Thursday, August 6, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
If I keep my head into my running the way I envision it I’ll have a good day. Get outside and boy is it humid. We run from Kristin’s to Melissa’s and the decision is made that we are going to run through Johnson’s today (which means some hills). I quickly fall behind the girls but they are faster so I let them go. I’m doing relatively well at focusing on a nice even pace.
We get out of the park and my wife decides that with the race only days away and the IT band still not 100% she is going to head back and see us there.
I keep moving following the other two girls but I’m still losing ground. I walk for a small portion of
I feel bad that Melissa ran the extra mileage, I feel insulted that they thought I’d be THAT FAR behind them, and I feel good knowing that I have a group of running companions that care that much for me. Melissa declined a ride home and she estimates she ended her day with 7-7.5 miles.
For me I ended the day with 5.25 miles in about a 9:15 pace. The day was 64 degrees, light NE wind (5 mph), and overcast.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
With the wife’s IT band acting up I had told her that she wasn’t to run today so she opted to stay in bed when I got up this morning – I thought that Kristin was going to have her ride a bike but maybe I was mistaken. :\
So I met Kristin and find out that Melissa isn’t going to make it either so Kristin and I set out…I had a rough mile and a half. I could not breathe and my legs were burning! Kristin was trying to keep her normal pace and I was trying to hang in there for a while. After a short time I bailed on her and let her go ahead. She did it twice…both times coming back to get me. We finished up the run with 4.25 miles for me in about 41 min. It was 58, no wind, and slightly overcast.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
No running today, just the personal trainer. She did a great job moving us through a number of upper body exercises that just kicked my ass! 60 min workout with a warm up and cool down.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
I still do not know why I mentioned that I want to do intervals to Kristin, Melissa, and Jodie. I now have to do it!!
So here is what we did…1 mile warm up (9:22 pace)…4 x 1/2 mile speed work with ¼ mile rests (pace 7:46, 7:41, 7:41, 7:19)…1 mile cool down (9:23 pace)
Total mileage for the day 5 miles at 9:17 pace.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Saturday, June 13, 2009
The mileage for the say is 15. It is rainy, humid, and about 51 degrees at 5 AM when I meet Kristin and Rick. We start out at a decent 9:08 pace and I was able to maintain it for about 2 miles. At this point my legs felt like they were getting shorter! So I stretched and tried to catch up. I met up with them again at Kristin’s house (4.5 miles in) and then we headed back out, the long way, to meet the rest of the group. I had 10.5 miles in once I got to the group. My wife and I headed for Case’s track to put in a few laps (in honor of those we know with cancer and to remember the founding of our running group 7 years ago) but I realize shortly after getting there that I need a bathroom break. Once relieved I finish my laps and head back to the trail. A lot more walking that I should…just a bad day! 15 miles at a 10:39 pace
Friday, June 12, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
So if you’ve looked at the schedule to the right of these posts you probably noted that it is different than what I have been doing for the past 4 years. The NY Marathon site offered a number of training programs and seeing that this one had a few more 20 milers and a 22 I thought this would be a much better program to follow.
All that being said I have been short of my weekly mileage for the past 2 weeks and it looks like this week I will be to but I didn’t want to be 6-8 miles short just 1-2. So when my wife got up to exercise I decided that it would be best if I got out and did a few miles.
Simple out and back for a total of 4 miles at about a 9:20 pace. Sunny and cool (48) hint of a breeze 3 mph NE
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Really did not want to be up this morning. What was just as bad was that my wife didn’t either! But we were good got out of bed and drove over to Kristin’s. Found out that Jodie wasn’t going to be there so we went straight away to Melissa’s. My wife has been complaining about a bad knee so has been resting it but Kristin convinced her (very easily I might add) to run to Melissa’s. Now I always end up behind them so this was no surprise what was interesting was that they were losing me and I was at an 8:45-8:50 pace!! I thought she was having knee issues. ;^)
Once at Melissa’s we got caught up on the daily events in our lives and ended up walking a bit farther than normal before we set out running. I started my watch toward the end of the walk just to record the mileage but even that is off by about ¼.
My pace was strong for a morning I didn’t want to be out here: 9:20. When I got near Kristin’s I realized that I would be short so a little out and back and I ended the day with just over 4.5 miles. Factoring in the walking I was about at a 10 min pace…ignoring it closer to 9:15. Overcast cool (52) slight wind out of the NE 8-10 mph
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
I think that I overdid dinner last night. I was up at 3 am not feeling well. Sweating, nauseous, and cramping…not the thing you want to wake up to.
Up at 4:15 got ready but still was not feeling well. The wife and I met Kristin and Jodie. Steph and Jodie walked…Steph is nursing a knee injury so she walked with Jodie.
