Thoughts on Training

This week's running keeps getting delayed. Hanging out with friends, playing music, plans to cut the jungle that is my yard after breaking my reel mower and getting boatloads of rain: These things get in the way. But that doesn't stop me from thinking about the running I'd like to be doing.

Despite my decision to DNB the Akron Marathon this year, there's still a strong desire to crack the 20-mile threshold at some point this year. And so that's how I started to build my loose training plan for the Leave No Trace half marathon in August.

The problem is that my buildup has be a little quicker than I'd usually like, but hey nothing's perfect. Going with more of a "15 percent rule" and three days a week, because let's face the fact that I'm barely getting two days a week of running right now.

I'll be honest, the idea of training is freaking me out a little, just as the idea of parenthood freaks me out a lot.

While these two events don't align on an apples to apples comparison, they are both forms of creation. Both require sacrifice, nurturing, consistency and reigning in chaos to produce the desired results. Am I ready to bring this high-tuned running specimen into the world?

Mrs. Viper and I talk a lot about how we want to be good examples for our child. We agree part of that means being fit and active parents.

Some of my fondest memories of my dad are of watching him race the annual 10K in my hometown. I'd go with him to pick up his bib before the race. We'd see him off at the start line. I'd wear the T-shirt while he ran. We'd eat breakfast at the Friendly's that was on the final hill of the route. I can see him waving backwards as he left us behind and how sweaty-gross he was when he returned.

Not that those memories played a part in my becoming a runner, but the importance of sport was always part of my life. When I did start running when I was 26 and decided to enter my first race, I wanted to run that 10K with my dad.

But he wasn't my only influence. Other early memories were of playing in the lobby of the local ice arena while my older brother played hockey. My sister played basketball, then field hockey. My mom used to be a pretty savvy tennis player. I played little league baseball and ice hockey growing up. Until writing this post, I didn't realize how active we were as a family.

With a kid on the way, I want to encourage exercise no matter what activity it may be, and it starts with me and Mrs. Viper. Right now, I may struggle with the fear of training again, but it's important that I find the will to overcome that anxiety. If you scroll down the right column of this blog, you'll see a quote by Dr. George Sheehan, which seems appropriate here.

"Success rests in having the courage and endurance and, above all, the will to become the person you are, however peculiar that may be," he wrote in On Running & Being. "Then you will be able to say, 'I have found my hero and he is me.'"

Thanksgiving Leftovers

The long holiday weekend was refreshing. Despite some hand-wringing over the logistics of visiting family and Mrs. Viper's barbaric work schedule for Black Friday, we managed to find some time to relax, enjoy some good company, eat some tasty food and forget about our otherwise busy lives.

Fasting to Eat
Every Thanksgiving requires an eating strategy to best enjoy the big meal. In years past, the belly-stretching method served well, but this year a new plan emerget. Wednesday night featured no deviation from my normal diet, but my next meal wasn't until about 3 p.m. Thursday.

Beer Food
We planned to eat at my wife's family's dinner. To tide me over while visiting my side of the family, my only sustenance was beer (Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald porter to be exact). By the time the feast was served, I felt no shame in eating seconds or having three slices of pie, all rinsed down with two different seasonal ales (Bell's Christmas Ale and Lagerheads Winter Mischief).

Gaining No Ground
While I'm happy to report no weight gain for the weekend, my current body heft is nowhere near my fighting weight. It would be nice to drop six pounds before the New Year.

Now Showing
Mrs. Viper always likes to take advantage of the Black Friday deals, even though she had to experience the other side of the equation this year at her new job. A benefactor of our shopping was our movie collection, as she picked up Country Strong on DVD and Prometheus on Blu-ray, and I nabbed the Criterion edition of Rushmore on Blu-ray.

Dried Out
With winter setting in and the furnace turned on, my skin has been suffering. I've been trying to be good about moisturizing, but I also realized I've gotten away from drinking water. I filled my 32-ounce water bottle just before lunch today, and I'm already halfway through another refill. Someone will be busy working the urinal this afternoon.

Guess What?
That's right, no running this weekend. No Turkey Trots, no trails, no jaunts around the block. This is shaping up to be my second worst month of the year.

How'd you make out this weekend? Get busy commenting.

Flashback Friday: About Those Goals

With two weeks left in the year, it's a pretty safe bet that I won't be achieving any more goals this year. Yes, you've stumbled into one of those "looking back" posts. It is Flashback Friday, after all.

