It's hard to believe the Mohican Trail 100 Mile Run is now only a week away. On Monday the 9th I began my tapering with a goal of 50-65 miles for the week. I ended up with 52.3, concluding the week on a pretty rough note but such is life.
I am fortunate to have an excellent Mohican crew/pacing team in Ted and Kenny. We have been in close contact all week and have the logistics lined up. We have a few time goals we're after and hopefully we'll achieve those goals.
In view of the fact that right now I'm running on fumes and am nearly spent physically and mentally (although I may be feeling better by the end of the week), I have revised my approach to Mohican. I'm just going to run my own race, try to me meet or exceed my aid station goal times, do my absolute best and let the chips fall where they may. If I finish top-10, great. If I finish top-5, that's even more great. If I finish in 24 hours, that's OK, too. I'm very run-down right now and, honestly, it's pretty much impossible to imagine myself racing a 100 miler only six days from now...but I know I'll be ready!
Here's how the week went:
Monday
AM: Off
PM: Off
Tuesday
AM: 8.1 miles
PM: Off
Total miles for day: 8.1
Wednesday
AM: 8.4 miles
PM: Off
Total miles for day: 8.4
Thursday
AM: 8.1 miles
PM: Off
Total miles for day: 8.1
Friday
AM: 8.5 miles
Really struggled through the high humidity.
PM: Off
Total miles for day: 8.5
Saturday
AM: 12.1 miles in Cuyahoga Valley National Park with the Lock 29 crew.
Ran a little too hard with Mohican only seven days away. Very humid. Finished the run up with Connie G., who is also doing Mohican and will finish very, very strong. She ran 145 miles at last November's UltraCentric, nearly setting the American women's 24-hour record. Connie is most certainly a leading contender for an outright victory at Mohican, especially if the conditions/weather are bad. She's the type of runner who thrives when the going gets tough.
PM: Off
Total miles for day: 12.1
Sunday
AM: 7 miles at the West Woods, Geauga Park District
Saturday night was a very tough night, as Noah was not feeling well and basically screamed and fussed for 8 hours straight (had to call the pediatrician for advice....). I was too tired to go to Solon so I stayed home, helped out with the baby and then at 10 a.m. went to West Woods for a short run. I'd never been to West Woods and really liked it. Bill W. was right--it's a great place for a run. I will most certainly go back. Jeff U. called later in the day to see if I was OK since I'd missed the Solon run. I appreciated his concern. I heard the Solon crew ran hard. Although I really missed their company, maybe it's best I wasn't there with Mohican so close.
PM: Off
Total miles for day: 7
Total miles for week: 52.3
This week I won't do much more than run maybe 10 miles and walk, taking Thursday and Friday off to get ready for the action on Saturday. I also plan to try to get at least 8 hours of sleep on Wednesday and Thursday nights, carbo load big time Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and get my drop bags in order.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Ode to Tim Russert
I realize this is a running blog and that the late, great Tim Russert doesn't have anything to do with running...but on this incredibly sad day I have a story to tell. No, not a story. I have memories to recall in a way that might be construed as a confession and that do tie into running.
Few know that, before I took up distance running, I was an overweight, 219 lbs., more-than-occasional smoking (Marlboro Lite) political operative and then a government PR guy, working as communications director/deputy campaign manager for a U.S. congressional campaign in Indiana, a communications/writing aide to the governor of Indiana, a communications director for a few mayors and, through it all, a consultant to some state and local campaigns--all Democrats.
With dreams (more delusions) of one day rising to the level of a Washington, DC big shot (maybe a White House aide, preferably press secretary to the president or I would have settled for chief media aide to the VP), I imagined myself going on "Meet the Press" and battling it out with the great one, Tim Russert, who I watched and studied every Sunday morning and always thought was entirely fair, but tough, and always a gentleman. And I held on tightly to my dreams of Washington stardom for a few years, probably intoxicated by the powerful people I worked for and met. If I got where I wanted to be, I figured, I'd eventually sit down with Russert and have my Big Moment.
But then, in a twist of events I never could have predicted only months before the fact, I got out of the very mean business of politics and my wife and I moved to Cleveland, Ohio to start a new life...a life far-removed from campaigns, political manuevering and spin-doctoring. I'm now a communications guy for a hospital system who loves his job but, unlike me in my previous life, isn't defined by my job. And it's been a much better life, let me tell you.... (Trivia: Speaking of Cleveland, Russert went to undergrad at John Carroll).
By the time of our move from the Hoosier State to the Buckeye State, I'd begun distance running, had completed my first marathon (2004 Columbus Marathon, 3:22) and had fallen in love with life in my running shoes. My Sunday runs had become such a key part of my existence that "Meet the Press" fell by the wayside, and my dreams had gone from wanting to be a DC power broker and MTP regular to wanting to qualify for Boston. However, to this day I still continue to catch re-runs of MTP, tune into "The Tim Russert Show," and pay close attention to Russert's election analysis. When seeing the great one, I would often be reminded of those crazy dreams I used to have of going 10 rounds with him on his show.
