Dragons

So I ended up racing the 88-Crime race on Sunday. I hadn't planned on it but it was determined that perhaps this would be an early indicator of how I am hanging (since my next race won't be until late April). I still wasn't super stoked about racing, but I'm in no position to argue.

So Saturday morning I headed on up to Oro Valley. The day was off to a wonderful start when I saw Greg and our conversation went something to the effect of, "What did you run last year?" "About 27:30" "You ran 27:30 on a short course."

And it went downhill from there. In what was, apparently, a slow course (quite a few sharp turns and some constant elevation changes), I was aiming to hit 29 to 30 minutes. As has been my luck this season, I was the only person within 30 seconds of me, either way, shooting for my time, so it wasn't long before my race consisted of only myself and some kid (prolly a teenager) who I could not shake nor would take over the pace.

At exactly 15 minutes I just hear, "Ah shit," and the kid basically pulls up and was gone. Don't get me wrong, I hated his Ligori weazing in my ear and his refusal to do any work -- but he did keep me focused on working hard. After I lost him, I must have drifted and ended up coming in 10th in 30:33. I'm not especially pleased with this but I did promise to be patient here so I'm just going to go ahead and get back on the training schedule this week.

After the race, I congratulated Greg on his win (a $100 value) and jogged a cooldown with Mike (who pulled second) and Shane from the Group Run while he told me about how much the Tech Trek 10k sucked this year. Shane also told me that I appear to run on my toes on my left foot. I don't know if that means I need to do something with my left foot or if I'm just supposed to get up on my right toes too. Regardless, I'm just going to assume that my life is like Zelda and, therefore, I should just hold on to his knowledge as I might find it useful in the future.

Also, I am going to get some new racing flats this week as I am tired of running in old shit. Perhaps I should start a LetsRun thread about this so I can be sure to get the 'proper' 5 to 10k shoe.

Anyways, I am really sore in the calves today and tomorrow will be Edition I of some Fartlek workout. I'll probably go knock it out over at Reid Park in the morning after my class.

First Man to Run Around the World. Suck it Karno, Ostriches -- Mike's Race Recap -- Results (~95 Runners Beat Percentage)

It seems that everything this week is probably going to be feeling a little too good. As I mentioned in my last post, this week was going to be a bit of a cycle down week and that would have worked out well with a solid 8k on Saturday. However, with last week being the easy one, I'm in the midst of wrapping up last week's efforts. This means knocking out my third edition of the 20 minute tempo and the second of my hills repeats. Now it may be the rather fresh feelings in my legs or my new Speedstars, but I'm optimistic about the way things are going.

Right about now, I am due to be bitching about how damn hot it is outside. With temperatures soaring into the 70's, it's no surprise a bike to school in the 15 mph winds feels more like a ride through my oven during an intense holiday baking session. But, as you can see, this isn't what I'm talking about. THAT is how excited I am.

I opened this week with an easy 7 on ODC parkway. I've decided that my off-day runs are simply going to start at 7:30 or so and just come down. It's actually noticeably more comfortable for me and leads to better runs that leave me feeling like I had more to give. And what do I care if that's how anyone else rolls? I run alone damn 98.33 (repeating of course)% of the time.

Then today was scheduled that third (and final) shot at the 20 minute tempo at 6:20. This was the first workout of my new training attempt and after performances of [6:15, :29, :31] and [6:24, :19, :21], I was ready for the cornerstone of the Rule of 3 -- Perfection. I had originally planned to knock it out this morning but, being me, I didn't get out of bed in time and so I headed over to Reid Park about 5 this afternoon. Honestly, I didn't even want to go then, but I had just finished reading Mike's post about his day 2 of his 7 miles at 6 minute pace and I was insprred. No, not because he was back-to-backing a further distance at a faster speed than I would be attempting -- but because the man is working hard. I've never been (and will never claim to be) a man who works hard for myself (My summer internship allows me to wear jeans, come on!). Simply put, that is the easiest way to explain how I've gotten this bad at running (also weight gain). But Mike's post reminded me of a few things -- I have a team, we have a race coming up, and my teammates are running hard.

I might as well be running hard as well.

