I'm going to make this blog entry relatively short. After taking a rest day on Monday (well deserved after the 20 miler), I came down with a nasty illness that knocked me off of my sore feet. I've managed to drag my way through the week without missing a day of work, but haven't had the energy to go for a run. I'm starting to recover - my head is less congested and was finally blessed with a decent night of sleep - but I missed two speed sessions and am in no shape for a long run tomorrow. Ugh.
Right now, the plan is to adjust my schedule and delay my taper. If I can get my last long run in on Tuesday or Wednesday, I will still have ten or eleven days to cut back before the marathon. Considering I haven't exactly burned up the roads this week, my plan should be fine. I hope.
Until then, does anyone have any suggestions on how shake a nasty cough?
Chuck is running the marathon in support of InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Feeling The Burn
So I am sitting in my house, my body itching all over due to the burn I gave myself today. I didn't even notice until I looked into the mirror a few hours after the run, and now my entire body feels like it is on fire.
How did it happen, you ask? Well, I wasn't bright enough to put sunscreen on before I left the house for my long run today. It was overcast and cold when I left, so I figured I safe to skip the sunscreen for the day. Of course, clouds do not protect you from UV rays, and now I am paying the price. Next time you see me outside in the sun, expect me to be exceedingly greasy.
Aside from the burn, my long run wasn't too bad. I initially planned to run five laps of the Nature Park, but the lack of a car forced me to run on the Marathon By The Sea route. It's probably a good thing; the course has a long lonely section in Lorneville that is physically easy but mentally taxing. If I can get used to running ten kilometers with nothing but open road and trees as my scenery, I might have a chance to get through the race unscathed.
The run started out slow, but picked up as I settled into my pace. I knew I was running a little too fast for my own good, but in true Garmin fashion, I couldn't force myself to slow down. Instead, I focused on holding the pace, and hoped it wouldn't hurt too bad when I started to seize up.
I entered the dreaded Lorneville section fifteen minutes ahead of schedule and tried to mentally break down each kilometer. It was harder than I though. The road seems to drag on forever, with nothing of note to disctract me from the task at hand. And there is no traffic to speak of; I saw three cyclists (hi Jim!) and a handful of cars during my fifty minutes in the trenches. Hopefully its a little more populated on marathon day.
I hit the turnaround, and was immediately walloped with a deceivingly strong headwind. Now my work was cut out for me. I continued at the same effort, but immediately lost five seconds on my next kilometer. Not a good sign. The next two kilometers were even slower, but I managed to stop the slide and continue at a decent pace until I left Lorneville.
Unfortunately, I was still eleven kilometers away from my house, and the combination of speed and distance was starting the catch up to me. My kilometer times bottomed out, and my form fell apart. On the plus side, my slow pace was actually my goal pace when I started the run, so as long as I could maintain my current pace until I reached the house, I wouldn't be in bad shape.
It almost didn't happen. I slowed to a near crawl with five kilometers left, and was forced to walk for about a minute shortly thereafter. Suprisingly, it did little to affect my overall pace, so I resolved to take a short walking break each kilometer. I don't usually walk during workouts, but it's a necessary evil if you're considering quiting mid-run.
Legs burning, and covered in sweat, I hit the home stretch and gingerly jogged the last 600 meters to my house, where I promptly drank every ounce of water I could find. Distance travelled: 32 Kilometers. Time: 2:51:17. Not my best run, but when you run twenty five minutes faster than you initially expect, you can't complain. One more long run to go, and I'll be as ready as I can be for Marathon By The Sea.
Now it's time to rub some aloe on my arms and chest. Expect another blog update by mid-week!
How did it happen, you ask? Well, I wasn't bright enough to put sunscreen on before I left the house for my long run today. It was overcast and cold when I left, so I figured I safe to skip the sunscreen for the day. Of course, clouds do not protect you from UV rays, and now I am paying the price. Next time you see me outside in the sun, expect me to be exceedingly greasy.
Aside from the burn, my long run wasn't too bad. I initially planned to run five laps of the Nature Park, but the lack of a car forced me to run on the Marathon By The Sea route. It's probably a good thing; the course has a long lonely section in Lorneville that is physically easy but mentally taxing. If I can get used to running ten kilometers with nothing but open road and trees as my scenery, I might have a chance to get through the race unscathed.
The run started out slow, but picked up as I settled into my pace. I knew I was running a little too fast for my own good, but in true Garmin fashion, I couldn't force myself to slow down. Instead, I focused on holding the pace, and hoped it wouldn't hurt too bad when I started to seize up.
