October 2008

first time i’ve run since the mara.  pain for a couple minutes at the beginning, but subsided quickly.  more and more, i think it’s mostly psychosomatic.  i’m going to trick my mind by running only every 3 days.  that way, it will think that i should have recovered from whatever pain/injury i must have caused it by running.  i may sound crazy, but i can get rid of the pain by focusing it out . . . it just takes way too much effort to do that AND keep running at the same time.  and why would i experience no pain during a 26.2-mi run after not training for it?  doesnt make sense; if something were wrong with my body, something would have gone horribly wrong during that marathon.  that’s why i ran it; to prove there wasn’t.

i can’t wait.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/28/2008
• Time: 20:15:00
• Total Time: 00:30:30.00
• Distance: 4.2 miles
• Average Pace: 7:15.84/mile

so for the first time since the mara, and the 3 weeks before that, i have no pain in my tibia.  didn’t run today . . . but i might rock a 4-miler tomorrow.  then take 3 days off.  we’ll see.  my week of OFF is up, and i’m ready to start being fit again.

1 - didn’t start watch

2- 7:59

3- 7:56

4- 8:05

5- 7:27

6- 7:26

7- 7:32

8- 7:28

9- 7:15

10- 7:17

11- 7:17

12, 13, 14, 15 (didn’t see mile markers) - 28:58, 7:14.5 avg

16- 7:11

17- 7:10

18- 7:13

19- 7:21

20- 7:11

21- 7:10

22- 7:15

23- 7:08

24/25- 15:22, 7:41 avg

26.2- 9:00, 7:30 avg

party on!  that’s how you decrease your mile splits for the entire course of a marathon.

3 months off + 3 weeks training = 3:15 marathon.  not bad.  not bad at all.

little bit of pain for the first 5 miles.  worked itself out after that.  the shoes were great.  wore mizuno precision 9’s, that had a total of 8 miles on them before today.  no blisters, no hot spots.

so i had a scheme.  8 minute splits for the first 5, then 7:30s.  don’t know what that would have added up to, but it gave me a plan.  and did i deviate from it.  hit 7:30s for a few miles after the first 5, then i started hitting 7:10s.  continued that till about mile 18 or so.  then it slowly declined.  i’ll list my splits some other time.  ended up running exactly 3:15:00.  i started at the back of the pack, so i was passing people for the entire race and didn’t get passed at all.  and it was a much bigger race than cleveland, so there were always people around.

i was so crazy motivated.  every 1/4 mile or so, whenever i’d encounter a group of 10 or more, i’d be all “O-H” and get the “I-O” response.  and then i’d be “yeaaaaaaaah”.  i must have done that 50 times or more.  especially after the half-marathoners peeled off, everyone was so zoned in on themselves and just  finishing.  it was so depressing!  i certainly made it fun for people watching.

and there were lots of bands along the course.  i was singing along snippets really loudly.  have i ever mentioned i like to sing while i run?

i’m so happy i ran today.  it was so much fun.  i wasn’t racing it; if i had been, my demeanor would have been way different.  i just went out to run 26.2 and enjoy the party.

not bad considering i haven’t done more than 10 miles in a run for about 5 months, and haven’t run more than 30 miles in any of the 3 weeks i’ve been training.  as long as i can keep the pain down, i think my dream might be on track.  FINGERS CROSSED.  i’ve been saying that a lot.

oh yeah, i forgot to mention that today was perfect.  it was about 40 degrees at the start, sun wasn’t up yet.  but it wasn’t humid or anything so it didn’t feel too cold.  i wore a sweatshirt over my singlet, but after about 4 miles i threw it away.  kept my gloves on the whole race.  sweet time.  i didn’t really warm up, i just walked about a half mile in my sandals.  didn’t stretch.  and the BIGGEST potential faux pas . . . i didn’t put any vaseline on ANYWHERE.  but like i said, it wasn’t humid and i was quite careful to keep from getting water on my chest.  so my nipples didn’t chafe (thanks to nike’s AWESOME singlet which i looooove).  my inner thighs chafed for the first 10 miles, then i stopped noticing.  and the backs of my armpits chafed for about that long, and then i stopped noticing them.  that was it.

