RR's 100MileJournal

Interesting…

// January 6th, 2012 // Comments Off on Interesting… // Mental Training, Physical Training

I ran my 6.5 in 42:57-not too bad considering I had to stop and stretch as one of my hamstrings was seizing up.

Lesson: The harder I run the more tight I get…quicker! Stretch Ronnie-boy, stretch.

It’s funny, I went out fast, kept a good pace but backed off between mile 2 and 3 thinking/feeling that I couldn’t sustain my pace. After falling behind a bit (and needing to stretch) I picked up the pace and ran like a fool (very fast – 5k pace) for the last 3.5 and noticed that though my legs hurt, I wasn’t out of breath at all. I could feel the reasons flowing from my mind as to why I should slow down a bit. My goal (<42:26) kept me moving and finished strong with a good time for an important workout in my weekly routine.

The metaphors abound for me. How else, in my life, do I slow so I can “sustain” when I have the ability to work harder/quicker for longer periods of time and “sustain” at that level? I think most people sell themselves short when they consider and attempt what they think is their limit.

What am I really capable of? Not the nice to think about version of this question…really, what am I capable of?

Time to Call the Expert (lord help me)

// January 5th, 2012 // Comments Off on Time to Call the Expert (lord help me) // Uncategorized

I don’t think I fully understand the schedule that the crazy ultra-marathon running guy gave me. Are there 3 days each week I have to do the workout twice?? Doubles? I thought that was only for 17-year-old high school football players. Ug. I have to call and clarify. This 100 mile deal could be more inconvenient than I thought.

I think I’m only on for 4 miles today—but it might be that I have to do it twice!

(eyes bugging out of my head) I can’t run the same 5-6 routes for the next 8 months—sometimes twice in a day. Oh man.

Be faithful to what I know I have before me.

// January 4th, 2012 // Comments Off on Be faithful to what I know I have before me. // Uncategorized

Well, I tried to scheme a bit and avoid running. It was 15 degrees F and windy. The truth is, I simply don’t have time to run tomorrow though I’ll need to do a good stretch. I confess that I always plan to stretch and often do some lame version of what is pretty critical.

Anyway, 12 miles done. It was dark and running on dark and winding roads during “rush hour” probably isn’t wise. I’ll have to not do that too often. Anyway it felt good to stick to my schedule. I’m glad I’m on track. At mile 10 it struck me (in my fatigue) that come race day, I’ll have to do that 9 more times! Oooof.

“Ok, Ron, stay in January. Do what you are to do today and do it well.”

Got it. Like, be faithful to what I know I have before me, right? Right.

Somedays are easier than others

// January 4th, 2012 // Comments Off on Somedays are easier than others // Uncategorized

OK, easy day of training today. Hmmm, so easy I thought about turning it into a rest day or a day for just stretching. Man, my scammer is good. It shouldn’t take more than 30 minutes…

Warm-up, Four 200 yard full-out sprints (fast twitch muscle work), 10 minute cool run and a stretch… Man, I could have just run instead of writing this post!

So much of this training is life training

// January 4th, 2012 // Comments Off on So much of this training is life training // Uncategorized

It was 10F and dark tonight. And despite the fact that my run was very, very short (thank you schedule maker dude) I was struck by how lonely I felt. I wasn’t out there long but I know in the 100 I’ll be starting at 4am and finishing after having run for at least 7 hour in complete darkness (I will have a flashlight!) by myself.

So much of this training is life training. So much of the success of my race will be contingent on my ability to control my thoughts/emotions.

I signed up for this because, just as in my past endurance events, I knew I’d have to become a better man if I’m to succeed. Well the training has very much begun as I see that alone, dark, cold, hungry, thirsty and in pain is something I’ll have to learn to get used to and more, comfortable with.

Off to watch Harry Potter with my sons.

Leave the brain at the door

// January 3rd, 2012 // Comments Off on Leave the brain at the door // Uncategorized

Jim’s schedule (the one I just said that I need to follow) says, “run 20 @ x and such pace” As much as I’d rather do something else. I’m going to run 12 more today. Today my desire for rebellion is for variety. I’ll have to find another 12 mile route but honestly, I just want to do a hill workout or something else. This is the part where I need to just leave my brain at the door and do what I know I’m supposed to.

“Work your plan, Ron. You actually don’t need to—and aren’t allowed to “renegotiate” a different deal. This is what you signed up for.”

You’re right. But baby, it’s cold outside. (20 F)

“Ahem, your shoes are over there…”

12 better than 20

// January 2nd, 2012 // Comments Off on 12 better than 20 // Uncategorized

OK, I ran. 12 miles rather than 20. I’m an ambitious guy to begin with but I smartened up based on two factors. 1. Right before I left I got a call from one of the guests for my next show in NYC—I had to take it as we’d been missing each other. 2. As I was running I “woke up” and realized that 20 miles was the distance that Jim gave me for himself and his training schedule. He’s run several 100 mile races, 100k races and a slew of 50 milers… Not a good plan to put myself on his pace on day one—unless the goal is to get hurt.

So somewhere on the run I decided to do 12 (which I did) as I’d long planned. I’m glad I sobered up. So much foolishness and pain are the result of planning and action from “intoxication”. I want to do good on the 100 and follow Jim’s plan so I just got swept up in “then join the big boys!”

Lesson for today? Get the spirit of the wisdom (in this case a training schedule) and apply it properly to you and where YOU are rather than doing what the cool kid is doing. So I’ll alter distances/times but keep the various speed training days, rest days , long distance days, etc. and grow to hit my marks based on my fitness. Good plan, Ron.

“If Jim jumped off a bridge, would you?” Uh, no…

It was cold but worth it!

// January 1st, 2012 // Comments Off on It was cold but worth it! // Uncategorized

Did my plunge. But I did it alone. The lines to register were outrageous and I figured that I was doing it for me anyway so why bother with the bureaucracy! I got to Lake George about 2 hours early and did my plunge and was dried off and hanging out in a local arcade with my boys before the masses even got in the water!

See the video and pics; they’re not particularly flattering but—I was sooooo cold! The air temp was about 40 which was great but the water had to be about the same. It was ridiculously cold and I turned chicken even though I thought I would just race right in.

Anyway, I felt great starting my training this way as I’ll be alone for most of the 100 miles and the symbolism of the cold water is great. After running so long I’ll have to soak in an ice filled tub or very cold lake to reduce the swelling that naturally occurs. So I started unceremoniously in a lake and I’ll finish in a lake or tub of frigid water.

Tomorrow I run.

Happy New Year Lake George

// January 1st, 2012 // Comments Off on Happy New Year Lake George // Uncategorized

Yesterday I decided to begin my training (I have been running quite a bit already but…) today by jumping into frigid Lake George – Lake George, NY. The Polar Plunge. Man, it sounded like something silly/fun to do yesterday but today at a water temp of 36 degrees it seems daft.

Tomorrow I run 20 miles, a distance that I’ve not moved in 3 ½ years. I’m kind of excited to get into the training.