Runnin Fo Life

One Month Out!!

2009-11-07T07:35:00.000-05:00

Well, I'm one month from my final race of the year... the California International Marathon (CIM). I dont know, I'm losing motivation... when I wake up in the morning, its dark. When I get off from work, even if its 5:30pm, its dark. Its cold outside too... but that's not too much of a problem. I took a mini break after the marathon after I got out of my funk from a poor performance. I did an additional 40 miles the week of my marathon (after it of course) to punish myself. But, I felt that my runs were a little labored even 2 weeks out. So I eased off big time. Now my legs are fresh, did a tempo run of 6.5 miles with no problem... the last 2 were sub-7 minute pace.

Realistically, I think I can get to Boston, but with a family and a job from hell, it becoming less of a reality. I'm just limited to the time I can dedicate. Dont ask me why, but I get the guilty feeling when i'm out running for too long. But, this night running is "interesting". I have the reflective vest and I run with a headlamp (so I dont trip on a pothole or something). I run on the city streets, and there are no streetlights where I'm at except the highway. There are some really dark stretches with just brush. We are known for having stray animals lurcking... and I'm not talking cats and dogs. Every couple years a loose panther (yes that's right) is reported... I've been face to face with a family of deer... ran into a cougar (no, not an old lady)... a couple of foxes... I guess that's why they call it FARMington Hills.

Well, I'm getting all my ducks in a row for this marathon... I'm making sure EVERYTHING is perfect before I hit that plane:
- 5 Gu's
- compression shorts AND tights
- gloves
- 2 pair of socks
- running shorts
- compression short and long sleeve
- running shirt
- Garmin
- Ipod... and make sure its charged
- Running shoes
- Running cap
- Wristband to hide Gu
- Paceband
- Bodyglide... can NOT forget that

Ok, now things to remember leading up to and during the race:
- Hit up Olive Garden for the All-U-Can-Eat Pasta on Friday
- Force feed myself from Wednesday on up... (dont worry about getting fat)
- Make sure the idiots at work dont stress me so I lose sleep
- Do NOT run on Friday or Saturday, regardless of ANYTHING
- Wake up 3-4 hours before start and eat at least 800 calories
- Drink water like it aint no tomorrow
- Down a Gatorade 1 hour before race
- Find a nice bush 10 minutes before start to empty bladder, LOL
- Start off slower than goal marathon pace by like 20-30 seconds
- Attain GMP by mile 3 or 4
- Keep Pace Group for 3:15 in sight at ALL TIMES!!
- RELAX RELAX RELAX
- Body check every 3 miles
- Gu at mile 6, 11, 15, 18, 20, 22 regardless to how I feel
- Drink 2 cups at aid stations if possible (and dont spill on glove)
- Keep that head up, the ground aint going nowhere
- No "scissors" running form, bend at ankles not waist
- Land on midfoot, not heel or forefoot (like a marcher does)
- Relaxed breathing 2-2
- Cruise up hills, dont waste energy

Now I know I'm forgetting something... but this is just a start. This marathoning thing is just too complicated. Too much to think about. So you say "Well why do u do it". My kneejerk response is "Because I want to", but really its to prove to myself that I have the ability to do what I thought I could never do and for fitness' sake. I aint gettin no younger and its harder to keep weight off. If I do qualify for Boston, then MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. Then I'll decide if I want to do an ultra, an Iron Man (in far future), or the coveted 50 marathons in 50 different states over a 10 year span. So much to think about, but until then, I run on...

Back to the Drawing Board!!

2009-10-21T09:55:00.000-04:00

Well, this past Sunday was my marathon... yeah I was supposed to use this as a "tuneup" marathon, but I hate the fact that I still got work to do to get to Boston... I wanted THIS marathon to be the one! I still have one in 7 weeks called the California International Marathon in Sacramento. Its supposed to be a kinda fast course. I'll be the judge of that. I have been overly confident these past couple of months, I was getting personal bests at every race I did... even the dreaded Brooksie Way Half Marathon (I crushed my last year time by 5 minutes). I slacked off BIG TIME the last 6 weeks or so, I must admit. I felt good... I think I may have peaked a little too early for my marathon.

This was the Grand Rapids Marathon. It was supposed to be flat and fast. The first half of this marathon was all but flat! The second half was very flat but seemed a net uphill. I did everything wrong leading up to it for the last 3 days. Didnt "carb load", and I felt kinda sluggish. I tried a 3 miler really slow the day before, because I was not "feeling it". Still no good. Race day, still not "feeling it". I had a small portion of Chinese Food the day before. The morning I had 2 fake french toasts from the hotel and some coffee. I wasn't hungry at all. Really didnt drink much either. But I was thirsty at the start and they started the race 10 minutes early, so I couldnt get to a faucet. But it was very cold, so it didnt bother me too much... 35 degrees at 8am.

The start was 10 minutes early, so I couldnt get to my pace group. I started off at a 8minute per mile pace for .75 mile. It seemed like i was kinda working, not hard, but definitely working to keep pace. The miles were not "easy" like my previous few races. I had 5 Gu's stashed in my sleeve under my wristband and pocket. At the first water station, I spilled water on my hand and it soaked my glove... needless to say I was miserable for over 2 hours due to not being able to feel my hands. This made it very difficult to get to my Gu (more on that later). Mile 4 or 5 was a very large hill and the recovery was quick. A lot of rollers. Didnt even see the Gu station at mile 8, and I was looking for it. Get to mile 10 in 1:14:xx kinda where I wanted to be, but it was not "easy". I get to the half at 1:37:xx PERFECT SPLIT.

Oh, I did take a Gu at mile 8. So mile 15 I start to struggle a bit, my pace was dropping dramatically. I started getting nervous "Why am I slowing down"!! I tried everything to pick it back up... nogo!! So we hit our "turnaround" at mile 18, and I'm like at a 7:44 / mile pace. At that time, I knew qualifying for Boston was out! So I adjusted my finish to 3:20:xx... then low and behold I had an idea... why dont I try and take a Gu now. It was stashed in my right wrist and my left hand was still totally numb. So I had to use my teeth to pull my sleeve back and get the Gu from under the wristband and open with my teeth using only my right hand! I was kinda scared that I had gotten frostbitten. So I get to mile 20 and it was a wrap then!! I hadnt felt so bad in my entire life!! I was there around 2:34:xx... depression set in. It was actually PAINFUL to run. I was really bonked by then... I slowed down to a 8:15 - 8:30 per mile pace. But I still could make 3:25:xx... It just got too painful, so I did this technique called Gallowalking...

Ran mile 20-22, then walked for like half mile, then ran again to mile 24, walked half mile, then waddled the rest of the way!! Just seeing the finish was anguish!! I wanted to DNF soooooo bad!! Now I saw the 3:29:xx pace group pass me on the 25th mile, so I was like, I know good and well I aint gonna not break 3:30:xx... I tried and tried... nothing left. At like 200 meters to go, I usually try to sprint in, not happening!! Some guy from the crowd got all in my face and was screaming "PICK IT UP, YOU CAN BREAK 3:30!!!" It didnt work, I still waddled on!

So I cross the mat, and the Race Director (Don Kern) was there and congratulated me! That was cool, b/c I was sooooo not feelin like being bothered, but he was the big fish of the race acknowleging me. So I down like 5 cups of gatorade and water, eat 2 hotdogs and chili and innumerable number of orange wedges at the finish!! My final time was.... 3:30:01... can u believe it??? 1 second?? Serves me right!! BTW... around mile 18, I started getting those fantom hunger pains. Well I probably WAS hungry based on my breakfast and it was like 10:30 now. Although I didnt fuel up like I was supposed to, the one thing I made sure was that I got 2 drinks at the aid stations! LOL.

Lessons learned...
1) U cant run a marathon on 2 Gu's
2) Carb load!!!!
3) Eat a good breakfast and hydrate before the race
4) Any given Sunday can be your worst!!
5) Dont ever walk again... I dont care what the pain is!
6) The marathon is not 2 half marathons!
7) If you start to fade early again, guess what... it could be that you didnt Gu up!!
8) Run faster
9) Run more mileage!!
10) Pain is temporary
11) Being undernourished for a marathon WILL cause you to fade, regardless of your fitness or confidence
12) Read 1-11

My Garmin was off a lil bit, but here were its splits:

7:24 / 7:22 / 7:24 / 7:17 / 7:21
7:27 / 7:30 / 7:24 / 7:30 / 7:10
7:26 / 7:32 / 7:42 / 7:46 / 7:48 (here comes the fade... mile 15)
8:03 / 8:00 / 8:05 / 8:15 / 8:28 (the mile 20 monkey)
8:33 / 8:29 / 8:37 / 9:01 / 8:56 (this Gallowalking is FUN *not*)
8:59 / last .2 miles unaccounted for due to Garmin screwup.

So now its back the to drawing board... I'm doing all long runs for here on out minimum 14 miles each and 20 every Saturday until CIM. I need the endurance!! Well I'll stop the higher mileage 2 weeks before ther Dec 7th race, so until then, I run on...

My Brian Sell Interview...

2009-10-07T13:18:00.003-04:00

So in one of my previous blogs I talked about my brief "interview" with Brian Sell... He talked about how he felt "old" and that NYC was going to be his last marathon... he wanted to go to dental school... bla bla bla!! My response to him was "Yeah, we heard it all before...". Well I guess it is official, he is calling it a career after he runs NYC.

