09.20.2005: Track Training

Distance: 7.5 miles (30 laps)
Location: Arcadia High School
Notes: Good track training tonight. I felt good, and Kiley and I hit our mark almost all the time. This is the penultimate track workout, and in four weeks it's my race. After practice Coach Katie and Sarah Jane were praising my running stride and giving me suggestions that would improve my running style. They said I cross my arms over too much, but according to Coach Katie, that may be a product of my pectorals being better developed than my back muscles. She also said that changing my arm movements probably would have little effect. The main thing is that I already limit my upper body movements and I maintain an upright posture. It's good to hear that I run efficiently. Hopefully it can help me run a stronger race.

09.14.2005: Claremont Wilderness Park

Distance: 5 miles
Time: 48:55 ***PERSONAL COURSE RECORD***
Location: Claremont Wilderness Park
Notes: With the start of school, work, and running, I've been neglecting this blog. It's not that I haven't been running. I've just been too busy--and too tired--to update this every time.

I've been running the Claremont Wilderness Park trail every Wednesday after class. The last two weeks had been hot, but today was very mild. That probably had a lot to do with how fast I ran the course. I took the clockwise route this time, and as I was ascending I thought I was runnning it very slow. By the time I got to the halfway mark, I was a half hour into my run. I figured I'd run it in 57 minutes. Perhaps I made up a lot of time running downhill because I wound up running my fastest time. I still haven't figured out which direction is easier. The clockwise course has a slightly shorter uphill but it's more consistently uphill. In any case, it was a good run even though I thought it wouldn't be. My shin still aches a bit, but I don't seem to notice it as I get deep into the run. It's irksome in the early stages of a run. I just hope it doesn't get worse.

On to other news: tonight I attended the mentor meeting for spring. I wasn't planning on mentoring, but I was easily persuaded by Jennie. I'm not the only one who is returning. Others were bitten by the TnT bug as well and are returning as mentors. Besides, it's a good way to mark a full year of running. The plan is to run the half marathon in Austin in February and then run the full marathon in LA. Lots of running in the next few months.

09.03.2005: 18 miles

Distance: 18 miles
Time: 3:01
Calories Consumed: Several hundred. I had yogurt and a bottle of Starbucks Vanilla Frappuccino just before the run. During the run, I had an PowerGel. Afterwards, I celebrated the completion of 18 miles by consuming five or six Jell-O Pudding Pops. I had not had Jell-O Pudding Pops since my high school days. I've forgotten how good those damn things were. I also had a venti caramel Frappuccino in the afternoon, a couple of beers at the barbecue, along with several hot dogs and hamburgers. In other words, I pigged out.
Notes: The run, in retrospect, went well. The legs, of course, felt heavy, but I didn't feel exhausted and weary during the run, but I did have to overcome several obstacles, primarily something that necessitated a trip to the men's room. To my credit, I anticipated the danger and packed a napkin in my pocket just in case I had to visit the woods, which I had to do last year during a 10 mile run. That time I didn't have the foresight to pack a napkin. I didn't have to use the napkin or visit the woods because the attack occurred while I was close by the golf course and its public restrooms. What a relief? I made it through the rest of the run without an emergency, but on the way to the car another attack came. Again, I was nearby a public restroom. I hope it wasn't anything I ate.

After the run, FJ cornered me and asked if I was seeing anyone. He's thinking of setting me up with another writer on his show. Who knew that Team in Training was also a dating service?

08.30.2005: Track Training #2

Distance: 6 miles
Time: NA
Location: Arcadia High School
Notes: I haven't updated this blog in a while partly out of laziness but mostly because I haven't ran much in the last week or so. The last time I ran was last Wednesday for the first track training. I helped out at the team half marathon on Saturday, taking pictures and cheering on the runners. But no running. It's just as well. I've been feeling some things with my shins. With about two months left, I need to be careful about injuries.

