Life as I know it is completely upside down. My professional life that is. I am in the commercial construction industry an well simply put there isn't any commercial construction going on. My company has little to no work. We have laid off hundreds of good people because we simply don't have anything to do. The phone barely rings. The inbox stays empty. My days last forever and the boredom has become emotionally draining.
During my entire 18 year carrer I have never experienced anything like this before. Nothing to do, how do you fix that? We're behind schedule or the vendor screwed up the order, that I can fix. We'll move men from this project to that, we'll work more hours, add a sceond shift. You need me to work 14 hour days, no problem. 7 days a week, I understand, let me call my wife so she can handle the kids. Shut down over Thanksgiving weekend, yes sir, I know this client is important, I'll make it happen. That's my job, my responsibility, I do miracles for a living.
But nothing to do? How do you fix that? How do you make people build 100 million dollar projects? You can't. And the worse thing is that I really believe that my industry is about to get even worse. Even with the economy improving, commercial construction is so overbuilt, and the banks have been burned so bad, that I really believe that it will be several years before the industry recovers.
So what am I doing to keep from going completely insane? I started a 24 week marathon traing plan for the Baltimore Marathon in October. I had already increased my mileage and have been averaging 50 plus miles a week. I'll be using the Pfitzinger 70 miles plus, 24 week schedule. The only thing that ever kept me from a high mileage cycle before was time, but know that seems to be the one thing that I have in excess.
So, go ahead and us why running is keeping you sane, blah blah blah. Give us all that runners hokey pokey about how it makes you feel. That's not it. I need a purpose, a reason to get out of bed in the morning, a goal, something to focus on, an end to the road. The training plan has become my purpose. No matter what I've gotta hit that mileage, perform that workout. My training plan is my responsibilty. It is what I have to make happen today. As trivial as it may be, checking off that days workout is what I have to accomplish today, this week, this month. It gives me purpose. How? We'll it effects everything that I am doing. I need to eat this at that time or I won't have any energy to make 11 miles tonight. What is the weather for this weekend? Should I run my long run on Saturday because it's supposed to rain on Sunday.
Does it make me feel better during this depressing point in my life, yes it does. Since I have increased my mileage this year I have really dropped some pounds, about 15, and I wasn't big to begin with. I'm 5'11 and I currently weigh 163 lbs. I have dropped at least 2 inches from my waist. I still have some fat to drop around my mid section but I am really toning up. The most important thing is that I feel a lot stronger. My core is really starting to strengthen and that has helped my speed.
And speed, I have gotten a lot faster this year. I sure dropping the pounds helped, so did the increase in mileage and the increase in strength. I really am a super positive person and I always stay positive during a run. Right now my favorite thing to do is a hard tempo run. I tell myself during the run, you can hold this pace because you ARE STRONG. You can make it through this run and you can make it through tommorrow, and you'll make it through this week. You'll make it through this economic mess just like you're gonna finish this workout. Quit! Quit! If you quit this workout then you'll be quitting on yourself. Just a mile farther, 7 more minutes, 4 laps of the track, 3 laps around, 2 laps, 1 more lap, just a 220 left, push it, finishing kick! I knew that you could do it! You are strong, you're a finisher!
Last week I ran a hard tempo run, 8 miles. I pushed it way too hard. I was so sore I couldn't run for three days. I am working on running those easy days easy and the hard days a litttle less hard. The goal is to finish the workout everyday, all week, not just have one super good workout a week.
I haven't blogged in a while becasue, well I didn't have anything positive to say. But I think I've come round the turn and the wind is at my back now. It's not gonna be easy, but nothing is easy that's worth the effort.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
New Training Run Route PR
I started running again 9 years ago. I ran around a neighborhood walking trail that was 3.2 miles. That was my normal steady eddy run, 3.2 miles. I might run more but never less, 3.2 miles was the minimum. Then I moved to Yorktown, Va. My house is about 1 mile from the Yorktown National Battlefield. This is an awesome place to run.
Well my new steady minimum run is Surrender Field 5 Mile Loop. It's a little over 5 miles, the Garmin has it at 5.1 miles. I've never broken 40 minutes on this loop. I would always go out to fast and crash and burn or would start out too slow and would never be able to make up the time. I can run faster than 8:00 per mile for 5 miles I just couldn't get things right. In half marathons I have ran more than five miles at sub 8:00 pace, but there was something about this loop.