I never knew this guy... I was always a Ryan Hall follower, because he was the best American marathoner as of recent, and a Dathan Ritz follower because he was a local HS sensation with untapped natural talent. In an interview some years ago, I read Brian being asked something to the extent of "What do you say about people commenting on your 5k performance..." and he replied "If I cared what a 18 minute 5k'er thought, I would ask my wife!" I was like u cocky (fill in the blank). Well, I know now he was just kidding. Having talked to him personally for an extended period of time, I know he is a very humble person and hardworking. To make the Olympic Team without all the glitz and glamor and equipment as the Oregon and Boulder boys, says volumes on his work ethic!!

Being that he could not break 10 minutes in the 2 miler in HS and being an Olympian in the marathon is quite an accomplishment. Heck, I ran 11 minute 2 milers... just behind him (sorta). He has always been the "bullnose" type of runner... the bluecollar type. Not the "finess" type, and it worked for him. An extensive recent interview link is below... no its not me interviewing him...

BRIAN SELL INTERVIEW

Oh yeah, we both ran the Brooksie Half this past Sunday... he beat me by a hair!!! A longggg strand of hair. So I got my work cut out... and I run on...

Da Monkey Is Off My Back!!

2009-10-05T19:30:00.006-04:00

Well... I had my half marathon yesterday!! If you are a frequent and dedicated follower of my blog, you would know that it was the Brooksie Way Half Marathon. I ran it last year for its inaugaral event, and it was the toughest half I ever ran. Today... I still say it was the toughest half I have ever run!!! It has 5 miles straight of just uphill... race director said that was done on purpose to keep in the mode of challenging courses like the CRIM 10 Miler. I hate running these hilly courses, but it does make me stronger. But that 30k I did on Labor Day STILL TO THIS DAY has me all in a flux!!! I STILL say I'm never running that one again!!

I was a little nervous because I was unable to get my race packet the day before at the expo, but it was smooth sailing getting it in the morning. Got there at 7am... it was like 50 degrees... PERFECT!! This year we didnt have the episode of the deer rambling through the crowd and hurdling cars like last year near the start, LOL. I decided to run with my Ipod, because there was NO entertainment on the sidelines to pump me up!! I started with the 7 minute per mile group... it went all the way to 16 mpm pace groups (in my opinion, that is WALKING!!!). I peeked at the front line to see if anybody I knew... lo and behold I see a man with a stark resemblance of our USA Olympic Marathon runner Brian Sell... well u guess it... it was him. So now I thought "OK, who's going to get second place" lol.

The gun goes off... half a mile in I'm at 6:30 pace... caught up in the excitement, so I slow down. 7 minute pace felt perfect. I kept this pace for the first 4 miles or so. I ran along side this guy from my CRIM race... yeah, the CRAZY LOOKING guy from my pic in the blog 2 down from here. He went down with a hammy and I never saw him again, LOL. We ran along a trail, and they were serving water... uh, no thanks!! Dust and leaves flying all over the place... not my cup of joe (as the old saying goes). Anyways... I get to mile 5 and I do notice that its getting a little bit tougher to keep pace. So I thought to myself "The pace will suffer going uphill, just keep the effort even". My long legs didnt help me one bit, but I pushed up the hills and thought "Rest at the crescent" (aka top of hill). My legs were BURNING!!

I get to mile 10 where I made my last 5k dash last year, but didnt have the strength this time. Looking back, my times were similar for the last 5k, but my effort this time was a lot less. Passed people left and right (I love when that happens). The crowd gets denser, and there are a lot of kids cheering us on. I think I hi-5'd about 30 kids on the sideline during the run. Now I pass mile 12 which was an uphill battle too, and things looked different. THEY CHANGED THE FINISH!!! I knew exactly where I was going to kick from last year. I somehow always slow down when I dont know where the finish is. So I thought "Just run the mile you are in... dont worry about the finish". I did a lot of thinking this race, LOL. So 0.25 mile from finish I see the end and its downhill to the finish... then outta nowhere, a guy zips past me to the finish. I was like "whatever... my chip time is better", then my pride kicked in after he got like 10 meters ahead of me and I sprinted like I aint never sprinted b4 in my adult life!! LOL. I walked that bamma down and it was a foto-finish! He may have outleaned me, but I won... look at the times, dead heat until the fat lady sung!!

Preston Thomas #1979

Farmington Hills, MI

Age: 35 Gender: M

Distance	HALF MAR
Clock Time	1:36:44
Chip Time	1:36:39
Overall Place	138 / 2463
Gender Place	125 / 1201
Division Place	24 / 188
Split	48:51
Divtotal	188
Sextotal	1175
Pace	7:23

Dan Turnas #117

Rochester Hills, MI

Age: 32 Gender: M

Distance	HALF MAR
Clock Time	1:36:44
Chip Time	1:36:39
Overall Place	139 / 2463
Gender Place	126 / 1201
Division Place	19 / 145
Split	49:49
Divtotal	145
Sextotal	1175
Pace	7:23

Of course Brian Sell wo n. I could have caught him if the course wasn't so congested and I didnt start that far behind... I'll get him next time!! But I was happy with my performance, near flawless from my standards except I could have still run faster when no on hills. I felt GREAT at the finish, recovered in like only 2 minutes. Oh, I did almost 4get to stop my Garmin. I looked at it.. 1:36:xx. A new PR!!!!!!!!!! And on this hellova course!! Just think what I could have done on a "normal" course. So now the monkey is off my back. I hadnt PR'd since I jumped out of bed and ran my first ever Half Marathon 2 years ago, after never running farther than 6 miles EVER and not training (granted that was a flatter than pancake course) in Grand Rapids. So I decided to make my Boston Qualifier attempt here too... more on THAT in another blog where I'll be whining!!

So now I'm ecstatic. I'm getting on par now for that 3:15:00... if I can run this time twice all in one race, LOL!! 2009 has been a great year, being that I actually trained somewhat this year. Looking forward to my marathons. This half was actually not bad in the sense that it didnt seem like a long race. I'm liking running again... My pops asked me "Aint u tired of all dat running??" I gave him that "You're stupid and I'm smarter than you" look, LOL. Now its taper mode... Oct 18 cant come fast enough!!

MY SPLITS:

http://connect.garmin.com/splits/15445556

So now I'm on a mission to drop that old 10k time of mine, and I run on...

A Blistering 20 Mile Run!

2009-09-27T02:08:00.002-04:00

Ok, so its almost tapering mode for my marathon. I FINALLY got in a full 20 miler today. This was only my 3rd ever 20 miler! I haven't been running as much as I should these past few weeks, and nothing since Tuesday of this week. So I did an easy 6.5 miler yesterday just to keep me loose for today. I tried on my new shoes the Brooks Ravenna... nice shoes, kinda high off of the ground though. It has a "different" feel to it than my other shoes. I got a nice small blister on my second toe after the run... nothing major. The shoes feel a little heavy for some reason. They are lighter than my Adrenalines, but they feel heavier. Or maybe it was just me adjusting to the different feel.

So I have this 20 miler set up today. Of course I had to try my new shoes on the long run. I felt sooooo weird running, like I was clumsy or something. But my true purpose was to not only get in 20 miles so my marathon will feel "familiar", but I wanted to mix in a quality session too. So I set out to do 5 easy, then 5 at marathon pace, then 5 easy, then 5 at marathon pace =20 (in case u couldn't add). I got there a little late... it was a group run sponsored by one of the local running stores... because they closed off the entrance that I'm used to entering to the park. All in all, it was a good run. I tried a new technique to carry my Gu... I had a wristband and stuck the Gu under it... worked like a charm. So everything went according to planned today, with my splits being:

8:12 / 8:09 / 8:11 / 8:26 / 8:29 EASY PACE
7:40 / 7:38 / 7:36 / 7:27 / 7:17 MARATHON(ish) PACE
8:05 / 8:09 / 8:10 / 8:11 / 8:21 EASY PACE
7:26 / 7:27 / 7:40 MARATHON(ish) PACE
8:59 / 8:44 COOLDOWN

As you see, I didnt totally stick to my original plan, but I decided I needed a cooldown. So I'm on a new confidence again.. all this on the heels of my 15k (another hilly race) from last weekend. Oh, did I forget to give a race report?? Sure did!! It was a nice cool morning, perfect for running. Before they even shot the gun, we was running uphill!! 10 minutes before the gun, I notice that I FORGOT MY GARMIN AND IPOD!!! So now I had to totally run on feel!! By mile 2, I ask a guy "What time u got?" He said "Almost 14 minutes!" I was like "OH (fill in the blank)"!!! Took off too fast. Mile 4-5 was very tough for some reason. Nothing spectacular about this race, except for joggers on the course not moving outta my way!! There was a lady I recognized that beat me by 1 minute in a 10k in the past... I got sight of her around mile 6. I inched and inched towards her, but I ran out of gas around mile 8.5 as we went up another hill. I tried to sprint it in at the end and could have caught her but there was nothing left for me!! She got me by a few seconds.

I sure hated that I couldnt get hyped up with my ipod, nor could I tell how fast (or slow) I was going without my Garmin. But it taught me to trust my body, not my external guides. I trot in at a somewhat respectable 1:07:51 for the 15k. Lo and behold, I get 3rd in my division. The pace was faster than my 10 mile race last month by 5 seconds. And one last thing... wondering why this was a blistering 20 mile run?? I got a huge blister on my toe right now after the run... I irritated it more during the run. Now the question, should I bust it or leave it be?? Not being a wuss about it, but until next time, I run on...

Quitting Not An Option!

