TT Running Club

“When I was running the mile I liked to take off on the backstretch at 600-700 meters out. Everyone always falls asleep on that 3rd lap and wakes up on the bell lap. It was risky, but I didn't have an explosive kick. People were always yelling, "wait you idiot, you've got another lap!"”

“I ran for a total of 38 minutes yesterday (2 19-minute segments separated by 1 minute of brisk walking) without any hip pain. I think I can say it was the first time I've just gone out and run at a reasonable workout pace on one of my old running routes (with hills) without holding back because of fear of reinjury. I was kinda tired, but it was a big confidence builder. It was also fun because I ran past a high school (the one where I used to do my track workouts), and they were having their League Championship meet - I started having flashbacks!”

“Did you start sprinting when the starter's pistol went off?

That's good news, Marty. 38 minutes is getting back where you can feel the results a little more! Here's to being pain-free!”

“Yeah, aero, although it was a little embarrassing when the cops had to drag me off the track after I passed some of the kids down the stretch....”

“Get off me cops!! You're costing me the regional championship!!

Sir, it'll be alright, we're going to take you to a place where you can drink lots of lemonade and eat generic cookies.”

“Man, this heat down here is too much. So today, I ran on a treadmill. I never really have done it before, but I kinda liked it. Took some getting used to, but the cool part was that it inclined so I could simulate hills! The land is flat down here, so I was stoked about that.”

“I used to belong to a gym that had every kind of treadmill imaginable, and I used them several times, but I didn't feel the same running on them, so I used their indoor track, even though it took something like 10 laps to equal a mile.”

“Artex, there is one thing I like about treadmills - if there's a mirror in front of you (as there is in my club), you can really work on your form: "Why the heck is my arm doing that?!"”

“I was wondering why my hand kept wacking me in the back of my head.”

“MartyB, great job on the run.

Artex, I agree with you about the heat and humidity...We usually have 6-8wks of really hot crappy weather and my runs are awful. Like breathing through a wet sponge...Drink LOTS of water whikle running and you'll feel better. I use a treadmill on the unbearable days.”

“Cool. Yeah, the treadmill was a new thing for me. Definitely a great thing for yicky weather.”

“Well, I decided sort of on the spur of the moment to run a 5k race this morning. Our club's weekly email announcing the Sunday morning group run mentioned that several club members would be doing the Lake Chabot Trail Challenge Half Marathon (one of our guys came in 3rd!), an event that also has a 5k. So I thought it would be a good time to go over there and jump in the race.

It was a beautiful morning, and this lake, while only about 20 minutes from my house, seems like it's a hundred miles away from "the city." I've seen lots of wildlife here in the past, and the trails are really nice. The 5k course stayed on a paved path, except for a short stretch where we turned around. It was quite hilly - all I could think of was that Artex would probably call this the Hills of Death race.

I was determined to start out slowly and try to speed up only if I felt OK. I had thought that if I was anywhere near 7:00 pace I would be ecstatic, especially on this course.

I hit the first mile in 7:24 - a little faster than I've been training lately, so that seemed about right. I thought it would be a successful effort if I just maintained that pace. I passed a few people, including the second place woman, who is also one of my club-mates. I was huffing and puffing pretty good up and down the steep hills and thinking maybe this wasn't the best choice for my first race in 574 days (not that I'm counting). So a couple guys passed me, but I was just trying to complete the distance without reinjuring myself, right? I think I may have passed a guy or two - can't really remember, to tell the truth. So I passed the 2-mile point and didn't really notice what the time was, but I did click my watch, so I now know it was a 6:44 for Mile 2! There was a guy in a gray shirt ahead of me who was about my age, and I worked really hard over the next half mile to catch him. As I've always been taught, if you're going to pass someone, pass 'em like you mean it! So I blew past him and charged up the next nasty uphill. Alas, I'm not really in shape for that kind of move, and he caught me on the following downhill, about 1/3-mile from the end. I did my best over the last few hundred yards, hit Mile 3 in a 6:47 split, then "sprinted" the final 188 yards in about 37 seconds to finish in 21:32.8. One of my slowest 5k times ever, but 6:56 pace, and, since it's my first race since turning 40 about a year and a half ago, a masters age group PR!

