Alive!

Today I had the best morning run for a while. Due work related issues (stress....hahaha) I woke up twice around 4 AM and then at 5:40 I was ready to roll. I did an insanely easy and loose 8.5 miler (@7.00) which also included 6x100m strides. I found a silent street with no ice and ran them like hell.


Nr 1 song from this morning:

I own this city

What a busy week. Basically it was caused by work, but luckily I've had time to run every day expect on Wednesday. On Wed I had to participate a workshop and give a presentation based on my thesis (I have opened it the last in Dec of 2004) at the Ministry of Transportation and Communications which took time due some traveling.

On Friday morning I "invented" a new workout called "I own this city". It is a workout which is done in the empty streets on early morning. The city centre of Turku has a pedestrian street which is heated(?) so there is no snow nor ice. One stretch is 300m long and I decided to do 200m reps. And too fast of course (@ 5.05 pace). But it was awesome!!!! Only thing is that the gluteus problem, which caused all the trouble in last May, woke up from a long dream. Luckily today during 12.5 miles run it was bearable. Kick ass!

Another ways the rule your city may include using garage entrances and mall's parking lot around the time when no one else is around.

Logging

Monday provided chilly, snow-filled but easy 6.2 miler added with strides (6x100m). I decided to add something new (or old but forgotten) to my schedule now and then, after I read Nate Jenkins' blog update. The mile machine does some really diverse training even if he logs 135 miles a week. Yes, he a national level athlete, but still it won't hurt us slower ones to diversify our training somehow. Winter weather has treated us Finnish runners well since the temperature has steadily been below freezing and snow provides some grip. Not at the fast pace, but in general conditions could be way worse.

Today I sneaked out to another cold (7F) morning run and saved energy for this evening's stairs and core workout. Sweetie is now taking the lead of the core part which means serious business and some nice pain.

Time flies

After all, I did two runs yesterday which was pretty nice. In the morning I sneaked out for an easy 3 miler + 5x100m strides. Then I did my now-usual gym workout before I left to spend my valueable hours on Capitol Beltway. In the evening I met with guys for a normal Wednesday group run. It felt just great. No remarkable pain => nothing to complain! Our bodies are - after all - build for distance! Good read.

Today I ran 5 miler and hope that I have enough time for another one in the evening. Tomorrow I'll do some fartlek. I'm really excited about Sunday's NYC marathon. If it is really going to be Sell's last major marathon, I should consider driving to NYC to watch the race...

PDR

On Sunday I'll be testing my current shape in Philadelphia. To be honest, I had way higher hopes for that race earlier this season, but this damn reality has indicated that... I'll be happy for being able to run PDR. Last year I was extremely disappointed with my race - this year anything goes, but still I trust that this summer's work is helping me in beating last years disappointment. It's mental.

Yesterday I sneaked on track to run 2000m (6.55) and 1000m (3.20) as a tune-up. They felt like... This morning was bit easier and running felt stronger (during hill sprints and strides).

No workout Wednesday

I'll pass this evening's trail workout. Just in the name of tapering. Yes, I'm tapering for Philly. I'm sure it does not change the outcome, but the summer has been tough with no results. Maybe this trick will work. Today's program included easy shake out and short steep hill sprints + some strides.

Easy days

Two easy days behind. Legs are still feeling bit tired, but there isn't so much to do right now. Instead of whining, I have to mention to great achievements from Zürich. Finnish Jukka Keskisalo improved the NR into 8.10,67. In addition, Dathan Ritzhein ran new AR, 12.56,27! Dude x 2!

Of course I missed both races, but luckily they are soon available at universalsports.

Friday

Morning jog was 3 miles with 3x100m strides. After that there was a short maintanance session with PT. In the evening I planning to run 5k tempo run again on XC course and then do some 800/400s and 200s.

Another fun XC tempo done. Slow, but fun. After that I did 5x400m (71-73)'300m + 4x200m (33-31) on track.

