Thursday, June 18, 2009

My First Two-a-Day: Prelude to a Kick

Week 3 of marathon training is underway. You always hear about how the great marathoners run twice a day. Well, put me up on that pedestal, teammates, for today will be my first andprobablymylast two-a-day.

As I've been increasing my mileage in these early stages -- and to compensate for readjusting my marathon plan according to Mike's advice -- I've been running five days a week with a wimpy, but fast two-miler on Wednesdays.

Last night, though, it seems someone relocated Niagara Falls directly overhead Akron, and I deemed it appropriate to forsake my two-miler for a tumbler of Laphroaig and a trip to Dick's Sporting Goods for a new pair of flip-flops.

I did get in a wet wind-sprint as I fetched the car after leaving the store, but that didn't make it into my running log. But believe you me, it was fast.

Instead, I woke up early this morning to run, which you know is a rare bitch of a thing for me. Just what I don't want to do after a spine-elongating night's sleep: jostle the fuck out of my bones. But there I was.

And of course, the two-miler was not without incident.

I decided to slightly modify my course, turning up a street where I usually turn down and then around a different block than usual. I figured in my head I had it measured pretty well. Then I got to where I thought two miles was and my watch read something ludicrous, like 15:35 or so.

No way was I running a 7:48 mile pace right out of bed.

So I continued running and went around another corner of the block just for good measure and stopped my watch at 16:38. This morning I mapped the run at MapMyRun.com. The result: 2.14 miles.

Yes way was I running a 7:46 mile pace right out of bed.

And the two-mile mark? Exactly where I thought it was.

Tonight is my track night. Four 800-meter intervals. And let me dispense with the fancy numbers and pace range. I'm shooting for less than 3:20 per 800 meters. Period.

Queue the Rocky theme. I'm getting things accomplished!

13 comments:

Sun Runner said...

I love the smell of speed in the morning. Don't lose that feeling, or that speed! Have fun with those 800s.

Laphroaig: nice call.

Funnyrunner said...

my current training program has me doing 2 a days sometimes, and it kicked my ass. I'm 38. It left me more tired than anything, so I'm not doing it anymore. My 2nd workout of the day is walking the dog a few miles...

With that said, I was doing 1:24 for 400 repeats last night. chah.

Aileen said...

Nice! Two-a-days are a great way to up your mileage for the week, so I dig them too. Good luck with them :)

joyRuN said...

Well damn! Very nice work first thing in the morning. I'm slow as molasses right after rolling out of bed, so yeah I'm jealous.

Ian said...

I don't think I like this new go-go attitude and the success that comes with it. Two-a-days? Getting things accomplished? Someone has hacked Viper's blog, guys!

tfh said...

Good luck tonight. One would hardly like to see a FAIL marring one's first two-a-day day.

Carolina John said...

nice speed brother! i looked at the garmin during the marathon, and the second it rolled to say 25 miles the superman theme song started playing. couldn't have timed it better. so Go rocky!

Lauren said...

Damn. Maybe I should start running first thing in the morning... Naah. I'd rather sleep.

Jess said...

You're such an over-achiever.

Al's CL Reviews said...

I did one 2-a day this week. I'll stick to doing them on weekends. Don't like them much.

Nitmos said...

Have I ever told you that you're my hero?

S said...

I used to love running in the morning...until I had to start being at work at 6AM...now I just stick with the afternoons. But sounds like it was a great morning run...hope your evening run goes even better.

nwgdc said...

Did the Laphroig come before the trip to Dick's, as written. If so...I think you should have included a disclaimer to only drink that kind of alcohol before driving if you're a board-certified member of the BHI.