02.28.08

Test Yourself…

Posted in Uncategorized at 1:25 am by Tyler

“I loved testing myself more than I feared being beaten.”  - Ron Clarke, Australian runner who once broke 12 world records in 44 days in 1965

 As I sit here at midnight putting off these last minute Excel charts and PowerPoints, after an awesome workout in which I was only able to get in a 5 minute warmup (read: very stressful work week), I can’t help but try to be honest to one of my fellow teammates. 

I view a scratch under these circumstances as cowardice.  I even tried to look up a ‘nicer’ synonym, but unfortunately that’s what I take from it.  You will never know if you were able to run 6:20 miles for 20K last weekend..

To quote last Saturday’s (how fitting?) entry in my Runner’s Book of Daily Motivation, “..you must, from time to time, test yourself.  How else are you going to know how you fare as a runner? … there is pleasure in testing yourself.  You learn when you test yourself, and learning can be a pleasure… you now have more information than you did before, information that can be put to use in the future.  And, then, there’s always the possibility that you will put yourself to the test and surpass expectation.  What a supreme pleasure that is!”

Now is when I admit that I didn’t read this Motivational entry until Sunday.. and I immediately thought back to my own race on Saturday.  No, I didn’t scratch, but I did run like a coward.  Instead of testing myself and seeing what I could run the mile in on that day, I settled for sitting on a less capable runner and cruising to an unsatisfying victory.  I tried to blame it on ‘forgetting’ how to race the mile, or the NC State guys who took it out hard only to drop out at 1200m.. but the fact of the matter is I did not test myself and see what I was capable of, and that disappoints me.  Far from ’supreme pleasure’.

I think we should approach races with that one goal in mind - let’s find out what I am capable of today.  If my long work week, lack of sleep, hard workouts, etc keep me from PR-ing, so be it.  But we should always walk away from the finish line knowing that we couldn’t have run any faster on that day.

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02.27.08

SCCRRAAAttchh…

Posted in Uncategorized at 11:09 pm by Tori

Commonly a sound heard in the entertainment industry when an event rudely interrupts often fun being had causing the interrupting entity to become a spectacle.

Or also found in the world of running possibly referring to the scratching of the pencil when eliminating someone’s name from the entrants list at the last minute.

This could even be synomous with the idea of failure, ruin, marring, and pain.

Even though the second definition goes more with my choices this past weekend, I think all definitions could connect.

After a very stressful week at work, continued lack of confidence in my ability to actually run a 20K with sub 6:20 miles, fitful/no sleep Friday night, and much contemplation, I at the last minute this past weekend decided to “scratch” my planned 20K race on Saturday morning. Even though, I worked on and syked myself up for it…when it came down to it, I guess I didn’t syke myself up enough.

Whatever a runner’s reasons for scratching a race whether it be accidental, injury prevention, mentally out of it, just not ready….the excuses are endless….it always is a contemplated decision and some may see it as “giving up” or failure.

I guess in certain instances I could see it that way, but I don’t normally think of like that. So, I guess I bring up this topic and in order to see what other people have to say about scratching races. What are your thoughts? Your definition? For or against? Possibly a story???

[Hopefully this post won't end up like an entertainment scratch wiyh crickets chirping in the silence.]

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a little perspective

Posted in Uncategorized at 5:33 pm by Joan

In the other running group I coach (seejanerun; 25 moms who run), one of my front runners was giving her race report during Monday morning circle time. “I went out way too hard and blew up so I had to slow to 8-minute mile pace,” she explained. Later, on the warm-up to our workout site, one of my mid-pack runners said this to the aforementioned front runner: “I’d give anything to SLOW DOWN to 8-minute pace,” which has me thinking about perspective.
After taking a few days to recover from the emotional highs and lows of Jason Jabaut’s mile race up in Boston I am finally able to write about it. (”Why were you on an emotional roller coaster?!” one might ask, “You’re just the coach.”) Believe me, its much easier to be on the starting line … in control of your own destiny … than it is to be on the rail, watching. Hoping. Believing. Feeling that rush of adrenalin when Jason sprinted his final pre-race stride before the gun, then feeling a crash when got bullied, boxed out, and stuck in last place, (Oh, no, not again!), then up, up, UP as he moved from last, to 9th, then 8th, then 7th on every backstretch, then UGH - oh shit! - someone just tripped and big MO (momentum) is lost. Then another gargantuan effort to move again, back into eighth. I was making all those surges with Jason. My heart rate was racing near it’s max, I know. My voice is still hoarse after three days. “GO, Jason, GO!” Passing another, then another at the tape to snag 6th place in the US Indoor National championships along with a 4-second indoor PR for 1500m (3:43.36) … however, howEVER, here’s where the perspective part comes in. Jason and I are both disappointed because we know he was/is fit enough to have been 4th or 3rd, or maybe 2nd (earning a spot on the World Indoor team). Milers across America might be saying, “I’d give anything to SLOW DOWN to a 6th place finish at nationals,” but it’s all about perspective, you know?

