Well, it is with a heavy heart, and after much internal debate, that I have decided to postpone my marathon training until sometime next year, possibly late into the year. My thumb, while much better (I had it lanced several days ago, and it's been steadily improving since), is still healing and is painful, and as a result, I'm being forced to take at least the rest of this week off as well. Two weeks off in a row like this is not doable, especially this late into the training process.
This thumb was a ridiculous injury, one of the worst I've ever had, and it's terrible that it's forced me to stop training for the marathon. However, I've gained a lot from this experience. I've become way more confident in my ability to train hard and follow a set schedule. I've pushed past the limits of what I could do before, and I've also gained a lot of personal confidence just from the discipline and hard work it required to get this far. This has been great.
I likely will resume training for the marathon at some point down the road. When I do, I'll start updating this blog again. I may change this blog into a general training blog, but we'll see. For those of you who read this blog, thanks for following along, and I'm sorry I didn't finish this time. Third time's the charm, right?
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Sunday, 12/7/08
Well, believe it or not, my infected thumb has not gotten any better, and in fact is a tiny bit worse. The antibiotics are clearly not working for me, and as a result, I'm still not going to be able to run. So, what I'm going to do is repeat this past week's runs this coming week and treat last week as a week off. I needed to postpone for two weeks anyways, so this will be one of those weeks. I'm praying that I can get this whole thing resolved by Monday so that I can be running comfortably by Tuesday. If not, then I'm not sure what I'm going to do, since two weeks off from running, and then having to go back in and run 13 miles seems like a ludicrous idea. But we'll see. So no running for the next couple of days. We'll see how it goes.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Thursday, 12/4/08
This is the first missed run I've had so far, and I'm not missing it lightly. I've had an infected left thumb for the past couple of days, and last night, during the 6-mile run, the infection got markedly more painful. I've barely been able to get through today due to the pain, and in fact, the pain was so excruciating last night that I was unable to sleep; I'm going on literally an hour of sleep at the moment.
Running would be both detrimental to my health (I need to sleep as much as possible) and could possibly irritate my infection even more (although I'm not sure how that's possible, considering the amount of pain I'm in). I did go to my doctor today and she gave me antibiotics, so this ridiculousness should be gone by Saturday. However, just to play it safe, I think I'll do my long run on Sunday this week to give myself plenty of time to recuperate. All right, see you guys in several days, hopefully in a lot less pain than I am now!
Running would be both detrimental to my health (I need to sleep as much as possible) and could possibly irritate my infection even more (although I'm not sure how that's possible, considering the amount of pain I'm in). I did go to my doctor today and she gave me antibiotics, so this ridiculousness should be gone by Saturday. However, just to play it safe, I think I'll do my long run on Sunday this week to give myself plenty of time to recuperate. All right, see you guys in several days, hopefully in a lot less pain than I am now!
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
12/3/2008
Today I ran 6 miles (probably more like 6.1) in 1:06:00.
Well, this was another very nice run with my dad. We were both in very good spirits, and this time we actually measured the course we were going to run. Everything was going great until Mile 2 when, out of nowhere, my dad tripped hard on a bump in the road and fell down on the asphalt. He recovered well, but he was bleeding pretty badly from his right knee for a bit and he skinned both his hands pretty badly. I give him huge credit for wanting to keep going; I was ready to turn back. But he gritted his teeth and ran the rest of the way.
Besides that, this was a perfectly solid run. On my end, everything felt strong and fine. Six miles is starting to feel like a medium distance rather than a long one, which s a good sign. Time to sleep!
Well, this was another very nice run with my dad. We were both in very good spirits, and this time we actually measured the course we were going to run. Everything was going great until Mile 2 when, out of nowhere, my dad tripped hard on a bump in the road and fell down on the asphalt. He recovered well, but he was bleeding pretty badly from his right knee for a bit and he skinned both his hands pretty badly. I give him huge credit for wanting to keep going; I was ready to turn back. But he gritted his teeth and ran the rest of the way.
Besides that, this was a perfectly solid run. On my end, everything felt strong and fine. Six miles is starting to feel like a medium distance rather than a long one, which s a good sign. Time to sleep!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
12/2/2008
Today I ran 3 miles in 24:26.
This was a run I could not have done when I started this whole thing. Tonight, I had a lot going on; I was exhausted (I'm starting to not be able to sleep well on nights I don't run), I had slightly injured my left knee doing a deep yoga pose earlier in the day (don't ask) and I was congested, never a good thing when running. So, for once, I played it smart.
I ran very slowly and carefully for the first mile or so; I was at an over 10-minute per mile pace. Then, once I had tested the waters and decided I felt strong and that my knee wasn't bothering me too much, I picked up the pace considerably. By the end, I was running hard but not sprinting. I finished feeling strong and with a remarkably decent time given the circumstances and how slow I started out.
Running has become so much more natural for me since I began training in earnest just under two months ago. I've become much more intelligent and mature about running, and I've actually found that I've become more confident in general as a result of this training. I'm much more thoughtful and considerate nowadays, and I've even had a couple of people comment on how secure I seem. That makes me feel great, and if that's what running provides me in life, then I'll keep doing it for as long as I can.
This was a run I could not have done when I started this whole thing. Tonight, I had a lot going on; I was exhausted (I'm starting to not be able to sleep well on nights I don't run), I had slightly injured my left knee doing a deep yoga pose earlier in the day (don't ask) and I was congested, never a good thing when running. So, for once, I played it smart.
I ran very slowly and carefully for the first mile or so; I was at an over 10-minute per mile pace. Then, once I had tested the waters and decided I felt strong and that my knee wasn't bothering me too much, I picked up the pace considerably. By the end, I was running hard but not sprinting. I finished feeling strong and with a remarkably decent time given the circumstances and how slow I started out.
Running has become so much more natural for me since I began training in earnest just under two months ago. I've become much more intelligent and mature about running, and I've actually found that I've become more confident in general as a result of this training. I'm much more thoughtful and considerate nowadays, and I've even had a couple of people comment on how secure I seem. That makes me feel great, and if that's what running provides me in life, then I'll keep doing it for as long as I can.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Week 7 Recap
This week I ran 24 miles.
Well, this was an excellent running week. I was able to handle a pretty significant increase in mileage with no injuries or great fatigue. I also accomplished a mini-goal of mine, which was to run a farther distance than I ever had before. 12 miles felt exhausting, but a lot of that was due to mental hurdles; now that I'm more confident about my body's ability to run distances that long, those mental blocks won't be a problem.
I was also able to negotiate two Thanksgiving dinners without overeating or really eating anything unhealthy (outside of a tiny bit of ice cream in a moment of weakness). That helped my long run enormously, and is a good sign for when I'll have to regulate my diet more intensely.
All in all, a huge week for me, both physically and mentally. Next week, I'll get up to the milestone of 25 miles total for the week. Can't wait!
Well, this was an excellent running week. I was able to handle a pretty significant increase in mileage with no injuries or great fatigue. I also accomplished a mini-goal of mine, which was to run a farther distance than I ever had before. 12 miles felt exhausting, but a lot of that was due to mental hurdles; now that I'm more confident about my body's ability to run distances that long, those mental blocks won't be a problem.
I was also able to negotiate two Thanksgiving dinners without overeating or really eating anything unhealthy (outside of a tiny bit of ice cream in a moment of weakness). That helped my long run enormously, and is a good sign for when I'll have to regulate my diet more intensely.
All in all, a huge week for me, both physically and mentally. Next week, I'll get up to the milestone of 25 miles total for the week. Can't wait!
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Saturday, 11/29/08
Today I ran 12 miles in 1:54:15.
Well, I have achieved my first major goal of this whole training process, which was to run farther in a single run than I ever had before. As you can see from the time, I ran this slow and methodically; there was no attempt to do anything but cover the distance. However, I can now safely say that the most I've ever run at once is twelve miles; before, it was ten.
I did have to do this run in less than ideal conditions. The Thanksgiving party I was at last night went way later than I thought it would, and I only ended up getting about five hours of sleep, which typically means for me that a part of my body is tighter than normal early on in the day. When I woke up, the area of my body that was tight was my hips, for some strange reason. My calves felt great all throughout the run, which is a first, but my hips were hurting constantly, making it hard to get a solid rhythm and consistent running form.
So, after a couple of miles I tried adjusting my shoes by tying them a little looser, and that actually ended up working, but at the expense of my feet being sore from the lack of support; my left foot in particular is in a lot of pain right now. Also, it was very cold at 6:30 in the morning (this is where my uncle recoils in horror at how early I ran), and it took a long time for my body to warm up.
I did get randomly fatigued around mile eight, but I used that as an opportunity to stop for a while and drink and stretch a bit. I'm assuming I got fatigued because of lack of sleep more than anything. Also, once I got past mile ten, I could definitely feel my body get physically drained. I know my brain was partially to blame for making it happen; I was thinking about how it was uncharted territory for me in terms of total mileage. When I finished, I was exhausted.
But despite all that, in general I felt very strong throughout the run, and enjoyed myself quite a bit. It was a nice change of pace running so early in the morning, and I felt very alone and peaceful for long stretches. I'm also extremely happy that I was able to discipline myself to not overeat for two nights straight; that actually gives me a lot of confidence in the future in terms of being able to follow a strict diet if necessary.
It's a great feeling to have accomplished something like this, and it hasn't really sunk in yet. I know that in the upcoming weeks, I'll be running longer distances than this, but this one, breaking my PR that has existed for something like seven or eight years, was the biggest mental hurdle of them all, at least until I get to twenty miles. I've now proven that I can push my body past its previous limits, and therefore am supremely confident in my chances of completing the marathon. Now, I get to pig out with all the leftover Thanksgiving food! Excellent!
Well, I have achieved my first major goal of this whole training process, which was to run farther in a single run than I ever had before. As you can see from the time, I ran this slow and methodically; there was no attempt to do anything but cover the distance. However, I can now safely say that the most I've ever run at once is twelve miles; before, it was ten.
I did have to do this run in less than ideal conditions. The Thanksgiving party I was at last night went way later than I thought it would, and I only ended up getting about five hours of sleep, which typically means for me that a part of my body is tighter than normal early on in the day. When I woke up, the area of my body that was tight was my hips, for some strange reason. My calves felt great all throughout the run, which is a first, but my hips were hurting constantly, making it hard to get a solid rhythm and consistent running form.
So, after a couple of miles I tried adjusting my shoes by tying them a little looser, and that actually ended up working, but at the expense of my feet being sore from the lack of support; my left foot in particular is in a lot of pain right now. Also, it was very cold at 6:30 in the morning (this is where my uncle recoils in horror at how early I ran), and it took a long time for my body to warm up.
I did get randomly fatigued around mile eight, but I used that as an opportunity to stop for a while and drink and stretch a bit. I'm assuming I got fatigued because of lack of sleep more than anything. Also, once I got past mile ten, I could definitely feel my body get physically drained. I know my brain was partially to blame for making it happen; I was thinking about how it was uncharted territory for me in terms of total mileage. When I finished, I was exhausted.