Not that my dreams ever would have come true, but today that dream of going on "Meet the Press"--a dream I had long ago when I lived a different life--is officially dead. And, with it, we now remember a news icon and a man so many looked up to, admired, emulated and genuinely liked. Rest in peace, Mr. Russert. I will run some miles this weekend for you and your family and be sure to think of you this Sunday morning.
Few know that, before I took up distance running, I was an overweight, 219 lbs., more-than-occasional smoking (Marlboro Lite) political operative and then a government PR guy, working as communications director/deputy campaign manager for a U.S. congressional campaign in Indiana, a communications/writing aide to the governor of Indiana, a communications director for a few mayors and, through it all, a consultant to some state and local campaigns--all Democrats.
With dreams (more delusions) of one day rising to the level of a Washington, DC big shot (maybe a White House aide, preferably press secretary to the president or I would have settled for chief media aide to the VP), I imagined myself going on "Meet the Press" and battling it out with the great one, Tim Russert, who I watched and studied every Sunday morning and always thought was entirely fair, but tough, and always a gentleman. And I held on tightly to my dreams of Washington stardom for a few years, probably intoxicated by the powerful people I worked for and met. If I got where I wanted to be, I figured, I'd eventually sit down with Russert and have my Big Moment.
But then, in a twist of events I never could have predicted only months before the fact, I got out of the very mean business of politics and my wife and I moved to Cleveland, Ohio to start a new life...a life far-removed from campaigns, political manuevering and spin-doctoring. I'm now a communications guy for a hospital system who loves his job but, unlike me in my previous life, isn't defined by my job. And it's been a much better life, let me tell you.... (Trivia: Speaking of Cleveland, Russert went to undergrad at John Carroll).
By the time of our move from the Hoosier State to the Buckeye State, I'd begun distance running, had completed my first marathon (2004 Columbus Marathon, 3:22) and had fallen in love with life in my running shoes. My Sunday runs had become such a key part of my existence that "Meet the Press" fell by the wayside, and my dreams had gone from wanting to be a DC power broker and MTP regular to wanting to qualify for Boston. However, to this day I still continue to catch re-runs of MTP, tune into "The Tim Russert Show," and pay close attention to Russert's election analysis. When seeing the great one, I would often be reminded of those crazy dreams I used to have of going 10 rounds with him on his show.
Not that my dreams ever would have come true, but today that dream of going on "Meet the Press"--a dream I had long ago when I lived a different life--is officially dead. And, with it, we now remember a news icon and a man so many looked up to, admired, emulated and genuinely liked. Rest in peace, Mr. Russert. I will run some miles this weekend for you and your family and be sure to think of you this Sunday morning.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Please take the poll!
I've posted a poll (to the right side of the screen) on who will most likely win this year's Western States 100 (June 28-29). Please take the poll. Thanks!
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Training week 6/2-6/8 - 2 weeks to Mohican
I read in this month's Runner's World that Michael Wardian, who is a dominate marathoner and ultrarunner with super-human recovery abilities, drinks 2-4 quarts of water each day. I will add that to my repertoire, along with the stretching and push-ups I already do.
The goal this week couldn't have been more straightforward--to get in as many miles as possible. This was my last week of training before going into taper mode for the Mohican 100. Originally, my thinking was that if all I could get in was 80 miles (due to the many responsibilities of being the parent of a newborn and the husband of a sleep-deprived wife), that would be fine. But, of course, as the week progressed I got bull-headed, and by Thursday decided to make a run at--what else?--100 miles.
Mission accomplished. I ran 100 miles. And it wasn't easy. I was very tired and run-down, especially tired and sore in my hips, early to mid-week and basically threw the towel in on my speedwork and tempo run. I think a few times this week I was most certainly "burning the candle on both ends," as my mom says. Fortunately, by Friday, I got a second wind and started to feel fresh again. By the end of Friday, I had logged 60 miles for the week, which meant I'd need 40 over the weekend to get to the century mark. It used to be 40-50 in a weekend was child's play. Now it's a struggle in terms of finding the time. But I found the time and did it--another 100-mile week under my belt as Mohican fast-approaches.
The hard work with training is now done! Yes, it is hard to believe. I couldn't have done it without my wife Anne's support. She is the only one who really knows how hard I've worked. I wouldn't be here--ready for Mohican--without her.
