Headwinds stink!!!!

We (Rich and I) were out at 5:15am this morning for more mileage. We decided to add in the Richland Park loop for a total of alittle over 5 and 1/2 miles. Everything felt good for me and the weather was not hat cold. Just a pretty good breeze blowing. Well, when we took off, the wind was blowing right into our face. We ran all the way to the park and around half the loop with it pounding us. We were doing about a 9 min/mile pace, which we do pretty much everytime. This time though the wind was killing me. After about half way through the run, I had to back off for a few minutes to getting my breathing back normal. We have steady hill that is probably 1/4 of a mile or so on our return run. When we got to the top, my legs were feeling it. This was alittle before 50 minutes into the run. I have been in the habit of eatting my Jelly Bellys at 45 minute intervals. I feel sure that if I were going further, I would have been ok with a pack of Jelly Bellys at this point. I think they are probably all mental, but whatever helps!!!! We finished up the last 1/2 mile at a 8:45-9 min/mile pace. When all was said and done, we got in 5.58 in 52:10. It was a good run and I was happy that nothing was hurting afterwards. I plan on heading down to PWP on Saturday morning to run 16 miles of the 21 mile Nashville Strider's training run. The hills will probably kill me, but what don't kill me will only make me stronger......

Look forward to running the next few days, it is going to be beautiful.....

Well, today's weather was nice

Got up at 5am to get in a run with Rich. At 5:30am, we started from his house on our way for an out and back for a total of 4 miles (d0ne in 36:10). This was supposed to be done yesterday, but we opted for the warmer weather this morning. It was alittle chilly when I went outside, but I got nice and warm while running. We chatted the whole way about The Biggest Loser, baseball, or me running the 1/2 or full. I think I am going to keep putting down the mileage that my marathon training program has planned. I will do 16 this weekend, but the 18 next weekend will only be 13.1 (Tom King 1/2). I plan on running it has fast as I can to push the pace some. I kinda figure the 5 miles I will miss out on will be made up for if I push the 13.1. The 20 miler that is on my schedule will be the Strider's 20 miler planned for the 21st. After that, I think I will start tapering down. There is one more 20 miler on the schedule, but I think I will do 16-18 miles that day. It is only 3 weeks out from the race, and I don't want to be too fatigued or hurt something. My calves are fine now. They felt good this morning while running and I have had no trouble through the day. My right arch is doing better. It is still slightly tender if I mash around on it. So, of course, I am not mashing around on it. It is just a small nagging pain while running, so I am not going to worry about it anymore. I plan on just putting my head down and running the mileage. This week calls for a few more miles during the week. We plan on doing 5-6 miles in the morning. Next week will be a couple of 6 milers and a 4 miler before the 1/2.

So, if you can't tell, I have changed my mind again. I plan on staying on track for the marathon. If anything happens (knock on wood), I will drop down to the 1/2 at the Expo.

Hope everyone has a good run in the morning. It is about warm enough now to run in shorts during the morning.....

Well I made my decision

Well, I went to bed last night and could not go to sleep. I was tossing and turning for at least 30 minutes before I decided to get up. I was lying there thinking about my training so far and where I am at today. I have come along way since I got back from my mission trip to Honduras on Jan. 27th. I have ran 18 miles, which I didn't think I could do until after I did it. I was thinking about my training to come. I have scheduled 16 miles for this Saturday, 18 after that, 20 more the next week, then down to 14 for a week, then back up to my last 20 miler. I look at that and want to puke. I have a full plate of work, church, kids' practices, and family time to consider. I don't know if I will honestly have time to do all the long runs like I need too. I then started looking at the training plan for the 1/2 marathon. The longest run for it is a 12 miler. That would be very good for Saturdays when both kids have practice on Saturday morning. I would not have to punish myself into missing another week of running from soreness after a long run.

With all that said, I DECIDED LAST NIGHT TO PUT MY PLANS FOR A MARATHON ON HOLD AND JUST DO THE 1/2.

I still want to do a marathon, and might try for one late fall/early winter of this year, but for now, I will do the 1/2. Afterwards, I can spend the rest of spring and summer building a good base of 20-30 miles a week. I plan to hit atleast one 5K /10K a month anyway.

Fast forward to now. Vandy-Montana and Amy (someone needs to show me how to hyperlink) think I should keep training and run the marathon. Rich told me Sunday afternoon that he felt I could get the full without walking or with walking a short bit. Some of the people I talked to today want me to keep going. Vandy-Montana did say to sign up for the marathon and keep training. Come time, if I don't feel ready, change to the 1/2 at the Expo (Plus he is going to make fun of me when I run by with a 1/2 big on!!!!). So I don't know what the heck I will do.

