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Hell of a Trip! (The 72 hrs following the Jerry Thompson Mile)
Based in a necessity to return to Charlottesville, VA and pick up my belongings, this was my schedule for the 72 hrs that followed the Texas Relays Mile:
- Cross the finish line
- Long cool down/Icebath
- 2 1/2hr. Drive to Houston
- Drinks with the family
- Bed
- Church at 7am
- 2 hr. long run
- Flight to Philly
- Get delayed in Philly
- Flight to Richmond (arrive at 2 a.m.)
- 1 hr. drive to Cville
- Sleep for 4 hrs.
- 45 min run
- Pack and load truck for 5 hrs.
- Depart Cville in Uhaul truck
- Drive for 13 hrs. non-stop (through snow/sleet/rain)
- Pull over in Tuscaloosa for 3 hr. "nap" in the truck in a Hotel parking lot
- Drive another 5 hrs.
- 40 min. run on University of Southern Mississippi Campus (nice run!)
- Drive another 5 hrs.
- Arrive in Houston
- 1 hr. run at dusk
- Unload truck into garage
- BREATHE and RELAX!!!
Key points and tips from my long road trip ...
1. I anticipated the long drive and slept heavily on both flights. I was so out of it, that the stewardesses made comments as I deplaned BOTH flights!!!
2. I'm very thankful for my roommate Michael picking me up in Richmond, even after I got so delayed.
3. It takes a LOT longer to load a truck than it does to unload ...
4. The key to driving straight through without stopping for anything but gas is to be prepared. You have a large truck cab, so fully stock it with:
- Non-refrigerated, easily eaten foods such as trail mix, apples, bananas, bagels, peanut butter, etc.
- Outlet adapter, an already measured and filled coffee pot, and a coffee mug. The smell of coffee brewing in the cab is enough to keep you awake, but a warm cup when its snowing outside is simply indescribable.
- LOTS of water and Gatorade bottles! Good for hydration/energy and then double as a toilet when finished!
- Good tunes courtesy of my loving girlfriend!
- Pillow and blanket for "nap" (although could have used more since it was snowing outside and the cab got REALLY COLD)
- Change of clothes and a toothbrush for gas station restrooms while fueling up
- Phone charger and iPod charger.
- Gnarly cowboy hat and sunflower seeds to get yourself in the trucker mood.
5. Mid-drive runs are key to staying energized and seeing new places. The University of Southern Mississippi (home of Brett Favre) happened to be in the perfect spot for one of these runs and I was pleasantly surprised by the campus. Mississippi surprised me all around actually. Alabama (Roll Tide) was beautiful country, so when I first got into Mississippi, I was a little disappointed (other than saying M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I over and over and over again), but that soon changed. The welcoming center was VERY WELCOMING and even offered to make me bfast. Then after the nice run at Southern Miss along the Rails to Trails path, all of a sudden I felt very comfortable in the Dirty South.
6. Louisiana was flooded like crazy. I almost felt bad pointing it out after the Katrina tragedy, but this was far north of New Orleans and it was REALLY BAD! There is definitely the need for civil engineers in that state ...
7. The last leg of the trip was the worst and, of course, I arrived in Houston just in time for 5 o'clock traffic! I spent the last 2 hrs. of my trip within the Houston city limits ... ugh.
8. The smell that continuously gets worse along the way from 48 hrs. without a shower, packing, 2 runs, and being closed up in a truck cab is something that needs to simply be accepted ... I stunk when I got to Houston ...
9. The run at the end of the trip was less scenic than the ones along the way, but was sort of a relief because it was the last thing I had to do before I could just sit down and RELAX with family, friends, and my significant other ... glorious!
Phew ... glad thats done and GLAD to be back in TEXAS!!!
- Cross the finish line
- Long cool down/Icebath
- 2 1/2hr. Drive to Houston
- Drinks with the family
- Bed
- Church at 7am
- 2 hr. long run
- Flight to Philly
- Get delayed in Philly
- Flight to Richmond (arrive at 2 a.m.)
- 1 hr. drive to Cville
- Sleep for 4 hrs.
- 45 min run
- Pack and load truck for 5 hrs.
- Depart Cville in Uhaul truck
- Drive for 13 hrs. non-stop (through snow/sleet/rain)
- Pull over in Tuscaloosa for 3 hr. "nap" in the truck in a Hotel parking lot
- Drive another 5 hrs.