I taper the next two weeks and then on Saturday the 21st it's show time. I will write more about the actual race later. For now, I'll provide a training week recap:
Monday
AM: 5 miles
PM: 2 miles on the treadmill with Noah. I had to cut the workout short because he was throwing a hissy fit. This may have been my shortest-ever run.
Total miles for day: 7
Tuesday
AM: 9 miles
Felt incredibly run-down due to a lack of sleep the night before and really struggled on the hills--usually my strong-suit.
PM: 5.2 miles
Total miles for day: 14.2
Wednesday
AM: 9 miles easy
I was planning to go to the track for 1600s but was simply too tired and run-down, especially in my hips, to even approach doing a hard workout. So I elected to just get in some "junk" miles and call it a day, even if it meant possibly not getting to 100 miles for the week.
PM: Off/rest
Total miles for day: 9
Thursday
AM: 9.3 miles on the treadmill
A severe thunderstorm and massive downpour kept me from running outside. I felt much stronger than yesterday and ran the last 5 miles at sub-7:00 pace.
PM: 5 miles on the treadmill with Noah. He was very good and let me get in some excellent miles!
Total miles for day: 14.3
Friday
AM: 10.5 miles in and around South Chagrin Reservation
Very, very humid, but I felt strong and held a decent pace. When I got back to the house around 6:45 a.m., I looked like I'd jumped in a swimming pool and had to aggressively rehydrate before going to work.
PM: 5 miles on the treadmill with Noah. Once again, he was very good and let me get in my miles.
Total miles for the day: 15.5
Saturday
AM: 16 miles in and around South Chagrin Reservation
My morning goal was 16, with a day's goal of 20, to set up a 100-mile week. The humidity was once again pretty severe, but I averaged 7:30 pace and felt very strong. I brought a water bottle with me and took full advantage of it, even stopping for a refill at the Polo Field and in downtown Chagrin Falls. I really miss running with the Lock 29 crew and look forward to rejoining them when things settle down with Noah. For now, I'm on my own on Saturdays.
PM: 5.25 miles on the treadmill with Noah. He slept the whole time.
Total miles for day: 21.25
Sunday
AM: 15.25 miles in Solon with the Southeast Running Club
The temperatures reached 90 today with pretty intense humidity. This was a great opportunity to get in some heat acclimatization. Still, the morning run was difficult in areas, especially those where we were directly exposed to the sun. I made the stupid mistake of wearing a black tech-tee.... I ran basically the entire first 12 miles with Jeff U. and Paul R., averaging about 7:30 miles in the sweltering heat, and then ran the last 3 miles with Paul and Tim C.
PM: 4 miles easy
Total miles for day: 19.25
Total miles for the week: 100.5
I'm very pleased with my Mohican training. It began the week of March 3-9 and, since then, I was able to keep my miles at a pretty high level. It didn't hurt that I had a very solid base to work from, as I'd logged 80-100-mile weeks back in December to get ready for the Winter Buckeye Trail 50K, which I won outright. Here's what my 16 weeks of Mohican training have looked like mileage-wise:
Week 1: 78.8
Week 2: 90.25
Week 3: 61.7
Week 4: 101.05
Week 5: 82.5
Week 6: 106.4
Week 7: 101.3
Week 8: 105
Week 9: 105
Week 10: 63.5 (taper)
Week 11: 52.85 (Cleveland Marathon)
Week 12: 71.3
Week 13: 103.3
Week 14: 100.5
Week 15: Taper (50-65)
Week 16: Taper/race
You won't see many ridiculously high-mileage weeks in there, but you will see consistency. I believe my training will have me in contention for a strong finish. But, for me, it's been about more than miles. For 10 months--since the Burning River 100--I've been thinking about Mohican, focusing on it, crafting a training plan that would work for me, working through the details, etc. And now, after all this hard work, the race is only two weeks away. I will be sure to have my mojo there and go out hard, setting the tone for an aggressive race.
Next week I'll cut back my mileage and get in 50-65. I want to get on the track Tuesday or Wednesday for my 1600 repeats (at a comfortably hard 5:45-5:50 pace) and then get in a short marathon-pace (6:45) tempo run. For the weekend, I'll go 6-8 on Saturday and then 12 on Sunday. Basically, I just want to keep burning calories and keep my sanity, but I'll avoid strenuous running altogether except for the 1600s.
Friday, June 6, 2008
The superficiality of the "go green" movement
I'm tired of the "go green" movement, but hear me out--I'm a total lover of nature. As someone who spends a fair amount of time on the trails enjoying the sites, sounds, and smells of nature, as you probably do, too, I wholeheartedly support environmental protection and conservation. But to me, in all its bloviating about light bulbs and the like, the "go green" movement is for the most part trite and really just engineered so people can feel better about themselves. "Go green" fails to even scratch the surface of the real environmental problems in our nation and world--problems light bulbs couldn't begin to solve.
