Veterans Day

Be thankful for our veterans and those who continue to serve in our armed forces.

Middle Half Race Report

I've been thinking about this race all week. Baiting BQ1's faster brother and talking smack about not racing. But, it is going to be a race. Knowing that I'm not in shape to run a PR for the distance, but right on the edge to be able to think about placing in my age group. A month ago I would have only thought a 1:35 or so would be doable. This week I've been talking myself into thinking a 1:30 is possible. Especially if I'm ever going to run a sub 3:00 marathon. A 1:25 half marathon should be my PR, yet I'm stuck at 1:27. I've run that time in at least 3 attempts, but in the last 2 it was always in a marathon training cycle and with no taper. This week I'm doing a teeny taper. Nothing as drastic as a marathon taper.

BQ1 and I have been joking about how long we will be able to hold pace before we blow up. His main goal is to keep his brother from going out to fast and keeping him under control to run at least a 1:30 Crazy thing, this pace is my goal marathon pace in the coming marathon training cycle. Still a couple of weeks away from the start of that cycle. That's thing that keeps sticking in my mind. This pace should be doable, question is for how long. Can we really keep it going for 13.1 miles or will we blow up at 8 miles? It'll be fun lining up with at least 4-5 of us that are all in pretty similar shape and racing against each other. It'll be only the second time I've raced head to head against any of these guys.

Couldn't ask for better weather for racing, clear blue sky, no wind and temperatures in the 40's to start and only low 50's by the time we finished. The fast Wich was able to PR, huge and not get pulled out to fast by me. His splits were a perfect negative split. I settled down after the first mile and ran according to plan, right around 6:50 pace. Few little surges when someone would yell my name or the crowd got me pumped. Blow up came a whole lot earlier than expected. Both me and BQ1 separated from the fast Wich, and then I couldn't even stay with BQ1. I struggled home slowing mile after mile. I slowed enough that I got passed by 5 people, but still was able to pass 3 runners who blew up worst than me. Personal worst for me 1:33.

It was fun to watch the race unfold for all of use trying to run 1:30. I never could catch the first pack, but the fast Wich caught at least 2 of them. After we left Oakland's mansion going up main to the square I was in the second pack of only about six. All of these guys, plus the pack ahead of us were able to go 1:30 or quicker. BQ1 barely missed the 1:30 mark.

Post race was celebrated with some Beck's Octoberfest and BBC Dark Star Porter. Found a shady spot to enjoy the beer and wait for the results. Only one of our group placed in any of the age group awards and his was a time was about like mine, 6 or more minutes slower than last year. Nice to have a race like this in our hometown.

Finally fall and the fifth annual fat ass fifty k

Beautiful morning for a fall run. Went out to the greenway here in Murfreesboro and everyone else must have thought the same thing. Don't think I've ever seen so many runners and walkers, even a couple diehards on their bikes. Ran into a large component of the Murfreesboro Ultra family, MUF? Voted and it was decided, lets do another Fat Ass. This will be the 5th year. I'll update the info on the link to the left with the correct date, but it will be on January 1st. Just like every other year. Everything else is the same. Free, no tshirts, no times, no clock.

defecating ecstasy

The first week of the 10 week base build up is behind me and I couldn’t be happier. Finally starting to feel like a runner again, even slogging along listening to the Ipod by myself. Did a couple of dumb things this week, that I hope don’t come back to bite me in the ass. Also, did a few smart things, hopefully to offset some of the dumb moves.

Doing dumb things usually always leads to an injury. One quick way is to increase mileage to quickly. The old rule about not increasing your mileage by 10%, is pretty sound advice that I always seem to ignore. This time I went from a long run of 9 miles to 14 miles. I hadn’t run 14 miles in 3 months. But, the boys were running that far, I needed a long run and it felt good. I did ice my legs afterwards, not really ice so much as cold water in the shower, but same end result. Legs felt great.

On the smart side of training, I am doing my own workouts. Yes, I’m training with the guys 2-3 times a week, but we all are pretty much doing our own paces for most of the workouts. I’ve resisted the urge to try and run their paces or distances. Maybe, in a couple of weeks, not yet though. (Except the 14 miles) Actually running by myself a couple of days per week is beneficial because I don’t get sucked into someone else’s workout.

Still putting music on my latest Ipod (third generation Nano). This will be the third Ipod I’ve owned in the last 3-4 years. I wore out the first generation shuffle, and inherited Dylans second generation shuffle. It’s still working, but I couldn’t pass up an 8 gig Nano display model that was on sale. I’ve been pretty lucky with my Ipod’s, The first one lasted close to 3 years, before the battery would no longer hold a charge. Speedy has destroyed a number of different MP3 players, because electronics and water don’t do so well together. I just put mine in a plastic baggie. He must sweat more than me. I know he runs a lot faster. All of the newer generations of Ipods don’t appear to be very runner friendly, especially with the touch screen.

Heard the Bowie lyric this morning on my slog. Forgotten how much I enjoy listening to the MP3 player when I run by myself. Listened to the new Tom Petty CD/album, Mojo, this morning while I was surfing the net with my morning cup of coffee. Really like the bluesy guitar, evident in almost every song. Need to pick up a couple of Mark Knopfler CD’s, more great guitar work.

