Hansons Marathon Method - Review in Progress - Day 3 of 123

That's really the only thing you need to know about today's 6 miles easy run. It was hot. I don't mean just hot for May 11th, I mean hot.

They're still saying it's going to rain tomorrow. Clear out right now at 10:00pm...maybe later.

It would be fine by me. As you can see by the splits below, I kept within my range of 8:50 to 9:50 easy pace, but I faded and faded and faded as the heat took it's toll on me. I was really struggling to just keep running at the end there. I was dying on the vine.



Slight change tomorrow as we hit our first Sunday long run...although it really isn't very long. I'm not complaining - the Hansons Advanced Schedule ramps up pretty fast, so I'm just trying to enjoy these relatively short runs while I can.

Back tomorrow...rain or shine.


Go buy the book:

Hansons Marathon Method - Review in Progress - Day 2 of 123

Sheesh, May 10th and we've had about two straight weeks of temperatures between 70 and 80. Pretty amazing. I'm not complaining about the sun and heat, but my allergies have been awful. The first two miles of my run today, I could actually feel my throat shrinking up. Yikes. Supposed to have a rainy day on Sunday. I'll take it just to wash away some pollen. Then the sun can come back on Monday.

So another 6 miles easy today. You're going to hear that quite a bit these first couple weeks as the Hanson's ease into the marathon training plan.

Again, I was supposed to keep it 1:00-2:00 minutes slower than my goal race pace, or in other words, about 8:50-9:50. Here are my splits:



So mile two was a little fast, but everything else was right in the ballpark. The second mile of my route today had a few stoplights, so even with the Garmin, I was having a hard time telling exactly how fast I was going (yes, I have the cheap Garmin).

Looks like another six tomorrow. See you then.


Go buy the book:

Northwest Running and Triathlon Calendar - June 2013

Well, I'd say something about how we're finally listing a bunch of races that will be in the heat on June, but...we've been hitting 70 and 80 degrees regularly throughout May so far! If you've been running lately, you already have been running in the heat.

Good luck to everyone in the MacDonald Forest 50k tomorrow. It's supposed to cloud up a bit, but it's still supposed to hit the low 80's! Take lots of fluids!

And good luck out there.

Let's race!

-Green Text for Trail Runs
-Red Text for Marathons and Half Marathons
-Blue Text for Triathlons and Duathlons
-Orange Text for everything else, the normal 5k, 10k, etc

RACES FOR WEEK OF JUNE 3rd TO JUNE 9th

June 8th / SCOTT Cougar Mountain Trail Run 8m / Newcastle, WA

June 8th / Lake Young Ultra 28.8m / Renton, WA

June 8th / Vashon Island Ultra Trail Run 50k and 10m / Vashon Island, WA

June 8th / Mason's Mountain Run Trail 10k / Red Lodge, MT

June 8th / Pengelly Double Dip and Single Dip Trail Runs Half Marathon and 10k / Missoula, MT

June 9th / Herron Trail Half Marathon and 10k / Kalispell, MT

June 9th / Footzone Dirty Half Marathon / Bend, OR

June 7th / Bear Lake Idaho Marathon / Fish Haven, ID

June 8th / Nock the Rock Half Marathon / Soda Springs, ID

June 8th / Helvetia Half Marathon 10k and 5k / Hillsboro, OR

June 8th / Governor's Cup Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Helena, MT

June 8th / Three Sisters Marathon and 5k / Redmond, OR

June 8th / Teton Dam Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Rexburg, ID

June 9th / Edge to Edge Marathon and Half Marathon / Tolfino, BC

June 9th / Clear Lake Memorial Half Marathon and 5m / Clear Lake, WA

June 9th / Winthrop Marathon and Half Marathon / Winthrop, WA

June 9th / St. Joe River Marathon, Half Marathon and 5k / St. Maries, ID

June 8th / Blue Lake Triathlon and Duathlon Sprint / Fairview, OR

June 8th / Moses Lake Triathlon Olympic and Sprint / Moses Lake, WA

June 8th / Palouse River Duathlon Sprint / Palouse, WA

June 8th / Blacktail Triathlon and Duathlon Olympic and Sprint / Idaho Falls, ID

June 8th / Ironman Triathlon 70.3 Boise / Boise, ID

June 9th / Farragut X Off-Road Triathlon Olympic / Sandpoint, ID

June 9th / Blue Lake Triathlon and Duathlon Olympic / Fairview, OR

June 7th / Fremont 5k / Seattle, WA (Friday Night Race!)

