I'm leaving tomorrow for St. Croix, and since just about the last thing I want to do while I'm there is spend a whole bunch of time sitting on a computer in a hotel lobby, this will probably be the last I'll write before my race. Tomorrow at 7:10am I will be on a flight for Philadelphia, where I will get on another plane to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and then on to St. Croix. It would be smart for me to be packed by now, but of course I am not. The thing about packing is that it really takes the same amount of time no matter when you do it, so why start early? Actually, I would say that it probably takes less time the longer you wait to do it. If you start packing a few days ahead of time, you probably take your time, maybe change your mind on some items, mull over which clothes to bring. But, if you find yourself with about an hour window in which to be packed, you are surely going to make the most of that time. You pick some clothes and put them in there and off you go. I don't think I've ever been somewhere and suddenly wished I had say, one specific t-shirt that I hadn't packed. You make a list of the important stuff, and the rest is interchangeable.
It gets even easier when going somewhere tropical like Hawaii or St. Croix. You don't have to pack for different weather possibilities. I just checked the weather outlook, and there is pretty much a 9-degree swing the whole time I'll be there. 75 at night, 84 during the day. So a couple of pairs of shorts and some t-shirts and I'm good to go, aside from the tri gear, of course, but that goes without saying.
So enough about packing. It's time for the second tri of the season. It was only a month ago that it was snowing around here, and suddenly the weather has been great and tri season is here. To look at my race line-up it almost feels like the season is practically over already, and it's not even warm enough yet to do open water swims. I managed to get a bit of a base tan over the past week while training in these warm temperatures, but I'm sure I'll burn somewhere that will make the flight back extra fun.
I really can't believe that it's time to race again already, and already my second half of the season. I realized thinking about it that this is the first half I'll be doing that I haven't done before since 2006. I get kind of stuck in a rut of doing the same races, so this will be pretty exciting to do something completely different. In this case, really different. No wetsuits, rough roads and incredibly tough bike course, and I'm pretty sure brutal run course as well - if not just for the terrain, then for the heat and humidity. You should see how salty I get when it's in the 60's, let alone around 90.
Today I am more excited than nervous, and yesterday it was the opposite. I still have more weight to lose, but certainly a whole heck of a lot leaner than I was back in November. Aside from the inevitable performance boost from that, it is also a good confidence booster. I must say though that I am looking forward to eating a huge breakfast on Saturday morning! I love pancakes. But for now, I recently polished off a huge spinach salad with some turkey, tomatoes, cucumbers and salsa as the salad "dressing." Most of the reason it was gigantic was because I figured I might as well used up the last of the baby spinach before I leave, and that was really my last chance. Also looking forward to some sort of post-race treat, although I'm not sure what yet. Hopefully I will finish the race still feeling ok instead of being completely destroyed from it. I mean, you're always going to be tired at the end of a half (if you're not, you didn't do it right) but there is certainly a difference between being tired and feeling like if you lie down you might not be able to get up again.
Anyway, time is running out for the whole packing thing as we speak. And I think I'm going to have to get up at 3:30 tomorrow to get in a short bike/run before a shower and heading to the airport, so maybe I should stop wasting so much time typing. But let's hope that things go well!
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Am I in St. Croix already?
Oh, no, I'm not. I'm still in New Hampshire. It just feels like it could be St. Croix out there. Probably less humid, but it was in the 90's today. Fortunately the weather was fairly cool overnight and I was quite comfortable sleeping with my window open - something I had forgotten how much I missed. There's something so soothing about hearing peeper toads outside your window on a spring or summer night. Makes me feel like summer vacation as a kid, when you had nothing to worry about for the next day, just contemplating what sort of fun adventure you might have.
Equally comforting this morning was awakening at 5am, when I usually would out of habit, only to roll over and go back to sleep until 7 because today was a rest day. I don't get a whole lot of rest days, and it is due to their rarity that I am usually able to fully enjoy them. Too many of them and I'd just get restless and bored and be completely unable to relax due to all of that pent up energy. I don't feel nearly as fried as I normally might due to the short time between these last two races, but maybe that will make me feel fresher this weekend.
It warmed up quickly today, got into the low 90's. The winds have picked up now this evening and a cold front is blowing through, but it was nice to feel some heat even if I didn't get a chance to go out and train in it. There will surely be plenty of time for warm-weather training in the near future, provided of course that it does in fact get that warm again.
You know, I really thought I had something more interesting to say in this post. Turns out, I don't. So I'll spare you any more boredom if you actually managed to read this far.
Equally comforting this morning was awakening at 5am, when I usually would out of habit, only to roll over and go back to sleep until 7 because today was a rest day. I don't get a whole lot of rest days, and it is due to their rarity that I am usually able to fully enjoy them. Too many of them and I'd just get restless and bored and be completely unable to relax due to all of that pent up energy. I don't feel nearly as fried as I normally might due to the short time between these last two races, but maybe that will make me feel fresher this weekend.
