It is interesting, in one of his training plans that calls for a 10 mile mid week run, Hal Higdon suggests taking the day off from work because of the time commitment to fit in the run. Really Hal? REALLY? Obviously he has been too busy writing books - unencumbered by 'the man'. Either that or all of the typewriter correction tape fumes are going to his head. Get some air Hal, seriously.The reality is that for the 99% of us that work hard for the money, fitting in a 90-120 minute mid week run during peak marathon training is an unfortunate reality. The same is no different for me.
10 miles, 8:29 pace (Completed between 7:00pm and 8:30pm PST) - followed by mall food court food. Bleh.
My MWSLR (Mid Week Sorta Long Run) was interesting. I decided to try to explore downtown San Jose. I'm not sure where the hell I ended up, but it was certainly a neighborhood in 'transition'. Read: plan on seeing brand new condos next too Billy's Burger Stand and busted up cars with the windows broken out. Don't worry, there was razor wire around the condo complex pool.
Ok, it wasn't as bad as needing razor wire around the pool, but it was bad enough to have it around a few car lots and to have bars on the pawn shop windows. Nothing motivates you to keep running like the thought that someone is going to try to mug you except maybe getting yelled at by the two drunk kids swerving/walking all over the sidewalk with beer in paper bags. Oh to be 17 again. Wait, I was probably in band practice. I'm a nerd. But I am a kick ass quad player.Anyway, the run went well. My knee held up and wasn't sore afterwards. My IT Band was a bit sore from my Tempo run the night before, but that is usually the case and goes away after two days of normal running. I planned out the route through
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Party on, Adam. It is just this kind of advice that confuses people... taking a day off just for running... that'll go over real swell:)
Reminds me of a run I did in Charlotte last month, the sun was getting low, and I began to 'feel' that the neighborhoods were maybe not so runner friendly...
I know the feeling of that midweek sorta long run. Fortunately forme, most of my customers are on the East Coast, so my day petty much winds down by 3PM or so here in OC.
By the way - snot rockets. Spitting is gross!
You are a better man than me. At the first sign of razor wire or burned out cars, I turn around.
No one looks at runners in a blighted neighborhood. They're too busy looking behind you to count the cops.
Ohh, I love the backdrop for Hal. Utility boxes. That was St. Paul, right? We were there at the same time and no, that's not the basement.
"Sorta" long?? That sounds insanely long!
It's a nice thought that I could just call off work in order to fit in a 2 hour run... but I would get in BIG trouble if anyone caught me out running around instead of in bed puking my guts out.
And don't worry... I was in band too. Never drank alcohol until I got to college. Up until then, I was totally oblivious to the fact that that's what all the "normal" teenagers were out doing.
yeah, thanks for not making my two miles the other day sound even more pussyish :-)
Just make sure you go running with your kevlar vest...you'll be good to go.
I had a friend who got chased by two guys in a van once while on a run. That was the last time he ran in the ghetto. I mean, downtown.
H Adam,
Sounds like a great run in a really safe area of the city:) If that isn't going to make you run faster I don't know what will! Good job on getting it done!!
Oh, and by the way...how was your weekend company? I hope everything went well...not to much pulling of the hair out:) I am sure everything went fine and you had a nice little visit:)
You were scared by your razor bumps?? Crappy running week for me. got a cold and no energy. Back at it this weekend and I'm shopping for a 4 day per week plan. 5 is not going to happen.
Hilarious post! I'm still laughing.
Typewriter fumes. Party on kiddos. Aahahaha.
I think that's part of Hal's charm. For as much good advice as he offers, he says other things that just aren't logical or outdated.I still can't believe you met him. Lucky.
You could always ask those kids to join you. Get some thugs to the starting line of the next race. Just a thought ;)
I remember my first 10 mile mid-week run. I was so tired that I took 1/2 personal day off of work. The next time I was actually able to go to work and functioned....mostly.
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