Success and Failure on the Trace

Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.

Dale Carnegie

I had 16 miles @ marathon plus 30 seconds scheduled for Christmas Day. I had some worries about this run. It wasn’t anything in particular but just a lot of little things.

· 16 miles is a long way – I have not run that since Boston (April)

· While 7:30 pace is not difficult – it is for 16 miles

· It was 50 degrees outside (not a big deal)

· It was raining outside (not a big deal)

· It was cold and raining outside (VERY BIG DEAL)

· I had run 10 miles the day before at a very easy pace (not a big deal)

· It was Christmas Day (can be a big deal)

Read more at www.powermultisport.com

2011 Ole Man River Half Marathon–Charts and Numbers

The 2011 Ole Man River Half PR – wow, what a lucky race.

As I am sure most of you know, everything has to be just right to get a PR. Why? Because it is the fastest you have ever run at the distance. A PR just won’t happen on its own (well, maybe that first year of running, but after a few years under your belt it takes a lot of work).

Race morning was a cool 40 degrees, very little wind but higher than normal humidity. For December, in the South, on a scale of 1 -10, I would give these conditions a 9 (maybe 9.5). A 10 would be 35 degrees, zero wind and no humidity. I want to be cold at the start of the race. But we were lucky with the conditions this year.

Read more at www.powermultisport.com

Ole Man River Race Report - 2011

The alarm went off at 4AM. I normally get up at 5, usually without an alarm. I am perfectly fine with 5AM most mornings, but an hour earlier, that seems ungodly. I rose and clicked the brew button on the coffee maker. I had set out a number of possible running outfits the night before. I was prepared for everything. Before dressing I jumped on the scale. It read 5 pounds higher than my normal. There have been a number of holiday parties and I have not been diligent with my diet. This worried me.

I poured myself two travel mugs and drove in darkness across town to meet friends for the drive to New Orleans.  This race takes place at City Park in New Orleans – one of the largest and oldest urban parks in the country).

Botanical Gardens

Read more at www.powermultisport.com

Heat training in December?

I ran a short tempo run at lunch – five miles with the middle three fast. Not super-fast, but where I would like to run a half marathon. It was hard – really hard.

Read more at www.powermultisport.com .

The Basic Week

I have started coaching for an ironman next year. I was extolling the virtues of the ‘basic week’ template. There is nothing rocket science about this but I really believe in it. You just need to look at your week and schedule various types of workouts at the same times each week. It is no different than doing laundry every Sunday afternoon or taking a night class. You schedule the sessions and before long it becomes routine. It is just an appointment on your calendar, just something you do. Easy stuff but it makes a difference.

Read more at www.powermultisport.com