Posted on Oct 06, 2011 under Race |
There are a couple of reasons why I decided to run this race. My previous race (SF Half) was 3 weeks ago and my next one (Heartbreak Ridge Half) wasn’t scheduled for another 3 weeks. I know I wouldn’t have stayed motivated enough to keep running without knowing I had something to prepare for. So the only race available was this 5K. They actually have the AFC Half, which I ran last year, but the only reason why I ran it was to complete the triple crown series of half marathons. I did however run this 5K two years before when I first started running again. I said it then and I’ll say it again, because all the ‘elite’ runners ran the half, the competition for the 5K was pretty slim. I remember the announcer telling us that we were the smart ones running a 5K instead of the half. Anyways, this was the race where I won my age group for the first time! Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on Oct 06, 2011 under Running Tips |
If you are having a hard time getting the most out of your running program maybe it is time you take a peek at some of the best abs exercises we found for runners. While the rectus abdominus muscles, also known as the ‘six pack’, may look pretty and well toned, they are the least important part of your middle as it relates to running. The deep abs (transversus abdominis), muscles along the spine, the spine-pelvis connector muscles, external, and internal obliques combine to be the key to core stabilization. You need more than just crunches to train these parts of the core; you need the best abs exercises if you want the best results. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on Oct 04, 2011 under Random |
Believe it or not, I am still alive. But I’m barely getting by without much running these days. I’ve been super busy with work and other things, I just haven’t had time (or found myself too tired or unmotivated) to run in the mornings. I’m lucky if I can get 1 or 2 runs in a week now. Flash back to a year or two ago when I was doing 6 or 7 runs a week, that’s a big difference. The good thing is that I’m still racing, I just haven’t had the time to actually post about it. But I did just come back from a near-week long trip to New York and had some time to kill at the airport and plane ride. So I was able to write up (as well as I could remember) the race reports for my last 3 races. Although most of it is typed out, for some reason formatting and touching up always takes longer than I expect. So I am going to post the oldest race report first and see when I have time to post the rest.
Posted on Aug 04, 2011 under Race |
What a weekend. Here are my official race results: 1:37:11, 7:25 min/mile, 21/624 AG, 66/2,708 Males, 81/6,255 Overall. My pace for the first couple of miles were a lot slower (by accident), but worked out. I was able to tackle the hills later on and have enough energy for a strong finish. The race seemed to pass by pretty quickly, and it was a very scenic course. Like everyone has been saying about the race, it was ‘worth the hurt’!
This was the first race that I traveled for since high school, which ironically took place near San Francisco (Half Moon Bay). I still remember that race and the trip. It was only for the Varsity team and we got to skip (at least) a day of school and it was my first time flying too! A couple years back, they had one of the runners jump in the JV race and he won it by minutes (only a 2 mile trail race). So when I heard that they wanted me to run the JV race that year, for some reason I felt pressured to win it as well. I was actually in the top 5 for a while, but ended up finishing 7th, which is still good. We tried doing some sightseeing stuff that night after the race, but I remember all the shops were either closed or closing. We tried walking the Golden Gate Bridge, but that was also closed? But despite all of that, I still remember having a great time with my teammates. But that’s all in the past.. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on Jul 22, 2011 under Trail |
This is a guest post from Jennifer at Health Training Guide:
Trail running as a sport differs from other forms of running, such as road running and track running. Trail running is distance running that typically takes place along hiking trails, especially single track trails that are not easily accessible by road.
