Monday, February 27, 2006
I finished my race not as well as I planned. For whatever reason I had an off two days. My times were:
15K 1:06:16 (24th in A/G)
5K 22:11 (39th in A/G)
Half marathon 1:39:57 (16th in A/G)
Total time 3:08:24
The 15K and the 5K were my personal worse (PW's) and the half was my second to worse for that distance.
Finished 21st out of 132 who finished 10th male master overall for the Jeep Challenge.
Nevertheless I enjoyed the challenge of it and look forward to trying it again when I am better prepared.
I am sore today! LOL taking today and tomorrow off for sure and see how I feel on Wednesday for running.
Enjoy the day everyone.
15K 1:06:16 (24th in A/G)
5K 22:11 (39th in A/G)
Half marathon 1:39:57 (16th in A/G)
Total time 3:08:24
The 15K and the 5K were my personal worse (PW's) and the half was my second to worse for that distance.
Finished 21st out of 132 who finished 10th male master overall for the Jeep Challenge.
Nevertheless I enjoyed the challenge of it and look forward to trying it again when I am better prepared.
I am sore today! LOL taking today and tomorrow off for sure and see how I feel on Wednesday for running.
Enjoy the day everyone.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Day 1 of Gasparilla Jeep Challenge.
Basically I didn't do well at all, not sure why just didn't have it in me today. Had plenty of rest, good food, proper taper, etc and just could not pull it out. Temps were mid 70's with a fair amount of humidity and they may have some impact but I am not blaming the weather.
Times were ugly. 15K: 1:06:16 watch time and 5K 22:02 (had a really horrible first mile just getting through the crowds).
Time to rest and get ready for the half tomorrow. Looks like 3 hrs is gone and just hoping to hold onto low 3 hr range.
Basically I didn't do well at all, not sure why just didn't have it in me today. Had plenty of rest, good food, proper taper, etc and just could not pull it out. Temps were mid 70's with a fair amount of humidity and they may have some impact but I am not blaming the weather.
Times were ugly. 15K: 1:06:16 watch time and 5K 22:02 (had a really horrible first mile just getting through the crowds).
Time to rest and get ready for the half tomorrow. Looks like 3 hrs is gone and just hoping to hold onto low 3 hr range.
Twas the night before Gasparilla! Here I am in Tampa staying at friends. Tomorrow we get up at 5:30 and leave at 6 am for first race at 7:30 (15K) and should be back around 11. I ate my pre race pizza (mushroom, pineapple and onion) and am ready to go give it my best.
Starting to think about the CMM half marathon and the training I need to do sub 1:30:00 after this.
Off to slumber land, only 21 hrs to the race!
Starting to think about the CMM half marathon and the training I need to do sub 1:30:00 after this.
Off to slumber land, only 21 hrs to the race!
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Taper madness continues!
Only 3 days and 18 hrs (at the time of posting this blog) to the first of the 3 races for Gasparilla Jeep Challenge. I am ready more or less, knee is tweaking in the right leg, left hamstring is tight and I am going through the self doubts and questioning of my training (I do this for every race nothing new here).
I am running the races in my mind every night. Family has decided I am obsessed (Okay so I am) on the race and it is all I can think of. Of course I threw them for a loop when I started thinking about the CMM half marathon (woo hoo going for sub 1:30:00) on that race!!
Running is fun even when we become obsessed about it!
My b day came and went and was quiet and filled with cheesecakes and small gifts. Wife and kids did pretty good on the gifts this year.
Enjoy the day (3 days and just over 18 hrs to the fun!)
Only 3 days and 18 hrs (at the time of posting this blog) to the first of the 3 races for Gasparilla Jeep Challenge. I am ready more or less, knee is tweaking in the right leg, left hamstring is tight and I am going through the self doubts and questioning of my training (I do this for every race nothing new here).
I am running the races in my mind every night. Family has decided I am obsessed (Okay so I am) on the race and it is all I can think of. Of course I threw them for a loop when I started thinking about the CMM half marathon (woo hoo going for sub 1:30:00) on that race!!
Running is fun even when we become obsessed about it!