June 7th / Three Towers Run 10m / Olympia, WA

June 8th / Tenderfoot Trot 5k / Albany, OR

June 8th / 5k on the Runway 5k / Eugene, OR

June 8th / Tough Rhino Mud Run 5k / Benton City, WA

June 8th / RunFit Challenge 10k and 5k / Eugene, OR

June 8th / Run for Ohm 10k and 5k / Roseburg, OR

June 8th / Adoption Run 10k and 5k / Snohomish, WA

June 8th / Lovin' Lincoln 5k / Corvallis, OR

June 8th / Boston Marathon Solidarity Run 10k and 5k / Arlington, WA

June 8th / Leaping for Literacy 5k / Bellevue, WA

June 8th / Survivor Mud Run 5k / Carnation, WA

June 8th / Flight for Sight 10k and 5k / Everett, WA

June 8th / Canby 5k / Canby, OR

June 8th / Paw-louse Fun Run 5k / Moscow, ID

June 8th / Dash for a Cure 10k and 5k / Moses Lake, WA

June 8th / Superhero 5k / Redmond, WA

June 8th / Peet's Hill Hustle 5k / Bozeman, MT

June 8th / Gold Rush Run 10k / Republic, WA

June 9th / Maniac Dam Run 5k / Orofino, ID

June 8th / Race Beneath the Sun 5m / Bellingham, WA

June 8th / S'Kallam Warrior Mud Challenge 5k / Sequim, WA

June 8th / Sound to Narrows 12k and 5k / Tacoma, WA

June 9th / Spokane Title 9k / Spokane, WA

June 9th / Shore Run 10k and 5k / Seattle, WA

June 9th / Bear Run 4m / Maple Valley, WA

June 9th / Run for the Love of Dove 5k / Portland, OR

June 9th / Furry 5k / Seattle, WA

June 9th / Portland Parks $5 5k / Portland, OR

Hansons Marathon Method - Review in Progress - Day 1 of 123

Yes, the Hansons Marathon Method training plan starts on a Thursday. Why? Hell if I know. Wednesday is the only off day of the week, so maybe they just figured they'd start it after the official off-day. Who knows?

So the first workout of the entire program isn't too exciting: 6 miles easy. My goal pace to qualify for Boston is 7:50, so I'm supposed to be doing my easy Hansons' runs 1:00 to 2:00 minutes slower. No reason to kill myself on the very first day, so I ran between 9:00-9:30 for the 6 miles today.

One down...122 to go.

Boston, here I come.

Marathon at the end of the road: Skagit Flats Marathon.

Go buy the book:

Dancing Treadmill Guy

Well, that's the end of running on a treadmill for me...I just can't. After seeing what this guy can do on the treadmill, I'm sort of embarrassed to even get on there again.

Just...wow.

Is a 2:00 Hour Marathon Possible?

Not bloody likely.

We've discussed this briefly before, but we need to discuss it again. Why? Well, because some people, even some sorta smart running-type people, continue to insist that it's not only possible, but imminent.

I'm not buying it. My take is this: I won't be around to see it happen....and it wouldn't surprise me that much if it never happened.

My favorite guys, The Science of Sport dudes, just wrote a new post about why they're in the "won't happen" camp. Check it out right here.

Graphic from Runner's World.

Northwest Running and Triathlon Calendar - June 2013

Just an unbelievable amount of triathlons on this week's sched. Lots of them have the swim leg in a pool, so if open water worries you, good news!

Quite a few important marathons on the list as well, with Newport, NODM, and Green River all making an appearance.

No matter what your pleasure, you should be able to scratch the itch this week.

Let's race!

-Green Text for Trail Runs
-Red Text for Marathons and Half Marathons
-Blue Text for Triathlons and Duathlons
-Orange Text for everything else, the normal 5k, 10k, etc

RACES FOR WEEK OF MAY 27th TO JUNE 2nd

June 1st / Silver Falls Challenge Trail Run 6m and 5k / Silverton, OR

June 1st / Bay Trail Fun Run 10k and 5k / Sandpoint, ID

June 1st / Run to the Ruts Trail Run 5k / Baker City, OR

June 1st / Granite Man Trail Run 10k and 5m / Applegate Lake, OR

June 1st / Red Devil Challenge Trail Runs 25k and 10k / Cashmere, WA

June 2nd / Dirty Girl's Run Wild Trail Half Marathon and 6.55m / Lakewood, WA

June 2nd / Raptor Ridge Trail Run 10m / Bellingham, WA

June 2nd / Run for the Hills Trail Runs 30k and 8k / Corvallis, OR

June 2nd / Hood View Trail Run 5k / Boring, OR

June 1st / Sun Valley Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Sun Valley, ID

June 1st / 3 Rivers Race Against Domestic Violence Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / La Grande, OR

June 1st / Green River Marathon / Kent, WA

June 1st / Newport Marathon / Newport, OR

June 1st / Duvall Centennial Half Marathon / Duvall, WA

June 1st / Spirit of Magic Valley Half Marathon and 5k / Twin Falls, ID

June 2nd / North Olympic Discovery Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Port Angeles, WA

