• Coach Jeff ROC
      registered
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/17/2018 7:29PM - in reply to consistency
      • Coach Jeff ROC
        registered
      • Yeah, I agree about the temps. If I ever plan to run a 92 degree marathon, I'll now know what to expect!

        I should have noted above that my "high" HR for the past 6 weeks has been 160. Next week, we bump that up to 165 and try the test again in approximately 6 weeks.
    • consistency
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/17/2018 7:37PM - in reply to Coach Jeff ROC
      • consistency
      • Nice. So I take it 160 is going well and feeling comfortable. And that is a bit lower than your marathon HR, right? I can't remember but was it 170s for you? We have very different HRs as I run easy around 130 and had mid 150s as my marathon HR.
    • Tall dark roast
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/17/2018 7:45PM - in reply to outsiderunner
      • Tall dark roast
      • outsiderunner wrote:

        One more thing, and then I will shut up...as you can see, were it not for my beloved runs, and a couple of other important things, I might be looking for a high cliff somewhere...

        Had another excellent one tonight...13 in the rain...and hills.

        I don’t know how you do it! I’m convinced that I feel like absolute crap on my runs Monday through Friday because of my teaching job. I know every job has its pros and cons, I can’t complain much dealing with elementary aged children and being known as “coach” around campus
    • outsiderunner
      registered
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/17/2018 7:52PM - in reply to Still Improving
      • outsiderunner
        registered
      • Still Improving - The commute is muder, just murder. When I first moved here 17 years ago, it did it for a while, and I do nnot know t want to go back to that. Early, early hours, some of the worst traffic I have ever seen (and I am from NYC), and I was falling asleep on the way home. For the few extra K per year, it is definitely not worth it. Also, as far as I know, it is better to have the master’s in the subject area, rather than in education. These degrees are rarer, and they qualify one for dual enrollment positions.

        WH - We have been here 17 years and have roots here. My wife likes her job, and she does good work for the community. My daughter is a juvenille diabetic, and we like her doctor. It would probably cost 20K to move. Plus, the hills here have made me the runner I am today...so much so that, after my last two marathons, I said “Thank you” to the hills as I passed them on the way home in the car.
    • outsiderunner
      registered
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/17/2018 8:02PM - in reply to Tall dark roast
      • outsiderunner
        registered
      • Tall dark roast wrote:

        outsiderunner wrote:

        One more thing, and then I will shut up...as you can see, were it not for my beloved runs, and a couple of other important things, I might be looking for a high cliff somewhere...

        Had another excellent one tonight...13 in the rain...and hills.

        I don’t know how you do it! I’m convinced that I feel like absolute crap on my runs Monday through Friday because of my teaching job. I know every job has its pros and cons, I can’t complain much dealing with elementary aged children and being known as “coach” around campus

        Tdr - I do not know how I do it, either. It is a miracle. To come home after teaching all day, change my clothes, and go out the door and run 13.13 in 1:26:25 in the hills and rain only tells me that I was, in the most pure and absolute sense, meant to be a runner.
    • Coach Jeff ROC
      registered
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/17/2018 8:05PM - in reply to consistency
      • Coach Jeff ROC
        registered
      • My max is just over 200bpm. My PR 3:15 (4:38/km) last December was 181avg at 53 degrees.

        Yeah, 160 is way solid. It was pretty solid when I started, though. But I'm following the adage that you can't run TOO SLOW in base phase. So, I have the time...why not start conservatively. Depending on how things work out, the tentative progression is:
        Next Week: 165
        Beginning of July: 170
        Mid August: 175

        Beginning of October, I'll start doing some workouts. End of the year, get serious about Boston 2019.
    • Coach Jeff ROC
      registered
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/17/2018 8:23PM - in reply to outsiderunner
      • Coach Jeff ROC
        registered
      • As for teaching...

        The majority of my income comes from teaching (though I also get income from writing/translating/educational consulting/voice acting). But my gig is a different deal.

