Training Day 23

Stats of Todays Run:
Distance: 4.00 miles
Time: 32 min. 37 seconds
Avg. Pace: 8:09 min/mile
Avg. Heart Rate: N/A BPM
Weight: 133 lbs.
Total Miles to Date: 70.61

So it has been 5 days since I updated. I take full responsibility for my laziness. In my defense though it has been a tough 5 days. The chaos of beginning a new semester, work, and on top of it all completing a half-marathon in Texas in August. Crazy I must be. Anyway yesterday I was doubtful that I would even be writing today. My legs were still feeling the compounding effects of new training shoes, and a race all in the span of about a week. I awoke today feeling good though so tonight I had my first track workout. It consisted of 6x400 meter repeats at an avg. of 6:30/mile pace with 2 minutes of active recovery between reps. I once again ran in my Newtons and they felt much better today. I think my running mechanics must be improving or my muscles are adapting. In either case that is good news. In other news, my compression socks came in today! They are supposed to aid in recovery by applying pressure to the calf muscles to aid in flushing the lactic acid from the muscles. Hopefully they will help. Actually, for $50.00 they damn well better! Anyway that's it for today. Until tomorrow...

Training Day 18

Stats of Todays Run:
Distance: 2.12 miles
Time: 20 min. 32 seconds
Avg. Pace: 9:33 min/mile
Avg. Heart Rate: 135 BPM
Weight: 133 lbs.
Total Miles to Date: 53.51

Crap...That's what I felt like on the treadmill this morning. Those newtons have definitely exposed some major weaknesses in my calf strength. Originally a 6 mile recovery run was planned for the morning, but to my ultimate disgust I quit at 2.12. I may try another 4 or so miles tonight when I get out of class, otherwise I'm not sure I will be able to sleep tonight knowing that I did not complete the task at hand. It's funny how it lurks in my head. The same thought, over and over. I keep picturing myself crossing the finish line in a time of 3:11. Exactly one minute too slow. I think to myself what if I would have just finished that one training run instead of cutting it short? What if I would have done one more 800 meter repeat? These are questions that I am too terrified to want to answer on December 13th. That leaves me with only one option. Too put it all out on the line every single day until then. Which brings me to a very interesting blog that I read today. It's by David Goggins, who is a sort of 'rockstar' of endurance athletes. This link will take you to his blog. I challenge you to read the entry titled, "The Man in the Mirror" and try to answer the question that he poses honestly...Until tomorrow.

Training Day 17

Stats of Todays Run:
Distance: 4.02 miles
Time: 30 min. 23 seconds
Avg. Pace: 7:33 min/mile
Avg. Heart Rate: 163 BPM
Weight: 130 lbs.
Total Miles to Date: 51.39

Well this was officially the last run before school starts tomorrow. It was another tempo effort in my newtons, but this time on the treadmill. Still trying to get used to them. My calves are definitely sore so this will be the last time that I run in them until after the half marathon this weekend. I'm interested to see how well I will be able to adhere to my strict training regimen and blogging regimen once school starts in full swing. I believe I can do it and whenever I have doubts I just reread one of the old RunnersWorld sections called 'What It Takes To..." In this section they always offer inspiring stories of everyday people that no matter what manage to reach their goals. It can really make you evaluate your own situation and choices. That's it for now. Gotta get up early in the morning!

Training Day 16

Stats of Todays Run:
Distance: 2.12 miles
Time: 15 min. 47 seconds
Avg. Pace: 7:27 min/mile
Avg. Heart Rate: N/A BPM
Weight: 129.8 lbs.
Total Miles to Date: 47.37

Today was supposed to be my first hill workout and it was, for the most part. I bought some new shoes today! These shoes are different from anything else I have ever worn. The Newton Distance Racer is a shoe that can most easily be compared to a Ferarri. They want to be run in fast and DEFINITELY punish bad form. These shoes are designed to force you to strike the ground on your forefoot instead of your heel, thus keeping you from losing momentum through the running motion. As soon as I put it on I could feel the difference. These shoes forced me to recruit muscles I never knew I had, and thus tired quickly and cut my workout about 1 mile short. I think though that the miles I did get in were good. I guess I'll really see tomorrow when I wake up and find out how sore I am. Tomorrow is another 3 miler. I'll probably use the Newtons again, but run on the treadmill instead.

