The flood turned out not to be as bad as was expected yesterday morning but it was still a site to see. I headed out for about 6 miles on an unknown route that would keep me close to the Schuylkill River.
There wasn't really any horrendous flooding but it was cool to see the river in a brown boiling rage as it ducked under the Green Lane Bridge. Portions of Main Street were covered with water but I think most of the businesses escaped unharmed. I headed down Ridge avenue, which was a traffic nightmare, to the Falls River Bridge and checked out the flooding on Kelly Drive. It really was not as bad as I had imagined, or I guess as I had hoped.
I hopped over to MLK and was able to run a 1/2 mile before hitting some water blocking the street. I could have gone around it on the grass but decided to turn around and head home to keep things at 6 miles in 46 minutes.
The run was hot and sweaty. A traffic cop on the way back told me I must be in good shape to be running in this heat. I thought to myself "Yeah I guess I am in decent shape but I sure as hell don't feel like it right now". I just wanted to get the run over with and get out of the heat. The accumulation of miles over the last 4 days and a slight cold combined to make a pretty shitty run depsite the flooded scenery. Everything, especially my legs, feels much better this morning and I should be on track for about 10 miles tonight.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Seebo, Ian, Stevus, Alex and the new guy took a break from the normal Tuesday night PR group route and headed up into Fairmount park in the rain. Things started slow but the pace steadily increased until were at about 7:00 min/mile clip for the last few.
I was a little tight at first and things just didn't feel right but by mile 4 the kinks had worked themselves out and I felt great. 7 miles in 50 minutes.
Tonight I hope to do a flood run. Here is a quote from a local news website. "The flooding has the potential to put the Schuylkill River at one of its highest levels in Philadelphia in 125 years. In Philadelphia, the flood stage is 11 feet. It could rise to 14.5 feet by Wednesday afternoon into Thursday. Its highest recorded level is 17 feet. Manayunk will be directly affected by this event. A crest at that predicted level would match levels seen by Hurricane Agnes and Floyd in Philadelphia"
I'll have to get down to Main Street Manyunk, or at least as close as I can get, to check out this event. The flooding from hurricane Floyd in 1998 was unbelievable. I am a bit of a weather geek and when things like this happen I can't help but be amazed. I also can't help but feel horrible for all the store owners along Main Street that are going to be effecetd. I imagine it will be several feet deep in some of the low lying stores.
A good portion of Kelly Drive will become part of the Schuylkill river so I think a loop will be out of the question too. Check it out if you get the chance.
I was a little tight at first and things just didn't feel right but by mile 4 the kinks had worked themselves out and I felt great. 7 miles in 50 minutes.
Tonight I hope to do a flood run. Here is a quote from a local news website. "The flooding has the potential to put the Schuylkill River at one of its highest levels in Philadelphia in 125 years. In Philadelphia, the flood stage is 11 feet. It could rise to 14.5 feet by Wednesday afternoon into Thursday. Its highest recorded level is 17 feet. Manayunk will be directly affected by this event. A crest at that predicted level would match levels seen by Hurricane Agnes and Floyd in Philadelphia"
I'll have to get down to Main Street Manyunk, or at least as close as I can get, to check out this event. The flooding from hurricane Floyd in 1998 was unbelievable. I am a bit of a weather geek and when things like this happen I can't help but be amazed. I also can't help but feel horrible for all the store owners along Main Street that are going to be effecetd. I imagine it will be several feet deep in some of the low lying stores.
A good portion of Kelly Drive will become part of the Schuylkill river so I think a loop will be out of the question too. Check it out if you get the chance.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
So it Begins.....
I guess you could say my marathon training officially started yesterday with a 10 miler out through Roxborough on a warm rainy afternoon. There is no definite plan as of yet just mileage goals for the weeks bewteen now and October 22nd. This weeks goal is 55 miles with some faster stuff coming mid-week. If I hit my goal mileage this week it will mean that my first week of marathon training this year is more miles than my peak week of marathon training last year.
The thought that I am now officially in training also changes other things. I'll be looking at what I eat a little more carefully, making sure I get the stuff I need in addition to the treats that will keep the calories up. I'll also make more of an effort to get enough sleep each night, or as often as I can. And now that the heat is on I'll have to keep drinking water to keep dehydration at bay. You can train much better if your well fed, rested, and hydrated. I just hope this initial enthusiasm doesn't wane during a long hot summer.
The run was uneventful. I was at first cursing the rain and humidity but half-way through I decided that I'll take 75 rainy and humid over 85 sunny and humid any day. Things felt good start to finish and I came in at 1hr 16minutes, just about exactly where I expected when I started my run.