A super time for me on this tough course, having done no speedwork for over a year and a half. The only bummer was that, although I beat all but one of the 30-39 year old guys, at least 3 40-49 guys beat me, so I didn't get any hardware. Next time!!”

“Martyb, 21:34 is pretty darn quick. Good job on your first race in 574 days (i thought I obsessed on numbers LOL). The feelings on a race day are awesome. I love the atmosphere. Kudos to you!!”

“You're right about the feelings you get on race day, birch! I had forgotten how much I loved just being at any race, just for the atmosphere. It was a gorgeous day here in the Bay Area today. Not good for the half marathoners, though, as it was probably around 75 or so by the time most of them finished, and that is one tough course!”

“Think, there are kids on my XC team that can't even do that....they suck!”

“Sounds like a good job to me, buddy. Motivates me to get out and push a little more.”

“Well, I've been running again, this time with no mileage or time goals in mind. I run until I don't feel like running, and then walk until I feel like running again. I don't care how far I run, I'm just out there getting some exercise and enjoying it much, much more.”

“smiley girl -- that is a super approach. Kudos to you for that!

The absolute best thing you (we) can do to get in good shape is to woerk out consistently in a manner that enables us to keep doing it week after week and month after month.

This means:
1) Go easy enough so you don't get injured.
2) Find something you enjoy, and find ways to keep it fun.

So your approach sounds like it bodes well for long-term success.”

“You speed demon, you! That's a great race, I know what it feels like to get out there in a race and exceed your expectations and it is a great feeling.

(Maybe someday it will happen to me again.)”

“Speed demon? Ha! Well, I was definitely excited by my success. And to think my "speedwork" leading up to the race consisted of speeding up to about 7:00 pace for about 2 blocks once or twice during a 4-mile run - not quite the intense track intervals I was doing before I got hurt....

Ditto Fritz on comments to smiley....”

“good for you smiley. The longer you hang in there the easier it gets for sure!

I am bummed,I missed a great 1/2 marathon yesterday. It used to be on Mem day wknd but was switched and since I was gone Mem wknd I wrote it off...”

“Results were just posted for my race. I finished 16th out of 137 people, and was the 6th place masters division finisher out of 18 of us old farts.”

“Thats impressive Martyb. I love seeing my name in results column after a race. Its never at the top but there is something about just being there.”

“Well, my hamstring (or more acurately my ischial tuberosity aka, butt) is about all healed up and I'm going to run through a 10K this weekend. I sort of got tested last night when I ran with this dude! He's like an 8 time All-American and just finished up NAIA Nationals track this year with a 2nd place in the 10,000 meters and the Marathon. Last fall I saw him run a 23:32 5 mile! Anyway, he's a local kid I knew here when he was in HS and we usually run against his team at Black Hills State.

We went about 5 miles at his conversational pace, which, when I tried to talk came out in gasps. The injury felt pretty good so I'll try to run a nice even-paced 10K and get through it without hurting anything.”

“woops, Here's the guy”

“Nice pic. Sure Ted Kaczynski didn't escape?”

“DUDE!! that guy looks hard-core! and hot.

glad to hear your butt's doing well, Aero! ;-) but for real.”

“Oh ya had to bring that up again! Yeah it's healed and dosen't look like that anymore!
(|)”

“He shaved his beard off for the summer, lyra. he's got all kinds of girls after him- chicks dig skinny guys!”

“oh yeah? i sorta dig the beard too. he doesn't really look like a "Dennis," that's for sure. do people call him "Denny"?”

“Nope, it's Dennis. He's going to be in town all summer and wants to run with someone, so he's either going to get me in shape or kill me.”

“People don't call him "Ted"?”

“He had the "Pre" look going a couple years ago. He's pretty clean cut this summer.
He does kind of look like a young Ted Kaczyskithough...”

“That girl needs a shave!”

“Good luck with the run, aero. BTW, nice tush!”

