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Runtime Error from happyrobot - updated 5/25/2013 6:20:33 PM http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp en-us <![CDATA[Time to get over myself]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10420 Here's what the Finish Line looks like on Marathon Tuesday, much like my hopes and dreams and my emotional state:

It's 2 (two) days after the Boston Marathon and I realize that I probably should "get over" myself and stop thinking and talking about it.

I'm so sorry to bore you.

But I did want to compile some notes here right away and answer some FAQ's. I am also outlining a lot of thoughts from the day (from the moments I could remember and my brain wasn't melting and dripping down my face) and hope to have a true race report up in the next day or two.

Q. Did you win?

A. I'm sorry, I did not. The Kenyan won. Wesley Korir, in fact. Also, Kenyan's came in 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, 8th and 10th. I think they may have teamed up and the cards were stacked against me.

Q. Did you come in 11th place?

A. Actually, I came in just over 15-thousandth place. But still better than about 6,000 runners. In fact, I beat former New England Patriot Teddy Bruschi. Though, he is a stroke survivor, so I guess I had a leg up on him.

Q. How did you do?

A. I haven't quite decided yet.

Q. What does that mean?

A. I finished in 4 hours and 37 minutes. EXACTLY one hour slower than my original goal.

Q. But that sounds like a good time! What happened?

A. The heat was unbearable. For 2 days prior to the race the BAA was recommending that people defer to next year, especially if this was their first marathon. It was like running in a heavy, wet, winter coat.

Q. HOW HOT WAS IT?

A. Some reports say it hit 90 degrees on the course. A Boston record! Experienced marathoners have been saying, on-line, that this was the most brutal race they ever participated in. Last year's winner and marathon record holder Geoffrey Mutai had to drop out at mile 18 and DNF.

Q. What was the best part?

A. After some reflection, a lot of best parts. Mostly, seeing Q and Romine on the course, two times, cheering me on. Without knowing that they could be right around the corner, I might have bailed. And seeing Ginny, and Whitney on the course too. Traveling to Hopkinton and starting the race with Kelly. Seeing Jana and Hadas at the finish. Stopping to say hi to the AccesSport peeps at the foot of heartbreak hill. And maybe best of all, the little girl who gave me a green flavor-ice, somewhere around mile 22.

Q. How do you feel?

A. Actually, right now, pretty great! Not too good at mile 24 and not at all on Monday night, but I just entered the lottery for the NYC Marathon in November, so things should be alright.

]]> <![CDATA[I got 5 on it]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10419 Talk of the town this week has been the weather and it hasn't been small talk.

Runners in online forums have been paying close attention to the April 16 forecast all week and this past Monday the swings and variations on websites saw anything from 50 and raining (please god) to 85+ with a tailwind (shoot me).

Three days out it's looking like mid 80s is a lock and there's speculation of the race being "black flagged", true under 3 hour racers dropping out and people reminicing about the 85 degree marathon in 2004 where 2,000 people DNFd and another 2,000 made use of medical tents along the way. Others are talking of 2010 Chicago where the race was "cancelled" after half the field started cause they just couldn't get enough water on the course.

So what does all of this mean?

Is it internet paranoia? Is there a real fear of going out at goal pace and overheating in the first 5 miles? Will I be using the limbs of fallen runners to pull myself up heartbreak hill?

There are various pacing formulas that tell you how much you need to back off your "race" pace at temps above 65 degrees. At 85 its looking like a 10-20% drop off.

It's kind of frustrating, after training for 16 weeks, never missing a session to think I'll have to back off that much. Turn it into a "fun-run" if you can call 26.2 miles such a thing.

But really, what did aiming for 3:40 really mean? It's completely arbitrary. It wouldn't be a Boston Qualifying time. It was a time and goal I set that I know in decent conditions I could reach and most likely break.

Is the Boston Marathon those 26.2 miles from Hopkinton to Copley Square? Or is it everything else that surrounds it? The winter training, the lonely 20 milers in February, the anticipation?

What's it really about right now? It's about going out on the best day of the year, of any year, running my ass off (whether it takes 3:40, 4 flat or 4:20), and having a BLAST!

