The Boston Marathon is finished... Bunch of Icelanders ran the race, some were fast, others were not so fast but they can all claim participation in the oldest and the most respected marathon in the world... Also Frank, mentioned in a previous post ran, although still recovering from an ultramarathon. Jen improved her Boston time by 11 minutes and Scott Dunlap (see blog links) ran the distance although obviously not pushing for a time. But he runs over 20 races over 42km each season so they can't all be the fastest.
Inspired by this I started my short run recovery... Taking the advice of my friend Ásgeir I decided to run 1.5 km... if the knees would handle that go a bit longer and work my self up... I must work my self up to 21km by the 15th of June when I plan to race the 1/2 Ironman.
So I set out. I felt silly dressing up in my running clothes knowing I would only be going 1.5km. The preperation it self took as long as the run. I tried to run with knee support and that really worked well. I ran downhill for around 750m and then steep uphill for 750m. My knees held up fine. No pain, only a little tingling sensation that worried me for a little bit.
That night I was working a night shift and my knee felt a bit weak, but not in pain. So something is going right. I am using massage (credit to my aunt), omega-3 fish oil, voltaren, knee support... anything that will work, traditional or not.
I didn't time my run or check the pulse (as it was such a short run) but the speed was fine although I can feel that 3 weeks of not running really brings down the stamina... but stamina is easy to build up. 51 days to go!!!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
Back from the start
Yep... now it is back to the start...
Run 1.5km if there is no pain for two runs go to 2.0km, no pain... 2.5km etc... until it hurts... I am pretty sure this will work it self out... although I will go to the scan in may and see what the doctor says. But most triathletes injure them selfs at some point or another... and this is just minor...
Last week was good... 4 bike trainings, 3 swim training... (2 in the club, one by my self) and 3 strength trainings... all in all, well balanced.
The Boston marathon is today... How I wish I was there... one day, one day. I posted some of the races I plan to race (in my lifetime) but for some reason the post went down on the page. So it looks like the third or fourth newest post. But you can scroll down and check it out.
Good luck to you Boston runners, and the rest of you... I might be brought back to 1.5km but not for long :)
Run 1.5km if there is no pain for two runs go to 2.0km, no pain... 2.5km etc... until it hurts... I am pretty sure this will work it self out... although I will go to the scan in may and see what the doctor says. But most triathletes injure them selfs at some point or another... and this is just minor...
Last week was good... 4 bike trainings, 3 swim training... (2 in the club, one by my self) and 3 strength trainings... all in all, well balanced.
The Boston marathon is today... How I wish I was there... one day, one day. I posted some of the races I plan to race (in my lifetime) but for some reason the post went down on the page. So it looks like the third or fourth newest post. But you can scroll down and check it out.
Good luck to you Boston runners, and the rest of you... I might be brought back to 1.5km but not for long :)
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
F**K!!!!!
That kind of says it all...
yesterday and today have been the best and my worst days in training... yesterday was the best... I went through my 4 trainings without feeling any discomfort in my knee at all... even soccer went without any pain... and without loosing a game...
Then there is today... I felt a little weird in the knee but no pain... I decided to go out for a short late night run... running just 3.5km and see how it would feel.
I went out steadily feeling each knee bend every step, listening to any sing of pain. But I didn't feel any... so I kept going I was getting into my rythm and just feeling so good running again... then suddenly without warning after 2.5km I felt like a knive was being stabbed into my knee... and for the remaining 1.5km every step felt like having a knive turned inside of my knee... the weird thing is that this was the left knee... the knee that had recovered better and had been painless for longer...
I ended up finishing in 22:47 minutes way too slow... way too painfull... now I sit here with ice on my knee... cursing this incredibly bad design... how can one bodypart be so problematic... and conteplating about the duathlon this weekend... I really want to go...
yesterday and today have been the best and my worst days in training... yesterday was the best... I went through my 4 trainings without feeling any discomfort in my knee at all... even soccer went without any pain... and without loosing a game...
Then there is today... I felt a little weird in the knee but no pain... I decided to go out for a short late night run... running just 3.5km and see how it would feel.
I went out steadily feeling each knee bend every step, listening to any sing of pain. But I didn't feel any... so I kept going I was getting into my rythm and just feeling so good running again... then suddenly without warning after 2.5km I felt like a knive was being stabbed into my knee... and for the remaining 1.5km every step felt like having a knive turned inside of my knee... the weird thing is that this was the left knee... the knee that had recovered better and had been painless for longer...
I ended up finishing in 22:47 minutes way too slow... way too painfull... now I sit here with ice on my knee... cursing this incredibly bad design... how can one bodypart be so problematic... and conteplating about the duathlon this weekend... I really want to go...
Monday, April 14, 2008
The Doctor
Went to a knee specialist today...
