There are two things I love: a full stomach and a full night's sleep. So you know things are getting serious when forgo either of the two for any cause. Hence, 3 early morning and pre-breakfast runs (back to back no less) this week, is a rather significant occurrence.
Indeed, this has been a pretty solid week of training for me so far. With the luxury of not racing this weekend, Kev and I have been able to schedule some quality workouts that target every aspect of my fitness: endurance, power, strength, and speed, without having to worry too much about tiring me out. I'd done a 4mile tempo, hill repeats, 1km repeats, a med-ball workout, and a couple of steady runs in between. Still to come is an interval session tonight and then a training session with the Queen's sprint team on Tuesday. It's all part of a training block which will end with a mile attempt in Boston in 2 weeks time. I'll also have a 1000m race in York next weekend, although I (hopefully) won't be trying to kill myself to run a good time there: it will be an extension of my training, just another good workout.
So that's been my week; the consistency of the morning runs is something that I'm going to try to be consistent with. It will help add a little mileage and I can also throw in other workouts there too: plyometrics, weights, and medicine ball exercises, that will supplement my running.
It is tiring though - I often need a nap later in the day and also have to eat more. I feel like I am becoming rather mechanized: sleeping, eating and running at certain times and in specific amounts. I presume that I am looking at what it is like to live "like a clock", something I referred to in post in the XC season. I never quite achieved it then, but I think I just might be on the verge of it now. I feel healthy and am pleased with how my hamstrings are doing (knock on wood) so we'll see how this goes!
Be champions.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Okay, I can't figure out how to get the race video on my blog and I am getting tres fatigue. Here is the link for meow. I'll post the video soon. I believe you have to scroll to 1:09.
http://video.discovervideo.com/vp/playindex.asp?id=026E3BAE-B119-4592-9F78-8A1550687569
http://video.discovervideo.com/vp/playindex.asp?id=026E3BAE-B119-4592-9F78-8A1550687569
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Season opener: 3:48.45
New York City baby - the city that never sleeps. And it's absolutely true! Flip that city is wild. I hadn't been there for a few years, and I'd forgotten what it was like. Sensory overload in every way!
First: the saga that was the journey from Ktown to NYC. My intrepid mother and I hit the road about 2:30pm on Friday afternoon, anticipating an ETA of about 9:30pm. Kevin left about an hour later in his own car. We had smooth passage through the border and were rocking out to Queen when a blizzard hit us - whiteout conditions! Not phased, my mother pressed on with caution and rightly so: we passed vehicles in the ditch and interestingly enough, a truck with its trailer on fire. However, once through Syracuse the weather cleared and roads were in much better condition so we continued on through Binghampton, Scranton, and then into Newark. There the fun continued as we searched for the elusive Lincoln Bridge to Manhattan Island. The search was not for the faint of heart and we required the (ultimately useless) advice of several of the local peoples. Understanding their strange dialects was trying, but we tried our best with those backwards settlers and eventually figured out how to get to our destination. Our time of arrival: 11:00pm. Kevin's time of arrival: 10:55pm. We met up with my dad (who was conveniently down working in NYC for the week) and headed to the bar for a stiff drink of rum and coke (hold the rum and coke and mix the ice with water), then, to bed.
Race Day: I arose about 8:30ish and headed down for breakie. The price of $28 for the continental was a bit steep but I took a big gulp of air which held me over until I got back to my room to utilize my emergency travel stash. I then went for a little shakeout in Central Park and topped up my confidence by blasting past a trail of middle aged folk straggling through the last few miles in of a half marathon race. Stretching, some more food, and a little television took me to 11:30 when I went over to the track with Kev and the some of Guelph team who were down there also.
The Armory: a madhouse. The New Balance Games is a highschool meet with approximately 2500 of the little whippersnappers milling around. I was taken to the elite athlete area to relax, but I really didn't have much time. Movement prep, warmup and a couple strides and before I knew it was 1:40 and I was toeing the line. The 200m track was slick: raised off the ground and banked at each end. No idea who most of the chaps are beside me but BANG: we're off! Watching the video (in the Videos section of my blog) will give you a better sense of the race, so I'll just give you a brief outline. The rabbit went out in 58-59ish and then 1:58-59ish but in the charged atmosphere we seemed to be absolutely flying around each bend. There was no time to settle but I think I made the right moves to get into 3rd by 400m. However, that's where this old boy started to fall apart. The race left me and I struggled home for 5th in 3:48.45. A great time, especially for an opener and considering my recent lack of continuity in training, but not how I generally like to finish my races. However, Kev was pleased: another manifestation of good coaching to open up what will be an exciting year!
