Weekly total 61.9
Monday 5.55
Tuesday 10.4
Wednesday 5.57
Thursday 11.23
Friday 8.6
Saturday 11.8
Sunday 8.8
Average pace 7:59
Another week another 60 miles. For the 3rd week in a row I surpassed 60 miles. I ran all 7 days this week making it a little easier but it still took 3 long runs. I pick up my pace a little this week and felt strong throughout the week even during Sundays run. I’ve already completed my Monday (next week) run and I really feeling it today.
My goal this week is more of the same; 60+ miles and 3+ long runs. By the end of the week I’ll decide if I’m going to run the 15k in Orlando.
5 weeks until Hartford
Monday, September 7, 2009
Monday, August 31, 2009
Weekly summary 8/30/2009
Weekly total: 60.4
Tuesday 11.37
Wednesday 11.34
Thursday 10.19
Friday 4.66
Saturday 10.21
Sunday 12.62
Average pace: 8:23
What a though week. On only 6 days I still managed to top 60 miles but it took 5 10+ mile days to do it. After Thursdays run I was feeling a dull pain in my left hip. It was really hurting during my Friday run forcing me to stop running half way through. I iced it down and took it easy the rest of the night which seemed to do the trick because it didn’t bother me the rest of the weekend. I really need to be cautious these next couple of weeks. If something doesn’t feel right then I need to cut that training run short.
Over all I been running pain free. I’m a little stiff in the morning but the heel feels fine and it’s been a long time since I’ve had any soreness in my knee. It’s even been a couple of months since I iced my knee down. I’m still convinced that this is from running at a slower pace. I’m not sure if I want to test this theory by picking up the pace too much though.
I’ve come to the conclusion that being in a high mileage phase will either boost your confidence or tear you down. I felt the boost side when I was training for Boston. I was running 60 mile weeks and even topped 80 all while running a strong pace. Right now it’s an effort to get past 7 miles and I usually need to do it at a much slower pace. After running I have little energy left. I know when I start to taper I’ll feel better but right now I don’t have a lot of confidence that I can run sub 3:30 marathon.
I know that part of the reason that I’m lacking energy is because I’ve lost weight and I’m trying to lose a little more. I’m not starving myself but I was definitely eating more when training for Boston. Right now I’m a good 10 pounds lighter than when I ran in Boston. I’ve been holding steady at 162 on mornings when I ran the previous day. I guess I’ll find out soon enough if less weight helps.
At this point I’m still not sure if I will run the 15k on 9/26. Right now I’m leaning toward no but that could change as it gets closer. If I run it then I have 2 more weeks before I need to start to taper if I don’t run then I have 3 more weeks.
My goal this week is to get in the 55-65 range. My schedule is a little crazy because bowling has started, I need to pick Ron up at work on Tuesday, and there is a channel district meeting on Wednesday. I want to get in 3-4 long runs plus whatever else I can fit in.
6 weeks until Hartford
Tuesday 11.37
Wednesday 11.34
Thursday 10.19
Friday 4.66
Saturday 10.21
Sunday 12.62
Average pace: 8:23
What a though week. On only 6 days I still managed to top 60 miles but it took 5 10+ mile days to do it. After Thursdays run I was feeling a dull pain in my left hip. It was really hurting during my Friday run forcing me to stop running half way through. I iced it down and took it easy the rest of the night which seemed to do the trick because it didn’t bother me the rest of the weekend. I really need to be cautious these next couple of weeks. If something doesn’t feel right then I need to cut that training run short.
Over all I been running pain free. I’m a little stiff in the morning but the heel feels fine and it’s been a long time since I’ve had any soreness in my knee. It’s even been a couple of months since I iced my knee down. I’m still convinced that this is from running at a slower pace. I’m not sure if I want to test this theory by picking up the pace too much though.
I’ve come to the conclusion that being in a high mileage phase will either boost your confidence or tear you down. I felt the boost side when I was training for Boston. I was running 60 mile weeks and even topped 80 all while running a strong pace. Right now it’s an effort to get past 7 miles and I usually need to do it at a much slower pace. After running I have little energy left. I know when I start to taper I’ll feel better but right now I don’t have a lot of confidence that I can run sub 3:30 marathon.
