Training, Week of 10/23

Whoa.  That was a heck of a cut-back week.  I intended to let my legs catch up and recover a little from all of the work I've been doing over the past couple weeks (including a 7-to-54 mile/week jump) but I feel like I really turned the corner for this training cycle, both physically and mentally.  The over-all big picture numbers are as follows: 55.7 miles in 6:37:26 (7:09/mile average).  This really doesn't tell the whole story though.  Monday started with a relatively slow run, a bit under 9 miles at a bit over 8:00/mile pace.  From there, I took off.

I intended to do a long run that was less, well, long than usual this week to let my legs recover from that aspect of training.  The scheduled 12-miler ended up being 12.84 at 6:53/mile pace.  I don't usually run under 7:00/mile when I'm just out for a training run because I feel like it puts unnecessary wear and tear on my muscles, but I guess I just felt good.  Thursday's track workout was where things really started to go well, however.

The prescribed workout was 3-4 repeats of 5:00 each with 2:00 recover.  I joking said to one of the guys who is about my speed during the workouts that it would be about a mile and he agreed seriously, except that he was thinking about 5:10/mile pace.  I didn't think I'd be able to handle the full complement, but I decided to try to hold the pace as long as possible.  I ended up with mile repeats of 5:07, 5:09, 5:10, and 5:07!  Easily the best mile repeat workout I've ever done.  It felt great and I was riding a runner's high until after my next run on Friday!  Friday's run was equally awesome, 11.18 miles at 6:52/mile pace.  Then I took the day off (first in 27 days, 238.6 days) and ran an easy 5 on today (Sunday).

As I already mentioned, I felt like I turned the corner this week.  I had a great workout that showed I'm getting back in shape and I'm mentally "with it" again.  My legs and mind are remembering what it's like to be in good physical condition and even to attempt the impossible.  I know that breaking my 5k PR on the road on a rolling course in November and then smashing my 10k PR on another rolling road course less than a week later is impossible.  But running is about convincing myself to do the impossible.

Training, Week of 10/16

Running is going pretty well!  This week I ran 64.7 miles in 7:57:46 (7:24/mile average) and my legs kept going through a new milestone: 12,000 logged miles!  I got in a long run of 16.5 miles, a 8x600m workout, and a 5k tempo run.  I've come (somewhat) to grips with the existential crisis I was having with regards to my running career and am feeling confident as I move towards my next couple races.

As far as why I'm continuing to run, I have to admit that I still haven't solved that issue.  I'm no longer running for a team and I don't really have enough time to devote to truly pushing towards reaching my potential and those things were really frustrating for me before.  Now, however, I think that I've reached a mindset where those things don't matter as much, and although I may not know quite why I am still training a reasonable amount.

A Picture and a Thought - 2

Reason #362 I can't wait to get married to Bri: Not having to fold sheets by myself.

A Picture and a Thought - 1

"What was the secret, they wanted to know; in a thousand different ways they wanted to know The Secret.  And not one of the was prepared, truly prepared to believe that it had not so much to do with chemicals and zippy mental tricks as with that most unprofound and sometimes heart-rending process of removing, molecule by molecule, the very tough rubber that comprised the bottoms of his training shoes.  The Trial of Miles, Miles of Trails.  How could they be expected to understand that?" -Once A Runner, John L. Parker, Jr.

Training, Week of 10/9

Week 2 of my self-made training plan to beat my 5k and 10k PR's went very well.  I ran 61.4 miles in 7:31:05 (7:21/mile average).  Included in this week was a 15 mile long run (unfortunately on the treadmill) and two quality workouts (a fartlek and a tempo run).  There were times when my legs were very tired but it was better by far than last week so I'm adjusting to the workload.  I'm also feeling my fitness and speed come back which is surprising.

Although I've been running somewhat consistently throughout the entire summer, I had only done this much running at the very beginning of the summer before things really started to pick up at work and in my social life.  It feels good to be back in the hunt.

Wall Street

It's been a while, so I guess it is time to write another post. Might as well jump right into the fray, and comment on the Occupy Wall Street protests. Up to today, I haven't really cared about the protests. While I generally agree that our current political and economic climate is unsustainable, I find that most of the noise coming out of the protests is just noise. The original organizers may have had some good ideas and good intentions, but at this point the main points coming from the masses are crazy. Just search Google for "OWS Demands" and you'll find plenty of sites that will detail them.

However, none of this is what really sparked this post. The reason behind this post is far more selfish and petty. The protest hit me personally today when it stood between me and home after a long day of work. I work for a large investment bank in the Financial District of Manhattan, so I spend a lot of time in the vicinity of the protests (I don't work on Wall St. itself, so up to this point I had not personally seen the protests). Today as I was walking to the subway station to get my train home I ran into a march by the protesters. They were heading down one of the main streets between me and my subway stop. Not only was there the march, but because this is NYC there were also plenty of police officers and the portable barriers that they put up to control large crowds at event. All of this blocking my way to the station. I walked up to the next crossing to see if the police had left an opening for people to cross, but alas they did not. I walked a bit further and found a break in the march. I pushed my way to the barrier and caught the attention of one of the police officers and asked how I could get to the station. His response was excellent, and I greatly appreciated it. He simply said "come over here" and walked up a few sections of barrier, swung it open, and let me through. So, to him I offer a big thank you.

As for the rest of the protesters and the movement. I too am one of the 99%. I am, however, starting a career and working hard to make my way in this difficult economy. I worked hard my entire school, and I'm continuing to do so now. So, please, stop interrupting my trip home after a long day of working to make sure that I can support myself.

~Alex

Training, Week of 10/2

I'm back on track, so to speak.  After a week almost completely off, I decided that it's time to get over the existential crisis that I've been having with regards to running, make a training plan, and then get about the business of breaking my 5k and 10k PR's.  I picked two races and did indeed make a plan.  Even better, I have followed it to a T this week, running 54.5 miles in 6:47:57 (7:30/mile average).

It was a tough week.  My legs were sore pretty much all week and my hip started tweaking out.  I know how to deal with both of these and keep going, so that's what I did.  I put in a decent long run, track workout, and tempo run so the quality is there while the quantity builds back up.  I'm back in the hunt and may even remind myself of the runner I was.  I have been feeling a little lost without a team or a "season" to race in but I recently heard my generation referred to as a "lost generation" and that is an identity that I refuse to accept.  So here I come, ready to show 'em a clean pair of heels.