Yesterday the temperatures hit 90 degrees. As awful as it felt it also excited me as the realness of the racing season hit. I haven't blogged about training at all since last fall so it's time to get back on the wagon! So here's a little update.
I have officially graduated from Jamestown College with a double major in Accounting and Financial Planning and Wealth Management!!! I thought I had a personal trainer job lined up at anytime fitness, but long story short, it will be months before I actually begin to get any hours so the job hunt is on! I have an interview to be the afternoon/evening desk clerk at the Holiday Inn Express, so hopefully that works out. I'm living alone in an apartment in Jamestown which means I need to make some money!!! I am delaying the "full time" job search until after the Ironman... which is less than 4 months away!!!
As for training, it's been steady but not exactly great. My mileage is up in the last 6 weeks which is good, but speed work has been lacking :/ Translation: I have plenty of endurance but little racing speed. This is a problem that will be addressed over the coming weeks. But right now I'm sitting 4 days out from the Fargo half marathon, so it's time for a reality check! Today I had my worst run in months and I actually started walking??? Partially because I'm torn down but also probably as a result of a busy graduation weekend that wore me out. I can tell my body is getting tired which is bad news for the race but good news for the long term as I have a recovery week next week. I made up for the terrible morning run with a fantastic swim set this afternoon. Everything felt smooth and powerful for the first time this season. In the past I have done little to prepare for the swim because it doesn't need as much, however it is my weapon. This season I vowed to actually prepare the swim, and while it hasn't been my focus, it definitely has gotten more attention this year. It won't be 100% by the time I race in Buffalo, but it should be decently ready.
On Saturday I will race the Fargo half.
Facing the facts: My race time will not be as fast as last year. Last May I was coming off of a track season with plenty of speed and endurance and I ran an average pace of 6:40/mile to finish in a 1:27. Also I had an injury a few weeks out which probably turned into something of a taper for me. This year I plan to train through the race as it is my least important race of the season. Recovery will be next week. So my goals are not as high and in reality I'm taking on Fargo as more of a tune up race. I would be pleased to run 7:00/mile so I'm setting that as my "official" goal.
After the race I'll recover with a few long bike rides and then get cracking on speed work on both the bike and run as the Buffalo Sprint triathlon is 15 days after Fargo. And... I will be in New York for 5 of those days! Yay for hotel workouts :P Worth it.
That's all for now. Fargo, here I come!
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Remember Boston
What happened on Monday bothered me. It bothered everyone. When I turned on the TV at 2:10 Monday afternoon specifically looking for the results of the marathon my stomach sank as I learned the news of what had happened only 10 minutes ago. As a runner everything felt so unreal. And before long I realized what was bothering me the most. It wasn't that I'm now scared to run more marathons or the fact that such a great event now has a huge stain on it. It was the target. The spectators.
Marathons are perhaps the most boring sporting event to watch. But yet there are always thousands of people lining every course cheering on a group of determined individuals fighting with their bodies and minds for 26.2 miles. These people are the ones that make the sport. Without spectators there is hardly a point. A runner spends hours upon hours and miles upon miles out there on the road alone. But when you get to a race people are screaming at you to keep going, and so you do. Suddenly a long boring road is filled with adoring fans who have no clue who you even are. Screaming voices following you at every turn, "Let's go orange jersey! You've trained hard for this! Don't give up now!" and "If running a marathon was easy, they'd call it football!" Runners live and race for these dedicated fans, often times wearing our names so they know what to cheer.
Spectators do all sorts of crazy things to keep runners going. In my short marathon career I've seen people in chicken customs, Elvis impersonators, live bands in the someone's front yard, pep bands, mascots, dancers, and cheerleaders. Each and every one of them offering up a high five knowing full well the number of gross sweaty hands they will touch that day. While others stand there with hoses to cool off a runner in need. Somebody will be holding a dry erase board updating people on a game. Every now and then there's someone who's yelling at you to take a break and come do a shot with them, because to them, you're a hero. And if you're lucky, some cute girl will be trying to get one of the runners to kiss her. It's a dedication that cannot be found in any other sport. The dedication to show up at 7 am and stand their for hours to push a group of people punishing themselves to reach a goal few understand.
On Monday the spectators in Boston showed true humanity. There were more people running towards the blast than away from it. Pulling the rails apart, making room for injured, tearing their clothes to make tourniquets, and opening their homes later that night to complete strangers. These people awed and inspired me beyond words.
These spectators have given so much to the sport, and now some have even given their lives. By writing this I intend to honor the victims of Monday's attack and all spectators to road races. I have decided to race in honor of those victims at all my races this summer. (How I'm going to do that is still in the works). Regardless I want to give back to those that have given so much and always: Remember Boston.
If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon. ~Kathrine Switzer
Marathons are perhaps the most boring sporting event to watch. But yet there are always thousands of people lining every course cheering on a group of determined individuals fighting with their bodies and minds for 26.2 miles. These people are the ones that make the sport. Without spectators there is hardly a point. A runner spends hours upon hours and miles upon miles out there on the road alone. But when you get to a race people are screaming at you to keep going, and so you do. Suddenly a long boring road is filled with adoring fans who have no clue who you even are. Screaming voices following you at every turn, "Let's go orange jersey! You've trained hard for this! Don't give up now!" and "If running a marathon was easy, they'd call it football!" Runners live and race for these dedicated fans, often times wearing our names so they know what to cheer.
Spectators do all sorts of crazy things to keep runners going. In my short marathon career I've seen people in chicken customs, Elvis impersonators, live bands in the someone's front yard, pep bands, mascots, dancers, and cheerleaders. Each and every one of them offering up a high five knowing full well the number of gross sweaty hands they will touch that day. While others stand there with hoses to cool off a runner in need. Somebody will be holding a dry erase board updating people on a game. Every now and then there's someone who's yelling at you to take a break and come do a shot with them, because to them, you're a hero. And if you're lucky, some cute girl will be trying to get one of the runners to kiss her. It's a dedication that cannot be found in any other sport. The dedication to show up at 7 am and stand their for hours to push a group of people punishing themselves to reach a goal few understand.
On Monday the spectators in Boston showed true humanity. There were more people running towards the blast than away from it. Pulling the rails apart, making room for injured, tearing their clothes to make tourniquets, and opening their homes later that night to complete strangers. These people awed and inspired me beyond words.
These spectators have given so much to the sport, and now some have even given their lives. By writing this I intend to honor the victims of Monday's attack and all spectators to road races. I have decided to race in honor of those victims at all my races this summer. (How I'm going to do that is still in the works). Regardless I want to give back to those that have given so much and always: Remember Boston.
If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon. ~Kathrine Switzer
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