Casting a net far and wide

It's a new year which means more races to register and organize! Woohoo!

I'm a little late in the game but I got my act together and sent an email out to all my running peeps who may be interested in running another team relay this year; the 199 mile Calistoga to Santa Cruz relay. I only have five confirmed so I have a lot of recruiting/begging/bribing/coercing to do between now and March.

track training

First time at track last night after a long sabbatical and I decided to run Yasso 800s. Yasso 800s, named after Bart Yasso, the race services manager at Runner's World, is based off the pace time you can run 800 meters. Whatever that time is will likely be your average marathon time. For example, if you want to run a 3:40 marathon, run your 800s in 3:40.

Training theory is complex when you have to consider all the other variables like pace, pulse, max VO2, lactate threshold, etc. Not to mention the variables you have no control over on race day like weather, injury, etc. Several of my friends have trained using Yasso 800s theory and it has worked for them. I thought it would be good for me to give it a try.

I only did four rotations averaging 3:40-3:45 pace to start. Eventually, I'll build up to 10 800s in the next several months. My next marathon will likely be the Seattle Rock n Roll and I'll try to qualify for Boston then.

climbing fake rocks

I've taken up indoor rock climbing since climbing trees at my age isn't social acceptable anymore. I threw down dough for climbing shoes and a harness at REI the other day. Now that I've invested in equipment, my brother and I are climbing at the new Planet Granite in Presidio. It's clean (read: doesn't smell like years of dried sweat on the walls), fairly spacious and has a well thought out bouldering area, and it's not crowded like Mission Cliffs. Woo!

the first ride

Thanks to the guys at SB, my bike's in working order and I took it for a spin on the morning of the Nike marathon. The plan was to ride along Brotherhood Way to Lake Merced and up the Great Highway since the roads will be closed for the race. I was a little nervous riding on the bumpy roads and every time I hit a pothole, I wanted to put my foot down. When I got near the race finish line, I was forced to cut through the park to reach the 10 mile mark to cheer for my friends. Then I waited, and waited and waited. I didn't see a single person I recognized. Thinking I may have missed them, I rode alongside the runners, scanning the crowds and not paying attention to the roads narrowing until I fell off my bike into a patch of grass. At least it wasn't concrete.

I ended up riding to a friend's place on Taravel for our pre-scheduled bike ride which consisted of a leasurely ride around the lake so he could check out all the women runners.

no Nike race for me..boo

I decided to sell my bib for the Nike half earlier this week. I figured my health was more important than a race. Posted my entry on CL and got a dozen or so emails but I chose the first legit one in my inbox. I went down to the Nike expo yesterday to pick up the packet with the assumption that I would be avoiding the majority of the crowds. Wrong!

I arrive in Union Square around 4:35p (doors opened at 4p) and was directed to the END of the packet pick-up line that snaked around the square. There were two guys "monitoring" the line to control the flow of people in that itty bitty tent they have up in Union Square. Apparently, the line monitors allowed 15 people in every minute.



Stupid idea when TnT and Nike know very well they have 20k+ registered runners that need to pick up their packet this weekend. If there's a line today, imagine what it will be like the next two days.



Yes, that was the guy above that was "monitoring" the line. Once I got in the tent 30 minutes later, I got my bib and had to walk through the sales booths, past the massage tables and manicure lounge.

things to complete..

1) Heal
2) Start exercising (i.e. weight lifting, core strengthening, jogging slowly to avoid bouncing)
3) Fix right gear shift on bike, true tires, check derailers)

how ironic

I just noticed my "About Me" tag line.. Apparently, I did use my head after all. HA!

no strenuous activities

I cancelled my travel plans for St. George and won't be running my marathon after all. No running, biking or any activity that involves bouncy or jerky head movements until my facial bones start to set. Boo..