Easy run [03/01/2010]

The whole of last week was totally wasted! The snow, the cold and the lethargy. I just didn't feel like running. The home hunting had us consumed on the weekend. Inspite of all that, we did attempt to do some running. Drove all the way to Vienna to the W&OD trail. But it was not clean at all. Slushy snow. Just did not feel like it. Surprisingly, Madhura was for it. I just did not feel it was safe enough. One slip and it would have been easy to get hurt real bad. I just didn't feel like it.
So well, today was the start of week 5. Just 2 more weeks after this and then the half-marathon. Took it easy. Was still lethargic. I just did not feel like running today either. I almost turned back. But then decided to overcome the mental barrier. Decided to take it reaaalll easy. And surprisingly, instead of slowing down, I did the 3.27M in 30mins! Cool! A lesson to be learnt.




Meals: Cereal+milk+McD's breakfast burrito from $1 menu + coffee for breakfast, Chicken Fajita wrap + coke + few fried chips for lunch, eggplant भरित + रोटी + beer for dinner.

'Longer' run [02/21/2010]

Ashinth (Natasha's brother) suggested that we check out W&OD trails. So we'd decided to check that out today. Unfortunately we couldn't wake up on time to do that this time around.
I know the program states today we had to do 9M. But there was no way we could manage that. Firstly there was no time as we had to get to Harkirat's birthday brunch. Secondly, we were not sure Madhura could manage 9M especially since she couldn't practise her runs in the snow clad streets the past month.
So we chalk out ~5M, put on our usual gear and take off. Great run I should say. The pace was a tad slow. But well, I am not going to complain. If nothing else, I am thankful I can even run on the streets. There were a few patches of black ice. But being bright and sunny, they were avoidable.




Meals: A gigantic brunch at the party: Quiche + sausage links + fried potatoes + coffee, रसम + rice + wine for dinner.

Interval Run [02/19/2010]

Couldn't run on Thursday as I got home really late. We Prithvi's birthday party to go to. So 3M was the best thing to do. I was looking forward to this run as I had decided it was going to be an interval run. Waited for Madhura to get home. We were not sure if we still should go out on the roads as the sidewalks were still not clear. So treadmill, it was.
I set the interval training level to 6. I had no clue what that setting meant. But as the elevation went up to 7 and 8.5, I was really fucked! Had to turn the speed down a lot...at 5M/hr for elevation of 7 and 4.5M/hr for 8.5. My legs were screaming! But it all felt good.
Hunger pangs hit the roof. Had a sumptuous dinner.
Meals: 2 bulls-eyes + tea for breakfast, heat-n-eat lean cuisine pizza + 1 मेथी पराठा for lunch, lamb and chicken and veg curry + rice + naan for dinner.
I am contemplating on registering for this year's New York marathon. Atleast put my name up for the lottery. What say?

New route...warding off the effect of cold [02/17/2010]

After yesterday's run, I decide "Okay! I am going to take it easy till the mercury touches a decent number...like atleast a positive number!"
So I got back home a little late. But the program is still on my mind. I have to cross off the numbers there. And then I am planning on working late tomorrow. That means I get home late. So slim chances of doing the Thursday 6M run. What the hell! Just do it Amit.
The usual gear. And now that I have the new app on my phone...from Dishant.com. Hopefully the songs will keep me going.
So I decide to avoid that road where I hit black ice yesterday and take the Dyke road. Good decision! Though it was pitch black, atleast the new road felt good. That pitbull got me a bit nervous. I was just hoping that the chain held fast. Talking of the pitbull, I wonder what the fuck was the owner thinking when he left the dog out in the cold! Hmmmm!
Anyways...3.8M in 34min. Pace of 8.5min/mile. Nice!




Meals: Cereal + soy milk for breakfast, Buffalo chicken salad + pepsi for lunch, heat-n-eat chicken curry + 2.5 rotis + 2 कला जामुन for dinner.
By the way, I found a couple of real good articles online about the benefits of strength training and best natural fuel for runners. A good read.

Black ice and chilly winds...scary [02/16/2010]

Finally the snow seems to have melted and the roads seemed a wee bit clear here in Dover. And have been yearning to hit the roads and not the treadmill. But the temperatures are not very friendly, to say the least. 32deg Fahrenheit = 0 deg celsius! Not pleasant. But I decide to brave it out. The plan said I had to do 5M. I have the base layer, a tee, my cap (with the LED lights) and ear muffs on. And of course, my favorite Fivefingers. Less than half a mile in and I turned back. The cold really was taking my breath away. I was hoping that my core temperatures would rise up sooner. Felt as if there were a clamp on my chest. I stopped, looked back and then it was pure mind vs body. No kidding. So I decide...lets see what happens. So I am trying to find any motivation I can. And start running backwards. This ways, I think, I know the house is close by and worse comes to worst, I will just walk back home. And then I reach the 0.5M turn. And I decide, "Okay Amit, just do 4M today. That means you got to do this just 7 more times! That's easy!". Okay! So I keep concentrating on my breathing. And think of good ol' Pune. For some reason I think of Anar mess and Delhi mess! LOL.
Then comes the scary part: Black ice! Fuck! So now I have to worry about the traffic, any puddles or ice blocks/pebbles (the Fivefingers don't do much in terms of padding), and then the fucking black ice! But the Fivefingers did a great job with the gripping! A couple of minutes in that stretch of black ice and I had a lot of confidence with my footing. In fact, I was feeling GREAT!
Another patch of backroads where the snow was not plowed at all. But I was warm enough. Not a problem at all!
So there I was...~4M in 39min. Nice!




Meals: Cereal + Soy milk for breakfast, Curry chicken for lunch + Heat-n-eat छोले + rotis + honey + 1 beer.
I have started with this routine of a spoonful honey in warm water at night. Got some good honey from the Amish market here. Lets see how that feels.

Long run on the treadmill...not! [Feb 14 2010]

Dreaded the day I would have had to do a long run on the treadmill. And that day came! Had to do 8M! I knew I couldn't. Question was how much boredom could I withstand. Madhura gave be a brilliant idea...stagger the runs. 3+3+2 taking breaks cross-training. So thought I would do just that. Bummer! All the treadmills were taken. And to top it those two Indian females were blabbering away to glory like there was no tomorrow. Finally one stopped and stood on the treadmill yapping away. I had to excuse myself in. There goes almost 20mins. So I just went ahead and did a 4.4M. 45min. Sweat like a pig.
Meals: Went to see homes early in the morning...skipped breakfast, Sarvana buffet for lunch (yummy! BURP!), spinach-दाल + rice + 2 काला-जामुन for dinner.
Its slated to snow tomorrow. But just an inch or so, I believe. And tomorrow is rest day. So by Tuesday the roads in Dover should be clear enough to run. Yay! Finally! Hopefully!

A quickie on the treadmill... [Feb 12 2010]

It was a horrid morning after spending 3 hours on I-66 driving Madhura to work. Got back, had a quick lunch and a quick nap. We had plans to go for dinner at Filomena at 6. So I stole 40min to snuck in a 4miler...on the treadmill. I swear today was a strength of will. I had no will to get up and go. But since I committed to the program, I guess I had to do it.
4.2M in 40min. Did a lot of stretching and some core strengthening too.
Meals: Breakfast burrito from McD's + coffee for breakfast, heat-n-eat Hakka noodles for lunch, and sumptuous dinner (Grigliata Alla Costello) at Filomena. Too much meat...too much food. Sinus headache's a bitch.