Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Ouch!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Just Gotta Get Through This
Sometimes people mention things in passing that come back to you later in unexpected ways. Jess mentioned this song as part of a story about surviving a rough time and recently, I find myself playing it on repeat. Organic Chemistry over the summer is a lot like a marathon. You know (or are pretty confident) that it won't kill you, but that doesn't mean it won't be a gruesome, gutting experience.
In my first marathon, miles 22 and 23 weren't pretty. In my second, miles 10 through 26 were a wreck. This course is somewhere in the middle. The first semester was busy, but I came out of it relatively unscathed. I think the words "Organic Chemistry SO isn't that bad" even escaped my lips. I said a similar thing after my first marathon. Much like Mile 10 of my second marathon, I'm thinking I spoke too soon.
This week is a lot like that point in a race where you ask yourself why the f*&$ you race. Why can't you just be casual? Why can't you just head out and jog like everyone else? The answer lies, of course, in the feelings that the casual runner misses. They miss the moment when you know you're going to finish.They miss out on the moment when you know you are going to PR, the moment when you know you're going to get through it.
I have lots of race reports to write up (including a shiny new 5K PR), but they'll have to wait til August.
Run On.
S
In my first marathon, miles 22 and 23 weren't pretty. In my second, miles 10 through 26 were a wreck. This course is somewhere in the middle. The first semester was busy, but I came out of it relatively unscathed. I think the words "Organic Chemistry SO isn't that bad" even escaped my lips. I said a similar thing after my first marathon. Much like Mile 10 of my second marathon, I'm thinking I spoke too soon.
This week is a lot like that point in a race where you ask yourself why the f*&$ you race. Why can't you just be casual? Why can't you just head out and jog like everyone else? The answer lies, of course, in the feelings that the casual runner misses. They miss the moment when you know you're going to finish.They miss out on the moment when you know you are going to PR, the moment when you know you're going to get through it.
I have lots of race reports to write up (including a shiny new 5K PR), but they'll have to wait til August.
Run On.
S
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
It Pays to Run
One benefit of the summer race season is the ability to race both days of the weekend, almost all summer long. In addition to myriad opportunities to check your fitness, there is always the possibility you'll win a prize. While I've won plenty of prizes in my life, this past weekend, I won the best.prize.ever. The best part was that it was in no way related to my performance. Yes, on Sunday at the Paul Mailman 10 Miler, I won a chicken in the raffle.
Now to clarify, this chicken was already dead. A surprising number of people have responded, "A live chicken!?" as though that makes more sense than a free range, local chicken frozen and donated by the race director. Although a frozen broiler is less exciting than a live chicken, it is an excellent prize nonetheless. This is a huge bird and although I probably won't roast
it until the fall (perhaps at the "Booty Dinner" Jess and I thought up on our run yesterday), I'm sure it will be as exciting then as it was on Sunday.
The other benefit of the chicken was the hilarity that ensued on the way home. My ever-supportive teammates were as excited as I was, and we took a group picture with the chicken. Carlie recommended a great cookbook, Roast Chicken and Other Stories: A Recipe Book
and we came up with my costume idea for First Run 2012, which will remain a secret until then.
What is your best prize ever, running-related or not?
Happy Summer Racing.
~S
Now to clarify, this chicken was already dead. A surprising number of people have responded, "A live chicken!?" as though that makes more sense than a free range, local chicken frozen and donated by the race director. Although a frozen broiler is less exciting than a live chicken, it is an excellent prize nonetheless. This is a huge bird and although I probably won't roast
it until the fall (perhaps at the "Booty Dinner" Jess and I thought up on our run yesterday), I'm sure it will be as exciting then as it was on Sunday.The other benefit of the chicken was the hilarity that ensued on the way home. My ever-supportive teammates were as excited as I was, and we took a group picture with the chicken. Carlie recommended a great cookbook, Roast Chicken and Other Stories: A Recipe Book
and we came up with my costume idea for First Run 2012, which will remain a secret until then.What is your best prize ever, running-related or not?