I know that part of the reason that I’m lacking energy is because I’ve lost weight and I’m trying to lose a little more. I’m not starving myself but I was definitely eating more when training for Boston. Right now I’m a good 10 pounds lighter than when I ran in Boston. I’ve been holding steady at 162 on mornings when I ran the previous day. I guess I’ll find out soon enough if less weight helps.
At this point I’m still not sure if I will run the 15k on 9/26. Right now I’m leaning toward no but that could change as it gets closer. If I run it then I have 2 more weeks before I need to start to taper if I don’t run then I have 3 more weeks.
My goal this week is to get in the 55-65 range. My schedule is a little crazy because bowling has started, I need to pick Ron up at work on Tuesday, and there is a channel district meeting on Wednesday. I want to get in 3-4 long runs plus whatever else I can fit in.
6 weeks until Hartford
Monday, August 24, 2009
Weekly summary 8/23/2009
Total: 65.9
Monday: 6.0
Tuesday: 10.7
Wednesday: 8.13
Thursday: 10.65
Friday: 5.68
Saturday: 16.28
Sunday: 8.5
Average pace: 8.12
This was my most productive week since March (pre Boston anyway). I never really felt like I was pressing it even on Saturday or Sunday. I could have made it to 20 on Saturday but I wasn’t sure that I would have benefited much from another 4 miles and I also wanted to run the next day. I spent a good 45 minutes running with fatigue on Saturday and most of my Sunday run was with some fatigue. But overall I felt surprisingly good and had very little stiffness the following morning.
My plan this week is to run another 65 miles. I will have to do it on 6 days though (can’t run on Monday). This will force me to get in at least 4 long runs. I probably have 3 more high mile weeks before I need to taper. If I decide not to run the 15k in Orlando, I might be able to get in another big week before taper time.
As long as the weather holds up I feel really confident that I can PR in Hartford.
7 weeks until Hartford
Monday: 6.0
Tuesday: 10.7
Wednesday: 8.13
Thursday: 10.65
Friday: 5.68
Saturday: 16.28
Sunday: 8.5
Average pace: 8.12
This was my most productive week since March (pre Boston anyway). I never really felt like I was pressing it even on Saturday or Sunday. I could have made it to 20 on Saturday but I wasn’t sure that I would have benefited much from another 4 miles and I also wanted to run the next day. I spent a good 45 minutes running with fatigue on Saturday and most of my Sunday run was with some fatigue. But overall I felt surprisingly good and had very little stiffness the following morning.
My plan this week is to run another 65 miles. I will have to do it on 6 days though (can’t run on Monday). This will force me to get in at least 4 long runs. I probably have 3 more high mile weeks before I need to taper. If I decide not to run the 15k in Orlando, I might be able to get in another big week before taper time.
As long as the weather holds up I feel really confident that I can PR in Hartford.
7 weeks until Hartford
Monday, August 17, 2009
Weekly summary 8/16/2009
Weekly total: 53.3
Monday: 5.33
Tuesday: 10.8
Wednesday: 7.88
Thursday: 13.35
Saturday: 5.7
Sunday: 10.22
Average pace: 8:13
With all of the house(s) maintenance interruptions, I never found an opportunity to get in the extra long run that I wanted to. I did manage a 13+ which was my post San Diego longest run.
My knee was a little sore after Thursdays run so I did a ½ hour on the stationary bike on Friday instead of running. My heel is holding up fine except for days after faster paced runs. I really need to focus on an easier pace if my goal is to get the mileage up.
With half the month down I’m on pace for 220 miles this month which would be my highest since March. If I can get in a couple of 60 mile weeks I would push that total closer to 240.
My goal this week is miles and more miles. I have 8 weeks until Hartford and these next few weeks are when I need to be peaking my mileage. I would like to get in at least 3 long runs with one being 15+. I would also like to keep the pace over 8. The last thing I want is to be having heel issues again.