It warmed up quickly today, got into the low 90's. The winds have picked up now this evening and a cold front is blowing through, but it was nice to feel some heat even if I didn't get a chance to go out and train in it. There will surely be plenty of time for warm-weather training in the near future, provided of course that it does in fact get that warm again.
You know, I really thought I had something more interesting to say in this post. Turns out, I don't. So I'll spare you any more boredom if you actually managed to read this far.
Monday, April 27, 2009
I'm not ready to taper yet!
I have no idea where the last 3 weeks went. I had an extensive 4-week build plus another week of taper to get ready for California. Now I've been left with a few days of post-race recovery, one week of limited running due to some knee issues but plenty of biking and swimming, one week of full on training, and that brings us to now, time to taper. The problem is that I don't feel ready to taper. Not at all. I could really use another week of training. Sure, I had a tough weekend of training and I certainly appreciate a little bit of rest, but I just don't feel as "on" as I did before California, I think. It's so hard to tell though. I know I was exhausted and ready to taper then. I am pretty sure that running was going better. I am fairly certain that biking has gotten better in the past few weeks, but who knows what will happen this weekend.
Yesterday was another unseasonably warm day. I was up around 6 and it was already in the mid 60's and fairly humid. That's warmer than it normally would be during the warmest part of the day in April. I had a somewhat different training day, running for an hour, later biking for 2 hours and then another hour run. I started the first run early to get it out of the way and it was definitely warm out. I only run without biking before about once a month, so it took me a while to feel normal when I went out there, but eventually I warmed up and it wound up being ok. It's hard to judge based on pace because I was of course running on roads I haven't been running on. This particular road pretty much either goes up or down, so who knows if things are going well or if I really am getting slower. Still waiting for that day when the running just really comes together and seems easy and fast. I am a slow runner on a team full of super-runners.
Anyway, after that run I decided to see if the lake might be tolerable enough to stick my legs in for a bit. The water is currently somewhere in the low 40's. Not so great for swimming, but quite good for icing the legs after a tough run. We used to play this game as kids on unseasonably warm days when it was warm enough to take the boat out but there might just still be snow in the woods (I saw a few patches hanging on during my bike rides) where we would see who could tolerate sticking their foot in the icy water the longest. The winner typically didn't have to suffer for more than about 30 seconds. It just makes you ache from being so cold.
I made my way down to the dock, kicked off the running shoes and started with my feet on the ladder. Ok, not so bad. One step down. Ok, tolerable. I made it in pretty much until my knees were submerged, but couldn't really go any further. Although it would've been nice to have soaked my quads, due to the nature of the ladder there is sort of a point of no return where it's really all or nothing. So it was either knee-deep or chest deep, and I don't think I would've survived the latter. However, a few minutes of below-the-knee soaking still felt kind of nice.
After a quick breakfast and a change of clothes I was ready to embark on my bike ride. I decided to take the opportunity to ride with my father. Back when I first started riding we used to ride together all of the time, but we haven't ridden much together in recent years. One of the main reasons for this is that when we are together on the weekends my rides have almost always been in the 100+ mile range, something he is just not willing to participate in. I don't really blame him. If I wasn't in training, I wouldn't ride that far either. But yesterday was just supposed to be two hours of easy riding, which is pretty much just his kind of ride. It was still nice and warm, although cloudy and kind of windy. It was slow and easy, just as I wanted, and we stayed together somewhat, although I would often drop him on the hills.
After that, it was time for one last run. The same exact route I'd run twice in the last two days, and I would be doing it again. Only this time, when it was over, I could collapse in a heap and just relax. Once again, this one started pretty crappy but wound up pretty good, so I'll take it. Done just in time for a shower and lunch and sitting on the couch with the Sunday paper. I always think it would be nice to sleep in on weekends and not rush out and do my workouts, but when it's noon and I've done everything I needed to do and can lie down and relax guilt-free I remember why I got up early to get things done.
I definitely did not feel the same level of anxiousness to get the weekend over and done with that I usually do, just aching for a rest day and week. Doing 6-hour bike rides isn't a big deal anymore. Funny how in the beginning of March those long rides can leave me uselessly couch-bound for the rest of the day, but the more I do them, the less of a big deal they are. Probably why I don't feel ready to rest yet. Well, that and the fact that I feel like due to the little running break I didn't get a chance to really improve my running since the last race, only enough time to catch back up hopefully to where I was. I hate falling behind. I wasn't supposed to have to deal with that anymore.
So tomorrow is supposed to be about 90 degrees out, so that should make me feel nice and ready for St. Croix. Fortunately or unfortunately I won't get a chance to train in it since tomorrow is a rest day. I can tell you that tomorrow morning when I roll over and look at the clock and see 5am and know I don't have to get up I'm going to be very happy about that. I really can't believe that I'm racing this weekend or that I'm going to St. Croix. But I guess that's what I'll be doing this weekend, whether I'm ready or not!