So that's my plan. Winter, Summer, Fall, I've always felt that a 9 per mile pace was something I could run forever. So I think that's going to be my goal pace. For at least the first 20. We can take stock and decide to race the last 6 then. Wth any luck I can put in a sub-4 hour marathon and have a story to tell for the rest of my life.

Tomorrow I have an easy 3 mile run where I will try and tone it down a bit to see what 9 minute miles on the road feel like, pick my best friend up at the train station, and go to a one-year-old's birtday party. It's going to be awesome.

Monday, I'm gonna go out, and have the best fucking day of my life.

I got 5 on it.

]]> <![CDATA[Get outta my way]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10418 One week to go until the marathon and I need to start getting my act together (I should probably start training or something, yikes!). I need to have a plan to get through this week and somehow find myself in Hopkinton next Monday morning at some ungodly hour.

This week is busy with a work event tomorrow night, a team event on Thursday evening, a few training sessions and the marathon expo starting Friday.

I went to the expo last year to pick up my bib # for the marathon-weekend 5k, but in some way felt like I didn't belong. This year I am going to go, maybe more than once, and really savor the experience.

This is likely my one and only Boston Marathon. The charity fundraising goal is high, and I'd have to shave off more time than I could ever manage if I wanted to be an automatic qualifier.

My big fear right now is that I end up in Hopkinton on Monday wearing the wrong socks, or not having any shoes. It's like the actor's nightmare but for running.

So, here's my weekly to-do list. Let me know if I am missing anything! I've got to pack it all in and giterdone.

1. Tailor my outfit

I am wering a red satin team AccesSportAmerica tank that they gave us in order to spread the word about the charity. I'll be wearing a running shirt under this but the cut of the tank is all wrong. I need to bring up the neck line a bit and re-sew the shoulders

2. Watch my weight

I am convinced that since I am not running as much this week but continue to eat constantly, I am going to put on 15 pounds by Monday. That would definitely put my goal time into question

3. Create the ultimate 50ish minute playlist

I don't plan to run with music; the cheering crowd is something I want to take in for as long as possible. BUT, I may need something to get me through those last 6.2 miles so I'll pocket an old iPod shuffle that's hanging around. Thank god Kylie Minogue can help me out of any bind. This song will be the anchor:

Add in some Katy Perry, some Modeselektor, something produced by Timbaland, and I should be all set

4. Here's where I need your help!

I need to get my name on my outfit and written on my arm or something so people can cheer me on. We've always cheered for people wearing yellow (go yellow!) but I can't wear any cause of my red satin top. We also cheer for canadians (hi Pony) but I'm not canadian and don't want to misrepresent.

I am thinking of going with "CROSOL" since that's what everyone calls me and "Go Chris" is beyond boring. "Klutch" might be a bit presumptous, and also, it's my friend's nickname, not mine.

Is "CROSOL" easy to see and scream?

5. How the fuck do I get to hopkinton?

I'm running the Boston Marathon with team AccesSportAmerica. Please support me by donating today! Click here, it's easy and fun: http://www.crowdrise.com/crosol
]]> <![CDATA[Old Man]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10416 I've noticed that I've been getting old lately.

One sign is that if I am shopping with my wife, and she loses me (on purpose, i imagine), I stand around confused like an old man in Walmart.

Another sign is that the thing I want to talk about most is how poorly people drive.

For the last year, thanks in part to our crazy winter and living in awesome locations on the "right side" of the river, I've been able to commute to work by bicycle about 4 out of 5 days per week. On top of that, I spend a considerable amount of time running, walking, etc. and I've been able to witness a lot of this poor driving from the unique perspective of someone not in another multiple-ton vehicle.

No joke, cars no longer stop at red lights, or stop signs, and if we as a society are willing to disregard such simple rules and regulations then I think I have finally given up all hope. (The other signs of a lawless society that leave me feeling existential are a Kentuck vs. Kansas final, and a certified crack addict winning the Ronde van Vlaanderen.)

I am one of the rare cyclists that DO stop for signals. At least for the length of time that allows me survey the situation and then race myself a half block ahead of these cell-phone-yapping yahoos in their killer Prius'. Every light. Every single effing one, I see it turn red, and the next car blows through it. At least at 5 of 7 lights I encounter on my way to work, ever single day, every single week.

