Weekly Recap-11 Weeks to San Antonio

Sunday.
Good 9 in afternoon. Another 6 in pm walk / jog; burning calories.

Saturday.
Walk / jogged 10. Just burning calories.

Friday
Quick 4 in the morning. Walked / jogged 4 after work. Solid 8 at night at normal pace.

Thursday.
Ran 5, walked / jogged another 5.

Wednesday.
Ran 5, walked / jogged another 5.

Tuesday.
Ran 4, jogged / walked another 7, just burning calories.

Monday
Ran 5, good pace, walked another 3.5

Weekly Recap-12 Weeks to San Antonio

Sunday.
Descent 10.5; right hip really tight with dull pain most of the run.

Saturday.
Ran 5, walked another 5. Legs felt heavy heavy, quads tights. Not sure why; it's been three days since I did 14. At night, hard to sleep as lower back and hip inflamed and really bothering me.

Mid-section core work.

Friday
Walked / jogged 8.

Thursday.
Walked / jogged 6, hip a little sore.

Wednesday.
14, first 7 nice and smooth. Started to dehydrate from 7-10. 11-14 tough.

Tuesday.
Off

Monday
Walked / Jogged 10. Some mid-section core and upperbody work.

Weekly Recap-Week 3 in Limbo

Sunday.
7.5; had a dozen in me, but not the motivation. Tried of being soaked in sweat at 5 miles.

Saturday.
Off-To tired and lazy to put in 7-8.

Friday
Going to 8 or more, but got late start 10:30 p.m.; called it quits after 30 minutes at 3.5.

Thursday.
Off-wanted to get in 5, too busy

Wednesday.
10 miler. Was planning for 8, felt good at 7 and increased speed with plan to go 12. But by 10 heat was getting to me. Shut it down.


Tuesday.
Off

Monday
10 nice and slow.

Weekly Recap-Week 2 in Limbo

Sunday.
Off-Not really but busy busy busy.

Saturday.
Off


Friday
Decent 11, really cut speed to handle heat.

Thursday.
Off

Wednesday.
Good 12 miler, reduced speed to handle heat. Started off well, with right hip a little tight; about an hour into it, hip really stressed.

But overall, climbing out of the hole.

Tuesday.
Off

Monday
Off

Weekly Recap-Week 1 in Limbo

Sunday.
Solid 7.5 at normal pace, legs a little heavy but not too bad. Hip a little stiff but not too bad.

Saturday.
Wow, hope? That was surprising. I've been running like cramp for two weeks; body has been sore all over. Also the heat was unbearable.

The fights were on TV tonight, so I figured I'd walk 4-6 on the mill to burn calories. After walking four, I took a bathroom break.

I came back and figured I'd run 1-2; after two, I felt good. It was after 10 pm and the heat wasn't as bad, also no pain in legs. I figured I make 5 of it, then 7; by 10 I was still feeling good but I stopped not to over due it while still recovering.

I think my legs had fluid build up from the long flight back from downunder, body feeling better. If I could get back to consistent 12 milers each week through August, I should be ready for a full cycle in September.

Friday
Off

Thursday.
Tried to run 6 outside with my friend John. He was fine; I just about heat stroked at 3 and walked a mile back to the car.

Wednesday.
Walked / jogged 5, hotter than hell.

Tuesday.
Jogged four, walked another two. Quads stiff and heavy. It's gonna be a long road back.

Monday
Walked / jogged 10. Body still hurting

Jogging

"The first time I see a jogger smiling, I'll consider it."- Joan Rivers

Chicago is look very doubtful.

I ran 8 on Monday and I've been literally walking with a limp for two days. Walked 4 this morning and really hurt in hamstring and hip. Now I've come down with what feels like a respiratory infection, feel like cramp.

Same philosophy, I could do a half-ass cycle and still probably run sub 3:30, but if I can't have at least a shot at 3:10, I'm not interested.

Will see how I feel by Monday, and make a decision.

Weekly Recap-11 weeks to Chicago

Sunday.
9 nice and easy.

Saturday.
Off

Friday
Off

Thursday.
Off

Wednesday.
Off

Tuesday.
Walked / jogged 9. Really sore, walking with limp. Hamstrings tight and sore.