A cooldown and chat with a good friend of mine Travis, who I met in Australia and lives in NYC, as we watched the elite men's and women's miles. Both excellent spectacles with Taylor Milne of Guelph grabbing second in 3:58.1.
Post race - dinner and a show with my parents was in order for the evening. We went to see an excellent production of Mama Mia, which really allowed me to let loose my vocal cords on the unsuspecting Yanks. Then a couple beers at a local watering hole, then off to bed. The next morning we headed to church at St Peter's cathedral on 5th Ave before breakfasting at a Seinfield-esque diner and then heading home. We left my dad in NYC as he had to stay for another few days, but ma mere et moi had no troubles on the way home. It was -32 C when we arrived home, and the house was an ice box, but what better a way to cool off following a rollicking weekend?
Be Easy.
First: the saga that was the journey from Ktown to NYC. My intrepid mother and I hit the road about 2:30pm on Friday afternoon, anticipating an ETA of about 9:30pm. Kevin left about an hour later in his own car. We had smooth passage through the border and were rocking out to Queen when a blizzard hit us - whiteout conditions! Not phased, my mother pressed on with caution and rightly so: we passed vehicles in the ditch and interestingly enough, a truck with its trailer on fire. However, once through Syracuse the weather cleared and roads were in much better condition so we continued on through Binghampton, Scranton, and then into Newark. There the fun continued as we searched for the elusive Lincoln Bridge to Manhattan Island. The search was not for the faint of heart and we required the (ultimately useless) advice of several of the local peoples. Understanding their strange dialects was trying, but we tried our best with those backwards settlers and eventually figured out how to get to our destination. Our time of arrival: 11:00pm. Kevin's time of arrival: 10:55pm. We met up with my dad (who was conveniently down working in NYC for the week) and headed to the bar for a stiff drink of rum and coke (hold the rum and coke and mix the ice with water), then, to bed.
Race Day: I arose about 8:30ish and headed down for breakie. The price of $28 for the continental was a bit steep but I took a big gulp of air which held me over until I got back to my room to utilize my emergency travel stash. I then went for a little shakeout in Central Park and topped up my confidence by blasting past a trail of middle aged folk straggling through the last few miles in of a half marathon race. Stretching, some more food, and a little television took me to 11:30 when I went over to the track with Kev and the some of Guelph team who were down there also.
The Armory: a madhouse. The New Balance Games is a highschool meet with approximately 2500 of the little whippersnappers milling around. I was taken to the elite athlete area to relax, but I really didn't have much time. Movement prep, warmup and a couple strides and before I knew it was 1:40 and I was toeing the line. The 200m track was slick: raised off the ground and banked at each end. No idea who most of the chaps are beside me but BANG: we're off! Watching the video (in the Videos section of my blog) will give you a better sense of the race, so I'll just give you a brief outline. The rabbit went out in 58-59ish and then 1:58-59ish but in the charged atmosphere we seemed to be absolutely flying around each bend. There was no time to settle but I think I made the right moves to get into 3rd by 400m. However, that's where this old boy started to fall apart. The race left me and I struggled home for 5th in 3:48.45. A great time, especially for an opener and considering my recent lack of continuity in training, but not how I generally like to finish my races. However, Kev was pleased: another manifestation of good coaching to open up what will be an exciting year!
A cooldown and chat with a good friend of mine Travis, who I met in Australia and lives in NYC, as we watched the elite men's and women's miles. Both excellent spectacles with Taylor Milne of Guelph grabbing second in 3:58.1.