But despite all that, in general I felt very strong throughout the run, and enjoyed myself quite a bit. It was a nice change of pace running so early in the morning, and I felt very alone and peaceful for long stretches. I'm also extremely happy that I was able to discipline myself to not overeat for two nights straight; that actually gives me a lot of confidence in the future in terms of being able to follow a strict diet if necessary.
It's a great feeling to have accomplished something like this, and it hasn't really sunk in yet. I know that in the upcoming weeks, I'll be running longer distances than this, but this one, breaking my PR that has existed for something like seven or eight years, was the biggest mental hurdle of them all, at least until I get to twenty miles. I've now proven that I can push my body past its previous limits, and therefore am supremely confident in my chances of completing the marathon. Now, I get to pig out with all the leftover Thanksgiving food! Excellent!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Thursday, 11/27/08
Today I ran 3 miles in 23:53.
This was a great run. Absolutely nothing special happened, either good or bad. I felt strong and ran a solid time, especially considering I wasn't trying to do anything but cover the distance.
I was also able to discipline myself very well at Thanksgiving 1 (yes, I do have another dinner to go to tomorrow night), eating very little and only having a tiny bit of dessert. Usually, I pig out at these things, so I'm thrilled that I was able to focus myself and not overeat. My problem with overeating is that my metabolism can handle overeating in terms of not gaining weight or much fat, so when I can, I do. But I always feel a little sick the day after, and during something as intense as training for a marathon, that can't happen unless its unavoidable.
So I'm off to another dinner tomorrow where I'll have to discipline myself, and then on Saturday, a huge milestone of 12 miles! I can't wait!
This was a great run. Absolutely nothing special happened, either good or bad. I felt strong and ran a solid time, especially considering I wasn't trying to do anything but cover the distance.
I was also able to discipline myself very well at Thanksgiving 1 (yes, I do have another dinner to go to tomorrow night), eating very little and only having a tiny bit of dessert. Usually, I pig out at these things, so I'm thrilled that I was able to focus myself and not overeat. My problem with overeating is that my metabolism can handle overeating in terms of not gaining weight or much fat, so when I can, I do. But I always feel a little sick the day after, and during something as intense as training for a marathon, that can't happen unless its unavoidable.
So I'm off to another dinner tomorrow where I'll have to discipline myself, and then on Saturday, a huge milestone of 12 miles! I can't wait!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Wednesday, 11/26/08
Today I ran somewhere around 7 miles in 1:13:00.
This was a different run. My dad decided he wanted to run with me, and one thing he needs in order to be motivated to run is variety in his running courses. Personally, I'm just fine with running the same basic measured course all the time. Variety is not necessary for me to get motivated or to be satisfied with my runs. Also, I'm training now, and running an exact number of miles every night is essential for my overall progress.
However, with my dad's busy schedule and my mileage increasing past the point that he can comfortably run, it's rare that we get to run together nowadays. He's the reason I got into running when I was younger, and the reason I got back into running recently and started this whole marathon thing. So I agreed to run with him, knowing that the course would not be exactly six miles (what I was supposed to run) and that he would be going much slower than I usually go.
Indeed, the course felt closer to seven than 6 (it might have even been just a tad over seven) and we ran very slowly, as you can see by my time above. We even walked a couple of times. However, we had fun together, he got a nice workout in, and we got to spend some quality time. Especially now that I'm going to start doing seven and eight mile runs regularly in just a couple of weeks, this might be one of the last times we run together for quite some time. So, not great overall time on the clock, but great experience, and I felt strong the whole way. Good run!
Have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow! I'll be running three miles after the big dinner (ugh) so I likely will be posting pretty late. If you're reading this blog on Thanksgiving Day, well, what can I say. Thanks, but you might want to get back to your family. :)
This was a different run. My dad decided he wanted to run with me, and one thing he needs in order to be motivated to run is variety in his running courses. Personally, I'm just fine with running the same basic measured course all the time. Variety is not necessary for me to get motivated or to be satisfied with my runs. Also, I'm training now, and running an exact number of miles every night is essential for my overall progress.
However, with my dad's busy schedule and my mileage increasing past the point that he can comfortably run, it's rare that we get to run together nowadays. He's the reason I got into running when I was younger, and the reason I got back into running recently and started this whole marathon thing. So I agreed to run with him, knowing that the course would not be exactly six miles (what I was supposed to run) and that he would be going much slower than I usually go.
Indeed, the course felt closer to seven than 6 (it might have even been just a tad over seven) and we ran very slowly, as you can see by my time above. We even walked a couple of times. However, we had fun together, he got a nice workout in, and we got to spend some quality time. Especially now that I'm going to start doing seven and eight mile runs regularly in just a couple of weeks, this might be one of the last times we run together for quite some time. So, not great overall time on the clock, but great experience, and I felt strong the whole way. Good run!
Have a great Thanksgiving tomorrow! I'll be running three miles after the big dinner (ugh) so I likely will be posting pretty late. If you're reading this blog on Thanksgiving Day, well, what can I say. Thanks, but you might want to get back to your family. :)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Tuesday, 11/25/08
Today I ran 3 miles with a time of 23:06.
This was both a great and aggravating day. When I started my run, I felt terrific and rested and strong. My form was perfect, and the weather was nice. So I decided, somewhat foolishly, to try and run fast. I picked up the pace, and even all out sprinted at the end, trying to hit the 21 minute mark.
However, to my shock, I was well over that, finishing a full two minutes slower. It's frustrating, since I thought I had a chance to get right around 21, but alas, I finished with a decent but not great time. Also, now my right calf is extremely tight. Sigh. Well, it was fun to run all out for the first time in a little while, and I definitely felt good overall. So a successful but frustrating day. Tomorrow I run double what I ran today. Wheee!
This was both a great and aggravating day. When I started my run, I felt terrific and rested and strong. My form was perfect, and the weather was nice. So I decided, somewhat foolishly, to try and run fast. I picked up the pace, and even all out sprinted at the end, trying to hit the 21 minute mark.
However, to my shock, I was well over that, finishing a full two minutes slower. It's frustrating, since I thought I had a chance to get right around 21, but alas, I finished with a decent but not great time. Also, now my right calf is extremely tight. Sigh. Well, it was fun to run all out for the first time in a little while, and I definitely felt good overall. So a successful but frustrating day. Tomorrow I run double what I ran today. Wheee!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Week 6 Recap
This week I ran 18 miles.
This week was extremely up and down. I started the week with very high energy that lasted for two days straight and petered out as the week went on. My runs were all over the place, some excellent, some horrible.
Stepback weeks are both great and hard for me. They're great in that my body gets a rest, but hard in that I always want to make progress. Stepback weeks often come right after a week where my body is feeling strong enough to keep progressing, so it's hard to convince myself to, well, not progress. I had a similar problem when I lifted weights, but that was likely a result of just an athletic routine that wasn't suited for me. This situation, though, seems like smart programming that's hard for me mentally at the moment. Rest is critical to a body's success, and having a week where mileage is reduced is wise; my mind knows that, but my body doesn't. :)
Hopefully, this coming week will be better. It's going to be rough, what with Thanksgiving tempting me to eat way more than I should. I have a huge run for me coming up on Saturday: 12 miles. That'll be the most I'll have ever run at once, which will be thrilling. This week is going to test my stamina, but more importantly, my discipline with both sleep and nutrition. Let's do it!
This week was extremely up and down. I started the week with very high energy that lasted for two days straight and petered out as the week went on. My runs were all over the place, some excellent, some horrible.
Stepback weeks are both great and hard for me. They're great in that my body gets a rest, but hard in that I always want to make progress. Stepback weeks often come right after a week where my body is feeling strong enough to keep progressing, so it's hard to convince myself to, well, not progress. I had a similar problem when I lifted weights, but that was likely a result of just an athletic routine that wasn't suited for me. This situation, though, seems like smart programming that's hard for me mentally at the moment. Rest is critical to a body's success, and having a week where mileage is reduced is wise; my mind knows that, but my body doesn't. :)
Hopefully, this coming week will be better. It's going to be rough, what with Thanksgiving tempting me to eat way more than I should. I have a huge run for me coming up on Saturday: 12 miles. That'll be the most I'll have ever run at once, which will be thrilling. This week is going to test my stamina, but more importantly, my discipline with both sleep and nutrition. Let's do it!
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Saturday, 11/22/08
Today I ran 7 miles in 1:03:15.
I would call this run a dark cloud with a small silver lining. In general, this run was terrible for no good reason. I was somewhat rested, I had been feeling fine all day, everything was normal. I began the run feeling great, and even had perfect running weather. But then, about a mile into the run, my calves just tightened up like crazy, and my left foot started hurting. You may remember that I rolled my left foot on some jerk's garden hose two nights ago, and the pain has not completely gone away. Well, it started acting up as soon as my calves got tight, and forced me to stop a mile and a half in and tie my shoes tighter and massage my calves.
Well, the first time I stopped, my foot felt better but my calves were worse. I had to stop again to massage my calves more thoroughly, and at that point, I was sweating heavily (in pretty cold temperature) and the sweat got into my eyes, which was not fun. So for 3 miles of this run, I was absolutely miserable, not to mention aggravated as it seemed like every time I got to an intersection, there was a car doing something strange or crossing just as I was (at the last mile, there was even police activity a street down from where I was running!).
Then, with 4 miles to go, I just decided to grit my teeth and go for it. I gave up caring about the pain and just ran, and to my great surprise, my body let me do just that. I was able to run without stopping the rest of the way, and in fact, I got stronger the longer I ran. However, when I finished and walked inside, I felt extremely out of it, and actually felt a little dizzy during my post-run shower. I feel better now, but it's the most out of it I've felt so far during this marathon training.
I don't know what it is about stepback weeks, but the long runs don't agree with me. This was just weirdly awful, but the last part was great. I have two blessed days off from running now, though, and I'm going to rest and recover and maybe do some light yoga. See y'all next week!
I would call this run a dark cloud with a small silver lining. In general, this run was terrible for no good reason. I was somewhat rested, I had been feeling fine all day, everything was normal. I began the run feeling great, and even had perfect running weather. But then, about a mile into the run, my calves just tightened up like crazy, and my left foot started hurting. You may remember that I rolled my left foot on some jerk's garden hose two nights ago, and the pain has not completely gone away. Well, it started acting up as soon as my calves got tight, and forced me to stop a mile and a half in and tie my shoes tighter and massage my calves.
Well, the first time I stopped, my foot felt better but my calves were worse. I had to stop again to massage my calves more thoroughly, and at that point, I was sweating heavily (in pretty cold temperature) and the sweat got into my eyes, which was not fun. So for 3 miles of this run, I was absolutely miserable, not to mention aggravated as it seemed like every time I got to an intersection, there was a car doing something strange or crossing just as I was (at the last mile, there was even police activity a street down from where I was running!).
