The Running Blog

A shout out to all the people who helped with injured in the Boston Marathon tragedy, as well as the families of those who were afflicted.

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 21:38:00 -0400

To quote something I read earlier:

“when you spot violence, or bigotry, or intolerance or fear or just garden-variety misogyny, hatred or ignorance, just look it in the eye and think, “The good outnumber you, and we always will.”

- Patton Oswalt

Oh yeah, forgot to mention my run.

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 20:19:45 -0400

Today was, much to my disappointment, a 45 minute run. I was so eager to race today. But the 45 minute run went well, minus the acute shin pain I experienced on and off. Tomorrow is another 45.

Cancelled meet. The Triquel. Trequel. Three-quel?

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 17:38:21 -0400

I had a meet today. Well, I supposed to have a meet today. It was an indoor meet, but I was still looking forward to it. I want to race a 3200m! This is the 3rd meet we’ve had cancelled, and it doesn’t look like I’ll have a break-in race before Mehock, unfortunately. I guess it will either a swim-or-sink race…

Cancelled meet

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 22:57:35 -0400

Today’s dual meet was cancelled due to thunder storms, ice storms, and shit storms in general. While I am not bitter about the cancelled race, I feel extremely anxious because I want to get out on the track. Today’s workout in lieu of racing was a plyo workout. It was 2 sets of 3 exercises, another 2 sets of 3 exercises, and 6 specialty sprints. There was a lot of body weight stuff like box steps and squats, but most of the work was on the hurdles we had to jump over.

I’m very tired, so goodnight.

Realistic goals.

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 21:44:34 -0400

While bouts of personal cumberance and inadequate nutrition have held me back for the last year, I think I have compiled a few reasonable times that I believe are reachable and doable. Given from what said ex-pro runner (previously mentioned in the blog), coach, and other athletes of my level have shown me, my goals are…

For the 800m, given the fact I am not a power runner, 1:57-8
For the 1600m, given the fact I am not a power runner, 4:12-14(lofty still)
For the 3200m, given my 5k PR/potential and other runners as reference points… 9:05 (or faster)

The only thing about the 3200 is I seldom have the competition I need to hit that time. That being said, I will focus this season on racing by myself, trying to run good times with no outside help.

Wet

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:36:09 -0400

Today was a “pre-race” run. Just 35 minutes easy. Though, unlike most pre-race days, today it poured. I got back from my run looking like I went into the shower with my clothes on. From what it looks like, my meet tomorrow will be cancelled.

My legs don't really hurt.

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:07:00 -0400

Today was another morning circuit lift. I haven’t really described what I’ve been doing, so I suppose I should tell you guys. It’s a 10 exercise circuit in which we do 2 reps of 45 second intervals w/ 15 second rest. Each exercise is a 2-part lift. Here’s a list of at least what I can remember…

1. Pushups to side planks
2. 85 squat to knee drive
3. Romanian deadlift on uneven surface to dumbbell press(idk the name)
4. Body weight squats to knee drive on toes
5. Deadlift to inverted row to shoulder press
6. Bridges on yoga ball
7. Side plank knee drives
8. Mountain climbers on yoga ball
9. Forward lunge with medicine ball ab twists
10. Back lunge with medicine ball across body

As for my run today, it was another 60 minute run. It was raining really hard today, but I love the rain so I didn’t really care. My shins and stomach were hurting for the first 20 minutes of the run, but after that… I felt great! My pants were soaked, so that was the only downfall. I got one more week of really killing it, and then it’s my first big meet- Mehock Relays.

My legs really hurt.

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 22:01:29 -0400

Today I had a 60 minute run. It was slow and easy, I didn’t want to push it too hard. I had to work today, a 4-9 shift. The worst part was all the standing, it made all the achiness in my legs worse.

somenotboringthing said: Oh thats not what I meant at all! I didn’t think you sounded arrogant, I...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 18:19:00 -0400

somenotboringthing said: Oh thats not what I meant at all! I didn’t think you sounded arrogant, I genuinely just wanted to express my admiration for your goals and your drive to meet them

Oh, I didn’t think you were, I was just thinking out loud. I know the times I hit are good, but I often feel embarrassed or self conscious for posting them since I know they are difficult times to hit.

somenotboringthing said: The fact that you consider that only an “ok” time is what impresses me most...

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 17:40:49 -0400

somenotboringthing said: The fact that you consider that only an “ok” time is what impresses me most of all. Keep up the great work and good luck!

I suppose that can come off as arrogant, but I hold myself to such a high standard when it comes to racing. Thank you for you kind words and good luck to you as well!

Spring Break: Concluded.

Sat, 06 Apr 2013 17:33:43 -0400

It was a really eventful week this week, but it was painful to say the least.
I started of the week with a morning lift circuit. Later that day we had our first substantial track workout. I had mixed feelings about going into the workout since I was sick and the weather was quite cold and windy. It turned out to be a good day- I hit 4:58, 5:15, 4:59 on my workout 3, and on the optional 4, I died and hit a 5:30. Recovery in between each rep was 400m jog pace.