The thought that I am now officially in training also changes other things. I'll be looking at what I eat a little more carefully, making sure I get the stuff I need in addition to the treats that will keep the calories up. I'll also make more of an effort to get enough sleep each night, or as often as I can. And now that the heat is on I'll have to keep drinking water to keep dehydration at bay. You can train much better if your well fed, rested, and hydrated. I just hope this initial enthusiasm doesn't wane during a long hot summer.
The run was uneventful. I was at first cursing the rain and humidity but half-way through I decided that I'll take 75 rainy and humid over 85 sunny and humid any day. Things felt good start to finish and I came in at 1hr 16minutes, just about exactly where I expected when I started my run.
Monday, June 26, 2006
A Weak Week
I didn't really expect to run to many miles last week while I wallowed in the sun, sand, and alcohol that is Sea Isle City at the Jersey shore and I didn't. 3 runs last week 6, 8, and 10 for 24 miles. All of them were slow and none of them really went that well. My lowest weekly total since the first week of January.
I was forced to wait for a drawbridge opening on my run, that's a first. I was also "drive by" water ballooned by friends 4 miles into a run. Other than that they were all flat, boring runs at a comfortably slow pace.
The week was a nice break from running. It was a chance to act, eat, drink and party like I was 22 again. I told myself that it was my last break before diving into marathon training so the light mileage didn't really bother me.
Speaking of the marathon, I am less that 18 weeks away from Chicago. I guess I should put some kind of schedule togther or something. I figure a dedicated long run each week that gets progressivley longer with a few 20+ milers, a speed workout each week, some hills and a bunch of other miles to keep my weekly totals up.
I was forced to wait for a drawbridge opening on my run, that's a first. I was also "drive by" water ballooned by friends 4 miles into a run. Other than that they were all flat, boring runs at a comfortably slow pace.
The week was a nice break from running. It was a chance to act, eat, drink and party like I was 22 again. I told myself that it was my last break before diving into marathon training so the light mileage didn't really bother me.
Speaking of the marathon, I am less that 18 weeks away from Chicago. I guess I should put some kind of schedule togther or something. I figure a dedicated long run each week that gets progressivley longer with a few 20+ milers, a speed workout each week, some hills and a bunch of other miles to keep my weekly totals up.
Friday, June 16, 2006
Jesus and Jude in the Park
I went out on the Wissahickon Trails yesteday evening for a loop out to Valley Green and back. I was nearly to my turn around point, and a water fountain, when I see Stevus, Kevin J, and some other guy coming at me the other way. At first I was very surprised to see them until I realized they had joind the Wissahickon Wanderers for their Thursday night runs.
After a little deliberation I decided to turn around and run with them. Up to this point I had been keeping a fairly easy pace but things definitely picked up. We wound back through the park on the trails I had just run. It was nice to have some company on the trails, these are usually solitary runs for me.
I stuck with the guys for a little over 4 miles and then back home for what I am guessing is about 8.5 miles in 64 minutes.
I'll be at the Jersey beach or as us Philadelphians call it "Down A Shore" all of next week. There will be running, albiet a little slower and a little less, but no posting.
After a little deliberation I decided to turn around and run with them. Up to this point I had been keeping a fairly easy pace but things definitely picked up. We wound back through the park on the trails I had just run. It was nice to have some company on the trails, these are usually solitary runs for me.
I stuck with the guys for a little over 4 miles and then back home for what I am guessing is about 8.5 miles in 64 minutes.
I'll be at the Jersey beach or as us Philadelphians call it "Down A Shore" all of next week. There will be running, albiet a little slower and a little less, but no posting.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
A Run and a Bike
Tuesday night was 5 with the group. I planned on running it at 7:30 pace and this week I actually stuck to my goal. Most of the way was run with Bike Mike, who is back after a hiatus during the winter to work on his biking. He definitely has not lost a step. 5 miles in 38 minutes
Wednesday night I went out on my bike, down MLK and then the path exstension to Spruce Street. I cut across the city on Pine St, racing from light to light with the traffic. For some reason I really enjoy dodging the traffic and speeding to the next light. Ended up at Penn's Landing and then a return trip up Arch to the Parkway and Kelly Drive. 18.5 miles
After a bike ride I find myself a little less achey when I hop out of bed the following morning. This achiness has come up over the last few months either due to the steady mileage, getting a little older, or maybe a mixture of both.
Wednesday night I went out on my bike, down MLK and then the path exstension to Spruce Street. I cut across the city on Pine St, racing from light to light with the traffic. For some reason I really enjoy dodging the traffic and speeding to the next light. Ended up at Penn's Landing and then a return trip up Arch to the Parkway and Kelly Drive. 18.5 miles
After a bike ride I find myself a little less achey when I hop out of bed the following morning. This achiness has come up over the last few months either due to the steady mileage, getting a little older, or maybe a mixture of both.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
When I popped open my blog I didn't realize it had been 10 days since I last posted. I can't even remember all the runs from last week to write about them. I'll keep it short.
