Competitive Jerks Racing and Training - 2023 (Read 573 times)

 

 

Thanks to all who commented on the race.  This "team" was absolutely with me when the going got tough....I knew if I slacked off I'd have to face the unflinching gaze (over the web) of Mikkey

Fishy - Very impressed with that half! 👍….but you’ll only get away with a 3:10 goal at Boston if there’s a 50mpw headwind. I’ve got my eye on you.

Steve - Interesting that you feel great 4 weeks out during peak marathon training. I’m one of those shallow people who judges folk on their race performance, but I have a feeling that you’ll surprise yourself. 👍

dk - I do pretty much the same as you regarding calf stretches/strengthening. But a breakthrough for me is Myofascial Release massage which has really helped and I’ll continue with it every month as all other mild niggles have eased off (ie, long term issue re shoulder). 

Flavio - I ran Valencia in 2021 and it’s the perfect course if you want to run a legit marathon PB.

Milkman - If you don’t run a Moose Mug time CIM then I will refuse to talk to you after the race.

Okay have a bit of time to post outside of my dogcatching interests:

RP - yeah, just a loud spray sound. Imagine the sound of a truck releasing it's brakes. That's sort of what it sounds like. Also, I think dog entitlement has only gotten worse with COVID. "My dog is good, so I don't have to follow any of the rules" seems to be a prevailing theme. It's amazing.

Funny related story: I walked my dog Saturday morning with my daughter, and she wanted our dog to come with us to the bagel store. I told her no, we need to drop off the dog, because dogs aren't allowed in the bagel store. Of course, we get to the store, and there's a dog in the store, and she asked "why is there a dog?" How do you tell a 2 year old that some people are entitled assholes who don't think rules apply to them? Like bringing your dog into Target is one thing. Bringing your dog into a FOOD establishment, and then sitting down to eat with that dog, is a different story. Anybody who is afraid of dogs? Anybody allergic to dogs? Too bad for you, these people just needed to bring their dog with them.

Okay end rant on entitled dog owners.

Fishy - congrats on the race, but I agree with Mikkey - are you kidding me with a 3:10 goal? Take that shit over to the Waltons. Your new goal, per rule 7, is now 3:02, with a "great day" giving you a 2:59. And yes, we dealt with the wind here in NYC as well, which made for a cold tough race, which is an extra reason why your goal is no longer 3:09!

Mikkey - If I don't get a Moose Mug at CIM, I'm just going to keep running straight into the Pacific Ocean at the end of the race. There's no point in living without one.

Steve - I haven't been following your training as closely this time (which maybe is a good thing ) but I am really happy to hear how you're feeling. We all know your last training didn't make sense. If you said you feel exactly the same as last time, I'd be worried. You're in for a big payday if you get good weather.

DK - I don't think CIM has ever been hot. The worst weather you will deal with is either heavy rain, or a headwind. But heat is never really a risk. I can't think of a single one that was over 57 or so.

 

 

Funny related story: I walked my dog Saturday morning with my daughter, and she wanted our dog to come with us to the bagel store. I told her no, we need to drop off the dog, because dogs aren't allowed in the bagel store. Of course, we get to the store, and there's a dog in the store, and she asked "why is there a dog?" How do you tell a 2 year old that some people are entitled assholes who don't think rules apply to them? Like bringing your dog into Target is one thing. Bringing your dog into a FOOD establishment, and then sitting down to eat with that dog, is a different story. Anybody who is afraid of dogs? Anybody allergic to dogs? Too bad for you, these people just needed to bring their dog with them.

 

Well since you asked you tell them your opinion and make sure the dog owner hears it.

"this person thinks their dog is the same as a person being on a leash. In their mind that dog who doesn't go to school, and has no rights or responsibilities is the exact same as you who has a social security number and will eventually pay taxes. Maybe they thought this was a dog store and they're just walking around looking for other people with dogs."

I know....everyone is just SHOCKED at my response to this "probably rhetorical" question. 

