Calico Trail Run 2012? - 1ST Day of class

It is unfortunate that I am not going to be running the Calico Trail Run this year.  I was very excited to take on this 30k trail race; it was going to be my longest race to date.  I know if I line up I am going to give it my all but will most likely hurt myself doing so.  I emailed the race director who was kind enough o roll my entry over to next year.  There is no sense going out there and injuring myself some more.  This morning I felt like old Biff from the Back to the future movies…hunched and hobbling around feeling pretty miserable.  The hip has not eased up much despite a few days of rest and not much activity last week.  I did a few fartlek runs and a hike on Saturday morning that went really well, I ran them much faster than I thought I could.  After the run my hip just was not having it.  It sucks, but this week coach planned indoor cycling sessions instead of running because I keep complaining about this hip thing.  Hopefully this week of lighter training will help it heal up and then I can keep increasing the mileage.  I am nervous about it because the LA marathon is coming up and then the American River 50, so we shall see how it pans out.

Today is the first day of the semester.  I am excited to get back into school.  My life without the stress seemed empty.  It sounds strange but the winter break was not that good to me.  I increased my mileage; I hung out with family and friends which were good.  However, good people left my life and questionable ones figured a way to enter it.  The circumstances of how these things happen still baffle me, but I am comfortable with my role because I have made the best decisions that could have been made with the information available, but it is still going to be an interesting 2011.  I have a sense that this year will have long lasting effects on me.  As if there is a new wave of circumstances and events that will force me to make critical life changing decisions, I don’t know why but I just get that sense.  I pray for a receptive ear to good advice.   

Odd Tendancy Explained - Fartlek Run (mood change)

I am just going to say it.  I have been doing some things that seen individually seem odd for me.  For example…I get really excited about buying shoes, I am checking out a leather bag, and wear loud colors so people notice me.  Now, it would seem that I am would be changing my lifestyle in more than one way, but let me explain.  I buy running shoes and I like having options.  It is nice to decide how I want the ground to feel under my feet.  Sometimes you feel that the trail is going to be spongier or harder and you account for the difference.  I am looking at purchasing a leather bag.  Well its one of those purchases that will happen when I graduate from law school.  The bag I like (2 actually) are the backpack and the briefcase from saddleback leather co.  I like their products and I like the quality.  The loud clothes?  I am starting school in a week so hitting the road for a run at 10 or 11 at night is going to mean I have to look radioactive to hopefully avoid being tagged by shinny bumper. 

I am feeling better, my mood is changing and I sense that I am getting over whatever winter spell I was on the last few weeks.  I have a fartlek run today, 5k pace, 40 min with up ticks for 1-3 minutes intertwined in there.  I think it will be a good run, cold, but good.  I just want to get outside and feel the crisp air again.  I know these next few days are priceless, daylight running is going to be a weekend thing starting next week. 

Running Update - Possible Injury

I am pretty sad right now about my running.  A hip injury is really taking me out of it.  I can put weight on it, and when I run making a conscious effort to raise it high there is no problem.  When I slow down or just walk around I feel it.  I have pushed through for a few days and kept active but this morning I crawled out of bed to hit the snooze button…I guess it felt like…you know when you buy whole chicken…imagine tearing off a leg…that muscle tearing feeling…now imagine sticking a pencil, a Ticonderoga #2, in the tear…yup that about sums it up.  What makes me sad is that I have really had some quality runs and my times were getting faster.  I had a 5k PR, I ran 4 miles and averaged under 9 min/mi for the whole time, I ran almost 12 miles in rain and wind, but a hip is going to take me out of it.  But no matter how much you want to go if something is injured or not right you have to just take care of it.  There is no sense in pushing past the pain if you are risking long term injury.  So I am going to take it easy for a week or so.  I emailed the Calico Trail Run (30k) organization about the race the 16^th.  We shall see how that goes.  I am going to go to the doctor too.  I really do not want to but I figure it’s going to be the best way to really know for sure.  I figure it will really be a reminder to me to eat smart, so I do not lose the fitness I have gained and simply find alternative to stay healthy and keep moving. School starts next Monday.  Not too excited about 120 mile drive days coming back, but that is the way it has to be.  Downtown LA is not that far, hopefully the weather gets better because I am going to be doing a lot of night training. 

Year to Year 5k - Race Report

2010 I started running and there have been people following my journey both at home and at work. Most of the time the support sounds something like this;

What the hell are you doing at 11 pm at night running?

You were dropped on your head as a child.

Are you okay?

You are a nut.

There have been a few who have caught the running bug themselves. A few weeks ago I had the chance to run with a group and it was so nice to have that spirit of sharing. At work we were talking about how great if we ran at midnight. A friend said...if you find the race I am down to do it. So a few minutes later, the Point Mugu Year-to-Year run was on my screen. I am really lucky to run it with four awesome people and I had blast.

The race itself started at 11:50 pm - 12/31/2010! The race sold out! There were 163 souls out there looking to start off 2011, heck the new decade, one foot in front of the other. So I put on my tuxedo cycling jersey...keep it classy. 

The race itself was a two loop course in an out and back. It was a gun start with chip timing so the finishing times were going to be a little off depending on where you started. We were 10 people deep and gave each other a New Year hugs a few minutes before the race. My plan was to run a good first mile but step on the gas the second mile and try and hold for the third.

Bang! And I darted across to the inside because it was a quick right turn. I figured I would find someone holding a pace I felt comfortable at and I would stick to them at least for mile one. On the turn I ended up in near the front pack and it immediately thinned out since so many people were taking the turn I assume there were some elbows. I ran behind a guy with a dog. He was keeping a steady clip.

I stayed with the guy with the dog as a few runners darted past me (I caught them later). I was patient and thought to myself, run your own race, enjoy it for what it is…a welcome to a new Decade! Around the one mile mark the Guy and Spike(dog), eh sounds good, picked up the pace and shrugged me off. But at 1.5-ish Spike had to pee and I was able to catch up. We stayed together the whole first loop and I kept it consistent.

Loop two I was starting to breathe a lot heavier but I still felt plenty strong. The half way point of the loop I sprinted ahead of Spike and Dude, I knew I would try and push at the end and I figured tripping on a dog leash may not be a good way to end 2010. At this point guy in red jacket passed me and I saw my shadow bouncing up and down. It was little lady with a hand lamp. She came roaring by me and was probably 50 or 60 yards ahead of me with a little over a mile left.

I kicked up my knees and pushed to try and catch guy in red jacket and little lady with hand lamp. With a quarter of a mile to go and having put out some effort my feet were giving me the finger and my calves, that had been good to this point, started quivering in the cold midnight air.

With .2 to go I went gnarly with the stride and let it open up, I passed little lady with the hand lamp but came short of catching guy in red jacket by 3 seconds, but I was proud of myself for digging deep and putting the hammer down when I did.

I went back out to the course to cheer my friends to a strong finish and those other crazies that thought running at midnight would be a good idea. I am blessed to have this opportunity and it is definitely a wonderful way to welcome a new year.

Chip Time: 24:51 (New PR)

Place: 29th overall

Splits

1 – 8:27

2 – 8:29

3 – 8:07

Garmin Link