This weekend, I'm running in the ING Miami Half Marathon. With temperatures in the 70s-80s, I'm not expecting to run anywhere close to a personal best. I've never been to Miami, so at least I get to see another part of the country and mark that off the "places I've been to" list.
The only reason I'm going to this race is because I'm on my company's team, which competes every year in the United States Corporate Athletics Association (USCAA) Marathon Championships. The venue for these championships changes each year, with teams getting an opportunity to vote on where they want to run. The short list for next year's race: Mississippi Blues Marathon (Jackson, MS), Rock n' Roll Phoenix Marathon, Shamrock Marathon (Virginia Beach), Tobacco Road Marathon (Gary, NC) and the National Marathon (Washington, DC). My personal choices were all rejected (Seattle, California International Marathon, & St. Croix). Bummer.
The Albany Marathon on March 1st is my first big goal of the year. I've been plantar fasciitis-free for three weeks, after having suffered with it for nine months, so I don't know if I'll be 100% ready for it. Training has been going relatively well though. Albany will hopefully qualify me for the 2015 Boston Marathon. I'm also running in Boston this year, which would also qualify me for the next year's race (need 3:15, or faster), but I like to give myself multiple options, in the event of undesirable weather conditions at either of those races (I don't do well in the heat). If I don't qualify, then it's difficult to find, and train for, and event before the September registration period.
After Boston, all is uncertain. I had contemplated running in a 70-mile ultra on my birthday in August, but I'll probably only do that if I can't convince a friend, or two, to participate in one of my bucket-list adventures (West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island vs. Glacier National Park).
The ultra I might do: http://www.mountainmadness.ca/fatdog.php
A video of the ultra I might do: http://vimeo.com/84814818
What I'd rather do:
1. http://www.montanatrailcrew.com/2013/09/glacier-loop-siyeh-bend-piegan-pass.html
OR
2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBdqDZhWS2s
OR
3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9zcYyCSUQA
Which would you do?
I'm leaning more-and-more into doing adventure/hiking/trail running-stuff as opposed to running in organized races. I just don't see how a race can be as rewarding as going off the beaten path and trusting your own navigational skills and ability to survive in extreme conditions in a majestic place. If I don't have any friends who will be running in Boston next year, that may go away as an annual pilgrimage as well. What's the point if you can't share it with someone?
In June, I'm organizing a kayaking trip to Cumberland Island, a barrier Island on the Atlantic coast of Georgia.
Sample itinerary:
7 June- depart Crooked River State Park just after high tide and kayak 6 miles to Plum Orchard mansion on Cumberland Island and setup camp for night
8 June- Early morning, run 33-34 miles around the island, and around noon, kayak back shortly after low tide (DON'T miss the tide, or you may be stuck on the island for a bit longer than anticipated).
Probably the only issue with this trip is that none of the folks who want to go, including myself, have ever kayaked. How hard could it be? I suppose we'll have to learn!
Never heard of Cumberland Island? More info can be found here: http://www.nps.gov/cuis/index.htm
This blog has mostly been an unorganized/unedited rant. I may go back an update it as I see fit.
Friday, January 31, 2014
Sunday, December 15, 2013
ING Miami Marathon training: week five report
This was the longest training week to date for the year, having run 90 miles since Monday (100 in the last eight days, but who's counting?).
The highlights:
The highlights:
- On Tuesday (interval day), I tried on a new pair of shoes. The insole kept sliding out the back of my left shoe every few laps or so as John and I charged around the Lakebottom Park track. This was quite annoying, and I returned the shoes a few days later. I think I may just stick with my tried-and-true Nike Lunaracers. Experimenting anymore so close to my marathon might be a bad idea.
- On Friday, I ran a few miles around the Columbus Country Club early in the morning, primarily on the cart paths. I may do this more often, but instead include running on the lush fairways to give the feet some rest.
- The Saturday long run including running up two of the biggest hills in the area on the Phenix City side of the Chattahoochee River. What I most like about this run was that we got in some good hill training during the first 10 miles, followed by eight pancake-flat miles along the river valley south of town. I may do this route next Saturday as a progression run.
Monday, December 9, 2013
ING Miami Marathon training: week four report
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." The first part of that quote, from Charles Dickens' A Tale of Two Cities, can best describe how running has been going, while the second portrays the non-running part of my life. Köra från verkligheten is a Swedish phrase meaning running from reality, and is written below my blog title, Vikingstorm, at the top of the page. In many ways, I'm a storm trying to unleash my energy on the roads and trails of Columbus.
Now that you're a bit perplexed...
