I set aside six full months to devote to training for this marathon. I have eschewed countless races that I would have done because I am dedicated to racing this 26.2. I am just eight weeks away and what I’ve learned thus far is that marathon training is a roller coaster ride. There have been so many ups and so many downs. First I was hurt and had to adjust my goal. Then I learned to manage my injury and started to run further than I ever have. I was under all the prescribed times on every workout and began toying with adjusting my goal time of 3:30. I finished my first 20-miler on top of the world, well under my target time and with enough left to finish another 6.2 if I were so inclined. Immediately after, I caught a cold I couldn’t shake and couldn’t run for more than two weeks. Tuesday was my first day back and my track workout went well. Today (Thursday) was a tempo run (comfortably fast) and I couldn’t finish the whole workout. It’s amazing how much is lost in 16 days. I’m supposed to do another 20 miler this weekend and, based on today, I don’t see that happening. This, too, shall pass and I will get going again but it sure has been an interesting journey thus far.
My team for the Ragnar Relay is getting rolling. I mentioned this run in an earlier blog, but this is a race from Clearwater to Daytona Beach. There are 12 of us on the team, six men and six women. We are going to run 191 miles in less than 24 hours. Here’s how it works, but first we’ll go through the vocab:
1) Segment – the total amount of mileage one does over the entire race
2) Leg – Everyone runs three different legs which equal their segment
So, there are twelve segments and each one averages about 16 miles, the longest being 21.2 and the shortest being about 11 miles. Once you choose the segment, the legs are set in that they are evenly spaced. So, you couldn’t run all 16 at once. If you run the first leg, you then run the 13th and the 25th – hours apart. Got it? I don’t know for sure which leg I am running, but I would LOVE to run the last one and bring it all home to my old stomping grounds in Daytona. Most likely, I’ll run the second or third leg. We’ll see. We’ll be in different vans, six in each one, runners one through six in the first and the rest in the other. I don’t expect I’ll sleep at all or eat a whole lot. I hope to shower once and will be forced to bond in special ways with some teammates who we don’t really know all that well. Will be fun to write about.
Anyway, our team expects to win. What I mean is, I’ve looked at the times for other races and, for the co-ed division; we really should be positioned well, averaging about a 6:45 minute mile pace throughout. The race is November 14 & 15. I’ll keep you updated.
By the way, I am still raising money for the Heart Association! I know everyone has so much jack laying around these days, so there’s nothing better that you could do with that money than donating it to charity! Help me out – I’m actually pretty close to my goal. Thank you – I hope you all are well.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Overdue Blog
Sorry for the lack of updates of late. The fact is, not having a job is kind of a downer. You see, I want (or at least envision) my blog being informational with a bit of humor. Perhaps some levity in lieu of poignancy? Anyway, I haven’t been in the mood to be terribly funny. I do, however, have a tremendous amount of faith in myself (perhaps an unreasonable amount?) and am sure something will turn up here soon enough. The running, however, has really helped keep me centered and has given me something to which I look forward.
I am nearing the end of my fifth week of marathon training. While I have been ‘training’ for months, this particular program is five-weeks old. Last week, I racked up 30 miles, which is the most I’ve had in one week since I was a sophomore in high school. Coincidentally, I am also back to my high school weight, tipping the scales at 154 lbs, which according to my height, is on the upper end of the BMI scale for ‘normal.’ I’m 10 pounds away from technically being ‘overweight.’ I think BMI is rubbish because it doesn’t take body type into consideration, but I digress.
This Saturday, I will meet members of my running group at 5:45 am and begin, in earnest, a slow 18-mile run. This will most likely leave me lethargic for the rest of the day, as the last four weeks of long runs (12, 14, 16.5 and 16) have. I’m not sure if it’s the distance, the early morning start or a combination of the two, but what I do know is that by 9:30 in the morning, I will have burned nearly 2,500 calories, allowing me to eat pretty much as a damn-well please for the day. I’m still not sure it’s worth it, but justification is a powerful thing and deserves reverence.
So, this is the part of the show where I ramble about the long runs, as that’s today’s selected topic. For the most part, I feel like I do many things well; sleeping is not among them. To prepare for these long runs, I try to go to bed super-early (around 10 for me). The thrashing usually begins at about 2. Last week I was awake from 2-4, then the alarm when off at 5. I ate a proper breakfast of steel-cut oats (with yogurt, blueberries, honey and cinnamon) that I made overnight in the slow cooker (slow-cooker is the masculine way to say ‘crock-pot’…it should however be noted that it’s unclear if owning either can ever really be masculine).
