Classic Inspiration XXIV

It was high counsel that I once heard given to a young person. "Always do what you are afraid to do."

Ralph Waldo Emerson, Heroism

Hitting the Wall

Most runners know that hitting the wall (or bonking) is what happens when your body depletes all its glycogen stores. And most runners know how to avoid it. As a general rule, your body stores 2000 glycogen calories, and you burn 100 calories per mile. When your body depletes its glycogen stores, your body starts burning fat -- a highly inefficient way to make energy. That is why marathoners fear mile 20. (And why the 27-meter Heartbreak Hill -- between miles 20 and 21 at Boston -- inspires such terror.)

I always vaguely understood those technical details. But today, for the first time, I learned what hitting the wall really is. The weather was beautiful: 60 degrees and overcast. About 2 1/2 hours into the run, however, and 200 meters (truly) from my friend's car, I hit the wall. I could not take another step running (not that I was running terribly fast at that point). I had to walk. I had known for a few miles that I was empty, but I could still put one foot in front of the other. And then, all of a sudden, crash. I could almost see the finish line. But I could not run.

I am glad I now know the feeling, but what a terrible feeling. When did you last hit the wall?

Week 3

Sunday March 29 through Saturday April 4

Sunday -- 22 miles (2:40:00)

Monday -- 30 minutes treadmill

Tuesday -- 50 minutes treadmill

Wednesday -- 50 minutes treadmill

Thursday -- 50 minutes treadmill

Friday -- 20 minutes treadmill

Saturday -- Rest

Classic Inspiration XXVIII

No, when the fight begins within himself,
A man’s worth something.

Robert Browning, Bishop Blougram’s Apology

Running on the Treadmill

I know I have not been terribly transparent with my runs recently. So in the interest of full disclosure, here is my schedule.

Monday: Downhill
Tuesday: Basic hills
Wednesday: Speed
Thursday: Random hills
Friday: Downhill

Downhill: Downhill for twenty minutes, uphill for a minute or two. Repeat.
Basic hills: One minute on, one minute off. (This is the treadmill "hill" function.)
Speed: Two minutes on, one minute off. (This week, three minutes on.)
Random hills: This is the treadmill "random" function.

p.s. The treadmills I use are Life Fitness models 9700 HR and 97 Ti. They are tremendous.

Week 4

Sunday March 22 through Saturday March 28

Sunday -- 18 miles (2:10:00)

Monday -- 70 minutes treadmill

Tuesday -- 70 minutes treadmill

Wednesday -- Rest

Thursday -- 60 minutes treadmill

Friday -- 70 minutes treadmill

Saturday -- 18 miles (2:00:00)

What are you wearing?

Got my race day kicks. The brand new Glycerin 7 from my new favorite (commercial) website -- www.runningwarehouse.com.
So, what are you wearing?

My Bib Number

1458

Search here. Five weeks till the big day!

Classic Inspiration XXVII

No one can say, "You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that." The human spirit is indomitable.

Sir Roger Bannister

Week 5

Sunday March 15 through Saturday March 21

Sunday -- Rest

Monday -- 70 minutes treadmill

Tuesday -- 60 minutes treadmill

Wednesday -- 60 minutes treadmill

Thursday -- 40 minutes treadmill

Friday -- 50 minutes treadmill

Saturday -- 19 miles (2:30:00)

Groundbreaking News

Runners are unbalanced.

Classic Inspiration XXVI

Ask yourself, "Can I give more?" The answer is usually, "Yes."

Paul Tergat

Classic Inspiration XXV

Learn to run when feeling the pain: then push harder.

William Sigei

Week 6

Sunday March 8 through Saturday March 14

Sunday -- 21 miles (2:40:00)

Monday -- 30 minutes treadmill

Tuesday -- 60 minutes treadmill

Wednesday -- 60 minutes treadmill

Thursday -- 40 minutes treadmill

Friday -- 60 minutes treadmill

Saturday -- 18 miles (2:15:00)

Classic Inspiration XXIV

I always loved running . . . . [I]t was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.

Jesse Owens

Week 7

Sunday March 1 through Saturday March 7

Sunday -- 15 miles (2:00:00)

Monday -- 20 minutes treadmill

Tuesday -- 60 minutes treadmill

Wednesday -- 60 minutes treadmill

Thursday -- 50 minutes treadmill

Friday -- Rest

Saturday -- 18 miles (2:20:00)