So, there is a marathon that as been ran for a couple of years in Springfield, MO. I am strongly considering making this my comeback race. It is set for Dec. 28. The interesting thing about it is that it is a 5k flat loop and it starts at 2 pm. Overall, this is both different and ideal. The course is flat which is good on the body and time, the 5k loop while many would see as boring would be nice because I could dress warmly with layers and then delayer with each loop. Plus Linlee and Hope would get to see me often which would be beneficial for time and spirits. The starting time is great because that means we would get done by 6 pm but we wouldn't have to scramble around in the morning.
Seriously considering it.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Starting Over
Well, well, well......things have not gone smoothly lately.....at least from a running perspective. However, this time and the struggle with running lately has allowed me to reflect on things and I have come to this conclusion. Running is important to me and it means something to me. So, I think the time has come to get back out on the road/on the treadmill and take it serious again.
Also, I think it is important to examine why I have struggled and to find a way or method or time to mentally get past this.
1. Sleeping habits with a baby. I have to face it that sometimes I am going to have to run when I am already sleep deprived. It won't be all the time but I am going to have to accept this. I have to find a way to run, sleepy or not.
2. My running schedule will need to be more focused on weekdays instead of weekends. Previously, I ran my long runs on Saturday morning and had Saturday afternoon or Sunday as a makeup day if Saturday morning wasn't good. Now with a baby it is too difficult and I can't consistently depend on being able to have this time. So, I have to shift my long runs to Friday afternoons. Then if Friday is no good I can try to work it in on Saturday. The long run is the most important run, missing one is deadly to training.
3. Injuries. I usually run through injuries even if they are very painful. But the last month I have had my first hamstring strain/pull and there is no way that I am able to run through that. What can I do about it? Well, I don't know. My running prior to this has not been all that stressful or intense. Injuries are just going to happen sometimes.
4. Work. Actually working in my current job gives me more flexibility to run since they are very supportive of staying in shape and have their own gym on site. Where work will get in the way is with traveling. Again, like #1, I have to just realize that even when I am out of my routine and in another country that I have to run.
Also, I think it is important to examine why I have struggled and to find a way or method or time to mentally get past this.
1. Sleeping habits with a baby. I have to face it that sometimes I am going to have to run when I am already sleep deprived. It won't be all the time but I am going to have to accept this. I have to find a way to run, sleepy or not.
2. My running schedule will need to be more focused on weekdays instead of weekends. Previously, I ran my long runs on Saturday morning and had Saturday afternoon or Sunday as a makeup day if Saturday morning wasn't good. Now with a baby it is too difficult and I can't consistently depend on being able to have this time. So, I have to shift my long runs to Friday afternoons. Then if Friday is no good I can try to work it in on Saturday. The long run is the most important run, missing one is deadly to training.
3. Injuries. I usually run through injuries even if they are very painful. But the last month I have had my first hamstring strain/pull and there is no way that I am able to run through that. What can I do about it? Well, I don't know. My running prior to this has not been all that stressful or intense. Injuries are just going to happen sometimes.
4. Work. Actually working in my current job gives me more flexibility to run since they are very supportive of staying in shape and have their own gym on site. Where work will get in the way is with traveling. Again, like #1, I have to just realize that even when I am out of my routine and in another country that I have to run.
Monday, April 7, 2008
1st Week down 23 more to go....
So, initial plans didn't work out. I underestimated the toll that continual lack of sleep does to a person. Previously I was always able to make it up but not now. So, I am finishing my 1st week of training for the Lewis and Clark St.Charles Marathon. 33.1 miles with 7, 8 and 11 as my long runs for the week.
There is a running saying that goes "We are all an experiment of one" Meaning that each runner has to find what works for them and at the end of the day you are a runner out on an island. So, over the years of training I know what works for me.
Monday-off
Tuesday-1st Mid-Week Long run
Wednesday-Recovery
Thursday-2nd Mid-Week Long run (longer than the 1st MWLR)
Friday-off
Saturday-Long Run (the longest and most important run of the week)
Sunday-Recovery Run
There is a running saying that goes "We are all an experiment of one" Meaning that each runner has to find what works for them and at the end of the day you are a runner out on an island. So, over the years of training I know what works for me.
Monday-off
Tuesday-1st Mid-Week Long run
Wednesday-Recovery
Thursday-2nd Mid-Week Long run (longer than the 1st MWLR)
Friday-off
Saturday-Long Run (the longest and most important run of the week)
Sunday-Recovery Run
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Ryan Shaw
I followed this guy's running career, I think mainly because he had a body type that was different than a lot of runners. He was strong and athletic. He was an elite runner and potentially an Olympic Qualifier. He died on Saturday at the Olympic Qualifier marathon in NYC after 5.5 miles. He was 28.
I still can't believe it, a guy dying at the Chicago marathon who did not train properly and with a heart ailment I get to a certain point. An elite marathoner I don't get. Part of the reason my training was off was due to his death. I couldn't get it out of my head that an elite marathoner died, what could happen to me.
What people don't realize about most endurance runners is that they are typically a highly motivated type of person. They can withstand pain, doubt, the devil on your shoulder telling you to pack it because its icy and cold and 99% of the rest of the world including your wife are snuggled up warmly in their beds. Its a lot to overcome mentally at least relative to individual sport. But daily I overcome it as other marathoners do, now almost without any thought (especially since I treadmill train a lot). There was a motto I developed with my running partner Pat during his first marathon. When he would talk of quitting. I would just say "just block everything out, and just put one foot in fron of the other". This is something that I would go on to repeat to myself when I started training on my own "just put one foot in front of the other".
