I got the ride in yesterday. I made my way over to the picnic loop (and enjoyed every bit of the irony of sitting in traffic with a bike on the back of my car) and logged 17 miles. As of today, with 28% of the week completed (Monday counts as the start and each day is roughly 14%), I've logged 17% of my mileage target and 17% of my time-in-saddle target. Tonight I'll log another 15 miles at least in probably another hour in the saddle, which will will give me 32% mileage and time at the completion of 43% of the week. If things continue on pace, it looks like I'll have hit 35% of my weight loss goal for the month by Sunday, too (no weekly targets on that).
Data driven results, baby.
I certainly like riding more than I like running. Sure, there's a simplicity in running--just grab some shoes and something to keep your junk from bouncing too hard and you're out the door. And biking is far more complex with the machinery and the gear and the maintenance and blah blah blah. Running is cheaper (shoes [$100] and not much else) and biking is way, way, way more expensive (bike [>$300], shoes [>$75], pedals [>$50], helmet [>$50], bike maintenance [>$200/yr], glasses [>$75], padded shorts [$>$40]). And there's that whole primal biology thing about running when the endorphins blow up and the eyes dilate and you salivate and the thought of catching that beast you've been chasing for the last hour or so.... or maybe that's just me.
But when the wind is whistling in your ear and you're flying at speeds that man was not designed to achieve and the only thing protecting you from the elements--the hard, unforgiving, abrasive element of concrete--is a thin film of lycra, there's just something beautifully dangerous about that. It's a different kind of primal.
And to think just 2 months ago I was considering selling my mount.
Silly me.
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
The schedule is a challenge in and of itself
So, when you have a loving wife, and two beautiful children, all of whom you actually like, it's exceptionally difficult to get an hour of daylight to yourself to go out for a bike or run.
Well, it's hard for me, at least.
This weekend's ride didn't materialize.
First, there was the construction meeting. Then there was lunch with the extended nuclear family. Then there was the obligatory socializing and nap time (I should have taken my bike to the meeting, then I could have gotten the ride after lunch). Then it was back home to ready the house for the birthday party.
Then it was up early for lawn work before it got too hot. Then it was watching the boys while the Lovely Wife went to the store for supplies. Then it was more house cleaning before the big shindig. Then there was the shindig. Then there was cleanup and more obligatory socializing with some really great friends.
I know. I have a pocket full of excuses.
But I didn't gain a single pound over the weekend. I held steady, which is good enough.
Now, yesterday (Monday) was another set of issues entirely. I didn't sleep on Sunday, so I was garbage all day yesterday. I ached, and had a headache, and couldn't focus my sight (almost like a migraine, but I don't get those), and I was even a little nauseous a couple of times. All in all, it was not a good day. Compounded by the fact that I had to get my dry cleaning after 6, so no ride in the morning, no ride at lunch, and the possible time for a ride in the evening was consumed by a combo trip to the dry cleaner and grocery store. Arriving home at 6:15, then baths for the boys, dinner, and next thing I know I don't have an hour of daylight left to get a ride in. FML
But today I've planned it out differently. I have my gear bag and bike at the car so I can snatch a quick hour ride during lunch (maybe 15 miles). Failing that I'll knock off at about 4:30 and grab an hour then, getting home between 6 and 6:30 so I can grab the oldest and get to baseball practice. It'll be tight (4:30 - 4:45, change and prep the bike; 4:45-5:45, ride like the wind!, 5:45 - 6:00 towel off and cool down, 6:00-6:20 drive home as fast as I effin' can, because 6:30 is baseball practice. Ugh!) Needless to say, if the ride doesn't happen at lunch, there's a VERY good chance that the ride doesn't happen at all.
Maybe I drop off the boy and hit the road while he's at practice. That doesn't seem quite right, though.
Well, it's hard for me, at least.
This weekend's ride didn't materialize.
First, there was the construction meeting. Then there was lunch with the extended nuclear family. Then there was the obligatory socializing and nap time (I should have taken my bike to the meeting, then I could have gotten the ride after lunch). Then it was back home to ready the house for the birthday party.
