Tuesday, May 5, 2009

What happens after 317 miles?


It's a good question. The answer, at least from me, is "I have no idea".

Many thanks to my friend, Roger Hill, for prompting me to write a "1-week" follow up note.

I have to say, there's definitely a coming down period. It was fun to be out on the road every day. I only had to worry about the steps in front of me. It was all that mattered at the time and a common demoninator that stripped away any 'uneccessary' extras. When faced with days of running, making progress is really all you concern yourself with. Quite liberating in a way, and I recommend it to anyone reading this post.

I'm feeling pretty good (thanks for asking, Roger!). I've tried to take advice from the people who know best and rest my left leg a bit. Within the last week I've had two 1-hour volleyball sessions and a 2-hour hike on a nice trail near St. Louis.

Yesterday I actually went for a run. Felt pretty good, honestly, and I'm super excited to be headed to Vancouver, BC, Canada this weekend to 'run' in a Club Fat Ass event dubbed the "North Shore Enduro". It's a 6-hour race on a loop course that is about 7-8k in length.

I've never been to Vancouver, but I know it's next to some serious mountains. I'm not a great trail runner (or great 'any other type of runner', for that matter), but I'm very glad to be meeting some friends of mine, Kristie C., Ferg H., and Sibylle T. - plus some others.

Even if I have to hike/walk the North Shore Enduro, it will have been worth the flight to B.C. I love the outdoors, mountains, and tall evergreens. It's going to be AWESOME.

I don't have any races planned in the STL area in the near term, save the Girls on the Run 5k in St. Louis at Forrest Park on 5/17/09 (Sunday). If anyone is interested, it's a fun race starting at the Muny in Forrest Park - and I encourage you to come out in support of Girls on the Run.

If anyone is interested in a run near STL in the near future, by all means, leave a post out here and I'm most likely to take you up on an invite.

Would love to hear from you all on how your training and races are going if you care to comment in a post.

Best for now,

Jason

6 comments:

  1. Hi Jason- Have a great trip and thanks for the posting on our race. Jill

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  2. I think next year you should do an IRONMAN. I have no doubt you can do it. In fact I've been told the run is by far the hardest part. I would think you would excel at the run part. I'm pretty sure you know how to swim and I can get you a bike to ride.

    Best Regards,

    Matt Sivcok

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  3. Absolutely Jason! If you are interested in IRONMAN let us know. We can also get you situated with training.

    Best,

    Don Keedik

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  4. Thanks Don & Matt.

    Are you guys in a tri club in the STL area?

    Truthfully, I've only done one Tri and it was just the swim & the run. A friend rode the bike during the bike portion. Also, it was only "sprint distance". 1000yd swim and 4 mile run.

    I'm not a great swimmer, but I can 'swim' - but I would need a TON of practice at it.

    I doubt I'm worth a darn on a bike becuase I never ride.

    Lacing up shoes, though? That part I can handle.

    Worst case, if I'm not up for Ironman would love to get some running in with you all.

    Jason

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  5. Jason:
    Thanks for the update, sounds like the leg is coming around. I was really worried that you may end up with a serious problem since you racked up considerable mileage after it began hurting.

    You're always selling yourself short, you could do an Ironman. With a LITTLE training, you could do an Ironman and make it look easy! I remember talking to you at L & C last Sept., and when I mentioned I would like to hit 3:30 you suggested that you would be around 3:40-3:45. Then you turn around and run a sub 3:30 at Disney after completing the half the day before. I think you are much quicker at 26.2 than you think.

    I ran the Illinois Marathon on 4/11 and a local 5k on 4/18. My marathon time (3:39) was not as quick as I would have preferred but I was really surprised by my 5k run. I was leery of racing one week after the marathon but I ended up 1st (small race) in my age group with a 22:15. It wasn't a PR but my legs felt really good for just a week after the marathon.

    I know St. Louis has the Go St. Louis Marathon (the "Team Lauren & Jason" photo looks like it may have been snapped at this event)in April every year but if you are looking for a flatter course the Illinois Marathon is going to grow into a great event. There were some quirky first year glitches but they should all be easy fixes. They had 10,000 for all events this year and are looking to draw 15,000 next year.

    Have fun in Canada,

    Roger

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  6. Shucks Roger, I really don't know what to say other than THANKS!

    We really need to get together on some runs this year - even if only at 'race time'.

    I have a friend, who is a nutritionist that helped me get ready for MO-AR TREK (Brooke) that just ran in Illinois. She's amazing, ran 3:35.

    You're right, the Team Lauren & Jason photo is from the 2006 Go STL Marathon. I like the course, but will ALWAYS welcome flatter ;)

    If you're running anything in the area soon be sure to reach out to me at jsneads@sbcglobal.net

    Posting a note here will come to that same email address. I appreciate you keeping in touch Roger!

    Jason

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