So, on any given Saturday, I drive to whatever location is decided on for the week by the running group leader, a truly incredible woman; a wealth of knowledge and experience, she’s gracious and committed. I run a couple of quick miles, probably three, before the bulk of the group gets there at 6:15. These first three are creaky miles, as my body threatens mutiny not only for the hell I will put it through over the next several hours, but also because it’s just too damn early. The group gets there, and I settle into the pack, sometimes in the middle, sometimes up front, and we gallivant all over little Gainesville. I have lived here for a total of eight years and these people have shown me incredible things I never would have known existed in this town, from renowned Tobacco Road, to the trails at Ring Park to Gainesville’s steepest hills near Westside Park.
Many in the group are training for a marathon – I’m not sure any are doing the same one but all have a focus. I usually settle into a pace in the low 8’s with another runner. She’s doing the Jacksonville Bank Marathon two weeks after I do Memphis and absolutely kicks my butt up and down the streets. I don’t know if I would have been able to hang on last week if I hadn’t attached myself to her shoulder for the last four or five miles.
People keep asking how my foot is doing. It still hurts; it’s a low-grade, constant pain. Rarely is it much worse during the course of any specific day. If I were to use the standard pain assessment scale our medical professionals use, I would say it’s anywhere from a 1 to a 4. So, when I wake up, it hurts the most – typically a 4. I stretch it out then it settles into its number for the day – usually a 2. It doesn’t really get in the way of my running; it’s just kind of annoying. I wear these soft inserts that help, but I want to try to get out of them because they retain sweat. By the end of my long runs, my socks and shoes are soaking wet, weighing everything down. My toes have the albino raisin look about them, frequently chewed to hell and often sporting two or three blisters. Regardless, it’s manageable. I look forward to the few weeks after the marathon where I will largely be off my feet and hope it will heal then as I decide what kind of a runner I want to be if I grow up. More marathons? Triathlons, perhaps? Focus in on a sub-17 minute 5K? We shall see.
Anyhow, that’s all I’ve got for now. I will try to be more diligent about it. If you feel so inclined, please feel free to suggest topics. Oh, and by the way, happy Talk Like A Pirate Day!
I am nearing the end of my fifth week of marathon training. While I have been ‘training’ for months, this particular program is five-weeks old. Last week, I racked up 30 miles, which is the most I’ve had in one week since I was a sophomore in high school. Coincidentally, I am also back to my high school weight, tipping the scales at 154 lbs, which according to my height, is on the upper end of the BMI scale for ‘normal.’ I’m 10 pounds away from technically being ‘overweight.’ I think BMI is rubbish because it doesn’t take body type into consideration, but I digress.
This Saturday, I will meet members of my running group at 5:45 am and begin, in earnest, a slow 18-mile run. This will most likely leave me lethargic for the rest of the day, as the last four weeks of long runs (12, 14, 16.5 and 16) have. I’m not sure if it’s the distance, the early morning start or a combination of the two, but what I do know is that by 9:30 in the morning, I will have burned nearly 2,500 calories, allowing me to eat pretty much as a damn-well please for the day. I’m still not sure it’s worth it, but justification is a powerful thing and deserves reverence.
So, this is the part of the show where I ramble about the long runs, as that’s today’s selected topic. For the most part, I feel like I do many things well; sleeping is not among them. To prepare for these long runs, I try to go to bed super-early (around 10 for me). The thrashing usually begins at about 2. Last week I was awake from 2-4, then the alarm when off at 5. I ate a proper breakfast of steel-cut oats (with yogurt, blueberries, honey and cinnamon) that I made overnight in the slow cooker (slow-cooker is the masculine way to say ‘crock-pot’…it should however be noted that it’s unclear if owning either can ever really be masculine).
So, on any given Saturday, I drive to whatever location is decided on for the week by the running group leader, a truly incredible woman; a wealth of knowledge and experience, she’s gracious and committed. I run a couple of quick miles, probably three, before the bulk of the group gets there at 6:15. These first three are creaky miles, as my body threatens mutiny not only for the hell I will put it through over the next several hours, but also because it’s just too damn early. The group gets there, and I settle into the pack, sometimes in the middle, sometimes up front, and we gallivant all over little Gainesville. I have lived here for a total of eight years and these people have shown me incredible things I never would have known existed in this town, from renowned Tobacco Road, to the trails at Ring Park to Gainesville’s steepest hills near Westside Park.
Many in the group are training for a marathon – I’m not sure any are doing the same one but all have a focus. I usually settle into a pace in the low 8’s with another runner. She’s doing the Jacksonville Bank Marathon two weeks after I do Memphis and absolutely kicks my butt up and down the streets. I don’t know if I would have been able to hang on last week if I hadn’t attached myself to her shoulder for the last four or five miles.
