Blips on the Radar
Does a week ever pass so quickly you weren’t able to really processed that anything happened? That was this last week for me. At first I thought, Man, I didn't do anything last week. In looking at my calendar and training log, however, I see that I worked 5 days, spent time with my family, and threw in some really strong runs.
I half-dread writing these entries sometimes. It's daunting to take the time to actually out the words down. Why waste the time? Who really cares?
Those questions are ultimately misguided. When I'm my best self I realize that these are largely for me. I share them in hopes that they might inspire others, but I know that I benefit from them.
I am holding myself accountable to a goal. Documenting the process along the way will keep me focused. It also helps me be more mindful about how I'm living right now. As an added bonus, it will be a time capsule of sorts, a way to remember details I would otherwise miss about this time in my life. I can live with that.
So, in this week in which “nothing happened,” here's what happened.
This week’s training goal was to get some good, hard runs in combined with strength/core training so that I could get a taste of what my official training will look like a couple months in. Contrary to last week, I made a plan for this week and executed accordingly. This was my last opportunity to make some improvements before taking a rest week and subsequently beginning my official 50k training. Of the workouts I did, there were two highlights.
First, I had a solid tempo run on Thursday. I planned to go 6 miles with miles 2-4 being at a harder effort. Even in the afternoon heat I was able to output a solid performance. I huffed and puffed my way through the last tempo mile but finished mile 4 feeling strong. Thanks to Strava, I was able to see that these tempo miles are my fastest 5k effort to date (since high school, anyway).
This run went well not only because of this but also because I’d not exhausted myself to the point where I could go no further. I didn’t finish very fast, but I was able to finish at a slow and steady pace. Once finished, this felt like one of my most productive runs to date. It was balanced, and finished running precisely the way I intended to. That, and I got to cool off by jumping into the pool.
The second high of the week was my long run on Saturday morning. If you’ve kept up with the blog thus far you know that last week’s 11-mile long run was rough. My legs felt heavy, and I had to force myself to finish. This week, however, I ran 12 miles with seeming ease. What a difference a week can make.
Beginning on the Pacific Electric Trail (PET), I ran for a few miles and then ventured up a random wash to explore a bit. I discovered a beautiful trail with a wide dirt path that’s shaded by giant trees. Traffic was almost nonexistent during my crossings, and I had a peaceful, serene jaunt to my mile 6 turnaround.
I hydrated well and ate enough calories that my travel back was just as solid as I started. Unlike last week when my final miles progressively got slower, I finished this run with my last mile being my strongest (at 8:26). Even more, I was able to successfully work a 6-hour shift at the restaurant after my run without feeling like I was falling apart.
I could not have asked for a better week to lead into my rest week. I feel good now taking the time to recover and will hopefully start my official 50k training healthy, fit, and ready.
Iris and I got to hang out a lot this week as Katie has been finishing up her semester, part of which involves clocking the last of her 60 field hours at the animal shelter in Norco (SO MANY HOURS!).
On Friday, Iris and I ran to the park to have lunch and hang out for a bit. Iris will be participating in a race of her own this Saturday, and she wanted to train like her dad. I took her on plenty of training runs, and, when I suggested we run to the park she said, “Dad, I gotta train for my race!”
So we ran to the park. Well, there was some running that took place. Iris, like most kids her age, likes to run when there's a game involved. It doesn't have to be a regimented game. Chasing each other around or running down a hill as fast as possible are fun enough goals on their own.
If there is a destination in mind, however, the impetus dissipates. While this can be frustrating at times, it mostly serves as a great reminder for what life should be.
I'll be the first to admit I'm terrible at it. Where are we going, and how efficiently can we get there? I tend to attribute part of this to living in Southern California, but I think parts of it are also modern society and the nature of humans.
Why are we in such a hurry? Where are we going that’s so important? What are we missing along the way?
While I'm running I miss a lot of rocks, trees, bugs, flowers, and nasty bird feathers which are likely infested with unspeakable diseases. What am I missing in life? The ability to enjoy the moment, to appreciate the place I’m in right now.