Summary of the training: Everything went according to plan except the 16-miler on Saturday, which was cut 4 miles short. To make up those 4, on Sunday I ran with John on the Eagle 100 course. The Eagle 100 is a ten mile loop on the dirt roads of Fort Benning starting and finishing at King's Pond. Domingo Mercado and I used to run this route on a regular basis. Each time we did it, we saw the same bald eagle near the end of the run. Sometimes, it seemed like the eagle was waiting for us, and would fly directly over our heads as if to say "good morning." The "100" part of Eagle 100, refers to the fact that we saw the eagle 100% of the time we ran. On yesterday's Eagle 100 run, I started to tell John the story of why we named it the Eagle 100, and just as I started to tell the story, an eagle flew into our view as it launched from a limb high about our heads on the southwestern edge of King's Pond. A few moments later, a second eagle flew away from another tree in the same vicinity. This is the first time I had seen two eagles there. John joked that we should rename the route "The Double Eagle 100."
Other news: The Cumberland Island Adventure is still in the works. This will involve a 6-mile sea kayaking trip from Crooked Island State Park to Cumberland Island, a barrier island on the southeastern corner of Georgia on the border of Florida. After kayaking to the island, "we" will run around the island to all of the important landmarks/sights (33-40 miles) before heading back. Most-likely this will take place over the Memorial Day weekend. It'll be hot, buggy, hard, and will require lots of tidal planning. More to follow on this...
Next week: 90 miles. Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudge!
Now that you're a bit perplexed...
Summary of the training: Everything went according to plan except the 16-miler on Saturday, which was cut 4 miles short. To make up those 4, on Sunday I ran with John on the Eagle 100 course. The Eagle 100 is a ten mile loop on the dirt roads of Fort Benning starting and finishing at King's Pond. Domingo Mercado and I used to run this route on a regular basis. Each time we did it, we saw the same bald eagle near the end of the run. Sometimes, it seemed like the eagle was waiting for us, and would fly directly over our heads as if to say "good morning." The "100" part of Eagle 100, refers to the fact that we saw the eagle 100% of the time we ran. On yesterday's Eagle 100 run, I started to tell John the story of why we named it the Eagle 100, and just as I started to tell the story, an eagle flew into our view as it launched from a limb high about our heads on the southwestern edge of King's Pond. A few moments later, a second eagle flew away from another tree in the same vicinity. This is the first time I had seen two eagles there. John joked that we should rename the route "The Double Eagle 100."
Other news: The Cumberland Island Adventure is still in the works. This will involve a 6-mile sea kayaking trip from Crooked Island State Park to Cumberland Island, a barrier island on the southeastern corner of Georgia on the border of Florida. After kayaking to the island, "we" will run around the island to all of the important landmarks/sights (33-40 miles) before heading back. Most-likely this will take place over the Memorial Day weekend. It'll be hot, buggy, hard, and will require lots of tidal planning. More to follow on this...
Next week: 90 miles. Fuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuudge!
Sunday, December 1, 2013
ING Miami training: week three report
85 miles. Done. Tired. It was a week of up-and-down weather with several cool morning runs in the upper 20s, punctuated by a miserable 10-miler on Wednesday morning in pouring rain and 35 degrees. If I were to name that Wednesday run, "The Ice Bath" would be an appropriate summarization. Fortunately, the week ended with a pleasantly warm run on the trails of Flat Rock Park on Sunday afternoon. I prefer the cooler temps on my hard workout days though.
Other highlights: the Tuesday tempo run of 4 miles almost didn't happen since my regular running buddy couldn't make it (and I wasn't motivated), but I toughed it out and managed to run the 4 at 6:44, 6:44, 6:31 and 6:29. Saturday's long run of 15 miles was altered from a steady-state to a progression run since I felt the need to get in some quicker miles, the fastest of which was 6:20. On Sunday, I ran 6 miles in the morning with a few runners competing in a 24-hour race. I was in awe.
New adventure: I'm planning an "adventure run" on Cumberland Island on a date TBD. It'll probably involve a sea kayak trip from St Marys, GA followed by a 30+ mile run on the beaches and trails of the island. More details to follow. Most-likely to be done this upcoming spring or fall.
Next week calls for 67.5 miles. Sweet!
Monday, November 25, 2013
ING Miami training: week two report
Week two went pretty much according to plan. During Tuesday morning intervals, John and I rotated pacing at the front after every lap. The two-mile intervals seemed to fly by using this approach; something I'd like to sustain. The long run on Saturday was probably a little fast for my liking, given the stage of training, but I felt fully recovered from the effort during the trail run on Sunday which is a good sign. The total mileage for the week was 76, with week three jumping up to 85. The following week goes back down to 67, and my legs will surely need the rest.
