It’s Like Deja Vu and Other Errata May 18, 2008
Posted by KG in FS Life, India, Running, Traveling.add a comment
Tomorrow (Monday) meri bivi and I were to be on a plane, on our way to Mumbai via Frankfurt. Unfortunately, that plan is looking unlikely at the moment: we’re currently without diplomatic visas to India. Kind of a bummer, as we’re now unsure just when we’ll be leaving for our next assignment. The bright side is that we’re doing this together, and now we’ve gone from a rate of three necessary errands per hour down to nearly zero. That loud exhalation you hear is one of our collective relief. Sure, the situation is a bit frustrating, but really? We’ve been through worse. And now we can hang out without asking each other the dreaded question “what do we have to do today?” every morning.
When our departure for Monday was looking probable, I went and made the irresponsible decision to register for the Capitol Hill Classic 10K. Intercontinental flight the next day be damned — a 10K through my neighborhood was not to be passed up. There was no substantial reason to let recent developments scuttle my race plans, so I did indeed run today. It was my first 10K (and race #2 overall). It felt like a good distance, a rational amount of time that left enough in my tank for a very fast final mile (or two). The roughest part was the eponymous final hill, which hit hard but not hard enough to quash my final sprint. I’m still not sure how I managed it, but according to my watch I managed a time of around 47′26″. That last sprint took me to about empty, and I’m definitely more sore tonight than I was after the Cherry Blossom. In fact, the moments after that race were fairly easy. After this one, I couldn’t see straight, and it took me a few minutes to remember how to tie my shoes. NB: I didn’t train nearly as hard or as much this time around.
But back to non-crazy-stupid-running news. My prettier half and I are here for a bit longer, and I intend on enjoying it as much as possible. So, America: we’re (probably) not leaving just yet. Do you have plans?
My Cherry Blossom 10 Miler Race Report April 7, 2008
Posted by KG in Running.2 comments
10 miles. 1 hour, 22 minutes, 34 seconds. An 8′17″ pace — way faster than I was ever expecting, and good enough for 2155th place out of 5870 men.
There were a few dicey moments early on. I had no idea there was so much strategy involved in fighting through the early scrum, almost like a chess match, calculating how far back and to the side you have to move in order to keep moving forward. I also had a slight twinge of “do I have to go to the bathroom?” in the first two miles, but in keeping with how I’ve been training I kept it at bay and took no water stops the entire race. By miles 4/5 I had hit the meditative point and held it until miles 7 and 8 — which were more physically taxing than anything else. Maintaining the faster-than-usual pace hit me like a brick right around the Kennedy Center; I contemplated throwing up more than once but battled through. Miles 9 and 10 were when the adrenaline kicked back in, though I wish I had dug deeper for a stronger final kick and made the top 2000. Though there were plenty of folks running with iPods, I followed the race rules and found the crowd to be “distraction” enough.
The experience was amazing and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
This post is dedicated to Coach Martin, my 9th Grade PE teacher, who gave me a “C” in leisure running.
Music for Your Feet April 4, 2008
Posted by KG in Music, Running.add a comment
The Cherry Blossom is in three days, and my biggest fear right now is the lack of music. 10 miles, sans iPod – what am I going to do when the adrenaline ebbs? Maybe I’ll ask a neighbor to sing for me, or find one who can passably mimic gangster rap.
So, fellow Cherry Blossom runners, here’s five songs that are current workout favorites. Know them? Love them? Find bib number 10319 around mile 7. You’re also welcome to suggest your own songs — we can have a race singalong!
Peter Gabriel — “Shock the Monkey“; Dolly Parton — “Jolene“; Santa Esmeralda — “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood“; MOP — “Ante Up“; TV on the Radio — “I Was a Lover“
(alternately, I can just picture this video the whole run.)
Speaking of Nerds of Steel March 28, 2008
Posted by KG in Running.add a comment
The look you get from giggling co-eds watching you sprint up the 74 Exorcist steps in Georgetown is priceless.
And as far as DC runs go, Georgetown and Barry Farm are on opposite ends of the “scenic” spectrum.
Trapped at Nines (Updated) March 21, 2008
Posted by KG in Running.add a comment
The weather has been typical for DC in March, variable with a chance of unpredictability. It’s been difficult to know from day to day whether or not I’ll need to run in a knit cap with a jacket and base layer or in a tank top. In fact, that was the difference between my Wednesday run (tank top) and Thursday run (hat, etc.) Wednesday was a new path for me, from my office to Fletcher’s Boat House and then up the Capital Crescent Trail for a bit, before returning to the office via the C&O canal towpath. Thursday was more standard, a lap around the eastern half of the Mall.
The two runs were completely different: warm and humid vs. cold and windy, on fresh legs vs. tired legs, daytime vs. night. The Wednesday run was about 5 miles, the Thursday one closer to 4. And yet my ultimate pace for both was roughly the same, with a steady average of 9 minute miles. This in and of itself wouldn’t be strange save for the fact that I’ve been running 9 minute miles for weeks. It’s been my average pace on all of my long Sunday runs, regardless of weather, fatigue, and route. The most troubling aspect is that I’ve been trying to go faster — and have felt I was going faster — on my shorter (4-7) mile runs for weeks now, and it hasn’t happened.