Then it was up early for lawn work before it got too hot. Then it was watching the boys while the Lovely Wife went to the store for supplies. Then it was more house cleaning before the big shindig. Then there was the shindig. Then there was cleanup and more obligatory socializing with some really great friends.
I know. I have a pocket full of excuses.
But I didn't gain a single pound over the weekend. I held steady, which is good enough.
Now, yesterday (Monday) was another set of issues entirely. I didn't sleep on Sunday, so I was garbage all day yesterday. I ached, and had a headache, and couldn't focus my sight (almost like a migraine, but I don't get those), and I was even a little nauseous a couple of times. All in all, it was not a good day. Compounded by the fact that I had to get my dry cleaning after 6, so no ride in the morning, no ride at lunch, and the possible time for a ride in the evening was consumed by a combo trip to the dry cleaner and grocery store. Arriving home at 6:15, then baths for the boys, dinner, and next thing I know I don't have an hour of daylight left to get a ride in. FML
But today I've planned it out differently. I have my gear bag and bike at the car so I can snatch a quick hour ride during lunch (maybe 15 miles). Failing that I'll knock off at about 4:30 and grab an hour then, getting home between 6 and 6:30 so I can grab the oldest and get to baseball practice. It'll be tight (4:30 - 4:45, change and prep the bike; 4:45-5:45, ride like the wind!, 5:45 - 6:00 towel off and cool down, 6:00-6:20 drive home as fast as I effin' can, because 6:30 is baseball practice. Ugh!) Needless to say, if the ride doesn't happen at lunch, there's a VERY good chance that the ride doesn't happen at all.
Maybe I drop off the boy and hit the road while he's at practice. That doesn't seem quite right, though.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Converging forces
Ok, so there's several things going on:
1. I can't run right now. Well, I can, but I shouldn't because I need to let my foot heal properly. And that means not stressing the Achilles tendon and, quite literally, staying off it as long as possible.
2. I can't just sit around. If I do, I turn in to a big fat fatty. And that's not good. So, I need to maintain some kind of fitness without straining the foot.
3. We're building a house, so we're imposing some serious fiscal discipline. The fiscal discipline leads into ...
4. Dietary Discipline! If I sit around and eat like I'm still being active, I turn into a big fat fatty. If I eat responsibly I can maintain a decent weight. If I get active AND eat responsibly, I can maintain fitness AND lose weight AND save money!! It's a win, win, win situation.
And I like to win win win.
Needless to say, right now I'm hungry. I'm damn hungry.
Fiscal discipline is actually pretty easy. I do math, I do spreadsheets, I do budgets. That stuff is easy for me and when I set the challenge up of $XX per day, I can meet that challenge. Almost without fail and almost without effort. That's how I roll.
However, the dietary discipline isn't quite so easy. It's hard to do a spreadsheet for food. It's hard to do math for food. It's hard to do the things I'm good at when it comes to food. I know, I know... count calories and fat grams and blah blah blah... But that's not what I do. I'm really REALLY not good at that. I'm much better at food categories and types of food and foods that make fuel to make my body work better. It's turns into a very organic process for me where I push my body to do something, then my body wants something in return. Like I'll hammer out some hills, and then CRAVE bean burritos. Or chicken salad. Or spaghetti. Or (yes, I know this is weird) lentil soup with peanut butter toast. When I was deep in training awhile back I almost never ate a hamburger because I just didn't want burgers. Or pizza. Or a lot of other garbage.
My body spoke and I listened. It was as easy as that.
But I don't know how to direct that process, I just know how to listen and let it happen, or at least prompt it with rigorous physical activity.
So, with that said, here is a set of specific, tangible, trackable goals:
1. 100 miles per week on the bike. That's a little more than 14 per day over 7 days. Or 40 miles on the weekend and 15 miles for 4 of the other days. Very doable, very modifiable to accommodate more miles. At my latest paces, that ends up being about 1 hour on the bike 4 times a week and 3 hours on the bike once a weekend. A very decent workout schedule.