Update: I have officially registered for the Fat Dog 70 which takes place in southern British Columbia on my birthday, August 16th. My longest race to date is 50K (31 miles), so this is going to be tough. After a short rest after Boston, I will commence training, and may take a few trips to the north Georgia/ western North Carolina mountains to get in some long days on trails.
Wednesday, November 20, 2013
The weekly runs
Here's a breakdown of my typical running week:
Monday
Monday, a.k.a. Recovery Day #1, is a day reserved for running with my border collie, Tobie. He's about 10 years old, and 6 miles is about all he's got in the tank. Tobie likes to stop, sniff and pee at every scent along the route, which is either on the Fall Line Trace (a bike/jogging path) or at Lakebottom Park. During a high-mileage week (80+), I may include another run of 3-5 miles in the evening.
Tuesday
Tuesday morning hurts, but I look forward to it probably more than any other day, maybe for that reason. This is interval day. Off-season (when not specifically training for a race), the intervals are usually between 200-800 meters, but when training for a marathon, the distance of the intervals are from 1.5-3 miles, with the hardest day being a 5 x 2 mile workout. Once you factor in a 2-mile warmup and 2-mile cooldown, with 1/2 mile jogs in-between intervals, that's a pretty long morning. John Ellison has been joining me for this sufferfest the last few weeks. On Tuesday evenings, I have been joining a group at Lakebottom Park for an easy 3 mile run. This helps loosen up the tired legs from the morning.
Wednesday
An easy-moderate day, but second-longest mileage day of the week, I have been showing up at the Big Dog (North) Running store at 5am for 6 easy miles, and then joining the 6am group run from that location for another 4 for a total of 10 miles. I run the 6 miles before the group run at any easy pace (8:30-9:00+), and the group tends to run along at a quick clip in the 7:30-range. On Wednesday evenings I'll either run a few more miles alone, or with a group from the other Big Dog store in Uptown Columbus.
Thursday
John Ellison and I have been meeting in the mornings somewhere between our two homes, which are 1/2 mile apart, and going for 8-10 miles at a relatively easy pace, which is something John has been learning to do. Lately, I've been really tired on this run, as the long mileage from Tuesday and Wednesday has taken its toll by now. Thursday evening I have been meeting a group at Lakebottom Park for 3 miles, or so, at an easy pace. I try to include striders into either the morning or evening run, but only do so if I'm feeling fresh, which usually isn't until the evening.
Friday
Recovery Day #2. Just like Monday, except there is no evening run. The goal is to be fresh for Saturday morning.
Saturday
The long run day. In marathon training, that means 16-22 miles. I'll either do this as a steady easy long run (most of the time), or a progression run (HARD!). This run starts at the Big Dog Uptown location, usually at 6am, but earlier if the day is going to be hot.
Sunday
Easy trail run of 6-10 miles, or on a soft-surface (dirt road?) to give the feet some rest.
Monday
Monday, a.k.a. Recovery Day #1, is a day reserved for running with my border collie, Tobie. He's about 10 years old, and 6 miles is about all he's got in the tank. Tobie likes to stop, sniff and pee at every scent along the route, which is either on the Fall Line Trace (a bike/jogging path) or at Lakebottom Park. During a high-mileage week (80+), I may include another run of 3-5 miles in the evening.
Tuesday
Tuesday morning hurts, but I look forward to it probably more than any other day, maybe for that reason. This is interval day. Off-season (when not specifically training for a race), the intervals are usually between 200-800 meters, but when training for a marathon, the distance of the intervals are from 1.5-3 miles, with the hardest day being a 5 x 2 mile workout. Once you factor in a 2-mile warmup and 2-mile cooldown, with 1/2 mile jogs in-between intervals, that's a pretty long morning. John Ellison has been joining me for this sufferfest the last few weeks. On Tuesday evenings, I have been joining a group at Lakebottom Park for an easy 3 mile run. This helps loosen up the tired legs from the morning.
Wednesday
An easy-moderate day, but second-longest mileage day of the week, I have been showing up at the Big Dog (North) Running store at 5am for 6 easy miles, and then joining the 6am group run from that location for another 4 for a total of 10 miles. I run the 6 miles before the group run at any easy pace (8:30-9:00+), and the group tends to run along at a quick clip in the 7:30-range. On Wednesday evenings I'll either run a few more miles alone, or with a group from the other Big Dog store in Uptown Columbus.
