Mad and Proactive

Last night, I did my last (or would have been) run with Niketown till December.  Monday marks the beginning of the 12 week plan for Cal International Marathon and I won't be able to do evening runs in lieu of the medium long runs and tempo/track sessions in the morning.  I'm going to do the +70 miles/wk Pfitz training plan and focus all my energy on CIM.  This year, as I have stated many times, has been a period of frustration and disappointment.  Well, I'm not having any of that anymore.  Next year, I plan on getting faster by doing more speedwork including shorter races (5K, 10K, half marathons and no ultras) as well as doing some East Coast marathons.  Yes, it's a doing marathons of a certain region will be a theme that I've been mulling about for some time.  The one I'm excited about is the Mount Desert Island Marathon in Maine; I've always been curious about Maine because it seems like the edge of the Earth to me since I was a child.  Perhaps, marathons in the South may be a possibility in 2010...haven't thought that far.  But it's not enough to just do marathons in all 50 states, I'd like to do them fast or run on a challenging course.  Marathons were made for running, not for sightseeing and walking (unless it's a challenge and aim for you). 
But I digress.  I mentioned above that the Niketown SF run would've been my last run last night with them for a while.  And in more than one way.  Marathon training affects them, yes, but in one intersection in downtown SF, pedestrians had the right of way to cross since it was still green.  But cars were still crossing the intersection from Market Street; downtown streets don't meet perpendicular, they're slightly more diagonal.  So I'm running and I make my way around the zooming cars.  This one cab tries to speed up in the intersection and I just stare at the driver while calmly running by him.  Then I casually give him the finger.
In all my years running, I have never flipped off anyone because the threat between a vehicle and a car...well, there is just no winning against that.  But I have been so frustrated by having three weeks of almost no running because of injury and almost four months before that with uninspired, unmotivated, and lackluster training.  Nothing was going to stop me from running my best last night.  I guess it's also no surprise with my anger.  I mean, as I walk to work or am on my way back home, I get frustrated with people or drivers that have no idea about "unwritten rules."  By this I mean, drivers looking after other drivers and cyclists and pedestrians and conversely the same.  But drivers seem to evade from that rule called common sense and cross red lights and almost running people over.  Similarly, pedestrians seem to walk five abreast and feel that they don't have to move to the side when you're walking/running toward them.  What do you want me to do? Go right through you.  The list can go on and on.  But I've been more cautiously aware that I've been knocking even punching the hood of cars loudly when they are in the middle of a crosswalk or a similar offense.  So perhaps I haven't been good at harnessing anger, but I know well enough that it won't grow into torrential rage.

Pain and Passion

After a pretty good Skyline 50K and getting second in my age division, I was pretty enthusiastic about the weeks of training left for Twin Cities.  But for the last two-three weeks, I have been sidelined by an injury that have left me consistently doing research.  The aching pain that has been dogging me was thought to be plantar fascilitis.  But once the sensation on the bottom of the foot ended, it was turned to another problem.  I looked at ankle sprain to be the cause; I mean, shit, how could I have sprained my left ankle in March only to sprain it again in August?!?  Continuing on my quest to find the truth with diligent research, my prognosis turned to a metatarsal injury possibly a Jones fracture.  Look it up on wikipedia for further explanation.  I'm hoping to God it's not a Jones fracture, not just basing it on blind optimism but on the pain gradually subsiding with each day off from running.  I'm sure the injury would've been far removed if I hadn't been so stubborn after Skyline 50K to continue training through the pain.  It was so bad that I would've needed a wooden spoon to bite on if I had one.  I did ice the pain and take ibuprofen sparingly.  I'm not sure when I will begin running again, but I hope Monday is a reasonable projection.  I'm feeling much better where walking isn't painful and normal gait/stride has returned. 

Unfortunately, I have to miss Headlands 50K tomorrow.  I think I might be able to do it, but what good is it if the possibility of injury is again heightened.  I really cringe at the thought of missing races, not just from an economic point of view, but from a morale standpoint.  You train or expect a good performance from a race only to watch forcibly from the sidelines or hear other people having a great time.  I have taken more drastic steps by cancelling upcoming ultras from my schedule this year.  For sure, I will concentrate more on ultras next year as the PAUSATF series is more enticing...but for now, qualifying for Boston has been a goal for many wasted years and will take the next approach from there.  The schedule changes once again with Twin Cities going on as planned but with a most likely scenario of having it as a training run or slower finishing time.  Then training will continue immediately afterward for a strong finish at CIM. 