People keep asking how my foot is doing. It still hurts; it’s a low-grade, constant pain. Rarely is it much worse during the course of any specific day. If I were to use the standard pain assessment scale our medical professionals use, I would say it’s anywhere from a 1 to a 4. So, when I wake up, it hurts the most – typically a 4. I stretch it out then it settles into its number for the day – usually a 2. It doesn’t really get in the way of my running; it’s just kind of annoying. I wear these soft inserts that help, but I want to try to get out of them because they retain sweat. By the end of my long runs, my socks and shoes are soaking wet, weighing everything down. My toes have the albino raisin look about them, frequently chewed to hell and often sporting two or three blisters. Regardless, it’s manageable. I look forward to the few weeks after the marathon where I will largely be off my feet and hope it will heal then as I decide what kind of a runner I want to be if I grow up. More marathons? Triathlons, perhaps? Focus in on a sub-17 minute 5K? We shall see.
Anyhow, that’s all I’ve got for now. I will try to be more diligent about it. If you feel so inclined, please feel free to suggest topics. Oh, and by the way, happy Talk Like A Pirate Day!
Friday, August 15, 2008
The Sun is Always Brighter
Well, it’s been a month since the Boilermaker in Utica (picture of my finish to the left) and the slight injury I got just doesn’t want to go away. I took a week off and the foot was feeling pretty good. Then, in a dazzling attempt to defy any semblance of intelligence one might assign me, I ran a 400 meter race on a whim which, as you may have guessed, ended badly. I made the injury worse and took another week off. I got some inserts that have helped and I have been running very sparingly over the last two weeks. I have discontinued a Jake Logan staple of flip-flops and have taken to wearing shoes with the said inserts all hours of the day – I even put them in my dress shoes.
Running on it doesn’t agitate my foot, but it’s also just not getting better. I went to a podiatrist, who has run four marathons himself and he told me I should just run through it, so run through it I shall.
I have been taking it easy. To give you a point of reference, I had run more than 25 miles a week the entire month before the Boilermaker. Over the last four weeks, however, I haven’t even run 25 miles combined.
I didn’t realize this until just recently, but the drop-off in activity has had a dramatic effect on me. While I haven’t gained a lot of weight, the weight has already shifted. For some reason, my already suspect sleeping habits have once again deteriorated, putting me at less than five hours a night and, most upsetting, has wreaked havoc on my moods.
I am to start my 16-week marathon training plan Tuesday, August 19 which includes a13 miler that Saturday. I have every intention of diving in to this program and we’ll see what happens.
Some of the highlights of the last couple of weeks; I ran 4 miles in Atlanta with my sister-in-law. I ran 4 miles through campus at the University of Virginia and 7.5 through a very hilly BJ Park in Richmond. Additionally, I purchased a road bike to try and do some cross training and maybe get started with Triathlons. We shall see.
The bottom line is, the sun is always brighter elsewhere and despite all the whining running rampant through the rest of this update, all will be well. This will get better or it won’t and I’ll further adjust my expectations. What I know is, I will get through this marathon; I’ll bounce back from it all as I refuse for this last year to be a sunset soon forgotten. In the meantime, I’ll keep you updated.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Off to The Races
A few people have been asking, so here is a quick synopsis of the results for my last three races.
Run for the Pies:
5K (3.11 miles) on Saturday, June 14 – my 30th birthday. We came, we saw, we ate some pie. Oscar and I both beat our personal records (PRs), 19:41 for me (6:20 pace per mile) and he ran an 18:06 (5:49 ppm). Oscar finished 3rd in our age group and I finished 11th, so we both medaled AND were awarded pies. There were 1,167 runners and I finished 85th. Very cool race with lots of people. There was a huge afterparty at the Jacksonville Landing. I will definitely do this race again.
As a side note, my friends, Oscar and Erin, went WAY out of their way to make this a very special birthday for me. They took very good care of me and truly made it a great weekend.
Melon Run:
3 mile race on Friday, July 4. This was a pretty good race for me on a challenging course. I ran an 18:45, which is a 6:15 ppm and finished 26th out of 460 but was 4th in my age-group. My friend Dan and I ran the race together and he really helped push me through the tough parts. Afterwards, a bunch of the guys with whom I run got together and had a cook-out to celebrate the 4th. Overall, a really great day.
The Boilermaker:
15K (9.33 miles) on Sunday, July 13. I don’t even know where to start with this event. This was a giant race with about 12,000 registered, however, fewer than 10,000 finished, as I saw people pulling off the course with regularity. I placed 897 overall but, there was an error in the timing chips they used, so I’ll never know what my official times was for sure. My gun time was 1:08:20, but watch said I finished in 1:07:17 but the GPS on my watch said I went 9.42 miles and ran at a 7:09 ppm. The bottom line: No one knows.
