Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Time for a tempo run!


It has begun.  Training time.  I wore a watch for the first time in many moons. The watch doesn’t lie.  It tells me exactly how quickly or slowly I ran my workout.  We were ahead of our required pace on our first training run - faster by almost a minute per mile.  I’m thinking that’s not good and here is why …
My brain says, “If you were a minute under pace on the first run, then you can surely be that much faster on the rest of your workouts.” That’s what one would think.  Here is the problem … I’ve done it before. I start out faster than the schedule requires, then somehow the schedule begins to close the gap.  Instead of lowering my time each week while increasing mileage, I find myself hanging right around the same pace. I need to work on that. My speed workouts need to be more effective.

There is another thought process that I repeatedly run through.  It goes something like this …
“I want to be faster than last year.”

“What does it matter?  At your age you should be satisfied with finishing the race.”
“If I trained better, or lost a few pounds, I could run faster.”

“Hey, you’re awesome.  Look how far you can run. Just keep running!”
“But my relay team would probably like me to be faster.”

“You are doing this for health and for fun, right?  Chill.”
And so on …

I think I will take it one workout at a time. Today is a tempo run – and there is a breeze – and it could rain. Tempo runs are hard, but then, so are speed workouts and long runs. I need to remind myself that this is running.  It’s supposed to be hard.  If it were easy it would be called “walking.”

Happy Running!

Thursday, April 10, 2014

Training time

Busted SpudmanTrophies!
It's time to start training for races.  That means sticking with prescribed mileage and timing my runs.  I've been postponing it, but next week will be twelve weeks prior to a half marathon.  It's time to get serious.  I'm preparing for the Fit for Life Half in July.  There will be a couple of 5K's thrown in there in the meantime like THIS ONE.  The half marathon is actually in preparation for two other races that I am planning for this summer. 

This will be my third year competing with my good buddy, Paulee, in the Burley Spudman Triathlon.  This one is special because I get to do it as a team with one of my longest (I don't want to say oldest anymore) friends.  It is a little bit about competing, a lot about companionship, and even more about the silly trophies.

The second race is going to be crazy!  It will be my first relay and I picked THIS ONE!  I am still trying to coerce team members into participating.  I need two more runners, but I think I have a couple in my back pocket if some don't come forth.  The Grand Teton Relay is a 12 person 180 mile race over a 24 hour period.  Did I mention the altitude?  Let's just say it's about 5000 feet higher than my current residence.  Oh, yeah.

It's all good, right?  I mean, after all, it gives me something to write about and I love that!

Monday, April 7, 2014

Warm weather running



Warm weather running, oh how I’ve missed you!  It’s like it happens overnight in the Treasure Valley.  One day I am layering on long sleeved shirts, sweatshirts, gloves and headbands, and just a weekend later I am running free in a short sleeved Tee. 
Freedom!

Well, except for the part where it is so warm that sweat stings my eyes as it drips from my brow and the cool down is actually a warm down.

I do enjoy a warm weather run.  I feel ten pounds lighter what with the absence of the sweatshirt and added warm gear.  My muscles don’t protest as much at the beginning of a warm run as they do during colder temps.  Slow as molasses?  Yes, I understand that expression. It is also easier for me to take time to stretch post-run.  When it is cold, I can’t wait to get indoors and into a hot shower!  While this feels absolutely divine, I would be better served to stretch a bit first.  Experience has taught me how important it is to stretch, but oh … that warm water calleth me!

I have to hurry to enjoy it, however.  You see, the seasons change quickly around here and soon I will be going for hot weather runs.  They are almost as challenging as cold weather runs, only opposite.  Instead of adding more layers I plant water bottles in strategic spots and rise early to avoid the heat.

Alas, I must be difficult to please, but I must keep running, and so I shall.  For now, I will bask in the comfort of moderate spring temperatures – at least until the wind comes or it rains.

Question: What weather conditions do you prefer for your outdoor exercise?

Happy Running!