Week 25: Certified!

Saturday meant another long run for the LA Roadrunners as training for the Los Angeles Marathon continues.

This week was different ... a bit of a longer run.

It was an interesting morning since as soon as I set out from home the skies opened and it was a very heavy rain and I thought, "Oh, oh." Also, it was restricted parking at the school; so, it meant a bit of as it turns out unnecessary uncertainty.

I met with a few fellow Group 7ers before hand. We were trying to figure out the weather, discuss the route, etc. I then headed over to the Strand, our launching pad. There was also talk of a tsunami warning due to the Chilean earthquake tragedy ... just what we needed, a tsunami warning.

Saturday was an unusual run in that we started south briefly and then north on the normal path all the way to California. I was a bit concerned as my calves got a bit sore early on, which is quite unusual. Also, we took a lot of diversions due to a lot of water being on the running trail. The rain was sprinkling.

Group 7 hit the turn and back down south we came ... passing the flagpole for the third time already after just six miles! (Note: just six miles! That still seems to odd to say). The weather seemed to be improving and my partner threw away his plastic rain covering.

We then headed into Venice as usual and then Marina del Rey. I was feeling pretty good. My knee was at times sore; but, better than the last few weeks.

Marina del Rey has become familiar terrain as well. There was an odd drop of rain; but, nothing bad.

We then headed into the zone between Marina del Rey and Playa del Rey ... It got interesting. On one of the causeways, the rain started to come down hard, very hard. My partner soon realized he had thrown his kit away too soon. This was the same place we had been soaked the previous big rain run (15 miler). It was kind of exciting and we all yelled and clapped. Yee haw!

Then we entered Playa del Rey. I was chatting with one of the paceleaders about ice hockey and the big game (Yeah, Canada!). I was doing well and feeling good.

We passed the Sheriff station, the Coast Guard base and then headed towards Dockwiler Beach, right by LAX! (Who needs a shuttle ... next time, I will just run!). I was getting excited as the mileage built up higher.

I did value the water stations certainly. One even had pretzels and some Gatorade. I was travelling heavier than normal having brought a decent sized-bottle of water and one of Powerade with me on a belt. The senior pace leader said to try Powerade on a run since that will be on offer race day.

As we headed for home, my knee did twinge some. Still, I was making it! I spoke with the Canadian paceleader and he said just log the mileage.

Around Mile 18 ... it changed. My knee was sore and I think I ran out of energy, mental and physical. I just struggled very badly.

I thought I was not going to finish. Somehow I kept moving forward. I now realize I was moving faster than I thought; but, I was struggling so and at the back of the group. I was very tempted to walk or even stop or quit; but, somehow I just kept plugging along rather than gracefully run. I was frantically doing all the Servite track steps in my head and it worked.

I kept going. I was definitely struggling; but, I was moving. I was still getting closer at least.

One of the Group 7ers, Mitch, caught up with me and was such an encouragement to have the last little home stretch. My heart kind of cheered as I saw familar stores and the sports courts. I was still going. I was struggling, but going.

Then I saw the flagpole! I tried to turn some speed and the accelerator failed; but, I was almost there. I just focused those last few yards ... success. I had made it. I had struggled mightily; but, I was there and stretching.

Afterwards, at the school, the energy was up. People were tired and sore; but, people were happy. We were drinking and eating (even had bread this time). I spoke with some Group 7ers. It was really nice and supportive. We had made it. One of the paceleaders came and gave us a certificate saying we had run 20 miles! I am now certified as ... insane, a runner, whatever ... it mattered to me. I felt my energy return fast, which surprised me.

Later in the parking lot, I met a woman who had been with Group 7, gotten hurt, and was with Run/Walk 1. She said they had passed a lot of Group 7s she knew and asked what happened. So, I must not have been the worst! That was a relief as selfish as it sounds.

At the end of it, I had finished 20 miles. 6.2. to go; but 20 logged. I have some things to think about and improve; but, I had made it. I had run it, even if not perfectly. It was a day.


Credo.

3:42.21 of running
10:56 pace
20.35 miles!

Thursday is Just Another Day

Thursday was another training run, the last before THE BIG ONE with the LA Roadrunners. So, I was interested to see how I would react on a short-night and two runs in under eight hours.

I headed out with my windbreaker again, unsure how the weather would be, on M1 The Extension. I felt pretty good and my knee while a bit sore was surviving without the brace.

I was doing pretty well as I headed along the route, which includes some hills even without adding the special hillwork required on some runs. I hit Los Angeles and went back into Santa Monica pretty comfortably. I coughed some; but, it is down from the worst of it.

I did a loop down around the airport and headed home. Besides the traffic light momentum killers, I did stop ... for some reason I just stopped by the airport and waited a minute (Yes, the Garmin electronic conscience was clicked off). I just stood there and took in ... the silence. It was so quiet! No traffic. No airplanes. No dogs. Nothing! I started up again and my tranquil oasis quickly ended as a Santa Monica Park Range patrol car went by (no problems though!).

I made it home alright. Again I was thinking and wishing for more speed; but, I survived better physcially at least.

40:33 of running
11:58 pace
3.38 miles

Fizzle in the Drizzle?

Wednesday came and it was time for some more training for the LA Roadrunners as I work to complete my first marathon ... coming quite soon, the Los Angeles Marathon.

It was drizzling and I had already had a longer-than-normal commute home. Still, I wanted to go out; so, I got changed, put on the gear and a windbreaker plus the cap ... and then ate the new idea: a tostada. I also downed my Aleves and opted against the knee brace.