        I'm a test-prep "coach." Much of my work is one-on-one and my clients are mostly people who have specific goals. Further, many have come to me specifically for my specific expertise. I work as a kind of "private contractor" with a college prep company, so I can (to some degree) decide on how much and when I want to work. For me, though everyone has bad days, it's a pretty good situation. Not getting wealthy, but I own my home, own a car, and take a vacation abroad once a year.

        My wife is a teacher in the public school system here, and it's a good second income for us.

        I feel for anyone who spends a large portion of the day doing something unfulfilling (be that economically, professionally, emotionally). It's easy to say "change," but not easy to do. And some people are more comfortable at change than others. And some people have a lot at stake; stability is not without value.

        Whatever the case, let's lace 'em up and let it go for an hour or so each day.
    • outsiderunner
      registered
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/17/2018 8:34PM - in reply to Coach Jeff ROC
      • outsiderunner
        registered
      • Coach Jeff - Very well stated. Yes, lace ‘em up, and let it go as much as we can Perhaps we will lace ‘em next year in Boston.
    • Runningforfun
      registered
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/17/2018 8:56PM - in reply to outsiderunner
      • Runningforfun
        registered
      • To make you guys feel better, I pay about $28k/yr in health coverage. And that's with a crappy dental plan and basically no eye coverage.
    • Still Improving
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/18/2018 4:48AM - in reply to Runningforfun
      • Still Improving
      • Allen - Good luck with your race this weekend. You are not the only one hoping for a bit of that race day magic.

        OR - I hear your on the commute. I got lucky landing where I am now before real estate got more expensive and my driving commute is 25-30min. Biking it is ~45min.

        A big thanks to all those that provided advice on rehabbing my PF. Good news. No signs of PF this morning. I did have to quit using the night splint because it seemed to make my bother my calf and make it tight with having my foot being mostly immobile through the night.

        Current forecast has rain for the morning of my race so it looks like things are going to be a bit wet. Temp. of 50°F rising to 60° so that's not too bad considering things will likely be wet. And it looks like there will be a slight tailwind. Getting ready to hit the road and see a little bit on of the scenery on my way.
    • Allen1959
      registered
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/18/2018 6:34AM - in reply to Still Improving
      • Allen1959
        registered
      • Still Improving wrote:
        Good luck with your race this weekend. You are not the only one hoping for a bit of that race day magic.
        Indeed! Thanks so much. Safe travels for you, and enjoy a great marathon!
    • Allen1959
      registered
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/18/2018 6:53AM - in reply to outsiderunner
      • Allen1959
        registered
      • OR -- Might you jump into that 5K tomorrow for a little uptempo running? Weather map looks like rain for you, too. BTW, I took a look at our out-of-pocket cost for medical/dental coverage. Higher than I was guessing yesterday -- $805.50 a month for the two us. Ugh. Heading out the door now for a 2-mile jog, then off to work. Be well.
    • Gordon Tremeshko
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/18/2018 7:57AM - in reply to Allen1959
      • Gordon Tremeshko
      • Yeah, maybe it's a New York thing. My parents both work in education and both had to wait till they were eligible for Medicare to retire because they were not getting free healthcare from work. Several younger (my age) teachers I know have a second jobs to make ends meet (not just during the summer). Or maybe the older generation (and maybe even more specifically: older generation in New York?) has a more generous pension setup? There are guys in my office that are still going to get a pension when they retire, and I am certainly not going to be eligible for that. Regarding moving to a new state with better pay - I think not all teaching certifications transfer to every state, and if you're already paying into one pension I'm guessing that doesn't transfer, and I think you get "boosts" for staying in the same system longer...so the financial momentum may make it even more difficult once you're settled in somewhere.

        Anyway...give 'em hell this weekend Allen. Your last couple weeks of training sure seem like the switch has flipped and you're back on track. Looking forward to see what race day magic does for you.