Yesterday was another unseasonably warm day. I was up around 6 and it was already in the mid 60's and fairly humid. That's warmer than it normally would be during the warmest part of the day in April. I had a somewhat different training day, running for an hour, later biking for 2 hours and then another hour run. I started the first run early to get it out of the way and it was definitely warm out. I only run without biking before about once a month, so it took me a while to feel normal when I went out there, but eventually I warmed up and it wound up being ok. It's hard to judge based on pace because I was of course running on roads I haven't been running on. This particular road pretty much either goes up or down, so who knows if things are going well or if I really am getting slower. Still waiting for that day when the running just really comes together and seems easy and fast. I am a slow runner on a team full of super-runners.
Anyway, after that run I decided to see if the lake might be tolerable enough to stick my legs in for a bit. The water is currently somewhere in the low 40's. Not so great for swimming, but quite good for icing the legs after a tough run. We used to play this game as kids on unseasonably warm days when it was warm enough to take the boat out but there might just still be snow in the woods (I saw a few patches hanging on during my bike rides) where we would see who could tolerate sticking their foot in the icy water the longest. The winner typically didn't have to suffer for more than about 30 seconds. It just makes you ache from being so cold.
I made my way down to the dock, kicked off the running shoes and started with my feet on the ladder. Ok, not so bad. One step down. Ok, tolerable. I made it in pretty much until my knees were submerged, but couldn't really go any further. Although it would've been nice to have soaked my quads, due to the nature of the ladder there is sort of a point of no return where it's really all or nothing. So it was either knee-deep or chest deep, and I don't think I would've survived the latter. However, a few minutes of below-the-knee soaking still felt kind of nice.
After a quick breakfast and a change of clothes I was ready to embark on my bike ride. I decided to take the opportunity to ride with my father. Back when I first started riding we used to ride together all of the time, but we haven't ridden much together in recent years. One of the main reasons for this is that when we are together on the weekends my rides have almost always been in the 100+ mile range, something he is just not willing to participate in. I don't really blame him. If I wasn't in training, I wouldn't ride that far either. But yesterday was just supposed to be two hours of easy riding, which is pretty much just his kind of ride. It was still nice and warm, although cloudy and kind of windy. It was slow and easy, just as I wanted, and we stayed together somewhat, although I would often drop him on the hills.
After that, it was time for one last run. The same exact route I'd run twice in the last two days, and I would be doing it again. Only this time, when it was over, I could collapse in a heap and just relax. Once again, this one started pretty crappy but wound up pretty good, so I'll take it. Done just in time for a shower and lunch and sitting on the couch with the Sunday paper. I always think it would be nice to sleep in on weekends and not rush out and do my workouts, but when it's noon and I've done everything I needed to do and can lie down and relax guilt-free I remember why I got up early to get things done.
I definitely did not feel the same level of anxiousness to get the weekend over and done with that I usually do, just aching for a rest day and week. Doing 6-hour bike rides isn't a big deal anymore. Funny how in the beginning of March those long rides can leave me uselessly couch-bound for the rest of the day, but the more I do them, the less of a big deal they are. Probably why I don't feel ready to rest yet. Well, that and the fact that I feel like due to the little running break I didn't get a chance to really improve my running since the last race, only enough time to catch back up hopefully to where I was. I hate falling behind. I wasn't supposed to have to deal with that anymore.
So tomorrow is supposed to be about 90 degrees out, so that should make me feel nice and ready for St. Croix. Fortunately or unfortunately I won't get a chance to train in it since tomorrow is a rest day. I can tell you that tomorrow morning when I roll over and look at the clock and see 5am and know I don't have to get up I'm going to be very happy about that. I really can't believe that I'm racing this weekend or that I'm going to St. Croix. But I guess that's what I'll be doing this weekend, whether I'm ready or not!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
A taste of summer
It is late Saturday afternoon as I am typing this and it is somewhere in the neighborhood of 83 degrees outside with bright sun. And it's April. You might be wondering why if it is so nice outside I am wasting time typing on the computer. Well, I spent at least 9 hours outside today. I don't mind sweating but don't so much like it when I am dripping while just sitting still reading a book. And I think my winterized skin has seen enough sun for one day. At least the redness would indicate as such.
I decided to spend the weekend up on Squam Lake in Holderness at my parents' house. The training terrain is great and the weather was supposed to be fantastic. The dock is in the water - and some years there would still be ice on the lake - the boat is in the water and it's nice to ride and run on some different roads. I started my ride early this morning, on the road a little after 5:30 by the light of the gorgeous pink/orange skies of sunrise. Admittedly I was not really that excited to go out and ride. This tends to happen when I don't quite get enough sleep. I'm certainly not sleep-deprived, but even a tad under 8 hours tends to leave me feeling less-than-perky. And as usual, it always seems to take forever for just the first half of the ride to pass, but once I hit the 3-hour mark, it's like, only 3 more to go? No problem.