It's not flat. It definetly has some pretty good hills and maybe that's one reason I couldn't break 40 minutes, I don't know. But something cool happened Monday.
I ran 13 on Sunday. I was scheduled for 18 but I felt really tired and drained and since I am just base building there wasn't any need to push it. Monday was a scheduled rest day but the weather was just awesome, low 60's, first warm day of the year. So after work I got dressed and headed out for an easy 8 miler. Felt a little slow and stiff at the begining, put started too pick up the pace after the first half mile. Slow uphill and heard the watch beep at the mile marker, 8:08, wow not bad for a warm up mile.
Mile 2 is a slight downhill at the beginning and then a long uphill so I started to lengthen my stride and pick up my knees. I didn't really force the pace I just focused on my stride, long and smooth. My breathing felt good and I noticed that my heart rate was increasing a little but was definitely under control. The Garmin beeped and I checked my split, 7:31. Didn't feel that fast. But mile 2 has along steady uphill, how did I get a 7:31? I don't think I've ever run a 7:31 on this stretch without blowing up. Oh well.
Mile 3 is flat and downhill, no uphill at all. This should be a fast mile but hey idiot your running 8 today. Well maybe I'll just skip the three mile French Loop and try to break the All Time Land Speed Record. I'll just float though the third mile and see what happens. If I'm below 8 minutes then I'll skip the loop and try to break the record. Anyway, mile three is usually where I crash so I just focused on holding pace. Beep, beep, beep, 7:17, Oh Man I've really got a shot here.
Mile 4 is uphill, followed by a flat followed by a uphill followed by a overpass uphill. Here it is, how good of condition am I really in. Can I really push the hills and hold onto an 8:00 pace. I really focused on my form and on my effort. I knew that I can't hold pace uphills but I needed to hold the effort. If my heart rate shot up then I wouldn't be able to get it back down and i would crash and burn. I worked my arms and really focused on the road before me. 7:24, no friggin way, I'm gonna break this sucker today. Just don't blow up.
Mile 5 is off the overpass and then turns through the woods onto a small stone trail. The trail has a fairly decent uphill that normally sucks the last bit of life out of me but not today. No way, I'm too strong. I'm the man, I've got this. Out of the woods and out onto Surrender Field. This is the actual field where the British Surrendered to George Washington and here was where I was gonna break my Record. The Field is stine flat and after the field there is only a 1/4 of mile of flat road. Mike you just gotta hold on. Keep pushing your arms, lengthen your stride. Beep, Beep, beep, 7:20.
I can see my car, just push the last 300 yards. Less than one trip around the track. 220 yards. You can do this, push it hard. You're not gonna die, aren't gonna have your heart explode just keep pushing. Move your arms pick up those knees. There's the line and I hit the stop button. I looked at my total time. 38:17 new Record and yes kids Daddy is the Man.
Well my new steady minimum run is Surrender Field 5 Mile Loop. It's a little over 5 miles, the Garmin has it at 5.1 miles. I've never broken 40 minutes on this loop. I would always go out to fast and crash and burn or would start out too slow and would never be able to make up the time. I can run faster than 8:00 per mile for 5 miles I just couldn't get things right. In half marathons I have ran more than five miles at sub 8:00 pace, but there was something about this loop.
It's not flat. It definetly has some pretty good hills and maybe that's one reason I couldn't break 40 minutes, I don't know. But something cool happened Monday.
I ran 13 on Sunday. I was scheduled for 18 but I felt really tired and drained and since I am just base building there wasn't any need to push it. Monday was a scheduled rest day but the weather was just awesome, low 60's, first warm day of the year. So after work I got dressed and headed out for an easy 8 miler. Felt a little slow and stiff at the begining, put started too pick up the pace after the first half mile. Slow uphill and heard the watch beep at the mile marker, 8:08, wow not bad for a warm up mile.
Mile 2 is a slight downhill at the beginning and then a long uphill so I started to lengthen my stride and pick up my knees. I didn't really force the pace I just focused on my stride, long and smooth. My breathing felt good and I noticed that my heart rate was increasing a little but was definitely under control. The Garmin beeped and I checked my split, 7:31. Didn't feel that fast. But mile 2 has along steady uphill, how did I get a 7:31? I don't think I've ever run a 7:31 on this stretch without blowing up. Oh well.
