Monday, July 17, 2006

Week in Review

With a 70+ hour work week in the bank, this week missed some run specific posts. Here's the review of the past few days. After a much-needed rest day on Friday, I went for a shortie 4 miler on Saturday. I didn't mean for it to be a tempo run, but with the day off and finally being mostly recovered from last weekend's race, it turned into one. I saw I was on 6:50 pace through 3/4 of a mile, slowed down because it was supposed to be a recovery day. But when I hit the 2.1 mile turn around at 15:15 and still didn't feel like I was putting in that much effort, decided to roll with it. Final, 4.1 miles, 7:02 average pace.

Saturday afternoon Erin and I met a co-worker and her boyfriend to see Superman Returns in Imax 3D at Lincoln Center. Imax rocks! 3D . . . not so much. The movie's fun and moves well, it really doesn't seem like you're there for almost 3 hours. On the other hand, I never realized how much of the plot of Superman revolves around getting big objects in position to fall so that he can catch them. And, it's impossible for the movie to have any dramatic suspense. The guy can't die! So, you pretty much know how it's going to end. (BTW, Spacey is a really good Lex Luther)

Anyway, when we arrived home from the movie, the week caught up with me . . . and hard. Despite plans to go out, I was asleep on the couch by 7:30 and had moved to the bed for the night by 8. I even missed Team Phonak and Landis inexplicably give nearly 30 minutes to Oscar Pereiro in Le Tour, allowing Pereiro to catapault from 42d to First! HUH? You've got the yellow jersey and you give a dangerous competitor (Pereiro finished 10th to Landis's 9th last year) both 30 minutes and the G.C. lead? It's . . . bizarre. Sunday's stage featured a horrendous crash. In a six man break-away, the fourth and fifth riders hit some loose gravel and lost control. Verbrugghe (fourth) slammed the guard-rail at 35mph and went flying; Canada (fifth) hit the ground at 35mph and then got hit by the sixth rider, Kessler, who himself then hit the guardrail and went over in a full somersault with his bike. Kessler managed to regain a bike and continue to the finish. Canada and Verbrugghe each broke limbs; Canada also broke his collarbone and Verbrugghe had horrendous cuts from his encounter with the guardrail. Just horrific.

Sunday, after 11 hours of sleep I awoke actually feeling refreshed. I met the Flyers in Van Cortlandt Park for a 15 mile trail run. Despite being directionally challenged and the heat challenged, we still managed to make it back in 2:15:00. Afterwards, I spoke with Coach Joe about my Bronx Half Marathon. He tells me that my shivers were signs of moderate heat exhaustion, "not quite where we'd be concerned about you having a heat stroke yet, but still a concern." Uhhh... and the term "heat exhaustion" sounds so innocous. He also pointed out what I found weird -- when you're overheated you feel cold? Apparently. No wonder that race was so awful.

Here's the week. First week over 40 miles. I'm pretty pumped about that!


MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayTotal
Rest8.1 miles4.1 miles10.25 milesRest4.1 miles15 miles41.7 miles

3 comments:

Thomas said...

I hope you've recovered from that race by now. Heat exhaustion doesn't sound like a lot of fun - that stuff can be dangerous! Considering this, I wouldn't take too much notice of the slightly disappointing time. In fact, considering the circumstances this is rather a good time.

nyflygirl said...

as i said elsewhere, Coach Joe is a wise one, listen to him :) But sometimes I think as runners, we're just programmed to suck it up and push through any discomfort-even if it means ignoring some warning signs. But you're definitely smarter than I am, planning to do your speedy stuff indoors this week (though it wasnt as bad as it could have been.)

and 40+ miles balanced with a 70+ hour workweek-you rock!

Jon said...

But that much "work" leaves me very tired and cranky.

More on heat exhaustion from RRCA:

"When running, if you become dizzy, nauseated, have the chills, or cease to sweat… STOP RUNNING, find shade, and drink water or a fluid replacement drink such as Gatorade. If you do not feel better, get help. Heatstroke occurs when the body fails to regulate its own temperature, and the body temperature continues to rise. Symptoms of heatstroke include mental changes (such as confusion, delirium, or unconsciousness) and skin that is red, hot, and dry, even under the armpits. Heatstroke is a life-threatening medical emergency, requiring emergency medical treatment."

First sentence is pretty much word for word how I felt . . . of course, I ran 4 more miles.