I saw two people bring dogs to grocery stores yesterday. one had the stupid fake "blind seeing eye dog" bullshit vest. I so wish someone with power had the balls to make those folks show certified documents. It's never acceptable to bring your dog to target, home depot, safeway, the Empire State building, a graveyard, the post office, your work office, or a bike shop. Your dog/bird/lizard/iguana/aligator/lion/shark/duckbilled platypus can stay at home. Just like my kids when I go running and they're 5.

CIM other than the "monsoon" year I haven't run it enough to say anything besides "it's cold at the start, pretty humid compared to the desert, and gray skies."

 

 

Mikkey - If I don't get a Moose Mug at CIM, I'm just going to keep running straight into the Pacific Ocean at the end of the race. There's no point in living without one.

 

 

You’ll get the Moose Mug 100%. 👍

Dorothea - I get where you're coming from (sort of) but some things just are binary.  Yes, not everyone has stereotypical male or female characteristics, but everyone is male or female.  There are many things to be offended by, why include scientific facts (not saying you are!)?

JMac - Don't worry, I'll do a preview before the race and include a training review.  The short version is similar mileage, fewer crazy long runs, more speed and strength.  Since you mentioned weather and I know how much you rate long range forecasts...the current forecast for April 16 is 17C which probably means 10C at race start.  In all seriousness though, April is usually pretty stable.  The one outlier I remember was on the day of the ChCh marathon 2021 when it was 27C and carnage.

Mikkey - "Great" is relative.  I have plenty of fatigue but by this time of the last cycle I'd blown up with cramp 3-4 times with my worst episode 3 weeks out which had me on the floor for an hour at times in excruciating pain.

RP - Yep, new coach.  And new physio helping me with strength training.

Dogs - I've ranted enough in the past about dogs...I now don't run in any off leash parks (or domains) but I still run past people on busy roads who seem to like to show off their dog can go off leash.  Makes me so nervous and I'm always ready for the lunge.

Fishy - When you hit 50 years old then you start to do everything possible to make life easier….and being a runner it’s a wise decision to choose CIM as a goal marathon!  Tell me someone who has run there and didn’t get a PR!

 

Near the end of the Half I swear I saw Flavio in a superman costume riding a majestic unicorn!

 

Lord Commander - I humbly suggest that this is front page material!

Mikkey - Thanks for the info, is that the one where you took a siesta by the side of the road near the last km?

Jmac - thanks for the info, I'm still not convinced it works, given the amount of negative reviews stating so, but it's only 12 euros at Amazon Spain, so I might buy it and try it against barking dogs.
I think today I found the best analogy to state how non-dog people feel about this:

Imagine if somebody was walking down a crowded sidewalk with a gun on their hand, ready to shoot.
Then sometimes they'd point their gun at somebody, and when that person becomes startled, they just chuckle and say "don't worry, I'm just kidding".
Then sometimes they will accidentally fire a shot and if it hits somebody, they say it's their fault for being there when the shot passed.

Whereas somebody like you, RP or Steve might advocate for fines or harsh warnings from police officers, I believe jail time is needed.

I get what you say about if I harm a dog I might run into trouble with the owner, however, for the sake of argument:
I will do my absolute best to avoid these kinds of people and dogs. I will often turn around, cross the street, go around the block when I spot them about 50m ahead of me.
I stand undefeated in street fights with a record of 0/0, meaning, I was wise enough to never get into one.
Now if all that failed and a dog is about to attack me I'm doomed either way. The best case scenario is the dog jumps me but does not bite, in which case I'll have PTSD for a couple of weeks.
So if said annoying noise + standing tall facing the dog + making growl sounds does not work with the dog, I'll work to neutralize/kill the dog. And then run away at mile pace 😂

Dogs - I've been bit twice, once while running. What was the first thing each owner said upon learning their precious "fur baby" bit me? "Oh, my dog would never do that."
Really, lady? Then why is my butt cheek suddenly bleeding?!

JMac - You can't keep running past the CIM stop and get to the ocean - you're heading back inland at that point! Plus there's that annoying state capitol in the way, complete with a runner's worst enemy at that point - stairs.