Today's run (Stillwell Woods trails): 4.7 miles at 9:54 per mile
It may have been the realization that the long Memorial Day weekend was coming to an end that had me feeling a little low this morning. In anticipation of a full day's activities I set out early on a trail run at the local preserve (Stillwell Woods). I had hoped that the hard activity combined with running the wooded paths would help me improve my mood.
The weather people were reporting hot conditions so I dressed accordingly. The shade from the trees held off the heat from the sun but it was still extremely humid, even at 7:30 AM. I've learned enough about the trails to navigate with some confidence and I followed a two mile route that took me east and south. I repeated that loop but picked up the wrong trail at a cross point that took me in an unfamiliar direction. At one point, as I followed a tight singletrack path, I was startled to see a large dog standing in my way. I hoped the dog was friendly and was glad when its owner appeared and quickly called it off. Later in the run I saw them again but this time I was prepared for the encounter. Occasionally I'll encounter an overly exuberant dog in my runs at Stillwell but I'm happy to say the dogs are never aggressive or threatening. Along the way I encountered a few other people running their dogs and a handful of mountain bikers bombing down the trails at speeds I would not have attempted. I eventually found my bearings and made my way back to a trail along my planned route where I continued until I reached the big field. One loop around that field and my run was done.
It's been a week packed with many runs including some fun experiences in Cambridge, at Eisenhower Park and today on the trails. I plan to rest tomorrow and then start planning for my next race, an 8K that happens on June 13. I plan to go shopping this week for a new lightweight tech shirt to help me handle the summer heat. That's always a nice way to elevate the mood and break up the work day.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Tough going for an easy four
Today's run (street): 3.9 miles at 9:17 per mile
By now I expect that my friend FS and her husband are celebrating their finish at Boston's Run to Remember Half Marathon. This race, that begins and ends in Boston's World Trade Center, covers a lot of ground including a lengthy segment that has runners going over the Longfellow Bridge as they make their way along Memorial Drive. The span on Memorial goes past Harvard University and then back again to the starting point. Having covered the Charles River segment twice last week I'm a bit envious but realistic enough to know that I'm not prepared to take on 13.1 miles. I am looking forward to hearing the details next week when we all return to the office.
My running challenge this morning was far more modest. I intended to go out for a 3 to 4 mile run and ended up just short of the 4 mile mark. The Garmin was not tracking accurately so I thought I had covered 4.06 miles when in fact it was 3.9 (per Gmaps). My sub 9-minute run was actually closer to a mid-9:00 effort. But effort was the operative word and this morning it was tough going. The chirp from the Garmin that signaled that the first mile had passed surprised me because it happened faster than I'd expected. I figured I was just having a good run and I was wearing my lightweight Kinvaras so why not? By the end of mile two things had reversed themselves and I was ready to start wrapping things up. I'm not sure what accounted for that but it was possible that the increasing sun and heat combined with the extra work running in the near-flat Kinvaras were the culprits. I have not had an off day since last Monday so it may have been an issue of over-training. I was happy to have completed four miles although it turned out later to be just shy of that distance.
The rest of the day has been spent with family and we're enjoying the long Memorial Day holiday with plenty of pool time. Tomorrow I'll aim to start even earlier to better manage the heat. Tuesday I'll rest. I think I need it.