It was a chilly start, in the low 40's, so I was stuck with arm and leg warmers, gloves and a skull cap under the helmet. When I ride here I usually start out with a 30-ish mile loop around the lake and then stop off at the house for a quick bathroom break and water refill before continuing on north for a nice out-and-back. The loop around the lake has some great hills on it and just constantly moves up and down with pretty much zero flats. There are a couple of options as to which roads to ride, and normally I ride the longest possible route, but lately I've been taking the shorter route - not because I was being lazy, but because although shorter, it is way harder. It's not quite the beast, but I think it's good training for it. And it seems like it's getting easier, so that is certainly a good sign.
After the quick bathroom break and water refill... and discarding of my bike gloves because I tore a giant hole in them when I took them off.... it was time for the rest of the ride. Sorry to say that the most interesting wildlife spotting today was a wild turkey, although I did see some miniature horses, but it doesn't really count when they are fenced in someone's yard. It stayed pretty cool for quite a while, but eventually it was like a switch was thrown and I was suddenly very warm. I got to utilize my jersey pockets by stuffing all of those long sleeves in them. I would like to thank the genius who came up with that. Finished up with some hard riding, and wound up averaging 1mph faster than the last time I did nearly the same route, so I guess that's a good thing.
Not over yet though, time to run! I always dread that run, because after six hours on your bike it usually sounds a lot more appealing to just stop, shower, eat and nap (not necessarily in that order) Nope, gotta run. Otherwise I'd have to start doing bike races. For some reason though I like tris, even though I have quite inferior running and swimming abilities, but anyway... Aside from incredible thirst, the run actually went pretty well. It was nice and warm by then, probably approaching 80 anyway, and it's always nice when you feel surprisingly good.
Then I got to stop. I love starting early because by 12:45, I was done with 7 hours of training. Nice. The water is a little too cold for my favorite thing to do after a workout like that, which would be standing in the nice, cold water. It's the kind of cold that is just painful, not helpful. But I did get to lie in the sun eventually and get a little red. Good prep for St. Croix though, right? So, very happy with today's workouts.
On another note, Thursday was my last Bikram yoga class in my intro special. I was really into it up until that last class, then I was just annoyed. There were a whole lot of new people in the class, and they looked to be high school kids. I started last week and suddenly I'm the veteran. I have no problem with the instructor taking extra time to explain the postures. What I do have a problem with is the instructor obviously cutting the postures short, cutting the overall class short, turning down the heat and eventually even opening a window. I actually started to feel cold and clammy late in the class. I like that it's hot in there. It's one of the reasons I'd started doing it in the first place. I want some consistency. I realize that it might be hard for some their first time doing it, but you just do what you can and try to get used to it. Don't alter the class. So now I actually am not sure I want to go back. We shall see.
I decided to spend the weekend up on Squam Lake in Holderness at my parents' house. The training terrain is great and the weather was supposed to be fantastic. The dock is in the water - and some years there would still be ice on the lake - the boat is in the water and it's nice to ride and run on some different roads. I started my ride early this morning, on the road a little after 5:30 by the light of the gorgeous pink/orange skies of sunrise. Admittedly I was not really that excited to go out and ride. This tends to happen when I don't quite get enough sleep. I'm certainly not sleep-deprived, but even a tad under 8 hours tends to leave me feeling less-than-perky. And as usual, it always seems to take forever for just the first half of the ride to pass, but once I hit the 3-hour mark, it's like, only 3 more to go? No problem.
It was a chilly start, in the low 40's, so I was stuck with arm and leg warmers, gloves and a skull cap under the helmet. When I ride here I usually start out with a 30-ish mile loop around the lake and then stop off at the house for a quick bathroom break and water refill before continuing on north for a nice out-and-back. The loop around the lake has some great hills on it and just constantly moves up and down with pretty much zero flats. There are a couple of options as to which roads to ride, and normally I ride the longest possible route, but lately I've been taking the shorter route - not because I was being lazy, but because although shorter, it is way harder. It's not quite the beast, but I think it's good training for it. And it seems like it's getting easier, so that is certainly a good sign.
After the quick bathroom break and water refill... and discarding of my bike gloves because I tore a giant hole in them when I took them off.... it was time for the rest of the ride. Sorry to say that the most interesting wildlife spotting today was a wild turkey, although I did see some miniature horses, but it doesn't really count when they are fenced in someone's yard. It stayed pretty cool for quite a while, but eventually it was like a switch was thrown and I was suddenly very warm. I got to utilize my jersey pockets by stuffing all of those long sleeves in them. I would like to thank the genius who came up with that. Finished up with some hard riding, and wound up averaging 1mph faster than the last time I did nearly the same route, so I guess that's a good thing.
Not over yet though, time to run! I always dread that run, because after six hours on your bike it usually sounds a lot more appealing to just stop, shower, eat and nap (not necessarily in that order) Nope, gotta run. Otherwise I'd have to start doing bike races. For some reason though I like tris, even though I have quite inferior running and swimming abilities, but anyway... Aside from incredible thirst, the run actually went pretty well. It was nice and warm by then, probably approaching 80 anyway, and it's always nice when you feel surprisingly good.