Before I continue, let me say that, as Charles Krauthammer recently wrote, I am a global warming agnostic. While I'm as yet unsure of whether global warming is actually happening and, if it is happening, why it's happening (the "science" is currently more dogma than objective), I am quite sure CO2 emissions aren't a good thing. I am also sure that deforestation by over-development is a very bad thing, as it over-fishing (a topic for another post). And so we should reduce our emissions as much as possible while preserving our natural habitat. This starts with protecting the Amazon, which functions as the planet's lungs. Today the Amazon is under attack.
But it also means protecting wooded areas and wetlands in communities across America. As I'm out running, it's amazingly tragic how many natural areas I see being demolished for residential and commercial "development." There was a wooded area in Solon that recently got destroyed for a "lifestyle center," which is jargon for a glorified strip mall. Just what we need--more Starbucks. I see wooded lots all over the Chagrin Falls area, especially down near the river, now up for sale. A previously wooded area in Moreland Hills is now just mud as a shopping center is being built. I feel terrible for the deer and other animals whose homes are being wiped out.
We deforest for the almighty buck, the deer, coyotes and other animals have no place to go, and then municipalities allow people to shoot them to reduce the population so they don't damage our cars and, in the case of coyotes, eat our dogs. How is that right?
Every time I see a pile of torn-down trees I feel a deep sadness. When are we going to wake up and realize that once you tear down a wooded area and build houses and buildings, it's kind of hard to restore what's been lost. In the name of God, how many more Targets, Home Depots, Walmarts, Lowe's, McNeighborhoods, and McStrip Malls do we need? When is enough actually enough?
"Going green" is about so much more than light bulbs. It's about preserving our natural landscape, about holding WalMart and other big-box stores accountable for abandoning a space to build a new, big-box store on previously undeveloped land, about city councils saying "NO!" to greedy real estate developers, about redeveloping empty spaces, about abandoning bottled water (did anyone else who ran Blossom Time notice that the organizers gave out bottled waters after the race when they could have used biodegradable cups? I looked in one of the trash cans and couldn't decide if the overflow of plastic was more comical than sad), about making mass transit more accessible, about coming to grips with the fact that ethanol (which will eventually go the way of the pet rock) is actually having a harmful effect on our land, wildlife, and food prices, and about getting off oil in favor of the hydrogen fuel cell or whatever else works better (did you know you can actually drink hydrogen fuel cell waste water?).
In 1960, John F. Kennedy said we'd have a man on the moon within 10 years. We did. Why then can't we pledge to get off oil in lieu of the hydrogen fuel cell? Maybe because we're beholden to Big Oil and OPEC? Maybe because we care more about living in the now than 10 years from now? I'm not entirely sure. But it is ridiculous, tragic and altogether irresponsible that, amid the march of technology over the past several decades, we're still powering our cars with the same stuff we pumped into the automobiles of 70 years ago.
The "go green" movement, which is now fashionable and, as a result, annoying, only scratches the surface of a deep problem in our nation and world. Unfortunately, in an era of fast food and fast fixes, it's a way for people to "feel good" about themselves and excuse themselves from dealing with the real problems--over-development, displaced wildlife, stupid energy policies, carte blanche for greedy developers, and backward thinking on a mass scale, all of which has us on a crash course with oblivion.
Before I continue, let me say that, as Charles Krauthammer recently wrote, I am a global warming agnostic. While I'm as yet unsure of whether global warming is actually happening and, if it is happening, why it's happening (the "science" is currently more dogma than objective), I am quite sure CO2 emissions aren't a good thing. I am also sure that deforestation by over-development is a very bad thing, as it over-fishing (a topic for another post). And so we should reduce our emissions as much as possible while preserving our natural habitat. This starts with protecting the Amazon, which functions as the planet's lungs. Today the Amazon is under attack.
But it also means protecting wooded areas and wetlands in communities across America. As I'm out running, it's amazingly tragic how many natural areas I see being demolished for residential and commercial "development." There was a wooded area in Solon that recently got destroyed for a "lifestyle center," which is jargon for a glorified strip mall. Just what we need--more Starbucks. I see wooded lots all over the Chagrin Falls area, especially down near the river, now up for sale. A previously wooded area in Moreland Hills is now just mud as a shopping center is being built. I feel terrible for the deer and other animals whose homes are being wiped out.
We deforest for the almighty buck, the deer, coyotes and other animals have no place to go, and then municipalities allow people to shoot them to reduce the population so they don't damage our cars and, in the case of coyotes, eat our dogs. How is that right?
Every time I see a pile of torn-down trees I feel a deep sadness. When are we going to wake up and realize that once you tear down a wooded area and build houses and buildings, it's kind of hard to restore what's been lost. In the name of God, how many more Targets, Home Depots, Walmarts, Lowe's, McNeighborhoods, and McStrip Malls do we need? When is enough actually enough?