Post race - dinner and a show with my parents was in order for the evening. We went to see an excellent production of Mama Mia, which really allowed me to let loose my vocal cords on the unsuspecting Yanks. Then a couple beers at a local watering hole, then off to bed. The next morning we headed to church at St Peter's cathedral on 5th Ave before breakfasting at a Seinfield-esque diner and then heading home. We left my dad in NYC as he had to stay for another few days, but ma mere et moi had no troubles on the way home. It was -32 C when we arrived home, and the house was an ice box, but what better a way to cool off following a rollicking weekend?
Be Easy.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Big Apple Bound!
Off to NYC in about 20mins! We're staying right downtown New York, only a few blocks from Central Park, so hopefully I don't get mugged when I'm on my morning shakeout tomorrow! I race at 2:45 (I believe) and then we're staying that evening for a night on the town. My parents are coming down, as is Kevin.....it's going to be just wild.
As to how I'm feeling....well my hamstrings kept acting up this past week. First my right, now my left, so hopefully they both cooperate tomorrow. All I need is 3:45 (hopefully less than) of good behaviour from them! Otherwise I'm feeling good: I did 5 miles easy on the t-mill this morning. No nerves yet, but I'm sure they will come. Right now I just need to recall the pain that I will be facing in that last 500m, and remind myself that it will be nothing new, nothing to trouble myself over. I have touched into that threshold during training in the past few weeks, but its always a little different in a race. Am I ready for it?
In any case, its just a race, with some familiar faces and some strange ones, but racing is what love to do.....flip bru I'm excited!
Be Easy.
As to how I'm feeling....well my hamstrings kept acting up this past week. First my right, now my left, so hopefully they both cooperate tomorrow. All I need is 3:45 (hopefully less than) of good behaviour from them! Otherwise I'm feeling good: I did 5 miles easy on the t-mill this morning. No nerves yet, but I'm sure they will come. Right now I just need to recall the pain that I will be facing in that last 500m, and remind myself that it will be nothing new, nothing to trouble myself over. I have touched into that threshold during training in the past few weeks, but its always a little different in a race. Am I ready for it?
In any case, its just a race, with some familiar faces and some strange ones, but racing is what love to do.....flip bru I'm excited!
Be Easy.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Shoes and housecats
Strange weather we're having these days.....minus 27 C yesterday and above zero today. Climate change my friends, I've been saying it for years. Yet, I'm never unprepared to face the elements when (get ready for a shameless plug) I'm wearing my Mizuno apparel and footwear!
In all seriousness though, I have been wearing Mizuno shoes for about 2 years now....initially I was drawn to them because they are flippin comfy. That was really the major sell for me. I put my foot in, wiggled my toes, jogged up and down the street (you have to ask permission from the salesperson before you do that though!) and I was hooked. Many pairs of shoes later (one of my greatest sorrows as an environmentalist is how many shoes I wear through) and I am yet to be let down. From the long and steady to speed intervals on the track. Mizuno has a shoe that fits the bill.
I currently I have a couple of pairs of Mizuno's on the go right now. I have just started wearing the Ronin, which is more of a minimalist shoe, meaning that there is less shoe between you and the ground. It is light, sleek and form fitting, yet seems to be a bit tougher than other shoes of its class, with decent treads and intelligently placed support around the heel and through the mid-foot - meaning I have no problem running fast over the shoddily (is that even a word?) plowed roads and sidewalks of Kingston. Plus it's bright yellow with dark blue and some nice sparkly bits in the laces....a fashion winner in my books!
One of the other Mizuno shoes that I have been wearing over the past few years is the Musha. This is also a minimalist shoe (also known as a racing flat) and while the Ronin is more rugged and outdoorsy, the Musha is more of a housecat. It will venture outside in nice weather and will carry me spryly over nice ground, but would much rather to be inside chasing the mice around the track.
Now, I'm not sure how much that helps you if you are out shoe shopping, but let me tell you, kiddo, that Mizuno is producing some hot items these days and is establishing themselves as a definite market contender. A small caveat, to the average runner: to wear a minimalist shoe and/or to run barefoot, one must be running properly and efficiently. You can't go tromping around smashing your heels wearing little or no shoe and expect to keep your knee caps intact. You must be striking the ground with your midfoot with a cadence of approximately 180 steps (both feet) per minute. I would highly recommend anyone looking to stay injury free to look into improving their running technique. Good form running is not difficult to learn but (like anything) it takes practice and time: it took me about 3 months to be able to run correctly, and I'm still tweaking things years later.