- 40 min. run on University of Southern Mississippi Campus (nice run!)
- Drive another 5 hrs.
- Arrive in Houston
- 1 hr. run at dusk
- Unload truck into garage
- BREATHE and RELAX!!!
Key points and tips from my long road trip ...
1. I anticipated the long drive and slept heavily on both flights. I was so out of it, that the stewardesses made comments as I deplaned BOTH flights!!!
2. I'm very thankful for my roommate Michael picking me up in Richmond, even after I got so delayed.
3. It takes a LOT longer to load a truck than it does to unload ...
4. The key to driving straight through without stopping for anything but gas is to be prepared. You have a large truck cab, so fully stock it with:
- Non-refrigerated, easily eaten foods such as trail mix, apples, bananas, bagels, peanut butter, etc.
- Outlet adapter, an already measured and filled coffee pot, and a coffee mug. The smell of coffee brewing in the cab is enough to keep you awake, but a warm cup when its snowing outside is simply indescribable.
- LOTS of water and Gatorade bottles! Good for hydration/energy and then double as a toilet when finished!
- Good tunes courtesy of my loving girlfriend!
- Pillow and blanket for "nap" (although could have used more since it was snowing outside and the cab got REALLY COLD)
- Change of clothes and a toothbrush for gas station restrooms while fueling up
- Phone charger and iPod charger.
- Gnarly cowboy hat and sunflower seeds to get yourself in the trucker mood.
5. Mid-drive runs are key to staying energized and seeing new places. The University of Southern Mississippi (home of Brett Favre) happened to be in the perfect spot for one of these runs and I was pleasantly surprised by the campus. Mississippi surprised me all around actually. Alabama (Roll Tide) was beautiful country, so when I first got into Mississippi, I was a little disappointed (other than saying M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I over and over and over again), but that soon changed. The welcoming center was VERY WELCOMING and even offered to make me bfast. Then after the nice run at Southern Miss along the Rails to Trails path, all of a sudden I felt very comfortable in the Dirty South.
6. Louisiana was flooded like crazy. I almost felt bad pointing it out after the Katrina tragedy, but this was far north of New Orleans and it was REALLY BAD! There is definitely the need for civil engineers in that state ...
7. The last leg of the trip was the worst and, of course, I arrived in Houston just in time for 5 o'clock traffic! I spent the last 2 hrs. of my trip within the Houston city limits ... ugh.
8. The smell that continuously gets worse along the way from 48 hrs. without a shower, packing, 2 runs, and being closed up in a truck cab is something that needs to simply be accepted ... I stunk when I got to Houston ...
9. The run at the end of the trip was less scenic than the ones along the way, but was sort of a relief because it was the last thing I had to do before I could just sit down and RELAX with family, friends, and my significant other ... glorious!
Phew ... glad thats done and GLAD to be back in TEXAS!!!
Rust Buster - Texas Relays (Jerry Thompson Mile)
Oh the Texas Relays ...
Not only is this one of the premier track meets in the country because of its competition, location, weather, and fans, but its also a spectacle that, if you have not been privileged to as of yet, you must see in the near future. The congregation of people who come to The Relays are quite diverse and there is a cultural mixture very rarely seen anywhere else. Sure, the weekend causes headaches for some of those not participating in The Relays by ways of crowds, traffic, and parking dilemmas, but this is even more reason for those people to get involved, embrace, and experience the "madness" in a means of appreciating it instead of damning it. This is, after all, the sport our country follows most come an Olympic year, so why ignore it in the 4 years in between ...
I have returned once more to run the Texas Relays, and the Jerry Thompson Mile specifically. This was the race which last year saw me breaking 4 for the first time and becoming half of the first American father/son pair to do so. I have also set records here in high school in the DMR and 4x800 with my high school (and eventual college) teammates, Erik Stanley and Tomas Finol.
