“They try to make me go to rehab…

And I’m like no, no no.”

I’m still recovering and taking things easy; which is driving me absolutely insane.  Walking on a treadmill, riding a stationary bike or hitting the elliptical and rowing machines is just not the same as getting out and running.

I went in last week and had some x-rays done on my foot to make sure there were no stress fractures.  It’s been a few weeks and I’m still facing a decent amount of pain in my right foot along with swelling and I wanted to make sure that if there were fractures I would not go out and do something stupid like start training again.  Everything came back just fine, although I have anterior tibial and peroneal tendinitis.  At least nothing is broken and I can understand what I’m up against. 

They recommended PT.  I’m good thanks; I can stretch and be in pain at home.  I don’t need to pay anyone for the privilege to be in pain.

It’s killing me not to even test it and see if I can run, but I know that taking some time off is the smart thing to do.  Jan 1 can not get here soon enough… 

CIM - or - The longest 5:50:14 of my life

Well, on Friday's post I said that I felt that I was in a good place.  That was all well and good until Saturday morning around 1:00 A.M.  I woke up in a panic that the race was Saturday and not Sunday.  I checked my phone calendar, which showed that it was Sunday, but that was not good enough.  I actually had to go downstairs and look at the calendar, and compare it to the race info sheet...nothing like a little panic and paranoia to get your heart rate going.  As Saturday continued I could not help but feel that "Wackety Sax"was playing while I was getting ready.  I got my bags packed, playlist ready, and went to the trunk of my car to grab my braces...except there were no braces to be found.  Seriously, is there an elf in the house that is taking my braces and hiding them?

At 8:00 my dad and I hopped in the car and headed to the office to see if I left them in the gym.  The cleaning crew was standing at the front door.  The head janitor had locked his badge inside and his key would not work.  By using his key without a badge, he locked all of us out until Monday.  He told me that the braces were in there, but there was now no way to get them out.  OK, run to sports chalet and pick up another set.  Not what I wanted to be doing at 9:00 P.M. but such is life.

Alarm went off at 3:30 A.M. Sunday.  Caffeine, check - b12, check - Cliff Bar, check.  Was on the road by 4:00 headed to the office.  CIM had buses picking everyone up at local hotels, and I figured my office at least had secure parking and I could take one more crack at getting my braces - no luck.  At 5:00 the buses arrived.  I piled onto the first school bus and we were headed to Folsom by 5:10.  Glad to see that in all the years since middle school, school buses are as uncomfortable as ever.  The lady in the seat in front of me kept looking back at me as if I enjoyed jamming my knees through the seat and into her back. The weather seemed to be holding for the hour it took to get to Folsom.

Yellow and Red = bad

We are in the middle of one unbelievable winter storm and as soon as we began to get off the buses the sky opened.  Thankfully there was a 76 station that was blocked off by the starting line so everyone tried their best to huddle under the canopy.  It did not matter though.  With every gust of wind, it blew the rain in sideways.

6:50 - time to begin the walk to the starting line and hear the National Anthem.  The rain continued to pour and the wind continued to punish.  I could only hope that it would be at my back.  It never happened.  The rain was blowing directly in our faces.  3..2..1..go.

I started out with the 5:15 pace group, but they took a walk break around mile three and I had the 4:55 pack in my sights.  I was roughly a minute behind them as we made the turn up Oak and towards Fair Oaks.  The rain continued to pound down and the wind was blowing in from the left.  Hard.  The only way to describe it is that if you have a shower massager, turn it onto the highest setting, on cold water and shoot it into the left side of your face for two hours, then shoot it directly into your face for another hour.  It's quite possible that an ark was being constructed and animals were being gathered 2 X 2.  As we approached mile 5 a frawn from a palm tree came crashing down about 5 feet in front of me, nearly taking out the two guys ahead of me.  Hopped over it, hoped my heart would stop pounding and continued on.  Crisis averted. 

Mile 8: I found my first rookie mistake.  I had put on my fuel belt at 3:45 A.M. before I left.  I failed to realize that it was on upside down.  I found it out when I went to grab my first gel.  I could not find the zipper to the pouch.  Then it hit me...you fool!  Now I'll have to figure out how to do this on the run, without dropping all of my gels.  I successfully did it and knew that I would have to deal with it again later on.  Seriously, who puts on a fuel belt upside down?  Not to mention who fails to double check that before the race start...oh right...this guy.

I hung with the 4:55 pace group through mile 10 where Gregor, Justin and Kari were waiting with their first batch of signs of encouragement.  It was nice to see friendly faces.  As we slogged down Fair Oaks the streets were flooded (shin deep in many places).  Apparently a water proof foot pod from Garmin should not be put under the conditions we faced on Sunday.  It was toast, my watch now only gave the time.  No pacing info, no distance info, now I would have to relate on how I felt to judge how I was doing. 

I began the downhill slope that is near Sherwood Florist (awesome shop name by the way) and could see an issue up ahead.  The roadway sloped down, bottomed out for a few feet, then a uphill slope.  Water had pooled and I could tell that it was deep.  Oh well, 2 hours in the rain and no part of me is dry, so this is nothing.  The idiot that was 3 people ahead of me however felt that he needed to avoid the puddle at all costs and cut sideways in front of the two guys directly ahead of me. 

There was that moment when everything gets slow and you know that nothing good is about to happen.  As the first guy cut in front, the two guys tried to avoid him (and they did) however they crashed into each other and went down.  Me and another guy crashed trying to avoid them and then two or three (I lost count) came down over the top of me (very Tour De France).  I was face down in a puddle that was deep enough for panic to set in.  As I scrambled to get to my feet I felt a "pop" in my left knee.  Someone had stepped on me.  I got to my feet and carried on.  I had lost the 4:55 pace group, two of the guys in the collision left via ambulance and I was in shock. 

