Monday, December 30, 2013

Training hard and low (or long) and slow

I've always felt that if you train hard you get tougher, build endurance, and ideally get faster. But training hard has its drawbacks, particularly as I get older. That and the fact that it requires dedicated time, something that I don't always have (who does? except for those professional athletes of course...). And training hard also flies in the face of the long slow run, which also has its merits. And I struggle with it so.

More often than not, I want to go out there and run hard and literally beat myself up to the point of exhaustion, but I know that that can be unproductive. Whenever I do that, it feels good at the time, and then I'm in pain (recovering) afterwards - and I know that I'm not alone in this. I wind up stiff and crickety and my joints might hurt and I'll feel like I've been in a wreck - but it felt so good at the time...

Conversely, when I force myself, and I do mean force, to run low and slow - like a 10 minute per mile pace - I know that this is actually better for me, although I don't always feel like it is. I know that it is aerobic, that I'm burning more fat cells, and it's way easier on my joints and muscles. And when I'm done with my run it is a good, relaxed, tired feeling.

So obviously the trick is to mix it up - run hard (but not so hard that I am having to spend a day (or days) recovering, but also run low and slow. I know that the the "hard" run will help me build speed and a level of endurance, and the "low and slow" run will help me build endurance and aerobic health. My challenge is that I want to run "hard" every run and it is only during the run that I decide if it will be a "hard" run or a "low and slow" run. It ain't right, but it is how it is - and usually I manage to mix things up enough that I'm able to maintain a reasonable level of fitness.

I could be better if I followed a dedicated training schedule, but c'mon.... seriously? I'm running for fun and because it feels good and it should be reasonably spontaneous. I'm never going to win a race and I'm not likely to even place - I'm just running for me. Although it would be fun to win!

Next event: Clearwater HM, Jan 19, 2014

Friday, December 13, 2013

the will to persevere

I've become acutely aware of the "will to persevere" - I'm sure that I was already aware of it, but I recently read or heard (don't remember which) the phrase in the context of someones description of overcoming a medical condition (I wish that I could remember the source so that I can give credit where credit is due....), but it struck me so true.

The context of the phrase had to do with someone battling a difficult medical condition - it was painful, debilitating, annoying, and life changing. This patient was determined to find a solution. His doctor stated that "he has the will to persevere" through difficult treatments and that in of itself increased his chances of a positive result.

When we train for distance events we put ourselves through long hours and miles and miles - and it takes a tremendous amount of perseverance to keep doing it, to keep to the training program, to not miss a day (or at least miss as few as possible). Obviously, without doing the time and the miles, the opportunity for success in a long distance running event reduces dramatically. And as difficult as it can be sometimes, when you are chugging through the long runs and you are tired and possibly hurting, you have to have that "will".

It's not "hope" and it's not "wishing". I never hope or wish that I could cross the finish line. For me it is a foregone conclusion: I WILL cross that finish line - what is up for debate is how long it will take me and how I will deal with the difficulties that I am likely to encounter along the way (as in my recent Marine Corp Marathon run). The quote in the caption to the right is from Winston Churchill. So true.

But then I noticed it in other areas, like work related projects or personal events - the task may be arduous and perhaps not mentally demanding or stimulating, yet it is something that has to get done - without the will to continue and persevere it won't get done.

I've found it interesting that when I'm in a situation like that, that I think about running a marathon: my task is to run as efficiently as possible and when I cross that finish line I'll be done; in the meantime I'm going to keep running. I've applied the same logic to a task that I might be involved with: I'll be done when I finish it; in the meantime concentrate on doing it right so that I don't have to do it again or fix it later....

It seems so easy to quit when things get hard - so easy to just say "screw it, I'm tired, no one cares if I run this thing or not...", but yet we don't. We keep running. The caveat of course is that obviously if there is an injury involved, that is a good time to assess possible real damage to your body - I've bailed on a run when something doesn't feel right - all with the view that I want to be able to run tomorrow and the days after that.

To me the will to persevere is the ability and the strength to press on when I'm tired, to blot out any boredom, and keep my eye on my goal. You've got to have and keep that will.

Tuesday, December 3, 2013

The post-marathon blues

Right after my Marine Corps Marathon I was anxiously looking for my next event to run. Even though I had a tough marathon, I was wanting to it again and do it better. Anyone who asked me why got the standard reply: "because I know that I can do better".

I found a mid January marathon that runs in Clearwater, FL, (link: http://www.clearwaterrunning.com/) and I was thinking that this would be a good one to do, particularly since most of my heavy training was already well under my belt and all I had to do was to maintain my distance running and work on some endurance drills.

But then life and projects and commitments got in the way again. And to some degree, I was tired. With an ongoing project to which I have self-imposed deadlines, it seems to be totally consuming me. Rather than wake up, stretch, and go for a scheduled run of x-miles, now I'm jumping into my project and *maybe going for a run. It's like running (or training) have taken a back seat in my list of priorities. And now I'm really bummed about it.

As in life, running goals and a plan to achieve them are necessary. I find that I need a goal (a race event actually) in order for me to focus on running. Otherwise, I tend to just run whenever it is convenient to do so or I have nothing else pressing to do.

And I need to change that. I like the trimness that I achieved while training for the MCM and I like the fact that I can eat. Oddly enough, I still have not regained the weight that I lost in the last few weeks prior to the marathon, which just means that my current project (which is pretty physically demanding) is consuming a lot of calories! But still....

The Clearwater Marathon is in mid-January - and unfortunately I've not done the running necessary to make it a reasonable event for me.  They do have a half marathon event, for which I think I can comfortably do. But I need to establish my plan and get out there and train for it, i.e. get my miles in.

Gotta get on it !!!