all in all, this cemented my notion that a marathon isn’t hard.  call me what you want, but i think that everything is just mental.  and i proved it to myself today.  2 runs of 10 miles in my 3 weeks of training.  2 runs of 4 miles.  7-8 runs of 7 miles.  10K race @ 6:30 splits.  didn’t physically prepare me for a marathon, much less a 3:15 mara.  yes, maybe there’s something physically special about me.  but not THAT special.  it was all in the knowledge that the 26.2 were going to pass.  that lack of knowledge was what kinda broke me in cleveland.

today rocked so much . . . i’m actually thinking of hitting boston ‘09.  maybe i’m aim for that to be my first sub-2:40.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/19/2008
• Time: 07:30:00
• Total Time: 3:15:00.00
• Distance: 26.2 miles
• Average Pace: 7:26.65/mile

cbus marathon.  tomorrow.  3 months off + 3 weeks of training . . . i have no idea what to expect from my body.  interesting position to be in.  it’ll be an adventure, to say the least.  i’m confident that i’ll survive the distance.  i think i’ll have a lot of fun.  but i’m not nearly trained enough.  i guess i’ll get to see how the other half lives . . . just doing the marathon to have fun, not for time.

goal?  i’m thinking a 1:45 first half, then maintain for the next 5, and then let loose the last 8.  my longest run in the last 3 weeks is 10 miles.  i don’t think i want to aim to survive the first half and race the second half.  13 is still too much

the biggest thing i’m worried about is the pain in my leg.  i hope that it’s not around tomorrow.  and i hope that my shoes keep the pain away.  i’m thinking/hoping that the adrenaline will take all the pain away.  i just hate having to rely on that.

i just realized that my heart hasn’t freaked out on me in a couple weeks.  i always thought that my heart disturbances were due to either drinking or running, or a combo of both.  but i’ve been doing both and haven’t had any problems.  one extended episode occurred 3-4 weeks ago, and then it just skipped a beat a few days ago.  but that’s it.  i don’t get it.  but whatever.  it’s cool.

barely any pain today.  no idea why.  one possibility could be that i was very cautious running yesterday b/c i was in so much pain.  but i don’t think so . . . running is running, and i have always hurt the same whether or not i take a day off.  i took 2 1000 mg doses of naproxen last night, about 4 hrs apart from each other . . . that might be it.  my urine was VERY yellow this morning, verging on orange.  gotta keep a watch on that.  i was certainly not that dehydrated, i don’t think.  i did try a new beer last night, and didn’t see what color it was.  it was sam adams, so it was probably quite richly colored.

anyhoo, last running day until the marathon.  i feel a little better about it.  the lack of pain today was clutch.  i think i’m gonna run again later, either my 4 or 7 mile course.  i want to get a lot of miles in today so that i can increase my endurance as much as possible for sunday.

and it’s only midday, but i’ve had a lot of job progress today!  hopefully it continues to go well.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/16/2008
• Time: 12:00:00
• Total Time: 00:29:06.00
• Distance: 4 miles
• Average Pace: 7:16.36/mile

and i had so much pain.  i don’t know what to do.  i probly shouldnt hit the mara on sunday.  plus side, my racers don’t cause me any pain.  so i think i’m gonna hit a couple miles tonight to see if it’s still true.  fingers crossed.

i’ve been doing that a lot lately.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/15/2008
• Time: 14:30:00
• Total Time: 00:49:00.00
• Distance: 7 miles
• Average Pace: 7:00.07/mile

it’s warm and humid here today.  i’ve felt sticky and icky all day.  i think i’m a little sick.  def just taking it easy today, doin some abs and yoga tonight.  need a smoothie tonight fa sho!

interview went great . . . but i found out that the job they had in mind for me is kinda on hold.  hopefully it’ll turn back on SOON or another one will open up.  fingers crossed HARD . . .

