Training time

Like many others, I sometimes get frustrated at the amount of time I actually have to run.  Now, When I actually sit and reread that sentence, it reminds me that I'm being a baby.  If I really wanted to, I can be at the gym at 5:15 a.m. when it opens.  But do I?  No.  At the moment I say it's because it's too cold outside in the a.m. hours, especially that early.  But I'm not sure how much I believe that excuse.  

I don't really have a specific time I need to be in the lab, but I prefer being there by 9 a.m.  And by going through my morning routine, I figure that a gym time of 6:30 or 7 a.m. is way too late.  I never run any time shorter than 1 hour (this is my rule and it just seems to work better for my body).  Add in some stretches before and after the run and we're looking at probably 1:20:00 at least.  Let's forget about seeing someone I know and shooting the breeze with them for a moment!  That's outta the question, especially if I'm on a tight schedule.  If that does happen, add another 10 minutes.  1:30:00.  I live about 8 minutes or so from the gym when there's NO traffic (and in the a.m. hours on campus you can forget about no traffic).  So add another 12-15 minutes getting back home.  1:42:00-1:45:00.  See, without eating and showering we're already at 8:45 a.m.  When I sat down and figured this out a few weeks ago, I think the time which is somewhat comfortable is no later than 6 a.m.  I completely realize that this seems silly since I only run one hour (more or less--there are days when I feel like more, but let's assume the average morning is 1 hour) and want to be in the lab by 9!  Believe me, I totally realize this.  But when you sit down and do the math, it works against me, as I've demonstrated above.  

So the point is I'm stuck, at the moment, with running only once a day.  The plan is twice--once in the morning and again in the evening--but it seems to be quickly fading away.  And the primary reason can be summed up in one word: thesis.  For those who don't know, I'm trying to defend in May, and in order for that to happen, I've got a lot of work to do.  Unfortunately.  But I don't think it will ever get to the point where I'm not running at all, so I'm happy for that.  None of this has changed the fact that I'm working hard on hill workouts.  They're done on treadmills, but I think treadmills are brilliant in this way.  Need hills?  Hit the treadmill for one hour or longer between 7% and 15% incline.  Then hit the trails.  See the difference in power and endurance.

I'm trying to stay positive about training time.  I'm sure it'll all work out.  :-)

First test-run at WyCo

So there's exactly one week until the Psycho WyCo 10 mile race. Having never been out there, I didn't know what to expect. Sure, I heard a crap-load of stories about that trail, but everyone is different and "hard" is also different for everyone (unless we're talking about "hard" races that have been defined as hard by damn near every person who has run it, e.g., HURT 100). So, naturally, I had to run it today (one loop, 10 miles) just to taste the trail for the first time. I don't need to run hard my first time out, but I do need to taste the trail and know what I'm in for. This makes the visualization process that will happen this week that much easier for me. So here are some of my thoughts on it.

• WyCo is not Clinton Lake, but I also wouldn't agree with something I've heard, namely, "Running 10 at WyCo is roughly equivalent to running 20 at Clinton."  Huh?  What the hell does that mean, or what is it supposed to mean?  Completely untrue.  Sure, there are comparatively longer and steeper hills, but, personally, I did not feel any more exhausted (or just "different," for that matter) after 10 miles than I would have if I ran at Clinton this morning.  Moreover, the course is much more technical than Clinton so that will wear more people out when combined with the hills.  But to say that 20CL = 10WyCo is a complete misrepresentation.
• Ahhh, the (infamous) hills everyone has been referring to.  They're nice hills, I can tell you that for sure.  Some are even pretty steep (the very small ones are; you know, those annoying very short hills that are just there to be an obstacle because of their steepness).  But in general, I would say this course, and its hills, is "normal" (by what standard? I'm not sure, but let's think of a course that has "decent" hills and say something like that is "normal").  There is a hill that is the steepest of all which happens at the end, maybe a few miles from the 10 mile mark, that is relatively "mean," but nothing like, Oh my goodness!  How will I ever continuously run up that hill?  Not even close.  But it's a nice hill and I give it the props it deserves, no doubt about it.
• The muddiness.  All I ever heard about was all this mud that can accumulate at WyCo.  Guess what?  That was not a lie.  The place was pretty damn muddy in spots and I have my shoes as proof.  And I would say that today wasn't as bad as it could be.  I'd hate to see those spots when it's really muddy!  Good God.  I wouldn't even wanna think about that, let alone having to run through it.  Let me just say that today in some spots, my foot sank deep enough that when I went to pull it out in mid-run, I can feel a pretty hard tug on my shoe.  Since I'm inexperienced, to me that was pretty hardcore mud.  Again, imagine it muddier.  Forget it.  I wouldn't wuss out on running it, but I wouldn't be happy about it.

Overall it was a nice run with Lisa, Liz, and Pat.  We took an easy pace, as we didn't have a choice but to stick together since Pat was the only one familiar with the course, and this is one course that if you don't know your way, you will get lost for sure!  So, thank you to Pat once again for agreeing to run with us this morning.

I should mention that we've also got several of our Nerds in the Rocky Raccoon 100 today.  I'm keeping up on their status via Twitter and they all seem to be doing great.  The latest is several have made the 35 mile mark and they're doing good.  I hope they all run it sub-24!  Rock on, guys.

Here's to a good training week.  I'm not sure I'll taper much since I'm only running a 10M race.  I think I'll keep it a normal training week for now.  If I go "easy" at any point, it'll be Thursday and Friday.  

My prediction: I have to honestly say that it depends on the condition of the trails.  If it's muddy, ugh...well, still sub-2.  If it's relatively dry, then I still say sub-2 but I don't know how sub, really.  Can I make my bet with the guys?  It'd be tough, but I'll be close if not (perhaps something like 1:45:00).  We'll just have to wait and see.