Training Day 14

Stats of Todays Run:
Distance: 11.00 miles
Time: 1 hour 32 min. 9 seconds
Avg. Pace: 8:22 min/mile
Avg. Heart Rate: N/A BPM
Weight: 130.0 lbs.
Total Miles to Date: 45.25

Man o man what a difference getting up and running earlier makes! Got up about 5:30 and made it out to White Rock around 6:15. It was only 80 degrees when I started which is close to 15 degrees cooler than it usually is when I run. I also forgot how beautiful it can be when you get to see the sunrise over the lake, sometimes it will make you forget that you are even running. Tomorrow brings a much needed rest day. So there won't be much to report. I did decide to sign up for the Hottest Half next Sunday so it should be pretty interesting and fun. I haven't run in an official race since Tahoe last September! I'm looking forward to the chance to gauge my fitness. Tuesday will be my next report in and it should be a good one, my first hill work out to report on. So stay tuned...

Stats of Todays Run:
Distance: 3.01 miles
Time: 26 min. 13 seconds
Avg. Pace: 8:43 min/mile
Avg. Heart Rate: N/A BPM
Weight: 134.8 lbs.
Total Miles to Date: 34.25

Today's run was really nice. Ran out at the Arbor Hills Nature preserve. It's funny how fast a 3 mile run goes by when your have been doing longer distances. The muscles in my right inner thigh have been really tight so when I got home I wrapped it and iced it hopefully that will help. Tomorrow's run is an 11 miler out at the lake. I'm planning on trying to get out there around 5:30 am to try and beat the heat. Still contemplating running the hottest half next weekend. I'm not worried about being able to finish, more worried that it will get the competitive juices flowing a bit much and I will end up going too hard. Probably decide after tomorrow's run.

Training Day 12

Stats of Todays Run:
Distance: 6.01
Time: 56 minutes 33 seconds
Avg. Pace: 9:25 min/mile
Avg. Heart Rate: 133 BPM
Weight: 135 lbs.
Total Miles to Date: 37.25

Not much to say about today. Got up at 7 to run that way I could have the maximum amount of time to recover before having to go into work tonight. Legs felt heavy and the workout was rather boring. Oh well, these are the type of days where I feel that the real workout is on the mental aspect. It's just as important to be able to power through the workout mentally as it is physically. On the upside my goal time and heart rate were almost right on. Tomorrow brings an easy 3 miles outside before Sunday's long run of 11 miles. I'm still trying to decide whether or not I want to do the Hottest Half next weekend or not. It would be a good training race. Guess I have time to think about it though. Until tomorrow...

Week 2: Day 11

Stats of Todays Run:
Distance: 5.1 miles
Time: 41 min. 21 seconds
Avg. Pace: 8:30 min/mile
Avg. Heart Rate: 15o BPM
Weight: 135 lbs.
Total Miles to Date: 31.24

Today was a good day! You know after 3 years of swearing off treadmills I think I'm beginning to appreciate them...a little. Although I am scared of getting lulled into a false sense of security since I do know that running inside is way easier than running outside. I do believe they have their place though. They might help you achieve a faster pace than you would be able to keep outside, but on the flip side that can help you with your stride turnover. Long story short, I think as with all things used in moderation, treadmills do have their place in training regimens. On to today's run. It was a nice 5 miler with a warm-up at 9:05/mile and ending with a final .25 mile kick at 5:52/mile. Still to this day it amazes me that the world's elite marathoners will average close to a full minute faster than my fastest quarter mile for the whole marathon! That's why they are elite I suppose.