Adrenaline and shock can only take you so far however.  I made it though the half way point a little over 2:30 and could tell that I was slowing down.  Then Mile 14 hit.  The shock wore off and my knee was telling me that this is a bad idea.  Only 12 more miles.  Do I struggle through or take a DNF?  I chose to struggle through.  I walked as fast as I could and attempted to run for two minutes, walk for two minutes, but I could not even make 30 seconds before the pain became too much.  I was going to have to try to speed walk the rest of the way. 

The miles clicked away (slower than ever) and I finally made it to Arden and Fair Oaks where I saw Greg, Justin and Kari for a second time.  Greg's sign was alerting me to a zombie attack that was following close behind.  I stopped and told them that I would be awhile because of what happened.  I was so glad to see them, and looking back, it may have been what kept me going.

I pushed down Fair Oaks over the H street bridge and back into downtown.  I hit the last aid station and took whatever they would give me for the pain.  Tylenol and ultra strength Tiger Balm.  It did nothing.  I recognized this part of the course from the Sac Town 10 and knew that I was getting close.  As I came down J Street, I could see the Capitol and knew I was close.  I found whatever strength I could and hobbled to the finish.  I crossed the blue lines and I heard the announcer.  "Joe Peterson, you are now a marathoner."

Renee, Mom, Dad, Gregor, Justin and Kari were cheering right past the finish line.  Thank you to everyone for coming out in ludicrous weather to cheer me on.  Sorry to Jerry Brown and the Sate of California for what the estimated 20k people did to the wet front lawn of the Capitol Building.  I felt my knee starting to lock up and Renee convinced me to hit the medical tent. 

They saw me in a hurry and I can say that I was in better shape than most of the other people in there.  A few had passed out, one guy was suffering from hypothermia, and one had a compound (yikes!) fracture in his shin.  The physical therapist let me know that it was a sprain (at the least) and that my temperature was dropping rapidly.  She had me drink a few large cups of hot chicken broth to keep my temperature stable while I waited for the doctor.  He told me the same, gave me some crutches and sent me on my way. 

It is 2 days post run and while my knee is feeling better, my feet are swollen (to the point you can barely tell I have ankles), and causing a lot of pain.  I think my feet hurt from overcompensating for my knee.  Same goes for my hips.  I am noticing some bruising there was well.  Hopefully it will go away soon.

I think that I have made it past the initial disappointment in my time and realize that it was out of my control.  Finishing under those conditions is a success (while possibly being the stupidest thing I could have done).

Special thanks again to all who believed that I could do this.  Thank you again to my cheering section. A special thank you to my wife for giving me the time to train for this.  I know that it was a lot of time and I appreciate the sacrifice.  That and bringing me ice packs and for the last two days.  I know that I am not an easy patient. 

She also gave me a 26.2 key chain, which has space for multiple dates to be engraved on the back.  I guess that means that I just have to go sign up for another one....

Thanks for reading.  Until next time...



The Final Countdown

November 26 – November 30 Total Mileage: 9.1 miles
Weight - 213.2  

In the past year I have run 835.26 miles. To put it in perspective, that is the distance from my office in Sacramento to Disneyland and back (or for my friend from north of the border, roughly the distance from Winnipeg to Calgary). I don’t even want to figure out how much time I have spent pounding the pavement.

And now it all comes down to this. 26.2 miles to the finish line.

26.2 miles from a year’s worth of work being over.

Humbling when you think about it. To think that I had not run in years, and have made it this far on sure will. Yes, in the grand scheme of things, I realize that simply running a marathon may not be a special thing. It is estimated that 551,811 people will complete a marathon in the US this year. That’s a whole lot of people. Not exactly an exclusive club.

However, this is not about doing something special. This is about me proving to myself that this can be done and that no matter how hard it gets, no matter how bad it hurts, no matter how easy it would be to quit, that I did not give up.

I have also learned a few thigs while on the road:

• Be Kind to your knees and ankles
• Hydrate - Hydrate - Hydrate
• Know yourself - Pain does not always mean stop (sometimes it is weakness leaving the body)
• Pandora likes to screw with you (seriously...Air Supply, on what planet do you think Air Supply has anything to do with what I listen to?)
• Enjoy the scenery
• Every journey begins with one simple step

I'm in a much different place mentally than I have been for my last two races.  I am almost in a zen like state.  No panic, no anxiety (we'll see if I can keep that going on Sunday), no stress.  I know that I am prepared.  Ready...I don't know if I'll ever be "ready" to run for 5+ hours.  In the rain no less.  We are having hellacious storms and it looks like Sunday is going to be a wet one.  Just another challenge to overcome.  Good news is that the rain is at least keeping temps in the 50's and 60's.  That and running in Vibrams will keep me from adding water weight like those that are in traditional running shoes that will suck up water from puddles.

I hit the expo today and grabbed my bib, chip, and all my free gear.  I'll be racing in the Clydesdale division (just could not hit my goal weight.  I've stalled at 213).  Just something to shoot for next year should I think that a full marathon is fun.  Lots of great booths and samples of energy drinks, gels, cliff bars and the like.  I scored a pair of injinji socks for 5 bucks (10 less than retail!). 

I picked up a brochure for the Sacramento Barefoot Runners Club - they were stoked to see me in Vibrams at the expo.  Mitch, who I can best describe as a guy in his 50's that looks like he stepped off the corner of Haight and Ashbury, told me "The masses will never get us barefoot guys.  The masses are afraid that everything they have been told by the shoe companies is wrong.  The masses are afraid of change."  Pretty deep for a guy manning a card table in a convention center.  After talking for a few minutes he gave me a "shug" (which for those not familiar is a handshake followed by a one armed hug).  I'm pretty sure I am now one of his people.

Loading up on pasta tonight (and very likely tomorrow)

See you in 26.2

The Final Countdown is on...

Really Winding Down Now

November 19 – November 25 Total Mileage: 18 miles

Things are starting to really wind down now. I was in the bay area this past week for Thanksgiving so I was able to squeeze a few runs in. I broke out the new SeeYa’s on Tuesday to give them a go. My dad joined me (riding his bike) and we cut through a few neighborhoods and hit the iron horse trail. I went out way to fast (sub 8:40 for the first mile and a half) and I paid for it for the rest of the run. I still finished sub 10:00 per, but I struggled.

