Trying to Get Back to Respectable

Interval workout. 5 minute warmup, 6 intervals (1 minute @ 7:53 and then 2 minutes @ 8:36), 5 minute or so cool down. Went 3 miles. Pretty good workout. A little tough as my feet and legs are sore from the workouts and all the softball. Mostly the softball.

Interval workout. Did .25 mile warmup and then 1.5 @8:06 and the second 1.5 @8:00.  Makes me think back to when I was able to do 3 miles or more @6:30 pace on a consistent basis.  Times have changed, really have let myself go, but after all the injuries and such, I guess this isn't too bad.  Really would like to get back to that someday but don't think that will happen.  I guess I would rather do a ton of things mediocre then do a few things great.  So is life.

Pace was 8:26 (50:33).  Not to shabby for a long run.  I think that I am going to keep about 8:30 as my long run pace.

Interval run today.   First four were @ 7:53, fifth was @ 7:47 and sixth was @ 7:41.  Foot felt good through it so I think I am starting to find a number that I can run at for short bursts.  Everything is feeling stiff but I am doing pretty good compared to where I was.  I think that I just need to keep at it and keep stretching.

This was a hill workout.  Cannot remember the times or much else as I am adding this almost 2 weeks later.

This was an interval workout.  Don't remember the times and such.

Tempo Run.  Ran the first 1.5 @ 8:06 and last 1.5 @ 7:53.

Good run.  Ran it @ 8:20 per mile pace.  First half or 5 miles was way to fast, slowed down considerably during mile 6 and 7.

Interval workout.  7:30 pace for the 1 minute speed up x 6.

Hill workout.  3 iterations up the hill.  Did it outside as the gym was closed today.

Things seem to be going well.  I am excited to see how everything feels next week after 14 miles.  I am hoping that everything is feeling good after that.  The new shoes seem to be doing the trick.  They are so good, I might even consider buying an extra pair of them.  We will need to wait and see.

2:17:49.  This was 8:37 pace.  Last weekend, I did the 8 in 8:38 but that was a rough run.  Not sure why I am slowing down, I tried to keep myself in check so that I did not die at the end and it worked.  I stayed strong for almost the whole run.  I cannot complain about anything as I only have two more LONG runs prior to the marathon.  I just want to stay healthy and get this done.  I think that if I can complete it, I will shoot for a good time in the Half Marathon in October.  That should help with my confidence in my times and racing.  I haven't decided on the Run for the Diamonds this year, but it is a possibility considering my training.  We will see, one step at a time.

1:03.51.  This was a very speedy run.  It was rainy and it was cool which allowed me to get through this quick and strong.  I hope that all the training I am doing for the marathon pays off for the half marathon.  I think that all the training will in fact be more helpful for the half then the full.  Again, the goal is to finish the full in under 4 hours which might be a stretch after seeing last year's winning time.  I think that there are lots of hills, obstacles and on a trail which will slow down the time some.  I just hope to do well and that will make me happy.  I want to focus on time when it comes to the half.  I am hoping to beat my best time of 1:34.  

 While my time today was good, I have a bit to go to bring it down to a 1:34.  Let's focus on the marathon first then go after that half.  

 Good day, cannot complain about this run.  Let's just hope everything stays together.

Was supposed to be an 18 miler.  Was not an 18 miler.  P!ssed off?  Yes I am.  Absolutely ridiculous that I barely could get half the run done.  I felt like garbage today, started the run late, it was hot, cramping up, tight muscles.  You name it, I had it today.  Boy does something like this shake your confidence.  How could I ever finish 26.2 miles when I cannot even finish 18.  Now my confidence is off and I need to hit this this time.  The only benefit of this is that I did not hurt myself.  

 Part of the issue today had to be all the hills, I am normally used to running in flat Bloomsburg but today I was in Kunkletown with tons of hills.  Still should have gotten a lot closer to the end then I already did.

 So irritated today wish this run did not happen like it did.  UGH!!!

Nice 5 mile tempo run today.  Felt pretty good considering my shoulder has been hurting for over a week now.  But this felt right.  I am starting to get some fear creep going on in my brain.  This week's long run is a 20 miler and I am dreading running it.  I start getting my doubts when I get to lengths like these.  

