Sunday, November 02, 2008
searching for answers-will the harrisburg marathon provide them?
yanni in the background playing reflections of passion- nice soft background music-
ran track this morning just trying to put some life back into the legs and knowing i would take lots of time off this week to do basically a one week taper rather than my usual three weeks. but i usually train right also and didn't this time. though i did put in lots of miles and a little speedwork and some hills-
short workout working on leg turnover --- 20 x 100 and 3 x 200 (48's- still some leg speed despite the pain and torn muscle) it is easy to forget the muscle is still torn as it doesn't bother me when i walk or run no matter how hard- but later today i accidentally caught it on the edge of the door and the leg turned around d the groin didn't and it was like being stabbed really deeply- i know what that feels like also)
but the workout went well and i came home and had a nice pancake breakfast and then worked on the new rock garden for shade container plants i am creating- using a 160 pound rock as a center piece; should be nice if it works out like i want.
the rest of the day was pretty typical- gail went off to ride and i went to practice some short game and hit some balls- then back home to paint and do laundry and deal with house stuff- this week and the next one will be spent on getting the house back in some sort of order and maybe, just maybe, someone will show up and finish the work on it they started -hahaha i am sure-
and then to figure out what is next. am very disappointed in myself and how things are working out or not as they say- seem to be caught in the middle of several things right now and have to work them out- will see how the week plays out...
will be curious to see how harrisburg goes- not the race itself, but the experience. with 184 marathons behind me and maybe another 30 ultras or more, i used to really enjoy going to races and seeing old friends and then racing and also seeing the sights where we were. will see how this one goes. time to make some new friends; will get into the running club when we get back. maybe...... it does seem fruitless right now as i am barely a runner despite the miles. i can live with being slower; there are no more sub 3 hour marathons in me or 4 or probably 5 hours, but figuring out a way to train and eat and live somewhat in balance has been a challenge i am failing at. need the guidebook for old athlete wannabees..
2140's;;; got a pair of new 2140's and they are great; without looking up the stats i can just say that they feel a little lighter than the 2130's but just as stable and i always liked that i could take a pair of asics out of the box and just go run in them.
the running list is into one of the usual threads that come up about who is and isn't a runner. the young guns think they have the answers, but they don't - a few will be proven to be genetically gifted and slow down more slowly than most; but most will get slow and tight and sore and stiff and just old. they won't be able to do the middle mileage hard runs that really keep you in shape. everyone can go long and slow, and maybe short and fast, but not in a decent training program. and then one day suddenly you are old with tight hip flexors and piriformis muscles and quads and ,,,, why bother.. stretch and lift seem to be the answers and control the weight and keep racing. instead of going longer go shorter and faster. maybe that is the answer- but everyone needs to find out what will work for them. they should save their comments and re-read them in 25 years.
i can remember running fast also. and the pace i ran a 6 hour race at i cannot do now for 4 miles. so what? i ran 2970 miles last year and most people on my running list would say i was not a runner because i ran so slow. but i also have 50 marathons under 3:10 so was i just a runner then? i digress i know- i become a bigger believer in the bell curve everyday- i must learn to live with and somehow enjoy getting old -ha on that, but i will seek a peace with it that i just don't have yet..
still searching for answers..............
congrats to paula radcliffe for another nyc marathon win!
ran track this morning just trying to put some life back into the legs and knowing i would take lots of time off this week to do basically a one week taper rather than my usual three weeks. but i usually train right also and didn't this time. though i did put in lots of miles and a little speedwork and some hills-
short workout working on leg turnover --- 20 x 100 and 3 x 200 (48's- still some leg speed despite the pain and torn muscle) it is easy to forget the muscle is still torn as it doesn't bother me when i walk or run no matter how hard- but later today i accidentally caught it on the edge of the door and the leg turned around d the groin didn't and it was like being stabbed really deeply- i know what that feels like also)
but the workout went well and i came home and had a nice pancake breakfast and then worked on the new rock garden for shade container plants i am creating- using a 160 pound rock as a center piece; should be nice if it works out like i want.