Well, after a short explaination and the history of the mess in my knees he asked my to lie down and he poked couple of spots, asked if that or that hurt. All in all around 15 minutes... then he told my they needed x-ray photo and MRI of both knees.
Fair enough, I had expected that. He told me to go downstairs book a time for that and then book another time with him couple of days after they have the results.
I walked out of the doctors office after this short chat. In which he could not tell me anything what was wrong or if it would be save to run again.
Well, fair enough I thought. He will tell me more after I get the pictures. But as I am walking through the reception the receptionist handed me a bill of 150 US dollars!!! 150$ for less than 20 minutes, where he did more or less nothing and didn't tell me anything!!! wow!!!
I walked downstairs to the MRI/x-ray part. They didn't have anything available untill the middle of May so a months wait and... they told me the bill would be around 300$ fantastic!!!!
They better have some answers after I give them 500$!!
Anyways... enough of me irritating my self over a stupid system... my knee actually feels much better so I am going for 4 trainings tonight. Starting with spinning class, going into weights, where I will again take light weights, on to swim trainnig where I plan to take 1500m on time. Then football where I will test my knee.
On a more positive note I got the bike today!! It is a Peugeot racer bike. Almost new, just abot 20 years old. :)
Fell of the first two times trying to get my feet into the pedals... I am so happy about the bike, can't wait taking it out for a rida... the plan is to do that tomorrow.
Also it has a name (has had it for years), it's Pusi derivative of Peugeot :)
Welcome Pusi!
Well, after a short explaination and the history of the mess in my knees he asked my to lie down and he poked couple of spots, asked if that or that hurt. All in all around 15 minutes... then he told my they needed x-ray photo and MRI of both knees.
Fair enough, I had expected that. He told me to go downstairs book a time for that and then book another time with him couple of days after they have the results.
I walked out of the doctors office after this short chat. In which he could not tell me anything what was wrong or if it would be save to run again.
Well, fair enough I thought. He will tell me more after I get the pictures. But as I am walking through the reception the receptionist handed me a bill of 150 US dollars!!! 150$ for less than 20 minutes, where he did more or less nothing and didn't tell me anything!!! wow!!!
I walked downstairs to the MRI/x-ray part. They didn't have anything available untill the middle of May so a months wait and... they told me the bill would be around 300$ fantastic!!!!
They better have some answers after I give them 500$!!
Anyways... enough of me irritating my self over a stupid system... my knee actually feels much better so I am going for 4 trainings tonight. Starting with spinning class, going into weights, where I will again take light weights, on to swim trainnig where I plan to take 1500m on time. Then football where I will test my knee.
On a more positive note I got the bike today!! It is a Peugeot racer bike. Almost new, just abot 20 years old. :)
Fell of the first two times trying to get my feet into the pedals... I am so happy about the bike, can't wait taking it out for a rida... the plan is to do that tomorrow.
Also it has a name (has had it for years), it's Pusi derivative of Peugeot :)
Welcome Pusi!
Friday, April 11, 2008
Races I plan to do
Kiehl’s Badwater Ultramarathon
a 135-mile foot race from the bottom of Death Valley to the Mt. Whitney trailhead 8,360 feet above sea level
If not the toughest footrace in the world, the Badwater Ultra is certainly the hottest. The 135-mile haul goes from 280-feet below sea level in the middle of Death Valley to 8,360 feet at Whitney Portals at the base of Mt. Whitney--in the middle of July. Along the way, runners must deal with rugged highway, passing motorists and stifling temperatures, which climb as high as 130 degrees. The invitation-only race is limited to 75 runners, a field regularly filled with marathoners, triathletes, adventure racers and mountaineers who have proved their mettle elsewhere. Last year saw a 79% finishing rate, which included runner Dean Karnazes, the author of Ultramarathon Man, who not only captured first place with a blistering time of 27:22:48, but then shuffled an extra 11 miles to the top of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the continental U.S.
For more information, visit www.badwaterultra.com
Marathon des Sables
The Marathon Des Sables
Location: Sahara Desert, Morocco
When: April
Started: 1985
Factoid: mid-day temperatures of up to 120°F
Web site: http://xxlplan.ovh.net/~visiolog/uk/indexuk_ovh.shtml
The Dead Sea Ultra Marathon
Dead Sea Ultra Marathon
Location: Amman, Jordan
When: April 15, 2005
Started: 1993
Factoid: Finish line is 400 meters below sea level
Web site: http://www.deadseamarathon.com/
The Everest Marathon
Everest Marathon
Location: Everest Base Camp, Nepal
When: November
Started: 1987
Factoid: Race starts at 17,000 feet
Web site: http://www.everestmarathon.org.uk/
Great Tibetan Marathon
Location: Ladakh, India
When: August
Started: NA
Factoid: The start is at 3,800 meters above sea level and the finish is just 400 meters lower. In contrast, the Everest marathon starts at 5,340 meters and runs downhill.
