Monday, June 28, 2010

Metlife Duathlon

2010 is the year of 3rd's, including the third year I've done the MetLife 'Race Around the World' Duathlon in Tinley Park.

The race consists of a 2 mile run, 11 mile bike, and finishing leg of another 2 mile run.

The race is conveniently held the same weekend the Marathon training group does a (small) 5 mile run, so I tend to take a pass on Saturday morning's run and get ready for race day on Sunday.

Jim's parents, Tricia and my parents come to watch this race. It's great to have their support.

I go through a cycle of emotions with this race - excitement, fear. Although I've placed in the top ten of my age division the last two years, I'll still think of the short running distances and worry that I can't compete with my slower run times.

But, the key to the duathlon is the bike. Somehow I forget that.

Jim's been competing in this race for a number of years, including taking home 1st in his age division the last few years. He's the one that talked me in to signing up for the race shortly after he'd talked me in to the road bike.

Jim's all about getting to the race early. Like, three hours early. The bike racks are set up around 5:00 and sometimes he's the first one there. Getting a prime position on the bike rack (preferably an end) is ideal. For the most part, I've followed suit in getting there early(er) as well. Once you've set up your bike, you can watch as others come with their bikes and size up the competition.

In general, my thought process is something like this:
The more expensive the bike the more likely I'll be beat.
A roadbike in general = direct competition
Mountain bike? I'll be passing you soon enough.

Then the race starts - It's done in waves - Men under 40, then over. Women under 40, then over, then teams. Each with a two to three minute gap in between.

I'd say I tend to be towards the end-of-the-middle part of the pack, maintaining around a 9:15-9:30 mile.

Coming in to the transition, I can't wait to get on the bike. I tend to ride hard from the get go. I pass many on the 11 mile ride. I pass by some of the younger guys who had a 4 to 6 minute start on me. I tell myself the better lead I can get on the bike, the better off I'll be when I get off of it.

By the time I'm out of the second transition, Jim's already finished with the race - and I have a two mile run ahead of me. It takes a few minutes to get your land legs back from the bike. At this point in the race you just have to push though.

This year had was hot at the start. People were breathing hard coming up on the first mile. Coming back in to transition, I was concerned about the heat myself. I figured getting some wind on my face would help. Shortly after jumping on the bike, clouds moved in and the wind picked up. Toward the end of the ride, it looked as if the skies were going to open up any minute. I was riding harder thinking of how bad it would be to be stuck on the bike in a downpour. Luckily, I made it in to T2 and was out running for a few minutes before the storm moved in. The last mile was a complete downpour.

2008 and 2009's finishing time were within :30 of each other, right around 1:17. This year, with the crazy weather as my excuse, I came in a little more than a minute behind at 1:18:54. [13th in my age division]

Friday, June 18, 2010

Week 2 of Training

This week was another easy one.

Three runs of 3 miles each during the week, followed by a 7 miler on Saturday.

I don't know if I can thank the Nike LunarLites or the lower number on the scale, but, my pace has picked up.

My shins and calves are a bit sore, but hopefully rest and 'The Stick' will help.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Bike to Work Week

I'll admit it, I'm a fair weather rider.

You won't see me out there in the cold or riding down Milwaukee.

In terms of riding my bike to work, I have it made. I ride straight south - around 9 miles - to work.

I spend the first mile going through Loyola University's campus and a brief venture down a side street parallel to Sheridan. Then I hit the beginning/end of the lakefront path. The next 8 miles is smooth sailing [well, all dependent on the wind].

I was on ride this morning approaching Fullerton when I saw people along the path cheering for me, thanking me for riding my bike to work. There was a pit stop at Fullerton, complete with coffee and Clif Bars. Apparently it's Ride Your Bike to Work week, and some people are quite excited about it.

It IS pretty cool to ride your bike to work.

Especially when you get to pick off guys on mountain bikes along the way. That never gets old.

Monday, June 14, 2010

The Schedule



Training's all about the schedule. It's the road map to race day success.

It's a bit overwhelming, but at the same time I find comfort in knowing all I need to do is follow the schedule. There are identifiable stages to the schedule -

The first month or so is no problem. I can run the weekday runs at lunch and still have a bit of a life after work.

In the second month, we start getting into double digit long runs. Post-run breakfast becomes necessary, followed by a nap.

