Running through the weekend...

I had great intentions of getting this posted yesterday.  I also planned on getting a good workout in yesterday.  Neither of those happened.

Saturday called for a 3 mile run at race pace.  If you don't know, my goal is to run a half marathon in 1:50:XX.  So I need to keep a pace of 8:27ish per mile.  Well I started out with a warm-up mile, and then started picking up the pace.  I ran the next mile at 8:19 and was really feeling good.  These kinds of runs are the ones that are true confidence builders (yes, possibly false confidence, but confidence none-the-less).  The next mile came in at 8:14, and I was really having trouble slowing down.  This is starting to turn into a tempo run rather than race pace.  At 2.33 miles I turned the corner towards home.  This means the next 3/4 mile is down hill with a slight tail wind.  I finished the 3rd mile at 7:56 and the final 1/3 of a mile was 8:00. 

Like I said, this really became a tempo run, which isn't all bad, except I really need to work on my pacing for the upcoming half marathons.  I need to get my body used to running around 8:25 and holding that pace.  That will be my emphasis in the near future.  Teach myself what 8:25/mile feels like.

Sunday is long run day.  I got up early and ate a little breakfast.  I decided on two pieces of toast with pb and banana.  Drank a couple cups of coffee and then headed out.  My plan was 9 miles.  My wife was going out for 5 miles, so I got to run the first 2.5 miles with her.  This is good for me because is slows me down.  The first 2.5 miles were at about 10:20 pace.  After she turned around for home (out and back course today), I picked up the pace a little and settled into a rhythm. 

Almost too focused.  All of a sudden I looked around and Bo was no where to be found.  I called him a couple times, then heard a slight little yip from behind me.  I turned around and started running back.  I got back to the last farmhouse I had passed and found him stuck in the fenced in front yard.  I have no idea how he got in there, but he could not figure out how to get out.  I ended up finding the shortest part of the fence, reaching over and lifting him out.  This isn't a little 20 lb. dog.  He hasn't been weighed in awhile, but I'm guessing about 80 lbs.  Dork!  With Bo released and back on the prowl we continued on. 

I got to the halfway point and decided I wanted to do the 2nd half with music.  So I dug out my iPod and put on the tunes.  The 2nd half was uneventful and I finished strong with plenty of energy left.  I could tell Bo was getting thirsty by the time we got home, so I'm a little worried about how we'll keep him hydrated once the weather gets warmer.  I'll have to do some thinking on that.  I'm open for suggestions.

That was my weekend.  Two good runs.  How was yours?

 

Agreed...

I saw this over at I thought they said rum.  This describes me pretty well.  The very first 5k I ever entered I came in dead last.  I was bummed for awhile.  Then I remembered that I ran the whole course and didn't walk once.  That was a victory for me.  Over time I've come to realize that the competition for me is between me and the clock. 

She was right...

Don't tell her I said this, but my wife was probably right this time.

Yesterday when I got home from work I was dying to get out for a run.  Sunday's run was great, and Monday was a stretch and strengthen day, so I was ready to run on Tuesday.  It had been raining off and on all day.  On my way home it was spitting a little bit, but not raining too hard.  I got home and my wife tells me we have to go to the gym and run on the treadmill.  Of course my first question is "Why?".  She tells me she has been hearing thunder.  I tell her she's crazy and head out.

About a mile or so into it there is a little rumbling.  I forged on.  About 2.5 miles in I turned a corner and was running directly into the wind.  Still not too bad.  I rounded the last corner at 3.5 miles and was feeling pretty good.  About that time the rumblings got a little louder.  Then the rain started to pick up.  By mile 4 it was an all out downpour.  Then it happened....hail!  What?!  Where did this come from.  Bo looked at like me like "You've got to be kidding, where are we supposed to go?".  I said "Sorry, bud.  Let's keep moving".  I picked up the pace.  I was just about home and everything settled down again.  It was a quick little storm, but I was out running around in it.  I don't suggest trying it.  I ended up with 4.8 miles at a 9:20/mile pace.

Today was interval day.  And it didn't go well.  I'm not sure if I didn't eat enough today, or what the issue was, but I didn't have much energy tonight.  The schedule called for 7x400 at 5k pace.  I was able to get 4 of them in before I had to take a bathroom break.  When I got back on the treadmill there wasn't much left.  But I was able to get in all seven 400's at 8.2 on the treadmill.  Note to self for next time, make sure you eat enough on speed day.

Runner's high...

I've finally experienced it.  I was starting to wonder if I had, or was ever going to, experience what people were talking about when they talked about the runner's high.  Yesterday morning I experienced it.  I felt great.  It was cool and overcast but I wanted to get my run in right away in the morning.  I got up early and ate a bowl of Raisin Bran and had a couple cups of coffee.  Bo (my dog) and I took off about 7:45 and headed south.  There was a little breeze into my face.  I had forgotten to grab my ipod, so I was without music which I was OK with.  I started out too fast (as usual), but got myself slowed down a little in the second mile.  I was at a comfortable pace and felt good. 