"Going green" is about so much more than light bulbs. It's about preserving our natural landscape, about holding WalMart and other big-box stores accountable for abandoning a space to build a new, big-box store on previously undeveloped land, about city councils saying "NO!" to greedy real estate developers, about redeveloping empty spaces, about abandoning bottled water (did anyone else who ran Blossom Time notice that the organizers gave out bottled waters after the race when they could have used biodegradable cups? I looked in one of the trash cans and couldn't decide if the overflow of plastic was more comical than sad), about making mass transit more accessible, about coming to grips with the fact that ethanol (which will eventually go the way of the pet rock) is actually having a harmful effect on our land, wildlife, and food prices, and about getting off oil in favor of the hydrogen fuel cell or whatever else works better (did you know you can actually drink hydrogen fuel cell waste water?).
In 1960, John F. Kennedy said we'd have a man on the moon within 10 years. We did. Why then can't we pledge to get off oil in lieu of the hydrogen fuel cell? Maybe because we're beholden to Big Oil and OPEC? Maybe because we care more about living in the now than 10 years from now? I'm not entirely sure. But it is ridiculous, tragic and altogether irresponsible that, amid the march of technology over the past several decades, we're still powering our cars with the same stuff we pumped into the automobiles of 70 years ago.
The "go green" movement, which is now fashionable and, as a result, annoying, only scratches the surface of a deep problem in our nation and world. Unfortunately, in an era of fast food and fast fixes, it's a way for people to "feel good" about themselves and excuse themselves from dealing with the real problems--over-development, displaced wildlife, stupid energy policies, carte blanche for greedy developers, and backward thinking on a mass scale, all of which has us on a crash course with oblivion.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Speed v. endurance
A conversation I had last Sunday with a runner friend got me to thinking: Is speed the ultimate--and only--test of a runner's talent and ability? My friend was more or less saying that speed is the key ingredient of being a competitive runner. As such, he said, any runner seeking to be competitive should adopt a training regiment focusing on speed--200s, 400s, 800s, etc. in addition to the 1600s I run every Wednesday (except for this week, since I feel basically like crap).
To the extent that whoever runs the fastest time crosses the finish line first, I suppose speed does matter quite a bit, and any runner looking to improve should be on the track and do tempo runs. But, as speed is a relative concept (as I explain below), I would argue that one could be an excellent, even competitive, runner without possessing a lot of speed as we think of it today. For example, there is a world-class ultrarunner out there--a runner who has won the biggest events in the sport--whose marathon PR is 2:38. I'd love a 2:38 marathoner PR--don't get me wrong--but one might expect a faster time from a guy who's won 7 consecutive Western States 100s, the Badwater Ultramarathon, the Spartathlon and a host of other big ultras. If you think Scott Jurek possesses less talent than, say, Ryan Hall, who is probably the best American marathoner today, I would challenge you to explain why you think that. Hall is a speedster, Jurek an endurance monster. How can the talents of one be more superior than those of the other?
In the world of ultra running, one can win the biggest 100-mile race of all--the Western States 100--averaging 9-minute miles, including aid station stops. The great Valmir Nunes won the 2007 Badwater--and set a new record--averaging 9:20 miles. Whereas in a big marathon like Boston or New York, the winner will have averaged 5-minute miles or even less. I realize I am probably in the minority in saying that I believe winning Boston or New York is no more impressive than winning the WS100 or Badwater, even as Boston and New York occupy a far larger stage than the WS100 or Badwater ever could. Until we see world-class marathoners show up at the WS100, Badwater, Spartathlon, etc. and dominate on a consistent basis, it's unfair to say elite ultrarunners aren't as talented as elite marathoners.
Running talent comes in many forms. Society views speed as the ultimate reflection of running talent because speed is fun to watch. Who doesn't love watching Asafa Powell burn it up on the track? But speed comes in many forms. A runner may consistently win 400-meter or 800-meter events, yet fail at 5000 meters. A runner who consistently wins 5000- and 1000-meter events might fail in other distances. A world-class ultrarunner might lack world-class talent for the above-mentioned races, yet excel in 50- or 100-mile races because they possess enough speed to cover the distance faster than anyone else on the course that day.
Which brings me to my ultimate argument. Just as lightening-fast speed is a show of talent, so too should extreme endurance reflect talent. This may start a huge argument, but I would venture to speculate that there are many, many world-class marathoners out there who might crumble in a 100-mile race because they simply don't know how to run anything short of blazing fast, or maybe their body just isn't built to handle the long haul--just as a Ferrari would cross town in record speed but be a terrible vehicle for a cross-country drive.
