Training Aids

The EMRS was created in the spirit of lack of funds, low tech, and the simple rewards of running. However....

I'm in training for one, if not two more halfs that I have yet to sign up for. This time around I would like to better my time significantly and have made more of an effort to keep track of times and mix up my training routine.

This morning an email popped up in my inbox advertising the Adidas Mi Coach. It looked intriguing and got my mind working. Audible real-time feedback? Yes please. Of course, unless your a pro runner and have the luxury of receiving promo items to test the Mi Coach is going to cost you a few dollars. I went to the website to find out exactly how many of those dollars and stumbled upon a training planner. (Free I'm assuming) I'm debating on whether or not to take advantage of it, sacrificing my Gmail inbox to the spam Gods. Just plug in the race date, how many days a week you want to run, and what days your long runs will fall on.

Of course to actually receive the plan you must create an account (yet another password I will inevitably forget) Appealing. Very.

Does it go against everything the EMRS stands for? Well, the EMRS was created to include all types of runners so technically I would say no. Would I judge you for judging me? Hmmmmm.

Head for the Hills

We (Garrick and I) attempted a track workout last night, not thinking about the fact that high-school football has begun. So there we were, standing in a parking lot trying to think of an alternative. One of the other members suggested a hill workout, which I will admit I hadn't really given much thought to. We turned on the GPS and started down the sidewalk of the nearest hill. We jumped over gorge sized gaps, small hills formed as roots grew up through, glass shards, and trash cans that were left in the middle of the sidewalk. Our search for the perfect hill continued, including running under a GPS killing overpass.

Finally, we found it and after a mere four trips up it, my calves and thighs were pleading for mercy. It pushed me to my limits, which was good. Garrick is running the Chicago Half on September 11 and I probably won't race again until the end of October. I plan on training differently this time, focusing on speed first, then building up distance. Of course after our hill runs we had to rehydrate with a couple of Oberons.

The Dog Days (are not) Over

I'll admit, since running in my first half-marathon on June 4th my ambition to run and write about running has suffered. My lack of initiative coupled with the hottest summer in years has led to very few accumulated miles. Then I started working with a roofing crew.

I'm looking for a job in a different state at the moment, and needed something to fill in. A friend needed some assistance and it wasn't long before I was cutting the sleeves off of all of my old t-shirts. Yes, I embraced the good 'ol American hard work ethic. I'll admit it has been nice to get away from the computer screen and work outdoors all day long.

After the first week of roofing I decided that I don't care what my work schedule may end up being this fall, I'm going to train for the Middlebury Hilly Half and I'm going to run it in under two hours.

I'm back to training, I put in some solid miles last week. This time however, I'm taking a different approach. For my first half, I only concentrated on going the distance. No matter how long it took me to run the race, I wanted to build up to 13.1 miles. This time I'm starting from the bottom up. I want to nail down an eight minute mile pace before I start to build up the miles. I'll let you know how it all works out. Until then, I'll get double training by lugging shingle bundles up onto the roof.