Wednesday’s run also led me back to the trail. In the spirit of my first 10K run a rear ago, I had a 10k training run. I chose to forgo the Walnut Creek Turkey Trot, and set out on my own. I finished a little slower than the race time from last year, but there was no adrenaline, no crowds, a much hillier course, and no reason for me to sprint the last quarter mile or so. It was raining (not that nice kind of rain, but the rain that blown in sideways or directly in your face) and I was miserable during and after the run. This has been a concerning trend over the last few weeks. My medium and long runs are taking longer, and I seem to be expending way more energy then I should. I hope that it is something that will just work itself out at this point, since I have no idea how to fix it.

I bounced back for my long run of 8 miles and felt pretty good for the most of it. I finished sub 11:00 per (my goal is to avoid 11:00 per during the marathon for as long as I can) and I do not feel wrecked today. I notice that my ankles are more sore than usual, but I attribute this to the new shoes. One more week to go! Good news (or not) is that there is a 60% chance of rain. I hope that this changes for the better in the next week. I want nothing to do with slick surface conditions (there is a portion of the run that is cobblestone).

Pulling Back

November 12 – November 18            Total Mileage: 29 miles

Finally starting to taper back on the mileage.  The longest run this week was only 12 miles.  I hesitate to say “only” since it felt like it was much further.  I am down in the bay area for the weekend and for Thanksgiving week so I ventured out on Sunday to get the last run over 10 miles in.  I did not have time to drive all the way down to the Iron Horse Trail, so I settled for running from Dougherty Valley High School, through a few neighborhoods, down to Dublin blvd and back.  First off it was 34 degrees when I started, which is ok except when you leave your running gloves in Roseville.  Second, while the slight downhill slope was great on the way down, the now continuous slight uphill slope on the way back was brutal.  I still averaged under 11 min per (barely) and coming off a disappointing 20 mile run, I was really hoping that this would go better. 

I tweaked my left knee and it has started to swell a little.  I’m hoping that the next 2 weeks of less mileage will not only help my recover from a few nagging injuries, but also help give my mind a break.  The long runs are starting to become mentally exhausting.

I broke down and bought a pair of SeeYa’s this weekend.  They are even lighter than the Bikilas (same frame, less material and a larger midfoot shank) and are an awesome day-glo / highlighter yellow and black (I was searching for Blue/Grey, but alas…)  I look forward to breaking them in and hopefully having them ready by race day.

Shout out to Gregor who finished the Spartan Race this weekend.  13+ miles, and a bunch of brutal obstacles.  Not only did he finish it in roughly 3:30, he did it with very little training.  How could some one do it with such little training?  Easy – he’s straight up B.A. (like Baracus)!  Congrats sir.

I've got a bad feeling about this....

November 5 - November 11                  Total Mileage: 40.01 (the .01 was just for spite)

40 miles this week.  This was the longest week in the program, and it definitely felt like it.  I made the very stupid mistake of trying to change shoes this week (in an attempt to avoid buying a new pair).  I think the experiment failed.  I ran in the flat soled KSO's.  I thought that I had been hit by a train after my 10 mile run.  All of the muscles in my feet and lower legs hurt.  They pinched both of my little and big toes (turning the big toenail on my right foot a nice shade of purple...please do not fall off in the next month).

I got a migraine on Thursday and had it through Saturday night.  Both kids have colds, which in turn, means that I have one too.  I was looking forward for the last really really long run and seeing if I could beat my last time.   In short, it did not happen.  I swicthed back to the blue bikilas and headed out.  I felt good for the first mile, then the wheels pretty much came off.  I had a side stitch (which has been showing up the last week or so) during mile two.  It felt like someone punched me in the chest and ribs as hard as they could.  On mile three I hopped onto the track at the high school figuring that it may take some pressure off my legs.  Boy was I wrong.  It was just soft enough that it made my ankles and feet work harder than normal.  I ran until I hit 12 miles, then caught the street and headed toward old Roseville.  I was coming back up Washington and approached a tunnel, issue being that there are no pedestrians in the tunnel and the traffic was moving well over the 45 mph speed limit.  Rather than take my life into my own hands, I had to improvise. 

Off to my right I saw a little trail that would lead me up to the railroad track that went over the tunnel. I figured that once I got to the top, I could come back down the other side.  So I went through the weeds that were armpit high, hopped the barb wire fence, and ran along side the tracks.  I saw a bike trail about 50 yards ahead, but to get there I had to run on rocks, large, pointy, stabby rocks.  After many obscenities, I made it back down to the bike trail and was on my way. 

I was way off my pace, and every muscle in my legs hurt.  I burned through 36 ounces of electrolytes and 3 gels by mile 17 (Washington and Blue Oaks, not much farther to go).  Then I realized that there is no sidewalk on Blue Oaks for nearly a mile and a half.  I ran on a grass / sand hybrid just off the roadway until the sidewalk started again.  Mile 18 and 19 were painful and I was barely running now.  I imagine that I looked like one of those speed walkers in the Olympics (you know, the guys that shake it like a Polaroid picture while they walk).  I finished roughly 13 minutes off my pace from before.  I'm still cramping up 7 hours after my run, and I am trying my hardest not to second guess this whole thing.  I hope that tapering for a few weeks, and the adrenaline of race day will get me through.

Another Long Run Missed

October 29 – Nov 4                Total Mileage: 19 miles

This is not supposed to be how I spend the last month training.  I made it through the first three runs for the week and was looking forward to a 14 miler on Sunday.  (Seriously, who says that they are looking forward to 14 miles?)  However I woke up with a migraine and a sharp pain in my right shin (the same shin that I banged into playground equipment last week).  I decided that it may be better to sit this one out.  I am concerned that I have missed my last two long runs and have less than a month to go. 

