Seems like I've been 'training' ever since the late 70's/early 80's... Sure there have been blocks of time where I wouldn't run/workout...3, 6 months maybe, but in the back of my mind, and my 'diet', always training. Sometimes I think life would have been a bit easier had I just been a lazy fat guy...able to eat Doritos, and come home after work to 4 hours of NASCAR or...or whatever fat/lazy guys watch. ...but, always a race/workout/goal to get after...I supposed it's just how I'm wired.
So why the post on 'training'? I have a new goal, and a new training theory...ready for this?
Last August, while hanging out in ICU at the Heart Hospital, I was all set for an LVAD...numbers were bad enough, heart scarred/dilated enough where this was my journey...'in a week' was what the surgeon told us.
'One more test'...you've heard me say that before, right? Stress-test on the treadmill. Nice...bring that shit on...I LIVE for treadmill workouts! VO2 Max on this particular test was 44...nice. No LVAD! Now, did I roll 44 because I was in '44' shape? ...or maybe because I've spent hours and hours pounding on the treadmill over the years...or am I just that stubborn? Whatever the reason, off the LVAD list for now!
Over the past 18 months, I think I've done 4, maybe 5, treadmill stress-tests.
60 (I don't remember this one...)...48, 46, 42...and now 32. As my numbers continue to drop, this will/should indicate when the LVAD comes knocking at my door. ...and frankly, I need to wait as long as possible! After the LVAD surgery, I'll keep the device 3-5 years before my transplant...then roughly 10 years with the new heart...and that's it. SO, I'm going to do my best to keep rocking the stress-tests, or should I say 'manipulate' the test results.
How can you manipulate the results, Mr. Wizard? Well, theory time... I am training FOR the stress test! I've done it enough to know the sequence of speed and elevation, and what I need to be training for...are you following me?
Wanna run fast, you run fast. Wanna race a marathon, you TRAIN for a marathon. Want to ROCK a treadmill stress test, you TRAIN for the test...
Part of my training is gonna be hard, as running in general is tough on me, however, the power-walking part of the test at elevation, DONE.
Another cardiologist visit on Dec. 6th where I would assume I'll get to jump on the tread...so this time, I'll be ready! SO hard for me to push the QUIT button when I'm done, and I was really disappointed in myself for pushing the 'button' too soon last time...I'm such a pansy...suck it up, dick.
This was my workout/power-walk from yesterday, a new KEY workout in my training plan.
LifeTime in Lakeville, working through 12 hill repeats, 5 minutes each. 2 minutes at 9% elevation, 2 at 12%...and 1 at 15%. Speed anywhere from 4.1-4.4. Solid workout, and I was able to keep my HR under 130 the whole time. 1:05:04 total time with the cool down. A lot of strength training along with working on my visualization, I'll be ready when it's time to jump back on the tread for Dr. H.
Treadmill stress-test...it's what all the cool kids are doing!
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I guess while I have you here, I may as well capture the moment and continue on my quest of listing my 25 best/favorite running related moments.
#12...ready for this one? July 26th, 2008...LumberJack 10 Miler in Stillwater, MN.
Remember this one? What a fun race...FAST race. They would bus you up and out of dowtown Stillwater to some park 10 miles away. Flat/open for the first 6 miles, then the course offered a crazy/quick downhill, with a gradual downhill from 6.5-9.5ish. I could MapMyRun the course, but frankly, I'm just lazy.
I brought a group of East Metro runners I was coaching at the time to the race, along with my daughter, who was almost 3, as she LOVED to ride in the baby-jogger while I ran...so racing, here we come!
I don't remember a lot of the race...I think 'we' were running at 6:20-6:25 pace through 6...and I was feeling amazing. Legs were solid, breathing was good...singing with Torun as we ran. Such a good rider...
As we got to the downhill section of the course, it was 'hold-on'...the jogger just wanted to GO, and as we got to 7 and beyond, we were rockin'!
I remember passing a group of 5-6 runners at roughly 9 miles, easily running sub 6 minute pace at this point, while pushing a 45 pound package.
Came around the final 2 corners towards the finish, still rolling...
Before the race I was thinking we could run sub 1:05, but we ended up at 1:02:18 for a 6:14 average. 30th overall out of 1107 athletes. ...and I felt AMAZING from start to finish! Maybe had we 'raced' the first 6 more than we did, maybe sub 1:00, but I'll take the 1:02 and change!
Days like these are the ones you want to bottle and use at your next race, but alas, they don't come along very often.
What did I learn from this race? Well, nothing, frankly. Firm believer in that we learn SO much more from UG LY races, knowing what to do, what not to do, and the end result from race-day decisions. All I learned from this race is that we were FAST...and we rocked this course...and to spend a quality morning with my daughter in the process, priceless!
RESULTS
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