Tuesday, August 19

Managerial Experience

The large picture window to my left is open allowing a damp breeze to enter. I sit at the keyboard, write, and hear nothing but the incessant beating of the rain outside. It’s strangely comforting.

Getting out the door this evening required a disproportionate amount of energy that left me questioning my decision to head out. Whether the summer doldrums or otherwise, I turned down the street with the same determination I had when heading for detention. To make matters worse, rather than rolling through an easy jaunt I’d scheduled hills for this evening (my first session in months).

Oh joy.

I trudged along toward my spring stomping grounds, reacquainted myself with Maltwood and eased into the first interval. I was surprised at how long and painful an uphill minute can be on a concave hill.

Run. Gasp. Recover. Repeat.

After number six, I used the recovery to jog over to a terrific little hill circuit that I’d scoped out earlier. The shorter intervals took me almost to the peak of a very steep convex hill, after which a long curved gentle descent brought me back to the beginning. My fitness and or natural talent much more suited to the shorter repeats. Still, I ended the session earlier than planned, stopping while ahead and leaving the remaining two intervals for another day.

My current supervisor recently returned from Harvard where he was taking a course on governance, problem solving and negotiations. With me beginning a new job at the end of the month, he came into my office today and mumbled something about him passing on knowledge and books on managerial experience. Given his recent studies, his comment piqued my interest. I shook my head and laughed as he handed me two soft cover books and wished me well… 26 Miles to Boston and The Perfect Mile.

Training:
Monday: day off (scheduled)
Tuesday: 57:41 with 6x1’ (3’) + 6x30” (2’)

8 comments:

Mike said...

There's just no substitute for training on mean hills. Believe me, I've tried to find one.

I've been given an antique green and mustard-colored lamp and 5 passes for Pilates by my boss, so consider yourself lucky.

Thomas said...

You just reminded me how much I hated the hill repeats earlier in my training cycle.

Doing 6x1 mins for a start is a lot - and adding shorter repeats is even more. Any more might well have been overdoing things.

Cliff said...

Michael,

I got more questions :). I have some hill repeats to do today. I haven't done them for a while. I am always antsy on starting them.

I was thinking the overall reason for training. I mean for marathon, what would you say the crucial fundamentals on having a strong race? Is it the focus on training the body to use to burning more fat (aerobic) and the leg endurance to the hours on the road?

I am trying to understand why I am training the way I am training....thanks for picking your brain.

UMaine Cooperative Extension said...

My boss gives me a paycheck every month, and I think he bought me lunch once last year...

Good to see you getting out the door, despite the doldrums or otherwise - and you stuck to your guns with the hill workout.

Many, myself included, would have rolled through the easy jaunt (or maybe even rolled right into bed).

Grellan said...

Hills ain't easy. Hope you put that managerial training to good use.

Michael said...

Cliff, don't worry about the hills, just ease into them and listen to your body. As for the most important part of training, I think that depends on a) the person (their running history), b) their goal c) their fitness and d) the training phase. I’m sure I’ve missed a few other crucial parts. With you training for Toronto, I think you need to focus on the long run and strength/endurance, i.e. the longer intervals (8’-15’), but not necessarily in that order. Depending on the time you have available to train and your recovery, you can add other elements. What are your thoughts, what has been your experience?

Thomas said...

Michael, the training program I'm following is from a book called "Brain Training for Runners". I do have a few gripes with the schedules, but overall I definitely like it. Grellan is on the same program, btw.

It really eased into the hill repeats; it started with 2x30 seconds, which was over almost before it had started. They did get a lot tougher soon enough, though.

Love2Run said...

Those are both great books. The Boston one tells the story of the course perfectly, commit it to memory ;-)