Sure, I'll grant you that if a world-class marathoner trained for years to compete in 100 milers or 100Ks, they'd probably do well. I seriously doubt Bill Rodgers, for example, would have finished middle-of-the-pack at WS100. But who's to say he'd have won? We saw in Alberto Salazar's Comrades finishes what a world-class marathoner can do in ultra races. But I think Salazar was the exception because clearly most world-class marathoners don't go on to ultras. Some would say they don't go on to ultras because there's no money in it. That may be true to a point, but it would be short-sighted to say it's the only reason. World-class marathoners run not only for the money, but also because they love to run and win. A world-class marathoner won't find much interest in a sport in which they don't believe they could be highly competitive. Which is to say just because you're a great marathoner doesn't mean you'll be a great ultrarunner, and vice versa.
Who's really to say the big-time ultrarunners of today and recent years--people like Scott Jurek, Karl Meltzer, Eric Clifton, Valmir Nunes, the great Yiannis Kouros, Tony Krupicka, Hal Koerner, Michael Wardian, my friend Mark Godale, and others--possess less talent than the big-time marathoners? Whereas the big-time marathoners can cover 26.2 miles in less than 2:10, these guys can go 100 miles in less than 16 hours, which few people in our society could barely even comprehend. How's that not just as impressive, and just as much a show of God-given talent?
To the extent that whoever runs the fastest time crosses the finish line first, I suppose speed does matter quite a bit, and any runner looking to improve should be on the track and do tempo runs. But, as speed is a relative concept (as I explain below), I would argue that one could be an excellent, even competitive, runner without possessing a lot of speed as we think of it today. For example, there is a world-class ultrarunner out there--a runner who has won the biggest events in the sport--whose marathon PR is 2:38. I'd love a 2:38 marathoner PR--don't get me wrong--but one might expect a faster time from a guy who's won 7 consecutive Western States 100s, the Badwater Ultramarathon, the Spartathlon and a host of other big ultras. If you think Scott Jurek possesses less talent than, say, Ryan Hall, who is probably the best American marathoner today, I would challenge you to explain why you think that. Hall is a speedster, Jurek an endurance monster. How can the talents of one be more superior than those of the other?
In the world of ultra running, one can win the biggest 100-mile race of all--the Western States 100--averaging 9-minute miles, including aid station stops. The great Valmir Nunes won the 2007 Badwater--and set a new record--averaging 9:20 miles. Whereas in a big marathon like Boston or New York, the winner will have averaged 5-minute miles or even less. I realize I am probably in the minority in saying that I believe winning Boston or New York is no more impressive than winning the WS100 or Badwater, even as Boston and New York occupy a far larger stage than the WS100 or Badwater ever could. Until we see world-class marathoners show up at the WS100, Badwater, Spartathlon, etc. and dominate on a consistent basis, it's unfair to say elite ultrarunners aren't as talented as elite marathoners.
Running talent comes in many forms. Society views speed as the ultimate reflection of running talent because speed is fun to watch. Who doesn't love watching Asafa Powell burn it up on the track? But speed comes in many forms. A runner may consistently win 400-meter or 800-meter events, yet fail at 5000 meters. A runner who consistently wins 5000- and 1000-meter events might fail in other distances. A world-class ultrarunner might lack world-class talent for the above-mentioned races, yet excel in 50- or 100-mile races because they possess enough speed to cover the distance faster than anyone else on the course that day.
Which brings me to my ultimate argument. Just as lightening-fast speed is a show of talent, so too should extreme endurance reflect talent. This may start a huge argument, but I would venture to speculate that there are many, many world-class marathoners out there who might crumble in a 100-mile race because they simply don't know how to run anything short of blazing fast, or maybe their body just isn't built to handle the long haul--just as a Ferrari would cross town in record speed but be a terrible vehicle for a cross-country drive.
Sure, I'll grant you that if a world-class marathoner trained for years to compete in 100 milers or 100Ks, they'd probably do well. I seriously doubt Bill Rodgers, for example, would have finished middle-of-the-pack at WS100. But who's to say he'd have won? We saw in Alberto Salazar's Comrades finishes what a world-class marathoner can do in ultra races. But I think Salazar was the exception because clearly most world-class marathoners don't go on to ultras. Some would say they don't go on to ultras because there's no money in it. That may be true to a point, but it would be short-sighted to say it's the only reason. World-class marathoners run not only for the money, but also because they love to run and win. A world-class marathoner won't find much interest in a sport in which they don't believe they could be highly competitive. Which is to say just because you're a great marathoner doesn't mean you'll be a great ultrarunner, and vice versa.
