I ran in the Great Pumpkin 5K on Saturday morning and since it was Halloween, I decided to run in a costume. I wanted it to be funny, so I decided on dressing as a beer bottle. I figured this would slow me some, and it did, but I still managed to set a new PR for 5K at 25:42. My previous PR was at the Concord Bunny run in April and my time there was 26:55. It was a fun event and my brother-in-law, Alex, placed 1st in his age group! The costume slowed me a bit and it wasn’t the most comfortable thing to run in, but it was still fun to do, especially with everyone cheering me in with “Hooray Beer!” After the 5K, they had a 1 mile fun run for the kids and Mia attempted to run and did run for a while, but not the whole way. She earned a medal anyway though! As always, it was great to have Jenn, Mia and Sadie at the finish line to cheer me in.
Almost there!
Hooray Beer!!!
On Sunday, I decided it was time to test my shin on a long run. I set out to run at least 7 miles, but I ended up running 10 miles in 1:48:45, a nice and easy pace with a few walk breaks. My legs were tired, but the shin still feels okay. Hopefully this means I will be able to work my mileage up to be able to still run the marathon.
And today is the day I resume the “Daryl Diet.” I have decided to do as Tyler does and post a weekly weigh in on Wednesdays. See you then!
I have been able to do a few short runs in the past 2 weeks pain free. I cannot explain how excited I am about that. Especially when my first marathon takes place in under 51 days! I think I have worked out a running schedule that should prepare me (I hope) for 26.2 miles on 12/12/09.
Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Saturday
Week 1 (this week) - 3 miles 3 miles 4 miles 5 miles
Week 2 3 miles 4 miles 3 miles 6 miles
Week 3 3 miles 4 miles 3 miles 9 miles
Week 4 3 miles 6 miles 3 miles 11 miles
Week 5 3 miles 6 miles 3 miles 15 miles
Week 6 3 miles 6 miles 3 miles 18 miles
Week 7 3 miles 3 miles 3 miles 6 miles
Week 8 (race week) 3 miles 3 miles 2 miles 26.2 miles
This shedule allows for me to work up to one long run of 18 miles 2 weeks before the marathon and then taper. I was recommended this by a professional therapist. He said if I can’t do that, then scrap the marathon or this will be a problem for me going into next year. I plan to be very careful in my training and if I feel any pain, I will ease up. If I can’t get to 18 miles, then I will still run the half marathon. What do you all think about this plan? Of course, everything relies on my ability to complete this safely, but that is what I aim to do.
My shin is still in some pain, but shows some minor improvement. I have been wearing compression sleeves, icing and resting trying like hell to speed up the healing process any way I know how. My sister, Jenny, said that the creaking sound made in my lower shin when I move my foot is most likely a fluid buildup from the swelling. That has mostly gone away today, so I will take that as a good sign.
I was able to ride my bike late last week. I rode to work and back home on Friday and although my shin was pretty stiff when I got home, the pain was not any worse than doing nothing, so at least I can get some workouts in while I wait to be able to run again.
I also rode some with Melissa last night while she is getting used to her new bike. It must have been comical when I was showing her how to properly un-clip from the pedals and I lost my balance and fell over! I now have a bruised left elbow and sternum (where the bike saddle landed). In an effort to protect the bike, I threw myself onto the concrete to keep the bike from landing. No damage to the bike. You gotta save the carbon!
I am worried that several weeks of no running during the middle of marathon training will hurt me in the long run, but let me tell you this: one way or another I will get my body through 26.2 miles on December 12th!
It has been the better part of a week since I have posted anything and that is probably because I haven’t had any good news to share. Last week I spent recovering from the triathlon and didn’t do any workouts at all. In fact, I think I have done some damage to my lower shin or ankle or something. It continued to get worse day by day until this morning. This morning it feels better, but not good enough to run on. But I am hopeful that this is a sign of the turnaround. With the marathon only 74 days away, I am chomping at the bit to get back out there!
After not doing any training for the past 5 days to recover from the Blue Ridge Relay, I am now focused on this Saturday’s triathlon. Most people would not have scheduled a triathlon a week after a race like the BRR, and I wouldn’t have, except I had already signed up for the tri when Alex invited me to run with him in the relay race. Not being someone who likes to waste money, I am doing both!
When I asked Jason Sutton about recovery after the BRR, he told me not to do anything at all for a week and a half or so, then build back slowly. So when I told him I had a race next Saturday, he said, “well, good luck, your probably gonna feel it on the run”
My legs feel about 95% recovered now and I am hoping it won’t be too bad. It is a sprint triathlon with a 750 meter lake swim, 14 mile bike and a 5K run. After the tri, I can then focus on marathon training.
After a week at the beach, it is back to reality for me. I was able to get a few runs in while there. I did 4 miles in the rain last Thursday, 3 on Friday and 4.78 on Monday. I know, you will say “just go for five!” But let me tell you, I was nearing heat stroke!
This is week 4 of marathon training and I have gotten a bit off schedule, but it is also only a week before the Blue Ridge Relay. I don’t want to overdo anything at this point. I did get a 3.5 mile run in this morning in the fresh cool air which was a stark contrast from Monday’s run.
Now I want to shift from training to what got me into this whole thing to begin with – weight loss. With the beach trip come pictures, more specifically pictures of me with my shirt off. My dad recently uploaded his pictures from last year’s trip to his Facebook page and I looked at them a few weeks ago. I wondered how this year’s pictures would compare, because I was far from proud of the way I looked last year. I am pleased with the transformation and look forward to next year’s pictures being even more pleasing. I share this with you for your own motivation as it is certainly motivation for me to wake up and run! Tell me – what is your motivation?