I am also getting to the point where I am saying to myself “Let’s get this over with already.”  Not in a bad way, it’s just that a year is a long time when you are training for something.  That coupled with a completely irrational fear that I will injure myself with a few weeks to go, and that the world is conspiring against me (I appear to have lost all of my braces and heart rate monitor) makes me want to get this show on the road.

A moment of levity came when I went to Sports Chalet yesterday.  I went there to check out the SeeYa’s since my blue Bikilas are about one long run away from having a hole in the sole and I had a much similar experience as I did with Fleet Feet.  The sad thing is that I was already wearing a pair of KSO’s when I went into the store.

Me: “I’d like to see if you have the SeeYa’s in a 43”

Her: “I recommend something with much more cushioning and support for someone your size.”

OK, I completely realize that I do not look like a runner.  I look like someone that has probably eaten a runner or two.  I did not realize that their business was so good that they could try NOT to make a sale.  Let’s just call it like it is.  I’m a fit fat guy.  I am cool with it; just give me the shoes I have asked for please.

Me: “I’ve been down that road, always ended up injured.  These are the only way to go.”

Her: “A motion control shoe would really lessen the pounding on your joints.  If you prefer going barefoot, would you like to try the Fila Skeletoes?”

Seriously, Fila Skeletoes?  Don’t even get me started on those knock off pieces of…

Me: “Just anything Vibram in a 43 or 44 you have is fine.”

They had the SeeYa’s in a 44 which were too big.  I felt like I was floating in them.  They are about as minimal as you can go though.  They are an even further stripped down Bikila.  They weigh next to nothing.  I also tried on the Spidron (which has a plate in the arch that was different from all of the other VFF’s that I have).  They have a road running outsole, which would work, but the neon green or neon orange are way too hideous to ignore.  I also tried on the Komodo Sport.  That may be the finalist for the new addition.  They felt like I was walking on a cloud (which is a feat for a minimalist shoe).  I’ll need to get into them quick though as I have to make sure that they don’t cause a blister before race day. 



Hey Fila...



A week off?

October 19 – 25          Total Miles: 0

With 26.2 staring me right in the face, what do I decide to do?  Take a week off.  Not that I planned it per se, it just kind of happened.  Traveling to Denver totally wiped me out Tuesday.  It was 78 degress on Tuesday when I landed.  The only reason that I mention this random fact is that it started snowing Tuesday night (and not pretty snow either, it was the serious wet and heavy snow that made driving to and from dinner a challenge.)  While I’ll admit that I thought about throwing on my running jacket and gloves and going for it, I decided not to do something stupid.  I’m pretty sure that Vibrams and snow don’t mix.  I’d probably get frostbite.

So I took the three days that I was there off.  Then we were in the bay area for the weekend, so I figured why bother to try to squeeze in a 12 miler when I could just get some rest.  It’s a little sad when you realize that the 12 mile run is considered a “taper run”.  The rest did give me the opportunity to watch my Giants win the World Series (Take that Dodgers!).  I also took the kids to the park, where I slammed my shin into a playground stair while I was not paying attention.  It looks like there is a half a golf ball under my skin.  Awesome, that should make it fun to put on my compression sleeve. 

Somewhere in the adventure of traveling to Denver, then to the Bay Area I lost my bag of ankle braces, shin splint sleeves and heart monitor.  Its not a trip without losing something right?  I’m positive that I brought them home from Denver and I took them out of my bag before we left again.  Who knows where they could be.  Hopefully I find them soon, whether placebo or not, I don’t care.  I just know that I feel better running with them than without.

I thought it was supposed to be 18 miles.

October 15 – October 21                    Total Mileage – 37 miles 

Last week I said that I was looking forward to this week because it was a taper week.  So I was wrong.  Now, not completely my fault, but alas my long run that was supposed to be 12 miles, turned into a long run that was 18 miles.  How does that happen you ask?  Well I have to go to Denver next week for work and I figured (aka my wife convinced me) that landing back in Sac late at night, then trying to leave early  in the morning for an 18 mile run was probably not the best idea.  I could not argue so alas my taper week is moved to next week. 

It needs to get here quick.  By my third run of the week (5 miles) my legs were totally spent.  I’ve been eating extra bananas and “good” carbs to try to help with the muscle fatigue but no luck.  I was quite concerned heading into 18 miles.  I got up early and was out of the house by 6:45 am.  To get to 18 miles I knew that I would have to change up the route so I headed towards "old downtown" Roseville, towards Luke's preschool and back.  I got into a good rhythm early and I could tell that this was going to be much better than last week.  At mile 8 I grabbed a gel.  I have not learned to take one on the run yet, but I'm working on it.  I was ahead of my normal pace at 10 and 13.1 miles.  I grabbed another gel at mile 14 - home stretch.  Miles 15 and 16 fell by the wayside and then I came to the fork in the road.  Do I continue down Fiddyment Farms, or through Sun City.  I knew that I would be a little over the 18 miles, but a little walk after 18 would be good for me to stretch out.  I hit 17 then 18 and a little voice in my head said "go for it."  "No" I thought to my self.  "Stick to the program." 

I couldn't help myself, my legs were feeling strong and I still had water left.  So that was it, it was time to go for 20.  I got to 18.75 miles and I hit a wall.  My legs began to cramp and I started to realize that this may not have been the best idea.  Then again, even with me pulling back I still finished with a time of 3:46 for 20 miles.  Just another 10k to add on...  Seriously...

On a side note, please remove your caps in a moment of silence for my Black VFF Bikilas.  After 379.85 miles, I finally wore through the inner lining and the sole is so thin you can almost see through it.  I know that it sounds weird but I’ll miss them.  They got me through the SF Giants Race and a countless number of training runs.  Now I’m going to go back and “dance with the girl that brought me” so to speak and slip back into the Blue VFF Bikilas (my first VFF’s).  I have a feeling that these may not make it to CIM since I may wear through them as well.  I estimate that I have somewhere between 150-175 miles to go before CIM on top of the mileage that I have already put on them. 

Off to Denver!

I'm not flying. I'm falling with style.

