Nope, that's not the distance of an oddly configured race. It's the price for a gallon of gas at the gas station I pass every day going to and from school. Gas had been sitting around $3.69 for a week or so, then last week it bumped up to $3.79 and last night on my way home I spotted that it had jumped to $3.92. That actually stopped me in my tracks.
I don't remember seeing it get that high before at any point in the past. it makes me REALLY glad that I don't own a car. Sure, it still effects me in indirect ways, the price of food and other goods, but at least I'm not dropping almost $4 a gallon to get to and from work (and everywhere else) every day.
The best part is, we haven't even gotten to Memorial day yet, so you can bet it will keep climbing.
Sell your cars folks, buy a bike!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
It's a small world
Last night I got a comment on my blog from a runner in Singapore... "Singapore?" I asked myself. Singapore.
Google Analytics tells me that in the last month, my blog has been viewed by people in 13 different countries, on every continent except Antarctica (duh) and South America (came really close with Ecuador). Within the US, it was viewed by people from 25 different states, mostly Colorado (I think Mark has a lot to do with that one).
These are the ramblings of one middle of the pack runner and triathlete... that they have managed to find readers as far and wide as they have, is kind of amazing. I don't have a lot of readers, certainly not regular readers, but it still amazes me.
To anyone who's reading, thank you.
Google Analytics tells me that in the last month, my blog has been viewed by people in 13 different countries, on every continent except Antarctica (duh) and South America (came really close with Ecuador). Within the US, it was viewed by people from 25 different states, mostly Colorado (I think Mark has a lot to do with that one).
These are the ramblings of one middle of the pack runner and triathlete... that they have managed to find readers as far and wide as they have, is kind of amazing. I don't have a lot of readers, certainly not regular readers, but it still amazes me.
To anyone who's reading, thank you.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Happy Mother's Day
I called my mother this morning to wish her a happy Mother's Day and she announced she knew exactly what she wanted from me.
"Get your father and I off the damn grid" my mother said. She doesn't want me to buy anything, she wants research, information, ideas. Photovoltaic, wind power, passive solar, etc. Mostly she wants me to look into PV and passive solar. My father wants a wind turbine.
Go figure...
"Get your father and I off the damn grid" my mother said. She doesn't want me to buy anything, she wants research, information, ideas. Photovoltaic, wind power, passive solar, etc. Mostly she wants me to look into PV and passive solar. My father wants a wind turbine.
Go figure...
Friday, May 09, 2008
Ice baths
the question has been asked by a few people whether I did the three days of ice baths.
The first question that has to be asked though is, did I earn them?
Based solely on how I felt at the end of the race, as if I could have given even more during the race, I think the answer is no, I didn't.
However... I ran a harder, faster, smarter race than I've ever run before and I definitely earned an ice bath for Sunday.
Monday, my legs were achy, not surprisingly, and I did the workout Mark assigned (45' of spinning on the bike) so i took the second ice bath.
Tuesday, I was still a little achy so, while maybe I didn't feel like I earned three days of ice baths at the finish line, I still felt like I needed it and maybe I did more to earn it than I gave myself credit for.
It's a funny thing to earn. 20 minutes in ball-clenchingly frigid ice water is not most people's idea of fun or a reward. Nor mine either to be totally honest. But there's a special significance to them, I usually take ice baths after a particularly intense workout or a race so even though they're not fun, there's an almost ceremonial quality to them that makes me look forward to them.
The first question that has to be asked though is, did I earn them?
Based solely on how I felt at the end of the race, as if I could have given even more during the race, I think the answer is no, I didn't.
However... I ran a harder, faster, smarter race than I've ever run before and I definitely earned an ice bath for Sunday.
Monday, my legs were achy, not surprisingly, and I did the workout Mark assigned (45' of spinning on the bike) so i took the second ice bath.
Tuesday, I was still a little achy so, while maybe I didn't feel like I earned three days of ice baths at the finish line, I still felt like I needed it and maybe I did more to earn it than I gave myself credit for.
It's a funny thing to earn. 20 minutes in ball-clenchingly frigid ice water is not most people's idea of fun or a reward. Nor mine either to be totally honest. But there's a special significance to them, I usually take ice baths after a particularly intense workout or a race so even though they're not fun, there's an almost ceremonial quality to them that makes me look forward to them.