Monday
Ran 7.5, walked another 5.

Weekly Recap-12 weeks to Chicago

Sunday.
Ran 7.5, pulled back to handle heat. Back in Corpus.

Walked another 5, gotta drop 15 lbs, doable.
Saturday.
Off traveling

Friday
Off traveling

Thursday.
Off traveling.

Wednesday.
Off sight seeing

Tuesday.
Ran 5k of hill work with Juliet in the a.m

Monday
Ran / walked 5k with girls in a.m., and added lots of calisthenics

Weekly Recap-Week 11 in Limbo

Sunday.
Jenny arrived yesterday. She Juliet and I did 5k around queen Elizabeth park in a.m.

Saturday.
Off-family things all day.

Friday
Ran / walked 5k with girls in a.m., and added lots of calisthenics

Thursday.
5k around QE park with Juliet in a.m.;

Wednesday.
Ran / walked 5k with girls, and added lots of calisthenics, no time for solo run.

Tuesday.
Ran 5k of hill work with Juliet in the a.m.; wanted to get in 6-8 at night, but got in after dark.

Monday
Off-rained most of the day.

Weekly Recap-Week 10 in Limbo

Sunday.
Ran 7k with Juliet in a.m. (five full laps around queen Elizabeth park), walked another mile. Ran another 8 miles at night.

Saturday.
10 walk/ jog. Right hip still tender, feeling generally beat-up.

With full-time watch of girls, training limited for another week. Really cutting calories to offset lack of miles. Will pick up mileage when Jen arrives in a week.

Friday
5k with Juliet around queen Elizabeth park.

Thursday.
Wanted to do 8-10, but tied up with family activities.

Wednesday.
Inflammation in right hip. Walked 6 in early am; jogged /walked another 3 with girls late morning.

Tuesday.
Walked / jogged 11 in a.m., did another walk / jog another 3 with girls.

Monday
Walked / jogged 5, then walked / jogged another 3 with J.

Location:Macnamara Ave,Concord,Australia

Weekly Recap-Week 9 in Limbo

Sunday.
On plane to Australia

Saturday.
On plane to Australia.

Friday
Off trip planning.

Thursday.
I wouldn't say I'm injured, but have terrible inflammation in right hip and ham. Put in 8 last night, really tender today. But I can still run, dull pain, not sharp.

Wednesday.
Wanted to get in 6+, but swamped with work.

Tuesday.
Waked / jogged 5.

Monday
Waked / jogged 7.

Weekly Recap-Week 8 in Limbo

Sunday.
Walked four.

Saturday.
12, pulled back some to handle heat. Walked two more.

Friday
Off

Thursday.
Off

Wednesday.
7 miles, cut pace some to handle heat. But did add 3 X 1,000 meter slight inclines.

Tuesday.
Off-swamped with work

Monday
Off-swamped with work.

Weekly Recap-Week 7 in Limbo

Sunday.
Off-swamped with work.

Saturday.
Off-swamped with work.

Friday
6 walk / jogg

Thursday.
7 normal pace.

Wednesday.
Off

Tuesday.
Jogged / walked 6.

Monday
Walked four during lunch.

Weekly Recap-Week 6 in Limbo

Sunday.
Off

Saturday.
Easy four. Couldn't handle heat.

Friday
Walked 5.

Thursday.
8 nice and slow to handle heat.

Wednesday.
Off

Tuesday.
Six during lunch. Walked four at night.

Monday
Walked / jogged 10.

Weekly Recap-Week 5 in Limbo

Sunday.

Saturday.
Off. Busy busy busy.

Friday
6 miler
Walked / jogged couple with girls.

Thursday.
Off

Wednesday.
Walked four. Inflamation in right hip, and tightness in hamstring.

Tuesday.
Jogged four, walked a couple

Monday
Jogged four, walked a couple.

Weekly Recap-Week 4 in Limbo

Sunday.
Off

Saturday.
Off

Friday
Walked six.

Thursday.
Off

Wednesday.
Jogged a couple with J.

Tuesday.
Off

Monday
Walked / jogged four to burn calories. Been cutting back on calorie intake also.

Weekly Recap-Week 3 in Limbo

Sunday.
Good 8. Pulled back 12 secs/ mile to handle heat. At 6 felt great and picked it up to normal pace. 2 miles later, soaked in sweat.

