Rebuilding Confidence

My confidence took a hit after last Saturday's race. I under performed and completely bonked at the race. I was a little afraid that this week would be a continuation of last Saturday. My calves were very sore early in the week. I guess a left over from the race. I was very afraid of a setback, but things went well and I managed to maintain pace and distance this week. It was good to not lose ground and I have restored some confidence.

This week in review:
[run] 31.05 miles 7:27 min/miles
[swim] 3.06 miles 1.5 mph
[bike] 40.83 miles 16.6 mph

Jesse Owens 10K - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

The good - 1st place in my age group and 16th overall out of 124.

The bad – running slower than my longer tempo runs. I came out to fast and with the humidity I was sapped by the 3rd mile. 1st mile was 6:20, 2nd 6:41, 3rd 6:58, 4th 7:03, 5th 7:19, 6th 7:16, last .26 at a 7:05 pace. I really had to work hard to maintain the pace on the last half. I was pushing my limits when I reached the running track at the finish. Usually I have something at the end, but I pushed and my body pushed back. As I rounded the track for the finish all I could focus on was the finishing line. It was some of the hardest running I have ever done. I had reached the end of my envelope and it was not even a PR.

The Ugly – the last thing I remember was stopping to let them pull the tag off my bib and hit the stop on the Garmin. I had passed out and I did not regain consciousness until I felt myself being guided/carried to the track infield. When I fell the race director and a friend caught me and kept me upright. When I got to the infield a doctor/medic helped me to keep walking. He kept telling me to walk and to keep my eyes open. He also explained what happened. As he explained it, when I stopped at the finish my blood pressure had dropped very low and the brain just shut down. It seems that the legs in motion produce a pumping action and when you stop you lose that. This is why he insisted I keep walking. He said if I had been allowed to lay down I would be down a long time and would not feel well the rest of the day. He got me some glucose and told me to hold it under my tongue. Looks like I just ran out of juice. I did feel better within a short time. I drove home and even mowed grass that afternoon.

I believe weight loss caused me to run out of glycogen and bonk. Until my weight hits bottom and stabilizes I will have to be careful. My weight had dropped all week and reached its lowest point on race day.

The race was great and they do a wonderful job with it. Trophies are usually 5 deep. I try to run it every other year. It was a great race and I learned a great deal about the limits of my body.

Great Week

Great week and still able to challenge myself.
Weight is down by 1.93 lb over last week. My pace is still good and I should be able to do well at the Jesse Owens 10K on the 21st. Another week of sub 8 minute long runs and sub 7 minute tempos. Running is fun when I push myself.

Week in review:

Sunday, 5/15/2011 6:05 AM, Bike (Road bike), 22.62 miles, 1 hr 21 min 34 secs, average speed: 16.6 miles/hr

Saturday, 5/14/2011 5:25 AM, Run (Long run), 16.08 miles, 2 hr 02 min 32 secs, pace: 7:37 min/miles

Friday, 5/13/2011 7:50 AM, Swim (Pool), 1.3 miles, 51 min 43 secs, pace: 39:47 min/miles

Thursday, 5/12/2011 5:30 AM, Run (Tempo run), 7.38 miles, 51 min 06 secs, pace: 6:55 min/miles

Wednesday, 5/11/2011 5:20 AM, Bike (Road bike), 18.84 miles, 1 hr 06 min 31 secs, average speed: 17 miles/hr

Tuesday, 5/10/2011 5:30 AM, Hill Intervals, 5.55 miles, 40 min 13 secs, pace: 7:15 min/miles

Monday, 5/09/2011 7:50 AM, Swim (Pool), 1.53 miles, 59 min 55 secs, average pace: 39:10 min/miles

Running is Fun Again

Pushing the envelope has made running fun again. Over the last few weeks I have pushed the envelope and challenged myself to run faster and longer. Running is becoming fun again.

Missed the Steeple Chase , but I was ready. The race did serve its purpose and motivated me to get faster. I had a great week of training. My weight is right on track. I had a great tempo run (sub 7:00) and a great 16 miler (7:30 pace).

I hope to continue the intensity and work towards some 5 and 10K Prs. I also hope to to attain a sub 90 minute half marathon this fall.

Week in review


Sunday, 5/08/2011 5:25 AM, Long run, 16.09 miles, 1 hr 58 min 04 secs, pace: 7:20 min/miles,

Saturday, 05/07/2011 5:00 AM, Bike (Road bike), 16.17 miles, 58 min 32 secs, 16.6 miles/hr,

Friday off

Thursday, 5/05/2011 7:45 AM, Swim (Pool), 1.53 miles, 59 min 43 secs, pace: 39:02 min/miles


Wednesday, 05/04/2011 5:30 AM, Run (Tempo run), 7.41 miles, 50 min 02 secs, pace: 6:45 min/mile,

Tuesday off

Monday 5/02/2011 5:30 AM, Run (Hills), 5.58 miles, 40 min 35 secs, pace: 7:16 min/miles

Steeple Chase week.

This is it the week of Steeple Chase. I hope to PR on this course. I have also started to work on my 1/2 marathon time. It is a long way off but I want to PR. The race will be the Huntsville Half Marathon in November. I have been so close to a sub 90 minute finish and hopefully this year I can break that barrier.

This week's goals:
1. Continue trending down on my weight
2. Push the pace envelope some more (Stride, cadence, and breathing)
3. Hope to get a good intense week in.
4. Pushing the training for the Steeple Chase 8K 5/7/11