Cooler weather has finally arrived and that means my marathon season is finally here. I've decided to run three marathon before the year is up; Marathon 2 Marathon, Chosen Marathon for Adoption, and the San Antonio Rock n' Roll. Originally it was just supposed to be two races and then I started looking at my marathon stats or the last year and that if I squeezed in another one by November I could move up one Marathon Maniac level.
In the realm of Marathon Maniacs I'm just a no body with my one star status but hopefully slowly but surely I will move up in the ranks. If all goes well in November I will move up to two stars. I would have run eight marathons/ultras in 364 days. That may seem like a lot of running to some, but there are runners out there running a marathon or two every weekend. Their determination is inspiring.
Marathon 2 Marathon is in the books. It was held in Marathon, Texas last weekend. It was a small well run race with lots of friendly people. Before the race the runners met at the finish line were we boarded buses and then were taken out 26.2 miles and dumped. We then had to literally marathon to Marathon. The weather wasn't ideal, but there isn't anything anyone could do about that. I had a great time.
Next up is Chosen which stars in scenic but hilly Gruene, Texas. My plan is to run an easy pace and enjoy myself. A lot of people from my running group will be participating and will be nice to see everyone out there.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Saturday, August 6, 2011
The Heat Is On
This is my third summer of marathon training since I started running and I'm pretty sure its been the hottest. This morning I was scheduled for a 5 miler so I opted to sleep in a bit and run on my own. I set my alarm for 7:15 but didn't get up and out until 7:50. That was already too late even for a short run.
These days if you're running outdoors you have to pick your poison; either run in the morning with slightly cooler temps but high humidity or run very late in the evening when its is a little drier but feels like you're running in a pizza oven. Either way its extremely important to remember to hydrate both before, during, and after each run.
Normally with each long run I try and improve my pace and make some sort of measurable progress, but not lately. These days the goal is to finish upright.
These days if you're running outdoors you have to pick your poison; either run in the morning with slightly cooler temps but high humidity or run very late in the evening when its is a little drier but feels like you're running in a pizza oven. Either way its extremely important to remember to hydrate both before, during, and after each run.
Normally with each long run I try and improve my pace and make some sort of measurable progress, but not lately. These days the goal is to finish upright.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Table For One
The tri is finally here, almost. Two more days.My little detour into the world of triathalons reeked a little bit of havoc with my marathon training this week. Because of the race on Sunday I had to find a differnt day to do my scheduled Saturday 17 miler. There was no way I was willing to do both in the same weekend. So I opted to run my long run today that way I would have two solid days of rest before race.
I had it all figured out, but you know the saying "the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry". Boy did they ever. I had my alarm set for 4:10 a.m. That would give me enough time to stumble around and get moving so that I would be done before the sun had a chance to zap me. Everything was laid out: clothes, hat, headlamp, water belt, and Garmin. Unfortunately my alarm didn't go off. I happened to glance at the clock and it read "5:30". Crap. I jumped out of bed and got dressed while I tried to swallow my breakfast almost whole. I was out of the house in 15 minutes.
I was in such a panic for about the first 3.5 miles. I kept freaking out knowing that I would pay dearly for the extra zzzz. My vampire-like fear of the sun slowly faded and I accepted that I would just be out in the not so ideal conditions. Then again its summer so ideal conditions don't really exist in South Texas anyway.
In effort to not wreck my self for Sunday's race I took some advice to run a shorter interval of 30 seconds running and 30 seconds walking instead of my usual 3 minutes walking and 1 minute walking. In theory it should be less tiring and allow me to recover faster. I think it worked. I feel pretty good. The only downside was the constant beeping. Every 25 seconds my Garmin was either beeping at me to start running or start walking. It was driving me crazy. I'm sure as I ran through people's neighborhoods this morning they appreciated all the beeping just as much as me.
Even though this morning's run didn't go according to plan I consider it a winner. The 30/30 interval forced me to slow down and not burn myself out. The challenge today wasn't so much physical but mental. I haven't run this distance alone in almost two years. I've really gotten used to running with company and it was nice to know that I could do it on my own. That being said I sure will be glad to have the chatter of my group when we hit 20 miles in two weeks.
I had it all figured out, but you know the saying "the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry". Boy did they ever. I had my alarm set for 4:10 a.m. That would give me enough time to stumble around and get moving so that I would be done before the sun had a chance to zap me. Everything was laid out: clothes, hat, headlamp, water belt, and Garmin. Unfortunately my alarm didn't go off. I happened to glance at the clock and it read "5:30". Crap. I jumped out of bed and got dressed while I tried to swallow my breakfast almost whole. I was out of the house in 15 minutes.
I was in such a panic for about the first 3.5 miles. I kept freaking out knowing that I would pay dearly for the extra zzzz. My vampire-like fear of the sun slowly faded and I accepted that I would just be out in the not so ideal conditions. Then again its summer so ideal conditions don't really exist in South Texas anyway.
