Masters Weekend Races and Runs

Good morning. I have enough fat so I don't need any extra fuel for running. Usually drink some coffee and eat a banana and some Special K w/ 1% milk and I am good to go. It's clear and cold, about 1 degree but very little wind. Should be almost perfect running this morning. There is almost no snow so the paths, roads, etc are pretty clear and I had a good last week of running. The main problem I have is after about 3 miles I start sweating and then the cold air makes your body cold. I wear all wicking material with the latest technology, Brooks Equilibrium blah blah blah. If I didn't sweat it wouldn't be a problem. I'll tell you Goretex lined shoes and some Sugoi mittens help a whole lot. Well I'm on my way out the door now too and then coming back to watch the Packers. A little nervous about that. TC

I took about three weeks off training and have been struggling back since Jan 3 - Feeling bad for 5 miles I used to fly through.

At the least, this helps me understand how hard it is for people to get into running. When even long time, thin, generally fit runners have trouble running for 40 minutes, how bad must an overweight newbie feel? Must be no fun whatsoever.

But looking forward to end of January when I should be humming along again. First race will be early March.

I have never thought much about food - when people can be vegetarians and paleo eaters and both can run fast, caring too much about nutrition seems to me a waste of time.

I basically try to eat like the Italians - olive oil, red wine, pasta, meat once or twice per week, and call it a day. Ice cream and highly salted blue corn chips are the rocket fuel.

congrats northwest master and other PNW people on the Seahawks--exciting game.

pretty good week -- mid-60's miles with one set of hill repeats on treadmill and then a time-on-feet (3 hours) long run yesterday in light snow. I cancelled marathon-pace portion of the long run out of nervousness re the footing and just wandered around trails, a deserted golf course, etc.

The older I get the emptier a stomach i need before running. i never eat before a morning run, and try to arrange a min. of 5 hours or so without eating before afternoon or evening run.

stay warm and have a great week,

Dave

Happy bleeping new year to me. First run of 2011, I aggrevated the hamstring from hell. Was able to jog lightly yesterday, so I'll give things a gentle go today.

I am one of the lucky ones who can pretty much eat normally, then run. Typically, if I am running in the morning, I'll have a cup of coffee, a banana, and an English muffin (occasionally with peanut butter/honey) about ninety minutes before I start.

Best thoughts are sent to any and all impacted by the shooting in Arizona yesterday.

Run well everybody.

I ran a few times this week so I am happy. Patience will be my motto for 2011 because I am still really struggling with my knees, etc. Oh well. This too shall pass.

Fuel? Nothing before I run but at times, I need a bit of caffeine to get the engine running. So, occasionally, I'll drink tea prior to running. 90% of the time, I get up and begin running in less than 15 minutes so no food. Heck, I'm not always awake before I start running.

I blazed a trail through light snow in a local park this morning. I lasted about forty minutes before my left knee started to hint that I should stop. It was beautiful and serene - a nice change of pace from the treadmill.

I have coffee before my morning runs , and refuel with a fruit smoothie , along with whey protein and a handful of almonds.

Happy trails and . . . Go Ravens !

101 for the week, third 100M week as I build up for probably a half marathon in early February and then track and shorter roads. As usual in the third hundred mile week, I got over a good deal of my fatigue and started running some faster times.

Monday included a 4M tempo on the treadmill in 23:21, after weights and situps, and Wednesday included a 4M solo tempo outside in 22:51, which was over 20 seconds faster than I've done a tempo in the past year and a half. I also did two miles of 20/10's (twenty seconds hard, ten seconds easy) near the end of a ten miler yesterday. Pace on my other runs was generally in the low 7's. No luck for my part on fuel before runs. I used to eat a granola bar an hour before races and that didn't give me problems but didn't give me much fuel either and I've done okay with a glass of water and a few bites of a power bar the past couple days.

50.5 miles and seven consecutive days of running for me. First time I've done either of those in over a year. best workout of the week was 3 x 1 mile in 5:42,5:39 and 5:28 with 1/2 mile jog recovery at 7:30 pace. Got in an easy 13 yesterday at just over 7 minute pace.

Next race on deck for me is the Houston Half Marathon. Hoping for a master's PR.

WHAT a game yesterday! I can get thru the long winter now.

Just got back from dropping son off @ Greyhound to head back to school and did a nice two hours on the (here comes the snow again) trails.

We have been too cold and icy to really do any quicker stuff, but it looks like some Indoor workouts are on schedule now. Felt great sweating on Thurs night on the Indoor circut. Probably too fast but I came away unharmed. Six days of running with one blazer in there for 66 miles total.