While this years race did not go perfectly, it was a very good start. The goal this year was to win, but I also thought I had a chance at running pretty quick despite not having done any race-pace work. We found out shortly before the race that we would have a pace-maker taking us through 1000 (he ended up going 800 perfectly, but that left me to battle the wind for the next 2 laps out in front). I am very thankful to Kyle for doing this for us after already having raced earlier that day. Jake and I came shoulder to shoulder with 300 to go and then a very strange thing happened. Neither of us kicked, neither of us tied up, but both of us got slower and we separated! When you are racing off strength as both of us were, the "red line" is very shallow. The pace seems overly quick from the start and you feel lactic acid building with the anaerobic effort, but you power along anyways with your energy levels getting increasingly lower. By the time came for a kick, neither Jake nor I had it off the brisk pace, but neither was tied up either, we simply didn't have the energy to close, but the strength to finish ... in 32 sec for the last 200 (UGH!).
I finished 3rd (passed at the last second by a kicking Kenyan) in 4:03.83 and was at first a bit disappointed. After reflecting on my training, the race, and my performance, I decided that I should feel just the opposite. I am pleased with how it turned out and believe that it has put me in a good position for the start of the season. I am positive about my trip to Boston on the 17th for the Invitation Road Mile in which I feel the same strength-work that damned me in this race will prove to be VERY valuable.
Not only is this one of the premier track meets in the country because of its competition, location, weather, and fans, but its also a spectacle that, if you have not been privileged to as of yet, you must see in the near future. The congregation of people who come to The Relays are quite diverse and there is a cultural mixture very rarely seen anywhere else. Sure, the weekend causes headaches for some of those not participating in The Relays by ways of crowds, traffic, and parking dilemmas, but this is even more reason for those people to get involved, embrace, and experience the "madness" in a means of appreciating it instead of damning it. This is, after all, the sport our country follows most come an Olympic year, so why ignore it in the 4 years in between ...
I have returned once more to run the Texas Relays, and the Jerry Thompson Mile specifically. This was the race which last year saw me breaking 4 for the first time and becoming half of the first American father/son pair to do so. I have also set records here in high school in the DMR and 4x800 with my high school (and eventual college) teammates, Erik Stanley and Tomas Finol.
While this years race did not go perfectly, it was a very good start. The goal this year was to win, but I also thought I had a chance at running pretty quick despite not having done any race-pace work. We found out shortly before the race that we would have a pace-maker taking us through 1000 (he ended up going 800 perfectly, but that left me to battle the wind for the next 2 laps out in front). I am very thankful to Kyle for doing this for us after already having raced earlier that day. Jake and I came shoulder to shoulder with 300 to go and then a very strange thing happened. Neither of us kicked, neither of us tied up, but both of us got slower and we separated! When you are racing off strength as both of us were, the "red line" is very shallow. The pace seems overly quick from the start and you feel lactic acid building with the anaerobic effort, but you power along anyways with your energy levels getting increasingly lower. By the time came for a kick, neither Jake nor I had it off the brisk pace, but neither was tied up either, we simply didn't have the energy to close, but the strength to finish ... in 32 sec for the last 200 (UGH!).
I finished 3rd (passed at the last second by a kicking Kenyan) in 4:03.83 and was at first a bit disappointed. After reflecting on my training, the race, and my performance, I decided that I should feel just the opposite. I am pleased with how it turned out and believe that it has put me in a good position for the start of the season. I am positive about my trip to Boston on the 17th for the Invitation Road Mile in which I feel the same strength-work that damned me in this race will prove to be VERY valuable.
Underwater Treadmills
One of the many benefits afforded me while being an athlete at the University of Texas was the immaculate facilities available for me to use. And while it was nice to have a large, fully-stocked training room, the numerous doctors, a great track stadium, a state-of-the-art weight room etc., I think the most beneficial piece of equipment for me during my time spent at Texas was our two underwater treadmills.
These treadmills arrived my Junior year and at the perfect time. I have never been an injury prone athlete, but the first couple years I spent at Texas, I would run 95-105 mile weeks and after a few weeks of that, while I wouldn't be injured, my body would be run-down and I would get sick, tired, sore etc. My senior year, I decided that I would drop my mileage on the roads to about 80 miles per week and get the remaining 15-20 on the underwater treadmill. I saw an immediate difference!!! I was now able to run more back to back weeks at higher mileages without feeling drained or crossing the fatigue line with my body. Not only did this keep me feeling fresher, but I also found that the underwater treadmill actually seemed to help my body recover.
