This weeks running in the snow mostly...or around and about the snow has been really interesting and enjoyable. Forced by mother nature to slow down and look around. Not being able to drift off into my thoughts as I usually do while running. I found myself just watching out for ice....and making sure I didnt get side swiped by one of our friendly people on the road who seemingly aim at us. We take nature for granted until you are forced as I was to really observe. I did enjoy it. I havent run in the snow/ice/slush in awhile. Where my head is now is that I just want to run. The weather will not stop me. But carefully.
Also, I came across the picture I posted here. Its hilarious isnt it. We have become adicted to our watches. That pic is at the start of a race in Vancouver I believe. I havent been wearing my watch and I feel liberated. Anyone have any thoughts?
Here it is Tuesday night. Waiting for the blizzard to hit. School's already cancelled for tomorrow. Prediction-12-18 inches. North Jersey Master's Thursday running group already cancelled also. Weather!!! How it changes everything on a dime. So quickly. Changes plans; changes lives.Totally uncontrolable. We who think we have so much control over things are at the mercy of the weather.
If I want to run tomorrow I can't-because of the weather. Or maybe I can. But will I?
This for some reason makes me think of the people in Haiti and other parts of the world that have been ravaged by natural disastors. Tens of thousands of lives have been lost in Haiti. The entire country has been turned inside out and upside down. It will be years before it has recovered if it every really does. It's such a poor country to begin with. These people had nothing and now this. We all need to do what we can to help. Give to a charity for Haiti. Running means nothing. This is life. Rather many lives. Its amazing how people are still being pulled out of the rubble. A man was saved I heard, who had been buried for something like 22 days. I can't even think about the fact that I cant run tomorrow--how selfish. There are so many who need basic human necessities and here I am thinking of myself and running.
The Grid Iron Classic. 4 miles. After running the marathon 26.2 miles one would think that a mere 4 miles should be a piece of cake.... a walk in the park right?...WRONG. We runners have different goals for different distances. So that's number one. Number two...here it is in the middle of the winter. Training has been light to moderate since the NY Marathon. Winter is a time to recover and rest some of those body parts that have gotten beaten up over the long hard months of training from roughly end of March through the end of November. We dont want to lose alot but we are looking more to maintain our endurance and fitness level. Perhaps do more cross training and less miles. Easier things for the body to handle. Swimming; spinning; weight training. Ok Ok... I get all of that. Not that I do it all....I say I will but yet my cross training is not exactly in high gear. I do have a gym in my basement with all of the necessary equipment... including a nice high tech spin bike... but somehow I'd rather just run.... out the door...one foot in front of the other. And thats it. Ok So that brings me to the Grid Iron Classic. A simple little 4 mile race in Central Park. Not even a full loop. Start at 68th Street on the East Drive and finish right by what used to be Tavern on the Greene.... 72nd Street on the West Side. Now last year I ran this race. It was my first race in Central Park- the first of 10 last year. This year I already did the Manhattan 1/2 Marathon a couple of weeks ago. So its my 2nd of the 9 I have to do for guaranteed entry into the 2011 NY Marathon. I already have my guaranteed entry into 2010.
So the gun sounds.... me and maybe 5,000 others. I am in coral #3. Meaning my bib number is in the 3000 range. Pretty impressed right? My best pace to date for any NYRR race was about 8.06. It is freaking cold. And windy. The first mile is basically dodging other runners. My strategy is to stay on the inside near the curb. Just maintain my pace and not zig zag in and out of runners. There are so many people who are just not serious runners here. I was hoping to break 33 minutes so I knew I had to be in the low 8 minute per mile pace range. First mile no problem.... just keep the pace. Feeling groovy. 2nd mile....crossing the transverse...run in the lane designated for Colts fans; (Colts lose this vote by 66% to 34% according to the runners); then through the 2 mile mark still feeling good. My running friend has left me in the dust; well not exactly dust; now we hit the long hill on the west side; the hill takes its toll on me; my pace somewhat diminishes; crowded on the inside by slow runner who I cant pass easily. I have to jump on the curb; I hit mile three now feeling tired; pace slows; left brain right brain talking to me; here's the mental part. Do you slow down or fight the pain to maintain your speed and pace; you know you can; you push yourself through the pain to do it or you lose. Its the mental side of running. I push through the pain and try to kick my way to the finish. I cross the finish line in 33:06. Not a PR but reasonably satisfied. Very satisfied with the effort. Happy I won the mental race. Feeling good.
In the summer of 2008, I was training for the Philadelphia Marathon. It was sometime around the middle of August. Philly was in Novemeber. I was doing a long run in the Rockies (Rockefeller State Park in Tarrytown NY). I was running with the Galloway Group that I trained with. Around mile 7 Rosy yelled out...how's everyone doing. I answered, fine, except for this pain in my right calf. I ignored the pain, thinking it was just a cramp that would go away. It didnt. We hit somewher about mile 9 or so; there's a huge hill. Many people barely crawl up this hill. Its right at a spot along the Hudson River, where the trail we run on turns back towards home. Near one of the outter boundaries of the park. I slowly trudged up the hill; at the top is an awesome view of the river. It was a gorgeous sunny, blue skied day. You would think you were in St Thomas on top of a cliff overlooking beautiful Megan's Bay. Then the trail heads down; a rather ominous, steep, uneven trail; where the once regal trail had been over the years turned into a mine field of small pot holes and broken pavers. I ran down the hill; as I did so, near the bottom of the hill, I felt the calf more or less pop; I blew it out; the muscle tore and I was toast. I could barely walk much less run. In our group, no one goes alone; as the group started ahead, it wasnt long before they realized I had a problem and a few doubled back to see what the story was. Realizing I couldnt run, Rosy, our group leader, stayed with me as I slowly trudged, dragging my right foot behind me, the 4 miles back to the parking lot. I was laid up for a few weeks. Painful cramped up, torn muscle. Dr. Daniels, my chiropractor was my saviour. I went to him 3 x per week and the muscle slowly healed. I recovered fully and was able to run the marathon. Since then I have learned that you need to strenthen your calf muscles; make sure that you have plenty of electrolytes in your stystem and stay hydrated; and dont ignore pain thinking it will go away. I also take salt tablets now when I go on long runs. AND I often wear a compression sleeve on my calf.
So here is a video of some exercisses to strenthen your calf muscles.