Anyway, Rich and I decided to run tomorrow morning in 40 degree weather instead of this morning in the low teen's chill. We are doing 4 or 5 in the morning and then 4 or 5 Thursday. I may do 1 or 2 more for a total of 6 miles on one of the days.

Well, I need to hit the bed to get some sleep before running tomorrow morning.....

I hate treadmills....

Well, this morning started out butt cold again. I decided to just hit the gym for my mileage today. I headed there around 5:30am to give me enough time to do 6 miles and then get ready for work. I got there and hit the treadmill after stretching. I decided to just do a 10 min/mile pace to not overdue it. After about a mile and a half, I wanted to shoot myself. I HATE RUNNING ON A TREADMILL. I felt like I was going to fall off the damn thing. My new shoes are wider than my old ones. They got on my nerves slapping the belt of the treadmill. The sound of the treadmill was driving me nuts. About 3/4 of a mile into running, my MP3 player locked up, so my music was shot. I was forced to listen to Channel 5 news while trying to run. After 2 miles, I decided to call it quits. The bad thing was, the 3 miles I ran yesterday were in the back of my mind. So, I really only dropped a mile instead of 4 miles. But I know in the long run, I need the 6 miles to be all at once. I am worried about testing the calf and arch though. I really don't want them hurting the next 7 weeks before the marathon. I have decided to move my Tuesday morning run to Wednesday morning. It is going to be 20 degrees warmer, so that is a no brainer. Rich and I are going to do 4 miles on Wednesday and then 4 more on Thursday. I got 16 miles planned on Saturday. I hope I can go to PWP for the Striders run, but I am not sure when my daughter's softball practice is. I might have to get up at 5 am and do 16 miles here in Portland to make it to all the practices on Saturday. Anyway, I'm off of here to go take some more Aleve.

Hope the treadmill don't shoot me off of it next time I try and run on one......

End of week 8...Start of week 9

Here is a random pic of my wife and I on a bowling outing with the family.

Well, I have not posted anything over the past few days. I have been just kinda hanging out around the house. Vandy-Montana was encouraging me to come out and run the Race Judicata race Saturday. I had not run all week and was still worried about how my calves would do. I finally made up my mind that I would head down to run both the 5k and 10k. I wanted those arm warmers!!! Anyway, I was scheduled for 12 miles on Saturday and planned to run both races and call it a day. Well, when I woke up at 5:15am Saturday to get ready to go, it was cold and pouring down rain here in Portland. I decided I didn't want to freeze while running, so I chickened out and climbed back in bed. Later, I got a message from Vandy-Montana that I had missed 2 good races. Looks like he and Amy both did well in the races. So CONGRATULATIONS!!!! In the pics I seen, everyone looked like drowned rats....hehehe. I decided on Saturday I would rest the calves until Monday and then start on Week 9. Well, this afternoon I got a text from Rich. He was planning on running 3 miles from our neighborhood to his church to pick up his car and he wanted me to go with him. I decided it was time to try out the ole legs. We left at 3pm and headed out into a strong headwind for our 3 mile run. Nor he or I had ran much this week, so we both were trying to get our breathing right. I was going to run 3 miles to the church and then just run back, but after eatting eggs, bacon, and toast for lunch, I decided not too. They were in my throat at about mile 2.5. We finished our run in 26:48. We were surprised we had done it that quick, but I think we were just trying to get out of the wind. The good news is, MY LEGS DID GREAT!!!! I stretched really good before and after I ran. I was just happy to get out and run again and make it 3 miles without pain. Now for 6 miles in the morning. Not sure if I will brave the cold and run outside, or head to the gym to hit the treadmill. Week 9 brings 30-32 miles, so I am more than willing to knock them out. Rich is still unsure if he is going to run the 1/2 marathon at the CMM. If he don't run, I think I will just sign up for the 4:30 pace group and run with them. I don't want to try and pace myself because I suck at it. I will start out way to fast and die at the end. So, bring on week 9 BABY!!!!

On a side note, I am an assistant coach for my son's baseball team. We had a coach's meeting tonight to decide on our practices. We have 3 1 and 1/2 hour practices a week. I am happy to get in as much practice as possible for a group of 9 and 10 year olds. But, I also will have 2 to 3 1 and 1/2 hour practices for my daughter's softball team. Looks like I will be living at the park for the next 4 months. Once again, BRING IT ON BABY!!!! I love my kids playing baseball and softball!!!! They have a blast and I have a blast watching them. But with work, church, softball/baseball practice AND training for a marathon, I wish I could clone myself!!!!!

End of week 8 totals
Scheduled miles - 24 miles Actual miles - 1 miles (WOW, don't everyone clap at once) ***Atleast I got some rest***

Now for week 9 and 30-32 miles....