Friday, April 20, 2007

Comfortably Tempo'd

Thursay I slept in late, real late. I spent most of the day working on things around the house. About 4:30 in the afternoon, I decided to go for a nice easy 5 mile run. Temperature was about 65 degrees and the sun was shining. I started running nice and easy. Before I knew it I was home again. Days that runs feel so effortless are a real treasure.

This morning I woke up early, real early. By six o'clock I was out pounding the pavement. I scheduled a 10 mile tempo run for today. I started running comfortably, by mile three I was feeling good. The rest of the tempo run I stayed in the groove. At mile 10 I clicked my my watch for the lap time. I averaged 7:13 per mile. Things are progressing along nicely.

Next Sunday our running club is going to meet and run the half marathon course in Rock Island, IL. I will find what my shape is really like then. Planning on doing the same approach as this week. Ease into the pace and stay just below the discomfort range for the whole race course.

I believe that tempo runs are the best way to get into race shape for any distance from 10k to the marathon. By using a heart rate monitor you can watch your lactate threshold rise as you become fitter. The best way to tell your threshold zone is to find a pace that is just below discomfort. I like my tempo runs to last from 20 minutes to as much as 90 minutes. Your heart rate can vary from 80-92% of your maximum heart rate. Most experts will tell you to run right at 85%. From my own experience, your lactate threshold will rise and fall depending on your fitness.

http://www.fatiguenutrition.com

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Important Things I Do Everyday

I believe in routines. I think that they are the building blocks of success. The daily routine that I am about to discuss has worked for me. I hope it will help you as well.

Each morning I begin my day with an hour of meditation. Meditation prepares my mind and body for the events of the day. I have been practicing meditation for approximately a year and a half. I use the Holosync system offered by Bill Harris. I used to be a total a-hole before I started using these CDs. My family has noticed quite a change in my personality. I will continue this for the rest of my life.

On the days when I do not run in the morning I have a good breakfast. Breakfast to me is the best time of the day. I just love to eat oatmeal with fruit and granola. Other days I will have fruit and yogurt or raisin bran with a bagel and honey.

Through out the day I drink plenty of water. I make a conscious effort to drink at least 64oz of water in addition to the sports drinks that I consume before and after my workouts.

Tell my wife and son that I love them. As important as running and exercising is for me, nothing is more important than my family. I am so blessed that my wife always supports me in my running. Every Sunday morning for 10 years Johnna has provided water stops for all of my long runs.

Eat as nutritionally as I can through out the day. It takes a little time and effort to eat right. But boy does it make a difference in the way that I feel. I still cheat a little. I love sweets, cookies are a favorite. I just try to limit the amounts that I eat. Usually a cookies couple per day.

Take time to relax and enjoy life. Something as simple as sitting on the back porch and listening to the birds and animals always makes me feel good. As hectic as life can be I always take a few minutes every day to count my blessings and give thanks for those around me.

Curt
http://www.fatiguenutrition.com

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Compounding Fatigue

Today I learned another valuable lesson about half marathon training, fatigue, endurance exercise and sports nutrition. This morning I went to the track for my usual Tuesday morning track workout. I had planned to do a 12x400 workout. My first lap was fast and I struggled to only 10 reps of 400m. I then walked a lap and finished with 2x200 at a nice clip.

What was the lesson of this workout? There were three that I now realize. First racing the past weekend had left my legs feeling frisky. Second I was feeling the effects of Sundays 15 miler. Third I neglected to hydrate myself properly.

On the positive side I listened to what my body was telling me. In years past I would have gutted it out and finished all 12 reps. And for the rest of the week suffered lingering fatigue and possibly slipped into over training.

Today I am going to concentrate on hydration, rest and eating nutritiously. Concentrating on fruits and vegetables.

I believe my legs were feeling so fresh was because, I used the foam roller Monday and Tuesday morning. Buy one of these if you can, they work marvelously. I purchased mine at Target for $20 with an instructional DVD.

Further reporting on EAS race recovery is on going. Will post tomorrow about recent findings.

Curt
http://www.fatiguenutrition.com/

Monday, April 16, 2007

Endurance Sport Nutrition

I slept in Sunday morning. Woke up about 9 am, ate oatmeal with bananas and granola. I feel pretty good this morning. Going to go run about 1pm this afternoon. It is supposed to be sunny and 60 deg. A great afternoon for a 15 miler.

I think that the EAS race revovery helped with my recovery.

I drank about 64oz of water this morning. Had a banana and a waffel with honey for lunch, about 11 am. Before leaving the house I drank a litre bottle of Gatorade. Ready to go run.

Felt a little stiff during the first mile, other wise doing great. Going to consume 16oz of water and a power gel called double latte. Supposed to have 2 times the caffeine and 4 times the sodium. Going to stop at 5 miles and ten miles for water and gels.

Third stop at 12 miles for water and gel. Last leg along Mississippi River bike path. Feeling good for the first mile and then I my legs start to hurt and I feel a bad patch coming on. Next time I think I will try two gels and 16oz of water at the two hour mark.

Today my legs are sore from the race and long run. I am going to rest today. This morning I will use the foam roller to get the kinks out. This afternoon probably stretch and workout side a little.

Tomorrow going to the track to run 12 x 400 with a 200 jog for recovery. The forecast continues to be fantastic for running.

Curt
http://www.fatiguenutrition.com

Saturday, April 14, 2007

Fatigue Nutrition


Today was a great day to run.
The temperature was 40deg at 8am.
A light rain fell before the race.

I woke up this morning at 5am to meditate.
I meditate every day for an hour.
I have done so for now for 2 years.

Then I had a half a cup of coffee and a banana.
For the ride to Galesburg, IL, I drank 2 litre
bottles of Gatorade during the drive.

A half hour before race time I drank half of a
bottle of a supplement called EAS Catapult
mixed with about 16 oz of water. About
ten minutes prior the race I finished the
rest of the Catapult. I always race to the
best of my ability when I use Catapult.

Today I ran a 28:01 on a very hilly course.
Not too bad for so early in the race season.
I placed third in the 45-49 age group.

After finishing I consumed about 20 oz of Gatorade
mixed with EAS Race Recovery.
The stuff tastes pretty bad. Having used
the product in the past, I don't remember it
tasting so bad. Maybe its a new formula. I will
let you know how the stuff works for me.

The post race was nice. There were showers
provided at the College. A really cool way to
help us runners. Driving home with my wife,
she usually comments about how I smell.

I consumed two bananas and a Mountain Dew
while watching the awards ceremony.

Driving home took 45 minutes. Ate lunch a
little before noon. I try to always eat a good
meal within two hours after fininshing a race.

Tomorrow morning going to run 15 miles.
Interesting to see how my recovery was.
Curt

Friday, April 13, 2007

Half Marathon Training

Well the big count down is on.
I am running a half marathon on May 13, 2007 in Rock Island, IL.
The race is called the Quad Cities Distance Classic.
Check it out, it is a good one.
I am in the last 4 weeks of my training.
I don't feel that I am in as good of shape as I was last year.
We will see what happens.

Tomorrow I am going to Galesburg, IL to run the Carl Sandburg 4mi. race.
Looks to be a rainy morning, with temps at the 8am race time of 35deg.
A perfect day to run.
Hoping for a descent time and placing in the 45-49 age group.
I'll post tomorrow and let you know what happened.

Curt
http://www.fatiguenutrition.com