Asics Distance Project update #2

Well I would have to say everything has gone quite well since joining the Fast Trax Distance Project.  I had a small dip in training this summer as I spent two weeks in Berlin sampling (numerous) steins of (mostly) Pilsner.  I have always believed that you don’t have to go cold turkey off beer when putting in the miles but I have become an even stronger believer that you can’t have too much and bounce back the next day.  

Since getting back from the beer gardens I have started to feel pretty good and I like where I am with fitness and the way I am approaching workouts.  The marathon still scares me as I don’t know what lies ahead after 30-35km.  I hope I can weather the storm but it is yet to be seen.  Training has focused on getting in quality workouts with the impressive Golden Bears and trying to hang onto the leaders of the pack.  I am trying to get in a few more reps and teach the body that 10km fitness is not marathon fitness.  The long runs have been educational but with hard efforts with Adrian Lambert, Dallas Raudebaugh, and a solid 8 x 10minute with Krissy I am starting to feel as if I am getting the hang of running (performing) beyond 70-90minutes. 

I believe you build to fitness and build yourself to great races.  I hope that I am doing that with my goal of Oct 12th. 

Onto some updates.  The times series has gone very well.  I hated my performance in Calgary on Calgary Marathon Weekend but it inspired me to stick my nose into more workouts.  I am leading in points thanks to the participation friendly scoring system.  I have run one more race than road racer of the year (and former Bears Captain) Matt Norminton so I should clinch the series with a decent effort at Melissa’s.  I enjoy the struggle of races but it has probably been too many for some stellar results.  Racing every weekend doesn’t help the slow build to one great race. 

I was the first alternate for Team Canada at the world mountain racing championship in Switzerland and will now get the opportunity to run as a member of our top 6 is unable to go.  I am much fitter than when I did Nationals in June but have not strategized any sort of taper.  I am feeling good and will give it everything I have.  Always exciting to represent the country no matter what fringe sport it may be. 

That’s it for now.  Its great to see the ASICS team do well and I look forward to hearing great results out of the fall. 

April 20th St Albert 10 Miler
May 3rd Great Human Race
May 11th Mothers Day
May 18th Woody’s Half Marathon
May 28th City Chase
July1 Red Deer Race for Canada
July 6th Calgary Marathon 10km
August 16th ING Edmonton 10km
Sept 14th Stony Plain Half Marathon
Sept 27th Melissa’s 10km
Oct 12th Okanagan Marathon

Being a part of the Fast Trax/asics Marathon Project is a great surprise and an honour to be a part of.  The project comes at a perfect time as I have reached another phase of my training and race focus. 

Here is quick background and summary of goals.

I got into running a bit late in the game.  As an overweight child I really liked all sport but really stunk at most as well.  Tennis, soccer, baseball, and floor hockey were all attempts at sporting ventures.  My mom was a runner completing numerous marathons in Vancouver, Victoria, and eventually Boston.  She was definitely an inspiration but more a great example.  I watched but didn’t practice until after high school…….when some of the weight came off.  I started to run on my own and completing my first marathon in 3:08.  I followed that with again following the staple “Running Room” program of 5 miles Monday, rest Tuesday……etc.  It was useless.  I finished a few more marathons but I didn’t understand that good runners perform during races and other runners are just surviving. Most never get this message and it came to me a bit late in the game. 

A trip to Europe convinced me I had to get away and finally finish university.  I arrived on the Golden Bears Cross Country Team 180lbs and finishing second to last at trials.  I thought I had a great run but the only problem was 23 guys finished ahead of me and only one behind me.  Coach Ron Barnhart kept me around as I quickly paid my team fees so he wouldn’t have a choice.  Most workouts during that season were extremely difficult, I would often not make it back to the starting point of the workout.  Example.  We would start at Emily Murphy and tempo to Hawrelak and return, rest and then followed by tempo to Kinsmen.  I would get to Kinsmen but I was shattered and walked it home.  I got through it with the help of good people and I hung around long enough to make the team. 

The next few years I slimmed down again.  The running and camaraderie of my teammates was a big part of university and life in general.  I met great people along the way that made the workouts the best part of the day, too many to name.  The team became very important and all we wanted to do was win the “banner” (Canadian University Title).  We never won the title but came close a few years and more importantly I picked up a sport/habit that I won’t give up. 

Running a race was now performing and not surviving.  I have been very fortunate to have very good, patient people give me their time and help me become a better runner.  Ron Barnhart was one and for too many years to count it’s been Glen Playfair.  Glen has preached miles and I truly believe this is how you improve. 

The marathon project will give me direction on a distance that currently seems daunting.  I have run many half marathons but it has never been focus and has resulted in races that I have never been incredibly proud of.  With the project I hope to gear my training towards handling the difficulty of racing at 30+ km’s.  I need to learn how to run marathon, I hope I figure it out by October.   

I currently train with Coach Glen Playfair in the incredibly well organized Edmonton Thunder Track and Field Club.  I will still work out with an incredible training group that consist of former Golden Bears, current Bears, and a handful of very talented tri-athletes. 

I will always look forward to the next workout, thanks to Jack and the Fast Trax Marathon Project the next workout will be a long one.

Thanks to Fast Trax for organizing and my good friend Chantell for volunteering me on the squad.  Can’t wait to get going…….