Worse is blowing a stop sign.

Which brings me to todays run.

13 miles at Marathon Pace, 2 weeks of training to go, and the first nice bit of "tapering" I've got going on. It was hard to figure how to dress today and I ended up a little warm with a long-sleeved tech shirt with a mock-turtle neck and gloves.

With 2 miles to go I was running along a major road and using a cross walk when a car blew a stop sign and pretty much had to skid to stop from hitting me. I slowed down and gave the international "whassup?" sign

shrug

and then pointed at the stop sign (the big red thing with something like 5 or 6 sides and the word STOP printed in white). I can understand a mistake and a slight wave from the driver would have made me feel all warm and fuzzy and kicked my last 2 miles into gear.

But, instead, I got the double bird, two (not one, two) middle fingers from behind the steering wheel from this lovely middle-aged, hybrid-vehicle-driving Cambridgian.

Thanks lady!

Also, if you didn't hear, I am totally famous and you can read about it here:

http://nbcityjournal.com/archives/4364

And if you don't read it I can give you a synopsis: I am awesome, and you should support my training by making a donation to this great cause by going here and clicking the big effing DONATE button on the right side of the screen (thanks to all of you who have done so so far! there's a gift in it for you, I just have to figure out which one to give you):

http://www.crowdrise.com/crosol

And also, I was in the same gym class as Tebucky Jones.

Thanks for reading, two weeks to go till go, tell me what to wear on the 16th and here's my data from today:

]]> <![CDATA[About time for a taper]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10412

First, a shout out to Becky who ran a 50k this weekend. Amazing.

I ran my last 20 mile training run today. From here on out it's all about tapering. Keeping up the fitness and drawing down the miles for three weeks and then, the big day.

April, 16. Marathon Monday. Best day of the year.

Today was kind of great. Temp in the 40's and overcast. NO WIND! Most likely cause I changed up my long run routine and ran the Minuteman Bike Path instead of along the Charles. It was great to do this run since my first 3 years of running were mostly on this path when we lived in stupid Arlington (dumb, stupid, Arlington.) And it's not 100% windy both out and back. Actually, it's downhill on the way back wheich gave me a nice negative split and allowed me to hit my goal average training pace for the day.

But . . . I am exhausted. I assume most people training for the marathon are in the same place right now. No matter what your trainign program, 3 weeks before and we've all put in as much as we can for the past 10, 12, 16 weeks.

A lot of the trouble now is the mental fatigue. Getting the motivation to go out and run that 20. Blocking out those 3-4 hours it takes to get ready and to run. The additional hour or two to recover, relax, nap. Whatever is needed.

I was thinking today that I am REALLY looking forward to running for ME again. Going out for a 3 mile run if I want to. Or an 8 or a 10. Not being tied to a schedule and not having to put in 18 or 20 every weekend.

But I think that is just the mental fatigue setting in again. I am positive that when I am done with this I am going to be searching for my next goal right away.

Riding my bike to see all yall in NYC?

Taking the inspiration from Ms. BP and looking for an ultra?

Signing up for NYC or Chicago in the fall?

Or maybe just taking it as it comes, and going out for that relaxing, meditative 5 miler on the weekend and then having a beer.

That sounds nice right about now.

I'm running the Boston Marathon with team AccesSportAmerica. Please support me by donating today! Click here, it's easy and fun: http://www.crowdrise.com/crosol]]> <![CDATA[Man, these 20 milers are starting to get a little boring]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10409
(wow, that's a lot of calories)

Before I left the house today, The Wife ® told me:

"You're the boss . . . of running related things."

(Sorry, Stu, for my use of the ellipses)

So with that I trotted down the stairs from my apartment and headed out for 20 Miles into a gorgeous 50+ degree day.

And was hit in the face with 20 mile an hour winds. Consistently. For the first 10 miles and much of the second 10.

I am blessed (poor word choice) to have the Charles river 3 (three) blocks away and that I can use it as my back yard. But there is this strange phenomenon of always running into a headwind, both on the "out" and "back" on the Charles. I don't like wind. I hate it while bike riding and I don't like it much more when running. But I suppose no one does.