Motivation!
This week is the third week of the 18 week training program for Charlotte’s Thunder Road Marathon. The training calls for a 3 mile run on Tuesday, a 4 mile run today, a 3 mile run again tomorrow and a 5 mile run on Saturday. I got 3 miles in last night after I arrived home from work. It was hot – the temperature at my work said 101, but it is in the sun. It was not very humid, however, so that made up for it. I was please with my pace at 9:16.
I slept in this morning and we head for Hilton Head for a week (almost) at the beach with the family. I will run the 4 miles either tonight or tomorrow and get the other runs in down there. It will be nice to run on flat ground, but not good for the BRR training! I will have to run some hard hills next week to make up. Perhaps I can get a game of disc golf in while I am there too.
On another note, I visited my one of my favorite stores on Monday night with Mia (Sadie was eating dinner, so Jenn stayed and fed her) to buy new running shoes. TrySports is definitely the place to go for supplies if you are near one. Turns out I am still in the correct shoe – neutral, so I got a pair that replaces my model that was out of production now. They are Saucony ProGrid Ride 2. My previous ones were Saucony ProGrid Ride. Some creative people they have working for them. I guess the simple name does help to know what the shoes is most like the previous models. I ran in them last night and I love them. They feel more cushioned than my last ones, but perhaps mine have worn down more than I realized. I will still continue to run in them and alternate between the two to get the most out of them. Two pairs of good running shoes will certainly help at the BRR.
My new shoes
So until next week – happy training everyone!
I decided to bike to work today since I miss my bike after not riding for the last couple of weeks. I was going to go for a long ride last Sunday, but I decided my time would be better spent with my family instead of out on the bike.
I woke up at 4:30 again, showered and got my bike clothes on. I packed my work clothes/shoes and running shorts/shoes into my backpack and headed out. Even though I am biking to work doesn’t mean I can skip the 3 mile run today!
The ride in was nice. I really enjoy being on the bike. I wish it got light a little earlier so I didn’t have to start in total darkness, but my 10 flashing red LED lights made sure drivers saw me and there were no problems.
I arrived at work about 35 minutes later and went inside to store my bike and change shorts and shoes. I headed out for the run.
The run went well; no walk breaks today. I realized at about 2.5 miles that running in my bike jersey may not be the best thing. I didn’t think about this for a 3 mile run, but if I am running with this shirt again, I will be sure to put the Aquaphor on the nipples! I assume it is the different material that cause the rubbing, but man that hurts. Still does actually.
So I get to ride the bike home today (hopefully no thunderstorms – 30% chance) and then tomorrow will be a rest day. I get to sleep in! 6:00 AM will never feel so good. Then Saturday will be the 7 miler and I will have to drag myself out of bed again. I will keep you guys posted!
Edit-
to see details of the ride to work, click here, the run, and the ride home.
This is the second week of the 18 weeks leading up to my first marathon attempt on 12/12/09 in Charlotte, NC. The week calls for 3 3mile runs on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and then a 7 mile run on Saturday. Today is Wednesday and I ran 3 trail miles on the Anne Springs Close Greenway yesterday afternoon and a little more than 3 miles on the sidewalks this morning.
The trail run was a last minute decision. I overslept on Tuesday morning and decided that I would either run at lunch or that evening. After I watched the weather and they said it will be “real hot and steamy”, I decided a lunch run was out. You’re welcome co-workers. Then at some point in the morning, I realized that I couldn’t run in the evening because I was donating blood after work and I figure that would not be the best thing to do right after draining a pint of blood. As luck would have it, I was able to leave work a little after 3PM and I hit the trails to avoid the mid afternoon sun. The run started great – I love being in the woods and I had them all to myself (except for the squirrels, birds and snakes). About a mile into the run, I was cruising down a hill and my left foot caught on a root that I didn’t see and I fell over before I could even react. I fell face first and slid on the rocks, roots and dirt. My hands and knees took the brunt of the fall and my right knee is bleeding. Everything was still moving though, so no real damage. I finished the remaining 2 miles, but with a pretty slow time. Oh well, the miles still count right?
This morning, I had set my alarm for 4:30, I forced myself out of bed and into my running shoes (for the record, I wore more than just shoes, sorry ladies). I hit the streets of Fort Mill and ran a little over 3 miles. I had a faster pace this time, due to the cooler air and flatter terrain – not to mention I didn’t fall this time!
So week 2 is off to a good start. I will run 3 more miles tomorrow and try to squeeze in the 7 miler on Saturday. That day is also my daughter’s 3rd birthday and my grandmother’s 93rd birthday party. Will be a busy day, so I might have to wake up early!
So Melissa, Chris and I started our 18 week training program for Charlotte’s Thunder Road Marathon on 12/12/09 this week. Melissa is in Greenville this week with our sister Jenny. She has been getting her runs in there and I have gotten a couple of runs in after recovering from all of last weekend’s tough runs.
Wednesday night I went on a run with Jenn and I pushed the stroller with Mia and Sadie. We went a little more than 2 miles and it is amazing how much harder it is to run while pushing two kids! See the run here.
This morning, I managed to drag myself out of bed for another run. I ran about 4.3 miles and it felt great. I kept a good pace (for me) and was also able to keep my heart rate down which I guess mean I am improving. It is easy running in Fort Mill, SC after you run in Barnardsville, NC!
I think I will allow myself to sleep in tomorrow morning, which is a scheduled rest day, but I might throw in 3 miles at lunch as long as my legs feel good. Then it is 6 miles on Saturday morning to complete the first of 18 weeks of training. Wish me luck!
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