21 the hard way

Today was our last long run before the LA marathon next month, this was a run with the dealer giving us an Ace, 9 and a 3 to start but we drew some good cards and finished with 21 to show for it.  The recent snow storm in DC left the local running trails snow and ice packed which basically gave us one alternative for our long run, two out and backs on Beach Drive in DC.  I think I would rather watch a Finding Bigfoot marathon hosted by Dean Cain than run back and forth on a road for 21 miles.  Clearly we were not the only ones with this idea as we passed several other runners on the route all wishing for warmer weather and better running conditions.  Not my idea of a great route or good conditions for this kind of distance but I also knew the mental challenge of getting this done would be good for future racing, especially the two loops we would be running at the Ironman in Zurich.

One thing I enjoy about marathons and triathlons is the training, I have always believed it is more about the journey than the destination for these events and today was a perfect example.  Running for me is like meditation, especially when you are out on the road for three hours.  Lots of time to reflect on things and what is really important in life, sort through problems, realize issues at work are not that big of a deal, and remember how fortunate I am for all of the good family and friends I have supporting me along the way.  That is drawing the 7 on the hard 13. 

We both finished the run, a little disappointed in our overall average pace, but glad it is done and now looking forward to the race and all the fun that goes along with traveling to a new location.  I think we are both of the same mind that no more early season marathons in the future where we have to factor in weather, but a marathon in April or May (if we get into London) sounds excellent.  As hard as the run was this will be a day I will remember when I am old and gray (maybe it is more accurate to say older and grayer) because we rose up to the challenge and completed the task, the rewards far outweigh any struggles.  And a perfect reward includes the couch, episodes of Breaking Bad, and splitting one of these.  Now if only the Mexican joint would deliver.

Double Chocolate Stout from Rogue Brewing

My Prediction?

Winter storm Pax¹ due in tonight.  Calling for 5-12" of snow. 

Our big 21 miler on Saturday.

My prediction for the run?

PAIN.

¹ Most ironic "threatening" storm name ever.

January Stats

2014 has been a big year so far.  The hours and the miles really add up. 

Bike: 9 miles (One sad little mountain bike ride.  **SIGH** We don't like January!)
Trainer: A painful 7 hours and 15 minutes
Run: 96 miles (Yowza!)
Swim: 7.3 miles
Yoga: 2 hours
Stouts: Lost count after January 16th.

And to think it's only just beginning.

Sometimes you're the Louisville Slugger; Sometimes you're the ball

I've been at this training thing long enough to know that some days are going to kick your ass, and that a bad training day means nothing on race day.  Unfortunately, it doesn't make bad days any easier to take.  Saturday was our second-to-last BIG run before the LA Marathon -- 19 miles.  In a word, it was rough. I don't know why I think 19 miles would be anything but rough.  Coming off a strong 18 miler and a recovery week, I had hoped for the best, but it was a looong 3 hours and 5 minutes.

It would be great if I had some legitimate excuses.  The weather?  Perfect.  Clothing/gear?  Terrific.  Old shoes?  Nope, still new.  Hills?  Pretty flat.  Boring scenery?  Tourists travel around the world to see these sites.  I got nothing.  At least, nothing that I didn't have complete control over.

Friday night I limited myself to one beer, stayed hydrated, and went to bed early.  Check.  Our dinner selection, on the other hand, may have been a poor choice.  We decided to get takeout from Kabab Palace, which friends have given rave reviews, for the first time.  It was good, but takeout from a place that generally resembles NY Port Authority Bus Terminal is probably not the best call the night before 19 miles.  Pre-run jitters have been known to give me "stomach" issues, but I'm certain that the kababs didn't help matters.  Sticking to Italian from now on.

The run started off harmlessly enough.  Ran through the neighborhood out to the Mount Vernon trail and started heading north to the 14th Street Bridge.  I went out a little fast but kept my speed in check and was feeling good.  I felt stong.

I am going to crush this!

Subconsciously, I think that if I run slow enough, I can relax and enjoy and go forever.  Maybe this is the trick my mind plays on me so that I'll even attempt running these distances.   Unfortunately, it never works out this way. 

Over the bridge into DC by the Jefferson Memorial and south for a loop around Haynes Point.  This was the flattest section of the route and my pace started to slow considerably...this was when I knew I was in trouble.  Not really sure what happened.  I was getting calories, wasn't feeling pain...the leg turnover just wasn't there.  Greg had started pulling away from me here.  I could just barely see him hitting the public rest room up ahead.  When I got there I popped in myself to refil my water bottle then kept on going.  Greg was still in there...uh-oh.  Damned kababs!

Next on the route was a lap around the National Mall.  Greg quickly caught up to me and his bathroom run must have been a success because he left me in the dust.  My legs were starting to feel tired and just when I exited the Mall at the Lincoln Memorial I started to feel legitimate pain.  I made it over the bridge back to VA and got a little glimpse of Greg looping under the bridge and back down the Mount Vernon trail.  5 miles to go.

A few hundred yards back in Virginia my right calf started cramping so badly I couldn't help but cry out.  Geeze...I'm only at mile 14!  How can this be?!?!  Perhaps my body wasn't fully acclimated to the warmer temps.  I drank furiously...hoping that some extra fuel and hydration would help.  Stopped and stretched for about a minute.  Knew I had to keep going.  I'll be damned if I'm going to walk five miles.  I changed up my stride a little to rely on my glutes and hamstrings to push myself along and give my calf muscle some relief.  I recalled the teachings of our yoga guru, Bryan Kest... "we can be uncomfortable but we don't have to be so reactive to it."  I switched between thinking these words are genius and thinking they are a load of BS and this guy never ran this far!  But it does help to breathe and relax...absolutely.  One foot in front of the other.

