What Can I Say?

Another great week of 2012 in the books.  This being first full week of showing up to work every day in the office without a vacation or business trip in a while, which seemed to begin and end on a positive note.  The training this week also went exactly as planed:

Just a random picture that makes me laugh

Monday -- Almost 4 mile speed workout
Tuesday -- weights
Wednesday -- 4 easy miles
Thursday -- 3 easy miles
Friday -- bike around the lake
Saturday -- 6 long slow miles
Which leaves tomorrow, Sunday-- rest, stretch, and roll out the soreness

So far my body is reacting to the increase in mileage positively.  I am doing my best to eat healthy (although I am far from perfect) and doing the little things that I hope will get me to the race start line healthy and ready to go.

After reading Rich Roll's book, Finding Ultra (which I thoroughly enjoyed), I tried to pay attention to my heart rate more on my easy runs.  After a few runs last week and this week, I have modified that plan to running based on how I feel to keep it easy.  I found that trying to run while watching my heart rate distracted me from the enjoyment I get out of running, so I decided that I would focus less on the number and more on the effort all the while minding the purpose of not overextending my efforts.

I also decided to incorporate walk breaks into my long run, a la the Galloway method.  I am not running the marathon to win (although I wouldn't complain!) and that even to meet a modest time goal of under 5 hours requires one main thing -- for me to maintain the training program and reach the starting line healthy.  I hope that the decreased stress on my body the run/walk provides will help me achieve this goal.  I have walked during long runs in the past since I struggle to eat and run at the same time, this plan will just have those happen a little more often.  The current plan is to run a mile and walk a minute; every mile.  So far my long runs are slower but I do seem to finish with a little less muscle and joint soreness.  The real test will be when the mileage increases to the 15 - 20 mile range.

Until next time, run well my friends. . .

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!