Who's really to say the big-time ultrarunners of today and recent years--people like Scott Jurek, Karl Meltzer, Eric Clifton, Valmir Nunes, the great Yiannis Kouros, Tony Krupicka, Hal Koerner, Michael Wardian, my friend Mark Godale, and others--possess less talent than the big-time marathoners? Whereas the big-time marathoners can cover 26.2 miles in less than 2:10, these guys can go 100 miles in less than 16 hours, which few people in our society could barely even comprehend. How's that not just as impressive, and just as much a show of God-given talent?
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Training week 5/26-6/1 - 3 weeks to Mohican
The goal this week was to get in 80+ miles with quality workouts. I managed to get in 103 miles with a track workout on Wednesday, somewhat of a tempo run on Friday and a total of 3 long runs. This was a hell of a hard week. When you have a 2-week-old baby, finding the time and strength to run 100 miles is very, very difficult. There were a few times this week when I actually questioned whether I should--or could--run Mohican this year. We are having the time of our lives with Noah, but there's no question that it's a lot of work, and the late nights take a toll on you. Couple all of that with a 100-mile week and it gets tough, even with the encouragement of my wife, my family and my extended family--the Cleveland Southeast Running Club.
But tough doesn't scare me; it interests me. This week I survived the 100 miles amid limited sleep, and I was definitely feeling it by the end of Sunday, when the wheels were on the verge of coming off. I now just hope I got through the week without injury. I'll find out in the next few days.
Pacer update: I found out early in the week that Wayne V. will not be able to pace me at Mohican. He made West Coast trip plans and didn't realize that his plans conflicted with Mohican. For a time, this left me without a pacer from miles 60-75, when Ted F., who paced me at the Burning River 100, will pick me up and run me in. Although I'm quite sure I could make it to 75 by myself and in good shape, it's important to me to have a pacer the last 40 miles. Fortunately, Ted has agreed to go the last 40 with me. Thank you, Ted!
Later in the week, I learned that Kenny M. from my former home of West Lafayette, Indiana, who ran with me during the last 20 miles of the Burning River 100, plans to crew for me at Mohican and will also run with Ted and me for the last 25 miles. Kenny is a heck of good runner, a tough guy and an excellent pacer. I am very fortunate to have Kenny and Ted as my crew/pacers. I know I can count on these two guys. They came up huge for me at the Burning River 100 and I know, together, we'll do well at Mohican and have fun in the process.
Monday
AM: 14 miles at 7:20-7:30 pace
Felt very good despite the aggressive workout and hard Blossom Time Run the day before. I wanted to run with Mark G. and the guys but couldn't make it in time, so I just put in the miles by myself.
PM: 4.5 miles
Total miles for day: 18.5
Tuesday
AM: 9 miles
PM: 4.3 miles on the treadmill with Noah next to me. He was very good!
Total miles for day: 13.3
Wednesday
AM: 9.3-mile track workout
3x1600s at 5:51, 5:46 and 5:38 with 400 recoveries and striders during my warm-up. I intentionally started conservatively, as I wasn't quite sure what to expect from my body, and got faster with each interval. I don't know if it was my new shoes (Asics 2130s) or if I was just off my game, but I was pounding the track entirely too hard during the last repeat. My gate was completely off. I also zoned out a few times and just wasn't mentally sharp. But, at least I got the track work in.... Next week, when I'm a little fresher, I'll shoot for sub-5:35s and will try to get to the Solon High School track.
PM: 4.7 miles
Total miles for day: 14
Thursday
AM: 8.5 miles
A very tough workout as I was up until 3 a.m. the night before and suffered a groin pull, which fortunately healed up by the next day thanks to ice treatment. Here's what I wrote in my running log after recording my workout: "Very tired physically and emotionally. Having serious thoughts about Mohican in my current state. Pulled up with a right groin pull. Is this even possible?" I decided to take the evening off and, by the next day, had bounced back mentally but was still down physically.
PM: Off
Total miles for day: 8.5
Friday
AM: 9 miles
Felt very heavy on my feet and pretty flat. I wanted this to be a tempo run but I was too drained to do much beyond 7-minute pace. Just tried to hang on for dear life in the name of volume....
PM: 7 miles in Shaker Park with John L.
This run allowed me to reach my goal of 70 miles by the end of Friday and to finish the day on a strong note, after struggling a bit during the morning session. John, who is an accomplished 5K and 10K specialist and frequently wins his age division in races, really pushed the pace, making this almost a tempo run. I am glad he was there because he pushed me to do better than I might have if alone.
Total miles for day: 16
Saturday
AM: 14-mile out-and-back with Ted F. in Bedford Reservation
We started at Shadow Lake (mile 18 aid station at Burning River) and turned around just past the overlook in Bedford Reservation. The weather was very humid and in the 70s. I was drenched when we got back to our cars and not feeling the best.