I entered the dreaded Lorneville section fifteen minutes ahead of schedule and tried to mentally break down each kilometer. It was harder than I though. The road seems to drag on forever, with nothing of note to disctract me from the task at hand. And there is no traffic to speak of; I saw three cyclists (hi Jim!) and a handful of cars during my fifty minutes in the trenches. Hopefully its a little more populated on marathon day.
I hit the turnaround, and was immediately walloped with a deceivingly strong headwind. Now my work was cut out for me. I continued at the same effort, but immediately lost five seconds on my next kilometer. Not a good sign. The next two kilometers were even slower, but I managed to stop the slide and continue at a decent pace until I left Lorneville.
Unfortunately, I was still eleven kilometers away from my house, and the combination of speed and distance was starting the catch up to me. My kilometer times bottomed out, and my form fell apart. On the plus side, my slow pace was actually my goal pace when I started the run, so as long as I could maintain my current pace until I reached the house, I wouldn't be in bad shape.
It almost didn't happen. I slowed to a near crawl with five kilometers left, and was forced to walk for about a minute shortly thereafter. Suprisingly, it did little to affect my overall pace, so I resolved to take a short walking break each kilometer. I don't usually walk during workouts, but it's a necessary evil if you're considering quiting mid-run.
Legs burning, and covered in sweat, I hit the home stretch and gingerly jogged the last 600 meters to my house, where I promptly drank every ounce of water I could find. Distance travelled: 32 Kilometers. Time: 2:51:17. Not my best run, but when you run twenty five minutes faster than you initially expect, you can't complain. One more long run to go, and I'll be as ready as I can be for Marathon By The Sea.
Now it's time to rub some aloe on my arms and chest. Expect another blog update by mid-week!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
My New Friend Garmin
My wonderful wife Sarah gave me a Garmin Forerunner 310 XT as a wedding present, and I finally took it out of the package and tried it out this week. I have yet to access all of its features (it calculates pace, distance, calories burned, heart rate, and elevation gained/lost, among other things), but I can already tell that it's going to improve my workouts. How? Let me count the ways:
1) My average pace will increase - I'm a numbers guy, and as a numbers guy, I know how fast I should be able to run each kilometer, give or take a few seconds. If my easy pace becomes too easy, the Garmin will tell me immediately, which will force me to increase my efforts. Tonight's easy 5k was run much faster than usual because I was able to see when I was slowing down and adjust accordingly.
2) I will run further - I couldn't tell you how many times I dragged my feet during a 25 minute run and marked it down as a 5k. I guarantee that some of those runs were 4k at best, but I convinced myself ages ago that a five minute kilometer as about as slow as I could run, and have yet to shake that illusion. With the Garmin, a 5K run will actually be a 5k run, as the GPS will calculate the distance as I run.
3) I will run more often - I rarely write in my running diary, but I check my computer every day, and seeing an unused workout icon on my desktop will help spur me into action on lazy days. And, as a numbers junky, the pile of numbers that show up on my computer will lead to mileage goals that I'll inevitably try to hit. You might laugh, but it's true.
I'll stop before I become a spokesperson for the brand, but I have to admit the Garmin is a fun little gadget for people who like to keep track of their workouts. That being said, the only way I'll truly get better is if I am training diligently, so I will log off now and get another workout in before my behind becomes permanently attached to my computer chair.
Chuck is running Marathon By The Sea in support of the InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.
1) My average pace will increase - I'm a numbers guy, and as a numbers guy, I know how fast I should be able to run each kilometer, give or take a few seconds. If my easy pace becomes too easy, the Garmin will tell me immediately, which will force me to increase my efforts. Tonight's easy 5k was run much faster than usual because I was able to see when I was slowing down and adjust accordingly.
2) I will run further - I couldn't tell you how many times I dragged my feet during a 25 minute run and marked it down as a 5k. I guarantee that some of those runs were 4k at best, but I convinced myself ages ago that a five minute kilometer as about as slow as I could run, and have yet to shake that illusion. With the Garmin, a 5K run will actually be a 5k run, as the GPS will calculate the distance as I run.
3) I will run more often - I rarely write in my running diary, but I check my computer every day, and seeing an unused workout icon on my desktop will help spur me into action on lazy days. And, as a numbers junky, the pile of numbers that show up on my computer will lead to mileage goals that I'll inevitably try to hit. You might laugh, but it's true.
I'll stop before I become a spokesperson for the brand, but I have to admit the Garmin is a fun little gadget for people who like to keep track of their workouts. That being said, the only way I'll truly get better is if I am training diligently, so I will log off now and get another workout in before my behind becomes permanently attached to my computer chair.
