Part of my reunion weekend with the Sacto 7 this weekend (more on that later) was a Secret-Santa-esque gift exchange, which we did to celebrate everyone’s birthday in one fell swoop on Saturday evening. My gift was a very cute black V-neck technical tee with the word “Run” plain & simple (& small) on the chest. I was gratified that these friends (who knew me before I started running) now consider me worthy and desiring of such a gift, and couldn’t wait to wear it on a run. Even though it’s only been three days since I unwrapped it, I have been single-mindedly watching the weather reports for temperatures warm enough.
Today was the day (60 degrees). Normally, I put together my running outfits with one thought in mind: appropriate to the weather. But this morning when I packed my gear, I wanted to coordinate, so as to show off my new tee to its best advantage. So: black shorts. Black watch. Black gloves (unnecessary) and black ipod. As I headed out into the 6:30 PM hubbub of my city’s streets, I felt like The Shadow, slipping in between pedestrians, bikers and automobiles.
The run wasn’t extraordinary (3.5 m; 33:37), but my new tee is unimpeachable. Probably in the summer the black will make it too hot, but for now, it’s light as a feather, wicks brilliantly and doesn’t tug or pull anywhere. Thank you, TD!
I listened to two podcasts on my way home. The first was the tail end of a great Running Times Radio interview with Nate Jenkins, who finished 7th in the Men’s Olympic Marathon Trials last year, is self-coached, and up until early 2007 shoehorned his training in around a job in a running shoe store and as a coach at U Mass-Lowell. I find the RT Radio podcasts a bit pretentious at times, and Scott Douglas’ questions somewhat overweening, but Nate handily fielded Douglas’ questions with frank and interesting answers. I was riveted. He analyzed his own training, admitted he turned down the Hansons-Brooks Distance Project, spoke about Italian coaching methods, and explained why he thought his acceptable half-marathon times makes the marathon his best event. Download the podcast or read his training blog. I’ll be cheering for him at Boston; this boy’s all right.
Then, I turned on Phedippidations Intervals #135B, in which Steve Runner answers the question that’s been kicking around the back of my head: how the heck did he get into Boston with his middle-of-the-pack times? (No offense, Steve.) Turns out he received an invitational entry passed to him through the Massachussets Civil Air Patrol, one of the many municipal organizations along the race course that assists with security and logistics. That’s cool–I think it’s important for marathons to have a contingent of runners of all levels from the local community.
But the kicker, the part that had me laughing out loud (I don’t belive Steve was trying to be funny, though) was when he revealed his strategy on how he will one day race Boston with a qualifying entry. He plans to hold his 4-hour marathon pace for the next 14 years, so that when he turns 60, his race pace and the qualifying time requirements for entry will intersect. It’s true, then: I have been blogging about a hot idea (see Pigtails post “A Pint and a Fag” for starters). This takes the mantra “train today for the runner you want to be tomorrow” about a thousand steps further. Train yourself to the fitness you want to have when you’re 60, 65 or 70, and then simply mantain it so you can a) qualify for Boston and b) start winning your age group.
Personally, I think it’s got to be easier to win your age group by signing up for races in Bumblefuck, Idaho (no offense, Idaho) than to maintain the same level of fitness for over two decades (or for over four decades, if you’re my buddy EN).
Steve Runner also casually mentioned that he will dedicate an entire episode to Kathrine Switzer! This is awesome. Ever since I read her book Marathon Woman last year, I have been telling others about her running career (she won NY!) and her contributions to the sport (instrumental in getting the women’s marathon as an Olympic event). I admire her, am thankful to her, and can’t wait to hear more about her. I hope he scores an interview!
Pigtails Flying 