Anyways, the wind had picked up and as I yogged to Reid, I thought about switching it up and running counter-clockwise today. In my statics class, counter-clockwise is considered positive and my crazy-ass professor seems to be on the ball. Yeah, it's still the same loop -- but if I started by going south, I could have the wind to my back for the second mile (usually where I really feel the struggling) and that was really my concern for the day. Unable to decide for the 20 minutes it took for me to get there, I made up my mind at the last second (kinda like I do at restaurants) and just headed out the same way as always.

My focus for the start of the run was simply to take it easy so that I could roll into the second mile with some momentum. Still, I couldn't shake my memory of last session's 6:24 opener and after turning into the headwind along Alvernon, I clicked my watch at a 6:16 opening mile. Without time to worry about 4 seconds (really less, it was 6:16 and change), I was ready to approach the real obstacle. My weakest link -- this second mile -- in the wind, after going out too fast.

The two previous times, I tried to use this portion of the run to 'fall into pace' but found that I failed both times as I tend to ease off -- and then settle in. This time, with the gusts of wind coming, I decided to lay off the cruise control and just handle this one myself. Coming through at 6:13, I got my second wind and knew it would be smooth sailing from here. I would have liked to have been able to be mature about this one and just relax back to around 6:18 or so but I was enjoying this work out (something that hasn't been the case for months -- and has never happened on doing a workout alone) and turning back along the Reid Park parking lot, I began thinking about how pleased I was that I wouldn't have to throw up a post of shame on this one. In fact, it was right about where I passed that starting point that I thought about using that Leeroy Jenkins gem about a decimal "repeating, of course." Anyways, mile 3 was 6:12 and I finished up the 20 minutes significantly further than I had the previous two times. Then, on the run home, I had a legit cooldown instead of the ultramarathon pace I was throwing up before.

As you can see from just how much I wrote about this, I'm pleased with this effort. Not only do I feel my general running is improving, I am getting comfortable running alone. This was something I struggled with for some time but being able to running a solid effort consistently on my own is encouraging from my position.

So coming up will be session II of the hill workout at Sabino. I'll probably do this on Friday afternoon. Last time it was 15 minutes of 90 second efforts. I still need to get direction on how to 'improve' on it this time.

Other than that, I'm just chasing miles.


Subp0wned -- 8k for 88Crime -- This guy's recruiting my little bro

I made it back from SF. After the decent few days I posted about last week, traveling took over and I ended the week as a wasted 20-some miles in like 3 runs. This week I we had talked about me backing off a little and maybe racing the 88-Crime 8k this weekend but, at this point, I'd like to just do last week's schedule this week and not race. I haven't gotten the okay to do this just yet -- but I think it's the best option.

Otherwise, I guess I don't really have any running updates. Last weekend was the AZ Distance Classic Valley of Gold Half and you can check out the results below.

Half Results -- 5K Drug/War-Fueled Results -- Valley of the Sun Half (3/11)

We managed to hack into a neighbor's wireless so I thought I'd go ahead and bring y'all up to date. I have this week off so I've taken the opportunity to drag my ass out to SF for a few days. So far I've yelled at some beatniks, talked to some gays, and ridden a bus crammed full of Chinese people (Stop the Invasion!).

Also, I had some jerk chicken. I believe I will start just jerking everything I cook at the 821 from now on.

Runningwise -- I closed out last week with the unfortunateness of having to do my hill workout (10 x 90 secs) and long run (12 miles) on back to back days. After Sunday's easy run, where I tried to pull down some recovery, I totaled out the week at 49 miles (the Schedule called for 45 to 50). Because I left on Monday night, I was supposed to do my final session of the 20 minute tempo before taking off but after my internship interview turned into an all-day affair, I got in zero runs.

Then I also missed Tuesday. None of this was planned, I had just arrived late and we were doing stuff from the crack of dawn until late that first night. Plus, I wanted to get aquainted with the city. I found that this really did not matter as I went out yesterday morning, turned the wrong way, and ended up at the intersection of Cesar Chavez Blvd and Guerro Street. I knew that this was not where I should have been -- and I still hadn't found water -- so I ran back to where I started for 50 directionless minutes. Today ended up being a lot better as I ran the 'correct way' and found the Embarcadaro in about 10 minutes and pulled it out for an 80 minute run along the bay.

