PSVT, or Paroxysmal Supra-ventricular Tachycardia

Week 3 Day 1
180.5 lbs

I ran my 60 minute Z2 run outside today--absolutely gorgeous Alaska weather (although it was cold--about 20 degrees) and the sidewalks had been "groomed" so running in snow wouldn't be a problem.  I pieced together a nice loop from my house and had an excellent run--I used my Garmin to monitor heart-rate zones instead of pace.  Overall my speed was 9:14min/mile and HR zone was 2.6 (156bpm)

Garmin Connect


After the run, Annie was ready to go for her four-miler and I decided to join her on the bike, about 10 minutes into the casual ride, I experienced another PAT event.

I tried to bear down, with no luck and just decided to ride through it--I wasn't going fast anyway.  Eventually the cold got to me more then my heart, and I had to look at my monitor to confirm that my HR was still elevated.  This was weird.  As you can see from the chart, when it stops, it stops; from 170 to 95 between beats.

"Moderate" isn't "Easy"

As I follow Don Fink's Mastering The Marathon, for my June 3rd San Diego Rock and Roll Marathon I had a "No Duh" moment:  moderate isn't easy.  It isn't hard either, but its harder then easy...

I thought of this as I sweated through a 30 minute 'moderate' run at the The Alaska Club.  My pacing was around 8:20/min per mile--not an easy pace for me to keep up ...but it wasn't supposed to be, hence the descriptor "moderate"

4:45 is Early

Week 2, Day 3
180.0 lbs
19.8%

Closing in on Spring Break, but that just means more paperwork and transportation issues for the kids.  This past weekend was South's XC Regions (Friday and Saturday) and the publication deadline for our yearbook.  This week we have beginning of Lent and Wrestling Championships for the middle school.  With all of this, I still managed to get a couple of workouts in--including a 45 minute spin starting at 4:45AM--strangely, I couldn't muster much effort...

In between wrestlings, helping concessions and Mass, I put in a 5k run.  I felt good, and as I went along, I sped up, then sped up again...  I knew I needed a moderate effort run, and I also knew that I needed to get back so I wouldn't miss Ethan's wrestling match.

At the turn-around I knew things would get easier (the way back is mostly downhill) but when I turned around, I was greeted with wind and snow in the face.  Did I mention that it was 30 degrees and I left my gloves at home?

I pushed and pushed watching the times on my Garmin 610.  I wanted to look at my heart-rate, but honestly didn't have the energy to touch the screen...  The results?  A PR for a 5k distance (in the snow and ice no less). The Garmin had it at 7:48 min/mile average for the distance.  I could easily best that dry pavement and no intersections to worry about.

The biggest surprise was my heart-rate. I expected it to be in the 180s, but it only climbed as high as 177.  I guess I had some more left??

1st outdoor run of the year

Week 1, Day 2
181.0 lbs
20.7 %

Due to a tight time schedule and, lets be honest, a craving for spring, I ran my 4 mile loop.  This loop is still covered in ice and loose snow.  Think running on a sand covered sidewalk.  This was a 45 min Z2 (moderate) day, but 35 would have to do.  I removed some of the studs from my Brooks to help the comfort level--and that seemed to work, although the traction was not nearly as good.  There were several moments where I thought for sure I was going down.

The weather was nice, my cold-weather gear doing its job--and it felt absolutely wonderful to be outside again!

Today will be another tough day to get a run in because of school conferences and my yearbook deadline--but we'll see what I can manage...

San Diego Rock 'N Roll Marathon Training

181.7 lbs
19.8%

Monday, Feb 13th was my first official day of training for the RnR San Diego.  My prescribed plan yesterday? "Rest"  No kidding--I know how to train...

Sunday was also a rest day for me--the week previous, I ran just under thirty (30) miles, a new high for me.  It was exciting and humbling.  My pace and my anxiety about maintaining it have been a daily concern.  What has not been are my shoes and feet.  The Altra's are running strong--pun intended.  I have 'zero' complaints--yup another pun...

Monday was not a run day, but I did manage to get up at 5:30AM to hit the trainer.  I spun for 15 minutes in Z2 and enjoyed some music and cycling in the dark.

Tonight:  30 minutes, Zone 2

Altra Instinct

The barefoot / minimalist revolution is upon us...  Thanks in no small part must go to Christopher McDougall and his national bestseller Born to Run. His book is not so much a narrative as it is a mass media endorsement for Vibram Five Fingers and a scolding for the industry standard running shoe.  I read the book; I enjoyed the book; and I credit the book for teaching me how to run.  It was last spring that I took the techniques advised in the book and applied them to my running.  Viola, no more shin splints!

Although my legs problems had been cured, my foot problems were just beginning.  See this post  My feet are just a touch on the wide side, and when I run, they swell.  When they swell, my pinkie toe gets tucked under and my big toe... well, you get the idea.

