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Archives For November 30, 1999

Miscellany [4/13/12]

April 13, 2012 — Leave a comment
  • Another new, lunch bag item:

  • I also took some time last night and updated my “about” page – adding a “before/after” photo…

  • For the past few races, I have somewhat planned my race and pace – mostly in my head.  I’m trying something different this weekend.  More about that on Sunday or Monday when I write a race report post.
  • I have never used Instagram – haven’t even downloaded it.  I have too many other favorite photo apps.  Even with the news this week, not sure I will start…unless it becomes a requirement.
  • Running the tangents is a good practice – remembering NOT do that when it has been raining and the tangent involves a possibly-flooded gutter is also a good practice.
  • GOOD ONE: “The true measure of a runner isn’t in time, but rather in the effort it took along the way.” – Jenny Hadfield, askcoachjenny.com
  • Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about how much “margin” I allow in my life.  Sometimes, change is good and necessary.

Have a great weekend – I know I plan to!

Training Journal – 4/13/I12:

  • Current plan: 10-Miler Training
  • Today’s session: 4 mile easy run @ 9:40
  • Comments: Nice run: I did 4.52 @ 8:27. There was a slight drizzle for the first 3 miles, steady rain for the last 1.5. I beat the torrential downpour by 15 minutes! Second test of my new “Better Than Naked” jacket – me likey!
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I Am Number 263

April 12, 2012 — Leave a comment

Lookie what came last night!

Picky Club rocks!

Also, some observations from this morning’s run:

  • Once you’re wet, you’re wet.
  • Reflections from street lights on the wet roadway provide good indicators of upcoming puddles to avoid; however, it’s pretty certain that you will run through a puddle.
  • The caravan of cars loaded with bikes that “honk-honked” as they passed were, in effect, giving an approving nod/wave.
  • Investing in a good running rain jacket is wise.  I invested last night and tested this morning…another satisfied North Face customer!  My other, ventilation-challenged, running rain jacket is now a casual one…sorry RRS.
  • …make that two three puddles.

Training Journal – 4/12/I12:

  • Current plan: 10-Miler Training
  • Today’s session: 5 mile easy run @ 9:40
  • Comments: Great run.  I took the first few steps/strides into the rain/wind tentatively, but quickly forgot about the weather and went for it.  I did 5.28 @ 8:23.
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Let The Training Begin!

April 10, 2012 — Leave a comment


…ok, training actually began already – but now it’s official!

GIDDY-UP!

Training Journal – 4/10/I12:

  • Current plan: 10-Miler Training
  • Today’s session: 6 mile easy Run @ 9:40
  • Comments: Good run and ahead of the rain to boot – tomorrow may be a different story! 6.6 @ 8:44. BOOYAH!
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Peanut Gallery

April 3, 2012 — Leave a comment

I did my normal, early morning run today, just in a different venue (since I’m on a quick biz trip): The Vegas Strip

I headed out at 0430, so there weren’t too many people out during my 6.3, out and back.  I saw more people toward the end of my run and about ten other runners in total.

I did hear a few “peanut gallery” comments:

  • The first was as I ran pedestrian stair #7 of 18: “Run <expletive>, run!” – to which I politely waved.
  • The next was from an obviously intoxicated woman whom another runner had just passed: “You runners are freakin’ crazy!” – to which I replied, “Yup!”
  • The final one, and my fav, was from a homeless guy sitting in front of the Imperial Casino: “HEY!  How ’bout a ride?” – to which I had no response…

All in all, it was a nice, quiet run.  The Strip is surprisingly peaceful between 0430 and 0530.  So different from the stroll I took the evening before.

If you’re a runner, what’s the most interesting or hilarious peanut gallery comment you’ve heard?

