December 1, 2005
december 1st, a running odyssey
(twenty) two grand job
in the city that sounds nice,
it's alright it's alright
in the city it's alright
- the rakes
so, today marks another first in my running career. i went over my personal record for distance in a year back in september, but one of my unwritten goals this year was to break 2000 miles for the year. with all the miles that the coach was throwing at me, i knew that it wouldn't be too difficult, but when the mileage bottomed out in july after the seafair marathon, i wasn't sure if i'd be able to pull it off. well, today, as i cruised along irvine center parkway passing the tesla building at mile 11 of my scheduled 12 miler, i met and passed that goal. 2001 miles for the year, as of the completion of today's run, and with a month to spare!
there was some question as to whether i'd even be able to get today's run in, what with the track fiasco on tuesday and the itb and quad dictating how i would use my leg. but, to add insult to injury, i woke up on wednesday and the leg felt 100%. not even a twinge. granted, i'd spent a decent amount of time on the foam roller the night before, but still, no tightness, no discomfort while walking. nothing. so i lifted at lunch, stretched and rolled again last night and headed out on today's run with the plan of stopping and heading home as soon as the leg gave signs of tightening. but each mile came and went and there wasn't even the slightest twinge or niggle. the leg even felt good enough, that when another runner turned onto the trail in front of me, moving along at a pretty quick gallop, i decided to pace off him and threw down a 6:30 pace for mile eight. pain? none. i finished the run a little rubber legged, but still on pace and feeling fantastic.
i'm still scratching my head about tuesday. i'm thinking that maybe it had something to do with the treadmill run the night before. it had been years since my last treadmill outing and maybe my stride was changed just enough to make the quad and itb a little snug. who knows. it's back to all systems go as i launch into more unexplored running territory!
Comments
Congrats on the mileage milestone! You rock!
I was also glad to see that you are back on the right side of that thin line you've been treading. Keep it up.
Posted by: Darrell at December 1, 2005 9:35 PMjeff,
did your hair stand on end when you passed the tesla building?
i think you are right with your idea that the treadmill caused the itb issue. when you are running on 'real earth' you can make adjustments to your speed and stride instantaneously. in some instances you may be adjusting subconsciously since your body is so grooved to your running stride. on the treadmill, even if you are lightning quick with pushing the 'down' speed buttons there is still a lag before you can adjust your running stride to the lower speed. basically the treadmill adds a period of latency to your adjustment which locks you into a speed for too long (let's not even get into the possible detriments of breaking form to reach for said buttons). more often you probably don't even adjust the speed on the treadmill, but instead just run through the twinges. outdoors you can adjust your stride without even thinking about it.
(the absence of capital letters in this post is dedicated to you)
Posted by: Paul at December 2, 2005 7:14 AMcongrats on your millstone, i mean milestone. you are one awesome dude!
Posted by: Oldman at December 2, 2005 7:40 AMWoo hooo - congrats! That is so impressive mileage man.
Posted by: susan at December 2, 2005 7:48 AM*pops champagne*
2000 miles. DAMN
color me impressed
I wonder if I'll reach 2000 miles in a decade?
Oh, maybe I could have a 2000 mile goal before I turn 30. Gives me 2.5 years, I can handle it!
wait, this comment is about you
Congrats!
Jeff, You are amazing my son!! Wow!! It is totally incredible what those God-given feet have done - the very same feet that I held in the palm of my hands many years ago!! I wish these words - "I'm proud of you Jeff" - could convey what's really in my heart. Only the tears in my eyes tell!
I love you more than words can express.
Love, Mom :)
it's alright it's alright it's alright!
heck yes for the rakes reference, and also for the non-use of caps. oh and i gues i should say something about you reaching 10,000 miles, no wait that was my car, you reached 2,000 (which if you were a car wouldn't be all that fantastic). seriously though, that is awesome. you are a running fool. i have probably fit in 2,000 of bad television this year, so i guess that just makes me a fool.
congratulations on reaching your milestone before you passed some stones, ha ha ha, but i digress once again. keep them feets running jeff, and maybe next year we can get some better halloween pics for the masses...
I also think it's very cute that your mommy loves you. : )
Posted by: susan at December 2, 2005 12:24 PMI also think it's very cute that your mommy loves you. : )
Posted by: susan at December 2, 2005 12:24 PMYou shame with with your many miles...sigh...congrats nonetheless:)
Posted by: Elle at December 2, 2005 2:16 PMYou had me worried with that dnf post the other day. Glad you're back at it and celebrating 2001 miles!
Next run you'll be running more than 2005 in 2005. Cool!
Posted by: Karen in Calgary at December 2, 2005 2:25 PMI'm actually impressed that you keep an accurate count of that many miles. Congratulations on the milestone.
Posted by: Donald at December 3, 2005 3:07 PMWhen I read your capitaless posts I picture a fine tuned Formula 1 race car revving its engine and sounding so perfectly powerful and ready to scream through the air almost flying.
Nice mileage - and with a month to go! It's an amazing feeling to be so much better than you thought you could be.
Posted by: david at December 4, 2005 5:56 AMthats awesome man, nice job on breaking that mileage record! good stuff!
Posted by: brent at December 4, 2005 4:41 PMwow - that's awesome jeff!!! wicked cool! I should be running more now that I'm unemployed. hahaha. More on that later next time you're yahooing.
Posted by: tracy at December 4, 2005 8:58 PM