Tuesday, October 27, 2009
No run today
Schedule called for 3. I have had some achilles tenderness that is new. I decided to bag the run just in case. We are being hammered with snow at the moment, so I am not sure about tomorrow. If I end up staying here tomorrow night, I will probably hit the gym just in case. I can't risk anything at this point so I am not sure I will get outside....
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Last sorta long run
So today was the last long run of the cycle. At 8 miles, it certainly doesn't feel like 20, but is still a decent distance for someone that is only been running a year and a half.
This was a pretty awful week all-around, but I don't want to dwell on that. I just have a lot of things to get donw before I leave for New York. Should make the next few days fly. Because I was in a bad mood last night, I decided to watch Spirit of the Marathon, to try to get my mind focused on this amazing experience I am getting the chance to participate in. Watching elites as well as everyday runners like myself, make their journeys really helps me get a little perspective. Great flick.
Got up really late, but that is actually ok. It is pretty cold here and the extra couple of hours helps make the temperatures rise just a little bit. I decided to go shorts and short sleeve shirt, because it looks like it is going to be quite warm (by my standards) next Sunday in New York. The temps said a little above freezing, but I neglected to look at the wind speed. It was quite breezy today. After the first 3 miles it didn't really bug me temperature-wise, but I still get a little lost when I am running into a strong head-wind. I think I am going much slower than I am, and in turn push a bit harder than I should and tire myself out. There were about 2 miles that really zapped me this morning, when I looked at the watch I could see why. It felt like my warm-up miles but I was actually going quite a bit faster. In the scheme things, it didn't impact my effort towards the end. Just one of those little curiousities that I wonder if I will ever master over the years.
The colors aren't much to look at anymore. We have lost most the leaves and a lot of the fields as well as patches of grass have turned yellow. Not the best to keep your mind preoccupied, but you get used to it. I am wondering if I should start looking to run on the paths around town, maybe something to think about after this marathon.
At the top of my hill as I finished 6 miles, I noticed this car stuck in an intersection. I ran over to help push it, and it kind of burned my quads a bit. I immediately went back into my run and the sensation went away after a couple of minutes. I haven't been stretching much, and this is just another sign that I need to find a little more balance with no-stretching and over-stetching.
As has become a happy pattern, I kicked the last 2 miles up a bit and finished really strong. It is amazing how good it makes you feel to have that extra energy when your body is tired. Overall, I might have pushed a little hard for a long run, but I feel ok. I am starting to get very excited and maybe a little nervous about next weekend. But I have done just about everything I wanted to do when I started training this cycle. So I have to just trust that all the work and dedication will payoff. Have a nice weekend and thanks for reading....
This was a pretty awful week all-around, but I don't want to dwell on that. I just have a lot of things to get donw before I leave for New York. Should make the next few days fly. Because I was in a bad mood last night, I decided to watch Spirit of the Marathon, to try to get my mind focused on this amazing experience I am getting the chance to participate in. Watching elites as well as everyday runners like myself, make their journeys really helps me get a little perspective. Great flick.
Got up really late, but that is actually ok. It is pretty cold here and the extra couple of hours helps make the temperatures rise just a little bit. I decided to go shorts and short sleeve shirt, because it looks like it is going to be quite warm (by my standards) next Sunday in New York. The temps said a little above freezing, but I neglected to look at the wind speed. It was quite breezy today. After the first 3 miles it didn't really bug me temperature-wise, but I still get a little lost when I am running into a strong head-wind. I think I am going much slower than I am, and in turn push a bit harder than I should and tire myself out. There were about 2 miles that really zapped me this morning, when I looked at the watch I could see why. It felt like my warm-up miles but I was actually going quite a bit faster. In the scheme things, it didn't impact my effort towards the end. Just one of those little curiousities that I wonder if I will ever master over the years.
The colors aren't much to look at anymore. We have lost most the leaves and a lot of the fields as well as patches of grass have turned yellow. Not the best to keep your mind preoccupied, but you get used to it. I am wondering if I should start looking to run on the paths around town, maybe something to think about after this marathon.
At the top of my hill as I finished 6 miles, I noticed this car stuck in an intersection. I ran over to help push it, and it kind of burned my quads a bit. I immediately went back into my run and the sensation went away after a couple of minutes. I haven't been stretching much, and this is just another sign that I need to find a little more balance with no-stretching and over-stetching.
As has become a happy pattern, I kicked the last 2 miles up a bit and finished really strong. It is amazing how good it makes you feel to have that extra energy when your body is tired. Overall, I might have pushed a little hard for a long run, but I feel ok. I am starting to get very excited and maybe a little nervous about next weekend. But I have done just about everything I wanted to do when I started training this cycle. So I have to just trust that all the work and dedication will payoff. Have a nice weekend and thanks for reading....
