Two All-time Favorite Runs in 1 Week

Once again, I find myself playing catch up here...

Not to say I haven't been running.  In fact, I managed to complete what are arguably my two favorite training runs, especially when it comes to marathon training.

Two weeks ago I ended up in Los Angeles for a couple of days which gave me the opportunity to finish favorite run number 1.  I flew out early in the morning and due to some unfortunate meeting cancellations, found myself with the afternoon free.  I set off around 4:30 or so from Redondo Beach for a long run along the Strand, a strip that stretches through Manhattan Beach and ends, well, I don't really know, somewhere past LAX where I ended up.  But on this occasion I found myself in El Segundo, having passed through Hermosa and Manhattan Beach to get there.  I turned around and set back along the water, thinking I would run a mile or so on the beach.  I ended up making the complete return trip in the sand.  It was perfect...I felt good, the ocean was calming and the sun was setting just so.  13 miles passed in virtually no time.  And, I finally got to run in shorts again.

A week later we headed to the Adirondacks for a few days of skiing and favorite run number 2.  The irony of this run is that it includes a 10k race course that I truly hate.  For years I ran this race which includes a significant uphill in each of its 6 miles.  After each race I was determined to never run it again, yet the following summer I would find myself at the start line thinking "well, it really can't be bad as I remember...".  Yes.  Yes it can be that bad.  And yet, as part of a 14 mile training run around the lake, I love it.  Go figure.  I suspect it has something to do with views like this...

In any case, we skied Oak - the mountain in the background - on Tuesday.  The next morning I got up early and ran, stopping about halfway to take this pic.  Went back to Oak that afternoon and my nightfall, my legs were fried.  Oreos helped to ease the pain enough that I was able to ski Gore the next day.

Mixed into these two runs, I managed to get in some decent miles.  I'm focusing now on longer less frequent runs in an effort to minimize the problem with my right hamstring.  I ran 8 with Rick before James' swim meet at Hauppauge HS.  We made an attempt to head into the woods but gave up as the trails were still too snowy and icy.  Yesterday I dropped James off for an early swim practice in Huntington and went over to Caumsett.  The paths were in great condition, the trails less so, despite the warmer weather and rain.  I did a couple of loops with some side trips - good enough for 10 miles.  This morning Rick and I met up in Kings Park and ran into Sunken Meadow.  The trails were manageable - clear in some spots, icy in others.  But nice to be back in the woods again.  We ran into Sunken Meadow and out to the golf course, passing a number of groups of soldiers humping around heavy packs on their backs.  As we ran back to KP up Cardiac Hill, we passed a couple of them walking up.  It's hard enough running up Cardiac...can't imagine what it would be like hauling a pack up it.  We shared some quick words of encouragement and ran steady back to KP.

219 miles down, 281 to go...

Busy, Busy, Busy

Between work, CMSAA and the HS swim championship this past weekend I haven't had much time to breathe let alone run.  But I did manage to shoehorn in some good ones.  And a spin workout or two.

Last Friday I did my 7 mile loop around Sunken Meadow, complete with boardwalk, golf course and toll booth.  On Saturday, I did a rare afternoon run at Eisenhower.  I dropped off James for his meet and found myself with a nice chunk of time.  I managed to squeeze in three 5k loops before doing my superman  impression and getting changed in my car and heading in to catch the first race.  The Eisenhower paths were clearing up nicely...there were just a few areas where snow and ice were a challenge.  Alas, this was probably my last run in Eisenhower for awhile as I no longer have to drive to Chaminade on Saturday mornings.  Still, I'm glad to have had a second option to Sunken Meadow to protect my sanity.

Yesterday I took a shot on the roads around town and did a Cow Harbor loop.  It was a bit dicey in spots, mostly with the search to find a safe perch when cars would approach, but overall quite runnable.  Barring no more snow I'll work that back into rotation.

This week I will be doing one of my all time favorite runs - The Strand in Los Angeles, from Redondo Beach to Manhattan Beach and back.  It's my first 13 mile+ run of training and one that, given the horrible running conditions around here, I've been looking forward to.  The weather forecast?  Cold and rainy.  I just can't win...

166 miles down, 334 to go...

My Back is Back

Seems like whenever I'm in training for a significant race, my back spontaneously combusts.  Usually it happens when I'm doing something uneventful - putting something in the back of the car or bending over to pick something up.  Once it freezes, I'm screwed.  It happened the day before the Mighty Man tri a few years back yet I somehow managed to make it to the startline the next morning, thanks to alternating bags of motel ice and hot showers.  And Advil.  Lots of Advil.  More recently it went south a few weeks before the LI Half Marathon.  This one took over a month to shake.  I still went to the park on race day in some quixotic attempt to run.  The warm up jog in the parking lot lasted 10 yards before I turned around, got back in the car, and drove home.  It had been my first attempt to run in three weeks.  It would be another week before I tried again.

Last Wednesday's ice storm forced me inside onto the spinbike.  "Forced" may be too strong a word as I like spinning as cross-training.  At some point during my spin, I leaned over to get a dropped towel.  That was just enough to tweak things...not so bad that I stopped, but enough that I noticed something had happened. Two hours later I was sitting at my desk with a stiff back.  Game over.

Luckily it only lasted a few days and on Sunday I felt well enough to try it out.  I headed over to Sunken Meadow and did a 9 mile loop out to the golf course and a few trips to the toll booth.  Felt ok afterwards, so it's back to training.  Monday was a 6 miler on the boardwalk and out to the golf course.  I was grateful to see that the boardwalk was virtually clear, giving me another option in Sunken Meadow.  Today I went back - only had time for 5 miles - but ran mile #4 as a tempo back from the golf course.  I've found that the PITA bothers me mostly when I pick up the pace.  I may be heading towards running Boston at my training pace which makes it a little less bothersome.  Not sure if I like the idea of not doing any real speed training, but it may all be moot if I only have one gear I'm comfortable running in.

143 miles down, 357 to go...

If You Can't Beat 'em, Join 'em!

Sunday was a day to quit complaining about the snow and take advantage of it.  I met Rick in the morning to go cross-country skiing.  We had planned on going to Blydenburgh, but about half-way there I realized I had forgotten my XC ski boots and had to turn around to go get them...amateur mistake.  While I went home to correct the error of my ways, Rick investigated the trails, only to determine that not only was there no plowed out areas to park, there were no trails either.  We'd have to bushwack the whole thing...not the carefree skate we were going for.

Instead, we met up at Caleb Smith, and quite honestly, once you're in the woods, you can't tell one trail from another.  They're all pretty darn scenic.

Conditions were pretty good.  The tracks were in reasonably good shape and there were plenty of spots where we could get up to speed.  An hour and a half later, we emerged from the park.  No running today, but some nice cross training.  And for once, I felt like the snow wasn't working against me.

On Monday, it was back to Sunken Meadow.  By now the the eastern lot had been plowed and I was able to park at the far end.  Someone had taken a snowblower and cut a path across the bridge, so I set out around the lot and across the moat, jumping a drift or two to get out to the road and then up to the toll booth.  From there it was my now routine loop out to the golf course and festive dance to avoid the patches of ice that dotted the road.  Heading back into the park, I did a second loop up to the toll booth, heading back the same way I set out.  Overall, I felt pretty good, with the exception of the now permanent PITA/hamstring combo.

Tuesday was rain and ice and a ton of work.  I did manage to get a workout in tonight at Chaminade, making sure I added in a few extra sets to make up for the lack of running.

123 miles down, 377 to go...