Monday, May 05, 2008
Put it on the Board! The 2008 Flying Pig Half-Marathon Race Report
At the start:
It was very cold at the start and I was wondering if I made the wrong choice in wearing a singlet instead of a technical t-shirt, but shortly into the run I knew I had made the right decision. We started a little late, 6:45 instead of 6:30, which made for some antsy, and cold, runners at the starting line.
The Race:
The plan was to shoot for 8:40 for the first 3 miles, then assess how I felt and readjust for the next three miles, then do the same at mile 6 and mile 9.
1. T: 9:09/9:09 For the first mile that was impossible, there were just too many people and not enough roadway.
2. T: 7:51/17:01 The second mile was too fast but part of that may have due to the downhill on the bridge.
3. T: 8:29/25:30 At mile three, I was feeling really great, better than I had expected, which left me a little wary. at this point I was on pace for a 1:51ish half, but I knew I had the hill still to come so I decided not to up my 8:40 target but instead to stick to the 8:40 plan and save a little energy for the climbs.
4. T: 8:30/35:00 Mile 4 was still a little fast but there was a good bit of downhill from a bridge with Mile 4 starting partway up the bridge.
5. T: 8:35/43:35
6. T: 8:36/52:12 The climb started at the marker for mile 5, yet I still held the 8:40 pace pretty well. After 6 I thought about whether I should push for 8:40 through the hill... for about half a second. I'd run this hill before, I knew better though and just hoped to get through in under 10:00 and then shoot for 8:40 again once I crest the hill just after the mile 8 marker.
7. T: 9:32/1:01:44 You wouldn't think of Ohio as being hilly, but Cincinnati definitely is and there are some tough ones in the middle of the Pig half, making for a tough two miles.
8. T: 9:10/1:10:55 I was pretty pleased to hold sub 10 for the two miles through the hill, and actually kind of impressed.
9. T: 8:24/1:19:19 After the hill, it was mostly flattish for about two miles and I absolutely FLEW! I didn't feel like I was pushing too hard, but was holding a low 8 to high 7 minute pace.
10. T: 9:06/1:28:25 A little bit more of an uphill... I think I lost my focus a bit here as well and fell off the pace.
11. T: 7:53/1:36:19 Wow, I feel really, really good...
12. T: 7:55/1:44:15 Seriously? Still feeling THIS good? Mostly downhill, but I'm still flying...
13. T: 7:30/1:51:46 The downhill ended but I was feeling really strong and didn't have far to go, so I just pushed a little harder, it's the last mile, KICK SOME ASS!
13.1 T: 0:42/1:52:29 There's the Finish line!
Final time: 1:52:29 A new Personal Record!
Some quick hits. I didn't walk at any point in the race, not even the water stops, which I only used 3-4 times anyhow. I didn't even think about the fact that I was or wasn't walking, it just happened. I did stop for maybe 15 seconds to water some shrubs, but that was it.
The Finish and Post-Race:
After I finished, I felt briefly like I might heave due to the sprint I had put on at the finish, but this passed really quickly and I realized that, as good as I felt, I probably should have gone harder throughout the race. I got my space blanket, a nice towel and my medal (pics will be up eventually) and a whole lot of food . There were bananas, bagels, Frozen Gogurts, cookies, potato chips, Sun chips, Peach Mango Chips, Cheez-its (which I somehow passed on), ice cream, cereal/snack bars, lots of water, Gatorade and oranges. I got a little bit of everything then went to get my gear bag that I had checked at the start.
I got my stuff, checked my phone for updates on my friend Nicole to see how she was doing (Chip udates were texted to me) then found a patch of grass in the sun. I spread out the space blanket, did some stretching and snacking, sent a text message to some key people regarding my time, changed into dry, comfy clothes and proceeded to nap in the sun for an hour.
After the nap I did some reading and after about 3 hours of waiting Nicole finally appeared. Her race had been a disappointment as far as results (4:26 for the marathon, though it turned out to be a quarter mile longer than a marathon due to a reroute around a fire) but she enjoyed it immensely.
