a treasure trove of mail this week

Before it hit shelves in its current iteration, I had the chance to review Hal Higdon's "4:09:43," a retelling of the events of the Boston Marathon bombings through the interweaving of numerous personal accounts into a single narrative. I had a few questions about the book and some of the changes that might be made before it was officially released, so I contacted Higdon to see if he could offer any insights. To a bit of surprise, Higdon responded unbelievably quickly, and really couldn't have been nicer or more helpful; he was able to answer all of my questions, sent me an image of the book cover I could use for my blog, and even offered to mail me a signed copy, so long as I remembered to get back in touch when the book finally came out. I can be pretty terrible at remembering things sometimes, so it literally took me over six months to get back in contact with him, but just as promised, once we had caught up, Higdon immediately sent out a complete press kit, which to my delight arrived on Monday.

As if receiving a signed copy of "4:09:43" wasn't enough though, my very first RunnerBox arrived in the mail as well this week. Subscription box services are blowing up, offering all kinds of neat things and catering to just about every type of person and interest; I knew it was only a matter of time before I would be compelled to jump on the bandwagon. After researching all of the different boxes geared towards runners, I ultimately opted for the RunnerBox. It only comes every other month, but it works out to being a little bit cheaper than paying for a more frequently delivered monthly box and it is literally packed to the brim with goodies. This box alone included a microfiber towel, two protein bars, three different powdered drink mixes, a handful of runner friendly snacks, and a set of green Lock Laces.

I'll definitely be trying out the protein bars after my next two Freeletics workouts, and I can't wait to have a go at some of the other treats on my next few long runs. Everyone loves receiving fun things in the mail, and in that regard, this week was easily once of the best in a good long while. Alas, if only the mail could be this awesome all of the time.

Review: What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

"What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: A Memoir"
Haruki Murakami

As a prominent Japanese novelist, Haruki Murakami has written dozens of books, short stories, and essays, but it is "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" that serves as his personal memoir, an earnest narrative that provides a glimpse into Murakami's approach to writing and running. It quickly becomes very clear to the reader that these two activities, writing and running, are of paramount importance in Murakami's life, and if the book offers one clear takeaway, it's that devoting your life to your passions is the surest way to live fulfilled.

"What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" tracks Murakami's training over the course of a racing season as he prepares for the New York City Marathon in November and then the Murakami International Triathlon of the following year, and it does this in a very distinctive style, interweaving exerts from Murakami's training diary and stories from his past. The book comes across as somewhat disorganized as it jumps around in chronology and from idea to idea, and many readers may find fault with this approach. In actuality, however, "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" mirrors the very essence of running itself; much like a runner taking time before settling into a rhythm, the first chapter of Murakami's memoir is erratic and disjointed, but the book soon finds its groove and the pacing becomes more fluid.

While this type of delivery in a book is certainly not for everyone, "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" really nails the wandering, free-flowing thought process that runners experience as the miles tick by. Unencumbered by the need for a rigorous structure, Murakami shares his spontaneous musings, and then proceeds to ruminate on these thoughts and attempt to discern any significance that they might possess. It is here in Murakami's descriptions of the mundane that "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" really shines; whether its his loyalty to a specific make and model of shoe or his description of the anxiety one feels over every minor ache prior to a race, every runner will find something they can relate to. Through reading Murakami's narration of thoughts that perfectly echo our own, it is as though our existence in the running community is confirmed.

When it comes down to it, "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" is a book about intrinsic motivation, self-reflection, and pursing what one loves. Because Murakami employs a more contemplative delivery and a slower pace than other books in the running memoir genre, "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running" is not for someone looking for the typical globe-trotting adventure that chronicles exotic races. Instead, this book is suited for any runner who would like to better understand their own reasons for running. If you're looking for something a little more thought-provoking than the usual fare, pick up a copy of "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running," and allow yourself the opportunity to read it in one or two sessions to fully appreciate its meandering flow and tranquil pace.

Freeletics: Basic Package Week 1

After signing up, the Freeletics workouts are available to you right from the start (all of them if you buy the app, and a small selection of them if you don't), but without paying a fee for a structured program, you're pretty much left on your own when it comes to scheduling the various routines. However, with your registration you are automatically enrolled in the Basic Package, a free trial that provides a list of workouts for the upcoming week. The current iteration of the Basic Package only supplies three weeks worth of instruction, but an older plan, which can be found by doing a little searching, consists of a full five weeks.

While the three week program would have been delivered right to my inbox and easier in terms of committing to it, I chose to go with the five week program since the timing coincides perfectly with when I have to return to school for work. Between maintaining a run streak and either attending or instructing group exercise classes though, it was tough to decide where to schedule in these additional workouts to allow for adequate recovery. Ultimately, I ended up opting for doing Freeletics on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, but the program specifically states to do the workouts whenever works best for you, as long as you get them all in for the week.

Each day that you are supposed to work out is called a session, and the first week of the Freeletics Basic Package consists of four sessions of a workout called Aphrodite. She may be the Greek goddess of love, but there isn't a whole lot to actually love about this workout that consists of five rounds of burpees, squats, and sit-ups. The first round requires 50 reps of each of the three exercises, and each subsequent round decreases the number of reps by ten, leaving you with 40 reps in the second round, 30 reps in the third, 20 reps in the fourth, and 10 reps in the fifth. All of this is against the clock for the best time possible, and by the end of it you will have done 150 burpees, 150 squats, and 150 sit-ups.