Mile 3 is flat and downhill, no uphill at all. This should be a fast mile but hey idiot your running 8 today. Well maybe I'll just skip the three mile French Loop and try to break the All Time Land Speed Record. I'll just float though the third mile and see what happens. If I'm below 8 minutes then I'll skip the loop and try to break the record. Anyway, mile three is usually where I crash so I just focused on holding pace. Beep, beep, beep, 7:17, Oh Man I've really got a shot here.
Mile 4 is uphill, followed by a flat followed by a uphill followed by a overpass uphill. Here it is, how good of condition am I really in. Can I really push the hills and hold onto an 8:00 pace. I really focused on my form and on my effort. I knew that I can't hold pace uphills but I needed to hold the effort. If my heart rate shot up then I wouldn't be able to get it back down and i would crash and burn. I worked my arms and really focused on the road before me. 7:24, no friggin way, I'm gonna break this sucker today. Just don't blow up.
Mile 5 is off the overpass and then turns through the woods onto a small stone trail. The trail has a fairly decent uphill that normally sucks the last bit of life out of me but not today. No way, I'm too strong. I'm the man, I've got this. Out of the woods and out onto Surrender Field. This is the actual field where the British Surrendered to George Washington and here was where I was gonna break my Record. The Field is stine flat and after the field there is only a 1/4 of mile of flat road. Mike you just gotta hold on. Keep pushing your arms, lengthen your stride. Beep, Beep, beep, 7:20.
I can see my car, just push the last 300 yards. Less than one trip around the track. 220 yards. You can do this, push it hard. You're not gonna die, aren't gonna have your heart explode just keep pushing. Move your arms pick up those knees. There's the line and I hit the stop button. I looked at my total time. 38:17 new Record and yes kids Daddy is the Man.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
No Body Ever Said it was Going to be Easy
Work is just awful right now. My brother and I own a commercial construction company and well there's nothing to do. I mean no one is building anything. There are a few jobs out there but they are going for so little money that we would go broke even trying to do the work for those crazy prices. So what do you do, worry.
How do you change the economy? How can I make the banks loan more money so that developers will start to build again? How can I get the state to build more schools when the budget is undefunded by billions? Answer to all of these questions is that I can't. So what can I do to effect my own destiny? Stay positive.
I have a lovely healthy family. I'm still in my home and we have food on the table every night. I can be thankful for what I have. I don't have any major bills or debts other than the mortgage. I have a supportive extended family and all of the members of that extended family are well. We have so much more than others in the country and in this world. We are blessed.
I can be thankful for having a strong and healthy body and I can do everything that I can to take care of that body. I can watch what I eat and understand that everything that goes in my mouth effects my entire body. I can run and swim and bike and they are all free activities. I can lift at the gym and feel my body getting stronger every day. I can take my children to the gym and teach them that keeping their bodies strong and healthy is as important as going to school and working their brains. I can work with my kids on their swimming technique. I can coach little kid soccer. I can do all of this for no money other than the monthly gym fees.
I can not want. I can understand the difference between my needs and my wants. I can understand that I really don't need anything. I have enough clothes to last me for years before they actually wear out from use. The radio is free. I don't need any new electronics or gadgets. I need food. I need shelter. I need to spend quality time with my family. I need to spend the day at the public beach with my family next to the house. I need to take the kids on a hike through the park. I need to teach my four year old little girl how to kick the soccer ball. I need to spend a week this summer in the national park backpacking with the boys. I need to teach the how wonderful the outdoors can be. I need to enjoy what I have and what God has already provided me.
No body ever said that life was going to be easy. It's like a really great hard long run, some parts are smooth and easy, some parts are uphill, some parts really heart and you just want to quit, but when your done, you know you are stronger and better for the work and effort that went into the journey.
How do you change the economy? How can I make the banks loan more money so that developers will start to build again? How can I get the state to build more schools when the budget is undefunded by billions? Answer to all of these questions is that I can't. So what can I do to effect my own destiny? Stay positive.
