The octopus turned out to be hugely popular.  Especially considering the fact that it was mid-January and we have NEVER run the octopus that early in our training before.  There were probably a dozen or so of us that showed up at 1st and Madison at Noon.  Andy made his first appearance of the year and Lance made his first ever (rough day to make it your first).  What's impressed me the most … [Read more...]

The 2 mile time trial had a great turnout considering the road conditions in the park (i.e. terrible) and the colder temps.  Everyone seemed to suffer through it just fine and it was nice to finally have a real benchmark for the 2010 season.  Nowhere to go but up! Next week we are heading to Oakridge Cemetery for the dreaded Octopus!  We are meeting at the NW corner of First and Madison at … [Read more...]

Another season is upon us.  As I look back on the season that just ended, I realize it was pretty much a wash all around.  Apart from the fact that it truly got me out on the bike and somewhat back in the pool, it was nothing but frustration with injuries.  It was never really bad enough to put me on my butt in front of the TV, but then again... maybe that would have been best.  It always was … [Read more...]

This has been shamelessly taken from the very enlightening and entertaining blog of Chuckie V.  He once raced here in Springfield back in the mid-90s.  He was just as funny back then, only with better hair.  The below excerpt is very pertinent to the foursome in the most recent podcast. (The four suckers with an Ironman on their schedule)  So... without further ado: "Off" Season … [Read more...]

We are a strange bunch.  We give up our lunch hours to essentially hurt ourselves every week (some every day).  We suffer through the Winter days of slush and snow and muck to get a head start on the early season training.  We ramp it up by switching from the roads to the track for intervals.  We suffer through the heat of the Noon sun to get faster.  And then, sure enough... it happens.  … [Read more...]

I will start by filling everyone in on last week's workout.  Another Lunch With(out) Eric.  The last few workouts have been geared towards a sub-5:00 mile which we will get to at the end of this post.  A few runners have gotten the late season bug to make a push for a sub-5:00 mile.  The truth is... it's always a good time of year to attempt it.  The elusive standard by which most all of us … [Read more...]

A couple of weeks ago, I had an appointment to go back to the doctor to have him take another look at my very painful orthodics. I explained all of my woes and was basically on my last glimmer of hope.  He took them out of my running shoes and put them on the floor.  He had me stand on them and asked what was really hurting.  I told him it felt like I was running with cue balls under my feet.  … [Read more...]

It has been some time since my last post.  To be honest, I have had very little to write about.  Injuries just plain suck.  My situation is very typical... you hold out hope that it will get better very soon, it does get a touch better, you think the injury is healed (not really sure why)... and then you race on it and it starts over.  Repeat. Cycling doesn't seem to hurt it as much as the … [Read more...]

The planned workout was one that we did back in April.  Ironically, I remember that one being cold and windy and poorly attended.  What a difference 3 months makes.  We had a great turnout for the workout.  The weather was about as good as you can hope for in early July.  The plan was to do a mile, half, and a mile.  It was meant to be mentally broken up into 5 halves.  Each half getting … [Read more...]

With Terry out of town and few suggestions coming from the group, we didn't have much of a plan going into the workout on the track.  A few phone calls and it was suggested that we attempt a quarter under 60 seconds (basically all out).  Not exactly what I was itching for, but none-the-less, it was a suggestion.  Once we were on the track, we had to somehow incorporate a full workout into … [Read more...]