October 8 – October 14          Total Mileage: 32 Miles

I should have listened to myself.  “Take the weekend off, you are not feeling it, it’s supposed to be fun not work…”  By the time Sunday came around I just was not feeling it.  It felt like I was about to handle a chore that was on my to do list.  This partially may have been due to the fact that it was 16 miles and roughly 3 hours of running that was ahead of me.  I have read that this happens when you train for a long time and you just have to push through.  I grabbed my gear and set out for a run.  I should have stayed home.

I had a tough start getting going and was over a minute off my pace through 5k.  By the time I hit 10k I was over 4 minutes off.  I was burning through water pretty quickly even though it was 65-70 degrees outside.  I pounded an energy gel around mile 8 with no noticeable effect.  I was coming down the trail near Veterans’ Park when the unthinkable happened.  I caught a small defect in the concrete and went flying. 

It all happened in slow motion.  You have that moment when your brain lets you know that you are totally screwed and you better act fast.  I have no idea how, but I had the wherewithal to tuck and roll.  I hit right shoulder first and did what felt to be a somersault before coming to rest flat on my back.  I was able to get to my feet, and then my body started to go through the self check. 

Breathing…ok.  Labored but ok.

Concussion…nope.  I did not hit my head. (Don’t know how)

Shoulder…not separated.  No popping noise and I could lift it a good distance without screaming.

Hip…not broken

Knee and ankle…ok.  I still can flex them.

Toes…not broken.

I tried to continue but my pace slowed to a nearly walking pace of over 16 minutes per.  I thought about calling for a ride being that I still had 5 miles to go, but I am nothing if not stubborn.  I figured that I was 11 miles in and I was not going to waste it. I finished around three and a half hours, but I feel that if I can make it through that, not much should be able to stop me. 

Other than a torn shirt, some bruising to my shoulder and ribs it seems like I’ll be ok.  I did notice the return of shin pain on my right side (I had almost forgot what it was like to have it since it had disappeared for a few weeks).  Hopefully the shin pain will go away quickly.  This week is a taper week (the long run is only 12 miles…I still find it hard to say only 12 miles). 

Now its getting really serious

October 1 – October 7   Total Mileage – 29.1
Weight - 212.25

Coming back after a week off was rough.  The 5k hurt, the 7 miler hurt, the 4 miler was ok ( I ran that one as a speed workout) and the last 3 miles of the 15 mile run were painful.  15 miles…as a training workout…no aid stations, no medal, no cheering…

I could not have asked for better weather yesterday.  It was 55 degrees outside when I started and 65 degrees when I finished.  I have discovered that I have a few different distance “walls” that I have to contend with.  For no apparent reason miles 2 and 3 are rough.  Does not matter how fast / slow I go out; those two miles are always a pain.  By mile 3 I get into a good rhythm and find a pace.   All goes pretty smooth until mile 11 or the 2 hour mark.  I’m not sure why, I’m not entirely sure how to correct it (other than to continue to add onto mileage) and I can only hope that the adrenaline that comes with race day will be what gets me through. 

Yesterday’s run came with an additional challenge, allergies.  The pollen count is high here in the Sacramento area and brings me nothing but sinus pressure, a stuffed up nose, and itchy eyes.  (That and my voice drops another 4 octaves – very Barry White.)  Running with a decreased breathing capacity probably is not the best idea but I figure that since I’m running a race in December, there is a good chance that I am not going to be 100% healthy.

Anyway, all was well for the first 11 miles and then I could feel my pace start to drop off.  By 13.1 miles, I was up over 12 min per.  Miles 14 and 15 were above 13 min per.  I labored through those last two and am glad to say I have a new distance PR.  If all goes according to plan I will have a new distance PR next weekend too (16 miles is the next distance).  It’s pretty much going to be like that from here on out. 

Looks like I'll be running in the Clydesdale division after all.  I've been holding right around 210 - 212 for months now and just can't seem to get below.  I'm going to try to switch things up and see if I can't jump start the old metabolism for one last push.

A Little Time Off

Sept 17- Sept 23          Total Mileage – 24.1

Sept 24 – Sept 30         Total Mileage – 0

Nothing like jumping right back into it one day after running the half marathon.  Although I guess this is how it is going to be from now on.  No more weekend “long runs” under 10 miles, with only a day or two to recover.  It actually went much better than I had expected and I was running pretty much pain free until Saturday.  The weekend was going to be crazy so the only way that I could get the 10 mile run in was to go really early (5:30 A.M.) on Saturday morning.  It proved that it would also be the only time that it was not going to be over 95 degrees outside. 

The run started out well and I set to pace at 11 min per.  I did not realize just how dark it is at 5:30.  Its one thing for it to be that dark when you are driving to the gym, but running on the sidewalks is a whole different story.  I made sure to wear my reflective gear and I was off.  You quickly become aware of every dog on the other side of a fence, every bicyclist, every car, and the three other runners that were as crazy as me to be out that early.  I finished up with an 11:04 pace which I’ll take since I was not going out to set any record and that my knee was killing me the last mile. I stepped off a curb and as I did so I felt a shooting pain up my left leg and into my knee.  I had a little bit of swelling but it does not appear to be anything major.  Finished up the run, packed up the car, took Luke to T-ball class, and then hit the road for The Bay.  We left from there for Disneyland on Sunday.

I had originally planned to take my gear and get a few runs in while in LA but decided that it since I was merely going to be re-running last weeks mileage and that piling that on top of walking all day at Disney may be a poor choice.  I did however make sure to rock a pair of KSO’s for the trip.  It is at the point now where even wearing a thick soled running shoe all day hurts my heels and arches.  I had a few employees stop me to make sure I was not wearing just socks, high fived one guy in line that was also sporting Vibrams, and had a 10 minute conversation with another guest while waiting for a parade to start about how Vibrams work.  (Not much too it, you put them on your feet, and you make sure not to walk on your heels).  He was trying to sell me on why I should swith back to a heavy soled runner like he had on, but no dice.  Oddly enough, they live about 20 minutes from us and his wife went to the same high school that my brother went too (small world). 