Then I got to stop. I love starting early because by 12:45, I was done with 7 hours of training. Nice. The water is a little too cold for my favorite thing to do after a workout like that, which would be standing in the nice, cold water. It's the kind of cold that is just painful, not helpful. But I did get to lie in the sun eventually and get a little red. Good prep for St. Croix though, right? So, very happy with today's workouts.
On another note, Thursday was my last Bikram yoga class in my intro special. I was really into it up until that last class, then I was just annoyed. There were a whole lot of new people in the class, and they looked to be high school kids. I started last week and suddenly I'm the veteran. I have no problem with the instructor taking extra time to explain the postures. What I do have a problem with is the instructor obviously cutting the postures short, cutting the overall class short, turning down the heat and eventually even opening a window. I actually started to feel cold and clammy late in the class. I like that it's hot in there. It's one of the reasons I'd started doing it in the first place. I want some consistency. I realize that it might be hard for some their first time doing it, but you just do what you can and try to get used to it. Don't alter the class. So now I actually am not sure I want to go back. We shall see.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
So many things to look forward to
I've got so many fun things to look forward to in the next couple of months that I am almost starting to feel guilty. First, there is the trip to St. Croix, which I am heading to in just one short week, amazingly enough. Actually, first is this weekend, because it is supposed to be in the mid 80's for 3 or 4 days in a row. Incredible how that can work out sometimes. I can almost already see the horrid tan line I'm sure to finish my bike ride with. You know, that one that will never go away for the rest of the summer, no matter how much you try to even it out. The coming race also means that I get to taper and maybe sleep in a couple of times. Oh, and did I mention getting to hang out in St. Croix? I've never been to the Caribbean, unless you count the ride at Disney World.
Speaking of Disney World, I've also got that to look forward to as mid-May I am going down there with my family. I turn into a 12-year old again when I go to Disney World. We went four times as a family when I was a kid, and we always had a blast. But we haven't been since 1996. My brother, my sister and I have all been down at least once since, on our own separate trips, although never for an extended period of time. Our parents haven't been in 13 years. My 6-year old niece went with my sister and brother-in-law two years ago and my 3-year old nephew will be making his first trip. One whole week, and I absolutely can't wait. We travel well as a family, because we can have fun together, but if someone wants to do something else, nobody really cares. We can just do what we want. Which is good because I'm sure I'll have to squeeze in a lot of training while I'm there, so if anyone has any advice on where to ride my bike, please let me know! The only thing about the trip that does not make me happy is that I just learned that Space Mountain will be closed for the next 7 months. I think that might just be my favorite ride, so it won't be quite the same without it, but I'm pretty sure there are a few other things there for me to do. I'm also looking forward to being there with my niece and nephew because it is so fun to experience that stuff with kids and see their excitement.
Anyway, not long after that excursion it is going to be time to kick off the New Hampshire tri season with Mooseman on June 7th. That's always a lot of fun. Well, last year it definitely was not, but I'm going to be in a different position this year. I think. Late June we have a team training weekend with the QT2 crew, 4th of July, Ironman Lake Placid, Timberman... I almost feel like summer is already over if I get too far ahead of myself. Basically, lots and lots of fun stuff to come!
Speaking of Disney World, I've also got that to look forward to as mid-May I am going down there with my family. I turn into a 12-year old again when I go to Disney World. We went four times as a family when I was a kid, and we always had a blast. But we haven't been since 1996. My brother, my sister and I have all been down at least once since, on our own separate trips, although never for an extended period of time. Our parents haven't been in 13 years. My 6-year old niece went with my sister and brother-in-law two years ago and my 3-year old nephew will be making his first trip. One whole week, and I absolutely can't wait. We travel well as a family, because we can have fun together, but if someone wants to do something else, nobody really cares. We can just do what we want. Which is good because I'm sure I'll have to squeeze in a lot of training while I'm there, so if anyone has any advice on where to ride my bike, please let me know! The only thing about the trip that does not make me happy is that I just learned that Space Mountain will be closed for the next 7 months. I think that might just be my favorite ride, so it won't be quite the same without it, but I'm pretty sure there are a few other things there for me to do. I'm also looking forward to being there with my niece and nephew because it is so fun to experience that stuff with kids and see their excitement.
Anyway, not long after that excursion it is going to be time to kick off the New Hampshire tri season with Mooseman on June 7th. That's always a lot of fun. Well, last year it definitely was not, but I'm going to be in a different position this year. I think. Late June we have a team training weekend with the QT2 crew, 4th of July, Ironman Lake Placid, Timberman... I almost feel like summer is already over if I get too far ahead of myself. Basically, lots and lots of fun stuff to come!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Fenway fun
If you are not from New England, chances are you have no idea that yesterday was Patriots Day. Around here it's a pretty big deal. If you're from Boston, you probably didn't even have to go to work. I know when I was in college there it was always a day off. And what a fun day it is. Not only is it all patriotic, I guess, but it is also the day the Red Sox play an 11:05am game, and more importantly, it is the day of the Boston Marathon. I had no idea what a big deal the Boston Marathon was until I lived there. I hated running, so I certainly didn't pay any attention to it. My college dorm was less than a mile from the finish line, also on Boylston Street overlooking Boston Common. I remember my freshman year looking out my 12th floor window and seeing the finishers walking around in their shiny silver blankets, unsure of exactly how they were still capable of walking after running 26.2 miles.
The following year my sister ran the marathon for charity, so of course I went to watch. My sister is not the fastest of runners, but to me, what she did that day was both incredible and insane. And I couldn't believe how many people went to watch, or how many people actually ran in the race. Of course I've come to appreciate the race a whole lot more for what it is now, so it makes it more interesting to watch.
Yesterday was a fun day. I went to Boston with my parents and my brother to go to the Red Sox game and to check out the marathon. I like going to Red Sox games, but actually never made it there last year, so this was a nice change. I can't really handle night games anymore due to my early bed time, so the game time was perfect. It's also fun to go to games with my parents and my brother, because it always just brings me back to when the four of us used to go to games when I was a kid. My brother went to the same college I did, so we both know Boston very well from living there, and way back in the olden days my parents also went to college in Boston. They've always loved going there, which is one of the reasons they made a point to come to my college basketball games, just as an excuse to go to the city and go to dinner. But ever since they bought their house at the lake they haven't been going there very much, so they were both really excited to be walking around Boston.
The game was great, although it felt so wrong to me to go to Fenway and wind up eating a Luna bar I had in my sweatshirt pocket. Not quite as tasty as popcorn or a roll with chicken, peppers and onions, or peanuts, or ice cream, or.... I could go on. I'd say Fenway Franks, as I used to love them, but I think I'm done with hot dogs for the rest of my lifetime, so although they smelled kind of good still, I didn't have a hard time with avoiding those.
You can definitely tell it's a holiday in Boston. On the walk to the game there were people eating breakfast at a few outdoor restaurants and enjoying their beers... at 9am. After the game you walk less than a quarter-mile to see the marathon running by at the sign for 1 mile to go. There must've been a lot of happy marathoners there. The race used to start later, so after the Sox game you used to be able to catch the elite runners, but now that they start it earlier, by the time we got there the clock said 4:11. But let me tell you, those people still looked like they were running pretty well.
Boston is a race I'd like to do one day. I had some delusions that I was going to somehow get in and run it back in 2003, just after I moved back from Los Angeles. I had actually planned on running the LA marathon, but I moved home 5 weeks before it and didn't go back. So I thought maybe I'd jump into Boston, but if I was going to run it, I wanted a number. And that just didn't seem like it was going to happen. Ever since then I have been training for Ironman races and surprisingly, running a marathon is not such good training for an Ironman, so I still haven't done it. However, when we were on the T and seeing all of the runners making their way down the stairs and cramming into overcrowded subway trains, I must say it wasn't really a big seller for me. Great running weather for it though, pretty overcast and in the high 40's. Strangely, the past couple of years it has been unseasonably warm on race day - like in the 80's, which is definitely not so good for runners.
So that was my fun day. Today it was back to the training, on the trainer for some intervals. I'd have to do the trainer anyway, but it worked out that it was crappy and rainy today. I also made it to yoga again today, which I'm never excited about on the way there, just because by then I'm usually so tired from the swimming, biking and running that came before, but at the end I'm glad I went.
The following year my sister ran the marathon for charity, so of course I went to watch. My sister is not the fastest of runners, but to me, what she did that day was both incredible and insane. And I couldn't believe how many people went to watch, or how many people actually ran in the race. Of course I've come to appreciate the race a whole lot more for what it is now, so it makes it more interesting to watch.
Yesterday was a fun day. I went to Boston with my parents and my brother to go to the Red Sox game and to check out the marathon. I like going to Red Sox games, but actually never made it there last year, so this was a nice change. I can't really handle night games anymore due to my early bed time, so the game time was perfect. It's also fun to go to games with my parents and my brother, because it always just brings me back to when the four of us used to go to games when I was a kid. My brother went to the same college I did, so we both know Boston very well from living there, and way back in the olden days my parents also went to college in Boston. They've always loved going there, which is one of the reasons they made a point to come to my college basketball games, just as an excuse to go to the city and go to dinner. But ever since they bought their house at the lake they haven't been going there very much, so they were both really excited to be walking around Boston.
The game was great, although it felt so wrong to me to go to Fenway and wind up eating a Luna bar I had in my sweatshirt pocket. Not quite as tasty as popcorn or a roll with chicken, peppers and onions, or peanuts, or ice cream, or.... I could go on. I'd say Fenway Franks, as I used to love them, but I think I'm done with hot dogs for the rest of my lifetime, so although they smelled kind of good still, I didn't have a hard time with avoiding those.