2. Drop 15 pounds this month (June). I'd like to do about 40 - 45 lbs by the end of summer, and that'll get me to the middle range of what I should weight according to stupid government charts (180-ish). Of course, I know that won't happen, but it's something to shoot for. I haven't seen a number on the scale below 195 in more than a decade and 2 years ago came as close as 199. Of course, the last time I saw 195 on the scale I was biking slightly more than 100 miles a week. So, there's that.
Of course, the dietary discipline and the financial discipline will go hand in hand, because I can't go buying burgers every day. For that matter, I can't go buying much food every day. That shit adds up. (5 days at work * $7 for lunch * 4 weeks = $150. Throw in breakfast at $5 * 5 * 4 = $100 for a total food bill of $240. And that buys mostly garbage. Meanwhile 20 cans of soup are $50 and a couple dozen eggs to hard boil are $5. Throw in a couple loafs of bread and the food bill is still way below $100. See? I do numbers good.)
Besides, I'm closer to 40 now than 35 and I need to bang this old frame back into something that approaches fighting shape. That way when I slip the running shoes back on I won't have to haul so much ass in order to haul ass.
1. I can't run right now. Well, I can, but I shouldn't because I need to let my foot heal properly. And that means not stressing the Achilles tendon and, quite literally, staying off it as long as possible.
2. I can't just sit around. If I do, I turn in to a big fat fatty. And that's not good. So, I need to maintain some kind of fitness without straining the foot.
3. We're building a house, so we're imposing some serious fiscal discipline. The fiscal discipline leads into ...
4. Dietary Discipline! If I sit around and eat like I'm still being active, I turn into a big fat fatty. If I eat responsibly I can maintain a decent weight. If I get active AND eat responsibly, I can maintain fitness AND lose weight AND save money!! It's a win, win, win situation.
And I like to win win win.
Needless to say, right now I'm hungry. I'm damn hungry.
Fiscal discipline is actually pretty easy. I do math, I do spreadsheets, I do budgets. That stuff is easy for me and when I set the challenge up of $XX per day, I can meet that challenge. Almost without fail and almost without effort. That's how I roll.
However, the dietary discipline isn't quite so easy. It's hard to do a spreadsheet for food. It's hard to do math for food. It's hard to do the things I'm good at when it comes to food. I know, I know... count calories and fat grams and blah blah blah... But that's not what I do. I'm really REALLY not good at that. I'm much better at food categories and types of food and foods that make fuel to make my body work better. It's turns into a very organic process for me where I push my body to do something, then my body wants something in return. Like I'll hammer out some hills, and then CRAVE bean burritos. Or chicken salad. Or spaghetti. Or (yes, I know this is weird) lentil soup with peanut butter toast. When I was deep in training awhile back I almost never ate a hamburger because I just didn't want burgers. Or pizza. Or a lot of other garbage.
My body spoke and I listened. It was as easy as that.
But I don't know how to direct that process, I just know how to listen and let it happen, or at least prompt it with rigorous physical activity.
So, with that said, here is a set of specific, tangible, trackable goals:
1. 100 miles per week on the bike. That's a little more than 14 per day over 7 days. Or 40 miles on the weekend and 15 miles for 4 of the other days. Very doable, very modifiable to accommodate more miles. At my latest paces, that ends up being about 1 hour on the bike 4 times a week and 3 hours on the bike once a weekend. A very decent workout schedule.
2. Drop 15 pounds this month (June). I'd like to do about 40 - 45 lbs by the end of summer, and that'll get me to the middle range of what I should weight according to stupid government charts (180-ish). Of course, I know that won't happen, but it's something to shoot for. I haven't seen a number on the scale below 195 in more than a decade and 2 years ago came as close as 199. Of course, the last time I saw 195 on the scale I was biking slightly more than 100 miles a week. So, there's that.