My b day came and went and was quiet and filled with cheesecakes and small gifts. Wife and kids did pretty good on the gifts this year.
Enjoy the day (3 days and just over 18 hrs to the fun!)
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
I recently responded to a friend on mental toughness and racing. I thought it would make a good blog post. Here is my response
I think the mental toughness is the most difficult one to develop. It is like boxing, you know your going to get hit, just accept it and acknowledge that you are going to be hit and hurt. Racing is the same. For me if I have not "race til I puked" I know I have not raced hard enough. I have way to much kick at the end of my 5K's and hence both things are telling me I am not pushing myself hard enough. This is why I consider myself an average runner, it isn't the speed I have, it is the ability to dig down and push beyond your comfort zone, push to the point of passing out. In my opinion that is what separates the really good racers from me. They can push themselves to the point of complete exhaustion.
Mental toughness is what makes a good runner a great runner. For me it running is a demonstration of your mental strength and never has been about how fast you are. There are runners slower than me that I admire for their mental toughness. They push themselves much farther and harder than you would expect.
I think for some of us who become "faster" become complacent and lose the hunger to push harder, faster and to the point of losing ourselves in the race.
Racing does help develop it, but it takes more than that. It takes dedication, determination and a will power. Mental toughness is easier when your not tired and have taper for the race. Planning is critical to running a good race along with rest and having everything in place to do well.
Well I have rambled on long enough. Just my 2 cents on racing and mental toughness. 9 days to Gasparilla.
Enjoy the day!
I think the mental toughness is the most difficult one to develop. It is like boxing, you know your going to get hit, just accept it and acknowledge that you are going to be hit and hurt. Racing is the same. For me if I have not "race til I puked" I know I have not raced hard enough. I have way to much kick at the end of my 5K's and hence both things are telling me I am not pushing myself hard enough. This is why I consider myself an average runner, it isn't the speed I have, it is the ability to dig down and push beyond your comfort zone, push to the point of passing out. In my opinion that is what separates the really good racers from me. They can push themselves to the point of complete exhaustion.
Mental toughness is what makes a good runner a great runner. For me it running is a demonstration of your mental strength and never has been about how fast you are. There are runners slower than me that I admire for their mental toughness. They push themselves much farther and harder than you would expect.
I think for some of us who become "faster" become complacent and lose the hunger to push harder, faster and to the point of losing ourselves in the race.
Racing does help develop it, but it takes more than that. It takes dedication, determination and a will power. Mental toughness is easier when your not tired and have taper for the race. Planning is critical to running a good race along with rest and having everything in place to do well.
Well I have rambled on long enough. Just my 2 cents on racing and mental toughness. 9 days to Gasparilla.
Enjoy the day!
Saturday, February 11, 2006
Today I did my last long run before the Gasparilla Jeep Challenge (13 days and counting). 10 of us meet and broke into 2 groups. My group was doing 13 miles and the other group was planning onn 10 miles. It was 45 degrees and raining so not the best conditions. We had Tracy, Crystal, Jeff and myself. Tracy and Crystal are very good runners (and darn cute I might add also!). Jeff is not that much off my pace so it was a good group to run with.
We rann 13 miles in just over 1 hr 40 min for an average of 7:45 pace. Jeff and I did a couple of miles in the 6:30 range in the middle to have a good decent work out.
Down week for miles, just 28 miles. This week is only schedule for 30 with no run above 8 miles.
My focus on Gasparilla remains strong. 13 days til I find out how I do against both others and myself. I look forward to the challenge of pushing myself for my 45th birthday.
We rann 13 miles in just over 1 hr 40 min for an average of 7:45 pace. Jeff and I did a couple of miles in the 6:30 range in the middle to have a good decent work out.
Down week for miles, just 28 miles. This week is only schedule for 30 with no run above 8 miles.
My focus on Gasparilla remains strong. 13 days til I find out how I do against both others and myself. I look forward to the challenge of pushing myself for my 45th birthday.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Ah, the beginning of taper madness is already hapenning. I have only run 11 miles so far and will do an additional 5 miles tonight, take Friday off and run 10-12 miles on Saturday with Sunday off. Will be a very low mileage week but that is what my training plan calls for.