Anyway, that's all for now. Training is going well and I'm getting excited for NYC....more on that later.
Shalom.
Be Easy.
In all seriousness though, I have been wearing Mizuno shoes for about 2 years now....initially I was drawn to them because they are flippin comfy. That was really the major sell for me. I put my foot in, wiggled my toes, jogged up and down the street (you have to ask permission from the salesperson before you do that though!) and I was hooked. Many pairs of shoes later (one of my greatest sorrows as an environmentalist is how many shoes I wear through) and I am yet to be let down. From the long and steady to speed intervals on the track. Mizuno has a shoe that fits the bill.
I currently I have a couple of pairs of Mizuno's on the go right now. I have just started wearing the Ronin, which is more of a minimalist shoe, meaning that there is less shoe between you and the ground. It is light, sleek and form fitting, yet seems to be a bit tougher than other shoes of its class, with decent treads and intelligently placed support around the heel and through the mid-foot - meaning I have no problem running fast over the shoddily (is that even a word?) plowed roads and sidewalks of Kingston. Plus it's bright yellow with dark blue and some nice sparkly bits in the laces....a fashion winner in my books!
One of the other Mizuno shoes that I have been wearing over the past few years is the Musha. This is also a minimalist shoe (also known as a racing flat) and while the Ronin is more rugged and outdoorsy, the Musha is more of a housecat. It will venture outside in nice weather and will carry me spryly over nice ground, but would much rather to be inside chasing the mice around the track.
Now, I'm not sure how much that helps you if you are out shoe shopping, but let me tell you, kiddo, that Mizuno is producing some hot items these days and is establishing themselves as a definite market contender. A small caveat, to the average runner: to wear a minimalist shoe and/or to run barefoot, one must be running properly and efficiently. You can't go tromping around smashing your heels wearing little or no shoe and expect to keep your knee caps intact. You must be striking the ground with your midfoot with a cadence of approximately 180 steps (both feet) per minute. I would highly recommend anyone looking to stay injury free to look into improving their running technique. Good form running is not difficult to learn but (like anything) it takes practice and time: it took me about 3 months to be able to run correctly, and I'm still tweaking things years later.
Anyway, that's all for now. Training is going well and I'm getting excited for NYC....more on that later.
Shalom.
Be Easy.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
A stuttering start...
Welcome back everyone....my apologies for keeping everyone waiting for what will be yet another scintilating description of my life!
Why the so long since the last post? Well, November and December were flippin hectic with the end of term assignments and exams, and I really wasn't doing too much of interest running-wise. Then, I realized that the first blog back would have to include some sort of lengthy description of the previous weeks and months as well as some sort of excuse as to why I had neglected my blogging for so long....it seemed to be an insurmountable task and I got scared.
But, I have addressed my inner demons and am back to blog; to continue the tale of my athletic pursuits, a tale that (I believe) is going to be decidedly more interesting than it was last year, if you can believe that!
So what has happened since the cross country CIS championships? Well, I continued to address my knee issue, a long and slow process during which a non-specific and dull ache would migrate back and forth across my knee throughout my runs. This lasted for quite some time, as the physio's had warned me, but I do believe that I am just about over it now. I did come to realize that wearing spikes (racing shoes) was not the best for the knee....there may be something about the added traction of the pins that locks my foot to the track increases the torque on my knee. I think I will have to break myself in slowly into wearing spikes so I will be able to race in them pain-free.
I wrote my LSAT (law school entrance exam) and scored well enough to put me in the mix for a few schools around Ontario and Canada. I will hear back in a few months time as to whether I have been accepted or not, but this now raises the dilemma as to what my priority will be in the coming years: school or running? Or can I continue to balance both and reach the heights that I aspire to?
Following a few days off after CIS, I began training for the track season. However, this has been fraught with some minor, but nagging injuries: hamstrings, knees, and achilles: hence the title of this blog. My training has been of good quality, and I am most likely at a higher level of fitness than I was at this time last year, but we haven't been very consistent due to my need to back off everynow and then either to stave off or recovery from injury. This is all part an parcel of this business, but its frustrating all the same. I am currently getting over a strain to my right hamstring and just got back to easy running today. I have a massage tomorrow to hopefully work out some kinks and I'm looking forward to starting afresh!
