Marathon Training: Week 2

Tuesday 4.09m
Wednesday 5.12m
Thursday 4.07m
Saturday 3.5m
Sunday 8.2m

Week 24.97

Saturday was on the treadmill.

Sunday was outdoors. It was 7* with wind and snow. I was fine with the temp, but the snow made it a bit slippery (fell once). Then I forgot my extra key at home and locked myself out of the car. I had to add a loop back home to pick up the extra key. Ended up about 0.8miles below goal, but still feel good with week.

Marathon Training: Week 1

Total Miles 25:46

Tues 4miles
Wed 5.25miles
Thurs 4 miles
Sat 4.07 miles
Sun 8.14 miles

Sun was an out and back run; last four miles were 6 minutes faster than the first four.

Overall, back is sore, but I feel good. I am confident that my slow month of running in December did not dig too deep a hole and I am ready for the 18week marathon plan.

6 Months Running

Just finished my first 6 months running:

431.58 miles

102 hours, 25 minutes, 32 seconds total

69,323 calories

Races:

4 x 5k
1 x 10k
1 x 8k


I have gone from barely able to run one minute without needing to walk to the ability to run 10-12 miles without a walk break. My resting heart rate, blood pressure and weight have all improved. I am about 1/3 of the way to where I want to be but I am enjoying the journey.

Cancelled Run Club????

Got home yesterday and stretched out my back. Then got bundled up and headed off to Running Club. Layered pretty good because the temp was below zero with a windchill advisory (-25* or so. . .). There was a sign up that said "cancelled due to WindChill!" I ran about 0.1 mile but realized that my eyes were getting too cold due to the wind; I think I could have handled it if I had goggles or something. . .

Anyway, I went home, took off the layers, grabbed shorts and a short sleeve tee and headed back to the office to run on the treadmill in the gym at work. Got my 4 miles in, but the legs this morning remind me that "treadmill miles" are not like "real miles." Also, the boredom factor of the treadmill is a real pain.

This morning, it is -13* actual with a -35* windchill, so I will be doing the treadmill for the next couple of days. . .

Sore back

I have a sore spot in my upper back. It is below my shoulder blades about 1/3 of the way down from neckline to waist. It hurts and prevents me from sitting for longer than about 10 minutes at a time. It also is impacting my sleep. Last night, I skipped a 4 mile run to avoid aggravating it. My frustration level is rising; I hate feeling bad and I hate not being able to train.

I know it will work itself out in about 5 to 12 days, but my frustration level at the discomfort is huge. My biggest frustration is its impact on focus and enjoyment. It dominates my thinking rather than focusing on the task at hand and enjoying what I am doing, including running.

Cold?

My four-year-old son Cooper asked this morning: "Why is it so cold?"

I replied: "Its still winter and it's only 17*; it will get colder."

Although Cooper does not understand why, we have been spoiled by a warmer than average winter. That's about to change. The fifteen day outlook calls for ten days with lows below zero with six of those days looking like windchills below -20*(two below -30*). It is time to dig out the windbriefs and the warmer clothing; we are moving into a normal winter just in time for the beginning of the spring marathon training season. The National Weather service lists our 90 day forecast as "Above normal", but that doesn't mean we still don't have some cold coming.

I need to think through everything from socks to hats and make sure I am prepared.

This weekend looks cold!!!!

Mileage up; weight down

Just finished a "bounce-back" week where I returned to higher mileage after a couple of weeks of holiday slacking. . .

Dropped 10 pounds this week, as my body returned to fat burning. Felt like I ate like a pig today, but it was all vegi's, salad, high fiber, etc. and I dropped weight. Feeling good!

Ice running

Ran tonight with ice on the ground for the first time. I admit that I have been a bit chicken. I am normally a klutz that is challenged by walking on ice. I also have a deep fear of falling and injuring myself. So the rain and snow we got on Saturday drove me to the treadmill. But that sucks also! Time to try the new no-slip thingies with the spikes on the bottom that fit over my shoes. Wunderbar!!! Felt like I was running normal with no slips at all. Even better, the greenway was "plowed", giving me a fairly level, albeit, ice covered surface. But it is better than dodging cars on the ice covered roads and it was a peaceful workout. In fact, I only saw one other runner out (at 9:00 to 10:00 pm in the 5* windchill!!!)

Looking forward to another late run tomorrow night.

New Year

It is a new year and I have a confession to make. I let my milelage slip some over the holidays. I was sick for a couple of days, weather was a bit yucky, I traveled, I had childcare issues, I ate poorly, and I was lazy. I start my eighteen week marathon program on 1/15. So it is time for some adjustment. I sat down tonight with my calendar, pencil, and eraser and adjusted my plan for the next 60 days. I knocked some miles off the first 3-6 weeks of training and I mapped out the next two weeks to get start moving my mileage base back up to where it was last month before I started being lazy.

I am comfortable with my changes and think they are definitely attainable.

20 weeks to 26.2!