- Current plan: Foxy’s Fall Century Training Plan
- Today’s session: Rest Day
- Comments: Today was a programmed rest day, since I did a long ride on Saturday (my normal rest day) and ran the RnR San Jose Half yesterday. I actually set out my cycling kit and prepped my bike last night…just in case, but decided to honor the program this morning! I’m sure my body will appreciate it.
I knocked out my eighteenth half marathon this morning, extending my race-a-month streak to 24!
Today’s run was the Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon. I’ll post a race report this coming week; but, ahead of that, my time was 1:56:38 @ a 8:55 avg pace. Not an “A” race (I knew it wouldn’t be going in); but, it still was a respectable time (sub-2 hour) and run (given my focus on cycling right now and having ridden 52 miles yesterday.)
GIDDY-UP!
Training Journal – 10/6/13:
- Current plan: Foxy’s Fall Century Training Plan
- Today’s session: Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon
- Comments: See above, more to follow
- Weekly mileage: Running: 27.5 / Bicycling: 134.1 – Total: 161.6
aka getting miles in & hoping it doesn’t hose up tomorrow’s Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon…
Training Journal – 10/05/13:
- Current plan: Foxy’s Fall Century Training Plan
- Today’s session: 50-mile ride and day two of carb loading for a half marathon tomorrow
- Comments: I rode 52.1 miles @ 16.9 mph avg, for 3:05:07 & avg cadence of 81. [Strava]
It’s not the best picture, but here is a view of this morning’s RuBi* session set-up:
- Dual use of my bike repair stand and
- practice transitioning in a small space!
- Weeeeeee!
Have a wonderful weekend!
*pronounced “ruby” – Run-Bike. Yeah, my own creation. It just seemed weird calling it a BRick when I ran first.
- Current plan: Foxy’s Fall Century Training Plan
- Today’s session: 4/10 RuBi and day one of carb loading for a half marathon on Sunday
- Comments:
- Current plan: Foxy’s Fall Century Training Plan
- Today’s session: 20-mile easy ride
- Comments: I rode for 1:22:31 for 24.3 miles @ 17.6 mph avg & avg cadence of 80 [Strava]
September 2013 was all about training for Foxy’s Fall Century on October 19th… What had been an occasional, Monday-morning alternative to running, became pretty much the sole focus of training this past month: namely bicycling. I have missed running as much as I was, but the shift was necessary to finish well on Foxy’s.
I have noticed that my running has somewhat improved (speed and economy), though I have lost the base that I had when I was running 30 to 45 miles per week. That said, I have realized improvement in my cycling skills, speed, cadence, and endurance. I guess that what is gained through targeted training – DUH.
One thing that has resulted this month as been an increasing interest in moving toward multisport: duathlon and triathlon. Swimming is still a ways off, but I’m working toward duathlon. More on that in future posts, but I have added BRicks and sprint distance duathlon sessions (SprintDu) to my Friday sessions.
I had one business trip this past month and took advantage of being in the Philadelphia area and ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll Philly Half Marathon. It was a great event and added a different element to my trip.
HIGH/LOW:
- HIGH: I was selected as the weekly winner of competitor.com’s “Share Your RUNNOVATION” contest, which was really cool!
- LOW: Still no trail runs, but they will return. Not technically a “low”, but I ran 3.25 miles on a treadmill while on my business trip. I avoid treadmills (even while on travel) and this was the first treadmill run in over 18 months or 2,808 miles…
As far as new equipment:
Continue Reading…
- Current plan: Foxy’s Fall Century Training Plan
- Today’s session:
20-mile easy ride8-mile easy run - Comments: Today was supposed to be a 20-mile ride, but I dropped my bike off at Sports Basement last night to fix a gearing issue I noticed on Sunday and Monday and to replace the chain. With 18 days to go until Foxy’s, I wanted to get them fixed ASAP. So, I swapped Tuesday and Wednesday’s sessions. I ended up running 10.3 miles @ 8:36 avg pace, avg cadence 95 & a run time of 1:29:03. [Strava]
On September 15th, I ran the Rock ‘n’ Roll Philadelphia Half Marathon – my seventeenth 13.1. No, I didn’t make a special trip – I actually had a business trip. When I first found out that I would be traveling to Philadelphia, it happened to be when I was registering for the San Jose RnR…and noticed that the Philadelphia event was on the weekend I would be traveling East. Why not?!? So, I left a day early and had a great time.
The weather was great: clear and cool at the start (~50 degrees.) It probably warmed up to the low sixties at the finish, but not too much warmer. Again, great weather for a run!
The course started and finished near the Eakins Oval and was a quick 4.5-mile loop through parts of downtown Philly, with the balance of the 13.1 a loop along the East and West sides of the Schuylkill River. The finish was in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, a la Rocky…though access to the “steps” was not easily gained after crossing the finish. The course was pancake flat and paved the whole way, though there was an ever so slight incline at the finish, for good measure.
As with all RnR races, on course entertainment was great, though this race didn’t have an many cheer squads as the San Jose and San Francisco races. Water/Gatorade stations were well staffed, though stop one was almost out of water when I passed by…people were worried and miffed (I carry my own bottle so I was OK.)
The finish area was great. They took over the whole Eakins Oval area and had things set up in a great flow from finish line to SWAG areas to the main stage/post-race area.
My Race
My final long ride before Foxy’s Fall Century should probably have been next week or the week after; but, because of scheduling (Rock ‘n’ Roll San Jose Half Marathon next weekend and a quick biz trip the following), today was the day…
My training plan called for 85 miles; but I ended up adding a short, .6 mile finger to each loop. When I got close to home, I was at 89 miles – too close to 90 to not add the one-mile tag to the ride!
I was definitely spent after the ride. I probably needed one more GU and some additional electrolyte drink on the final stages. I think with proper carb loading (I plan on following my standard, marathon regime) and rest, I’ll finish Foxy’s in good shape.
It’s funny, each week I plan to pull over and take a picture or two to post, but I never seem to remember. I guess I’m just too focused…or zoned out to remember. I did have my GoPro running on the last loop (since the sun was up then.) I’ll have to post a video one of these day.
Hope your weekend was great!
Training Journal – 9/29/13:
- Current plan: Foxy’s Fall Century Training Plan
- Today’s session: 85-mile ride
- Comments: I rode 90.6 miles @ 16.4 mph avg, for 5:30:41 & avg cadence of 83. [Strava]
- Weekly mileage: Running: 12.6 / Bicycling: 149.2 – Total: 161.8
Finally got around to something that I’ve put off for too long and can’t let slip again…
Training Journal – 9/28/13:
- Current plan: Foxy’s Fall Century Training Plan
- Today’s session: Rest.
- Comments: Rest
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