June 2nd / Victoria Goddess Run Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Langford, BC

June 2nd / Timberline Half Marathon / Timothy Lake, OR

June 1st / Granite Man Triathlon and Duathlon Sprint / Applegate Lake, OR

June 1st / Queen City Triathlon Sprint / East Helena, MT

June 1st / McMinnville Triathlon Sprint / McMinnville, OR

June 1st / Tri-Berry Triathlon Sprint / Lynden, WA

June 1st / Issaquah Triathlon and Duathlon Sprint / Issaquah, WA

June 2nd / Series 33 Triathlon Sprint / Oregon City, OR

June 2nd / EWU Iron Eagle Triathlon Sprint / Cheney, WA

June 2nd / Pine Hollow Triathlon Sprint / Wamic, OR

May 30th / Spring Into Summer 8k / Eugene, OR (Thursday Night Run!)

May 31st / Grumpy Grouch Fun Run 5k / Kettle Falls, WA (Friday Night Run!)

June 1st / Stoller Vineyards 5k / Dayton, OR

June 1st / HandsOn Superhero Dash 10k and 5k / Salem, OR

June 1st / Kyron's Bring Them Home Run 5k / Portland, OR

June 1st / Lebanon Strawberry Festival 5k / Lebanon, OR

June 1st / Soles2Souls 10k and 5k / Portland, OR

June 1st / Fallen Trooper Memorial Run 10k and 5k / St Paul, OR

June 1st / Hockinson Fun Days 5k / Bush Prairie, WA

June 1st / Starlight Run 5k / Portland, OR

June 1st / Santiam Memorial Hospital 8k and 5k / Stayton, OR

June 1st / Moonlight Five 5m / Springfield, OR (Night Run!)

June 1st / Duvall Centennial 10k and 5k / Duvall, WA

June 1st / Iron Paws No Barriers Run 10k and 5k / Coeur d'Alene, ID

June 1st / Human Race 10k and 5k / Bellingham, WA

June 1st / Maritime Gig Family 5k / Gig Harbor, WA

June 1st / Dog Island 10k / Guemes Island, WA

June 1st / Reardan Mule Days 10k and 5k / Reardan, WA

June 1st / Lynch Creek 10k and 5k / Eatonville, WA

June 1st / Mountain Goat Challenge 10k / Spokane, WA

June 1st / Prineville Memorial Hotshot Run 10k and 5k / Prineville, OR

June 1st / Goldsborough Creek 7m / Shelton, WA

June 1st / Wildcat 5k / Ellensburg, WA

June 1st / Girls on the Run 5k / Corvallis, OR

June 1st / Issaquah Tri 10k and 5k / Issaquah, WA

June 1st / Cougar Prowl 5k / Silverdale, WA

June 2nd / Big Backyard 5k / Redmond, WA

June 2nd / Tonkin Challenge - For the Love of Schools 10k and 5k / Wilsonville, OR

June 2nd / Komen Race for the Cure 5k / Seattle, WA

June 2nd / Run Like a Girl 10k and 5k / Vancouver, WA

June 2nd / I Topped the Rock 5k / Castle Rock, WA

June 2nd / SAF Block Party 8k / Redmond, WA

June 2nd / Heaven Can Wait 5k / Bend, OR

Twenty Tri Bikes Reviewed - Yes, 20 Tri Bikes Reviewed!

Just in time for your summer races, Triathlete Magazine reviews 20 new 2013 models of triathlon bikes.

Check it out right here.

Open up that wallet...they're not cheap.

Best Running Song for April - Spacehog - In the Meantime

What a great song. There's something about a Spacehog song...no matter where or when you hear one of their songs, it only takes about five seconds to identify it as Spacehog. They just have a great, unique sound.

This, of course, is their huge hit from 1995, In the Meantime.



And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that lead singer Royston Langdon actually was married to Liv Tyler. That's called "marrying above your station" for old Royston. I mean, marrying Arwen?!? Come on! Plus their son, Milo, has to be pretty well set-up, gene-wise, for singing stardom, with both Spacehog and Aerosmith genes awash in him!



One more great Spacehog song for your listening and running pleasure here: Mungo City. I first heard this song back in the day from grabbing a Spacehog CD, having no idea who they were, probably from a "12 for a Penny!" deal from Columbia House. Just a great album.



Rock that Run!