A: Burpees | B: Sit-Ups | C: Squats

I thought that I was a reasonably fit individual, but my first session of Aphrodite was pretty brutal. The burpees, in particular, were a real killer; while I could knock out about ten of them at the start of each round, afterwards I was reduced to doing five at a time before taking a break until the round was complete. The sit-ups were much more manageable, but I couldn't do them very quickly, and when it came to the squats, I was definitely in my element, but the workout was just so long that even those started to get tough towards the later rounds.

With the initial fear of not knowing whether or not I could actually finish a full Aphrodite eliminated after doing it for the first time, I was able to improve each time I did the workout. By the fourth and final session of the week, my new personal best for Aphrodite was 30:49, over 11 minutes faster than my first attempt at the workout. I'm also proud to say that I completed all four sessions with a star performance, an award that denotes that every single rep of each exercise in a workout was completed with perfect, unmodified form.

Between the Freeletics workouts and the classes I do at the gym, I'm very content to only have to run over the next two days, but at the same time, I'm definitely looking forward to Week 2.

Session 1: Aphrodite (41:56) (*) (PB)

Session 2: Aphrodite (34:57) (*) (PB)

Session 3: Aphrodite (32:46) (*) (PB)

Session 4: Aphrodite (30:49) (*) (PB)

a venture into more rigorous training

Cycling is often touted as one of the best cross-training workouts that a runner can incorporate into their routine, so for almost a year now I've been teaching an indoor cycling class at my local Y; the obligatory nature of being an instructor insured that I would always get at least one cycling session in each week, and the class worked really well for me in my schedule. However, in an effort to draw in a younger crowd for the summer, I've been switched over to teaching an outdoor endurance class, a class that centers around all of the awesome exercises you can do with cinder blocks and giant tractor tires. I throw some weights around a few times a week, so I'm no stranger to bringing a little strength training into the routine, but this class is a totally different level. It might not have the same counterbalancing benefits of cycling, but it certainly gets the job done in terms of bringing the sweat.

In researching the different workouts that I could incorporate into the class, my eyes have really been opened to a much broader range of strength training activities. My stumble down the rabbit hole of extreme fitness eventually led me to Freeletics, a high-intensity program comprised of bodyweight exercises that are either done for time or for a maximum number of reps. Some of the workouts seem like they could be pretty long, especially when you're first starting out, but as a teacher with the summer off, I figured I'd commit to trying out the program while I'm riding this wave of being really into strength training.

As soon as you sign up and confirm your account, you're sent an email with your first workout: Burpee Max, Sit-Up Max, and Squat Max. Each of these exercises requires you to knock out as many reps as you can in 300 seconds; it's certainly not the most novel first workout, but it's a good way to establish a baseline of fitness before officially starting the program. So after my run today, I did some light stretching, laid out a yoga mat, and hit start on a timer for the first five minute set. When all was said and done, I had pulled off 47 burpees, 65 sit-ups, and 138 squats. I'm not sure how that stacks up in the grand scheme of things, but I'm certainly pleased with those results for the first day.

a post long over due

I guess it would be a bit of an understatement to say that it's been awhile since I last posted anything. I was new to the whole blogging thing when I started writing here, and for a time I was really loving it. Life, however, has a tendency of sneaking up on you, and time plows forward whether you're ready or not. Between work, and trying to flip a house, and a million other things here and there, this little blog just sort of fell by the wayside. I unfortunately can't say for certain that it won't happen again, but at the very least, I can give you an update on what's been going on since my last post.

I had a few running goals for the year, and so far I've been cruising along quite nicely with all of them. I've managed to maintain a paper log for all of my runs and workouts, I'm already 75% of the way towards reaching 500 miles for the year, and I've kept up with the run streak that I started on Thanksgiving. At 230 days of running at least one mile every day, I've blown way past the 50 day mark at which I said I would reassess whether or not I was going to continue.

In other news, I ran the Peachtree Road Race this year for the first time, and posted a new 10K PR, besting my previous record by just over 3 minutes. With almost 60,000 participants each year, the Peachtree is the largest race in the country, and it is absolutely amazing in every way. The overwhelming number of enthusiastic spectators and bands along the course is incredibly motivating, and it is an indescribable spectacle to race with so many other runners. If you haven't ever run the Peachtree, definitely put it on your list of most do destination races. Not only is it an incredible race, but it occurs right in the heart of Atlanta, a place I've really come to appreciate as a truly great American city. Between having the opportunity to check out a Braves game or visit the World of Coca-Cola, it's hard to imagine a better, more classically American place to celebrate the Fourth of July.

Finally, Jinny, the little rescue dog who my wife and I picked up at the beginning of the year, has blossomed into an amazing running companion. She'll accompany me on any run shorter than three miles, and she's ready and waiting at the door before I even get my shoes on. Sure I might almost trip while trying to get my speed work in every once in awhile when she lounges for a squirrel, but really she's all that one could ever hope for in a dog. I couldn't have asked for a better first pet, and my wife and I are just so glad that she came into our lives.

So as you can see, a few things have happened here and there over the past few months, but in a lot of ways it's just the same old, same old. I'll try my best to stay consistent in posting though, and hopefully I'll start getting caught up on writing some reviews for the books I've finished.