The good news is I got the 20 in pain free. Thanks for the tips, Internets! I had the usual aches and started slowing down towards the end but no sharp IT Band issues.

Next week is a 15 mile run and then my last 20 is the week after that. I think this is the real thick of it and I've been more tired and cranky than usual but the 3 weeks of taper before the race should do a lot of good.

Today's run was supposed to be at a pace of 20 seconds slower than my intended marathon pace and I failed at that by about 10 seconds per mile. I could blame the wind, or the time I spent at crosswalks but I'll take responsibility and just say that I am a bit run down from all the training and a lingering cold. Hopefully the adreniline on race day will help me get through just a smidge faster.

The FiRST program that I have been using has not failed me in the past for my half marathons, 10 and 5ks, and I've always run faster than my projected time so I will continue to trust in it. I am still a little nervous about having to go 6+ miles more than my longest training run and at a faster clip.

But I am psyched for the crowds, hopefully some nice weather, and rocking this thing in just over a month from today!

]]> <![CDATA[Boring and stupid, stupid and boring]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10406 Being injured is stupid, and boring. And it ruins everything.

And I am sorry I have not written here in 2 weeks.

When we last parted, I was mentioning that my knees were killing me. That may have been hyperbole. I was never truly close to death. And I had no idea how much worse it was going to get.

That Saturday I went out for 20 (twenty) and the weather was about as perfect as can be. I am trying to keep a closer eye on nutrition and hydration while running, so I took an additional water bottle and some extra calories. I ran a great 15 (fifteen), an okay 2 and 1/2, and then had to walk run the last few.

As I look back over my few months of training I am beginning to see that 17 (Linsanity) miles appears to be my current breaking point.

It's an IT band issue in my right leg. It had come up once before a few years ago when I tried to add some hill work into my training and I overdid it. I got out of that mess mostly by stretching, stretching and stretching and cutting out the hills for a while. And maybe taking a few weeks off. It worked, and the issue has never come up again until now.

It's a funny pain on the outside of the knee that is sharp and can stop you in your tracks. But this time I could also feel the pain on the front of my shin and in my hip and lower butt. I could flip over to Kylie Minogue on the iPod and push out another mile at full speed (Kylie cures all) but then I had to walk run again until I got home.

This is a frightening situation. The marathon is 6 (six!?!) weeks away and it doesn't feel like there is any time to really take a break and recover. I don't want to end up walking the last 4 (four) miles wrapped in a reflective blanket, spitting and cursing. (Okay, I may be spitting and cursing at that point no matter what).

Luckily, a co-worker of mine ran this thing a few years ago AND has a friend who knows sports medicine. And I am addicted to the internet so I was able to put together a quick prescription for myself.

Take a few days off.

Take 2 Aleve each morning (I HATE taking any kind of medicine but this is supposed to reduce the swelling. Brendan Brazier suggests hemp protein and flax seed, and I take this regularly, but its time to get serious for at least a week or two.)

MORE foam rolling

Wear my dorky IT band strap thingy to compress the band when running

So, I put off my speed work for 4 days and ran that one pretty much pain free. Cut my tempo run down to 6 miles (from 10) yesterday and had an awesome time of it, running with my sister at the family gym in CT and then a dreaded 15 miles on the treadmill (wtf) at home today.

15 turned into 12 as the pain, and boredom, started to creep in.

I am still afraid, but I have to push through. I'll keep up my new routine of pill popping, stretching and rolling and hopefully I'll be able to get my weekly mileage in. I have 20 schedule for this weekend and I love my long runs.

I'm running the Boston Marathon with team AccesSportAmerica. Please support me by donating today!
http://www.crowdrise.com/crosol

]]> <![CDATA[It's not a race]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10403 Sorry to have been disappeared for a while. My wife and I were on a business trip. I only found time to run once while away, but I ate plenty of carbs and I've been able to stick to my schedule and just juggle some days around a little bit. And I did some open water swimming and some light (beer) lifting, so I figure that covers my cross training.

But you come home from a business trip and you are thrown right back into the rat race. Or, rather, the daily cycling race across the Longfellow (Salt&Pepper) bridge.