2009-09-13T12:02:00.004-04:00

So I had my hilly 30k... the report is in my previous blog. I must have done some real damage, because my runs have been tough since then. I am struggling to keep my pace. I guess I need more recovery time. Nope, this aint a "Im ready to quit" blog... I'm smarter now with this long distance stuff to know that this is temporary... rest rest rest!! Hit up the track yesterday and did some intervals after a 2 mile warmup... 1200 meters at 5minutes each with 2 minute rest. Only did 4 of them, because I knew I was going to run long the next day (today). Did a 2 mile cooldown. I felt like I was working. I loosened up on my 2nd interval... but it was still "weird".

So today I go on a long run with the Hanson's group. Was supposed to go 16 miles. I had every intention of going slow at 8:30 pace, but got caught up in the moment!! BRIAN SELL was out there clicking off low 5 minute miles... so that got my adrenaline running and I was out wayyy too fast for a easy run!! I was at 7:30/mile pace for the first 5 miles until I realized I was a minute per mile too fast... I started to feel it. So I left the group I was running with and slowed it down, then a guy caught me and chatted with me for the next 3 miles at a 7:45 -8:00 pace. So there goes my easy run... LOL. At 8 miles, I stopped for a drink(s) and just decided to do a 2 mile cooldown... I was done!! Now THIS was done at my goal 8:30/mile pace!! (I'm sooooo stupid).

I stop into the running shop to try on some shoes to run my marathon in... it was between the Brooks ST Racer and the Brooks Ravenna. I loved the fit of the Racer plus it had lots of stability... but the cushioning had me a little worried... even though its advertised for the marathon. The Ravenna had perfect cushioning and stability, but was a tad bit on the heavy side. I think I'm sold on the Ravenna, because I have the Saucony Fastwitch as a racer and have run up to 25k in them. Plus, I am not a little guy when it comes to marathons... I'm down to almost 185lb now, but thats still BIG for a marathoner.

So while I'm trying on the shoes, this little guy with a huge head and beard comes up to me and starts chatting with me. Its BRIAN SELL. We talked about his debacle at Boston this year, how he's going to run NYC this year as his retirement race. I told him "You know how many times we have heard that from you, yet u still run more marathons..." We talked about Clint Verran and how I ran against him in High School and got "schooled" in XC... and how Clint stood up in his wedding. He half jokingly said that Clint must have been on performance enhancers back then... being from hickville Lake Orion!! LOL. He just had hip surgery, so has been out of the circuit for a while. I could tell that he was Brian's buddy! He talked about the struggles as of recent after turning 30, and was like "I wonder how bad it will be at 40". I told him, "WHATEVER!!!! You'll be setting all kinds of 'masters' records at that age!" I told him that he still did respectable at the Olympics in Beijing... the weather was not the best and the nasty air u had to breath was horrid!! And being the 22nd fastest man on the planet at the marathon is not too shabby!! He really seemed like a cool katt. Not snobby like some people get when they achieve status. He even offered me 20% off my shoe purchase and 30% off anything else. WOW!!

I didnt try to get any free training advice... I'm sticking (sorta) to my plan I have mapped out. I'm REALLY starting to doubt my Boston Qualifying time. I have hit a low point in my training... I was gung-ho the first part, but have been barely running the past few weeks. This run I should have expected to not be great being less than 24hr ago I did speedwork. I was just testing that "residual fatigue" thing that the Hanson's promote... and boy did it make me wanna quit, not to mention I went out too fast. But quitting is not an option... I will NEVER quit!! So next wknd is a 15k run... I'm seriously thinking of "racing" it. I'm in the Clydesdale Division (aka Fatboy Division), LOL, so I have a chance to medal. Then its a 20 mile training run to hone in my fueling/hydration plan, then the Brooksie Way half marathon (super tough from last year), then its a 2 week taper for my tune-up marathon. I'm all set for my goal marathon at CIM in Sacramento!!! All I gotta do is show up! After that... BOSTON!!! (hopefully), but until then, I run on...

That Was NOT Fun!!

2009-09-06T14:04:00.004-04:00

Ok, I'm recoverING from my 3rd longest race ever... my 30km race in Milford, MI. This was kind of a last minute decision, well actually last month decision. I'm starting to think that was a bad decision. Of all my races... hilly, hot, whatever... this was BY FAR the toughest course EVER!! The said it was tough on the registration, but I took it with a grain of salt. Never again!! My last race The CRIM (and its Bradley Hills) had NOTHING on this. My last half The Brooksie Way (and its 4 miles of continuous up) had NOTHING on this. The 25k Championships hosted in Grand Rapids (and all the up down up down) had NOTHING on this!!! Half of the race was on dirt roads. The entire course was rollers... even on the dirt!! Had to avoid soft spots in the road, potholes, and twisting of ankles on rocks. These hills were INSANE!! I'm talking 60 degree grade hills, 200 feet high minimum (i'm guessing), while trying to keep your footing in the dirt roads. No exaggeration!! If you ever want to slow me to a crawl, just throw in some hills.

The temp was great at the start. 65'ish degrees. No starting mat, and I was near the back of 500 runners. Felt a little thirsty at the start, as they had nowhere to get something to drink. So my plan was to grab a water at the first aid station. The first 1-2 miles were the typical bob and weaving. The first aid station actually had full sized cups, not those courtesy cup 4oz things that are half full. I grabbed 2 and downed it. Feeling good. About mile 3.5 was a hill straight from HELL!!! I was at a near standstill getting up that thing!! We run thru the downtown area and then the sun comes out and it gets hot realllll fast!! I would say close to 75-77 degrees by mile 5, and that's when the dirt roads began.

Running on those dirt roads was "interesting". I always felt that I was leaning to one side b/c the street was uneven, and my left hip was feeling it. I'm usually particular about the water stations, but I didnt care that they were on dirt roads, dust flying everywhere, bugs all over, leaves falling, volunteers fingers dipping... all into the cups!! When ur running and its near 80 degrees, you just dont care... I didnt, and I drank it! LOL.

I got to mile 10 in 1:16:xx. I thought that I was going a little too fast. I had a time goal, not all out racing. Hit the half marathon mark in 1:38:xx, so that was just where I wanted to be. Then, this is where I really wanted to quit. The next 4 miles were still on dirt and the rolling hills were more frequent. I really need to learn how to run up hills. I always get passed by masses going up, but I catch them going down. Mile 15-16 took the cake. There was a sharp right turn then another massive hill. I just couldn't take it... I had to take a walk break, my thighs were burning and the oxygen was sukked from me!! The only good thing was a water station at the top. Walked thru the station and drank 2 cups. Started back running... but got that familiar dizzy episode thing again. Just chugged thru!! Running in a pack is a saving grace, I must say!

By the last mile, it was sooo hot and no shade!! That was the longest mile ever!! I was just ready for it to be over. I get in at 2:25:37... right on target (well a lil slower), I wanted a 7:40-7:45 pace and got 7:49 pace. I was still a lil dizzy, so I took a seat on the firetruck and reflected on this suicide mission I just completed. I'm not a punk, but I'm NEVER running this one again!! It felt like I just ran a full marathon... and I had to go to a class reunion event the same night and pretend I wasn't hurting. It is currently a day later as I type, and I am still saying "That was NOT Fun!!" So, I think I'll just halve the distance 2 weeks from now and run a 15k race. Gotta check the profile, I hope its not dirt and hilly. if not, I WILL be racing this one in hopes of 7:15 pace or better. My 2 goal marathons (Grand Rapids, MI and California International Marathon) are supposed to be kinda flat! Attached is the suicide race profile and splits. So until my next race... I run on...

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/12717375

Running is a Love/Hate Relationship!!

2009-08-29T18:27:00.011-04:00

Ok, so this stress fracture thing I think I got a handle on. Actually, I dont think its a stress fracture, because its feeling better. Must have been just some metatarsalgia or something. It only comes after the run or if I move the wrong way. But I digress...

So I bombed another 10k in the heat!! I ran my slowest 10k of all time!! I'm soooo embarrassed to post my time. Suffice it to say that I took a walk break through a water stop and walked up a hill... LOL. Yes in a 10k!!!! Now I was really starting to hate this running thing again, lol. So I had to regroup myself and try to find some type of mental recon-silly-ation. Because in 6 days I was to have my yearly run called the CRIM. This will be my second time running the 10 miler. Last year was a heated debacle... almost 100 degrees and humid!! Needless to say the outcome...

I know I'm in the middle of my marathon training circuit, but I just had to take a couple days off before this race, plus I have been swamped at work, so it was a no-go anyways. The race day was unseasonably cool... like 68 degrees at start. I felt really good this day. My major focus was to hold my pace throughout at bare minimum my GMP and to stay hydrated (this is my hot running flaw). Not running for dear life or nothing. This race is infamous for the BRADLEY HILLS, which I guess is similar to Heartbreak Hill x 3 times repeated. The start was the typical 8700 people!!! I started in the slow(er) group at 8:00/mile pace. That was PERFECT. It kept me from starting too fast, so I got out actually at my goal pace!

Mile 1-5 was totally unremarkable, I kept my turnover steady and didnt push it. Then we make that sharp left turn onto Bradley Street... here comes the hills!! This year I planned to attack the hills (which I did) and rest at the top of each. This worked out well, because I didnt even get winded like last year and it was over before I knew it!! 1 mile of just up up up!! The rest of the run was rollers. Mile 7 kinda hurt me... it was a roller that was a gradual up for like .75 mile. Now at the top of THAT one I was tempted to "rest"... not happening this time. I gotta suck it up, because my marathon will be no excuses!! For the last 4 miles, there was a pack of us running together, like 10 of us. It kept me honest, so I stuck in that group. Oh, and of note, I only peeked at my Garmin like 3 times during the run... once near the start to make sure I wasnt starting too fast, once at mile 4 and once at mile 8 to guage how fast to run the last 2 to be under 1:15:00.

