http://www.strava.com/activities/100716586
http://www.strava.com/activities/100883970
some nice runs this week. nothing to epic or groundbreaking or anything. just good, solid runs that felt good physically, mentally and spiritually. one of these runs i've labeled "session w/ coach eric." this was a run with my friend that i'm "coaching." it was their long run for the week. a solid 10 miler. closer to 11 miles but you know how garmins can be sometimes. these little "coaching" sessions totally make my week. over the 10-12 years of running, i've had about every overuse (or misuse) injury in the book. plantar fasciitis, plantar warts, shin splints, fractured metatarsals, etc. burn out, overtrain, (under train), all that, you name it.
most of my first training advice came from books and magazines. all giving me training plans of 5-7 days of running. complete with speed work, hill intervals, long runs, tempo runs. all bullshit. total bullshit. i was injuring myself left and right trying to keep up with all this. i hobbled through my first two marathons in agony. sleeping with a "boot", rolling an ice cup under my foot, trying magic pain relief creams. it was killing me to think that i wasn't a runner. the funny part is i was actually a cyclist. i had been racing mountain bikes and some cyclocross at the time but i just thought it would be cool to run a marathon. but once i started that quest, i just couldn't let it go until i could run the whole thing. no walking.
some time after those first couple marathons i was doing a 12 hour mountain bike race and there happened to be an ultra-marathon going on on some of the same trails. it was a 100k (62 miles). talking to some of these guys, i wondered what kind of training they could possibly be doing and as it turned out, it was significantly lighter volume. just a couple short 3-4 mile runs during the week and an increasing long run for three weeks with the fourth week off. so i tried this and wouldn't ya know, my third marathon was nearly an hour faster than my previous two. i've since added or changed some of my training (along with shoe choices) but that core idea is still there and when given the opportunity i share it with whoever could put it to use.
so back to my original train of thought. while i have (and still do) get to strive and hit certain goals and stuff, it's more less a personal thing. most of my friends either do similar activities or others just seem to think people are born accomplishing things. of course they're also the ones who never really "do" anything. just hang out, party, play video games or whatever. but every once in a while someone will reach out and show a little interest in these ridiculous activities. running, biking, etc. for hours on end and shit like that. that's when coach eric comes out and pummels them with information and advice. wether they want it or not. seeing someone take hold of any of this and make it their own and turn it into something is what it's really all about. when all i really do with my spare time, energy and money is run and bike all the time, it makes one wonder, how the fuck does this benefit anyone but yourself? in most ways it doesn't. but like the that first middle-aged, non-athletic looking woman i saw in the grocery about 12 years ago wearing a portland marathon finisher's jersey, who first inspired me to go for it, maybe just the act of doing something positive for yourself can rub off on the next person. god knows i've been influenced, inspired, whatever to partake in some pretty depressing and negative activities. especially if they look fun or "real." these days i try to just do my thing while trying to find different sources of inspiration to keep it positive and real. and from time to time i'm lucky enough to see someone else pick it up and carry it. THIS....keeps me going.
http://www.strava.com/activities/100883970
most of my first training advice came from books and magazines. all giving me training plans of 5-7 days of running. complete with speed work, hill intervals, long runs, tempo runs. all bullshit. total bullshit. i was injuring myself left and right trying to keep up with all this. i hobbled through my first two marathons in agony. sleeping with a "boot", rolling an ice cup under my foot, trying magic pain relief creams. it was killing me to think that i wasn't a runner. the funny part is i was actually a cyclist. i had been racing mountain bikes and some cyclocross at the time but i just thought it would be cool to run a marathon. but once i started that quest, i just couldn't let it go until i could run the whole thing. no walking.
some time after those first couple marathons i was doing a 12 hour mountain bike race and there happened to be an ultra-marathon going on on some of the same trails. it was a 100k (62 miles). talking to some of these guys, i wondered what kind of training they could possibly be doing and as it turned out, it was significantly lighter volume. just a couple short 3-4 mile runs during the week and an increasing long run for three weeks with the fourth week off. so i tried this and wouldn't ya know, my third marathon was nearly an hour faster than my previous two. i've since added or changed some of my training (along with shoe choices) but that core idea is still there and when given the opportunity i share it with whoever could put it to use.
so back to my original train of thought. while i have (and still do) get to strive and hit certain goals and stuff, it's more less a personal thing. most of my friends either do similar activities or others just seem to think people are born accomplishing things. of course they're also the ones who never really "do" anything. just hang out, party, play video games or whatever. but every once in a while someone will reach out and show a little interest in these ridiculous activities. running, biking, etc. for hours on end and shit like that. that's when coach eric comes out and pummels them with information and advice. wether they want it or not. seeing someone take hold of any of this and make it their own and turn it into something is what it's really all about. when all i really do with my spare time, energy and money is run and bike all the time, it makes one wonder, how the fuck does this benefit anyone but yourself? in most ways it doesn't. but like the that first middle-aged, non-athletic looking woman i saw in the grocery about 12 years ago wearing a portland marathon finisher's jersey, who first inspired me to go for it, maybe just the act of doing something positive for yourself can rub off on the next person. god knows i've been influenced, inspired, whatever to partake in some pretty depressing and negative activities. especially if they look fun or "real." these days i try to just do my thing while trying to find different sources of inspiration to keep it positive and real. and from time to time i'm lucky enough to see someone else pick it up and carry it. THIS....keeps me going.
