At least, the trails that I often run, is they're technical mountain bike trails, and full of turns, dips, and uphills. You don't want to get too much speed on a bike there, because if you fall you're going ot do some serious damage. For a runner, this makes it tough to run quickly. On one hand, it should theoretically make you a better runner, because running on these trails makes any relatively flat course incredibly easy in comparison. But it's still disconcerting when I struggle to maintain any sort of speed for a distance.
On the trails, I can run at a 9:00 to 10:00 pace, and take walking breaks every 3-5 minutes to recharge my batteries, so I'll end up averaging an 11:00/mi pace overall, usually. On a 5 mile road course this past Saturday, my runs were all under 9:00, with a best of an 8:22 pace for 1/2 mile. I was holding back slightly, because we then did a 3.5 mile run 9 minutes after I finished the 5 mile course, once again running sub 9:00 laps, although I walked for a longer period of time to allow a new runner to catch up to me, but I still felt great with my speed. Finally, 6 hours after this, I did a 4 mile hash, which was half on the road and half in creeks and woods where you really couldn't run.
All in all, I did 12.68 miles on Saturday, with an 11:21 pace overall. And I felt good afterward! No problems Sunday morning, although legs were a little heavy Monday, and no pain. Yesterday, I ran 7.5 miles, and another 3.0 today, so I've done 10.5 for the week. And those 10.5 have been at a 12:11 average pace. Probably a little slower than usual, as I'm still not used to the longer weekend runs, and pushed a little too hard on Saturday, but that's a fairly accurate representation of my trail speed. On the 3 miler today, the last two-tenths of a mile were in the open, on a gravel path, but I didn't really recognize the difference until I saw that I ran that .2 with an 8:13 pace, without trying. I mean to say, I wasn't attempting to sprint the last section, just to run it, and I didn't realize my speed until I uploaded the courses to my computer. This is confirmation that I really should spend more time on the open courses, instead of tight trails, so that I can work on my speed and stamina. I should try to find a track around me that I can run at.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Ruminations On A Friday Night
First off, it's just funny to be completely sober on a Friday night. Went to the fair with Stephanie, Maya, and Maya's friend, nice little family time. It's a little disconcerting to feel a change in my thoughts, in that I now enjoy taking my time while driving, not just for safety, but out of some strange feeling of parental responsibility. And I'm not even a parent!
But anyway, to the heart of my desire to write, running. It's still somewhat strange to me, to be a runner. To have dedicated running attire. Wicking shirts, specialized socks, running shorts. Not just basketball shorts, actual running shorts. In high school, my brother was the runner. I saw no reason for it. The only race that I'm aware of him entering, the Manchester Road Race, he completed in 38:05, when he was 17. That was the first race I ever entered, when I was 21, and I did it in 46:33. He averaged a 7:57 mile, I did a 9:43. Talk about getting your ass kicked!
But there's something more to running, I've come to believe. Most people who enter a 5K, 10K, half or full marathon, they don't expect to win. Nor should they. Some are just seeking to place in their age group, acknowledging that time is taking a toll on their bodies. But others are just looking for self improvement (and maybe a cool shirt). I've started to enjoy running more for the inner aspects of it, rather than the outer. The moments that matter the most to me are those precious seconds when my legs are loose, my breathing measured, and my stride long. When I go from running next to Stephanie to pulling past her, without any slowing down on her part, or actual effort on mine. We ran last night and I had that happen about 2.5 miles in to a 5 mile run. My pace dropped below an 8:00/mi, and yet I didn't feel like I was pushing it. I was just utilizing my natural leg length.
That's what keeps me coming back, those moments when the running feels easy and I feel free. I seek out trails to run not just because of the challenge and variety they create, but because it's easier to feel free without the constant humming of traffic. To believe for that little bit of time that it's just you and the trail. I'm sure you can achieve that feeling for a longer period of time out West, or even around here in the rural areas.
It's the same feeling I used to get from golf. I enjoyed it most when it was just me, the club, and the ball. No competition, no external pressure, just my own internal contest. I have no problem walking during a run, because when I do it, it's a choice, not necessity. I'm training my body to go longer distances, and that requires taking it easy some times. I've had guys comment "you hung with us for that first mile" when they don't realize that I could have kept going, but I chose to take a break, usually because I've already run 3 or 4 miles before they showed up, and I've got 3 or 4 more to go.
One of my favorite books, which addresses the impressionable nature of the golfing public, speculates on why people love golf so much. It concludes that it isn't the setting, the battle against nature, or the variety of skills it calls for. Instead, it's the variable nature of it all, the same reason that Tiger Woods doesn't win every time, but can still put together rounds that wow everyone around him. On any given day, he can put together a nearly perfect round of golf. He may never birdie every hole, but if he plays the course enough times, he will have a birdie or better recorded on each hole. The thing is, that's also true for the average golfer. For some, it may be to par every hole. But everyone has the possibility. It starts on the first tee box, before the ball is even struck.
