Queen Ant: With ants, only those who work may stay.
Grasshopper: Listen. The Good Book says, “The Lord provides, there’s food on every tree.” I see no reason to worry and work. No, sir. [spits] Not me.
That’s the thing ‘bout opinions – EVERYONE has one.
Ya’ll know: I’m a goal setter, a dream chaser…but a goal-setter with a plan. Do I attain all my goals? Heck no, ’bout 50-50. BUT do I dream BIG? Heck yeah. Small dreams, small life – MY opinion. Remember, everyone has one 🙂
2018 been hittin’ it hard: Hawaii to North Carolina, Alabama to Leesport PA. Ramped up now, running on all cylinders. Added e-Stim Training (electric muscle stimulation) last week for faster muscle recovery. Weekly mileage up & staying up.
Call it out, sure it’s risky – they might laugh. 17 marathons first half 2018. Dreamin’ B-I-G!
“A goal without a plan is only a dream.”
52 days – Bighorn WYOMING (52 miles of trail ‘long the Montana border)
73 days – Knysna SOUTH AFRICA (Elephant Park overnite)
94 days – Juneau ALASKA (canoeing under Mendenhall Glacier)
131 days – St John’s NEWFOUNDLAND (completing Canada’s Maritimes Oct 14th in PEI)
265 days – King George Island ANTARCTICA
One life, no excuses. Call it out to the universe, embarrass yourself – but DREAM & dream BIG.
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- East Coast next 3 weeks
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- BIGHORN: 52 days
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- AFRICA: 73 days
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- ALASKA: 94 days
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- ANTARCTICA: 265 days
e-Stim Training
Tips for tapering and more
With just a handful of weeks remaining until your half- or full- marathon, a popular topic concept to discuss is the “taper.” Tapering refers to a reduction of training volume in the weeks (generally 1-3 weeks) leading up to your event.
This reduction of training volume is hypothesized to allow muscle glycogen to rebuild and for relative muscle recovery, to try and allow for peak performance.
For all but the elite runners, it should be noted, there is scant if any, medical evidence to show tapering is a necessary, or even beneficial, part of training for a half- or full- marathon.
While studies suggest elite-level runners may improve performance by 1-2% (enough to go from 3rd to 1st place at Boston, for instance) with appropriate tapering, research has failed to demonstrate a significant performance effect for the average runner, with essentially identical performances at these distances, between those who choose to taper and those who do not, especially when they are taking part in a marathon or half-marathon preparatory program and are not consistently running at high volumes of miles throughout the balance of the year.
Further, muscle glycogen stores are rapidly depleted and repleted and can be replenished even in the last day or two before your event, thus eliminating the potential benefit of tapering several weeks in advance of your race for the vast majority of runners.
Buffalo Marathon & Excelsior Orthopaedics
Last week Athens, this week Vienna – continuation of marathoning faux European capitals in the American Midwest.
THIS Saturday’s signup super last minute. Bought a crazy cheap flight on Southwest then found a marathon. Rental car, 2 hours+ drive, checked into ‘Hotel 7’ – the only motel in Vienna, quarter-mile from tomorrow’s Tunnel Hill trailhead start. BEST location!
Running Day 7 of Mainly Marathons’s Riverboat Series. Seven days folks been crisscrossing the Mississippi River, marathoning a different U.S. state every single day. Walk/jog social event. GREAT way for marathoners to tag a lotta US states on a travel Budget.
Ran back-to-back events 2 years ago – Saturday/Lamar CO, Sunday/Clayton NM: Mainly’s Dust Bowl Series. First marathon double, my first running injury (IT band). Older, wiser, train more consistently. I see doubles in my future [maybe 2019] as I add ultra distance.
Saturday morning bib pick-up, 6:30am start.
Who knew? More than 50% of the field took the early Start option. Live & learn. I’m a FAN of cool early morning temps. That said, MIGHTY lucky with the day’s weather. Saturday’s forecasted rainfest shifted to Sunday. Sweet!
14 laps today (plus a short loop to the Bridge). One of 4 who paid the extra $10 to complete a 50K 🙂 Haven’t run a multi-lap race since Runs with Scissors last April. While I dislike double-loop marathons, strangely don’t mind multi-lap events. LOVED being able to self-support with my own food & electrolytes. Run a lot lighter/carry a lot less knowing everything I need is a short 2-mile lap away.
Do’s & Don’ts speech, then followed Mainly’s lead runner ‘round the visitor center/parking lot to the trailhead Bridge. From there a straight out-n-back on crushed rock/dirt path. Not necessarily a ‘trail’ but not a road race either. Easy on the feet. FAAAANNNTASTIC! Settled into pace early. One of the flattest courses I’ve ever run. 4th at the turnaround, 2nd place end of Lap One.
Perfect weather, perfect conditions. Woke this day feeling: PERFECT.
Group of walkers blocked the path before the turnaround 2nd lap . Right side thru the grass & didn’t look behind. I LED today’s run from that moment ‘til mile 18.9 (Garmin distance). Me, leading? 100% serious. Perspective: super small race, middle of nowhere America where most runners had previously marathon’d several days in a row. I show up Day 7, fresh as a daisy – but dang, LOVED running first. Runners yelling positives my way, felt good. I was the LEAD runner. Finished another lap, grabbed another rubber band.
7 bands on one wrist, 2:12 14 miles in. No drinking, no eating – I’m leading! Groups of social walkers again & again, GREAT people. Today’s eventual winner in my rear view. PLEASE PLEASE pass me – MUCH needed break – I was not built to win races. LOL>
Start of Lap 10 stopped, finally. Fueled up, lotta liquids – then hit it hard again. No intention of catching day’s race leader, just didn’t wanna get lapped. Guy seemed a bit jerky…first place taken far too serious, went to his head.
Eventually passed by 3 others. Chick’d by the ultimate lady runner – wasn’t even breathing hard, running alongside a Brit completing his 100th marathon. Stayed close for another lap, marathoners finished after 12. Lady stopped, Brit kept running. 50K!
Back-n-forth traded places, could not overtake him. Nearing the Bridge end of lap 14, still in 2nd. 200 meters back, needed a plan. Came into the trailhead, grabbed my band, didn’t stop. No water, no aid. 30 miles in, that was my plan. AND I kept running, short lap to the Bridge – now a half-mile ahead. FINISHED FIRST, new 50K PR. Whatta unexpected surprise!
Tunnel Hill in November, next 2 years – not sure if/when I’ll be able to run 100 miles but I’ll be back. Everyone needs a dream ❤
Full Marathon/50K
2018 Riverboat Series Day 7 Marathon – April 21, 2018 – Vienna, Illinois
27 Keenan Haga 4:24:44 (Mara) / 5:33:14 (50K) CO
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- goal race next couple years
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- big BIKE
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- new 50K PR — power of the mighty Loon 🙂
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- led 18.9 miles
USA’s Des Linden
American women are killin’ it!
New York STRONG, Boston STRONGER 💪
Des Linden’s Boston victory today soooo inspiring – right off the heels of Shalane Flanagan’s November victory in New York.
Worst weather conditions in 30 years – 60% of the elite men’s field dropped…but not the women, not AMERICAN women. SUPER inspiring!
Maybe I ran the same path as Des years ago when I marathon’d in her Michigan hometown? USA! USA! USA! ❤
postscript: a non-Pro non-African won the Men’s race – double WOW! Yuki Kawauchi. Guy works 9-5 Monday thru Friday & bam! takes Boston. FAN-FRICKIN-TASTIC!
2018 Boston Marathon: USA’s Des Linden
2018 Boston Marathon: Japan’s Yuki Kawauchi
