There's the Shape You THINK You're In
and then there's the shape YOU ARE IN. This is pointed out to you by others you're running, cycling or swimming with. For those that train in a group, this may be an everyday occurrence, but for those of us that are self-coached, this only happens in races or maybe some other gathering. The some other gathering was the Austin Marathon/Half Marathon Kickoff Event on Saturday. I woke up and drove down to Runtex and did a kickoff run with Francie Larrieu Smith and Austin's own Olympic Hopefuls: Cassie Henkeil, Lance Parker, Chris Kimbrough and UT Assistant Coach Steve Sisson. Granted, these were very fast people but they barely broke a sweat as I maxed my heart rate. At least it didn't happen until the second half of the run. I would've been fine if I didn't have the hills and which took my heart to the max at the 7:30/7:45 per mile pace. The heart rate wouldn't come down so I was forced to slow down the last ten minutes.
Even at 7:30 a.m., the heat and humidity were brutal. I sweat a puddle sitting there listening to the Runtex and Rogue reps talk about the upcoming Distance Challenge and the Austin Marathon. It was a good thing Accelerade was there with coolers full of the lemonade flavored drink. By the way, this was a new flavor in the powder form. Very nice. Not too sweet and it should be a favorite on the course. We were also treated to some free breakfast tacos from Taco Deli. I had never seen liquid potatoes but they were good. A few organizations had booths so it made for a small expo of sorts.
Next year may be the year that I enlist a coach or group to help me. Rogue sounds like a great program and one that would get me to the next level but it'll have to wait until next year. This year I'll be self-coached. And really self-coached is no longer self-coached in the sense of the word as it applied 30 years ago. I mean with so much information in books, on the Web and form others that help out, I'm really not self-coached as I am without a formal relationship with a coach or group. And I wonder if I'd run faster or better with a coach. I know I'd run faster if I ran with faster people. Anyway, it's something to ponder for the next year.
Labels: Accelerade, Austin Marathon, Rogue, Runtex
Incredible Amount of $$$ for Brake/Shifters
I'm watching eBay auctions on a Friday night, sipping on a Miller Lite, and can't believe the price the 8/9 speed Shimano brake/shifters are going for. I would expect cratchless, near perfect pieces to fetch close to $100, but $90 for a pair that the owner said don't work and are missing some cosmetic plastic sounds like too much.
I've been debating whether to build another bike...this time a road bike from scratch. I've decided to modify Salsa Verde (tri bike) during a few months of the year into a road bike. So it'll be cheaper to buy a good set of bars and brake/shifters than a whole new bike.
Heading out tomorrow morning to the marathon season kickoff. I shouldn't be thinking about marathon training until I get my next two triathlons done with but I can't help it. I've really enjoyed my runs lately and my head is constantly debating whether to do another full marathon or stick with the half. Pride and enthusiasm have me doing it while logic says no way. I'm sure the battle will continue until I register. As of this evening, pride and enthusiasm are winning.
Labels: Austin Marathon, eBay, Runtex, shifters
This Friday So Much Better Than Last
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How can it not go better with a bike commute into work? I tried out my new
Topeak Joe Blow sport pump this morning and dang, what a difference over the crappy pumps I've had all my life. It's a twin head pump so no losing the adaptors like I did last week. That was the reason to go get another pump anyway. I haven't tried it yet on the Presta valves. My commuter/beater, single-speed bike is Salsa Roja and it's equipped with Schrader valves, while Salsa Verde, my tri-bike has Presta valves. The Joe Blow pump Schrader head was a great fit and no air leaked out.
Some notes on the commute.
- You feel alive descending 370 feet while getting upwards around 30-35 mph going with traffic.
- It was cool how all the cagers were polite today and gave me room.
- Learning how to ride with no hands again took me back in time. What a great feeling.
- Climbed the hill towards the Amtrak station with two young, hairy legged women sporting backpacks filled to the brim and with water bottles dangling off the side.
- Salsa Roja is an awesome steed. Not one dropped chain this morning.
- Passed Runtex Chief Paul Carrozza cycling up the Shoal Creek trail. I always wondered where he ran.
- Cycling shorts underneath my khaki pants worked best for the commute.
- The humidity was pretty high. My shirt was soaked by the time I arrived at work.
- I saw a place on Lamar Blvd. I want to check out called Earth Art. Pretty cool sculptures on the side of the building.
People's Pharmacy breakfast tacos taste sooooo good after the commute in. I bought two and also picked up some Nuun tri-berry, active hydration tablets. I'll let you know how they work out.
Labels: joe Blow, NUUN, Runtex, Salsa Roja, Topeak
New Green Smoothie Recipe
Last week out Runtex training group decided to have a smoothie party after our run. I brought a mixer and a juicer. They brought veggies and fruits. We gathered in the hospital conference room (we train in the ED parking lot), plugged in the machines and started cutting the fruit and veggies into juiceable chunks. We then put the juice of each veggie/fruit into a cup and after we were done, everyone mixed they're own drinks. One of the favorites created the recipe below. It's a green smoothie with a combination of fruits and vegetables.
1 cup apple juice
1 cup cucumber juice
1/4 cup spinach juice
1 cup strawberry juice
1 banana, non-juiced (blended)
I was amazed at the bright colors the purple cabbage, spinach and carrots made. Being the week before Easter, it looked like the cups of dye used for Easter eggs.
Labels: green, juicer, recipe, Runtex, smoothie
Two Tanks, Both Empty
The last couple of months have been about lifting and cycling. A couple of runs, one of which was a half marathon and the legs, although not at all back in form, felt ok. So it was with great surprise that I ran to the Bowie High School track to put in a few easy miles and the legs felt like crap. Not just crap but
holy $h!t what's going on?, kind of crap. Not cramps, not pain but each of them felt like they weighed 250 pounds a piece. Lifting felt awkward. Landing felt awkward. I had just run a half the week before. I had just run seven miles yesterday and everything was fine. The only thing I can think of was my nutrition was off right after the seven mile run. Like my legs said no to what I fed them after the run. It was 2 scoops of Gatorade and a pastromi sandwich on rye. What the hell?
When I go through a workout, it seems like there are two gas tanks. Just when I feel I'm drained and can't go any further, I'll push for a few more minutes and then the reserve tank kicks in and I have renewed energy. The run at the track had both tanks empty. That's only happened one other time and just so happened it was about the same time last year. It may not be food related at all but rather more sinus infection as I'm congested with cedar fever.
Iron Wil talks about the first ten minutes of anything sucks. Seen as she and the upper midwest are at 12 degrees right now, I'd say the next ten hours of anything would suck. The run at the track sucked for the first ten minutes and then the next. I now have a rule that if the second ten minutes suck, then I'm moving on to another type of training. That's the great thing about triathlon, if runing sucks, you still have swimming and cycling. It ended up that cycling was the winner. I got on the bike and everything felt fine.
I rode b.O.b. and he only threw the chain once. Not bad. Today's the last of the 70° days for this week but it's nice to get one in February every now and then.
Tonite starts another coaching session with Runtex and Seton. We have 26 people signed up so it should be a little more work than last time. We're getting these folks ready to run their first 5K or 10K race, April 28.
Labels: b.O.b., Iron Wil, running, Runtex