My running challenge this morning was far more modest. I intended to go out for a 3 to 4 mile run and ended up just short of the 4 mile mark. The Garmin was not tracking accurately so I thought I had covered 4.06 miles when in fact it was 3.9 (per Gmaps). My sub 9-minute run was actually closer to a mid-9:00 effort. But effort was the operative word and this morning it was tough going. The chirp from the Garmin that signaled that the first mile had passed surprised me because it happened faster than I'd expected. I figured I was just having a good run and I was wearing my lightweight Kinvaras so why not? By the end of mile two things had reversed themselves and I was ready to start wrapping things up. I'm not sure what accounted for that but it was possible that the increasing sun and heat combined with the extra work running in the near-flat Kinvaras were the culprits. I have not had an off day since last Monday so it may have been an issue of over-training. I was happy to have completed four miles although it turned out later to be just shy of that distance.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Gear matters
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| 5.1 miles at Eisenhower Park |
Today's run (Eisenhower Park): 5.1 miles @ 9:23 per mile
I've said it before but I'll say it again: gear matters. I'm beginning to understand that a person's running pace is related to both their physical abilities as well as the unique conditions and variables that make up a run. Hills and heat can slow down a runner while the right weather can make a run feel effortless. A shirt that fails to wick moisture can contribute to overheating and ill fitting socks or uncomfortable running shorts can distract from a runner's focus. Every variable can yield a positive or negative influence on performance. What is a quick drying shirt worth to you on a hot, humid day? I'd say plenty. What about running shoes?
If you asked me a month ago what I averaged for pace I would have said that I run between 9:05-9:25 per mile. In a race I'd usually beat the low end of that by 20-30 seconds. Again, it's the conditions that make the difference with all those other runners helping to sweep you along. Recently I've been alternating between my mainstay Brooks Adrenalin GTS 10's and two pairs of lightweight Saucony running shoes. When I run in the Brooks I'm a solid low-9:00 miler. If I'd needed heavy motion control shoes I might be working hard to regularly break 10 minute miles. When I run in the Saucony Kinvaras I often attain paces below 9:00 per mile. If I'd always run in the Kinvaras I'd have considered myself a sub-9 minute mile runner all along.
The Saucony Grid Tangent 4's provide an even greater boost. I regularly run 8:40 minute miles with the Tangents which I consider to be a decent 5K race pace. I haven't yet raced in these shoes but I'm hoping the combination of speed boost from the shoes plus a faster pace through competition will help me beat my racing PR of 8:19 per mile. My next race is an 8K that pushed my limits last year so it will be interesting to see how the variables work on that day.
This morning I returned to Eisenhower Park to run the paths, some of which I'd traveled on a Red Cross walkathon with my family earlier in the month. I locked onto a course defined by arrows painted on the ground and followed that all around until I found myself back near where I'd started. I took a more free range route from there, circumnavigating the big pond where people sail three foot remote controlled sailboats and then passed through the Veteran's Memorial gardens. At that point I began to hear the sound of a marching band blasting out patriotic music as was fitting on this Memorial Day weekend. I finished after completing five miles and while my speed wasn't impressive it was definitely a good workout. So perhaps I may have covered more distance at a faster speed were I wearing my Sauconys. Gear definitely matters but between the GTS 10's and the Tangent 4's, it's all good.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Running technology report from the MIT Media Lab
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| Interior of the new MIT Media Lab building |
My recent visit to the MIT Media Lab was fascinating (as usual) and I was happy to see friends and faculty again after so many months away. I've written a couple of posts about my great runs along the Charles River this week but today I'm going to focus on noteworthy technologies that relate to athletics. Besides hearing from the architect of the beautifully designed new Media Lab building and from visionaries such as Stewart Brand and Nicholas Negroponte (who said the Media Lab's goal was to create solutions looking for problems) there was the usual "Open House" where students show off their latest research projects. It's essentially the coolest science fair in the world.
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| Bio-sensitive stretchable fabric |
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| SportSemble performance capture system |
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| Portable variable light illumination device |
In a more running related project I was given a demonstration of a lighting system that constantly reads conditions and enables lights based on the users needs. I often run with a headlamp at 4:00 AM and on dark days with no moon I really need the maximum amount of illumination. On other days, with clear skies and a full moon, I really don't need any extra light. This device can deliver, to the lumen, the exact amount of light needed at every moment. This conserves battery life and ensures that the light you need is delivered exactly where it's needed. The research assistant pictured above told me I could make this device myself with a simple microprocessor. I may need her help, especially since I've proven I can't change the battery in a Garmin 50 without destroying it.
