Hanging on

I had to pop into work this evening only unlike the mornings this time I had the luxury of our car. Without anything else to do other than listening to Bruce Springsteen’s Santa Claus is Coming to Town, I decided to time the journey. The result, car ride = 15’, my bike commute in the mornings = 20’ (not taking into account the post-cycle change).

Coming home, I couldn’t help but notice that every second vehicle appeared to be driven by a complete idiot. When did I drastically age?

I had entirely forgotten about my sore foot until I was lacing up my shoes, when the shoe wall instantly aggravated my ankle. I found the sore point and it was definitely tender to the touch, but didn’t feel muscular. I decided to switch footwear and lace up my old adistars minus the top eyelet but this didn’t seem to work. Undeterred, I left hoping that I wasn’t doing anything foolish. My ankle was intermittently sore for the first 15’ after which things improved. On the back of yesterday’s long run, I was actually quite surprised at how good my body felt which is comforting given the week ahead.

With that, I’ll leave you with some fine words from Theodore Roosevelt, “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.”

Training: 1:01:14 with 5xstrides (1’)

The baffled king composing hallelujah

Following Thursday’s workout, I wasn’t surprised at the weariness in my legs come Friday; what did surprise me was just how heavy, verging on cumbersome, they were. I jogged down the dirt hill from our place and onto the trail, taking note as I leisurely passed the first kilometer marker… 5:02 later I decided not to press the pace, but rather convinced myself that today, merely moving was an accomplishment.

Yesterday was uneventful and the pins felt particularly good as I stretched them out with a few 30” strides towards the end of the jaunt.

This morning I wrapped up an easy week with a not-so-easy long run. I was hoping to cruise through feeling graceful and in control; unfortunately, this was not to be. The first hour passed quickly enough but my perceived effort was very much real, with emphasis resting unhappily on the effort. As misery loves company I begun the up-tempo session fully expecting he worst but was pleased to discover that with the pace quickening, and efficiency gains realized, that same perceived effort remained the same.

On a disturbing note, my left foot was giving my grief toward the end of the run. It feels as if a bone has become jammed resulting restricted movement and some discomfort (the camber of the terrain being influential). I noticed it first yesterday but didn’t think much of it at the time, perhaps it’s a result of Thursday, the twenty quick accelerations?

Training:
Friday: slow 29:37
Saturday: easy 43:30 with 5xstrides (1’)
Sunday: 2:07:10 with 60’ up-tempo (4:10 to 3:48 pace/km)

My (other) Girl

This afternoon amid grey, wet and dreary conditions, Ally and I went to the ultrasound clinic. Minutes after arriving, we were ushered into a very comfortable room with soft indirect lighting and a warm soothing colour on the walls; it was a room that couldn’t be more conducive to long winter naps. A moment later Ally was up on the bed, after which all I could think of was one of the original episodes from Star Trek. My center of attention on a monitor showing glimpses of white among a black background and then… we had contact. A human head, mouth slowly opening and closing, the unhurried raising of an arm followed by a indolent stretch only to recoil into a position that would make a sleeping cat envious. I don’t remember talking for ten minutes, my world full of pictures of our daughter; even now you might think I’m blasé but you’d be mistaken, for an endless reel of images and corresponding emotions is running through my mind.

My run this evening was good although my right calf remains a little to-ight! I decided to wear a small headlamp, which interestingly enough turned yesterdays Sleepy Hallow into today’s Creepy Hollow. I followed the Lochside trail out into the farmland perusing my 1’ intervals, the rate of the first few akin to my 800m pace (standing tall, long relaxed strides with an effortless turnover)… this changed, my pace settling, but my form remained true. I’ve been very happy with how my body is responding but the real test will come next week.

Training: 1:22:23 with 20x1’ hard (1’)

Searching for the way

Nothing of note tonight, apart from enjoying a brief moment alone while out on the trails. With the rain clouds having settled in for the season, ruling out all possibility of a setting sun, the darkness creeps up slowly while changing through mottled shades of grey. At this time of year, running home along the trail at the base of our house is like threading a needle through Sleepy Hollow, tall overarching trees creating a claustrophobic corridor lined with a veil of shifting fog.

I’m going to have to find another way home.

Training: easy 21:54

Registered

This afternoon I decided to stop pretending and register for the damn race, and with that, I was in. I found it exciting; as I’ve mentioned previously I thoroughly enjoy this part of the build where possibility & hope thrive. Where the destination is far enough away that nobody can question your path and yet close enough to feel the gravitation pull. My next act was to email the elite coordinator to see if I could still be seeded in the preferred coral. As the deadline had passed I wasn’t optimistic so I played the my-wife-is-pregnant-and-have-had –to-change-my-race-schedule card (not to be used lightly) and through the compassion of Heather everything looks like it will work out just fine (I’m forever grateful).

Now, as I type, my run this evening couldn’t seem farther away. I remember feeling okay, I had an upset stomach but my legs were fine. And, as the light faded and then the twilight weakened further still I remember feeling even better, my pace and confidence crept up leaving a trail of complete and total satisfaction.

I now wallow in fatigue with only self-pity and lethargy as company.

Training: 1:11:05 with 5xstrides (1’)

P.s. Mike, thanks for the code, much appreciated!

The prudent person

A prudent person would be forgiven for thinking that that with only nine weeks left to train, and having only started last Monday, that it could conceivably be a tad premature to schedule a recovery week. Regardless, that’s what I’ve done.

My body feels solid (perhaps better than it has in months), my motivation for this race is at an all-time high and most importantly I have a deep burning desire to train, that yearning you get when you’ve decided to focus all/most of your energy on one event. That said, after reflecting back on my training throughout the last five weeks, coincidently beginning with my most recent race on October 7 (the RVM where I ran a 1:20:40 half), the timing couldn’t be better (week ending, time, approx. km):

10/14/07 6:31:25 92
10/21/07 2:32:18 36
10/28/07 1:17:50 18
11/4/07 5:35:09 80
11/11/07 7:22:39 105

This next week will be relatively light then, the focus being on maintaining my motivation and preparing for the following two weeks. I’ve scheduled one VO2 max workout for Thursday and a long run on Sunday, the rest, gravy!

Training: scheduled day off

CIS Cross Country Championships 2007

Between running errands, watching the CIS Cross Country Championships and preparing for my mothers visit, I had only a 30’ window of opportunity to run and ended up pushing the boundaries at that. I savored every moment while out on the trails and my body reacted correspondingly, each stride feeling effortless and more powerful than the last. I began comfortably, heading out along Lochside and into Broadmead, only to slowly wind things up to on the return to a relaxed 6:35 mile/pace.

This morning, with heavy grey clouds threatening rain, and wanting to give myself enough time to make it back for the Thetis Lake Relay (observing only), I didn’t hesitate for a second and was out the door earlier than usual. With necessity not allowing any room for contempt, I felt unexpectedly comfortable throughout the run (however cold), with the first hour passing quickly. Given the abbreviated training schedule (and I know the risk in trying to make up for lost time, you can’t) I decided to add some up-tempo segments to the run, 1x10’ (2’) + 2x5’ (2’) + 5x2’ (1’) + 10x1’ (1’); if nothing else they helped keep me honest and made the second our pass in seconds.

I was surprised that I was able to hold form throughout the run, expecting the combination of the intensity and distance to force a more pedestrian effort.

Training:
Saturday: easy 38:25
Sunday: 2:15:06 with 1x10’ (2’) + 2x5’ (2’) + 5x2’ (1’) + 10x1’ (1’) up tempo