CGB and I were both occupied with other goals this year (he, the marathon; I, the duathlon), so we have renewed our challenge for 2010. Forty-minute 10k by December 31, 2010. And this time we mean it.
My year in data.
Rode on the skinny tires: 2601 miles.
Ran on my fat feet: approximately 800 miles.
5k race times: 1945; 18:28; 19:56
10k race times: 41:52; 42:10
5 mile race time: 32:26
Duathlon results: 6th overall in the Magic City Duathlon; 8th overall in the Hot to Trot Duathlon
And the highlight of the year: winning the Aggie Man relay with my brothers.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Friday, December 18, 2009
Boston Bound
Before all else, mega, mega, huge mega kudos, many congratulations, and an enormous bowl of baked beans to CGB, who qualified for the Boston Marathon by running a blistering race at the Philadelphia Marathon. He finished under 3:10:00. I hope he will soon share the entire story with us here on this page. CGB, we bow to your superior pain management and mental toughness. An extra-strength Advil and a glass of bourbon to you, sir.
Life has been, to say the least, frenetic here in the Heart of Dixie. Academic conferences, committee work, moot court competitions, and attending to my first child and my wife as the latter delivered our second child (born on Tuesday), have all piled on top of the usual class prep, exam grading, and meetings with students to leave me little time for training, and no time for blogging in the last 6 weeks or so. Not much to report, as a result. I have essentially been logging base miles whenever I can find the time. I ran a local 5k. Slowly. 19:56. Yeah, it's been that bad.
I'll do an end-of-the-year recap in a couple of weeks, but I will for now simply report that I have logged 2536 miles on the bikes this year (600 on the TT bike, the balance on the road bike). That's the most I've ever ridden, and I have my weekday and weekend morning riding groups to thank. It's a lot easier to motivate to get up at 5 AM and slide on the lycra when you know you other guys are waiting for you. I didn't keep track of my running miles this year, but I estimate that they are somewhere between 750 and 800.
Life has been, to say the least, frenetic here in the Heart of Dixie. Academic conferences, committee work, moot court competitions, and attending to my first child and my wife as the latter delivered our second child (born on Tuesday), have all piled on top of the usual class prep, exam grading, and meetings with students to leave me little time for training, and no time for blogging in the last 6 weeks or so. Not much to report, as a result. I have essentially been logging base miles whenever I can find the time. I ran a local 5k. Slowly. 19:56. Yeah, it's been that bad.
I'll do an end-of-the-year recap in a couple of weeks, but I will for now simply report that I have logged 2536 miles on the bikes this year (600 on the TT bike, the balance on the road bike). That's the most I've ever ridden, and I have my weekday and weekend morning riding groups to thank. It's a lot easier to motivate to get up at 5 AM and slide on the lycra when you know you other guys are waiting for you. I didn't keep track of my running miles this year, but I estimate that they are somewhere between 750 and 800.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Fitting It In...
Over the past couple of months, I have been running a lot - training for the Philadelphia marathon - but it has been difficult accomplishing all of my runs. I have averaged close to 50 miles each week; but, in order to do so, I have been mixing it up between longer tempo runs, speed intervals, longer runs with fartleks, shorter easy stretch runs and the weekend long run. During the week, I run early in the morning, later in the afternoon, at night, during lunch - you get the idea.
My goal is to qualify for the Boston marathon. I can run no longer than 3:15:59 in order to have a chance - no longer than 3:10:59 in order to ensure my entry. So, throughout my training, I have been trying to strengthen my legs and my endurance, while trying to keep my speed.
A few weeks ago, I ran the Grace Race, sponsored by my church, Grace Community Church in Chelmsford, MA. The Grace Race is a 5 mile race through rolling streets that raises money for an orphanage in Naivasha, Kenya. (Shameless plug: check out www.gracerace.org for more information in preparation for next year's running.) This year was my first running. I came in 9th overall, 2nd in my age group, and 1st among the many church runners with a 31:33. It was 24 seconds slower than my PR for two reasons: my legs are not used to going as fast as before and it doesn't help when you run a silly 6:06 first mile. It was a fun race.
On another note, AJMac and I used to talk about starting a running club/ministry through our old church. Well, the organizer of the Grace Race and I have been talking and we may be starting one through my new church. I will keep you posted, but if it happens, AJMac will need to come up for our inaugural run.
On a final note, U-S-A! U-S-A! I hope you caught Meb Keflezighi become the first American marathoner to win the New York marathon in 27 years.
My goal is to qualify for the Boston marathon. I can run no longer than 3:15:59 in order to have a chance - no longer than 3:10:59 in order to ensure my entry. So, throughout my training, I have been trying to strengthen my legs and my endurance, while trying to keep my speed.