Amazing how 12-15 secs/ mile makes big difference.

Saturday.
Off

Friday
Off.

Thursday.
Five miler.

Wednesday.
Jogged a couple with girls.

Tuesday.
Walked four during lunch, Ran / Walked another six at night. Just burning calories.

Monday
Walked 4.5 at night.

Beach To Bay Marathon Relay

I was so out of shape post New Orleans marathon (Feb 28^th), I wasn't even planning to run Beach To Bay. Additionally, as I constantly assert, "Beach To Bay is a great event, but a crappy race." Crappy for four main reasons.

1) The weather is usually dangerously hot. I almost heat stroke every year just running a single 4.5 mile leg.

2) A 1/3^rd to half of your team members (6 to a team), don't take it seriously, and thus quit the week of the race, or just don't even try to run fast.

3) Because of #2, you have no idea when you're going to get the hand-off. Sometimes you wait 1 ½ to 2 hours in the hot sun just to start running.

4) The course is only closed to one lane of traffic, so you have to run next to a long trail of cars moving along at 5 mph, breathing in their exhaust.

So it's ridiculous that I ended up agreeing to run three of the six legs this year. I've done it before, as stated in #2 above, 1/3^rd of your team usually gets an "injury" or "urgent" personal matter the week of the race. However this year, I was running for two different teams, and de facto, a 3^rd team.

The local running store asked me to be on their team, which is competitive in their division. It's a honor to be asked, plus it eliminates complaints # 2-3 above. I agreed to run leg #4 for Fleet Feet running store. Then a client asked me to run leg #5 for them also. Since I would be standing there anyway (after finishing leg #4), I said sure. But then my daughter was asked to run leg #5 for her school. I figured I could run leg #5 for my client, then double back and catch my daughter running toward the end of leg #5 for her team. Hopefully, she would only be about halfway done and I could help her finish.

Under ideal weather conditions, and if I was in optimal shape, I can average 6:20-6:30 min/mi over 4.7 miles (length of leg #4). However I knew it would be hot and humid, and I wasn't in optimal shape, so I told my Fleet Feet buddies to expect 6:40 to 6:45 min /mi for me, or about 31.5 to 32.0 minutes for my leg.

The week of the race, rain and heavy cloud cover was forecasted, great!!!! That would help with the heat. However, the day before the race, the forecast was changed to only 20% chance of rain, and light clouds.

The first leg of the race began at 7:00 a.m. By 7:45, I was standing at the start of leg #4 expecting the handoff in about 45 minutes. Our team captain said to expect the handoff about 8:25-8:28 (our team was shooting for a sub 3:00 race time). Fifteen minutes later, a thunder storm came through. The wind blew strong and straight out of the East, with a light rain. Another runner lamented that the wind was going to make it tough. Twenty-three of the twenty-six mile race is North-North West from the South. But two miles of leg #4, through the naval base, go due East. By 8:30, my team hadn't arrived. The weather was having an effect.

At 8:32 I got the handoff, and took off feeling strong. Half a mile later I was headed dead into a 30 mile / hr wind, with 60 mile hour gusts. I finished my first mile in 6:37, but had to cut back. The wind was killing me; by mile two I was struggling, and breathing hard. It was like running up hill. Finally by mile 3, the course turned North and the wind became perpendicular. However by this point, I was now soaking wet and sloshing in my shoes. I had to stop, only about 10 seconds, and walk three times to catch my breath. Six other runners passed me through the base. I expected none, or maybe 1 or 2 at the most.

I finally handed off to leg five, finishing my leg in 34:50, or 7:23 min / mile. I was totally disgusted.

I found my wife and daughter huddling with 2,000 other runners next to the Port-A-Potties in the strong wind and light rain. My eight year old daughter had to stand there almost two hours before she got her handoff. I waited about 45 minutes, when my second team runner arrived. Leg #5 goes North-West and the wind was mostly at our backs. Piece of cake. I cruised along at 7:30 min /mile, without much effort. I could have pick it up, but I paced two other runners for about a mile each exhorting them to not stop (do as I say, not as I do)!