I've posted a screenshot of the data from my Suunto below. Disregard the Altitude numbers on the right, I reset the altitude at one point incorrectly and have yet to correct it. the changes in height are correct but the 'Zero' needs to be fixed.
from looking at the speed graph on the bottom you can see pretty clearly at what point I stopped to 'water the shrubbery'.
It was very cold at the start and I was wondering if I made the wrong choice in wearing a singlet instead of a technical t-shirt, but shortly into the run I knew I had made the right decision. We started a little late, 6:45 instead of 6:30, which made for some antsy, and cold, runners at the starting line.
The Race:
The plan was to shoot for 8:40 for the first 3 miles, then assess how I felt and readjust for the next three miles, then do the same at mile 6 and mile 9.
1. T: 9:09/9:09 For the first mile that was impossible, there were just too many people and not enough roadway.
2. T: 7:51/17:01 The second mile was too fast but part of that may have due to the downhill on the bridge.
3. T: 8:29/25:30 At mile three, I was feeling really great, better than I had expected, which left me a little wary. at this point I was on pace for a 1:51ish half, but I knew I had the hill still to come so I decided not to up my 8:40 target but instead to stick to the 8:40 plan and save a little energy for the climbs.
4. T: 8:30/35:00 Mile 4 was still a little fast but there was a good bit of downhill from a bridge with Mile 4 starting partway up the bridge.
5. T: 8:35/43:35
6. T: 8:36/52:12 The climb started at the marker for mile 5, yet I still held the 8:40 pace pretty well. After 6 I thought about whether I should push for 8:40 through the hill... for about half a second. I'd run this hill before, I knew better though and just hoped to get through in under 10:00 and then shoot for 8:40 again once I crest the hill just after the mile 8 marker.
7. T: 9:32/1:01:44 You wouldn't think of Ohio as being hilly, but Cincinnati definitely is and there are some tough ones in the middle of the Pig half, making for a tough two miles.
8. T: 9:10/1:10:55 I was pretty pleased to hold sub 10 for the two miles through the hill, and actually kind of impressed.
9. T: 8:24/1:19:19 After the hill, it was mostly flattish for about two miles and I absolutely FLEW! I didn't feel like I was pushing too hard, but was holding a low 8 to high 7 minute pace.
10. T: 9:06/1:28:25 A little bit more of an uphill... I think I lost my focus a bit here as well and fell off the pace.
11. T: 7:53/1:36:19 Wow, I feel really, really good...
12. T: 7:55/1:44:15 Seriously? Still feeling THIS good? Mostly downhill, but I'm still flying...
13. T: 7:30/1:51:46 The downhill ended but I was feeling really strong and didn't have far to go, so I just pushed a little harder, it's the last mile, KICK SOME ASS!
13.1 T: 0:42/1:52:29 There's the Finish line!
Final time: 1:52:29 A new Personal Record!
Some quick hits. I didn't walk at any point in the race, not even the water stops, which I only used 3-4 times anyhow. I didn't even think about the fact that I was or wasn't walking, it just happened. I did stop for maybe 15 seconds to water some shrubs, but that was it.
The Finish and Post-Race:
After I finished, I felt briefly like I might heave due to the sprint I had put on at the finish, but this passed really quickly and I realized that, as good as I felt, I probably should have gone harder throughout the race. I got my space blanket, a nice towel and my medal (pics will be up eventually) and a whole lot of food . There were bananas, bagels, Frozen Gogurts, cookies, potato chips, Sun chips, Peach Mango Chips, Cheez-its (which I somehow passed on), ice cream, cereal/snack bars, lots of water, Gatorade and oranges. I got a little bit of everything then went to get my gear bag that I had checked at the start.
I got my stuff, checked my phone for updates on my friend Nicole to see how she was doing (Chip udates were texted to me) then found a patch of grass in the sun. I spread out the space blanket, did some stretching and snacking, sent a text message to some key people regarding my time, changed into dry, comfy clothes and proceeded to nap in the sun for an hour.
After the nap I did some reading and after about 3 hours of waiting Nicole finally appeared. Her race had been a disappointment as far as results (4:26 for the marathon, though it turned out to be a quarter mile longer than a marathon due to a reroute around a fire) but she enjoyed it immensely.
