A couple other things for today…

… the first is, we have a guest blogger today. My good running buddy Dan has written up a story about progress. When you look back on your progress, do you feel like you have accomplished anything? Sometimes yes? Sometimes No? do you wish you could go back and compare? I think you would be surprised how far you have come. (and for the members who read this that are just getting started, it’s a story that should bring you some motivation to keep at it.)

Welcome Dan, to Cool Kids.

I have just started my second 10k clinic with RR. The first one was a year ago and I recall how tough it was. Our first night out we did 4k in -30 weather. I thought I was going to die after running that far. And what was I doing outside when it was that cold. I must have been nuts. What was I thinking? I did learn that night that once you have been out in -30 you don’t have any valid weather excuses for not running.

Here I am a year later doing it all over again? But why? I have kept up over the last year. Maybe not as consistently as I would have liked, but…  The whole reason for coming back was to make a commitment to get out and to have someone to run with.

I have been out with the group twice now. The first night out I couldn’t believe how slow everyone was. After a few minutes it started to dawn on me that many people in this group were in the same position I was in a year ago — mostly thinking they must be crazy. And here I was, running near the front of the pack with little effort. Wait a minute, it did get easier. I am in shape. I can do this!

I have enjoyed many new friendships with runners over the last year. I have run as far as 15k in one day. I have been out in -30 and +30. For anyone who is new or just getting back into running, it will get easier and you can do it. Just believe in yourself.

Dan

That’s awesome Dan! Thanks.

Second is, I read a blog from Cary, North Carolina, called Running Down. The author is a really good runner, but an even funnier writer. He blogged his workout from today here. http://running-down.blogspot.com/2010/01/todays-workout.html

Third is, we (half group) are going to be doing Fartleks for speedwork on our technical runs for the next Three weeks.

Fartlek, which means "speed play" in Swedish, is a form of conditioning which puts stress mainly on the aerobic energy system due to the continuous nature of the exercise. The difference between this type of training and continuous training is that the intensity or speed of the exercise varies, meaning that aerobic and anaerobic systems can be put under stress. Most fartlek sessions last a minimum of 45 minutes and can vary from aerobic walking to anaerobic sprinting. Fartlek training is generally associated with running, but can include almost any kind of exercise.

taken from Wikipedia.

So, we will be running for our allotted time, and someone will call out “Fartlek, second streetlight” and you will run FAST to the 2nd streetlight. It’s quite a workout, and quite fun!