Marathon challenge - the movie

In preparation for the Boston marathon, I watched "Marathon challenge". It is an "experiment" done at Tufts university in Boston, where a group of average nonrunners/nonexercisers signed up to train for Boston marathon in over 20 weeks. Most of them were of normal weight, with only one woman being about 40 lbs overweight, between ages of 30 and 55. One of the participants has had a heart attack a few years back. Prior to their training they had body fat, VO2 max and others such tests that determined their fitness level. All but one had the fitness level of a person 10-20 years older.

The training program was simple. They had to do short runs on their own, and a long run together. Doing a 1 mile run was a challenge, but they slowly built up. Some of them (interestingly, only the women) got injured - one developed a stress fracture related to her diabetes, a few developed sprains and runner's knee. All but the woman with the stress fracture made it through and finished the marathon.

It was interesting to watch their journey. It is so hard for me to imagine that anyone would have a hard time running 1 mile, and be so out of shape that running a mile would be such a huge accomplishment. But that is the reality of our modern fast paced short term goal oriented society..

A few interesting facts about the experiment:
1. No one lost weight, except the overweight woman who was on a diet under the supervision of a nutritionist.
2. No one experienced changes in BMI.
3. All experienced a change in VO2 max, and went from subaverage or average to superior.
4. There is something called "innate ability to be a great runner". One of the participants had a superior VO2max from the start. He skipped all the training at the beginning, and was able to run up to 12 miles without training. But, his strategy did not work for the longer runs - he had to train. He ended up doing a sub 4 marathon, finishing first of the group...

This was an inspirational movie. I recommend it.

Cross Fells run

This morning I went back to the Cross Fells trail, along with Sue C and Sue M. It was Sue M's first trail run, and she was nervous. The trail is listed in my hiking book as an 8.6 miles out and back, but a few trail runners told me it is longer than that. Skyline is also listed as 6.2, but my GPS says 7.2-7.5. The Sues picked me up a little after 7am this morning. I really would have liked to start earlier, because both of them mentioned that they need to return home by 9:30, so I knew we'd cut it close... We found the start of the trail, in Medford, at the intersection of Playstead and Winthrop. Today I was determined to do the entire trail. It did not happen - more on that later.



We started out on a flat and dry trail, which quickly became very wet. After about 1 mile, we started climbing a couple of rolling hills, nothing major. Next, around mile 2, we met the Skyline trail, and had a couple of rocky hills. We crossed a couple of roads, and this time we managed to stay on course (last week Mary and I did no see the marks on the other side of the road and got off the trail). The trail became really beautiful after the second crossing. The full moon that welcomed us at the begining of the run, was replaced by a bright sun, so bright that it made me lose the blue marks and get off the trail a couple of times. Around mile 3 we were in a groove, laughing and talking, when 2 dogs started running toward us, while the owners, a man and a woman, were completely oblivious and did not try to call them or stop them in any way. We walked for a bit, and when we got close enough, one dog jumped on Sue M, who said very politely: "Are the dogs OK?", to which one of the oweners saied, "yes, they love you" and smiled.. Now, I do like dogs. What I don't like is owners who lack respect of other people and do not even think that perhaps not everyone likes to have dogs jump on them when running...My friend Bailee got bitten by one such dog in the summer. I was very close to saying something, so very close... Anyhow, we made it past the dogs, and ran for about 1 more mile, when Sue C realized she was going to be late if we don't get back. We had run for 50 minutes. OMG, 4 miles in 50 minutes, and we are not talking about 4 Skyline miles... I was a bit disappointed, but what can you do? We got back, picked up the pace a bit, but Sue M was having some trouble so we slowed back down. We made it back to the car for a total of 8 miles in 1:45.