I'm enjoying running here but along with the sightseeing, my legs are feeling quite trashed at this point. I had considered trying to fit in the hill repeat session (or the tempo session if I could find a marked path somewhere) while I was here but now I'm thinking that this isn't such good idea. Really, I only have tomorrow left so I'll probably just do another 45+ minuter and then get the hell out of dodge and back on track next week.

Ya know, in case you were wondering.

Also, Mike will be racing the 5000 at Willie Williams this weekend. If you are there, definitely cheer our representing Dragon on.

Okay look alright so yeah seriously anyway honestly,

Thus far 2007 is cracking up to be the year of my insanity being brought into relief. First my Bears fanaticism exploded into a pathetic fallout visible in the form of a nonsensical gang of asterisks. Then my rigorous self-imposed apprenticeship to bad attitude French bistro cooking imploded under the weight of its phantasmagoric impracticality. And my nearness to being 24 years old keeps gnawing away at my mind so that I'm actually telling people that I am 24 and starting to be depressed about being 24 and almost 25 already and wiling my days away as a feckless office cow. And outright public failure has a very special place in my heart. It is, frankly, awesome. One of the reasons why it's awesome is that it most often leads to a change of course and a sturdy solution. This is one of the crappier reasons.
Nonetheless, as I have drawn up dozens of nifty "training plans" in the last couple of years, all of them have been guided by the principle that being the best means being, above all, not like everyone else. What follows from this is the realization that wildly underachieving is just as valuable as overachieving when it comes to counter-normative teleologies. But maybe sometimes the needle that keeps slamming from underacheive to overachieve and back again evens out into a happy acceptance of your place in the great scheme of creation. Empirically, I can only say that this is what happens when you put it together that:

Totino's pizzas are food. They cost about a dollar each. They take about 20 minutes to prepare. Sustenance achieved at a minimum of cost and time is virtuous.Frankly, I've been blogging about the Bears and eating so much because my running is that poor, and also because, in the abscence of some miraculous social networking web domain that allows users to explicate their personal interests and fascinations in obsessively self-deprecating yet alarmingly self-ingratiating fashion, this is my outlet. Having said that, I'm skipping town in the morning for a trip that has me giddy like those nights in August 1995-1997 before I would leave for the Coeur d'Alene Summer School of Piping and Drumming. There shall be no running (I need a new inhaler prescription), and probably a good deal of Totino's. Of course I'll be ready to really take control when I come back.

After finishing out last week on a high (but bit fatigued) note, I got out Monday evening for 7. The schedule called for six to eight so I figured this was the healthiest of mediums. Not having a 7-mile loop, I took this as an opportunity to get creative so, naturally, I just chalked two more miles onto my five mile loop that takes me to Country Club and 3rd. Yeah, well now it takes me to Alvernon and 3rd when I need seven. That run went fine and was none too eventful.

Yesterday at noon I went out for take two of the 20 minute tempo run at 6:20. After last week's introduction where I went out five seconds fast and fell to being ten seconds slow on miles two and three, I'd been instructed to not take it out too fast and just focus on going out in 6:20. Once done, I had to then focus on simply not falling off (sounds pretty easy).

The weather this week was warm and though I still felt a little fatigued, I was very optimistic about this workout. Checking my watch at the 0.5 mark, I saw that I was right on pace. Continuing down Broadway, I misjudged where the mile mark was and ended up going too easy as I hit a 6:24. After a punishing 2nd mile in 6:19, I found myself more concerned about my parched mouth than my heavy breathing or sore core section. A series of surges and an old guy trying to move on me after I passed him (with authority, as is Sebastian Blax's #1 rule of running) highlighted a 3rd mile in 6:21. Close enough for me, I continued to the 20 min point and stopped.

Trudging back to the start to get my shirt, I couldn't help but feel disappointed in my workout. Running most of it, essentially, on pace I was still hounded by that first mile. I understand that this was my chance to improve the workout -- and I did -- but I had high hopes of hitting 'perfecting it' a week early. So I trudged home and drank like an entire blender of smoothie just to cool down. I don't want to jump the gun here, but I'd say we're quickly approaching that time of the year where I stop bitching about the cold and start bitching about how it's too damn hot to run.

