Hitting the Road (and Trail)

I have decided to stop updating this blog...and it's not because of the economy! I have started a new online journal, one that promises to be bigger and better. Check out Road and Trail!

Final Run of the Year

During last year's snowboarding season, my running mileage dropped dramatically. In fact, from January through March, I barely managed to run more than five miles per week...a slip which likely led to my meltdown during the Palos Verdes Half Marathon. So, to keep on track, I needed to run today, my first day home after a five days on Mammoth Mountain.

That said, my real reason for running today was more about achieving 800 miles in 2008 than anything else. Yes, I was curious to see if all that time at higher elevations would help my breathing (which I think it did). Yes, I wanted to see if my legs could endure pounding even though they were still sore from snowboarding (no issues to report). Yes, I needed to know if a five day break from running would kill my pace (a 48:38 10km split suggests it did not). But those were all secondary goals to achieving this milestone.


Of course, I did not begin the year with any mileage goal in mind. Should I target more miles in 2009?

It's Snowboarding Season

And I'm on my way to Mammoth Mountain with no plans to run over the next five days...

More Lunchtime Personal Records

My crazy ultra running coworker continues to treat our lunchtime training runs as races...or at least it seems that way to me. Right from the get go, he pushes me to run at a sub-7 minute pace, refusing to slow down despite my constant bitching and moaning. Though we have agreed to make Tuesdays our "short" and fast run, there is no way I can keep this up for 6.4 miles.

He gets away from me as I drop off the pace through miles two and three, which is not unusual given the slight incline during this segment of our run. That said, my 5km split of 23:15 is something I have not achieved since running cross country in high school.

I catch up with my coworker stretching at our turnaround spot a tenth of a mile further. He says the rest of our run will be "a fast recovery".

Riiiiiiiight.

We start back way too fast (my watch pace indicates that I'd run a 6 minute mile if I could maintain it), so I ease off the accelerator and let him take the lead. I am surprised to cross mile four in under 30 minutes...definitely a PR. 37:10 at mile five is another personal best...as is 44:38 at mile six. I estimate my 10km split at 45:32...nearly a minute off my previous best.

I have never seen myself as someone who could run a 10km in less than 45 minutes. If I let my coworker continue to push my pace like this, I might get there before the end of this year. Fortunately, he will be on vacation starting next week and our lunch runs will not resume until January. A New Year's Resolution perhaps?

An interesting footnote: Pre-marathon, my average pace over 69 miles of lunchtime running was 8:22/mile. Since then, we have run as many miles together, but my pace has dropped to 7:52/mile.

Sub 2hrs Without Pushing

There's something nice about achieving an unintended goal.

Week Off = 9 Mile PR?

I completed 9 miles in 1:10:33 during lunch today (7:49/mile). This is a personal record for this distance...highly unexpected given I had not run since last Thursday and felt very stiff at the start of the run. That said, had I run as fast as last week's eight miler, I would easily have beat this time.

I feel more than a little beat up.

I blame my crazy ultra running coworker.

It Never Rains...It Burns

Another major series of wildfires has filled the sky with smoke, so running is on hold until the air clears.

Getting Faster

Proving last Thursday's run was not a fluke, I pulled out a slightly faster time on the same route today...without really aiming to do so. My 10km split was the same, but my last mile-and-a-half was quite a bit faster.

This brings this week's total to 32 miles. Now to figure out how much I should run on Saturday...

Blown 18 Mile Attempt

I planned on running 18 today, but ended up just shy of 15. Strong (and chilly) gusts provided numerous challenges (along the Esplanade I needed to lean into the wind to keep from being knocked over...while holding on to my hat). The roads and sidewalks were littered with debris (I even witnessed palm fronds falling nearby). I probably could have completed the full 18, but I did not look forward to attempting a significant incline against a 30mph headwind.

Today's goal was not to achieve any specific pace, but to simply see if my post-marathon joints could endure 18 miles with little or no issues....to finalize a decision on whether or not I should attempt a 30Km trail race in two weeks. Totaling 22 miles last week while setting some personal records was pretty encouraging, but, after failing today, I am convinced I should pass on this upcoming event.

100th Mile from Dog Runs

Less than five months ago, my crazy ultra-running coworker somehow convinced me to skip our Thursday lunch hour for a six-to-nine mile run. At that time, I was unsure if I would be able to keep up with him, how often I would be willing and able to join him, and whether or not I could survive the midday heat.


Even with a break for all of September and half of October, our distance total has now passed the century mark. And, despite having a fast Tuesday, I am fairly certain that I have set personal records today (five miles: 39:06, six miles: 46:22, 10km: 47:52, seven miles: 53:46, eight miles: 1:01:25). Is training with my coworker worth it? Definitely!