Chuck is running Marathon By The Sea in support of the InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Heating Up The Road
I am not a warm weather fan, at least when it comes to running. Some of my worst runs have occured during the dog days of summer, including a confirmed case of heat stroke during the 2001 Marathon By The Sea. I managed to finish the race, but couldn't keep anything down for the rest of the day, and felt like garbage the rest of the week. Will I repeat this amazing feat ten years later? I certainly hope not.
Memories of 2001 lingered in my mind during my 16 mile run on Sunday. The sun was blazing in the sky, and I was running the same course that gave me so much trouble ten years ago. I started off conservatively in an attempt to save some energy for late in the run, slowing down at one point to take a gander at an improptu Simms Corner yard sale. Good thing I didn't spot any old Nintendo games (drop me a line if you have any you want to part with), otherwise I would have quit less than ten minutes into my workout.
With video games out of my mind, I tried to focus on the task at hand. Unfortuately, all I could think about was the heat. I was dripping with sweat, and my running shirt (why I didn't wear a singlet was beyond me) was soaked and chafing my skin. While I wasn't quite boiling, as one cyclist noted about six miles into the run, I wasn't exactly feelin top notch, either.
Luckily, a light breeze cooled me off a bit, and I hit the eight mile turnaround in pretty decent shape. I wasn`t running particularly fast - about a minute slower than my best long runs last year - but I knew that, barring disaster, I would finish in one piece.
That didn't mean that I would finish comfortably. My shorts started to chafe with about six miles to go, and started becoming an issue five kilometers from my house. It didn't matter how much adjusting I did - and I did a lot, sadly - I couldn't stop my shorts from rubbing my legs raw. Remind me to wear a better outfit for my next long run, okay?
I forged ahead despite the comfort, and landed back at my house before I hit any sort of physical or mental wall. Considering the run was about four miles longer than my best effort, I won't complain. At least not until my legs start aching, that is.
Memories of 2001 lingered in my mind during my 16 mile run on Sunday. The sun was blazing in the sky, and I was running the same course that gave me so much trouble ten years ago. I started off conservatively in an attempt to save some energy for late in the run, slowing down at one point to take a gander at an improptu Simms Corner yard sale. Good thing I didn't spot any old Nintendo games (drop me a line if you have any you want to part with), otherwise I would have quit less than ten minutes into my workout.
With video games out of my mind, I tried to focus on the task at hand. Unfortuately, all I could think about was the heat. I was dripping with sweat, and my running shirt (why I didn't wear a singlet was beyond me) was soaked and chafing my skin. While I wasn't quite boiling, as one cyclist noted about six miles into the run, I wasn't exactly feelin top notch, either.
Luckily, a light breeze cooled me off a bit, and I hit the eight mile turnaround in pretty decent shape. I wasn`t running particularly fast - about a minute slower than my best long runs last year - but I knew that, barring disaster, I would finish in one piece.
That didn't mean that I would finish comfortably. My shorts started to chafe with about six miles to go, and started becoming an issue five kilometers from my house. It didn't matter how much adjusting I did - and I did a lot, sadly - I couldn't stop my shorts from rubbing my legs raw. Remind me to wear a better outfit for my next long run, okay?
I forged ahead despite the comfort, and landed back at my house before I hit any sort of physical or mental wall. Considering the run was about four miles longer than my best effort, I won't complain. At least not until my legs start aching, that is.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Late Night Loops, Rallying The Troops
Today was one of those days where I should have stayed in bed. I woke up late to the phone ringing, only to find bad, expensive news on the other end. I weighed myself for the first time in ages, and was pleased to note that I am fifteen pounds heavier than I was when I completed my last marathon. I also realized I am a full month behind in my training, which means I have to increase my workload drastically in the next three week or face skipping my taper. Yikes.
If you're like me, your mental state can positively or negatively impact your training. When I am feeling aggressive, competitive, or focused, I can usually count on having a decent run. When I am depressed - and today bordered on depression - I have a hard time dragging myself out of the house, let alone running at my full potential. So, instead of getting my run out of the way early as planned, I sat in the house, picked away at my daily to-do list (it was more of a didn't do list today), and felt sorry for myself.
By the time I was up for a run it was nearly 11:00PM. I almost put it off until the morning, but I didn't think it would actually happen, so I laced up my sneakers and headed out into the dark.
As this was a speedwork day, I decided that I should try out the loop in front of my house. After a short warmup session, I hit the timer and started peeling off 400 meter loops. I haven't run too many fast 400s this year, so I didn't know what to expect. I went out hard for the first loop - it was easy to do, as it started out downhill - and finished about eight second faster than I planned. For a guy fifteen pounds heavier than he'd like to be, that's not bad.