We had a blast, walked a ton (we were on our feet from 10 am till 9 pm with very little down time), and in true vacation fashion ate some great stuff.  My knee is back to feeling normal and I’m looking forward to jumping back in.  (I say that now, since next weekend is a 15 mile “training run”.  Yikes!)

Hot dog...check
Mac and Cheese...check
Bacon...check
Perfection

Hallowed Ground

Sept 10 - 17

Total Mileage - 26.4 (now I just need to do this in one day)



Totally worth it

This week was full of ups and downs.  Got a really good run in on Tuesday then flew to Portland later that afternoon.  Knowing that Voodoo Donuts was on the way to our meeting on Wednesday, I made sure to get my run in early.  Flying on Tuesday and Wednesday totally wrecked me and I had to move my Thursday run to Friday.  I was hoping to have two days rest before the half marathon, but such is life.

We rolled into the Bay on Saturday afternoon and I started to prep for Sunday.  We had the obligatory pasta dinner and I called it a night early.  I needed to be down at ATT at 7:00 and although the race day instructions said to utilize BART my dad pointed out that no train runs on Sunday before 8:00.  Major problem right?  Nope, Dad saved the day (as always) and drove me into the city, then went back to the East Bay to get the rest of the family. 

Dad dropped me off at 6:45 and I walked in from China Basin, along McCovey Cove (a homeless guy told me I had cool shoes) and toward the stadium.  I checked in at Willie Mays plaza and headed out to the starting corral.  This run brought out a lot of interesting people and some fantastic costumes.  Lots of Black and Orange, a ton of people in Tutu's (not all of them women), one guy dressed as a Banana (he finished in the top ten) and 3 guys dressed in full Dodger gear (idiots).  Lots of people stopped and commented on me running in Vibrams (how are people not used to them yet) and told me that I was crazy.

We could hear the 5k runners take off and we started making our way down 4th street to the start line.  It took nearly a half an hour to get up to the starting line and then I was off.    You could not have asked for a better day in the city.  Foggy and 50 degrees for the first hour and then the sun broke through and it was in the high 60's / low 70's.  The run took us along the Embarcadero, underneath the Bay Bridge, and toward Fisherman's Wharf.  It was pretty crowded for the first 3 miles until we made the turn out of the Wharf and headed up the hill at Gharadelli Square. 

You could hear the runners ahead groan when they saw the hill.  It made you wonder what was up ahead and then - - BAM - - a giant hill.  I pushed hard on my forefeet and made it through.  Now it was down hill by the painted ladies and towards the Golden Gate.  The leaders were already on their way back and their course split off and headed up toward Fort Mason Green .  The crowd was starting to thin out now.  There will still plenty of people on the course, but you had enough room to move around.  One of the biggest surprises happened around mile 6 when we went from sidewalk to soft gravel trail.  WooHoo!  For some reason the concrete in the city felt harder than the concrete in the burbs.  The soft trail was fantastic and really helped save my legs for the last half.  It was pretty smooth sailing as I ran right along the water with the Golden Gate and The Rock in full view.  I wished that I could have taken a picture, but I had a PR to set. 

I got back to the base of the hill at Fort Mason and saw that the hill was insane.  There were plenty of people pulling off to the side to walk it, but I decided that this was where I would try to pick up some time.  I again pushed as hard as I could (my heart rate jumped up into the low 200's) and headed to the top.  Once there though, I realized that I then had to go back down the other side.  I hate running down hill as I have a hard time keeping a fluid stride.  I'm pretty sure I was saying "ouch" out loud with each step but as I hit the bottom of the hill I knew that I just achieved something I would not have been able to do in my last half marathon. 

10 Miles down, 3.1 to go.  "Just a 5k left," I thought to myself.  Back down through the Wharf and toward the park.  There were a ton of people on the street cheering (in many cases for no one in particular).  I ran under the Bay Bridge again and caught sight of the park.  The finish was in view.  The course pushed us up onto the sidewalk that runs along the back of the park and along the marina.  I entered the stadium through the right field arcade and the finish line was in sight.  I can't imagine what it feels like with 41,000+ fans cheering, but the 5-10k people that were at the stadium cheering was enough to boost my adrenaline big time.  I dug down and sprinted as hard as I could along the warning track and crossed the finish line.  2:24, a new PR.  My family was up in the left field bleachers holding a huge sign and it was great to see them.  I collected my medal and walked around the field.  Totally amazing.

I stretched over in the Giants bullpen (and stole some dirt) then walked over and grabbed a bagel (which Emily later stole) and took a pic at home plate.  Unlike the first go around, I did not feel like I had been hit my a truck.  I think I could have gone 3-4 more miles. 

Thanks to my family again for making the trek (its like herding cats trying to travel with 2 kids) but it is always great to see them at the finish line.  Now all I need to do is double that distance...yikes.

Dumbest Injury Ever

Sept 3 – Sept 9

Total Mileage – 25.5

Not a great way to start the week.  Remember the mini-van that I talked about last week?  Well, it may have just led to one of the dumbest injuries ever.  I was parked on an incline and was standing outside the driver door.  I left my wallet in the car and went to reach back across the driver’s seat into the passenger’s seat and the door attempted to close.  Unfortunately my foot was in the way and the door slammed right above the inside of my right ankle.  I have a hard enough time staying injury free week to week from just running, I don’t need any outside influences trying to bring me down.  I’m pretty bruised up and it hurts to run for the first half mile or so, but once I get past that I am good to go.

