The Beast
I made it NY-the city that never sleeps. Thankfully, there are air conditioners to block out the constant hum of life occurring constantly should one want to escape the pulse of life. Taxi cabs racing you back and forth from here to there, walkers moving down, up and across the city. So obvious the multi-tasking required to keep up with the continual grind of life: work, play, meet, pass, connect, ignore. You can see the technological side by way of phones, blackberry's, and of course the self-imposed disconnect with the ipod. The amount of people using these devices of communication as they navigate the streets and each other is is an amazing thing to witness during rush hour.
I was able to make it to the Hudson River and run several times where the multitude of runners, bikers, walkers and skaters moved alongside the water. Great to see such dedicated athletes outside, warm as it was and moving seemingly effortlessly along the Hudson River. It felt good to move my legs after the plane ride and I tried to release the jet lag that one acquires when moving through time-zones, at thirty thousand feet.
I decided that I am not going to run the Boston Marathon and instead face a different kind of beast. The last 6 miles of the Oakland Marathon was that beast for me. Unlike an 800 meter race, the Marathon is a continual battle and when coming to the final six miles and then an hour (more or less) of total concentration and determination, that is so different from running two laps around the track. To put in a good 800 meters one must push at 100% for two and a half minutes- full out running, two laps. The first lap is finding your grove by working the turns, staying strong on the second straight-away and then giving all you have remaining for the final lap. You will either hit the wall if you went out to fast or have enough to push it to the finish line at finding a well paced run. I know I had trouble with my Achilles in the marathon, so we shall see if that is due to age or exertion.
I will be timing myself for an 800 meter run and go for the time of 2:30 instead of "foolishly" trying to do my best time first time out. This will be a 5 minute mile pace and I am only running a half of it. I have been in many 5K's and have run 6:10 for the first mile and felt "OK" (and of course a little sluggish), but I think I am capable of hitting that time.
I continue to run Lake Merritt working the 5k runs into 400 meter runs, half mile run, and a few 200 meter runs, so I think I will be in good enough shape to come close to that mark.
When I ran a 400 meter time on two separate occasions last year, during the second attempt at bettering my time, I strained something in my inner knee. It healed (2 weeks sore) but it scared me. I had never had any problems with my knees before- so running a 65 second 400 meter was obviously greedy and stupid as I was not prepared for the stress of the speed, wearing the wrong shoes, (spikes needed!) and not having enough muscle memory in my knee in running the turns on the track, which is an art and science at the same time.
I can only do my best then begin the training of speed-work that is necessary for the 800. From there I will continue with the workouts for about 4-6 weeks. I won't be going for my fastest time when I run the quarter repeats (I learn from my mistakes) but instead I will run the 400 meter runs at 25% slower as is required for workouts. 80 seconds per lap with about 3-4 minutes recovery time in between 3-4 of them. That is what I am going to work up to, not start out with. I might have to adjust the time or lengthen the recovery time in between the runs. This will of course be one aspect of the training. 200, 600, 800 meter runs, with small recovery time in between with the same format (25% slower) repeats with recovery time, as well as running stairs (uhg!), push ups, sit ups, and everything else that can and will be necessary will be introduced and/or increased will be attempted. Any takers want to join this fool?...
I was able to make it to the Hudson River and run several times where the multitude of runners, bikers, walkers and skaters moved alongside the water. Great to see such dedicated athletes outside, warm as it was and moving seemingly effortlessly along the Hudson River. It felt good to move my legs after the plane ride and I tried to release the jet lag that one acquires when moving through time-zones, at thirty thousand feet.
I decided that I am not going to run the Boston Marathon and instead face a different kind of beast. The last 6 miles of the Oakland Marathon was that beast for me. Unlike an 800 meter race, the Marathon is a continual battle and when coming to the final six miles and then an hour (more or less) of total concentration and determination, that is so different from running two laps around the track. To put in a good 800 meters one must push at 100% for two and a half minutes- full out running, two laps. The first lap is finding your grove by working the turns, staying strong on the second straight-away and then giving all you have remaining for the final lap. You will either hit the wall if you went out to fast or have enough to push it to the finish line at finding a well paced run. I know I had trouble with my Achilles in the marathon, so we shall see if that is due to age or exertion.
I will be timing myself for an 800 meter run and go for the time of 2:30 instead of "foolishly" trying to do my best time first time out. This will be a 5 minute mile pace and I am only running a half of it. I have been in many 5K's and have run 6:10 for the first mile and felt "OK" (and of course a little sluggish), but I think I am capable of hitting that time.
I continue to run Lake Merritt working the 5k runs into 400 meter runs, half mile run, and a few 200 meter runs, so I think I will be in good enough shape to come close to that mark.
When I ran a 400 meter time on two separate occasions last year, during the second attempt at bettering my time, I strained something in my inner knee. It healed (2 weeks sore) but it scared me. I had never had any problems with my knees before- so running a 65 second 400 meter was obviously greedy and stupid as I was not prepared for the stress of the speed, wearing the wrong shoes, (spikes needed!) and not having enough muscle memory in my knee in running the turns on the track, which is an art and science at the same time.
I can only do my best then begin the training of speed-work that is necessary for the 800. From there I will continue with the workouts for about 4-6 weeks. I won't be going for my fastest time when I run the quarter repeats (I learn from my mistakes) but instead I will run the 400 meter runs at 25% slower as is required for workouts. 80 seconds per lap with about 3-4 minutes recovery time in between 3-4 of them. That is what I am going to work up to, not start out with. I might have to adjust the time or lengthen the recovery time in between the runs. This will of course be one aspect of the training. 200, 600, 800 meter runs, with small recovery time in between with the same format (25% slower) repeats with recovery time, as well as running stairs (uhg!), push ups, sit ups, and everything else that can and will be necessary will be introduced and/or increased will be attempted. Any takers want to join this fool?...
posted by Tomba at 5:29 PM
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