August 2010 in Review

Running – 80.8 miles over 13 runs.  The number was only respectable because I had 2 long runs!  Hard to get a lot of miles in as I had 2 family mini-vacations in the month and a 12 day trip to Nairobi, where I only managed 14.2 miles over 4 treadmill runs.  Will need to step this up in the next month as I get ready for Chicago marathon.  I’m at 680.1 miles for the year, still slightly ahead of 1000 pace for the year!  Most impressive stat of my year so far is that I’ve run at least 70 miles every month, even through the worst summer months.  Never ever came close to doing this before, in 17 years of running.  Also, my average per month of August going back to 1999 is only 37.5 miles, so blew that away!

Races – 0

Biking – 10.5 miles over 1 ride.  Not a problem as I was away a lot and otherwise focusing on running.  Looking forward to getting a bunch of bike miles for Sept, as I am signed up for a triathlon on Oct 3.

Swims – 0

Gym workouts – none

Softball – none

Injuries – Nothing really to speak of!

Sicknesses – none

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Two updates for your Monday

Couple of things:

1) With today’s 7 mile run (http://www.dailymile.com/people/cenizals/entries/2733198), I crossed over 600 miles for the year.  Up until 2008, 600 miles was my high water mark FOR THE YEAR, only reached (barely) 3 times from 1994-2007.  In those days, 600 miles was a successful year for me.  I had turned up my training starting in 2008 and have had more than 600 miles each of the last 2 years, but that number still has a soft spot in my heart!

2) Brightroom was taking pictures at the New Jersey State tri last Sunday.  They got some nice shots of me, but the best were on the bike.  The best of the best is the one below!  Find the full set of shots here: http://www.brightroom.com/view_user_event.asp?EVENTID=61830&BIB=359&S=230&PWD=

Treadmill was actually not bad!

Spent the last couple of days away with the family.  I really wanted to get a run or two in on this trip, but was sort of frustrated by the location we were in, outside of Boston.  It seemed that all the roads were either multi-lane state highways, or narrow winding roads with no shoulders.  So, in order to run, I would need to get on the treadmill.

Keep in mind that, before this year, I have not run on the treadmill since at least 1995, maybe longer.  From ’93-’95 I was a member at NYHRC and would sometimes run on the treadmill.  Hated it then, and kept having shin issues, which I guess I attributed to the treadmill, even though I know logically that the treadmill is a softer surface and should be easier on the shins.

Since then, I have been an avid outdoor runner, eschewing the indoors and the treadmill.  I’ve run outside in any condition you can think of.  The only conditions I hate are the ones we’ve had this summer, hot and humid.  All this time, I’ve harbored ill-will to the treadmill and scoffed at people that use it to get training in when the weather is bad.

Anyway, fast foward to 2010.  I took a business trip to Kenya, and there I had to run indoors on the treadmill, for safety reasons.  Carjacking is a common sport in Nairobi, so a (slow) runner would be easy pickins’.  After 2 treadmill runs on that trip, I realized that it is really not at all that bad.  Yes, boring, and yes the sweat is really annoying, and running right next to other people you have to stare at in the mirror is annoying, and time limits are annoying, etc, etc, etc.  Far from a perfect workout, but it will do in a pinch.

And that is what I needed yesterday.  Went down to the hotel treadmill, just wanted to get my 4 miles in.  Lo and behold, turned the pace up to almost 9 minutes per mile (faster than any of my recent training runs), and after 2 miles found I still had more to give.  Decided to tack on an extra mile, for a total of 5, and also turned up the pace, first to 8:40 or so, and then close to 8:00 for the last half mile.

In all, had a fantastic workout, and while it was boring, and annoying in a bunch of ways, it was manageable, and I am happy to know that the treadmill can serve as a viable alternative when the need arises.

July 2010 in Review

Running – 76.7 miles over 15 runs.  The mileage was not as high as I would have liked, due to all the heat and  humidity in July.  I just can’t take it.  Many of my runs were only in the 4-5 mile range.  But 76.7 is nothing to sneeze at, and my highest July total ever, on top of also having my highest June total ever!  I’m at 599.3 miles for the year, and on target for 1000.  In fact, for the last 12 consecutive months, back to Aug 08, I have 995.3 miles!  Just 1 run short of 1000…

Races – 2 (both triathlons, Long Branch Tri Series Long Course, and New Jersey State Triathlon)

Biking – 146.2 miles over 7 rides.  Great month of riding, and about equal to my effort last July.  Over 400 miles for the year!

Swims – 5, including the 2 triathlons

Gym workouts – none

Softball – none

Injuries – Recovering from nasty toe blister at the start of the month

Sicknesses – Had a bad cold, mid month, which took me out of commission for 4 days.