This Bud's for you, for free. Ha, no thanks. I'll take a craft beer any day.

Freight train, really?

The plantar seems to be in remission for the last couple of runs. Thank goodness. I've been running pretty hit or miss lately, plus trying to get out on the bike, just to keep my trim figure. Didn't realize I'd lost so much fitness. I knew everything was a little bit more effort, but it wasn't until the other morning when the fast guys pointed out how hard I was breathing. Reality check. Use to be I could keep up with these guys on their slow days.

I've decided to slog on the easy days and use some threshold runs once a week for the next 10 weeks to build back up my base. I'd like to be ready to jump into a marathon training program in early December and target another attempt at a fast spring marathon. Fast for me being a sub 3:00 marathon.

One great thing about keeping a log, is the ability to go back to the beginning of a training cycle and see the level of the workouts. This really helps to ease the angst/displeasure/loath of running a 25 minute threshold run this morning at a 7:14 pace. (the beginning of the last cycle it was closer to a 7:05 pace for the same amount of time and heart rate.) Nice to know that the pace will gradually come down in the next several weeks, as the time spent running increases.

I've got lots of work to do in the next 10 weeks to increase the weekly mileage to at least around 35-40 miles. Plus, I'd like to get the long run up to about 13 miles. I haven't run farther than 10 miles, since the RC Cola Moon Pie race.

Blah

Starting back yet again. This will be about the second week of the ease back after my plantar continues to annoy me. Went for my longest run in quite some time, 9 miles. What a set back, wasn't so long ago that 8 miles was the daily run. Still, happy with the 9 miles. Started out with just a couple of the fellas this morning. Only good for about 3 miles before I needed to slow down and they needed to speed up. Damn, be glad when the grove is back completely.

It isn't only the comeback from the plantar, the heat has been stifling lately. Wasn't so bad this morning, actually a little cooler around 74 degrees. Still, to warm for me, I took a succeed cap before I started and another after 45 minutes. That, must have been the difference maker, actually felt really good after I finished. Probably could have run some more, but still easing back.

Tried a couple of different beers over the last week. (litttle bit of money fell my way) Otherwise, I can't justify paying $12 for a bomber of beer. That's only 22 ounces, roughly a pint or glass and a half of beer. Much happier spending $9 for a six pack of Hop Devil. That's some good beer. All relative, some like it hoppy, some don't. Anyway, we bought a bomber of Delirium Tremens, a bomber of Stone Ruination, a bomber of Schlafly Tripel, a six pack of Caldera IPA and a six pack of Victory HopDevil Ale. Sixty bucks worth of beer, damn could have bought a keg. But, it's all about trying something different.

First off the delirium tremens. A belgian strong pale pale, 8% ABV. It was ok, at best. To fruity tasting for a pale ale. Definately taste the alcohol. The Belgian mystic must be something I'm missing. These beers are ok, but not worth the extra cash. This is one stlye of beer that I think I'm going to stop trying all together. Almost wine like, in the fruity taste and sweetness. Plus, what a waste with the foil, wire cage and champagne cork. Marketing overkill. Doubt I can reuse that bottle with any of my homebrews, unless I get another cage and cork.

The Schlafly Tripel wasn't much better. Really the only reason I picked it was because it was in a bomber. Rather be out only a bomber of something I don't like versus a six pack. Plus, the IPA from Schlafly was really good. Won't be buying this one again either. I'm not really familiar with the tripel style. It was a decent enough beer, just doesn't justify the price premium.

Don't get me wrong, both of the previous beers were good. Just not something that would get me to pay a premium to bring them home, versus a sixer of say the Hop Devil. Damn, that's some good beer. They had it discounted to $8.99 a sixer. Love this stuff. Guess, not everyone is a fan of the hops. Sadly, I've heard one of the big beer makers bragging about all of the hops in their beers. Come on, don't believe the hype people. Yuck, they're the one's that make the Lime beer. BLAH.

The Stone Ruination is a very good beer. But, it's priced to high. Come on, $6 for a 22 ounce bomber. This is a beer I'd buy every day, if it were in the same price point as the Hop Devil or Caldera IPA. Do they even sell a six pack of any Stone product for distribution outside of California? Hate to say it, I've fallen for the media hype, shit I've got an Arrogant Bastard bike jersey, another good beer. Perhaps they've figured out the ideal distribution and product output to maximize profit. Bully for them. Good beer, just a touch to pricey to buy regularly.

On to the good stuff, Caldera IPA. $11 for a six pack of beer in a can that isn't better than 6% ABV. What the hell? Yet, this is the one over priced beer that I continue to buy. Love this stuff. It's a great hoppy beer, if that's what you like. This is the style of beer that I plan to try and duplicate the next time out with the home brew. Will be really hard to get that much hop at the same price point.

Finally, the Hop Devil. Yummy. Probably, should go back and buy a another couple of sixers of this stuff. Perhaps, it's only being discounted because its only 6.7% ABV. That's pretty low compared to the other high ABV stuff in the liquor store. That may also, be part of the problem with the distribution of beer in Tennessee in general. The stupid law that makes it illegal to sell beer of greater than 6% ABV, except in a liquor store. That's the reason for the beer store next door to the liquor store.