At mile 17 with two to go, I am running in the dark, damp trail that goes below the GW Parkway and Route 1.  There was not a soul in sight and it was eerily silent.  I could suddenly hear my breath and the sound of my footsteps and used all my remaining energy to quiet both.  I tried to pick up the pace but I had nothing left.  At this point I just wanted to get home and not have to walk. Nothing could stop me.  I could barely bring myself to look both ways before crossing the street...it would take too much energy and too much time.

Let them hit me!

A few blocks from home, I see Greg walking towards me...my wing man, coming to escort me all the way in.  He was so far in front of me I half expected to see him on his cruiser bike.  He said the idea came to him but he didn't know how well that would be received.  I admit I might have had to put a stick in his spokes.  :) 

So yes, once again I was humbled by a long run.  It just doesn't get easier.  But here's hoping that with fresh legs on race day I can crank out faster miles.  Time (T minus 34 days) will tell.

I love you foam roller, please don't hurt me

The miles are getting longer as we draw nearer to the LA marathon.

Jen and I ran 18 miles last weekend and are into recovery week before our next long run of 19 miles in two weeks.

The previous weekend our training schedule called for 15 miles so we made plans for a run on the WOD followed by grilled cheese and tots at the Space Bar in Falls Church.  Unfortunately they do not open until 5 pm on Sundays but we made the most of it with beers, food and catching up with our friend Ernie at the Mad Fox.  (When you are running for a couple of hours with your mind focused on tater tots as reward this is very disappointing, the Space Bar that is, not catching up with Ernie). 

As good as the company and beer were after the run I experienced one of those nagging runner injuries and I am to blame.  Not enough time on the foam roller taking card of the IT band and I paid for it at mile 14 and to make it worse I was having a great run.  The pain was so bad I had to stop at mile 14 and walk the rest of the way in, the only bright spot seeing Jen pass me on her way to strong finish.

Last week turned into multiple dates with my foam roller who treated me like a rented mule but there was some progress.  Enough so that I cruised through the 18 mile run with minimal pain and felt like I had some left in the tank at the end.

There are still lots of miles in front of us but I won't be neglecting my foam roller.   Or maybe I just need more tots.

Post Holiday wrap-up

 

I am not a big fan of this time of year, short days, cold nights, bad weather, sun hanging low in the sky, and the end of college football season.  But instead of spending my time whining about all of those things I can’t change I am thankful for all of the good things that came my way in 2013.  We moved into a new home, finished a half-ironman in PR times, welcomed a new puppy, celebrated Thanksgiving with family, and accepted the challenge of an Ironman in 2014.  

Jen and I finished the year with a fantastic holiday season.  So many highlights that I won’t remember all of them but I wanted to get a few down in the blog so I don’t forget and as a reminder of all of the good things to come our way in 2014.   

Christmas Eve service and singing carols at a beautiful stone church in Alexandria.

Our first attempt at rack of lamb on Christmas Day and a special guest appearance by our own Coach T that evening.

A relaxing get away to the Inn at Willow Grove 

Our first hike with Islay on the trails around Lake Accotink.

Jen and Islay on the trails at Lake Accotink

Quiet evening at home on New Year’s Eve enjoying grilled steaks and crab cakes.  I am too embarrassed to mention what time we went to bed that night but we did complete a 3,200 meter swim that day so give me a break, I am old.

Visiting the museums on New Year’s Day in DC and seeing a great film about Jerusalem at the Natural History Museum and a photo exhibit at the National Geographic museum.  We finished the day with some fine craft cocktails at the Quill in the Jefferson Hotel.

One of the great photos at the National Geographic Museum exhibit

Good thing we did not miss a day of training during all of this or I would need a pair of these.

Recovery Week

Since Christmas, we have been enjoying a much needed "recovery week."  Recovery week is every fourth week of training, where you back off a little bit and give your muscles some rest.  This recovery week comes at a perfect time.  Time to enjoy the holidays, time to do some lighter workouts, time to reflect on the past year and focus on the year ahead.

The holidays at our home were a blast.  Santa was good to all of us and not even Mulligan got coal in his stocking.

Mulligan's favorite gift - the basket Islay's gift came in.

We had a perfect Christmas day, which included a fun run followed by a hike with Islay at Accotink park.  After Christmas, Greg and I treated ourselves to a few days at the Inn at Willow Grove, one of our favorite spots, a beautiful resort in Orange, VA.  Is there a better Christmas present than a butler bringing you french press and warm beignets in the morning?  Even Islay got her own comfy bed and plate of treats.  Her cookies looked so good we had to be careful not to eat them ourselves.

Lady of Windsor Abbey on vacation.

Recovery weeks, of course, are not completely void of training - we executed a bunch of runs, a 40 mile bike ride through the gorgeous rolling countryside of Orange, VA, and even a New Year's Eve swim.

The official Ironman training vehicle.

Sometimes, even during recovery week, the workouts feel hard and tedious.  The cold, dreary weather doesn't help.  This past weekend we had a 10 mile run and a two-and-a-half hour "reverse brick" (run then bike).  The run felt longer than the previous week's fourteen miler, and both of us were clock watching the entire brick.  Not even some of the best final-season Sopranos episodes could distract us from the mental pain of one pedal stroke after another.  I just keep reminding myself that the bad workouts build an Ironman.  There are going to be many moments between now and Zurich when I just want to quit, but it is pushing through those moments that makes the finish line possible.  Brick by brick (no triathlon pun intended), we are getting there.

2013 couldn't have been better.  A big year full of big changes and big fun.  2014 is a year of big goals.  My biggest goal for 2014: to approach all of my workouts with as much enthusiasm as Islay does.

Happy new year!