I am a cyclist and I say that with great pride, however,,,,the big however or the—but ha ha alas it always seems to be my butt is the belief that some times you have to put out just to put out!
OK,OK,OK so what I am a cyclist. Back in December 2008 I had started to run again for undisclosed reasons which I will share with you at a later date. I had not run up to that point since 2006 May 7th exactly! And here is the story in that loving fashion that I used last year to portray the inner workings of an athletes mind portraying what is left of mine!
On December 15th I took my first run working with the technique of using time versus distance. The first few runs were held at 30 min and I trotted along, working on form and foot turnover, nothing special here working the same program over two weeks to build up some form and leg strength. The aerobic component was there from my early base period so I ended up actually enjoying my self over this early period. For those of you that are reading this and are not using Kona products you are missing out and I get to read your #s as I pass.
I hate running sorry to all the runners but I despise it, more than likely from some deep seated mental block instilled in my brain housing group by some twisted, lung spewing drill instructor yelling in my face. When I went for that first run it was like taking baby steps it felt weird after years on the bike and I am sure I looked like some arthritic robot break dancing. Doop-da-Doop, like Homer Simpson. With total amazement I felt fairly stable after a mile or so and form came back like a Delorian shot through time. The biggest thing I noticed is that there was no aerobic distress!
On Dec 31st I did a 3 mile “test” it was more of a game really, and let me explain, I have a goal in mind, fairly large and maybe some what arrogant but so what! I also know that on short notice there are very few things that can boost performance into a competitive level short of taking drugs. Character and the All Mighty would always stop me from stooping so low, both also drive me forward! So the deal was 3 miles 21 min if I nailed that I would continue on to my goal knowing with weight loss and 3 months of training I could make that # look more like 18.
Failure was one step away for the whole test and alas fail I did crossing the line at 23:01. Now go back and look at two adjectives in the last paragraph one starts with an “A” and the other with a “C” and you know I am mad and disappointed in my self for that but you know what? I am going for it!
OK so you think I am arrogant and too competitive so what! I guess you can’t read or feel beyond your own feelings. (got Ya!) This was my thinking for what little there is of it these days. Off by 2 min after a 3 year layoff and 2 weeks of training, eh, not too bad I shouldn’t be so hard on myself but I am and I will train myself into the dirt to win when I want to! I was way off form had no clue when to push and was just out running like a crook running from the cops
Over the next few weeks I trained like most other Multi Sport athletes train; bike run-run bike-bike run and so it goes. For the running I planned to work most of Jan as a base period with all runs no less that 1 hour. I added 1 interval workout per week into the plan either up hill or just pure speed work on the flats. I started my first bottle of Kona Endurance Pro Jan 1st and followed the directions on the bottle. Over the ensuing 4 weeks my training time remained at 1 hr per session but the Garmin tells a story worth a million dollars. Over that month my distance went up 1.5 miles and my HR stayed the same or came down all within the same block of training time.
Also during this time I started running with my oldest daughter Jamie. Her runs helped me stay within the base zones on days I was kicking and helped her expand her distances to where she has now run 2, ½ marathons in the past 14 days. She is a Kona girl too!
Sure go run with your kid show her how it is done ole man! Yea the kid wants to run 10 yea lets go, my wife Chris thinks I am crazy and I guess she is right 3 years not a single step done to run, 6 weeks 10 miles as a la-la run, great that is what I am thinking, my kid thinks hey me and Dad can run a ½ marathon together?? Wth?
I want to stress here not to try this at home but if you follow a solid base period of training in your cycling training your ability to handle any form of aerobic challenge is going to be fantastic! SO yea you all know no challenge can pass me by just the way I am wired, I guess, man my poor wife! Got a message from the RAAM people todaaaaaaaaay eh never mind where were we on this journey?
Run 13.1 miles go slow no problem, but who goes to a “race” to run slow right? So we took off the goal time was set by my daughter 2 hours a very doable time. We get to the starting line it is a brisk 50 degrees kid is sick and it is pouring rain-the side ways rain we get here in the south, pain and suffering was getting from the truck to the start line.
Off we go and up to the ½ way point we were nailing the time to the pavement then it broke down ugly like. I am rarely lost for words but what do you say to some one that just popped and you have 6 miles to go in some real dank weather? We talked about nursing homes, regret and remorse, lost opportunity and the fact that I would not allow her to quit, nuff said she crossed the line hand in hand with dear ole dad at 2:29 mission complete for her! However just to let you know my adv HR was 127 for the 13.1 miles and that is a direct reflection of a fantastic base period and Kona Pro.
What did I learn though? I guess that would be the all time question what secret of speed and endurance can I take from all this?
1) Family first no matter what
2) Just don’t stop
3) Drink at every water stop no matter what
4) If you want it bad enough you can have anything, it is all about sacrifice
5) Watching some one else suffer is worst than suffering your self
6) Just get out and try it puts you in the top 1%
The feeling of finishing was great! Not in a winning sort of fist pumping way but being able to hold my daughters hand above our heads as we crossed together! This was a moment in time forever etched into the books as an event that WE did. Mr. Armstrong has a book that says “It is not about the Bike” however some times it is “Not About Winning” at all, but about the doing. In doing so solidifying values and morals instilled in the next generation so they can take over when we leave!
Posted by Brian Grenier
