VO2 What?

V02 Max is the measurement of the maximum capacity one’s body to transport and use oxygen during exercise, which reflects the physical fitness of the individual.

Now entering the last phase of my 18 week Seattle Marathon training cycle and this week begins the more grueling Vo2 Max training sessions. For example tomorrow’s run will a 8 miler with five ½ mile intervals run at my 5K pace (7:15-7:30). The last time I ran such a run was with Yoda and I nearly threw up. You know that feeling when someone punches you in the stomach and you just can catch your wind. Well, it’s like that times 5. Its not going to be pretty…

Overall, the training has been going well. Only 8 more weeks until race week and I have just two more 20 mile long runs and a 18 mile race-pace run left. I have run 365 miles since Feb 22 of 2011. I ran a fantastic 16 miler yesterday at just about race pace. I have a great feeling about a new PR in June. Keep your fingers crossed for me!

One race, one mile, and one step at a time

Jeff

You threw out the life line...

just in the nick of time...

As I stumbled back into the locker room today and stared blankly into my locker, my sudden realization turned into shock and panic. I had worn my flip flops home over the weekend and I had not packed it with my gym bag today.

Oh, Lord, why have you deserted me! my mind started racing in a panic to think of all the ways I might possibly take my shower without my bare foot touching that nasty, germ infested shower floor... what would MacGyver do?

As I stood in defeat, I reached into my gym bag for a plastic bag for my sweat drenched cloths... what is this?! my flip flops packed neatly in the bag!!!!!!!

MY WONDERFUL WIFE DID IT AGAIN! SAVED THE DAY!!!

one race, one mile, and one step at a time,

Jeff

4/20/11 12 Miles race pace

Everyday... (added to playlist)

...is a winding road
I get a little bit closer
Everyday is a faded sign
I get a little bit closer

I've been swimming in a sea of anarchy
I've been living on coffee and nicotine
I've been wondering if all the things I've seen
Were ever real, were ever really happening

Everyday is a winding road
I get a little bit closer
Everyday is a faded sign
I get a little bit closer

Deep
-------------------------------------

Quick status on Seattle training:

10 Weeks to go (18 week cycle)
54 miles scheduled this week
277/818.2 miles completed
current status: injury free and on-schedule/pace

Jumbo Shrimp

My "recovery run" today got me thinking about all the oxymorons we use on a daily basis. Here are some great running related ones...

Easy run/recovery run
Fast walk
Hurts so good
Friendly competition
California winters
Frozen hell
Long shorts/loose tights/sleeveless t-shirts
Almost finished
Half done
Higher ground
Marathon relay
Barefoot shoes

One race, one mile, and one step at a time

Jeff

4M recovery run

Focused aggression and “stuff in the basement”

One of my favorite lines is from the much under-rated 2006 movie Rocky Balboa.
Rocky: "I don't know, there's still some stuff in the basement." Paulie: "What basement?" Rocky: "In here."

I can relate. I do not know why (well, I have some clues) but that is the way I am…
I’ve got stuff in the basement too. But what is this “stuff” that is inside? Well, it’s like a little fire that burns inside. Sometimes it’s just a tinder and other times it’s like a wild fire. For me, it’s the furnace that drives the motor. It’s the same competitiveness that drives me in the work place and on the marathon course.

“The stuff,” is the voice inside that says, “You are better than this.” “The stuff,” gives the middle finger to those who doubted or got into the way. “The stuff,” demands more and is hard to satisfy. Good thing it’s kept in the basement. The basement has some dark corners.
Is “the stuff” healthy for me? I don’t know. Probably not. But I know “the stuff” has pushed me over many walls on the marathon course. Just have to keep it locked up, Bruce Banner.

One race, one mile, and one step at a time,
Jeff
3/31/11 8 Miler Easy

With all due respect... (+weekly report, week 5)

Here I was feeling good about myself early last week... Having run a few fast 8/9 milers and a successful 15 miler in week 4, I felt that little extra bounce in my step, a little swagger in my arm swing, a little bloated in the head.

Then the gods of the marathon smacked this mere mortal on the side of the head and said, "show some damn respect."

I got smacked by, beaten up, and reminded of seriousness the distance yesterday. I barely completed the 16 miler in the miserable rain but it was a timely wake-up call to not slack off. 13 miles on pace but the last three were completely shameful. I lost it mentally. but I do not intend to see it happen again.

5th week of the 18 week cycle now complete. Racked up a total of 45 miles in week 5. THIS week is a recovery week and we wind down to only 37 miles before kicking it up to 50 MILES(!!!) in week 7.

Damn, its already end of March. June will be here in no time...

One race, one mile, and one step at a time,

Jeff

The Zen within

It has been a troubled couple of weeks for me physically and emotionally. I’ve had some real high points of physical breakthroughs (with running) followed by several inexplicable outbursts of anger and frustration.
There are moments in time when running exactly mirrors life. You go through the paces and the daily grind and things sometimes become mundane and repetitive. You start to lose the passion and drive that burned brightly inside when things began. You continue to run, only to run in place.
In running there is one thing that helps to bring the focus back. One thing that is clear and allows me to plan and execute. That is a tangible, measureable, and undisputable finish line. A finish line, a goal, that is as clear as it is unyielding. As a runner, the more you put into the daily grind, the more you get in return in achieving your goal.
In life however, things are just not as clear. You put in the work day in and day out and may never hit your objectives. There are just too many other elements involved. Worse yet, sometimes we don’t even know what the object is! WHAT IS THE END GAME?! How many times have you asked yourself, “what am I doing this for?”
I wish I had the answer. But I do not. Maybe that is a part of the reason I run. Because even if it is for a few minutes a day, I know that the effort I put in is going to take me a bit closer to my goal and objective. Success or failure is all up to me.

One race, one mile, and one step at a time

Jeff
3/24/11 5 M recovery