I was pretty sure I wasn't going to be able to maintain that pace, but it wasn't going to stop me from trying. I held my pace for the second repeat, and was a little less than a second slower for the third. The wheels started to fall off for the next couple of repeats, but I reined the times back in by focusing on my form. I ran seven loops total, and the difference between my slowest loop and fastest loop was only three seconds. Very good effort, if I must say so myself.
Tomorrow is a rest day, but I will be back with a vengeance this weekend. With only four weeks before the big day, I will need to increase my mileage and lose some weight in a hurry. Wish me luck!
Fundraising update: I will be announcing some new sponsors/donations shortly, and a group of nordic walkers are signing up for the half marathon to help raise funds for the InterAction School of Performing Arts. Here's a note from the group:
Marilyn Inch, from Interaction’s Board of Directors, met with her old Nordic Walking group tonight. They meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 at Daytripping in the Lily Lake Pavilion and go on group walks to help keep them motivated. With Marathon by the Sea fast approaching, they are thick into their training program to meet their Half Marathon goals. Many of them have participated in numerous Half Marathons since beginning Nordic Walking. They took up the sport thinking they could never complete such a challenge but have since proven to themselves that they CAN do it with the proper 12 week training program and the continuous motivation of Daytripping owner, Yennah Hurley.
Now that Marilyn has told the group about Action for Interaction, the group is jumping on board to help raise funds for the performing arts school by getting pledges from their families, neighbours and co-workers. One woman said that asking for sponsors would cement her commitment to actually completing her first Half Marathon where she was sitting on the fence up to this point.
For more information about Nordic Walking in Saint John, check out Daytripping’s website http://www.daytrippingnb.com/home.html.
If anyone else wants to raise funds on behalf of the InterAction School of Performing Arts, please drop me a line and I'll let you know how you can get involved!
If you're like me, your mental state can positively or negatively impact your training. When I am feeling aggressive, competitive, or focused, I can usually count on having a decent run. When I am depressed - and today bordered on depression - I have a hard time dragging myself out of the house, let alone running at my full potential. So, instead of getting my run out of the way early as planned, I sat in the house, picked away at my daily to-do list (it was more of a didn't do list today), and felt sorry for myself.
By the time I was up for a run it was nearly 11:00PM. I almost put it off until the morning, but I didn't think it would actually happen, so I laced up my sneakers and headed out into the dark.
As this was a speedwork day, I decided that I should try out the loop in front of my house. After a short warmup session, I hit the timer and started peeling off 400 meter loops. I haven't run too many fast 400s this year, so I didn't know what to expect. I went out hard for the first loop - it was easy to do, as it started out downhill - and finished about eight second faster than I planned. For a guy fifteen pounds heavier than he'd like to be, that's not bad.
I was pretty sure I wasn't going to be able to maintain that pace, but it wasn't going to stop me from trying. I held my pace for the second repeat, and was a little less than a second slower for the third. The wheels started to fall off for the next couple of repeats, but I reined the times back in by focusing on my form. I ran seven loops total, and the difference between my slowest loop and fastest loop was only three seconds. Very good effort, if I must say so myself.
Tomorrow is a rest day, but I will be back with a vengeance this weekend. With only four weeks before the big day, I will need to increase my mileage and lose some weight in a hurry. Wish me luck!
Fundraising update: I will be announcing some new sponsors/donations shortly, and a group of nordic walkers are signing up for the half marathon to help raise funds for the InterAction School of Performing Arts. Here's a note from the group:
Marilyn Inch, from Interaction’s Board of Directors, met with her old Nordic Walking group tonight. They meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 at Daytripping in the Lily Lake Pavilion and go on group walks to help keep them motivated. With Marathon by the Sea fast approaching, they are thick into their training program to meet their Half Marathon goals. Many of them have participated in numerous Half Marathons since beginning Nordic Walking. They took up the sport thinking they could never complete such a challenge but have since proven to themselves that they CAN do it with the proper 12 week training program and the continuous motivation of Daytripping owner, Yennah Hurley.
Now that Marilyn has told the group about Action for Interaction, the group is jumping on board to help raise funds for the performing arts school by getting pledges from their families, neighbours and co-workers. One woman said that asking for sponsors would cement her commitment to actually completing her first Half Marathon where she was sitting on the fence up to this point.
For more information about Nordic Walking in Saint John, check out Daytripping’s website http://www.daytrippingnb.com/home.html.
If anyone else wants to raise funds on behalf of the InterAction School of Performing Arts, please drop me a line and I'll let you know how you can get involved!
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Getting Loopy
Fundraising update: Cash is slowly trickling in for my fundraiser, but it should pick up soon enough (I have faith in you, my friends). I have an all-ages show taking place at the Germain Street Baptist Church (our future home) July 22, featuring high school heroes Trip Lewis, The Exemptions, and Learning. Minimum donation is five dollars, so spread the word to your teenaged friends and come enjoy a night of great music!
