Hill Training In The Rain

So we did another round of hill training this past Saturday.  It was actually a VERY wet and rainy day for Phoenix and so our training group got pounded by steady rain the entire run.  Eight miles of hills backed with cold weather and rain.

Nothing quite like being literally drenched from head to toe and running.  It was pretty serene at the same time so I'm not sure if I'm hoping for rain again, but since we are running in Seattle in June for this marathon, training in the cold/rain is really appropriate.

I'm not sure why, but when I run in the South Mountain hills, I usually run well.  And this rainy run was no exception.  It was actually my best time and I felt strong throughout.  (For the most part.)

Our coach Steve says that if it rains like that in Seattle, it will actually help us.  Not sure why, but I'll take all the help I can get.  26.2 miles is a long way.

This Saturday, we're off to canal running again.  This time hitting 12 miles.  

Seems like just yesterday when I was scared of the 6 miler.  

The Mother of All Training Watches

Ok. I got a new piece of training equipment. Yes, it's like wearing a small computer (literally) on your wrist, but this thing is the Ferrari of training watches. It's the Garmin Forerunner 305.

It's my training partner: holds me to the line, makes me get out and work out, and gives me the information I need to advance. Of particular interest to me are: miles run; average HR (heart rate) and maximum HR, calories expended and time run. Here's how it works: I strap the HRM around my chest and turn on the wrist unit. The GPS locks on to satellite positions.

I press "start" and go! While I am moving during the workout, I am being tracked. If I stop, the tracking program "pauses;" thus, my actual results are only for while I am moving. It's a pretty significant piece of hardware, but of the research I did, and GPS/HRM units I've owned (Nike, Polar), at this time the Garmin 305 is the most appropriate to my needs. Both the HRM strap as well as the "watch" are comfortable.

Best of all, the wireless communication is spot-on -- the watch picks up the transmitted heart rate much better than the Polar unit I previously used, for instance. And the ability to sync my GPS/HR data not only to my computer (Garmin has proprietary software) but also Garmin's MotionBased.com is crucial. After any workout, I upload the data to my MotionBased account, which charts all the data and allows me to review statistics. I simply plug a cord in to my computer's USB port, launch IE or Firefox and upload the data to my MB Inbox. Then, I can add any notes/details/names of the training session. The kind of information Garmin and MotionBased training provides is much more comprehensive than the more subjective tracking I've done by creating my own workout logs on Google spreadsheets.



Yes, it's all a bit nerdy, but the feedback you need, as I'm learning to keep me on pace and to track my runs, has been great. Now I can do it all with one piece of equipment. Nice.

Sucking Wind Now...

So last night we did interval training.  This training technique is quite often practiced by long distance runners (800 metres and above) although some Sprint/sprinters are known to train using this technique as well.

Distance runners often practice intervals on tracks, running hard at a certain pace for a specified distance (or, less often, time) and jogging, walking, or resting between (for a set distance/time.) Distances can also vary; one example would be a "ladder" workout consisting of a 1600-meter, two 1200-meter, three 800-meter, and four 400-meter repetitions, each at an appropriate speed and with an appropriate amount of recovery.

Interval training is a favorite of coaches because of its effectiveness in cardiovascular buildup and also its ability to make more well-rounded runners.

What it meant for me?  Sucking wind!  Big time.

But it's a necessary evil apparently.  You get out what you put in and 26.2 miles is looming closer and closer.  We will be doing interval training each Wednesday now.  I'll let you know how that goes.

Assuming I make it.