Snow Day

Yesterday morning, under a blanket of fading stars I ran to work along the Colqutiz Trail. With the air cool and crisp, the early signs of spring were inescapable as daffodil shoots littered the path edge and the sweet aroma of cherry blossoms hung delicately in the trees.

You can imagine my surprise then as I woke this morning and peered out the window to see a world blanketed in snow. I fully expect this evening’s run home to me heavy on adventure and light on aerobic capacity. And tomorrow’s track workout, 15x400 will almost certainly be postponed (Ally sent me the attached photos this morning).

On the weekend, amid milder conditions I participated in my first Island Race Series event in almost two years. Billed as the Island’s premier road racing series, Sunday’s course was more reminiscent of a cross county route and I’ve certainly run GutBuster trail races that are flatter. That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed myself even if I my ego suffered a few bruises: Hatley Castle 8k results, 31:06, 3:53 pace/km, 25 OA, 4 AG

With the Times Colonist two months away, my recent competition has lit a fire in my belly and planted seeds for the future.

Training:
Monday: A.M. 44:45, P.M. 42:31
Tuesday: 1:08:51 w/ 3x10 tempo (2’)

Training Camp: Victoria, BC (base)

After putting a stubborn bout of bronchitis behind me, I began preparation for 2011 season the last week of December. Initially I’d hoped to use some of the early Island Race Series events to facilitate my fitness/motivation, but an attack of the flu and a recent cold put my inaugural race as a Master on hold. Undoubtedly, but not for certain my string of bad health is in part due to the weather, and... new for me, having two (very social) young children.

Fast forward a few weeks, and not only have I managed to achieve some consistency in my running, but this weekend I hope to toe the line at the Hatley Castle 8k (otherwise known as the home of the X-men). With my main goal in May, I’ve yet to do any speed work instead following a prescribed Lydiard approach and trying to keep my running at an aerobic level… easier said than done when you’re out of shape. And so, throughout January and most of this month I’ve been following this schedule:

Monday: 45’-60‘ easy fartlek
Tuesday: 60’-75’ aerobic
Wednesday: 45’ w/ 10xstrides
Thursday: 60’-75’ aerobic
Friday: 75’ w/ 50’ light tempo
Saturday: Day off
Sunday: 90’-120’ aerobic

Last, but certainly not least, I came across this earlier today (it brought a smile to my face), “think positive: I fell down the stairs what did I say, damn I got down those stairs fast”.

Christopher McDougall: Are we born to run?

Christopher McDougall: Are we born to run? | Video on TED.com

The Road

"You will find that it is all very familiar... the strange and faraway places where you've never been. The wild unknown leads you to a place just around the corner. Take a picture when you get there... the road is you"

J. Bebe - R. Hammond

A Year in Review

After enjoying a few moments of solitude that accompany a quiet house at 6:20 a.m., I stepped cautiously over the threshold and out into the frigid air. The world around me was silent; most people still curled up under heavy blankets, and as I jogged toward the trailhead the thick frost added a hushed crunch to my stride.

I ambled quietly along the Blenkinsopp Valley with naught for company but a few lingering stars. With the holidays behind me, and two solid weeks of running under my (expanded) belt I couldn’t help but reflect on the previous twelve months, once again amidst a whirlwind of emotions.


Winter
Reviewing my journal, I can only assume I was particularly busy in early 2010 what with only 6 entries in 3 month the last of which indicated I was going to stop writing. Obviously that didn’t happen. But given home renovations, a pregnant wife and continued rehabilitation running certainly took a back seat. With a foundation light on both quality and quantity I opted to forego early season race plans and instead took solace in a few, arguably laboured strides.

Spring
On the heels of a torn hamstring and with only two workouts in seven months, I set aside a fragile ego and gained pleasure adding my solitary footsteps to the pounding of the masses in the TC 10k. Although far from race ready, I a managed to sneak by 10,511 runners finishing just outside the top 100 with a time of 38:04. Participating in this event reignited my desire to race, and before the arrival of the dog days of summer I had completed my inaugural mile. The experience truly painful (5:04). Paul O’Neil once said, “a man who sets out to become an artist at the mile is something like a man who sets out to discover the most graceful method of being hanged. No matter how logical his plans, he cannot carry them out without physical suffering”. I concur wholeheartedly.

Summer
With the coming of warmer weather July also saw the arrival of our second child, Corbin Thomas Lord.

Needless to say running once again was pushed to the back-burner, but despite the reprioritization (or perhaps because of it) I still found myself on the track… suffering, and narrowly missing my mile goal of 4:5X, finishing in an agonizing 5:00.5.

Autumn
Orange and red leaves brought the return of the Victoria’s premier running event and my participation in the half-marathon. Somewhat slightly more enjoyable, fall also saw me revisit Maui to participate in my first Xterra Trail race… and so on a hot humid morning, an ocean breeze ruffling a ragged lock of hair, I smiled knowing I was amidst a moment of serene calm, just seconds before the arrival of an unholy storm.

All the best to everyone as they head out onto the roads and trails, enjoy 2011!

Do the Rest

While sitting here enjoying what has been described to me as ‘viral bronchitis’, I came across an interesting article written by an old idol of mine… back when I was a self-described triathlete. More than a decade ago with a wife, two children and a career in hand the principals of rest and recovery are perhaps even more important.

In short the piece goes on to describe how, “All work and no rest makes for an injury-prone and weakened weekend warrior.”

The gist he’s trying to get across is that “instead of just waiting for recovery to occur, as many athletes tend to do, you're to grab the bull by the horns and actually do something to assist your cause.”

Incidentally, he advises that “grabbing a bull by the horns will not assist your cause or for that matter grabbing a bull anywhere, particularly anything that dangles.”

For the full article click here.

As for me, I’m trying to get in what I can, when I can, which at the moment isn’t much.

Training:
Dec 13: A.M. 47:34, P.M. 23:26
Dec 14: A.M. 23:17, P.M. 45:04
Dec 15: 44:15

I Have a Man Cold (still)