In effort to not wreck my self for Sunday's race I took some advice to run a shorter interval of 30 seconds running and 30 seconds walking instead of my usual 3 minutes walking and 1 minute walking. In theory it should be less tiring and allow me to recover faster. I think it worked. I feel pretty good. The only downside was the constant beeping. Every 25 seconds my Garmin was either beeping at me to start running or start walking. It was driving me crazy. I'm sure as I ran through people's neighborhoods this morning they appreciated all the beeping just as much as me.
Even though this morning's run didn't go according to plan I consider it a winner. The 30/30 interval forced me to slow down and not burn myself out. The challenge today wasn't so much physical but mental. I haven't run this distance alone in almost two years. I've really gotten used to running with company and it was nice to know that I could do it on my own. That being said I sure will be glad to have the chatter of my group when we hit 20 miles in two weeks.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
ITS Back...
After my Tuesday morning run I was tired, sweaty, and in pain. Needless to say I was not a happy camper. That nagging stabby knee pain was back. The culprit, illitobial band syndrome (ITS). If you're not a runner you may not know what or where your illitobial band is. The IT band is a thick fibrous band that runs from your hip down the side of your leg and meets the knee. When this band becomes irritated and inflamed it causes friction along the outer knee resulting in pain.
I spent the first third of the year in physical therapy working to get back on the road. I was fortunate to find a great physical therapist and fellow runner who was able to get me back on my feet. For weeks and weeks I did my strengthening exercises religiously and had great results. After getting back into marathon training and having no pain I was lulled into a false sense of security. It wasn't long before I convinced myself that I didn't need to keep up with them. Last week I started to get "little twinges" here and there. I immediately started my strengthening exercises again but it was too late.
Luckily I learned my lesson and have taken immediate action to address my injury. Last time around I was stubborn and tried to ignore my pain and continued to train. I was so fixated on getting my running workouts in that I jeopardized my health and made my injury worse resulting in a much longer recovery. I'm hoping with a few days rest, ice, and massage I will be back to normal soon and back on track.
I spent the first third of the year in physical therapy working to get back on the road. I was fortunate to find a great physical therapist and fellow runner who was able to get me back on my feet. For weeks and weeks I did my strengthening exercises religiously and had great results. After getting back into marathon training and having no pain I was lulled into a false sense of security. It wasn't long before I convinced myself that I didn't need to keep up with them. Last week I started to get "little twinges" here and there. I immediately started my strengthening exercises again but it was too late.
Luckily I learned my lesson and have taken immediate action to address my injury. Last time around I was stubborn and tried to ignore my pain and continued to train. I was so fixated on getting my running workouts in that I jeopardized my health and made my injury worse resulting in a much longer recovery. I'm hoping with a few days rest, ice, and massage I will be back to normal soon and back on track.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Detour
Part of the allure of using the Jeff Galloway method to train was that I only had to run three days a week. Its taken some adjustment to limit my days but I have come to love the shorter schedule and he addition of more cross training. Over the last month since starting the new routine I have felt more rested and have looked forward to my runs instead of dreading them.
In typical fashion I couldn't just leave well enough alone. Nope that just wouldn't be me. So what did I do? I signed up for my first triathlon. Its just a sprint so I can get a glimpse into the tri world but it is still going to be a challenge. I used to ride my mountain bike quite a bit in a prior life so I'm not too worried about that part. I guess its time to dust it off and get out on the road. Ideally I would be using a road bike but until I know if triathlons are for me I'll stick with what I have. Riding a bike I can do, running I sure as heck know I can do BUT can I swim? That is the million dollar question.
Some of you may be wondering why am I doing this. The short answer is because I think I can. This new challenge like marathon running gives me an opportunity to set a goal, work hard, and then enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that I did it. It might not be pretty, I may cry or swear that I will never do it again, but I will finish. Those little personal victories are addictive.
So where does that leave my marathon plans? Right were they were. My hope is that assuming I don't find a new way to injure myself training for this triathalon should help me in my running life. Stay tuned.
In typical fashion I couldn't just leave well enough alone. Nope that just wouldn't be me. So what did I do? I signed up for my first triathlon. Its just a sprint so I can get a glimpse into the tri world but it is still going to be a challenge. I used to ride my mountain bike quite a bit in a prior life so I'm not too worried about that part. I guess its time to dust it off and get out on the road. Ideally I would be using a road bike but until I know if triathlons are for me I'll stick with what I have. Riding a bike I can do, running I sure as heck know I can do BUT can I swim? That is the million dollar question.
Some of you may be wondering why am I doing this. The short answer is because I think I can. This new challenge like marathon running gives me an opportunity to set a goal, work hard, and then enjoy the satisfaction of knowing that I did it. It might not be pretty, I may cry or swear that I will never do it again, but I will finish. Those little personal victories are addictive.