I have a lovely healthy family. I'm still in my home and we have food on the table every night. I can be thankful for what I have. I don't have any major bills or debts other than the mortgage. I have a supportive extended family and all of the members of that extended family are well. We have so much more than others in the country and in this world. We are blessed.
I can be thankful for having a strong and healthy body and I can do everything that I can to take care of that body. I can watch what I eat and understand that everything that goes in my mouth effects my entire body. I can run and swim and bike and they are all free activities. I can lift at the gym and feel my body getting stronger every day. I can take my children to the gym and teach them that keeping their bodies strong and healthy is as important as going to school and working their brains. I can work with my kids on their swimming technique. I can coach little kid soccer. I can do all of this for no money other than the monthly gym fees.
I can not want. I can understand the difference between my needs and my wants. I can understand that I really don't need anything. I have enough clothes to last me for years before they actually wear out from use. The radio is free. I don't need any new electronics or gadgets. I need food. I need shelter. I need to spend quality time with my family. I need to spend the day at the public beach with my family next to the house. I need to take the kids on a hike through the park. I need to teach my four year old little girl how to kick the soccer ball. I need to spend a week this summer in the national park backpacking with the boys. I need to teach the how wonderful the outdoors can be. I need to enjoy what I have and what God has already provided me.
No body ever said that life was going to be easy. It's like a really great hard long run, some parts are smooth and easy, some parts are uphill, some parts really heart and you just want to quit, but when your done, you know you are stronger and better for the work and effort that went into the journey.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
New Year - New Plan - New Goal - Same Awful Economy
I just finished two great weeks of training. The first week of February was 55.5 miles and last week I hit 55 miles. I am trying to follow a Pfitz 12 week 70 miles and under training plan. This would make my goal race the Frederick Marathon. I haven't signed up for the race yet and I'm not sure I'm going to but I can't train without a goal. Here's last week.
I really believe that the key distance running or endurance events is proper fueling and nutrition. The trick is getting your nutrition right so that you get the correct amount of calories and electrolytes so that you can keep going. The weather definitely plays a factor on mixing your nutrition. Things tend to go sour in 100 degree days in your stomach.
I'm not sure if I'm going to run any races this spring. They have gotten so expensive that it almost takes the joy out of running. I mean $120 for a marathon is just crazy. Especially if the weather is really bad you feel forced to get out there and race in the bitter cold and rain because you shelled out so much cash. I enjoy running because I like the way it makes me feel while I'm running and how I feel after a good long or hard running. I call it pleasantly sore. I love the way my legs "hurt". If you don't run you wouldn't get it.
I can do a lot right now for $120 bucks. I don't need any more shirts or hats. I normally bring my own GU and other nutrition. Water I do get from a race course but come on it's almost free. I've done a few Rock-and-Roll races and the commercialisim is just crazy. The bigger races have soley become about the money, not the sport. Right now the only reason I'd run a race is one where I think I can BQ, otherwise I'll just train.
May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.
May those who love us, love us.
And for those who don't love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if he can not turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we may know them by their limping.
May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.
- Monday - Rest
- Tuesday - 8 miles, last 3 @ 7:30 pace
- Wednesday - 11 miles, last 5 @ 7:30
- Thursday - 5 miles, easy 9:00 pace
- Friday - 11 miles, last 5 @ 7:30
- Saturady - 5 miles, easy 9:00 pace
- Sunday - 15 miles, steady avg 8:15 pace
I really believe that the key distance running or endurance events is proper fueling and nutrition. The trick is getting your nutrition right so that you get the correct amount of calories and electrolytes so that you can keep going. The weather definitely plays a factor on mixing your nutrition. Things tend to go sour in 100 degree days in your stomach.
I'm not sure if I'm going to run any races this spring. They have gotten so expensive that it almost takes the joy out of running. I mean $120 for a marathon is just crazy. Especially if the weather is really bad you feel forced to get out there and race in the bitter cold and rain because you shelled out so much cash. I enjoy running because I like the way it makes me feel while I'm running and how I feel after a good long or hard running. I call it pleasantly sore. I love the way my legs "hurt". If you don't run you wouldn't get it.
