It's the Humidity Stupid!

Today I wanted to push the pace in 90F degree weather... It went better than I expected... 8:14, 7:58, 7:53, 7:41 (31:46), 7:30, 7:36, 7:45*, 7:24 (30:15). Interesting how yesterday's run, while cooler felt harder; my guess is that the humidity was the culprit.

Yesterday's run started with me feeling really sluggish, then the humidity/heat got to me (or maybe it was GERD as I felt heaviness in my chest)... managed to push it for the last mile. 75F, 63% humidity. I averaged 8:31 pace for seven miles.

Today's humidity was only 37%.

Some tidbits

• On Tuesday I had an interview for Structural Engineering Associate... did not go too well as I have not done structural calculations in eons. I still have hope I will get picked though.
• Next week I leave for Mexico for two weeks; I am hoping I will be able to run while there.
• My next race is the Nike NYC Half... since I am not in racing shape, all I am hoping is for a good time... AND maybe run in the 1:32s... or better :-) It will be up to the weather gods.
  
• Good luck to Bridget on Saturday.

To an Athlete Dying Young

The time you won your town the race
We chaired you through the market-place;
Man and boy stood cheering by,
And home we brought you shoulder-high.

To-day, the road all runners come,
Shoulder-high we bring you home,
And set you at your threshold down,
Townsman of a stiller town.

Smart lad, to slip betimes away
From fields were glory does not stay
And early though the laurel grows
It withers quicker than the rose.

Eyes the shady night has shut
Cannot see the record cut,
And silence sounds no worse than cheers
After earth has stopped the ears:

Now you will not swell the rout
Of lads that wore their honours out,
Runners whom renown outran
And the name died before the man.

So set, before its echoes fade,
The fleet foot on the sill of shade,
And hold to the low lintel up
The still-defended challenge-cup.

And round that early-laurelled head
Will flock to gaze the strengthless dead,
And find unwithered on its curls
The garland briefer than a girl's.

A.E Housman

One More Time

I have owned Pfitzinger-Douglas' Advanced Marathoning for several years but had not read it, just skimmed through it. Now that I have read it, I will give its 18-week schedule (70 miles or less) a try.

When I was training for CIM, I used the FIRST program and it worked for me. I really liked the flexibility of the schedule as I could switch days or move workouts forward or backward and fill the other days with easy runs or x-training. The problem is that the quality runs are really tough and take a bit too much from me.

Sooo... right now I am concentrating in building up volume. Take today as an example. I tried running the eight miles without looking at my watch for feedback. I did peek at the turn arund point (33:18) and was mildly disappointed at the slowish split. I tried really hard maintaining the same effort as in the out section but I may have subconsciously picked up the effort without being aware as the second half; and I had, as a result, a more gratifying split, 31:16 (7:49 pace) - with the last mile run in 7:34. One thing I did like about this run was that I thoroughly enjoyed it; suffice it to say that I will try more of these runs where I will not look at my watch and run by feel.

Happy running you all.