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02.24.08

Saved by the campus 5k

Posted in Uncategorized at 9:36 pm by Sarah

I know this doesn’t sound particularly tough or competitive, but I’ve decided to just own it about myself and say it out loud: I love small, friendly, unhyped road races. Especially the familiar campus variety, with the mandatory Gimghoul loop of varying directions, the awkward maneuvering on cobblestones and up narrow sidewalks, and the undergrad course monitors looking shocked to be awake at 8 am for the first time in months. I’m talking about the kind of race where you show up alone but run into people you know from all areas of your life - runners and non-runners, spouses with dogs on leashes, little kids running around. I love these types of races!

I realized this yesterday when I showed up at the Hearts on Franklin 5k at 8:15, my $20 in pocket ready for the 9 am start. I hadn’t planned for this, hadn’t trained specifically for this - didn’t even decide to do it for sure until I woke up feeling like it that morning. I wasn’t plagued by any morbid worries or fears or what ifs? I was just there, ready and open to see what I would have in me when the gun went off.

I’ll spare the details on the actual race except to say that I felt strong and confident, although I couldn’t lollygag: there were two fast women right behind me (the top three women were in the top 6 for the race, and all were under 19 minutes - not bad for such a small race!). I forgot to start my watch and had absolutely no idea of what I was doing except trying to run my way to first place and a $50 gift certificate to Whole Foods.

Really the point is just to say that somehow this low-key environment did me good. It reminded me of the simplicity of the sport and of why running is fun - no more pressure than an arcade game, really, except with a slightly higher starting fee. I just wanted to see what I could do on that day, on that course, in that situation. I know this is the basic idea for every race we run, but I sometimes lose sight of it when I think too much.

I realize that not every race can be a campus 5k. Not every race should be a campus 5k. What I’m thinking, though, is that the campus or community race is a good way to pick out what is important and leave the other stuff behind.

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02.22.08

“Ultra” good luck, Double B!!

Posted in Uncategorized at 10:11 am by Joan

Let’s all give a shout out to our fearless leader, CAC manager and Fleet Feet Carrboro team sponsor, Bobby “Double B” Biles, to wish him good luck and safe travel UP the mountain in the Mt. Mitchell 40-mile challenge. When I went to the website to check last year’s results, here’s what was printed in RED:

DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE THE DANGERS OR THE DIFFICULTIES INHERENT IN THIS EVENT!

yikes!!

For a YouTube video of the event, click here.

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02.18.08

Finding a noble cause for old shoes

Posted in Uncategorized at 4:29 pm by Rob

I run at times with a friend at UNC.  He has recently returned from Uganda, and was telling me about a very noble cause he has championed recently.  I asked him to write about it, and about his request for our old used shoes.  Here is what he wrote:

My name is Scott Ickes; I’m a grad student at UNC and a former collegiate middle distance runner from William and Mary (’04). I have recently returned from a yearlong experience in Uganda where I taught and started a track and cross country team at Christ School Bundibugyo. Bundibugyo is a small mark on the globe along the Congolese border. It is one of the poorest and most remote district’s in Uganda, effectively cut off from the rest of the country by the towering Rwenzori Mountains. Christ School is a co-ed secondary boarding school that was started in 1999 by World Harvest Mission in an effort to bring lasting change and empowerment to the young people of this district through holistic education. To this end, our school’s track team became am important opportunity for about 40 of our school’s 350 boys and girls to participate in a sport. During our first year in operation we traveled to the national track and field championships and constructed a track at the school.