I can do a lot right now for $120 bucks. I don't need any more shirts or hats. I normally bring my own GU and other nutrition. Water I do get from a race course but come on it's almost free. I've done a few Rock-and-Roll races and the commercialisim is just crazy. The bigger races have soley become about the money, not the sport. Right now the only reason I'd run a race is one where I think I can BQ, otherwise I'll just train.
May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.
May those who love us, love us.
And for those who don't love us,
May God turn their hearts.
And if he can not turn their hearts,
May he turn their ankles,
So we may know them by their limping.
May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live.
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Rock-N-Roll Half Marathon
Woke up at 4:00am. That right there should tell you how the day was going to turn out. Got dressed and grapped a cup of coffee and out the door I went by 4:30am. Stopped by WAWA and picked up a bananna nut muffin. If that muffin doesn't guarantee a PR I don't know what will.
Made it to VA Beach I good time. Found a parking lot on 25th and Pacific that was $7 to park. Decided to walk to the convention center.
Meet some people from NC and Charlottesville and walked with them.
Arrived at the Convention Center at 5:50am. The porta-jon line was short so that was good news. I headed over to the start and found a good place to sit down and just watch the people as they went by.
The start was right on time. I was in the second corral so I went off at 7:02am. Last year there were a lot of slow people in the front corrals but not this year. I had a good first 2 miles. The pace was fast but I felt relazed and strong. Was breathing was comfortable and controlled.
During the 3rd mile I could tell that the temperature of the engine was climbing rapidly. I was sweating profusely now and could tell that it was just too hot. I crossed the 5k mat at 22:20 and began to have serious discussions between Actual Mike and Mike 2.0. Mike 2.0 wanted to try to push on and hold the pace for two more miles. Actual Mike didn't think it was going to happen but agreed to hold pace till the next water stop and then they would decide what to do.
Warm or even hot Cytomax just doesn't work. I couldn't even get a mouthful down. I grabbed 2 waters and slowed to drink them all. That was it. It was over.
My heart rate was racig due to the heat so the plan quickly became to finish and live to fight another day. I decided to hold between 7:50 and 8:00 pace and walk all of the water stops. If I didn't get 2 to 3 glasses of water in I figured I wouldn't make it. By mile 5 I was literally dripping wet. But so was everyone else. Even the girls were soaked. I saw girls holding their shorts up for miles because they were soaked and kept falling down.
I hit the 10k mark at 48:06 or 7:45 pace but the heat was getting worse.
There was no breeze at all and you could cut the air with a knife it was so humid. Honestly if it wasn't for the hot chicks in spandex I would have stopped. But they just kept bouncing ahead and I kept following in a stupid heat induced trance.
By the 10 mile mark, I was and 1:20:46 seconds into the race and my pace had slipped to 8:05 miles, mainly because the walking breaks had lengthened to get in more fluids and try to get my heart rate down.
Mile 10 was right before the Rudee Inlet bridge.
By mile 11 the carnage began. Nearly everyone was walking the water stops now. The entire field would get to the station and just stop as if Joe's happy noise went off and we all had agreed to stop. About a
1/4 mile further I started seeing people sitting on the curbs. Medical people were running around now. I saw a woman with her boyfriend that was completely out of her head. He was literally holding her up and she was just mummbling gibberish. What a romantic weekend those two were going to have.
We turned onto the boardwalk at mile 12. People were dropping like flies. I saw a lady fall down about a 1/4 mile from the finish. She was out for the 10 count. The medical guys were running like mad now.
I finished in 1:48:28 with an average pace of 8:17. I was 1129th out of
16336 total finishers, or in the top 6.9%. I was 145th I my age group out of 1129 finishers, or in the top 12.8%. Last year I finished in
1:44:23 with an average pace of 7:59. Last year I was 1366 out of 17025 finishers, or in the top 8%.
This year I was 4 minutes slower and finished 1.1% higher in the standings. The heat and humidty affects the whole crowd not just you.
Running distance races isn't just against the clock. It's a race against the heat, the humidity, and the terrain. Times don't correlate against all courses. You've got to know when it's your day and when it's not. I was disappointed with my time but it was all I could do that day.
The Rock-N-Roll is a great race to run for a cool experience. It really is a huge crowd with tons of spectators. The bands are fun but I find them distracting. And on the glass is half full side of things, the heat makes all of the hot chicks come dressed in the coolest outfits. I think this was probably my last Rock-N-Roll, it is just too hot.