Injuries have been slowly down progress this year and has made things problematic.  If I could turn back time, I definitely would...it's been a waste.  Going on a wild tangent, my Delta flight to Twin Cities and back has changed no less than 5 times since I booked it in June.  It's been frustrating when you get an email update about a minute change that totally screws up your connecting flights.

On a positive note and there is one.  The time off from running has actually made me fully rested.  I guess this is what recovery time really is!  Being on the stationary bike trainer is hardly any fun when you make up your running by making it intense (simulating tempo/lactic runs) or long (doing 2 hours for a one hour run) or both!  There clearly is no substitute for running on the road than running on the road.  Even if you are fit, your body has to withstand the forces of the road and the stress that the body will allow.  But I have no real viable options that seem realisic.  Weights, core workouts, and stationary bike aren't all terrible.  I'm actually enjoying most of it, but I have to think about all the runs I'm missing especially the crucial long runs, tempo workouts, and track sessions--all of which are fundamental to successful marathon training. 

 If the latter half of last year serves as food for thought, I was also in a slump, although a totally different one.  If anyone wants a case-study on overtraining, I would be the perfect subject.  I had just completed the 12 Hour Lake Merritt run.  I wasn't physically hurt or injured but I was mentally drained but really happy with the race.  Usually after a marathon, I'm up and running two days later.  It took me two weeks before I could run with a fresh head again.  But I continued training for the NYC Half Marathon, which if you don't know about it, it is a fantastic race that is, in my opinion, a much better race than the signature NYC Marathon.  I had made 1:30 as my goal.  It wasn't too be.  Everything was perfect--the 71 degree weather (the day before it was 90 degrees w/85% humidity!), mostly flat/fast course, coral system--except for me.  I wasn't motivated for this race.  After that I continued training for the Chicago Marathon, but with a relaxed time goal and even make it as a training run.  It happened to be the right decision.  As everyone knows, the Chicago Marathon was a perfect day to do it as such.  But even my relaxed goal of 3:20 was way off and I finished in 3:58 before they turned off the clocks.  Feeling desperate, I needed some good results, I followed up with a more structured training plan including a half marathon and 20 mile race before CIM.  CIM happened to be the gem since I planned on a 3:15 goal.  I set a PR of 3:14. 

The situation wasn't the same.  Overtraining doesn't suck as much as injury and one can overcome overtraining or overreaching goals with a labotomy, putting less pressure on oneself, and taking time to relax a bit.  But emotionally, it's the same. Feelings of frustration, anguish, and sometimes even desperation were strong forces during this same time of year.  I didn't wake up from overtraining blues until Chicago Marathon was creeping up.  I don't believe in omens or superstitions, but if last year serves as premonition for good things to come and be happy, I will believe it so that I can look forward in salvaging this racing year.

Lastly, a tidbit from a friend sources the eympology of the word, passion, which comes from the Latin root patior- to suffer and to endure.  Perhaps the greatest passions that we all have involve suffering and enduring challenges that aren't pretty; but in hindsight, they are well worth the obstacles. 

Skyline 50K

Having no expectations can really lift a burden off of one's shoulders.  Even though the Skyline 50K would be a "training run", it's been a while since I actually tapered and prepared for something I cared about.  The Memorial Day 10K taught me to take not take anything for granted.  Over the past month or so, my mileage has dipped below expectations but I have also put in more quality tempo runs and core workouts.  I have mentioned in previous posts that the long training runs have eluded me.  The Skyline 50K would be a test on my endurance. 

On the morning of the race day, I prepared two bagels with Nutella and did a little bit of some core exercises to loosen up at 4AM.  I had two days off from running so I was fully rested and ambitious for Skyline.  My primary goal was to just run even effort/even pace and not fixate myself on finishing time.  Arriving in Castro Valley, I met up with my teammates who almost missed the start; we needed three team members to complete a team for points.  But they made it and we were ready to race in the gentle fog.  Ed wanted to do it in sub-5 hours, and after thinking about how realistic it could also be for me, I convinced myself that it I would tag along.  If we could manage a 10K in an hour, it was possible.  After 2 hours and 14 miles in, we were well ahead of schedule!  The midpoint of the race was really awesome (as is 80% of the race).  I felt great at one point that I even skipped an aid station because I still had electrolytes and GU on hand.  Between mile 15-17, you dip to probably the biggest net elevation drop in the entire course and into what seemed like the middle of the forest.  Obviously, if you go that far down, you must go back up the steep way.  But I was glad that this was a portion that I was forced to walk as I engaged myself in its endless beauty of silence amongst the trees.  I think what was also impressive and a little bewildering was that throughout the first 25 miles, I pretty much ran the whole race alone with Ed!  Were we that far ahead or that far behind the "real ultrarunners?"  After 17 miles, the competitive nature of Ed took off as he saw a guy in the distance he wanted to pass.  I decided that I didn't want to jeoparadize my race by going too hard that soon.  So I hung back and ran by myself for the next 8-10 miles; it's definitely harder to push yourself when there's no one close in front or behind. 