Due to the Sacramento heat and the general time constraints of life, I have been doing a lot of my training the past few weeks on a treadmill.  Last weeks 7 mile run was the first in a long time on the street and boy was I sore Monday morning.  I ventured out yesterday for what was supposed to be a 12 mile run.  I was really planning with sticking with that, but then the unthinkable happened.  I got lost in a neighborhood that I have run through a million times (ok so maybe 25 times, but a million sounds better).  I was going to run through Del Webb and cut through a pass-way that leads out to the trail.   I don’t know what happened, but I could not find it.  I ran through that section of the neighborhood twice figuring that I must not have been paying attention.  Still could not find it.  I knew where I was so it was not a big deal, but I could feel anxiety building up.  I ended up running back out of the neighborhood and catching the trail a little further up.  I passed the pass-way that I was looking for from the trail side, so I know that it still exists.  By the time I got back towards the house I was at 12.7 miles, so naturally you may as well run the extra half mile.  I came in a few minutes short of my last half and I’m hoping that adrenaline will take those minutes off my time this coming Sunday. 

There is no real reason for any anxiety but I am starting to get stressed that I will be slower than my last half (incidentally my first half) and that was an off road trail.  I am still grappling with the 26.2 distance for the December race as well.  I cannot imagine running another 13.1 miles after the first 13.1 miles that I ran yesterday.

Running is supposed to be a stress reliever right?  I know that by Saturday I’ll be feeling ok and will be ready to go.  I am traveling to Portland tomorrow and Wednesday (looking to get a run in just to say that my training has now been in multiple states).  Time to focus on breathing, getting a few extra carbs (hello pasta), and making sure that I am almost to the point of being over hydrated before the weekend.  See you at the finish line…

Coasting...ok not "coasting" per se...

Aug 20 - Aug 26          Total Mileage: 21.2

Aug 27 - Sept 2            Total Mileage: 18.2

Not all that much new to report over the last two weeks.  Continuing to build on base mileage and trying to make sure that I listen to my body.  My nagging Achilles soreness is back and I am doing all I can to keep it at bay.  I have come to the realization that it is just something that I am going to have to live with. 

I am at that point in the training program where I am finding it really hard to limit my mileage.  I want to extend my shorter runs to 4 or 5 miles, but I know that there is a reason that the training program wants to limit and taper mileage.  I'll just keep plugging along and continue to build on my base.

In other news I have officially became a sensible adult.  I now own a mini van (technically my wife will be driving the mini van) but it is still a very sobering thing to say.  I hate to admit it, but it is really cool and so dang convenient. 

As a Giants fan (beat LA) do you have any idea how cool it is to get a package from 24 Willie Mays Plaza in your mailbox?  My race tag for the SF Giants half arrived.  Just a few weeks to go...

Let the countdown begin

August 13-19               Total Miles – 19.2       

Things returned to normal (somewhat) this week and I did not dread putting the running shoes on.  I had a super hectic schedule this week (with a crazy weekend to follow) so I had to juggle some things around.  I ran 4 straight days (which is generally not a good idea) but my last run of the week went very well. I started the week with a 9 miler followed by 4 the next day and then two 5k runs to end out the week.  My best average time was my last 5k.  I held my own on the nine miler averaging under 11 minutes.  I hope to run the half at an 11 min/mile pace overall (and hopefully run the marathon at a 12:30 pace).  This would shave about 4 minutes off my last half marathon.  Not super lofty goals, but for a running newbie, I think that those goals are in line.  Truthfully if they aren’t, who cares?  They are my goals anyway.

Less than a month to go before the SF Half.  I have 10, 11 and 12 mile runs staring me down over the next few weeks.  I don’t want to run too cautious since this is merely the halfway point, but I also want to be sure that I do not DNF the half.  I probably won’t push it too hard on any of the long runs in the next few weeks, but run the 5k’s as tempos in an attempt to keep lung capacity used to the stress.  Let the countdown to SF begin.

Burn Out?

August 6 - August 12

Total Mileage - 12.1

I missed my first run of this go around this week.  Truth be told I chose not to run.  I had three days where I could have got the last run of the week in (a 5k) but I just didn't feel like it.  Its odd that ever since I signed up for CIM I have not had the desire to run like I did before.  Being totally honest I am having a lot of self doubt about finishing 26.2.  Now that I have signed up I can definitely tell that I am feeling stressed about it.  Which totally defeats the purpose since I run to help ease stress. 

It was a taper week on top of that.  A week to take it easy and I chose to forgo an easy run.  Maybe it was what I needed and this week will be better.  Time will tell. 

I was in the city on Friday and walked part of the Embarcadero to ATT and got a feel for the course that I'll be running in a few weeks.  Not sure why, but the concrete felt harder (not sure if that is possible, but I swear it did).  The views were fantastic and I'll be running under the Bay Bridge on way to the Golden Gate.  Should be pretty cool. 

Hopefully next week will be better.

Pi**ed off for greatness and You did What!?!

July 23-29 Total Mileage – 18.6 Weight – 212.8

July 30- Aug 5 Total Mileage – 17.31 Weight - 210.9

Ever have one of those weeks where you are pretty sure that you are Murphy from Murphy’s Law? It was one of those weeks where I felt overwhelmed everywhere. Work, home, it did not matter, life was just crazy. I had two days at the end of the week where I just woke up mad and frustrated. I took a page from one Ryan Vogelsong’s playbook and was “Pi**ed off for greatness” (it may or may not be his mentality, but the KNBR morning show has decided that he has taken a page from Ray Lewis’ and adopted the mantra). I hit the gym early and ran angry. Appears it worked. I posted two of the fastest 5k’s and the fastest 10k I have run so far. Not sure that I can keep that mentality all the time, it’s just not me.

Last week I finally convinced myself to sign up for CIM. The entire time I was filling out the form I was asking myself exactly what I was doing. I have only hit 26.2 miles in a week once. Now I want to go and do it in one day? The race starts at the Folsom Dam and finishes up at the Capitol. This means that I run from Folsom through Orangevale, Citrus Heights, Fair Oaks, and Carmichael before I finish up in Sac. I also just remembered how much I hate driving to Folsom because it is sooooo far away (not really).

From reading the website (www.runcim.org) it looks like it is quite the event. There are bands and entertainment every few miles and specialized Cheer Zones for friends and family. The course has a net elevation drop from 366 feet at the start to 26 feet at the finish. There does seem to be a serious section of rolling hills around the half way point which is a bit concerning but I’ll just have do try to remember to ease through the hills and not to try to be a hero and power through them.

