After a 2-week excursion to/from China, it was great to get out and run for a serious distance - 22.1 miles - this a.m. Thanks to my loyal, long-run training partner John (who continues to out pace me! :-) - great inspiration. It's so great to live near the actual Boston Marathon route - going for an "out and back" to Heartbreak Hill in Newton from Natick gives us practice on what is considered by many to be the toughest part of the course.
I'm very pleased that my legs didn't feel like the consistency of all the noodles and dumplings I consumed while in China...perhaps the 1-hour foot massages there paid off. I'm not likely to get those again anytime soon so I'll just drop it altogether.
I got my BAA bib # today as well: 27144, for those watching me online that day. I can't believe we're just about 3 weeks away...time is flying faster than I am, but I'm please with my pace, and hoping to stay healthy as we get closer to "go" time.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Marathon Training in China
So far, best workout has been at the buffets...school where I'm helping to facilitate has a great lunch buffet, which, of course, follows the hotel breakfast buffet-- you can't eat enough dumplings and other dim sum after a course of bran cereal, yogurt and fruit!
So today I treadmilled about 5-6 km...too close to my classtime to get outside; but will try to go for an outdoors long run on Sunday before heading home. Been doing some push-ups, situps, core stuff, but mostly just teaching, eating, and sleeping sporadically.
The weather's been cool in dawn/dusk hours, but very warm and a bit humid during midday. It was very nice to see the green grass and sunshine today between sessions; groups of students outside picnicking for lunch made me eager to get home to Springtime weather.
I am hoping that my sleep schedule can be shocked back to normal fairly quickly after my return home...the fatigue comes in waves, between the travel and the intensity of teaching to the group. So much fun, though. I am lucky to have this opportunity to see how business and education is so similar and yet so different between US and China.
I can't believe the Boston Marathon is just over 4 weeks away. Overall, am feeling pretty strong and very confident that the 2 weekswill go well. Hopefully will demonstrate some speed at at least one of the two races!
So today I treadmilled about 5-6 km...too close to my classtime to get outside; but will try to go for an outdoors long run on Sunday before heading home. Been doing some push-ups, situps, core stuff, but mostly just teaching, eating, and sleeping sporadically.
The weather's been cool in dawn/dusk hours, but very warm and a bit humid during midday. It was very nice to see the green grass and sunshine today between sessions; groups of students outside picnicking for lunch made me eager to get home to Springtime weather.
I am hoping that my sleep schedule can be shocked back to normal fairly quickly after my return home...the fatigue comes in waves, between the travel and the intensity of teaching to the group. So much fun, though. I am lucky to have this opportunity to see how business and education is so similar and yet so different between US and China.
I can't believe the Boston Marathon is just over 4 weeks away. Overall, am feeling pretty strong and very confident that the 2 weekswill go well. Hopefully will demonstrate some speed at at least one of the two races!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Coming up short
So I left the house this a.m. at 6:15, ready to meet my friend, John, and to go for a 21+ mile run to the top of Heartbreak Hill and back.
John finished with no trouble, but we parted ways with about 5 miles to go...my stamina just didn't compare...and, I called in the cavalry at with about 3 miles to go. My net run was still a decent 18.8 miler, but it bugs me to not finish at my goal distance, especially with my trip to China next week and uncertain sleep/training time in next week or so...
John and I talk a lot about the mental aspects of running when we're out, and today was just one of those days; distraction and the threat of missing a 10:00 town meeting forced my head out of the tranquil rhythm of my shuffling feet and the musical sloshing of water in my "camel back" hydration backpack.
Oh well, overall, I'm feeling strong and no major aches and pains other than a few small blisters -- time to lose the thicker "cold weather" socks permanently! I can't believe the marathon is coming up so fast. 5 weeks and 2 days...I need a nap!
John finished with no trouble, but we parted ways with about 5 miles to go...my stamina just didn't compare...and, I called in the cavalry at with about 3 miles to go. My net run was still a decent 18.8 miler, but it bugs me to not finish at my goal distance, especially with my trip to China next week and uncertain sleep/training time in next week or so...