It was a great day representing the Pamakid Runners team.  As Ed and I arrived at each of the aid stations in the first half of the race, the following were remarks by volunteers, "Boy, I haven't seen that jersey in decades/years!  I thought that team was gone!" "The coach for that team has a runner in the Olympics, I hear."  Then they would reminisce on races that Pamakids had done in the 80s but are now defunct. A few have even asked me during the race on how they could become a member; I gave them the website address as I quickly left  the aid station...I still had a race to finish!

Problem occurred around mile 21.  My body wanted to keep running; my legs, arms, mind, lungs all felt great.  Unfortunately, the bottom of my right foot was having a stabbing pain--the possible beginning of plantar fascilitis.  It had to be the shoes.  Even though the Asic Trail Attack 3 had a little over 200 miles, the shoes probably weren't the best fit for me.  It was disappointing since I walked a lot in the last 4-5 miles.  I was still on track for a sub-5 hour finish....but barely, just barely.  Then the demoralizing began to kick in.  After the last downhill section on the trail, you run around half of the lake that is 2 miles on a bike path.  Oh the pain seared and I had to walk and hobble most of the way.  Nevertheless, I am still happy to come in at ~5:12 in 28th place.  I'm definitely sure I could've done a sub 5 or even better if it weren't for that dreaded foot pain, but I'm not disappointed with getting 2nd place in my age group and the cool polyester embroidered vest that mentions it.  Not losing focus, I'm building on this fitness and continuing with the Twin Cities training.  At least something seems to be going in the right direction.

I will post pictures soon.

Twin Cities Training Update 1

11 weeks to go before Twin Cities and I'm caught in a mixed bag.  On the one hand, I definitely feel fitter and faster thanks to stronger core workouts, stationary bike training, and a downgraded 75 mile peak plan from the 100 mile plan.

I have been able to run much faster and more efficiently, but my greatest downfall is to run my long runs successfully.  I seem to struggle when the distance is anything longer than 15 miles or when I put in some tempo work.  My head isn't in the right place and it's been hard to focus on the training ever since I sprained my ankle at Rucky Chucky 50K in late March.  Ever since then, my training has suffered a great deal as the pain and swelling persisted for 6 weeks.  Being stubborn, I ran through it, although not at the ideal pace I would've liked.  So since Rucky Chucky, I've had a string of disappointments ranging from the Memorial Day 10K, Eugene Marathon, Ohlone 50K, and Stadium to Stadium 10K.  Some of the them were beyond my control such as Ohlone and Stadium to Stadium where heat and/or terrain of race course could not be conducive to PRs.  At the Memorial Day 10K, they lost my registration and I almost missed my start; I was frustrated with the events that culminated before the race and it was too much of a mental obstacle that I abandoned the race in haste.  I hate a DNF and I almost cried on the sidewalk.  On the plus side, I am currently healthy and ankle sprain is gone.  But I am lacking confidence in whether or not I will be ready for Twin Cities.  It seemed so much easier last year and the year before to obtain PRs and the Boston qualifier seemed so much more possible.  Even though I just have to shed 4 minutes, it eludes me more than when I had to cut 25+ minutes.  There are probably more concerns and doubts now than the past of having no pressure other than to achieve any kind of PR.  But as finishing times are lowered, PR's are harder to come by and harder to take for granted.  I need to have at least one or two good races before Twin Cities in order for me to feel optimistic. 

I am humble; I now realize what it's like to be frustrated like so many others who try so hard and still come short.  I am proud of what I've accomplished so far, but I also know that there's also a lot to improve and I would like to see some of that in the near future.

I hope it'll be sooner than later.  The constant jabber I hear from others about PRs and good results really bothers me and that is why I love training alone in solitude. 

In other news, the Banana Chase 5K and not the 10K will return this year.  For this reason, I have decided to do the Buffalo Stampede 10 Mile as my final tune-up race before Twin Cities. But I have to register before July 29th because that's the last day for $25 entry.

A Greener Runner