This course was designed by Satan himself, with a steady incline for the first four miles. There was a point on the third mile where I looked up and could not see where the hill crested, just a stream of runners climbing the rays of sun. The climb was so tough, I closed my eyes (more than once) and kept chanting in my head ‘just keep your form.’ The last full mile was uphill and took everything I could muster just to reach the top of the hill. The last .33 was downhill, so everyone looked like great, finishing like a champion.
The most disappointing part of the race came at the 3-mile mark when I injured my foot. It seems I have plantar fasciitis, which feels kind of like a tear on the back of my arch/front of my heel. I don’t think this had too much of an impact on my race time, but I have been out of commission since then. I’m getting nervous and frustrated because my marathon training program starts very soon and the plan I am using has me running a 13 mile run the first week. As you all know, I have high-hopes for this marathon, so wish me well in healing up quickly.
Again, thank you to all of you who have contributed thus far – we’re up to $1,700! That’s really incredible, but we still have quite a way to go with 11 miles that need to be sponsored. Again, this money is going the American Heart Association to help fight heart disease and stroke, something that is near and dear to us all. Click on this link to make a donation and monitor my progress: Jake's Heart Walk Website
Saturday, June 7, 2008
10 Questions with Jake Logan
I borrowed this concept from my friend, Oscar, who recently sent out an e-mail with a similar format. It seems my verbal incontinence translates to the written word, so if you want a short synopsis of all of this noise, scroll to the bottom of this posting that will sum it all up in 25 words or less.
Also, I am HALF WAY to my goal of getting miles for my run sponsored. Again, if you have the means or desire, grab one of the remaining miles. Jake's Marathon Challenge. Now, on to the questions:
Q1: I understand you’re not doing the NYC Marathon. Are you still doing a marathon and why not New York?
A1: Yes, I am still doing a marathon and it’s true, I am not doing the NYC Marathon. I blame Oprah for getting your hopes up. You see, when I began this journey, I decided my first marathon was going to be the biggest and most visible of marathons. It fit with my timeline, I have family and friends in the City, there would be lots of fan support. If you’re going to do a marathon, this is the one to do. The one caveat to all of this is that, even though there are about 40,000 participants, something like eight times that number actually tries to register, so they have to have a lottery. Taking Oprah’s advice and following the ideas of The Secret, (if you know me, you understand this is tongue in cheek) everything I said and did were as if I had already made in to the marathon. As my dear cousin Jenny would say, I was placing an order. What I learned is the following: Oprah is a sham, The Secret doesn’t work and I will exact my revenge on them both. My marathon partner and my sister-in-law also missed out but congratulations and good luck to my friend and supporter Kellie Cofer for making it in – I’ll be thinking of you…you shameless harlot.
Q2: So, which marathon are you doing and what is this business about having a partner?
A2: Marathon partner, wise guy. I’ve become friends with one of the guys who I was running into at the races. His name is Patrick but I call him Oscar. We do our track workouts together and sometimes other runs. I asked him to think about joining me and after careful consideration and running a full background check on me, he agreed. He’s much faster than I am, but this is a pretty good partnership. As far as what marathon we’re running, he and I sat down Thursday night and studied our options. We considered Charlotte, Miami, Austin and many more. I lobbied kind of hard for the Flying Monkey Marathon near Nashville (It’s through a giant state park and there are actually Flying Monkeys that may glide in and try to tackle you. How freaking great would it be to have a story like that – and as you well know, I will make GREAT sacrifices in order to have a story like that tucked away). In the end we found our race – once we looked at all the vitals, we both just FELT like it was what we needed to do. So, about six months from now, we’ll have finished the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis, TN. We wanted a big race (3,000 in the marathon, 8,000 in the half), that was well organized and on a relatively fast course so we could get good times, had good weather probability, we wanted to do it this calendar year and space it in between some other really big races we wanted to do. It was the perfect fit. We slept on it and both registered the next day. Hooray for us!
Q3: Why are your answers so damn long-winded?
A3: Have you met me?
Q4: You mentioned you wanted to get good times. What is your goal for this race?
A4: The goal I’m sharing is to go under 3:30, which would be 8 minutes or less per mile. I have a different time I am kicking around, but that’s no one’s business. I’ve heard too many stories from runners I respect who thought they would race the whole thing and hit the proverbial wall, so I am comfortable saying I want to go under 3:30. Oscar is going to try and go under 3 hours, which is seriously hauling butt.
Q5: So, when do you start training and what system are you using?