I slowly began to realize that every time I was sore, tight, or just a little off, if I would spend 20-45 minutes on the underwater treadmill instead of on the roads or grass, that my body would feel brand new (or at least MUCH better) the following day. I believe that the combination of the pressure of the water against my legs, the massage created by the current in the water, and the weight lessening properties caused by being submerged all contributed to helping my body regain that alignment, pop, and freshness I needed to continue training hard.
Now, going back to mileage, I have found that having to do 15-20 miles of my week underwater was actually merely a transition helper. I am now able to do consistent 95-105 miles weeks on the roads without getting completely wiped out. I have been at this mileage for almost 7 months now and don't see any indication of stopping anytime soon. Now that I am beck in Austin, I will continue using the underwater treadmill to fix soreness, tightness, and dis-alignment, but will no longer have to in order to get a larger mileage base.
I will get back on the "pony" for the first time today after being a little sluggish the past couple days and am excited to see the effects tomorrow and this weekend for the Jerry Thompson Mile! I will also re-implement the underwater treadmill in the future when my coach and I decide it is time to try another mileage jump in the base phase. Running 120 mile weeks at that point in time when I begin training more for the 3K Steeple and 5K will take another adjustment, and I now believe I know the best way for my body to do that.
These treadmills arrived my Junior year and at the perfect time. I have never been an injury prone athlete, but the first couple years I spent at Texas, I would run 95-105 mile weeks and after a few weeks of that, while I wouldn't be injured, my body would be run-down and I would get sick, tired, sore etc. My senior year, I decided that I would drop my mileage on the roads to about 80 miles per week and get the remaining 15-20 on the underwater treadmill. I saw an immediate difference!!! I was now able to run more back to back weeks at higher mileages without feeling drained or crossing the fatigue line with my body. Not only did this keep me feeling fresher, but I also found that the underwater treadmill actually seemed to help my body recover.
I slowly began to realize that every time I was sore, tight, or just a little off, if I would spend 20-45 minutes on the underwater treadmill instead of on the roads or grass, that my body would feel brand new (or at least MUCH better) the following day. I believe that the combination of the pressure of the water against my legs, the massage created by the current in the water, and the weight lessening properties caused by being submerged all contributed to helping my body regain that alignment, pop, and freshness I needed to continue training hard.
Now, going back to mileage, I have found that having to do 15-20 miles of my week underwater was actually merely a transition helper. I am now able to do consistent 95-105 miles weeks on the roads without getting completely wiped out. I have been at this mileage for almost 7 months now and don't see any indication of stopping anytime soon. Now that I am beck in Austin, I will continue using the underwater treadmill to fix soreness, tightness, and dis-alignment, but will no longer have to in order to get a larger mileage base.
I will get back on the "pony" for the first time today after being a little sluggish the past couple days and am excited to see the effects tomorrow and this weekend for the Jerry Thompson Mile! I will also re-implement the underwater treadmill in the future when my coach and I decide it is time to try another mileage jump in the base phase. Running 120 mile weeks at that point in time when I begin training more for the 3K Steeple and 5K will take another adjustment, and I now believe I know the best way for my body to do that.
1st Workout with Lopez
After a 30 minute Thunder and Lightning rain delay this morning which was followed by blue skies and great cool temperatures (welcome to Texas weather) …
I was back on the hill today, except this time with my new training partner for the next month and a half, Lopez Lamong (2008 Olympian in the 1500). I was excited about the opportunity to begin working out with Lopez, but after the intense week of training last week, the Cap 10k Sunday, and speed development yesterday, my body definitely was not!
Goal was 2 x 4hills (55, 53) and then back to the track for 4x400 for me and 4X200 for Lopez. First set went well, although I could feel that my legs had no pop whatsoever. Second set was rough. Lopez dropped me on the second one and I still ran 54. Next two were at 55, which isn’t terrible, but looks bad when Lopez is running 51-52. I told Hayes that my legs feel ok in general, but that when I ask them for POWER, it’s just not there today. I got through the hills on pure desire and Hayes decided it would be better just to run diagonals back at the track. I ran 4 and felt fine. The turnover is there, I’m not sore, I’m not tight, but I have zero pop/power. Hill series, quick shower and off to work since I am running late from the delayed start … second run, stretch, roll, treatment, and ice-bath later …
See What Had Happened Was ...
