Thursday, September 29, 2011

Coke Machine

So i walk by the coke machine in the office today and notice that there is a sticky note on the machine that reads in scratchy handwriting:

"Coke man - Can we get more Coke Zero and Diet Coke slots? Get rid of one of the water slots and the cherry coke."

It's taking every ounce of my self control to resist posting a sticky of my own saying:

"Sticky note man - How about you drink a healthier beverage such as water or orange juice instead of relying on a reduced calorie soft drink in a pathetic attempt to meet your health needs."

-Kyle

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Carry On

I've had pretty decent running since last week. Thursday i went on my staple 47 minute hill run during lunch after taking Wednesday off. Legs were tired but i held a strong pace throughout. Friday i went for an easy hour around my house trying to find avenues to explore so that i could turn my run into a complete loop as opposed to many mini out-and-backs. It wasn't very successful.

That night marked an epic get-together for my friend in the Army who goes back to Iraq this week. Filled with merry laughs from all of our high school and college friends of old, plenty of beer, and plenty of competitive drinking games, we celebrated in the true fashion that is called for when all of these people are together. While i didn't quite train like an animal on Saturday and instead just epically napped, i most certainly did drink beers.

Sunday i went back to my parents and did almost the same loop i did last week for my long run, running a total of 1hr and 35 mins. Apparently the weather isn't changing quite as quickly as i imagined last post because it was bloody humid out! While i didn't feel quite as ecstatic and inspired after the run as i did last week, I still kept a solid pace throughout the run and finished strong. So although i felt more tired and run down, i believe it was a better effort than the previous long run and that i'm getting stronger. Monday was a follow up chest and back lifting day for lunch plus an easy 3 miles after work on very tired legs. I was initially planning for 30 minutes but i was running by my house feeling very run down and figured that any more would do more harm than help for recovery and today's run.

-Kyle

Monday, September 26, 2011

Set back

Hello friends,

My apologies for my lack of presence over the last week. I've been dealing with many life issues that have stripped from me the motivation to blog with any substance -- so I didn't. Now that those life issues are seemingly resolving, I feel that I can return to report what has been happening in my running life. Shall we start with the past 3 days?

Friday was long run day this week, and I logged an easy 12 miles. And when I say easy, I mean (another) one of the hardest "long" runs of my life. The humidity continues to be unbearable in Richmond, and actually took a turn for the worse last week. I can't remember ever sweating so much so many days in a row due purely to humidity (the temperature hangs around 75-80, nothing terrible).

I was more or less forced to run my long run in my Precisions, since I had neglected to dry my shoes from the previous day's effort, leaving them soaking wet and heavy (from sweat, mind you) -- unappealing for a 12 mile run. With my new attitude towards experimenting with minimalism, I was not terribly upset by the idea that I would put in a substantial amount of miles in a less substantial shoe. As I said before, the run was quite difficult, but I didn't experience any discomfort from the shoes themselves. Until later.

I now find myself staring at my third consecutive day off, which I have determined as of this morning will be happening today. My left Achilles remains flared up right at the heel, a product of running in more "minimal" shoes that are admittedly too old (I bought those shoes for the race that I qualified for Boston in, Richmond 2007). Having just written that sentence, I now realize what a complete moron I am for still having those shoes in circulation. I work at a running store for God's sake, where I preach daily the importance of not letting a shoe go past it's lifespan (3-6 MONTHS). Now that they are over 4 years old, I think it's safe to retire them.

All of this being said, I am now experiencing a minor setback. I am not, however, depressed. Last Friday I registered and was accepted into the Boston Marathon in 2012. This is my main long term goal at this point. Since the race is in April, I have a very long time to build up properly and regain my fitness. A small bit of inflammation in my Achilles is no need for alarm before October has even started. Better to be smart now, treat the injury, fix the problems that lead to the injury, and pick right back up where I left off. Gosh, I've gotten so much smarter and more mature with old age...

GO SKINS!

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

The Weather is a-Changing

The past 5 days brought forth a rollercoaster of runs. Friday was an hour run at a healthy pace in the cool and crisp September evening. Unfortunately, Vienna wasn't quite built with runners in mind, but i found my way in the darkness on a decent path through woods, the W&OD, and suburbia. The next day was another evening run, this time only 30 minutes with about 6 strider/sprints to get my legs used to some turnover again and to make sure i wasn't too tired for my long run on sunday(plust some pushups and pullups inspired by watching the movie Warrior(AWESOME movie)).

I'm going to straight up say it, Sunday was possibly the best run i've had in a year or so. I started out slowly just getting the legs loosened up, working through a bit of tightness and soreness from the past 2 days. About 45 minutes in i found myself unconsciously picking up the pace. The sun was below the horizon, the air was once again cool and crisp and it seemed like i was one of the few souls outside that evening running around my old highschool stomping grounds as families sat inside and made their preparations for the upcoming week. By the time i was 2-3 miles from home i started really throwing down the hammer. I felt indestructible. I pushed harder and my breathing stayed steady while my legs stayed fluid. Figuring i shouldn't get ahead of myself and risk any injury, i ended my run at 1hr37m. A few laps walking around the culdesac while my heartrate eased up a bit capped an amazing training run in preparation for the race. The weather is getting cooler. We are entering that transitional season where it is neither too hot and humid, nor to bone chillingly cold. And i love it!