the rest of the day was pretty typical- gail went off to ride and i went to practice some short game and hit some balls- then back home to paint and do laundry and deal with house stuff- this week and the next one will be spent on getting the house back in some sort of order and maybe, just maybe, someone will show up and finish the work on it they started -hahaha i am sure-
and then to figure out what is next. am very disappointed in myself and how things are working out or not as they say- seem to be caught in the middle of several things right now and have to work them out- will see how the week plays out...
will be curious to see how harrisburg goes- not the race itself, but the experience. with 184 marathons behind me and maybe another 30 ultras or more, i used to really enjoy going to races and seeing old friends and then racing and also seeing the sights where we were. will see how this one goes. time to make some new friends; will get into the running club when we get back. maybe...... it does seem fruitless right now as i am barely a runner despite the miles. i can live with being slower; there are no more sub 3 hour marathons in me or 4 or probably 5 hours, but figuring out a way to train and eat and live somewhat in balance has been a challenge i am failing at. need the guidebook for old athlete wannabees..
2140's;;; got a pair of new 2140's and they are great; without looking up the stats i can just say that they feel a little lighter than the 2130's but just as stable and i always liked that i could take a pair of asics out of the box and just go run in them.
the running list is into one of the usual threads that come up about who is and isn't a runner. the young guns think they have the answers, but they don't - a few will be proven to be genetically gifted and slow down more slowly than most; but most will get slow and tight and sore and stiff and just old. they won't be able to do the middle mileage hard runs that really keep you in shape. everyone can go long and slow, and maybe short and fast, but not in a decent training program. and then one day suddenly you are old with tight hip flexors and piriformis muscles and quads and ,,,, why bother.. stretch and lift seem to be the answers and control the weight and keep racing. instead of going longer go shorter and faster. maybe that is the answer- but everyone needs to find out what will work for them. they should save their comments and re-read them in 25 years.
i can remember running fast also. and the pace i ran a 6 hour race at i cannot do now for 4 miles. so what? i ran 2970 miles last year and most people on my running list would say i was not a runner because i ran so slow. but i also have 50 marathons under 3:10 so was i just a runner then? i digress i know- i become a bigger believer in the bell curve everyday- i must learn to live with and somehow enjoy getting old -ha on that, but i will seek a peace with it that i just don't have yet..
still searching for answers..............
congrats to paula radcliffe for another nyc marathon win!
Saturday, November 01, 2008
very short post-79,795 miles done
am back in town again after time in philly again- more on everything later-- phils win- ran my 79,795 mile- almost at the meaningless number of 80,000.
house almost done and about to start putting it back together-lots to do there but over time.
harrisburg next week. then baltimore maybe or richmond or va beach-
then head to the west coast sometime next-
back later- just wanted to let people know i am still alive. cataract surgery still not scheduled yet. legs were truly dead this morning and will really cut back this week.
elections finally are about here. will be good to know bush is almost done. maybe....will be a good test for our country and also for the people who take polls. also want to see how the red and blue map chaanges or doesn't.
house almost done and about to start putting it back together-lots to do there but over time.
harrisburg next week. then baltimore maybe or richmond or va beach-
then head to the west coast sometime next-
back later- just wanted to let people know i am still alive. cataract surgery still not scheduled yet. legs were truly dead this morning and will really cut back this week.
elections finally are about here. will be good to know bush is almost done. maybe....will be a good test for our country and also for the people who take polls. also want to see how the red and blue map chaanges or doesn't.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
track and golf on gail's birthday-ron griswold's also
up and at the track while still dark. had a 10:12 tee time and needed to be done the workout as early as possible. mostly just wanted to stretch the legs out a bit and see how i felt. whatever i had seems to have passed or else it is lingering quietly inside and at least not bothering me daily as it did last week.
