Five questions
Posted on 13. Jun, 2008 by Brad in Training
1. How would you describe your running 10 years ago?
More regular, much faster, and more painful. I used to train 6x/week at a 1/7th-mile indoor track at The University of Texas at Austin. I’d regularly run half-marathons on the track holding a ~7:45/mile pace. I can remember how painful it was mile after mile to keep holding this pace. These days, I enjoy taking it much slower, taking pictures along the way, and just getting out there to cross the finish line.
2. What is your best and worst run/race experience?
My best run was probably a 20K road race where I held a 7:20/mile pace but felt really good at the end. It was a cool, rainy morning, which suits me just fine. I tend to not like warm race days and this was just great all around. My worst run was my first marathon. I had been aiming to run a 3:30 and was on pace through 18 miles. Leading up to the race, I’d overtrained (something about 6x/wk and 13 miles at a time) and I knew my knee was iffy going into race day. But around the 18 mile mark, my right knee was totally shot and it was incredibly painful to even walk. I had to gimp along for a couple miles and eventually just decided to jog very slowly. But by mile 22, I was cramping in my calves and thighs so much I had to stop and let the cramps subside. Though I did cross the finish line, I wasn’t happy with my 4:15 finish time and it was a complete mental let down. I did go back the next year and busted the 4-hour mark :-)
3. Why do you run?
Initially it was a way to spend a significant amount of time outside and away from my job as a software programmer. These days, it’s more a way to relax, enjoy the outdoors, see my trail friends at races, and keep challenging myself on distance. I also enjoy traveling to new places in coordination with the races I enter.
4. What is the best or worst piece of advice you’ve been given about running?
The best advice as probably to try salt tabs. For many years I could never get past 18 miles without severe cramping. The Grasslands marathon in March of 2006 was really the first time I didn’t have to deal with cramps. “Eat something, you’ll feel better” has also been sage advice that’s turned many races around for me.
5. Tell us something surprising about yourself that not many people would know.
In high school, I was part of a percussion ensemble which received the highest performance rating at the state level. The surprising part was that I was playing the glockenspiel. True story.
