I've been reading Jeff Galloway's Marathon book (100+ marathons and elite runner in his younger years). He has some interesting ideas about endurance training, speed training, walk breaks, adapting to heat, setting the right paces in the different types of training, and prediciting the marathon pace based on speeds of shorter races. I'm following his program for the Dallas White Rock Marathon in December. I'm ahead of the program for endurance, so I hope to use the extra weeks for more speed.
I just spent a week in the mountains of Colorado with family. 80 family members (my wife's family) gathered for a reunion in Estes Park, Colorado. I meant to contact you Coloradians, but waited until the last minute and ran out of time. I'm jealous of your habitat. I'll be back, but alas not at the reunion.
As a side note, for those of you in the Denver area that saw the clips of the emergency plane landing on the street just south of Estes Park, you could see it from my Father-in-law's house.
I was anxious to see what the altitude would do to my running performance. Estes Park is about 8000' elevation. Walked the first evening. Ran the next morning and alternated running and walking/hiking thereafter. Although I got aclimated in a couple of days, the thin air still could be felt thoughout the week.
Over four sessions was able to put in 15 miles running. I'm trying to exceed 25 miles per week, but was gratified to get in the 15, especially at that altitude. And the hills make the running a lot different than at home . The cooler temps 50-70 were a real blessing in comparison to the Texas heat.
Yesterday, I ran on the high school track and did some speed interval work. It was the first time that I ran on a track. I was encouraged that I was able to keep a pretty consistent pace of about 9 minutes per mile for a 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile and 1 mile. I took walk breaks in between. How that translates to a marathon in lower altitued remains to be seen, but I am happy about it, especially the consistency - that I can "feel" the pace.
I pushed the last 440 in 1:48. That's only 48 seconds behind my high school time in the 440 LOL. I'm hoping to use my local HS track this fall. The last time I tried, it was locked. Maybe with the school season approaching, it will be open.
At the family reunion, I ran alone, ran and hiked with nieces, nephews and cousins. We hiked 5 miles at 10,000' elevation. Hiked up a mountain 700' gain in a mile. What an experience to see 360 view from 9200 feet. At the Trail Ridge Road Alpine Visitor Center, I jogged up to the obervation overlooks. I had to walk the last 100' (not complaining). Just as I reached the top, a young couple went zipping past me at a fast trot. 12,005 feet at the top. What a view! I felt a little like Rocky on the courthouse (or was it City Hall?) steps in Philly. Sing it with me......"feeling strong now".....
For the next 6 weeks I'll be cross training for an ascent up Pikes Peak mid September. No, it won't be running. It's a charity hike for the Brain Injury Association of Colorado. I was pleased to do some practicing this past week at altitude. Still, it will be a huge challenge, topping out at over 14,000' after 13 miles of hiking up hill. If anyone is interested in making a donation, I'll get back in touch with you - no pressure.
One of my wife's cousins had a VR a few years ago. I encouraged her to join us, hope to see her in here. Diana, are you there?
I have a recent current "issue" with lower leg veins. I posted in "Small Talk". Other wise, life is great after VR.
I'll post some mountain pictures later.
I just spent a week in the mountains of Colorado with family. 80 family members (my wife's family) gathered for a reunion in Estes Park, Colorado. I meant to contact you Coloradians, but waited until the last minute and ran out of time. I'm jealous of your habitat. I'll be back, but alas not at the reunion.
As a side note, for those of you in the Denver area that saw the clips of the emergency plane landing on the street just south of Estes Park, you could see it from my Father-in-law's house.
I was anxious to see what the altitude would do to my running performance. Estes Park is about 8000' elevation. Walked the first evening. Ran the next morning and alternated running and walking/hiking thereafter. Although I got aclimated in a couple of days, the thin air still could be felt thoughout the week.
Over four sessions was able to put in 15 miles running. I'm trying to exceed 25 miles per week, but was gratified to get in the 15, especially at that altitude. And the hills make the running a lot different than at home
. The cooler temps 50-70 were a real blessing in comparison to the Texas heat. Yesterday, I ran on the high school track and did some speed interval work. It was the first time that I ran on a track. I was encouraged that I was able to keep a pretty consistent pace of about 9 minutes per mile for a 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile and 1 mile. I took walk breaks in between. How that translates to a marathon in lower altitued remains to be seen, but I am happy about it, especially the consistency - that I can "feel" the pace.
I pushed the last 440 in 1:48. That's only 48 seconds behind my high school time in the 440 LOL. I'm hoping to use my local HS track this fall. The last time I tried, it was locked. Maybe with the school season approaching, it will be open.
At the family reunion, I ran alone, ran and hiked with nieces, nephews and cousins. We hiked 5 miles at 10,000' elevation. Hiked up a mountain 700' gain in a mile. What an experience to see 360 view from 9200 feet. At the Trail Ridge Road Alpine Visitor Center, I jogged up to the obervation overlooks. I had to walk the last 100' (not complaining). Just as I reached the top, a young couple went zipping past me at a fast trot. 12,005 feet at the top. What a view! I felt a little like Rocky on the courthouse (or was it City Hall?) steps in Philly. Sing it with me......"feeling strong now".....
For the next 6 weeks I'll be cross training for an ascent up Pikes Peak mid September. No, it won't be running. It's a charity hike for the Brain Injury Association of Colorado. I was pleased to do some practicing this past week at altitude. Still, it will be a huge challenge, topping out at over 14,000' after 13 miles of hiking up hill. If anyone is interested in making a donation, I'll get back in touch with you - no pressure.
One of my wife's cousins had a VR a few years ago. I encouraged her to join us, hope to see her in here. Diana, are you there?
I have a recent current "issue" with lower leg veins. I posted in "Small Talk". Other wise, life is great after VR.
I'll post some mountain pictures later.