Another really good week (gotta prepare myself for a down one). Had 2 more really good workouts, doing 2 x 5hills (54 avg., 52 avg.) followed by 4 x 800 (2:16, 2:15, 2:13, 2:12) w/200 jog on Tuesday and 2 x 4mile threshold (21:10, 20:36) on Town Lake followed by 6 x 30/30’s in the afternoon. Tuesday’s workout was the first time being back with Jacob, Jake, Kyle, Twins, Logan, Patrick, Mike, etc. and Friday’s workout I got to do with Jake and Kyle, so that was a great change of pace. It was also my birthday on Friday and I got to go to my favorite restaurant for my favorite meal with my favorite people … what more could I ask for?!
Sunday brought some more enjoyment for me as I participated in, for the first time, and won the Capitol 10K. The local Austin racing scene is so fantastic that I had to opt for running this race instead of doing a typical long-run. For the time being, it has also proven to be very valuable mentally. I once again ran a smooth consistent effort that never went past threshold feel/effort and finished in 30:26 on a very hilly course. This is something I have never been able to consistently do in my training and something I look forward to seeing the effects of later in the season. Special side note and congrats to my DTP (designated training partner) Raul Garcia, who finished 20th in a Personal Best of 34:40 after not having competed in 3 yrs. Great Job Bro!
The weeks done and I feel good … let’s hope it stays this way. Need to have a week of rest (but not from training) going into the Jerry Thompson Mile at The Texas Relays next weekend. Goal there is to COMPETE!New race on the schedule!
A new race has been added to my 2009 Schedule. I am proud to announce that I have been invited to compete in the 1st Annual Boston Marathon Road Mile taking place on Sunday, April 17th, the day before the actual Boston Marathon.
I am honored to be competing in this event because of its revolutionary thinking and great field of milers. By setting up a road mile in conjunction with one of the worlds greatest marathons, I feel that the B.A.A has created an even greater level of excitement for a weekend and event that was already known for its amazing atmosphere/festivities.
This is going to be a great event!
I am honored to be competing in this event because of its revolutionary thinking and great field of milers. By setting up a road mile in conjunction with one of the worlds greatest marathons, I feel that the B.A.A has created an even greater level of excitement for a weekend and event that was already known for its amazing atmosphere/festivities.
This is going to be a great event!
See What Had Happened Was ...
Quick rundown of the past week:
1. Weather was perfect and Austin became amazingly green again ... That Rocks!
2. 2 Very good workouts (one was fast 200's and the other a FAST, EASY, SOLID 5mile tempo on Town Lake ... feeling great!) ... That Rocks!
3. Texas lost to "Dook" in the second round of the tourney ... That Sucks!
4. Made an awesome contact while shooting a commercial for KXAN/ROGUE, as well as other advancements for my sponsorship team ... That Rocks!
5. I joined the Twitter nation (www.twitter.com/dbrunning) ... TBD! hahaha
6. I went to see Corey Crowder play at Giddy Up's (if you don't know, you haven't lived). Had a beer with him before the show and ate with him after. Cool dude ... That Rocks!
So that makes me 4-1-1 for the week. That's a winning record and one I will take week after week!
Hopefully this week goes just as well. My new training partner arrives on Wednesday and I start my PT "job" mentoring UT student athletes, which I am really excited about. It's also my birthday on Friday and I race the Capitol 10K on Sunday. Next step after that is the Texas Relays' Jerry Thompson Mile ...
God Bless
1. Weather was perfect and Austin became amazingly green again ... That Rocks!
2. 2 Very good workouts (one was fast 200's and the other a FAST, EASY, SOLID 5mile tempo on Town Lake ... feeling great!) ... That Rocks!
3. Texas lost to "Dook" in the second round of the tourney ... That Sucks!
4. Made an awesome contact while shooting a commercial for KXAN/ROGUE, as well as other advancements for my sponsorship team ... That Rocks!
5. I joined the Twitter nation (www.twitter.com/dbrunning) ... TBD! hahaha
6. I went to see Corey Crowder play at Giddy Up's (if you don't know, you haven't lived). Had a beer with him before the show and ate with him after. Cool dude ... That Rocks!
So that makes me 4-1-1 for the week. That's a winning record and one I will take week after week!
Hopefully this week goes just as well. My new training partner arrives on Wednesday and I start my PT "job" mentoring UT student athletes, which I am really excited about. It's also my birthday on Friday and I race the Capitol 10K on Sunday. Next step after that is the Texas Relays' Jerry Thompson Mile ...
