Wednesday, December 2, 2009
12/2/09: Fence Sitting
Its warmer this morning, 37F. The nearly full moon is shrouded by the first clouds of a weather front coming up from the south. The air is utterly calm. Its a sky worthy of Shelley or Poe. Mornings when Denise is not running, I tend to run on the treadmill, to encourage her to the basement to stretch or do a light workout. But this morning is so enticing. Will it be Maryland hills under a moody moon or iPod, BBC, and treadmill?
Thursday, November 26, 2009
11/26: Thanksgiving
Denise, Dyana, Phil, and I drove over the bridge to Panama City early this morning. We then ran back over the bridge over St. Andrews Bay and returned. Luck has nothing to do with our situation; we all earned the camaraderie and fitness that enabled us to share the experience of going high over the bridge, watching ospreys and pelicans glide by. This is thanks to the efforts of the members of our own individual efforts.
This is our last day in PCB. Denise and I return to Maryland to re-engage in our respective lives. This is the four weeks of rest after my fall marathon. Next weeks' training is the beginning of the search for a new level of physical and mental achievement.
This is our last day in PCB. Denise and I return to Maryland to re-engage in our respective lives. This is the four weeks of rest after my fall marathon. Next weeks' training is the beginning of the search for a new level of physical and mental achievement.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
11/25: Military Weight Rooms
Denise and I ran 2.2 miles on the PCB Naval Support Activity. She clocked 24:25.
She stretched while I worked out in the weight room. We reminisced about similar facilities at Cherry Point and Iwakuni. One sure indicator of a military gym, at least a Navy or Marine Corps one, is that the weights are always racked......
She stretched while I worked out in the weight room. We reminisced about similar facilities at Cherry Point and Iwakuni. One sure indicator of a military gym, at least a Navy or Marine Corps one, is that the weights are always racked......
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
11/24: St. Andrews
2.2 miles with Denise in St. Andrew State Park.
9.8 miles from the park to Dyana's home.
Denise returned to running after straining a rib three weeks ago. We did a gentle run in a pretty park under the shadow of Gainesville's half marathon in three months. After her run, she drove back to Dyana's home and I ran along Front Beach Road from St. Andrews. It was good to get back into double digits but I was surprised at how much the run took from me. The pace was roughly a 10:20.
9.8 miles from the park to Dyana's home.
Denise returned to running after straining a rib three weeks ago. We did a gentle run in a pretty park under the shadow of Gainesville's half marathon in three months. After her run, she drove back to Dyana's home and I ran along Front Beach Road from St. Andrews. It was good to get back into double digits but I was surprised at how much the run took from me. The pace was roughly a 10:20.
Monday, November 23, 2009
11/23 - Touch of the Past
My daughter took on base at the Naval Support Facility to work out with her. The 2.2 mile loop is a scenic run along St. Andrew Bay and through stands of Florida live oaks. I was gratified by being able to pass a few sailors a couple of decades my junior during my run.
The weight room is a throwback to my old Marine Corps days, a dozen or so dedicated, fit, young people in a no-frills weight room under paddle fans. There was no music. The chinning bars are popular. Chins and pull ups are one of those foundational exercises that provide maximum stimulation to most of the upper body. There is an appealing simplicity to hanging there till exhaustion, for all to see. I do two of these movements. The first is a wide grip palms forward pull up. Later, deeper into my workout as I tire, I do a narrow grip chin with supinated palms.
As a parent, being a role model never ends. At 55, I hope I am demonstrating to our 31 year old daughter what entering the last third can look like. As other members of her family on both sides of the marriage bond are well into their respective physical and mental declines, I like to think that her parents are demonstrating that an ending surge to the finish line is possible.
The weight room is a throwback to my old Marine Corps days, a dozen or so dedicated, fit, young people in a no-frills weight room under paddle fans. There was no music. The chinning bars are popular. Chins and pull ups are one of those foundational exercises that provide maximum stimulation to most of the upper body. There is an appealing simplicity to hanging there till exhaustion, for all to see. I do two of these movements. The first is a wide grip palms forward pull up. Later, deeper into my workout as I tire, I do a narrow grip chin with supinated palms.
As a parent, being a role model never ends. At 55, I hope I am demonstrating to our 31 year old daughter what entering the last third can look like. As other members of her family on both sides of the marriage bond are well into their respective physical and mental declines, I like to think that her parents are demonstrating that an ending surge to the finish line is possible.
