Training Log Archive: iansmith

It's interesting to note that despite two relatively weak training months (Jan and Feb), I surpassed my 2008 total training from January to mid August of this year. At my present rate of training, I'm on track to hit about 235 training hours this year, which while unremarkable, is good progress for me. Hopefully next year, I can consistently train at the rate of an hour per day.

It is worth pointing out that a nontrivial component of my training at present is fluffy - like bike commutes, e.g. Easy runs and cross training are useful for overall fitness, muscle balance, and injury prevention, but I need to increase my quality time - intervals, tempo runs, weight training, and orienteering most of all. The biggest component of my training this year has been orienteering, but much of that "training" is actually C-meets and A-meets. It's also boosted by my obscenely long ARDF sessions, which while constructive, are not as useful as technical orienteering sessions.

C • Quality 5

To and from work.

I set out to do a tempo run, but I started feeling reluctant - my soleus still feels stiff, so I ran at a comfortable pace between easy and tempo (marathon?). I felt absolutely fantastic throughout the run - breathing was good, my muscles felt strong (stiff right leg), and I was moving at a good pace. However, near the end of the run, I appeared to hit the wall - maybe my blood sugar level was low or something. Dunno. I walked for a bit, then set off to cool down at an easy jaunt, but I felt a small shooting pain in my right gluteus, so I walked the rest of the way home. I hope I'm ok.

I mused on the unstable equilibrium of debt and risk aversion. Also, only those actions which are difficult to us individually are admirable.

1676

C • I would like to have a conversation... 7

My watch band has been out of commission since the ARDF training last Sunday (note that according to Joe B., ARDF is geekier than Trail-O), so the time is a bit of a guess. I went on an easy run at about 1 AM around Harvard and Porter Squares, including a jaunt around the common at the intersection of Garden St and Mass Ave. That park seems to be a bit sketchy at night.

I finished up with 6x40 second strides. For the second consecutive day, I had a close encounter with a skunk. Tonight's I glimpsed from far enough ahead that I was able to skirt the sidewalk without much trouble; yesterday, I passed within about 8 feet of a fleeing skunk on Inman Ave - far too close for comfort.

Soleus still feels stiff, but stretching felt good afterward. I owe Lori dinner for her training victory.

C • ARDF is definitely geekier than trail-O 3

Commute to and from work. Spent a fair bit of time waiting at lights, as usual.

I read this contrarian article about lactic acid:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/16/health/nutrition...

C • mitochondria burning fuel? 1

In late May, I challenged Lori to a training competition for June - August inclusive. The measure would be our logged hours of physical activity (e.g. no Catching Features) as consistent with our logging standards. Neither of us logs stretching, e.g., and all our summer logging was to be consistent with what we have done before.

Lori turned out to be the victor:

	Ian	Lori
June	17:53:48	20:27:29
July	21:55:43	31:07:56
August	23:34:13	16:50:12
Total	63:23:44	68:25:37

Nonetheless, I think the competition was productive; it was at times motivating. I'm pleased with my monotonically increasing monthly training; if I can avoid injuries, I expect to continue increasing my training hours at the rate I have thus far.

A light night run with some errands - I took some old clothes to a Red Cross clothing drop box, escorted Lori to her lab, and dropped off Pirates 3 at Blockbuster.

C • Thanks Ian!! 1

To and from Hammond Pond via Harvard Ave, Western Ave, Market St, Washington St, Lake St, Commonwealth Ave, Hammondwoods Road, and Hammond Pond Parkway.

Alternating memory-O legs with Brendan at Hammond Pond on a course consisting essentially of all 250 meter legs. It was an excellent workout.

From work.

Warmup run to and from the Harvard track with some supplementary light running between intervals.

I elected not to participate in the mile time trial at the CSU track workout because of right soleus discomfort, but the track was so alluring that I had to do some speed activity. I ran 2x400 with Presto to unleash some of his energy on the track, then ran an 800 meter dash at high pace. I could have pushed harder on the 800, but I felt very comfortable.

The 800 was the only leg I rigorously timed, and I ran it in 2:51.

Late afternoon tempo run around the river. My right soleus is still bugging me; curiously, the pain seems to decrease after runs. I haven't observed any improvement as a consequence of my ICE; rest may be the only cure. I'll take it relatively easy for the next few days and see what happens (I haven't decided yet whether to do the time trial tomorrow - I will make the judgment then).

C • Are you stretching? Its no... 3

Commute to work.