Way back on Jan. 3, I spelled out the things I hoped to achieve. Just so you don't have to go back and read that post again, here's what I wrote.

The Requisite Goal SectionAs we enter the new year, we all feel the need to make new goals. In the past, I've made grand and specific goals. This year, my goal is to be a "better" runner and teammate.
Enthusiasm: The Enthusiast is embarking on her first half marathon in May, and my goal is to help her get there. Notice, I didn't say "coach her there." Instead, I plan to be a dedicated training partner and fan. She has been my biggest fan, and now it's my turn.
Attitude: I've never been one of those annoying happy runners you see, and I likely never will be, but I'd like to be more upbeat about running. While I do obsess a bit about my stats, it really shouldn't be my focus when I'm a solid mid-pack runner. The reason why I run is not to gloat about numbers, but to feel good physically and mentally. It's time to focus on the joy of running.
Bare essentials: What was I just saying about numbers? Last year, I hit a point where I had nearly logged 10 percent of my total mileage without shoes. This year, I'd like to make that a reality by adding more barefoot runs to me routine. Of course, I'll wait until spring to doff my footwear.
Marathon: The Akron Marathon falls just two weeks after the Enthusiast and I get married. I probably would have passed on it this year if running it for the fifth consecutive year didn't mean I get VIP "Legacy" status. Last year, I finally broke the four-hour mark. I'll try that again.
Redux: I didn't even come close to doing it last year, but I'd still like to try to run 20 miles per week for the whole year. I've already failed at this goal once, won't cry about it if I do it again this year.

Now, how'd I do?

Enthusiasm: Well, Mrs. Viper's first half marathon became a DNB. This just wasn't the right time.
Goal Grade: Incomplete.

Attitude: Judging by the ridiculously small number of miles I ran this year (oops, there's those stats again), I'd say I didn't focus much on running at all in 2011. My experience during the Akron Marathon, however, showed me the joy being part of the running community.
Goal Grade: C for coming along.

Bare essentials: Had I run barefoot last night like I said I might (coughstoryofmylifecough), I would have 100 miles of running barefoot this year. As it stands now, I have run 18 percent of my total mileage without footwear. Last year, I ran 71 miles barefoot, whereas I've run 97 miles this year.
Goal Grade: A for awesomepants.

Marathon: Well, I ran the Akron Marathon as planned, so that's something. I was a bit shy of the the four-hour mark, but I nailed my "married PR."
Goal Grade: B for better than nothing.

Redux: Do I really need to say anything about averaging 20 miles per week this year?
Goal Grade: F for failed so hard.

What are my goals for next year? Well, you'll just have to come back for that post.

Back Talk
Wherein some people don't know how to count.

Jamoosh doesn't think much of my new (since ended) streak: "Can there really be a streak of one? Regardless, congrats on ending one streak; just don't start another of the same ilk."

Answer: No, there can't be a streak of one, as a "streak" denotes a series. Thankfully, I ran serially Friday and Saturday for a two-day streak of runs.

Happy Hour is nearly upon us, teammates! Have a finely brewed weekend. Run well and drink well. Cheers!

Flashback Friday: Ghoul'd Vibrations

It's that time of year again. Barely spooky ghosts, wax-fanged vampires and slutty witches haunt the streets, and in some cases your office Halloween party. I've DNB'd my costume this year. No inspiration.

No inspiration seems to be plaguing me lately, particularly when it comes to running. Xenia thoughtfully tells me I've got to average more than 28 miles to reach my goal of 20 miles per week for the year. Even her chiding comments don't urge me to action. What do I care? I got my sub-four marathon. I'm resting on my laurels.

All aboard the fail train. I've got a first class ticket.

Back Talk
Wherein running talk has given way to music and beer. I'm not complaining. 

Barefoot Josh has a failing memory to blame for this comment: "Have you heard Split Lip Rayfield? Forgive me if we've discussed them before."

Answer: You are forgiven for your amnesia. I saw SLR on Kirk Rundstrom's final tour, during my "anything with banjo" phase. Groups like them, the Hackensaw Boys and Old Crow helped push me deeper into my current musical psychosis.

Virginia passes along some advice on improving the taste of the porter: "My boss is an experienced homebrewer and keeps reminding me that it is worth the wait to shelve for at least 4 weeks after bottling. This is tough to do, but definitely makes a difference!"

Answer: I like BrianFlash's idea better.

Happy Hour is nearly upon us, teammates. Have a finely brewed weekend. Don't let any sparkling vampires bite your throat off. Run well and drink well. Cheers!

