Lesson learned!

Mile 24 of the Tampa Marathon is when it happened. Yet another case of unraveling towards the end of a marathon. A classic case of going out too hard and paying the inevitable price. My hamstrings were shot and then seized, cramped, etc. Ran 22 minutes for the last 2 miles. Fortunately I had a week of vacation post-event to lick my wounds.

Three weeks later, marathon behind me, I'm back to the same routine. However my left hamstring is still noticeably tight. What do I do? Minimal stretching with what result? I pulled my left-side glute and lower back muscles and pinched my sciatic nerve so bad I lost a week of running. I was miserable.

A week off and I am back in the saddle albeit late in the training game, getting ramped up for the Ocean Drive Marathon in 10 days and Bull Run Run 50 miler two weeks later. I lost a week of training at a critical juncture. No excuses. I blame myself for not listening to my body, warming up, stretching properly and doing core strengthening exercises. Lesson learned from this recent injury escapade: Listen to your body, stretch and address issues before they become larger problems.

ATP ----> ADP + energy + Pi

English translation of post title: Adenosine Triphosphate produces Adenosine diphosphate + energy + inorganic Phosphate

My translation: The above compounds represent the breakdown of energy in your muscles at the cellular level during exercise.

So we don't feel good after running an ultramarathon. Legs are tired, lungs scorched, body drained. Duh. But do we really have a true understanding of why? Has what is going on inside our bodies after running for 10, 15 or 20+ hours (besides turmoil) been critically studied through a means of scientific process? Fortunately for us endurance junkies some (really smart) scientists have attempted to study the various impacts to the human body pre-, during and post ultramarathon.

The attached document (http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfmnt2wg_0hgpgxkpk) is an executive summary of research articles on the physiological, psychological and medicinal issues associated with ultrarunning forwarded to me by my sister, Jennifer Kulak, Phd. She was kind enough to provide a short note of scientific translation for my less then nimble mind. My summary is as follows:

- Loading up on antioxidents such as Vitmain E and C provides little to no protection against muscular damage.

- Ibuprofen (aka. Vitamin I) is bad for you during races. It's probably not very good post-race either considering your liver and kidney's are working overload.

- Ego aside, the longer you're on the course the more you will hurt.

- Wear sunscreen.

- Your brain really does turn to mush during an ultra. I'd wager a bet that most politicians have exercised induced cognitive impairment.

- Your body chemistry and genes force you to crave beer, burgers and ice cream post-race (any race, any distance). This data has been compiled through my 14 years of dedicated, exhausting, tedious research on the topic of post exercsie fluid consumption needs.

The human body is an experiement of one.

January run off...

"Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired." - Jules Renard

January was off to a better then normal start to the running year. This time of year I frequently end up doing more cross-training then running to get ready for spring training (http://www.exploreepic.com/resources/200801/winter-fit.php). Usually I can't get motivated until at least February but the unseasonably warm tempertures in the Northeast have given runners the opportunity to stay in shorts and enjoy unfrozen ground through January. I have actually managed to get outside four Saturday mornings in a row for 2 to 4 hr. runs with some friends. It has been great seeing lots of people on the trails enjoying the outdoors at a time of year when most are in the midst of cabin fever. Personally, I miss the snow. But since I can't shake the clouds to make snow fall out of the sky I'll take advantage of the clear streets and trails while I can. Tampa Marathon this upcoming Sunday is a good start to the race season and February's training!

Cheers.

Joe

The Beginning of a New (Running) Year

Well the holidays are finally behind us. Great times and memories made with lots of family and friends over the two week period. Couldn't have been better (although snow would have been an added bonus but not this year!).

So now it's time to step to the plate and make good on those new years resolutions. Mine are the same this year as they have been the last ten years... train smarter and faster. Oh and to build up to doing 100 consecutive push ups (never have been able to break that milestone). January started off slow but is ending on a good note. Just beginning to feel good about increasing mileage and hope to hit 60 miles this week. Will likely stick to a reasonable plan of 10% to 20% increased mileage on any given week. Struggling through once a week short (30 minutes) treadmill workouts at the YMCA. But I typically follow an undisciplined approach to training and any given week can be + or - 50% off previous weeks mileage. Regardless, I'm off to a good start so far, feeling good, and getting geared up for my first run of the year, the Tampa Gasparilla Marathon (http://www.tampabayrun.com/Race_Info/Marathon_and_Half_Marathon/General_Information.htm). Have hopes of running 3:10. Well see. Hope everyone's training is off to a good start.

Cheers.

JK