You can definitely tell it's a holiday in Boston. On the walk to the game there were people eating breakfast at a few outdoor restaurants and enjoying their beers... at 9am. After the game you walk less than a quarter-mile to see the marathon running by at the sign for 1 mile to go. There must've been a lot of happy marathoners there. The race used to start later, so after the Sox game you used to be able to catch the elite runners, but now that they start it earlier, by the time we got there the clock said 4:11. But let me tell you, those people still looked like they were running pretty well.
Boston is a race I'd like to do one day. I had some delusions that I was going to somehow get in and run it back in 2003, just after I moved back from Los Angeles. I had actually planned on running the LA marathon, but I moved home 5 weeks before it and didn't go back. So I thought maybe I'd jump into Boston, but if I was going to run it, I wanted a number. And that just didn't seem like it was going to happen. Ever since then I have been training for Ironman races and surprisingly, running a marathon is not such good training for an Ironman, so I still haven't done it. However, when we were on the T and seeing all of the runners making their way down the stairs and cramming into overcrowded subway trains, I must say it wasn't really a big seller for me. Great running weather for it though, pretty overcast and in the high 40's. Strangely, the past couple of years it has been unseasonably warm on race day - like in the 80's, which is definitely not so good for runners.
So that was my fun day. Today it was back to the training, on the trainer for some intervals. I'd have to do the trainer anyway, but it worked out that it was crappy and rainy today. I also made it to yoga again today, which I'm never excited about on the way there, just because by then I'm usually so tired from the swimming, biking and running that came before, but at the end I'm glad I went.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Long rides, long runs and bloody socks
This weekend was pretty good as far as the training is concerned. And let's face it, with all of the training my weekends entail there really isn't time for much else aside from lying on the couch, eating, sleeping, and washing all of the clothes from the workouts. Yesterday was of course long ride day. I hit the road at 6am, a little later than I probably could've based on the daylight, but I wasn't in a real rush except maybe to beat the rain that was supposed to move in during the afternoon. I had my loop all picked out, knowing that it would take me less time than I had to ride, so right away I decided to take a little detour at about mile 5 to go do this really fun, long, steep hill to help add to the time and get some extra hill work in. I wish I had a camera with me for when I got to the top. The road flattens out just before you ride the last bit to the top and there are several farms up there, but beyond that you're just looking out over the scenery below. Quite beautiful first thing in the morning.
The climb was a fun way to start the ride, although I am positive that it is nothing compared to the beast I've heard so much about. Longer, but I didn't even have to stand up, which I know will be happening when I get to St. Croix. Oh, and it was also above freezing to start, warm enough for me to forgo the shoe covers and just go with leg and arm warmers, and certainly warm enough that frozen water bottles were not going to be an issue. There really isn't a whole lot to say about the ride except that it went well and I felt good and was certainly faster than the last time I rode it. I saw snow twice: once in a parking lot in the shade where there had obviously previously been some pretty impressive snowbanks, and once at Crotched Mountain ski area, where it hasn't entirely melted but was sure a lot quieter than it was the last time I rode when I was freezing and people were skiing up a storm. No moose sightings this week, but I did come across like 7 roadkill porcupines throughout the ride, an unusually high number, and a pack of wild turkeys which is pretty common.
After the ride it was time for a transition run, even though I always just love the idea of finishing a long ride and collapsing immediately to the couch, but I picked a sport where that just doesn't make any sense. So off I went. It was slow, and running still just feels awkward after my brief hiatus, but I got it done. I bloodied my sock thanks to a nice blister that has formed since I started running in a new pair of shoes, but of course that just means that I'm working hard, right? That, or my shoes don't fit right. Then it was time to collapse on the couch. Sweet relief.
After Saturday's long training, I always wake up on Sundays really amazed at what I still have to get done and seriously wondering my ability to get through it. My legs just feel tired, I feel tired, I'm thinking about regular people who will be in their pajamas most of the day, eating a big breakfast in front of the TV and intermittently napping. Or maybe going out to brunch. Not me. Not that it's anyone's fault but my own. And sorry, I've just been thinking a lot about pancakes lately because first of all, they are one of my favorite things. And second, for some reason in the midst of trying to get down to race weight I torture myself by watching a lot of Food Network, and yesterday they did a history of pancakes and I wanted them more than ever. I guess I'll have to get by knowing that I'll have some in just two short weeks. Even if pancakes should be at least a weekly occurrence, but anyway....
I got up at 6 this time, thinking maybe I'd get started early, but I moved awfully slowly, and didn't wind up heading out until almost 8. First up was an easy bike ride, which I seriously took very easy. I also visited a Burger King for the first time in a few years, but this time it was only to use the bathroom. I used to love Whoppers, and maybe someday I'll have one again. After the bike ride, I had to go and do my long run. It must be an amusing sight, me moving so slowly from bike to run, so obviously not interested in running at all. Any time I don't run for even a brief period of time, like say that 6 days I just had off, I start to dread it. It's like I completely forget how to do it and it seems ten times harder. But I knew I had to.
