Inspired by a beautiful pre-dawn So Cal with a star-filled sky, I thought may be a link would work well.
Not a bad video ...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FYrB1tlhug
Plus, starting at my beloved Dodger Stadium and finishing in good old Santa Monica ... not bad for a first time marathon!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Running in the Rain
Running in the rain, just running in the rain ... what a glorious feeling ...
This morning was the fun I had been anticipating ... running in the rain. It seems this is the largest October storm to hit Southern California in 45 years; so, I did the obvious ... I ran!
It was 45 minutes of running up and down the Pico Neighborhood with some little hills to boot. There were some massive ponds, er puddles, to cross/wade through along the way in the dark.
Still, it was so much fun. I was not completely inundated; but, I was definitely damp afterwards.
It was quite a different bit of marathon training; but, it all counts (I hope). Still, somehow this running through water did not quite match up to the opening of Chariots of Fire with the nice beach!
This morning was the fun I had been anticipating ... running in the rain. It seems this is the largest October storm to hit Southern California in 45 years; so, I did the obvious ... I ran!
It was 45 minutes of running up and down the Pico Neighborhood with some little hills to boot. There were some massive ponds, er puddles, to cross/wade through along the way in the dark.
Still, it was so much fun. I was not completely inundated; but, I was definitely damp afterwards.
It was quite a different bit of marathon training; but, it all counts (I hope). Still, somehow this running through water did not quite match up to the opening of Chariots of Fire with the nice beach!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Wednesday ...
Let's see. It will likely be raining. I will be waking up at about 4 a.m. It will be totally dark obviously. I will be going around non-scenic areas.
Yet, somehow I look forward to it! Running at it's finest. 45 minutes of Go Time!
Yet, somehow I look forward to it! Running at it's finest. 45 minutes of Go Time!
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Week 5: Three-Peat?
This week's long run marked the end of the cut-back week, going back to the same distance as Week 1, three miles. A measly three miles! Was this a dreaded Three-peat? Actually, it feels nice to think that three miles is now essentially nothing; it is definitely different from April! I am running and training during the week which helps.
Still, it was kind of a lackluster run. The weather was somewhat overcast; the turnout was lower (because it was a short run?), and despite the science and reasoning behind it, the slower pace is not the most energizing. So, I decided to pay a bit more attention to the scenery. It really is a plethora of sights with marijuana "clinics," luxury hotels, a Jewish school, vendors, homeless people, tourists, the ocean, pigeon flocks and on and on all filling my "viewfinder." (Of course, there are also groups of the Roadrunners' "archenemies," the L.A. Leggers!)
The 31 runners in the Magnificent 7/Lucky 7 Group were soon back at the start and stretching. I had barely even broken a sweat! Still, the banana and Gatorade were welcome.
It was also the first LA Roadrunners Charity Day where some of the official marathon charities sought runners to help them gain funds through pledges. There were 10; some of the more ambitious even started before you entered the hall (a man in a gorilla costume offering information for an outdoors education group). There were charities for animals, a cancer run, south L.A. youth (A Place Called Home), the American Cancer Society, YWCA, etc.
I spoke with a few, including the youth one. The cancer run is on a Sunday, which is a problem, due to church commitments. The American Cancer Society seemed promising; but, they seek a $1,500 commitment! For someone who works with nonprofits who also need money ....
I also visited with Think Cure, the official charity of my beloved Los Angeles Dodgers and seeker of funding to fight cancer. They were nice. It was also nice to get in a raffle for Game 5 NLDS tickets; the only issue being with L.A. up 2-0 in best of five series against St. Louis, I do NOT want a Game 5 to happen!
Anyways, I gathered some information; but, I have not decided anything yet. It was soon time to head back to Santa Monica.
It was only three miles; but, hopefully, it is three miles closer to finishing the Los Angeles Marathon March 21.
If anyone does want to help a charity through this run, please contact me!
Still, it was kind of a lackluster run. The weather was somewhat overcast; the turnout was lower (because it was a short run?), and despite the science and reasoning behind it, the slower pace is not the most energizing. So, I decided to pay a bit more attention to the scenery. It really is a plethora of sights with marijuana "clinics," luxury hotels, a Jewish school, vendors, homeless people, tourists, the ocean, pigeon flocks and on and on all filling my "viewfinder." (Of course, there are also groups of the Roadrunners' "archenemies," the L.A. Leggers!)
The 31 runners in the Magnificent 7/Lucky 7 Group were soon back at the start and stretching. I had barely even broken a sweat! Still, the banana and Gatorade were welcome.
It was also the first LA Roadrunners Charity Day where some of the official marathon charities sought runners to help them gain funds through pledges. There were 10; some of the more ambitious even started before you entered the hall (a man in a gorilla costume offering information for an outdoors education group). There were charities for animals, a cancer run, south L.A. youth (A Place Called Home), the American Cancer Society, YWCA, etc.