I do remember a nice Thursday night run with Seebo and Ian around Fairmount Park and Tuesday night 5 with the group that ended up going much quicker than I had anticipated.
The weekend was a couple runs with Heather in New York. We were up there for a cousins wedding. We hit west river park and Central park. Both runs were at a very lesiurely 8:00-8:30 pace as we took in the scenery. The weekend also included many many miles of walking. I was surprised at how tight my calves got from the walking. Running 10 miles no problem, walk 10 miles and things tighten up. 35 miles for the week, a little less than I would have liked.
Monday I went for a run on Forbidden drive. After a few easy days I was ready to put in a good workout. 2 easy miles followed by by 3 repeats of 6:00 minute miles with half mile recoveries. The remainder of the run was at 6:30 to 7:00 minute pace. 10 miles in 67 minutes, my fastest in training yet.
I do remember a nice Thursday night run with Seebo and Ian around Fairmount Park and Tuesday night 5 with the group that ended up going much quicker than I had anticipated.
The weekend was a couple runs with Heather in New York. We were up there for a cousins wedding. We hit west river park and Central park. Both runs were at a very lesiurely 8:00-8:30 pace as we took in the scenery. The weekend also included many many miles of walking. I was surprised at how tight my calves got from the walking. Running 10 miles no problem, walk 10 miles and things tighten up. 35 miles for the week, a little less than I would have liked.
Monday I went for a run on Forbidden drive. After a few easy days I was ready to put in a good workout. 2 easy miles followed by by 3 repeats of 6:00 minute miles with half mile recoveries. The remainder of the run was at 6:30 to 7:00 minute pace. 10 miles in 67 minutes, my fastest in training yet.
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Friday after work I just didn't feel like running. I was gonna call it a day off but an article in the new Runner's World about Triathlons got me motivated and I jumped on my bike. An out and back along Kelly drive and the path exstension with a little trip around Wissahickon totaled 17 miles.
Saturday morning I slept in and then went out for a huge breakfast. I skipped the early run due to a rainy, warm and humid morning in favor of an afternoon run. My wait was rewarded with cool, breezy dry conditions, perfect for running.
The route I take to work winds through Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill. Everytime I drive through I tell myself that I should run this someday. So that was the way I headed out. No real route in mind but I new I wanted to run about 2 hours and in the neighborhood of 15 miles.
I felt great from the start and the first 30 minutes flew by as I wound through Mt. Airy. A really peaceful, nice neighborhood. It was relaxing to go through and take a look around on my run. It is mostly single and twin homes that are very well taken care of landscaped. Lots of families walking around and several parks. I had Ben Harpers "Fight for Your Mind" on my iPod as I cruised through and I was just really enjoying the run.
Mt. Airy kind of blends right into Chestnut Hill. A neighborhood of large single homes with beautiful landscaping and gated driveways. There are some pockets of rowhomes with a lot of character and cool architecture. Germantown Ave. was crowded with shoppers and I stopped in the Wawa for a large Gatorade.
I can gget my way through Chestnut Hill but I really don't know the neighborhood that well. I just made turns when I felt like it and admired the scenery. I ended up on Stenton ve, a road I know, and took that out to Paper Mill. DId a tiny loop out in Montgomery County and then it was across Stenton and back into Philly.
The return trip was much of the same through Chestnut Hill. I got a little lost and ended up doing a large loop around the Chestnut Hill country club golf course but I didn't really mind. I was caught up in gawkign at all of the houses and landscaping. I also passed the Cricket Club, founded in 1854, and Chestnut Hill Academy. An old pricate high school that costs more than most colleges in the country.
It was at this point that the contrast of last Saturdays run and and this one hit me. Last week I was running through some of the poorest neighborhoods in the city and now I was in one of, if not the richest. All of it bordering Germantown Avenue and not really that really that far apart. Even the weather was the opposite of last week being cool and cloudy verse last weeks sun and heat. The run felt much better as well, but I think this was more of a function of my rested legs and cool weather rather than the surroundings.
As I got closer to home I realized that I wasn't going to make 2 hours if I went direct so I added a little jaunt through teh mmuch more familiar confines of Manayunk. I ran the last few miles very strong and ended with a sprint up the hill to my house. All in all a really great run from start to finish.
I had less trouble than I imagined mapping out my route on Gmaps. 16 miles in 2 hours. Easily the fastest 16 I have run and I think it is the furthest I've run since the marathon in November. 16 miles or more is what I consider a "long run", so I guess this is my first long run of the year.
Saturday morning I slept in and then went out for a huge breakfast. I skipped the early run due to a rainy, warm and humid morning in favor of an afternoon run. My wait was rewarded with cool, breezy dry conditions, perfect for running.