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| Hugh Herr talks about devices to augment human running performance |
I thought about the science of human augmentation and the small differences in form and stride that can make a big difference in running pace. This morning I set out with my Kinvaras for a 4.5 mile run around the neighborhood and finished with an overall pace under nine minutes that just felt too easy. I definitely run faster in these lightweight trainers. Does running a little faster provide a greater training benefit than running slower? Hard to know. I loved the feeling of moving along in 50 degree temperatures on a cool, clear late May morning. Yes, the shoes are great but this morning's run was about much more than that.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Reasons for liking the elliptical machine
Today's workout (elliptical): 25 minutes
I was tempted to rest easy this morning and simply enjoy a long cup of coffee as I watched the news. After all I'd just been through a long day of meetings and travel, the temperature at 4:00 AM was 80 degrees and I was coming off two days of 4+ mile runs. I had gone to bed expecting to do an elliptical session in the morning and I worked the pluses and minuses of rest vs. exercise in my head as I poured a cup of coffee. The air was so humid I was already sweating so I decided that if I was going to sweat it should be for a reason.
I like my weekly elliptical sessions for a number of reasons. First, the machine is self powered so I don't feel the pressure to keep up with a pace defined by a motor. I can also close my eyes and move into an alpha state without fear that I'll slip and fall as I might on the treadmill. Third, no motor means quieter operation. I can watch the news and actually hear the sound of the speaker at a volume that doesn't wake other family members. Perhaps most importantly, the elliptical workout is ephemeral. Once I'm done there's no summary or update to Garmin Connect. This allows me to go as fast or slow as I wish without feeling like I'm keeping score. The machine gives you many metrics while it's in operation but once the power goes off the numbers are gone and forgotten, leaving nothing but sweat and a great feeling of accomplishment.
I was tempted to rest easy this morning and simply enjoy a long cup of coffee as I watched the news. After all I'd just been through a long day of meetings and travel, the temperature at 4:00 AM was 80 degrees and I was coming off two days of 4+ mile runs. I had gone to bed expecting to do an elliptical session in the morning and I worked the pluses and minuses of rest vs. exercise in my head as I poured a cup of coffee. The air was so humid I was already sweating so I decided that if I was going to sweat it should be for a reason.
I like my weekly elliptical sessions for a number of reasons. First, the machine is self powered so I don't feel the pressure to keep up with a pace defined by a motor. I can also close my eyes and move into an alpha state without fear that I'll slip and fall as I might on the treadmill. Third, no motor means quieter operation. I can watch the news and actually hear the sound of the speaker at a volume that doesn't wake other family members. Perhaps most importantly, the elliptical workout is ephemeral. Once I'm done there's no summary or update to Garmin Connect. This allows me to go as fast or slow as I wish without feeling like I'm keeping score. The machine gives you many metrics while it's in operation but once the power goes off the numbers are gone and forgotten, leaving nothing but sweat and a great feeling of accomplishment.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
3,877 smoot run, 400 on the bridge
Today's run: (paths, river, bridges) 4.1 miles at 8:40 per mile
While I'm not a big fan of duplicating my route on consecutive days I think I could run along the Charles River every day of the week. I feel the same way about Central Park. That said, I didn't exactly duplicate yesterday's run this morning. Unlike the day before, I started my run outside my hotel and crossed directly over the Longfellow Bridge into Boston. It was a different experience for me because I usually run west on Memorial Drive and over the Mass Ave (AKA Harvard) bridge first. Crossing the Charles, I was pleased to see so much activity on the water with sailboats and rowing sculls of all sizes. Like yesterday, there were plenty of other runners, cyclists and walkers making their way around. I was prepared to run a shorter distance today because it felt much hotter than Tuesday and I basically kept to the circular route between the bridges. Along the way I covered the distance of the Harvard Bridge which has regular markings of "smoots" which is a (nonstandard) unit of measurement that represents the height of Oliver Smoot, a Lamda Chi Alpha pledge at MIT in 1958 who was used as a human ruler as a prank. According to the markings, the bridge is about 400 smoots, give or take an ear.