Thursday
John Ellison and I have been meeting in the mornings somewhere between our two homes, which are 1/2 mile apart, and going for 8-10 miles at a relatively easy pace, which is something John has been learning to do. Lately, I've been really tired on this run, as the long mileage from Tuesday and Wednesday has taken its toll by now. Thursday evening I have been meeting a group at Lakebottom Park for 3 miles, or so, at an easy pace. I try to include striders into either the morning or evening run, but only do so if I'm feeling fresh, which usually isn't until the evening.
Friday
Recovery Day #2. Just like Monday, except there is no evening run. The goal is to be fresh for Saturday morning.
Saturday
The long run day. In marathon training, that means 16-22 miles. I'll either do this as a steady easy long run (most of the time), or a progression run (HARD!). This run starts at the Big Dog Uptown location, usually at 6am, but earlier if the day is going to be hot.
Sunday
Easy trail run of 6-10 miles, or on a soft-surface (dirt road?) to give the feet some rest.
Monday, November 18, 2013
ING Miami training: week one report
Two weeks ago, I was contemplating running in the ING Miami Half-Marathon, thinking I wouldn't be prepared for the marathon distance in twelve weeks due to all of the health issues I've had since May. After just one week of training, I'm pleased with how everything's going.
The total mileage I ran for the week (Monday to Sunday) was 67.5 miles. Key workouts for the week: 1) Tuesday intervals which consisted of 3 x 1.5 miles at tempo pace (6:20-6:40) with 1/2 mile jogs in between, and 2) Saturday steady long run of 13 miles at 7:20-7:40 pace. John Ellison ran with me on both these days. Week two's total mileage increases to 76 miles, so it might be a little harder to recover by the end of the week, even though I'm still feeling fresh.
In case you're wondering, this is the schedule I'm following. I'm doing a few things different from what's prescribed in the schedule. I decided to do a 3-week taper by moving week 10 distance to week 9 and swapping week 9 and week 11 distances. Also, I moved the half-marathon from week 6 to week 8, to accomodate a local race in Columbus. I used this schedule for the Carlsbad Marathon last year; my second fastest marathon (3:05), even though it was on the hardest course I have done to date. I believe that the numerous long intervals at tempo/marathon pace had a lot to do with it. I also like the fact that only two workouts per week are given, so that I can tailor my personal schedule around some of the group runs in the area I like to frequent without being paranoid that I'm supposed to run what a schedule dictates vs. what the group plans to run.
Update on my ultra search
I'm 99.9% certain of registering for the Fat Dog 70 on August 16, 2014. The ONLY issue is that there's a requirement to have completed a 50K race (or longer) within the past year. The last , and only, ultra I did was the Destin 50(K) in 2011. I understand the rationale, BUT, there should be some leniency given for those who have run a good marathon time. For example: Runner A walked the Auburn 50K in 7:59, while Runner B ran the Soldier Marathon in 3:01. Oh well...
Other stuff
I tried to convince my wife that she should let me go here. No luck.
The total mileage I ran for the week (Monday to Sunday) was 67.5 miles. Key workouts for the week: 1) Tuesday intervals which consisted of 3 x 1.5 miles at tempo pace (6:20-6:40) with 1/2 mile jogs in between, and 2) Saturday steady long run of 13 miles at 7:20-7:40 pace. John Ellison ran with me on both these days. Week two's total mileage increases to 76 miles, so it might be a little harder to recover by the end of the week, even though I'm still feeling fresh.
In case you're wondering, this is the schedule I'm following. I'm doing a few things different from what's prescribed in the schedule. I decided to do a 3-week taper by moving week 10 distance to week 9 and swapping week 9 and week 11 distances. Also, I moved the half-marathon from week 6 to week 8, to accomodate a local race in Columbus. I used this schedule for the Carlsbad Marathon last year; my second fastest marathon (3:05), even though it was on the hardest course I have done to date. I believe that the numerous long intervals at tempo/marathon pace had a lot to do with it. I also like the fact that only two workouts per week are given, so that I can tailor my personal schedule around some of the group runs in the area I like to frequent without being paranoid that I'm supposed to run what a schedule dictates vs. what the group plans to run.
Update on my ultra search
I'm 99.9% certain of registering for the Fat Dog 70 on August 16, 2014. The ONLY issue is that there's a requirement to have completed a 50K race (or longer) within the past year. The last , and only, ultra I did was the Destin 50(K) in 2011. I understand the rationale, BUT, there should be some leniency given for those who have run a good marathon time. For example: Runner A walked the Auburn 50K in 7:59, while Runner B ran the Soldier Marathon in 3:01. Oh well...
Other stuff
I tried to convince my wife that she should let me go here. No luck.
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