A5: In truth, my training has already begun. Today was a long, easy day. I did nine miles and experimented with step-down workout. I began kind of slow, with about an 8:40 mile, then cut 10 to 15 seconds off per mile. The last two miles of this workout were a 7:30 and a 7:15. I really enjoyed this workout. It’s supposed to teach my body to finish strong. I will begin a specific marathon program in August that’s from the Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training, or FIRST. There are two different training programs from FIRST, but I haven’t decided on which one to do for sure. There are three basic workouts, and interval workout on the track, a tempo or threshold run and a long run. I’ll be mixing active recovery days in as well. That’s just so very much more than you want to know.
Q6: You mentioned something about Memphis falling between some other races. Anything cool?
A6: Actually, yeah. There are some very cool races I am planning on doing. They’re all tentative at this point depending on what happens in my world, but check this out:
June 14 – Run for the Pies, 5K, Jacksonville. If you manage to finish under 20 minutes, they actually give you a pie. That’s a stretch for me, but stranger things have happened.
July 4 – Melon Run, 3mi., Gainesville. This is one of Gainesville’s oldest races. The men and women run the same course, but in different directions AND the top three or so finishers in the age group win a watermelon.
July 13 – The Boilermaker 15K, Utica, NY. This is one of the nation’s largest 15K races – and has been called the best, in part because it finishes at a brewery and has a pretty great after-party, but also because it’s a challenging course that is literally lined with cheering spectators.
Aug. 8 & 9 – Tour de Pain, Jacksonville. This is actually three races in less than 24 hours. It starts with a 4 mile beach run at twilight on the 8th. On the 9th, they have a morning 5K and an afternoon 1 mile race. Ouch!
Sept. 27 – Expedition Everest Challenge, Animal Kingdom, Disney World. This race starts with an obstacle course, has a 5K, then a scavenger hunt all in Animal Kingdom in Disney World. Word on the street is that the after party will be pretty clutch.
Nov. 14 & 15 – Ragnar Relay, Clearwater to Daytona Beach. Many of you are familiar with the Hood to Coast relay, well; this is the Florida version of that race. Me and 11 of my friends are going to run from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean (191 miles) in less than 24 hours. This means we’ll have to do about 16 miles each in several legs, running under 7:30 seconds per mile. How great is that!
Dec. 6 – St. Jude Marathon, Memphis TN. 26.2 miles through the downtown area.
Q7: Wow.
A7: I know, right!
Q8: What was eight for?
A8: Eight? Eight? I forget what eight was for.
Q9: Wait a minute, isn’t the Run for the Pies on your 30th birthday? Isn’t there a better way to spend this auspicious occasion?
A9: Indeed, it is on my birthday and yes, I can think of a few other ways I would like to spend this day. If I had my long since estranged druthers, I would be sitting in the bleachers in Wrigley Field, having a giant, giant beer and slowly finding myself in the cups.
Q10: Are you freaking out about turning 30?
A10: No, this will be the best decade of my life. I believe my life will come together this decade and be better than I could have imagined just a year ago. (An alternate answer would be: Yes, I’m freaking out! I want to strap some fruit-striped gum to my hands and go play in traffic until I find a tan flavoured Toyota Camry that can just end it all…but that’s more depressing than I like for this blog to be, so…let’s stick with the first answer.
Short Synopsis:
I didn’t get into the NYC Marathon and am running the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis instead. Please donate to my Marathon Challenge.
Also, I am HALF WAY to my goal of getting miles for my run sponsored. Again, if you have the means or desire, grab one of the remaining miles. Jake's Marathon Challenge. Now, on to the questions:
Q1: I understand you’re not doing the NYC Marathon. Are you still doing a marathon and why not New York?
A1: Yes, I am still doing a marathon and it’s true, I am not doing the NYC Marathon. I blame Oprah for getting your hopes up. You see, when I began this journey, I decided my first marathon was going to be the biggest and most visible of marathons. It fit with my timeline, I have family and friends in the City, there would be lots of fan support. If you’re going to do a marathon, this is the one to do. The one caveat to all of this is that, even though there are about 40,000 participants, something like eight times that number actually tries to register, so they have to have a lottery. Taking Oprah’s advice and following the ideas of The Secret, (if you know me, you understand this is tongue in cheek) everything I said and did were as if I had already made in to the marathon. As my dear cousin Jenny would say, I was placing an order. What I learned is the following: Oprah is a sham, The Secret doesn’t work and I will exact my revenge on them both. My marathon partner and my sister-in-law also missed out but congratulations and good luck to my friend and supporter Kellie Cofer for making it in – I’ll be thinking of you…you shameless harlot.
Q2: So, which marathon are you doing and what is this business about having a partner?