And the same can apply to running. I pull in to the parking lot, stretch, and get ready, and this could be a perfect run. My lungs could be clear, my strides firm, my splits negative, everything is possible. I'm not going to run a 4:00 mile or 15:00 5K, but I can cover a stretch of ground faster than previous, or with less effort. There's something beautiful about running for the sake of running, doing it for your own enjoyment, marveling at the beauty of how our bodies work, how we can rapidly cover difficult terrain without busting our asses (most of the time).
Yes, I realize that can be at odds with the idea of inner competition, trying to outdo yourself, but some days, I'm running with a goal, and other days, I'm running just to feel alive, to fight through the wind in my face, feel the sweat run over my eyes, and keep pushing, wondering what is beyond that next bend.
But anyway, to the heart of my desire to write, running. It's still somewhat strange to me, to be a runner. To have dedicated running attire. Wicking shirts, specialized socks, running shorts. Not just basketball shorts, actual running shorts. In high school, my brother was the runner. I saw no reason for it. The only race that I'm aware of him entering, the Manchester Road Race, he completed in 38:05, when he was 17. That was the first race I ever entered, when I was 21, and I did it in 46:33. He averaged a 7:57 mile, I did a 9:43. Talk about getting your ass kicked!
But there's something more to running, I've come to believe. Most people who enter a 5K, 10K, half or full marathon, they don't expect to win. Nor should they. Some are just seeking to place in their age group, acknowledging that time is taking a toll on their bodies. But others are just looking for self improvement (and maybe a cool shirt). I've started to enjoy running more for the inner aspects of it, rather than the outer. The moments that matter the most to me are those precious seconds when my legs are loose, my breathing measured, and my stride long. When I go from running next to Stephanie to pulling past her, without any slowing down on her part, or actual effort on mine. We ran last night and I had that happen about 2.5 miles in to a 5 mile run. My pace dropped below an 8:00/mi, and yet I didn't feel like I was pushing it. I was just utilizing my natural leg length.
That's what keeps me coming back, those moments when the running feels easy and I feel free. I seek out trails to run not just because of the challenge and variety they create, but because it's easier to feel free without the constant humming of traffic. To believe for that little bit of time that it's just you and the trail. I'm sure you can achieve that feeling for a longer period of time out West, or even around here in the rural areas.
It's the same feeling I used to get from golf. I enjoyed it most when it was just me, the club, and the ball. No competition, no external pressure, just my own internal contest. I have no problem walking during a run, because when I do it, it's a choice, not necessity. I'm training my body to go longer distances, and that requires taking it easy some times. I've had guys comment "you hung with us for that first mile" when they don't realize that I could have kept going, but I chose to take a break, usually because I've already run 3 or 4 miles before they showed up, and I've got 3 or 4 more to go.
One of my favorite books, which addresses the impressionable nature of the golfing public, speculates on why people love golf so much. It concludes that it isn't the setting, the battle against nature, or the variety of skills it calls for. Instead, it's the variable nature of it all, the same reason that Tiger Woods doesn't win every time, but can still put together rounds that wow everyone around him. On any given day, he can put together a nearly perfect round of golf. He may never birdie every hole, but if he plays the course enough times, he will have a birdie or better recorded on each hole. The thing is, that's also true for the average golfer. For some, it may be to par every hole. But everyone has the possibility. It starts on the first tee box, before the ball is even struck.
And the same can apply to running. I pull in to the parking lot, stretch, and get ready, and this could be a perfect run. My lungs could be clear, my strides firm, my splits negative, everything is possible. I'm not going to run a 4:00 mile or 15:00 5K, but I can cover a stretch of ground faster than previous, or with less effort. There's something beautiful about running for the sake of running, doing it for your own enjoyment, marveling at the beauty of how our bodies work, how we can rapidly cover difficult terrain without busting our asses (most of the time).
Yes, I realize that can be at odds with the idea of inner competition, trying to outdo yourself, but some days, I'm running with a goal, and other days, I'm running just to feel alive, to fight through the wind in my face, feel the sweat run over my eyes, and keep pushing, wondering what is beyond that next bend.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Recovery
Apparently I caught something during the Labor Day hash-travaganza, as I was subsequently barely able to move for a week following it. As a result, I wasn't able to run, and even at the next hash I was struggling just to keep control of my body, hence my not being FRB, which apparently was unusual enough for people to ask what was wrong.
Luckily, I'm back to running, and feeling much better, although the weight loss was kinda nice. Nearly back below 200, and kicking Slim's ass
Luckily, I'm back to running, and feeling much better, although the weight loss was kinda nice. Nearly back below 200, and kicking Slim's ass
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