Entries from July, 2010

A very oddball run this morning.  Tuesday’s track workout was admittedly light, so a recovery run on Wednesday morning didn’t make a ton of sense.  Therefore, I did 8 miles at an easy pace (8:16).  I felt good during and after the run … until this morning.  My sleep issues were put to the side for at least one night.  When the alarm went off at 5:40am, I felt like I’d been hit with a bat and drugged.  Even after I got dressed, I debated whether bagging the run and going back to bed. Kind of bizarre.  Not since the pitch black, sub-zero winter has the urge to be lazy overwhelmed me.  Strange.  Must have been a deep sleep. Continue Reading

Sunday. I was primed for a well executed long run.  I backed off mileage earlier in the week to ensure that I had sufficient energy to run 14. Despite accounting for the equator-like conditions (86*, 70% humidity at 7am), I still came up on the short end.  The plan was 14 and I ended up with 12 at 8:31 pace.  It was messy.  I went back and forth between feeling semi-decent and like hot garbage.  At the end of the day, hot garbage was the clear victor.  While my breathing was not labored (indication that pace was adequate), I had zippo energy.  I GU’d, grabbed Gatorade and drank water seemingly every 3 miles.  It was just a grind. Not satisfying at all.  Total mileage for the week: 49 miles. Continue Reading

Before we get to the upcoming race, we need to get some business handled first.  We will quickly (unlike the run) move past the Friday Night Fright Fest aka the Recovery Run from Hell.  Imagine running in a microwave oven for over one hour and circling the entire time.  That was me at around 6:45pm last night on the Reservoir.  One of the more miserable running experiences ever.  Just horrendous.  Made me consider giving up running and going back to golf.  7 depressing miles @ 9:27 pace. Continue Reading

After the 6×400, 6×200 anaerobic love fest from Tuesday night, the follow-up workout on Thursday night would involve a bit more endurance, but still required some measure of turnover.  The plan was 1mi @ 5k pace w/ ~.5mi recovery, 1.5mi @ 10k pace w/ ~.5mi recovery and 1mi @ 5k pace.  Among the many things I enjoy about assigned workouts with the road crew is that they are set up to make you think … you just cannot go out and blast away without paying a stiff and embarrassing price. Trust me … been there often … Continue Reading

Bleh!!  No set up here.  Let’s get right to it.  Tuesday night team workout at the track.  6×400 @ 3k pace w/ 200m recovery.  6×200 @ mile pace 2/ 100m recovery.  Ran with C group … group was too big so we splintered into two groups. Continue Reading

I still had the good vibes flowing from the race tempo from Saturday when I popped up at 6:15am for my long run of the week, which turned out to be more of a medium run.  By the time I clicked the watch at 6:40, it was already steamy.  I’ve basically given up looking at the temps before a run. It’s self-defeating.  It’s hot. It sucks.  Nut up or shut up.  Hoping the East Coast returns to some semblance of normalcy after Labor Day. Continue Reading

This is only a race report because I paid money to run a specific distance with bunch of other people.  Other than that … this was a tempo run.  As I’ve said many times before I over analyze, over think everything.  That said, I tend to ignore or find ways around obvious realities.  In June, our coach told us due to the upcoming heat of the summer, to throw out expectations of fast times or comparing them to what you did in the spring.  Especially me as it was my first summer with the team.  It’s a pointless and destructive exercise.  I listened, but did not heed the advice.  To wit, my summer of craptastic performances.  After banging my head against the wall for the better part of 6 weeks (2 races + a DNF), I gave in and came into Saturday’s Run for Central Park 4-miler with the “just run” attitude.  No target goal.  No watch.  No care.  How did it work out? Continue Reading

Here we go yet again. Major catch up. Although, you have not missed much, but I do have some news. Continue Reading

At your suggestion, I am getting over the disastrous tempo from Thursday night.  Thanks for all the kind words.  Also, after being threatened by Beast (and feeling beat up physically), I bagged the double for Friday and settled for the easy 4 mile recovery.  In reality, a double was not in the cards anyway since I stayed later than usual at the jobby on Friday. Continue Reading

I keep it real on the Interwebs.  Failed in a 5 mile team tempo last night.  Blew up with 1+ miles to go.  Disaster.  Walked for a few seconds.  Started back up, finished.  10.3 miles total for the night.  I suck.  Before I started, I knew thrashing hard on Tuesday night would have after effects.  Therefore, I scaled back expectations and goal pace to account for it.  Still failed miserably.  4 mile recovery run this morning.  Made it without stopping.  Awesome!  I still suck.  More running and potentially blogging later tonight.  Considering changing the name of the blog to I Suck. Continue Reading