Of course, the dietary discipline and the financial discipline will go hand in hand, because I can't go buying burgers every day. For that matter, I can't go buying much food every day. That shit adds up. (5 days at work * $7 for lunch * 4 weeks = $150. Throw in breakfast at $5 * 5 * 4 = $100 for a total food bill of $240. And that buys mostly garbage. Meanwhile 20 cans of soup are $50 and a couple dozen eggs to hard boil are $5. Throw in a couple loafs of bread and the food bill is still way below $100. See? I do numbers good.)
Besides, I'm closer to 40 now than 35 and I need to bang this old frame back into something that approaches fighting shape. That way when I slip the running shoes back on I won't have to haul so much ass in order to haul ass.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Emerging from taking it easy
Ok, so I'm not good at listening to doctors. Especially when it comes to running, or exercise, or any kind of strenuous activity. I know they're doctors and all, and have all that education and training, and blah blah blah... But they've never run a mile in my shoes. They've never taken my bike out on the roads. Only one doctor I've ever seen has ever run in a marathon--and he tried to fit me with orthopedic inserts.
I don't think so.
Pain is our body's way of saying something is out of whack. An orthopedic device artificially puts that thing back in whack and trains our muscles to accommodate the crutch. I'd rather have my mechanics correct themselves naturally and go without the crutch, thank you very much. That way the weak points get stronger and injuries are avoided.
Having been a runner, he should have known that.
Having been told that I prefer to go without inserts, he should have known that.
But he didn't. "Running is bad for you, it breaks down blah blah blah". Yea, where's the exit again?
So, anyway, I trust my doctor for the regular tinkering and knocks and pings that naturally occur in a human body. But I don't trust my doctor for sports medicine advice. Here's how the conversations usually go at the annual checkups:
Me: Doc, I'm going to start training for the MS150. I'm just checking in to make sure I'm still fit enough that it's a good idea.
Doc: What's that?
Me: A 200 mile bike ride across Texas. It's totally fun.
Doc: Motorcycle?
Me: No, bike.
Doc: ...
Me: Why are you looking at me like that?
Doc: You're healthy enough, physically. But that's not a good idea. Do you need a referral to a psychiatrist?
I know, I need a new doctor.
But the larger truth is that eventually I end up listening, at least a little bit. Like with my foot injury. I twisted my ankle back in July last year about 3/4 of a mile into a speed workout. I finished the first mile, then ran a couple of miles worth of quarter mile sprints.
It sounded like a good idea at the time.
Ok, that's a lie. That never sounds like a good idea.
It should go without saying that I couldn't really walk well the next day. Or the day after. But after 3 days the swelling had nearly gone away and after 2 weeks my ankle looked like new. But there was a new pain, right in the back of my heel where the Achilles meets the foot. It would go away during the day, and come back in the morning. When I ran it would go away, then come back with a fiery, hateful vengeance, hang around for a couple of days, then go away. Come back in the morning, go away during the day, I'd run, it would come back with a fiery, hateful vengeance, hang around for a couple of days, then go away. This pattern repeated itself again and again and eventually sent me to the doctor (who I mostly ignored). He said orthodics and rest. I said thanks, I have to go now.
The thing is, for the weak points to get stronger and the mechanics to correct themselves, you have to rest. Which I did, to an extent. I took two weeks off, and downgraded my training to run the half marathon instead of the full. I thought that would be enough. But after the half, I couldn't walk for a day or two. The pain was back. It was excruciating.
I've since taken 4 solid months off from running and my heel feels nearly perfect. I've also gained about 10 pounds during the layoff, eradicating the weight loss experienced when training. I've gotten a lot done. I've done some walking. I did some minor repairs around the house. I planted an orchard and failed to grow a garden. I bought a house and landed a couple of clients. Just no running. I was taking it easy.
But now it's time to be finished taking it easy. Now it's time to dust off the old 2 wheeler and get riding again. Now it's time to give back those 10 pounds, and maybe a few more. Now it's time to get back into running shape... without running.