Then, with 4 miles to go, I just decided to grit my teeth and go for it. I gave up caring about the pain and just ran, and to my great surprise, my body let me do just that. I was able to run without stopping the rest of the way, and in fact, I got stronger the longer I ran. However, when I finished and walked inside, I felt extremely out of it, and actually felt a little dizzy during my post-run shower. I feel better now, but it's the most out of it I've felt so far during this marathon training.
I don't know what it is about stepback weeks, but the long runs don't agree with me. This was just weirdly awful, but the last part was great. I have two blessed days off from running now, though, and I'm going to rest and recover and maybe do some light yoga. See y'all next week!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Thursday, 11/20/2008
Today I ran 3 miles in 24:40.
Oh man, am I beat. I haven't been getting much sleep this week, and it's been very much affecting how I feel on runs. Tonight I felt exhausted the whole time, even though obviously my time shows that my body was up for the run. I need to figure out how to get more sleep than I do during the work week (thankfully, I don't work on Fridays at the moment, so I get a nice three day weekend).
Also, I had an extremely annoying thing happen tonight. Some jerk left their hose partially sticking out onto the sidewalk, and I got my left foot caught in it and rolled the foot a little bit. I was able to complete my run with no problem, but the foot is definitely hurting right now. I iced it, but thank goodness this is both a stepback week and that I don't have to anything physical tomorrow.
So, I'm not sure what my plans are this weekend. I'll be running on Saturday no question, but whether or not I'm able to post on Saturday night depends on my plans. I may have to update about what happened on Saturday on Sunday. Oh well. See you on Saturday/Sunday!
Oh man, am I beat. I haven't been getting much sleep this week, and it's been very much affecting how I feel on runs. Tonight I felt exhausted the whole time, even though obviously my time shows that my body was up for the run. I need to figure out how to get more sleep than I do during the work week (thankfully, I don't work on Fridays at the moment, so I get a nice three day weekend).
Also, I had an extremely annoying thing happen tonight. Some jerk left their hose partially sticking out onto the sidewalk, and I got my left foot caught in it and rolled the foot a little bit. I was able to complete my run with no problem, but the foot is definitely hurting right now. I iced it, but thank goodness this is both a stepback week and that I don't have to anything physical tomorrow.
So, I'm not sure what my plans are this weekend. I'll be running on Saturday no question, but whether or not I'm able to post on Saturday night depends on my plans. I may have to update about what happened on Saturday on Sunday. Oh well. See you on Saturday/Sunday!
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Wednesday, 11/19/2008
Today I ran 5 miles in 43:37. I also walked somewhere around 6 miles beforehand.
Well, this was a strange one. I started today utterly exhausted from not getting much sleep the night before and feeling like it would be detrimental to run. Therefore, I decided to test out a route I had mapped out from my workplace to home. The total distance would have been a little over 7 1/2 miles, which seemed like a semi-decent compromise for not running today. However, about 3 1/2 miles into the route, I came upon a very complicated intersection, made a slightly wrong turn, and got a bit lost. I found my way back to familiar surroundings, but ended up walking a different route and took long enough that I ended up just walking to a restaurant for dinner with my parents. I did learn one thing though: I'm not going to run that route. :)
When I got home, my feet were tired, but I felt pretty OK, and after a two hour break, I actually felt raring to go. So I laced up my shoes (the original way, not the weird way that hurt yesterday) and ended up having a terrific run. I feel tired, but not extremely, and I'm very happy with my time. For some reason, my body has always done very well on "two-a-days" i.e. two workouts in one day. I used to do those a lot when I was weightlifting/powerlifting in college, and I often felt stronger during the second workout. The same seems to apply here.
Overall, a physically draining day, but a satisfying one. Also, I'm glad I was mentally tough enough to git out getting my training in instead of convincing myself that I could compromise. Good day!
Well, this was a strange one. I started today utterly exhausted from not getting much sleep the night before and feeling like it would be detrimental to run. Therefore, I decided to test out a route I had mapped out from my workplace to home. The total distance would have been a little over 7 1/2 miles, which seemed like a semi-decent compromise for not running today. However, about 3 1/2 miles into the route, I came upon a very complicated intersection, made a slightly wrong turn, and got a bit lost. I found my way back to familiar surroundings, but ended up walking a different route and took long enough that I ended up just walking to a restaurant for dinner with my parents. I did learn one thing though: I'm not going to run that route. :)
When I got home, my feet were tired, but I felt pretty OK, and after a two hour break, I actually felt raring to go. So I laced up my shoes (the original way, not the weird way that hurt yesterday) and ended up having a terrific run. I feel tired, but not extremely, and I'm very happy with my time. For some reason, my body has always done very well on "two-a-days" i.e. two workouts in one day. I used to do those a lot when I was weightlifting/powerlifting in college, and I often felt stronger during the second workout. The same seems to apply here.
Overall, a physically draining day, but a satisfying one. Also, I'm glad I was mentally tough enough to git out getting my training in instead of convincing myself that I could compromise. Good day!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Tuesday, 11/18/08
Today I ran 3 miles in 26:15.
This was a pretty bad run. Around an hour or so before the run, I started feeling tired and weary, which is strange considering that I've been feeling consistently high-energy for the past couple of days. That feeling continued throughout the run, making the run seem longer than it was. I also started sweating like crazy near the end even though it was rather cold outside, which is a sure sign that my body was out of it. In fact, I feel pretty weary now. Time for sleep.
I also stupidly decided to tie my new shoes in a different way just for experimentation's sake. Big mistake. The new style I tried constricted my ankles too much, leading me to become flatfooted only about a mile into the run. This both hurt and seriously impacted my time. I'm definitely going back to the old style I had, the runner's loop.
My time is fine, but slow for what I know I can do, and this should have been a non-memorable but solid run. Instead, it was a plodding, way too difficult run. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.
This was a pretty bad run. Around an hour or so before the run, I started feeling tired and weary, which is strange considering that I've been feeling consistently high-energy for the past couple of days. That feeling continued throughout the run, making the run seem longer than it was. I also started sweating like crazy near the end even though it was rather cold outside, which is a sure sign that my body was out of it. In fact, I feel pretty weary now. Time for sleep.
I also stupidly decided to tie my new shoes in a different way just for experimentation's sake. Big mistake. The new style I tried constricted my ankles too much, leading me to become flatfooted only about a mile into the run. This both hurt and seriously impacted my time. I'm definitely going back to the old style I had, the runner's loop.
My time is fine, but slow for what I know I can do, and this should have been a non-memorable but solid run. Instead, it was a plodding, way too difficult run. Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Week 5 Recap
This week I ran 21 miles.
This was quite a week. Running went great every day, with my body really feeling strong and very capable of covering the distances. Heck, I was even able to run ten miles and all-out sprint the last mile no problem. I had the requisite aches and pains that come with running, but certainly nothing that prevented me from running al of the distances successfully.
However, mentally this was the most draining week I've had in a long time. My grandfather had a medical emergency that required a visit to the ER and put me under constant stress all week. Unfortunately, this stress will probably remain for at least another week or two. Thankfully, next week is a stepback week, so I'll be running less overall mileage and will be able to focus on anything unexpected that comes up in regards to my grandfather.
Overall, an excellent week physically and an overwhelming one mentally. The good news is that I'm feeling more confident every week that I can finish the marathon. We'll see how next week goes, but at least in terms of running, everything should go just fine.
This was quite a week. Running went great every day, with my body really feeling strong and very capable of covering the distances. Heck, I was even able to run ten miles and all-out sprint the last mile no problem. I had the requisite aches and pains that come with running, but certainly nothing that prevented me from running al of the distances successfully.
However, mentally this was the most draining week I've had in a long time. My grandfather had a medical emergency that required a visit to the ER and put me under constant stress all week. Unfortunately, this stress will probably remain for at least another week or two. Thankfully, next week is a stepback week, so I'll be running less overall mileage and will be able to focus on anything unexpected that comes up in regards to my grandfather.
Overall, an excellent week physically and an overwhelming one mentally. The good news is that I'm feeling more confident every week that I can finish the marathon. We'll see how next week goes, but at least in terms of running, everything should go just fine.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Saturday, 11/15/08
Today I ran 10 miles with a time of 1:26:52.
This was a terrific run, and a very encouraging one given both the time I finished in and the time of day I did the run. I did this run at just after 7 AM, when there was still an early-morning chill but not too much, and before the sun was going to fully come up and overheat me. I made sure before I left to stretch my calves a lot, to the point of taking a brief hot shower before I left to loosen them up. Needless to say, it worked.
After the first 3 miles, my calves did noticeably tighten up, but I took a walking and drinking break then and massaged them until they were loose again and then ran with no problems the rest of the way. I'm confident that if they tighten up during the marathon, I'll be able to do what I did today and keep going.
Also, the actual run was great. There were the standard aches and pains that come with running that long of a distance, but nothing severe. There were some gorgeous things I got to see due to running that early, such as the sunrise and a flock of birds making beautiful patterns in the sky. And I felt very strong throughout; I actually felt strong enough to sprint the last mile, which was exhausting but felt great and gave my cardiovascular system its first real workout in a while. As you can see from the time above, I was able to run at a steady and quite fast pace for the whole run; my goal was to run in under an hour and a half, and I was able to pull that off nicely.
So, a triumphant run for me today. I got a lot of concerns I had, like running in the morning and my tight calves, figured out. My body felt strong and fast at the end. I got to practice walking and drinking without losing much time at all. Now for a couple of days of rest, and then a stepback week next week. Sounds good!
This was a terrific run, and a very encouraging one given both the time I finished in and the time of day I did the run. I did this run at just after 7 AM, when there was still an early-morning chill but not too much, and before the sun was going to fully come up and overheat me. I made sure before I left to stretch my calves a lot, to the point of taking a brief hot shower before I left to loosen them up. Needless to say, it worked.
After the first 3 miles, my calves did noticeably tighten up, but I took a walking and drinking break then and massaged them until they were loose again and then ran with no problems the rest of the way. I'm confident that if they tighten up during the marathon, I'll be able to do what I did today and keep going.
Also, the actual run was great. There were the standard aches and pains that come with running that long of a distance, but nothing severe. There were some gorgeous things I got to see due to running that early, such as the sunrise and a flock of birds making beautiful patterns in the sky. And I felt very strong throughout; I actually felt strong enough to sprint the last mile, which was exhausting but felt great and gave my cardiovascular system its first real workout in a while. As you can see from the time above, I was able to run at a steady and quite fast pace for the whole run; my goal was to run in under an hour and a half, and I was able to pull that off nicely.
So, a triumphant run for me today. I got a lot of concerns I had, like running in the morning and my tight calves, figured out. My body felt strong and fast at the end. I got to practice walking and drinking without losing much time at all. Now for a couple of days of rest, and then a stepback week next week. Sounds good!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Thursday, 11/13/08
Today I ran 3 miles, untimed yet again, but around 27:00 if I had to guess.