Thurs ~ Indoor 16x 300 w/one min rest. Pure bliss!

Cheers

tony

It has been a cloudy cold dreary week in No Cal. I know our "cold" pales in comparison to real winter for some of you brave folks, but 40 degrees with mist and a breeze is too cold for hurdling and sprinting. However this morning we lucked out --cloudy but no mist and no breeze. 37 degrees at 9:00, and we were out on the track. Luckily our coach showed us some new hurdle drills that got everyone sweaty and warm, and that resulted in an excellent practice!

I always have hot cereal of some kind before a practice, plus some coffee and water. The cereal has complex carbs plus it's dense, so it sticks with me but doesn't overfill me or slosh around in my stomach. When I have a meet I have hot cereal, toast with peanut butter, coffee, and water; then I snack lightly throughout the day on dried fruit, bananas, 1/2 PBJ, and sports drink. By the time the meet is over I'm ready for steak and a salad.

I have no appetite first thing in the morning. I have a coffee then run into work. I'll usually have a big bowl of cereal and fruit at the office - although the bacon-sandwich-and-coffee deal from the bakers opposite my office tends to seduce me in the depths of winter!

A week of interruptions, 53 miles in 5 days of training. Key sessions..

- 13 miles, most of it at 6:40 pace

- 9x300 [3min rest] in 49-50 - a rare visit to the track, joined some youngsters, not a regular session

- today 1.5 miles in 7:30, 1 mile untimed, then 4x1min hills.

- 2 good gym sessions really working the legs

Starting to lose a little of the Christmas bloat - 1kg gone, 1 to go ;-)

A good solid 50 miles this week here in the foggy central San Joaquin Valley in California. Today made 72 days in a row of running, which I am super excited, since I have not been able to put together a solid month of training in years and now I am rolling along feeling better each day.

Fueling up consists of two cups of coffee before the morning run and if it is in the afternoon, the original powerbar a.k.a. Snickers. I can't really run on much else, but after the run...that's a different story.

Great week with a few doubles, they felt great. Was in Tulsa this morning, changed planes in a very snowy Denver, but home for a day. Tulsa was very nice for running, some nice trails around a golf course and along the Arkansas River.

Up to Seattle tomorrow - treadmill at the hotel tomorrow night, then home and off to Phoenix but should get some good running in each day either indoors on the treadmill or outdoors - especially in Phoenix.

Have a great week!

1500 - head over to UW Dempsey for some Indoor workout (7:15 pm - 8:30) if you can.

Go Terps !

Thanks for the suggestion, however I am stuck out at the airport. My meetings are there, dinner, then a run about 10:00 on the treadmill.

Matt

Not being a morning person, it takes a jolt of caffeine to get my AM motor running. Post run/bike/ski, a bowl of oat meal with maple syrup and blue berry's keeps me ticking until noon.

Last Sunday; PM a real max effort 2 hour ski.

Monday; Easy 3 mile run

Tuesday; 52 min. spin trainer session

I got worked over by the cold/flu on Weds. and Thurs. So no workouts those days.

Friday PM was a good 1 and 1/2 hour ski.

Saturday; rest

Sunday AM; 2 mile jog with the dog. PM; 2.5 hours on skiis. Worked the uphills hard, rested the downs...fartlek style, on rolling glacial terrain.

Geez, I can't stifle it any longer.

How about those Packers??!!

I like the QB, hope they go to the SB.

A cup of tea, with half & half and sugar - which always means I have to pee during my long run. Oh well, I can use the caffeine.

I keep chugging away. Monday's trails were still frozen. Tuesday, I had to run on the roads in the dark. On Wednesday, the trails were icy and wet - and slippery. On Thursday I was in sunny Bend, but managed to find the only snow/ice covered trail to run. I had to cut it short because it was too terrifying to keep slipping. We switched to the roads and got to experience running uphill at altitude - so refreshing. ;-) Friday - roads/dark. Saturday - workout on the the grass. 4 x 5,2s (tempo w/ pickups). wow - first "hard" workout in almost a month. It hurt. Sunday - long run on the muddy trails.

Otherwise, it was a good week with my son's basketball team starting off the season with a big win (a nice change from last year's string of close losses). They still are pretty short, though. Daughter 2 auditioned for the musical for the first time -- and got a part! Her running will be on hold for a while. An "angel" friend offered me an airline pass so that I could go to USA xc in February - I was so shocked and appreciative. I won't be in any kind of shape, but it is an amazing gesture. I feel blessed.