Episode 51: The Quiet Storm

Editor's Note: The title "Quiet Storm" refers to Jeff's own running blog.  Check it out at: p3rr3lla.blogspot.com

Episode 50: Trailer

Interviews and a longer recap of the journey thus far is on its way. Attempt #3 coming this weekend.

Episode 46: Wilber-Duck Mile

Here's the official Sub-15 version of the Wilber-Duck mile from last Friday. We posted previously on the race here and here.

Today (Sunday), Steve graduated med school, earning his Ph.D. in the process.  He'll be at Upstate next year for his residency in pediatrics, so there's at least a 2% chance that the blog will still be going next year at this time.

Also, Sam gave the Lilac 10k a whirl despite racing Friday, 90 degree temperatures, and the fact that the race was 10k.  It predictably did not go that well (34-something), but it's OK because the STC won some cold cash and Sam got some much needed aerobic work in the process.

Cherishing the journey

Sam and I usually stick to a common theme with our blog posts: the quest for a sub-15:00 5k.  But today, as I graduate from medical school, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on a different sort of quest: the quest for an MD/PhD.

Like the journey toward the sub-15:00 barrier, the journey through medical school has been filled with trials and tribulations.  Luckily most of them have not been chronicled on video (thanks HIPAA).

Attaining an MD/PhD has been a quest of incremental gains.  It has been a path traveled page-by-page through an endless volume of knowledge.  Similarly, the path towards the elusive 15:00 barrier is traveled lap by lap through 400 meter repeats.  Both goals require tremendous time and effort as collateral for dreams deferred. It would not be a stretch to say that training for one dream has prepared Sam and I for the other.

Today as I stood in the Crouse Hinds Theater preparing for commencement a classmate asked me whether I was more proud of my forthcoming MD, or PhD.  It was a difficult question.  Both degrees are a humbling mark of accomplishment and expertise, but ultimately what makes me proud about them is the enormous amount of sacrifice and hard work that they required.  And because the path to attaining them has not been separate, but rather an intertwined saga of study-eat-sleep-repeat, I cannot choose which I am most proud of.  Instead I will simply say that I value them both because I have cherished the journey.

Goals are a funny thing.  They can often consume our time, energy, and attention.  In return they reward us with a fleeting moment of satisfaction and accomplishment.  But I believe we can reap just as much as we sow from life's great endeavors.  The secret is to cherish the journey.

 My family, without whom no journey would be possible.

Episode 45: Swarthmore (This better not be our) Last Chance Meet

Episode 44: Last Workout?

Episode 37: Feeling the Burn

Episode 34: Mudders and Grunters

Tipperary Hill 4mi Shamrock Run

I ran 20:58 for 4miles today and placed 5th out of 3550 runners at the Tipperary Hill Shamrock Run. The Nike-sponsored Stotan Racing Team was in attendance and provided a few guys to chase after. The winner, however, was a member of the Albany Running Exchange. He outlasted Andrew Foxenberg (who has been running like a monster lately, but has yet to submit a workout to this blog) for the victory in 20:07.


At first glance these times might not seem all that impressive for 4miles, but consider that this race climbs for almost the entire 3rd mile and that only two runners have ever broken 21:00 on the course. My tentative goal today was to break 21 minutes. This probably ended up hurting my final time as the splits show I "settled" a bit in the last mile. Mile splits: 4:51 (downhill), 10:00 (5:09; rolling), 15:34 (5:34; UPhill), and 20:58 (5:24; rolling). During that last mile I found myself in a bit of no-man's-land between Chris Raulli and Fred Joslyn. But that's the sort of thing you have to be prepared to run through in a road race.
I'm excited for this week's workout which was submitted by the aforementioned Chris Raulli (a Stotan member). Next race will be Mudders and Grunters on 3/25.
Here's today's results.

Episode 29: Runnin' Against The Wind

Episode 28: Who let the dogs out?

Episode 25: Bringing Tempos Back

Mileage and Workouts

A few people have expressed interest in seeing a graph of our recent mileage with our heads placed in the graph's key so that you can tell which color corresponds to which one of us. Well, for those of you with this specific request, I have obliged. I am missing a few data points for Steve, but rest assured he did not zero out for those weeks. He probably ran eleventy.

Also, we're down to only 20 or so options for workouts. That is insufficient. Please keep them coming or else.

Episode 19: Attack of the Falcon

Episode 18: This guy ran 15:02!?

Splits From Yesterday's Workout

Steve's doing his OB-GYN rotation but promised to get the workout video up by Friday. I'm guessing we'll do a double episode this week, or rather a two-in-one.

The workout at OCC yesterday went well. Splits and rest were as follows:

4:48 mile, 400 jog,
2:17 800, 400 jog,
2:18 800, 400 jog,
65 400, 200 jog,
64 400, 200 jog,
64 400, 200 jog,
61 400

You'll note, based on your knowledge of my extreme speed, that we neglected instructions to go "all out" on the last 400. Truth be told, 61 felt fast but not nearly maximal effort, which is a good thing if not a bit surprising. We really haven't done any true speed work whatsoever.

On the mileage front, things are progressing well for Boston. Last week was 80; this week should be slightly higher. Tomorrow is a progression run and some economy work in the afternoon. I'll be racing on Sunday at the Chilly Chili 5k, looking for the win and a time in the neighborhood of 16-low.

Giddyup.

Episode 17: You Down with OCC?

First OCC Workout

Repeat quarters in lane 5. 45 seconds between reps, lap jog between sets. Video will be up tonight.

Splits:

74.9, 73.3, 73.2, 72.5 ///
72.9, 72.2, 72.7, 71.7 ///
71.9, 71.2, 71.9, 70.2 ///
70.6, 70.2, 69.6, 69.8

Episode 16: The Dog Days are Over

Switcheroo

Last night we did the 3 x 2 mile workout rather than the 400's. My computer has been marooned at work as I've been running back and forth recently, but I'll try to get the video together and up tomorrow morning if I can get in early.

The workout went very well, I think. Splits were 10:24, 10:24, and 11:09 if memory serves. We did an out and back course with a tail wind / head wind that probably subtracted / added 10 seconds per mile.

Tomorrow evening, we'll be on the new OCC track. Pinky swear.

6:44 pm update: Disregard sentence above regarding the video. I stayed late just for you.