There is that theory that if you want to pass bad news you should sandwich it between good news. And I think that how I should write about Amsterdam marathon and the whole trip. That might work… so, let start.
Sandwich post
Bad run
Oh my… Today was really bad day. Haven’t finished my training which wasn’t super hard really. Did similar, or maybe even harder, exercise a week ago and in warmer weather and all was good. But today it was a disaster. It supposed to be 8 km @ 5.15 pace followed 6 km @ 4.50. Run not too long, not too fast all the time…
Nice to do it again…
That feeling day before race – mix of anxiety and excitement. Especially when it is your first in ages. Like a small kid and on the race day it’s getting even crazier. I was really excited and kind of stressed but Bozena was ok. I supposed to run half marathon and Bozena was running 10 K. And she was calm as cucumber…
Let start again…
Ok… First marathon booked now. For now only one and for fall next year – Amsterdam. Sorry… This is not true. I have just got spot in Dublin Marathon through ballot. I couldn’t just say no to that. At the moment plan for Amsterdam is for my Wife to run half-marathon and me full with my Cousin from Canada (hopefully covid will allow this). As my Cousin wants to run her first marathon I will try to help her out with that and if possible to get her to 4 hours. First thing is to get myself to fitness level when I can get full distance… I would like to get back to pace I was running marathons couple years ago but I know that I need to put much more work into it. But would be nice.
And I’m feeling good
I have quite a number if books about running. From runners biographies to books about running technique. Most of those have some kind of the running programs – 80/20, Daniel’s method. Tried most of them. Tried to adjust them to my (then) current pace. I was always failing on creating program for myself. As a ‘mathematics brain’ I was always trying to follow program to the letter. So, this was my failure when I was getting something like – 45 minutes of running. It can’t be more vague. I can work with ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ but not ‘some running’. I know that sounds like moaning but that is me…
Cheated on Suunto…
Already wrote before that I have upgraded my external heart rate monitor to Polar one. And I would treat the as kind of moving away form Suunto towards another bigger player on running devices market. Previous monitor was from Scotsche. Independent company which producing almost just heart monitors. So, moving to Polar was a big deal already. And now that… Fenix 6 Pro from Garmin. This is a big change. For me and for my pocket 😂 Actually for my Wife’s pocket as this was very early Christmas present.
Sad
Writing this post when on board of Ryanair flying back home. Things have changed since the 9th of November…
I got phone call in very early morning from my Sister. She was crying… All I could say was just simple ‘No’ which I have repeated numerous times. I was preparing myself for this phone call. But didn’t know that it will arrive so early. We were in Poland to see my Mom just at the end of August and beginning of September. Mom wasn’t in best shape but she was sitting in the wheelchair. She was happy to see us, even if she wasn’t actually recognizing us. She was smiling. She look not great but considering illness I think she was in good spirit… And just over two months later she passed… Just day before that me and my Sister were discussing financial difficulties surrounding nursing home and how we need to be flexible and creative to be able to support Mom. How we will organise Christmas visit to see her…
I needed a new one cause I have an old one…
The new – Polar Verity Sense, heart monitor. The old – Suunto Ambit Peak 3, multisport watch. I have this watch for ages now. Even when I wasn’t running it was on my wrist. Like it so much cause battery lasts for days. Few years back, running Connemara 100, and still battery level was there on 40% and that was over 18 hours. So, haven’t changed this watch. Disadvantage of this is: there is no webapp to access your runs (Suunto discontinued Movescount), mobile app is not easy and you can’t get all needed details. Yes, you can sync this with Strava but need premium to get all stats… So, maybe time for new watch? Neh, not now. But most annoying thing about this watch, one which I had to address from the beginning was lack of build in heart rate monitor…
I think running break was too long…
I think running break was too long… if Hoka shoes now have narrow front. I had (still have one pair) 3 pairs Hokas before I bought Carbon X2 model. As per usual size is big considering other marathon shoes. Checked those in France in shop… all good – New ones again.
Damn. I love it…
It is huge. It is ugly. So heavy that we needed neighbor to help us to bringing into the house… But, men, I love it.
Some years ago, I really enjoyed running on the treadmill. Getting up in the morning and being in gym before 6 AM when they were opening door. Then morning run for an hour. Maybe little bit longer. And then work. I always was choosing same treadmill. Setting speed and watching netflix on my mobile. I could just go… I really enjoyed it. Couldn’t understand how running on the treadmill could be boring for anyone. I know that you were running in the same spot for long but it was running. Then you could always watch movies, listen to music and don’t stop for traffic. What was really great, at least, for me was that control which you had when was running on treadmill. You were setting running speed as you wanted. So easy to train intervals, uphills, sprints. When doing recovery run there was no chance that on some point you will start to run faster and completely waste recovery session. I think that for me treadmill is a tool to get you better at running. And I like it when gym staff was referring to me as ‘our gym hamster’ 😉