8 weeks until Hartford
Monday: 5.33
Tuesday: 10.8
Wednesday: 7.88
Thursday: 13.35
Saturday: 5.7
Sunday: 10.22
Average pace: 8:13
With all of the house(s) maintenance interruptions, I never found an opportunity to get in the extra long run that I wanted to. I did manage a 13+ which was my post San Diego longest run.
My knee was a little sore after Thursdays run so I did a ½ hour on the stationary bike on Friday instead of running. My heel is holding up fine except for days after faster paced runs. I really need to focus on an easier pace if my goal is to get the mileage up.
With half the month down I’m on pace for 220 miles this month which would be my highest since March. If I can get in a couple of 60 mile weeks I would push that total closer to 240.
My goal this week is miles and more miles. I have 8 weeks until Hartford and these next few weeks are when I need to be peaking my mileage. I would like to get in at least 3 long runs with one being 15+. I would also like to keep the pace over 8. The last thing I want is to be having heel issues again.
8 weeks until Hartford
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Surviving burnout
After hurting myself on a fall during a morning run, hurting my back on the first day of moving and the long drawn out process of moving itself I had very little time for running and had actually reached the point where I dreaded the thought of getting in a run. On top of that when I did run it was a major effort to just get 5 miles in.
I really think that if I hadn’t already registered for Hartford (and paid for plane ticket and hotel) I may have continued to run less and less until I stopped all together. Over the last 3 weeks I have really forced myself to get in the miles and after a good 11 mile run last night I feel that I’m back.
When I got back into running, 4+ years ago, I knew that the only way I would stay with it was to always have the next race scheduled. This was probably the biggest reason why I stopped in 2000, because I had nothing planned and a few days off turned into weeks and months.
I think it’s important to understand your motivation to run. There are some people who just love to run but for the rest of us there needs to be something else. For me it is without a doubt racing. Not that I don’t enjoy running but not enough to spend 6+ hours a week doing it.
I need to get my registration forms sent in for Palm Beach and Disney or before I know it, Hartford will be over and I won’t have a next race.
I really think that if I hadn’t already registered for Hartford (and paid for plane ticket and hotel) I may have continued to run less and less until I stopped all together. Over the last 3 weeks I have really forced myself to get in the miles and after a good 11 mile run last night I feel that I’m back.
When I got back into running, 4+ years ago, I knew that the only way I would stay with it was to always have the next race scheduled. This was probably the biggest reason why I stopped in 2000, because I had nothing planned and a few days off turned into weeks and months.
I think it’s important to understand your motivation to run. There are some people who just love to run but for the rest of us there needs to be something else. For me it is without a doubt racing. Not that I don’t enjoy running but not enough to spend 6+ hours a week doing it.
I need to get my registration forms sent in for Palm Beach and Disney or before I know it, Hartford will be over and I won’t have a next race.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Weekly summary 8/9/2009
Weekly total 55.5
Monday 7.22
Tuesday 11.31
Thursday 10.28
Friday 7.32
Saturday 6.31, 5.84
Sunday 7.18
Average pace 8.14
A combination of moving and hurting myself several times has really put a crimp in my training over the last 2 months. This was my first solid training week since the end of May. Besides being a little worn out at the end of the week I felt pretty good. My heel which was giving me a lot of trouble hasn’t bothered me much at all so maybe taking it easy was a good thing.
I have also lost a much needed 10 lbs. I suspect that more of it was muscle than fat since I’ve backed off on the lifting but I’ve also changed my eating routine a little (1 bagel instead of 2 and a little less at dinner time). My weight right now is in the 161-164 range and after runs I’m getting down around 158. At this point I’m not trying to lose any more weight but I still lost 1-2 lbs last week. I suspect that I’ll settle into the 155-160 range. At any rate it’s amazing how ripped I am now. I wished I would have known the secret 15-20 years ago.
As of last Saturday I have 9 weeks until Hartford. I would like to keep my miles in the 50-60 range but I need to get a long one in every week. This Saturday or Sunday might be a good time for a 20 miler. I also need to fight the desire to run faster. I think this might have been the reason for my heel problems before. My plan is to keep most of my runs in the 8-8:30 range with 1 run a week around 7:30-7:40.