Before I knew it I was at my turn around point.  I turned around and everything clicked.  That little breeze that I was running into was now at my back.  Things got quiet and it was like I started floating.  I slowly started picking up the pace.  I figured I'd see how long it lasted, I'd get tired and I'd slow down for the last mile or two.  Before I knew it I was pushing hard the last mile and finished strong.  My 8th and final mile was a 7:50 mile.  Not fast for some, but for me that's pretty fast. 

When I got done I didn't really feel tired, in fact I was ready to go.  I got home and was pumped.  I was trying to tell my wife about it, but she wasn't all that interested (remember the reason for the blog?).  Overall, it was 8 miles at 9:13 per mile pace. 

3 weeks until my next race.  Can't wait.

Christmas is finally over...

Say what?  Yep, Christmas is finally over.  We finally took the Christmas lights off the house today.  I realize it's the middle of March.  My excuse is that we have a two-story house, and there is no way I'm climbing around on the roof with snow and ice around.  With the nice weather this past week all the snow and ice went away, so it was time to get them down.

However, before taking care of that (and all the dog poop that "showed up" in the backyard) we got out for a nice easy 3 mile run.  I ran with my wife, so it was a good easy pace.  I felt great.  A little windy, but the temperature was perfect.

So a nice easy run.  Outside chores done.  Take the rest of the day to watch basketball and maybe eat some pizza and drink beer.

"Long" run tomorrow.

Some runs are bad runs...

This has been a hard lesson for me to learn in my short running career.  Not every run is going to feel great.  Tonight was one of those nights.

It started out pretty good.  My 12-year-old son wants to run a 5k with me.  Tonight was the beginning of his training.  We did a run/walk (or as I read somewhere today a "rulk").  This was almost 2.5 miles in about 27 minutes.  It seemed like a great warm-up for the tempo run that was on my schedule for tonight.  After I sent him home and started picking up my pace I could start to feel that my stomach was not feeling the best.  Of course, I ignored it and kept on going.  

I was about 2.5 miles in and things started getting a little worse.  I decided to start my cool down a little early and started slowing down.  I only made it another 1/2 mile.  At that point I had to stop and walk it in from there, almost a mile from home.  I ended up doing 3 miles at an 8:40 pace.  So it wasn't a terrible tempo run, other than it was a little short.  The way it ended was what made it a rough night.

Yes, I had a bad run.  That doesn't change the training though.  Tomorrow is a scheduled rest day.  Saturday I'll be back out running...and I can't wait.

Ugh...Another blog.

Yes, this is another blog about running, trying to eat right, and probably a little big of life in general.

XL Runner really says it best.  When you think of runners you think of those little skinny guys that a stiff South Dakota breeze would blow over.  That's not me.  I've been the big guy most of my life.


Image from chrisfarleymovies.com

In December of 2009 I got sick of it and decided at 307 lbs. that I needed to do something different.  I started eating better and I started working out.  In the spring of 2010 I decided to run a 5k.  My wife and I started doing the Couch to 5k program.  A funny thing happened during the training, I started enjoying running.  Not only that, but I enjoyed the results I was getting on the scales.  We decided to sign up for a local half marathon that was taking place in September.  13.1 miles seemed like an impossibility at the time.  Using Hal Higdon's novice half marathon training plan, we ran all summer long.

September came and we ran the half marathon together.  I loved it!  My wife endured it.  In the end, I became hooked on running.  Along with finding a new hobby, I found a new body.  In one year I had lost more than 75 lbs.  Some people hear 230 lbs. and think that's still a big guy, but believe me, there are huge differences between 300+ and 230.

Anyway, running became a hobby/addiction.  I started reading everything I could find online.  I even bought winter running gear and was out running in single digit temps.  So what's next?  Well, this year I decided I should run a marathon.  Whoa!

Image from www.thirteenpointonex2.com

That's right, I signed up for the 2011 Chicago Marathon.  My current goal is to get into one of the starting corrals for the marathon.  They have 4 starting corrals and then EVERYONE else.  With 45,000+ runners running the marathon, the "everyone else" section is going to be a mob.  The slowest starting corral (Corral D) is my goal.  To get in I need to run a half marathon in 1:50:59 before August 19.  This is a pretty aggressive goal for me.  My half marathon time last fall was 2:09:XX.  So I need to knock almost 20 minutes off last fall's time.  My first chance is May 14.  I'm signed up for a local half marathon.  Training is ongoing.

Well, there you have it.  It felt a little like I was rambling, but now you know a little about where I came from and where I'm headed.  Since I don't really talk to anyone in real life about this stuff.  I'll be doing quite a bit more rambling.  Somewhere along the way maybe I'll find my niche in this community.