This evening should be a nice 6 with the Running Shop group before take one of my Sabino hill workout.

In other news: uniforms are in the works. Unfortunately they can't screen print over seams so the Brooks Running Shop jerseys can't be done. I'm going to have my yellow top from the Sun Run done up and, I think, my white long-sleeve dri-fit shirt. I just think it'll look tight. Supposing we supply our own jerseys/shirts/etc, it's going to sit at under $10 per piece. Also, we have to get a dozen pieces done (or it shoots to like $25 per item) so, like all good financiers, I'm using this opportunity to expand Dragons apparel to interested candidates in womens, masters, and recreational joggers with money to blow on gear divisions. Also, I'll probably just get a few tees done up as well. They are gonna be fashionable all with dragon off on the shoulder and shit.

So anyways, if you want one done up or whatever, let me know and I'll get on it.


Heroes and Thieves -- I Luv It -- UA is getting new jerseys too

After Friday's 10 alone, I was pretty thrilled to get the invitation to knock out 8 around Starr Pass with WOG/Slayers Mike and Randy. While training with the enemy is generally looked down upon, I'm just so damn tired of running by myself that I would have ran with damn near anyone at this point. So Mike picked me up Saturday morning and the three of us went for an hour on the west side trails. About halfway into the run, I could tell that I wasn't completely recovered and that made the last couple miles much less enjoyable. However, listening to Randy's stories coupled with my satisfaction of being back on mileage pace (with a single run left for the week) when it was all over made the effort worthwhile. The schedule called for "45+" for the week -- but with next week's "45 to 50", I saw no reason to get crazy and just decided to go out for an easy 10 yesterday.

Unfortunately, yesterday started off cooler and windier than I would have liked so I decided to wait until the afternoon to do my run. The previous two days were starting to build and I decided that I just didn't feel like fighting wind as well as fatigue. Come 4 o'clock it pretty much looked like the wind just wasn't going to die so I laced up for 10 miles on my Greasewood loop. Heading west through downtown and to Greasewood (Pima's west campus) in 30 mins, I wasn't too bother by the wind. This run is a nice change of scenery for me because I can't really do it during the week without being consumed by traffic pollution -- something that can pretty easily be avoided in Tucson. However, turning south on Greasewood, I got pretty much pounded by the wind and this continued until I got home 40 minutes later, thus, making my run nearly unbearable.

Still, being finished right around the 7:30 pace I had gone out to hit, I was a little surprised that my breathing had been hardly labored during this run. Probably because the legs were really dictating the pace for that run. Anyways, that rounded out the week at 46 in six runs with one workout and a long run (actually 2 -- but only one was really scheduled). This week will look like 45 to 50 with my second effort at that tempo run from last Tuesday and then a hill effort on Thursday and a longer Sunday run. I'll have to be sure to run my easy days easy here or I could see this one getting ugly.


Tech Trek 10k -- Sabino Canyon Sunset Run is back -- 300 in theaters/IMAX on March 9

Check it, Hannitys.

To clear up a point from Train's post (like his writings ever need clarification), here is the deal with this Sirleaf bitch. You see, Theo, the other day I was walking through the living room and Train was sitting there watching his standard CSPAN2 and this chick was sitting there at some UN conference (or some other boring CSPAN event) reading some poem. And not a poem that seemed fit for the UN, no, it was some kind of Where the Sidewalk Ends bullshit. And, of course, she was reading it all dramatically and, along with her headgear and dark skin, I thought it was Maya Angelou. Then it popped up on the screen that she was some sort of state leader. Hence, the quote.

So trainingwise, here is the deal....

Wednesday's run went surprisingly well as I expected to be still pretty roughed up from Tuesday's "First Workout in Ages!". Unfortunately though, scheduling issues prevented me from getting out and doing my 7 that was prescribed for yesterday. This has proven to be rather disappointing from my point of view as one of our agreements was that I could benefit from simply getting out the more than two to five days a week I had been running. Still, there was no reason to dwell so I decided to split those miles between today and tomorrow's runs so that I might still hit the 45 planned for the week.