Well, this was a run done on extreme exhaustion. After last night's ER visit and lack of sleep because of it, I've been thoroughly exhausted all day, and this run came at the end of it.
The actual run felt fine, but I know from experience that when I'm overtired like tonight, everything breaks down and I'm just not myself, so I didn't time myself tonight. Indeed, my left foot, which has been sore for a couple of days now, was in a lot of pain tonight, and I had blisters and peeling on my toes that normally just doesn't show up, suggesting that my form was very off tonight.
What I desperately need to do is rest for a very long time tomorrow and just get my body back into normal condition. As usual, my cardiovascular system feels excellent, but I'm just worn right now. Tomorrow night, I may go out for a much needed night of drinking and relaxation, which would be lovely. I'm not sure if I'm going to do my long run on Saturday or Sunday this week, but whichever the case, it'll be 10 miles! Woo-hoo!
Well, this was a run done on extreme exhaustion. After last night's ER visit and lack of sleep because of it, I've been thoroughly exhausted all day, and this run came at the end of it.
The actual run felt fine, but I know from experience that when I'm overtired like tonight, everything breaks down and I'm just not myself, so I didn't time myself tonight. Indeed, my left foot, which has been sore for a couple of days now, was in a lot of pain tonight, and I had blisters and peeling on my toes that normally just doesn't show up, suggesting that my form was very off tonight.
What I desperately need to do is rest for a very long time tomorrow and just get my body back into normal condition. As usual, my cardiovascular system feels excellent, but I'm just worn right now. Tomorrow night, I may go out for a much needed night of drinking and relaxation, which would be lovely. I'm not sure if I'm going to do my long run on Saturday or Sunday this week, but whichever the case, it'll be 10 miles! Woo-hoo!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Wednesday, 11/12/08
Today I ran 5 miles, again untimed, but about 45 minutes.
Tonight's run was preceded by a family medical emergency that had me speedwalk to the hospital (I walked a mile and a half in about twenty minutes) and then get stuck in the ER for about 3 hours with bad socks on and getting almost no chance to sit. Needless to say, I was exhausted by the time I got the chance to run (and everything's fine regarding the ER by the way). My dad and I went out and ran a course that was all over the place; we ran through a scary dark alley, up some insane hills and down some insane hills. All in all, it was probably a little over 5 miles, something like 5.2.
My cardiovascular system is extremely strong right now; tonight's run felt like almost nothing. My knees, for some reason, are hurting right now, but not while I run. It's pretty bizarre. Everything else feels fine though, and my energy levels are pretty high. What a day!
Tonight's run was preceded by a family medical emergency that had me speedwalk to the hospital (I walked a mile and a half in about twenty minutes) and then get stuck in the ER for about 3 hours with bad socks on and getting almost no chance to sit. Needless to say, I was exhausted by the time I got the chance to run (and everything's fine regarding the ER by the way). My dad and I went out and ran a course that was all over the place; we ran through a scary dark alley, up some insane hills and down some insane hills. All in all, it was probably a little over 5 miles, something like 5.2.
My cardiovascular system is extremely strong right now; tonight's run felt like almost nothing. My knees, for some reason, are hurting right now, but not while I run. It's pretty bizarre. Everything else feels fine though, and my energy levels are pretty high. What a day!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Tuesday, 11/11/08
Today I ran 3 miles, untimed, but I'd guess around 25:30.
Today was a totally normal, uneventful run. Just covering the distance. Everything felt fine, the weather was nice, the tank was clean (Finding Nemo reference there).
The only thing of note is that I'm trying to wear my old pair of running shoes every other run right now while the mileage is low to give my other, nicer pair of shoes a break. The old pair did fine today, but they don't compare to the new ones. I think I'll retire the old ones in about a month or so.
Tomorrow I'm uping my normal Wednesday runs to five miles! Look out!
Today was a totally normal, uneventful run. Just covering the distance. Everything felt fine, the weather was nice, the tank was clean (Finding Nemo reference there).
The only thing of note is that I'm trying to wear my old pair of running shoes every other run right now while the mileage is low to give my other, nicer pair of shoes a break. The old pair did fine today, but they don't compare to the new ones. I think I'll retire the old ones in about a month or so.
Tomorrow I'm uping my normal Wednesday runs to five miles! Look out!
Important Announcement
This is a special post. I will be running later tonight, but this is too important to not mention in a separate post. The Los Angeles Marathon has had its date changed for the second time, and this time, it is an impossible to deal with switch. They have moved it to May 25th, Memorial Day, a full three months later than the first schedule change (it was originally going to be in early March). This is absolutely insane, and I've decided to cancel my entry into the Los Angeles Marathon. They are offering a refund, and I will definitely take it.
The race seems to have been taken over by political BS, and the fact that they didn't have their act together only a couple of months before the race makes me think that it's not worth it to deal with any other possible things that could come up.
What I am planning to do is run a marathon on March 1st, the Napa Valley Marathon here in California. By the looks of it, it'll be a prettier, well organized and smaller race than Los Angeles. What this means is that I'll have to tack on two more weeks to my training, but I'll figure that out when I get closer to the marathon. Once I get my refund from Los Angeles, I'll register for Napa. Should be great!
The race seems to have been taken over by political BS, and the fact that they didn't have their act together only a couple of months before the race makes me think that it's not worth it to deal with any other possible things that could come up.
What I am planning to do is run a marathon on March 1st, the Napa Valley Marathon here in California. By the looks of it, it'll be a prettier, well organized and smaller race than Los Angeles. What this means is that I'll have to tack on two more weeks to my training, but I'll figure that out when I get closer to the marathon. Once I get my refund from Los Angeles, I'll register for Napa. Should be great!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Week 4 Recap
This week I ran 23.2 miles (I should have run 19 miles).
What a bizarre week. It didn't seem like a long week, but now that it's Sunday, it feels like the week has gone on forever. My running this week was hampered by me getting a little sick at the beginning of the week and not being able to sleep during the work week (I had insomnia on Monday and never completely recovered from it until Thursday night). I actually felt very strong running all throughout this week, but mentally I was just drained.
So Monday through Thursday went fine, and then Saturday was about as crazy of a running day as I've had. Read the Saturday post for what happened, but I ended up running a little more than four miles than I should have yesterday for a total of 13.2 miles in one day! That's easily the most mileage I've ever done in one day, and I felt very strong the whole time, both physically and mentally. I'm definitely getting much stronger as a runner, both in pacing myself and my body feeling fit and balanced. Now I just need to get my eating healthier and more regimented.
A rather crazy week, but an overall excellent one. Usually, I do cross-training of some sort on Sundays, like swimming or yoga, but because of my day yesterday, I'm making an executive decision and resting for two days to let my body recover without exertion of any kind. I might go on a longish walk just to stretch out. Phew!
What a bizarre week. It didn't seem like a long week, but now that it's Sunday, it feels like the week has gone on forever. My running this week was hampered by me getting a little sick at the beginning of the week and not being able to sleep during the work week (I had insomnia on Monday and never completely recovered from it until Thursday night). I actually felt very strong running all throughout this week, but mentally I was just drained.
So Monday through Thursday went fine, and then Saturday was about as crazy of a running day as I've had. Read the Saturday post for what happened, but I ended up running a little more than four miles than I should have yesterday for a total of 13.2 miles in one day! That's easily the most mileage I've ever done in one day, and I felt very strong the whole time, both physically and mentally. I'm definitely getting much stronger as a runner, both in pacing myself and my body feeling fit and balanced. Now I just need to get my eating healthier and more regimented.
A rather crazy week, but an overall excellent one. Usually, I do cross-training of some sort on Sundays, like swimming or yoga, but because of my day yesterday, I'm making an executive decision and resting for two days to let my body recover without exertion of any kind. I might go on a longish walk just to stretch out. Phew!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Saturday, 11/8/08
Today I ran a total of 13.2 miles (that's just over half a marathon!), broken up into two separate runs. See what happened below.
Today was ridiculous. I had to abort my planned long run about halfway through for two reasons. The first was one of the crazier things I've experienced running. There is a police academy right next to my house, and quite often, the cadets run around our neighborhood. When they do this, it's an event, with cop cars trailing them and stopping traffic and the cadets yelling at the top of their lungs and so on.
Well, I randomly got caught in the middle of their "run" (I'm putting that in quotes because about 75% of them were barely running, more like traipsing) and was forced to sprint up a big hill in order to get out of their way. This was during the first mile of my run, which had up to that point been going great. Once I sprinted up the hill, however, everything went wrong.
My calves tightened up from the effort, and to top it all off, the day became sweltering. I ran about three more miles, but realized that I was doing myself more harm than good. This is the first time in a long time that I've become legitimately overheated; when I walked in the house, I almost threw up! It was awful.
So I've come to a conclusion about how I'm going to do these long runs. The runs that are longer than I've gone before, such as this one and the next, which will be ten miles, I will do at night. It's much more important to cover the distance and get my body used to running the distance than it is to practice in heat. In terms of heat, I will do my long runs during my stepback weeks, which feature longish runs, in the morning. This will let me be in my element during the most challenging runs, and still let me practice in the heat.
EDIT: I ended up doing my 9 mile run tonight, as in Saturday night, as in about 12 hours after my terrible run this morning. I felt fine, the weather was perfect, and I really wanted to get the run done. So I just gritted my teeth and did it, and to my complete and utter shock it went brilliantly. I felt very strong, and actually held down a consistent 8 minute/mile pace for the first 4 miles of it. I then stopped to practice drinking water during a long run, and when I started up again, things went a little slower. But I felt very strong throughout the whole run; I was able to maintain a steady, solid pace throughout and never once felt overexerted.
There was nothing eventful about the 9-miler; everything running-wise went very smoothly. Oh, there were the oddities such as the truck that just stopped in the middle of an intersection I was approaching and didn't move (I ended up running behind him, at which point he sped off) or the guy who just seemed to be standing in his driveway for no reason at 11:45 on a Saturday night. He warned me about a car coming towards me that was very far away, and that I never came close to having any conflict with. Thanks, random guy. Thanks.
The thing I gained from today was a reminder/rediscovery of a mental toughness that I've always had but that I rarely exercise. Today, I just got the work I needed to do done, and did it without much thought or with any complaint. I listened to my body well, ran a great 9-miler tonight, and ended up running more miles in one day than I've ever done before.
So even though I had a lousy starting run, it ended up contributing to a very powerful and triumphant running day. If I can handle doing 13.2 miles in one day only four weeks into my training, I'm extremely confident that I can handle a marathon in 14 weeks. Amazing day!
Today was ridiculous. I had to abort my planned long run about halfway through for two reasons. The first was one of the crazier things I've experienced running. There is a police academy right next to my house, and quite often, the cadets run around our neighborhood. When they do this, it's an event, with cop cars trailing them and stopping traffic and the cadets yelling at the top of their lungs and so on.
