On Easy Street

After a busy several weeks of travel, work, and family events, the week my wife and I cherish every year has arrived -- Grandpa and Grandma Camp.  The week that my kids spend with my in-laws while my wife and I play.  Usually we visit some location that we tag along with a work trip.  Not this year, instead we decided to enjoy the stay-cation, with a short trip to KC for good measure. So nice!

My training plan is set.  I took a look at the many options from Runner's World and settled on the first-timer plan.  Even though this marathon will be my second, that was many years ago.  I took into account the suggestion that the plan should be designed to get me to the start line prepared and HEALTHY.  For me, getting to the line healthy will be key to my success, no matter the speed.

The plan begins at the end of September and I have designed my own bridge plan to build mileage and get ready for the start of the official plan.  I even built in an easy week prior to the start so I can be fresh and ready to get after some serious mileage.  I will also continue to do weights and cross train for as long as my body will tollerate.

 Let's run!

Another Week Nearly in the Books

This week flew by like so many before it.  I accomplished many of the goals I set out at the beginning of the week and added a few along the way.

I worked out six of the seven days, with four days running, one crossfit weights, and one biking.  This while working all week which included travel to Atlanta and the normal dad, husband, family-type tasks.  All-in-all a successful week.  Oh, and I signed up for a marathon.

Since last fall, I have been toying with the idea of completing another marathon (my first and last being the 2002 San Diego Rock n' Roll Marathon).  I have a friend who has tried to convince me for a couple of years to join him in doing the Walt Disney World Marathon and after seeing that 2013 was the 20th year for the marathon, I began to have illusions of running it.  I did pause after hurting my ankle last fall, but the feelings returned again in the past few months.

I mentioned this race a couple of times to my wife, who was not keen on my daughter missing school for the trip.  Last week, after mentioning it for the umpteenth time, I must have finally worn her down as she reconsidered and responded affirmatively.

After getting the go ahead, I didn't immediately sign up.  I thought about it some more and talked to a few trusted running friends to see if I was crazy.  Conclusion?  Yes, I am crazy -- just crazy enough to run and complete the race!

So, I signed up today and decided I wanted the extra training support (and VIP experience) that comes with the Runners World Challenge.  The registration is confirmed and now the training fun begins.

See you on the road to Orlando!

Success is Mine!

Family Photo

Well, based on my efforts the past two weeks, I am sticking to my plan.  I wanted to continue to lift weights (check), cross train on the bike or pool (check) and start to increase my mileage (check) all while improving my diet (check).

So now you migh ask, what's next?  A couple of things: 1.  this plan has only been in effect for two weeks, most real change in habits and patterns take at least 6 weeks of constant effort before it gets easier, so I still have at least 4 weeks to go before this turns into a routine; and 2.  starting an effort is often easier, in my experience, than continuing the effort when the newness wears off.  So far, I am still in the honeymoon period, which I hope stays true until the habits are established, but I must be prepared to push though when the difficulty arises.  Just recognizing the feelings and doing the activity will be another step in the path to greater fitness and faster speeds.

As the miles continue to climb and I prepare for the Market to Market, I want to keep in mind the pleasure and joy of moving my body under my own power and running for the sake of running.

Happy running, my friends!

Picking Up Steam, Slowly.

Color Me Rad

Summer training can be tough.  After ramping up the training for the late spring/early summer race, I usually take some time to recover and consider a training schedule for the summer.  Some years, this takes all summer and other years I take a week or two off and jump right back at it.  This year, with the extreme heat and fun vacation, this seems to have taken a little longer than average.

The last seven weeks I spent time focusing on strength training, cross training, health mind and body recovery, and just plain fun.  Just look at the pictures of our Color Me Rad 5K from today for the proof of the fun!

Over the next few weeks it will be game on! I plan to ramp up the mileage smartly, while continuing to incorporate cross training and strength training (thinking about doing some cross fit -- good idea?).  I will try to listen to my body while using Sport tracks to gauge my fitness and recovery.  My last goal is to get my diet back to where I was last summer, lose more than a few pounds, and be ready for the fall races.

My target race is the October Market to Market Relay, my 5th as team captain, which I want to be my strongest.  I am considering running the Omaha 1/2 marathon (would be my 1st) as a training run, but will not make that decision until I see how the training progresses. 

My Team at the Finish!

Time to get on the road!

Back for a Quick Check In

Where does the time go?  A question I continue to ask as day follows night follows day over and over.  Between work, vacation in Disneyland, and an occasional workout the time has moved rapidly from spring to full on summer.

I will update more latter, but suffice to say that although I have taken a step back in mileage over the last several weeks, I have maintained a decent level of fitness while including strength and bike workouts.  Now I just need to get my diet in order and we will be back in business!

Where Have You Been?

Try as I might, time seems to slip away even with the best of intentions.  I will use this post to briefly update my past couple of weeks and the next post will preview my next training plan.

I managed to survive the taper without my head overpowering my common sense to make it to race weekend.  The race packet pickup continues to be held in a space to small for the number of participants, but on the bright side the process seemed to be streamlined compared to previous years.  On the bright side, the expo contained some great deals, including Newton Shoes.

After last month's Runner's World article on the company's founder, I was intrigued to try a pair.  However, seeing a price tag of $175, I decided that exceeded my appetite to try something new.  Newton provided the opportunity, during the race expo, to try and buy a pair for $100.  So, I tried and purchased a pair of my very own.  I have not yet worn them, on account of the race and recovery, but plan to start easing into them soon.

Race morning was stormy and wet.  We drove through a stiff rain storm and by the time we reached Lincoln the sun was starting to rise with the clouds breaking up humid and warm.  I lined up between the 2 and 2:05 hour pace groups with optimistic aspirations.  After the starting gun, it took me near 20 minutes to reach the start line and I launched with an easy pace.  A quarter mile in I looked down at my watch and realized that I was going out faster than I planned and faster than my smartpacer wrist band said for mile 1.  I tried to slow down, but felt good (famous last words).

Long story short, I ran out of gas at mile 10 and walked/ran the rest of the way on guts, finishing in 2:09.  Not my slowest time, but not close to my fastest time nor my best time.  My lungs didn't quite on me, my legs did.  I have spent this last week recovering from the run and spend most of it in Tuscon for work.  Next post will talk about my future training goals. 

Light the fire, the race begins on Sunday!

I am managing to survive taper madness and can't wait for the race to begin.  Well, maybe that statement is not completely accurate. 

Right now I find myself questioning everything . . . did I run enough miles?  Did I do enough speed work?  What should my race strategy be -- run hard and try to hang on? Go slow and turn it up? Run with a pace group?  Set my own pace? 

So. Many. Questions.  I can't wait for the race to begin, then the questions can end and the rest will take care of itself.

In the words of AC/DC -- For those about to run, I salute you!