Saturday, September 29, 2007

23, 33-19

ORN: 23.2 miles, 4:15:33, 11:01/mile, R3/W1

Up at 4:30, running at 5:00am on a Saturday…yep, running will lead you to do odd things. Such was the case today, as I needed to get over the Second Range on my journey to the
Rocket City Marathon. The Galloway plan I’m experimenting with uses over-mileage and this is part of it.

The run itself was wonderfully unremarkable, very enjoyable and quite instructive. The day was perfect, with temps in the low 50s, a clear sky with a nearly-full moon still high in the sky for the first half of the run. I packed Accelerade and Gummie Bears today and the combination seemed to work well.

The miles just kind of clicked off, so I won’t bore you with many details. When the sun finally peeked over the eastern horizon, I looked at my Garmin and noted I already had 13.4 miles in the bank. The pace was steady throughout, and the 3/1 ratio kept it in the high 10s and low 11s. I really felt I could have kept that ratio going for a long time. To work on mental toughness, though, I ran the last two miles without interruption for the quickest miles of the day, 10:22 and then a 9:33 at the end. No pain and very little weariness. No soreness at all the rest of the day. The new pattern of thin sock/thick sock has fully eliminated blisters. It was a fun run. And, yes, I could have easily added three more miles today.

The next step is a
training marathon in three weeks. I’ll run it at 3/1 as well and remind myself it’s just a training run with friends, a T-shirt and a medal.

But all this begs the obvious question: Why get up at 4:30am for a training run?

Blame it on ESPN.

Earlier in the week, my good friend Don called me with an extra ticket to this afternoon’s football game between Purdue and Notre Dame. Given my family’s long connection with Notre Dame, it is always a special treat so I accepted his offer. Midweek, the TV gurus decided this game would be a noon kickoff. So, in order to get in 23 miles, clean up, fight the traffic for this sellout game and be there for the game, I had to be on the run by 5am.

The game was fun, in that Purdue won fairly handily, 33-19, over this year’s hapless Fighting Irish. Besides the football, however, it was a fascinating contrast. Whereas I started my day with 4+hours in the quiet solitude of a long training run. I then spent 4+ hours with 65,000 others at the game. Our seats were in the nosebleed portion of the end zone, just under the main stadium speakers, so we were blasted with pounding music, commercials and announcers all day. What a contrast in both enjoyable events.

With Don's help, I made a 39 second video for my extended family during halftime...you might enjoy it as well.

What a way to spend a perfect fall day in Indiana. Persevere, alone or in a crowd.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a contrast, going from a pre-dawn run to an college football game. Looks like your training is going well. December will be here before you know it.

Backofpack said...

Sounds like a great training run Joe and I enjoyed the video! I don't understand one thing though..a t-shirt? It's officially fall here - cold temps, spitting rain, wind...I'm moving to your area!

IronWaddler said...

Isn't it amazing the range of what you can fit in to 24 hours? What an awesome day! Love the video clip.

Sarah said...

Love the contrast! The crowd and game must have been invigorating. If I had been up since 4:30am and ran 23 miles, I would have been napping about then! Fun video! : )

Darrell said...

I can't imagine which you enjoyed more. There's nothing quite like the exicitement of a college football game. Bryan was watching the U of Oregon yesterday and I was excited just remembering running the marathon and being at the stadium. There were big yellow O's everywhere up there. Glad you had a great day.

I do like the idea that if you are going to run really long like Gallaway advocates that you at least get a t-shirt and a medal. Even better that the knee is holding up!

Wes said...

Ahhhh... 23 miles... Nice :-) I may do 3 and 1 for my run this weekend. Its 16 miles.... We'll see!

April Anne said...

Great job on your run and an awesome pace at the end.

Jenny, Maniac #401 said...

Great post and nice video! Thanks for the suggestions. I already know I am an overpronator and wear orthotics and stick with a stability shoe. I will be purchasing new ones this week.

Funny thing, I went to Tigard High School, but grew up in Tualatin, just next door. It did not have it's own High school until after I graduated.

Jenny

Unknown said...

I am glad to hear the running is going well. It's always nice when things seem to click along.