Trail Runner Magazine

I picked up the latest issue of Trail Runner today and probably spent too much time reading it- in fact you bet I did. I printed some articles on the markets today that I need to get to but they will have to wait a little bit. There is a lot going on right now at work and in the markets but all of that has to take a back seat to Trail Runner magazine.

There was an awesome section on fastpacking with pages of tips, gear and ideas of trails to do etc. It put some ideas into my head about next year. My goal right now is to have a good year, run the JFK 50 miler, stay fit in the fall and then do something bigger next summer maybe a 24 hour mountain bike ride (solo) or an idea that I had a few weeks ago of doing the New Jersey portion of the Appalachian Trail in two days next summer.

It is funny how when I started reading my hamstring started feeling better like I could run on it. I am going to take the rest of the week off and then get after it on Monday. Between now and then I will do some core work and learn some more about fastpacking. I am still mad at myself (my age really) for getting hurt playing basketball. Maybe there was some connection to my hamstring and how bad the Lakers got beat.

Happy Trails

One more goal......

Well I biked this morning for about 45 minutes and then went and played basketball tonight. I have biked three times in the past two weeks and my hamstrings have been extra tight as a result (my core work has dropped off lately) Tight hamstrings and what is my idea of a cure? A game of basketball. I understand in theory that I need to establish a running base before I can run 50 miles but putting that theory into practice has been interupted by basketball, biking and hiking. I also have to watch out for the two workouts in one day.

I played basketball for about an hour and fifteen minutes tonight and the last two games I was basically limping around with one good hamstring as my left hamstring was a knot. I did not pull it and hopefully it is just tight and will be better in a couple of days. Right now though it hurts quite a bit. I think that I can get away with one session of either basketball or biking a week but no more. The new goal is to run and not substitute other workouts for runs. Maybe I can do that in a few years when I am 10 or 15 pounds lighter and have a much bigger running base but right now I just need to run.

Happy trails,

Robert

Goals, goals, goals and another good week.......

This week was a good "off" week where I ran twice, biked twice, hiked once and played ultimate frisbee for about an hour. Next week needs to include a lot more running but I am happy that this week I was able to recover a little bit from last week and still stay active.

It has been about 4 weeks of good training and I feel ready to up the weekly running mileage to 25 to 30 miles for a few weeks with long runs in the next month of about 12 to 15 miles.

My other goals for the next month are as follows:

1. Incorporate hill work once a week (easy 20 to 30 minutes).
2. Lose 7 pounds (to get to 175).
3. improve flexibility by stretching daily and doing pilates twice a week.
4. Lift weights once a week with a focus on high reps for hamstrings and calves.

I was quite concerned about playing ultimate frisbee because my hamstrings were tighter than normal. My guess is that it was because of the biking but I am not sure. My hip is also bothering me. I think that it is the hip flexor (the part in front) but am not sure. I have to get some flexibility in my hamstrings if I am going to pull off 50 miles.

Happy trails,

Robert

Good week

This was a good week as  I accomplished every run that I set out to do with the exception of a 5 mile run on Friday, which I substituted with an hour of basketball this morning.  Total mileage for the week was about 16 with one weight session and a couple of good ab days.  My long run was on the hottest day of the year so far (today). I went through 2 water bottles (one water and one gatorade).  I did about 7 or 8 miles and ran for 1:20 at Watchung with a little walking when I got off the trail and up the hills.   I walked up the hills and think that I will do that for my long runs to try and simulate what the race will be like.  After the run  I did an ice bath.  The only thing sore so far is both hips but I am sure that more things will be sore tomorrow.  Also this week I lost three pounds which means that  I am closer to my goal of 175 (7 more pounds).  

Well this is the first week of training that went according to plan and gave me a confidence boost- I am also starting to stretch more and am watching my diet.  I also bought a watch after not wearing one for about 10 years or so to track time.  

I have not thought about next week yet but will look at it tomorrow. I have a lot on my plate right now.  My guess is that I need another 2 weeks of about 20 miles (the basketball should count for something) and then a lighter week of maybe a bit of biking.  I also have to figure out when to start the building phase and what constitutes the building phase when planning for a 50 miler.  I am guessing that sometime in August should work but I have to research it a little more.  

The immediate goal is to continue building on the momentum of the past two weeks and to stay injury free ( and of course to keep having a ton of fun). 

Happy Trails

Robert