did a short walk/jog warmup in sort of a surreal setting as there were two pole lamps over by the baseball field on and they cast some light onto a water laden and puddled up track. since i only wanted to run 100's and maybe a test of a couple of 200's this did not cause any problems.
ran sets of 6 like i did in oxford and stretched every 6. the goal was to stretch out the legs and not just beat myself into the ground. basically each 100 for about the first 12 went a little faster as i got looser and more warmed up, a sign that i really need to warm up more-like i used to be capable of doing. this is mental to some degree, but i know i only have so much running in me before the leg starts to tighten up and i hate to waste it warming up- as a coach i know this makes no sense. my runners may remember that i always said i coached myself differently than i coached them- must be like being your own lawyer and having a fool for a client.
through the puddles i ran. at 45 degrees it was nice running- the wind was tough, but so be it. i did each set in a different direction so that i ran with and against the wind for training purposes. the sun came up sort of behind some clouds, but the wind picked up. was not raining yet, but it would be. after 23 x 100 i ran a 200 in 51 and then another in 49. heart rate was 157 for the 49; had been 151 for the 51.
49.3 actually and that is 6:36 pace. i used to run half marathons at a faster pace, but it also shows that not all of my speed is gone. i know i need to take more time off and do other things as well to get faster if i want to do that. i have the head of someone who has run 184 marathons and about 35 ultras. my head is a 50 mile guy, but is my body doomed to be a 5k runner? will need to sort that out instead of fighting it.
with 24 x 100 and 2 x 200 i did a 20 minute cooldown and stretched and headed home. just enough time to shower and eat a healthy breakfast and head off to the golf course. the wind had picked up and it was pretty cold. a drizzle was on and off. at the course i was the first golfer of the day. i knew the staff and they seemed happy to have someone show up. i walked 18 holes alone and only saw two other guys out there behind while i played. did so-so with only two birdies and 11 pars. didn't hit the ball that well, but got around and tried to get used to the new glasses prescription. very strong and the ball seemed weird when looking down on the tee box or putting. need to get used to that.
finished up and stopped by the nursery and picked up the last plant of the season- like to put one final one in before the ground freezes, my own little tradition. picked up a nice abelia with white flowers and also got a very large rock to start a new island around in the spring. and then home.
did some painting and cleaning up and started to put the laundry room back into shape. hit a bucket of pitches and chips in the backyard and then did some laundry and after dinner here i am. another day done-
today is gail's birthday, but she is at school and by now on her way home. back to philadelphia tomorrow. have driven a great deal lately for sure.
one week until the election and will be glad to have it over i hoped!
happy birthday to ron wherever you are- my emails come back to me.
did a short walk/jog warmup in sort of a surreal setting as there were two pole lamps over by the baseball field on and they cast some light onto a water laden and puddled up track. since i only wanted to run 100's and maybe a test of a couple of 200's this did not cause any problems.
ran sets of 6 like i did in oxford and stretched every 6. the goal was to stretch out the legs and not just beat myself into the ground. basically each 100 for about the first 12 went a little faster as i got looser and more warmed up, a sign that i really need to warm up more-like i used to be capable of doing. this is mental to some degree, but i know i only have so much running in me before the leg starts to tighten up and i hate to waste it warming up- as a coach i know this makes no sense. my runners may remember that i always said i coached myself differently than i coached them- must be like being your own lawyer and having a fool for a client.
through the puddles i ran. at 45 degrees it was nice running- the wind was tough, but so be it. i did each set in a different direction so that i ran with and against the wind for training purposes. the sun came up sort of behind some clouds, but the wind picked up. was not raining yet, but it would be. after 23 x 100 i ran a 200 in 51 and then another in 49. heart rate was 157 for the 49; had been 151 for the 51.