Knowing Is Half the Battle

I bailed on a race Saturday morning to record another DNB. Now, I'm looking for a 10-K to run at some point this year since my annual hometown race dropped its 6.2-mile option. Instead of racing, I ran seven miles at marathon race pace. The DNB was the only hiccup in last week's training.

Akron Marathon Training Week 3:

• Tuesday was a 2.5-mile recovery run with the Enthusiast (13:46 pace) to flush out Week 2.
• Thursday morning was five miles at race pace (8:51 pace).
• Thursday afternoon was a three-mile barefoot trail run (11:45 pace).
• Saturday night was a seven-miler at race pace (8:54 pace) with the Enthusiast biking.
• Sunday morning was a hot and humid 14-mile long slog (10:26 pace) on the second half of the marathon course.

My weekly total was 31.7 miles, and my legs feel surprisingly fresh this morning. This is a backdown week with 29 miles planned.

Enthusiastic Rookie
The Enthusiast continues to do well in her training for her first half marathon. After running a mile and then racing on her bike to catch up to me during my race pace run on Saturday, her legs were tight Sunday. She decided to push back her long run to today.

I've always felt that it's important to maintain some flexibility in your training, especially if it's your first BIG race. During the mileage ramp-up for a half or full marathon, you're legs are going to feel a bit dead. Sometimes an extra day off will be far more rewarding than forcing yourself out the door just to stick to a schedule.

However, getting too lax could be a recipe for injury if you're stacking too many hard runs too close together. My weekday runs are usually pretty fluid, but I really try to be steadfast with my weekend runs because it's just too hard for me to fit in a long run before or after work.

Training plans are a guide, not a rulebook.

Flashback Friday: Revenge of the Dead (Sexy) Legs

Me, yesterday:

Tonight? Intervals.

Result:
FAIL

Apparently, my legs were not down with three days in a row. I headed out toward the track, and I knew I was in trouble from the very first step. I hoped my legs would ease into the run.

Negatory.

However, my legs were not the only reason I didn't run my intervals. When I got to the track, it was littered with loiterers -- almost 30 in legion. No way in Hell's cold dark corner was I going to deal with that hassle. I ran right past the oval of doom and looped back toward home base, where a much more exciting prospect waited for me on the couch.

But fear not! I hope to fulfill my track workout this weekend.

[Drunkard's note: You know what my Granny always said, "Hope in one hand and shit in the other. See which gets filled first."]

Back Talk
Wherein I defend my home turf from malcontents and naysayers.

Some of you scoffed at my mention of cross training after my wet six-miler.

First, Ted thinks I skimped on the repetitions: "Three sets of each push-ups and sit-ups. Impressive. Let me guess? One push-up for each set you did. Am I right on this one?"

And then Mike thinks I skimped on the effort: "Were those real push-ups or Charles Barkley push-ups?"

Answer: I did one more push-up and sit-up per set as the number of blog posts Ted wrote in April. Slacker. As for form, well, as Barkley said, "I'm not a roll model."

JoyRuN is happy to hear that they actually ship fresh fish to Akron: "Sounds like the fish was fresh if you didn't taste THAT about to come back up."

Answer: Near pukeage had nothing to do with the sushi and everything to do with my finishing kick. There are actually quite a few good sushi places in the area. I suggest Big Eye, House of Hunan and Sushi Katsu.

And thanks to everyone who stopped in the wish me a happy two years, although it has been everything but happy.

Speaking of which, Happy Hour is nearly upon us, teammates. Chug one for Sarah and wish her good luck, for she is running the Cleveland Marathon this week. And I am not. Run well and drink well. Cheers!

Race Report: DNB

To a runner, the letters DNF are the mark of doom. Or so I'm told. I've never had to admit that I did not finish a race. But I DNB-ed this weekend. Martini and I were going to run the Home Run for the Homeless 4-miler on Thanksgiving morning. That never happened. But, you see, we couldn't DNF because we never started the danged race in the first place. Didn't even register. Instead, we did not bother.

Thursday morning was ugly. Cold rain and cold coldness. And with a mere four hours of sleep and a slight hangover, a race was not something either of us wanted to do. So we scrubbed the mission and slept in.

However, I did confirm that I gained 10 pounds and I managed 20 miles for the week. Completing two of three weekend goals ain't bad. With or without my DNB.

Vanilla at Half-Fast was kind enough to link to me twice in the last week or so. I have been remiss in thanking him here. It just so happens that his post today is required reading for every Booze Hound teammate. This is how you take an ice bath.