They say that once you get in a groove the next two steps are the rut, followed by the grave. I’m not buying that. A little less than seven weeks out from the Napa Valley Marathon and I’m in a groove. Every run is so much easier than a month ago. Paces that were tempo-ish are now easy, longer runs are focused and relaxed. I mentioned this a few weeks… Read More »It All Keeps Adding Up!
Having run 16 miles last week, I should have been smart and upped this week’s effort by two miles. That was, in fact, the plan. My point to point destination (Denver Light Rail at the Convention Center) was precisely at that 18 mile mark. But also in the back of my mind was a thought that if all was well at 18, it would be on to 20! I was… Read More »The Long Run
“It’s a simple choice: we can all be good boys and wear our letter sweaters around and get our little degrees and find some nice girl to settle, you know, down with . . . take up what a friend of ours calls the hearty challenges of lawn care.” “Or what? What’s your alternative?” She leaned over trying to get him back on track. He looked at her, surprised; his… Read More »The Simple Choice
I ran nine miles on the treadmill again today. As Forrest Gump would say, “That’s all I’m going to say about that.”
I decided, for safety reasons, to run on the treadmill this morning. I struggled with the decision for some time as, in my mind, that decision is made because I am too chicken to go outside. Too cold? Not today, besides, I don’t mind the cold. Having lived near Alamosa for 13 years, I’ve run in some very cold temps. It was so cold once that …. (fill in your… Read More »Dreadmill Not So Bad – this time!
Training progresses on steps – levels. As one becomes more fit, they proceed to the next level. These levels, while clear to the runner (when they are occurring) are next to impossible to predict and thus, tough to work into a plan. I feel as though I have popped up to the next level this week. My easy runs are at a faster pace than before and my tempo pace… Read More »Levels
Watched one of my favorite running movies tonight, On the Edge with Bruce Dern. It is the story of Wes Holman, a once famous fictional runner who, in his forties, comes back to race his hometown race. The race is the also fictional Cielo Sea, fashioned after the famous Dipsea race from Mill Valley to Stinson Beach. To make a long story short, Holman comes back to train for the… Read More »On the Edge.
Before I file the 2010 training log, I thought I’d take one last peek. As has been previously written, I ran 2031 miles in 2010. In my 45 years of running, that ranks 25th for mileage volume. After running 2300+ in 2009 and not missing any days, the goal for ’10 was to remain consistent and continue to build some aerobic fitness. Although I missed 15 days due to a… Read More »“Trial of Miles. Miles of Trials”
First run of the year was a COLD one this morning in the Cherry Creek State Park. Part of the paved trail was plowed (I think by a citizen that walks there regularly, as opposed to the park people doing it). I like running in the snow a bunch, the problem I have is running the unshoveled areas where everyone else has run. It becomes extremely uneven and wobbly. No… Read More »Happy New Year
As I close the book on 2010, I’m chomping at the bit for 2011. After two rough years, I finally am beginning to feel anchored again and believe that the worst is in my rear view mirror (I can’t speak for your mirror, sorry). A big part of the anchor is the run (and that doesn’t take away from the other important anchors in my life: my wife, Linda and… Read More »A Cold, Anchoring Run!