It's not a race.

Please, for the love of god, if you are going to come up from behind at the stop-light and try to get a jump on me through the intersection, please-please-please be confident (and have the strength) to get up and over the bridge (not that much elevation by-the-way) in a timely fashion. Otherwise your going to catch me on your wheel, whistling and enjoying the skyline. I won't pass you, cause you are a major DB and I don't need to. But I WILL let you know your little spin-fest in the intersection did nothing but tire out your tiny legs.

But, see, I can get over this. You are wearing sweatpants outdoors, so you need to capture these little victories.

On the other hand, I do have an issue if you try to race me on the treadmill.

If you've read my other webloggings, you know I am a put your head down and get to work kind of person when it comes to fitness. Get on the treadmill, punch in a routine of some sort and myofb. I follow instructions, directions and recipes obsessively and with compulsion. In fact, you will find many of the following notes scattered about my home:

And possibly even stuck to my cats:

(Alec doesn't photograph well, because he has the soul of the devil.)

I've got my time, my speed, my distance, my resistance and everything else laid out. It's a plan, I bought the book, and it's there for a reason. So it goes without saying that I don't care what you are doing on the treadmill next to me.

But there are a few guys that do.

They get on and get going. I'm in warm-up mode for about 10 (ten) minutes before I need to up the ante. I pop it, and dude next to me feels like his manhood ain't what it was a moment ago, so he cranks his up at the same time. But now it gets good. I am doing intervals, so after a few minutes, I am back down to cruising speed. He can't bring himself to slow down. After another, say, 30 seconds I am ready for the next interval and pop it to my previous speed. All racer 5 knows is that I sped up, so he bumps his up a few more notches.

It's so obvious, its hysterical.

This goes on long enough that by the time I am done with my routine, dude next to me is, without a doubt "winning". And likely running 4 (four) minute miles at this point.

Guy today didn't even bother with the game. He glanced over, saw I had my treadmill set to 9 (nine) and set his to the same FROM A DEAD STOP.

Good luck with that.

I got 18 in this past weekend and I am looking at 20 on Saturday. My knees are killing me (first time in forever) so i'll be rolling on the foam the next couple of nights.

I'm running the Boston Marathon with team AccesSportAmerica. Please support me by donating today!
http://www.crowdrise.com/crosol

]]> <![CDATA[A real looker]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10389 I want to put up some signs in my building's fitness room:

"are you a looker?"

For Christ's Sake!

If you've ever gone to a gym, you know these people. They come in, plant themselves in front of a mirror and stare. At themselves? At others? Who knows. I know for certain that all of the apartments in this building come with mirrors in (at least) your own personal bathroom.

Maybe they pick up a weight and do a few reps. Maybe not. They don't care. It's a fitness room. Get fit, please.

"This guy" comes in. Does the looking thing for about 15 minutes in front of the wall length mirror and then decides to take his skeeve and rub it on an exercycle. Hoists himself up, puts the resistance down real-low (on the DL) and starts spinning at about 45 RPM (that's pretty slow by the way.) And he keeps looking. He's looking over at me to his left as I'm about to vomit running 6:20 miles on the treadmill. He's looking at the fine lady-pants on the eliptical on his right.

He's a real looker.

My theory of working out is no eye contact, no communication. In the gym or in the locker room. Just like work. I'm there to do a job.

So what do you do? It's near impossible to ignore them.

We used to have a gym membership at a prestigious local math-and-science-focused educational institution and these kids would sit on workout benches, in dungarees and flip-flops, chatting on their cell phones. It takes all my strength to not strangle these people with the drawstring from my gym shorts.

I suppose I should heed my own advice, find my machine, turn it up, put my head down and try not to heave.

Like I did tonight!

Back on the speed-train . . . 15 minute warm-up, 6 (six) 800's with 1:30 rest intervals, and a 12 minute cooldown for just over 6 miles total. Mid-week is a longer tempo run (8 miles maybe?) which will be boring as all hell on the treadmill and then a nice quick 13 miler this weekend.

Then I am halfway to April. Only 9 more training weeks to go.