i felt way slower than 7:00 splits.  my tummy wasn’t happy with me and my arches hurt.  but i think today helped me overall.  i’m definitely taking tomorrow, friday and saturday off from running.  i don’t know if i’m gonna run weds.  def running thurs and biking friday.

i have a follow-up interview tomorrow!  i’m so excited.  i figured with today being the 13th day of oct, it had the potential to be a bad day or a good day.  and luckily it was good.  and tomorrow’s the 14th . . . so it will prob be a great day.  i’m going to rock like none other.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/13/2008
• Time: 16:00:00
• Total Time: 00:49:30.00
• Distance: 7 miles
• Average Pace: 7:04.53/mile

bad nutrition + dehydration + hot day + drank too much last night = . . . same speed as earlier this week?  party on!!!  definitely no drinking or bad food until after the mara, but today’s 10 sucked way worse than the mara ever could.  so it was a nice dry run.

pain in the tibias lasted for the first half or so, then let up.  ended the run with just a little pain in the right (the less serious one).  ran in the long run shoes for the first time, using my cushiest socks.  don’t know exactly what difference they made.  arches hurt, but whatever.  can’t wait for the mara.  need to look up where it starts, and where to go for the expo.  i need to leave the wallet at home this time . . .

and no bike ride for a post-long run (yeah like 10 could ever be called a long run for me) xtrain . . . drivetrain is still in pieces.  i’m gonna REALLY clean my chain meticulously.  gunk in so many little parts, probably adds a few grams to the weight :-P  i think i need a new bottom bracket too, the cranks have so much friction.  i’d be going so much faster if there were less resistance.  ditto for one of the pulleys in the rear derailleur.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/12/2008
• Time: 15:00:00
• Total Time: 1:21:00.00
• Distance: 10.2 miles
• Average Pace: 7:56.19/mile

don’t know how fast i was, i’m just hoping i was running 7:00 splits.  6/10 pain in my tibias tonight, no fun.  but i’m just running until my legs break . . . i can’t let some stupid phantom pain stop me.  and i find that the faster i go, the less pain i have.  so it’s to be expected that i have a lot of pain now, because i’m so slow.  soon, hopefully, i will become faster and the pain will disappear.  plus i’m going to run on grass and trails.  fingers crossed.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/10/2008
• Time: 19:45:00
• Total Time: 00:49:00.00
• Distance: 7 miles
• Average Pace: 7:00.07/mile

took me a while to get warmed up, my legs were a bit sluggish.  but once i got on, i was on.

Workout:

• Type: Cycle
• Date: 10/09/2008
• Time: 10:30:00
• Total Time: 1:47:00.00
• Distance: 35.43 miles
• Average Speed: 19.87 mph

i meant to be slow . . .but not that slow!  i guess i really am starting from square 1.  oh well . . .

rainy today.  i had a job interview today!  at a company i REALLY want to work at, that REALLY seems to want me.  fingers crossed . . .

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/08/2008
• Time: 20:00:00
• Total Time: 00:29:30.00
• Distance: 4 miles
• Average Pace: 7:22.26/mile

i knew i was going slow, but not that slow!  i felt real comfy, though, and that’s what matters.  it took me about 7.5 to really feel warmed up and hit my stride.  finished nice and good.  got back, did an hour of yoga.

time for some breakfast.  probly hit a bike ride later, if it’s not too windy.  i’m not really sure why i woke up so refreshed today, but i like it.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/07/2008
• Time: 08:00:00
• Total Time: 1:19:00.00
• Distance: 10 miles
• Average Pace: 7:54.31/mile

came in 3rd overall.  nearly 2nd . . . nearly 4th.  splits:  6:18, 6:30, 6:36, 6:29, 7:19, 6:09, 1:06 for last 0.2.  Very consistent.  First mile was a touch fast.  That 7:19 had like 80 steep steps in there, and i took them 2 at a time . . . about the best technique out there, cuz i gained a lot of ground.  Then that 6:09 was downhill.  And the 1:06 .2 makes for like a 5:30 average . . . about right for my finishing kick.