I started out okay and it got worse. The grocery store was not open so I had to hold it a while longer. There was some pressure that after a short time passed and I was able to run again. Even with all of that I finished the 4.1 miles in 44 min…not great but could have been much worse. Beautiful morning…overcast, 58, with a light East wind.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Monday, June 8, 2009
It has been a few weeks but we are back on schedule with the personal trainer…for a week or two! Anna worked us hard but it was good. I’m glad to see that I didn’t lose too much strength while I’m away.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
In the continuing adventures to work on my speed and endurance we opted for a hill/stair workout for today. We met Melissa and Kristin at 7:30 am in the Gateway parking lot. The rain had not started so we might get lucky…not so much!
The plan was to charge the hill recover on the down and head for the stairs…charge the stairs…I love hills so I was off to the races!
By the time I hit the 4th hill charge the lungs were burning and I was ready to quit. Got a drink of water after the 4th circuit and did another 2.
When you add all the hills/stairs…1 mile warm up and 1 mile cool down we got in 4.5 miles. The weather was cool (52) and rainy…wind (NNE 5mph)
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
My wife is looking to build her mileage so that the Lighthouse Run and the Maui Half are a little easier for her to handle. In that vein she convinced me to forgo my 10 miler this week and do 12. We met Melissa at 5:30 am in the Panera parking lot and started our run. I was only able to squeak 8 miles in before meeting the group at 7 so I thought I’d be a little short but Melissa knew where to turn so that we would have just the right mileage for the day.
My body shut down at 9 miles – I just did not want to run any more but I slogged through it with a little walking and I was able to finish the 12 miles in a 9:45 pace. The weather for the day was cool (49) and windy (ENE 5mph)
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Parkside! My favorite course. I needed 13 miles today so I’m out there at 5:30 with Kristen. Did a nice out and back on the roads in the park while waiting for the early group to get there. 6:00 am we meet up with the early group and run a modified 5k course backwards. Part of the group headed off to the roads and the wife and I stuck to the trails…she is going to hate me!!! We finished things on the trail and got to the parking lot just before 7.
Talked a bit with the group and then headed back out there to finish the mileage for the day. My wife stuck with me the whole time…she could have gone faster but the trails were kicking her butt and in the end when the mileage was kicking me she ran the extra 0.5 miles just to be sure that I got my full 13 in!! She managed to run 10.5 miles as a training run!!!
13 miles…95% trail…9:59 pace!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Didn’t want to do this but it has become part of the ritual…2 days a week early.
Out and back…4 miles…9:50 pace…much more humid that I would have liked (92%!!)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Back in
5 miles…9:45 pace
Monday, May 25, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
A small group of us decided that we would do a Memorial Day run and head up to
I struggled for the 1st 5k as I tried to stay with a much faster group initially so that I could direct them. Averaged 9:35 on the way out.
On the way back I was with my wife and Andy and we did pretty good talking and focusing on the nice trail. Averaged 9:15 on the way back
Completed 6.2 miles with a 9:25 pace.
We will be adding this location to our regular run.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Starting the marathon buildup for
Met the girls early and doubled back to pick up the wife at 6:15.
Felt the same way I did last week…no real cares and just focused on the run.
Manages to get 10 miles in at a 9:13 pace…that is better than last years Lighthouse run!!!
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
I saw a sign that there were caves here in
4 miles…10:23 pace.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Still not a fan of the morning run and it is worse when I’m away from home and running by myself.
Out and back route…4 miles…9:30 pace
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
The wife wanted to get a few extra miles in this week and who was I not to agree. So we were at running a bit early on Saturday to get in a few miles before meeting the group. We maintained a decent pace not too face but not too slow. It was tough going but running with each other made it a little easier.
Got back in time to meet the group say ‘hi’ and head right back out.
I was in a unique place mentally…no race in the near future (other than the Lighthouse) and no “long run” for a few weeks. I was feeling good so I just went. Seems that everyone noticed the extra spring in my step as I move out in front of the group and managed to put up a 9:19 average for my 2nd 5k of the morning.
Finished 8 miles at a 9:26 pace.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Fort Collins – A downward journey
I’ve only been to
Saturday morning the wife and I headed out for a short 2 mile run and I tried to push the last quarter mile…I could feel the altitude and the lack of much humidity in the air. I would have to be very careful tomorrow and be sure that I watched my fluid intake…nothing could be worse than not having enough!
The expo was small but it was what I’d expect for this size of a race. My wife even signed up for the 10k while I was getting my number…she figured she’d have plenty of time to do that and still get out to see me on the course.