I spoke with a few, including the youth one. The cancer run is on a Sunday, which is a problem, due to church commitments. The American Cancer Society seemed promising; but, they seek a $1,500 commitment! For someone who works with nonprofits who also need money ....
I also visited with Think Cure, the official charity of my beloved Los Angeles Dodgers and seeker of funding to fight cancer. They were nice. It was also nice to get in a raffle for Game 5 NLDS tickets; the only issue being with L.A. up 2-0 in best of five series against St. Louis, I do NOT want a Game 5 to happen!
Anyways, I gathered some information; but, I have not decided anything yet. It was soon time to head back to Santa Monica.
It was only three miles; but, hopefully, it is three miles closer to finishing the Los Angeles Marathon March 21.
If anyone does want to help a charity through this run, please contact me!
Thursday, October 8, 2009
I Miss Running
This week is cut-back week at the Roadrunners training program. This means less running during the week, just two days versus the normal three as well as less time during the sessions. It has felt so strange not running!
This morning was actually different as I went out on the streets, well sidewalks, before dawn. No park. No grass. No sun. Still, it felt good, especially as it was the faster-paced part of the training.
It feels odd actually reducing my running, especially since the goal is to run further; but, the leaders have the experience. If feeling odd for a week heps me to complete the Los Angeles Marathon, then ...
Still, I missed running the other day. It has been such a positive and such a release valve to help with everything else. It is so important that I got up this morning at 4 a.m. to run!
This morning was actually different as I went out on the streets, well sidewalks, before dawn. No park. No grass. No sun. Still, it felt good, especially as it was the faster-paced part of the training.
It feels odd actually reducing my running, especially since the goal is to run further; but, the leaders have the experience. If feeling odd for a week heps me to complete the Los Angeles Marathon, then ...
Still, I missed running the other day. It has been such a positive and such a release valve to help with everything else. It is so important that I got up this morning at 4 a.m. to run!
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Week 4: Six Miles and Smiling?
Today was a great day of running! I am not sure why or how; it just was.
The pace leaders for Groups 7 and 8 had both emailed about learning to run uphill as well as the first crossing of the Santa Monica Pier. Both were "firsts" in marathon training for me.
Before all of the groups set out, Lightning Rod Dixon mentioned the need to learn to run uphill and downhill. Then, they announced the groups would be slowing down, fairly significantly. This meant my new adopted group, Magnificent 7/Lucky 7 was aiming for 12:00 miles rather than race day plan of 10:30. Since I have run much faster than that on 5K and just in training and even the Roadrunners sessions, it was a bit disappointing. Then, the senior pace leader explained it a bit more and ended with, "To run faster, we must run slower." Apparently, this helps build up aerobic capacity; but, for a sprinter-minded runner, it is near heresy ... we run faster to run even faster! This Los Angeles Marathon is a whole new world for me.
Nevertheless, soon Group 7 was launched down the Strand in Venice on an absolutely beautiful day. I felt so comfortable and at ease; it was amazing. Granted, the speed was slow; but, I was running six miles without a problem, something basically impossible at the start of May. I was barely even sweating, which in itself is near miraculous. I stopped at the water station; but, it was certainly far from an emergency halt.
The group continued onwards and we reached the landmark Santa Monica Pier and began the ascent up from the Strand. We were then halted for a bit of training on uphill and downhill running and even a practice session up and down the bit of incline from Pico and the famous sign. I was almost gleeful hearing "pump your arms like a sprinter." Yeah! In fact, a lot of the old ways came back quickly as memories of how I ran The Bowl and stadiums kicked in almost instinctively. It really was no problem.
After ascending up to Ocean Avenue, we continued north alongside a stunning view of a near empty beach and a gorgeous, non-tsunami-threatened Santa Monica Bay. The old tap-the-fingers trick was in effect. I could not believe how relaxed I felt running what really is a decent distance! I actually broke out a smile! A smile! A smile while running! I could not believe it. I had NEVER smiled while running. At Servite, it was essentially forbidden unless you had a) finished a race b) won Yet, here I was smiling! Unreal. People were dropping out of the group and here I was smiling! I just could not imagine this happening.
So, we continued up to California Avenue passing the Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevard borders demarcating the rich and proper people from us lot in the south. We turned around and got a nice view over the sea as a reward and headed back south. Among the sights was a low-flying military CH-47 Chinook helicopter flying along the beach! Wow, even some aviation scenery for me to see. This was a good run.
Our group headed back down over the Pier and down the Strand to our start, logging 6.06 miles. I knew it was a slow run; but, what a run. I felt so relieved. No knee problems. No problems at all. I actually felt peaceful. After stretching out hearing a bit on next week, it was back to the school for Gatorade, water and bananas. Then there was a rather detailed and scientific discussion on nutrition. I then headed for home.