I am down to 16 days to the big Jeep Challenge. I continue to remain focused (or obsessed!) on it. The first two races, the 15K and the 5K I am not as concerned about even though I will have less than a hour between them, it is the half marathon on the following day that I am really focusing on. Goal is to run a 1:35:00 or less on about 20 hrs recovery time. Normally I would be pushing for 1:30:00 to 1:31:00 time frame. I think this is doable but very challenging!
I am down to 16 days to the big Jeep Challenge. I continue to remain focused (or obsessed!) on it. The first two races, the 15K and the 5K I am not as concerned about even though I will have less than a hour between them, it is the half marathon on the following day that I am really focusing on. Goal is to run a 1:35:00 or less on about 20 hrs recovery time. Normally I would be pushing for 1:30:00 to 1:31:00 time frame. I think this is doable but very challenging!
Monday, February 06, 2006
I completed my last hard weekend in preparation for Gasparilla and the Jeep Challenge. Saturday I ran with a group (led by the talented runner Tracy who is an awesome runner and darn cute). We started real slow for the group and crawled along a 8:45 pace for the first 5 miles and then started picking up the pace. In the end we were the only ones left for the final 2.5 miles (everyone else bailed on us) and were clicking along at a 7:15 pace. Nice solid 13.5 miles and just under 1:50:00 for a good solid run.
Sunday I ran alone and did an easy 7:50 pace for 12.25 miles. I struggled to get going for first 6 miles and then finally found something like a grove and relaxed into the run.
Week total was 52 miles and the weekend alone was 25.75 miles. Now comes the tapering and the taper madness!
Sunday I ran alone and did an easy 7:50 pace for 12.25 miles. I struggled to get going for first 6 miles and then finally found something like a grove and relaxed into the run.
Week total was 52 miles and the weekend alone was 25.75 miles. Now comes the tapering and the taper madness!
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Non Running funny:
"...Wal-Mart announced that they will soon be offering customers a
new item: Wal-Mart's own brand of wine. The world's largest retail
chain is teaming up with E&J Gallo Winery of California, to produce
the wine at an affordable price, in the $2-5 range.
Wine connoisseurs may not be inclined to throw a bottle of Wal-Mart
brand into their shopping carts, but "there is a market for cheap
wine", said Kathy Micken, director of marketing. "Of course,
choosing the right name is important," she added.
Customer surveys were conducted to determine the most attractive name
for the Wal-Mart brand. The top surveyed names, in order of
popularity are:
10. Chateau Traileur Parc
9. W! hite Trashfindel
8. Big Red Gulp
7. World Championship Riesling
6. NASCARbernet
5. Chef Boyardeaux
4. Peanut Noir
3. I Can't Believe It's Not Vinegar!
2. Grape Expectations
And the number 1 name for Wal-Mart Wine:
1. Nasti Spumante
The beauty of Wal-Mart wine is that it can be served with either
white meat (Possum) or red meat (Squirrel). This is a speciality in
Oregon and Wisconsin!
"...Wal-Mart announced that they will soon be offering customers a
new item: Wal-Mart's own brand of wine. The world's largest retail
chain is teaming up with E&J Gallo Winery of California, to produce
the wine at an affordable price, in the $2-5 range.
Wine connoisseurs may not be inclined to throw a bottle of Wal-Mart
brand into their shopping carts, but "there is a market for cheap
wine", said Kathy Micken, director of marketing. "Of course,
choosing the right name is important," she added.
Customer surveys were conducted to determine the most attractive name
for the Wal-Mart brand. The top surveyed names, in order of
popularity are:
10. Chateau Traileur Parc
9. W! hite Trashfindel
8. Big Red Gulp
7. World Championship Riesling
6. NASCARbernet
5. Chef Boyardeaux
4. Peanut Noir
3. I Can't Believe It's Not Vinegar!
2. Grape Expectations
And the number 1 name for Wal-Mart Wine:
1. Nasti Spumante
The beauty of Wal-Mart wine is that it can be served with either
white meat (Possum) or red meat (Squirrel). This is a speciality in
Oregon and Wisconsin!