So we make the last turn and we hit "the bricks". By this time, the group kinda scattered. We had like 400 meters to go... There was this short chick that see-sawed with me the last 4 miles. Her and about 5 others were like 50 meters ahead of me. This is when I decided I would sprint in. Alas... I caught and passed all of them, but "she" tried to keep up, but my Garmin said my last 400 was at a 5:00/mile pace and that was too much for her, LMBO!! I finish in 1:13:38. Respectable, and clearly what I planned on doing!! So now I love running again... and I think I found my new favorite distance. Marathons are tooooo long and 10k's and below are tooooo fast and exhausting. One last thought... I check the post race pics and that chick was in all of my "down the stretch" pics. Grrr!!!! Stealing my thunder!!

Splits (per Garmin)

Mile 1- 7:09

Mile 2- 7:07

Mile 3- 7:18

Mile 4- 7:16

Mile 5- 7:07

Mile 6- 7:36 BRADLEY HILLS

Mile 7- 7:14

Mile 8- 7:28 That long incline that hurt!!

Mile 9- 7:18

Mile10- 7:13

So next up... a 30k hilly mostly dirt road race!! Goal... 7:40-7:45 pace. We'll see how that goes, until then... I run on...

I Got A Brand New Dance!!

2009-08-16T11:23:00.002-04:00

Its called the Waddle!! Yes, that's right... that's how I just ran my 10k. This right foot of mine is giving me the flux. I REFUSE to give up!! I have been warned by many, and by some that have been sidelined by injury. It just kills me that "I" could be injured and have to take time off. I have always laughed at people that claimed to have been injured over little stuff. Well look at me now. The first 5k of the race I really tried to ignore it, I guess it was easy with the adrenaline and such. But when the 5k runners divided from us at their halfway point (1.6 miles into race) it really got kinda lonely, LOL. Once again, I chose a very hilly race... I guess that's why they call it Farmington HILLS. It was VERY hot, like over 80 degrees hot at 9am and very humid. During my warmup I didnt feel the greatest either... but do I ever? My stomach has been kind of bad the last couple of days also... all I had was a hamburger, pop (not soda) and popcorn all day yesterday, and cereal this morning. Slept half of the day yesterday. Dont feel sick or anything... just fatigued physically, but not from running.

Ok, enough of the excuses... back to the funky new dance. So I get to the 5k mark in 21 minutes 30 seconds. Not too shabby for me given the elements. But here comes the monster hill like a 45 degree hill and it turns too, lol. I just dont know how to run these hills!! Now my foot is really starting to bother me. A local H.S. XC team is helping with water aid stations and I try to look like I'm not struggling out there when I pass them, but they know. Mile 4, I just cant take it, and I do the unthinkable... I stop and take a walk break thru the water station. I re-adjust my feet in my shoe, stretch a little and try to pick it back up. At mile 5, I'm nauseous and I'm running awkward to keep from putting pressure on that sweet spot on my right foot. So I take another walk break up this dastardly hill!! Then this lady named Karen (Special K) from this running group I ran with 2 weeks ago called Running Fit passes me and encourages me on. Ok, so my pride kicks in...

I only have one mile to go... I can do 1 mile!! The only thing is, it was on a dirt road, and I had on "racers" and had to be very concious of the big rocks under my feet. So I waddle on for the last mile. So for the last 200 meters... you guessed it, its strait uphill. There was a group of 4 on my tail, I can hear them talking about sprinting it in. Now this is where I usually REFUSE to let ANYBODY pass me... but hills kill me!! So one of the guys took off and passed me. I followed suit and stayed on his shoulder until about 50 meters, then I put on the afterburners and left him in the dust. Funny thing is, for the last 200 meters, I had no issue with my foot, but when I was concious about it, there was issues. As I type, I feel a little pain.

So we get to the awards ceremony and I get 3rd place... wippee!! (sarcastic). I didnt deserve it, I stunk up the joint. There was literally no competition out there today. But the heat today made for a lot of slow times today. Back to the drawing board. I wont quit unless this foot totally breaks!! I didnt come this far and put in this many miles for it to end like this!!! Therefore, I run on...

Running Is A Rollercoaster!!

2009-07-19T17:46:00.002-04:00

Ok, I had my pity-party... its over. Really what I needed was some well deserved rest. I have been putting waaaay more miles on this body than I was used to, and my body went into shock!! I am my worst critic, if I don't accomplish something, I'll beat myself until I do... or die trying. I'm impatient too... I want instant gratification. I see all these runners improving their times by leaps and bounds, and I'm slowly chuggin along here and there. But I decided to take 2 days off straight, no joggin, no nothing. I cant believe how well I felt coming back out there. I decided to do me a 12 miler... from the jump, I was feeling on top of the world. I was jogging with almost no effort at all and was at my BQ GMP (pace I need to qualify for Boston) for 9 miles. I could have gone on and on and on... but did a 3 mile cool down instead. This was a feat, because this pace was faster than I "raced" my 10 miler last year. The entire time I was focusing on breathing and form. That was a big confidence booster... now I'm back on high after hitting my low.

Good thing for confidence, but bad timing. 2 days later, I have a 4 mile race in the morning. My legs were kinda spent. I could just tell while I was warming up that it was not all there. But I was riding high!!! I debated whether to run all out, moderate hard, cruise or just incorporate it into a long run. I got slapped with another reality, why pay for a race if you are going to just cruise it?? So I decided to just run "moderate hard" at a good 7 minute pace flat. Getting to the start I was hyped and ready to go. I started at the front again... (i'm starting to like that now).

The gun goes off... Immediately there is a huge hill... DOWN!!! My gut instinct was to sprint it down to gain momentum, but have been warned NUMEROUS times about doing that because u will pay in the end. I tried to hold back. At the half mile mark my Garmin was saying 5:50/mile pace (here we go again!!). So I slowed it down. I had no idea the course profile... but I learned real quick. The next 2 miles was gradual uphill. Around mile 2.5, I SERIOUSLY wanted to walk, but I knew that would pass, plus there was a lil kid like 14yr old pacing me. So finally mile 3 hits and its back downhill from the previous miles of up... RELIEF!! I have this even "pace" thing down, now I'm trying to get this even "effort" thing down. That was my goal of this race, and I think I did it ok. I couldn't speed up on the downhill if I wanted to, I was too tired from going up for miles. But made sure nobody passed me in the last quarter mile.

For the last mile I was running aside this older lady who was pretty fast. She stopped with .25 mile to go and let a couple people pass. She got back on it, and finished. Guess what?? She ended up #2 Masters Female and the woman that passed her got #1 and got the $$$. I felt sorry 4 her, but she could have mustered the last .25!! My official time was 27:00 flat!!

My splits:
Mile 1 - 6:26
Mile 2 - 6:54
Mile 3 - 7:05
Mile 4 - 6:37

So today I do a leisure 13 miler... 1hr 52min. Thats a 8:35 pace. I would normally be disappointed in this, but I'm taking it day by day and getting out of the workout what is SUPPOSED to be the purpose. I know I will have my ups and downs, because running is a rollercoaster... and I run on!!

My Pity-Party After 1 Month...

2009-07-10T16:59:00.003-04:00

Well, I'm about 1 month into my training using Daniels. I must say, this is going to be one of the most time consuming endeavors of my recent history aside from work. Things have not gone as well as I planned. Working 50+ hours a week takes its toll on you. Then coming home and immediately getting into gear and running. This leaves little if any, time for family and relaxation. But I guess this is the price to pay, eh? I have tried to stick to the plan faithfully, but this recent bout of sinusitis did a number on me. I REFUSED to take antibiotics and let it run its course, but after 1.5 weeks, I gave in and guess what?? I'm feeling better.

Daniels calls for 2.5 hour quality runs each week, and these 4-5x1200 intervals in 5 minutes. The rest is up to me. I missed a couple of long runs due to illness. I tried running, but 6 miles in, I had to call it a wrap! Now I'm back!! Funny thing is, my MLR on Wednesdays are not that bad, its the weekends that are tough. I did a 16 miler and a 13 miler on Wendsdays and felt good @ 2hr 20min and 1hr 50min resp.

Now, I know this is "summer running", but it seems like my runs are not getting easier, actually getting a little more tough, meaning harder to keep pace. This is not good. Maybe it was the sickness... I'll have to see. I need to drop 15 minutes to BQ and 10lbs to help with that. I am not second guessing the plan... but me, I'm a long strider and I dont have very fast turnover. I'm wondering if I should start doing some 400 and 200 repeats on my "off" days to increase my turnover. I know near the end, Daniels has some "fast" workouts, but I'm impatient... i.e. scared. I know I'm only 9 months withdrawn from my first marathon, but I know ppl that qualified for Boston on their first try. Or maybe it wasnt meant for me to qualify until i'm older and they lower the time requirements.

But anyways, went out for a 10 miler today... did 2.5 mile warmup. Decided to do a 3 mile tempo in between... wrong idea!! 1.5 miles into it, I was near my warmup pace again, LOL. I'm just not as strong as I used to. I'm not tired, its just my strength is not there and my legs so NO. Whoa is me!! Another daggar... on the 25th, I'm leaving for Las Vegas for 5 days for a medical conference. I know for a fact that I wont be getting in my running like I should, and Im going to be eating all the wrong foods. It has not been unseasonably warm either, actually its been 80's or below most of the summer. Cant be overtraining... I'm barely eclipsing 40 miles. So maybe it was meant for me to be just a recreational runner... better yet, a Weekend Warrior... and I run on!! (pity party over)

Losers Never Win??