I'm running the Boston Marathon with team AccesSportAmerica. Please support me by donating today!

http://www.crowdrise.com/crosol

]]> <![CDATA[Maybe they all had walkers cause they just ran 20 (twenty) miles?]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10384
I suppose this is my first ever "real" 20M run since two weeks ago I was huffing and ended up with 19-and-change when I ended up back in front of my apartment. Last weekend was a much more pleasant 18M (finished strong and feeling like I could have done more!) Today's 20M was fine, and if anything I was a bit bored in spots, but once I got home I feel like my body seized up a bit and I expect I'll be spending some time with the foam roller later tonight and tomorrow.

Right now my personal wall seems to be somewhere between the 17-18 mile mark. It's not terrible, but I wonder how much I might slow per mile after that point. These weekend runs are of the long and "slow" variety (I'm training with the ultimate goal of an 8:18 pace) and the thought of dropping an average of about 30seconds per mile AND adding another 6.2 on the end makes me want to vomit.

It's not the cardio/endurance end of things. That seems to be fine. I may start using my heart-rate monitor and start tracking that. But my muscles feel like they weaken dramatically, like it's all bone-on-bone pounding the pavement. I guess I could review my fueling but I am pretty confident I am doing it right.

But I have 11 weeks of training left and this is why we follow a plan, right? And I stick to it with a level of OCD I believe is commendable. I've always been able to race at or better than my target pace following this style of plan, so I need to get over this mental hurdle and put my trust in FiRST.

This OCD doesn't allow me to stop on my runs . . . other than for the approx 8 (eight) street crossings I encounter. To stop is to fail. To stop is to throw all 6 (six) previous weeks of training away. Stopping is week. And it's a shame, because after running good chunks of this route at least every weekend for the past year I'd love to take some pictures of the spots I have an affinity for, my benchmarks and mile-markers, the unique things that I see.

For instance, the 25 (twenty-five) or so elders with walkers that were peppered along the path somewhere out in Watertown. A sight so surreal to my oxygen deprived brain that it compared only to the time that Q and I saw a number of midgets climbing out of a manhole in the theater-district.

Perhaps when the weather is a bit nicer I'll take my bike out on the path (I don't care for riding my bike on the path when there are beautiful full-sized roads all around us) and take some photos.

Or maybe it wouldn't kill me to stop a few times here and there.

No . . . no, it probably would.

]]> <![CDATA[New Friends]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10382

Right, so I'm totally not opposed to posting cat photos just to get a few more web hits :)

Meet Winston

I was fortunate enough to "cat-sit" for a friend yesterday and spend some quality time with Rita and Winston (pictured above.) I was warned that I might not see them as they are skittish around strangers (and who is more strange than yours truly?). Rita greeted me at the door, but Winston took a good 20 minutes to find, hidden towards the back of the underside of the bed.

As a registered cat whisperer, once I caught sight of those yellow eyes peering out from the dark, I knew just what to do. I found a small nook near where he was hiding and slipped a "treat" to him, just out of reach. It peaked his interest and after a few more strategic drops he was out in the open and we became quick best-friends.

What does this have to do with the Boston Marathon?

My training plan is a 3 (three) day per week running program with an additional 2 (two) days of cross training. It's called the FiRST program and you can find more information about it here: http://www2.furman.edu/sites/first/Pages/FirstTrainingPrograms.aspx

If it interests you, I highly recommend the book "Runs Less, Run Faster" as it has training plans for 5 and 10ks as well as half and full marathons. The charts of paces and race time equivalents are invaluable.

Right! So, running only 3 (three) times a week is really great for my lifestyle which I hope will include many more days of visiting other peoples kitties, thinking about the David Tyree catch and having business meetings with my wife.

It also keeps me from getting bored of running. Having days off lets me build up a day of looking forward to putting myself on the treadmill again, or getting outside for a quick 18M. It also encourages my first athletic love, all things bicycle. Bicycling indoors at blistering speeds while watching crappy race footage just makes me all tingly inside (I said the same thing about the recently announced Spice Girls reunion this morning.)

And then 2 (two) days of rest per week. Which I will spend with my own kitties, by the way.