I handed off to leg #6, and headed backwards along leg #5 to catch my daughter, again directly into the wind. I had to stop and walk five times. Right at the half way point, about mile two, I caught my daughter cruising strong toward me. I turned and ran with her the rest of the way (so I did leg #5 twice-once in full, and then two halfs.) She ran a great leg, four miles in 39 minutes. Damn impressive for a 8 yr old.

When I arrived at Cole Park, the finishers area, I was too ashamed to look my fellow Fleet Feet runners in the eye, as I didn't hold up my end (30 sec / mile ) slower than expected. But then I found we had actually placed 3^rd in our masters division!

Additionally, the 2^nd place team was almost 3 minutes ahead of us, so had I run my planned time, it probably wouldn't have matter. Also, our final team time was 3:04; since I got the handoff at 8:32 (1:32 into the race), the first half of our team (legs # 1-3) had an identical split as the second half (legs # 4-6). So overall, I contributed about average to the team effort. Finally, I learned later that the wind had gusted up to 60 mph, which I ran straight into for two miles.

So overall, not bad!

Beach to bay

Team placed third in masters division.

Weekly Recap-Week 2 in Limbo

Sunday.
Off

Saturday.
Beach To Bay Marathon Relay

Friday
Off

Thursday.
Off

Wednesday.
Solid 7, good speed despite the heat.

Tuesday.
Off

Monday
Solid 7, good speed despite the heat.

Weekly Recap-Week 1 in Limbo

Sunday.
Off

Saturday.
Off

Friday
Solid 7, good speed despite the heat.

Thursday.
8.5 miles; was planning to do 15 and felt good at 7 notwithstanding the heat. By 8.5, had a hardtime breathing and called it quites.

Wednesday.

Tuesday.
Seven-Normal Pace

Monday
Off

Seattle Off

Work schedule too hectic, not able to train enough to make a honest effort. Canceling Seattle run.

In limbo until late July, when I begin a 12 week cycle for Chicago.

Weekly Summary-9 Weeks to Seattle

Sunday.
Seven nice and slow.

Saturday.
Off

Friday
Off

Thursday.
Off

Wednesday.
Seven nice and slow.

Tuesday.
Off

Monday
Off

Weekly Summary-10 Weeks to Seattle

Sunday.
Hit the pavement for 10. Longest road run, not related to a race, that I've done in over a year.

It's beyond me how these guys do 40, 50, + road miles a week. It beats the hell out of your body.

Saturday.
Off-not really but swamped with work.

Friday
Off-not really but swamped with work.

Thursday.
Off-not really but swamped with work.

Wednesday.
Waked / ran 3 during lunch, did some light weights. Ran 11 at night.

Tuesday.
Off

Monday
17 miles, pulled back 25 secs / mile. First 10 easy, last 7 tough. Losing weight, but still feeling extra 8-10 that I'm carrying.

Weekly Summary-11 Weeks to Seattle

Put in a decent 50 this week. Weight starting to drop some, but still 8 lbs over optimal. Three and half weeks to Beach To Bay, will drop another 5 even if I have to starve myself.

Sunday.
Wanted to do 5 to burn calories. Long day and couldn't hit it until at least 10. Had a Jack and soda instead and called it a week.

Saturday.
4 in AM. 10 at night, slow. 93% humidity, power felt good but still no fun to run in those conditions.

Friday
Walked 3 after work; did light weights.

Thursday.
Easy 7, held back 15 sec / mile.

Wednesday.
16 miles, pulled pace back 15 secs / mile, still hot.

Tuesday.
Light weights and core work during lunch. Walked a couple.

Jogged a couple at night.

Monday
Walk jogged 4 during lunch. Easy 8 at night.

Self-Flagellation

I've often said that I can't run in the heat and humidity.  It is more accurate to say that I can't run fast. 

 

If I tried to run 7:00 min / miles in 80 degrees / 90% humidity, I'd be wiped out on the ground after 8 miles.  If I pulled back to 7:30, I could do 15-18.  At 8:00, full marathon no problem.  But racing is one thing, training is another.

 

Last year I had to pull back all my summer training by 15 sec / mile just to log my scheduled distance.  I did it, but was miserable still.  Yet in early October when I ran the Harbor Half marathon, I posted a solid 1:32, and that was going over the 130 foot harbor bridge not once, but twice.