Tuesday and Wednesday were slow, drawn out runs. I was sore and I had some shin pain. I got new shoes on Tuesday, though…

Thursday I had another morning lift circuit. It was accompanied by 200’s later that day. The workout was 12x200m with on pace 200m at 32-34 pace, and recovery 200’s at 50-52 pace. This day was extremely windy, and I was proud that I was on pace for all but one of my 200’s.

Friday was recovery and strides. Easy day, played a little basketball with the team.

Today: Today was a race I was looking forward to for a while; it was a 5k in a collegiate track meet. I got less and less excited the more I realized that there wasn’t going to be much for competition there, but at least I’d get the experience of 5000m on the track. I went out at PR pace, which considering the extreme wind(35mph bursts) felt really easy and relaxed. After that, I started to falter a little bit- my lead was big and I had no real motivation to hold pace. On the 6th lap, I was passed by someone and I used them for the next mile to block the wind, and on the last 2 laps, I kicked it in for the win. My time was a 15:50, so not all impressive, but considering the wind, the week of workouts, and the lack of competition, it was a pretty good day.

Photo

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:01:51 -0400

The fact this came from topherwinslow is extremely ironic.

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 10:47:02 -0400

The fact this came from topherwinslow is extremely ironic.

Workout...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:40:48 -0400

The last couple of days have been recovery for the workout today; we were supposed to have it yesterday, but there was a general consensus that everyone felt like shit on Monday. Not to say that today I didn’t feel any better, but I couldn’t really do much about another recovery day. The last couple days I’ve just felt weak and sluggish, kinda like I’ve been sitting in a car for several hours.

Today’s workout went as followed:
1600m
400m
400m

x3
100m walk recovery between each rep, 400m jog recovery in between each set.

Since our track was covered in snow, we went to the FSU track. It was really windy, so I wasn’t particularly excited about it. My first 1600 was a 5:13(with goal time at 5:20), and my 400’s were 66 and 68. They were supposed to be all out, but frankly with that wind, sub 60’s weren’t going to happen(especially since the first set was with trainers). The second set was as follows: 5:08, 67, and 68 respectively. The third set is where half of the group dropped out(either because their 400’s sucked, or their 1600m sucked.) I hit 5:17, 71, and 70(needless to say, I sucked). My coach was pleased with the results, but none of the athletes have a sprint or kick yet.

ever-upward: This is a public service announcement: If you guys haven’t downloaded the new Strokes...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 20:32:10 -0400

ever-upward:

This is a public service announcement: If you guys haven’t downloaded the new Strokes album yet, do it.

OMG ANOTHER STROKES FAN?????

Easy, easy, HARD

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 12:40:13 -0400

The last 2 days have been really easy runs. First one was really slow, painful, nothing special. Since I spent most of Friday in a car, yesterday wasn’t amazing extremely good, but I felt crisp and quick for the first half, but that diminished after the the first 20 minutes.

Today was a 90 minute run that I did on the hilliest loop I know. I was averaging about 6:40’s the whole time, which I’m very pleased of, especially since I went out much slower in the beginning to run with my coach.

Race and Today

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 22:19:06 -0400

Yesterday’s race was met with mediocrity. I ran an OK race in the 1600m- 4:28, but I finished fourth and I was seeded first. My splits were consistent- every 400 was within a second. This is good and bad- I have a good feeling for my pace, but I have absolutely no sprint or kick right now. I do feel like I can hold that pace longer, but as for any faster, I’m not too sure. The 800 was a different story. While I didn’t race an amazing time, I was very proud of my tactical approach. I went through the 400m in dead last for my heat, then made a surge up to 3rd. I was holding the position for a while, but with 100m to go, again, I had no kick and I dropped to sixth. 2:05 for that race. I’m pretty happy with the day I suppose, I know where I’m weak at- SPEED.

Today was a workout, go figure. Hill sprints. We have this hill called “Holiday Hill” that is notorious for breaking people. It’s a long stretch, about 250-300m, with increase in grade every block. We had 6 sprints up the hill, jog down recovery, with 2 minutes recovery in between each rep. The first 3 I went all out, but the 3rd one really hurt my lungs and my stomach. The next 3 weren’t slow in particular, but I don’t feel very proud of them. After the 6 reps we had “desert”, which was 4 sprints up a hill with the highest grade, no recovery in between. These were about 70m at best, and didn’t take very long.

OK, guys, there’s a strawberry I posted… THAT LOOKS LIKE THE BATSIGN. SERIOUSLY.

The strawberry I deserve, but not the strawberry I need right...

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 22:43:49 -0400

The strawberry I deserve, but not the strawberry I need right now…

I ran for MSU a loooong time ago. Good luck! It's an AMAZING school!!!

Tue, 19 Mar 2013 21:40:30 -0400

I’m so incredibly nervous. I want to be good college, I want to keep up my good form for another 5 years, but also do well in my JMC classes. Thanks for note, the support means a lot!

Can’t tell if I’ve been there, or….

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:48:34 -0400

Can’t tell if I’ve been there, or….