Merry Christmas!

I know, the title is cliche and I can only surmise that there are about a million blog, Facebook, and other posts with the same title which makes this stand out from no one.  But, since it is Christmas as I write this, it seems only appropriate that I send you the proper greetings.  Part of the shocking fact to you might be the realization that this is the second posting in a month -- nearly a record for me!

Today I am spending time with family and reminiscing on another year nearly complete, a marathon training plan nearly complete, and convincing myself that I still have miles to go before the race.  The temperature outside this morning peeking over zero, but the wind makes it feel like -13 (according to weather.com) and the rest of the week doesn't improve much from this point.  I have a treadmill and could very easily complete today's planned mileage (4-7) on that contraption except for my experience last week has soured me on the idea.

Last week we had our first snow in over 295 days, a record in these parts.  Wednesday night and Thursday the snow piled up to ever 10 inches.  Pretty to look at, not so good for the last 20 mile run of this training cycle.  I considered my options: 1. try to run in the snow; 2. skip the run; or 3. complete the miles of the treadmill.  I really love to run outdoors.  In fact, I cannot remember the last time I ran any miles on the treadmill.  However, most of my normal training routes would be socked with snow and with the roads still icy, I decided the treadmill was my best option.  No reason to get hurt this close to the race with all of the miles I have put in.  I mean, how bad can it be, right?

Bad.  By mile 2 I was ready to get off that contraption.  By mile 15 I began to loath my view of the outside.  By mile 18 I considered abandoning my last two miles to retain my sanity or run 22 laps around the gym track just to get away.  However, I managed, somehow, to slog through those last two miles and reach my 20 mile goal.  I was slow, slower that two weeks before on the trail, but I attribute that to all the mental energy I needed to expend just to stay on that treadmill.  Finally, the last long run in the books for the marathon.

So, you can see why I will probably bundle up today and enjoy a pleasant, albet cold, run around the neighborhood.  Snow is still piled up, but the roads are generally clear and I am counting on not much traffic the Chirstmas morning.  Between the taper and not running on the treadmill, I will enjoy the run that much more.

Keep running my friends.

Follow The Motto

The miles continue to pile up as my marathon training reaches the halfway point. No missed workouts or miles (knock on wood) which represents an accomplishment I am proud to announce.

The aches and pains continue to mount as well. All things considered, a little right quad and hamstring pain seem like small potatoes given the amount of miles. What's next?

The long runs get longer starting with 14 miles this week and culminating in not one, but two 20-mile runs. The weekday runs also increase a few more miles and the weekly totals reach 30 miles this week and build to 40.

To keep up with this plan, I need to stick with the mantra -- running till the wheels fall off! The right one might be wobbling, nothing a little duct tape, baling wire, and bubble gum can't fix.

Until we run again ...


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Tomorrow 11 miles

Hello my friend.  Although I may not be as consistent as other posting blog updates, I am still doing it many months after starting.  Accomplishments are baby steps and should be relished, right?  In comparison, I have another blog site with exactly 0 posts.  Zero.  Nada. Not one.

PeaceLoveRun2012

Speaking of zero, Sunday is scheduled to be a rest day and as of right now I am also scheduled to run the Beer and Bagel 4 miler.  Who doesn't like going for a fun run and then drinking beer with fellow runners, all before 11 am on Sunday morning?  I figure I will run my 11 mile long run tomorrow and play Sunday by feel.  If I go, I take it easy and then drop Monday and Tuesday and rest easy.  Or I take Sunday for rest and pick it back up Monday with 6 miles.  No need to rush to make a decision tonight. 

Speaking of rushing, I ran across as cool web page while looking for new songs for my running play list.  Rock My Run sells tokens that can be used to purchase running mixes made by professional DJs for a reasonable amount of coin.  So far I have downloaded two mixes and enjoyed them both as a nice change of pace.  Some of the mixes come with bpm (beats per minute) in case a person wants to use it for cadence speeds, either steady beats or mixes that build.  And they have all kinds of music . . . pop, rock, country, house, and others . . . and from different eras (80s, 90s, and today's hits).  Tonight I am surfing their lists to pick out some new tunes for tomorrow's long run and all the runs still ahead.

The miles keep building and start picking up steam from here.  Tomorrow is a nice and easy 11 mile run and since I have the time I think I will again run the Wabash Trace Trail, a short 30 minute drive from the house.  The views are pretty and the crushed limestone trail nicer to my body.  I need to be nice to my body, because according to the training plan, the last few weeks were merely "foundation" miles and now we start to "build" over the next many weeks, until just before Christmas, where I will complete the second of two 20-mile runs.  Can't wait!

See you on the Road!

BONK! (really)

Sometimes I just have to relearn lessons.  Based on the lessons from this weekend, apparently I periodically need reminding of those things I have already learned but forgot.  Saturday was one of the days . . .

Saturday is go long day.  The long run was scheduled to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 miles.  I slept in after the baseball game and fireworks Friday night because it felt good.  I tried to convince myself (and others) that I slept in to avoid the light morning rain, but who am I kidding?  I didn't feel like getting out of bed.  After assembling the necessary tools of the trade, I finally made it to the trail head at about 10 am.

I knew I needed some fuel to power my run, so I threw down a couple shot blocks before I left the house and brought along two packets for the run.  I usually only need on package for a run less than 12 miles, but my thought was "two packets don't weigh that much and better to be safe than sorry." Famous last words.

The run started out just as expected, nice and easy.  I kept focusing on staying loose and slow.  The plan was to fuel at miles 4 and 8 with the possibility of picking up the pace around mile 6.  I also opened the door to going further than 10 miles.  About two miles in I began to feel uneasy.

Instead of spending much time trying to figure out what was going on, I continued to focus on the run and plan.  Soon, I was losing steam and finding it difficult to keep the pace--I was bonking!  I continued to attempt to run through it, unwilling to alter my plan.  Finally, when I thought I might pass out, I made the decision to fuel earlier than planned. 

I slowed to a walk and took down some fuel.  I first thought 4 shot blocks were enough, but when I couldn't feel the effects and I tried to run, I consumed three more. So, after using up almost all of my fuel within the first three miles, I resumed my run with all the vigor I could muster. I did complete 11 miles total which feels like a success under the circumstances.

I do remembered a previous run where the same thing happened.  I recall thinking, "next time I need to fuel quickly so it makes it into my system as soon as possible to recover quickly."  I wish I would have remembered that little tidbit at mile 2, instead of mile 11.  Oh, well.  Next time I will try to eat more for breakfast and take in fuel as soon as the world starts closing in.  Hopefully.