 

The point, ".. when you're telling these little stories? Here's a good idea - have a POINT. It makes it SO much more interesting for the listener," is that I can probably slow down my summer training by 30 secs / mile, make it much less torturous, and yet still probably not effect my overall marathon time by more than 2-3 minutes.

 

No brainier.

Discovering my feminine side

A few runners espouse the benefits of a strong core (midsection) in marathoning. I've also read about it quite a bit. In the past, I've tried some of the recommended routines (crushes, back arches, side twists). I found them beneficial, but simply I lack the self-discipline to do them consistently. So I was enthusiastic to see that my local gym offered a 25 minute "core" class every other day.

The class gathered, literally 10 women and me. The instructor welcomed us, "Morning ladies," then a slight pause, "..and guy. We usually get one token guy." She then instructed us to grab our balls. Being mostly women, I assumed her meaning was different than the typical man's instinctive interpretation. One by one, the ladies approached the nearby closet and retrieved a large soft pink bouncy ball. Had I been anywhere near the exit, I would have inconspicuously moon-walked backwards and out the door. But I was cornered; accordingly, I tried to traverse across the "studio" floor as manly as possible. For a brief moment it occurred to me to place my index-finger across my nose, and blow out a wad of snot as definitive proof that I wasn't gay!

It was embarrassing enough, but I just prayed that one of the weight-lifting type of fellows wouldn't walk by and notice; certainly I would be later ostracized from the locker room acknowledgments like, "What's up" and "Hey." The insecurity was one thing, but now I was sure that it would be a complete waste of time.

I assumed that the class would be hundreds of hardcore crunches and hanging leg curls. I mean, how much core workout can you get from a bouncy ball? Turns out quite a bit. After 15 minutes I was continually glancing at the clock, "When is this going to end?" Not only did the individual exercises produce the "burn", but the wide variety really hit all aspects of the core: upper abs, lower abs, obliques, lower back.

So, I guess that I will sacrifice my tough guy he-man persona if it helps me get closer to a sub 3:00 marathon.

Weekly Summary-12 Weeks to Seattle

Sunday.
13 miler. Pulled back 12 secs / mile to handle heat. Humidity sucks.

Saturday.
Ran 5k with Juliet in the morning.

Friday
Walked three during lunch, with some light weight work. Easy 6 at night.

Thursday.
Thought about 13, 3 miler was enough. Inflamation in back and right hip.

Wednesday.
70 degrees with 90% humidity. 9 miler felt like 20.

Tuesday.
8 miles at easy pace. Walked a couple more.

Monday
Walked four during lunch, with light weight lifting.

Weekly Summary-Recovery Week 4

Sunday.
Good 12, but man I can feel the extra weight; much harder on body.

Saturday.
Ran 5k with girls in AM.

Friday
Walked four durning lunch and did some light weights.

At night, 70 degress, 94% humidity. Did 5 miles at normal pace and sweated through my shorts.

Thursday.
4 during lunch, six at night. Walked couple more to burn calories.

Wednesday.
Off

Tuesday.
8 with 2 X 1,000 meter moderate hills.

Monday
Off-out if town.

Weekly Summary-Recovery Week 3

Sunday.
Off

Saturday.
Off

Friday
12 miles, added some extra speed last 2.5 miles to break it up.

Thursday.
4 miles durning lunch.

Wednesday.
4 miles during lunch.
20 miles on bike at night.

Tuesday.
Off

Monday
5 durning lunch with 5 X 200 meter strides. Walk run 3 at night to burn calories.

Motivation

The local running store just asked me to be on their sponsored
Master's Beach To Bay Team. Can't screw around now, I'll have to get
into primo shape in next seven weeks as these guys are fast.

Nothing over 12 miles, but lots of LT / VOmax workouts. Will have to
lose at least 10 lbs.

Weekly Summary-Recovery Week 2

Sunday.
5 with extra speed and bump on incline.

Saturday.
7 in afternoon with extra speed. Jogged / walked 2 in evening with girls. 4 at night with 4 X 400 moderate hills.

Friday
Off

Thursday.
5, accelerated all the way through. Last lap just bout VOmax pace.

