Pride Run

Sat. was my team's annual race, the Pride Run. Even though it was really hot and humid, it went off without a hitch. We had over 3000 people finish, the biggest ever.

I ran an easy 2 before hand as I'm trying to stick to my training schedule. It was really hot and nasty so I didn't run it full out. 41:49, not too bad. I'm sure if the weather hadn't totally sucked I would have gone under 4o. No point it pushing it in that weather. Plus, I was flying to Portland that night. That's where I am now.

I love Portland. I love running here. Yesterday I did an easy 4 miles in Mt Tabor Park. Tonight, I'm running with the ladies of Portland Front Runners. 

Week 3 of Pftitz is in the books and I'm still feeling really good.

100 miles

For the month of June, I have run 111.1 miles.

And there are still several days left.

This morning, I went on my long run for the week, 14 miles. I've switched up my training this week because of the Pride Run on Sat. We have almost 4000 people signed up, very exciting.

I'm almost through 3 weeks of Pfitz and I'm feeling really good.

2 down 16 to go

FIrst 2 weeks of my 18 week marathon plan are in the books. Only 16 weeks to go! That just sounds stupid, that's 4 months.

Anyway, recent runs:

Yesterday: 5 mile recovery. 5 miles at a pace that is so slow... and it's boring. Though I always feel good after so it's doing it's job.

Today: 13.1 miles at a not too fast clip. Very humid. Of course now it's raining. I wouldn't have mind that on my run. When it's humid, my heart rate is always a bit higher and since I'm doing most of my runs more on HR than pace, my runs aren't too speedy. That's fine, it's just 2 weeks in and I feel good and my pace for long runs is still with in the range of where it should be.

10 at 7

Ah, early mornings, low temps, high humidity...

10 miles along the west side for a  change.

I am putting in some heavy miles, this is all new.

8 at 8

Ok, it was actually closer to 7:20, but you get the idea. We've had a break in the heat and it was really nice to be out in the park with 70 degree temps and low humidity. Amazing how much lower my HR is when it's cooler out.

Now entering week 2 of pfitz 18/55.

Father's Day 12 miler

This is my dad in 1967 holding my older brother.

My dad was diagnosed with brain cancer in late 1998.  He passed away in May of 2001. 

When he first learned of his cancer, he went out and ran around the Central Park Reservoir, not far from his house, until his legs were chaffed raw. On the first anniversary of his death, my girlfriend and I went and buried some of his ashes on the east side of the Res. I wave whenever I run by.

In 1999, I ran my first NYC Marathon and my first marathon period. Even though my dad was from NY and lived in the city, he had never seen the Marathon. He and his wife stood on 1st ave at Sloan Kettering where he was being treated.  I had never seen my dad so excited. The marathon totally blew him away. He called me about 10 times that night just totally overwhelmed by how amazing the whole thing was. Out of the 8 marathons I have run, it was the only one he got to see. The other 2 NYC Marathon I've run, I've teared up by Sloan Kettering. 

I few months after he passed away, I did my first Ironman with several of my team mates. One of whom's father passed away about a week before hand. It was a crazy couple of weeks for him and he crossed the finish line with a picture of his dad in his hand. 4 years ago, another team mate had a similar experience running the Father's Day Fight Against Prostate Cancer 5Mer. He wanted to PR in honor of his dad who passed that year. I stood at the finish line and watched him pushed through the heat for his goal.

What is the point of all this? Well, it is father's day. I'm not into hallmark holidays though I have found this one has become harder to ignore since my dad is no longer here. It's also a reminder that as much as we run for ourselves, we also run for others. Those who can't and those who are no longer here. This is what I thought about on my 12 miles in Central Park this morning, cheering on the men on my team in the above mentioned race. I also think of this every time I am on the Res. Next time you're there, say hi to Jimmy on the east side.

recovery

Holy crap recovery runs are boring. BORING BORING BORING. And I know Loren has said while recovering from this injury she has, the slower she goes the more it hurt. I see what she means. I'm not injured, but I've had this nagging calf thing. And it comes SCREAMING out when I'm running a painfully dull 11 minute mile pace.

These slow miles may be the worst part of my marathon training. And following a plan like Advanced Marathoning is a new thing for me. The first week is going well. Like I said, today was a recovery run so 4 miles done at 75% of my max heart rate (ie SLOW) tomorrow I have a 12 mile run to finish off the week.

9 at 7

It's so much nice at 7am when it's 71 degrees and not 82.

9 miles in the park this morning.

I'm getting use to this Am thing.

7 at 7

At 7 this morning, it was 82 degrees out. I ran 7 miles. I dont like getting up that early or running so early but that's pretty much as cool as it's gonna get today.