Unfortunately all good things must come to an end and i found myself Monday and Today struggling like i never have before on the residual effects of Sunday's long run(40 mins and 50 mins). After clawing my way to the end of today's run i decided i'm due for a day off and tomorrow will be just that.

As for Max's post about 'scabbing,' or 'banditing' as i've heard it, I've found myself going back and forth. I can certainly see from a semi- to serious runner's viewpoint, while out of shape and not actually planning to go all-out in a race fashion, why they feel they shouldn't have to pay when they could essentially do the workout or hard effort they'd be doing elsewhere just as easily. The race just provides a convenient course devoid of all stop light and traffic interruptions with other people around, right? Well, while i have almost entered a race as a bandit to pace my friend, something still felt dishonest and dishonorable deep down(I'm completely fine with jumping in for a period of time to truly help pace a friend, but i view going from start to finish and focusing solely on your own performance a little different.) If we allow scabbing to become widely accepted, then what's preventing everyone from doing the same thing. It will lead to worse prizes and less money for the true competitors, poor or no services such as drinks and gu along the way, and less efficient and poorly constructed courses. Dare i say ultimately the end of the race altogether?! Maybe i'm getting a bit ahead of myself...

Sure races these days cost seemingly entirely too much, and a large portion of that price may be going to a cause that your cold and vicious hearth otherwise would not want to donate to if given the option.....But one must realize that halting traffic, creating and planning detours, hiring cops to conduct and organize the flow of cars and people for the sake of you being able to have that experience does cost something. And if one is to be taking advantage of these services being provided to those who helped support it, is it not so wrong to feel a little guilty about jumping in? I am not meaning to scorn anyone who does it, i'm just offering my personal feelings on the matter after much thought. I actually look forward to seeing you down there that weekend and having a gay ol' runner bros time with me and Big Ant! Good luck with the training and naturally make sure to post how it's all going.

-Kyle

Scabbing

Marcus, a family friend, is notorious among those who have attended Thanksgiving at the Werner Household for scabbing the Boston Marathon. Every Boston Marathon morning, Marcus pins an old Boston Marathon bib to his favorite race t-shirt, heads to the start line, and works his way into the middle of the mass of Boston Marathoners (who, presumably, paid and qualified to compete). He argues that competing in the Boston Marathon for free is his birthright since he was born in Boston. He also argues that he is the only Bostonian who deserves that privilege.

After speaking with my friend and former teammate, Sean, I've decided that I will compete in the Richmond Marathon as a race scab. That way, I won't feel like I've wasted money to compete in a race for which I am unprepared. That also means that I will begin seven weeks of haphazard Richmond Marathon training this afternoon.

Lining up at the start line of the Richmond Marathon does not make one a Richmond Marathoner. BUT, wearing a Richmond Marathon bib (from any year) at the start line of the Richmond Marathon does. ..Kyle? ..Ant?

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Slight Dichotomy

I must confess, I did not run yesterday. The plan was to do my standard lunch time lift and run after work. However, now that i'm in the real world i am constantly finding that time becomes an issue when social obligations present themselves. While i ordinarily have no problem skipping out on happy hours and post-work get-togethers(in fact most of the time i prefer it), one of my best buds is taking some R&R in the states from his tour in Iraq, and thus i would consider myself an official asshole if i decided to put off seeing him.

Now why is it that since i'm training and preparing for a half marathon did i decide to still lift during lunch instead of getting a run in?

Well, since my bout with constant injuries in previous training cycles, i've decided to take a more general fitness approach to my health and well being. Lifting and distance running are generally regarded as mutually exclusive pursuits. There's a reason you don't see top marathoner's with excess upper body mass. You run with your legs, and any extra muscle mass that doesn't help to put one foot in front of the other more efficiently is just excess baggage slowing you down. Not to mention how distance running is also catabolic by nature. However.... i love the feeling of lifting. While there's nothing like effortlessly cruising through the woods feeling light as a feather, I still enjoy feeling 'the pump' and the different kind of aggression, exertion, and satisfaction that lifting brings. Admittedly there are slight superficial reasons as well.

I weigh roughly 15 lbs worth of muscle more than when i did when i was at my marathon racing weight a few years ago(160 vs 145). And while that extra muscle isn't quite conducive to half marathon training, i don't feel like it has become a hindrance yet either. So i will continue to lift while increasing mileage and let the cards fall where they may.

Today was a hilly lunch time run at medium/hard effort for 45 minutes. The air was cool, breezy and overcast and i felt smooth and rested. Tomorrow will be an easy hour/8 miler. I feel like i could still use another 3-4 weeks of easy, go-by-feel base and strength training before i begin to incorporate any sort of structured interval and threshold workouts. While some runs feel fluid and easy, a majority still feel heavy, sore, and difficult. My legs still need some adapting to the day by day training scene, but i'm confident.

