"Running allows us to define our weaknesses and make them strengths. It
supplies those missing attributes that diminish us and keep us from
functioning fully. It makes us whole."
George Sheehan
Wednesday:
Distance: 3
Time: 26:30
On treadmill at new gym - i am looking into this new gym and trying to decide if i will join. a good amount of money, but i think it will be a good investment. stay tuned.
Followed by weight workout
p.s. they have racquetball courts! i love to play!!
Showing posts with label Sheehan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sheehan. Show all posts
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Saturday ritual
“Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling and enduring and accomplishing.”
-George Sheehan
The weekend prior to any 4th of july peachtree race is one in which runners get out on Peachtree Road and practice the course.
This humid morning, my pal S. & I headed out and did our part as well. We parked one vehicle near the end and the other at my office building across from the start.
The race organizers have already begun the logistical preparations even though race day is still 5 days away. Lenox Mall area has tons of port-a-potties already there; makeshift fences have already been put up in place around the starting line which extends about 1/2 mile or so. We are getting ready...gettin' ready!! YEAH!!
S. & I headed out and passed many folks running in opposite direction, which is typical. I noticed right away how heavy my legs felt. I wasn't quite awake yet..having only woken an hour prior to running time. I was pooped this morning and would have loved to have slept in more, but I decided to forgo sleep for cooler temps! It was 80 degrees when we began at 8am and very humid.
I figured there were some folks doing some marathon training and as we passed each other ... runners and walkers, i said "good morning" and cheered them on. I noticed the whole scene gave me a boost! There were volunteers out from Atlanta Track Club giving out water and at the main big hill of the course(I think it might be called CARDIAC HILL, there were volunteers handing out little towels that had Piedmont Hospital logos on them. Consequently, Piedmont Hospital is at top of hill, so, you know if you are feeling ill effects on race day, you can just go on in....
I gathered steam as we got up and over the hill and was able to cruise to just past the mile 5 marker feeling o.k. I decided to stop there and save a bit. I will probably get in a run tomorrow...maybe even some of the course again...just for the camaraderie alone!!
5.1 miles
48:19
-George Sheehan
The weekend prior to any 4th of july peachtree race is one in which runners get out on Peachtree Road and practice the course.
This humid morning, my pal S. & I headed out and did our part as well. We parked one vehicle near the end and the other at my office building across from the start.
The race organizers have already begun the logistical preparations even though race day is still 5 days away. Lenox Mall area has tons of port-a-potties already there; makeshift fences have already been put up in place around the starting line which extends about 1/2 mile or so. We are getting ready...gettin' ready!! YEAH!!
S. & I headed out and passed many folks running in opposite direction, which is typical. I noticed right away how heavy my legs felt. I wasn't quite awake yet..having only woken an hour prior to running time. I was pooped this morning and would have loved to have slept in more, but I decided to forgo sleep for cooler temps! It was 80 degrees when we began at 8am and very humid.
I figured there were some folks doing some marathon training and as we passed each other ... runners and walkers, i said "good morning" and cheered them on. I noticed the whole scene gave me a boost! There were volunteers out from Atlanta Track Club giving out water and at the main big hill of the course(I think it might be called CARDIAC HILL, there were volunteers handing out little towels that had Piedmont Hospital logos on them. Consequently, Piedmont Hospital is at top of hill, so, you know if you are feeling ill effects on race day, you can just go on in....
I gathered steam as we got up and over the hill and was able to cruise to just past the mile 5 marker feeling o.k. I decided to stop there and save a bit. I will probably get in a run tomorrow...maybe even some of the course again...just for the camaraderie alone!!
5.1 miles
48:19
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Race day report
Part I - Pre-race
Looking out of my 11th floor hotel window, I see quiet downtown streets. A stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of yesterday’s activity. I look up to the sky and see nothing but blue. Not a cloud in sight from my viewpoint. Race doesn’t start until 10am. At that time yesterday, it was already pretty warm and a bit humid. Not sure of the temps at current time, but I know it is suppossed to be another hot day here in Philly. Thankfully, the race is in a park, so I am hoping for some heat relief from Mother Nature.
This will not be a race for time. This will simply be an adventure. I have no knowledge of the course. I have not been training all that hard, for various reasons. What I am looking forward to is the experience, a new race in a new city. And a TRAIL RACE! The have only done 2 other trail races; The famed Dipsea Race (3 times) and the Woodminster Cross Country Race 9 miler (once), both in the BAY AREA. Both of those are incredibly demanding and challenging. NOT for the weak of heart or strength or will.
I’m about to chow down a CLIF Bar, grab a taxi and head on out....
Part II - Getting to the Start
Using my printed directions, I reluctantly got into the taxi with the driver who really didn’t seem to know where we were going. I was going to have to help him a lot. What is it with cab drivers. Last week in Chicago, we had trouble there too? I thought cabbies were suppossed to know WHERE places were....
30 minutes and $30 bucks later, I finally get to the race start. Race directions were not the greatest & I had to help cabbie find all the streets.
Part III - The Race
The Wissahickon Trail Race was held in the northwest area of Fairmount Park
An incredibly beautiful, lush park. As mentioned, race didn’t begin until 10am, so after arriving at 9:15, I had plenty of time to register, drink H2O & hit the bathroom. Soon enough, the crowd had grown and it seemed like everyone was excited. It also seemed like there were a lot of younger runners out; early 20’s.
Total # of runners was 499. A good, small, dedicated group.
oh, yeah. The weather. It was pretty hot and very humid at the start.
