Last week was a really good week. Enjoyed a nice vacation in lovely Denver, CO.
I love the scenery in Colo. The mountains in the background makes for amazing sunrises and sunsets. Unfortunately the first two days I was there we had steady rain. It was completely miserable.
I had just left NC where we had 12 straight days of rain is it finally sunny. But it was vacation and I was visiting my grandson so I will not complain anymore (right now).
Since I am just over a week away from my first marathon in 3 years, I had to continue to run while I was out there. The first day it was pouring, so I had to find a gym. Fortunately I am a member of a gym that's a national chain and they had a nice facility in South Denver. It was a great place for my run. Only 7 on the dreadmill.
Day 2, I had just 5 miles so I woke up early and found it was only slightly misting so I went ahead and ran out side. It was great other than the puddles. I thought since Denver had so much snow, they would have better drainage. They do however have bike lanes on almost every street so I was able to avoid the sidewalk ponds.
Day 3 was just a 4 mile run. Once again only a mist so it was back outside. I decided to run around a park. It was nice. No issues. No puddles. Easy run.
Day 4 was a long run. 12 miles. Fortunately the sun was out and I was loving it. Like I said earlier, Denver has great bike lanes so I was able to run mostly in bike lanes. I did run into a running snob. I do not like to run on the sidewalk. It really hurts my knees. So wherever possible, I run on grass, dirt or the street avoiding sidwalks. Well this hero yells at me while I am running to run on the sidewalk. I just smile and kept going. For there it was smooth sailing. I only thought I was lost once.
All in all the altitude didn't had as big an effect on me as I thought. My times were pretty comparable to normal times.
Back home now and the marathon is just 5 days away. My heart is pounding just thinking about it.
Monday, October 26, 2015
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
2016 Ironman
Well after watching Ironman coverage this past weekend and having the serious FOMO moment, I think I have decided to do an Ironman in 2016.
After taking most of 2014 off and changing jobs, I think I can get to the fitness level required for another attempt at an Ironman.
My biggest challenge as you know if you have read my blog posts is the swim. While it has improved tremendously, my confidence levels haven't. I haven't been in open water since swimming in the Ohio River Aug, 2013.
I have narrowed my choices of events down to either Ironman Chattanooga or Louisville again. I know that Louisville and I have unfinished business but I think I need the confidence of completing another course.
Well I wasn't completely accurate when I said the tough part. That actually comes now when I tell my wife. Wish me luck.
After taking most of 2014 off and changing jobs, I think I can get to the fitness level required for another attempt at an Ironman.
My biggest challenge as you know if you have read my blog posts is the swim. While it has improved tremendously, my confidence levels haven't. I haven't been in open water since swimming in the Ohio River Aug, 2013.
I have narrowed my choices of events down to either Ironman Chattanooga or Louisville again. I know that Louisville and I have unfinished business but I think I need the confidence of completing another course.
Well I wasn't completely accurate when I said the tough part. That actually comes now when I tell my wife. Wish me luck.
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Weekend Long Run
This weekend's long run was a 22 mile run that was a store to store out and back. It was a tough run.
We gathered at the store at 8:00 am. While listening to the pre race announcements, expecting to get the route was informed that we would be given a scavenger hunt like route at each water stop.
I was like WTF? Seriously? Well I decided to make the best of it and just go. The course itself had the best of all running surfaces. We ran some on the greenway, then through Umstead on crushed gravel and the road.
A couple of things about this. 1. The people at the water stops weren't prepared to give the clues/route to people who didn't want water. 2. For a 10 mile out and back you should have more than just 2 water stops and 3. You should have them both ways. I understand that you had shuttle service to take runners back tot he start point for the other stores. I understand that this was more about promotion of the stores than about the actual run but come on. Give us who are training and using this as a long run a break.
We enough about the organizers and about my run. At first I was thinking I was going to make this a really easy run. Slower pace and just move along. But then as I started running I remember that I needed to be back in 3 hours. yikes. So I sped up. The course was challenging, Lots of ups and downs.
It was insane. My pacing was totally off. I was up and down. Fortunately I was still able to finish my 22 miles in time but geez it was hard work.
This was also my last long run before my marathon. I am still hitting the 20 mile wall and seriously suffering. My next training cycle will definitely include more 20+ mile runs.
We gathered at the store at 8:00 am. While listening to the pre race announcements, expecting to get the route was informed that we would be given a scavenger hunt like route at each water stop.
I was like WTF? Seriously? Well I decided to make the best of it and just go. The course itself had the best of all running surfaces. We ran some on the greenway, then through Umstead on crushed gravel and the road.
A couple of things about this. 1. The people at the water stops weren't prepared to give the clues/route to people who didn't want water. 2. For a 10 mile out and back you should have more than just 2 water stops and 3. You should have them both ways. I understand that you had shuttle service to take runners back tot he start point for the other stores. I understand that this was more about promotion of the stores than about the actual run but come on. Give us who are training and using this as a long run a break.
We enough about the organizers and about my run. At first I was thinking I was going to make this a really easy run. Slower pace and just move along. But then as I started running I remember that I needed to be back in 3 hours. yikes. So I sped up. The course was challenging, Lots of ups and downs.
It was insane. My pacing was totally off. I was up and down. Fortunately I was still able to finish my 22 miles in time but geez it was hard work.
This was also my last long run before my marathon. I am still hitting the 20 mile wall and seriously suffering. My next training cycle will definitely include more 20+ mile runs.
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