Well, I randomly got caught in the middle of their "run" (I'm putting that in quotes because about 75% of them were barely running, more like traipsing) and was forced to sprint up a big hill in order to get out of their way. This was during the first mile of my run, which had up to that point been going great. Once I sprinted up the hill, however, everything went wrong.
My calves tightened up from the effort, and to top it all off, the day became sweltering. I ran about three more miles, but realized that I was doing myself more harm than good. This is the first time in a long time that I've become legitimately overheated; when I walked in the house, I almost threw up! It was awful.
So I've come to a conclusion about how I'm going to do these long runs. The runs that are longer than I've gone before, such as this one and the next, which will be ten miles, I will do at night. It's much more important to cover the distance and get my body used to running the distance than it is to practice in heat. In terms of heat, I will do my long runs during my stepback weeks, which feature longish runs, in the morning. This will let me be in my element during the most challenging runs, and still let me practice in the heat.
EDIT: I ended up doing my 9 mile run tonight, as in Saturday night, as in about 12 hours after my terrible run this morning. I felt fine, the weather was perfect, and I really wanted to get the run done. So I just gritted my teeth and did it, and to my complete and utter shock it went brilliantly. I felt very strong, and actually held down a consistent 8 minute/mile pace for the first 4 miles of it. I then stopped to practice drinking water during a long run, and when I started up again, things went a little slower. But I felt very strong throughout the whole run; I was able to maintain a steady, solid pace throughout and never once felt overexerted.
There was nothing eventful about the 9-miler; everything running-wise went very smoothly. Oh, there were the oddities such as the truck that just stopped in the middle of an intersection I was approaching and didn't move (I ended up running behind him, at which point he sped off) or the guy who just seemed to be standing in his driveway for no reason at 11:45 on a Saturday night. He warned me about a car coming towards me that was very far away, and that I never came close to having any conflict with. Thanks, random guy. Thanks.
The thing I gained from today was a reminder/rediscovery of a mental toughness that I've always had but that I rarely exercise. Today, I just got the work I needed to do done, and did it without much thought or with any complaint. I listened to my body well, ran a great 9-miler tonight, and ended up running more miles in one day than I've ever done before.
So even though I had a lousy starting run, it ended up contributing to a very powerful and triumphant running day. If I can handle doing 13.2 miles in one day only four weeks into my training, I'm extremely confident that I can handle a marathon in 14 weeks. Amazing day!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Thursday, 11/6/2008
Today I ran 3 miles in 28:18 and lifted weights...a little.
This was about as ho-hum a run as I've had in this training. Nothing great, nothing bad, just covering the distance and doing it with a decent time. The only thing of note about tonight's run was that for some inexplicable reason, I had to stop three times to let cars go by at usually very quiet intersections. This is really the first night I've had to do that since I started up running again about 4 months ago now, and to have to do it three times is bizarre. But definitely not a big deal.
I also did a very minor lifting session with some weights around the house. They were very light weights, so I did high repetitions for endurance. It wasn't much, but every little bit counts. I also did a little bit of yoga to stretch out my muscles, which felt nice.
I am bone tired. As I mentioned yesterday, I'm a little bit sick and for some reason, I haven't been sleeping at all this week. My body and mind are all out of whack, so running has been somewhat of a slog this week. But I've gotten it done, and am looking forward to my long run on Saturday. Now to attempt to sleep for longer than a couple of hours at once. Sigh.... See you on Saturday!
This was about as ho-hum a run as I've had in this training. Nothing great, nothing bad, just covering the distance and doing it with a decent time. The only thing of note about tonight's run was that for some inexplicable reason, I had to stop three times to let cars go by at usually very quiet intersections. This is really the first night I've had to do that since I started up running again about 4 months ago now, and to have to do it three times is bizarre. But definitely not a big deal.
I also did a very minor lifting session with some weights around the house. They were very light weights, so I did high repetitions for endurance. It wasn't much, but every little bit counts. I also did a little bit of yoga to stretch out my muscles, which felt nice.
I am bone tired. As I mentioned yesterday, I'm a little bit sick and for some reason, I haven't been sleeping at all this week. My body and mind are all out of whack, so running has been somewhat of a slog this week. But I've gotten it done, and am looking forward to my long run on Saturday. Now to attempt to sleep for longer than a couple of hours at once. Sigh.... See you on Saturday!
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Wednesday, 11/5/08
Today I ran 4 miles in 34:00.
Ah, now this was a run! Why are 4-milers easier than 3-milers for me now? :)
Actually, the fact that they're easier is probably a sign that my body is adapting to performing better at long distances as opposed to racing for relatively short bursts, which is terrific. I tried picking up the pace significantly during the last mile, and it worked out great; I'm definitely figuring out how to pace myself so I have something left in the tank at the end.
Also, I wore my new shoes today with no problems. Since my old pair isn't exactly worn out, I think I'm going to alternate running with my new pair and my old pair in order to save the new shoes from getting too worn out.
Some miscellaneous things. I have a bizarre quasi-injury on my left lat(upper back) muscle. It starts getting really tense about a mile into runs and actually hurting quite a bit, but then goes away about half a mile later and never comes back. I didn't mention it before because I thought it was a one-time quirk, but clearly not. Also, I'm a little sick right now and haven't been sleeping well, so I'm thrilled and a little shocked that my runs have been going as well as they have.
And with that, I'm going to attempt to go to sleep. Night!
Ah, now this was a run! Why are 4-milers easier than 3-milers for me now? :)
Actually, the fact that they're easier is probably a sign that my body is adapting to performing better at long distances as opposed to racing for relatively short bursts, which is terrific. I tried picking up the pace significantly during the last mile, and it worked out great; I'm definitely figuring out how to pace myself so I have something left in the tank at the end.
Also, I wore my new shoes today with no problems. Since my old pair isn't exactly worn out, I think I'm going to alternate running with my new pair and my old pair in order to save the new shoes from getting too worn out.
Some miscellaneous things. I have a bizarre quasi-injury on my left lat(upper back) muscle. It starts getting really tense about a mile into runs and actually hurting quite a bit, but then goes away about half a mile later and never comes back. I didn't mention it before because I thought it was a one-time quirk, but clearly not. Also, I'm a little sick right now and haven't been sleeping well, so I'm thrilled and a little shocked that my runs have been going as well as they have.
And with that, I'm going to attempt to go to sleep. Night!
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Tuesday, 11/4/08
Today I ran 3 miles untimed.
Tonight's run was terrific except for my new shoes. I'm still trying to figure out how to lace them. They came untied twice during the run. Grrr....
But, I felt terrific tonight. At one point, I felt so relaxed and strong that on a straightaway I tried closing my eyes for about ten seconds. It was a really neat and calming experience, and one I might try on my next long run to just focus and center myself.
Daylight Savings Time has of course completely changed my running experience at night, since now there's virtually no way to run during daylight. I think I'm going to try and switch to running in the mornings pretty soon, just so I can practice running in an environment that's closer to what I'll be running in during the marathon.
Overall, great run, I'll figure out the shoes, and when I finished my run and walked in the house, Obama had been elected president! Crazy cool!
Tonight's run was terrific except for my new shoes. I'm still trying to figure out how to lace them. They came untied twice during the run. Grrr....
But, I felt terrific tonight. At one point, I felt so relaxed and strong that on a straightaway I tried closing my eyes for about ten seconds. It was a really neat and calming experience, and one I might try on my next long run to just focus and center myself.
Daylight Savings Time has of course completely changed my running experience at night, since now there's virtually no way to run during daylight. I think I'm going to try and switch to running in the mornings pretty soon, just so I can practice running in an environment that's closer to what I'll be running in during the marathon.
Overall, great run, I'll figure out the shoes, and when I finished my run and walked in the house, Obama had been elected president! Crazy cool!
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Week 3 Recap
This week I ran a total of 15 miles.
This was an all over the place week. I had both a perfect run and a terrible run this week, with only a mile difference between them. I introduced weight training back into my fitness regimen, which felt great but was much more taxing than I had anticipated. I'm also still getting used to my new running shoes, which I know will be terrific once I grow into them.
The good thing is that I felt high energy all throughout this week, both at work and during training. This can only be a good sign; my body is not overtaxed and is in fact likely adjusting well to the training. I need to introduce stretching into my day on a daily basis, which I'll try to do next week.
This was a "stepback" week on the training program, with decreased mileage in order to rest and get ready for the coming weeks. Next week, my long run is going to be nine miles, which sounds somewhat crazy to me, but I know I can do it. Now for a lovely day off tomorrow!
This was an all over the place week. I had both a perfect run and a terrible run this week, with only a mile difference between them. I introduced weight training back into my fitness regimen, which felt great but was much more taxing than I had anticipated. I'm also still getting used to my new running shoes, which I know will be terrific once I grow into them.
The good thing is that I felt high energy all throughout this week, both at work and during training. This can only be a good sign; my body is not overtaxed and is in fact likely adjusting well to the training. I need to introduce stretching into my day on a daily basis, which I'll try to do next week.
This was a "stepback" week on the training program, with decreased mileage in order to rest and get ready for the coming weeks. Next week, my long run is going to be nine miles, which sounds somewhat crazy to me, but I know I can do it. Now for a lovely day off tomorrow!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Saturday, 11/1/08
Today I ran 5 miles, untimed.
This was a very rough run. I ran early in the morning, and for some reason, even though I made sure to stretch, my calves were extremely tight, enough to greatly hinder my run. At first, I thought the problem was my shoes, so I stopped and tried to retie them, but that didn't change a thing. In the end, I had to run very slowly and stop several times to make sure I didn't injure myself. This was immensely frustrating due to my cardiovascular system feeling perfectly fine and strong, but my calves not cooperating.
This has taught me a couple of things. For one thing, I need to practice running in the morning more. If my body is going to be this tight during the marathon, which is of course run in the morning, there is no way I'll be able to finish. I also need to figure out some of sort of warm-up routine in the morning that loosens me up much more. At least I'm not injured, and I know I'm physically capable of this run.
So, a frustrating run but an educational one. These kinds of runs are just as valuable as excellent runs like the one I did this Wednesday. I now know what my body needs and will do my best to accommodate it.
This was a very rough run. I ran early in the morning, and for some reason, even though I made sure to stretch, my calves were extremely tight, enough to greatly hinder my run. At first, I thought the problem was my shoes, so I stopped and tried to retie them, but that didn't change a thing. In the end, I had to run very slowly and stop several times to make sure I didn't injure myself. This was immensely frustrating due to my cardiovascular system feeling perfectly fine and strong, but my calves not cooperating.
This has taught me a couple of things. For one thing, I need to practice running in the morning more. If my body is going to be this tight during the marathon, which is of course run in the morning, there is no way I'll be able to finish. I also need to figure out some of sort of warm-up routine in the morning that loosens me up much more. At least I'm not injured, and I know I'm physically capable of this run.