“Hey Aero,

Saw that a kid from MSU (not Billings!) finished 22nd in the NCAA's in the 10,000 the other day....”

“My fathers day gift to myself was a beautiful 14.5 miler to my inlaws today. It felt great to get out for a long run in such nice weather (mid 80's). I ran slower than expected but am happy none the less. I stopped about 10m in to buy a gatorade (my water wasnt cuttin it) and got some weird looks as I quickly donned a shirt (stashed in my camelback) ran in and drank 1/2 before it was paid for,paid chugged most of the rest outside threw the bottle away took off and stashed shirt and ran off while putting pack on. It sure tasted good though.

2 wks to the big race!!!!”

“Ran my first 5k in 10 years Saturday.

During the week I run about 15 miles . . .averaging about 10 minute miles.

I figured I would do the 5k in maybe 27 minutes (9 minute miles)

I finished in just over 24 minutes (24:23 . . .but I didn't cross the start line for at least 15 seconds after the gun went off!!)


I was very pleased with my results. I will never win awards for speed . . .but 8 minute miles was darn good for me.”

“Way to go, birch and lee! Wow, 14.5.... I remember when I could do that - maybe again some day.... What is the race you're doing in 2 weeks?

lee, isn't it great to exceed your expectations? Woo-hoo!”

“MartyB, I am participating in the Benchmark Appalachian Adventure . I am ready for it to begin...”

“Wow, that looks cool, Birch! I've often thought about doing the similar Peaks to Prairie in Montana (aero usually does that one), since my folks live there, but have never gotten around to it. That will certainly deserve a detailed "trip report" with its own thread!”

“Will do Marty. Training for something is a big part of me staying fit. It is a motivator on those lazy days.”

“Wow, that is SO cool, birch. I'm way proud of you and a little envious, too. My knees gave up the ghost about 20 years ago while I was training for the Heart of San Diego marathon, just before my 30th b'day. I had just wanted to run ONE marathon in my life, but it was never to be...ah, well. I have just started to tentatively jog around the local university's soccer pitch, about two miles every morning when I get off work. So far, no problems. I'm hoping that if I stay on the grass that it won't be too hard on my knees and hips.

Best of luck to you in your big race, bro!!!”

“Just wanted to report that I did, not one, but TWO runs of over an hour over the weekend! On Friday, I went about 7.5 miles in 63 minutes on a totally flat course in 85-degree temps. Then yesterday I ran with some club-mates on an 8-miler up a hellacious fire road (elev. gain of about 800' over 4 miles) and back down. I took it easy, so it took me about 67 minutes if I recall. No ill effects on the hip. Not only that, but I have been off "Vitamin I" (Ibuprofen) for 3 days now - just curious if that will have any effect on anything - so far I feel fine....”

“Wow!! I didn't know you guys and this thread existed.

The bride and I love to do 5 mile training runs 3-4 times a week. Here is the WEBSHOTS URL to pix of our trail...It's about 5 milesRT with an elevation gain of somewhere around 800+ feet. It begins in Canyon Vistas in Aliso Viejo, CA and tops out at Top of the World in Laguna Beach.

I hope I can add to this thread. I've suffered through foot surgery, calcified Achilles, plantar faciitis, so if I can offer any hints on rehabbing your achy running feet, I'll be glad to try to help.”

“Sorry! Here's the URL I mentioned.

http://community.webshots.com/album/18827589jTEypaEuWr”

“Get Geobeat involved... he needs it.”

“Hey MM, I've got a mild case of achilles tendonitis. It came on a couple weeks ago after a hill climbing race (8.2 miles up). I've backed off a bit, but it's still a little sore and slightly swollen. I'm icing it and taking some Advil. Any other suggestions (besides quitting and becoming a full-time beer drinker)?”

“Um, I thought you were already a full-time beer drinker, aero....

Hey, where ya' been?

Happy to report that I chugged through a flat 7.5-miler yesterday - 4 minutes faster than I did the same run 2 weeks ago, without even trying. Weight is down to a 4-year low, a full 24 pounds lower than my all-time high on November 4th.”