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!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Running to stand still?
So, I'm writing my first entry since (1) finishing the Maine Marathon in personal record pace of 3 hours, 42 min and 41 seconds and (2) committing to running 2 marathons in 2 weeks (Boston and Colorado)
What's funny is that my previous post (from last fall) mentions a guy named Duffy...wouldn't ya know I was out for a grueling 18 mile training run yesterday and as I'm heading home (INTO a headwind, mind you, after stopping to walk for about 1/4 mile in the below 20 degree wind-chill), who should I see parked on the side of the road, but Duffy...he's since participated in 2 more triathelons, so I don't dare compare.
What I will say is this - inspiration takes interesting forms and arrives at interesting moments...just as my mind was saying "pack it in", I pass this bald, cut, drill-sargeant of a guy who encouraged me, congratulated me and with a simple smile, a handshake and sincere recollection of our shared run last fall, inspired me to leg out my last mile.
I am in the process of training for these 2 marathons... a pretty serious endeavor for a guy like me (family, self-employed, traveling, marginally fit...you get the idea). I hope to get back to the sporadic blogging and will be interested to see whether/how much Facebook impacts my writing here...if you're reading, I'll keep writing.
Keep me in your thoughts, and spread the word that ESPECIALLY in a bad economy, the homeless and the hungry need our help.
Thanks, Paul
What's funny is that my previous post (from last fall) mentions a guy named Duffy...wouldn't ya know I was out for a grueling 18 mile training run yesterday and as I'm heading home (INTO a headwind, mind you, after stopping to walk for about 1/4 mile in the below 20 degree wind-chill), who should I see parked on the side of the road, but Duffy...he's since participated in 2 more triathelons, so I don't dare compare.
What I will say is this - inspiration takes interesting forms and arrives at interesting moments...just as my mind was saying "pack it in", I pass this bald, cut, drill-sargeant of a guy who encouraged me, congratulated me and with a simple smile, a handshake and sincere recollection of our shared run last fall, inspired me to leg out my last mile.
I am in the process of training for these 2 marathons... a pretty serious endeavor for a guy like me (family, self-employed, traveling, marginally fit...you get the idea). I hope to get back to the sporadic blogging and will be interested to see whether/how much Facebook impacts my writing here...if you're reading, I'll keep writing.
Keep me in your thoughts, and spread the word that ESPECIALLY in a bad economy, the homeless and the hungry need our help.
Thanks, Paul
Monday, September 22, 2008
Perspective
So... to make a LONG absence of posting and story short....
1) I finished the Boston Marathon last spring in 4 hrs 0 min and 58 seconds (though, stopped for a Pine Street photo op and hugs for the family, so I'll live with that 58 seconds knowing I coulda run in under 4 hrs! ;-)
2) As I train for the Maine Marathon in 2 weeks (Sunday Oct 5th), I was out running over a week ago...doing one of my final 'long' runs before tapering for Maine, and I ran for a while with a 42 yr old father of a teenager with inoperable brain cancer. He was training for an Iron Man triatholon, and was kind enough to share with me some fueling and training techniques for my 26.2 miles in Maine.
I share this story because I am constantly amazed by the running community, the kindness of strangers, but mostly the inspriation of folks like "Duffy" -- I can't imagine what he and his son and his family have had to bear over the past couple of years, yet this father and combat veteren was out there talking to me like I was a hero...inspiring and encouraging me as we shared the road for about 7-8 miles. I wish him well and I admire his courage and ability to teach his dying son two important lessons -- about appreciating what he has had in this life and about setting a goal and working harder than you'd ever thought possible to achieve it (or, survive it).
As I get ready for my next 26.2, I remain in awe of New England autumns and everyday heroes whose names we haven't yet learned. I am also humbled by my family, friends, and acquaintances who've so readily supported my charitable runs over the past few years. Thank you, and I hope to post more as I get ready to 'hit the road' in a couple of weeks.
1) I finished the Boston Marathon last spring in 4 hrs 0 min and 58 seconds (though, stopped for a Pine Street photo op and hugs for the family, so I'll live with that 58 seconds knowing I coulda run in under 4 hrs! ;-)
2) As I train for the Maine Marathon in 2 weeks (Sunday Oct 5th), I was out running over a week ago...doing one of my final 'long' runs before tapering for Maine, and I ran for a while with a 42 yr old father of a teenager with inoperable brain cancer. He was training for an Iron Man triatholon, and was kind enough to share with me some fueling and training techniques for my 26.2 miles in Maine.
I share this story because I am constantly amazed by the running community, the kindness of strangers, but mostly the inspriation of folks like "Duffy" -- I can't imagine what he and his son and his family have had to bear over the past couple of years, yet this father and combat veteren was out there talking to me like I was a hero...inspiring and encouraging me as we shared the road for about 7-8 miles. I wish him well and I admire his courage and ability to teach his dying son two important lessons -- about appreciating what he has had in this life and about setting a goal and working harder than you'd ever thought possible to achieve it (or, survive it).
As I get ready for my next 26.2, I remain in awe of New England autumns and everyday heroes whose names we haven't yet learned. I am also humbled by my family, friends, and acquaintances who've so readily supported my charitable runs over the past few years. Thank you, and I hope to post more as I get ready to 'hit the road' in a couple of weeks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