Upon returning close to the point where Main Street meets the Longfellow Bridge I shifted over to the feeder road and continued east until I reached my hotel. I covered 4.1 miles at a speedy 8:40 mile pace and was very happy with the run. This morning there was some discussion of technologies to increase the speed and efficiency of runners and I saw a demonstration of a leg device that allows a person to run with some speed while expending less energy than walking. Great when viewed as an alternative to city transportation but for recreational running I'd say "What's the point?" I was fortunate to get to see my brother for dinner on Monday night and do the same last night with some good friends. I'll report more on the performance and measurement technologies in the coming days.
While I'm not a big fan of duplicating my route on consecutive days I think I could run along the Charles River every day of the week. I feel the same way about Central Park. That said, I didn't exactly duplicate yesterday's run this morning. Unlike the day before, I started my run outside my hotel and crossed directly over the Longfellow Bridge into Boston. It was a different experience for me because I usually run west on Memorial Drive and over the Mass Ave (AKA Harvard) bridge first. Crossing the Charles, I was pleased to see so much activity on the water with sailboats and rowing sculls of all sizes. Like yesterday, there were plenty of other runners, cyclists and walkers making their way around. I was prepared to run a shorter distance today because it felt much hotter than Tuesday and I basically kept to the circular route between the bridges. Along the way I covered the distance of the Harvard Bridge which has regular markings of "smoots" which is a (nonstandard) unit of measurement that represents the height of Oliver Smoot, a Lamda Chi Alpha pledge at MIT in 1958 who was used as a human ruler as a prank. According to the markings, the bridge is about 400 smoots, give or take an ear.
Upon returning close to the point where Main Street meets the Longfellow Bridge I shifted over to the feeder road and continued east until I reached my hotel. I covered 4.1 miles at a speedy 8:40 mile pace and was very happy with the run. This morning there was some discussion of technologies to increase the speed and efficiency of runners and I saw a demonstration of a leg device that allows a person to run with some speed while expending less energy than walking. Great when viewed as an alternative to city transportation but for recreational running I'd say "What's the point?" I was fortunate to get to see my brother for dinner on Monday night and do the same last night with some good friends. I'll report more on the performance and measurement technologies in the coming days.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Cambridge to Boston and back at 6:00 AM
Today's run (street/path/bridge): 4.4 miles at 8:40 per mile
I've anticipated this morning's run for a while and I wasn't disappointed when I went out at 6:00 AM under sunny skies and already warm temperatures. I headed to Memorial Drive, wending my way around the roads and paths until I got to the river. Alongside the paved path are narrow packed dirt paths. I crossed over to run on those paths to take advantage of the softer landing. I'd considered running past the Mass Ave bridge but that involved crossing a road with many cars turning to go over the bridge. I ran over the bridge on the pedestrian walkway and headed west once I got to the Boston side. I ran west until I passed the 1.5 mile mark and then followed the path along the Charles going east.
When I reached the farther bridge I thought about running Charles Street but foot traffic was too dense to make that practical. Instead, I headed back to Cambridge over the Longfellow and encountered a number of runners coming from the other direction, squeezing past on some of the narrower parts of the walk. When I reached the end of the bridge I just kept going up Main Street in Kendall Square until I reached my starting point. In all I covered 4.4 miles at a decent pace, due in part to my Saucony Grid Tangents. It was a great way to start the day and I'm planning to head out tomorrow to do it all over again.
I've anticipated this morning's run for a while and I wasn't disappointed when I went out at 6:00 AM under sunny skies and already warm temperatures. I headed to Memorial Drive, wending my way around the roads and paths until I got to the river. Alongside the paved path are narrow packed dirt paths. I crossed over to run on those paths to take advantage of the softer landing. I'd considered running past the Mass Ave bridge but that involved crossing a road with many cars turning to go over the bridge. I ran over the bridge on the pedestrian walkway and headed west once I got to the Boston side. I ran west until I passed the 1.5 mile mark and then followed the path along the Charles going east.