So, a frustrating run but an educational one. These kinds of runs are just as valuable as excellent runs like the one I did this Wednesday. I now know what my body needs and will do my best to accommodate it.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, 10/30/08
Today I ran 3 miles, untimed, and lifted weights.
Today, I got to the gym, lifted weights for about 15 to 20 minutes, and then ran the three miles right afterwards. I haven't been timing these runs from the gym because I have to cross two big intersections and usually have to stop for the light to change, which can take a long time at one of the intersections. It's not a big deal at all.
I don't think I'm going to be doing the weight lifting twice a week normally. Runs are MUCH harder immediately following weight lifting, even after a weight lifting session as brief as what I did today. Three miles felt like an epic battle today, while four miles yesterday felt like nothing, and it's all because of the weights. I'll definitely keep trying to lift, but it's going to be a very low priority.
I got a request for what my running shoes are, so here's a link. See y'all on Saturday. Happy Halloween!
Today, I got to the gym, lifted weights for about 15 to 20 minutes, and then ran the three miles right afterwards. I haven't been timing these runs from the gym because I have to cross two big intersections and usually have to stop for the light to change, which can take a long time at one of the intersections. It's not a big deal at all.
I don't think I'm going to be doing the weight lifting twice a week normally. Runs are MUCH harder immediately following weight lifting, even after a weight lifting session as brief as what I did today. Three miles felt like an epic battle today, while four miles yesterday felt like nothing, and it's all because of the weights. I'll definitely keep trying to lift, but it's going to be a very low priority.
I got a request for what my running shoes are, so here's a link. See y'all on Saturday. Happy Halloween!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Wednesday, 10/29/08
Today I ran 4 miles with a time of 34:40.
Wow, was this a great run! There's not much to comment on here. My new running shoes are fantastic; I felt very secure and strong in them yet also felt loose and able to run fast with no hindrance. Usually with running shoes you either feel very solid but weighed down, or you feel like you can run fast but that the shoes might fly off. With these, I get the best of both worlds.
My form was perfect, there were no annoying cars or anything, and I never felt any kind of pain. Also, I got in such a groove tonight that my mind started wandering and thinking about random things, things other than running. This is actually a good thing, since it means my body and mind were comfortable enough with the run that I could relax and just let it happen instead of worrying about my form or a nagging pain or sweat.
Terrific run tonight. Four miles felt like nothing. :)
Wow, was this a great run! There's not much to comment on here. My new running shoes are fantastic; I felt very secure and strong in them yet also felt loose and able to run fast with no hindrance. Usually with running shoes you either feel very solid but weighed down, or you feel like you can run fast but that the shoes might fly off. With these, I get the best of both worlds.
My form was perfect, there were no annoying cars or anything, and I never felt any kind of pain. Also, I got in such a groove tonight that my mind started wandering and thinking about random things, things other than running. This is actually a good thing, since it means my body and mind were comfortable enough with the run that I could relax and just let it happen instead of worrying about my form or a nagging pain or sweat.
Terrific run tonight. Four miles felt like nothing. :)
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Tuesday, 10/28/08
Today I ran 3 miles, untimed, and also lifted weights.
Today I took the bus to the gym after work, lifted weights for about thirty minutes or so, and then ran home. So today I saved money on gas, helped the environment a tiny bit, and got a great workout in. Sounds good! I won't be completely consistent with this plan for now. I just feel like doing weight lifting this week considering it's an easy week. I'll sporadically do this. Later on tonight, I'll do a mini-yoga routine to stretch out my tired and sore muscles.
I ran well today. For some dumb reason, I wore sweatpants to the gym today and didn't bring shorts with me. Man, running in sweats is insanely harder than running in shorts. I've definitely learned my lesson.
Also, my running form was very strong today. I've been wearing my running shoes around casually to break them in, and its worked well. I also tied them differently to great effect. So I guess it's time for that endorsement. I went to Top To Top in Santa Monica, and worked with Ryan on getting my new pair of shoes. My mom went with me, and worked with Ryan for close to an hour! So if you need a pair of shoes, check out Top to Top in Santa Monica, and ask for Ryan. He won't steer you wrong.
Today I took the bus to the gym after work, lifted weights for about thirty minutes or so, and then ran home. So today I saved money on gas, helped the environment a tiny bit, and got a great workout in. Sounds good! I won't be completely consistent with this plan for now. I just feel like doing weight lifting this week considering it's an easy week. I'll sporadically do this. Later on tonight, I'll do a mini-yoga routine to stretch out my tired and sore muscles.
I ran well today. For some dumb reason, I wore sweatpants to the gym today and didn't bring shorts with me. Man, running in sweats is insanely harder than running in shorts. I've definitely learned my lesson.
Also, my running form was very strong today. I've been wearing my running shoes around casually to break them in, and its worked well. I also tied them differently to great effect. So I guess it's time for that endorsement. I went to Top To Top in Santa Monica, and worked with Ryan on getting my new pair of shoes. My mom went with me, and worked with Ryan for close to an hour! So if you need a pair of shoes, check out Top to Top in Santa Monica, and ask for Ryan. He won't steer you wrong.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Week 2 Recap
This week I ran a total of 16 miles.
A rather eventful week, including injuries that turned out to be no problem once treated, new shoes, discovering the excellence and importance of a headband for my success in running during hot days...
Overall, I felt terrific physically this week. My one speed run, which I didn't have to do but wanted to try, was fun and my time was encouraging. My 7 miler on Saturday, while hard at first due to my new shoes, ended with me feeling tired but more than able to continue. I bet I'll feel exactly the same during the marathon, only I hope that feeling comes around Mile 20 instead of Mile 7. :)
I've also resumed yoga. This Sunday, I decided to do some "power yoga" (i.e. more flowing and active than the average yoga) and discovered two things. One is that my hips are unbelievably tight from running, something yoga will help remedy. The other is that for the second time this week, yoga has helped alleviate an injury. My right index toe, which had been consistently hurting all week, got a ton of pressure on it on Sunday from yoga, and hasn't hurt since, just like my rolled ankle from Wednesday. Man, yoga is great!
So the second week of training has been great. Next week is a stepback week on Hal Higdon's program. Every three weeks, I will be reducing mileage a little bit to rest and gear up for the next two hard weeks. Next week, though, will be a little different than a normal stepback week, since I will not only be doing more yoga, but I've decided to resume consistent weight lifting to help my body get stronger for the marathon. This will be the first time I've lifted weights with any regularity in almost four months, so this should be fun. See ya next week!
A rather eventful week, including injuries that turned out to be no problem once treated, new shoes, discovering the excellence and importance of a headband for my success in running during hot days...
Overall, I felt terrific physically this week. My one speed run, which I didn't have to do but wanted to try, was fun and my time was encouraging. My 7 miler on Saturday, while hard at first due to my new shoes, ended with me feeling tired but more than able to continue. I bet I'll feel exactly the same during the marathon, only I hope that feeling comes around Mile 20 instead of Mile 7. :)
I've also resumed yoga. This Sunday, I decided to do some "power yoga" (i.e. more flowing and active than the average yoga) and discovered two things. One is that my hips are unbelievably tight from running, something yoga will help remedy. The other is that for the second time this week, yoga has helped alleviate an injury. My right index toe, which had been consistently hurting all week, got a ton of pressure on it on Sunday from yoga, and hasn't hurt since, just like my rolled ankle from Wednesday. Man, yoga is great!
So the second week of training has been great. Next week is a stepback week on Hal Higdon's program. Every three weeks, I will be reducing mileage a little bit to rest and gear up for the next two hard weeks. Next week, though, will be a little different than a normal stepback week, since I will not only be doing more yoga, but I've decided to resume consistent weight lifting to help my body get stronger for the marathon. This will be the first time I've lifted weights with any regularity in almost four months, so this should be fun. See ya next week!
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Saturday, 10/25/08
Today I ran 7 miles with a time of 1:04:30.
This was an overall great run. I got started much later than I wanted to due to a sudden bout of insomnia. I used to have insomnia when i was in college, but it's very rare nowadays. Unfortunately, that meant that, once I finally got to sleep, I slept until about 9:00. I had been planning to run around 6:30 or 7:00 to avoid the sun, but obviously no luck.
However, this gave me the chance to use that new accessory I've been dreading, the sweatband. And you know what? I love it! In fact, I'm not sure how I can get by without it. It got very hot near the end of my run, and the sweatband worked brilliantly. No sweat bothering my eyes. I take back everything I said. :)
I also tried out my new running shoes. Breaking them in at first was really bad. I think I tied them too tight, and they severely changed my running form to the point where my ankles were killing me. So I stopped after three miles, sat down, and tied them differently, and while they weren't perfect, they were much better. I have a feeling that once I break them in a bit more, and figure out how to tie them best, they'll be terrific. I'm still holding out on my endorsement of the shoe store for a week or so until the shoes feel right.
The best thing about this run was that I felt very cardiovascularly tired but not physically tired; I could have kept going with not that much more effort. This is a great sign and evidence of a terrific workout; my body can handle the stresses of running and can therefore allow my cardiovascular system to get stronger.
All in all, terrific run, love the sweatband, and can't wait for two days off from running!
This was an overall great run. I got started much later than I wanted to due to a sudden bout of insomnia. I used to have insomnia when i was in college, but it's very rare nowadays. Unfortunately, that meant that, once I finally got to sleep, I slept until about 9:00. I had been planning to run around 6:30 or 7:00 to avoid the sun, but obviously no luck.
However, this gave me the chance to use that new accessory I've been dreading, the sweatband. And you know what? I love it! In fact, I'm not sure how I can get by without it. It got very hot near the end of my run, and the sweatband worked brilliantly. No sweat bothering my eyes. I take back everything I said. :)
I also tried out my new running shoes. Breaking them in at first was really bad. I think I tied them too tight, and they severely changed my running form to the point where my ankles were killing me. So I stopped after three miles, sat down, and tied them differently, and while they weren't perfect, they were much better. I have a feeling that once I break them in a bit more, and figure out how to tie them best, they'll be terrific. I'm still holding out on my endorsement of the shoe store for a week or so until the shoes feel right.
The best thing about this run was that I felt very cardiovascularly tired but not physically tired; I could have kept going with not that much more effort. This is a great sign and evidence of a terrific workout; my body can handle the stresses of running and can therefore allow my cardiovascular system to get stronger.
All in all, terrific run, love the sweatband, and can't wait for two days off from running!
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Thursday, 10/23/08
Today I ran 3 miles with a time of 26:26.
My run tonight was a testament to how important it is to treat an injury right. Yesterday, I injured my left foot, rolling my ankle pretty intensely. However, I was able to get home right away and ice and elevate it. It was feeling much better but still sore this morning, but then at lunchtime I did a little bit of yoga, and amazingly, after putting a lot of pressure on the foot during yoga, the pain swelled up for a little bit and then virtually disappeared. Tonight, I could feel no pain at all while I ran. Craziness.