2009-06-16T11:21:00.002-04:00

Now I'm FINALLY in the midst of my first official marathon training program. I decided on Daniels for the quality workouts. Why is one of his quality workouts a 2.5 hour run?? But anyways, this past Saturday, I decided on race day to do this 10k race. This was the same 10k race that I did last year and had a major blowup. It was very hot... very humid... and very hilly!! In my opinion, anything 10k or less should be flat, unless its a XC race!!! I knew it was going to be a challenge going into it. I just had something to prove, that's all. The downside was, I did one of my quality sessions ( 5x1000 @ 4 min each with 3 min recovery) 3 days prior. I did a 6.5 MP run the next day, then did a 6 mile easy run the day before the meet. My legs were spent. But I had something to prove to myself... I wasnt going to let this course hover over my head forever with me saying "i wish this / that".

It was a cool day. It was raining all morning, but not too bad. Nothing near the torrential rain during my 25k!!!! It stopped raining by the time the start began. It was a combined 5k/10k. The 5k people do a turnaround at the halfway point, while we keep going out... heading for the hills. I started on the very first line. It was weird being there... never started there before. One thing I hate is "show-offs". There was this guy, I seen him at races before, acting like he was the stuff!! He lined up next to me. So the gun goes off!!!!! I take off, and the show-off takes off. He goes out like a bat outta hell. So I'm thinkin... "I'll ride him for a while and scare him into running faster than he anticipated". We get to the half mile point, I'm in 2nd overall place, and I look at my Garmin and its beeping outta control saying "Slow Down"... and my pace was 5:12 mpm!!! I was not winded at all. Then it struck me!!! I'm running a 10k... I THINK this guy is running the 5k, that's what he usually runs. So I intentionally slow down dramatically. Low and behold, he does the turn-around at the 5k marker. By this time, I had let several people pass me as I tried to slow even more, because I knew that hills were coming.

For some reason, I think I could have PR'd a 5k by a longslide the way I was feeling at the halfway point of the 5k... not winded the least!! But I was in the 10k and the worst was yet to come. Making it to our half way turnaround didn't seem too bad. I got there at 22 minutes flat. Perfect!! Just where I wanted to be, because I knew I had a long run tomorrow. I struggled for the last 2 miles!!! I felt like stopping for 30 seconds to catch my wind at the top of one of the hills, but remembered what happened last year here. This is where my better endurance came in. I just kept it steady... but I was SOO ready to end. Now after mile 5 we ran into the 5k walkers. They were like 5 abreast... I'm yelling "coming thru" and they act like they dont hear me. So I run between the groups and give a "gentle" bump as I pass. Some even had the audacity to be smoking while we trying to run. I hate that!! Go kill your lungs somewhere else... and dont come to me in the office talking about you have shortness of breath!! A couple of people passed me during the last mile... I had no intention on trying to catch them. I had to save that energy for tomorrow... the long run.

So I bring it in... I finish with a time of 44:50. Nothing near a PR, but I had no goal of such 2day. I just had to conquer the beast, but wanted under 45 minutes. Mission accomplished!!! Even though I didnt run all out, I was beat at the end!! Even to this day, I'm saying "I'm NEVER running THAT 10k again"!! So we enjoy the post race festivities... and they post the times and guess what?? I WON MY AGE GROUP!!! I'm so used to being a loser... this was a shock!! I actually won!! Now this is what my hundreds of miles of running is worth!!!! New found confidence, even for a slowpoke like me!! Now back to my regularly scheduled program... 12 miles in the morning!! And I run on...

Real Quick Update!!

2009-06-09T09:42:00.002-04:00

Just wanted to post my OFFICIAL time for the Race 4 the Cure 5k. I came in at 20:33 and didnt even put in a full effort until the end. A 35 second adult PR. Hmmm... maybe I'll start doing the shorter stuff again, after I get to Boston of course!! Seriously considering doing a 10k this weekend to attempt a PR, but this is a hilly course!! I'll decide on raceday... and I run on...

I'm Faster, and Didnt Know It!!

2009-05-30T15:17:00.003-04:00

Well, let me just give you the short and dirty. Ran the Race 4 The Cure in Detroit today. Haven't run a fast race since the Winter Blizzard 5k!! This race is a yearly tradition for me. But the prices are just rising and rising. If they raise it anymore, I wont be doing it. Plus its not even a chip race!! I understand its for a cause, but c'mon!! U make over a million dollars and cant get a cheap chip (at least at the finish)??

I got a sufficient warm-up. Didnt really feel in tip top shape. I did a VERY easy 4.5 miles yesterday at a tortoise 8:45 pace, because I hadnt run in 3 days. I didnt start at the front like I said I would, and of course the walkers were up there. I did some strides before the start just to see who was in the front line... kids ( I mean pre-teens ), fatboys, severe elderly, fuel-belters... WTH??? The start was very uneventful. I did the usual duck and dodge for the first half mile, but decided to run to the outside (slightly off the course, but a strait-a-way) to avoid the crowds. This course was flat as a pancake with a few turns. My goal was to run even splits, because I have a tendency to take off too fast, so I conciously kept it in check.

It was sorta windy, but no too much. I drafted a few people, but that's hard for me to do being 6'1". There were times where I wanted to just stride out and get lazy, but I kept saying "leg turnover leg turnover". I was told that I STILL looked like I was jogging out there. Hmm... here comes that recurring theme again... speedwork!!! I felt that the entire race was an even effort. Was a little winded, but not exhausted. Made the final turn and it was a sprint to the finish. I passed 3 people, got comfy, and then a guy crept from behind and passed me before I could react. He better not be the person to bump me from placing!! LOL. This race was a good confidence booster, as I have not PR'd in almost 2 years at this distance. My splits are as follows:

Mile 1 6:43
Mile 2 6:45
Mile 3 6:47
last 0.1 (forgot to stop Garmin)
Unofficial time of 20:54 per Garmin, so that's what I'm rolling with and a NEW PR!!!!!!!

1 PR down, 3 to go (10k, 10 mile, half) and I run on...

Just another week...

2009-05-17T20:09:00.002-04:00

Nothing special this week. Had my 25k race and took a couple of days off. I'm so torn between what plan I'm going to do for my marathon and BQ attempt. I have the Daniel's book, but he doesnt give much detail... he kinda guides u to make your own plan. I want to do Pfitz and that's the most popular plan out there... but the 15 mile mid week run is going to be tough. Higdon is another, but I dont know much about his success... I hear that it is a lot of speedwork. That is what I need, but I dont want to sacrifice endurance. So its really between Pfitz and Daniels. After I run the Grand Rapids Marathon and if I dont BQ there, I'll follow the Higdon plan until the California International Marathon. If I dont BQ there, then it wasnt meant for me to BQ at this time. I gotta drop 15 minutes off of my marathon time to do this. Sounds doable, but i'm doubting myself running that fast in such a short period of time.

My runs this week have been sluggish again. I think I'm in a running rut or something. My leisure marathon pace runs of 6.5 miles seem like they are tempo runs. I did a long run today... I intentionally started off really slow and planned on it staying that way. Started with 8:13 first mile, then uphill x 2 miles 8:31 and 8:35. Honestly wanted to finish with a 8:15-8:30 avg pace for 13 miles. I hit a downslope for the next 3-4 miles or so, and my pace went down to 7:39 but I wasn't pushing it. I ran with a little caution around mile 8, this is where this 4 foot dog always start to chase me for whatever reason. He was not out today. I swear, I keep forgetting to buy some mase for this rascal!! Dont know why his owners wont keep a leash on him. Mile 10 I hit at 1:20:30. I am going a little too fast!! This is a long run, not a race or tempo!! Started back on an incline for 2 miles, then it leveled out for the last mile. I dont know what happened... but I got a burst of energy and I was SOOOO focused on that last mile, I dropped a 7:45 and felt like I could run forever... didnt want to stop.

My marathon training will officially start at the beginning of next month. I'm doing a 18 week cycle. With this, I hope to get a 5k PR and a half marathon PR in the mix, and I run on...

Runnin in Da Rain!!!

2009-05-09T14:50:00.004-04:00

Today was my big day for my 25k race!! I have been waiting for this for soooo long!! I felt ready for it even though I haven't done much long running as of recent. I made sure EVERYTHING was in order. Got up in plenty of time, had BREAKFAST which did not include a muffin!! Just a protein bar and some yogurt. Tried for some coffee, but the cheap hotel (HoJo) had a broken coffee maker. I swear, this hotel was really GHETTO!! They had karyoke night and was blasting music til 2am... I'm on the second floor and hear everything. People drunk in the parking lot making loud noise. But it didn't let it faze me. What did faze me was the lightning and thunderstorms all night!!

I get to the race in enough time to get a sufficient warmup. The sun had started to break, but it was a little chilly... but I dont mind that. Come time for the 25k race... I line up at the 7:30/mile pace group. NO NO NO!! I'm going to start low and go slow!! So the gun starts. It was kinda weird, there was like 4 start mats and some didnt have any wires. Didnt know when to actually start my Garmin. But the start was SOOO crowded. I tried to go slow, but my pace was still around 7:30'ish. Then outta no where, the dark clouds came over and it started pouring rain... I mean POURING!! I could barely see 20 feet in front of me. I wore my Fastwitch 3 shoes (of course it always rain when I do and my feet got soaked by mile 3).

The course had some major flooding, so they had to divert the course a little to avoid it. That turned out to be horrible!! They detoured us to the "rolly-polly's". If Boston is anything like this course, then I am going to have second thoughts about running that!! All we did all day was go up down up down up down up down up down...... U die going up the hills, then recover during the downhill only to get wore out again going up!! These were not just simple hills, they lasted like half mile each!! There was one hill at mile 2-3 that was a killer... but we got to recover during mile 4-5. And I have run in the rain before, but this was rediculous!!!!! Puddles everywhere!! But I figured, if I had to do it, everybody else was doing it and feeling the same thing too.

