Distance: 3 miles (slightly more)
Time: 30 minutes
Where: Treadmill at the 24 Hour Fitness in Santa Monica
There was a time when all the running I ever did was on the treadmill at the gym. It accomodated my lazy tendency to watch TV and a fitness activity, so I made a go at it. Since I began Team in Training, however, I've grown to detest running on the treadmill. I still do so often, but it's not something I enjoy. I doubt I ever enjoyed it. In fact, I think it's a lot more taxing to run on the treadmill than outside. For some reason, running on the treadmill is tougher on my legs than running outside. It probably has something to do with maintaining a certain stride to ensure I don't fall off the machine. Then there's the static electricity factor. Very often, when I run on the treadmill, I generate enough friction with each step that I'm guaranteed to shock myself should I touch the machine at any time. It's an annoyance.
Every time I wear my L.A. Marathon shirt, I feel like I'm boasting of my accomplishment, but then again, I have every right to boast. The shirt marks me as a marathon finisher--that or someone who registered for the race just for the shirt. Still, I feel like I'm bragging about my accomplishment when I wear the shirt. That feeling goes away, though, when I spy a rickety old man at the gym wearing a similar marathon shirt. How tough could it be if a frail old man can run it? To make myself feel better I tell myself that his grandson, the professional marathon runner, gave him the shirt as a tribute. Yes, that's the ticket.
On the topic of Dri-Fit clothing, I think I've been spoiled. My cotton shirt was drenched in sweat halfway through my thirty minute run today. I had to adjust the shirt several times and I felt like it was dragging me down. The shirt clung to my body and it made for an uncomfortable run. If only Dri-Fit tops weren't so expensive, that's all I would ever wear to the gym.
Tomorrow I rest.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Monday, May 30, 2005
05.30.2005: Fiesta Days Run 10K
Distance: 10K
Time: 50:51 PERSONAL RECORD
Where: La Canada-Flintridge, CA
Calories Burned: A great many, but I gained it all back from all the BBQ I ate today. I can't catch a break!
Participation in today's race all hinged upon me waking early enough to get to La Canada to register for the race. It was a good thing I was told the race started at 7:30 AM because I was forced to get there earlier than I had to. When I woke up this morning no remnant of the headache that plagued me yesterday lingered. I got dressed, drove to the location, and proceeded to run a strong race. Still, I was very surprised to get third in my age division. It was a small race, but still it's nice to place. This marks my first top 3 finish in a race! Will more come? Only time will tell.
I felt fine throughout the race. I set my watch for a 5/1 run-walk ratio but actually ran through walk breaks early on depending on how I felt. So for the first 2 miles it was more of a 11/1 run-walk ratio. The course started out fast thanks to a downhill start, but that was negated later in the race with an almost mile-long uphill run. Despite the relative challenge of the course, I still beat my first 10K time by almost five minutes. I still have yet to crack the 50 minute barrier, but I'm closing in.
TnT had a small contingent but we all had great showings. Jimmy, Kate, and Katie all won their respective age divisions. Jimmy and I are in the same age division so TnT represented 2/3 of the 25-29 top finishers. Kiley beat me by 20 seconds, but his division is a formidable one, so despite his great showing he still wasn't in the top 3. Regardless, a great performance from Kiley who I thought I could catch in the end but he just turned on the jets in the last quarter mile or so.
Next race for me is the Mud Run on June 12 then I'm debating whether to sign up for the 5K/10K put on by L.A. Frontrunners. It's a lot of running in so short a time, but we'll see. Small races are fun. They're short and sweet.
I felt quite the representation of fitness after the race, but that soon gave way to gluttony as I proceeded to eat my way through two barbeques. From now on it's diet time. I need to weigh 155 by end of summer.
Time: 50:51 PERSONAL RECORD
Where: La Canada-Flintridge, CA
Calories Burned: A great many, but I gained it all back from all the BBQ I ate today. I can't catch a break!
Participation in today's race all hinged upon me waking early enough to get to La Canada to register for the race. It was a good thing I was told the race started at 7:30 AM because I was forced to get there earlier than I had to. When I woke up this morning no remnant of the headache that plagued me yesterday lingered. I got dressed, drove to the location, and proceeded to run a strong race. Still, I was very surprised to get third in my age division. It was a small race, but still it's nice to place. This marks my first top 3 finish in a race! Will more come? Only time will tell.
I felt fine throughout the race. I set my watch for a 5/1 run-walk ratio but actually ran through walk breaks early on depending on how I felt. So for the first 2 miles it was more of a 11/1 run-walk ratio. The course started out fast thanks to a downhill start, but that was negated later in the race with an almost mile-long uphill run. Despite the relative challenge of the course, I still beat my first 10K time by almost five minutes. I still have yet to crack the 50 minute barrier, but I'm closing in.
TnT had a small contingent but we all had great showings. Jimmy, Kate, and Katie all won their respective age divisions. Jimmy and I are in the same age division so TnT represented 2/3 of the 25-29 top finishers. Kiley beat me by 20 seconds, but his division is a formidable one, so despite his great showing he still wasn't in the top 3. Regardless, a great performance from Kiley who I thought I could catch in the end but he just turned on the jets in the last quarter mile or so.
Next race for me is the Mud Run on June 12 then I'm debating whether to sign up for the 5K/10K put on by L.A. Frontrunners. It's a lot of running in so short a time, but we'll see. Small races are fun. They're short and sweet.
I felt quite the representation of fitness after the race, but that soon gave way to gluttony as I proceeded to eat my way through two barbeques. From now on it's diet time. I need to weigh 155 by end of summer.
Saturday, May 28, 2005
05.28.2005: (I'm Gonna Be) 4 Miles
I've decided to keep a running blog. I don't know how this is going to go, but during training for the L.A. Marathon, I received a few positive comments about the training journal I tried to maintain on my fundraising webpage. When I stopped updating it a couple of friends wondered whether I was still running. Hopefully I'll be more successful in updating this since I've become a consistent blogger in the last couple of years.
What should one expect from this blog? Thoughtful observations like this gem: why must compression shorts compress everything? I'll also post statistics, general feelings about the run, and whatever else is worth posting.
So:
Distance: 4 miles
Time: about 35 minutes (FJ and I stopped at the halfway point and directed the runners, so we actually didn't run four miles straight through. We also took no walk breaks on the run back, but we still ran a total of four miles).
Calories Consumed: Too much. I had three cream puffs, half a bagel with cream cheese, a macaroon, a banana, one sports bottle of Gatorade, one Red Hot Cheetoh, a Garden Scram from Wild Thyme, two pieces of toast with butter and jam, two KFC chicken strips. Later I'll add ice cream to this list.
What should one expect from this blog? Thoughtful observations like this gem: why must compression shorts compress everything? I'll also post statistics, general feelings about the run, and whatever else is worth posting.
So:
Distance: 4 miles
Time: about 35 minutes (FJ and I stopped at the halfway point and directed the runners, so we actually didn't run four miles straight through. We also took no walk breaks on the run back, but we still ran a total of four miles).
Calories Consumed: Too much. I had three cream puffs, half a bagel with cream cheese, a macaroon, a banana, one sports bottle of Gatorade, one Red Hot Cheetoh, a Garden Scram from Wild Thyme, two pieces of toast with butter and jam, two KFC chicken strips. Later I'll add ice cream to this list.
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