All is good. A short period of flu with no fever took 2 days off but other than that I've been rolling steadily. Pace is awful. Two weeks ago I ran our monthly test run and did actually stopped running at 5K mark. However, I saw the faces of persons who did appreciate my efforts back in the day and I just couldn't let them down. So I jumped back on the course and ran back, but it was awfully slow and painful. Then I decided to stop running for good.
Luckily, on the next Sunday morning I found myself running a long run and I was back on the track.
Next Tuesday after this sad event (retiring, not the long run) I was again running hard with the Turku Area's Sports Academy's young crew. This usually means that I'm following them from the distance. Far from the distance. But no matter what this is the way to push my current limits further and further. This time the workout was 2x3.1K + 1x3.5K with acclerating pace. Total fun.
The current week will be the first week since 1000 years when I will hit 62 miles. Happy happy joy joy.
12/28/2013
12/10/2013
Workout Tuesday
WOT (Workout Tuesday or Workout of Today): 2x(1500m, 1000m, 500m) + 1000m + 2x500m with 2min. rbr.
Today I had another opportunity to run with the Turku Sports Academy's guys. Even if they are way faster than me (a 41-year old old fart), running behind them is a learning process. To my body that is. This engine is covered with so many layers of rust. Yes, I know that my PRs are already done, but the holy request for finding a way to run faster one more time is putting me into these situations.
The main take home message from today's workout is that without running fast, you will not generate any progress. If the last time when you have ran anything faster, is from last March, do not expect anything magical to happen on track in December.
Even if I missed the first two repeats due to bad schedule at work, I felt my limits quite vividly during the entire workout. Can I have some more, please?
Today I had another opportunity to run with the Turku Sports Academy's guys. Even if they are way faster than me (a 41-year old old fart), running behind them is a learning process. To my body that is. This engine is covered with so many layers of rust. Yes, I know that my PRs are already done, but the holy request for finding a way to run faster one more time is putting me into these situations.
The main take home message from today's workout is that without running fast, you will not generate any progress. If the last time when you have ran anything faster, is from last March, do not expect anything magical to happen on track in December.
Even if I missed the first two repeats due to bad schedule at work, I felt my limits quite vividly during the entire workout. Can I have some more, please?
12/08/2013
Back in snow
The time in the US went fast. After returning the hoods in MD, I had a change to meet the guys and run one (short) Bagel Run with the HCS crew and one another morning run with Jason. No races or fast workouts this time because of family constrains. But until the next time.
The half marathon in SLC hit me pretty hard. My right foot was pretty sore during our stay in MD, but back home it has been loosing a little. That is highly appreciated since icy and snowy roads are not the best company for initial injuries. This week was the first "new" training week comprising a tempo run on Tuesday and intervals on Saturday. On Tuesday I joined the Turku Sport's Academy's Workout Tuesday. They (World Champ in orienteering, National champs in orienteering and XC running as well as on roads and triathlons) are pretty talented pack of young hungry wolves, and of course their pace is different than mine. In all, I ran a great 12km steady state workout far behind their heels.
On Saturday our family unit has usually a pretty hectic morning. That usually means that by 11:30 AM both sweetie and I have swim and run workouts under our belts and Lil' D has enjoyed an hour of swimming, too. Yesterday, we were heading out already at 10:50 AM since we were in a hurry. I did 5x1600m on treadmill (5:45-5:25). An easy start...
Today's long run looked something like this...(photo by J. Kero)
The half marathon in SLC hit me pretty hard. My right foot was pretty sore during our stay in MD, but back home it has been loosing a little. That is highly appreciated since icy and snowy roads are not the best company for initial injuries. This week was the first "new" training week comprising a tempo run on Tuesday and intervals on Saturday. On Tuesday I joined the Turku Sport's Academy's Workout Tuesday. They (World Champ in orienteering, National champs in orienteering and XC running as well as on roads and triathlons) are pretty talented pack of young hungry wolves, and of course their pace is different than mine. In all, I ran a great 12km steady state workout far behind their heels.
On Saturday our family unit has usually a pretty hectic morning. That usually means that by 11:30 AM both sweetie and I have swim and run workouts under our belts and Lil' D has enjoyed an hour of swimming, too. Yesterday, we were heading out already at 10:50 AM since we were in a hurry. I did 5x1600m on treadmill (5:45-5:25). An easy start...
Today's long run looked something like this...(photo by J. Kero)
11/20/2013
Shredding out
Worn shoes and low levels of skills to pay the bills hurt my right foot during the HM on Saturday. And thereafter it has been slightly out of order, but runnable. Event itself was cool, really, but relatively harsh what comes to weather conditions.
Since Saturday I have changed my whereabouts to the East Coast, driven to Philly and back to MD. In Philly I had a chance to enjoy a family run and lots of oxygene both of which make life worth living. The aching foot will be better anytime soon. It already feels better a golf ball session with Jason.
Since Saturday I have changed my whereabouts to the East Coast, driven to Philly and back to MD. In Philly I had a chance to enjoy a family run and lots of oxygene both of which make life worth living. The aching foot will be better anytime soon. It already feels better a golf ball session with Jason.
11/14/2013
Next up...
Just out of impulse I registered for inaugural Saltair Half-Marathon here at SLC. Flat course, 1300m above sea level, excepted snowy and windy conditions. Gonna be fun.
Altitude is killing it
I arrived to SLC (UT) on Monday. For a work related trip. Luckily my collegaue is not an ordinary professor in terms of using time inefficienty. Thus, we have had time to go running. On Tuesday I almost fell on my knee due to simple fact that even an altitude of 1.500m took my breath away. Both visually and physically. After trying to make a short cut and actually after making that short cut there was no coming back to normal ez paced HR or breathing. Nice.