Web site: www.great-tibetan-marathon.com/
Le Marathon des Chateaux du Medoc
Location: Medoc, France
When: September
Started: 2005
Factoid: The course passes many of the greatest chateaux in Bordeaux, where "runners" are expected to drink wine instead of water and foie gras instead of bananas.
Web site: www.marathondumedoc.com
Boston Marathon
Location: Boston
When: April
Started: 1897
Factoid: Since 1969 the Boston Marathon has always been run on Patriots' Day, the third Monday in April.
Web site: http://www.bostonmarathon.org/
a 135-mile foot race from the bottom of Death Valley to the Mt. Whitney trailhead 8,360 feet above sea level
If not the toughest footrace in the world, the Badwater Ultra is certainly the hottest. The 135-mile haul goes from 280-feet below sea level in the middle of Death Valley to 8,360 feet at Whitney Portals at the base of Mt. Whitney--in the middle of July. Along the way, runners must deal with rugged highway, passing motorists and stifling temperatures, which climb as high as 130 degrees. The invitation-only race is limited to 75 runners, a field regularly filled with marathoners, triathletes, adventure racers and mountaineers who have proved their mettle elsewhere. Last year saw a 79% finishing rate, which included runner Dean Karnazes, the author of Ultramarathon Man, who not only captured first place with a blistering time of 27:22:48, but then shuffled an extra 11 miles to the top of Mount Whitney, the highest point in the continental U.S.
For more information, visit www.badwaterultra.com
Marathon des Sables
The Marathon Des Sables
Location: Sahara Desert, Morocco
When: April
Started: 1985
Factoid: mid-day temperatures of up to 120°F
Web site: http://xxlplan.ovh.net/~visiolog/uk/indexuk_ovh.shtml
The Dead Sea Ultra Marathon
Dead Sea Ultra Marathon
Location: Amman, Jordan
When: April 15, 2005
Started: 1993
Factoid: Finish line is 400 meters below sea level
Web site: http://www.deadseamarathon.com/
The Everest Marathon
Everest Marathon
Location: Everest Base Camp, Nepal
When: November
Started: 1987
Factoid: Race starts at 17,000 feet
Web site: http://www.everestmarathon.org.uk/
Great Tibetan Marathon
Location: Ladakh, India
When: August
Started: NA
Factoid: The start is at 3,800 meters above sea level and the finish is just 400 meters lower. In contrast, the Everest marathon starts at 5,340 meters and runs downhill.
Web site: www.great-tibetan-marathon.com/
Le Marathon des Chateaux du Medoc
Location: Medoc, France
When: September
Started: 2005
Factoid: The course passes many of the greatest chateaux in Bordeaux, where "runners" are expected to drink wine instead of water and foie gras instead of bananas.
Web site: www.marathondumedoc.com
Boston Marathon
Location: Boston
When: April
Started: 1897
Factoid: Since 1969 the Boston Marathon has always been run on Patriots' Day, the third Monday in April.
Web site: http://www.bostonmarathon.org/
65 days to go...
Knees, knees, knees, it's all about the knees... I read somewhere that guys mostly think about one part of their body... well... for runners I guess that would be the knees... at least in my case.
The knee update is that it feels pretty good... no pain... still weak...
Had a 20km indoor bike ride yesterday. My legs felt really good afterwards, kept a 32km/hr average pace so that was fine. Can't wait to start running again! But will try to wait until after I see the knee specialist next Monday.
I put up my race schedule for 2008 on the side bar as well as my times in the races of 2008 so far. Will be fun moving them down as I go through them. Those with sharp attention will see that I have a marathon on the 31st of May and a 1/2 Olympic triathlon on the 1st of June. No, I don't plan to do both. I just can't decide which one to take. Also, I planned to race 16 times this year so with the current plan I can skip three races. I decided to put a bit more races in than I will race due to the fact that I work shifts and due to work I will have to skip some of the races. Although all the big ones I have taken care of already.
My next "big" one. The next big step in my journey into this running/triathlon madness is the 1/2 Ironman. It is scheduled th 15th of June so 65 days to go and I am really looking forward to it. That race is one of the main reasons why I am considering skipping the marathon on the 31st of May. I jsut don't want to risk having weak knees going into the 1/2 Ironman.
Then after the 1/2 Ironman I have 27 days to recover, regroup and taper for the Laugarvegur XTERRA ultra marathon. It is 55km in the mountains. Something I really look forward to. So I want to feel as fresh as I can there. The summer seems to be more or less recovery and tapering. Not much time for regular training. Although I will put in as many km's as possible. Also the smaller races are thought as trainings and I will not taper or need to recover afterwards.
About photos... I have been searching high and low for the cable to connect the camera to my computer, without success. So right now I have a lot of photos from my first marathon but they are stuck in a silver colored metal box.