I felt really good through most of the race. I now know that I MUST get in consistant speedwork and have to build my endurance more by doing longer runs if I'm going to compete at this long distance stuff. No more of these 6 mile runs here and there. I was planning on eventually catching up to the 7:30 group, but the pacer just disappeared. When we did the turnaround, I saw the 7:00 group and was looking for the 7:30 to guage how far behind I was, and he was not there... maybe I missed him. But it sucked, because I was using that to determine my ultimate place. I could have used him after mile 12, because from then to the end, I was like "Uh... when is it going to end?? I'm soooo ready for it to be over!!!" And during that stretch, I think this was part of the diversion, because it had so many turns, like every block, and we went thru a residential area. Just an aside... why do people SMOKE in the audience knowing that we need all the clean air we can get while running... RUDE!!

These are the Garmin splits... I'm sure they are off a little
Mile-1 7:31
Mile-2 7:23
Mile-3 7:59 (Oh this hill is killing me... the rain!! Where's an ark when u need 1)
Mile-4 7:39
Mile-5 7:02 (There IS a God, thank you for the downhill)
Mile-6 7:23 (Took a Gu... still raining hard, feeling an upchuck... nope not letting it happen again... fight it off, it mental strictly mental)
Mile-7 7:26 (Just more of the same rolly-polly)
Mile-8 7:32 (Run time is exactly 1hr and some change... another Gu... chocolate "yukk")
Mile-9 7:39
Mile-10 7:45 (Run time 1:15 and some change... Ok, I'm starting to feel it now... fun is over)
Mile-11 7:42 (More of the same)
Mile-12 7:36 (Wow, I ran that pace, sure did FEEL like it 2!!)
Mile-13 7:47 (Run time is 1:38:25, per Garmin... I'm really not liking how I'm feeling)
Mile-14 7:50 (Ok, wuzzup with all these turns... can I get a strait-a-way PLEASE??)
Mile-15 7:51 (Oops, I havent took a drink in like 5 miles... I am feeling dizzy, really dizzy)
Last 0.5'ish 8:07 (I bring it in, nearly collapse at finish, I NEED something to drink... I feel like i'm going to faint!!)

Ha, they get all nervous at the finish bringing me a wheelchair and stuff, I'm like "Bring me something 2 drink, not a wheelchair u clowns!!" Well, I did stumble into the fence, LOL, so they had to be a lil worried. My goal was to get under 2hrs and my final time was 1:59:39. When I turned the corner and saw the timer saying 2 hours, I was like "Shoot!!! Another letdown", but that was gun-time, not run-time. So that motivated my slothful tail to sprint the last 200 meters, dizzy and all.

I'm ok with the results... I'm not happy that I got 10th place!! I was in the Clyde Division and the "horses" showed up again!! Here is a link to the top 25... and Here is the link to my official time... hmm, can u say "U NEED ENDURANCE"?? It seems that the competition is just getting better... last year my time would have gotten like 6 or 7th place. Time to up my game. I'm going to start the Daniel's Marathon Training Plan, but take some time off just to rest and do short races until summer... and I run on...

My Pacifier!!

2009-05-02T13:57:00.002-04:00

Well, today I had my 4 mile fun run. I have not run all week, mainly to let my body rest, but did do a easy 6.5 miler last night. This run was for the Lighthouse, a fundraiser to help the homeless and feed the poor. I dont mind entering / paying for stuff like this. This was to be a training run for me, as I have my 25k next Saturday. I thought, "why not just cruise the course two times", so I did. It was a relatively small run... the walkers trumped us by a landslide!! This was the first year that they had done the "run" part, but the walk has been going for 27 years. It was OBVIOUS that it was put on by non-runners. I ate a decent breakfast (cereal of course). Got to the race, they had all the goodies at the start... even... MUFFINS!!!!!! I'll pass thank you very much! LOL.

We start the race (no timer no chip... just "GO!!"), and were advised to run on the sidewalks. OK?? This race was on the Eastside of Pontiac... now U KNOW u can barely WALK on those sidewalks. The first 1/4 mile, I hit an uneven part of sidewalk and make a nasty spill!!! Scuffed up my hands, and gouged my shoulder!! People looking at me like a fish in a bowl from their houses, so I played it off and said "I meant to do that", but it was actually kinda painful... and I re-hurt my ankle AGAIN. lol. But I got up, licked my wounds, and kept on.

There was like NO competition. Good, because I did not feel like racing this. But there was one guy who made this into somewhat a race. He kept me honest at 8 minute miles for the first 2. Little did he know, that was marathon pace (and slower) for me. Then I notice that the pace was a lil faster... he had me at 7:40 pace for the next mile. (Oh yeah, I had a Garmin screwup... stopped it midrace and 4got to restart it). No problem. I could hear him breathing a lil bit!! Ha ha ha... Just to let him know what he was dealing with, I picked it up to 7:15 for half a mile... I started to lose him... so I slowed back down to run with this guy again. So we get like a quarter mile from the finish and I HAD to show out!! I put it in high gear and gallopped at 6:55 pace for the rest. He couldnt keep up. TWURP!!! I didnt break a sweat... how dare he try and test me??

So the fun-run is over. And to my surprise, I get the Top Male Award. I kinda didnt feel like I deserved it, because I just jogged the entire 4 miles, but I'll take it!! This kinda made up for my debacle last week, so now I'm out of my lil funk and heading back to the trenches to tune up for Boston!! But for now I have bragging rights!! Feels good to be a winner for a change... even if the competition stunk!!!!!!!

So this race has helped to pacify me from last week's letdown. I think I may give myself a cortisone shot in my ankle... now I'm dealing with a trochanteric bursitis in my left hip... so cortisone to that too... this 25k is going to be perfect for me, no letdowns. But until then, I'm the reigning champion awaiting next years challenger... and I run on...

The EGG!!

2009-04-28T00:31:00.003-04:00

Well, it was bound to happen one day!! I was just having too much luck dodging bullets lately!! My half marathon turned into a disaster!! The whole week I was feeling kinda sluggish... I dont know why, even my easy runs were hard. Once again, my fueling was a major issue. These "away" runs always get me... I forget about breakfast when I pack my stuff the day before. So i woke up the day of the marathon in ample time. Decided to go downstairs to the giftshop to grab some niblets or whatnot... why was it closed?? Luckily I had a disgusting tasting Oatmeal bar stashed. Ate that around 7am (race at 8am). I definitely didnt want to have a midrace hunger spell like my last half. Started on a new type of energy drink... I need to just stick to my Ripit!! Was still kinda hungry, so I bought a blueberry muffin at a stand in the lobby of the hotel. Killed it in 2 minutes flat!!! We hopped on the bus to take us to the start in some city called Perrysburgh, OH. All seemed well to the start. I made sure I was at the front, to avoid the 1/4 mile walkers.

I set my Garmin on a different setting. I did a thing called Virtual Partner and set it for 1:38:00 for the half, which would be a PR. Only thing about that is it doesnt tell you how fast you are going, only if you are ahead of your pacer on the watch. My warmup was "ok". The start was very uneventful... I felt good, but REALLY sluggish. I intentionally left my headphones so I could concentrate on my breathing and form. Was a GREAT idea... I was doing well...

Mile 1 - 6:43 (whoa tiger, slow down!!!)
Mile 2 - 7:18 (thats a lil better, but u are still ahead of the pacer)
Mile 3 - 7:20 (Im not tired, but just am not feeling this race... something aint right)
Mile 4 - 7:19 (no change, but I'm WAY ahead of my pacer on Garmin)
Mile 5 - 7:34 (more like it... perfect split)
Mile 6 - 7:39 (more of the same, but now something REALLY aint right)

At this point, I'm around 43:50 near the 10k, this is a 10k PR and I aint even racing a 10k race. But all of a sudden, the stomach had a word with me!!! Something in there said "Let me out!!!!" Lo and behold, I had to run off the course and got sick!!! Stomach cramped, and oops, there goes the muffin too!!! It didnt help that it was HOT too... it was 80 degrees and all sun this day. Not to mention that we had snow drizzle earlier this week... no time for acclimation... what a way to get broken into summer!! After this brief stint on the sidelines, I began my journey again, but I never stopped my Garmin.

Mile 7 - 9:37

Ok, what is really going on?? This time its bad. Back to the sidelines again. This time for real!!! It was over, I was really feeling sick. Stopped and some gracious person in the crowd gave me a bottled water, so I gulped, regurged, gulped, regurged... so now its just time for me to walk, BUT WAIT... I'm 6 miles from the finish in the heat!!!

Mile 8 -18:04

No way... the longer I'm out here, the longer the ordeal is going to last. So I got a second wind, and I think most of my sickness was gone now. So I decide to get back into this thing!!

Mile 9 - 7:39 (why am I killing myself, there is no PR in site... just bring it in)
Mile 10 - 8:46 (chatting with other runners)
Mile 11 - 8:21 (uh, oh!! one more wretching episode... just walked thru the gatorade stop)
Mile 12 - 9:35 (did more walking and chatting... alot of ppl walking, it was getting hot)

My thought was to just walk it in, but some guy "egg'd" me on to finish this last mile... he said "Haven't you run a mile before? Get back in here!!" So we ran side by side until the finish. Just about mile 12.75 there was a lady passed out in the street likely from dehydration and the paramedics were all over her. I was just glad to see the end in site.