On another note, I would like to address some of the questions as to why exactly I've decided to conquer this feat. My answer is simply inspiration. A few years ago I stumbled upon a story of a man named Dean Karnazes. Karno, as his fans call him, is an ultramarathoner or simply put a guy who regularly runs distances of 26.2 miles or more. When he was 30 Dean came to a crossroads in his life. He had the choice to continue on his normal mundane life of working, drinking, and being a normal guy, or battle against the status quo and become something great. Dean's been running for sometime now and holds countless number of records and titles in the world of ultrarunning. At the time I too was at a crossroad. I could continue drinking, smoking, and partying or like Dean battle against the status quo and strive for something great. Dean became my inspiration to challenge life everyday and see what great things that I can accomplish. While I may not hold great titles in the world of running like Dean does, I would like to think that I have passed on the gift of inspiration to others. Two people in particular would be my mother and father.

After telling my parents that I wanted to complete my first half-marathon, they looked at me like I was a little crazy, and with good reason. They knew of my smoking and drinking habits and logically thought that my goals and habits did not exactly align themselves. After 6 months though, on my 24th birthday I completed my first half-marathon in Lake Tahoe with my dad and grandparents watching as I crossed the finish line. After that race I saw a change in my parents as they started to believe that anything is possible if you really do put not only your mind into it, but your heart as well. Shortly after they challenged my brother-in-law to compete in a 5k with them. This has lead them to countless races up to and including the half-marathon. I like to think that my determination inspired them to find the drive to complete things that they never thought they could. That is a small way that I feel I can repay them for the countless times that they have set an example and inspired me.

Which finally leads me to the reason for setting such a lofty goal. I promised my parents that if they signed up for White Rock, that I too would sign up, but I figure to truely inspire them I gotta go above and beyond. 3 hours and 10 minutes is fast. 7 minutes and 10 seconds per mile for 26 miles fast. Can I do it? I don't know. Will I wake up every day and give it my all to try to? Of course. And if thats all I do and that inspires someone else who may stumble upon this. Than I have more than accomplished my goal.

Tomorrow brings a 6 mile recovery run. Probably try to keep it around 9:30/mile with an average heart rate around 135 bpm. Fridays are always kinda hard though. Running 6 miles then standing on my feet for 14 hours can be tough. Whenever I think I wanna skip it though, I think back to my parents and remember all the sacrifices they have made for me, and suddenly my legs don't hurt so bad.

See ya tomorrow!

Training Week 2: Post 1 here we go!

Yes the rumors are true. I have finally succumb to the blogoshpere! But please let me explain...

The golden rule of goal setting is to let people know what you plan to accomplish. In the past I have always done this by casually slipping in my hopes and aspirations in conversations with close family members or friends. This does the trick for the most part. After all the last thing you want is for someone to come up to you two or three months down the line and ask you about that half marathon you were training for only to tell them you never quiet followed through, or worse yet, lie completely and tell them they must have mistaken you for someone else, and that you would never be crazy enough to try to accomplish such a feat of human endurance!

Anyway to my point. While I was logging a three miler on the treadmill this afternoon I was trying to think of a way to announce my newest goal in a way that would allow people to follow my progress and more importantly would not allow me to use the old bait and switch later on down the road. Then it hit me! I'll join my sister, mother, and yes even GRANDmother in world of blogging.

Now on to the meat and potatoes if you will...

The Goal:

My goal is to complete the White Rock Marathon on December 13, 2009 in a time of less than 3 hours and 10 minutes, thus qualifying for the oldest and most recognized marathon in all the world. BOSTON!


Now for those of you who don't know I'll answer some frequently asked questions:

1. A marathon and a 5k or 10k are not the same thing. A marathon is 26.2 miles or 26 miles 385 yards or for you metric people 42.195 kilometers, and yes it is run all at the same time.
   
2. No, there will not be anyone chasing me.
3. The reason I must run the White Rock Marathon in a time under 3 hours and 10 minutes is because there are strict time limits put in place by the Boston Athletic Association in order to limit the number of runners. If you are interested to see what qualifying time for your age group is you can go here to find out.

Now that my goal is set in stone I plan on trying to update people on my status on a daily basis. The training program that I have adopted has me running 6 days a week with a rest day on Mondays and a long run on Sundays. Other days will be used for speedwork or recovery runs. I have currently completed 1 week and 2 days of training logging 28.14 miles. I feel like I am really starting to get my running legs back and feel that my fitness is increasing with every run. Anyway with the increase in running definitely comes an increase in appetite so its off to the grocery store for me. See you tomorrow...