The Evil Eyebrow

Month: December 2010

  • Back into Training, Running, Triathlon

    I’m back running, and this is making me very happy.

    Winter Wonder Wear

    I’ve been into my training regime for over a month. Things seem to be feeling well with respect to my calf, thank you very much. I even ran a race three weeks ago. That race was a remarkable difference from the triathlon in August where I discovered that no, I did not let my calf rest for long enough.

    I decided after the triathlon to let things rest entirely until November first and then ease back in. Now we’re at the end of December (mostly) and I’m feeling like I’m getting my wind back and the leg isn’t calling me a crazy man. I like that. Enough so that I just signed up for a marathon! Ninety days from tomorrow until the race.

    This year’s training is a bit schizophrenic. We deferred our entries into the Marine Corps Marathon from last October until 2011. Also, we’ve been planning for years to run the Mt. Desert Island Marathon this coming October. Which means, if you’re keeping track, Jennifer and I have three marathons planned this year, two of which are within two weeks of each other!

    So, I’ll be doing a lot of long distance running and the training to support that. However, I’ve still not given up on my goal to reduce my 5k time below 21:00. As time and health permits, I’ll be doing speed work and races to address that goal. I’ll keep you informed.

    In case you’re curious, here’s my race calendar for the year, so far:

    I’ll probably mix some other low-key races into that list, too.

  • Bike Parking

    The only thing about this that broke my brain is that fact that it wouldn’t have fit into that man’s messenger bag.

  • Atlanta Track Club Cross Country 5k

    I ran the Atlanta Track Club Cross Country 5k this morning. The weather was 35 degrees and cloudy; a very nice day for a run. I turned in a 27:45 by my watch (official results not yet available) which should be within a few seconds.

    This is the second time I’ve run this race. I did not run it last year (one month after I would have peaked for the Ironman) which is unfortunate because that would have been the benchmark.

    I really like this course, which is the Milton High School cross country course. There are challenging ups and downs with challenging ups and downs on turns! All fun and games until someone turns an ankle! It’s a three loop course which you can look at on the linked google map.

    Can’t wait ’til next year. Hopefully I’ll be faster, but no worries if I’m not.

  • Foot in Mouth Disease: "Runner" Definition

    A race commentator in New Zealand recently decided that the person who won a race wasn’t “a real runner”.

    You see, Morgan had won the race but because he’s a big guy the race announcer (Mr. Dark a local Radio DJ) felt he simply wasn’t a real runner.

    “What right does the announcer have to say I’m not a ‘real runner’? I train just as hard as any 75kg runner,” Morgan said after the race.

    …

    “It was a throw-away comment … but he certainly doesn’t look like an elite runner, I stand by that.”

    However, he does not take the harsh words back. “I call it as I see it.”

    This guy needs a whack on the head. I acknowledge many different ways to define “runner” but one of the most primary is “wins the race”.

    Personally, my definition of a runner is easy: A signature on a race form. That’s it. If you run a 5k race in 45 minutes, I will still call you a runner.