Jimmy gave me a Yasso split of 55 seconds tonight, a second faster than Kiley and FJ, which meant I ran by myself for the most part. Practice was great. I enjoy track training very much.

I'll try to sneak in a run tomorrow at the Claremont Wilderness Park. Hopefully it won't be too hot.

08.22.2005: Nike Run

Distance: 5 miles
Time: 42:19
Location: Pasadena, CA
Notes: I won't be trying on Nike shoes for a while. The pair I tried on tonight were horrible. They felt heavy and my feet felt cramped. There was way too much support. My feet weren't moving comfortably. By the end of the night, my calves were tight and my shins were sore.

I ran with a faster group tonight, and as a result, I ran the five mile course slightly faster than last week. Not bad considering I felt horrible and never got comfortable with the shoes. I have some phlegm issues, but that didn't bother me too much. Tonight might be the last Nike Run I do in a while. Classes start next week, and I have a Monday class that will prevent me from attending the Nike runs. Maybe later in the season.

08.20.2005: 16 Miles

Distance: 16 miles
Time: 2:33:22
Location: Rose Bowl and surrounding areas
Notes: One of the best runs yet of the season even though at the latter half my legs felt like dead weight. I felt great, and if it wasn't for the legs, I would've pushed myself harder. Regardless, I ran the 16 miles in about a 9:30 pace. The pace was set by running with Sonia, Kate and Yoshi, all fast runners who motivated me, Kiley, and Andy to run as fast. They did 18 miles, but since I haven't done 16 yet, I had to cut it at that. It was nice to know that I was running back while they still had to go a mile farther before they could turn back home. Even with that, Yoshi only finished six minutes behind me.

Next week will be the TnT half marathon. I won't be running, but instead cheering the team on from the sidelines. It's a beach/Hawaiian theme, so I need to pick up beach stuff to decorate my station. I figure I'll wear a Hawaiian shirt and sip a nice, cold beverage from a tall glass.

Runs for this week: five miles, most likely, at the Nike Run in Pasadena; the first track training of the season in Arcadia on Wednesday, and depending on plans, a short run on Thursday.

08.14.2005: America's Finest City Half Marathon

Distance: 13.1 miles
Time: 1:49:28 ***PERSONAL RECORD***
Location: San Diego, CA
Notes: I haven't updated this training log for a week. There really wasn't anything to update in the past week since I barely did any running. I went to hill training on Tuesday night but my hip and right shin were bothering me, so I called it an early night and just cheered everyone on. I didn't run for the next four days, and I didn't miss it at all. I was feeling a bit burned out by running lately, so I think the break was a good idea. The rest got me in shape for this weekend's America's Finest City Half Marathon in San Diego. After my showing, my enthusiasm for running has been revived.

My goal for the run was to run under 1:50. My previous half marathon was a 1:55, so five minutes was a lot but still manageable amount of time to trim. I felt great throughout. The course started on a downhill for the first three miles. It flattens out for most of the way, and, with about a mile and a half left, a mile long hill towards the finish. The placement of the hill on the course made it a difficult challenge, even though it wasn't steep. I took one unplanned walk break when I felt like I was going to crap my pants as I ran up the hill. I miscalculated my tactic on the hill. I sped up too early, thinking that the peak of the hill was at the turn. However, when I got to the turn, I encountered yet another, steeper, hill. That wasn't fun. Still, my pace early on helped propel me to a strong finish.

To get to the race, I had to get up at 2am on Sunday morning. I ate a bowl of oatmeal and a banana, and I drove down to Coach Katie's house. We picked up Darren in downtown, and by 3:30 am, we were speeding down I-5 towards San Diego. It only took us an hour and a half to get to San Diego. Driving with Coach Katie was fun. She's a great lady.

I worried that the lack of sleep would affect my running, but it didn't. It just wore me out by the time I got home. When I finally got home, I took a shower, checked my e-mail and fell asleep by 7pm. I slept for over 12 hours.