Mile 13 - 8:30 (Oh the finish could not come any sooner)
Final time - 1:56:26

I dropped a MAJOR egg this time. Im soooo upset because this was my PR run in the making... I hoped to drop like 2-3 minutes and was on pace for about a 1:36:00. I guess I'm a fool when it comes to fueling for these long races, and the heat didnt help. I'm such a LOSER!! Today I am unusually sore, like I ran my first marathon sore!! I am not doing ANY running this week, I'm giving my body some rest. This 4 miler is just a training run next saturday. I need everything to be perfect for this 25k, and its a tough course from what I hear. I'm going to be ready... and I rest on...

Back Again!!

2009-04-25T09:47:00.005-04:00

Well, its been 3 weeks since my marathon. I have been doing some thinking... I'm doing a lot of races, but not much TRAINING. I have run a half marathon and a full marathon within a 3 week span, and I have another half marathon tomorrow. I initially was going to do the full tomorrow, but chickened out!! I have a 4 mile race next weekend. Then the weekend after that, I have MY race of the year... the 25k National Championship in Grand Rapids, MI. I plan on placing in the top 5 for the Clydes.

I'm taking a break after this. I have been officially challenged to get to Boston. I think I can do it. I'll make my attempt at CIM 09, but I'm still going for a major PR at the Detroit Marathon!! My major obstacle is my weight. People may say "you're not fat at all... I wish I could be as skinny as you". But they fail to realize, yeah I'm over 6ft, but I weigh 193lbs. Thats overweight for a "competitive" marathoner. Yes, I have made the transition... I'm no longer a recreational runner, I'm actually looking to get better and faster.

My 4 mile run next week is actually a fundraiser for the Lighthouse, i'll just be jogging that to show support, and for part of my "easy run" for the day. After the 25k, I'm going to have to decide how I'm going to train to RUN this marathon in October. I am torn between DANIEL'S running guide and HIGDON'S Advanced I running guide. Daniel's seem more hardcore, but is not layed out very well. Higdon's is very easy to follow, but doesn't seem to maximize faster running. I have checked out Lydiard also and like what I see for training, but a formalized marathon plan it lacks!!!

So I'm out for an easy 6.5 today at 8:30/mile pace just to keep loose for 2marow. I'm going for 1:38 or better tomorrow, no excuses. But if I feel like I felt yesterday during my easy run, then all bets are off!! I'm heading out this evening for the hotel, but plan on a little stress release beforehand, by going to the range and pretending to go postal!!! But until then, i run on...

Chicken or Egg??

2009-04-19T17:42:00.004-04:00

Well, I must say... the chicken must have came first, because I chickened out of the full next weekend b4 I had the chance to lay a major egg!! My quest to get faster is outta control... I shouldn't be doing all of this racing. There is no way my body can handle a half marathon, 2 full marathons, a 4 miler, and a 25k all in the span of 6-7 weeks. So I ditched the full for the half marathon next week. (i wasnt going to totally NOT run). I seem to recover from these races pretty well physically, though. But this ankle of mine!!! Its not getting any better... of course I'm not resting it! I'm just going to have to run on it until it falls off or something, because I am not taking time off again for a silly injury.

I finally got out of my rutt and went out and did some speedwork. For real this time. Started with a 1 mile warmup. Got to the track and did 6 x 200 @ 35sec each with a 1 min (200m) recovery. Its soooo much easier running on the track than running on the streets. I followed that up with two 1.7 mile tempos back to back at 10k pace. Felt really good, plus there were a lot of hills on this tempo run (obviously it was done on the roads). Wimpy workout you may say... but this was my PM workout, I had a 6.5 mile 1/2 mp run in the morning. All this 2 days after doing a 5 mile tempo 2 days prior @ 10k - 1/2 mp on the dreadmill!!

I followed up with a 10 mile mp run yesterday, and I did a 4.5 mile tempo today @ 10k pace. I did this on my lil route that has my version of Heartbreak Hill at mile 2-3, and a progressive incline at mile 1-2. Why am I trying to torture myself?? Well I checked my workout history, and I had my half PR in 2007 and I did like 85% up-tempo running. Now with all this slow/long stuff, I cant PR. I got that PR and had never run farther than 10k, and only did THAT one time!! So in order to race fast, I gotta train fast. Also, after following the training of another runner on Runner's World, and seeing how her times have declined with speedwork, I'm motivated now.

I also had a convo with another person from Runner's World, who compared how when she first ran a marathon, she was way heavier and ran slow, but hardwork paid dividends and now she's a BQ (Boston Qualifier). If you dont know what that means, dont worry... its just an "in" group for faster runners. She challenged me to put in the work in order to make "Boston" in 2010. I'm up for the challenge... but I gotta drop 15 minutes from my marathon and drop some MAJOR weight. Yeah, I'm talking about you, LOL. My initial goal was 185, but now its 180lbs. I'm at 193 now. Speaking of that... I was at a health fair yesterday, and I tried on a "fat suit" that weighed 20lbs. I wondered, there is NO WAY I could run with this 20 pound thing on. I would be slow as mollasses. Then it clicked!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If I dropped that much weight, running would be sooo much easier. Its just hard to eat totally right with the high paced, stressful, VERY limited time career I have. I'm always hungry and can only eat quick foods... thus no weight loss. But I lost a good 10lbs last year just b4 my marathon, so it CAN be done.

Back to running... I have the Half Marathon next Sunday. I'm going all out in it!! Goal 1:38 flat. The next Saturday I have a 4 mile run... its a fun-run/walk to benefit Lighthouse. I'm recruiting a lot of old high school friends that have never run b4 or exercised. Hope they show up, if only to donate to the cause. (stuff like that is important to me). I'm just joggin this. The following Saturday is MY race... the National 25k Championships in Grand Rapids, MI. I'm praying for a top 5 placement in the Clyde division (185lbs +). It was competitive last year, but I think I have their number!! And I run on...

Did I Get A New PR??

2009-04-05T16:45:00.003-04:00

This was supposed to be a "fun" race. It was a very early start... 7am. Once again, I was hanging out, but not late this time. My alma mater destroyed UConn last night, so me and some friends watched the game at Fridays. I had a handful of these coupons for 1 cent appetizers and antrees BOGO for $1. We had a feast!!! LOL. I was STARVING because I didnt eat anything the entire day but a bowl of cereal. I knew I would regret it in the morning, but it was all good.

Breakfast was cereal and some strawberries. I took a Oatmeal bar just in case. I downed a Ripit Power Drink like 30 minutes from the start and a Gu just prior. So I'm sure I'm fueled ok. This race has grown tremendously from last year. I had on my Tangent 3's for the second time in as many marathons. Just prior to the start, I was "going" to go to restroom, but I ran into an old college friend that I hadn't seen in like 15 years!! She was doing the half. So we chatted until the gun. I was like "oh man... i gotta pee!!!" LOL.

This was a very uneventful race thru the first 7 miles. It felt sooo good. The half marathoners turned around at this point and left us to complete the out and back. Mile 10 I hit at 1:17:xx and I thought to myself "That was not bad at all, I'm barely even working". So at that point, I decided that I would go for time. One thing... I had to pee!! I thought I would jump in the bushes at the 13.1 turnaround, but it was just too congested still... I deserve a lil privacy thank you!!

The "back" had a headwind from hell!! When I got to mile 15, I saw I was on 3:25:xx pace. I was like, "I can do this". But after that I lost all sense of milage. It was a blur... I kept Gu'ing and drinking just so I wouldn't bonk. I think around mile 15 I tried to get a portajon, then this slow guy coming "out" like at mile 11 beat me to it. So I trodded on. Somewhere like mile 17 I just said the heck with it... ran into the bushes and had what you would call a 8-ball piss, LOL. I could care less about time right then... but I felt better. But it was SOOOOO HARD getting back to a start from a complete stop.

There was this obnoxious boy that started drafting me, I go left, he go left, i go right, he go right, so I slowed down just a tad and he passed and drafted the next guy. This guy literally moved to the other side of the street to avoid the twirp, and he followed. Some words were exchanged and the boy took off to the next person. That's kinda cheating but oh well... he should allow others to draft him for a while... tit for tat!!

Mile 18 I started losing it. My lack of long runs showed its face, plus the wind. All kinds of things started going thru my head...
* Run tall
* Dont overstride, it causes braking motion
* Lean into the downhill
* How am I going to run up THIS hill
* Keep those legs moving, youre not tired!!
* Gu Gu Gu... water water water... Gatorade PLEASE!!
* Run in a pack
* My Garmin keeps beeping telling me I'm running too slow
* Ok, I'm ready for this to end, its not fun anymore

The course was not that bad, it barely had a net change in elevation, it was just full of rollers. (y do i always get those races). Mile 22 (where my Detroit meltdown occured), was a psychological challenge. By this time, I just could not pick up the pace... I tried choppy steps to increase turnover, I tried muscling it out, but it just wasn't happening. And at this time, my feet HURT!!! It hurt to try to speed up. Next marathon, I'm wearing my Brooks Adrenalines... so what if its a little heavier, I need the support!! So I look at the watch... Hmmm... I think I can PR this if I can just hang on!! It was going to be close, I was at 2:56:00 and trying to fade fast!! Mile 24 we run on blacktop thru the woods. There are walkers EVERYWHERE and they would not move. This was really ticking me off. The couple of hills in this 2 mile stretch were worse than a XC race!! I'm talking nearly strait up (but only for about 100 meters) and it saps you.