9 weeks until Hartford
Monday 7.22
Tuesday 11.31
Thursday 10.28
Friday 7.32
Saturday 6.31, 5.84
Sunday 7.18
Average pace 8.14
A combination of moving and hurting myself several times has really put a crimp in my training over the last 2 months. This was my first solid training week since the end of May. Besides being a little worn out at the end of the week I felt pretty good. My heel which was giving me a lot of trouble hasn’t bothered me much at all so maybe taking it easy was a good thing.
I have also lost a much needed 10 lbs. I suspect that more of it was muscle than fat since I’ve backed off on the lifting but I’ve also changed my eating routine a little (1 bagel instead of 2 and a little less at dinner time). My weight right now is in the 161-164 range and after runs I’m getting down around 158. At this point I’m not trying to lose any more weight but I still lost 1-2 lbs last week. I suspect that I’ll settle into the 155-160 range. At any rate it’s amazing how ripped I am now. I wished I would have known the secret 15-20 years ago.
As of last Saturday I have 9 weeks until Hartford. I would like to keep my miles in the 50-60 range but I need to get a long one in every week. This Saturday or Sunday might be a good time for a 20 miler. I also need to fight the desire to run faster. I think this might have been the reason for my heel problems before. My plan is to keep most of my runs in the 8-8:30 range with 1 run a week around 7:30-7:40.
9 weeks until Hartford
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Rock n Roll Marathon
Time 3:46:35
Overall 1568 out of 13328
AG 128/677
The good race/bad race trend continues.
The temps were in the low 60’s with a light mist early on. The sun never came out and I don’t think it ever got higher than 65. The humidity was pretty high and that’s probably what affected me the most.
My plan for the race was to just run at a pace that felt good. Most of the first 7 miles were down hill and that led to a fast first half (1:41:58) but it wasn’t that much faster than at Boston. I took it slow for the 3 miles up 163 but they were all under 8:30 pace. I felt pretty good when I got to Friars Rd but pulled back a little because I had started so fast.
By mile 15 I was starting to wear down so I slowed the pace but was still running sub 9:00. By mile 18 the small but constant hills started. I decided the best strategy was to walk up the hills to conserve energy and try to run everything else (at a slow pace). This strategy worked for a while but by mile 22 I had little left. From 22-24 I was walking 1 minute and running 2. When I made it to mile 24 I managed to run the rest of the way.
Outside of avoiding any race with temps over 50 I’m not sure what else I can do. Maybe slowing down early on would have helped a little but my time might have still been about the same anyway with the only difference being that I didn’t have to walk.
Hopefully October in Connecticut will be cooler.
Overall the race was very good. Very organized, well staffed and plenty of water stops. I’m not sure if I would run it again but would recommend it.
Results
Race site
Overall 1568 out of 13328
AG 128/677
The good race/bad race trend continues.
The temps were in the low 60’s with a light mist early on. The sun never came out and I don’t think it ever got higher than 65. The humidity was pretty high and that’s probably what affected me the most.
My plan for the race was to just run at a pace that felt good. Most of the first 7 miles were down hill and that led to a fast first half (1:41:58) but it wasn’t that much faster than at Boston. I took it slow for the 3 miles up 163 but they were all under 8:30 pace. I felt pretty good when I got to Friars Rd but pulled back a little because I had started so fast.
By mile 15 I was starting to wear down so I slowed the pace but was still running sub 9:00. By mile 18 the small but constant hills started. I decided the best strategy was to walk up the hills to conserve energy and try to run everything else (at a slow pace). This strategy worked for a while but by mile 22 I had little left. From 22-24 I was walking 1 minute and running 2. When I made it to mile 24 I managed to run the rest of the way.
Outside of avoiding any race with temps over 50 I’m not sure what else I can do. Maybe slowing down early on would have helped a little but my time might have still been about the same anyway with the only difference being that I didn’t have to walk.
Hopefully October in Connecticut will be cooler.
Overall the race was very good. Very organized, well staffed and plenty of water stops. I’m not sure if I would run it again but would recommend it.
Results
Race site
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