God Bless
See What Had Happened Was ...
Alright yall (I don't even really know if anyone reads this, so I may be apologizing to NO ONE hahaha), sorry about the delay, but it was a busy week and an even busier weekend.
I took a trip to NCAA's this past weekend in College Station in order to see my horns turn in some gutsy and some good performances. Great job to our DMR who, even though they were 4th, were the only ones from the second heat to really go for it and who would have been a serious threat had they been racing heads up with the three teams that beat them from the second heat. Also, BIG hats-off to JHERN for winning his second NCAA 800m title in impressive fashion. We all know he, and others, can run faster, but the question is, can they race better?! Not on Saturday! After a season in which we all knew he was less than ecstatic with, he pulled it all together, shook it off, and layed it down. Hell of a job bro! In between the days, Leo, Rob, BRD, Will and myself went back to good old Spring, Texas where I showed them my high school stomping grounds along the bayous and through Meyer Park. It was a really nice run and I realized, if I had actually trained in H.S., I would have noticed that, other than the lack of hills, NW Houston has some really nice, soft areas to run ... who'd of thought?!
This past weeks training went really well for me also. I actually had to make a minor adjustment for my workout on Friday/long run on Sunday by switching them. My teammate (old and current) and one of my closest friends, Joe Thorne, and I competed in a Road 10k on Sunday in New Braunfels to have a little fun and make a little extra cash at the same time.
This race was a ton of fun and for so many different reasons! First, Joe and I have once again teamed up, this time under the name Rogue Racing, to compete together. Rogue is a local Austin running/training company who has been kind enough to help us out in our post collegiate racing days as well as continuing to be a bright spot for running here in the great city of Austin. We were proud to represent them. Secondly, Joe and I both PR'ed and ran much faster (with only tempo run effort) than we had anticipated, especially in those weather conditions (45 and raining). We had set out at 5min mile pace in order to run just under 31min and instead found ourselves crossing the line in 30:19.6 with looks of confusion on our faces ... we had not expected that, but immediately the conversation started ... "Want to go under 30 next time?", "I don't think it would take THAT much more effort, so why not", "Awesome, where do you want to do it?" etc ... Finally, we met some really cool people and the vision I have for a group of post-collegiate runners, and a support system for them, seemed to grow more and more feasible with everyone I met.
That was the week ... another post soon since this one was sooo delayed.
dbrown
I took a trip to NCAA's this past weekend in College Station in order to see my horns turn in some gutsy and some good performances. Great job to our DMR who, even though they were 4th, were the only ones from the second heat to really go for it and who would have been a serious threat had they been racing heads up with the three teams that beat them from the second heat. Also, BIG hats-off to JHERN for winning his second NCAA 800m title in impressive fashion. We all know he, and others, can run faster, but the question is, can they race better?! Not on Saturday! After a season in which we all knew he was less than ecstatic with, he pulled it all together, shook it off, and layed it down. Hell of a job bro! In between the days, Leo, Rob, BRD, Will and myself went back to good old Spring, Texas where I showed them my high school stomping grounds along the bayous and through Meyer Park. It was a really nice run and I realized, if I had actually trained in H.S., I would have noticed that, other than the lack of hills, NW Houston has some really nice, soft areas to run ... who'd of thought?!
This past weeks training went really well for me also. I actually had to make a minor adjustment for my workout on Friday/long run on Sunday by switching them. My teammate (old and current) and one of my closest friends, Joe Thorne, and I competed in a Road 10k on Sunday in New Braunfels to have a little fun and make a little extra cash at the same time.
This race was a ton of fun and for so many different reasons! First, Joe and I have once again teamed up, this time under the name Rogue Racing, to compete together. Rogue is a local Austin running/training company who has been kind enough to help us out in our post collegiate racing days as well as continuing to be a bright spot for running here in the great city of Austin. We were proud to represent them. Secondly, Joe and I both PR'ed and ran much faster (with only tempo run effort) than we had anticipated, especially in those weather conditions (45 and raining). We had set out at 5min mile pace in order to run just under 31min and instead found ourselves crossing the line in 30:19.6 with looks of confusion on our faces ... we had not expected that, but immediately the conversation started ... "Want to go under 30 next time?", "I don't think it would take THAT much more effort, so why not", "Awesome, where do you want to do it?" etc ... Finally, we met some really cool people and the vision I have for a group of post-collegiate runners, and a support system for them, seemed to grow more and more feasible with everyone I met.