When I reached the farther bridge I thought about running Charles Street but foot traffic was too dense to make that practical. Instead, I headed back to Cambridge over the Longfellow and encountered a number of runners coming from the other direction, squeezing past on some of the narrower parts of the walk. When I reached the end of the bridge I just kept going up Main Street in Kendall Square until I reached my starting point. In all I covered 4.4 miles at a decent pace, due in part to my Saucony Grid Tangents. It was a great way to start the day and I'm planning to head out tomorrow to do it all over again.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Business travel provides a different running experience
Today's workout: Rest day
This will be a busy week. I'll be out of the office four out of the five days and traveling for the first three. Today will start with an hour and a half presentation that I have to give before I head to Penn Station to hop on the Acela to Boston. It's not a bad trip and I'm planning to see some great people and do some interesting things. I'm also hoping to get some city running in while I'm there. I've mentioned the Memorial Drive run that I love and I wish I had time to extend that run on the Boston side to include a loop around Boston Common. There's something great about running where the city meets nature. Running in Central Park is always interesting to me because there's so much to see with things changing all the time. Due to business conditions I haven't traveled as much in the last year as in the past but I have another trip coming up soon. My schedule will be tight so I don't know if I'll get to run there but I'm hopeful that I can. I don't enjoy business travel or being away from my family but running in new or different places makes for a far better experience.
This will be a busy week. I'll be out of the office four out of the five days and traveling for the first three. Today will start with an hour and a half presentation that I have to give before I head to Penn Station to hop on the Acela to Boston. It's not a bad trip and I'm planning to see some great people and do some interesting things. I'm also hoping to get some city running in while I'm there. I've mentioned the Memorial Drive run that I love and I wish I had time to extend that run on the Boston side to include a loop around Boston Common. There's something great about running where the city meets nature. Running in Central Park is always interesting to me because there's so much to see with things changing all the time. Due to business conditions I haven't traveled as much in the last year as in the past but I have another trip coming up soon. My schedule will be tight so I don't know if I'll get to run there but I'm hopeful that I can. I don't enjoy business travel or being away from my family but running in new or different places makes for a far better experience.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Weekend ending run in the Brooks GTS 10's
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| Brooks GTS 10 |
It's been a good week for running and today was no different. After yesterday's trail run at Stillwell Woods I was ready to return to the street and spend some time in the neighborhood. I've felt tired over the past few days so I planned to take it easy today and do my distance at a reasonable pace. After running in the Saucony's on my the last few outings I returned to my Brooks GTS 10's that provide a more cushioned ride. That's no dig on the Grid Tangent 4's which are still extremely comfortable (and fast) or the Kinvaras that are minimally designed shoes that trade some cushioning for far less weight. Each pair of shoes I own has a specific purpose and I cycle through them all.
I set out for a quick loop around the northeast part of the neighborhood before heading south toward neighborhood #3 that's adjacent to the industrial park. Upon reaching the park I did the main loop to get in some hill work. It's not a steep incline but it goes on for a while before rewarding the runner with a nice downhill segment. Coming out of the park, I turned left into neighborhood #3 and ran through those streets before I headed back to my neighborhood to complete my 5.4 mile route. I didn't push hard throughout the run but I threw in a few speedy tempos that helped me maintain an overall pace that was closer to nine minutes than 9:30. The Brooks are great shoes because they are so comfortable and stable while still providing an energetic response. I've had some slight knee soreness and every time I run with the Brooks my knee feels a little better. I had the same experience with the GTS 9's. Brooks makes great shoes. I'm going to rest tomorrow since it's going to be a day of meetings and travel. I'll resume my running on Tuesday morning when I return to Cambridge for my Memorial Drive run.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Last NYC run with AG, at least until August
Yesterday's run (Central Park): 3.19 miles at 8:41
Today's run (Stillwell Woods): 4.1 miles at 10:03
I didn't think I'd be able to do my weekly NYC run on Friday but by 5:00 PM I had finished everything I'd wanted to get done this week. Adventure Girl will only be in the office one more week before she heads for the west coast for the summer. Since I'm traveling much of next week we figured we'd get in one more run before she leaves. We headed up to the park as fast as we could because my window of running was limited. We decided to run about 3 miles by following the east side of the lower loop to the upper loop, across the Great Lawn to the north and then back down to where we'd start. We wore our Sauconys, Grid Tangent 4's for me and AG wore her new Kinvaras. Those light shoes helped us move along at the fastest pace we'd ever run together, despite the hills we encountered both up and down our route. We ended our run at 5:44 PM and I needed to get back to the office in time to change and leave with enough time to make my train. We arrived at our building at 5:58 PM and I knew I was in trouble, but AG suggested I just commute home in my running clothes. Despite my extremely sweaty condition I agreed and made my way to the train, making it just in time. It was a exciting way to end what will be our last run together for many months. I'll miss these runs but I'm excited that AG will be running some awesome trails in the northwestern states this summer.