Then of course in order to punish my sea-level ass on Wednesday we drove to Park City (2000+m) for a run. The place was awesome, dirt trails, snowy mountains and silence. I was accompanied with Russ, an endurance machine, and he guided me through a nice 6 mile loop. Today, we went to the same spot as on Tuesday but this time I did a Mona Fartlek on a loop of no hills and only 1450 meters of altitude. The workout was pleasant but slightly heavier than back home. I know that this not really a high high altitude, but I can feel it. Especially I have to run uphill. It is really punishing effort.
And in addition, I traveled through at muscle therapy by Steve Zike here at SLC. Muscle knots suck.
I'm so happy for having these kinds of opportunities.
Then of course in order to punish my sea-level ass on Wednesday we drove to Park City (2000+m) for a run. The place was awesome, dirt trails, snowy mountains and silence. I was accompanied with Russ, an endurance machine, and he guided me through a nice 6 mile loop. Today, we went to the same spot as on Tuesday but this time I did a Mona Fartlek on a loop of no hills and only 1450 meters of altitude. The workout was pleasant but slightly heavier than back home. I know that this not really a high high altitude, but I can feel it. Especially I have to run uphill. It is really punishing effort.
And in addition, I traveled through at muscle therapy by Steve Zike here at SLC. Muscle knots suck.
I'm so happy for having these kinds of opportunities.
11/03/2013
Gonna miss 2000 mile club
Yes, for the first since 2006 I'm going to miss the minimum of running at least 2000 miles per year. Thanks to my 3.5 months hiatus.
The monthly mileage for this summer was just awesome:
May: 108
June: 57
July: 9
August: 62
September: 142
October: 208
The monthly mileage for this summer was just awesome:
May: 108
June: 57
July: 9
August: 62
September: 142
October: 208
11/02/2013
The usual
Last two weeks have been busy. Pretty busy. The next week will continue that streak. Then it is time to fly over the US.
After the race two weeks ago, I had an easy week in running. WOW was 10x1min hills with JK. Funny anecdote from that morning is that I didn't check the temperature and thought that the weather was the same as a day before (21F, windy). But no, it was 50s and I was prepared to face much colder morning. On Saturday we have a busy day. By 11 o'clock both sweetie and I had a run and swim workout done. Then we were invited to a brunch and a celebration of Ile who had just conquered Ironman Kona. Thereafter I found myself in Helsinki at a meeting with a professor from the US. Regardless of high hopes Saturday's pace booster sucked pretty badly.
Next workout was again on early Wednesday morning. I met with JK and did a pyramid 1/2/3/4/3/2/1'2min. This generated aching muscles and this state of affairs was amplified by yesterday's hills + drills + flexibility + core training session (2.5hrs). Today's running effort was supposed to be easy but I chose to run 20 minutes pace booster. After a hard swim practice the outcome was not nice, but I did it.
After the race two weeks ago, I had an easy week in running. WOW was 10x1min hills with JK. Funny anecdote from that morning is that I didn't check the temperature and thought that the weather was the same as a day before (21F, windy). But no, it was 50s and I was prepared to face much colder morning. On Saturday we have a busy day. By 11 o'clock both sweetie and I had a run and swim workout done. Then we were invited to a brunch and a celebration of Ile who had just conquered Ironman Kona. Thereafter I found myself in Helsinki at a meeting with a professor from the US. Regardless of high hopes Saturday's pace booster sucked pretty badly.
Next workout was again on early Wednesday morning. I met with JK and did a pyramid 1/2/3/4/3/2/1'2min. This generated aching muscles and this state of affairs was amplified by yesterday's hills + drills + flexibility + core training session (2.5hrs). Today's running effort was supposed to be easy but I chose to run 20 minutes pace booster. After a hard swim practice the outcome was not nice, but I did it.
10/20/2013
A race... at last
My last running race was from May. It was when I performed miserably at the XC nationals. The joy of this disappointing reality check was amplified by an injury that killed my stride for the whole summer.
But now this non-racing streak is abolished.
Today I hesitated quite many times that should I even start the race, but since sweetie was heading to the starting line, I had to do it, as well. And now I'm pretty happy with the decision. Even if my time was 1.16 slower than last year, I'm still happy with the outcome. Friday's butt killer hurts still, but despite the muscle pain and stiffness I was able to perform at satisfying level.
And then Matti ran 2.28 in Amsterdam today. AWESOME!
Today was a good day.
But now this non-racing streak is abolished.
Today I hesitated quite many times that should I even start the race, but since sweetie was heading to the starting line, I had to do it, as well. And now I'm pretty happy with the decision. Even if my time was 1.16 slower than last year, I'm still happy with the outcome. Friday's butt killer hurts still, but despite the muscle pain and stiffness I was able to perform at satisfying level.
And then Matti ran 2.28 in Amsterdam today. AWESOME!
Today was a good day.
10/14/2013
50 miles
It's been awhile since I have ran even this much per week. The total mileage for July was 8 and so on. Steady, but progressive.
Today I crashed with my bicycle (3rd time for this year) and currently my left knee is slightly swollen and back is pretty tight. Maybe this good streak of progress is now at stake for couple of days. We'll see.
Today I crashed with my bicycle (3rd time for this year) and currently my left knee is slightly swollen and back is pretty tight. Maybe this good streak of progress is now at stake for couple of days. We'll see.
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