Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Week of 03/25/2007 - 03/31/2007 (Revised Base Phase Week 3)

The really fast people have the Butt Dimple.

If you're especially especially skinny, you can even see it through jeans--a slight concavity right behind the hips where a beautifully sculpted gluteus maximus holds the hips under the center of mass for maximum efficiency. If you can observe this phenomena without clenching your butt muscles, then, congratulations--you may have the Butt Dimple!

Today will be day one of the Butt Dimple Challenge. Though training, exercises and weight loss, I will endeavor to transform my mere mortal behind into the ass of an olympic athlete (see ref. Shapiro, Ian for example) in 100 days. Periodic updates will be posted.

Sunday 03/25: 8.6 miles, 1:22:21 at 155 bpm in the Arroyo. Easy and relaxed, happy to be running not in circles around the North Fields. Definitely improved since last Arroyo run, but pacing is still frustrating. Would like to get to the point where 155 bpm = 8:30 min/mile. Clearly lots of... room for improvement.

Monday 03/26: 5K, 10 laps around North Fields at 145 bpm. 4 x 100m striders, a few sets of drills and core strengthening at the gym. Saw Will, Ruby, Peter on stationary bikes, wished I had time to lift every so often, then maybe my shoulders wouldn't cramp up on long runs.

Tuesday 03/27: 7.7 miles, 7 laps warm up around North field, 3 x mile at 185-190 bpm with one lap of jog rest in between (6:57,6:54,6:57), 6 laps cool down around North Fields, coordination drills. REALLY REALLY WINDY, UGH. Feeling really peevish today.

Couldn't get warmed up because it was so cold, miles felt kind of stiff and form never really came together, could actively feel the wind resistance, but can't exactly blame it for like 20-30 seconds/mile worth of slowness. Felt fine after running but then unpleasantly tired after drills. Irritated that things didn't really come together today...

Wednesday 03/28: 5 miles, 45 minutes just barely squeezed in before midnight (15 min @ 155, 15 min @ 165, 15 min @155) no time for anything else. Stomach full of Pad Thai complaining loudly throughout--that's the last time I run AFTER dinner. Complete disaster of a day--laptop kicked the bucket, boss freaking out, parents freaking out, everything is totally out of control--went to bed at 2 am, still not finished with work.

Thursday 03/29: 7.5 miles, 1:09:49 easy at 155-160 bpm Huntington up Los Robles at night, felt really good. Never been so excited about 9 minute miles... feels like HR is settling down finally. Coordination drills, 4 x 100m striders, core strengthening at the gym.

Friday 03/30: 3.1 miles, 10 laps around the North Fields at 145 bpm. Getting close to eliminating 10 minute miles altogether. Exciting. Progress is slow, but at least its happening :). Core strengthening at the gym, felt kind of unmotivated to do the exercizes...

Saturday 03/31: 7 miles, 7 laps warm up around North fields, 3 mile tempo-lite at 180-90 bpm, coordination drills, 8 laps cool down around south fields. Still out of shape, but encouraging workout today: 3 miles in 21:18 (7:12,7:09,6:57) felt good throughout, slightly under threshold for 2 miles, then pushed a little harder in the last 800m (unplanned, got dark, hard to see HRM). Pleasantly tired.

Target Mileage: 40-45 Miles
Week Actual: 42 Miles
Last week: 35.35 Miles

Finally feeling recovered after the rest week. Running with hips under you is starting to feel a little bit more natural. Now to gain some strength/fitness...

No comments: