The MONSTER MONTH

After over 600 summer kilometers, the marathon is (still) 6 weeks away.
This period is the money-time of the marathon training, the Monster Month - These 4 weeks are the most critical and most difficult weeks of the marathon training. Mileage peak (300 km/month), the longest long runs (35k), more hills. 

And we're tired. Or injured. Or Both. 

It is during this month that many runners get injured - pull hamstrings, knot calf muscles, get ITBS (Iliotibial Band Syndrome), inflame knees, and more. If the injury is too serious, its bye-bye marathon. Every ache and twinge is a warning sign. It is a time of anxiety and stress.
Mental fatigue also catches up, getting tired of training, tired of 4am weekend wakeups, tired of energy gels, tired of the ice baths…

But now we need to get through Monster Month. And do it in one piece. Over-motivated pre-40-crisis amateurs stick to the training plan. No matter what. Even though something feels physically wrong, if the spread sheet says “this Friday 30k at marathon pace+10” - you do. And the cruelest side of marathon training – injuries don’t have a clear warning sign saying “stop here or get injured”. Since pain permanently escorts you from the day you start with the 30k long runs, it is does not serve as a stop sign.  

The positive side of Monster month is to get to see the rewards of the last training months. A 24k weekend run is now considered as an easy long run that does not require recovery days.
As for motivation during Monster Month, runners are recommended to 'visualize the race' – ahh Verrazano Bridge, Central Park...

Till the Verrazano, its the 2nd Tze’ala race on October 4th.
Shana Tova! 

The best running shoes

New running shoes get me excited like a kid with a new toy. I recently got the new model of the Mizuno Wave Creation 9 shoes. Me very happy...

I’m often asked “how good are they?” “are they better than Sacouny/Asics/Brooks” etc.The quest for the “best” running shoe is a popular journey most runners go through. 

Our search for “the best” product isn’t unique to running shoes. “Blackberry or iPhone”, “Sony or Sharp”, “Prada or D&G”, “Patek Philippe or Audemars Piguet”, “Mercedes or BMW”, “Morgan Stanley or Merrill Lynch”?...

Personaly, the minute a sales person includes the word “best” in a sentence when pitching to me I get an immediate turnoff from him, from the store and from the product he is trying to push.

This is my 3^rd Mizuno, I came across this brand an year ago. While trying various brands at the Miami marathon expo, one of the shoe fitting guys (a marathoner of course) asked me “so which brand inspires you the most?”. “Inspires” – it all came down to “inspires”. It’s a given they all fit my foot biomechanics, have top technologies, comfort and durability. INSPIRATION becomes the decision parameter. Insperation as the USP. After most commodities (almost every product or service today) reach their product stability (cell phones are soon there), inspiration becomes that main selling parameter.

I recently started using a Mac laptop, still running windows on it, but a Mac. How is it compared to my previous IBM? The feeling is great, I don’t think it has anything to do with its features…

Bellow is a video of Apple’s brilliant “I’m a Mac, I’m a pc” campaign. Although they are supposedly showing of features, I can bet their campaign brief top requirement was “inspire”. 

Finishing week #8. Climbed to 64 weekly km with a 32k long run. Feeeling the load but no major injuries (hamsa hamsa…). Next week starts the money-time month of my training plan that would lead to 70+ weekly km

Nothing like the first time

This morning I’ve joined the excitement of my girls that started their first grade in school.

Last night, I’ve joined the excitement of friends (and of the first lady) that did their first 10k race in the Tel-Aviv night run – the Nike Human race.

The second most exciting thing, after doing something for the first time, is “soaking” the excitement of someone close going through their first time. The first grade experience, watching the excitement/fear/happiness on the girls’ faces was very emotional.

***Ilai also started his new trom-trom kindergarden today – excited for you to gever

The night run was amazing. The largest Israeli race ever, perfect organization, great atmosphere. The scenery and feeling was similar to big races in the major cities of the world. Tel-Aviv was not included to be among the participating cities and does not appear on the cities list at the back of the red shirt or the global results list. Only heavy pressure of the local Nike agent managed to add Tel-Aviv to New York, London, Seoul & San Paulo.

Now no one can ignore that:
1) Tel-Aviv is on the global map
2) Tel-Aviv is RED

Have a great week & a fabulous year!

On track with my marathon training plan. Finished week #10 with 60 weekly km, 9 weeks to go. This week plan is 64km with a 32k long run. The weather is a killer!.. 4 weeks till October

Mazal Tov to Paul and congratulations on the running trainings in Kos, Greece