New Years, and the corresponding resolutions. I'm not sure how long this will last, but I plan to get to bed each night by 11:00pm. This is part of my committment to proper recovery. I can train as hard as I like/can (and I do) but I will not improve, and will most likely continue to get injured, unless I recover properly between workouts. Nutrition, stretching and strengthening exercises, icing all require attention, but sleep is one area where I often let myself down.
So, that's what I have been upto, and now what's next?
Well, Kev got me into a race in New York City on January 22nd. I am racing an elite 1500m in the New Balance Games. I was supposed to be in the elite mile, but there were so many entries, some of whom were faster than me (such as Olympians Allan Webb, Andy Badderly, and Taylor Milne) that the meet directors created an elite but slightly slower 1500m race. Regardless, for my first 1500 of the season, there will still be some excellent competition and I'm pretty excited to be racing in the Big Apple! (I'll try to pick up the New York accent to add to my repetoire of "fake" accents!)
Anyway, my new bedtime is approaching....cheerio for now and I'll catch you later! Thanks for stopping by the blog to check up on my developments. Happy New Years!
Be Easy.
Matt
Why the so long since the last post? Well, November and December were flippin hectic with the end of term assignments and exams, and I really wasn't doing too much of interest running-wise. Then, I realized that the first blog back would have to include some sort of lengthy description of the previous weeks and months as well as some sort of excuse as to why I had neglected my blogging for so long....it seemed to be an insurmountable task and I got scared.
But, I have addressed my inner demons and am back to blog; to continue the tale of my athletic pursuits, a tale that (I believe) is going to be decidedly more interesting than it was last year, if you can believe that!
So what has happened since the cross country CIS championships? Well, I continued to address my knee issue, a long and slow process during which a non-specific and dull ache would migrate back and forth across my knee throughout my runs. This lasted for quite some time, as the physio's had warned me, but I do believe that I am just about over it now. I did come to realize that wearing spikes (racing shoes) was not the best for the knee....there may be something about the added traction of the pins that locks my foot to the track increases the torque on my knee. I think I will have to break myself in slowly into wearing spikes so I will be able to race in them pain-free.
I wrote my LSAT (law school entrance exam) and scored well enough to put me in the mix for a few schools around Ontario and Canada. I will hear back in a few months time as to whether I have been accepted or not, but this now raises the dilemma as to what my priority will be in the coming years: school or running? Or can I continue to balance both and reach the heights that I aspire to?
Following a few days off after CIS, I began training for the track season. However, this has been fraught with some minor, but nagging injuries: hamstrings, knees, and achilles: hence the title of this blog. My training has been of good quality, and I am most likely at a higher level of fitness than I was at this time last year, but we haven't been very consistent due to my need to back off everynow and then either to stave off or recovery from injury. This is all part an parcel of this business, but its frustrating all the same. I am currently getting over a strain to my right hamstring and just got back to easy running today. I have a massage tomorrow to hopefully work out some kinks and I'm looking forward to starting afresh!
New Years, and the corresponding resolutions. I'm not sure how long this will last, but I plan to get to bed each night by 11:00pm. This is part of my committment to proper recovery. I can train as hard as I like/can (and I do) but I will not improve, and will most likely continue to get injured, unless I recover properly between workouts. Nutrition, stretching and strengthening exercises, icing all require attention, but sleep is one area where I often let myself down.
So, that's what I have been upto, and now what's next?
Well, Kev got me into a race in New York City on January 22nd. I am racing an elite 1500m in the New Balance Games. I was supposed to be in the elite mile, but there were so many entries, some of whom were faster than me (such as Olympians Allan Webb, Andy Badderly, and Taylor Milne) that the meet directors created an elite but slightly slower 1500m race. Regardless, for my first 1500 of the season, there will still be some excellent competition and I'm pretty excited to be racing in the Big Apple! (I'll try to pick up the New York accent to add to my repetoire of "fake" accents!)
Anyway, my new bedtime is approaching....cheerio for now and I'll catch you later! Thanks for stopping by the blog to check up on my developments. Happy New Years!
Be Easy.
Matt
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