A2: Marathon partner, wise guy. I’ve become friends with one of the guys who I was running into at the races. His name is Patrick but I call him Oscar. We do our track workouts together and sometimes other runs. I asked him to think about joining me and after careful consideration and running a full background check on me, he agreed. He’s much faster than I am, but this is a pretty good partnership. As far as what marathon we’re running, he and I sat down Thursday night and studied our options. We considered Charlotte, Miami, Austin and many more. I lobbied kind of hard for the Flying Monkey Marathon near Nashville (It’s through a giant state park and there are actually Flying Monkeys that may glide in and try to tackle you. How freaking great would it be to have a story like that – and as you well know, I will make GREAT sacrifices in order to have a story like that tucked away). In the end we found our race – once we looked at all the vitals, we both just FELT like it was what we needed to do. So, about six months from now, we’ll have finished the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis, TN. We wanted a big race (3,000 in the marathon, 8,000 in the half), that was well organized and on a relatively fast course so we could get good times, had good weather probability, we wanted to do it this calendar year and space it in between some other really big races we wanted to do. It was the perfect fit. We slept on it and both registered the next day. Hooray for us!
Q3: Why are your answers so damn long-winded?
A3: Have you met me?
Q4: You mentioned you wanted to get good times. What is your goal for this race?
A4: The goal I’m sharing is to go under 3:30, which would be 8 minutes or less per mile. I have a different time I am kicking around, but that’s no one’s business. I’ve heard too many stories from runners I respect who thought they would race the whole thing and hit the proverbial wall, so I am comfortable saying I want to go under 3:30. Oscar is going to try and go under 3 hours, which is seriously hauling butt.
Q5: So, when do you start training and what system are you using?
A5: In truth, my training has already begun. Today was a long, easy day. I did nine miles and experimented with step-down workout. I began kind of slow, with about an 8:40 mile, then cut 10 to 15 seconds off per mile. The last two miles of this workout were a 7:30 and a 7:15. I really enjoyed this workout. It’s supposed to teach my body to finish strong. I will begin a specific marathon program in August that’s from the Furman Institute of Running and Scientific Training, or FIRST. There are two different training programs from FIRST, but I haven’t decided on which one to do for sure. There are three basic workouts, and interval workout on the track, a tempo or threshold run and a long run. I’ll be mixing active recovery days in as well. That’s just so very much more than you want to know.
Q6: You mentioned something about Memphis falling between some other races. Anything cool?
A6: Actually, yeah. There are some very cool races I am planning on doing. They’re all tentative at this point depending on what happens in my world, but check this out:
June 14 – Run for the Pies, 5K, Jacksonville. If you manage to finish under 20 minutes, they actually give you a pie. That’s a stretch for me, but stranger things have happened.
July 4 – Melon Run, 3mi., Gainesville. This is one of Gainesville’s oldest races. The men and women run the same course, but in different directions AND the top three or so finishers in the age group win a watermelon.
July 13 – The Boilermaker 15K, Utica, NY. This is one of the nation’s largest 15K races – and has been called the best, in part because it finishes at a brewery and has a pretty great after-party, but also because it’s a challenging course that is literally lined with cheering spectators.
Aug. 8 & 9 – Tour de Pain, Jacksonville. This is actually three races in less than 24 hours. It starts with a 4 mile beach run at twilight on the 8th. On the 9th, they have a morning 5K and an afternoon 1 mile race. Ouch!
Sept. 27 – Expedition Everest Challenge, Animal Kingdom, Disney World. This race starts with an obstacle course, has a 5K, then a scavenger hunt all in Animal Kingdom in Disney World. Word on the street is that the after party will be pretty clutch.
Nov. 14 & 15 – Ragnar Relay, Clearwater to Daytona Beach. Many of you are familiar with the Hood to Coast relay, well; this is the Florida version of that race. Me and 11 of my friends are going to run from the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean (191 miles) in less than 24 hours. This means we’ll have to do about 16 miles each in several legs, running under 7:30 seconds per mile. How great is that!
Dec. 6 – St. Jude Marathon, Memphis TN. 26.2 miles through the downtown area.
Q7: Wow.
A7: I know, right!
Q8: What was eight for?
A8: Eight? Eight? I forget what eight was for.
Q9: Wait a minute, isn’t the Run for the Pies on your 30th birthday? Isn’t there a better way to spend this auspicious occasion?
A9: Indeed, it is on my birthday and yes, I can think of a few other ways I would like to spend this day. If I had my long since estranged druthers, I would be sitting in the bleachers in Wrigley Field, having a giant, giant beer and slowly finding myself in the cups.
Q10: Are you freaking out about turning 30?
A10: No, this will be the best decade of my life. I believe my life will come together this decade and be better than I could have imagined just a year ago. (An alternate answer would be: Yes, I’m freaking out! I want to strap some fruit-striped gum to my hands and go play in traffic until I find a tan flavoured Toyota Camry that can just end it all…but that’s more depressing than I like for this blog to be, so…let’s stick with the first answer.