Also the Boston Marathon is in 10 days I have been reading blogs of people preparing for it... some of which actually travel there this weekend. I get so excited reading about it. For me The Boston Marathon is the same in marathons as Kona is in Ironmans. Maybe I am overstating its importance but that's how I see it and I definetly am going to qualify in 2010, the latest! :)
All the best to those of your running in Boston (or if you have other races coming up)!! enjoy every second but at the same time try to take as few of them as you can!
The knee update is that it feels pretty good... no pain... still weak...
Had a 20km indoor bike ride yesterday. My legs felt really good afterwards, kept a 32km/hr average pace so that was fine. Can't wait to start running again! But will try to wait until after I see the knee specialist next Monday.
I put up my race schedule for 2008 on the side bar as well as my times in the races of 2008 so far. Will be fun moving them down as I go through them. Those with sharp attention will see that I have a marathon on the 31st of May and a 1/2 Olympic triathlon on the 1st of June. No, I don't plan to do both. I just can't decide which one to take. Also, I planned to race 16 times this year so with the current plan I can skip three races. I decided to put a bit more races in than I will race due to the fact that I work shifts and due to work I will have to skip some of the races. Although all the big ones I have taken care of already.
My next "big" one. The next big step in my journey into this running/triathlon madness is the 1/2 Ironman. It is scheduled th 15th of June so 65 days to go and I am really looking forward to it. That race is one of the main reasons why I am considering skipping the marathon on the 31st of May. I jsut don't want to risk having weak knees going into the 1/2 Ironman.
Then after the 1/2 Ironman I have 27 days to recover, regroup and taper for the Laugarvegur XTERRA ultra marathon. It is 55km in the mountains. Something I really look forward to. So I want to feel as fresh as I can there. The summer seems to be more or less recovery and tapering. Not much time for regular training. Although I will put in as many km's as possible. Also the smaller races are thought as trainings and I will not taper or need to recover afterwards.
About photos... I have been searching high and low for the cable to connect the camera to my computer, without success. So right now I have a lot of photos from my first marathon but they are stuck in a silver colored metal box.
Also the Boston Marathon is in 10 days I have been reading blogs of people preparing for it... some of which actually travel there this weekend. I get so excited reading about it. For me The Boston Marathon is the same in marathons as Kona is in Ironmans. Maybe I am overstating its importance but that's how I see it and I definetly am going to qualify in 2010, the latest! :)
All the best to those of your running in Boston (or if you have other races coming up)!! enjoy every second but at the same time try to take as few of them as you can!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Gradual improvements... nahhh... boring
I´ll keep up the habit of writing a knee update in the beginning :) I iced it again tonight... but the whole day I felt ok, sore at most... tonight in trainings it felt great, absoulutely no discomfort. But after training as I cooled down I had a little pain so I decided to ice it again, just for the fun of it.
Well, spinning class was not very noteworthy, except I showed up a bit late... was working till five and the class starts fifteen past, I had to get to my car (parked around 10 minutes walk away from my work), drive through the city (probably town on American scale) :) Which should take around 20-25 minutes in the rush hour. Change into my gear, 5 mintues... so all in all around 35 minutes... I knew I couldn't be 20 minutes late as thats half the class so I rushed through traffic my pulse rising with every slow car or red light so that when I finally jumped on the bike, 12 minutes late I was already at excercise level :)
But the reason I am writing this is not to talk about Icelandic traffic... I have lived and traveled to too many countries so I promise never to complain about our tiny traffic delays. Go to Jakarta and you will experience a real traffic jam :)
The reason why I am writing this blog that I am totally elated with my swim training. I took light weights in the lifting/excercise class so my arms felt relatively fresh. Although it was kind of hard having the lightest weights of everyone in the class. But it sure paid off.
Up till now I have been swimming at around 2:20 sustained pace per 100m. I go faster for 2-300m breaking the 2 minutes. But never been able to do it consistently. And more importantly when I go around the 2 minutes I am really going all out, tiring my self immensly. My legs and arms tired.
Well... not any more!!
I have always been aiming for the 2 minute pace as it will give 30 minutes for the 1500m in a triathlon. I was getting rather worried because I have not been improving my swim times for over 3 months now. But this week I have been reading Total Immersion again. Great book and i totally recommend it. I had read it before, before I started taking the masters swim classes but it hadn't really helped. But this time it really clicked, putting together what my coach has been telling me (I have listened, but not been able to turn it into action) and what the book says I just flew. That, even though I was trying to go slower, I did more or less nothing with my feet that up untill now have been sinking the moment I stop kicking for my life. But by pushing my chest down and swimming "downhill" my legs just popped up and I started gliding through the water.
I also slowed down my armstroke alot, taking fewer, slower and with less effort my strokes. Just focusing on not raising my head as I breath. The first 100 meters were my slowest tonight 2:06 and I wasn't tired at all. So I managed to cut my rest time and for 1.7 or 1.8km (lost count) that is 17-18 trips I kept under 2:00 minutes for 11-12 of them and the others 2:01 and 2:02... just amazing...
