Everyone has their own running “psychology” — motivating yourself to run, run faster, run longer, run through pain etc. Here’s mine:
Weight Training. When I’m not at my ideal weight and I’m starting to run at my fat weight, I call it weight training. For example, I’m 20lbs over my ideal weight so I tell myself I’m in weight training so it’s ok to be slower, and I’ll drop down to 17lbs next week. I focus on form, breathing, and psyching myself into believing that being at a higher weight now will benefit me later.
Scouting/Patrolling. Choosing good running routes are really important. Sometimes to make myself run, instead of going out for a run it’s scouting or patrolling. Scouting meaning to scope out a new restaurant or neighborhood or house that’s on sale. Patrolling meaning to kind of “protect” the neighborhood and just be seen, keep an eye out, say hi to neighbors, etc. It makes the run go by faster and gives it a purpose.
Events. Events, marathons, half-marathons, etc are the best way to keep motivated. The important part after signing up for an event is creating a workout schedule. The next part is setting up an environment for you to actually be able to do well in the event. Events are important though, it’s really hard to just workout and train, it’s nice to be able to attach goals to things.
Friends. Running with friends is great, and a good date too rather than going out for lunch to catch up. Makes you choose cooler friends too who care enough about themselves to want to be healthy.
Some more running tips I wrote earlier.
I don’t have an event/race this year. Not doing Honu Half in Kona, not ready and too expensive right now. Instead going to do the Marin Century on August 2, which is a 100 mile bike ride around Marin. On August 3, I’m going to do the San Francisco Marathon. I’m not planning on doing a 2 mile swim on Friday, the swim part of an Ironman race is just a warm up anyway.
Something to train for finally (after my sprained ankle heals).
Favorite Places to Snowboard
- Northstar - (nice looking website) really fun, long rides, quick lifts
- Sugarbowl - quickest access to snow from the Bay Area
- Kirkwood - great for learning
Useful links
Other resorts that look cool
Tahoe
Colorado and Utah
Other
Tour of California is going on now. It started on Sunday at Stanford and will end in Pasadena. Stage 1 of the Tour is a bike ride I’ve done bits of before.
Would probably be cool to do some of these rides. I’ve downloaded the maps but linking to the ones on their site. Ones down below are in .pdf.
- Prologue Map Stanford University 2.1
- Stage 1 Sausalito to Santa Rosa; 97 miles
- Stage 2 Santa Rosa to Sacramento; 115 miles
- Stage 3 Modesto to San Jose; 103 miles
- Stage 4 Seaside to San Luis Obispo; 135 miles
- Stage 5 Solvang; 15 miles time trial
- Stage 6 Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita; 105 miles
- Stage 7 Santa Clarita to Pasadena; 93 miles
100 miles on a bike might seem like a lot but it’s really not that bad. You have to consider that the bikes these pros are riding are super light, fast, shock absorbing, and they’re riding as a group which makes them collectively crazy fast.
Haven’t tried it yet but seems like the way to go for getting it up to Tahoe, Kirkwood, etc.
Bay Area Ski Bus
2005 Trek 5.2 Madone SL
This is the same road bike as below but with my new paint job and lots of stickers removed. Also has the Ritchey Carbon WCS Evolution bar, an X2 Thomson stem, Chris King headset, Fizik Arione seat, titanium water cages. The rest is the same from before, Ultegra double, Bontrager seat post, Aeolus 5.0 wheels, Keo carbon pedals, Mavic computer.
Definitely my dream set-up. Only other upgrades I can think of is to get a Thomson seat post and change out the Ultegra set when that’s worn down. I think it looks just as good as the new 2008 Madones.
2005 Trek 5.2 Madone SL Bike w/ stock paint job. Ultegra double. Bontrager components. Keo pedals, Aeolus 5.0 race wheels. Did four Ironmans on this ride.
2004 Trek 5200
My first road bike. Road my first Ironman on this one. Ultegra Triple. Bontrager stock parts. San Selle Marco seat. Frame busted because of chain suck.
Here’s a core workout program, takes about 30 minutes. You can do these in the living room, don’t need weights. Just need to be disciplined about doing them. If you do them right, and you do these consistently, you’ll be in pretty awesome shape. The cliff notes version i.e. if you have only have time to do some of the workout, just do the squats or lunges and then sit-ups and push-ups.
Core workouts target the torso, or stomach, back, hip/upper thigh area. This is where all the power is in your body.
I quit my gym membership a long time ago because I’ve been swimming at the local pool and running or biking outside. And then doing these core workouts at home makes that $80 gym membership pretty pointless.
