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December 29, 2004
38:49
When I went to run this morning, I checked the thermometer on Tim's window. It read 2 degrees Celsius. Clearly some heat escapes through the window, because the snow and ice on the picnic table next to the window had not started melting. I moved the thermometer out onto a dry spot next to the snow and ice, then checked it 5 minutes later. The reading was -1 C (30 F) when I left to run.
I decided to run 6.5 km today on the track in Pontcharra at 130 bpm, the low end of what's called my aerobic zone according to an article at the Sports Coach site. Perhaps the cold played a part. In any case, I had to run slowly indeed to keep my heart rate that low. Whenever I stopped paying attention, the pace drifted up. I would catch myself at 140 bpm and have consciously to slow down. It turns out my average was 134 bpm, but I had to slow down to almost 6 min/km (around 9:30 miles) to hold it there.
It seems I have huge room for improvement in efficiency. I tried making as little sound as possible. The snow still crunched. I tried to keep my head very steady. My heart rate tended up a little. I tried alternately preventing lateral and up and down movement, then running with my upper body as loose as possible. Only giving up seemed to result in a slower heart rate.
Running at this pace led to one weird side effect. After about 7 laps, nearing the 2-mile mark, I started falling asleep. My concentration vanished. I temporarily forgot what lap it was. I felt myself drifting off to sleep while running along, having turned my back to the sun. It was almost pleasant.
In retrospect it seems I might have cooled off too fast. Right when I finally started sweating normally, I turned away from the sun and into a winter breeze. I'll wear a hat next time I plan a slow run in the cold.
Posted by Mark at December 29, 2004 03:28 PM
Comments
I think that I am rather good at concentrating if that means keeping to the task at hand and not paying attention to what is going on around me, such as birds singing or people talking. At least it takes longer for those things to get up to a conscious level when I concentrate. It was something that I practicec a lot as a kid growing up. Since I spent a LOT of time reading and not listening to sisters or moms. It is something useful and also something detrimental. I don't think that I am a careful observer as Dana often is. I just miss lots of stuff because my attention is on something else.
Posted by: Teena at December 29, 2004 03:39 PM
You may miss some observations. You nevertheless manage to observe closely enough to create weavings or tend your garden in a harmonious way.
If you cannot concentrate when you want to, it's hard to do so many things.
Dana always struck us as being good at concentrating, staying focused for the long run. In all the years he worked, everyone had the impression he could say with confidence at any time, almost to the hour, how long he still had to go until retirement. Even people who run marathons only stay concentrated on their goal with that intensity for a couple of hours.
Posted by: Mark at December 29, 2004 08:57 PM