It wasn't pretty, but I did get it done. And it is getting better. But my legs didn't have much in them. My heart rate was too low because they couldn't keep me moving fast enough. I had some delusions that maybe after all of that I might make it to another yoga class this afternoon. But after a couple of hours on the couch, when I went to stand up to maybe change and go, my legs told me that I wasn't going anywhere. Probably not such a bad decision.
Tomorrow will be fun though. First of all, Mondays are easy swim days and the only days I don't have to bike and run. And second, I am headed down to Boston for the Red Sox game and maybe to catch a bit of marathon action afterward. The timing doesn't work out so well since they moved the start earlier, so I won't get to watch any of the elite runners or really even anyone running less than 4 hours or so, but it's still cool to watch. I still remember when I was in college and my sister ran it and I went down to see my first one. My brother-in-law jumped in to run the last four miles with her. My mother told me that maybe next year I could jump in and run the last four miles with her. "Are you crazy? I can't run four miles!" Yeah, things have changed a bit since then.
The climb was a fun way to start the ride, although I am positive that it is nothing compared to the beast I've heard so much about. Longer, but I didn't even have to stand up, which I know will be happening when I get to St. Croix. Oh, and it was also above freezing to start, warm enough for me to forgo the shoe covers and just go with leg and arm warmers, and certainly warm enough that frozen water bottles were not going to be an issue. There really isn't a whole lot to say about the ride except that it went well and I felt good and was certainly faster than the last time I rode it. I saw snow twice: once in a parking lot in the shade where there had obviously previously been some pretty impressive snowbanks, and once at Crotched Mountain ski area, where it hasn't entirely melted but was sure a lot quieter than it was the last time I rode when I was freezing and people were skiing up a storm. No moose sightings this week, but I did come across like 7 roadkill porcupines throughout the ride, an unusually high number, and a pack of wild turkeys which is pretty common.
After the ride it was time for a transition run, even though I always just love the idea of finishing a long ride and collapsing immediately to the couch, but I picked a sport where that just doesn't make any sense. So off I went. It was slow, and running still just feels awkward after my brief hiatus, but I got it done. I bloodied my sock thanks to a nice blister that has formed since I started running in a new pair of shoes, but of course that just means that I'm working hard, right? That, or my shoes don't fit right. Then it was time to collapse on the couch. Sweet relief.
After Saturday's long training, I always wake up on Sundays really amazed at what I still have to get done and seriously wondering my ability to get through it. My legs just feel tired, I feel tired, I'm thinking about regular people who will be in their pajamas most of the day, eating a big breakfast in front of the TV and intermittently napping. Or maybe going out to brunch. Not me. Not that it's anyone's fault but my own. And sorry, I've just been thinking a lot about pancakes lately because first of all, they are one of my favorite things. And second, for some reason in the midst of trying to get down to race weight I torture myself by watching a lot of Food Network, and yesterday they did a history of pancakes and I wanted them more than ever. I guess I'll have to get by knowing that I'll have some in just two short weeks. Even if pancakes should be at least a weekly occurrence, but anyway....
I got up at 6 this time, thinking maybe I'd get started early, but I moved awfully slowly, and didn't wind up heading out until almost 8. First up was an easy bike ride, which I seriously took very easy. I also visited a Burger King for the first time in a few years, but this time it was only to use the bathroom. I used to love Whoppers, and maybe someday I'll have one again. After the bike ride, I had to go and do my long run. It must be an amusing sight, me moving so slowly from bike to run, so obviously not interested in running at all. Any time I don't run for even a brief period of time, like say that 6 days I just had off, I start to dread it. It's like I completely forget how to do it and it seems ten times harder. But I knew I had to.
It wasn't pretty, but I did get it done. And it is getting better. But my legs didn't have much in them. My heart rate was too low because they couldn't keep me moving fast enough. I had some delusions that maybe after all of that I might make it to another yoga class this afternoon. But after a couple of hours on the couch, when I went to stand up to maybe change and go, my legs told me that I wasn't going anywhere. Probably not such a bad decision.
Tomorrow will be fun though. First of all, Mondays are easy swim days and the only days I don't have to bike and run. And second, I am headed down to Boston for the Red Sox game and maybe to catch a bit of marathon action afterward. The timing doesn't work out so well since they moved the start earlier, so I won't get to watch any of the elite runners or really even anyone running less than 4 hours or so, but it's still cool to watch. I still remember when I was in college and my sister ran it and I went down to see my first one. My brother-in-law jumped in to run the last four miles with her. My mother told me that maybe next year I could jump in and run the last four miles with her. "Are you crazy? I can't run four miles!" Yeah, things have changed a bit since then.
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