A few weeks ago, I ran the Grace Race, sponsored by my church, Grace Community Church in Chelmsford, MA. The Grace Race is a 5 mile race through rolling streets that raises money for an orphanage in Naivasha, Kenya. (Shameless plug: check out www.gracerace.org for more information in preparation for next year's running.) This year was my first running. I came in 9th overall, 2nd in my age group, and 1st among the many church runners with a 31:33. It was 24 seconds slower than my PR for two reasons: my legs are not used to going as fast as before and it doesn't help when you run a silly 6:06 first mile. It was a fun race.
On another note, AJMac and I used to talk about starting a running club/ministry through our old church. Well, the organizer of the Grace Race and I have been talking and we may be starting one through my new church. I will keep you posted, but if it happens, AJMac will need to come up for our inaugural run.
On a final note, U-S-A! U-S-A! I hope you caught Meb Keflezighi become the first American marathoner to win the New York marathon in 27 years.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Gusty Trot
A week ago today I competed in the Hot to Trot Reverse Duathlon (bike out 9.2 miles, run 5.6 mile loop, bike 9.2 miles back) down on the Gulf Coast. When the race started at 7:00 AM, just a few minutes after sunrise, the temperature was in the low 40's and the wind was blowing steadily 15-20 mph from the north. In other words, conditions were perfect for a guy from Maine.
The group start on the bike was strange. I went out at the back of the first chase group. Two miles into the ride came the only climb of the course, a large bridge. I made use of it to pass six or seven riders, then spent the rest of the first ride leading the chase group and watching the guys with sponsorships, aero helmets, and Zipp wheels pull gradually away in front of me.
This was my first reverse duathlon, and I lost time in the rather unorthodox transitions. Because the course was out, around, and back, the first time I saw the transition zone was when I first arrived there during the race. Finding my running shoes was a bit of a challenge. Fortunately, because I was in the first chase group, I got a good spot to rack my bike. But by the time I left the transition for the run, the guys whom I had passed on the bridge were right with me. Two of them were actually in front of me, having left transition first.
I had a strong run, averaging 6:38 per mile. The second transition went much more smoothly--I knew what to expect--and on the ride back I picked off the two guys who had passed me in the first transition.
I finished 8th overall, 2nd in my age group, in 1:31:13. I averaged 21.3 mph on the bike. Not bad, considering the strong cross winds. The post-race party had free beer (at 9:00 in the morning!) Cajun food, coffee, and donuts. The trophy was a steel travel mug, which was put to use immediately; it made the trip to work every morning this week. And we stayed the duration of the weekend, enjoying the beaches and seafood. All in all, it was a great trip, well worth the effort.
That's it for cycling and duathlons this year. I plan to do one or two more 5k's, but my multi-sport season is over. It's been a pretty good one, I must say.
The group start on the bike was strange. I went out at the back of the first chase group. Two miles into the ride came the only climb of the course, a large bridge. I made use of it to pass six or seven riders, then spent the rest of the first ride leading the chase group and watching the guys with sponsorships, aero helmets, and Zipp wheels pull gradually away in front of me.
This was my first reverse duathlon, and I lost time in the rather unorthodox transitions. Because the course was out, around, and back, the first time I saw the transition zone was when I first arrived there during the race. Finding my running shoes was a bit of a challenge. Fortunately, because I was in the first chase group, I got a good spot to rack my bike. But by the time I left the transition for the run, the guys whom I had passed on the bridge were right with me. Two of them were actually in front of me, having left transition first.
I had a strong run, averaging 6:38 per mile. The second transition went much more smoothly--I knew what to expect--and on the ride back I picked off the two guys who had passed me in the first transition.
I finished 8th overall, 2nd in my age group, in 1:31:13. I averaged 21.3 mph on the bike. Not bad, considering the strong cross winds. The post-race party had free beer (at 9:00 in the morning!) Cajun food, coffee, and donuts. The trophy was a steel travel mug, which was put to use immediately; it made the trip to work every morning this week. And we stayed the duration of the weekend, enjoying the beaches and seafood. All in all, it was a great trip, well worth the effort.
That's it for cycling and duathlons this year. I plan to do one or two more 5k's, but my multi-sport season is over. It's been a pretty good one, I must say.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Muggy with a chance of ham bone
The 10k on Saturday went really, really well. Yeah, really well. For the first five miles. Then... not so well.
Whoever thought it a good idea to start a 10k at 8AM in Alabama in September after a week of rain has never run a 10k, doesn't own a thermometer, and has never heard the term "relative humidity." When the race started, it felt like we were running in a boiling pot. About mile 3 someone poured split peas into the pot. At mile 4, the cook added a few cubes of beef bullion. By mile 5 the boiling, roiling, viscous, gelatinous, goo that passes for atmosphere in this God-forsaken, "sub-tropical" purgatory called 'Bama was so thick and oppressive that I could have stopped mid-stride and remained suspended approximately four inches off the scorching asphalt.