Internet forums are full of people bashing the FirST program, saying that the only way to get better at running is to run MORE and do everything else less. But the program has gotten me through 3 half marathons and many 5 and 10ks injury free with continued improvement in my performance.

If it can get me across the line on Boylston Street in April in any amount of time at all then I'd call that a success.

OH BY THE WAY . . .

I'm likely to say this at least once a week, but it has to be done. The only reason I am fortunate enough to even HAVE an official Boston Marathon number is thanks to a great charity in Boston called AccesSportAmerica. Click the link to see what they are all about . . .AND . . . go here
clicky-this-linky
www.crowdrise.com/crosol
and make a donation of ANY amount to help me reach my aggressive fundraising goal . . . and of course, help out the very great people of AccesSportAmerica

tx

]]> <![CDATA[Floating holiday]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10379 Happy floating holiday!

I decided to take this past Friday off and use a my floating holiday.

Turns out it was National Chocolate Cake day. I hate chocolate cake and the prospect of being coerced into eating it at work on Friday was enough to drive me batty. I had missed the opportunity to take off Penguin Awareness Day so I figured this was the next best bet (I hope my floating holiday time will reset in time for Giraffe Awareness day, which doesn't currently exist, but a boy can dream.)

My wife and I also had some "business" to attend to that afternoon.

So I thought I'd mix things up and do my treadmill workout in the morning. Typically I treadmill after work, but prefer to do my outdoor running in the morning. I always feel sluggish on the mill in the morning and Friday was no different. My small brain tells me its because i have not yet had a full day of food and moving around at a moderate speed to loosen me up. Outdoors, you set a natural rhythm for warming up and getting into the real routine, but on the mill you are forcing yourself to start at a predetermined pace, even if it's slow, and is not connecting with your natural tempo.

Not complaining, it was a good hard workout.

The plan called for a 6 (six) mile tempo run, with the middle tempo portion at about 50 (fifty) seconds faster per mile than my anticipated Marathon pace and close to what I'd run in a 10k.

I've been nervous about the Newton Hills (and REALLY need to get out and run them before April) and found a routine online to simulate them indoors. You can find this program here: http://blog.thestepsfoundation.org/2010/12/newton-hills-simulation-run/

It's definitely worth checking out.

If you click the link, though, you'll see I went about it all wrong. I should not have tried to shoehorn this longer run into my much shorter . . . and faster . . . workout. After doing a third of a mile, at a blistering pace (for me :) ), with the treadmill incline set to 6 (six) I thought I was going to vomit. This is how they test you lactate threshold and VO2 max, right? Not what is expected from the mid-meek tempo run. So, after that I brought it down to 1 (one) for the rest of my time and struggled through the rest of the run, doing it the way my plan had suggested.

Lesson of the day, DONT TRY ANYTHING NEW! It will get you nowhere. I've had luck training with this particular method for 5 and 10ks and for 3 (three) half-marathons. I need to stick to it by the book for this one too. And I will reach my goal.

I will try simulation again, maybe on an "off-day" . . . and do it at a reasonable pace.

]]> <![CDATA[Hard 20 (twenty)]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10377
I should have written after my run on Sunday but I was kind of wrecked. Mostly due to my first ever 20 mile run. My weekly speed workouts always kick my ass and I really look forward to my weekend long runs to clear the head from a stressful work week but also because the long slow miles have come fairly easy to me. I have no speed, but I feel (or have felt) that my endurance has been building at an appropriate pace for my training.

But Sunday was rough.

Saturday saw snow and we stayed cooped up in the apartment all day waiting for not sure what exactly. I should have put in at least a little time on the bike indoors just to loosen up and dump some built up energy.

Sunday was gorgeous! And I made out for my first ever 20 mile run. I have to thank the Boston, Cambridge, Watertown and Newton parks departments. The running/cycling path that runs along both sides of the Charles for countless miles was plowed the entire way. It was still a bit sloppy (i'll get to that) but it was so nice to see that they clean up for all of us that try and take advantage of the path all year long.

A quarter of the way through the run, a third of the way through, half way through, I think . . . this is a breeze. Run at the right pace and I can do this all day long. Why not 26 miles, or 30 o 50? It's psychological! Get through mentally and I got this, no problem.