But an elite runner dying, What about me... I have so much to live for now....this thought crept in and it affected my running confidence. Throw in that I had the worst cold in my life during the last two weeks of November and the first two weeks of December plus having to adjust to slightly different sleeping schedule, all of this self-doubt due to Shaw's death and my focus on my training was not there, my desire to run but mostly but desire to endure and the joy I got from that was gone.
The benefits of running and training for a marathon are huge. I know. 500,000 people finish a marathon each year, even more finish smaller, faster more intense races. People of all shapes and sizes. I tried telling myself this. Then I saw a documentary on Nova following a group of people who were out of shape, providing them with a trainer and seeing if they could finish a marathon. One of the guys had a heartattack when he was younger. The Dr. said some words that stuck with me...."running was the best thing that he could do for his heart". My illogical reasoning was gone.
I still can't believe it, a guy dying at the Chicago marathon who did not train properly and with a heart ailment I get to a certain point. An elite marathoner I don't get. Part of the reason my training was off was due to his death. I couldn't get it out of my head that an elite marathoner died, what could happen to me.
What people don't realize about most endurance runners is that they are typically a highly motivated type of person. They can withstand pain, doubt, the devil on your shoulder telling you to pack it because its icy and cold and 99% of the rest of the world including your wife are snuggled up warmly in their beds. Its a lot to overcome mentally at least relative to individual sport. But daily I overcome it as other marathoners do, now almost without any thought (especially since I treadmill train a lot). There was a motto I developed with my running partner Pat during his first marathon. When he would talk of quitting. I would just say "just block everything out, and just put one foot in fron of the other". This is something that I would go on to repeat to myself when I started training on my own "just put one foot in front of the other".
But an elite runner dying, What about me... I have so much to live for now....this thought crept in and it affected my running confidence. Throw in that I had the worst cold in my life during the last two weeks of November and the first two weeks of December plus having to adjust to slightly different sleeping schedule, all of this self-doubt due to Shaw's death and my focus on my training was not there, my desire to run but mostly but desire to endure and the joy I got from that was gone.
The benefits of running and training for a marathon are huge. I know. 500,000 people finish a marathon each year, even more finish smaller, faster more intense races. People of all shapes and sizes. I tried telling myself this. Then I saw a documentary on Nova following a group of people who were out of shape, providing them with a trainer and seeing if they could finish a marathon. One of the guys had a heartattack when he was younger. The Dr. said some words that stuck with me...."running was the best thing that he could do for his heart". My illogical reasoning was gone.
Things happen, but running didn't kill Ryan Shaw, something physiologically went wrong. That could happen to anyone, its extremely rare but it could happen...at anytime. There is much, much more risk from not running. Think about it, 2 people died this year while running a marathon. One did not train properly and had a heart ailment and the weather was extremely hot, the other was one of the worlds best who had something physiologically freakish happen. How many people died from heart disease, heart attacks or diseases from poor diet or obesity?
Running is something that I love to do, it defines part of who I am. I have done it since I was 11 years old. So, I laced the shoes back up and started running again the last week of December and the self-doubt was gone, my running confidence was back and I just put one foot in front of the other.
Some changes
So, not happy with how training went in December which causes me to have to nix the STL marathon. But I will still do the half and then I will focus on the St. Charles full marathon hopefully being able to push towards 3:35 time. Still not close to a Boston qualifying time which is 3:10 for under 35 and 3:15 for 35-39 year olds. So, I still have two years to try and knock 20 minutes off my time but 20 minutes....that's a lot, it might not ever happen.
My goal for the STL half is to do a 1:41:57 which would put me on pace to be able to adequately train for a 3:35 St. Charles.
My goal for the STL half is to do a 1:41:57 which would put me on pace to be able to adequately train for a 3:35 St. Charles.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
Time
Previous Marathons/Halfs
1998 Heroes Madison Marathon 4:55:xx
2004 St.Louis Spirit of STL Marathon 3:58:01
2005 St.Louis Spirit of STL Marathon 3:45:12
2005 St. Charles Lewis and Clark Half Marathon 1:51XX
1998 Heroes Madison Marathon 4:55:xx
2004 St.Louis Spirit of STL Marathon 3:58:01
2005 St.Louis Spirit of STL Marathon 3:45:12
2005 St. Charles Lewis and Clark Half Marathon 1:51XX
My Heart and Soul, my Hope
I have decided to run the St. Louis Marathon in April of 2008 and hopefully the St. Charles Marathon in September of 2008 also. It will be my first time to run two marathons in a year. I've ran a marathon and a half-marathon in a year but never two fulls.
Can I do it?
As with everything, I have to take one day at a time. A marathon is very much a mental challenge as much as it is a physical challenge. So, mentally I have to get ready to train, to grind through the days I don't feel like running. Throw in the injuries, sickness....life. The marathon is more about the journey than the race itself.
My cheerleaders will be my wife (littlemisssassy.blogspot.com) and my 4 month old daughter Hope (littlelittlemisssassy?). They are my heart and soul.
I will put my trails and tribulations of my training here for you to follow along and for my own motivation.
Can I do it?
As with everything, I have to take one day at a time. A marathon is very much a mental challenge as much as it is a physical challenge. So, mentally I have to get ready to train, to grind through the days I don't feel like running. Throw in the injuries, sickness....life. The marathon is more about the journey than the race itself.
My cheerleaders will be my wife (littlemisssassy.blogspot.com) and my 4 month old daughter Hope (littlelittlemisssassy?). They are my heart and soul.
I will put my trails and tribulations of my training here for you to follow along and for my own motivation.
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