Past Best Running Songs: March: Youngblood Hawke / "We Come Running" February: Yolanda Be Cool / "We No Speak Americano" January: The Naked and Famous / "Young Blood" December: Of Monsters and Men / "Little Talks" November: The Black Keys / "Little Black Submarines" October: Cold War Kids / "Hospital Beds" September: Bloc Party / "Octopus" August: Matt and Kim / "Let's Go" July: Gemini / "Blue" June: Joe Jackson / "Got the Time" May: Tiesto vs. Diplo / "C'mon!" April: Grouplove / "Tongue Tied" March: Foxy Shazam / "I Like It" February: Foster the People / "Don't Stop" January: Hot Hot Heat / "Bandages" December: Camp Lo / "Luchini aka This Is It" November: Wolfmother / "Joker and the Thief" October: Phoenix / "1901" September: Matt and Kim / "Daylight" August: Collie Buddz / "Holiday" July: Pretenders / "Tattooed Love Boys" June: The Wombats / "Moving to New York" May: Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros / "40 Day Dream" April: Foxy Shazam / "Unstoppable" March: Pharrell / "Fun Fun Fun" February: Puff Daddy / "Come With Me" January: We Are Scientists / "The Great Escape" December: Cee Lo Green / "F**k You" November: Tokyo Police Club / "Breakneck Speed" October: Two Door Cinema Club / "Something Good Can Work" September: Stone Temple Pilots / "Cinnamon" August: Louis XIV / "Guilt by Association" July: Devo / "Fresh" June: Saliva / "Your Disease" May: Metric / "Gold Guns Girls" April: OK Go / "This Too Shall Pass" March: The Hours / "Ali In The Jungle" February: Los Fabulosos Cadillacs / "El Matador" January: White Rabbits / "Percussion Gun" December: Deftones / "Knife Prty" November: The Kooks / "Always Where I Need To Be" October: At the Drive In / "One Armed Scissor" September: Silversun Pickups / "Lazy Eye" August: Joe Strummer and the Mescaleros / "Johnny Appleseed" July: Deathray / "I Wanna Lose Control (Uh Oh)" June: Raconteurs / "Salute Your Solution" May: Tea Party / "Save Me" April: Bloc Party / "Like Eating Glass" Ever: The English Beat / "I Confess"

Northwest Running and Triathlon Calendar - May 2013

Sort of a slow week here, as Memorial Day Weekend isn't viewed as a running holiday like many of the other big holiday weekends. Still, there's nothing stopping you from racing one of the fine races below while also remembering the men and women who have sacrificed and continue to sacrifice for our country.

Let's race!

-Green Text for Trail Runs
-Red Text for Marathons and Half Marathons
-Blue Text for Triathlons and Duathlons
-Orange Text for everything else, the normal 5k, 10k, etc

RACES FOR WEEK OF MAY 20th TO MAY 26th

May 23rd / Pigtails Challenge Trail Run 200m / Renton, WA

May 24th / Pigtails Challenge Trail Run 150m / Renton, WA

May 25th / Pigtails Challenge Trail Run 100m / Renton, WA

May 25th / Ridgeline Ramble Trail Run 20k and 10k / Eugene, OR

May 25th / Soaring River Trail 50k, Marathon, 15k and 8k / Sammamish, WA

May 25th / High Desert Trail Run Half Marathon and 10k / Kuna, ID

May 25th / Happy Girls Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Bend, OR

May 25th / Hero Half Marathon / Sweet Home, OR

May 25th / Race Against Child Abuse Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / St. Helens, OR

May 25th / Redfish Lake Lodge Memorial Run Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Stanley, ID

May 26th / Coeur d'Alene Marathon, Half Marathon and 5k / Coeur d'Alene, ID

May 26th / Calgary Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Calgary, AB

May 26th / Run for Water Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k and 5k / Abbotsford, BC

May 25th / Cascade Duathlon Olympic and Sprint / Boise, ID

May 25th / SCHEELS Red, White and Blue Duathlon Sprint / Great Falls, MT

May 26th / Bigfork Whitewater Triathlon Sprint / Bigfork, MT

May 26th / Onion Man Triathlon Olympic / Walla Walla, WA

May 25th / Portland's Free Them 5k / Tualatin, OR

May 25th / Run for the Son 5k / Liberty Lake, WA

May 25th / Spring Festival 10k and 5k / Moses Lake, WA

May 25th / Mazama 10k and 5k / Winthrop, WA

May 25th / Leap 5k / Redmond, WA

May 25th / Memorial Day Weekend Run 15k, 10k and 5k / Seattle, WA

May 25th / Riverfest 10k and 5k / Maupin, OR

May 25th / DASH Race for the Kids 5k / Prosser, WA

May 25th / Flippers, Fins and Feathers 5k / Newport, OR

May 25th / Memorial Day 6k / Klamath Falls, OR

May 25th / Retreat to Weippe 10k and 5k / Weippe, ID

May 25th / SCHEELS Red, White and Blue 5k / Great Falls, MT

May 26th / Run to Africa 10k and 5k / Lebanon, OR

May 26th / Good Karma 5k / Seattle, WA

May 26th / Rum Run 10k and 5k / Tualatin, OR