So this evening, I fought the cold (about 65 degrees) and the wind (about 4 MPH SW) and dragged myself down to ODC. I wanted to go to the River but didn't feel like fighting 5 o'clock university traffic to make the 6 mile drive in half an hour. The schedule had me down for 6-8 easy miles. About a mile and a half into the run, I was already contemplating how I could get these necessary miles without having to put in all this running. No answers came to mind and a little internal coaxing turned 6 into 7, and 7 into 10 -- finishing out with a few relaxed sub-7's really turned the table on the groggy start of the run. I swear, sometimes it feels like need half an hour just to warm up. I think I'm starting to understand why many good runners start out around 8 mins and drop down as the run progresses.

Anyways, with only the weekend left, I'm still a little in mileage debt but with the Sunday block of the schedule simply reading, "10+". I'm using this for some leniency to catch-up and end the week on a positive note.


Sketching in Stereo -- Stanford BBall = Food Poisoning -- Spam = Meat

I was going to simply point out that Omniscient's confusion of the word "confounds" for "confines" comes as a shocking affront to this blog's august standards, but then I realized that, in light of his recent injury woes, this would be more constructive for everyone involved.

In other news, I'm currently in another upswing after my most recent bout of sedentary indulgence. I've actually been enjoying running quite a lot, emphasizing a sensible three session per week objective, and even adding a fourth if I'm feeling spry and unimaginative. Most recently I ran 25 minutes on Speedway going west from El Rio golf course. This route probably comes closest of all to fulfilling the nonsensical amalgam of things I look for in a place to run. Other than that, I've hit Tumamoc a couple of times and broken off a few steady 30 minute jobs in the midtown area.

On the culinary front, I am in official retreat from my apprenticeship to Anthony Bourdain's Les Halles Cookbook due to budget constraints and also because it was wholly absurd. Tony Bourdain's still my dog, it's just that, of all my thinly veiled attempts to make my life seem more like it took place in New York City, this was first on the chopping block. I will be looking to adopt a more classic young-single-adult-pragmatic-sustenance-on-the-cheap-approach. At the very least, Bourdain taught me how to make more creditable French fries.

Finally, because it's priceless, I would like to share Blaxabbath's assessment of Liberian president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf-- "Worst Maya Angelou impression EVER."

Happy running, hardy healing...

Presumably, Jason Colavito could not make it an entire year without injuring himself to the point he is unable to run.

Like past years, I have once again gone down with an injury and this time to the tune of a stress fractured fibula. What is weird about this injury stress fracture is that the pain came on suddenly unlike most stress related injuries where a gradual increase in pain is expected.

Looking at the week before my injury, it is no real surprise I succumbed to a stress fracture. The week consisted of about 87 or so miles in 6 days of running with three workouts: 6x400 all under or at 60; a 6 mile tempo run at 5:17ish pace; and a workout on the track consisting of a 2K, 1200, 2x800, 2x400. I think this was my best week of training ever, and, after finishing my workout on Saturday, I knew I was ready to run a sub 8:20 3K.

When Monday rolled around, I knew something was up with the outside of my lower leg but I decided it was merely a muscle/tendon thing that could be improved with ice and foam rolling. After dealing with the slight pain/tenderness of the injury all week, I knew I could handle a race but would probably need to take a few days off afterwards.

So, I raced on Saturday, managed to PR and then struggled through a 15 minute cool down jog. At this point, my leg was in incredible pain and I knew something was seriously wrong with it.

After no activity Monday and a doctor's appointment on Tuesday, I was diagnosed with a stress fracture in the Fibula and was told not to run on it for 2 weeks. Now, I am confined to the muggy confounds of the weight room to cross train.

For the next two weeks, my training will consist of 40 minutes on the bike every morning and then another 20 minutes of the bike in the PM plus an hour on the underwater treadmill. I know this volume will help maintain my fitness to a point but cross training is just unbearable.

Anyways, I hope to report back in 2 weeks with positive news about my leg.

Until then...Bear Down.