-Kyle

September 14 - 8 miles

Yesterday I ran 8 miles despite my incredible total body soreness. As I suspected, once I began my run I began to loosen up significantly. Although it was approximately 80 degrees, the humidity was lower, allowing me to breathe "effortlessly" in comparison to recent weeks. Still, by the end of the run I was drenched in sweat that had failed to evaporate due to the heavy water content in the air. It is technically still summer, you know.

I am beginning to feel encouraged with my increasing fitness level. I am no where near being fit, but I am starting to get back in shape. This will be my 3rd week at a row hitting around 40 miles, with an (attempt at a) ~12 mile long run. The last couple have not quite gone to plan, so I'm hoping for a change in trends this weekend. The long run for this weekend is tentatively scheduled for Sunday morning, a more traditional long run day, versus the Friday mid-morning or Saturday afternoon/evening that I've been deciding on thus far in my "training." We will see how it goes.

And since I know you are all eagerly awaiting the results of our first flag football game last night, I will tell you. We got smoked. Slaughtered, in fact -- literally. I cannot even begin to express my disappointment, or offer an explanation without screaming at the top of my lungs like you've seen me do in the past. All I can say is, "we have some stuff to figure out."

--Ant

p.s. in light of Maxwell's first post, I've realized that I need to make an attempt to polish my writing a bit more. Maxwell has always served as a literary role model for me in that respect, so I will follow suit and make an effort to make more thought out, well written posts in the future. Thank you, Maxwell.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

A Few Things

Dear Reader,

A few days ago, I accepted Anthony's evitation to coauthor this group blog (greblog? grlog?). Since then, I've been brainstorming about my first post. I have yet to receive instructions about post length or post topics, so I will do my best to write in the manner that seems appropriate after reading the first few posts.


The blog's title seems to express the things about which we are supposed to write - beer drinking, training, and the ways in which those activities significantly influence our respective schedules. I assumed, upon receiving my coauthor invitation from Anthony, who, I thought was interested in writing about beer and distance running, that those were the specific things about which we were to write. Evidently, we are supposed to write about any training. Or at least that seems to be the case after reading Anthony's first two posts, which suggest that he is training for a squat thrust competition rather than a distance race.

Kyle, thank you for capturing the e-ssence of the blog to which I thought that I would be contributing.


Unfortunately, my recent training time has been solely directed toward cashier and book shelving training. Like running, such training has been physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. My last two weeks of running have been compromised as a result. Perhaps I will (boot and) rally before November's Richmond Distance Festival. If so, I'll begin chronicling my running with this blog. If not, I'll encourage my coauthors during their respective pursuits of athletic glory.

In the event that you, the reader, are neither Anthony nor Kyle, please follow us, leave us comments, or email us. Please DO NOT encourage Anthony to share our work with Letsrun.

Until next time,
Max

September 13 - Train Wreck

Today I was supposed to wake up at 7:30 to run 8 miles with Carissa. At 7 am, she texted me and said she wasn't going to be able to make it -- so I promptly turned off my alarm to allow my body increased time sleeping to recover from the beating that it's been put through over the last few days. That beating, friends, came in the form of football practice. I am so sore from football practice, it's not even funny. My hip flexors and adductors are tight. My back and shoulders are sore. I feel as if I've been in a train wreck.

Amusingly enough, my 6 mile run yesterday evening was one of the most fluid feeling runs I've had since I started running again 5 weeks go. Go figure. Too bad I still have to run 8 miles today, followed by a football game tonight..

--Ant

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Check yoself

I've had a pretty successful build up so far considering it's been a year since i've had any semblance of a training mentality, or weekly mileage greater than 15 miles for that matter. Did my longest run to date since then at 12 miles last sunday with big ant in the enchanted trails. i felt pretty good apart from a slight strain in my knee which i believed to have been caused by very tight hamstrings. I stretched pretty good this past week while only running a handful of times and the knee is significantly better.

A shadow of my former and not-so-distant undisciplined self emerged saturday night when i went to visit my sister at college and ended up with 3-4 hours of very interrupted sleep while consuming a liberal amount of shitty college keg beer thus causing me to abandon my plans for a nostalgic harrisonburg long run lest i be stupid and hurt myself.

Now that all systems appear go again after a week down i'm prepared to keep getting strong and healthy having started with a lift during lunch yesterday and a crisp 40 minute run last evening followed by a standard lunch time 6 today.

-Kyle

September 12 - Newtons

I have run the past two days in a row in my Newton Gravities, a total of 10 miles. This morning, i am sore -- most likely from a combination of running in the Newtons, but also due to intermural flag football practice, in which my performance both as quarterback and receiver was uninspiring. As the weather slowly moves towards cool and less humid, I am less concerned about my running fitness. I am, however, worried about my future as a hall of fame intermural quarterback.

--Ant