Ok, back to the blog. I wasn't feeling great about my fitness level after my run on Sunday, and resolved to add other activities to my workout regimen. Today I included some warmup running exercises to my routine, and tomorrow I will attack my abs for the first time in ages. I doubt I'll see an immediate improvement in my times, but I should notice a difference in my form, which will hopefully ward off injury and increase my comfort level during those long Sunday runs.
My workout today included four 800 meter repeats (my online distance calculator thinks the loop is closer to 900 meters, but it's close enough for me), with a 400 meter run included for good measure. Thinking it was colder than it actually was, I left the house in a long sleeve shirt, which quickly became drenched in the humid West Side air. Cursing my decision, I jogged to my workout spot in a negative mindframe, and contemplated turning around and going home. Shaking off the thought, I resolved to finish at least three quarters of my planned workout. I tentatively started my first repeat, feeling every ache and pain in my body and I completed the loop.
Running a little slower than expected (the extra 100 meters probably had something to do with it), I decided to focus my forum during the second repeat. As I mulled this over, a city works crew showed up and opened a fire hydrant nearby. The mist blew my way, refreshing me as I started the second lap. Feeling slightly better, I picked up the pace and managed to knocked a couple of seconds off my time. Better yet, the aches that nagged me during my first repeat vanished, allowing me to focus on the task at hand. This run was getting better by the minute.
My third repeat wasn't amazing - a car and its passangers blocked my original path, forcing me to run a wide turn to avoid it and some nasty looking puddles - yet I still managed to maintain my pace. I decided to go all out on the my last loop, and knocked an extra second off my time, despite my fatigue. Excellent!
Feeling inspired, I decided to jog home and try loop out a neighbourhood loop that ended in front of my house. Starting my watch, I ran quickly and efficiently, and finished stronger than expected. Noting that my finish time, I checked my online calculator, thinking it would be close to a 400 meter effort. Low and behold, it was 400 meters on the button. I guess I won't have to travel too far for my next workout, eh?
I'd love to stay and chat some more, but it's getting late. If all goes well I'll find a group to run with tomorrow, or at least a new route to shake things up a bit. Wish me luck!
Chuck is running Marathon By The Sea in support of the InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.
Ok, back to the blog. I wasn't feeling great about my fitness level after my run on Sunday, and resolved to add other activities to my workout regimen. Today I included some warmup running exercises to my routine, and tomorrow I will attack my abs for the first time in ages. I doubt I'll see an immediate improvement in my times, but I should notice a difference in my form, which will hopefully ward off injury and increase my comfort level during those long Sunday runs.
My workout today included four 800 meter repeats (my online distance calculator thinks the loop is closer to 900 meters, but it's close enough for me), with a 400 meter run included for good measure. Thinking it was colder than it actually was, I left the house in a long sleeve shirt, which quickly became drenched in the humid West Side air. Cursing my decision, I jogged to my workout spot in a negative mindframe, and contemplated turning around and going home. Shaking off the thought, I resolved to finish at least three quarters of my planned workout. I tentatively started my first repeat, feeling every ache and pain in my body and I completed the loop.
Running a little slower than expected (the extra 100 meters probably had something to do with it), I decided to focus my forum during the second repeat. As I mulled this over, a city works crew showed up and opened a fire hydrant nearby. The mist blew my way, refreshing me as I started the second lap. Feeling slightly better, I picked up the pace and managed to knocked a couple of seconds off my time. Better yet, the aches that nagged me during my first repeat vanished, allowing me to focus on the task at hand. This run was getting better by the minute.
My third repeat wasn't amazing - a car and its passangers blocked my original path, forcing me to run a wide turn to avoid it and some nasty looking puddles - yet I still managed to maintain my pace. I decided to go all out on the my last loop, and knocked an extra second off my time, despite my fatigue. Excellent!
Feeling inspired, I decided to jog home and try loop out a neighbourhood loop that ended in front of my house. Starting my watch, I ran quickly and efficiently, and finished stronger than expected. Noting that my finish time, I checked my online calculator, thinking it would be close to a 400 meter effort. Low and behold, it was 400 meters on the button. I guess I won't have to travel too far for my next workout, eh?
I'd love to stay and chat some more, but it's getting late. If all goes well I'll find a group to run with tomorrow, or at least a new route to shake things up a bit. Wish me luck!
Chuck is running Marathon By The Sea in support of the InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Nature Park Pains
So I have yet to find a running partner, and have spent the last week wandering solo around Saint John. I thought about joining the Running Room group on Wednesday, but ended up jogging around my neighbourhood late at night instead (that's what happens when you procrastinate). I expcted my friend Peter would want to go out for an easy run when he arrived from Woodstock for a visit, but he wasn't feeling well, so I ended up taking the day off. So much for socializing.