We took some time and drove the course…beautiful! We kept an eye on the weather forecast because it was calling for snow and temps around 35 for race day…this really was not what I signed up for!
Fort Collins is a beautiful city…we got lunch in the downtown and asked the waitress for some ideas for dinner. After walking to both locations that were recommended and perusing their menus we decided on where dinner would be and made reservations (we were not going to have a repeat of
Early night since the bus that would take me to the starting line leaves at 4:00 am…still looking at the weather and snow is still in the forecast…not good…didn’t bring a long sleeve shirt…Damn!
Got up and did my usual ritual…forecast had changed…45-55 degrees, showers early and clearing up high for the day 60…current temp 39. Why did I forget to bring a long sleeve shirt!!! Luckily I brought a garbage bag…not real warm but would keep the body heat in.
Was on the first bus leaving the hotel…bad idea…the driver informed us as we were on the way that he would not be able to wait with us at the starting line but would need to drop us off…once again cursing myself for not having a long sleeve shirt. As we drove I noticed that the clouds were dissipating. When we got to the starting line there wasn’t a cloud in the sky…no moon…but the stars were amazing! At times like this I wish I would carry my camera.
As we waited for the gun I spent some time looking around, the valley we were in had a river that we would follow all of the way into
The gun went off right at 6 am and all 1,000 marathoners took off toward
I held my pace pretty even, just under a 10 min pace for the first 6 miles. Took my scheduled gel and kept moving. The aid stations were positioned about every 2-3 miles so I had a water bottle with me the whole race this helped to ensure that the gel was taken when needed and not when the aid station was there.
At about mile 7 I caught up with a woman who was running her first marathon and we chatted for the next 30 minutes. It was lovely to talk with someone on the course but as we talked our pace slowly picked up to a point that I wished her well and told her to have a great race at mile 10.5. Talking while running is great but I still have not figured out how to control my pace enough so that I do not crap out near the end. I’ll keep working on it because I enjoy the commiseration!
Mile 12. Second gel of the day. I was able to get the gel into my mouth and that was as far as it was going. I nearly threw up right then. The feeling was absolutely overwhelming. I choked a little down and at the next station took in some sports drink…which had the same reaction when it hit the throat! This is not good. To make matters worse within 100 yards of this I suddenly needed a restroom. Thankfully the half marathon starting line was coming up and there was a bunch of porta-potties.
10 minutes after stopping I was trying to get moving again. Much harder that I thought. I was moving in a forward direction so I was happy.
About mile 16 we leave the valley and the space opens before us. This means I will see my wife in about 1-1.5 miles. I’m not on target at all. I’ve now not been able to take any real sustenance in about 10 miles. I still keep trying to take in sports drink…heavily diluted with water in hopes that it will help. I see my wife and tell her my pains…she tells me to keep moving and work on running some…push through it…I’ve been here before…keep trying to take the gels when you should. She gave me a kiss and said she’d see me at about mile 22.
People cheering along the course.
There was more walking than running but I kept doing the 5 min run/5 min walk…whenever I could. The largest hill was at mile 18, I got to the top and was able to take a little sports drink and about a mile later I tried to take another gel. Got half of it in…gagged on the rest.
At this point we are in the ‘suburbs’ of
Mile 22 my wife is there as promised. I get some sports drink and give her my water bottle – I think I can make it in from here without it. She tells me that I really need to run some so that I’m not disappointed when I finish…’Leave it out on the course is what you always say – so do that leave it out here.’ She points out later that she does listen to me.
I really tried but I’ve now gone too long with out any real calories and I’m dragging. The trail is quite boring for about 2-3 miles as we are running under the power lines near the river (could not really see it from the trail all of the time) and through fields after fields. Unlike the valley, here you can see about a mile ahead.
I was glad to see the 25 mile marker knowing that the misery was nearly over. I see my wife waiting for me at mile 26 and she runs with me (walks too when I need) all the way in. I get my medal and poster. Find my wife. Find oranges. Gag. Suck on the orange. Gag. Swallow the fresh juice. Gag. Repeat the last 4 items 4-5 times.
Wife takes a picture:
Find the beer…I know there is beer here…have a glass…okay about 3 sips. Now you know how bad it is if I can’t drink beer!!!
I stretched a bit while the wife goes and gets some ice cream...we sit and enjoy the day a bit.
I finished The Colorado Marathon (aka Fort Collins Marathon) in 5:25:24.
My wife finished the 10k in 56:25 (clock time) – her actual time is better!
Now that we’ve had some time to think the race over the altitude is what got to me. Not training at the higher elevation my body was supplying oxygen to my muscles and did not want to expend any energy on digestion.
Next marathon is in