Unexpected Results

Did 3x mile repeats along Corporate Challenge course. Ran to start line as a warm up. Results were as follows:

Warm up - 1.76 mi

Mile 1 | 6:04
.25 mile easy jog
Mile 1.25 - 2.25 | 5:57
.25 mile easy jog
Mile 2.5 - 3.5 | 5:57 (5:57 pace)

http://www.dailymile.com/people/AllenG/entries/1948612

Those numbers are even better than my best mile repeats when I was marathon training. Don't know where it came from, but I'll take it.

Actually extended the final repeat another .3 mi at the 5:57 pace. What a difference from my last workout. I'd been feeling rather down about myself recently because my previous workout didn't go very well. But I learned something about running the course tonight, and other hilly courses in general. I can't believe it's taken so long for me to realize. I won't share it until I confirm the results in a race. I've got something to be excited about again. And just as my last workout was a bookmark for bad workouts, this workout was a bookmark for a good workout.

The Running Constant

Long day at work? Feeling tired? Down? Out? Lazy? Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. And Yes. I knew there was only one thing that would give me any chance of salvaging my day: an easy run. Did not feel like it, but I dragged myself out the door right after I got home and enjoyed the one thing I know about running - I never come back as miserable as I when I left.

Character Builder

I dubbed this a character building run because of the rain. Little did I know. The moisture wasn't so bad. The workout itself was. This workout injected a healthy bit of doubt to my psyche.

Warmup - 1.72 mi to start

1 - 3:14

1:44 recovery (.2 mi)

2 - 3:11

1:47 recovery (.21mi)

3 - 3:13

1:43 recovery (.19mi)

4 - 3:10

1:34 recovery (.15mi)

5 - 3:09

1:28 recovery (.16mi

6 - 3:12

I couldn't believe the numbers. All consistently 10s slower than my average effort, and they felt hard! Was it the moisture? The wind? The squats, pull-ups and push-ups yesterday? The long day at work? I did 4x hill repeats last week at ~3:03 and they felt easier. I'm now doubting my goal race in 4 weeks.

As an optimist, I've always liked to "bookmark" my accomplishments. This deserves a bookmark just as much because I'll need to refer to this workout later to remind me that there are bad workouts as well.

My favorite workouts...

It's not any one workout in particular, but it's any workout that feels like it keeps my furnace burning. Case in point, tonight's long hill repeats. The workout consisted of 4 nearly half mile hill repeats where I focused on my cadence, form and leg lifts instead of trying to get up the hill fast. My times for the repeats were 2:59, 3:06, 3:03 and 3:02.

After I got home, I devoured more than half a rotisserie chicken and two servings of brown rice and a handful of almonds, yet still feeling like I ate nothing. Almost five hours later, even though I should be asleep, my engine is still revving with that post workout burn. I don't always get this from my workouts, but I love it when it happens.

Celebrating the Boston Marathon...in Texas

After signing up for the 2010 Boston Marathon, I knew right away where I wanted to celebrate. Being a Travel Channel and Food TV fan, there was no place else to go but Texas and reconnect with the carnivore in me. I decided to retrace some of the Man v. Food locales. Namely...

Salt Lick - best bbq I've had to date

Lulu's - chicken fried steak and cinnamon roll as big as my head

Chunky's - home of the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" burger

Big Lou's - barbecue brisket pizza. Ended up skipping.

Some photos of the trip...

Before diving in to the meat, we had to experience at least one fine dining experience on the riverwalk. I got an unexpected treat. From Biga's on the Riverwalk, quite possibly the best dessert I have ever experienced - sticky toffee pudding on english cream.

After spending the following day at Schlitterbahn and meeting up with our friends, we went to Salt Lick in Driftwood.

If you're ever in Austin or San Antonio, you CAN NOT skip this place. I enjoyed it so much that I ate enough to keep me burping the flavor for 36 hours.

With the ribs still in my stomach, we went to Lulu's the following day to try supposedly the best chicken fried steak in San Antonio and a giant cinnamon roll.

Nope, I did not finish it.
It didn't help that I finished off most of the cheese fries at the top left of the plate.

And finally, the giant cinnamon roll.

Final Boston Marathon Thoughts & What's Next

Just wanted to share some parting thoughts of quite possibly my favorite marathon to date:

• Absolutely loved the people. Runners, hosts, volunteers and spectators all seemed to revel and enjoy their respective roles.
• Tough course, but I think I can do better next time if I can qualify again. Not drinking enough water to cause the cramping was avoidable - rookie mistake.
• This race seemed to go by really fast. If it weren't for the cramps, the last four miles easily could have been my most enjoyable.
• I'm thankful that it made me eager to sign up for another marathon - soon. Most other races, I'd just be happy to have finished.
• I'm glad I bought a 2010 Boston Marathon logo jacket.
• My only gripe - too many runners walked along the water stations. I wish they would have moved aside to let other runners grab and go.
• Finally, never will I do another ice bath. If it takes another 3 weeks to recover, so be it.

What's Next

Decided that I'd sign up for the Disney Marathon in January. I had so much fun in this course that I had initially wanted to sign up for a fall marathon. Luckily sounder action prevailed. I almost forgot I had other plans this year.

On a racing note, I think I've finally learned to race marathons. I believe this was my 9th marathon, and have only done the last three without stopping for a walk along water stations or from fatigue. It's not that my body is trained better, it's my mind that has expected and accepted what comes after mile 20.

Boston Marathon Experience in Photos

I gave up (for now) trying to extract the images from MarathonFoto without the watermark. Here are some photos taken during marathon weekend...

Raise the roof!

Lucky #6865




Race day.............


Must stay off legs for as long as possible


This shot is two turns from the final left into Boylston St.

The best non-matching superman outfit ever! Seriously, it was just nice to get back into dry clothing after the race.

32-oz post marathon prime rib at Durgin-Park.

I think this better showcases the rib's size.

Finally.....

the most painful blister I've had since my first marathon....

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