By mid-August I'm doing 5-7 miles during the week. A little too much for lunchtime, so they shift to the evening. Once we're up to 25-30 miles a week, I allow myself to eat whatever I want. Now here comes the fun part of training! This is around the time training takes over my life.

The infamous 20 miler takes place in mid-September. This is the furthest we'll run before the race. After the 20 miler, tapering begins. We run less and rest more.

Finally, in early October, we're ready to go.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

CARA Marathon Training Program

5:30am.

I'm dressed in my running gear and eating oatmeal. It must be training season again.

Today marks the first official 'long run' of marathon training. By 6am, I'm in my car and heading down Montrose Harbor to meet up with my 10:30 pace group friends.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the city isn't going to make all the parking along the lake metered/paybox - it might be wishful thinking.

CARA (Chicago Area Runners Association) has a huge program. There's locations in a handful of suburbs on top of the three that are in the City itself. My location is the largest. I'd venture to say there's 250-300 people in the 6:30am group. There's a 6am group as well. I've never seen them though. 6am's a little too crazy for me.

I've trained with CARA the last two years. I've made some friends in my pace group. Some of them are now the pace leaders. I'm looking forward to spending hours upon hours with them every Saturday morning til October.

The meeting area has signs with the paces - ranging from a 6:30-7 minute pace down to a 12 minute pace. A guy with a megaphone gives us all a rundown on the latest news and then calls up each pace group. Some of the faster times have beginner, intermediate and advanced levels within them.

The 10:30s are one of the last groups to leave. By 7am, we're always off and running.

Lance Armstrong is a bad ass

Lance Armstrong is such a bad ass. I'm loving the Radio Shack commercials where he's riding the trainer, giving his assistant instructions. Talk about multi-tasking!

I read a great Lance book last summer. I'm thinking it's about time to pick another one up, it will be good reading for the bus [since I already finished this month's Runner's World].

A few great Lance quotes -

"This is my body. And I can do whatever I want to it. I can push it. Study it. Tweak it. Listen to it. Everybody wants to know what I'm on. What am I on? I'm on my bike busting my ass six hours a day. What are you "on?"

“If you worried about falling off the bike, you’d never get on.”

"Pain is temporary. Quitting lasts forever."

"What ever your 100% looks like, give it."

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Week 1 (of 18): Welcome to Marathon Training


In honor of the first week of marathon training, and a gift card burning a hole in my pocket, I visited Fleet Feet last night.

I left spending about double what I thought I would [that's pretty standard], including a pair of Nike Lunar Glides.

I haven't ran in Nike shoes since? Early college?

My shoes are dark gray [cool, they aren't white] and bright, 1992 neon pink soles [hello hypercolor shirt]. I am excited to be able to drop the Nike+ sensor into the sole of the shoe.

I also purchased a pair of Zoot compression socks. Jim swears by them, and I don't think that guy's guided me the wrong way on gear yet. I didn't know you could pay that much for 'socks!'

I'm testing out the shoes this evening. I hope it's a happy marriage.

Friday, June 04, 2010

Relay for Life

This evening I'm participating in Relay for Life an all-night cancer walk in Glenview.

The event consists of teams. The Glenview event has 60. A total of 400 something people. We'll be taking turns walking around the track for 12 hours. It all starts at 6pm.

I've done my share of cancer walks - In 2006, my friend Katie and I did the Susan G. Komen 3-Day. In 2007, we volunteered for the Avon walk.

Relay is walking around a track. It's not about distance or speed, it's about time. One member of the team must be on the track at all times. My team consists of my cousin and a handful of her friends. I'm doubling as a team member and chaperone.

The girls are 13. They plan on staying up all night by drinking caffeine and eating sugar.

I think I'll fore-go a run today in anticipating I'll be doing a lot of walking overnight.

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

60 miles to run in 4 weeks


I'd forgotten about the 'goal' function of Nike+ for awhile. Then again, I can't very well be using Nike+ unless I'm running so...Good thing I'm doing that again.

I've set a goal. 60 miles in the next 30 days.

While I was at work today, I glanced at the marathon training schedule last year for the week of the 20 miler.

In that week, last year, I ran over 40 miles.

In a week.

Good thing marathon training's a few months long. I'm going to need all the time I can get this year.