Mile 25, the Garmin reads 3:22:25. I'm thinking "I should be almost finished with this... and I got 1.2 miles to go". I had just ran the worst mile patch of the morning... 9:00 flat from 24-25. I was SOOO ready to stop. I had been running with a guy in a yellow shirt for the last 7 miles but he was a good 100 meters ahead of me. I'm thinking "10 minutes more... u gotta do it!!" Then there is a downhill... steep!! I'm like "yes" now I can pick up speed, which I did... got back down to a 8:02 pace. No sooner as I speak, the biggest steepest hill of all!!! I was literally PO'd. Why would they do this at the end of the race?? I just dug in and put all of my guts into it... it was guts from here on out, and my PR was looking gloomy! My mantra (again) was "rest at the finish you lil punk!!" Given my physical state, I gave it my all!!

I turn the corner and its a 200 meter strait-a-way to the finish!! 1st thought... "sprint it in", but my legs were saying "Uh uh!!". I saw the time 3:32:xx... no way was I going to let it slip away!! I hobbled and strained and grunted all the way in. I swear my form sukked!! Looked like I was in some Ronald McDonald shoes trying to run. At last I cross... Garmin says 3:33:17 A NEW PR!!!! Wow, I was so amazed, because I took that pee break and I walked thru the last 2 water stations. Those are what killed my sub 3:30, but I'm happy. A fun-run turned into a PR.

My splits:
7:51
7:42
7:42 again
7:52
7:49
7:42 again again
7:47
7:52
7:44
7:42 again again again (and last time)
7:49
7:54
7:50
7:58 mile 14
8:01
7:53
8:00
8:53 (i think this was the pee break) mile 18
8:16
8:47 mile 20
8:19
8:29
8:35
8:51 XC part
9:00 XC part 2
8:41 mile 26
2:10 for last 0.26 mile (a 2 minute quarter... my old track coach would kill me)

Now I'm not the complainer, but I do have an admission. 1 week ago just before my half, I twisted my right ankle and it has been bothering me for real. Ran the half... still bothering me. I was not going to use it as an excuse or crutch, but I tell you... It is really hurting right now!!! So I get home to relax, and like 3 hours after the race, I get signed up for ANOTHER full marathon in 2 weeks called Glass City Marathon... hmm... i wonder who would do such a thing?? So I run on...

My Marathon... just going to have fun...

2009-04-03T12:27:00.007-04:00

Click below for my marathon map!!

Martian Marathon

I dont think I'm going to try and PR this course. I'm just not ready. I have only averaged like 20-25 miles per week and have not followed a specific marathon plan. I became overzealous after the Detroit marathon, and the injury left me with something to prove. I'm actually nervous. I'm taking it easy today and Saturday. No pre-race buffets, LOL.

I am 100% sure I'm running Detroit in the fall. I'm 75% sure I'm going to do the CIM this year!! After that, I think my focus will be on the half... I just dont have the time to dedicate to a full in order to do as well as I know I can.

I got out to the track yesterday... It was a surreal feeling. Haven't been there in ages. I "attempted" just a 5 mile easy run, but it felt soooooo easy and my pace was like 7 minutes flat for the first 2 miles... so I slowed down to what felt like a walk. The next 3 miles were like 7:45 pace. Then I called it a night. No more running until the marathon.

I changed my mind, I'm not going to go all out for this race I'm not honestly prepared for. I'm just going to have fun and try to avoid getting injured again. My big race is the 25k in May. Still have to drop at least 8lbs. Cardboard and water here I come... and I run on...

I Ran Thru A Horse Stable!!

2009-03-28T15:21:00.003-04:00

I tell you... you have to be on your A-game for this long distance stuff. There is little degree for error. I did my half at "about" what I wanted to do. I made some major mistakes, though. As I type, I'm looking for a redemption race for this. It wasn't a debacle, but wasn't what I was expecting. Let me list my errors:
* Stayed out late last night and didnt get to bed until after midnight
* Ate ALL the wrong food last night (after 8pm albeit), I hardly ever eat dinner after 8pm
* Didnt fuel like I was supposed to just prior to the race (more on that)
* Let the "pack" get too far ahead of me during the first 5-6 miles
* Focused too much on not bombing near the end of the race
* Let a twurp sneak from behind and pass me during the last 200 meters

I dont know... I guess i wasnt paying close attn to detail. The REGISTRATION started at 8:30am and the race started at 9:30am. I ate a light breakfast at 6:30am (bagel and cereal) and took a cup of coffee with me. Got there and was like "Man... I'm early". So I jogged for about a mile and a half to warm up, did some stretches and tried to keep warm. The weather was great... 40 degrees at start. So now its like 9:20 and I'm thinking... "Hmmm... I got this Gu for mile 7, but I aint had nothing since 6:30", so i down the Gu. It was kind of disorganized at the start... the 5k runners were all in the way. They were to start like 5 minutes after us. The first 1/4 mile was very congested, and they didnt block off traffic... so you running on and off the curb!! I felt good for the first 4 miles, aside from this chick that kept trying to make me race her by speeding slowing speeding slowing, just to keep me in check. I think she was trying to make me pace her... left her in the dust. Around mile 5, the rolling hills started. The wind was killing!! By this time, the pack was wayyy ahead, so I couldnt draft. The 5k'ers ran on some of our course and they ended at our 4.5 mile, so it was hard to differentiate, until the mad exidus.

I was running a smart race, I felt. My pace was perfect, but those rolling hills and the wind got me... we had to do a 4 mile loop twice, so we had to endure that stuff twice!! My goal was to slowly pick people off that started too fast. Past like 6 people between 5-10 miles. Got there around 1:16... a tad slower than I wanted. Then POOF!! That hunger thing that I talked about previously kicked in. I had no Gu, there was no Gatorade during the run... just water. Usually, this is where my race begins... not today. I struggled MISERABLY to keep pace, where I can usually drop 15-20 seconds per mile for the last 3.1 miles. I look at my Garmin and at mile 12.25, I'm at 1:36:xx and I knew it was a wrap!! I just said "Rest at the finish" and just brought it in... passing 3 more people in that span. Then this twirp just darts past me right at the end, I never hear/saw him coming. (darn headphones). It was too late to react. So I just let him be. My final time was 1:41:11. Well off my goal, but heck, its early in the season!!

So why do I say that I ran thru a horse stable... because this Low-Key race brought the horses. First place was 1:16:xx overall. For me to place, I had to run a 1:23:xx, not even close. Where did all these "horses" come from?? Last year my time would have been competitive. And one more thing... during a 1 mile stretch there was actually a horse stable!! It was so crazy, the horses saw us running and actually tried to run with us, until they reached the end of the fence, and they just watched us in amazement. Was very weird for them to just sit and watch us.

Here are my split:
7:35 / 7:37 / 7:41 / 7:48 / 7:45 / 7:34 / 7:36 / 7:27 / 7:42 / 7:53 / 7:45 / 7:42 / 7:37 / 1:09 for last .16'ish

Well my full marathon is in 8 days... I'm GOING to break 3:30:xx. I was going to just cruise it, but since no PR today, it will have to be at the full... I now know what I need to do in order to get faster... my splits were pretty even, so endurance isnt the problem... to the track I come, and for real this time, and I run on...

Now I'm Getting Nervous!!

2009-03-25T22:03:00.003-04:00

I have 3 days until my half. All last week I have been doing marathon pace runs with so much ease. Running alone can be tough at times. I need somebody to push me. My tempo runs are getting a little bit faster. My long runs are not draining me like they used to. Now I go out for a mere 6.5 miler today... it was kinda tough. I havent had a rough run like this in quite some time. I couldnt get my breathing down and was flopping all over the place. I tried my Fastwitch 3 shoes and my thin socks I wear for my 5k's. Got half way into the run and the socks had already run up my feet. Well, wont be wearing THAT during my race. For my tempo runs lately, I have been doing more of a progression run. Slow... faster... faster'er. Today just wasnt my day. I hope this is not a harbinger (yes I'm smart) to what's to come. I really want to get under 1:40:00 for this half marathon. I will be TOTALLY happy with a 1:35:xx.

I'm just nervous because this is my first long race since my marathon 6 months ago. I have only averaged about 20-30 miles per week. MAX!! Who said low-mileage runners cant compete?? Now its 3 days out, and I'm struggling to run... I know i'm supposed to be tapering, but it still shouldnt feel tough to keep a pace that was normally easy. I just dont want to bonk like the Indy-Mini that I ran. I know absolutely nothing about this race. I dont know where the hills are... where the water stations are... if theres a Gu station (not that you need one for a half). Heck, there is not even a map of the course. Wont need it being that I'll be following the crowd anyways. Just wish me luck. I really need to start doing something in 2009. I'll be back to report on my triumph or debacle... and I run on...

I'm CRAZY!!??

2009-03-17T20:00:00.002-04:00

Well, as you know, I'm set up for this full marathon in 2.5 weeks. I must either be crazy in need of therapy, depressed in need of an out, or just plain STUPID!! I just signed up for a half marathon 1 week prior to the full. I know that's the dumbest thing to do, plus I plan on trying to test and see how my fitness is on this half. I'm going to try and PR this race. I have nothing to lose but a poor showing in my full marathon. I pretty much dont care about the full anyways. I am using it to test how to actually RACE a marathon as opposed to running (jogging) to finish. I think the course is pretty flat, so I think I'll still do ok. In my initial full, I kept my 8-8:05 pace pretty well without much effort for a 3:34:xx, so I think I'll push for a 3:27:xx this time. Definitely will be sub 3:30 for my full in the fall. With 2 or 3 more under my belt, I'll then be aiming for Boston!!

No I'm not a glutton for pain, I just have high expectations of myself (realistic or not). But, barring any injury, I WILL be "racing" one day soon... I just gotta get some weight off, and I run on...