Wednesday.
Off

Tuesday.
5 with extra speed and extra bump on incline.

Monday
Off

Stopped Downward Slide

Ate junk food last week, but half as much as I had been consuming.  Also put in a decent 21 miles, with lots of hills.  Net effect, last week was first in about eight in which I did not gain weight.

I'll be bogged down in tax work until first week of May, but should be able to still get in 35-45 miles a week.  Will try to get in high quality runs, with lots of hill work.

Post marathon is my favorite time to run.  With no set schedule, it's a free run feeling.   There's no pressure to run a certain pace or distance.  Also, there are no restraints to hold back when you're feeling good out of concern for LT or LR later in the week.

Hope to drop 5 pound by Mid-May when I'll ramp up training before going to Australia.

 

Weekly Summary-Recover Week 1

Sunday.
Seven with 4 x 1,000 moderate hills, and a slight incline bump (2.5) during the flats.

Saturday.
Off

Friday
Seven

Thursday.
Off

Wednesday.
Off

Tuesday.
4 with 3 at slight incline. Walked a couple more.

Monday
3 miler, walked another 2. Have knot in lower back. Cold front comes in Wednesday, will increase to mileage.

New Orleans Post Race-Week 1

Took entire week off. Did run 5k with girls on Saturday.

New Orleans Quick Results

3:23:54. 238 out of 3,509.

As I predicted. With 10 extra pounds and not a single trainning week over 50 miles, I knew staying strong past 20 would be difficult.

It was, fell apart at 19.5. Still, not bad for not training much.

Race Week-New Orleans

Sunday.

Saturday.

Friday

Thursday.
7 miler.

Wednesday.
Off

Tuesday.
Off

Monday
Standard 13. Conditioning good, but really feel the extra weight. Concerned it might be a problem past 20 on race day.

Weekly Recap-2 weeks to New Orleans

Sunday.
Had 13 scheduled. But with cold front coming in the morning, I defered it 12 hours; run it for lunch tomorrow.

Saturday.
Standard 6

Friday
Standard 7

Thursday.
Standard 8

Wednesday.
Standard 6

Tuesday.
Standard 8

Monday
Off

Weekly Recap-3 weeks to New Orleans

Sunday.
Bad bad bad. Had 20 scheduled, crap out at 10. Humidity terrible. Legs heavy and tight. Started to have soreness in right hip.

Not good. Overweight and crapout last long run before ending cycle. Well. Keep going.

Saturday.
Had 8 miler GA run scheduled, ran 2 and went to bed.

Friday
7 miler GA run

Thursday.
Off

Wednesday.
15 with 4 X 2,000 meter slight inclines

Tuesday.
10 normal pace. Wanted to go to 12, but too bored. Without hills or speed, it's hard to trot along for 100 minutes.

Monday
Thought about 6-8, but I've only run core workouts this cycle. Why start getting serious now. Went to bed.

Weekly Recap-4 weeks to New Orleans

Only 43 miles this week, but all high quality.

Sunday.
10 with 4 X 2,000 meter slight inclines.

Saturday.
Nada.

Friday
12 with 8 at LT.

Thursday.
Wanted to get in 8-10. But work'in long long long days. Went to bed instead.

Wednesday.
Hard 18 at normal pace, but with 4 x 2,000 meter slight inclines to keep me honest. Aerobically, felt good. Legs heavy at end with inclines and extra weight I'm carrying.

Tuesday.
Over weight, over worked, over stressed, under motivated, hoping for feb. hurricane in New Orleans.

Should have run 10-12, went to bed instead.

Monday
only 3.5, stomach cramps.

Weekly Recap-5 weeks to New Orleans

Sunday.
16 normal pace; added 2 X 1600 slight incline and 3 X 800 moderate climbs.

Saturday.
Off-not really, but swamped with work.

Friday
Off-not really, but swamped with work.

Thursday.
Off-not really, but swamped with work.

Wednesday.
8 with 4 X 800 moderate hills.

Tuesday.
Solid 12 at normal pace.

Monday
Again busy with client stuff, will get some miles in tomorrow.

Recover Week #1-Post Phoenix

Sunday.
Wanted to do 8, but had client deadline. Normally, I wiuld push back client, but being recovery week, I skipped run.