Training Journal – 4/3/12:

  • Current plan: 10-Miler Training
  • Today’s session: 6 mile easy run @ 9:40
  • Comments: I did 6.3 @ 9:16, which included running 9 sets of pedestrian bridge stairs – which was an added workout.
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March 2012 Run Stats

April 2, 2012 — Leave a comment

Here are the stats for the month that was March 2012:

Mileage:

  • Total: 130.46 [+10.15 from Feb]
  • Shortest run: 3.14 [-.9 from Feb]
  • Longest run: 13.12 [+1.79 from Feb]

Pace:

  • Overall Avg: 8:57 [-:38 from Feb]
  • Slowest Avg: 9:55 [-:56 from Feb]
  • Fastest Avg: 7:43 [-:55 from Jan, but this was on my 10K]

Total Running Time:

  • 19.52 hours or 1171 minutes [+12 min from Feb]

Training Program(s):

  • March 1 – 18: 12K training plan I made using the Runner’s World Smart Coach app. It was about 20-25 miles a week: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. The weekday sessions ranged in distance from 3 to 6 miles, with the weekend sessions being the “long run” day at 7 to 11 miles. The plan integrated Easy Runs, Tempo Runs, Speed Runs, and I added some hill sessions as well, just to mix things up.
  • March 19 – 31 (and onward to mid-April): 10 Miler Training Plan I made using a combination of the Runner’s World Smart Coach app with pace adjustments using the McMillan Running Calculator and some realistic pacing numbers. I increased my mileage to 26-30 miles a week: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. The weekday sessions ranged in distance from 5 to 8 miles, with the weekend sessions being the “long run” day at 10 to 12 miles. The plan integrated Easy Runs, Tempo Runs, Speed Runs, and I added some hill sessions as well, just to mix things up.

Races Completed:

  • 3/12: 408K Race to the Row (8K) [report]
    • Time: 38:36 / 7:46 pace
    • Placed:
      • Overall: 241/2761
      • Men: 201/1059
      • Age Bracket: 14/74
  • 3/18: Emerald Across the Bay (12K) [report]
    • Time: 1:03:17 / 8:36 pace
    • Placed:
      • Overall: 517/2179
      • Men: 360/948
      • Age Bracket: 37/98
  • 3/31: Against the Wind Virtual 5K [report]
    • Time: 24:13 / 7:43 pace
    • Placed:
      • Overall: TBD – results not posted yet…
      • Men: TBD
      • Age Bracket: TBD

Upcoming Run(s):

GIDDY-UP!

Training Journal – 4/2/12:

  • Current plan: 10-Miler Training
  • Today’s session: Rest
  • Comments: nada
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Against the Wind “Virtual 5k”

March 31, 2012 — 1 Comment

Today was a planned rest day on my 10-miler training plan, but Friday I saw a tweet about the Against the Wind “virtual 5k” this morning – which benefited the Dick Beardsley Foundation.

You might ask, what’s a Virtual Race (I know I did)?
“A virtual race is a sporting event where everyone sets their own course and runs their own race wherever they happen to be on the planet. You sign up online, receive a bib number, run your race on Saturday, March 31, 2012, and submit your time. You will be competing with people from all over the world who are running the race on the same day.”

My Answer: I’M IN!

Anyway, I ran my 5k neighborhood loop…with a personal record on a 5K: 24:13 at an 7:43/mile pace!

Final results from the virtual race will be posted at some point, so I’ll post how I did overall then.

Final Results released on Friday, April 6:

Have a great Saturday!!!

Training Journal – 3/31/12:

  • Current plan: 10-Miler Training
  • Today’s session: Rest
  • Comments: NO REST!  Ran the Against the Wind “virtual 5k” …with a PR to boot!  BOOYAH!
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A Collage of Scents

March 30, 2012 — Leave a comment

On any given day, there are various sights and smells that I encounter while running.  I experienced the “Collage of Scents” above on my run this morning.  Most are self explanatory; but, clockwise from the upper left:

