"I'd rather be seen on my bicycle than on a park run" - Quote from the dark side

Thursday 26 August 2010

Three Things Thursday

1. I’ve run 218km in my new shoes now and they are great. However, the right shoe still gives me a small blister when I run more than 20km so I decided this morning to give it a small modification. This is the same place where I’ve cut both shoes of the previous three pairs, but the cut needed is a lot smaller. The left shoe is 100% without any modification needed.


2. I watched an interview with champion desert runner Ryan Sandes last night. He said he runs 20 hours per week; 14 hours on trails and 6 on the road to keep his speed up. He also spends many hours in the gym. He also said after a multiday desert race he spends two weeks just resting and eating. He carries 2000 calories of energy supplements with him on a day, but burns 5000 to 6000 calories per day.


3. On my run this morning I got a beautiful view of the ISS as it moved passed Orion’s Belt. I wondered how many other people were able to see this. I’m sure when I’m out running between 4 and 6 AM I’m often the only one to see and experience certain things.


21 comments:

misszippy said...

Wow--I think it's my dream to be able to eat that many calories! But of course, running 20 hrs./week isn't realistic for me.

Hey--hop over to my blog--I have a series of questions for trail runners like you. Would love your insight!

Quinton J said...

That poor right shoe has met it’s fate and gone under the knife. May it have a smooth recovery.

Mark said...

Wow!! 20 hrs a week....that's crazy! Good post!

Andrew Opala said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Andrew Opala said...

Johann, you're an expert with the knife ... you should have been a surgeon (or at least a butcher!)

That Ryan Sandes could definitely land a good job with a courier company!

I'm currently having a good time with Jupiter - living in a city, the dimmer stuff is hard.

Adrienne said...

I guess if I wasn't sleeping between 4 and 6 am I might be able to add 14 hours to my running each week but then again I think I'll stick with the 5 hours although eating that many calories sounds pretty tempting. Good luck with the post-op shoe!

Patrick Mahoney said...

I would love to burn 5000 calories a day, because It'd rather work out than watch food. The *best* I can manage is 3000 per day on the weekend...

Emz said...

You amaze me.

20 hours.....you are my idol. I only get 10 in. Wait this week 18 minutes. [rggggg]

KovasP said...

Yet another reason to run early in the morning - yes!

racing dawn said...

I seriously can't imagine running 20 hours a week. Crazy. And I've thought of that before too, the things we get to see out running at dawn. Pretty amazing.

ajh said...

That is a lot of running. Is he an elite? Or where does he find the time?

Molly said...

That's cool about the ISS...we see sattelite's up at my inlaws house in the mountains, but only when it's very dark, clear night.

Natalia said...

Yes, the sky must be gorgeous in the Highveld at this time of year. I thought we were the only ones down in the Cape to see Orion's belt. Hah, who knew!

Char said...

Better that your shoe goes under the knife than your foot.

Anne said...

That's a lot of hours of running...wow! I guess that's why he's a champion and I'm not ;)

The idea of satellites always amazes me...

Julie said...

Hi Johann,
You are so creative...I love how you made a modification to your shoe:)

Boy, do you get up early to run! I am just too darn tired in the mornings because of work. I would love to get up before the sun and get my workouts done early too! Highly unlikely:)

Enjoy the weekend Johann!

Giorgio said...

Interesting post about the champion desert runner! I hope the right shoe went well after it has gone under the knife.
Have a nice running and relaxing weekend Johann!

Jon said...

I get blisters on my right foot only as well. I have determined that it is the way I run and that I must favor that leg. My right calf always hurts worst after a hard race as well.

Good luck with the upcoming 50K. I WILL be following!!!

Sherri said...

That is amazing! 20 hours a week! I try to get 20 hours in a year! =)
I guess instead of cutting calories I just need to increase workout!

Ewa said...

OK, I need to start running more to be able to eat this much. Oh, wait, I need to start running more, period. :)
I love morning runs in the dark. Our area unfortunately is light polluted but I can see Orion. I am too focused though that I don't step on snails too look for ISS.

Anne said...

Hey Johan, I tagged you for an award on my blog...check it out :)