Road Racing and Training Thread Week Ending 08/05/2018

For a guy who is so against polarized training, you sure seem to see only extremes in many other ways. You know, being honest does not preclude thoughtful or civil communication and does not require possibly counterproductive communication.

But to be honest, I don't think that you are concerned about my mental state or confidence, that makes no sense. Nor can you credibly suggest that I'm looking for excuses because I am looking to quit. It's pretty obvious that you're trying to insult me in an indirect way poorly framed as concern.

See, directness and civility truly aren't mutually exclusive.

Smoove wrote:

For a guy who is so against polarized training, you sure seem to see only extremes in many other ways. You know, being honest does not preclude thoughtful or civil communication and does not require possibly counterproductive communication.

But to be honest, I don't think that you are concerned about my mental state or confidence, that makes no sense. Nor can you credibly suggest that I'm looking for excuses because I am looking to quit. It's pretty obvious that you're trying to insult me in an indirect way poorly framed as concern.

See, directness and civility truly aren't mutually exclusive.

I don’t know what you’re talking about. I feel like this exchange has been both thoughtful and civil. We should all be able to take some constructive criticism now and then.

Smoove wrote:

AJ doesn't think that I have lost my mental game, by the way. He is just being a normal guy and busting balls, as we would say in Brooklyn. As he accurately pointed out, there is an emotional ebb and flow of training. I know it has been a while since you have been able to train consistently, so maybe that is hard for you to still relate to because of the lack of recent first hand experience. This kind of thing is part of the natural back and forth with many people who have come to know or at least develop a rapport with one another.

+1.

outsiderunner wrote:

I, too, took AJ’s comments as nothing more than typical Brooklyn-style ball busting. They actually made me chuckle. His comments usually do.

Thanks OR. Going long at the beach tomorrow? I’ve got a bitchin TLT. It’s gonna hurt. I can’t wait.

RunGuy Midwest wrote:

Coach Jeff ROC wrote:

Hey! to the other sub-3 hopefuls here. Let's get this done, boys.

I'm trying, Coach Jeff!

Great conversation you sparked. Appreciate the insights from Smoove and Stone. The knowledge you'll are throwing out is VALUABLE.

I'll tell you, I feel much better this cycle following the Hanson's guidelines than I have in the past. In the past, I would have tried to hammer 4*1 mile close to as fast as I can and dug myself a hole that I never fully recover from. That's precisely what I did earlier this year that led to time on the shelf and an abysmal marathon. Now, I'm recovering nicely and feel like I'm getting a "training win" when my 5k effort repeats is faster than anticipated.

I really understand what you mean about descending into a training hole when, in fact, we should be elevating ourselves higher and higher. We need to be laying down "stepping stones" rather than digging deep ditches. I'm a Nietzsche fan, but his "Whatever does not kill me makes me stronger" doesn't work for training; there is plenty you can do that will not exactly kill you but yet not make you stronger. Maturing as a runner has meant a gain in confidence for me. In the past, when faced with trusting the "schedule" or trusting myself, I'd give myself over into the hands of the expert, pick up my shovel, and start digging my own race-performance grave. Hoping to avoid this type of pitfall (pun too obvious to avoid) this time around.

Coach Jeff ROC wrote:

Interesting. I just tried that test without any preliminary stretching. 2.5" and I can barely scrape the paint. Any exercises you found particularly helpful?

Hi Coach, The exercise that helped most was a forward lunge with a rope around ankle and anchored under door behind me. I tied two knots at each end of rope to keep it from sliding under door. Some people use an elastic band and anchor around a pole or other object. there are videos on this subject. Good luck.

AJ - Just got back from my run. It would have been nice to go long, but I have not felt much energy in the last few days. Went 8.25 at 6:44 overall. A swampy/dripping run. At least I felt better than yesterday.

Allen1959 wrote:

runrincerepeat wrote:

10 miles on the dreadmill seems like 30. I would rather not run!

After many months of darkness, snow, ice, arctic winds, hats, gloves and layers of clothes, indoors on a treadmill isn't somewhere I want to be on an August day.

Joy is being able to don just a pair of shorts, skimpy socks, and shoes, and head out the door. Summer time!

Regarding workouts, I like positive reinforcement from my watch as much or more than anyone, but I can slow the pace as necessary in hot weather.

.. Says a guy who was whining about 75-degree, 68° dew point race conditions last weekend ...

Being injured and unable to run, I've been mentally preparing myself for longish treadmill sessions in the winter. The most I've done was 13 miles, which is torture, but this past winter was so bad I went to the treadmill a lot in the months of February and March. Between running before 5 am and working outside all the time, I was tired of freezing.

I tried the treadmill for the first time this past winter. My max was three miles. But I definitely understand its value in the winter. And in the summer, too, for our tropical friends.

BTW, I mentioned below-the-ankle lightweight "skimpy socks" as a contrast to thick mid-calf winter socks!

RRR - How did your friends do in the 5K this morning?