Perhaps as a nod to that I headed over to Stillwell Woods this morning for trail run. It's been a while since I spent time in the interior of the preserve and I followed a route that is opposite of my usual approach. My plan was to move along but not push it too hard. The many inclines would provide plenty of challenge without worrying about speed. The mountain bikers were out in force. I encountered quite a few riders, all of whom were extremely polite and courteous about sharing the trails with a runner. Along the way I navigated through the Snake Pit, the curiously named but difficult Little Pink Bicycle Path, the Ewok Forest and the UH OH trail. I was plenty tired and 4 miles was tough going but I was distracted by the birds and other animals making such a racket that I actually laughed. So much for the serenity of nature. I'm probably going to run in my neighborhood tomorrow and focus more about miles than speed. So far, counting Friday, it's been a great weekend of running.
Today's run (Stillwell Woods): 4.1 miles at 10:03
I didn't think I'd be able to do my weekly NYC run on Friday but by 5:00 PM I had finished everything I'd wanted to get done this week. Adventure Girl will only be in the office one more week before she heads for the west coast for the summer. Since I'm traveling much of next week we figured we'd get in one more run before she leaves. We headed up to the park as fast as we could because my window of running was limited. We decided to run about 3 miles by following the east side of the lower loop to the upper loop, across the Great Lawn to the north and then back down to where we'd start. We wore our Sauconys, Grid Tangent 4's for me and AG wore her new Kinvaras. Those light shoes helped us move along at the fastest pace we'd ever run together, despite the hills we encountered both up and down our route. We ended our run at 5:44 PM and I needed to get back to the office in time to change and leave with enough time to make my train. We arrived at our building at 5:58 PM and I knew I was in trouble, but AG suggested I just commute home in my running clothes. Despite my extremely sweaty condition I agreed and made my way to the train, making it just in time. It was a exciting way to end what will be our last run together for many months. I'll miss these runs but I'm excited that AG will be running some awesome trails in the northwestern states this summer.
Perhaps as a nod to that I headed over to Stillwell Woods this morning for trail run. It's been a while since I spent time in the interior of the preserve and I followed a route that is opposite of my usual approach. My plan was to move along but not push it too hard. The many inclines would provide plenty of challenge without worrying about speed. The mountain bikers were out in force. I encountered quite a few riders, all of whom were extremely polite and courteous about sharing the trails with a runner. Along the way I navigated through the Snake Pit, the curiously named but difficult Little Pink Bicycle Path, the Ewok Forest and the UH OH trail. I was plenty tired and 4 miles was tough going but I was distracted by the birds and other animals making such a racket that I actually laughed. So much for the serenity of nature. I'm probably going to run in my neighborhood tomorrow and focus more about miles than speed. So far, counting Friday, it's been a great weekend of running.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Running the Charles from Cambridge and back
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| Longfellow Bridge (bottom), Harvard Bridge (top) |
I'm planning to be up in Cambridge next week for some MIT Media Lab activities. It's always interesting to visit the Media Lab and the ideas and future technologies are both exciting and inspiring. Many of those technologies have found their way into athletic gear. The science behind the Garmin and Polar foot pods, as well as the Nike+ system, came by way of the Media Lab's Responsive Environments group. As stimulating as I find MIT, my favorite part about visiting is when I'm able to run the loop over the Harvard Bridge into Boston and then return to Cambridge over the Longfellow Bridge. The entire four mile run takes place around the Charles River with views of both city skylines looming. I often see runners wearing Red Sox hats and that always makes me feel like I'm home again.