I really like the Cross Fells trail, and I would like to go back and try to do the entire thing. Perhaps bring a camera and take pictures. I think this is the type of trail that I could run in the winter, as, aside from 1 mile or so, there are no rocky patches. It's the type of trail where you can get into a rhythm, you can keep up a stride, and get lost into running, something that I love about road running but I seldomly find with trail running.

training log week 12/8-12/15

Monday - 7 miles @ 7:45


Tuesday - 1.25 mile swim (400 meters backstroke) - legs


Wednesday - 7 miles @ 8


Thursday - Rest*


Friday - 1.25 mile swim



Saturday - 8 mile trail run, 1.25 swim (with 400 back kicks)



Sunday - 1.5 miles swim



T run: 24m, T swim: 5.25 miles

a few thoughts on my training

I feel very strong these days. My swimming has improved tremendously, and while my form is still imperfect (a combo of breast stroke and crawl), I have speed. I used to need 20 breast strokes to cover a pool length, now I need 15-18. That's huge. More importantly, I learned to love swimming. It is meditative. I repeat the number of the lap as I breath out. My mind is focused on the number and breath. Once in a while after a tough day I just goof off and not work at it, close my eyes and swim-sleep while entering a dreamworld.

My running is going well, too. I think my joint (knee, pubic bone) pains are related to my cycle, but I need to monitor it more clearly. I have heard the same from a couple of friends. Anyhow, no pain lately and running strong. Today I put together my training for Boston. I am still on a wait list, but I hear I'll get in as people drop out. The funny thing is that when Sue mentioned the marathon I was not interested, and then when she signed up it was too late for me to get a spot in the MGH pediatric cancer team - hence, the waitlist. Even funnier, when I put my name on the list I was not that excited, mostly because I love trails and dislike races that go through town and are crowded, but now I am excited. Why? Because Boston qualifying time does not seem undoable. Because I am up for the challenge. Because everyone talks about Boston as something you want to experience. Because there will always be time for trails, as I get older, but my body will not be able to handle road races for too long - hopefully it will this time.

Anther goal is to run a triathlon in 2009. I am thinking of a mini, with a 10k, 1 mile swim, 12 miles bike, and see if I enjoy it.

OK, feel happy with my training, time to watch Amazing Race. I am thinking of signing up, I just need a partners, coz my husband...he'd prefer to watch it on TV.

training log week 12/1-12/7

Monday: 7 miles @ 7:35 (work)
Tuesday: 1.25 miles swim - legs and roller and 200 abs
Wednesday: 7 miles @ 8:15
Thursday: 4 miles @ 8:20
Friday: 1.5 miles swim
Saturday: 9 miles trails, ? pace since I forgot to start my GPS after getting lost on the Crossfells path..; 1 mile swim
Sunday: 1.25 mile swim
T: 27 miles run; 5 miles swim; only one day strenght, no weights arms

using some advice from Dean Karnaze

I have been doing a lot of reading lately...running reading, that is. These books not only keep me motivated, but they provide valuable information about running and training. So far I read Dean Karnaze's "Ultramarathon Man", Bill Rogers' "Running for a Lifetime", Murakami's "What I talk about when I talk about running", and "Running Legends"(author?).

Lessons learned:
1. There are no clear guidelines in terms of running, training, increasing mileage and preventing injury. People like Karnaze run 200miles at a time and never get injured.
2. Streching does not necessarily prevent injury. BUT streching helps keep the muscles flexible and it is particularly important as we age, bc flexibility decreases.
3. Strenght training is very important, particularly as we age, because after 35 (yikes!) we lose muscle mass rapidly.
4. Eat 1/2 your weight in protein. OMG
5. During long runs, vary your landing (inner vs outer foot) to prevent injury.
6. Ice away...
7. Take a few months off each year, where you decrease intensity of running and crosstrain more.
8. Swimming is the best crosstraining for running.

I believe...

that every runner should win a race at some point during their running career. It's such an incredible feeling, such a motivator, such an adrenaline rush. I don't care what race you are going to win, and whether it has 25 people or 2 people or 1000 (dream on..) but you have got to experience the feeling of having worked hard and having won.