I've posted a screenshot of the data from my Suunto below. Disregard the Altitude numbers on the right, I reset the altitude at one point incorrectly and have yet to correct it. the changes in height are correct but the 'Zero' needs to be fixed.
from looking at the speed graph on the bottom you can see pretty clearly at what point I stopped to 'water the shrubbery'.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
At the start
6 am - Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OH - It's cold this morning as I wait to check my bag before the Flying Pig Half Marathon. I think I should have chosen the t-shirt over the running singlet, but I should be OK.
I had almost forgotten one of my favorite parts about races... Hot Athletic Chicks! :-D
I had almost forgotten one of my favorite parts about races... Hot Athletic Chicks! :-D
Thursday, May 01, 2008
The Pig Cometh! And Ice Baths!
The Flying Pig is in three days... which is kind of surprising. It really seems to have snuck up on me.
The weather forecast is overcast, with a high of around 58. Perfect running weather!
When I looked at my schedule for early next week, including race day, I saw that Mark had me down for an ice bath after the race. Not surprising really. Then I saw that I was scheduled for an ice bath on Monday too. And tuesday.
Seriously? Three days of ice baths? The ones on Monday and Tuesday are following short bike workouts to flush my system, but still, three?
I asked mark about it and he replied:
"The three days of ice is only a suggestion if your legs really feel pounded. I'd at the very least go for two. Then see how you feel on the third day."
I also had been thinking about pacing and asked him about that as well and his reply kind of surprised me a little.
Then as I was thinking about it all last night at bowling, mulling the race and my expectations over in my head I thought of something.
I've never needed three days of ice baths before. Not even after the 5430 did I feel the need for more than one ice bath. maybe that's a good thing, maybe it's a sign that my body recovers well (which i think it does).
Or, maybe I just didn't earn three days of ice baths before. Maybe I didn't push hard enough or challenge myself enough. I know I've challenged myself before with my first marathon and the 5430, but they were different kinds of challenges. In many cases, a race was about finishing something I had never done before (NYC or the 5430) or the experience (Bolder Boulder, WDW Goofy Challenge). When I took on mark, it was with the ultimate goal of doing an Ironman, but not just FINISHING an Ironman, racing one to the best of my ability.
That attitude is one I haven't had at a lot of races. That's changing now. I'm going to EARN three ice baths. I'm going to put every erg of energy I have into this race. I'm going to race smart and I'm going to race hard and I'm going to use every minute of this race as a lesson for my next race.
I'm going to kick some @$$
The weather forecast is overcast, with a high of around 58. Perfect running weather!
When I looked at my schedule for early next week, including race day, I saw that Mark had me down for an ice bath after the race. Not surprising really. Then I saw that I was scheduled for an ice bath on Monday too. And tuesday.
Seriously? Three days of ice baths? The ones on Monday and Tuesday are following short bike workouts to flush my system, but still, three?
I asked mark about it and he replied:
"The three days of ice is only a suggestion if your legs really feel pounded. I'd at the very least go for two. Then see how you feel on the third day."
I also had been thinking about pacing and asked him about that as well and his reply kind of surprised me a little.
Then as I was thinking about it all last night at bowling, mulling the race and my expectations over in my head I thought of something.
I've never needed three days of ice baths before. Not even after the 5430 did I feel the need for more than one ice bath. maybe that's a good thing, maybe it's a sign that my body recovers well (which i think it does).
Or, maybe I just didn't earn three days of ice baths before. Maybe I didn't push hard enough or challenge myself enough. I know I've challenged myself before with my first marathon and the 5430, but they were different kinds of challenges. In many cases, a race was about finishing something I had never done before (NYC or the 5430) or the experience (Bolder Boulder, WDW Goofy Challenge). When I took on mark, it was with the ultimate goal of doing an Ironman, but not just FINISHING an Ironman, racing one to the best of my ability.
That attitude is one I haven't had at a lot of races. That's changing now. I'm going to EARN three ice baths. I'm going to put every erg of energy I have into this race. I'm going to race smart and I'm going to race hard and I'm going to use every minute of this race as a lesson for my next race.
I'm going to kick some @$$
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