the skies on the western horizon are looming over with a dark grey hue and the imminent look of rain. Yes, the right apparel does make it easier, but only for a moment. Besides shoes getting water logged, running in the rain is not really that bad. Let's face it...you are going to get wet to some degree even if there were no rain. The killer part for me is the process....
First its cold...and I am not warmed up yet. Then, as I get going, the protective wear I have on slowly gives way to the impending water that seems to find its way in through every little nook possible. Now the water seems damn cold....I'm still not warmed up. Okay, finally I start to feel my own sweat and body heat mix in and I am comfortably warm...I feel like I can run forever at this point.
Yes, the rain does suck....but then soon the hot days of summer will be here and it will be more tempting to turn on the AC and have a cold beer...but I'll save that for after the run. For today...all I want is a 45 minute window to get 5 miles in!!!
Lance Armstrong was quoted as saying, "When I look outside and its raining, I just put on my rain jacket and go!" That is great in theory but when it comes down to it I would rather stay inside on the couch with some hot coffee. Maybe I can get away with that for a day here and there, but in realty, its the running that keeps me going and brings balance into my busy life.
TREADMILLS ARE FOR HAMSTERS!!!!
Running inside, just kills me. I don't mind a few miles here and there, at a busy gym. I can put on my headphones and watch a game, listen to music, or randomly people watch. Anything more than that, forget it...let's go back outside.
Today, we have better equipment and apparel that is designed to keep water out and not bog us down. This makes a huge difference when the skies on the western horizon are looming over with a dark grey hue and the imminent look of rain. Yes, the right apparel does make it easier, but only for a moment. Besides shoes getting water logged, running in the rain is not really that bad. Let's face it...you are going to get wet to some degree even if there were no rain. The killer part for me is the process....
First its cold...and I am not warmed up yet. Then, as I get going, the protective wear I have on slowly gives way to the impending water that seems to find its way in through every little nook possible. Now the water seems damn cold....I'm still not warmed up. Okay, finally I start to feel my own sweat and body heat mix in and I am comfortably warm...I feel like I can run forever at this point.
Yes, the rain does suck....but then soon the hot days of summer will be here and it will be more tempting to turn on the AC and have a cold beer...but I'll save that for after the run. For today...all I want is a 45 minute window to get 5 miles in!!!
Monday, April 10, 2006
Welcome!
If you are out there on the web and stumble across this, then WELCOME! You may have come across it by accident and have no interest or intention to move on. On the other hand, you may have been looking for some running info and landed here. If that's the case, then you are most likely in the sick minded demented class of us who find true enjoyment out of running 15 miles in the cold and windy weather...and look forward to dong it again, and again, and again.
I promise, no answers, no solutions, and no secret formulas here...just a place to post a thought, provoke conversation, and mesh my interests in both writing and running.
So hopefully you can come back every once in a while and share in some of your own experiences...let others know about an event...or just respond to a meaningless blog of my own. Whatever the case, I do hope you return and take something away as well.
ENJOY!!!
I promise, no answers, no solutions, and no secret formulas here...just a place to post a thought, provoke conversation, and mesh my interests in both writing and running.
So hopefully you can come back every once in a while and share in some of your own experiences...let others know about an event...or just respond to a meaningless blog of my own. Whatever the case, I do hope you return and take something away as well.
ENJOY!!!
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