Rest Day California Style

Porsche 911 Turbo

"This car is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up."

--Ferris Bueller 1986

The girlfriend's very generous Uncle David lent me this fine piece of engineering. With no admonitions prior, he asked only one question afterwards, how far I took it. I knew a low number wouldn't do...I like to think I didn't disappoint. He told me with a sly smile that the fines for that speed were upwards of $2K.

Trail Run California

7 miles, last single digit long run.

trail run = vacation feeling + stick with training

moral: long hills don't hurt (as much) when they are gorgeous

Social facilitation of a running partner

I met up with my running partner G.H. and wouldn't you know a 3 mile training run turned into 5 miles. Feeling the effects of Sunday's run and an active weekend in the sun, but I had a little left for the big hill at the finish. Either you work the hill or the hill works you as they say.

This blog just went literal, did you know you could blister between the toes? I imagine this is something First Class marathon runners know all about. Needed the old First Aid merit badge for this one, and my handy Scout First Aid Kit. That old motto--be prepared.

Final thought: ran past the Islamic Center on Mass. Ave. and for all that divides us by creed, I was moved by the soaring minaret and lightness and airy openess of the building. If only we could translate mutual architectural appreciation into a lasting peace among peoples.

The Georgetown Workouts (Part 2)

Sunday 8am training run (7 miles) on the C&O Canal. Easy math (starting at mile marker 1), soft sandy surface, shade, flat, and a handy suburban mom running my pace (a languid 8:10 after being up till 2am) what more can you ask for. Haven't gone that far in 5 years.

I felt good enough to race home and watch the Tour de France with a friend (Contador cast as the young prince ascending the Alps, Lance the magnanimous king-maker). Finish off the day going sailing on the Chesapeake...and that's how you live the Georgetown lifestyle! Monday is back to reality, which isn't so bad either.


Blog goes literal: Busted out the old Boy Scout First Aid Kit (BSA motto: be prepared). Who knew you could get a blister BETWEEN your toes from their rubbing together?

Week 2: The Georgetown Workouts

Saturday:

Teddy Roosevelt Island, complete with propaganda proportioned statue and huge fountain (left). Kayak to get there (middle). Cupcake down the hatch on GU's gorgeous Gothic quad (right).

For anyone who doesn't know Georgetown it's tawny DC, famous for window shopping, old city estates, and beautiful people watching--all surrounding Georgetown University the house of Preppydom. I confess, there are few better places on a sunny weekend day.

Overheard in the Georgetown Cupcake line, "My mom is making me come by the house and baby her and bring her meds after her jowl lift, she doesn't even have any bruising yet" (complete with upward pull on 19-year old skin). What an intoxicating concoction of schadenfreude and enticement to upward mobility; inter-class ambivalence never tasted so rich and creamy, or was that the mocca cupcake?

Training Schedule

I pretty much surfed the web for a marathon training schedule that would work for me. Criterion: tenderfoot appropriate, shorter runs during the week, not too many weeks out. I somewhat arbitrarily those Hal Higdon's: Novice I schedule.

Three short run days in a row in the middle of the week, rest day, long run and cross-training on the weekend, rest day--then repeat.

DC in the summer, all of those runs are in the morning if I can, which is taking some getting used to. It actually syncs up pretty well with my lifestyle.

Next challenge: training during San Francisco vacation, is wine tasting cross-training?

Week 1: Stigmata

GF thinks it looks like stigmata, her comment, “Gashes in both palms and your side, let’s see your feet,” cute.

Week 1: Revenge of the Cross-training (July 12 retrospective)

How, in the course of marathon training did I end up on my back, looking up at a blue sky, obscured by my bike, complete with left foot still in the toe clip? I haven’t actually read much yet, but I know this is not recommended form for marathon training.


mountain biker brain + fixed gear road bike = hubristic downfall

My left side looks like a mountain lion went to town, but I really did a number on the other guy's left paw (er left handle bar). Clearly the bike won, bouncing right back up and finishing the workout in great form, rather than whining and yelping around for like a week.

Going really fast on the flats is a blast on this bike, but I can't get my heart rate up on the bike—which is fine since this is SUPPOSED TO BE EASY CROSS-TRAINING.

Why marathon?

1. HUGE item on the bucket list I am too young to have.
2. Challenge of focusing a sustained effort outside of work.
3. Real challenge to my instinct to go fast when in motion, and go for the quick kill and move on.
4. Caught disease from reading two Lance Armstrong books this year.
5. Deep gut check for life's larger questions. (see #3)
6. Final answer: Buddy had an extra bib for the Marine Corps Marathon--oh yeah, he got kissed on both cheeks (thoroughly, like in The Godfather).