Now it's time. Time to start looking towards a 2 hour half marathon and a 4 hour full marathon before I turn 40. Now it's time to start thinking seriously about that 18 minute 5k and 45 minute 10k. Now it's time to start doing something about that double century bike ride I've been talking about for 10 years.
Now it's time to silence the doubt and banish the demons. Now it's time to claim the mental clarity that comes with a fit and clean body and the physical confidence that comes with a fit and clean mind.
Now it's time.
I don't think so.
Pain is our body's way of saying something is out of whack. An orthopedic device artificially puts that thing back in whack and trains our muscles to accommodate the crutch. I'd rather have my mechanics correct themselves naturally and go without the crutch, thank you very much. That way the weak points get stronger and injuries are avoided.
Having been a runner, he should have known that.
Having been told that I prefer to go without inserts, he should have known that.
But he didn't. "Running is bad for you, it breaks down blah blah blah". Yea, where's the exit again?
So, anyway, I trust my doctor for the regular tinkering and knocks and pings that naturally occur in a human body. But I don't trust my doctor for sports medicine advice. Here's how the conversations usually go at the annual checkups:
Me: Doc, I'm going to start training for the MS150. I'm just checking in to make sure I'm still fit enough that it's a good idea.
Doc: What's that?
Me: A 200 mile bike ride across Texas. It's totally fun.
Doc: Motorcycle?
Me: No, bike.
Doc: ...
Me: Why are you looking at me like that?
Doc: You're healthy enough, physically. But that's not a good idea. Do you need a referral to a psychiatrist?
I know, I need a new doctor.
But the larger truth is that eventually I end up listening, at least a little bit. Like with my foot injury. I twisted my ankle back in July last year about 3/4 of a mile into a speed workout. I finished the first mile, then ran a couple of miles worth of quarter mile sprints.
It sounded like a good idea at the time.
Ok, that's a lie. That never sounds like a good idea.
It should go without saying that I couldn't really walk well the next day. Or the day after. But after 3 days the swelling had nearly gone away and after 2 weeks my ankle looked like new. But there was a new pain, right in the back of my heel where the Achilles meets the foot. It would go away during the day, and come back in the morning. When I ran it would go away, then come back with a fiery, hateful vengeance, hang around for a couple of days, then go away. Come back in the morning, go away during the day, I'd run, it would come back with a fiery, hateful vengeance, hang around for a couple of days, then go away. This pattern repeated itself again and again and eventually sent me to the doctor (who I mostly ignored). He said orthodics and rest. I said thanks, I have to go now.
The thing is, for the weak points to get stronger and the mechanics to correct themselves, you have to rest. Which I did, to an extent. I took two weeks off, and downgraded my training to run the half marathon instead of the full. I thought that would be enough. But after the half, I couldn't walk for a day or two. The pain was back. It was excruciating.
I've since taken 4 solid months off from running and my heel feels nearly perfect. I've also gained about 10 pounds during the layoff, eradicating the weight loss experienced when training. I've gotten a lot done. I've done some walking. I did some minor repairs around the house. I planted an orchard and failed to grow a garden. I bought a house and landed a couple of clients. Just no running. I was taking it easy.
But now it's time to be finished taking it easy. Now it's time to dust off the old 2 wheeler and get riding again. Now it's time to give back those 10 pounds, and maybe a few more. Now it's time to get back into running shape... without running.
Now it's time. Time to start looking towards a 2 hour half marathon and a 4 hour full marathon before I turn 40. Now it's time to start thinking seriously about that 18 minute 5k and 45 minute 10k. Now it's time to start doing something about that double century bike ride I've been talking about for 10 years.
Now it's time to silence the doubt and banish the demons. Now it's time to claim the mental clarity that comes with a fit and clean body and the physical confidence that comes with a fit and clean mind.
Now it's time.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Recovery hiatus... ending
Ok, so there was this hiatus thing. Deal with it.
Back in July of 2011 I twisted my ankle and my foot didn't quite heal. I even went to a doctor.
That didn't fix it.