I rested and pushed off the banks so it can not be transfered directly to triathlon time but my avarage time of 1:58 would give me 29:30 for the 1500m and now the 1900m in the half Ironman I plan to compete in June doesn't seem scary at all. I'll come out of the water fresh and in the middle of the group... YAY!!!
ps. was reading it over... well... lot of numbers... meaningless to most... but as most of you guys reading are triathletes or runners and I am just so happy, so I decided to post it anyways :)
Well, spinning class was not very noteworthy, except I showed up a bit late... was working till five and the class starts fifteen past, I had to get to my car (parked around 10 minutes walk away from my work), drive through the city (probably town on American scale) :) Which should take around 20-25 minutes in the rush hour. Change into my gear, 5 mintues... so all in all around 35 minutes... I knew I couldn't be 20 minutes late as thats half the class so I rushed through traffic my pulse rising with every slow car or red light so that when I finally jumped on the bike, 12 minutes late I was already at excercise level :)
But the reason I am writing this is not to talk about Icelandic traffic... I have lived and traveled to too many countries so I promise never to complain about our tiny traffic delays. Go to Jakarta and you will experience a real traffic jam :)
The reason why I am writing this blog that I am totally elated with my swim training. I took light weights in the lifting/excercise class so my arms felt relatively fresh. Although it was kind of hard having the lightest weights of everyone in the class. But it sure paid off.
Up till now I have been swimming at around 2:20 sustained pace per 100m. I go faster for 2-300m breaking the 2 minutes. But never been able to do it consistently. And more importantly when I go around the 2 minutes I am really going all out, tiring my self immensly. My legs and arms tired.
Well... not any more!!
I have always been aiming for the 2 minute pace as it will give 30 minutes for the 1500m in a triathlon. I was getting rather worried because I have not been improving my swim times for over 3 months now. But this week I have been reading Total Immersion again. Great book and i totally recommend it. I had read it before, before I started taking the masters swim classes but it hadn't really helped. But this time it really clicked, putting together what my coach has been telling me (I have listened, but not been able to turn it into action) and what the book says I just flew. That, even though I was trying to go slower, I did more or less nothing with my feet that up untill now have been sinking the moment I stop kicking for my life. But by pushing my chest down and swimming "downhill" my legs just popped up and I started gliding through the water.
I also slowed down my armstroke alot, taking fewer, slower and with less effort my strokes. Just focusing on not raising my head as I breath. The first 100 meters were my slowest tonight 2:06 and I wasn't tired at all. So I managed to cut my rest time and for 1.7 or 1.8km (lost count) that is 17-18 trips I kept under 2:00 minutes for 11-12 of them and the others 2:01 and 2:02... just amazing...
I rested and pushed off the banks so it can not be transfered directly to triathlon time but my avarage time of 1:58 would give me 29:30 for the 1500m and now the 1900m in the half Ironman I plan to compete in June doesn't seem scary at all. I'll come out of the water fresh and in the middle of the group... YAY!!!
ps. was reading it over... well... lot of numbers... meaningless to most... but as most of you guys reading are triathletes or runners and I am just so happy, so I decided to post it anyways :)
Knee-changes-random rant
Seems my prediction about my knee is proving to be a correct one, I felt alright yesterday, couple of stings and rather sore. But nothing that brought me down... Then so far today my knee has been silent although I feel that it is not there yet... maybe 70%... but the pain is not constant and no major pains today... so that means spinning and swimming!! Woohoo!
Just wanted to give a quick update on minor changes I have been doing on the blog. Firstly I have changes the comments system so that you don't have to be a blogger user to comment. This I do due to some friends that use different blogging systems but want to comment. The word verification will still be there as I don't want spam comments about how to grow your love muscle (got to love spam).
Also I have added in the recent weeks three new links and just want to advertise them a bit. (I´ll do them in alphabetic order as I don't want to choose between these amazing people)
Bibba-Ironwoman. This woman is simply amazing! she and her husband are simply astonishing. She became the first Icelandic woman to finish Ironman. He has finished two... He is planning to climb Mt. Everest and when they go on vacations they do ultra events just to keep things interesting... Going on a cruise but the day of departure doing the Miami Marathon is an example. They will be running around Mt. Blank this summer (she will do half). Ahh... and did I mention she is around 40 years old?? (hope that I am not to far off... am horrible judging age)
Anyways... that is not the main reason why I add her on my list, the main reason is that she is such a nice woman. We swim in the same masters swim club and we always go to the hot tub afterwards. Often sitting there way to long, just talking about triathlon and running. Even though the rest of the guys are gone she still sits there with me listening to my random thoughts and giving me great advices from her incredible experience. She is the closest thing I have to be a coach and/or mentor. Really makes it worth while struggling in the water for an hour.