My last two runs of the week took place at the Irving Nature Park. I did a lot of training for my last marathon in the park, and it has become my go-to place of choice whenever I need to churn out some mileage. The road is marked every 500 meters, which makes it easy to break down mentally, and the rolling hills keep you on your toes physically. Sure, the occasional speeding car can give you a moment or two of panic (who speeds through a nature park, anyway?), but other than that, it's pretty much a perfect place to run.
I wasn't loving it this week, however. I headed down on Thursday to knock off some repeat kilometers, and found myself getting slower with each successive repeat. I'd like to think the sun has something to do with my lagging energy - it was mighty hot out - but its still not good when your last repeat is thirty seconds slower than your first repeat. By the time I dragged myself out of the park, I was a mess.
Sunday wasn't much better. I went to the park for my long run, with the goal of completing at least three laps (four if I was feeling especially good). For some reason, however, my body didn't want to cooperate, and I almost quit before I finished one lap. My legs were dragging, my stomach was killing me, and I wasn't running particularly fast. Luckily, most of my discomforts disappared about forty minutes into the run, and I managed to pick up the pace for the last lap and a half. Still, my end time was a lot slower than I expected, which means I am not as fit as I first thought when I started training.
I hope my energy level and fitness improves this week. Otherwise, I might be in for an espcially long marathon.
Chuck is running Marathon By The Sea in support of the InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.
My last two runs of the week took place at the Irving Nature Park. I did a lot of training for my last marathon in the park, and it has become my go-to place of choice whenever I need to churn out some mileage. The road is marked every 500 meters, which makes it easy to break down mentally, and the rolling hills keep you on your toes physically. Sure, the occasional speeding car can give you a moment or two of panic (who speeds through a nature park, anyway?), but other than that, it's pretty much a perfect place to run.
I wasn't loving it this week, however. I headed down on Thursday to knock off some repeat kilometers, and found myself getting slower with each successive repeat. I'd like to think the sun has something to do with my lagging energy - it was mighty hot out - but its still not good when your last repeat is thirty seconds slower than your first repeat. By the time I dragged myself out of the park, I was a mess.
Sunday wasn't much better. I went to the park for my long run, with the goal of completing at least three laps (four if I was feeling especially good). For some reason, however, my body didn't want to cooperate, and I almost quit before I finished one lap. My legs were dragging, my stomach was killing me, and I wasn't running particularly fast. Luckily, most of my discomforts disappared about forty minutes into the run, and I managed to pick up the pace for the last lap and a half. Still, my end time was a lot slower than I expected, which means I am not as fit as I first thought when I started training.
I hope my energy level and fitness improves this week. Otherwise, I might be in for an espcially long marathon.
Chuck is running Marathon By The Sea in support of the InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Dog Days
So I went to the doctor today, and was given penicillin for my sore throat/left side of face. I'm not exactly sure what the official diagnosis was - I was in and out in less than two minutes - but it didn't seem too serious, and all signs point to a quick recovery. Good thing too, because I can't afford to miss any workouts due to illness.
Speaking of workouts, today's running included over four kilometers worth of speed work. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but I need to bring up my mileage before I attempt anything major at the track. Besides, I have another speed session planned for Thursday, so there's no need to overdo it. Not yet, at least.
My date with the track consisted of 5 repeats: 1600, 1200, 800, 400, 200. Each repeat is supposed to be faster than the last, with a reduced rest time between each repeat in order to maintain the effort. Based on my times from last year, here's how I expected each repeat to go down:
1600 - 6:20 or less
1200 - 4:45 or less
800 - 3:10 or less
400 - 1:30 or less
200 - sub 0:40
After a quick warmup, I started my session. I was moving fast - much quicker than planned, actually - when suddenly I caught a dog charging at me from the corner of my eye. I turned to assess the situation, and noticed that the little guy was carrying a frisbee in his mouth, which meant he was no harm to me.
Or so I thought. As soon as I turned my attention back to the track, the little bugger bounded up behind me, clipping my heels with the frisbee. The dog's owner managed to reel him in after 50 meters of chasing, but as soon as I came around the bend for the next lap, Lassie (well, he looked like a Lassie to me) clipped my heels again. I'll take a frisbee to the leg over a set of teeth any day, but it was still annoying at best.
Despite the Lassie's best efforts, I managed to run the mile in 6:08. As I was resting, he bounded over to me, frisbee in mouth, ready for round two. I was tempted to give in and play a game of fetch with him, but I needed to focus on the task at hand. Besides, I didn't want to encourage him when I started up again.