I got new shoes.
That didn't fix it.
I got new shoes again.
That didn't fix it.
So instead of running the full marathon in January 2012, and another one a week later, and another one a month after that, I decided to scale back A LOT and only ran the half marathon in January.
Big mistake.
The pain didn't go away. In fact, it got worse.
It was a peculiar kind of pain. The kind that went away when I started running, but would come back when I stopped. Then get worse in the morning, but by afternoon was nearly gone. It was mainly around the back of my heel where the Achilles tendon met the retrocalcaneal bone. (I'll wait while you google that... back now? Good.) But now we're 4 months past the half marathon (2:35, by the way), and the pain is now almost entirely gone almost all the time. I'm getting the bug to run again, but that's probably not a very good idea. However, I do have a bike... now, that's a pretty good idea.
So, I'm considering maybe getting back in the saddle and gearing up for a crack at a MS150 ride. Maybe the San Antonio ride in October. That would be a good excuse to drop 10 or 20 pounds and get back into running shape. There's a marathon on January 1 that could be fun. And a series of bridge runs (culminating in a half marathon) that could be a fun challenge... ah, but I need to not push the injury.
Anyway, we'll see how this goes.
Back in July of 2011 I twisted my ankle and my foot didn't quite heal. I even went to a doctor.
That didn't fix it.
I got new shoes.
That didn't fix it.
I got new shoes again.
That didn't fix it.
So instead of running the full marathon in January 2012, and another one a week later, and another one a month after that, I decided to scale back A LOT and only ran the half marathon in January.
Big mistake.
The pain didn't go away. In fact, it got worse.
It was a peculiar kind of pain. The kind that went away when I started running, but would come back when I stopped. Then get worse in the morning, but by afternoon was nearly gone. It was mainly around the back of my heel where the Achilles tendon met the retrocalcaneal bone. (I'll wait while you google that... back now? Good.) But now we're 4 months past the half marathon (2:35, by the way), and the pain is now almost entirely gone almost all the time. I'm getting the bug to run again, but that's probably not a very good idea. However, I do have a bike... now, that's a pretty good idea.
So, I'm considering maybe getting back in the saddle and gearing up for a crack at a MS150 ride. Maybe the San Antonio ride in October. That would be a good excuse to drop 10 or 20 pounds and get back into running shape. There's a marathon on January 1 that could be fun. And a series of bridge runs (culminating in a half marathon) that could be a fun challenge... ah, but I need to not push the injury.
Anyway, we'll see how this goes.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Race Report--Brianna Becker 5k
Wow, I haven't done one of these in a long, long time.
The Brianna Becker 5k was a 2 lap course following roughly a square pattern. The start/finish line was on the right side of the square. It and the bottom side were mostly flat. The left side consisted of 4 hills, while the top side of the course started at a high point that went into a slight dip in the middle to another high point at the other corner, which swept back down around the turn into the start/finish line.
When the gun went off it was a moderate pace with a small field. Everybody stayed bunched up down the first stretch, through the right hand turn, and along the next stretch. Then, after the second right hand turn (where I passed the eventual female winner of my age group), into the hills, the pack was tested and began to stretch out a little bit. The first mile marker was just on the other side of the first hill, and my watch said I had completed that mile in just under 8:00--way, way too fast.
I chugged through the next 3 hills and up the long, slow slope before the last right hand turn of the lap. I swept over the hill and down toward the lap marker and saw the time was 12:38. Again, way, way too fast. I glanced over my shoulder and saw 4 guys running together about 30 or 40 feet behind me. One of these guys ended up being the winner of my age group.
I motored down the front stretch, around the right hand turn, and into the next right hand turn. The 4 guys were still behind me by about 20 feet or so. Then, up the first hill, I felt my legs finally begin to weaken. One of the 4 guys--the age group winner--passed me right on top of the hill while the other 3 hung back. At the bottom of the second hill the next hill 2 of the next three passed me and the third caught me at the top of the third. By the bottom of the third hill the last guy had put 20 feet between me and him. Right about here we started passing the walkers who were at the back of the pack--that was a cool feeling. I managed to close it to about 10 feet before the start of the 4th hill, but he dropped me on that hill and I was never able to close the distance again.