Tonight was the first Nike training run for the Run Hit Wonder on September 24 (Fountains of Wayne are playing!). I was only planning to run 3 miles at a comfortable pace, but when I got there I was itching to do five miles--and it wasn't a relaxed pace. Pushed by Kiley, I wound up running my fast fastest five miles on the Nike course through Pasadena, a sub 8:30 pace. Now I feel the soreness on my calf even more. I may have to take it easy on hills tomorrow.

08.06.2005: The Hills Are Alive! AHHH!

Distance: 10K (approx. 6.2 miles)
Time: 55:33 (official)
Location: Rolling Hills Estates
Notes: This was an extremely difficult race and not just because of the hills. The trails weren't easy to run. Parts of the race took place on horse trails that were sandy and littered with crap. The course was extremely dusty, too. Oh, and did I mention the incessant hills? I was nowhere near the time I wanted to get. I was hoping to crack the 50 minute barrier, but instead, my time is closer, if not slower, than my very first 10K. Fiesta Days remains my best 10K time even though that course had monstrous hill halfway through. At least that one had great downhills where a runner could pick up speed. The hills on this race were small but they were everywhere and left no time for me to catch my breath. I think I could've gone faster despite the rigor of the course, but I just have a low tolerance for feeling miserable. Instead of running through my exhaustion, I would stop and take a walk break.

Next weekend is the AFC Half Marathon. I hope my time there will be better. I'll try to PR and beat my 1:55 from Pacific Shoreline. If I remember correctly, my pace at the half marathon was faster than my 10K pace in Venice. Hopefully I can repeat that in San Diego.

08.03.2005: Off by a Mile

Distance: 7 miles
Time: 1:13:25
Location: Walnut
Notes: What was supposed to be an easy, comfortable run turned into a rigorous seven mile challenge. I decided at the last minute, while leaving work, that I would run along the route I used for my 14 miler except I would essentially cut in half by bisecting it at Lemon Ave. I estimated that it would be five miles, six at most. I was off by a mile. Literally. Even though I underestimated the distance, I was proud of the fact that, when I drove the route after my run, it measured seven miles exactly from start to finish, perhaps a smidgen more. Gmaps Pedometer backs up the distance. Man, I ought to design race courses for a living.

The run itself was tough. My shins bothered me right from the start, but I thought it was just tightness that would go away as the run went on. It didn't. I guess I overdid the sprints last night. My time was good, though. Subtract all the time I waited for crosswalk signals, and I probably ran the whole thing under 10 min/mile.

I'll be taking tomorrow and Friday off in preparation for the Hills Are Alive 10K in Rollings Hills Estates.

08.02.2005: Hill Training #5

Distance: approx. 7 miles
Time: N/A
Location: Rose Bowl
Notes: Not as hot as the last couple of weeks, but still tough. FJ and I ran together and he never beat me in the sprint. HA! The Indian Runs were also easier because Jimmy didn't run with us. Funny how that works.

07.31.2005: 14 Miles

Distance: approx. 14 miles
Time: 2:10:55
Location: West Covina/Walnut
Dead Animals Encountered: two crows (West Nile? Should I call the CDC?), a flat cat, and one unrecognizable fur-covered roadkill.
Notes: Nothing makes me feel like a badass than knowing I just ran 14 miles before most people have even gotten out of bed. If only it was easy waking up, I would run in the morning instead of at night. I laid out a great course with most of the last five miles either flat or downhill. There were still some uphill portions, but the last five miles was a breeze thanks in part to topography but also to a well-timed rest break at Stater Bros. on the corner of Grand and Amar. In the year that I've been running, this marked the first time I ran around in my home area. There are some dirt trails to minimize the impact, and there was plenty of shade, at least at the time I ran, to lessen the effects of the warm weather. All in all, a terrific run. I felt good. I have to confess that I drove the course afterwards and according to Papa Smurf's odometer, my course only measured 13.7 miles. So I'm short 400 meters? Big deal.