Saturday.
Off-For sure will add five pounds this week from junk eating.

Friday
Jogged easy six. Not bad. Not sore but stiff and tight.

Thursday.
Off-Eating poorly.

Wednesday.
Walked five.

Tuesday.
Off, still sore in quads; calves alright

Monday
Off-After months of abstinence, eating everyting in sight.

Marathon #12-Phoenix 2010

Phoenix, Arizona
January 17th, 2010


"And he said, 'Come.' Peter went down from the boat, and walked upon the water. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and began to sink...He told Peter, 'O thou of little faith, wherefore does thou doubt?' "


After three previous failed attempts to run a sub 3:10, it was time to concede. A year and a half of training religiously had passed, and I only had bettered my PR by five minutes. In fact, my last two consecutive marathons were both 3:13. I just couldn't hold on the last 3-4 miles and cross over.

As the fall running season approached, I reluctantly abandoned my sub 3:10 goal and began training to go sub 3:00. Crazy? That's one way to look at it.
Kierkegaard wrote true faith is not belief in the improbable; even one in a million has a basis in logical possibility. True faith was, "Belief in the absurd." With true faith, I started an 18 week cycle in September to go sub 3:00 in January.
More than anything, I needed a change. After running the exact same routine for five consecutive cycles, it was time for something new.

During the first six weeks I focused on weight, trying to get as light as possible. Already down to 185, I frequently received unsolicited comments like, "Geeze Dave!? That's really not a 'good look' for you." But for 3:00, I knew I was at least 10 pounds too heavy.
In addition to running, I added extra 4-6 mile walks every day. By October, I was down to 177. The reduced poundage would help on race day, but the real benefit was increased training.

At the peak of my previous routines, I ran 65-70 miles a week. That's all my body could handle before aches and pains developed. Now eight lbs lighter, I increased to 85 miles / week with no extra stress. In fact, as the weather turned colder, I was comfortably running daily doubles of 5-6 during lunch, followed by another 12-15 at night.
All my core long runs (18+), were a breeze. The extra running miles combined with the extra walks to further drop my weight down to 174.

Everything was coming together; I was ready for the last piece, a baseline. To date, my best half Marathon was a 1:32:40. To see myself running a sub 3:00, I needed to be tested.
Actually, there were two options. Run a 1:30 half at a nice and comfortable stride, or go all out and do a 1:25-1:26 half, to which a 1:30 would be a comparative trot. I chose the latter.

With four remaining weeks until race day, I entered the 22nd Annual CC American Bank half marathon. The weather was cold, the course flat and familiar. I pivoted at the turn around point on a 1:28 pace; I pushed to finish in 1:29:48. A solid PR. I was in my best conditioning, and very disappointed. Sub 3:10 shape, Yes; Sub 3:00, No.
Fellow runners tried to keep my inspiration up, "You didn't taper." "There was no pace leader." It was no use; my "faith" began to fail.

I succumbed to temptation, and began living a life of sin. It began with venial peccadillos, an office Christmas cookie here or there. By New Years, I was lost. I regained four of the 10 pounds that I labored so hard to lose. True, I was still lighter than ever, but too wide for that "...narrow path that few will choose."

And there I stood race morning with two choices. Go for sub 3:10 again, which I had an excellent chance, or hold to my 3:00 convictions. I queued up next to the 3:00 pacer; the gun fired and we were off.

At the 5k mark, shoulder to shoulder with the pacer. However my breathing was way off, and sweating. I shouldn't have worried. It usually takes 5-8 miles to find a rhythm. But I had so little faith, I "...began to sink."

At 10k, 30 seconds in back of the pacer; 3:00 was out. At mile 8 my quads were a little tight, very disconcerting. The course was flat, and normally my legs don't get heavy until mile 20 or so. But again, already doubtful, I was convinced that I had pushed too hard.

I hit the halfway mark in 1:31:40, a 3:04 pace. Aerobically feeling good, but mentally just waiting to implode. At mile 14 my quads started to burn, and I pulled up. Time to do my penance, 12 long and excruciating miles. Painfully jog a quarter of a mile, walk ten yards. Another quarter, 10 yards. Mile by Mile. At 20, my thighs felt like nails were hammered in them.