She blogs daily about her activities but it is in Icelandic so that narrows down the possible readers to the 300.000 habitants of this lovely country.
Frank-rundangerously. The funny thing is that I do not know Frank at all, I don't even remember how I first came across his blog or if he found mine. But on my web surfing I often go between running blog sites... seeing who posts comments where and just go to random peoples blogs. For some reason his blog really caught me and now is a daily stop as long as I go on the internet that day. Frank runs long! he does 100 miles runs and really writes about his experiences in a human way. What I like about his blog is that he writes about a lot of random things. Books, music, training, competing... It makes me feel like I know Frank although I have, like I said, never (yet) met him. He posts alot of photos and blogs very frequently (52 blogs in march).
But like I mentioned my main reason for liking his blog so much is the personal touch. His daughter runs in shorter races and he captures those sweet family moments with great photos.
Peter-The coach. Peter was one of the first person to post a comment on my blog... after I took up blogging on this page I had been doing it kind of for my slef, not telling anyone about it. Most of my post had 0 comments and my blogs had very few visits. Then visits started to grow a little and suddenly this very nice running coach from the US started posting comments on my blog. I started reading his blog and find it an essential stop on my blog reading circle. He is helping people reach their goals of running their first 10km races and/or half marathons. His experience and many years of running shine through his calm personal way of describing races and training and the pride he takes in his "students" achievements is obvious. He volunteers when is is not running him self and all in all seems to be an incredibly nice human being.
Although I haven't met Frank nor Peter I am pretty sure that in this world of opportunities that the opportunity will come along and I will enjoy a nice sunday run with them, race or not. Bibba I do meet all the time and will continue to do so for as long as we live in the same continent.
So at this point I should stop bloging, but I like disconnected random rants going from one to the other so I will continue and tell you about my bike situation. I own a bike, I own a one year old bike, I own a pretty good bike, I own a useless bike for triathlons. I bought a street bike just over a year ago. Not a mountainbike but not a racer. I might had used a street bike this summer for my first three triathlons but as I used my bike all last winter (I own winter tires for my bike) The whole chain and the pedaling has bacome heavy and energy consuming. I thought that was just the way biking was supposed to be and that I was just a bad biker, and I had to train super hard. But then I tried biking on a racer... and what a blizz! the ease and the speed! The comfort goes down, yes, but I am not racing or training to be comfortable. I have a very nice bed that I can be in to be comfortable.
Anyways... I became really exciting about getting myself a racer, but as I am still paying back for two years of travelling and living abroad I simply can't buy one untill next fall... so what to do, what to do... I have a half ironman scheduled in june and when biking 90km I really dont want to be slugging along on my ironclad horse.
Then the saviour appeared... well actually there are two of them... but it is kind of cause and effect... without the cause there would be no effect, but the effect is what brings the result... the cause is once again Bibba. As we were sitting in the hot tub, I was pondering on my bike situation and she told be about a bike that might be available... and that Gísli the organizer of my first marathon had it. She told me he had an old but functional racer and that she believed he wasn't using it as he had a new one. At least that I should contact him and check it out.
So I did, I sent him an e-mail, shortly explaining my situation and asked if he could borrow it to me, rent it for the summer or sell it cheap... I got the answer right away, and in the spirit of marathon runners he was more than willing to help. I can borrow his bike for a while, see how it works and fits and then we will see how it goes... A true champion there! I haven't seen the bike but apparently it is a 20 year old racer that has taken Gísli through many triathlons so I hope its experience can help me take me through my first :)
Will write more about it after I try it. The last random and totally unconnected thought that I will scribble down in this long and totally un-understandable blog is that yesterday I checket my blog and the tracker I have that tracks where people are coming from showed me that out of the last 10 people seeing my blog only 2 were in Iceland. The other 8 spanned 3 continents and 5 countries... that I find really cool... incredible how technology has changed the world. Only 20 years ago I would be wirting these thoughts to my self, but now anyone, anywhere, anytime can tap into this madness and probably feel much better about their own sanity.
Just wanted to give a quick update on minor changes I have been doing on the blog. Firstly I have changes the comments system so that you don't have to be a blogger user to comment. This I do due to some friends that use different blogging systems but want to comment. The word verification will still be there as I don't want spam comments about how to grow your love muscle (got to love spam).
Also I have added in the recent weeks three new links and just want to advertise them a bit. (I´ll do them in alphabetic order as I don't want to choose between these amazing people)
Bibba-Ironwoman. This woman is simply amazing! she and her husband are simply astonishing. She became the first Icelandic woman to finish Ironman. He has finished two... He is planning to climb Mt. Everest and when they go on vacations they do ultra events just to keep things interesting... Going on a cruise but the day of departure doing the Miami Marathon is an example. They will be running around Mt. Blank this summer (she will do half). Ahh... and did I mention she is around 40 years old?? (hope that I am not to far off... am horrible judging age)
Anyways... that is not the main reason why I add her on my list, the main reason is that she is such a nice woman. We swim in the same masters swim club and we always go to the hot tub afterwards. Often sitting there way to long, just talking about triathlon and running. Even though the rest of the guys are gone she still sits there with me listening to my random thoughts and giving me great advices from her incredible experience. She is the closest thing I have to be a coach and/or mentor. Really makes it worth while struggling in the water for an hour.