Along the back stretch and up the final sweep I glanced over my shoulder and saw the female age group leader catching up to me, but still a good 50 or 60 feet back. I topped the hill and turned on the final burn. As I approached the finish line the clock read 25:50... :51, :52, :53,.... I kicked it up one more notch ... :54... final time was 25:55.
This topped my previous best time from 2009 by nearly 4 minutes!!
The miles lately have clearly been paying off.
The next target in my sights is a 54:00 10k, and I'm taking a shot at that on April 23.
The Brianna Becker 5k was a 2 lap course following roughly a square pattern. The start/finish line was on the right side of the square. It and the bottom side were mostly flat. The left side consisted of 4 hills, while the top side of the course started at a high point that went into a slight dip in the middle to another high point at the other corner, which swept back down around the turn into the start/finish line.
When the gun went off it was a moderate pace with a small field. Everybody stayed bunched up down the first stretch, through the right hand turn, and along the next stretch. Then, after the second right hand turn (where I passed the eventual female winner of my age group), into the hills, the pack was tested and began to stretch out a little bit. The first mile marker was just on the other side of the first hill, and my watch said I had completed that mile in just under 8:00--way, way too fast.
I chugged through the next 3 hills and up the long, slow slope before the last right hand turn of the lap. I swept over the hill and down toward the lap marker and saw the time was 12:38. Again, way, way too fast. I glanced over my shoulder and saw 4 guys running together about 30 or 40 feet behind me. One of these guys ended up being the winner of my age group.
I motored down the front stretch, around the right hand turn, and into the next right hand turn. The 4 guys were still behind me by about 20 feet or so. Then, up the first hill, I felt my legs finally begin to weaken. One of the 4 guys--the age group winner--passed me right on top of the hill while the other 3 hung back. At the bottom of the second hill the next hill 2 of the next three passed me and the third caught me at the top of the third. By the bottom of the third hill the last guy had put 20 feet between me and him. Right about here we started passing the walkers who were at the back of the pack--that was a cool feeling. I managed to close it to about 10 feet before the start of the 4th hill, but he dropped me on that hill and I was never able to close the distance again.
Along the back stretch and up the final sweep I glanced over my shoulder and saw the female age group leader catching up to me, but still a good 50 or 60 feet back. I topped the hill and turned on the final burn. As I approached the finish line the clock read 25:50... :51, :52, :53,.... I kicked it up one more notch ... :54... final time was 25:55.
This topped my previous best time from 2009 by nearly 4 minutes!!
The miles lately have clearly been paying off.
The next target in my sights is a 54:00 10k, and I'm taking a shot at that on April 23.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Demons
You step up to the line, and it starts.
You don't want to do this (yes I do)
You're not going to be able to finish (yes I will)
You don't have to do this (yes I do)
This is not a race (yes it is)
Nobody is competing against you here (yes they are)
Why are you doing this to yourself (because I must)
Seriously, you don't have to (yes, I do)
What are you trying to prove (it doesn't matter)
You're going to regret this (fine, that's what I'll do)
And then you begin
See, every part of your body is rebelling (calm down)
That discomfort is going to become pain (calm down)
You're not going to be able to finish (calm down)
You might as well quit (never)
Why are you doing this (because I must)
What are you trying to prove (it doesn't matter)
You're never going to be able to pull this off (the worst that can happen isn't that bad)
Oh, no, my friend... failure stings (failure to start stings more)
You remember failure... you don't wan-- (never again)
And then the finish line draws near
You're running out of gas (I have enough)
You're not going to make it (I must)
You can't (I can)
What makes you think you can (I don't think I can)
Exactly (I know I can)
You can't win (I can't lose)
Just stop (just stop)
The challenge is figuring out which is the voice in my head, and then how to silence the other.
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