Made it to VA Beach I good time. Found a parking lot on 25th and Pacific that was $7 to park. Decided to walk to the convention center.
Meet some people from NC and Charlottesville and walked with them.
Arrived at the Convention Center at 5:50am. The porta-jon line was short so that was good news. I headed over to the start and found a good place to sit down and just watch the people as they went by.
The start was right on time. I was in the second corral so I went off at 7:02am. Last year there were a lot of slow people in the front corrals but not this year. I had a good first 2 miles. The pace was fast but I felt relazed and strong. Was breathing was comfortable and controlled.
During the 3rd mile I could tell that the temperature of the engine was climbing rapidly. I was sweating profusely now and could tell that it was just too hot. I crossed the 5k mat at 22:20 and began to have serious discussions between Actual Mike and Mike 2.0. Mike 2.0 wanted to try to push on and hold the pace for two more miles. Actual Mike didn't think it was going to happen but agreed to hold pace till the next water stop and then they would decide what to do.
Warm or even hot Cytomax just doesn't work. I couldn't even get a mouthful down. I grabbed 2 waters and slowed to drink them all. That was it. It was over.
My heart rate was racig due to the heat so the plan quickly became to finish and live to fight another day. I decided to hold between 7:50 and 8:00 pace and walk all of the water stops. If I didn't get 2 to 3 glasses of water in I figured I wouldn't make it. By mile 5 I was literally dripping wet. But so was everyone else. Even the girls were soaked. I saw girls holding their shorts up for miles because they were soaked and kept falling down.
I hit the 10k mark at 48:06 or 7:45 pace but the heat was getting worse.
There was no breeze at all and you could cut the air with a knife it was so humid. Honestly if it wasn't for the hot chicks in spandex I would have stopped. But they just kept bouncing ahead and I kept following in a stupid heat induced trance.
By the 10 mile mark, I was and 1:20:46 seconds into the race and my pace had slipped to 8:05 miles, mainly because the walking breaks had lengthened to get in more fluids and try to get my heart rate down.
Mile 10 was right before the Rudee Inlet bridge.
By mile 11 the carnage began. Nearly everyone was walking the water stops now. The entire field would get to the station and just stop as if Joe's happy noise went off and we all had agreed to stop. About a
1/4 mile further I started seeing people sitting on the curbs. Medical people were running around now. I saw a woman with her boyfriend that was completely out of her head. He was literally holding her up and she was just mummbling gibberish. What a romantic weekend those two were going to have.
We turned onto the boardwalk at mile 12. People were dropping like flies. I saw a lady fall down about a 1/4 mile from the finish. She was out for the 10 count. The medical guys were running like mad now.
I finished in 1:48:28 with an average pace of 8:17. I was 1129th out of
16336 total finishers, or in the top 6.9%. I was 145th I my age group out of 1129 finishers, or in the top 12.8%. Last year I finished in
1:44:23 with an average pace of 7:59. Last year I was 1366 out of 17025 finishers, or in the top 8%.
This year I was 4 minutes slower and finished 1.1% higher in the standings. The heat and humidty affects the whole crowd not just you.
Running distance races isn't just against the clock. It's a race against the heat, the humidity, and the terrain. Times don't correlate against all courses. You've got to know when it's your day and when it's not. I was disappointed with my time but it was all I could do that day.
The Rock-N-Roll is a great race to run for a cool experience. It really is a huge crowd with tons of spectators. The bands are fun but I find them distracting. And on the glass is half full side of things, the heat makes all of the hot chicks come dressed in the coolest outfits. I think this was probably my last Rock-N-Roll, it is just too hot.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Garbage In Garbage Out
I have had some problems in the past with fueling my engine. Several years ago after running quite a bit during the heat of the summer I started having chest pains. Now chest pains at 31 are pretty dang scary. It was July 4th and the family and I had just gotten back from a parade and I was sitting in my recliner around 3:00pm. My heartbeat started racing. I mean like 160 to 170 beats a minutes. I was seated with my legs elevated in the air conditioning. There was no reason for my heart to be racing. After 20 minutes it had not stopped. An overnight trip to the hospital and several IV bags of potassium and I was ok. From that day forward I realized that distance running was something to be respected and that I had to be extra careful of how I fueled my engine.