The route I take to work winds through Mt. Airy and Chestnut Hill. Everytime I drive through I tell myself that I should run this someday. So that was the way I headed out. No real route in mind but I new I wanted to run about 2 hours and in the neighborhood of 15 miles.
I felt great from the start and the first 30 minutes flew by as I wound through Mt. Airy. A really peaceful, nice neighborhood. It was relaxing to go through and take a look around on my run. It is mostly single and twin homes that are very well taken care of landscaped. Lots of families walking around and several parks. I had Ben Harpers "Fight for Your Mind" on my iPod as I cruised through and I was just really enjoying the run.
Mt. Airy kind of blends right into Chestnut Hill. A neighborhood of large single homes with beautiful landscaping and gated driveways. There are some pockets of rowhomes with a lot of character and cool architecture. Germantown Ave. was crowded with shoppers and I stopped in the Wawa for a large Gatorade.
I can gget my way through Chestnut Hill but I really don't know the neighborhood that well. I just made turns when I felt like it and admired the scenery. I ended up on Stenton ve, a road I know, and took that out to Paper Mill. DId a tiny loop out in Montgomery County and then it was across Stenton and back into Philly.
The return trip was much of the same through Chestnut Hill. I got a little lost and ended up doing a large loop around the Chestnut Hill country club golf course but I didn't really mind. I was caught up in gawkign at all of the houses and landscaping. I also passed the Cricket Club, founded in 1854, and Chestnut Hill Academy. An old pricate high school that costs more than most colleges in the country.
It was at this point that the contrast of last Saturdays run and and this one hit me. Last week I was running through some of the poorest neighborhoods in the city and now I was in one of, if not the richest. All of it bordering Germantown Avenue and not really that really that far apart. Even the weather was the opposite of last week being cool and cloudy verse last weeks sun and heat. The run felt much better as well, but I think this was more of a function of my rested legs and cool weather rather than the surroundings.
As I got closer to home I realized that I wasn't going to make 2 hours if I went direct so I added a little jaunt through teh mmuch more familiar confines of Manayunk. I ran the last few miles very strong and ended with a sprint up the hill to my house. All in all a really great run from start to finish.
I had less trouble than I imagined mapping out my route on Gmaps. 16 miles in 2 hours. Easily the fastest 16 I have run and I think it is the furthest I've run since the marathon in November. 16 miles or more is what I consider a "long run", so I guess this is my first long run of the year.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
My Minds Playing Tricks On Me
Wednesday night Heather joined me for a couple miles and then turned back as I continued up Forbidden Drive in Wissahickon park. The first couple with her were slow so I decided to pick it up the last 1.5 miles to the Valley Green turn around. I hammered it out in just under 6:00 pace and I felt pretty good. I took a drink at the water fountain and a runner I had passed on the way there stopped a minute later.
He asked how fast was I going because I blew by him. I have to admit my ego was stoked a bit as I said a little under 6:00 pace. It was only an interval, I said, not something I run routinely. It really is amazing how realtive running is. That pace through the park to him is flying, to me is quick, to some other people in Philly Runners is routine, and to Geb is recovery.
I pushed myself on the trails for the return trip, 9 or so mile in 68 minutes. A decent pace that left my legs surprisingly tight that evening and this morning.
Things had loosened up by the time I got home from work and headed out for an hour run with no route in mind. It ended up being Main Street to Umbria, Shawmont Hill to Ridge and then home. I had to tack on a tiny extra loop at the end to finish at exactly an hour.
I was surprised after G-mapping it and finding my pace to be 8:06. I could of sworn I was moving faster than that. I think it is fatigue and heat playing tricks on me mind. Not so fast but i felt good despite the heat. Looking forward to a break in the weather this weekend.
The title reminds me of a"Ghetto Boys" song from the early 90's. Haven't heard that one in a long time.
He asked how fast was I going because I blew by him. I have to admit my ego was stoked a bit as I said a little under 6:00 pace. It was only an interval, I said, not something I run routinely. It really is amazing how realtive running is. That pace through the park to him is flying, to me is quick, to some other people in Philly Runners is routine, and to Geb is recovery.
I pushed myself on the trails for the return trip, 9 or so mile in 68 minutes. A decent pace that left my legs surprisingly tight that evening and this morning.
Things had loosened up by the time I got home from work and headed out for an hour run with no route in mind. It ended up being Main Street to Umbria, Shawmont Hill to Ridge and then home. I had to tack on a tiny extra loop at the end to finish at exactly an hour.
I was surprised after G-mapping it and finding my pace to be 8:06. I could of sworn I was moving faster than that. I think it is fatigue and heat playing tricks on me mind. Not so fast but i felt good despite the heat. Looking forward to a break in the weather this weekend.
The title reminds me of a"Ghetto Boys" song from the early 90's. Haven't heard that one in a long time.
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