Marathon Training Week One - Complete

I decided to go with Hal Higdon's Novice 2 training plan for my marathon. I was considering Pfitz, but decided I didn't want to do that many miles for my first marathon...maybe next time :).

Week one went well. It was actually a little easier than some of my weeks lately (I was preparing for Pfitz). That was a nice way to start the training though...I know I can do it.

Monday - Cross training: 6 miles on the bike.
Tuesday - 2.92 miles. I think I overdid it yesterday, my legs felt tired and heavy.
Wednesday - 5.23 miles. Feeling better.
Thursday - 3.17. My heel has been hurting the last couple days, did I step on something?
Friday & Saturday - Rest
Sunday - 8.2 miles. Heel is feeling better. Overall, this was a pretty decent run, just a little chilly (48* when I left the house).

I am excited for week 2...17 weeks to go!

Mississippi 10 Miler

Sorry I haven't been a good blogger lately...although I have been reading all of yours. I have finally broken down and gotten into facebook so now when I am on the computer I am usually working on my farm or restaurant or doing a job for my mafia.

I have been doing pretty good about increasing my mileage, although it is tough to get out for the weekend long-runs.

Last weekend I ended up running my first 10 mile race. It was the most low key race I have ever run. The start line consisted of a crack in the sidewalk...seriously - I heard the woman on the phone figuring it out right before she announced "Here is the start, line up here." It only cost $15 though and was a decent course with a good group of runners. I could have used a spectator or two at a couple points to push me on, but I still did ok. I managed to run the entire race...not one step of walking and finished with a good average pace. Somewhere around the fourth mile my garmin got off track with the course and I had a little trouble telling exactly how I was doing, so I was happy when I crossed the finish line in exactly 1:43 (I was going for somewhere between 1:40 - 1:45).

Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon Race Report

This has got to be the most beautiful race I have run yet. The course was great - it wound through the Lake Minnetonka area through a variety of terrain, through neighborhoods, on the side of busier streets, on some country roads, and of course along the lake itself then finished on about a mile of gravel trail. There were a good number of hills, some of which were quite steep, but not too many long ones. It was a nice variety and therefore would be hard to get bored. Add to that the most gorgeous weather we have had all year (50s-60s with a little sunshine for the race) and you get a very enjoyable race.

I decided to try something different for this race...audiobooks! I have used them in the past, but haven't in a while...and not at all since I have actually been able to run for more than an hour. An old friend who happens to runs marathons suggested trying it for my marathon training. I got something from the library loaded it on my Sansa.

Since I wasn't expecting to do all that well, I barely looked at my pace, I just ran what felt comfortable and enjoyed the story and the scenery. Each time my Garmin beeped to tell me I had finished another mile I was surprised...especially when I would see what my pace was for the mile! I took a Hammer gel between 4-5 miles which really helped (I don't think I have used one since my last HM in October) and I wished that I had another one for around mile 10. The last couple miles were a little tough...I really had to push myself not to start walking during the last one. I only walked a few minutes total (to take the gel and fidget with my Sansa...next time, I'll put the whole book in a playlist!)

In the end, not only did I PR (by 11 minutes!!) but I beat my 2009 HM goal by 3 minutes and finished in 2:16:40!!

This morning I am stiff. I tried to run on the treadmill and my legs wouldn't work right. I did a few miles on the bike instead (with no problems). Hopefully tomorrow I can start on that marathon training...

Stats
Race: Wells Fargo Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon
Date: May 3, 2009
Distance: Half Marathon
Official Time: 2:16:40
Average Pace: 10:26
Overall Place: 1403/1754
Place in Age Group: 303/403

Early "Taper" Week

Yeah, that's what I was doing last week...tapering for this weekend's half marathon...just a little early...I wanted to get a head start.

Ok, ok. But I was traveling for a conference and had some trouble getting in miles. I was outside Phoenix where it was in the 90s (my body is definitely not ready for that yet) and the fitness center cost $20 per day!! Does that include my own personal trainer? Do they have solid platinum treadmills? WTH? So, I got in a couple very short runs but that is it.

I have no excuse why I did absolutely no running over the weekend though.