Since I have upped my mileage and have also been swimming and biking several days a week I am learning the importance of nutrition. Not just what I eat but what I eat before a workout, what I eat during a workout and what I eat post workout.
During the last few years I have been reading everything that I could get my hands on about runners nutrition. They drink gatorade and swallow GU's. They eat some carbs and try to eat a balanced diet high in protein. But then I entered the "DARK ZONE", the world of TRIATHLON. Now marathons last for 3 or 4 hours but triathlons can last anywhere from 8 to 17 hours. Now fueling for an event like that is serious science. I started reading and searching for information on tri fueling strategies. It was like someone had just opened a magic book up for me.
My training had suffered in recent mesocycles due to fatigue issues. I had blood work performed and was instructed to start taking iron supplements. This really made a difference. Today if I have a bad workout, chances are I forgot to take my "pills" the night before.
I also sensed that I wasn't getting enough calories. I quitting worring about weight issues and just started trying to fuel my engine with good high quality jet fuel. The problem quickly became that it isn't easy getting top grade food into your body in enough quantity between and after workouts. The only time left is during and right after workouts.
I have switched up my training nutrition from water and GU to Perpetutum and Endurolytes and have started taking Endurox 4 for my post workout recovery drinks. I really believe that this has made my workouts of a higher quality. I have been able to push harder and last longer during intense workouts.
One downside to hard workouts is that I am able to go 100% for a longer time. The next day I have been pretty wiped out. Even if my plan calls for a 6 mile recovery run and I am dead, I just skip the workout. How much will I really get out of a 6 mile easy run? Is the point of the workout to help my body recover? If the result of the recovery run on makes me more fatigued haven't I defeated the purpose of the day, to recover from yesterday's hard workout. I am recovering faster and I am not skipping all recovery runs just the ones after really hard efforts and where I feel completly wiped out.
I am working on designing a diet for all of my meals and snacks. I let you know how it's coming. Definitely not going to be easy with a wife and 3 kids.
Since I have upped my mileage and have also been swimming and biking several days a week I am learning the importance of nutrition. Not just what I eat but what I eat before a workout, what I eat during a workout and what I eat post workout.
During the last few years I have been reading everything that I could get my hands on about runners nutrition. They drink gatorade and swallow GU's. They eat some carbs and try to eat a balanced diet high in protein. But then I entered the "DARK ZONE", the world of TRIATHLON. Now marathons last for 3 or 4 hours but triathlons can last anywhere from 8 to 17 hours. Now fueling for an event like that is serious science. I started reading and searching for information on tri fueling strategies. It was like someone had just opened a magic book up for me.
My training had suffered in recent mesocycles due to fatigue issues. I had blood work performed and was instructed to start taking iron supplements. This really made a difference. Today if I have a bad workout, chances are I forgot to take my "pills" the night before.
I also sensed that I wasn't getting enough calories. I quitting worring about weight issues and just started trying to fuel my engine with good high quality jet fuel. The problem quickly became that it isn't easy getting top grade food into your body in enough quantity between and after workouts. The only time left is during and right after workouts.
I have switched up my training nutrition from water and GU to Perpetutum and Endurolytes and have started taking Endurox 4 for my post workout recovery drinks. I really believe that this has made my workouts of a higher quality. I have been able to push harder and last longer during intense workouts.
One downside to hard workouts is that I am able to go 100% for a longer time. The next day I have been pretty wiped out. Even if my plan calls for a 6 mile recovery run and I am dead, I just skip the workout. How much will I really get out of a 6 mile easy run? Is the point of the workout to help my body recover? If the result of the recovery run on makes me more fatigued haven't I defeated the purpose of the day, to recover from yesterday's hard workout. I am recovering faster and I am not skipping all recovery runs just the ones after really hard efforts and where I feel completly wiped out.
I am working on designing a diet for all of my meals and snacks. I let you know how it's coming. Definitely not going to be easy with a wife and 3 kids.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Lost and Found
I guess I got lost that must be why I haven't been posting for a while. Nah. Really I've just been so busy with all of the summer time activities that I just haven't had much time to write anything. Summer is half way over and it has been a blast.