The environment differs for trail runners, too. Hiking trails tend to traverse various terrain: hills, mountains, woods, and deserts. In addition to the physical challenges, there is often a spiritual component to trail running. Trail runners tend to enjoy a sense of freedom in typically serene, forgiving surroundings. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on Jul 11, 2011 under Race |
The Sidewinder 10K Trail Race was less than a week after the Scripps Ranch 10K. But the distance is so short (relative to a half or full marathon), I rarely get sore now. Quick recap on results: 5.98 miles (this one was shorter, while my trail half was 13.62 miles!), 45:15, HR: 181/200, AG: 9/17, Overall: 31/183. I would have been very happy with low 40’s so I was very pleased with the results and how I felt during the run. Splits: 7:09, 7:34, 8:26, 7:49, 7:35, 6:53 (elevation profile seems about right when comparing with the splits.) Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on Jul 04, 2011 under Race |
This is my 3rd year (most for any race) running the Scripps Ranch 10K and I’m hoping I can keep that streak alive for many years to come. I’ve PR’ed each year, so maybe in a couple of years, I’ll be able to run low thirties? Probably not. But I did almost break 40, which would have been cool. I didn’t even know I was that close until I was the finish line, which was too late by then. But 40:38 is still a pretty good time and I’m super happy with it. Specific details: actual distance, 6.14 (no weaving and bobbing for me + tangents!), pace: 6:37 min/mile, 747 calories, HR: 182 avg, 199 max. Placing: AG: 16/63, Sex: 100/812, Overall: 106/1552. Not too please with my semi-positive splits though: 6:31, 6:46, 6:40, 6:49, 6:51, 6:15, :42. But really, I don’t have much to complain about, I’ve been doing 2-3 runs a week most of which were pathetically slow (9-9:30 pace max?) So yeah, I’m very fortunate to have been able to run as fast as I did. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on Jun 21, 2011 under Running Tips |
I was recently interviewed about trail running and featured on the RunningShoes.com Blog. Hopefully, it comes in handy for anyone interested in trail running.
Running on a path carved out by Mother Nature can prove to be much more of a challenge than that man-made track at the gym. Prepping for such a run requires additional planning and equipment.
Experienced trail runner Phong Chieng, who blogs about his outdoor excursions at Trail Running Blog, joins us this week to answer those questions. After running cross country for three years in high school as a way to stay out of trouble after school, Chieng has continued to train and blog. He shares tips on trail running, blogging and gear. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on Jun 10, 2011 under Race |
Quick Summary: 13.23 miles, 1:31:09 (6:53 min/mile). Splits: 5K: 21:41, 10K: 43:25, 8.1 miles: 56:25, 10 miles: 1:09:37. Age Group: 31/930, Overall: 162/17,152. Like always, I wanted to keep myself from starting off too fast and even decided to run with a slower pacer (1:35) for most of the race and then pick up the pace later on. I ended up running on my own for most of the race, but fortunately didn’t start off too fast which allowed me to run at a fairly comfortable/even pace throughout the race. There were very little uphills but a few downhills which I used to my advantage. This was my second fastest half performance, which I’m super proud about. I said in a previous post, this race is more like a training race for my next big race, the San Francisco Half Marathon at the end of July where I’ll actually be racing my brother and his friends! Read the rest of this entry »
Posted on May 29, 2011 under running |
I was hoping to find at least one other race to run after my trail half in April and before the SD Rock ‘n Roll Half coming up next week. But things kept coming up and I couldn’t find one that I really wanted to run. So I just kept running as much as possible with some biking in between.
Some recent notable runs I can think of off the top of my head was an 8-miler (1:04, 8:09 min/mile), 11-miler (1:32, 8:05 min/mile) & 9-miler (1:13, 7:54 min/mile)..today! I haven’t been putting as many miles as I would have liked, but I’m hoping those long runs and whatever runs I can get in between (as well as my rides to work) will pay off. I say this each time, but I really want to try and hold back in the beginning to have enough energy to maintain or even pick up the pace later on. When I ran the SD RnR Marathon last year, we actually ran with the half-marathoners for a part of the race. I remember thinking, ‘man I could almost be done, but instead I’m only half-way there!’
In other news, I officially signed up for the San Francisco Half for July 31. I will be racing my brother and his friends for the first time (in that distance). This will be my first race outside of SD and LA, still not out of state, but getting closer. I’ve been there for business, so I’ll try to make it a mini vacation as well. I want to use the SD RnR Half as a training run for the ‘real’ race in July. Of course, I’ll continue to run and train before that race, hopefully it’ll push me to train even hard than before!