She blogs daily about her activities but it is in Icelandic so that narrows down the possible readers to the 300.000 habitants of this lovely country.
Frank-rundangerously. The funny thing is that I do not know Frank at all, I don't even remember how I first came across his blog or if he found mine. But on my web surfing I often go between running blog sites... seeing who posts comments where and just go to random peoples blogs. For some reason his blog really caught me and now is a daily stop as long as I go on the internet that day. Frank runs long! he does 100 miles runs and really writes about his experiences in a human way. What I like about his blog is that he writes about a lot of random things. Books, music, training, competing... It makes me feel like I know Frank although I have, like I said, never (yet) met him. He posts alot of photos and blogs very frequently (52 blogs in march).
But like I mentioned my main reason for liking his blog so much is the personal touch. His daughter runs in shorter races and he captures those sweet family moments with great photos.
Peter-The coach. Peter was one of the first person to post a comment on my blog... after I took up blogging on this page I had been doing it kind of for my slef, not telling anyone about it. Most of my post had 0 comments and my blogs had very few visits. Then visits started to grow a little and suddenly this very nice running coach from the US started posting comments on my blog. I started reading his blog and find it an essential stop on my blog reading circle. He is helping people reach their goals of running their first 10km races and/or half marathons. His experience and many years of running shine through his calm personal way of describing races and training and the pride he takes in his "students" achievements is obvious. He volunteers when is is not running him self and all in all seems to be an incredibly nice human being.
Although I haven't met Frank nor Peter I am pretty sure that in this world of opportunities that the opportunity will come along and I will enjoy a nice sunday run with them, race or not. Bibba I do meet all the time and will continue to do so for as long as we live in the same continent.
So at this point I should stop bloging, but I like disconnected random rants going from one to the other so I will continue and tell you about my bike situation. I own a bike, I own a one year old bike, I own a pretty good bike, I own a useless bike for triathlons. I bought a street bike just over a year ago. Not a mountainbike but not a racer. I might had used a street bike this summer for my first three triathlons but as I used my bike all last winter (I own winter tires for my bike) The whole chain and the pedaling has bacome heavy and energy consuming. I thought that was just the way biking was supposed to be and that I was just a bad biker, and I had to train super hard. But then I tried biking on a racer... and what a blizz! the ease and the speed! The comfort goes down, yes, but I am not racing or training to be comfortable. I have a very nice bed that I can be in to be comfortable.
Anyways... I became really exciting about getting myself a racer, but as I am still paying back for two years of travelling and living abroad I simply can't buy one untill next fall... so what to do, what to do... I have a half ironman scheduled in june and when biking 90km I really dont want to be slugging along on my ironclad horse.
Then the saviour appeared... well actually there are two of them... but it is kind of cause and effect... without the cause there would be no effect, but the effect is what brings the result... the cause is once again Bibba. As we were sitting in the hot tub, I was pondering on my bike situation and she told be about a bike that might be available... and that Gísli the organizer of my first marathon had it. She told me he had an old but functional racer and that she believed he wasn't using it as he had a new one. At least that I should contact him and check it out.
So I did, I sent him an e-mail, shortly explaining my situation and asked if he could borrow it to me, rent it for the summer or sell it cheap... I got the answer right away, and in the spirit of marathon runners he was more than willing to help. I can borrow his bike for a while, see how it works and fits and then we will see how it goes... A true champion there! I haven't seen the bike but apparently it is a 20 year old racer that has taken Gísli through many triathlons so I hope its experience can help me take me through my first :)
Will write more about it after I try it. The last random and totally unconnected thought that I will scribble down in this long and totally un-understandable blog is that yesterday I checket my blog and the tracker I have that tracks where people are coming from showed me that out of the last 10 people seeing my blog only 2 were in Iceland. The other 8 spanned 3 continents and 5 countries... that I find really cool... incredible how technology has changed the world. Only 20 years ago I would be wirting these thoughts to my self, but now anyone, anywhere, anytime can tap into this madness and probably feel much better about their own sanity.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Stupidity
That is most certainly the definition of my actions...
I had one day that I could walk without my knees screaming in pain and what do I do... I go to three trainings... and now I sit in front of the computer with ice on my right knee...
The good news are that my left knee seems to be alright... I started by going to spinning class... really hammered the bike there raised my avarage pulse from my usual spinning pulse and really made the bike pay. I felt great, endorphins rushing to my head which it had so sorely missed, knees feeling good, everything going according to plan.