My two boys have been swimming on the neighborhood swim team this summer and I really have enjoyed working the meets. I trained as a stroke an dturn judge and worked almost every meet. I really learned a lot about swimming stokes this year. It's also amazing at how much you can learn while watching kids swim for 3 hours twice a week. I have been amazed at how much my kids have improved during the summer. My 5 year old couldn't swim 25 yards in June and now he has a decent looking freestyle stroke and can swim a 50 without stopping.
My training has been going very well during the last few weeks. I have really upped my mileage and it really seems to help. It's still been hard for me to run every day, life always gets in the middle but that's OK. My running is important to me but not as important as my family and my work. Running is a part of me, not who I am.
The weather has been very hot here the last few days. It has really affected my nutrition while running. This has forced me to really examine how I have been fueling and replacing my electrolytes. One thing that I have learned is that marathoners think they know nutrition but that Triathletes really know nutrition. I mean it's one thing to fuel during a 3 1/2 hour marathon, but it's one a whole new level to fuel for a 10 hour marathon. So, I've been studing alot about tri fueling and what the top tri guys use. Someone put me onto Hammer Nutrition products. I ordered a few things last week and we are going to give them a try.
Several weeks ago I rode my bike with the guys on a long 57 mile ride. It was great! It didn't take but 3 1/4 hours and the effort wasn't that bad. Since then I have rode the "loop" 2 more times and I am scheduled to ride it again this weekend. On these long rides fueling really is important and I am startingto get the right prescription dialed in. One of the best things about the bike is that I get a great cardio workout without killing my legs. My quads hurt some the next day but usually after a couple of miles of slow running I'm good to go.
The biggest improvement that I have noticed is my recovery rates. Last year after a 20 miler I would hurt for several days and be wiped out. After increasing my mileage if I run 20 miles Sunday on Monday I'm good for another 8 miles. Instead of my muscles hurting it seems that my energy levels are what is holding me back. If I have 3 hard days in a row I will be wiped out on the 4th and usually end up skipping a day. Getting enough of the right type of calories to keep my energy levels up is as much work as training. I'm learning a lot and I guess that's what makes the whole thing so much fun.
My two boys have been swimming on the neighborhood swim team this summer and I really have enjoyed working the meets. I trained as a stroke an dturn judge and worked almost every meet. I really learned a lot about swimming stokes this year. It's also amazing at how much you can learn while watching kids swim for 3 hours twice a week. I have been amazed at how much my kids have improved during the summer. My 5 year old couldn't swim 25 yards in June and now he has a decent looking freestyle stroke and can swim a 50 without stopping.
My training has been going very well during the last few weeks. I have really upped my mileage and it really seems to help. It's still been hard for me to run every day, life always gets in the middle but that's OK. My running is important to me but not as important as my family and my work. Running is a part of me, not who I am.
The weather has been very hot here the last few days. It has really affected my nutrition while running. This has forced me to really examine how I have been fueling and replacing my electrolytes. One thing that I have learned is that marathoners think they know nutrition but that Triathletes really know nutrition. I mean it's one thing to fuel during a 3 1/2 hour marathon, but it's one a whole new level to fuel for a 10 hour marathon. So, I've been studing alot about tri fueling and what the top tri guys use. Someone put me onto Hammer Nutrition products. I ordered a few things last week and we are going to give them a try.
Several weeks ago I rode my bike with the guys on a long 57 mile ride. It was great! It didn't take but 3 1/4 hours and the effort wasn't that bad. Since then I have rode the "loop" 2 more times and I am scheduled to ride it again this weekend. On these long rides fueling really is important and I am startingto get the right prescription dialed in. One of the best things about the bike is that I get a great cardio workout without killing my legs. My quads hurt some the next day but usually after a couple of miles of slow running I'm good to go.
The biggest improvement that I have noticed is my recovery rates. Last year after a 20 miler I would hurt for several days and be wiped out. After increasing my mileage if I run 20 miles Sunday on Monday I'm good for another 8 miles. Instead of my muscles hurting it seems that my energy levels are what is holding me back. If I have 3 hard days in a row I will be wiped out on the 4th and usually end up skipping a day. Getting enough of the right type of calories to keep my energy levels up is as much work as training. I'm learning a lot and I guess that's what makes the whole thing so much fun.
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