06.27.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 2:36 pm by Tori
When I see people run, I always seem to equate them to some sort of animal. I had a running and training partner in college who I always thought looked like a Gazelle when she ran. She is beautiful and graceful and kind of seemlessly glides/bounds when she runs. I have seen others who charge like bulls. Someone once described someone as a cheetah - bounding with huge strides over the cross country field, just eating up and taking down the prey; quiet and feline, but intense and dangerous.
What animal I am? I have no idea. Most times (when on a track) I think I must look like a horse - gliding and powerful - a thoroughbred, race horse - made and built to run FAST! (in other places) Gorgeous, unbridled, unhindered, wind whipping, feet clipping.
However, I have yet to really discover and cement my animal likeness, but I love watching people run and seeing what part of the kingdom they resemble. Once, at Franklin Park, I was standing to the side with my coaches looking over the football field where the cross country course circles every lap and there were various runners out, various teams running together and college individuals doing strides all sorts of kinds and packs that were training. The air was perfectly cool as those New England late summer evenings can be and the sun was just starting to set, sending a warm, comforting haze over the Earth. I stood mesmerized and said, “This must be what heaven is like.” And I thought, truly a heaven and haven with all of us runners, free and bounding through the fields. With that, I took a deep relaxed, peaceful, secure breath and trotted off for my cool down - huge smile on my face, clip to my step, and the wind in my hair.
When things aren’t going the way I want or I had a bad running day, I often use that memory as a visual and comfort. When I’m preparing for a race, I visualize myself not always as a person, but like a horse or animal - there are no other thoughts than those of freely running. However, I have yet to meet another “horse,” maybe in heaven.
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06.25.07
Posted in Jeuland's Musings at 12:06 pm by Marc
Looking back on the past few years of my running, I find it all slightly amusing. When the Carrboro Athletics Club was still coming together, and New Balance sponsorship was not quite a reality, I remember Joan inviting me to participate in the “Team Wednesday” workouts. We had previously been in touch about the group, but I was a cheap graduate student with training that did not quite line up with that of the group. Thus, I was unwilling to make the necessary sacrifices to join in. When those blockages were removed, I eagerly tried to fit into the weekly workouts, and Joan flexibly accommodated and tolerated my perversions of her plans.
I have been thinking about my training program much more than I usually do (very little) as I prepare for the Trials in November, and I keep wondering why things have worked out for me with running so far. Previously, Joan would tell me things like: “I realize you don’t need my coaching b/c you are running so well on your own” when I was not willing to commit to paid coaching, or, afterwards, “I do realize your marathon training will force you to pick and choose which Wed. you can make it”, etc… In a recent coffee meeting, she again re-iterated that I was largely responsible for my training because I was doing well in events she had never coached for, and that she would give input as she could and as I asked for it.
The reason this is all funny is that I hardly think that I know what I am doing (but maybe I do?). I have a very low workload for a marathoner, in the 20 weeks prior to my first (2:27 in Chicago), I averaged about 51 miles a week. In the 20 weeks prior to my second (2:20 in Chicago last year), that was up to 56 miles a week. My peak weeks before those races were 75 and 80, respectively. For this one, I am trying to raise my average considerably, to the mid to upper 60s, with a peak around 85.
I remember having a phone conversation after my Trials qualifier with someone from the Swarthmore College (my alma mater) Athletic Information office. The next week, there was an article posted on the Swarthmore Athletics site in which I was quoted as saying that I average 60-70 a week, which I had actually said. I thought it was true, but looking back on my log as I planned this year, I saw that it really was not. Two weeks later, there was a discussion thread on a marathon and running website in which people said they were “highly skeptical of my approach” and that they did not think 60-70 a week could possibly lead to a 2:20 in a marathon! I cannot help but wonder: Am I missing something?
The one thing that I can say I am certain of is that the key to my training program is a focus on the long run. The long run is what has given me the fitness necessary to get away with the lower productivity on other days. I work harder on the long run than on any other phase of my training. I run it hard, at a sustained pace. Occasionally, I drop the pace in the third quarter of the run, but I try to keep it a regular, regimented, hard effort. In the heat of the North Carolina summer, that run is one of the most difficult things I put up with, but I do it. This past Sunday, it was relatively cool at 6 am when I set out (upper 60s), and yet, my 20.3 miler in 2:03 was excruciating because of the humidity and stagnant air. I started to feel spent 40 minutes into it, but managed to maintain the pace over the entire second half. It was not my best time over that course, but it was definitely enough to keep me sharp and to push my aerobic fitness.
I wish I knew why so few people respect the long run. I feel like they pay lip service to it. It goes something like this. Every runner should have a weekly long run. The pace is not too important; the idea is to build strength and aerobic capacity and also develop in the athlete’s body the ability to burn inaccessible stores (i.e. usually fat) efficiently when other energy sources are used up. I honestly do not know the entire basis for that theory behind the long run. My theory, which seems in line with the goals of the marathon runner, is that the long run is the closest you can get to race simulation, without the adrenaline and without the pressure and feeling of really being in a race. Each week when it is complete, I can honestly look back on the long run and appreciate what it has taken out of me.
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06.24.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 7:41 pm by Joan
Well, gang, I’ve always wanted to and now I finally did it!
I signed up for the ULTIMATE RUNNER competition in Winston-Salem, NC.
This is what you can look forward to when you’re old and retired like me.
Until then, stay wise in your summer training.
yee hah!!
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06.22.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 10:36 pm by Joan
Here’s an interesting interview with Gabe Jennings on the considerable merits of periodized training:
http://www.flocasts.com/flotrack/speakers.php?sid=36&vid=97
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Posted in Uncategorized at 6:43 pm by Diana
After capping my season with a good race at Freihofer’s I was looking forward to my 2 weeks off, but even more so looking foward to putting in some miles this summer. I was excited to lay the foundation for clawing my way back to collegiate shape, and better. But, also I was looking forward to seeing someone about a nagging IT band/hamstring issue that has lingered for years (literally).