There is no drop off within a half mile of the entry area so I’ll have to bus it in. There is a bus that leaves right across the street from my office at 5:00 am…

Its hard to focus on the SF Giants run that is only a few weeks away knowing that I have a full looming in December. For a newbie to this whole thing there is so much to consider now. I have to figure out a hydration and eating plan, desired split times, will I need to do a run/walk plan…

I guess like anything else I’ll just take it one step at a time and see how it goes. If you have nothing better to do on Dec 2^nd and want to see a bunch of crazy people run 26.2 miles just because they want to say they did it, please do. I’ll need all the help I can get.

Hitting the Reset Button

July 9 – July 15

Total Mileage – 3.1

July 16 – July 22

Total Mileage – 12.4

So I tested my right leg in Tahoe.  The first run went fine, had to adjust to the altitude, but after about a mile and a half I was settled in.  The next day however, I could hardly walk.  I went down to the gym to see if I could stretch it out but to no avail.  Rather than risking another micro tear (or worse), I decided to shut it down for the week.

On Monday of last week I sat down with a oversized desk calendar and plotted out the Giants Half and CIM just to see if it is even possible to re-start a training program and be ready in December.  I felt that I needed to start over for the following reason:

1)    I have no clue what I am doing.  If I were to stay on my current plan I would peak for a marathon at the end of October.  I have no clue what I would do to maintain a training level for the following month and change.

Good news is that when plotted out, I could start the week or July 23 and be right on track for both races. (Including a week off when I take the kiddos to Disneyland.  Let’s be honest, the odds of me getting a run in while staying in a hotel with two kids is minimal to zero.)  So that is that.  I am hitting the reset button.  Since my last “long run” was a half marathon on the fourth of July, I figure that this is not all that different than when I re-started after my first half.  I’ve got a pretty good base mileage going so hopefully this re-start will be easier than the last. 

Flirting With Disaster

July 2 - July 8

Total Mileage - 26.2

Things got serious this week.  I started with a 7 mile run on Monday, a 4 mile run on Tuesday, then a 13.1 mile run on Wednesday.  13.1 for a midweek run?!?  Surely you can't be serious.

Truth be told it was only supposed to be a 12 miler, but one you get 12 down, what is another mile?  I did not have a course in mind when I set out.  I just took off and saw where the road took me.  Main roads, trails, off road at one point, through neighborhoods, a park, and best of all- the golf course. 

I have decided that golf courses rule. 

The barefoot runners best friend

Grass cut so short its like running on carpet, water every few holes, shade...sure you have to dodge the course marshall's, but no big deal.  Good thing is that I was running on the sun city golf course.  By the time the senior citizens figured out that I was not supposed to be on the course, and told a course marshall, I was already five holes through and able to duck down between two houses and head back to the trails.


The trails around here are brutal. While there are a lot of trees, hardly any of them put any shade on the concrete pathway.  While the radiating heat is fine in the fall and winter, it is no good in June and July.  Beggars can't be choosers, and while these trails are not the best in the world (I am very partial to the Iron Horse in the bay area) it keeps me off the main roads and away from crosswalks and cars.

Oppressive, radiating heat...

I finished the 13.1 over a minute faster than I ran it a few months ago.  I cannot count it as a personal best because:

1. it was not an official race
2. being that my distance is measured by footpod and not GPS I know I was close to 13.1, but not sure if I was over or under. 
3. I had to take a quick break to fight off a cramp in my calf
4. I stopped for another minute because I thought I had been stung by a bee. 

Ouch!

I made it home with a wicked sunburn (which has now left me with a pretty sweet farmer tan) and what has been determined to be a minimal tear in my right calf (so it was not a bee sting).  It was about mile 12 when I felt a twinge in my calf.  I thought it was a bee sting and thought nothing of it.  Never once did I put it together that the bee sting would have been under my calf sleeve, thus impossible.  Good news is that based on everything I have read, they heal very quickly and don't pose much of a risk of re-injury. 

I did not do any running in Oregon (just not enough time).  We all survived flying to and from Oregon.  The Canuck is now officially married (scary), and my brother gave the greatest best man speech in recent memory (don't tell him though or it will go to his head).

So I ran a total of 26.2 miles this week.  I plan on doing that in one day ?!?
We head to Tahoe in a few days.  Altitude training, here I come.

Not all that much new to report

June 11 – 17          Weight – 208.4          Total Mileage – 19.2

June 18 – 25          Total Mileage – 21.2

June 26 – July 1     Weight - 209.5          Total Mileage – 18.2

So it’s been a long time since my last entry.  Not all that much new to report. Just hitting the pavement or the treadmill as usual.  The weather has been totally crazy here.  The week of the 11^th was insanely hot.  At one point, it was 97 degrees at 9:30 at night and there was no breeze.  I had to get my runs in early, but even then there were days where it was in the high 80’s by 8:30.  The week of the 18^th however was a different story.  Monday and Tuesday was hot, but I set out for my 10 mile run on Wed morning and I was concerned that I was going to need a jacket.  It was 42 in the morning and did not get up over 75.  It stayed that way through the end of the week and made getting out there much easier.  I ran the 10 mile in 1:42:14.  I did not go out super hard and was able to maintain a 10:14 avg pace.  Best part was that I was not super sore the next day. 

The heat has been back this week, but it was a taper week so it has not been to bad.  The long run for the week was 7 miles so it was nice to get a little bit of a break.  The next two weeks are going to be crazy between the 4^th of July, traveling to Portland to see the Canuck get married (canuckaphobia.wordpress.com), and then heading to Tahoe for a week.  I am hoping to get a few runs in while in Tahoe (the high altitude should do me good).  Although I did watch a guy pass out while running on the treadmill last year.  He came to once he hit the ground.  “The altitude is killer” He said.  “We don’t have altitude like this in Pittsburgh.”  I hope not to be that guy. I’ll keep you posted.