Over Thinking Running?

Reading Anton Krupica's blog this morning and it seems that the man just goes out and runs. I like this idea, quit over thinking the run and run!

Take Two...

On a whim I decided to put my wife and I into the St. George Marathon lottery. I never blogged that on our 18 miler 13 weeks into Phoenix's PF Chang Marathon training I felt this horrible burning sensation, almost like being stung or bitten at mile 14. I finished the run but it was the last time I would run for about 7 weeks. Turned out to be shin splints and it kept me from running my first marathon. My wife, Susie did run and complete the marathon. Honestly, I've never been prouder yet deep inside I was so jealous I couldn't stand it.

Fast forward to training for St. George, we just finished week 10 of training, wait Susie just finished week 10, I all of a sudden after my run Thursday night started having hip pain and missed our 15 miler Sunday. It's the only run I've missed in 10 weeks, but all those negative thoughts of PF Chang training are here again. Using Naproxen, easy stretching and icing in hopes that I only miss that 15 miler last Sunday.

On another note I've read 'Born to Run' and 'Once a Runner' in the last month and both are motivating as heck.

Susie and I ran 'Gasping in the Aspens 15k' in Flagstaff and 'Gheral Brownlow's 10k Trail Race' in Prescott this summer. After St. George I want to concentrate on trail racing as in my eyes it's just much more fun!

Turns out we have some dang nice trails in Prescott and I plan to check them all out!

Distance PR

This week was capped by our 15.29 (distance PR) run this morning. We had planned to run two 7.5 mile loops with a pit stop at the house to use the bathroom and replenish our water. That was a smart idea since I had to use the bathroom badly at about mile 5!

We decided on the fly to get some street running in too as we usually just run our long runs on the desert roads/trails. Unfortunately, what I knew but didn't think would really bother us was that it is mostly uphill and at mile 11 it became apparent that the increasing grade was going to kick both our butts. From there on it was a struggle, but neither of us ever thought of stopping, no way!

I have a goal for my first marathon to finish at 4:59:59 or better, however after taking 3:09 to run 15.29 which is a 12:22 mile that goal might be more like a dream. To break 5 hours one needs to run at a 11:25 per mile pace. I'm in trouble...

Week 11 schedule is 4,8,4 and 16 for a total of 32. However, since we are running a 5k Turkey Waddle race on Thursday, Thanksgiving morning we have decided to alter the week. We will instead run 5, 3, 8 and 16.

Enjoying the ride...

Here Comes Test Number One

Were are now ready to enter uncharted territory. Susie ran 4, 7 and 3 on Tue, Wed and Thur. I ran 4, 3 and 7 on Tue, Wed and today Friday. This leaves us with THE 15 miler to run on Sunday, 1.9 miles further than we've ever run before.

I circled this day on the training program the day I printed it, here we are.

Our plan is to do a 7 1/2 mile loop in the desert and end up back at the house where we can do a 2-3 minute pit stop. Then get back out in the desert for 7 1/2 more miles.

I've been running, stretching and sitting in the pool after any run over 6 miles. This morning I spent 20 minutes in a 59 degree pool and after the first couple of minutes it's not too bad. Reading Vince Flynn's 'Consent To Kill' while I suffer severe shrinkage. I do think it helps! Susie won't get near it.

Hit a new low with my weight today and that concerns me, 168.

Went to Costco for food and as boys do, when leaving I pushed the cart hard and jumped on to ride that puppy! Lower left abdomen let me know it didn't like it, great...

1/2 Way Through Training

It doesn't seem possible but Susie and I are half way through our 18 week training program leading up to our first marathon on January 17, 2010. The good news is that we haven't been short even one mile yet! The bad news is that neither of us at this point think we can complete 26.2 miles.

We are following Hal Higdon's Novice program and in it he says to 'follow it faithfully' and for the most part we are. Due to work and life I am running the midweek longer run on Fridays instead of Wednesdays. Susie is having to run some of her miles on the dreadmill, she works much harder than me.

Our bodies are holding up well at this point and that in itself is all we can ask for. My weight is in the high 160s low 170s and seems stable.

This week three PRs should be set, for Susie a weekly distance and one run distance PRs and for me a one run distance PR. We are scheduled for 3, 7, 4 and 15. Neither of us have run more than 13.1, should be a great week!

Weeks 5 and 6

Week 5 was a good week with the right knee improved. We were scheduled for 21 and ended the week with 21.82.

Just finished week 6 this morning and it was a good 'cut back' week. Scheduled for 18 total, 3,5,3 and 7. We finished with 19.46.

I told Susie that actual training starts this week as we now have no more single digit long runs until the week before the marathon when we are in 'taper mode'. The miles really pick up from here as this week we are scheduled for 24: 3,6,3 and 12. I've been running the middle long run (6 this week) on Fridays due to work/life. So in reality this week will be 3,3,6 and 12.

Weight seems stable in low 170's...

Shut up and run...

Week Four done!

Our first month of training for PF Chang's Marathon has come to a conclusion. We were scheduled to run 3,4,3 and 9 for a total of 19. We ended the week with 19.45 in the books. Today's 9 miler went as scheduled until the last mile where my right knee started to tighten up. Susie's right shin is bothering her a little now too.

This is my nightmare that we are unable to complete the training as we have scheduled. Hopefully we will wake up tomorrow and have no lasting effects from today's run.

Week 5 calls for 3,5,3 and 10 for a total of 21 miles.

Sunday morning weight 171.5