Wednesday, September 30, 2009
I'm 3 for 4 in 100 milers.
I know, I haven't blogged since March, six whole months, but I haven't been doing much....except last weekend where I ran the first annual Hundred in the Hood 103 miler in 27:46:52. That's about 105 minute personal best from Stormy. A full report to be posted when I can find time.
Friday, March 13, 2009
On the road again
No, I'm not going to Chuckanut this year to see if I can better my 50k time. I've got an 18 mile training run with my 4:15-4:45 group tomorrow morning. My group is expecting 17 miles, but they're getting 18 because it's Saturday, normally my day of rest and hashing but both are now in jeopardy. It's almost 9pm which means there's 4 more hours to go before the CFA Fools (Barbeau, Jensen, Hyson and subbing in for Machray - Alexander!) start on the Coyote Two Moon 1oo miler in Ojai, California. That's right. They're starting at 1am. I believe that's the Sandbagger wave start as per the controversy last year. The only problem is I don't think they've had enough training as the weather conditions have been absolutely horrendous here in Vancouver. Not that there's any actual running involved, Go up a hill, go down a hill spread out over 100 miles. Joy.
I'm at the end of Week 7 and I've just realized I still have 41 days to go with 10 minute trainer. My core is really strong, I can see a hint of abs, and I have to go shopping for new jeans as there's more room in the back end. My speed workouts have really picked up from last week, I wasnt really pushing it on last Thurs' workout: 4* 2km at 3km time trial pace (6:40/mi). 2km = 5 laps of a 400m track. I was only putting in my effort on the last lap rather than being consistent on all 5 laps. My coach called me on my bullshit so I was really resolved to work a lot harder for yesterday's workout: 5 * 800m, 30 sec rest, then 400m, 90 sec rest btw sets. I was with a group of 3 other runners who were in my pace group: 3:20/800m, sub 1:40/400m. First 800m was a solid 3:20, 30 sec rest, then a very fast 1:20/400m. 90 quick secs later and we went again. And then I was alone for the last 3 repeats. My 800ms were consistent 3:20 and my 400ms were 1:30-1:35. My breaks were the same 30/90 sec. Turns out the other 3 were taking longer recovery breaks although they said they were getting faster after each repeat, whatever.
My long runs are also improving although I hope that my group can make it to the start line. Some have voiced concerns that they can't make the distance at the pace that we're running which is slow 11-12min/mile.
But that's kinda the point, we don't do race pace on our long runs, cause the body would simply break down. Last week was funny, my group is 85% women and there were no available washrooms for 11 miles, so they had to go without a bathroom break for over 2 hours. Tomorrow, I think the first washroom is at 1.5 and next at nine mile mark. Gotta remember to bring tp, you never know...
Later tomorrow, if I can make it to North Van for the St Paddy's day Hash, green beer and Irish stew, it's magically delicious!
On a hash related note, just received some bad news from the Ashland H3 in Oregon. Baggy Organ is in very ill health and right now all the docs can do is make his remaining hours comfortable. Cheers, Baggy.
I'm at the end of Week 7 and I've just realized I still have 41 days to go with 10 minute trainer. My core is really strong, I can see a hint of abs, and I have to go shopping for new jeans as there's more room in the back end. My speed workouts have really picked up from last week, I wasnt really pushing it on last Thurs' workout: 4* 2km at 3km time trial pace (6:40/mi). 2km = 5 laps of a 400m track. I was only putting in my effort on the last lap rather than being consistent on all 5 laps. My coach called me on my bullshit so I was really resolved to work a lot harder for yesterday's workout: 5 * 800m, 30 sec rest, then 400m, 90 sec rest btw sets. I was with a group of 3 other runners who were in my pace group: 3:20/800m, sub 1:40/400m. First 800m was a solid 3:20, 30 sec rest, then a very fast 1:20/400m. 90 quick secs later and we went again. And then I was alone for the last 3 repeats. My 800ms were consistent 3:20 and my 400ms were 1:30-1:35. My breaks were the same 30/90 sec. Turns out the other 3 were taking longer recovery breaks although they said they were getting faster after each repeat, whatever.
My long runs are also improving although I hope that my group can make it to the start line. Some have voiced concerns that they can't make the distance at the pace that we're running which is slow 11-12min/mile.
But that's kinda the point, we don't do race pace on our long runs, cause the body would simply break down. Last week was funny, my group is 85% women and there were no available washrooms for 11 miles, so they had to go without a bathroom break for over 2 hours. Tomorrow, I think the first washroom is at 1.5 and next at nine mile mark. Gotta remember to bring tp, you never know...
Later tomorrow, if I can make it to North Van for the St Paddy's day Hash, green beer and Irish stew, it's magically delicious!
On a hash related note, just received some bad news from the Ashland H3 in Oregon. Baggy Organ is in very ill health and right now all the docs can do is make his remaining hours comfortable. Cheers, Baggy.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Off Trail for a while, but I'm back!
Did you miss me? I really missed the three of you that actually read my blog, so a quick 3 month recap...
Late December: The Triple Century run really kicked the crap out of me mostly in terms of drinking, I really didn't appreciate the enormity of drinking 100 beers, I ended up finishing 40 of them. Running, which is normally my strength, 100 miles during the Xmas holidays was extremely difficult given the freak snowstorm that Vancouver received. I ended up doing the majority of the miles on a dreadmill, the 7 mile loop trail that I picked was taking me two hours to run a lap. Also, not much in the way of support as everybody was snowed in. I put on a ton of weight and catching a cold bug didnt really help matters.