Short Synopsis:
I didn’t get into the NYC Marathon and am running the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis instead. Please donate to my Marathon Challenge.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
1993
When I think back to high school, I fancy that I was a runner. So, I found my high school records and looked up my times. The shocking reality (to me, at least) is that during my sophomore year, I was a runner, indeed. The rest of the time, I guess I just ran some? It was a sad realization that I took my running seriously for only one year.
After perusing the Venice High School Cross Country record books from 1993, I remember much more clearly now. All Boys’ Cross Country races were three miles in that day and in the first race of the year, the grueling Venice Invitational, I bonked (hit the wall), finishing with a 20:35 and sixth on the team. I was embarrassed and relegated to JV for one race and that’s when I began to take the season seriously. Over the course of the next eight weeks, I cut a little more than three minutes off my time, to finish with 17:33, a 17:28, then in my last Cross Country race ever, I set a personal record (PR) of 17:24, or 3 miles at a 5:48 per mile pace.
After my sophomore year, I unceremoniously quit. Friends, girlfriends and my job were all more important to me at the time. Our high school had a fairly good reputation for distance runners, including the state Cross Country record holder (14:05 – crackhead time, if you ask me). I was less than one minute shy of making the all-time VHS Cross Country team and I had two more years of school and puberty in which I could accomplish this feat. Alas, likening myself to Cher, if I could turn back time…
For months now, I’ve been running a comparatively pedestrian 5K at 21:42 (6:59 per mile pace). I have, however, adjusted my standards and expectations for the old-man I have become, complete with a smattering of grey hairs. Today is exactly one month away from my 30th birthday and there is nothing to do here but look forward and set expectations based on the present. My first goal in this brave new world of mine is to see if I can break 21 minutes on a 5K and I’ll put that to the test this Saturday in Tallahassee. There’s a trail run at Wakulla Springs State Park, which may be a slow course but I’m ready for the challenge. Wish me well.
Again, thank you to all who have contributed to my Marathon Challenge or cheered me on thus far. It’s thrilling in that we’ve raised nearly $1,100 for such a great cause – it’s a little daunting, however, $1,100 is less than half way the $2,620 goal. If you can sponsor a mile, great – please click on the Marathon Challenge Website and reserve your mile. Certainly, every bit will help, so donate what you can if you can. Again, thank you so much for all the support and encouragement so far.
After perusing the Venice High School Cross Country record books from 1993, I remember much more clearly now. All Boys’ Cross Country races were three miles in that day and in the first race of the year, the grueling Venice Invitational, I bonked (hit the wall), finishing with a 20:35 and sixth on the team. I was embarrassed and relegated to JV for one race and that’s when I began to take the season seriously. Over the course of the next eight weeks, I cut a little more than three minutes off my time, to finish with 17:33, a 17:28, then in my last Cross Country race ever, I set a personal record (PR) of 17:24, or 3 miles at a 5:48 per mile pace.
After my sophomore year, I unceremoniously quit. Friends, girlfriends and my job were all more important to me at the time. Our high school had a fairly good reputation for distance runners, including the state Cross Country record holder (14:05 – crackhead time, if you ask me). I was less than one minute shy of making the all-time VHS Cross Country team and I had two more years of school and puberty in which I could accomplish this feat. Alas, likening myself to Cher, if I could turn back time…
For months now, I’ve been running a comparatively pedestrian 5K at 21:42 (6:59 per mile pace). I have, however, adjusted my standards and expectations for the old-man I have become, complete with a smattering of grey hairs. Today is exactly one month away from my 30th birthday and there is nothing to do here but look forward and set expectations based on the present. My first goal in this brave new world of mine is to see if I can break 21 minutes on a 5K and I’ll put that to the test this Saturday in Tallahassee. There’s a trail run at Wakulla Springs State Park, which may be a slow course but I’m ready for the challenge. Wish me well.
Again, thank you to all who have contributed to my Marathon Challenge or cheered me on thus far. It’s thrilling in that we’ve raised nearly $1,100 for such a great cause – it’s a little daunting, however, $1,100 is less than half way the $2,620 goal. If you can sponsor a mile, great – please click on the Marathon Challenge Website and reserve your mile. Certainly, every bit will help, so donate what you can if you can. Again, thank you so much for all the support and encouragement so far.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
The Challenge
Once again, I am raising money for the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, but this year is going to be a little bit different: Instead of doing our non-competitive 5K, I’ve decided to run The New York City Marathon for the cause. Heart Disease and Stroke are aggressive killers, so I have set an aggressive personal goal in running 26.2 miles, as I’ve never run more than 14 miles. It bears to reason that I’m also setting an aggressive fundraising goal. I want to raise $100 a mile, so for 26.2 miles, that’s $2,620.