Turns out I didn't need to. Lassie followed me around for my entire workout, oblivious to his master's protests. I'm not sure if he inspired me to greatness - I did pick up the pace whenever he drew close to avoid the inevitable frisbee to the heel - but I ran my repeats much faster than expected. Maybe I should invite him to all of my workouts.
I don't have any concrete plans for tomorrow - it's an easy day, according to my calendar - but I would definitely enjoy a group run. I might hit up the Running Room, or I might go back to the track and see if Lassie runs with a pack. Either way, running solo is getting a little old.
Chuck is running the marathon in support of InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.
Speaking of workouts, today's running included over four kilometers worth of speed work. I know it doesn't sound like a lot, but I need to bring up my mileage before I attempt anything major at the track. Besides, I have another speed session planned for Thursday, so there's no need to overdo it. Not yet, at least.
My date with the track consisted of 5 repeats: 1600, 1200, 800, 400, 200. Each repeat is supposed to be faster than the last, with a reduced rest time between each repeat in order to maintain the effort. Based on my times from last year, here's how I expected each repeat to go down:
1600 - 6:20 or less
1200 - 4:45 or less
800 - 3:10 or less
400 - 1:30 or less
200 - sub 0:40
After a quick warmup, I started my session. I was moving fast - much quicker than planned, actually - when suddenly I caught a dog charging at me from the corner of my eye. I turned to assess the situation, and noticed that the little guy was carrying a frisbee in his mouth, which meant he was no harm to me.
Or so I thought. As soon as I turned my attention back to the track, the little bugger bounded up behind me, clipping my heels with the frisbee. The dog's owner managed to reel him in after 50 meters of chasing, but as soon as I came around the bend for the next lap, Lassie (well, he looked like a Lassie to me) clipped my heels again. I'll take a frisbee to the leg over a set of teeth any day, but it was still annoying at best.
Despite the Lassie's best efforts, I managed to run the mile in 6:08. As I was resting, he bounded over to me, frisbee in mouth, ready for round two. I was tempted to give in and play a game of fetch with him, but I needed to focus on the task at hand. Besides, I didn't want to encourage him when I started up again.
Turns out I didn't need to. Lassie followed me around for my entire workout, oblivious to his master's protests. I'm not sure if he inspired me to greatness - I did pick up the pace whenever he drew close to avoid the inevitable frisbee to the heel - but I ran my repeats much faster than expected. Maybe I should invite him to all of my workouts.
I don't have any concrete plans for tomorrow - it's an easy day, according to my calendar - but I would definitely enjoy a group run. I might hit up the Running Room, or I might go back to the track and see if Lassie runs with a pack. Either way, running solo is getting a little old.
Chuck is running the marathon in support of InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
(Not So) Long Run
If you read yesterday's blog, you know that I went to bed feeling ill, and woke up feeling worse. Thinking a little extra rest might cure my ailments, I added a couple of hours to my regular sleep routine, but it didn't take. The left side of my neck throbbed, an uncomfortable lump sat in the back of my throat, and my left ear felt congested. Not exactly the picture of health.
I spent the afternoon on the couch, contemplating my options. I could take a rest day and push back the long run, or forge ahead as planned. I also watched a baseball game, watched countless videos on YouTube, and mulled over the financial prospects of becoming a retro video game expert. By the time I decided that I would attempt a long run, it was too late; I had to leave for a birthday party. Oops.
I returned to the house around 9:00PM, full of cake and guilt. I didn't want to run anymore, but I also knew that taking the day off was an absolute no-no. Uninspired, I grabbed my running outfit and jogged into the twilight.
Getting out of the house is always my biggest obstacle. Once I start running, everything usually falls into place, and I can settle into a relatively comfortable rhythm with ease. Sure, I have the odd run where I scuff my shoes along the ground for forty-five minutes, but they are thankfully few and far between.
Tonight was no different. I felt like garbage for about five minutes, but once I hit Lancaster Avenue my mood picked up and I allowed myself some time to enjoy the scenery. Saint John's West Side has some beautiful houses and buildings, and I took them all in while analyzing the terrain. You see, a large chunk of Marathon By The Sea takes place on the West Side, and I want to check out as much of the course as possible before the big day.
The section I ran tonight - Main Street and Manawagonish Road - was relatively tame. There are a few hills, but they are small by Saint John standards, and it's a well travelled area, so there is plenty to keep my attention during the race. I ran four miles of the course - it was all I could handle tonight, really - then turned around and headed home. I was spent.
All told, I ran a little over ten miles in about an hour and a half. It wasn't my best effort, and about three miles less than I should have ran today, but considering I almost didn't run at all, I'll take it. Maybe I'll attempt a mid week 20k if my health improves.