PM: 4 miles easy
Total miles for day: 18
Sunday
AM: 15 miles in Solon with the Southeast Running Club
I didn't get too much sleep the night before, which might be why the wheels started to come off about 10 miles into the run. I held on and managed to finish strong, going sub-7 the last mile.
Total miles for week: 103.3
My goal next week is to basically get in as many miles as possible before entering my Mohican 100 taper. If I'm able to get in 100+ miles, that would be perfect. If not, oh well, the hay's in the barn, as a friend of mine likes to say. I am at least going to shoot for 70, with 90 being optimal, and then after Sunday begin my taper for the Mohican.
But tough doesn't scare me; it interests me. This week I survived the 100 miles amid limited sleep, and I was definitely feeling it by the end of Sunday, when the wheels were on the verge of coming off. I now just hope I got through the week without injury. I'll find out in the next few days.
Pacer update: I found out early in the week that Wayne V. will not be able to pace me at Mohican. He made West Coast trip plans and didn't realize that his plans conflicted with Mohican. For a time, this left me without a pacer from miles 60-75, when Ted F., who paced me at the Burning River 100, will pick me up and run me in. Although I'm quite sure I could make it to 75 by myself and in good shape, it's important to me to have a pacer the last 40 miles. Fortunately, Ted has agreed to go the last 40 with me. Thank you, Ted!
Later in the week, I learned that Kenny M. from my former home of West Lafayette, Indiana, who ran with me during the last 20 miles of the Burning River 100, plans to crew for me at Mohican and will also run with Ted and me for the last 25 miles. Kenny is a heck of good runner, a tough guy and an excellent pacer. I am very fortunate to have Kenny and Ted as my crew/pacers. I know I can count on these two guys. They came up huge for me at the Burning River 100 and I know, together, we'll do well at Mohican and have fun in the process.
Monday
AM: 14 miles at 7:20-7:30 pace
Felt very good despite the aggressive workout and hard Blossom Time Run the day before. I wanted to run with Mark G. and the guys but couldn't make it in time, so I just put in the miles by myself.
PM: 4.5 miles
Total miles for day: 18.5
Tuesday
AM: 9 miles
PM: 4.3 miles on the treadmill with Noah next to me. He was very good!
Total miles for day: 13.3
Wednesday
AM: 9.3-mile track workout
3x1600s at 5:51, 5:46 and 5:38 with 400 recoveries and striders during my warm-up. I intentionally started conservatively, as I wasn't quite sure what to expect from my body, and got faster with each interval. I don't know if it was my new shoes (Asics 2130s) or if I was just off my game, but I was pounding the track entirely too hard during the last repeat. My gate was completely off. I also zoned out a few times and just wasn't mentally sharp. But, at least I got the track work in.... Next week, when I'm a little fresher, I'll shoot for sub-5:35s and will try to get to the Solon High School track.
PM: 4.7 miles
Total miles for day: 14
Thursday
AM: 8.5 miles
A very tough workout as I was up until 3 a.m. the night before and suffered a groin pull, which fortunately healed up by the next day thanks to ice treatment. Here's what I wrote in my running log after recording my workout: "Very tired physically and emotionally. Having serious thoughts about Mohican in my current state. Pulled up with a right groin pull. Is this even possible?" I decided to take the evening off and, by the next day, had bounced back mentally but was still down physically.
PM: Off
Total miles for day: 8.5
Friday
AM: 9 miles
Felt very heavy on my feet and pretty flat. I wanted this to be a tempo run but I was too drained to do much beyond 7-minute pace. Just tried to hang on for dear life in the name of volume....
PM: 7 miles in Shaker Park with John L.
This run allowed me to reach my goal of 70 miles by the end of Friday and to finish the day on a strong note, after struggling a bit during the morning session. John, who is an accomplished 5K and 10K specialist and frequently wins his age division in races, really pushed the pace, making this almost a tempo run. I am glad he was there because he pushed me to do better than I might have if alone.
Total miles for day: 16
Saturday
AM: 14-mile out-and-back with Ted F. in Bedford Reservation
We started at Shadow Lake (mile 18 aid station at Burning River) and turned around just past the overlook in Bedford Reservation. The weather was very humid and in the 70s. I was drenched when we got back to our cars and not feeling the best.
PM: 4 miles easy
Total miles for day: 18
Sunday
AM: 15 miles in Solon with the Southeast Running Club
I didn't get too much sleep the night before, which might be why the wheels started to come off about 10 miles into the run. I held on and managed to finish strong, going sub-7 the last mile.
Total miles for week: 103.3
My goal next week is to basically get in as many miles as possible before entering my Mohican 100 taper. If I'm able to get in 100+ miles, that would be perfect. If not, oh well, the hay's in the barn, as a friend of mine likes to say. I am at least going to shoot for 70, with 90 being optimal, and then after Sunday begin my taper for the Mohican.
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