I ran in some new mizuno precision 9’s . . . no pain at all while i was running in them.  amazing.  my left foot did go numb, so i might have to exchange them for a half size smaller . . . they felt a little too roomy and there was a distinct pressure point that caused the numbness.
2 weeks till the marathon . . . i have no idea what my strategy will be.  i don’t know how it’s even possible to hit slower than a 3:15.  we’ll see where i am with a 16-miler next sunday.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/05/2008
• Time: 08:00:00
• Total Time: 00:40:29.00
• Distance: 6.2 miles
• Average Pace: 6:31.73/mile

well-planned route, good roads for the most part, not too much traffic . . . very nice ride.  nice and sunny too . . . a touch chilly, so i wore a jersey.  wish i didn’t have to, cuz i woulda gotten pretty dark today.  as it was, my tan lines got even MORE pronounced.

almost died, but not my fault today.  this car was passing a line of traffic by coming into my lane, and didn’t f@#$ing notice me.  i think i’m going to start carrying a good-sized rock with me so that whenever that happens, i can launch it into their windshield.  just desserts, cuz i consider that attempted involuntary manslaughter (attempted . . . involuntary?  where do i come up with this?)

good workout, good crosstrain, and good preparation for the somewhat-race tomorrow.

Workout:

• Type: Cycle
• Date: 10/04/2008
• Time: 13:00:00
• Total Time: 1:48:00.00
• Distance: 36.83 miles
• Average Speed: 20.46 mph

3rd time in 3 days is the charm!  ran as strong as yesterday and felt like i had plenty left in the last mile so i stepped it up and stepped it out.

i almost died today.  literally.  i was crossing this road and looked right, clear, and i guess i didn’t look left.  there were 2 cars abreast coming at me at about 45 mph.  i didn’t alter my pace, my heart rate didn’t accelerate . . . i knew that i would make it, all things remaining constant.  and i made it, by less than a second.  i felt the cars pass right behind me . . . they didn’t slow down. 

i am crazy.  anyone else would have had a heart attack.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/03/2008
• Time: 15:30:00
• Total Time: 00:47:28.00
• Distance: 7 miles
• Average Pace: 6:46.78/mile

did an hour of post-run yoga.  plank felt soooo good for some reason . . . it has never felt that good.  my body was shaking with exertion, but i didn’t start sweating or feel muscles burning.  i felt peaceful and my diaphragm was very relaxed, and i was taking nice, full breaths.  complete craziness.  i extended my time in those poses to a couple minutes 3 times.  and i made the push into up dog and back into down dog last really long too.  yummy.  now for some sushi.  i deserve this.

i felt really solid today.  kept a nice stride, nothing crazy.  i kept a decent cadence, not too slow not too fast.  saw quite a few runners.  that was sweet.  i really like this 7-mi loop of mine . . . i need to branch out into a few more routes.  need a good 5-mi one.  next week i’ll need a good 9-mi one too, 2 days after the 10K on sunday.  i can’t project how i’ll do in the mara yet . . . but i’m pretty sure i’ll be able to run the whole thing.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/02/2008
• Time: 17:30:00
• Total Time: 00:48:00.00
• Distance: 7 miles
• Average Pace: 6:51.43/mile

easy run in the 11’s.  i had a good time . . . drank too much last night so after a couple miles i started feeling a little queasy.  but after the 3rd mile i got a second wind and finished comfortably strongly.  stretched nicely and now i’m enjoying a delicious smoothie.  not really any highlights of this run, except the shoes felt great and very stable on the grass i was running on.  they’re stable yet live, perfect for short/middle-distance trainers.

Workout:

• Type: Run
• Date: 10/01/2008
• Time: 12:00:00
• Total Time: 00:26:49.00
• Distance: 4 miles
• Average Pace: 6:42.23/mile