Fundraising update: I received my first two donations, and have added a new page to the blog to thank everyone that donates money to the InterAction School of Performing Arts. If you (or your business) wants to support the school, please drop me a line at kvchallenger@gmail.com or click this link!
Chuck is running the marathon in support of InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.
I spent the afternoon on the couch, contemplating my options. I could take a rest day and push back the long run, or forge ahead as planned. I also watched a baseball game, watched countless videos on YouTube, and mulled over the financial prospects of becoming a retro video game expert. By the time I decided that I would attempt a long run, it was too late; I had to leave for a birthday party. Oops.
I returned to the house around 9:00PM, full of cake and guilt. I didn't want to run anymore, but I also knew that taking the day off was an absolute no-no. Uninspired, I grabbed my running outfit and jogged into the twilight.
Getting out of the house is always my biggest obstacle. Once I start running, everything usually falls into place, and I can settle into a relatively comfortable rhythm with ease. Sure, I have the odd run where I scuff my shoes along the ground for forty-five minutes, but they are thankfully few and far between.
Tonight was no different. I felt like garbage for about five minutes, but once I hit Lancaster Avenue my mood picked up and I allowed myself some time to enjoy the scenery. Saint John's West Side has some beautiful houses and buildings, and I took them all in while analyzing the terrain. You see, a large chunk of Marathon By The Sea takes place on the West Side, and I want to check out as much of the course as possible before the big day.
The section I ran tonight - Main Street and Manawagonish Road - was relatively tame. There are a few hills, but they are small by Saint John standards, and it's a well travelled area, so there is plenty to keep my attention during the race. I ran four miles of the course - it was all I could handle tonight, really - then turned around and headed home. I was spent.
All told, I ran a little over ten miles in about an hour and a half. It wasn't my best effort, and about three miles less than I should have ran today, but considering I almost didn't run at all, I'll take it. Maybe I'll attempt a mid week 20k if my health improves.
Fundraising update: I received my first two donations, and have added a new page to the blog to thank everyone that donates money to the InterAction School of Performing Arts. If you (or your business) wants to support the school, please drop me a line at kvchallenger@gmail.com or click this link!
Chuck is running the marathon in support of InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Wandering West
It's the night before my first long run, and I can't sleep. My throat is bugging me, and I feel like I might be coming down with a cold. I really hope I'm not, because I can't afford too many off days between now and August 14. Anyone have any inexpensive home rememdies they want to share with me, just in case?
I almost hope I have a cold coming on, because that would explain why I haven't been too eager to hit the road this week. I've delayed every run since my Tuesday speed session, and almost didn't make it out the door today because I put it off too long. When I finally ventured outside, I wasn't inspired to explore new territory, and instead wandered aimlessly around Fundy Heights until I filled the alloted time I thought necessary. Not exactly the momentum I anticipated when I took up this challenge, let me tell you.
While being run down has something to do with my general malaise, I might also need to change up my routes. Right now, all of my regular runs feel mundane, and I am out of interesting options. The only way to spice this is up is to invite other people to run with me, or drive to a different part of town for my runs.
If all goes well, things will pick up next week. My friend Peter Cullen arrives in town on Tuesday, and, if he's feeling up for it, I will introduce him to my neighbourhood through a series of rave runs. It will get me out of the house for my easy runs, and make the neighbourhood seem a little more interesting, if only for a few days.
Update: Sore throat is now accompanied by a sore ear and a stiff neck. Not good. Any online doctors want to suggest a diagnosis?
Chuck is running the marathon in support of InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.
I almost hope I have a cold coming on, because that would explain why I haven't been too eager to hit the road this week. I've delayed every run since my Tuesday speed session, and almost didn't make it out the door today because I put it off too long. When I finally ventured outside, I wasn't inspired to explore new territory, and instead wandered aimlessly around Fundy Heights until I filled the alloted time I thought necessary. Not exactly the momentum I anticipated when I took up this challenge, let me tell you.
While being run down has something to do with my general malaise, I might also need to change up my routes. Right now, all of my regular runs feel mundane, and I am out of interesting options. The only way to spice this is up is to invite other people to run with me, or drive to a different part of town for my runs.
If all goes well, things will pick up next week. My friend Peter Cullen arrives in town on Tuesday, and, if he's feeling up for it, I will introduce him to my neighbourhood through a series of rave runs. It will get me out of the house for my easy runs, and make the neighbourhood seem a little more interesting, if only for a few days.
Update: Sore throat is now accompanied by a sore ear and a stiff neck. Not good. Any online doctors want to suggest a diagnosis?
Chuck is running the marathon in support of InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.
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