So, how about...

A post that isn't running related. Sounds like a good idea to me. After all, I've just come off my biggest month ever -- 172 miles...

Right now, that's neither here, nor there. Right now, it's all about living life. Sometimes you run from things, sometimes you run towards things, sometimes it isn't a thing. Sometimes it's something intangible. A thought. An idea. A feeling. A... hope.

There have been a lot of things on my mind lately. I'll spare you all the gory details (not that they're really all that gory -- more sappy, reminiscent, and sentimental). What you need to know about what's been on my mind lately is that, no matter what, you need to let loved ones know that they are loved. Even if they know it. Even if you think they know it. Tell 'em anyway. It's not like the world is overrun with love at the moment.

I still believe in hope, and hope springs eternal.

Week in Review

Stats

• Distance: 40.4 miles
• Average Pace: 9:00 minutes:seconds/mile
• 20 mile long run

Notes

Well, I've passed the halfway mark in the training program. The continually exhausting training is definitely staring to take its toll. Call it training blues, overtraining, whatever you want to call it. I call it fatigue. Regardless, I managed to exceed the target mileage for the week by 1.4 miles.

Despite the fatigue, I still continue to see improvement. My average pace is continuing to come down, despite the increased workload. I even turned in a 20 miler at an 8:36 pace. That's good enough to put me on pace for a sub-four marathon. It's too early to make that call, though.

Another area where I'm struggling is the nutrition. I'm always starving. And the pre-run power bars are getting old. I've also been skimping on the in-run gels. I've got to get a handle on all this, else I might de-rail the whole program.

The good news is, I have 7 weeks to get this all sorted out. And I will. Ever onward! Ever upward!

Cheers!

Week in Review

Stats

• Distance: 36.7 miles
• Average Pace: 9:56 minutes:seconds/mile
• 13.3 mile long run

Notes

This past week was the second of three scheduled "step-back" weeks built into my training plan. It was also the halfway checkpoint in my 16 week program. While I exceeded my target mileage by 4.7 miles, I definitely have mixed feelings about the week.

The week started off great (especially after coming of a GREAT confidence-building 20 miler last weekend) before kind of coming off the wheels a bit. On Tuesday BJ and I did our usual five-mile hill run in the morning, clocking our best time on that route yet. Then, that evening, I ran from the house around the lake and back (7.57 miles) -- substituting a great hill workout for my usual interval training. It's always more fun to run outside in the fresh air instead of inside on the oval torture chamber.

Wednesday morning was the usual skimpy 3 miler, which both BJ and I have pretty much come to despise. To quote Beeje, "Three miles is just too short." I love it. this is the same girl who was terrified before her first 5K. I agree with her, that distance is just long enough to become annoying. It's too long for an all out sprint, but too short for a nice casual pace. Either way, we slogged through it and got on with the day.

On Thursday, the wheels came off. Did I mention that the nice cool weather in the mornings had also disappeared? Both BJ and I struggled through a 4.5 miler. I don't know about her, but I was overjoyed to be done with that run.

The long run was also a challenge. My legs just felt dead and rubbery, and I had no zip that I felt the weekend before. The Sunday "recovery" run was also a bummer -- 90ish degrees and humid. BLECH. So, as far as a "step-back" week, it felt more like a "fall-down" week. But, as always, there's no time to dwell on it. From here it's onward and upward. Here's to a better week this week!

Cheers!

Week in Review

Stats

• Distance: 40.1 miles
• Average Pace: 9:08 minutes:seconds/mile
• 20.1 mile long run

Notes

I hit the weeks target mileage right on the nose, plus .1. The mild temps this week greatly improved morale, and the overall quality of the workouts.