It was just such a moment for me, a nice moment after a lot of challenges. It will not be easy to finish training and then actually running the Marathon come March 21; but, this helped a lot. I did six miles and it felt like I could have doubled it. Normally, alone on the track I would be huffing and puffing ...
The marathon style is so different. I had been trained to think like a cheetah: run on your own, run hard, run fast and get your target quickly. Now, it is like a wolf pack: run together, run consistently, run longer, and endure. Two ways of looking at life, I guess.
I still have a long ways to go on many, many things in my life; but, perhaps this was a start. Or as my hero Sir Winston Churchill said, "It was not the beginning of the end, but perhaps the end of the beginning."
The pace leaders for Groups 7 and 8 had both emailed about learning to run uphill as well as the first crossing of the Santa Monica Pier. Both were "firsts" in marathon training for me.
Before all of the groups set out, Lightning Rod Dixon mentioned the need to learn to run uphill and downhill. Then, they announced the groups would be slowing down, fairly significantly. This meant my new adopted group, Magnificent 7/Lucky 7 was aiming for 12:00 miles rather than race day plan of 10:30. Since I have run much faster than that on 5K and just in training and even the Roadrunners sessions, it was a bit disappointing. Then, the senior pace leader explained it a bit more and ended with, "To run faster, we must run slower." Apparently, this helps build up aerobic capacity; but, for a sprinter-minded runner, it is near heresy ... we run faster to run even faster! This Los Angeles Marathon is a whole new world for me.
Nevertheless, soon Group 7 was launched down the Strand in Venice on an absolutely beautiful day. I felt so comfortable and at ease; it was amazing. Granted, the speed was slow; but, I was running six miles without a problem, something basically impossible at the start of May. I was barely even sweating, which in itself is near miraculous. I stopped at the water station; but, it was certainly far from an emergency halt.
The group continued onwards and we reached the landmark Santa Monica Pier and began the ascent up from the Strand. We were then halted for a bit of training on uphill and downhill running and even a practice session up and down the bit of incline from Pico and the famous sign. I was almost gleeful hearing "pump your arms like a sprinter." Yeah! In fact, a lot of the old ways came back quickly as memories of how I ran The Bowl and stadiums kicked in almost instinctively. It really was no problem.
After ascending up to Ocean Avenue, we continued north alongside a stunning view of a near empty beach and a gorgeous, non-tsunami-threatened Santa Monica Bay. The old tap-the-fingers trick was in effect. I could not believe how relaxed I felt running what really is a decent distance! I actually broke out a smile! A smile! A smile while running! I could not believe it. I had NEVER smiled while running. At Servite, it was essentially forbidden unless you had a) finished a race b) won Yet, here I was smiling! Unreal. People were dropping out of the group and here I was smiling! I just could not imagine this happening.
So, we continued up to California Avenue passing the Santa Monica and Wilshire Boulevard borders demarcating the rich and proper people from us lot in the south. We turned around and got a nice view over the sea as a reward and headed back south. Among the sights was a low-flying military CH-47 Chinook helicopter flying along the beach! Wow, even some aviation scenery for me to see. This was a good run.
Our group headed back down over the Pier and down the Strand to our start, logging 6.06 miles. I knew it was a slow run; but, what a run. I felt so relieved. No knee problems. No problems at all. I actually felt peaceful. After stretching out hearing a bit on next week, it was back to the school for Gatorade, water and bananas. Then there was a rather detailed and scientific discussion on nutrition. I then headed for home.
It was just such a moment for me, a nice moment after a lot of challenges. It will not be easy to finish training and then actually running the Marathon come March 21; but, this helped a lot. I did six miles and it felt like I could have doubled it. Normally, alone on the track I would be huffing and puffing ...
The marathon style is so different. I had been trained to think like a cheetah: run on your own, run hard, run fast and get your target quickly. Now, it is like a wolf pack: run together, run consistently, run longer, and endure. Two ways of looking at life, I guess.
I still have a long ways to go on many, many things in my life; but, perhaps this was a start. Or as my hero Sir Winston Churchill said, "It was not the beginning of the end, but perhaps the end of the beginning."
Thursday, October 1, 2009
We Go to the Pier!
Today I received emails from Lucky7 and GR8 pace leaders with the information for next Saturday's run ... we cross the Santa Monica Pier and get to head north! It includes some uphill running.
This sounds fun.
This morning I ran in the wonderful weather and felt so calm, despite everything else swirling around me.
Then I see the email on the Pier! Somehow I am recalling the landmarks from the track days, especially Hell Week's grand tour of Fullerton and Anaheim: Glover Stadium, Hillcrest Park, Hunt Wesson plant, The Bowl, ... now, The Pier!
Somehow this marathon seems to be helping to dig deep and recall old challenges. May be it is a way of preparing anew?
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