Wilde Lake HS XC course (map: Greg Schuler)

Lazy Thursday

Oh man. I'm paying really heavy dues for yesterday's rollercoaster. Todays, I ran 6.2 miler (6.45/mile) and did some strides, but as a result I'll take tomorrow quite easy.

Tempo Thursday

Today's workout was not really a workout, more like a wake-up after 10 days of no running. Well, I've been back on the road since Sunday already, but today was the first day with little faster pace. I did 2*2k (6.35, 6.37) with 3 minutes rest jog. In cool down I ran couple of strides. In all, the feeling was mysterious, not ultra-cool nor darken black. Therefore, I don't have any special expectations for Sunday's Cherry Blossom. Luckily, HCS will have a decent team without me. That's good. For me CB will be a good workout after the injury. The ultimate goal still is to get myself to both lines in Boston.

Today's soundtrack includes among other these:
1.
2.
3.

Workout Tuesday

Due to altered schedule for today, I had to hit the road already 6.15 AM. A week ago that meant 5.15 AM. I felt it in my guts all the way. In addition, hamstrings are not so much better after all which increased the amount of pure anger.

Tempo run was 7 miles (6.03/mile) which was slower (10 sec per mile) than planned, even if the plan was "keep it cool" (=moderate). Fortunately, I may consider this as a progressive run since I started with painful 6.10s and ended with 5.45 pace. But right at this moment when I'm writing this update, I'm overwhelmed with frustration and disappointment. It's not a good way to trimm yourself to marathon by realizing that after a good beginning you start to suck. Oh well, now it's great time for these inspirational videos. Their inspiration is hard explain so I'll pass that effort and just enjoy them - again and again.

Rizt's trimming
Oklahoma State's morning workout

In the afternoon I went for an easy 3-miler and did some strides. Legs were suprisingly responsive. And then I got an appointment for the same physio that sweetie as well as Kent have been praised.

Crawling

Hamstrings - their hollowness is back. I dislike that feeling from my guts. At the same time I feel afraid that last August-September -downturn comes around again. But in reality it's all about recovery, and thus, I'll have to push the brakes just one more day. A 6-miler and some tired strides.

Saturday without a bagel

Just a sissy tune-up. 3 miles and some strides.

Workout Wednesday

I rolled an easy 8 miler this morning (7.40/mile). Added some strides and drills and now my butt hurts even more. This evening it's time for group run and pizza! Go Striders!

Yesterday evening we visited an indoor meet (MD State Champs) at Landover. Seemingly a huge number of spectators does not affect negatively to the performances on track. That many PRs were produced...

Okay. Wednesday is not really a workout day for me. Junk mileage if nothing else. Or maybe I was just done due to morning drills. Group run was for me 8 miles (7.10/mile).

Chilly Monday

A week ago it was 66 degrees and today it's 14s added with a chilly wind. Man! It was like North Pole without snow. Seven miles (7.05/mile) which included 5*20 seconds strides.

The Riddle is Back

All of a sudden, after a couple of glorious weeks, I'm proceeding on a downward spiral. I'm tired as whatever and the mysterious hollowness in my hamstrings is back. I'm not gonna stop here that's for sure. Maybe this is again just another bump on the runway... I've had worse. Today consisted only a 3 miles shake off and 5*100m strides and some streching.

Ez Wednesday

If Flotrack.org offers for us Wednesday workout every single Wednesday, my Wednesday seems to follow a pattern as well: Easy morning and easy/moderate afternoon. Afternoon is especially nice since it usually means a run together with a larger group of runners (HCSs). In the morning I ran with S an easy 7 miler and did some strides. Sun was shining...

Damn! My meeting with Forest Administration took longer than expected. Hence, I missed our group run by 2-3 minutes. No worries. Smart as I am, I tried to compensate this by running - of course - to wrong direction which hampered the chances to catch the others. But today was in total 15+ miles. Tomorrow is time to predict.