The run in general felt extremely easy, and I even had to stop at one point to tie my shoe, so my time would have been even faster if not for the about ten second stop. I was running late at night, so it was much colder and sweat was not a factor. I also ran downhill today in order to put less pressure on my foot, so that contributed to my time. But what I'm happiest about is not my time, but how smooth and easy this felt. Three miles truly has become a simple and doable distance for me.
I also stopped by a running store and, with the help of an excellent sales rep, or should I say "Shoe MD" as it said on his name tag, got a wonderful new pair of shoes. I'm going to withhold judgment on them until I run in them for the first time, which will be on Saturday, but I'm confident they'll be solid shoes. I also caved in and purchased a headband! Look out!
See you on Saturday!
My run tonight was a testament to how important it is to treat an injury right. Yesterday, I injured my left foot, rolling my ankle pretty intensely. However, I was able to get home right away and ice and elevate it. It was feeling much better but still sore this morning, but then at lunchtime I did a little bit of yoga, and amazingly, after putting a lot of pressure on the foot during yoga, the pain swelled up for a little bit and then virtually disappeared. Tonight, I could feel no pain at all while I ran. Craziness.
The run in general felt extremely easy, and I even had to stop at one point to tie my shoe, so my time would have been even faster if not for the about ten second stop. I was running late at night, so it was much colder and sweat was not a factor. I also ran downhill today in order to put less pressure on my foot, so that contributed to my time. But what I'm happiest about is not my time, but how smooth and easy this felt. Three miles truly has become a simple and doable distance for me.
I also stopped by a running store and, with the help of an excellent sales rep, or should I say "Shoe MD" as it said on his name tag, got a wonderful new pair of shoes. I'm going to withhold judgment on them until I run in them for the first time, which will be on Saturday, but I'm confident they'll be solid shoes. I also caved in and purchased a headband! Look out!
See you on Saturday!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Wednesday, 10/22/08
Today I ran 3 miles in 23:48.
This was both a triumphant and frustrating run. I wanted to see if I could run fast on my hurt toe, which has been getting better every day. So I went out and instantly felt very good at a significantly faster pace than I usually do these days. So I kept it up, and felt wonderful until the last half-mile, when a driver was acting erratically and, in order to give him/her a wide berth, I darted out to the side of the street only to roll my left foot on a pine cone that had fallen from the tree above.
Now, at a relatively slow pace, this would have been annoying, but I probably could have reacted in time and avoided rolling the foot too much. But here, going at a pace three to four minutes faster than usual, I hit the pine cone HARD and instantly felt it. Thank goodness it came at the very end of the run, so I could get back home without running on the foot for very long. Fortunately, I can walk on the foot without limping, but I can feel it swelling. Again, because I got to it quickly, I was able to apply ice right away, so I'm confident I've done everything I can. We'll just have to see how it feels tomorrow.
All that aside, I had a great time running fast! The time I ran in surprises even me, but I felt very strong in terms of my running form at the end of the run. Today was almost oppressively hot, and I was dumb and didn't bring water with me to work today. While it didn't affect me too much during the day, I definitely felt it during the run, but it obviously didn't affect me too much. :)
I'm very happy with my cardiovascular level right now. The fact that I could switch gears so quickly from doing slow to fast pace and feel strong afterwards is a great feeling. Hopefully, my foot will be OK. I just took the ice off it and massaged it and it felt fine, so that's good. Until tomorrow....
This was both a triumphant and frustrating run. I wanted to see if I could run fast on my hurt toe, which has been getting better every day. So I went out and instantly felt very good at a significantly faster pace than I usually do these days. So I kept it up, and felt wonderful until the last half-mile, when a driver was acting erratically and, in order to give him/her a wide berth, I darted out to the side of the street only to roll my left foot on a pine cone that had fallen from the tree above.
Now, at a relatively slow pace, this would have been annoying, but I probably could have reacted in time and avoided rolling the foot too much. But here, going at a pace three to four minutes faster than usual, I hit the pine cone HARD and instantly felt it. Thank goodness it came at the very end of the run, so I could get back home without running on the foot for very long. Fortunately, I can walk on the foot without limping, but I can feel it swelling. Again, because I got to it quickly, I was able to apply ice right away, so I'm confident I've done everything I can. We'll just have to see how it feels tomorrow.
All that aside, I had a great time running fast! The time I ran in surprises even me, but I felt very strong in terms of my running form at the end of the run. Today was almost oppressively hot, and I was dumb and didn't bring water with me to work today. While it didn't affect me too much during the day, I definitely felt it during the run, but it obviously didn't affect me too much. :)
I'm very happy with my cardiovascular level right now. The fact that I could switch gears so quickly from doing slow to fast pace and feel strong afterwards is a great feeling. Hopefully, my foot will be OK. I just took the ice off it and massaged it and it felt fine, so that's good. Until tomorrow....
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Tuesday, 10/21/08
Today I ran 3 miles... and forgot to bring my watch. Whoops! It was probably about the same time as what I did in last week's three-milers, maybe a tiny bit faster.
Today's run was very strong, especially considering what happened to me after the race I did on Sunday. I somehow injured the index toe on my right foot. The toe hurts pretty badly when I press down on it, but I can move it around OK, and I can walk on it decently. The day after it happened, I actually couldn't walk on the toe, so I had to limp and not drive. But I tried driving today with the middle of the foot, and I was able to do it with minimal problems. So I ran tonight, and except for a few times when my foot landed at an angle that favored the toe, the toe felt perfectly fine and pretty much pain-free. I'm confident it'll be fine, and thank goodness I can run on it!
In general, running is getting easier for me. I'm still a little sore all over, but nowhere near as bad as it was last week. Also, running three miles has become a very doable thing for me; it definitely seems like a relatively short run now, all things considered. See ya tomorrow!
Today's run was very strong, especially considering what happened to me after the race I did on Sunday. I somehow injured the index toe on my right foot. The toe hurts pretty badly when I press down on it, but I can move it around OK, and I can walk on it decently. The day after it happened, I actually couldn't walk on the toe, so I had to limp and not drive. But I tried driving today with the middle of the foot, and I was able to do it with minimal problems. So I ran tonight, and except for a few times when my foot landed at an angle that favored the toe, the toe felt perfectly fine and pretty much pain-free. I'm confident it'll be fine, and thank goodness I can run on it!
In general, running is getting easier for me. I'm still a little sore all over, but nowhere near as bad as it was last week. Also, running three miles has become a very doable thing for me; it definitely seems like a relatively short run now, all things considered. See ya tomorrow!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Week 1 Recap
This week I ran 15 miles.
This was a very good week of running for me. I started out feeling sore and creaky throughout my body, especially my knees, and ended the week feeling very strong physically and revved up mentally. This schedule of running four days a week is perfect for me, and I feel very confident about my chances of finishing the marathon strong.
The biggest things I need to work on are flexibility, water consumption, and sweating too much. The sweat and water consumption will go hand in hand; the more water I drink more consistently, the less salty and painful it will be. Flexibility wise, I'm just lazy when it comes to stretching, and that needs to change. I'm going to try to devote at least 10-15 minutes every night to stretching. I bet I'll feel a lot better in a month or so.
1 week down, 17 to go!
This was a very good week of running for me. I started out feeling sore and creaky throughout my body, especially my knees, and ended the week feeling very strong physically and revved up mentally. This schedule of running four days a week is perfect for me, and I feel very confident about my chances of finishing the marathon strong.
The biggest things I need to work on are flexibility, water consumption, and sweating too much. The sweat and water consumption will go hand in hand; the more water I drink more consistently, the less salty and painful it will be. Flexibility wise, I'm just lazy when it comes to stretching, and that needs to change. I'm going to try to devote at least 10-15 minutes every night to stretching. I bet I'll feel a lot better in a month or so.
1 week down, 17 to go!
Sunday, 10/19/08
Today I ran 6.2 miles (a 10-K) in 58:45 (roughly).
I had a lot of fun today running a relatively hilly but pleasant 10-K, my first race that was longer than 3 miles. I wasn't running at all for time, so I ran with my father and just had a good time. The time above says roughly because it took us about fifteen seconds to cross the starting line once the clock started, and we finished in just under 59 minutes.
I felt very strong throughout the run. I did have to stop to tie my shoe at one point, but it wasn't a big deal. The thing I'm happiest about is I got to practice walking through the water stations along the course. I'm planning on walking through most if not all of the water stations during the marathon, so this was a great chance to practice that.
Overall, a fun race, nice free T-shirt, and great practice for the marathon in regards to the water stations. Good times!
I had a lot of fun today running a relatively hilly but pleasant 10-K, my first race that was longer than 3 miles. I wasn't running at all for time, so I ran with my father and just had a good time. The time above says roughly because it took us about fifteen seconds to cross the starting line once the clock started, and we finished in just under 59 minutes.
I felt very strong throughout the run. I did have to stop to tie my shoe at one point, but it wasn't a big deal. The thing I'm happiest about is I got to practice walking through the water stations along the course. I'm planning on walking through most if not all of the water stations during the marathon, so this was a great chance to practice that.
Overall, a fun race, nice free T-shirt, and great practice for the marathon in regards to the water stations. Good times!
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Thursday, 10/16/08
I ran 3 miles today with a time of 26:33.
This was a good run. I felt very strong throughout the run. Due to general laziness, I didn't actually get started on my run until it was dark out (this will become much more common once daylight savings time kicks in). I very much prefer running in the dark, which likely contributed to me feeling better today than the past two. I also didn't sweat nearly as much. I think I may buy a sweatband, just to have it for very hot days. It can't hurt.
My legs did feel tight today, especially my IT (illiotibial) band on my left leg. They're a huge, thick string of muscle that run all the way from around your hip to your knee. These are often very tight in most people, and for runners, they get even tighter than normal. Fortunately, I have a foam roller, something I discovered during my personal training days. By just lying on a packed, hard roll of foam you can buy for 10-20 bucks, and rolling on the muscle that is tight, you get the equivalent of a deep tissue massage. Try it just once on your quads and prepare to be amazed at how tight they are. :)
So I will always be taking Fridays off from running. In general, I will do my long run for the week on Saturdays, but this weekend, I'm going to try something I've never done before on Sunday: a 10-K race. That's a 6.2 mile distance, and it both fits with my schedule and seems like it will be a good experience. So, with all that, see ya on Sunday!
This was a good run. I felt very strong throughout the run. Due to general laziness, I didn't actually get started on my run until it was dark out (this will become much more common once daylight savings time kicks in). I very much prefer running in the dark, which likely contributed to me feeling better today than the past two. I also didn't sweat nearly as much. I think I may buy a sweatband, just to have it for very hot days. It can't hurt.
