Monday, December 28, 2009

Christmas Week

Hi everybody,

Well it is the week after Christmas and the beginning of week 5 of my Marathon training.

It was a little tough to get motivated but I think I did ok. I was suppose to go out and do a 3 mile run on Christmas day, but that did not end up happening. Running around visiting family just got in the way. I thought about going out at night when the day was over, thinking that I had read somewhere about teaching your body to keep running even if you are tired. Well I decided that it was not worth going out as tired as I was in the off chance that I would injure myself. That is not what I am doing here. I am here to train and complete a full marathon and not injure myself in the process.

I know that time on my feet on long runs on the weekend will help me to train my body to keep on keepin on. In fact, I did a long run this weekend, my longest run yet. The group I run with on the weekend had our largest turn out yet. 10 people. It was great to run the back roads in such a large group. Of course they are all faster then I am. Not all of us are training for a marathon so it was determinded that those running the marathon set the pace. Well I was not really up for that. I sometimes feel bad holding people back. I started out in the front, but at about mile 3 some people started to pull away. It did not bother me at all. We all met up at mile 6 for a fueling break and then went on our way.

The only problem that I have is that I don't do well on hills and we have a lot out here in Western Loudoun County. I have only been running for a year so I don't feel my body is as acoustomed as the other runners in the group who have been running for a lot longer then me. Don't get me wrong, I respect the hills. I try to pay very close attention to my posture while going up and down, I am just not used to them yet.

I will say that I am really enjoying the running in the winter so far. Sure it has it tough moments when you are outside at 5:00 am and the wind is blowing right at your face and the temperature is 15 with the windchill. The way I look at it, its better then running in 90 degrees with 90 % humidity.
I try not to look too far ahead, but tomorrow looks like it is going to be cold and windy. Temperature looks to going to be about 22 degrees with wind gusts around 20 MPH. I think I will be running with a fleece jacket and one of those fleece face guards. The ones that cover your whole head and face except for your eyes. So we shall see what things are like tomorrow.

Well see you on the next post.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Week Three

So Week three is done.
It was a little difficult only due to the fact that we had a winter storm come through. That made if a bit difficult to get the long run in outside.
I did get some yaktrax but due to scheduling snafus I could not get the run in outside, I had to do it on the treadmill. Was not that happy about it, but I did get some miles in.
Not sure if anybody else has experienced this or not, but it does not appear that I can run as fast on the treadmill as I do outside. Of course my treadmill is old and a low end model, but I just thought that to be weird.
Anyway, I have been doing good on my running schedule during the week. I do enjoy the lunch time runs that I do at work. It helps to clear the mind and provide a nice break in the middle of the day. The only downside is that there is no shower facility to use. I bring a towel and lots of deodorant and do a wash in the sink. There is a private bath room that I can use to change and get cleaned up in so it is not that bad.
So after running at work 2 days a week I get up early in the morning and run for a couple of miles before getting ready for work. I have noticed that my pace is a little slower to start but I do tend to pick it up towards the end. If you have never run at 4:30 in the morning, try it once. It is one of the most peaceful feelings I have ever had.
Well nothing much else to talk about right now. Christmas is right around the corner, literally. This is going to be a challenging time as to when I am going to get my runs in but, we will get through this.
thanks for reading, promise to provide a more timely update next time.