But I hit a wall. The first time in a looooong time. Around mile 17 it took all my strength, both mentally and physically to get through that last 3 . . . er . . . 2.76 miles.

I try and not make too many excuses. (It was all that slop and snow!!11!1!) Running and cycling blogs and forums across the internet are full of excuses. Too many hills, too much headwind, too much getting over a chest cold, whatever. I'm not sure why it was so rough for me so I will look to myself and see where I could make some positive changes. Go out slower? Eat/drink more before or during the run?

This weekend drops back down to 18, and as usual I still look forward to the long run. This week, I got this.
]]> <![CDATA[World of Snowcraft]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10375

My training for this weekend calls for my first ever 20 mile run. I typically try to time my weekend long runs for Saturday so if something comes up or I am not feeling it I can postpone to Sunday.

The first snow of the winter has put me off till tomorrow.

This morning I had to drive Casper to the vet for his normal checkup and there were quite a few runners out on the streets. I was jealous and I know for certain they were judging me. Though most of them were wearing long-pants or tights instead of shorts. They are obviously not very committed.

I am really looking forward to getting out tomorrow (30 degrees and the path around the Charles will likely be plowed) as I am on a 3rd non-runing day in a row right now. My training schedule has me running 3 days a week (I'll reveal the program in a future post) with 2 days of cross training and 2 days of rest. I put in an hour on the stationary bike trainer Thursday evening but right now I feel a bit like a spring about to pop.

So I spent some of the afternoon running around Skyrim as opposed to running around Cambridge. I think there is more snow in Skyrim than there is here.

I'm so hardcore.

]]> <![CDATA[My Very First Web-log!]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10371 Wow! My very first web-log. I am terribly excited about this, but please forgive me as I am unfamiliar with the protocol.

My name is Chris and I am training for my first Boston marathon.

It's kind of funny how we got here. Moved to Boston in very early 1999 and the concept of the Boston Marathon was foreign to me. As was any kind of personal athletic activity other than the occasional recreational mountain bike ride around the city streets of Cambridge, MA. I spent most of my High School years on bike, but traded it in for a dozen years of party snacks and selling my time and expertise to various local not-for-profit organizations.

That first year I was unemployed and my roomate at the time didn't get the Patriot's Day, Marathon Monday off from work (they hated freedom) so she called in sick and we dressed her up in a disguise (4 srious) and headed down to Boylston Street to catch the race.

It's safe to say that instantly, we were hooked.

Since then, roomate became wife, we both hold jobs that give us that sacred day in April off and I believe we've missed only 1 (one) marathon Monday as spectators in the past 12 (twelve) years. We've often called it "the best day of the year in Boston" and matured from using it as an excuse to party, outdoors, all day, on the first nicest day of the year, to gaining a deep respect for the sport itself, the history, and especially the elite athletes who finish half an hour . . . or four hours ahead of the rest of the field.

In 2009 my best friend in the whole world, "double-K", ran the marathon. It was the first human that i knew from real life that ran it. I was in awe. That spring I was so inspired by her, I joined the gym and started the couch-to-5k program.

3 (three) years, and a couple half-marathons, later and I am now in the midst of week 4 (four) of training for my first Boston Marathon.

In order to officially run in the 2012 Boston Marathon, I am raising money for an incredible organization, AccesSportAmerica.

The mission of AccesSportAmerica is to adapt sports that the most agile of athletetes find challenging and bring these sports to children and adults with disabilities. To know that my "hobby" of running can be used to help FUNd and bring awareness to this very important cause gives me even more strength and motivation to train to the best of my ability . . .even through the cold and snow of a Boston winter.

If you'd like to donate, you can do so here: http://www.crowdrise.com/crosol

I'll be giving you plenty of opportunities ;)

Okay, off to bed. Today was 6 miles on the treadmill at mid-tempo pace. Not too much of a problem .. . but I have my first ever 20 miler this weekend. Talk to you tomorrow.

]]> <![CDATA[hello robot people]]> http://www.happyrobot.net/words/runtime_error.asp?id=10372 very important and exciting blogging to come. right around the corner. it's already loaded up in the little box. just some tweaking to be done and then, bam, blogging.]]>