Running 365: Day 18: "Running Hills"

Tuesday is designated for Hill Running. Located just down stream from the Folsom Lake Trails is the Folsom Dam Crossing (FDX). Known as the New Dam, FDX offers an 8% grade that is a constant climb for exactly 1 mile.

For a great workout, we do less miles but allow the run to challenge our heart rate and build a deeper endurance. But why? Team Oregon uses hills to exert the body, but cautions against changing heart rate strain...

"Maintaining even effort with a Heart Rate Monitor"The best way to see the amount of effort you are using, is by training and racing with a heart rate monitor. It acts like the speedometer in your car to let you get instant feedback on your effort. When using the heart rate monitor in training let your heart rate rise 5 - 10 beats over easy training rate on the uphill and try to stay 0 – 5 beats under easy rate on the downhill. When racing, allow only 5 beats over racing heart rate on the uphill.

Now, lets run.

Running 365: Day 8: "Flip The Script"

A few words about running as I reflect on my past running pre-occupation.

THROUGH RUNNING, I HAVE...[or have been]

Spiraled.
Moved.
Challenged.
Changed.
Afflicted.
Overwhelmed.
Addicted.
Redeemed.
Driven.
Pained.
Motivated.
Doubted.
Promoted.
Stymied.
Endured.
Suffered.
Eased.
Quoted.
Mis-Quoted.
Loved.
Hated.
Believed.
Damaged.
Timed.
Failed.
Lost.
Won.
Exhausted.
Rested.
Invigoratged.
Dehydrated.
Frozen.
Over-whelmed.
Advocated.
Reasoned.
Determined.
Tolerated.
Celebrated.

Having said that...be inspired and run long today.



SPOKEN TEXT
Here's the thing that makes life so interesting. The theory of evolution claims that "only the strong shall survive". Maybe so, maybe so. But the theory of competition says, "just because they're the strong doesn't mean they can't get their asses kicked."

That's right.

See, what every long shot, come from behind, underdog will tell ya is this: the other guy may in fact be the favorite, the odds may be stacked against you. Fair enough.

But what the odds don't know is this isn't a math test. This is a completely different kind of test. One where passion, has a funny way of trumping logic. So before you step up to the starting line, before the whistle blows, and the clocks start ticking just remember: out here the results don't always add up.

No matter what the stats may say and the experts may think and the commentators may have predicted, when the race is on, all bets are off.

Don't be surprised be if someone decides to flip the script and take a pass on yelling "Uncle". And then suddenly as the old saying goes, "WE'VE GOT OURSELVES A GAME!"

PICTURE: Pulled off-line of an unknown runner pressing through at Badwater

Running 365: Day 6

Its been awhile since I have ran 6 days in a row. I usually run M.T.TH.F.S. I think I am at my best mentally 5 days a week with Wednesday and Sundays off. Occasionally, a Sunday afternoon will beckon and I oblige. But today, in a few moments, I will head out for Day 6. I am giddy. Not because of the run, but because of the plans for Tuesday, 1/11.

Yesterday I opened a forwarded email from my running friend and Be Change Runner, David Bry. Pictured above. Dave passed on to me an invite from MeetUp.com that was for all runners in my area to gather to view a movie. I had already established this as a special run day. 1/11/11. Its sister, 11/11/11 holds a secret in itself. Think audacious. But for Tuesday, 1/11 is special to me because accomplishment is about to arrive for some great friends of mine.

I wrote of BK's 5K that is coming. What I didnt tell him was that we were going to go see a movie after his run to celebrate his finish. Some friends and I are going to the showing of Hood to Coast. This epic relay race winds 197 miles through Oregon Mountains and to the coast. Runners, joggers, and those who have done neither in quite some time tackle the leap-frog race.



Hood to Coast grasps and celebrates everything great about running. Its about friends, adventures, challenge, motivation and movement. Movement forward.

Today, walk a bit further. Jog a bit faster. Run a bit longer.

Today, move.