Monday, November 9, 2009
11/9: Coach, Mentor
I am not knowledgeable enough to call myself Denise's running coach. I prefer the word mentor. I provide a mix of advice, encouragement, and companionship while she endeavors to assimilate a lifestyle that is still foreign to her background. A visit to her blood relatives is a strong reminder that nothing in her upbringing instilled a notion that fitness and health awareness are important parts of a well integrated life.
Denise has mild Morton's neuroma and is taking some time off from running. Last week, I did all my running on the treadmill in our gym in the basement. This provided the indirect incentive for her to come down, stretch, and do a bit of strength training. While I prefer to run outside in the early morning, the change to the treadmill was calculated to provide her with the companionship to do what was right for her, too.
We spent the mornings watching the BBC channel in the basement at 5:30 AM. Each marriage has its own dynamic.
Denise has mild Morton's neuroma and is taking some time off from running. Last week, I did all my running on the treadmill in our gym in the basement. This provided the indirect incentive for her to come down, stretch, and do a bit of strength training. While I prefer to run outside in the early morning, the change to the treadmill was calculated to provide her with the companionship to do what was right for her, too.
We spent the mornings watching the BBC channel in the basement at 5:30 AM. Each marriage has its own dynamic.
Monday, October 26, 2009
10/25/09: All or Nothing
The all or nothing nature of a full effort marathon is one of its attractions. The training cycle for one is six to twelve months. Full recovery for the event takes one is one to three months. There are no second chances for a peak effort in the fall. For this reason, a fall marathon is likened to a report card on one's life for the year.
I arrived at the MCM starting line having run over 1,300 miles in 2009, two dozen long runs in excess of 20 miles, and with a peak of two months of tempo runs with total mileages hovering around 55 miles per weeks. This certainly represents the best running fitness in my life. I joined the 9:10 pace group, shooting for a four hour marathon. My PR was 4:16:22. The pacer took us through the hilly first eight miles at well below a nine minute pace. While I knew that the pace was too fast, my year's training and the fact that I was running with the "four hour" pacer made me complacent as I out ran my legs.
The 4:00 hour group has a very atmosphere than the 4:30 group I ran with in 2006. The latter's pacer chatted on running, nutrition, and health topics throughout the 26 miles. The group itself was chatty as humor slowly gave way to encouragement while the miles ticked by. The 4:00 hour group, on the other hand, was focused and quiet. The group glided through the cheering crowds while the pace occasionally let out a military-style chant of encouragement. I enjoyed being part of the visibly fit half dozen runners clustered around him. However, his surges eventually took their toll and I fell behind somewhere around mile 15.
At mile 21, my left hamstring was caught in an iron claw. I suddenly slowed with a yelp of pain and surprise which even brought glances from the EMTs on the other side of the road. The last 5.2 miles became a balancing act of running, walking, pain, and near exhaustion. I persevered in this final exam for 2009.
I crossed the finish line at 4:15:47, a PR, while not my goal PR.
I arrived at the MCM starting line having run over 1,300 miles in 2009, two dozen long runs in excess of 20 miles, and with a peak of two months of tempo runs with total mileages hovering around 55 miles per weeks. This certainly represents the best running fitness in my life. I joined the 9:10 pace group, shooting for a four hour marathon. My PR was 4:16:22. The pacer took us through the hilly first eight miles at well below a nine minute pace. While I knew that the pace was too fast, my year's training and the fact that I was running with the "four hour" pacer made me complacent as I out ran my legs.
The 4:00 hour group has a very atmosphere than the 4:30 group I ran with in 2006. The latter's pacer chatted on running, nutrition, and health topics throughout the 26 miles. The group itself was chatty as humor slowly gave way to encouragement while the miles ticked by. The 4:00 hour group, on the other hand, was focused and quiet. The group glided through the cheering crowds while the pace occasionally let out a military-style chant of encouragement. I enjoyed being part of the visibly fit half dozen runners clustered around him. However, his surges eventually took their toll and I fell behind somewhere around mile 15.
At mile 21, my left hamstring was caught in an iron claw. I suddenly slowed with a yelp of pain and surprise which even brought glances from the EMTs on the other side of the road. The last 5.2 miles became a balancing act of running, walking, pain, and near exhaustion. I persevered in this final exam for 2009.
I crossed the finish line at 4:15:47, a PR, while not my goal PR.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