        Good luck Still Improving. Glad to hear the PF is cleared up. I know you had a pretty detailed race plan a few weeks ago, but any refinements since then based on your continued training? Going for that "A" goal right from the starting line?

        Anyone else racing this weekend?
    • Runningforfun
      registered
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/18/2018 8:05AM - in reply to Gordon Tremeshko
      • Runningforfun
        registered
      • Looks like a rainy/windy day for my 10 miler tomorrow. I'm pumped for it.
    • outsiderunner
      registered
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/18/2018 8:36AM - in reply to Allen1959
      • outsiderunner
        registered
      • Allen - Thanks...I am home today, as I have an interview later on.

        Yes, it looks like rain and 59 for tomorrow, and I admit I am tempted to race. I have until 6:00 tonight to decide. I hope you are having a good run.

        In regard to health care, the $750 I mentioned is just for medical. I believe dental and vision add about another $150. Ugh is the right word.

        Rain again here today. Will go out soon. Looking for 10.5, and so if I race tomorrow it will be on zero taper. Want to kept the mileage up...

        All the best...
    • Thoughts
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/18/2018 8:44AM - in reply to outsiderunner
      • Thoughts
      • OR, you could move into my area and be an English teacher. I'd require you to also take over the XC and track distance programs or at least be an assistant.

        I'm tired of not seeing kids progress throughout a season or from year to year. I'd think that any coach at bare minimum could buy a Daniels book and follow the plans to realize improvement.

        As for salary, if I gave you a dollar and there was no improvement I'd considered you over paid. If you were able to make a positive change. If you could get the kids competitive, develop in them a life time love for English or athletics I'd never be able to pay you enough.
    • Coach Jeff ROC
      registered
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/18/2018 9:06AM - in reply to Still Improving
      • Coach Jeff ROC
        registered
      • Best Wishes to Still Improving as he hits the road, on his way to glory... via Maine.

        Best wishes to Allen as well! I have a feeling that 5k is going to have you optimistic about your longer term goals!

        As for OR... we know he can train in the rain... but race? Will he? Nill he?
    • runrincerepeat
      registered
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/18/2018 9:13AM - in reply to outsiderunner
      • runrincerepeat
        registered
      • In regards to medical .. the one huge benefit of me dodging all that Bullsh*t in the desert for over a year is Medical. I am lucky to live in one of the better VA systems in the country. It is yearly ranked very high. It qualifies as complete medical coverage and by staying enrolled I have a lifetime "ObamaCare" ( or whatever you want to call it) Waiver.

        All the VA horror stories you hear are real in certain systems and other systems are very high quality.. Just depends on the system.

        Not that I use it, Have not been to the doc except for a checkup in the last 2.5 years... but have used it in the past and always can if need be. Medical costs are insane in this country and I wish more medicine would be involved with prevention and not just treatment. There is a def Health crisis in this country .. Anyways I digress
    • Allen1959
      registered
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/18/2018 9:45AM - in reply to Runningforfun
      • Allen1959
        registered
      • Runningforfun wrote:
        Looks like a rainy/windy day for my 10 miler tomorrow. I'm pumped for it.
        Have a great race! That's a distance I have always struggled with. If you're still planning it as more or less a training run, that takes some of the pressure off. And if you close with some hard miles, it's always fun to catch a few folks along the way. Hope the wind isn't TOO bad!
    • Allen1959
      registered
      • RE: Road Racing and Training Thread. Week Ending May 13 2018 5/18/2018 9:53AM - in reply to Coach Jeff ROC
      • Allen1959
        registered
      • Coach Jeff ROC wrote:
        ... I have a feeling that 5k is going to have you optimistic about your longer term goals ...

        Thanks, Jeff. Here's hoping. I chose this race because it's a certified course and relatively nearby. But looking at last year's results, I see it was quite a small event, and not very competitive.

        Last year, an M55-59 placed second overall with a time close to what I am shooting for. As a fitness gauge, I should've found a bigger, deeper race. Oh well.