The 20 miler was just about a perfect a run as you can get. I felt good and springy nearly the whole run, and managed an 8:45 min/mile pace. If the actual marathon is anything like the long run this week, I will be in GREAT shape. I think the cooler temperature and the careful hydration and nutrition plan all contributed to a great run. If I can duplicate this on race-day, I just might have a shot at breaking 4 hours. One can only hope; onward and upward!

edit: I guess I should remember to include my weekly fails as well... Reading Beeje's blog reminded me of a MAJOR fail: watch fail! I SWORE that my Garmin was fully charged and ready to go the night before. (I have this ritual where I lay out all my gear the night before so I'm not fumbling around for it at 4 a.m.) As I get ready to head out the door, my watch WILL NOT turn on... uh oh... yep... somehow I managed to turn the dang thing on, and let the battery run down overnight! As usual, Beeje to the rescue. I borrowed her watch and synced it up with my footpod, and was on my way. So, anyway, HUGE thanks to my beautiful wife for once again saving me from my own devices! You rock, babe, and you totally rocked your run this week!

Week in Review

Stats

• Distance: 39.6 miles
• Average Pace: 9:58 minutes:seconds/mile
• 18 mile long run

Notes

Yet another successful week, as I exceeded my goal mileage for the week by 4.6 miles.

This week's long run was 18 miles, and what I'd call a confidence-building run. I managed a total average pace of 9:50 over some serious hills, and even walked part of mile 17. I didn't really start to break down mentally until about mile 14/15. Next week, I take on 20 miles for the long run -- the longest distance I have scheduled in my training. In all, I will run that distance 3 times before the marathon. I'm feeling really good after a great week of training, and I'm finally starting to see "the light at the end of tunnel." Once I've finally built up the endurance, it will be a matter of maintaining and pushing just a bit more each week.

Week/Month in Review

Stats

Week

• Distance: 37.6 miles
• Average Pace: 9:55 minutes:seconds/mile
• 16.42 mile long run

Month

• Distance: 135 miles
• Average Pace: 9:53 minutes:seconds/mile

Notes

Sam: This is it.

Frodo: This is what?

Sam: If I take one more step, it'll be the farthest away from home I've ever been.

Frodo: Come on, Sam. Remember what Bilbo used to say: "It's a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the road, and if you don't keep your feet, there's no knowing where you might be swept off to."

~Samwise Gamgee & Frodo Baggins: "The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring"

Another successful week -- I completed all my scheduled runs, and exceeded my total target distance for the week by 5.6 miles. While it generally isn't wise to push beyond the goal distance (especially when still building your base), I'm feeling good, and I am fortunate to be running injury and pain free (knock on wood). So as long as fortune keeps smiling on me, I'll (cautiously) push the boundaries.

The other news of the week has to be the heat... While on my long run, I kept thinking "16 miles, and what do you get? Another workout over and you're covered in sweat..." to the tune of Tennessee Ernie Ford's "16 Tons." Training in the summertime heat has definitely been a challenge. I can only hope that the dividends pay off in that cool late-October morning "jog." :)

Overall, it's been a great first month of training. I logged my longest distance at 16.42 miles, and my biggest month ever: 135 miles. Truly the "farthest away from home I've ever been." To top it off, I scored a great deal on a sweet new set of "wheels." I can't wait to get out and log some miles in my new shoes!

Week in Review

Stats

• Distance: 27.9 miles
• Average Pace: 10:04 minutes:seconds/mile
• 10 mile long run

Notes

I am happy to say that I managed to get in all my runs and hit my scheduled mileage for the week. Actually, I exceded my scheduled mileage by 3.9 miles. In reality, I believe I tacked on a mile here and there to "make up" for my missed run last week. I know that is not an advisable practice and could ultimately lead to injury, but I felt that since this was a step-back week, an extra mile here and there couldn't hurt. And besides, my average pace this week was definitely more manageable for picking up an extra mile or two.

The upcoming week should prove to be the most challenging yet. The longest base run bumps up to 6 miles, and the long run bumps up to 16 miles. If I hit all my runs and scheduled mileage for the week, I'll be close to topping 130 miles for the month. That would officially be my biggest month ever.