I headed down to Clover Park again for semi-closed circuit. With the light rain and drizzle, the park was almost empty. I had two runs to do; two each of 20 minutes with a 5-minute slow-period between.

I set out on number 1 and felt pretty good. I had less coughing and knee felt a bit better. I was a bit concerned about the wet cement though. I got the run down and felt pretty good, except for the time.

I did the slow-period and then set off again. The second run felt better, at least in my head. For a nice change, I felt comfortable as I made the rounds. The drizzle lessened and eventually got to zero. I felt I had run decently ...

The odd thing is my time was not enarly as good in #2 despite feeling better AND faster! That was a bit disappointing. I had wanted to do well. I at least finished though and less pain than before; so, may be that is doing well.

Still, my speed or lack thereof, is a bit of a concern. It felt like a firework that got wet in the drizzle; you light it and .... fizzle. DUD.

#1
20:02 of running
1.77 miles
11:20 pace

#2
20:04 of running
1.68 miles
11:52 pace

Happy Trails

It is Monday ... and I set out in the pre-dawn for some more LA Roadrunners training.

Again, I tried running without the brace and my knee felt pretty good. It is not perfect by far; but, it is better. I did still have some off and on coughing; but, overall, things just seemed better somehow.

I did run slower than target; I think partly just wanting to enjoy things going relatively well and now having something go wrong from trying to push it and partly just being a bit low on energy and wanting to keep energy reserves up for Saturday.

Today was only 40 minutes (even less than the Sunday light run!). I took M1 route basically and cruised around a dark Santa Monica and briefly entered Los Angeles. The threatened rain did not come; so, it was pretty easy. I was going along pretty well with only traffic lights causing breaks in momentum and time lost.

I got back after an uneventful, but still pretty fulfilling run, and enjoyed two tostadas. I think this may become a pre-run and post-run tool for mid-week training!

41:08 of running
3.48 miles
11:49 pace

One Month

Well, if things go well, come a month to the day and hour, I will have crossed the finish line in Santa Monica for the Los Angeles Marathon, my first marathon with the LA Roadrunners, and my first marathon period.

ADELANTE.

VAMANOS.

CREDO.

Baby Steps

So, Sunday has come and it was time to run again for the LA Roadrunners.

This time the schedule called for 45 minutes (only time on the schedule).

I set out again dark and early. I had a little coughing again. This time though I did feel better in my quads (a little sore) and calves (not at all) and more importantly knee (not too bad). I also kept the brace off this time.

After the coughing began, I just decided to go slow again and just take it in as I ran. I was also thinking a great deal.

I kind of eased along a modified M1 route. The weather was not too bad; so, that helped.

I was a little disappointed; but, the turboboost thoughts just were not coming and I thought it best to save energy for a hard week. (The Group 7 SPL said he even though Sundays were optional). I felt slow. kind of taking baby steps.

I made it home after a spell. It was more just a stretch-the-legs trot than anything. Still, as slow as I was, my time was a bit better than last Sunday on a longer time ... so, baby steps of progress.

This might be what it will take to do the Los Angeles Marathon ... baby steps upon baby steps.

46:09 of running (vs. 32:02 last Sunday)
13:37 pace (vs 13:43 last Sunday)
3.38 miles (vs. 2.34 miles last Sunday)

Week 24: Rain, Rain Went Away ... Then a Dog Did Play

Saturday came and it meant another long run with the LA Roadrunners. This time it was a relatively short 10 miles (that is just incredible to write ... 10 miles in May would have been a tad long). I am still working to complete the Los Angeles Marathon.

It had been raining Friday night and rain was forecast for Saturday; I had brought along the always fashionable trash bag as well as my windbreaker. It turns out I did not need them! It was gorgeous.

Group 7 has been getting smaller and this time it was only 41 strong (vs. 75-80 a few months ago).

Because of the forecast rain and the already likely existing mud on the San Vicente Urban Obstacle Course, we headed south. My partner this time was the fellow Knight of Columbus, Danny, who was back with the group after a few weeks.

It was kind of a lackluster run; I think part of it is the early energy dissipated in Venice's quiet zones. The group was basically moving along without too much change. We cleared Venice and entered the now familiar environs of Marina del Rey, including the single file passageways.

As we neared the turnaround point, it got a bit crowded with other Roadrunner groups to and fro as well as the dreaded LA Leggers. Still, things were pretty smooth. I was running decently and my knee was not bad at all.

Also, the group was not losing people like last week. It was a bit cooler, though sunny, which helped. The group stayed quite together and intact.

The group was heading back home at last. We were on the Venice Strand when my partner killing talents reappeared.

As we passed a many with a large dog, the dog bolted ... and upended my partner, who ended up on the ground. The dog's owner was frankly a jerk as well as irresponsible, hurling a bunch of "colorful" language at us (hmmm, the law says owner must control and LEASH dog). I thought he might even want to have a go; so, I was semi-preparing myself. My partner did make it back to his feet and finished along with the group. Yeah! No serious damage thankfully.


We made it back and did the usual stretching. Our senior pace leader then said we looked good. He also started providing more information on parking and the shuttle. Finally, he went into next week's run ... He provides a lot of information.

Afterwards, it was off to the land of bananas and Gatorade. I changed shirts (I had sweated up my Roadrunners one a lot for some reason) to SERVITE black. I got my icepack on and then went to reload.

I also met a loyal reader in person ... and then got called away. Alas.

1:55.08 of running
10:43 pace (dog attack slowed Group 7)
10.74 miles ... .74 extra!