Turns out that I’m not using my glute. Okay, not such a big deal. So I do some strengthening.
What has turned out to be a big deal is the PT doesn’t want me to run more than 3-4 times a week, and no more than 3 or so miles until I get everything back in working order, for fear my body will revert back to a form and a stride that’s a bit restricting.
Talk about a kink in my planning!
So, into the water I go, with thoughts of Rob’s plan from a few weeks back about his success aqua jogging. As much as I’d love to throw the PT’s suggestion (decree?) to the wind, as much as I’d love to say “I’ll fix it later” and stick to my original plan, I also know, deep down, that fixing this will ultimately help me be a better runner.
For me, this new plan requires even more nose to the grindstone than clicking out the miles in the NC heat and humidity. For the next few weeks while I strengthen my glute, I’ll be in the pool, trying to keep myself interested in aqua jogging (anyone know of a waterproof ipod??). Any and all company welcome (swimmers included!).
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Posted in Uncategorized at 1:37 pm by Tori
As a fast runner there is always that faster time or harder workout that you work towards and push for. Joan told me about pushing your threshold and then easing back and how some runners are when pushing that threshold. It’s an amazing ability and gift to know yourself well enough that you can push that line and then back up, recover, and let it go farther the next time.
Joining this team, i knew would be a challenge and i would get to discover that line, push that line, and stretch it farther. When I raced in school, I rarely was completely spent afterward, but I took pride in that, i would push hard, but not too hard. It was an accomplished capacity to be able to fly past others and still be in fourth gear never really needing to hit fifth or bottom out.
However, this past Wednesday, I definitly found a new line and shoved it hard. It felt good to be able to challenge myself that way, but I also realize in hindsight, maybe shoving too hard too soon is not good. During the grueling pain performance (which truly I’m not afraid to take - especially if pre-meditated on), I stepped up to the challenge and pushed myself with groans and determination (wait till we get to roars and growls..haha). But, in that I discovered I have a hard time backing down from a challenge and being in the beginning stages I can’t help but think, it is good to step up to the challenge, but it also does not necessarily help me discover and grow as my own Godly, personable runner. Don’t get me wrong, I think challenge and stepping up is key and an important factor for winning, but at times you also have to know when to ease back and “coast.”
I waited all week for this workout in order to find out where I was and how my race in two weeks may look. I was pleasantly surprised and pleased with my performance, however, I think I also found my line (well where it is for now). It’s amazing to me to see it and I know with Joan I will (painfully) see and stretch it probably more times than I will like..hahaha. But, combined with that I also realized this week that toeing that line and crossing it are two completely different things and levels. I must toe it, sometimes nudge it, but not cross it.
So, I will recover and stretch like mad and pull back and build, holding off on some more toeing for a little bit - I think the bones need to catch up to the mental.
Next time instead of this face: 
I hope and will have this face: 
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06.21.07
Posted in Uncategorized at 6:45 pm by Joan
CAC’s last few spring/summer races are taking place this week-end in Indianapolis with John Hnton running the exhibition master’s mile on Saturday (trying to break world 45-age group mile record of 4:16; US record is 4:18) and Jason Jabaut in the 1,500m (1st round tomorrow, Friday, and the finals on Sunday). For live results, click here.
Good luck, Jason and John!
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06.12.07
Posted in Jeuland's Musings at 5:58 pm by Marc
Like Brock, I have recently been running in new places. I just returned to Chapel Hill from a two week roadtrip up to the Northeast. This trip was both refreshing for me after a long semester at school, and symbolic in representing a new phase of running, and research at school.
After the 25k championships in Grand Rapids in early May, I took about ten days off from running and tried to mentally calm myself in preparation for the training that will take me to the marathon trials in November. This was a real challenge for me…I felt exhilarated by that race. Not that I had done all that well relative to other runners (I was far behind the winner and the top American), but that I was really improving and getting stronger and could expect to continue to do so. It seemed like taking time off was unjustified, but it was the smart thing to do. I had planned it for some time, and had to remember that May to November is a long time to train after an intense spring season of running.
A few days before leaving for Philadelphia, I set out once more on the roads, wanting to ensure that I would get started on this new phase before my travel schedule intervened. And then the adventure continued. On this trip, which was otherwise packed with visits to old friends and family and new places, I surprised myself at how regularly I ran. I started in the hills of the Philly suburbs near my sister’s house and ran twice in New York City (including Central Park, where the trials will be held). After those urban spots, we moved to more rural locales. I ran in the Berkshires on a rolling trail in the woods, then in northern Vermont on the Champlain Islands. Next, we moved to the White Mountains of New Hampshire, where I did some hiking on strenuous terrain, and running on flatter trails.
For anyone who’s never been to New Hampshire and Vermont, I highly recommend it. The greenery is amazing, the weather is cool, the local artisans are creative and welcoming, and the people are just interesting.
I did my first long run of this training phase on rolling roads along the coast of Maine, which was wonderful because I was flanked and paced by a pack of slow-moving cyclists, out on a relaxed Sunday morning ride. That (in my opinion) earned me the right to splurge on a steamed lobster dinner in South Freeport. Finally, I ran in Newport, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C., where I had a couple of research-related meetings that proved productive.
All in all, I feel like this trip has refreshed me, and I am ready to try to struggle through the summer hear of North Carolina. Like all of you, I am sure, I dread this time of year, but I think that it’s most challenging on long 20+ mile runs, during which I lose alot of water. Anyone want to join me on a long run one of these days? I’d love the company.
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