So where does that leave my marathon plans? Right were they were. My hope is that assuming I don't find a new way to injure myself training for this triathalon should help me in my running life. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Anyone Can Do This
This morning a fellow attorney said that she was living vicariously through my blog. I was happy to hear that someone was enjoying my random running rants. I couldn't help but think that there is anything particularly spectacular about the running/marathons I do. I'm a very middle of the pack runner, not too fast and not too slow.
I run for a number of reasons one of which being the people. I have had the privilege of meeting some phenomenal people along the way. One thing that I've learned is that runners come in all shapes and sizes and abilities. The common trait they all share is that they get out there and make it happen. Anyone can do this.
You just have to make the commitment to yourself and put one foot in front of the other. Lets be honest, contrary to what I'd like to believe marathoning isn't everyone's cup of tea. That's ok. That being said if you've ever wanted to participate in a 5k, 10k, half-marathon, or marathon YOU CAN DO IT! There's no rule that you have to run like a Kenyan. If the thought of running is a little intimidating then walk. Walking is ok too. There are some darn fast walkers out there. What matters is getting out there. So take that first step, sign up for a race or fun run. Don't worry about how long it will take you. Make it a fun event get your friends and family involved. You may be uncomfortable during the race and a little sore afterwards, but that goes away. What won't go away is the feeling of accomplishment that you'll have when you're done. It will spill over into other parts of your life and you will wonder what other goals you can accomplish if you put your mind to it. Take that first step.
I run for a number of reasons one of which being the people. I have had the privilege of meeting some phenomenal people along the way. One thing that I've learned is that runners come in all shapes and sizes and abilities. The common trait they all share is that they get out there and make it happen. Anyone can do this.
You just have to make the commitment to yourself and put one foot in front of the other. Lets be honest, contrary to what I'd like to believe marathoning isn't everyone's cup of tea. That's ok. That being said if you've ever wanted to participate in a 5k, 10k, half-marathon, or marathon YOU CAN DO IT! There's no rule that you have to run like a Kenyan. If the thought of running is a little intimidating then walk. Walking is ok too. There are some darn fast walkers out there. What matters is getting out there. So take that first step, sign up for a race or fun run. Don't worry about how long it will take you. Make it a fun event get your friends and family involved. You may be uncomfortable during the race and a little sore afterwards, but that goes away. What won't go away is the feeling of accomplishment that you'll have when you're done. It will spill over into other parts of your life and you will wonder what other goals you can accomplish if you put your mind to it. Take that first step.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
New Shoes For A New Routine
Compared to many other athletic hobbies running is relatively inexpensive. The fancy watches and flashy outfits are nice to have but all a runner really needs is a good pair of shoes. As any runner can tell you finding the right fit can sometimes be as difficult to find as a glass slipper.
I'm fairly easy to fit. Due to my super low arches my options were fairly limited. I was resigned to the overly built up Frankenstein models. I'm convinced my flat feet have definately played a role in past injuries. In going through tons of articles on form and ways to improve performance I kept coming across the topic of mininmalist runniing and all its benefits. My flat feet and I were intrigued but skeptical.Running barefoot or in Vibrams is a little too extreme for me but I may have found a solution...Newtons. I've seen Newtons around for a while now but I figured there was no way that they could support my feet properly. I kept hearing from various people about how much they liked them, some had flat feet like me. Then I heard that I could check out a demo pair for a week or two to try them out. I figured what the heck and signed out a pair.
Its been almost two weeks and I'm sold. I can't imagine going back to my old shoes. Tomorrow I'm taking the demos back and buying a pair. For anyone looking to try out a pair be prepared for something different. They take some getting used to. Its not just a matter of lacing up a new pair of kicks, its about changing your stride and your mechanics.
I'm fairly easy to fit. Due to my super low arches my options were fairly limited. I was resigned to the overly built up Frankenstein models. I'm convinced my flat feet have definately played a role in past injuries. In going through tons of articles on form and ways to improve performance I kept coming across the topic of mininmalist runniing and all its benefits. My flat feet and I were intrigued but skeptical.Running barefoot or in Vibrams is a little too extreme for me but I may have found a solution...Newtons. I've seen Newtons around for a while now but I figured there was no way that they could support my feet properly. I kept hearing from various people about how much they liked them, some had flat feet like me. Then I heard that I could check out a demo pair for a week or two to try them out. I figured what the heck and signed out a pair.
Its been almost two weeks and I'm sold. I can't imagine going back to my old shoes. Tomorrow I'm taking the demos back and buying a pair. For anyone looking to try out a pair be prepared for something different. They take some getting used to. Its not just a matter of lacing up a new pair of kicks, its about changing your stride and your mechanics.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)