I'm so hoping for decent weather for the early part of the week. Nothing will be as disappointing as a thunderstorm that forces me to stay inside and use the hotel treadmill. I'm not going to worry about that though. I'll get to see some great people, including family and friends. Running along Memorial Drive always brings back great memories. I'd just better not forget to pack my Red Sox cap.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Consistently inconsistent
Today's run (street): 2.45 miles at 9:07
I don't think I'll ever fully understand why some runs are faster than others. I know a person who has run the same 4 mile loop for years and can usually predict his finish time within 15 seconds. I may have opened a can of worms by suggesting that he throw in some tempos to bring down his overall pace. He did that and now he's got a different perspective. Up until that point, the run itself was the accomplishment. Now, after all this time, he's concerned about pace and performance. Did I do him a favor in helping him get more out of his runs? Or did I contribute to a mindset that replaces the joy of running with the obsession of metrics? I also told him he should think about getting lighter weight shoes for a performance bump. What have I done!?
Of course it's not the shoes that make you faster. Or is it? Since switching over to the Saucony shoes last week I've had noticeable improvement in my pace, often beating my usual times by 20-30 seconds per mile. With nothing else to explain it I had to guess it was the shoes. After three runs in the 8:40-8:50 range I assumed I had moved to another stage in my running. I'd no longer be a 9-something pacer. The new normal is 8:45 and further improvement starts there. This morning I went out feeling good, equipped with the fast Kinvaras on a clear cool morning's run. My pace felt steady and strong. At the point where I thought I'd covered a mile my Garmin said .78 miles. I felt like I was running well but I wasn't covering the ground at the rate I'd assumed. I questioned whether the Garmin was properly calibrated because I had switched it from my Brooks this morning. Ultimately, I finished with an overall pace of 9:07 that is typical of runs at that time. I continue to wonder why the range of performance is as wide as it is. I don't have any problems with today's performance. It's just that with all my tracking and even with the new lighter shoes, inconsistency is the only constant.
I don't think I'll ever fully understand why some runs are faster than others. I know a person who has run the same 4 mile loop for years and can usually predict his finish time within 15 seconds. I may have opened a can of worms by suggesting that he throw in some tempos to bring down his overall pace. He did that and now he's got a different perspective. Up until that point, the run itself was the accomplishment. Now, after all this time, he's concerned about pace and performance. Did I do him a favor in helping him get more out of his runs? Or did I contribute to a mindset that replaces the joy of running with the obsession of metrics? I also told him he should think about getting lighter weight shoes for a performance bump. What have I done!?
Of course it's not the shoes that make you faster. Or is it? Since switching over to the Saucony shoes last week I've had noticeable improvement in my pace, often beating my usual times by 20-30 seconds per mile. With nothing else to explain it I had to guess it was the shoes. After three runs in the 8:40-8:50 range I assumed I had moved to another stage in my running. I'd no longer be a 9-something pacer. The new normal is 8:45 and further improvement starts there. This morning I went out feeling good, equipped with the fast Kinvaras on a clear cool morning's run. My pace felt steady and strong. At the point where I thought I'd covered a mile my Garmin said .78 miles. I felt like I was running well but I wasn't covering the ground at the rate I'd assumed. I questioned whether the Garmin was properly calibrated because I had switched it from my Brooks this morning. Ultimately, I finished with an overall pace of 9:07 that is typical of runs at that time. I continue to wonder why the range of performance is as wide as it is. I don't have any problems with today's performance. It's just that with all my tracking and even with the new lighter shoes, inconsistency is the only constant.
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