After a simple, “Get Ready, Set, Go” from the race director, we were off and running. The trail was very wide for the first mile or so. Then, the hills came and the single track adorned with rocks, branches, stumps...any and everything that could possible cause one to trip.
The climbs were significant and by 2 miles, I was sucking wind pretty badly. Too bad there wasn’t any wind to actually suck since it was so damn humid. Yes, I do live in Atlanta where it is also very humid, but we have not yet had this kind of weather. So.
The down hills were significant and tricky and had to be carefully maneuvered. I tried to catch up on my time, but little progress was made. Trail running is so different in that you don’t ever really get into a groove; with the constant terrain changes, your body is alwasys adjusting and such. But, of course, this is part of the fun too.
On every steep uphill, there was just a single file line of us walking, panting, and some cursing beautiful mother nature. My quads were on fire. Heavy. Heavy. Heavy!! UUGGGHHHH. My head also felt like it was gonna burst because I felt so freaking hot. I cannot recall the last time I ever felt so out of breath for such an extended period of time. WOW.
Amidst all of this, I tried to just really take it all in...this was not a race for time or anything for me; I knew that weeks ago. Nevertheless, it’s a much harder thing to accept when in the competition, in the battle. And, I think any true competitor knows that. At 5.5 miles, a course marshall pointed us to the left and said, “downhill from here. you are almost there.”
Yeah! I did my best to scamper down and finish the last .2 miles with a sprint.
Finish time = 1:14
Slowest 10k ever
First Ever 10k trail race.
I thought of a quote while running that I’d like to share at this point.
“The difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank.”
George Sheehan
Every time out take courage, not matter who you are, no matter what level of fitness. And I give a shout out to all of those who competed yesterday. It was far from easy.
Here is the only photo I have -- not great, but a small piece of evidence I was there.
Looking out of my 11th floor hotel window, I see quiet downtown streets. A stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of yesterday’s activity. I look up to the sky and see nothing but blue. Not a cloud in sight from my viewpoint. Race doesn’t start until 10am. At that time yesterday, it was already pretty warm and a bit humid. Not sure of the temps at current time, but I know it is suppossed to be another hot day here in Philly. Thankfully, the race is in a park, so I am hoping for some heat relief from Mother Nature.
This will not be a race for time. This will simply be an adventure. I have no knowledge of the course. I have not been training all that hard, for various reasons. What I am looking forward to is the experience, a new race in a new city. And a TRAIL RACE! The have only done 2 other trail races; The famed Dipsea Race (3 times) and the Woodminster Cross Country Race 9 miler (once), both in the BAY AREA. Both of those are incredibly demanding and challenging. NOT for the weak of heart or strength or will.
I’m about to chow down a CLIF Bar, grab a taxi and head on out....
Part II - Getting to the Start
Using my printed directions, I reluctantly got into the taxi with the driver who really didn’t seem to know where we were going. I was going to have to help him a lot. What is it with cab drivers. Last week in Chicago, we had trouble there too? I thought cabbies were suppossed to know WHERE places were....
30 minutes and $30 bucks later, I finally get to the race start. Race directions were not the greatest & I had to help cabbie find all the streets.
Part III - The Race
The Wissahickon Trail Race was held in the northwest area of Fairmount Park
An incredibly beautiful, lush park. As mentioned, race didn’t begin until 10am, so after arriving at 9:15, I had plenty of time to register, drink H2O & hit the bathroom. Soon enough, the crowd had grown and it seemed like everyone was excited. It also seemed like there were a lot of younger runners out; early 20’s.
Total # of runners was 499. A good, small, dedicated group.
oh, yeah. The weather. It was pretty hot and very humid at the start.
After a simple, “Get Ready, Set, Go” from the race director, we were off and running. The trail was very wide for the first mile or so. Then, the hills came and the single track adorned with rocks, branches, stumps...any and everything that could possible cause one to trip.
The climbs were significant and by 2 miles, I was sucking wind pretty badly. Too bad there wasn’t any wind to actually suck since it was so damn humid. Yes, I do live in Atlanta where it is also very humid, but we have not yet had this kind of weather. So.
The down hills were significant and tricky and had to be carefully maneuvered. I tried to catch up on my time, but little progress was made. Trail running is so different in that you don’t ever really get into a groove; with the constant terrain changes, your body is alwasys adjusting and such. But, of course, this is part of the fun too.
On every steep uphill, there was just a single file line of us walking, panting, and some cursing beautiful mother nature. My quads were on fire. Heavy. Heavy. Heavy!! UUGGGHHHH. My head also felt like it was gonna burst because I felt so freaking hot. I cannot recall the last time I ever felt so out of breath for such an extended period of time. WOW.
Amidst all of this, I tried to just really take it all in...this was not a race for time or anything for me; I knew that weeks ago. Nevertheless, it’s a much harder thing to accept when in the competition, in the battle. And, I think any true competitor knows that. At 5.5 miles, a course marshall pointed us to the left and said, “downhill from here. you are almost there.”
Yeah! I did my best to scamper down and finish the last .2 miles with a sprint.
Finish time = 1:14
Slowest 10k ever
First Ever 10k trail race.
I thought of a quote while running that I’d like to share at this point.
“The difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank.”
George Sheehan
Every time out take courage, not matter who you are, no matter what level of fitness. And I give a shout out to all of those who competed yesterday. It was far from easy.
Here is the only photo I have -- not great, but a small piece of evidence I was there.
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