  • It never fails, someone is either standing on their porch or driving by (like this morning), aaaand I get a whiff.  Not knocking smokers, just don’t particularly like inhaling smoke while I’m huffin’ and a puffin’
  • “Spare the Air” days or not, I smell at least two to three of these every morning without fail.
  • Friday is garbage day…  ADDED BONUS: Sometimes I even get a whiff of a garbage truck too!!
  • It’s spring and Jasmine’s in the air!  Along with a bunch other blooms that are enjoyable AND tough on allergies.
  • My 5-mile route goes by a donut shop.  I’ve yet to stop in.  One day I will.
  • If you have a dog, you know probably what this if for.  A few houses in my neighborhood have dogs and don’t…  I can only imagine what the smell would be like without the benefit of a 6-foot tall vapor barrier/fence.
  • Quite a few people dry their laundry at 0430 in my neighborhood.  Fortuitously, sometimes this scent counteracts the garbage day or pooperscooperless-household scents.
  • Even with California’s emissions control program, I get this.  Oh wait, it’s a diesel.  It’s safe for the environment and my lungs!
  • This one’s is a tough one to be critical about.  It mostly results in jealous thoughts, a stomach growl, and possibly a faster pace to leave the area quicker.

Have a great weekend!

Training Journal – 3/30/12:

  • Current plan: 10-Miler Training
  • Today’s session: 5 mile easy run @ 9:40
  • Comments: Nice morning!  5.24 @8:53
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Picky Goodness

March 29, 2012 — Leave a comment

I saw Picky Bars in a magazine article a while back and finally ordered a few last week.

They came last night and I tried one this morning after my run: very tasty and they didn’t bug my stomach as much as other bars often do.  They’re a keeper – I may have to join the Picky Club!

Training Journal – 3/29/12:

  • Current plan: 10-Miler Training
  • Today’s session: 7 mile speedwork run: Warm; 3×1600 in 8:00 w/800 jogs; Cool
  • Comments: Not as nervous when I see “speedwork” on my training plan…  My speed splits were: 7:45, 7:18, & 7:22 (after #1, and aiming for the originally planned 8:20, I went for it!)  Based on my pacing for the past four weeks, today at lunch I recalculated and adjusted the pacing on my training plan to a more realistic (faster) pace using my 10K split from the Emerald Across the Bay.  Might as well true things up!
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Ventilation Is Good

March 28, 2012 — 2 Comments

[from the possibly TMI – possibly gross file.  read on if you dare.]

Last year, I bought a running rain jacket at Road Runner Sports – their Pro Velocity model shown here in red..I have the blue one.

I wore it when I ran the 2011 Silicon Valley Turkey Trot and have also worn as an around-town jacket.  It’s really nice and I’m happy with it.

I wore it on my long run last Sunday, thinking that the rain might show while I was out.  The rain never came, but at the end of my run I made a discover about the ventilation shortcomings of this jacket…which a few reviewers commented about.

Upon finishing my 13-mile run (throughout which I apparently kept my arms bent at the elbows), I’d say about four ounces of sweat poured down and out each sleeve!  My first thought was that I didn’t re-plug my water bottle (which I’ve done before) – but I quickly deduced the reason  [I don’t recall any similar incident from the Turkey Trot…]

It was supposed to rain this morning, so I donned my trusty Pro Velocity for my five-mile easy…this time letting my arms fall to my side every once in a while: I’m a quick learner.  🙂

Bottom line: I really like this jacket, but it does have some ventilation issues.  Still, I’ll wear it – adding “let arms fall to side” to the checklist of items I run through in my mind while I run…

Training Journal – 3/28/12:

  • Current plan: 10-Miler Training
  • Today’s session: 5 mile easy run @ 10:05
  • Comments: Continuing to enjoy the nice shorts weather! 5.25 @ 8:46.
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Why running in the rain is OK

March 26, 2012 — Leave a comment

…and wearing that safety belt-clip thingy is advisable.

Training Journal – 3/26/12:

  • Current plan: 10-Miler Training
  • Today’s session: Rest
  • Comments: nada
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