Entries from September, 2010

As the title suggests, today is a day for cleansing (and more traveling – by train today) … cleaning out the staleness of this blog with an update … Continue Reading

No, this blog has not turned into the home of some generalist outdoor enthusiast.  It is an apt description of my run in South San Francisco yesterday.  After an uneventful flight from Seattle and restful night of sleep, I hopped up to replicate the CPTC speed workout I missed back in NYC.  On tap 3 x 1mi @ 5k pace with 400m recovery, plus 1k @ “good form pace”.  Rather than decipher the latter, I focused on finding a route to attempt the former.  Given my location, I opted for this spot: Continue Reading

My work travels have taken me to the Pacific Northwest.  I’ve been here a number of times, but this marks the first when I’ve actually seen that ball of fire in the sky.  I just assumed that “overcast and rainy” was the city motto.  Fortunately, this oddity and 58* temps made for a rather pleasant running experience.  After 21 on Sunday and sitting for 6 hours courtesy of  [insert whichever crappy airline you hate], the likelihood for leg stiffness was quite high.  Therefore, I was more than happy to sneak a run in not long after landing. Continue Reading

After Friday’s tempo, Saturday had to be well executed as it served as the bridge to the next big effort, Sunday’s long run.  I could not ask for better weather … in fact I could have used lightweight gloves!  If memory serves the temperature was a crispy 59* with a slight breeze when I clicked the watch.  Before I left the apartment, I searched for the beanie … not cool enough for that yet, but it’s getting there. Continue Reading

The funny (not really) thing about training is that the slightest adjustment to your schedule has a significant ripple effect.  Take back-to-school as an example.  For the last 2 weeks, I’ve been “off” in terms of being sleepy all the time.  At first I thought it was just yet another phase of marathon training … terrified, grumpy, hungry and, lately, sleepy.  After debating the potential issues with a couple of teammates, we came up with burnout (negatives of 18 week program), normal ups and downs of training, early evening darkness.  All or none of the above could be the answer. Continue Reading

In this continuing series, next up are the big boys and girls of the running shoe world … full-weight kicks. When I first started running (and knew zippo about workout-specific shoes), I found the biggest, heaviest shoe I could find as I thought the bigger the shoe the more support, the less chance of injury. A reasonably popular book largely dispelled (or at least better publicized this myth). While I am not an advocate (or detractor) of Vibram Five Fingers or barefoot running, I do believe minimalist kicks are the way to go … more on this in a later post. However, there are situations when a heavier shoe adds value to your running program. When? Continue Reading

Before we get to the primary workout of the week, I’ll share a few words on Wednesday’s easy run.  Rather than continue to transfer business wardrobe to the office due to  the “jobby to CP runs,” I decided to bring the bags home and then run.  I lost 30 minutes.  When the sun starts setting at 7:15pm, 30 minutes matters.  I don’t think I’ll be doing that again.  The run itself was uneventful … 3 loops around the Reservoir Path, toss in some drills and I was done.  5.5 miles. Continue Reading

I’ve been accused of having tunnel vision at various points in my life.  It’s not necessarily a compliment, but it seems to work for me.  What is tunnel vision?  Locking into something and excluding (often at your peril) everything and everyone else.  Exams, opinions, career choices, etc.  However, I realized last night that there may be no better application for tunnel vision that marathon training. Continue Reading

Over the last few months I’ve experimented with a few different brands and types of kicks. Below is my review / point of view on daily trainers. Next I’ll provide thoughts on full-weight shoes and then minimalist kicks: Continue Reading

A couple of shockers:

1. I’m actually blogging the same day as I ran.
2. Gotham was not felled by Hurricane Whatever it was named.
3. Fall was here for at least one day.

All of the aforementioned events conspired into what I will term as a “validation run”.  Without going thru the annoyance of racing, today provided positive feedback on training.  Happily back home in Central Park, I set off to attempt something I’ve never done … a well-executed long run exclusively on the Bridle Path.  The first part of that goal does not sound so taxing as long runs have been going well during this cycle.  However, doing it on the Bridle is the challenge.  It’s not that the Bridle itself is anything to fret over … rolling hills and sandy in some parts.  Instead it’s the psychological battle of fighting thru the monotony of endless 2.5 mile loops until you achieve your target distance.  The most I’ve ever done is 4 and then ran someplace else to regain my sanity.  Every weekend I read posts by my teammates who regularly bang out 7+ loops.  I admire the discipline it takes to keep looping.  If you can clear that mental hurdle, then it’s one more check on the way to marathon success.  After avoiding CP for long runs since early August and returning from vacay, it was time.  Now or never. Continue Reading