Red Dirt Harriers

This spring has been marked by some non-standard training preparations for me. The highly intense and typically short workouts I had been doing were not ideal for marathon preparation, but they got me back in the game and ready to get going. I have now been trying to build into some endurance work, with variable returns. After failing to get the effort in that I wanted, I came back on Tuesday with the old double barrel workout. I did a moderate progression type run of 90ish minutes then came back that evening with a 45 minute steady run and then some half marathon pace efforts in the form of 3minutes on/ 2 jog on the roads. I didn't force the pace so my first few were more in the 2:45 range but then I was able to start turning the legs over with the same effort and my last couple were more in the 2:35 range. I only managed 8 due to rising stomach discomfort. All this ended up being a marathon in volume for the day. I did the second run all in flats too. Then the funk set in. I have...

Winds remain unceasing, whereas yesterday I opted for the treadmill in the morning because I was unmotivated and still a bit lethargic after the weekend, today I went outdoors. I don't think it was actually as windy as yesterday evening, when I basically watched it go from sunny to questionably swirly cloudy. John has jumped on the treadmill bandwagon and searched out capable locales in B'ville. I must say that I curiously felt pretty good yesterday afternoon after a morning running easy with some inclines thrown in. The treadmill provided more cushioning than the roads would have and I think it allowed for a little more recovery due to less pounding. I'm going to continue to utilize this curious machine and see what I think of its effects on the fitness. And yes my indignation has subsided since I found out about this guy's use of the 'mill . I did end up running a kind of marathon effort thing this morning, although I have no idea how fast I was going because I ra...

Recap of weekend: Stu/Kat, Spenis and I met up for a jog on Friday then packed up the Rodeo, poured some road sodas and high-tailed it to Tulsa for an abbreviated stay. Upon arrival, burgers were consumed and some quality ball tossing with Marley filled out the evening. I was pretty bushed, with some residual soreness from Thursday's tempo run with Billy, but the legs felt capable of some pacing duties for Stu's assault of the K9K. I didn't sleep great, but woke to good spirits from the crew and the laying down of a gauntlet between Mike and Stu about who could finish their respective races in less time (Mike ended up finishing his 5k in ~27:XX, so we owe him beer next time). Stu and I felt decent and slipped through 5k in 16:45 after having to run through the fun runners with kids and dogs (a little kid and another runner collided further back, marking yet another instance of ill-advised course direction). Carrot-top was a pleasant addition to the chase group for a while, ...

Following some low-key alms in the name of St. Paddy yesterday, I was ashamedly pretty useless this morning. I've been having trouble sleeping solidly through the night for a variety of reasons, but in any case I rolled out go see the phlebotomist. Needing to regather, I hit Plaid for a quick hit of caffeine and pastry, then forged on to OTR, to open the store and sneak in a run. Still catching up from the weekend in Dallas, I had a dece time and got about the right amount of imbibment in, without incident. I felt so free- being able to go buy my beer at whatever grocery store was available and stocked with respectable offerings. They do still have dry counties interestingly, so at the county line not more than a few miles from downtown Dallas, there are like 5 stores conspicuously toeing the boundary. I managed to get in a nice long run at whiterock and also logged a few miles on Ardmore Lake Road, both coming and going. Ging and I smoked some dry rubbed chickens and I successfull...

The ironic truth about respiration and, in relation to exercise: the more oxygen we can consume and therefore fan the flame hotter and higher, the bigger the VO2max and the more we can detroy ourselves. I hit the miles pretty good this past weekend but was pleased to score a 77 on my post-test session on Monday. My body is feeling the increased workload lately, and a little more sleep really would hit the spot. I'm racing a 5k in Dallas this weekend and then hanging out to watch the St. Patty's day parade on the Greenville with a cooler in tow. I will be looking to hit a long run on Sunday at Whiterock Lake to keep the spring buildup in line. I hope to be ready for some longer racing, maybe a 1/2 marathon , maybe a fu ll, maybe an ultra before the summer heat sets in.

$3 burgers at McNellie's last night with a good crew including Sacker, Kristi, Mike, Stuey, Jordan, Spencer, Jerry, and yo. We had our first opportunity to try a couple beers from the Coop brewery, the newest local brewery. I was mightily impressed, they were truly flavorful beers and I look forward to their additional offerings, in addition to the Native Amber and Belgian Style Golden Ale we encountered. I would say it was a pretty relaxing day by all accounts, as soon as the highly abrasive 14mph treadmill workout was completed. Jordan and I were trying to imagine what this intensity would be like for a legit miler/5k type and we were basically calling it like a 5x800 w/ 1' recovery at like 1:52-4 or something. I imagine it can be done but I don't know if even the guys that have more leg speed than I do would be able to actually complete the workout, because of the recovery. I thought I would be able to do 2' on the last repeat but once I went over the tipping point, ...

I had some fatigue in the quads this morning, which I didn't really expect because yesterday was a medium day on the treadmill, but I've been stringing together some good days and every once in a while the quality takes it toll. I feel generally good though running the miles right now. I did just that this evening, but made the mistake of eating the darko choco bar prior to and paid the price at about the hour mark. Stomach started talking to me but I made it home, only felt rubbish on the few strides I actually pulled off. It was a very windy afternoon, but temps were great and I bumped in to Jenny Graef and legged out some miles in good company, after we stopped to let her new pooch out for a whiz. I got into my promo beer this evening, my version of pepto, I had the Southampton IPA and Gordon Biersch Golden Bock. The IPA needs more IBUs albeit having a nice floral aroma, it lacks some punch and the bock was sweet scented and curiously higher alcohol but sort of low on anythi...