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.

Fatigue with a capital PH

June 4 – June 10

Total Mileage – 15.2

Weight – 211.25         

So it’s not the same as Mike Singletary’s “We are going to be physical with a capital F” but I think it gets the point across.  This week hit me like a ton of bricks.  I moved the majority of the runs to the afternoon (except for early in the week where I went on afternoon run followed by a morning run less than 12 hours later…poor choice). 

Not much to write home about this week.  It was a taper week so the long run was only 5 miles.  The issue with that though was I moved it up this week since the weekend was going to be hectic and I ended up trying it as a speed workout.  I survived, barely.  In retrospect it probably was not the smartest thing to do since my other speed workouts have only been 5k’s.  I finished with a 9:17 average for the 5 miles which is totally not sustainable right now out on the street, but hopefully I can work my way closer to that number.

Being down in the bay this weekend, gave me another chance to run Johnston Rd. before my mother in law sells her property.  It’s an old farm type road and while it is really dry, it still provides some cool views.

Things start to pick back up again next week. Week 2 and 3 is where I hit major fatigue the first time around.  I only hope that my body adjusts quickly this time compared to last.  I will likely wait a few more weeks before I make my decision on CIM.  The thought of doubling my ½ marathon is terrifying.  That and I’ll still need to drop 12 lbs prior to December.  I don’t want to take all of the extra pounding, although I wonder of you get a special prize for finishing in the Clydesdale division (+200lbs.).  I don’t think that an extra prize would be worth it.

I tried taping my ankle, which only led to a blister.  I had underwrapping, tape, and a sock on and still got a blister.  What gives?  I’m going sans tape with a light ankle brace on to see if it helps. 

On a side note, the leather KSO’s are amazing.  It is what I imagine walking in butter feels like.  On another, another side note, my brother hit another REI garage sale and he and I now have matching KSO’s.  I am used to the KSO Treks, so these are a little odd.  The toes are less stiff because there is no texturing to the soles.  I‘ll be using them in sand and water.  Pretty soon I’ll ditch all my shoes and just go VFF (probably not since my wife would probably stop going out in public with me, but cool to kick the idea around).

Speed Kills

May 28 – June 3.

Total Mileage – 17.3

Weight – 212.8

In an attempt to challenge to push myself on the short runs, I added treadmill “speed workouts” to the mix.  While it will likely be a good idea in the long term, it did not feel like it while I was running.  Essentially you are varying your pace in 30 sec to 3 minute bursts.  I generally try to start with a pace and maintain so this was a serious change for me.  At one point I was running at a 7:00 per mile pace (which I haven’t run at since high school). Thankfully I did not have to maintain that pace.  I was pretty sure that my heart was going to jump out of my chest and my right ankle was going to explode.  I finished the 5k short run well under the 30-32 minutes that I generally run it at.  By the third workout like that of the week it was a little easier.  Not a lot, but a little, but every little step forward counts. 

My long run was longer than I had planned on it being since I failed to pay attention to exactly how far I went out.  All of a sudden I was over 4 miles out, which meant that it was over 4 miles back.  My scheduled 7 mile run became 8.  It felt good though, and that is all that matters. 

I am quickly finding myself becoming addicted to wearing my Vibrams.  I almost wear them exclusively when at home, running errands, etc.  Not to make light of true addiction, as this is far from anything harmful, but every addict needs an enabler. My brother is officially my enabler.  I got a phone call from him and he was at the REI Garage Sale.  (Seriously if there is a cool event, he knows about it).  Simply asked what size I wore and told me that he’d hook me up with some 20$ Vibrams.  I now am the owner to two new pair of KSO Treks.  One pair is Kangaroo Leather (which I may try to pull off at the office one Friday).  I’ll have to become an REI member as he paid 30 bucks for a 130$ pair of shoes.

I finally got around to getting my 13.1 sticker this week.  I attempted to get one a few weeks ago, but the local running store (whose name will remain anonymous here as I generally like their store, but will be poking a little fun at them shortly) only had the pink and white stickers.  Had I run a Komen half marathon it would not have been a problem at all, but since it was not I figured I’d wait.  When I got into the store I was checking out the new Vibram SeeYa’s and the clerk came over.  Without as much as a hello the following exchange took place:

Her:  “We generally don’t recommend these for someone your size.  Is there anything I can help you with?”

Me:  “Good news is that I wasn’t looking for a recommendation and what do you mean – your size?”

Her: “Er..um…”

I know what her intent was so I let her know that I was just giving her a hard time and that I run in them all the time.  She was shocked that I ran in them because there are plenty people “my size” that return them because they don’t like them.  It appears that you just can’t get some people out of their own way.  I was able to successfully score my sticker.  Hopefully it is the first of many.