 I am pretty sure that I can finish this 20 miler and then it is a few simple workouts before the marathon.  I know that I will get major fear creep once I am thinking about the marathon.  The mind is a powerful tool and it can really mess with you if you let it and it always does with me come marathon time.  (Not to mention all of the injuries I have faced over the last few years)

So this was supposed to be a 20 miler and it ended up being a 19 miler.  I met up with an old work buddy at mile 10 and he said he had 8 to go.  Then we proceeded to run together for the majority of my run.  However, he took me up some killer hills and while I felt good until mile 15-16, it all went down hill from there.  I ended up needing to run up another hill to get home and struggled.  I ened up walking and jogging the last 2-3 miles.  I think that with proper hydration and some gels I should be able knock this thing out in a few weeks.  I had some concern about only getting 19 miles but the guy I ran with said he only ran 18 before his first marathon. 

Confidence is back up but I am still a little scared.  Good thing I have 2 weeks of cutting back and that should make things nice.  Nothing is stopping me know, I am going to nail this and be done with it.  The other plus is the guy from work is going to run this marathon and do it at a much slower pace so if I start to die, he can motivate me to keep going.  Good news all around.

Still haven't run since Sunday.  I am trying to rest this calf.  I thought just calf pain, but I think in the end it was a small strain.  Have spent a lot of time heating, icing, tiger balming.  You name it, I have done it.  I have a little over a week to go, haven't run and am not sure what to do.  I am thinking of skipping the 10-miler this weekend and maybe trying for 3 or 4 and then easing back in next week.  I just hope that I can get this squared away before next weekend.  I am really considering running it regardless and possibly taking a few Alieve right before the start.  I really need o do it this time, no excuses.  I am thinking I am there.  I was not able to find any treatment plans for this on the net, so I think I will keep doing this and be careful.

Biked 9.66 miles.  Things are feeling a little better.  I think that this could be worked out by race time.  Just got to keep doing the heating and icing and compression sock.  I will stay hopeful that this will work itself out!

Biked again today.  Went about 6 or 7 miles.  Started thinking today, should I eat or drink during the marathon?  Decided I need to drink.  The eating, I am not sure about.  I don't eat during my long runs but this is longer then those.  I don't drink during them either.  I think it would be safe to eat but I am not sure how my body would react to it as I haven't done it before.  HMMMMM. I just don't know.

Many different emotions go along with this race.  Nervous, excited, scared, relief, and a few other things.  I didn't think I would have a problem getting through it and for the first half of the run, it was feeling great.  The second half felt like it would never end and the incline to get to the finish was not very fun either.  This is my worst half marathon time of the 4 I have run but I can attribute it to stomach problems, lung problems, calf problems, among many other things.  I am proud of keeping it under 1:50 but that is probably the best thing I can say about that time.

The good thing about this race is that it gives me a baseline for the April 6th half in Scranton.  My new perspective on everything I should be doing is this.  1.) Take a few weeks to recover, bike and lift but do not run (unless it is a 5k.)  2.) Make a plan of how to be the athlete I should be.  (This is already under way.) 3.) Lose weight so that my weight is an optimal running weight.

I think that I am ready for the challenge of getting things back to what they should be.  It really is hard to see what you used to be and what you are now.  The problem is not age, it is truly a lazy problem mixed with having a job.

Glad to get myself a race this year and glad to see a benchmark of what I need to do!

3 in the AM.  3 in the PM.  Trying to do some doubles this week.  I think I will do one run tomorrow and one on Wednesday but on Thursday do another double. 

Let's see how this plan for building a base goes.

49:06.  Not to shabby.  Long run at 8:11 pace.  I am hoping to bring it down a little. My goal for the half marathon in April is 1:30:00.  That is something I think I can do but I need to spend the next few weeks bringing my times down a little so that I can have a strong training session leading up to the race.  I think that my goal is completly do-able but it will be a little stretch.  If I do not hit that in April, I will be shooting to hit that at some point next year.  I think that the training will be a little strenuous but I think that I can nail it out.  The times for paces are faster than what I have been accustomed to but I think that with the proper training, stretching and strength I think that I can hit my goal.  A 1:30 would be a PR. 

This race was a bit of a liar.  My GPS watch had 3.23 but my sister-in-law had 3.3 which is what the results eluded to.  If you go off my watch, it looks like 7:08 or so per mile pace.  If you go off the results and my sister-in-law, I had a 7:00 per mile pace.  Either way, this race allowed me to hit my 500 miles for the year and it gave me a good base to understand where I am for my training starting in the new year.  I think that by the end of 2014, a 1:30 half-marathon will happen. 

2013 was not a bad year, had a baby, ran a new race, visited Greece.  Cannot complain about a pretty good year.