It was in December that I started wondering why running shoes (and the liners) didn't look like feet.  I've known about the five finger thing, but that shouldn't be the only option.  I also started to question the built up heel on traditional shoes--when I started running, I heel-struck on purpose.  I thought, "why else would running shoes have such big heels, if you're not supposed to land on em?"  Duh.

Fast forward to now.  My favorite running store, Skinny Raven, advertised these shoes on their Facebook page.  The timing couldn't have been better--this was exactly the shoe I wanted when I was ranting to my wife in December.

This past weekend,  I went back to the Raven and traded in my new Mizuno Wave Inspire shoes for the Altras.   My first run was that evening (3.5 miles, easy) and these are quickly becoming my new favorite shoes.










I got mine here

Dome Time

The Anchorage Running Club benefits include an hour per week at The Dome.  That was enough for me to get the family a membership with the club.  Our winter has been particularly brutal this year--we have been in the negative temps for the better part of this month, with no end in sight.  As they say on their website, the weather in the dome is always sunny and 60...  


I've been fighting a losing battle with a cold for the past week and had not run in seven days.  Considering that, the run was a success--I ran 18 laps for 4.5 miles in 40 minutes.  About 9:25mpm or so.  I took the following day off, but I will be back at the AK club tonight, my lungs willing.

Down but not Out

I've been struggling with a  chest cold/congestion the past couple of days.  Not fun.  Tuesday I couldn't wait to run, and did so after two days rest.

The short break was just what I needed, the run went as well as it could, and my breathing wasn't a problem at all.  I spent ten minutes in the sauna and had no problem with my HR monitor--the extra heat in my skin must help make a better conductor for the strap.  The plan was to run for 30 minutes at a moderate pace -- Z2.  This worked out to 6.8 to 6.9 mph on the treadmill.  My heart-rate average 155 for (Zone 2.3)

All of this was incredibly encouraging--I only need to maintain just less then 7.2 mph to achieve my marathon goal... and I still have over four months to get there.

I planned to run again yesterday (and today) but the chest thing keeps getting worse.  I think I'll relax for a few more days to try and get rid of this for good.

32 x 32

Purchased some new jeans yesterday--32x32.  Before I started running regularly last year I was beginning to squeeze past 38x30.  Yikes!  The progress has felt slow, but the results are finally starting to sink in!

Didn't make it to the gym yesterday--and frankly, I still needed the rest.  My chest and biceps are still sore...  I guess that means I needed to start working them again.  Funny how muscle pain seems to bring optimism.

Spun on the bike for thirty minutes.  Good stuff.

Day Two in the New Shoes

Right knee is still troubling me, but I ran nonetheless.  Decided to go for thirty minutes to dial in my proposed marathon pace of 8:30 min/mile.  I warmed up for ten minutes, gradually increasing my speed up to 7.1 mph (an indicated 8:27 min/mile).  I ran for 20 minutes at this pace without issue, heart rate stayed in Z2 (no higher then 162bpm).

Overall, a good run--I wanted to go longer, but decided against it because of my knee.  I instead, went to the machines to start some weight training.

Weight this morning was 180.6

On My Way

2nd day with the new Mizuno shoes, and so far, so good.  Ran 5 miles in 40:41 on the treadmill for a 8:05 min/mile overall pace.  I upped the tempo to 6:40 min/mile for the last .25 mile.  My heart rate stayed in Z2 (162bpm) for most of the run, peaking at 180 during the sprint at the end.

Lesson learned:  My goal is to run the San Diego Full Marathon in 3:45.  This would put my in the top 25% of male competitors from last year, and allow me to feel comfortable calling myself a runner and an athlete.

2012. The Year we Make Progress

Covered 6.79 miles in an hour on the treadmill last night.  My best yet.  My right knee is pretty sore this morning though...

181.8 lbs
19.2 % fat
24.6 BMI

Post Vacation Post

Every holiday season I can recollect has ended with me adding anywhere from five to ten pounds to my frame.  This was the first year I actually lost weight, albeit not very much--but that's not the point, or is it? I keep struggling with the innate desire to shed pounds and meet an arbitrary weight goal, but I am honestly a bit ashamed.  I tell my wife and friends that I'm not concerned about my final weight; that I'm actually trying to reach a fitness goal--I am, but I can't stop standing on the scale--or being "mental" about what I'm eating...

Today, I weighed in at 180.9 and found that my new pants won't stay up (34 inch waist).  My comfort shirt (a brown short sleeve short that I wear untucked) is too baggy.  But I'm not happy with the way I look--I feel better, but not great.

I've run just a bit over 13 miles in the past two days at The Alaska Club--feeling a little sore. I need to take a day off, but I really don't want to.  The prospect of making big mileage this week is too compelling.

Scott Mayfield called last night.  He wants me to join him at the Lake Stevens 70.3 half ironman.  Sounds good, but that would end up being my first triathlon.  Not sure about the wisdom of taking on that type of event as an introduction to the sport.  I think I'll stick with the Xterra Hammerman.  Less money, more local, and Simon wants to participate.  Win. Win. Win

Hammerman

Xterra Hammerman Triathlon

Game on!