This is a lesson I have been struggling with for years. When I was at Norco college, I tried to take a look at life through an expanded perspective. What did I want to do in the long-term?
All the things I wanted to do seemed out of reach so in my head that the best I could hope for was eeking out a living until I could eventually retire and then I'd be able to start living. WHAT?! Asinine to think now, but I that's how my deranged mind worked at the time.
I remember a conversation I had with one of my English professors at the time. I was contemplating going to school to get my PhD in English. “But there's just so much schooling,” I whined at him.
“Yes, but you can live along the way,” he shot back.
But how? I wondered but was too embarrassed to ask.
My brain’s tendency was/is to see life as all or nothing. The way I saw it, I couldn't really live until I finished school. Well, then I'd have to get a job and wouldn't really be able to live until I could buy a house. But then, I wouldn't really be able to start living until I retired.
I’ve invested time in appreciating the moment and being present in my daily life, but I know I still have a long way to go.
May we be like Iris, appreciating the bugs and flowers on our journey to the park.
Katie bought me some awesome brews this week. Saturday, after my long run and walking around at work for 6 hours, the idea of enjoying Wolf Among Weeds had me nearly salivating.
This double IPA is packed full of flavor without too much edge.
This beer is, “Gold in color, this full-bodied IPA is a balanced showcase of the majestic hop specie, in Latin, Humulus Lupulus, which translates “Wolf Among Weeds”. At 8%, Wolf will sneak up on you from behind the dank earthy hop notes and subtle rye spice” (goldenroad.la).
We got to enjoy this brew while Iris swam around the pool like a fish, jumping and splashing with all alacrity.
This was the last actual training week before my official training kicks off. Next week will be a few easy runs to allow my body to fully heal before beginning my 50k training plan.
Should I break this up into 2 different entries and just post twice a week? What do you think?
Will write again soon.
Be well,
UltraDadRunner
I half-dread writing these entries sometimes. It's daunting to take the time to actually out the words down. Why waste the time? Who really cares?
Those questions are ultimately misguided. When I'm my best self I realize that these are largely for me. I share them in hopes that they might inspire others, but I know that I benefit from them.
I am holding myself accountable to a goal. Documenting the process along the way will keep me focused. It also helps me be more mindful about how I'm living right now. As an added bonus, it will be a time capsule of sorts, a way to remember details I would otherwise miss about this time in my life. I can live with that.
So, in this week in which “nothing happened,” here's what happened.
Runner Highs and Lows
This week’s training goal was to get some good, hard runs in combined with strength/core training so that I could get a taste of what my official training will look like a couple months in. Contrary to last week, I made a plan for this week and executed accordingly. This was my last opportunity to make some improvements before taking a rest week and subsequently beginning my official 50k training. Of the workouts I did, there were two highlights.
First, I had a solid tempo run on Thursday. I planned to go 6 miles with miles 2-4 being at a harder effort. Even in the afternoon heat I was able to output a solid performance. I huffed and puffed my way through the last tempo mile but finished mile 4 feeling strong. Thanks to Strava, I was able to see that these tempo miles are my fastest 5k effort to date (since high school, anyway).
This run went well not only because of this but also because I’d not exhausted myself to the point where I could go no further. I didn’t finish very fast, but I was able to finish at a slow and steady pace. Once finished, this felt like one of my most productive runs to date. It was balanced, and finished running precisely the way I intended to. That, and I got to cool off by jumping into the pool.
The second high of the week was my long run on Saturday morning. If you’ve kept up with the blog thus far you know that last week’s 11-mile long run was rough. My legs felt heavy, and I had to force myself to finish. This week, however, I ran 12 miles with seeming ease. What a difference a week can make.
Beginning on the Pacific Electric Trail (PET), I ran for a few miles and then ventured up a random wash to explore a bit. I discovered a beautiful trail with a wide dirt path that’s shaded by giant trees. Traffic was almost nonexistent during my crossings, and I had a peaceful, serene jaunt to my mile 6 turnaround.