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
6 miles
It was cold this morning, but more brisk than anything else. I got out the door and you could really feel it in the air. First mile went well, just a little bit of knee pain and very little neck pain. After the first couple of miles, the groove was found....I feel like I am getting more life into my legs each day and that makes me happy. I am trying to keep up my intensity while cutting the mileage, per an interesting article I read in RunnersWorld magazine. I think that it will work out well if I keep the knee pain down to a minimum. I am actually a little sad that this weekend will be my last "long" run of the cycle before the marathon. I am hoping that I can bounce back relatively quickly after New York and keep pushing my endurance as well as my overall level of fitness higher. Thanks for reading.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
4 miles today
So I injured my neck a little bit. It is a reoccuring thing I have had over the last few years. Oddly enough, it doesn't really hurt much when I run. So it didn't impact me at all. And that is a load off my mind. I thought I was in trouble when I woke up. The weather was brisk but not too bad. Got out the door in about 20 minutes and after my little warm-up I headed up the hill. My legs felt surprisingly good considering the knee pain I have been having the last week or so, so that really helps my confidence. By the top of the hill, I had locked into a pace I liked and easily kept it throughout the entire run. I had put a new song on the Ipod and gave it a few turns to see how I like running with it...it is a keeper. I was at a 9:19 mile for the loop so a good effort. Pretty good run to start my week.....
Saturday, October 17, 2009
12 mile lesson
So this is really the last true "long run" of the training cycle, and I did not put as much mental preparation into it as a normally do. I thought I was ready, but in hindsight I think I just made the mistake of not respecting the distance as much as a should have.
I had a late night and after a long week, decided to sleep in a bit. Because it has been so cold, I thought the extra time would help the temps rise to use my summer gear one more time. That part of the plan worked well. I was chilly for about the first 20 minutes, but perfect after that.
The first mile was a bit too fast, but I didn't realize it until I was about 3/4 of a mile in. ESPN just wasn't keeping my attention so I turned on the Ipod and that got me doing a bit too fast the first two miles. By mile 6 I realized the error of my ways.
The weather was really nice. I took a tiny detour through a park an into a neighborhood across one of the streets...nice to change things up a little from time to time. And I would be lying if I didn't say I like running on the trail, wish it would have been a bit longer.
About mile 4.5 I saw something that really made me chuckle...I was on a sidewalk and coming up on a big lab that always barks at me. He starts in on the usual chattering and then I see a squirrel jump on the ledge right next to his head and start running up the ledge perpendicular to me. It was like in the movie UP where the dog is talking and then sees a squirrel and loses all train of thought...it was really pretty damn funny. He tried to get the squirrel....but spent too much time focusing on me to even have a chance....ah the little moments....
On Grand, I hit every single light...which is really really odd. Run a block....wait....run a block...wait....run a block...wait....better to be safe than sorry I guess. Hopefully it will keep me safe.
The last several miles were a bit rough....but in hindsight...I am trying to let my body recover from 16 weeks of abuse. I didn't really get a taper before the last marathon because I had the flu so maybe a rough run is normal. Just gotta focus on the fact that rough or not, I ran 12 miles....
Thanks for reading.
PS - A big shout out for my friend Jenny Pruitt Craig running her first marathon tomorrow. Way to go Jenny! You Rock!
I had a late night and after a long week, decided to sleep in a bit. Because it has been so cold, I thought the extra time would help the temps rise to use my summer gear one more time. That part of the plan worked well. I was chilly for about the first 20 minutes, but perfect after that.
The first mile was a bit too fast, but I didn't realize it until I was about 3/4 of a mile in. ESPN just wasn't keeping my attention so I turned on the Ipod and that got me doing a bit too fast the first two miles. By mile 6 I realized the error of my ways.
The weather was really nice. I took a tiny detour through a park an into a neighborhood across one of the streets...nice to change things up a little from time to time. And I would be lying if I didn't say I like running on the trail, wish it would have been a bit longer.
About mile 4.5 I saw something that really made me chuckle...I was on a sidewalk and coming up on a big lab that always barks at me. He starts in on the usual chattering and then I see a squirrel jump on the ledge right next to his head and start running up the ledge perpendicular to me. It was like in the movie UP where the dog is talking and then sees a squirrel and loses all train of thought...it was really pretty damn funny. He tried to get the squirrel....but spent too much time focusing on me to even have a chance....ah the little moments....
On Grand, I hit every single light...which is really really odd. Run a block....wait....run a block...wait....run a block...wait....better to be safe than sorry I guess. Hopefully it will keep me safe.
The last several miles were a bit rough....but in hindsight...I am trying to let my body recover from 16 weeks of abuse. I didn't really get a taper before the last marathon because I had the flu so maybe a rough run is normal. Just gotta focus on the fact that rough or not, I ran 12 miles....
Thanks for reading.
PS - A big shout out for my friend Jenny Pruitt Craig running her first marathon tomorrow. Way to go Jenny! You Rock!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
8 mile Wednesday
Midterms....oh how I love thee. I have two tomorrow and need to get back to studying, but realized I forgot to update the blog. I got up and out the door fairly early. It took a loooooong time to get my pace to where I wanted. The knee is definitely back into my mind which is not a good thing. It was not so bad that it changed how I ran, but just enough to take away a little bit of the joy that running brings. It seemed to be better the last few miles but has been a little persistent all day long. I am taking off tomorrow to see if that helps a little bit before I do 12 on Saturday. Just a tiny speed bump....no way is it going to hold me back....
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