49.3 actually and that is 6:36 pace. i used to run half marathons at a faster pace, but it also shows that not all of my speed is gone. i know i need to take more time off and do other things as well to get faster if i want to do that. i have the head of someone who has run 184 marathons and about 35 ultras. my head is a 50 mile guy, but is my body doomed to be a 5k runner? will need to sort that out instead of fighting it.
with 24 x 100 and 2 x 200 i did a 20 minute cooldown and stretched and headed home. just enough time to shower and eat a healthy breakfast and head off to the golf course. the wind had picked up and it was pretty cold. a drizzle was on and off. at the course i was the first golfer of the day. i knew the staff and they seemed happy to have someone show up. i walked 18 holes alone and only saw two other guys out there behind while i played. did so-so with only two birdies and 11 pars. didn't hit the ball that well, but got around and tried to get used to the new glasses prescription. very strong and the ball seemed weird when looking down on the tee box or putting. need to get used to that.
finished up and stopped by the nursery and picked up the last plant of the season- like to put one final one in before the ground freezes, my own little tradition. picked up a nice abelia with white flowers and also got a very large rock to start a new island around in the spring. and then home.
did some painting and cleaning up and started to put the laundry room back into shape. hit a bucket of pitches and chips in the backyard and then did some laundry and after dinner here i am. another day done-
today is gail's birthday, but she is at school and by now on her way home. back to philadelphia tomorrow. have driven a great deal lately for sure.
one week until the election and will be glad to have it over i hoped!
happy birthday to ron wherever you are- my emails come back to me.
Monday, October 27, 2008
three days with a world series game thrown in
in a nutshell, it is three days since my last; email has been down sort of as today i found 80+ emails sent directly to my blocked folder- will have to deal with them tomorrow and finish this also-
starting in the middle- last night after running a decent track workout in the morning and driving to phila i went to game 4 of the world series with my brother and his son and bre, david's wife; despite the cold we had a pretty good time and the phils won to go up 3-1; as i type they are in a rain delay tied 2-2;
friday i had an ok though tired run before going to work at the golf course- no workers showed up as they were going to. my morning pulse was 54- that is way off for no apparent reason and i didn't fell sick or tired so i have no idea why- if i die unexpectedly it will have been a sign i suppose- hope not- today's pulse was 47 on almost no sleep and many hours on my feet and or driving and also with not that much food. who knows? i did have a really nice little 7 mile run today and was surprised at that as i was not as hydrated as i should have been and should have been really tired.
so for last week i got 54 miles in to cap a stretch of 58, 55, 59, 52 and 54- and only one day off- just not enough long runs; best was 17 and also a 14 plus 3 twelve's and an 11 and some 10's. oh well--- 2 weeks until harrisburg one way or another.
no golf at all but am supposed to play tomorrow while gail teaches on her birthday- rain may change that-
we did the austin grill thing tonight and it was nice- has been awhile;
more tomorrow---peace
starting in the middle- last night after running a decent track workout in the morning and driving to phila i went to game 4 of the world series with my brother and his son and bre, david's wife; despite the cold we had a pretty good time and the phils won to go up 3-1; as i type they are in a rain delay tied 2-2;
friday i had an ok though tired run before going to work at the golf course- no workers showed up as they were going to. my morning pulse was 54- that is way off for no apparent reason and i didn't fell sick or tired so i have no idea why- if i die unexpectedly it will have been a sign i suppose- hope not- today's pulse was 47 on almost no sleep and many hours on my feet and or driving and also with not that much food. who knows? i did have a really nice little 7 mile run today and was surprised at that as i was not as hydrated as i should have been and should have been really tired.
so for last week i got 54 miles in to cap a stretch of 58, 55, 59, 52 and 54- and only one day off- just not enough long runs; best was 17 and also a 14 plus 3 twelve's and an 11 and some 10's. oh well--- 2 weeks until harrisburg one way or another.
no golf at all but am supposed to play tomorrow while gail teaches on her birthday- rain may change that-
we did the austin grill thing tonight and it was nice- has been awhile;
more tomorrow---peace
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