January: The first three weeks really sucked. I was out of shape, still feeling the lingering effects of my cold and I was also leading the 4:15-4:45 marathon group for the Runners Den in Port Moody. There was still so much snow on the roads that we ended up doing some of our mileage on the trails. I have 12 runners in my group that I co-lead. Starting the fourth week of January, I finally succumbed to buying the 10 minute trainer workout DVD. You may have seen the infomercials at 2am and wondered,"Can this really work?" I'll try anything once...although looking at the program, it has me working out between 10 to 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week.
February: Decided to sign up for the Vancouver Marathon, May 3rd. I don't think I'll qualify for Boston, my BQ is sub 3:15 but I'd like to see if I can run 3:45. Also registered for Cascade Crest 100 mile Aug 29-30, (sorry, Brownie. I'm sure this ranks pretty high on the Bogusity scale.) PCT 50 miler July 25, Knee Knacker if I get in and I'm flipping between Scorched Sole 50 mile in Kelowna, San Diego 100 miler and Vancouver 100 which all take place on June 6. My road running has really improved, unfortunately my trail running has suffered. The only trail runs I do nowadays are either with the Vancouver Hash or Club Fat Ass. I'm also in the middle of Week 5 of the Ten Minute trainer. I'm just as surprised as you are. These workouts are intense and I am doing 30 minutes or three workouts a day, six days a week. Today (Wed) happens to be a rest day, only 10 minute Cardio, but I can't believe the results I'm getting. Now if only I could stick to the eating plan...
Tomorrow is the Marathon clinic's track workout, 3 km time trial, followed by 4 * 200 m. Let's hope the track is clear of snow. Gotta go do Cardio now, "Lost" is on at 9pm.
Late December: The Triple Century run really kicked the crap out of me mostly in terms of drinking, I really didn't appreciate the enormity of drinking 100 beers, I ended up finishing 40 of them. Running, which is normally my strength, 100 miles during the Xmas holidays was extremely difficult given the freak snowstorm that Vancouver received. I ended up doing the majority of the miles on a dreadmill, the 7 mile loop trail that I picked was taking me two hours to run a lap. Also, not much in the way of support as everybody was snowed in. I put on a ton of weight and catching a cold bug didnt really help matters.
January: The first three weeks really sucked. I was out of shape, still feeling the lingering effects of my cold and I was also leading the 4:15-4:45 marathon group for the Runners Den in Port Moody. There was still so much snow on the roads that we ended up doing some of our mileage on the trails. I have 12 runners in my group that I co-lead. Starting the fourth week of January, I finally succumbed to buying the 10 minute trainer workout DVD. You may have seen the infomercials at 2am and wondered,"Can this really work?" I'll try anything once...although looking at the program, it has me working out between 10 to 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week.
February: Decided to sign up for the Vancouver Marathon, May 3rd. I don't think I'll qualify for Boston, my BQ is sub 3:15 but I'd like to see if I can run 3:45. Also registered for Cascade Crest 100 mile Aug 29-30, (sorry, Brownie. I'm sure this ranks pretty high on the Bogusity scale.) PCT 50 miler July 25, Knee Knacker if I get in and I'm flipping between Scorched Sole 50 mile in Kelowna, San Diego 100 miler and Vancouver 100 which all take place on June 6. My road running has really improved, unfortunately my trail running has suffered. The only trail runs I do nowadays are either with the Vancouver Hash or Club Fat Ass. I'm also in the middle of Week 5 of the Ten Minute trainer. I'm just as surprised as you are. These workouts are intense and I am doing 30 minutes or three workouts a day, six days a week. Today (Wed) happens to be a rest day, only 10 minute Cardio, but I can't believe the results I'm getting. Now if only I could stick to the eating plan...
Tomorrow is the Marathon clinic's track workout, 3 km time trial, followed by 4 * 200 m. Let's hope the track is clear of snow. Gotta go do Cardio now, "Lost" is on at 9pm.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Triple Century: Day 3
This is just not happening. Ran 20 miles on the dreadmill and only finished 6 beers.
58 miles, 30 beers.
58 miles, 30 beers.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Triple Century: Day 2
Only 10 miles yesterday, but I did manage to finish a case of PBR. That's noteworthy right?
Total so far, 38 miles, 24 beers.
Total so far, 38 miles, 24 beers.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Triple Century: Day 1
28 miles, 13 beers. 75 hours and 44 minutes left. Oh, look, it has started to snow.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Conditions for Triple Century: Expect snow. Lots.
So here's the view from the balcony of my condo and the place where I'll be doing most of my beverage consumption for Triple Century which is only 18 hours away! Metro Vancouver has experienced QUITE a bit of snowfall over the past 10 days making travel and training somewhat difficult. The roads are quite slick and my 11km course has an increased degree of difficulty of 2.I am not looking forward to the next 100 hours, it's gonna be hard enough to run a 100 miles without blowing snow in my face. I may pride myself on being a cold runner, but this is ridiculous. If you squint a little bit, the building behind the three picnic tables houses our fitness area, which has two treadmills. Hmmm.
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