I hydrated well and ate enough calories that my travel back was just as solid as I started. Unlike last week when my final miles progressively got slower, I finished this run with my last mile being my strongest (at 8:26). Even more, I was able to successfully work a 6-hour shift at the restaurant after my run without feeling like I was falling apart.
I could not have asked for a better week to lead into my rest week. I feel good now taking the time to recover and will hopefully start my official 50k training healthy, fit, and ready.
Dad is the Best
Iris and I got to hang out a lot this week as Katie has been finishing up her semester, part of which involves clocking the last of her 60 field hours at the animal shelter in Norco (SO MANY HOURS!).
On Friday, Iris and I ran to the park to have lunch and hang out for a bit. Iris will be participating in a race of her own this Saturday, and she wanted to train like her dad. I took her on plenty of training runs, and, when I suggested we run to the park she said, “Dad, I gotta train for my race!”
So we ran to the park. Well, there was some running that took place. Iris, like most kids her age, likes to run when there's a game involved. It doesn't have to be a regimented game. Chasing each other around or running down a hill as fast as possible are fun enough goals on their own.
If there is a destination in mind, however, the impetus dissipates. While this can be frustrating at times, it mostly serves as a great reminder for what life should be.
I'll be the first to admit I'm terrible at it. Where are we going, and how efficiently can we get there? I tend to attribute part of this to living in Southern California, but I think parts of it are also modern society and the nature of humans.
Why are we in such a hurry? Where are we going that’s so important? What are we missing along the way?
While I'm running I miss a lot of rocks, trees, bugs, flowers, and nasty bird feathers which are likely infested with unspeakable diseases. What am I missing in life? The ability to enjoy the moment, to appreciate the place I’m in right now.
This is a lesson I have been struggling with for years. When I was at Norco college, I tried to take a look at life through an expanded perspective. What did I want to do in the long-term?
All the things I wanted to do seemed out of reach so in my head that the best I could hope for was eeking out a living until I could eventually retire and then I'd be able to start living. WHAT?! Asinine to think now, but I that's how my deranged mind worked at the time.
I remember a conversation I had with one of my English professors at the time. I was contemplating going to school to get my PhD in English. “But there's just so much schooling,” I whined at him.
“Yes, but you can live along the way,” he shot back.
But how? I wondered but was too embarrassed to ask.
My brain’s tendency was/is to see life as all or nothing. The way I saw it, I couldn't really live until I finished school. Well, then I'd have to get a job and wouldn't really be able to live until I could buy a house. But then, I wouldn't really be able to start living until I retired.
I’ve invested time in appreciating the moment and being present in my daily life, but I know I still have a long way to go.
May we be like Iris, appreciating the bugs and flowers on our journey to the park.
Brew Overview
Katie bought me some awesome brews this week. Saturday, after my long run and walking around at work for 6 hours, the idea of enjoying Wolf Among Weeds had me nearly salivating.
This double IPA is packed full of flavor without too much edge.
This beer is, “Gold in color, this full-bodied IPA is a balanced showcase of the majestic hop specie, in Latin, Humulus Lupulus, which translates “Wolf Among Weeds”. At 8%, Wolf will sneak up on you from behind the dank earthy hop notes and subtle rye spice” (goldenroad.la).
We got to enjoy this brew while Iris swam around the pool like a fish, jumping and splashing with all alacrity.
Weekly Workout Summary
This was the last actual training week before my official training kicks off. Next week will be a few easy runs to allow my body to fully heal before beginning my 50k training plan.
- Monday - Rest
- Tuesday - 3.3 easy miles plus core/strength training
- Wednesday - 6 miles with 3 at tempo pace (higher effort)
- Thursday - Swimming with some core and PT work
- Friday - 3.2 easy miles running to the park and back with Iris
- Saturday - 12.1 long miles on the PET
- Sunday - Rest
Total weekly mileage: 24.6
Should I break this up into 2 different entries and just post twice a week? What do you think?
Will write again soon.
Be well,
UltraDadRunner