John and I talk a lot about the mental aspects of running when we're out, and today was just one of those days; distraction and the threat of missing a 10:00 town meeting forced my head out of the tranquil rhythm of my shuffling feet and the musical sloshing of water in my "camel back" hydration backpack.
Oh well, overall, I'm feeling strong and no major aches and pains other than a few small blisters -- time to lose the thicker "cold weather" socks permanently! I can't believe the marathon is coming up so fast. 5 weeks and 2 days...I need a nap!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
5 and 1/2 weeks...and 2 Olympic sites to go!!
So I'm looking out a dreary grey sky, getting ready to log (hopefully) a double digit (12-13 mi.?) afternoon training run. As I plan my next "long" run (18-22 miles range) for Saturday, I'm looking even farther ahead...the Boston Marathon is in 5.5 weeks; CO Marathon in 7.5 weeks.
Between now and then, I'll have flown to China (specifically, Shanghai)and back; and to Atlanta and back...all the while tyring to eat, sleep, and train well...yikes. This is where I should insert a Tom Hanks-esque running version of "There's no crying in baseball"!
And as I look ahead to the next 1.5-2 months of running, fundraising, business building, teaching (oh yeah, and parenting, spousing, doing taxes, cleaning my office, etc!!), it's easy to get overwhelmed by it all.
One of the most valuable lessons I've learned from all of this running has been the need to get something done...Even if it's not at the pace I had intended...as usual, I have too much on my plate, but like the miles of all these training runs, step-by-step, task-by-task, dollar-by-dollar, the big, hairy, audacious goals seem manageable...just don't ask Lena about that office mess...it seems like there are some races I'm doomed to repeat :-)
Between now and then, I'll have flown to China (specifically, Shanghai)and back; and to Atlanta and back...all the while tyring to eat, sleep, and train well...yikes. This is where I should insert a Tom Hanks-esque running version of "There's no crying in baseball"!
And as I look ahead to the next 1.5-2 months of running, fundraising, business building, teaching (oh yeah, and parenting, spousing, doing taxes, cleaning my office, etc!!), it's easy to get overwhelmed by it all.
One of the most valuable lessons I've learned from all of this running has been the need to get something done...Even if it's not at the pace I had intended...as usual, I have too much on my plate, but like the miles of all these training runs, step-by-step, task-by-task, dollar-by-dollar, the big, hairy, audacious goals seem manageable...just don't ask Lena about that office mess...it seems like there are some races I'm doomed to repeat :-)
Monday, March 2, 2009
Weather - I like it or not
Running (OK, running and a bit of walking/stretching) 18 miles on Friday, it felt like spring. My pace was relaxed, the temps were in 40s and I was in shorts and a T-shirt. Yesterday, a little less relaxed,I raced to get a quick 7 miles in before the major snow storm hit (which it is, today!) bundled back up in pants, three layers on top, and winter hat, I'm reminded that March is certainly doing its part to come in like a lion.
But, there's nothing quite like running on a fresh, packed snow. A bit scary when the cars whizz by, but for the most part, the quiet country roads and trees absorb all but the sounds of my sneakers, literally crunching the snow. I try to keep my iPod to a reverent, low volume...sometimes I pause it altogether just to here the silence...it's pretty amazing.
As I watch the inches of heavy wet snow pile up today, I'm glad I snuck in that last 7-mile. With exactly 7 weeks to go before the Boston Marathon (OK, 7 weeks, 4 hours and 35 minutes, to be exact), I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be sporting the shorts and T-shirt look come April 20th...I'm all too happy to give up the 3-layered look at Mother Nature's earliest convenience!
But, there's nothing quite like running on a fresh, packed snow. A bit scary when the cars whizz by, but for the most part, the quiet country roads and trees absorb all but the sounds of my sneakers, literally crunching the snow. I try to keep my iPod to a reverent, low volume...sometimes I pause it altogether just to here the silence...it's pretty amazing.
As I watch the inches of heavy wet snow pile up today, I'm glad I snuck in that last 7-mile. With exactly 7 weeks to go before the Boston Marathon (OK, 7 weeks, 4 hours and 35 minutes, to be exact), I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I'll be sporting the shorts and T-shirt look come April 20th...I'm all too happy to give up the 3-layered look at Mother Nature's earliest convenience!
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