We went to the aerobic room where we do some strenght training with weights but I decided to stop after three excercises as I wanted to feel fresh in swim training. I usually show up at swim training with my legs beaten after the spin class and my arms done by the weight class.
So I show up at swim training feeling unusually fresh and the training went great. I was keeping a 2 minute tempo per 100m which is my target tempo so I was very happy. I finally felt that my position in the water was improving... so my legs were not sinking the whole time and I managed to glide more... all very good signs... we had a lovely hot tub sicussions as usual and at that point I should had gone home, finished a great day, feeling fine. But no....
Of course with this very welcomed endorphine rush I felt I was invincible so I went to play soccer. My plan originally to stay back and be a goalkeeper... but no... when I felt myl knees were not totally ruined I moved forward playing as a striker... My left knee didn't complain at all, but my right knee became more and more sore and than just plainly hurt. But I kept going, playing on one leg... and on the positive side I won 4 out of 5 games... on the negative my knee feels horrible, and my best friend sprained his ankle and had to stop playing... bloody soccer...
But I am hopefull that my knees are getting better and that I will be sore tomorrow but then fine for a spinning class and swim training next wednesday... I am not going to run for this week... think that is the sensible thing to do... but I really want to...
I had one day that I could walk without my knees screaming in pain and what do I do... I go to three trainings... and now I sit in front of the computer with ice on my right knee...
The good news are that my left knee seems to be alright... I started by going to spinning class... really hammered the bike there raised my avarage pulse from my usual spinning pulse and really made the bike pay. I felt great, endorphins rushing to my head which it had so sorely missed, knees feeling good, everything going according to plan.
We went to the aerobic room where we do some strenght training with weights but I decided to stop after three excercises as I wanted to feel fresh in swim training. I usually show up at swim training with my legs beaten after the spin class and my arms done by the weight class.
So I show up at swim training feeling unusually fresh and the training went great. I was keeping a 2 minute tempo per 100m which is my target tempo so I was very happy. I finally felt that my position in the water was improving... so my legs were not sinking the whole time and I managed to glide more... all very good signs... we had a lovely hot tub sicussions as usual and at that point I should had gone home, finished a great day, feeling fine. But no....
Of course with this very welcomed endorphine rush I felt I was invincible so I went to play soccer. My plan originally to stay back and be a goalkeeper... but no... when I felt myl knees were not totally ruined I moved forward playing as a striker... My left knee didn't complain at all, but my right knee became more and more sore and than just plainly hurt. But I kept going, playing on one leg... and on the positive side I won 4 out of 5 games... on the negative my knee feels horrible, and my best friend sprained his ankle and had to stop playing... bloody soccer...
But I am hopefull that my knees are getting better and that I will be sore tomorrow but then fine for a spinning class and swim training next wednesday... I am not going to run for this week... think that is the sensible thing to do... but I really want to...
Recovery-Active Recovery-Hyper Active Recovery
So... been just over a week from my first marathon... things have been rather frustrating since then. On Monday I felt good, although my knees were sore. So I went for spinning class, I skipped the hardest parts but felt really good. Afterwards there was the weightlifting class, skipped those legs excercises as they felt weak. Then on to swim training, swam just 1km because my knees were starting to feel really bad. Onto soccer but there my knees just broke down... I couldn't run a step. Stood in goal and had a less than convinvincing performance. Although we did win all our matches.
The next day my knees continue to bother me. I could walk but nothing else. Went for a bike ride at the gym. Took 15km and aimed to go under 30 minutes, finished in 27 minutes, so that was fine. But the knees continued bothering me. I feel alright by now, but as soon as I so much as jog, my knees just scream. What kind of engineering flop is this? Who designs a knee that way??
Well, was BBQing with my best friend and his girlfriend last friday and she is a doctor. She did a quick examination and told me I really should talk to a specialist. I have been told that for years but now I finally decided to do something about it as I can not miss more than a week of training after every big run.
So now I have got an appointment with a knee specialist next monday. I am hoping he finds something wrong with my knees that can be fixed. This has been a recurring problem for years and I just hope it can be fixed and I can continue my race plan for the summer.
The next day my knees continue to bother me. I could walk but nothing else. Went for a bike ride at the gym. Took 15km and aimed to go under 30 minutes, finished in 27 minutes, so that was fine. But the knees continued bothering me. I feel alright by now, but as soon as I so much as jog, my knees just scream. What kind of engineering flop is this? Who designs a knee that way??
Well, was BBQing with my best friend and his girlfriend last friday and she is a doctor. She did a quick examination and told me I really should talk to a specialist. I have been told that for years but now I finally decided to do something about it as I can not miss more than a week of training after every big run.
So now I have got an appointment with a knee specialist next monday. I am hoping he finds something wrong with my knees that can be fixed. This has been a recurring problem for years and I just hope it can be fixed and I can continue my race plan for the summer.
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