Training Week #12

Last week I had to travel to our NYC office. I was able to get 2 good runs in. 

Me and my angry Marathon Beard!!

Unfortunately, I forgot my Garmin back home so I can't tell you exactly what I ran. I'm guessing 6 miles on Thursday and about 3 on Friday. Running through the street of NYC is no easy task. Avoiding the many people that walk the streets is a workout on it's own. :)

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This week marks week# 12 of my revamped training. The plan is to pull out at least 15 miles during the week and then for my long run next weekend I signed up for Stu's 30k. 18.6 (ish) very hilly miles.

Picture from CMS page

Stu's is a race that most people that are running Boston in these part run as part of their training. I volunteered at this race last year. In that post I said that I could probably do it in 2hrs 15mins...... Maybe back then when I was at 100%!!  18 miles, I think, is kinda pushing it for me right now. I figure, I'll do what I can and walk if I have to. For me, its not a race. Its training. So I will be taking it easy. I'm going to guess 2:45 - 2:50.

I will also be volunteering for this race, but on Saturday, the day before. I'll be helping getting all the race packets ready and probably help loading the trucks with all the tables, water and Gatorade for the water stops. Plus I need to meet with one of the race directors so he can show me where the club keeps all their race equipment. Which is not far from there. I haven't mentioned it yet in my blog, but I'll be timing a race (by myself - for the first time) on May 19th for the club. More on that later when I get the full details..... but I'm excited about it!!

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Well here is to another busy week ahead of me.... Have a great week everyone!!!

Marathon Beard

14 miles that mentally sucked the life out of me today...... Done!!! Got them done before the snow storm that's headed our way... and I'm glad they are done! This run sucked!

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I haven't shaved my beard since mid December. Usually by now it would be driving me crazy. But since it's been a cold winter, it hasn't really bothered me much. My family calls it my "Angry" beard. I like to refer to it as my "Marathon" beard.....

 It's been doing me good and keeping me warm during my training. My goal is not to shave it 'til after Marathon day - April 15th.


Bring it Boston!! I'll run your streets with my Angry beard and show you!!

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Have a great weekend everyone!!

Happy Knees

Not my knees, but they have the same smile... :)

12.5 almost pain free miles today. I felt good up until mile 8 where I started feeling a bit of pain on my knees. Not big pain like it was a couple weeks ago. But enough where it made me slow down a bit. The slowing down helped because by mile 10 they were feeling better. I was able to finish off strong. 1hr 55min - 9:11 min mile pace. Not to shabby, I'll take it.

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Saturday night was the running club's Pot Luck Banquet. I don't know too many people club yet, so I wasn't going to go, but I decided last minute just to show up for a while. I'm glad I did. It was good to see all the runners outside of running and wearing regular clothes. I ended up sitting at a table where two other runners were also running Boston this year. One was running her third, the other her first, and were both battling minor injuries. I can't tell you how great it felt not being alone struggling through injury going into Boston. We offered up advice to each other and one even asked for me restructured training plan.

It was also cool to talk about running and not feel like you are boring the hell out of the other person! Ha!

I'm glad I went. I met tons of new people and some possible weekend long run partners. That would be cool. I need all the help I can get in these last few weeks.

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This week, I'll be doing some traveling. So I'll be taking my running gear with me. If I get at least one run in I will be happy. Two would be a plus!!

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Have a great week everyone!!

From two different worlds....

It's been real busy at work the past couple of weeks. I haven't been able to get my lunch times runs in so I have been doing them in the mornings before work.

I hate to get up earlier than norm to get my miles in, but it feels so much better to get them done and out of the way.

Last week we had our sales meetings at my work. We had sales people, managers and VPs from all our offices, worldwide, at our location. First thing Monday morning I get an email from the head guy of our Switzerland office telling me that his computer just crashed. I do IT work for those of you that don't know....

He is standing in my office as I'm checking out his laptop, and he notices an article on my wall about my first marathon. He congratulates me and then starts to tell me that he has run a few marathons himself.  He even qualified for Boston at one time!!! We immediately get into training talks and start trading war stories about running. We talked for a good hour or so...

Now here is a guy that probably makes about half a million dollars a year. At first glance, we have nothing in common. He is limo riding and jet flying, and here I am with a car that starts when ever the hell it wants and I'm lucky to make it to work some days. We have probably only spoken 10 words to each other in my 5 yrs of employment at this company. Yet, here we are bonded by one passion.

I thought that was pretty cool!!
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Update on training....

Picture by BBA

I plan a 12 mile run on Monday. If all goes well, this should put me back on track with a new marathon training I have come up with. 14 next week, then I actually have plans on running a Stu's 30k (in Sterling, MA), the week after.

I hope all goes as planned!

Vlog #2

Another attempt at vlogging. Still feel kinda awkward in front of the camera, so it's a quick one.

 

I got my winter beard going too...... need to shave soon :)

Week Recap

We are a car short at our household. With our daughter going to school and working, the wife and I are constantly sharing our cars with her. So there are some nights where I have to pick up my wife from work. It just happens to be nights where she goes to the gym.  So, since I have been sidelined from running (for the most part), I have agreed to join my wife at the gym for her classes.

I haven't stepped into a gym in years.... and never for classes....

Last week I joined her for a "LESMills Body Attack" class, which supposedly is the hardest class they offer. I did the routine but I must say I had a chip on my shoulder about it and really didn't enjoy the workout. I just hate the fact that we were locked up in a room, working out indoors. The workout was some what hard, but write home about..... I survived.
This week we did it again. But this time for some reason the class felt tougher. It really kicked my butt this time. Plus, I was the only guy on the class, so I was doing my best to keep up with all the ladies. It was hard. These women, including my wife, kicked my butt in a lot of the routines. I couldn't keep up.

The next day, I was hurting!!! Even my butt cheeks hurt!

I'm a wimp. I know. Even though I couldn't hang with the ladies, I really enjoyed this last class. My body was sore the next day, but it felt great. I think this is great as a cross training for my marathon! I think I might do them again, maybe even make it part of my routine. I just need a little more practice :)

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I was told to the PT lady that my IT Band has really loosened up since my first visit. She says it could be due to a combination of not running, the massages she's been giving me, my stretching and most importantly to my new best friend:

I love\hate this thing!!

I cant believe I didn't buy one of these sooner!!! This roller is amazing. It hurts but feels soo good at the same time. I roll my IT band 3 times a day with this thing and I curse it every time I do. I have always seen people use them before races. I never understood what the big deal was. Some of you have mentioned using them too. I never thought it was for me. Boy was I wrong. This thing is made for me. I will buy a 2nd one so I can have one at work too :)

I have asked about the Graston treatment thing, but I was told to hold off to see how I progress first. Since things are looking positive, I might not need to go that route. Plus they don't offer it there so I will have to find another place that does and pay for it out of pocket. We'll see.
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Ran 4 good slow miles on Wednesday, then 3 not so great ones on Friday. There was no real pain on Friday's run, but it was one of those sluggish runs. Just never got in a groove. But I got them done with one 30sec break in between. Ugh.... I need to start putting in some big mileage soon! This weekend should of been my 15 miler of my training.  Once I get the go ahead from PT and I feel like I can do it, I'm gonna have to rework my training plan to make it work some how. Still don't know how I'm gonna do this. I can't wrap my mind around it yet. ...... *sigh*

What a journey this is turning out to be. It's been tough physically and mentally....

Ain't that the truth!!