Monday, February 28, 2011

Hard Works Pays Off

So this last weekend was the Tokyo marathon. A little known Japanese runner was 3rd in 2:08:37. At first look at his pr's at 5k and 10k one would not think this could happen. What is even better is that he works full time and is not part of the normal professional running scene. For those not in the know over in Japan they are distance running crazy. The pro runners rare on corporate sponsored teams. This guy broke that mold and went it alone. Very cool story!! Here are a few links about the guy and such check them out.

Lets Run .com message board talk

This leads me to a wrap up of my weekend of running. Yesterday I got in a super long run on the Minnetonka LRT trail with Sonya, Paul and Helen. I was so happy that we picked there to run as the light snow covered crushed limestone path was super for a 25 mile run. We all started together from Lunds parking lot and headed west. It is never lost on me how luck I am to have my great wife and friends to train with. They push me and keep the runs light with great conversation. I am very lucky I know.

Back to the run; we knew Helen was good for like 12-14 miles so we did a little 6 mile out and back then went thru Hopkins and then west toward Eden Prairie. After Helen turned around Sonya and Paul and I kept going a few more miles before we turned to get Sonya back at 20 miles. The whole run I kept thinking to myself how good I was feeling and how happy I was with how training has been going overall as of late. After Paul stopped at 22 miles I hammered through the last 3 miles. It was then that I had that feeling of man I need to race soon. It was not that I think I have my best race in me ready to pop, but more of I want to test myself and see where I am at so I can keep plotting my course towards the Black Hills 100 mile in late June. I think next weekend I will test myself a bit by doing a 30 miler and look to run hard the last 10 miles. This should tell me allot about my fitness. Of course I need to keep the track work up. Tomorrow will be 10 weeks straight baby!

So now to tie both my weekend running story together with that of the cool Japanese runner. I think in running we all get caught up in a "certain" way of doing things. Sometimes if not always we need to do what "we" need to do, and in doing so believe in what we are doing. Like for me I know there are lots of people running more miles than me. I have stopped freaking out about how many miles and more about what kind of miles I am doing. I know my volume will go up once spring is hear and running is much easier. It is just what "I" need to do. Never give up, Just run!!

*Updated 3/1 Video of the last 6.5k of his run. A must watch from 5mins on

5 comments:

SteveQ said...

Great video! The guy was a trainwreck from the waist up: arms dangling, grimacing, etc. and he stupidly swung wide on a turn - I was sure Njui, who looked smoothe and relaxed, would take off.

Shows what I know.
.........
I'm trying not to panic about not running at all this past weekend, cutting my week's mileage to only 30 miles. I had to keep saying "It's only February."

SteveQ said...

Just remembered: in 1979, after his 2:08:34 marathon record had stood for 10 years, Derek Clayton was asked if his record would ever be broken. He said of course it would be broken, but never by someone who worked 40 hours per week like he did. He's still right - but only by 3 seconds!

Kurt said...

Yea Steve make sure you do what you need to when it comes to miles. I would agree that killing way to many miles real early can be a problem sometimes for some people that is for sure.

As for Derek Clayton he was and will forever be a beast of a runner. Pure guts!!!

Chad said...

That's called "going to the well."

After watching that video one thing is for sure, I've never pushed myself like that.

Mark from Dallas said...

Cool stuff, keep up the good work. I'm following and supporting.