I limped across the finish in 3:35:44, placing 809 out of 5,691.

Even had the weather been perfect, it wasn't, I didn't have sub 3:00 in me this day. However with any faith at all, I should have made it to mile 18-20 with the sub 3:00 group. Without a doubt, I could have PRed. But, I still believe it was important to try. Having "seen the light", I am more inspired than ever to keep at it.

Phoenix '10- Quick Results

I went out with the fastest group, 3:00. Dead on at 5k, 20 secs behind at 10k, but still on pace. 1:40 behind at half, on 3:04 pace.

Paid for it, cramped at 14. Quads felt like nails were harmered in them.

Long and painful 12 miles to finish. Stayed with it for a respectable 3:35:48.

Not my day, but still great to run.

No consolation needed. No regrets, no disappointments. That's how I run. Feel great.

Phoenix 2010-Race week

Friday
No running Thursday-Saturday.

Eveything pretty good. Could be 3-4 lbs lighter, but still a good 5 lbs lighter than ever before

Weather doesn't look too great. South wind and a little warm.

But given my training and conditioning, should PR.

Wednesday.
8 with 2 at marathon pace.

Tuesday.
6 during lunch with 5 X 200 strides.

Four at night, walked a couple more.

Weight still pretty good, within 2-3 lbs of perfect. Well, four at most.

Trying not to put on 2-3 more this week as running just a little and will start carbbing Thursday. But having hard time cutting food in take. Just on more day to go.

Monday
5 miler-tried to cut carbs. Was dying; ate two bowls of cereal and 5 pieces of toast.

Weekly Recap-2 weeks to Phoenix

Sunday
13

Saturday
8

Friday
Seven after work.

Another 5 at night with 5 x 200 strides.

Walked another 3.
Thursday
Nine.

Wednesday
Off

Tuesday
Nine with 3 x 1,600 VOmax. Walked another 6 to burn calories.

Monday
Six nice and easy. Walked another 5 to burn calories.

Weekly Recap-3 weeks to Phoenix

Sunday
17 LR

Saturday
Walk / jog five

Friday
7 with 6 starting at LT pace, and then accelerating a tad each mile.

Thursday
3 during lunch-actually too bored to go to six. Not a LR, LT, or VOmax. Just couldn't bring myself to simply shuffle along for 50 minutes.

Wednesday
4 after work.

9 with 5 X 600 VOmax.

Walked another two.

Tuesday
6 during lunch with 5 X 200 meter strides.

Solid 12, accelerated all the way through.

Walked another four to burn off calories.
Monday
Walked ran 7. Low carbs made it hard to run.

Start Taper

Solid 87 running miles last week. But didn't lose any weight with holiday dinners / treats.

Will go low carb and add lots of walking miles next two weeks to see if I can shake a couple of lbs.

Weekly Recap-4 weeks to Phoenix

Sunday
Solid 20. Walked a couple extra.

Saturday
10 with 5 X 200 meter strides in morning.

7 at lunch.

4 at night. Added couple walking miles.

Friday
48 degrees, 36% humidity, 22 dew point. Been dreading 11 w/ 6 X 1000 VOmax all wk. Piece of cake. Felt like running on a cloud.

Thursday
Four durning lunch.

Planned not to gorge on traditional pasta & seafood Christmas eve dinner, but can't wait another year. Ate like a hog at madis gras.

Wednesday
Easy six durning lunch, walk another 2 to burn calories.

Technically off at night. Thought about walking / running another 6 to burn calories. But with the weather, I decide 8 hrs sleep more optimal.


Tuesday
Easy 6, legs felt fine, breathing fine. But at 65 with 94% humidity, fells like running while covered in 40 weight motor oil.

Walked another 9 to burn calories.

Monday
Four during lunch.

Another 15 at night. Really strange; temperature back in 60s with South Wind. I was dreading this 15 miler, assume I would have to cut pace to get it in. Turned out to be effortless. Real piece of cake. Perhaps had half marathon on Saturday, with sub 7s all the way through, had a VOmax benefit.

Wlked a couple extra miles.

Really ate junk today. Been weak on diet about a week. Still 3 weeks till race week. Losing 2 more lbs very doable. 3 possible, 4 hard but could be done. Will try. That should make me happy for race day.