This is a really cool bike that I would like to buy

Training Again

So I took a couple weeks off. Not off really. Just not tracking it. I did another four mile run and my average pace was 8:10. It was very windy and it left me upset. So I did some speed work today. Just 400 meter intervals at close to 100% and then walk 400 meters. I did five of those. I could feel a PR coming on during my last one, but here are my times:

1:28 (max 5:05)
1:22 (max 4:39)
1:24 (max 4:36)
1:24 (max 4:49)
1:21 (max 4:59)

The max of course is my fastest pace during each interval. So anyway, I felt like I was getting a PR and then no (my PR for a 400 is like 1:12). But I actually didn't get as fast during this last one. In fact it was my second slowest best. Still it was my best run. I ran slow at first because I was trying to get my iPod in my pocket awkwardly. So maybe starting off slow (but really controlled fast, like fast by taking big steps and swinging arms harder and kicking off harder and using leverage of feet and all that) maybe that's how to get consistently faster 400 speeds; maybe, just maybe I have been winding myself, going anaerobic right off the bat and tacking on a few seconds by getting a big jolt at the front of my intervals.

We got a dog. It cannot run with me. It has a small, flat face. It is called a pug. I am off to write grants and cook bbq chicken.

April 13

Um, my hip hurt after my last run (10 miles). I might have to drown myself like a runty little kitten on an Irish farm. I am like a hundred, nursing my sore hip, rickety and tired. My god.

But then I iced it and took anti-inflammatory and that was last night. Tonight I did 4 miles easy, no music, gps died halfway through. You would never plan it to be that way, and you know it's not what you want, but, you know, it feels good.

April 11

Holy Saturday. I ran ten miles. Longest run in a while, so that's good. I did 2.5 miles east, 2.5 miles back home to drink a cup of water I put out for myself. Then like miles around my neighborhood streets (with two more stops for water). At one point I walked to get my heart rate down. It didn't really matter. My heart didn't seem to care one way or another. As soon as I was back up to 7:30 mm pace, my heart rate was back up to like 185-190. I sprinted at the end as fast as I could, which I think peaked at something like 6:49 or something. I was trying to average 10 minute miles for the whole run since I was doing negative splits. But no. I did 10:02 or 10:07 minute miles or something. Whatever, I was less than one minute over my goal for this run. I think the slow times are slowest when I'm turning corners (still a problem), against the wind, messing with my iPod, drinking water, getting tired? Don't know. But I still think I could go faster during the slow parts of my negative splits. Most boring post ever ends in 5,4,3, nod, nod.

April 8

Tried to do the workout at the Y, but honestly we just ran out of time. I had to go get the kids before the daycare closed.

Maybe if I was faster...

But the lifeguard, who is a teenage girl, kept singing along with the radio, which should prove to many men my age that teenage girls aren't sexy, because they're mostly just annoying. But what was most annoying about her was when I asked her if the drills should be maximum effort, she said, "Shouldn't be." Then she said it should take a maximum of 20 seconds from one side of the pool to the other. Then she said, "MAX, it should be 20 seconds MAX."

"But I just started training in swimming!" I didn't say.
"Well then you are a failure," she didn't say. But actually she kind of did.

April 7, 2009

Today I did 5k. I did negative splits. It was cold for springtime in Florida, 55 degrees and nighttime, windy (16mph). So I ran against the wind both ways for the first half and then with the wind the way back. Did 8:30something minute mile average for the first half, 7:03 minute mile average for the second half. I was happy--I'm getting faster.

April 4, 2009

We rode 20 miles, but the average speed was probably like 14mph--really slow. we sustained around 17 towards the end, but it was just a lot of stopping and arguing. Then I ran a mile, 7:23. Man, you sure run fast right off the bike. That was a surprise.

April 2, 2009

Today I ran. First I did five miles. Then two miles with *Angie. Then another mile-and-a-half because I wanted to get above eight miles. I'm not sure what my total time was. But the first five I did in 44.30, and it was 5.03. The next one probably 9 something, maybe just under 10. I got REALLY hungry around 7 miles. Felt much stronger, cooler, smoother, and faster after those breaks (having water and rest).

Incidentally, this is also my first entry. And my first blog. So I'll let you know what I'm doing.

I'm going to compete in the Florida Challenge, which is a half-ironman distance triathlon. I have been running for around four years and have run one marathon (Walt Disney, 2007) and a few 5ks.

I have two little girls and a *rad wife. Other stuff about me will come up I'm sure. I am tired. I am publishing the post now.