Yes, it was that muggy. And to be fair, I did not hydrate as well as I should have. But come on! A Mainer of Scottish ancestry has no chance in conditions like that.
Miles 3 through 5 were excruciatingly painful. I focused on maintaining my stride and posture and keeping the race leader (a girl, who was barely sweating--the ignominy of it!) within sight. That worked. I passed the 5 mile mark in 32:26, on pace to run a 40:15. Then I blew up and finished in 42:10. I got passed by a guy wearing basketball shorts. He also was not sweating. I assume he was wearing his wick-away asbestos UnderArmour outfit and an air conditioning unit under his cotton t-shirt. I watched him and the girl pull away from me for the last 1.2 miles and dragged my legs into the finishing chute.
So, no 40-minute 10k for me this year. Because I live in a city that values running about as much as it values recycling (which is to say, almost not at all), this was the second of only two 10k's on the calendar this year. I ran both. And didn't get close to 40 minutes.
Now back to duathlon. I've got one more this year, coming up in a month. I'll report back. In the meantime, I better go out and buy a case for Charles, who undoubtedly will break 40 before I.
Whoever thought it a good idea to start a 10k at 8AM in Alabama in September after a week of rain has never run a 10k, doesn't own a thermometer, and has never heard the term "relative humidity." When the race started, it felt like we were running in a boiling pot. About mile 3 someone poured split peas into the pot. At mile 4, the cook added a few cubes of beef bullion. By mile 5 the boiling, roiling, viscous, gelatinous, goo that passes for atmosphere in this God-forsaken, "sub-tropical" purgatory called 'Bama was so thick and oppressive that I could have stopped mid-stride and remained suspended approximately four inches off the scorching asphalt.
Yes, it was that muggy. And to be fair, I did not hydrate as well as I should have. But come on! A Mainer of Scottish ancestry has no chance in conditions like that.
Miles 3 through 5 were excruciatingly painful. I focused on maintaining my stride and posture and keeping the race leader (a girl, who was barely sweating--the ignominy of it!) within sight. That worked. I passed the 5 mile mark in 32:26, on pace to run a 40:15. Then I blew up and finished in 42:10. I got passed by a guy wearing basketball shorts. He also was not sweating. I assume he was wearing his wick-away asbestos UnderArmour outfit and an air conditioning unit under his cotton t-shirt. I watched him and the girl pull away from me for the last 1.2 miles and dragged my legs into the finishing chute.
So, no 40-minute 10k for me this year. Because I live in a city that values running about as much as it values recycling (which is to say, almost not at all), this was the second of only two 10k's on the calendar this year. I ran both. And didn't get close to 40 minutes.
Now back to duathlon. I've got one more this year, coming up in a month. I'll report back. In the meantime, I better go out and buy a case for Charles, who undoubtedly will break 40 before I.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
No Where Near 1897 Miles...
I had a good strong week this week, however, it puts me no where near 1897 miles. I focused on distance this week, but did not hold back from trying to run quickly over that distance. At any rate, I ran a total of 61 miles with my two longer runs being very good.
Monday - 8 miles (58 minutes)
Tuesday - 10 miles (1 hour 8 minutes)
Wednesday - 7 miles (easy)
Thursday - 8 miles (moderate)
Friday - 4 mile stretch run
Saturday - 4 mile stretch run
Sunday - 20.4 miles (2 hours 30 minutes)
Talk to every one next week, after I attempt to run 1752 miles in order to catch AJMac. Thank you.
Monday - 8 miles (58 minutes)
Tuesday - 10 miles (1 hour 8 minutes)
Wednesday - 7 miles (easy)
Thursday - 8 miles (moderate)
Friday - 4 mile stretch run
Saturday - 4 mile stretch run
Sunday - 20.4 miles (2 hours 30 minutes)
Talk to every one next week, after I attempt to run 1752 miles in order to catch AJMac. Thank you.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
1897 Miles
I probably should have ridden three miles more, just to cross the 1900 mile mark, but all I could think about as I finished my 40 mile ride this morning were the sausage and French toast I planned to make when I got home.
Productive week. Rode hill repeats Sunday. Rode 28 miles on Tuesday morning, and again Thursday. Ran a 4 mile tempo Tuesday night and again Friday. And rode 40 this AM.
I plan to run a 10k on September 19, so I'm going to do some speed work this week on foot. I'll find out whether the hill and speed work on the bike has helped the running at all.
Productive week. Rode hill repeats Sunday. Rode 28 miles on Tuesday morning, and again Thursday. Ran a 4 mile tempo Tuesday night and again Friday. And rode 40 this AM.
I plan to run a 10k on September 19, so I'm going to do some speed work this week on foot. I'll find out whether the hill and speed work on the bike has helped the running at all.
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