My legs did feel tight today, especially my IT (illiotibial) band on my left leg. They're a huge, thick string of muscle that run all the way from around your hip to your knee. These are often very tight in most people, and for runners, they get even tighter than normal. Fortunately, I have a foam roller, something I discovered during my personal training days. By just lying on a packed, hard roll of foam you can buy for 10-20 bucks, and rolling on the muscle that is tight, you get the equivalent of a deep tissue massage. Try it just once on your quads and prepare to be amazed at how tight they are. :)
So I will always be taking Fridays off from running. In general, I will do my long run for the week on Saturdays, but this weekend, I'm going to try something I've never done before on Sunday: a 10-K race. That's a 6.2 mile distance, and it both fits with my schedule and seems like it will be a good experience. So, with all that, see ya on Sunday!
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Wednesday, 10/15/08
I ran 3 miles today with a time of 27:00.
Today was an interesting run. In general, I felt fine, especially at the beginning. I'm also thrilled that I'm running slow and steady; I usually go out at about an 8 minute a mile pace and end with a much faster time but exhausted. My legs, especially my quads, felt tight throughout the whole run, which compromised my form a bit.
One thing I should note here is that I have very good running form due to the drilling I got in my high school cross country team. I don't pronate, my arms swing low, and I have very good posture (way better posture than I do during the day).
The biggest problem today was again sweating. It got really bad today, to the point where I almost had to stop to rub my eyes. I did drink a ton more water than I usually do, as well as eating 100% healthy (seriously, this was an A+ day in terms of nutrition), but the sweat was almost prohibitive today. I may have to go the headband route; if it's still awful tomorrow, then I'll pick one up. Sigh...
Today was an interesting run. In general, I felt fine, especially at the beginning. I'm also thrilled that I'm running slow and steady; I usually go out at about an 8 minute a mile pace and end with a much faster time but exhausted. My legs, especially my quads, felt tight throughout the whole run, which compromised my form a bit.
One thing I should note here is that I have very good running form due to the drilling I got in my high school cross country team. I don't pronate, my arms swing low, and I have very good posture (way better posture than I do during the day).
The biggest problem today was again sweating. It got really bad today, to the point where I almost had to stop to rub my eyes. I did drink a ton more water than I usually do, as well as eating 100% healthy (seriously, this was an A+ day in terms of nutrition), but the sweat was almost prohibitive today. I may have to go the headband route; if it's still awful tomorrow, then I'll pick one up. Sigh...
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Tuesday, 10/14/08
I ran 3 miles today, with a time of 27:05.
I should note here that I am not going to be concerned at all with how fast my times are during my training here, but am going to record them for posterity. In fact, if anything, I want them to be slow!
Because of my racing background, I have a tendency to start out way too fast, which I know will cause me to burn out during the marathon. I was reading an anecdote the other day from Hal Higdon, the man whose training program I'm following, about how he went on a training run one day for a marathon, and passed by some elite Kenyan runners who were going incredibly slow, like slower than a ten-minute mile pace. Yet the next week, they were part of the lead pack in the marathon. So slow is good!
In general, I was happy with my run. I haven't been getting enough sleep lately, and my body has been suffering for it. My legs, especially my knees, felt creaky at the start, but after a mile or so, warmed up and felt strong. I finished the run tired but feeling stronger on the last mile than the first, which is always a good sign.
My biggest problems right now are dehydration and sweat. I need to drink way more water, especially with the dryness of Los Angeles. I'm going to try to drink around a gallon a day. I know that sounds like an insane amount, but I did it back in my powerlifting days, and it was great. Your joints feel much better, and after a week, your body gets used to it and you stop having to go to the bathroom every five minutes. :)
Sweat is also a problem right now. I sweat a lot, and it tends to get in my eyes. I have a feeling if I drink more water, my sweat won't be as salty and therefore stinging, but right now, it's almost unbearable when it gets in my eyes. I may resort to a headband if I have to, but I won't go geeky/80s unless absolutely necessary.
Overall, I'm optimistic and feeling a little creaky but fine. Until tomorrow!
I should note here that I am not going to be concerned at all with how fast my times are during my training here, but am going to record them for posterity. In fact, if anything, I want them to be slow!
Because of my racing background, I have a tendency to start out way too fast, which I know will cause me to burn out during the marathon. I was reading an anecdote the other day from Hal Higdon, the man whose training program I'm following, about how he went on a training run one day for a marathon, and passed by some elite Kenyan runners who were going incredibly slow, like slower than a ten-minute mile pace. Yet the next week, they were part of the lead pack in the marathon. So slow is good!
In general, I was happy with my run. I haven't been getting enough sleep lately, and my body has been suffering for it. My legs, especially my knees, felt creaky at the start, but after a mile or so, warmed up and felt strong. I finished the run tired but feeling stronger on the last mile than the first, which is always a good sign.
My biggest problems right now are dehydration and sweat. I need to drink way more water, especially with the dryness of Los Angeles. I'm going to try to drink around a gallon a day. I know that sounds like an insane amount, but I did it back in my powerlifting days, and it was great. Your joints feel much better, and after a week, your body gets used to it and you stop having to go to the bathroom every five minutes. :)
Sweat is also a problem right now. I sweat a lot, and it tends to get in my eyes. I have a feeling if I drink more water, my sweat won't be as salty and therefore stinging, but right now, it's almost unbearable when it gets in my eyes. I may resort to a headband if I have to, but I won't go geeky/80s unless absolutely necessary.
Overall, I'm optimistic and feeling a little creaky but fine. Until tomorrow!
My routes
Before I begin posting in earnest, I thought I should give you some general info about the route I typically run. There are two routes right around my house that I usually run, both for their convenience and because by a stroke of luck, one of them is .6 miles and one of them is 1.4 miles.
They are both through neighborhood streets with no streetlights. However, they are hilly. They both contain the same very long uphill, which is probably about a tenth of a mile and is relatively steep. I've run it so many times that I barely notice it anymore, but it obviously affects my fatigue level and my running times. One of the routes also has a very steep but short downhill.
Obviously, I have to deal with the general problems with neighborhood running, namely dogs and sprinklers, and typically run on sidewalks and, if necessary, asphalt. I like the routes, but will try to mix up my running locations for my long runs, especially once my runs get to around 8 or 9 miles.
So there you go. :)
They are both through neighborhood streets with no streetlights. However, they are hilly. They both contain the same very long uphill, which is probably about a tenth of a mile and is relatively steep. I've run it so many times that I barely notice it anymore, but it obviously affects my fatigue level and my running times. One of the routes also has a very steep but short downhill.
Obviously, I have to deal with the general problems with neighborhood running, namely dogs and sprinklers, and typically run on sidewalks and, if necessary, asphalt. I like the routes, but will try to mix up my running locations for my long runs, especially once my runs get to around 8 or 9 miles.
So there you go. :)
Friday, October 10, 2008
Ah, the Beginning
Welcome, one and all, to my training diary for the 2009 Los Angeles Marathon, which will also happen to be my first marathon! Thanks so much for stopping by. Let me explain a bit about myself and what I'm hoping for out of this whole diary thang.
I'm a 24 year old male, 180 pounds, six feet tall, and have an awesome job at Santa Monica College in Los Angeles as a note taker and test proctor for disabled students. I have a strong running background; I was the captain of my high school cross country team, and developed my passion for running and fitness as a result. I absolutely love racing, yet have never done a race beyond a 5-K, which for those of you not familiar with racing parlance, is a hair over 3 miles. The longest run I have done at once was 10 miles. Since my high school days, I moved to New York, have been a personal trainer and actually gravitated towards powerlifting for a number of years out there, but have returned to Los Angeles and have at long last come back to running.
I have always wanted to run a marathon, and actually trained for the New York Marathon several years back only to be rejected at the last minute in the random lottery. Since moving back to Los Angeles, I have been slowly easing myself into training for the marathon, which will start in earnest on Monday, October 13th, exactly 18 weeks before the marathon.
I have been following Hal Higdon's Novice Spring Training plan, available on his website, with stunning results. Since being on that plan, without doing any kind of speed drills or even anything other than running and minor stretching, I have become the fastest I've ever been. I can now, sprinting, run a five and a half minute mile, and can finish a 5-K pretty consistently at around 21 minutes. I've had such great success on his plan that I'm going to follow his Novice Plan for the Marathon to the letter.
This diary will basically be a daily log of what I do to prepare for the marathon. I'll post the distance I go each day, along with comments about each run. I'll also be posting my food intake starting around week 7, which will be when I start doing ten mile runs. I just took a body composition test, and found out that my body burns 3100 calories over the course of a normal day! Now that's a scary fast metabolism. Yes, you can all hate me now. I'll likely be trying to eat around 4,000 calories a day when I start my food intake. :)
Thank you all again for reading this journal and for your support. I've never done anything like this before, and while I'm obviously doing this for myself so I can chart my progress, I'd love to have this be an inspiration to others. The marathon is an amazingly long and right now daunting distance, but I'm excited, motivated, and confident. Let's do this!
I'm a 24 year old male, 180 pounds, six feet tall, and have an awesome job at Santa Monica College in Los Angeles as a note taker and test proctor for disabled students. I have a strong running background; I was the captain of my high school cross country team, and developed my passion for running and fitness as a result. I absolutely love racing, yet have never done a race beyond a 5-K, which for those of you not familiar with racing parlance, is a hair over 3 miles. The longest run I have done at once was 10 miles. Since my high school days, I moved to New York, have been a personal trainer and actually gravitated towards powerlifting for a number of years out there, but have returned to Los Angeles and have at long last come back to running.
I have always wanted to run a marathon, and actually trained for the New York Marathon several years back only to be rejected at the last minute in the random lottery. Since moving back to Los Angeles, I have been slowly easing myself into training for the marathon, which will start in earnest on Monday, October 13th, exactly 18 weeks before the marathon.
I have been following Hal Higdon's Novice Spring Training plan, available on his website, with stunning results. Since being on that plan, without doing any kind of speed drills or even anything other than running and minor stretching, I have become the fastest I've ever been. I can now, sprinting, run a five and a half minute mile, and can finish a 5-K pretty consistently at around 21 minutes. I've had such great success on his plan that I'm going to follow his Novice Plan for the Marathon to the letter.
This diary will basically be a daily log of what I do to prepare for the marathon. I'll post the distance I go each day, along with comments about each run. I'll also be posting my food intake starting around week 7, which will be when I start doing ten mile runs. I just took a body composition test, and found out that my body burns 3100 calories over the course of a normal day! Now that's a scary fast metabolism. Yes, you can all hate me now. I'll likely be trying to eat around 4,000 calories a day when I start my food intake. :)
Thank you all again for reading this journal and for your support. I've never done anything like this before, and while I'm obviously doing this for myself so I can chart my progress, I'd love to have this be an inspiration to others. The marathon is an amazingly long and right now daunting distance, but I'm excited, motivated, and confident. Let's do this!
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