This week, I really don't want to overdo it. I know my body likes a bit of a rest before a race and I have a half marathon on Sunday (my first of the year and second ever). Oh yeah, it will also be my first 13 mile run of the year, and my second double digit run of the year. Yeah, I was hoping to be a little more prepared for this race, but it is a little late to do anything about that now.

I finished my other half with an 11:17 pace (2:27:40) and struggled quite a bit through the last couple miles. Ultimately for the year I would like to finish a HM in 2:20 (10:41 pace). I think for this race I will shoot for an 11:00 pace which would put me somewhere under the 2:25 mark. That is about where I have been running my long runs, so it should be doable. Then, next week I get to start getting more structured with my running and start somewhat of a training plan for the marathon. I think I am starting with a Pfitz 55 mpw plan (which I will try really hard to stick to). I am starting it a couple weeks early, but I figure that way I can have a couple bad weeks here and there and not really get behind in the training.

Weekend Update

After registering for the Marathon on Friday I was feeling all motivated and confident and was planning a 13 mile long run for the weekend. I really wanted to get in the 13 miler since I am only 2 weeks out from a half marathon, my longest run so far this year has been 10 miles, I was hoping to be more prepared than I was for my half last October, and I don't want to run too long the weekend before (I know that my body likes to be good & rested before a race).

Saturday was to be beautiful weather - in the 70's with a little sun and little wind. Sunday was suppose to be rainy with highs in the 40's. Can you guess which day I planned for my long run?

Saturday came along and I had a good few hours while I was waiting for my cat at the groomers (yes, I get my cat groomed). I got dressed, grabbed my water bottle, headphones, visor, and phone (for the groomer call), and cat. The groomer isn't far away, but I figured it would be a different starting point anyway. I dropped her off and realized that I had forgotten my Garmin! So, I drove back to the house and got the Garmin and headed out from home...leaving my visor and headphones in the car!! Seriously, how forgetful can I be? Well, I was already going so I just hoped it wouldn't be too sunny and tried to get a good running song in my head.

About a mile into my run (while singing "Up on the rooftop, reindeer paws (or is that pause?) Out jumps good ole Santa Claus" WHERE DID THAT SONG COME FROM??) I realized I was having trouble. Often it is a little difficult getting started, but by this point I should be getting into a groove. But...not so much. I felt like I was pushing really hard and was having a little trouble keeping it around 11:00 miles. My legs just felt like they had lead weights strapped on them. I pushed through a while longer and ended up cutting my long run a little short...yeah by about 10 miles!! When I got home I was beat and I had only made it 3.12 miles! Plus my knee felt like I had twisted it a little.

Hmmm, maybe I will try again on Sunday...

Sunday morning I did some shopping with the family while there seemed to be a constant COLD drizzle. I really wanted to get in some more miles, so when we got home I got into my running clothes. I put on a long sleeve top and my tights (they are pretty thin) and a jacket for the rain. I pulled on gloves and a winter hat to keep my head dry. Off I went...and it had stopped raining! Amazingly, it did not rain one drop while I was out for my run! Of course, that meant that I was way overdressed. I took a trail that I haven't been on in a while (since last year) and about a 1.5 miles from home I stopped to strip down. I took off the jacket and tied it around my waist, the gloves hung nicely from the jacket, but what to do with the hat? I was on a wooded bridge, and I decided to just tuck it between two slats of the railing until I come back through.

I was feeling good - but was afraid to go too far from home (in case it started downpouring). So, at mile 3 I turned around and headed back. As I passed over the bridge on my way back through I looked for my hat and it was nowhere to be seen! Who would take a hat they found alongside a trail? Oh well, I guess they needed it more than me (and it was seriously just a cheap couple dollar hat anyway). During mile 5 I realized I was going to cut the run at the 6 mile mark (I was thinking of adding some more mileage on when I got close to home) since my knee was starting to bother me...so I picked up the speed for the last mile...9:11 pace!! I ended up finishing the 6 mile run in almost exactly an hour - pretty cool.

Last night, my knee was killing me. I took the day off today (unplanned) and have taken some Advil which has worked wonders.