Running The Race

I work downtown about a block away from the Downtown Y. It is really handy to be able to go to the Y during lunch. Ever since I hurt my ankle in February and was forced to take off from running for two weeks, I have been going to the Y to swim any where from two to four times a week.

During the winter it was really nice. I never had trouble getting a lane and it was never really what I would consider busy.

Now that is has warmed up, you can hardly get a lane most days. And it always seems that folks are waiting.

What am I missing? I would have thought, being an indoor pool it would just be the opposite. Maybe it will change after Memorial Day when all the outdoor pools in the area open. Or maybe it is just folks trying to get from for tri season :-).

I don’t know but it just seems backwards.

Once I decide on a race and settle on a training plan, then I get out the calendar and start counting weeks so I will know when to start training. Well I got tired of counting so I put together this Training Date Calculator (there is also a link in the sidebar). Just enter your race date and the number of weeks in your training plan and it will tell you when to start training.

Thought others may find this helpful as you start planning your 2007 running calendar.

It is nothing special but at least I don’t have to count!

Here we go on week 10. The plan calls for X-5-10-5-R-10-20 for a total of 50 miles. This is always the toughest week to me.

Ran 5 miles yesterday. My legs felt sluggish but made it through the run. It was in the low 80′s. Summer is have one last fling this week.

Ran 10 miles this afternoon. Legs felt better. It was a good run.

Found this article, “Don’t work out — train!”, on the difference between working out and training. So many times it seems I check off the day by only getting the mileage in. I need to be more mindful of training to reach a goal.

Winter is returning to Middle Tennessee again this weekend… found this article that contains some good pointers on Winter running.
Winter Running Guide – Runners World

ABC News Online reports that going without a drink can make you more sensitive to pain. Guess this is just one more reason to stay well hydrated.

Good article in today’s Tennessean about online coaching. Also good sidebar on how to select a online running coach.
Run to web, get some tips – Saturday, 01/14/06

Saw this on the GarminF Yahoo group:

“America’s Running Routes”: Using cutting-edge technology provided by Google Maps, USA Track & Field (USATF) has developed a revolutionary service, America’s Running Routes, that allows runners to map and measure their favorite running routes and save them to what will be the largest searchable database of running routes in the U.S. Go to: www.usatf.org and click on the America’s Running Routes icon.

Garmin announced today the new Forerunner 205 and 305. I have used the 201 and the 301. Loved both but have had a little trouble with the heart rate monitor on the 301. Will really be tempted to get the 305. Read the specs for the 305 and the 205 on the Garmin web site.