It was not pretty and it was not fast, but it's done.

Keuka Lake Tri

Loren and I headed up to Ithica on Friday for the Keuka Lake tri, which was Sunday. She went to school in Ithica so we stayed with one of her college team mates. I had never been it's a fun funky little town.

Fri. evening we went for a short trail run that ended at a swimming hole. It was hot. Really hot, close to 90. The reward was jumping in the water which felt great then running home soaking wet.

Sat. afternoon, we drove to Keuka, which is about an hour away. The race was staged at Keuka College and we stayed in the dorms. This was Loren's first Olympic distance tri and my first olympic in several years. It was also the regional qualifier for the national age group championships. It was an outside goal to qualify, seeing that my age group is usually really tough and I had not trained the way I normally would for a race like this.

The weather was hot. It was just going to be hot all morning. Luckily these things start early.

Our swim wave was last. I had what I felt was a really good swim. I was relaxed and comfortable. And for most of it, Claudia, who I've trained with for years, was right next to me. What are the chances? This is the 2nd time that's happened.  I got out of the what and my watch said 30 minutes. I was happy with my time for the swim (1500 meters, just shy of a mile). The water was a bit choppy, but tolerable. Claudia was a step a head of me going into transition.

I pulled off my wetsuit, put on my helmet and shoes and said lets go as I left for the bike.  The bike course was a nice rolling course, 40k (just shy of 25 miles). There was  a 2 mile climb at mile 10 which was interesting. I caught another friend during that climb, Rachel. She's a great swimmer. I think maybe 1 or 2 women actually passed me on the bike. I came in at 1:23, averaged close to 18mph. Now for the run. It was hot by this point. I didn't feel it on the bike so much since I was creating my own breeze by moving. The run was a different story. I just couldn't get my legs going. Rachel passed me back in the first mile. Then by mile 3, Loren came speeding by me. I put 8 minutes on her in the swim. And there she was. She didn't think she was going to catch me, I did, I just didn't think it would be that soon. (the run is 10k, 6.2 miles).

After that, maybe 2 other women passed me and a lot of people we wallking. I was picking them off as I kept myself moving forward, dumping ice water over my head and putting it in my bra.

Around my 4.5, I saw a woman in my age group ahead of me. I tucked in behind her for a few minutes to get her pacing. Then I passed her. I wanted to make sure if I passed her I stayed ahead and I did. Coming in the home stretch, I could see Rachel, though she wasn't close enough for me to pass her back.  This run was a true death march. I crossed the finish line in 2:57. I was happy to get under 3 even if my run was not what I wanted. The heat was just too much.

When all was said and done, Loren took 2nd in our age group, 11th over all. I was 4th in age group, 22nd over all. We both qualified for nationals, as did Rachel who took 4th in her age group.

quickie

There will be a full report later, but just a quick word about the Keuka Tri.

Loren placed 2nd in her age group and I placed 4th.

We both qualified for the National Age Group championships.

Early in the morning

It's pretty rare I have a nap at 7am. It's also pretty rare NYRR turns 50. To celebrate, there was a 5:30 am midweek race. 5 miles. Thing is, NYers are crazy. Runners are crazy. NY runners are really crazy. While 5000 signed up for a 5 mile 5:30 am race, just under 2000 showed up. In the pouring rain. Luckily it wasn't too cold. I hadn't run since Sat. and with my triathlon coming up, I didn't run it hard. I ran with a team mate and just took it easy. It was actually pretty nice in the rain.

Break down: 41:51

8:30

8:31

8:24

8:26

7:58

Not bad!

morning rising

Even though it can suck to get up really early in the morning, I always feel better for doing it. Esp. if it's to go swimming. The pool is 50m long in the am, there are no kids, and it's all just lap swimming. Nice and quiet. Just get in and get it done.

1500 meters this morning. I haven't been in the pool since I got my arm tattooed, so it's been about 10 days. I felt heavy at first but then got into the groove. I also had a woman in my lane tell me I had the most beautiful tattoos she'd ever seen.

Papa Bear

So today Loren wanted to go work on open water swimming. She's pretty new, less than a year to swimming. Period. I taught her when we were camping last August. We're both doing Keuka Lake Tri, her first olympic, next week.  We drove out to Harriman State park in search of open water.

Despite there being several lakes out there, we couldn't find a good place to swim. So a bike ride would have to do. 

I usually dont, really never, drive to ride but oh well. We rode Seven Lakes Dr and went to the top of Bear Mountain. About a 35 mile ride with some nice climbing in there.

Here's a picture of Loren at the top, next to what seems to be the most popular way to get up Bear Mnt. I hadn't done this ride in years. It was a much easier climb than I expected and remembered.

All and all a pretty nice day.