Daily Training

Earlier: an easy 1:15 run, shaking out a few cobwebs. Proud form, quick tempo, 21 right foot falls in 15 seconds, driving the arms forward (because where your arms go the body follows.) Pushing it up the hills, running strongly down. Stretching before and after.

Now: reviewing tomorrow's schedule and re-caffeinating with an extra-shot Redeye.

Later: haven't planned that far ahead! It's Sunday!

Quote for the day: "Pain (any pain--emotional, physical, mental) has a message. The information it has about our life can be remarkably specific, but it usually falls into one of two categories: "We would be more alive if we did more of this," and, "Life would be more lovely if we did less of that." Once we get the pain's message, and follow its advice, the pain goes away. (Peter McWilliams, Life 101)

In Memory Of A Memorial Day Run

Running through the woods along the river is fine. Running in the rain is fine. Running THROUGH the woods ALONG the river IN the rain while a thunderstorm RAGES around you...not so much. The triathlon training gods must be laughing their asses off right now.

Another Day, Another Brick In The Wall

The sun is finally out and it's looking like we'll see the upside of 60 degrees for the first time in days. Back from a run with Camden the Wonder Dog who's clearly a dog but not so wonderful. He's in worse shape than I am, if that's possible. I've started leaving him home for all but the shortest runs.

Today's run: 3 miles bookended by 10 minutes of walking as warm-up and cool-down. 6 strides mixed into the last mile - 20 seconds of acceleration followed by 60 seconds of easy jogging. A short bike ride will round out this afternoon's festivities...unless the forecasted T-storms roll in.

It's Snowing and I'm Wearing Shorts

If other folk's glances and facial expressions mean anything, wearing shorts while running in 30 degree temps pegs you as 'kooky.'

Hey, I'm not a kook. Probably. I just have full-boil metabolism. And my closet is so disorganized I can't find my long running pants. Besides, why should the college kids I teach have all the fun?

Triathlon Running Form: It's Hard To Say 'Goodbye.'

As the post below indicates, winter isn't the best time to work on running form. Icy roads put a premium on remaining slip-free and vertical which, for me, means shuffling along like an arthritic old geezer.

And this being the outer limits of The Great Suburban Outback, there are no salted sidewalks and few salted roads. You may find sand sprinkled on a treacherous intersection or a challenging hill, but it accomplishes little more than mimicking dog excrement when wet and a Sahara sandstorm when dry.

Thankfully, it's been a while since CoachKaryn quizzed me about my running. Unless one of you ratted me out, she's unaware that I've said a temporary "so long" to "proud form."

Goodbye to that slight forward lean from the waist up (because where your upper body points, your legs are sure to follow.)

Adios to 21 right foot falls in 15 seconds (because, like biking, running benefits from a quick tempo.)

Sayonara to leading with the arms, driving my hands forward with every stride (because it's hard to run slow when your arms are moving fast)

Au Revoir to opening up my shoulders (because as your shoulders go, so goes your lung capacity.)

Arrivederci to mid and front foot strikes (because, though less risky on slippery surfaces, every heel strike slows you down.)

It's pure survival. Living to fight, run, train and race another day.

I tell myself I'm not an old geezer but, form-wise, that's an increasingly hard argument to make as this wretched winter drags on. Spring better come soon or I'll have disremembered everything CoachKaryn taught me, though I guess some aerobic capacity is better than none.

Maybe a better option would be to create a cross-country ski trail around the perimeter of the field across the street. It'd be a mile, maybe more, with some nice up and down gradients.