Monday, December 14, 2009

Week two of training

Well week two is in the bag and I must say that I have definitely been tested.
The weather is starting to prove that it is winter time.
On Tuesday we ran 3.3 miles with two quarter mile sprints, one in the beginning and one at the end. It was a good day, not too cold or windy. On Thursday we ran 4 miles at a regular pace but the wind started to pick up. I say we because I am referring to a friend at work. This is our lunch time ritual. We have been doing this for sometime now. I can not exactly remember when we started but it was before the summer began. Come to find out that if I was not running at lunch time, neither would he which he is going to be running the Shamrock half marathon. So I motivate and inspire someone. That felt great to hear.
Now on to Friday where the wind did not let up. It started Thursdays afternoon and really started to pick up Thursday night and into Friday morning. When I got up Friday I was tired, but I needed to follow the training. There was nothing wrong with me. Sure I could have picked any excuse in the book, you know the one that has been mentioned in numerous podcasts of late. I can not remember exactly which one but it could be the run run live podcast or the Phedippidations podcast, or the runners roundtable or runners lounge. The title of the book is: Coach, I didn't run because...: Excuses not to Run by Coach Dean Hebert.
I could have crawled back into bed and put it off, but I just could not do it. I went out and ran 3.28 miles in a howling cold wind. It was worth it. Sure I hated being out there, but I felt so much better when I was done.
So now comes the weekend and my long run. A friend of mine from the local running group was doing an ultra on Saturday and a couple of other guys were going down to run with him on the last 10 miles. They invited me. I was tempted to go but I was hesitate as I did not want to run too much. What I mean is that I ran on Thursday and Friday so I wanted to rest on Saturday and do the long run on Sunday, instead of running on Thursday Friday and Saturday.
Well, there is part of me that was thinking I should bite the bullet and run on Saturday but I did not. Enter the book of excuses.... Saturday night it starts to rain. Temperature drops to hover around the freezing mark. I wake up to a wet morning, but no wind thankfully.
Well I met up with the local running group at the predetermined location for a 12 mile trail run.
It was cold and raining. Including me there was 4 of us. Being that I am the "rookie Marathoner in training" I was instructed to set the pace. This was a change for me as I usually am the one playing catch up with the others, but it was fine. No one really said anything we were all glad for each others company on that cold rainy day. After a while we all forgot it was raining. I can not really tell you what we talked about. A lot of this and a lot of that and a lot of nothing in particular. We all joked and said that if it was not for the group we would not have come out to run today. We all inspired each other that day.
So week two in the bag with a total of 22.58 miles. WOW! who would have thought!
Thanks for reading.

Monday, December 7, 2009

Week one is in the bag

Well here is to the end of week one of training.
It was a good week. I ran at work during lunch 2 of the days and got up really early to run before work then I ran with the local running club.
So my schedule called for a total of 15 miles and I ended up doing 17.8 miles. All is good.
I have a little discomfort with my lower right leg. Nothing too major. I am icing during the day and putting it on a heating pad at night for a few minutes.
I believe my body is starting to get use to me beating it up. I am not real conserned with my pace but I have noticed that I have gotten faster.
My long run for next week says 6 miles but a guy I run with says that it should be 12. we will see how I feel. I was suppose to do 10 this past weekend but only did 7.5
Well there is not much more to talk about right now so I will close down and look to update next week.

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

On with the Training

Ok here we go. I have officially started my training for my first Marathon.
I was kind of talked into it but not really. Ok let me explain.
After completing the Baltimore Half Marathon, and feeling the way that I did, I was thinking to myself........that wasn't so bad. So I started really thinking about committing to a full Marathon, but the bigger question would be which one.
Well the Marine Corp was coming up and I knew a lot of people that were running in it so we, the family and I, went to Crystal City to cheer the runners on.
After seeing and experiencing all of the support at Mile 23 I was selling myself on preparing to train for the Marine Corp for next year.
Well I started talking with some running friends about running a Marathon and they were all supportive. In fact they said "a couple of us are running Shamrock, you should think about joining us". Well after some coaxing and talking with I decided that I will take the plunge earlier then expected and run the Shamrock Marathon in Virginia Beach.
Its kind of fitting as I lived there for a while. My Dad being in the Navy was stationed at a couple of the bases in that area during the 70s and early 80s then we moved to California but we will save that for later.
As I mentioned before, and the real reason for this post, is that yesterday was my first running day for my training for my first Marathon.
So as with all of the races I have done in the past I am working on three goals. I am not really concerned about time as this is my first one, I just want to be able to complete it on my own. Of course when I started to train for my first 5k my thought was "running 3 miles? are you kidding me?!?!" But now look at me. I have completed a handful of 5ks and 10ks and even a Half Marathon.
So, aside from just finishing, my 3 goals are: I'll take it: 5 hours Main goal: 4:45 and Knock it out of the park: 4:30
So there it is in writing. Come March 21st we shall see what happens.
Thanks for reading.
Comments are always welcomed.