In order to remain active, Christ School needs a regular supply of used shoes. I am organizing regular shipments of used shoes, preferably women’s sizes 8 through 11.5 and men’s sizes 8-10.5. Spikes and road flats are also welcome. I usually work out at the UNC track on Wednesdays at from 6:15 to 7:45. I’d love your old shoes. Small cash donations (It costs about $4 per pair to send them) will be helpful, but not necessary.

Thanks,
Scott
sbicke@gmail.com

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Altitude in pictures

Posted in Jeuland's Musings, Uncategorized at 7:46 am by Marc

I am feeling pretty good right now (long run at sea level is much easier!), and we got our trip pictures uploaded, so I thought I’d post a few from my runs outside of Addis. These were actually taken when Shuwen and I walked down from the peak on a weekend rather than during my run…I think the added weight from the camera would have done me in.

Mt. Yerer may look most impressive, but it’s actually roughly the same height as Entoto (see below) and the Hash House Harriers group I went with started from much higher (probably around 2600 meters or so). I think they both rise 3100 meters above the plateau. Plus, there was a cold beer waiting at the top for the two lead runners (I was one).

Mt. Yerer - view of crater lakes below.

The road to Entoto. This was one of the steeper sections, but imagine doing this for 45 minutes.

Views from Entoto (halfway up and at the top).

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02.17.08

Mustachio Phillipo

Posted in Uncategorized at 9:08 pm by Joan

Thanks, Diana, for posting about your mile PR. I know how much indoor track hack hurts, but NOT racing indoors before running that first outdoor meet hurts even more. I was hoping to post photos of both yours and Brock’s races (and I still will, when Prettysporty.com finishes loading) but, for now, our CAC fans will have to settle for this little gem:

who is that mustached man?

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7 years

Posted in Uncategorized at 11:31 am by Diana

It’s been 7 years since I set foot on an indoor track. That’s a really long time — almost a quarter of my lifetime. And my most vivid memories of indoor track were the chest pain and track hack that onset immediately after a mid-distance race and didn’t subside for a day or two. That, and losing the 1000 by just a smidgen at the line at a championship meet after leading significantly the whole way (I probably should have added my story to Jason’s earlier post…). So, it was a bit nerve-wracking to line up, seeded 9 seconds faster than I’ve ever run, on UNC’s indoor track yesterday at lunchtime.

Jason did a great job of talking me down (or up!) as I prepped for my warm-up and reminded me off all the work I’ve put in and the number of years I’ve been running. I left for my warm-up with his statement “Your body will know what to do” repeating in my head.

And he was right. My body DID know what to do. I was totally consistent and on pace for a 6 second PR until around lap 6, when the systemic lactic acid feeling started to emerge. But I got back on pace for laps 7 and 8 and came out with a 2 second PR. Six seconds would have been awesome. But, I can’t complain about running 2 seconds faster than I ever have in the mile, and doing that on an indoor track. And that slowdown on lap 6 was very much a lack of acclimation slowing, rather than due to an empty tank.

So, hopefully the week’s schedule will work out and I’ll be able to carve out the time to hit the Tin Can again and see if I can cut a few more seconds off that PR. It was great to feel the excitement of being on the track and racing again, even though the track hack was as bad as I remembered it to be.

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02.15.08

welcome home, Marc!

Posted in Uncategorized at 9:17 am by Joan

Today Marc returns from Addis, Ethiopia and, like Brent, I am looking forward to his homecoming. I have enjoyed his overseas posts but it’s just not the same CAC without Marc’s gentle, humble spirit. I hesitated to type the word “gentle” because during long interval sessions or over long runs, Marc’s pace is anything BUT gentle. I have often said of Marc’s running style that he has “a good relationship with the earth … like the East Africans”… so it is no surprise to me that he fit right in with the fellow gazelles in Addis. Marc, I beg to differ when you said you do “not deserve to occupy any high position in the running world.” Greatness is not always about pace or race results, leg speed or where you finished at Foot Locker nationals. Greatness lies in heart strength (and I don’t mean VO2 max). Thank you for being a great ambassador for CAC and for joining in the throng of Ethiopian runners with such open-heartedness. You inspire us. Welcome back.

Great Ethiopian Run

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