Tapertown!

OK folks, I am officially in Tapertown!

This is the last few weeks before the marathon.  My final long run was a 20 miler from the top of Paradise down 1,600 feet to Bidwell Park in Chico.  It was hot and awesome!  I ended at the pool at One Mile and jumped in with my kids.  (they drove down, I didn't make them run). 

I was hoping that the pool would still be nice and cold, but it was already warming up so that it didn't serve any longer as an ice bath. 

The next three weeks will feature dramatically lowered volume, but hopefully keep the intensity up.

Leave Your Ipod in the Car

"NO ipods, dogs, strollers or pacers/pace bikes are allowed on the course."

 

That's what it says in the race reminder email I received from Chico Running Club for tomorrow's Bidwell Classic Half Marathon.  My immediate response is "What!"  As this is my first big race since Ipods have been around, I was a little taken aback.  I ran the Run for Food 5K last Thanksgiving and it seemed like I was the only one NOT wearing earbuds. 

Now, don't get me wrong, I prefer to do most of my running without music--I enjoy the peace and quite and the opportunity to listen to what my body is telling me.  The exception has been my long runs--I bring the Ipod along specifically so that I can't hear what my body is telling me ("Hey big dummy, would you stop running, for crying out loud!") and sometimes just to keep me company on those two plus hour early runs in dark.  On my first over 13 miles long run, my music really saved my bacon those last couple of miles. 

So, for the last few weeks I've been pimping out my running playlist.  It seems like everyone and their brother listens to Eminem and death metal when they run, but I find all the hopeless negativism to be counterproductive.  So, my playlist has quite the ecclectic mix.  The first category is any song that even mentions the idea of running:

• You Can Run to the End of the Highway by Keith Green
• Running by Christ for the Nations
• I Will Run to You by Hillsongs
• Running Out of Pain by 12 Stones
• Jogging by Ray Stevens
• The Distance by Cake

Next into the mix come the high energy songs that just get you pumped:

• Boom by POD
• Jump Around by House of Pain
• Dare You to Move by Switchfoot
• Power of Love by Huey Lewis
• Souljahz Don't Stop by Souljahz
• Rawkfist by Thousand Foot Krutch

Then, there are those songs that are just funny, whimsical and quirky enough to keep it fun:

• They're Coming to Take Me Away by Napoleon XIV
• The Official Hamster Dance Song by (some singing hamsters, apparently)
• DC-10 by Audio Adrenaline
• My Addidas by Run DMC
• The Unicorn by The Irish Rovers
• Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash
• The Imperial March (aka Darth Vader's Theme Song) by John Williams

I was really looking to pounding out part of a mile to that last one. 

But, race rules are race rules.  And if it says "NO ipods, dogs, strollers or pacers/pace bikes are allowed on the course.", then I'm gonna leave my dog wearing an ipod in a stroller at home!

Actually, it turns out that this is a now standard rule for any official USATF sanctioned course.  Most race organizers don't really enforce it much.  I expect tomorrow to see plenty of earbuds. Still, the rule is there for two compelling reasons:

1. Runner safety:  If you are "That Guy" that has to run with your music so loud that I can hear when I run next to you, chances are you can't really hear your surroundings, such as a runner coming up from behind.  This is the biggie for race organizers.
2. My own enjoyment of the race experience.  I want to fully take in the sounds of the race--my breathing, feet hitting the path, other runners, the cheers of the crowd. 

I can listen to my Ipod anytime, but the sounds of the race are a unique opportunity.  Even though I'll miss those guys from Cake urging me along with a "Hiyah!", I'll choose to follow the rules and enjoy the race.

Training for the Half Marathon, Week 10/10

Well, I am officially tapering.  One week ago I did my last long run (16 miles) in preparation for my first half marathon.  Instead of my usual weekend long run, I did a 6 mile tempo run on Saturday.  Today, just an easy four miles with the dogs (two miles for Molly, two miles for Snicker).  They are both napping to show their appreciation. 

Tomorrow, I'll do about 4 miles with intervals.  Half mile easy warm-up, 4x800's with 400meter rests in between, and then a half mile cooldown. I'm going to try to push the intensity.

Looking at my running log over the this ten week training plan, I have put in 204.2 miles.  Probably the most I have ever ran in a two-month period.   Saturday's forecast for Chico, CA:   cloudy with a chance of rain, racetime temp:  mid-40's.

Does Thinking About Running Count?

Yesterday, I missed two miles of speed work. I did four miles in the morning and was planning to head to the track in the early evening. My wife wanted to start running a little and she thought the track would be a nice place to start. Unfortunately, she got called to take minutes at a school board meeting and we had to cancel our run.

This morning I thought about getting up and putting in the missed miles from yesterday. I sat in bed listening to the sound of the wind wipping leaves around outside and decided that the warm bed seemed like a nicer idea.

So instead of a make-up run, I spent some time planning out my training plan for after the Bidwell Classic in March. There is a possible "next goal" race this summer that I am starting to scratch out a training plan for. So me and my Excel spreadsheet began to see how I can get in the mileage after recovering from my first half marathon. Two goals: add mileage safely (trying to stay near the 10% rule) and get my overall mileage up into the 40 mpw range.

It should be fun!