That was the week ... another post soon since this one was sooo delayed.
dbrown
See What Had Happened Was ...
Three key points to note this week ...
1. Second week of training with Coach Hayes went really well again. I ran two pretty high intensity workouts, ones which are normally a week spot in my training, and each went well; repeat K's solo in a strong wind and then a long steady 10 mile tempo on Town Lake. I am also starting to get a grasp on all of the ancillary training we are doing, learning the new lifting routine Trey Strong has me on, and felt sore/tired for the first time in a while (the good sore/tired that is ... the one that lets you know you're getting fitter). All this while keeping a large mileage base of 98 miles for the week. Only sore spot in the week of training was missing the long run today with the guys, due to daylight savings time, right after I had blogged about the frustrations of it the night before. Looking forward to this week's training.
2. I finally got my place rented in Charlottesville! Now I can live on a couch in Austin without paying rent and utilities on a great town-home in another state. Makes me feel a little better about my current situation. Even though I am still living like a homeless man, at least I am not wasting money on a place I haven't seen in 3 months! Plus, it worked out for not only me, but my roommate Mike and my buddy Alex who is moving in. Also, on top of that, Tara closed on her town-home which means I have a killer place to live come August and can't wait to have my Athletic trainer (and one of my closest friends) as my roommate.
3. I may be the luckiest man in the world. Three chance encounters with "Red in the blue" in one week! I couldn't have gone about this in any worse of a way and had it still work out. Really glad this one happened, but still asking myself how it did. I think I'll just accept the luck factor ...
Hope everyone's week was just as good!
dbrown
1. Second week of training with Coach Hayes went really well again. I ran two pretty high intensity workouts, ones which are normally a week spot in my training, and each went well; repeat K's solo in a strong wind and then a long steady 10 mile tempo on Town Lake. I am also starting to get a grasp on all of the ancillary training we are doing, learning the new lifting routine Trey Strong has me on, and felt sore/tired for the first time in a while (the good sore/tired that is ... the one that lets you know you're getting fitter). All this while keeping a large mileage base of 98 miles for the week. Only sore spot in the week of training was missing the long run today with the guys, due to daylight savings time, right after I had blogged about the frustrations of it the night before. Looking forward to this week's training.
2. I finally got my place rented in Charlottesville! Now I can live on a couch in Austin without paying rent and utilities on a great town-home in another state. Makes me feel a little better about my current situation. Even though I am still living like a homeless man, at least I am not wasting money on a place I haven't seen in 3 months! Plus, it worked out for not only me, but my roommate Mike and my buddy Alex who is moving in. Also, on top of that, Tara closed on her town-home which means I have a killer place to live come August and can't wait to have my Athletic trainer (and one of my closest friends) as my roommate.
3. I may be the luckiest man in the world. Three chance encounters with "Red in the blue" in one week! I couldn't have gone about this in any worse of a way and had it still work out. Really glad this one happened, but still asking myself how it did. I think I'll just accept the luck factor ...
Hope everyone's week was just as good!
dbrown
"Spring"ing forward update ...
And ... I missed the run ...
AAAHHHHH!
I set two alarms on my phone, one in case it automatically changed, and one an hour earlier in case it didn't. Neither went off! I had also set an alarm on my watch, but didn't adjust the time to be an hour later before I went to bed, so when it went off at 6:45, it was really 7:45 and there was no way I was making it in to campus.
Lucky for me, Joe Thorne is watching his gf run a 5k this morning and had to push his long run back, so at least I'll still have some company, I just wont make it to the training room before it closes now. Icebath in the bathtub it is!
AAAHHHHH!
I set two alarms on my phone, one in case it automatically changed, and one an hour earlier in case it didn't. Neither went off! I had also set an alarm on my watch, but didn't adjust the time to be an hour later before I went to bed, so when it went off at 6:45, it was really 7:45 and there was no way I was making it in to campus.
Lucky for me, Joe Thorne is watching his gf run a 5k this morning and had to push his long run back, so at least I'll still have some company, I just wont make it to the training room before it closes now. Icebath in the bathtub it is!