There’s no smart reason I should be frustrated, as the mitigating factors are many. For one thing, I have yet to do a long run 100% fresh (that is, without having done a strength workout or Crossfit metcon prior). And the runs have started to feel slightly easier as time has gone on. Still, I’m a guy. The idea of 9 minute miles being “good enough” isn’t something I really understand.
UPDATE: Long run, 3/23? Felt great. A few dicey moments where I played traffic dodge and/or ended up in places I should not have been, but overall a strong feeling run, 63 minutes. I mapped my route when I got home. 7.12 miles, or 8.85 minute miles.
FEH.
Bluebird, Shoulder March 3, 2008
Posted by KG in Running, fitness.add a comment
Running around East Potomac Park is easy — 5K of flat, straight, tourist-free path with few cars and no lights. This also contributes to the fact that it is boring. Especially now that The Awakening has moved to Prince George’s County. Everything to be seen from the park can be seen from elsewhere; the only marginally interesting sights Sunday morning were the folks casting fishing lines into the Anacostia or Potomac – interesting in that “why in the world would they want to fish here?” sort of way.
That said, I got it done, as part of possibly the most mentally taxing long run I’ve gone on: 9.83 miles in 90 minutes. Sadly, it’s just under a 9 minutes/mile pace, my ultimate goal for the Cherry Blossom, but there are some mitigating factors. Such as the fact that prior to running I got a PR in “Angie” (24′41″!!).
From the moment I woke up Sunday morning, I knew it was going to be a good day. As healthy as this winter’s been: come on spring!
Likes His Writing to be Boring February 29, 2008
Posted by KG in Blog, Running, fitness.add a comment
Over the course of the last month I’ve been assiduously chronicling my running efforts and, occassionally, posting route maps onto my flickr account to create the most boring photo batch ever. I’ve also taken to keeping a paper journal of my workouts with relative consistency, an equally boring task. Well, boring to you, maybe. For some reason this is a habit I’ve really come to enjoy. As a journaling-type project, keeping these maps and logs provides a clarity of purpose that keeping a blog simply doesn’t. There’s no pressure to be creative or to entertain. It’s simple: this is how far I went, how long it took, how much I lifted, how many times I did it. Maybe some commentary on how it felt, and the occasional self-deprecating “bad strategy!” or “weak sauce.”
The downside to the clarity of purpose is that there are times when I’ve been hit with inspiration while writing something fitness related in my paper journal (this is clearly not a result of one of those times). I’ve thus far largely kept my fitness journal free of flights-of-fancy, blog type writing, to keep it focused on what it is. Which brings up the conundrum of whether or not I start to keep a proper journal as well. That would mean, most likely, a two-week long string of keeping my ideas on paper, followed by intermittent bursts a few weeks to months later, followed by nothing.
When it comes to my body, or the corporeal in general, I’m good at patience, consistency, and the long view. Sadly, the contradiction between that aspect and my inner life is evident; it’s impossible to take the same care with my mind. Dogged persistence when it comes to thought has not, typically, been my strong suit. Clearly, this is something that needs improving.
Now I’m Back on My Feet January 16, 2008
Posted by KG in Running, fitness.1 comment so far
Yesterday I was extremely ambitious. After a warmup of box jumps, HSPUs, and overhead squats, I decided to give Tabata Something Else a try — and got a personal record. Winded but not beaten, I decided to try going for a run before my yoga class. It was 7 PM and below freezing outside. As I put my running hat, jacket, and gloves on doubts crept into my mind. I won’t have time for a decent run. Damn, it’s cold. Those squats really killed, let’s give the legs a break. Just relax — yoga’s in half an hour.
Bill Conti’s Gonna Fly Now came on my iPod. I went out and ran hill sprints for 20 minutes.
Today’s lunch hour was set aside for another run, 5K. I had my route mapped out from the night before, but boy did my legs hurt. Even more than the day before, or it least it seemed that way as the run loomed closer. Still, I kitted up and headed out. The doubts started around step 20. Again? Shouldn’t go too hard, you have work to do. Is that your lower back pinching a bit? That salad on your desk sounds mighty good.
Survivor’s Eye of the Tiger came on my iPod. I ran the 5K in 22′36″, a personal best.
Consider these anecdotes hearty endorsements of Rocky(s) I-IV, four of the best sports films ever made.
Suggestions on Winter Training Clothes Welcome December 11, 2007
Posted by KG in Running, fitness.add a comment
Cold weather be damned, it’s time to train.
Never mind the fact I’ve never run a significant distance. Never mind the fact that I’m flat footed, marginally fit, and already doing the yoga/Crossfit thing.
Question: Don’t you hate running?
Answer: Yes. But I love goals.
Another Boring Fitness Post November 14, 2007
Posted by KG in Running, fitness.add a comment
It was on a treadmill, which I know is technically cheating, but:
Yesterday I ran a 6 minute mile.
!!!
(previous timed best? In 10th grade, and just under 10 minutes)
Now I need to find a 400 meter track and test under real-life circumstances.