I’m raising this money to fight our nation’s No.1 killer and I’m asking for your help. I am looking for 26 sponsors at $100 a piece. If you sponsor me, I will run the mile you sponsor for you. So, for the race, I will write your name on my arm and as I pass into your mile, I will be thinking of you or the loved one you choose. That’s right – I’ll have you in my thoughts for the entire (God willing) 7 to 8 minutes. As a side note, if I get sick on your mile, you have to pay double.
I know $100 is a lot of money, so if that amount is just outside your budget, maybe you can find someone who will split this amount with you and together you can sponsor a mile. If you can’t sponsor a mile, any amount will do. Also, if you want to sponsor more than one mile, I’d be thrilled.
I have committed to this intense training process because of how strongly I feel for the live-saving work the American Heart Association is doing. I’ve set my sights on the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 3 and although the race is just under 200 days from now, my training has already begun.
Please click on this link: Jake's Website to make an online donation today to be a part of the American Heart Association’s efforts to raise $1 million dollars in one day. Save my link on your favorites to monitor my progress toward the goal of $2,620. If you are uncomfortable making an online donation, please send a check made out to the American Heart Association to my home address at:
Jake Logan
4972 NW 45th Rd. #104
Gainesville, FL 32606
I plan on sending several e-mails out detailing the trials and tribulations of the training process, which promise to be entertaining enough in their own right to warrant a $100 donation. Also, there is some talk of a website with pictures and the like, so we’ll see.
Again, thank you so much for your support. If you donate, shoot me an e-mail back saying what mile you want and why so I can reserve your space right away.
I’m raising this money to fight our nation’s No.1 killer and I’m asking for your help. I am looking for 26 sponsors at $100 a piece. If you sponsor me, I will run the mile you sponsor for you. So, for the race, I will write your name on my arm and as I pass into your mile, I will be thinking of you or the loved one you choose. That’s right – I’ll have you in my thoughts for the entire (God willing) 7 to 8 minutes. As a side note, if I get sick on your mile, you have to pay double.
I know $100 is a lot of money, so if that amount is just outside your budget, maybe you can find someone who will split this amount with you and together you can sponsor a mile. If you can’t sponsor a mile, any amount will do. Also, if you want to sponsor more than one mile, I’d be thrilled.
I have committed to this intense training process because of how strongly I feel for the live-saving work the American Heart Association is doing. I’ve set my sights on the New York City Marathon on Sunday, November 3 and although the race is just under 200 days from now, my training has already begun.
Please click on this link: Jake's Website to make an online donation today to be a part of the American Heart Association’s efforts to raise $1 million dollars in one day. Save my link on your favorites to monitor my progress toward the goal of $2,620. If you are uncomfortable making an online donation, please send a check made out to the American Heart Association to my home address at:
Jake Logan
4972 NW 45th Rd. #104
Gainesville, FL 32606
I plan on sending several e-mails out detailing the trials and tribulations of the training process, which promise to be entertaining enough in their own right to warrant a $100 donation. Also, there is some talk of a website with pictures and the like, so we’ll see.
Again, thank you so much for your support. If you donate, shoot me an e-mail back saying what mile you want and why so I can reserve your space right away.
Off And Running
It’s been less than a week since I launched the Marathon fundraising campaign and we’ve already raised $620! There’s still another $2,000 to go, but this is an encouraging start.
Thank you to the following people for their generous donations: Cindy Coto, Dawn Hall, Nate & Paula Wolf (mile 1), George Logan, Karen Kayir (mile 7) and Max Logan (out of his allowance, Max has the final .2). I donated personally and think I’ll take the 5th mile. Additionally, I have verbal commitments for miles 9 and 6.
When I get the opportunity to add to this, I will talk a little more about my history as a runner and what got me going again, but I wanted to send a quick thank you to those who got this campaign rolling and to encourage others to join them and reserve a mile of their own. Click on this link: Jake's Website to donate to my website and monitor my progress.
Thank you to the following people for their generous donations: Cindy Coto, Dawn Hall, Nate & Paula Wolf (mile 1), George Logan, Karen Kayir (mile 7) and Max Logan (out of his allowance, Max has the final .2). I donated personally and think I’ll take the 5th mile. Additionally, I have verbal commitments for miles 9 and 6.
When I get the opportunity to add to this, I will talk a little more about my history as a runner and what got me going again, but I wanted to send a quick thank you to those who got this campaign rolling and to encourage others to join them and reserve a mile of their own. Click on this link: Jake's Website to donate to my website and monitor my progress.
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