Happy Summer Racing.
~S
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Tempo Tuesdays
I'll admit it. I hate tempo runs. I hate all speed work. I'd run 20 milers every day, if only I didn't have to hit the track and the roads at an uncomfortable clip. But alas, tempo runs (and other speed work) are key to success at almost every race distance. As such, my summer resolution is to restart Tempo Tuesdays again.
I begrudgingly got out of bed this morning, strapped on my heart rate monitor and headed out with the dog for a short tempo. I planned to do a 2 mile warm up, 2 at tempo and 2 mile cool-down. I figured that even I couldn't wriggle my way out of that short of an effort. In fact, I did. Ava is a great running partner, but tempo pace is not fair to her, especially in the summer. Instead, we had to settle for a fartlek workout, and she did a great job, even initiating a few intervals when a squirrel was spotted.
Next Tuesday morning, I'll warm up with Ava, then drop her at home for the hard portion of the run, which will be a sandwich tempo, with 2 miles hard, a 5 minute jog, then 2 more hard miles. The first part of the sandwich is a slightly easier pace, 6:55 to 7:00. The second part is harder, both because I'm tired but also because it's faster at 6:45 to 6:55. These paces seem pedestrian, but after 8 weeks of running slow in preparation for Vermont City, I need to regain some snap. Then I can grab my trusty running partner for the cool down. As the summer goes on, I'll alternate between a regular tempo and sandwich tempo, adding distance slowly towards about 60 minutes of hard effort.
What about you? Do you love or loathe speed work? What workout would you skip if you could?
Run On.
S
P.S. I am always open to company on Tuesday mornings. I like it even more if you talk me into a different workout...
I begrudgingly got out of bed this morning, strapped on my heart rate monitor and headed out with the dog for a short tempo. I planned to do a 2 mile warm up, 2 at tempo and 2 mile cool-down. I figured that even I couldn't wriggle my way out of that short of an effort. In fact, I did. Ava is a great running partner, but tempo pace is not fair to her, especially in the summer. Instead, we had to settle for a fartlek workout, and she did a great job, even initiating a few intervals when a squirrel was spotted.
Next Tuesday morning, I'll warm up with Ava, then drop her at home for the hard portion of the run, which will be a sandwich tempo, with 2 miles hard, a 5 minute jog, then 2 more hard miles. The first part of the sandwich is a slightly easier pace, 6:55 to 7:00. The second part is harder, both because I'm tired but also because it's faster at 6:45 to 6:55. These paces seem pedestrian, but after 8 weeks of running slow in preparation for Vermont City, I need to regain some snap. Then I can grab my trusty running partner for the cool down. As the summer goes on, I'll alternate between a regular tempo and sandwich tempo, adding distance slowly towards about 60 minutes of hard effort.
What about you? Do you love or loathe speed work? What workout would you skip if you could?
Run On.
S
P.S. I am always open to company on Tuesday mornings. I like it even more if you talk me into a different workout...
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Wordless Wednesday: Pink and Spiky
Perfect for Catamount Tuesdays and the Equinox 10K on Saturday...
 |
| Brooks PR MD, with 3/8 " Spikes |
Thursday, June 9, 2011
How I'm Spending My Summer "Vacation"
I won't be around these parts much until about August. I'm taking Organic Chemistry this summer and knocking out two semesters in 8 weeks, so my life has been reduced to sleep-study-class-lab-study. I'm still trying to run and aiming to maintain about 40 miles a week, but everything else I enjoy is on hold until August.
I have a few races coming up, including the Stowe 8 Miler in July, so I'll try to post race reports and some training updates as we get closer. Otherwise, have an excellent first few months of summer and I look forward to getting back into serious training in August.
Run On.
S
I have a few races coming up, including the Stowe 8 Miler in July, so I'll try to post race reports and some training updates as we get closer. Otherwise, have an excellent first few months of summer and I look forward to getting back into serious training in August.
Run On.
S
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