Random thoughts

One last post on the subject ... I think. I am sitting here at 5:00 AM on race day, trying to figure out why I am planning to do this. With several hundred miles of running behind me - it is time to just lace up my shoes and do it.  Before anyone asks - I have no time goal. I have no anticipated time. My goal for the day is to finish along side my training partner and good friend. That is it.

 Training for a marathon has given me challenges I honestly had never faced. Pains in locations I did not think were supposed to hurt. Moving my work and family schedule around to insure I put in the right time and mileage to prepare myself for the task. After all that, I am sitting here in my den while my wife and children sleep and there is a peace about the situation.  I have been competitive about most things in my life (sports, job promotions, trimming time off a long commute to the beach, and even giving a better presentation than my peers at work), but at this moment - I feel no competition. This is a strange place to be - I am not sure if it is the task at hand or acceptance that 'Yes, I am 40 now'. 

Any way you look at it - this is going to be a big day. 26.2 miles to go!

The long pole in the training is over. Finished my 2nd 20 miler this Sunday, after a week with 2 8's and a 7 miler. My knee is sore and I have the new pain in my left calf. However, I did step up my final mile of the 20 and drop 3 minutes off the time from the previous few miles. What does this mean? I have no idea, but it did let me know that I still had a little left in the tank after 19 miles. 

  Time to taper down to 30 miles this week, 20 the next and then a final 10 leading up to the big day. Now, I need to start posting some of the work related work I have been doing ;) .

What a week! Three runs of 6, 8 and 8 miles for the week (all within standard time). Then we finished off the training week with a 20 mile run yesterday (Sunday). Same pains (knees and ankles) but my endurance seems to be in good shape. Still able to finish the final mile at my standard pace - which I hope turns in to the ability to finish the 26.2. This is the final week of long runs before the taper. Planning for cross training (today 4 miles on the elliptical) and three 8 mile runs and another 20-22 miles on the weekend. 

Quick update on the training front. Last week had three 'short' runs of 6, 8 and 6 miles followed up with the 18 miler. We took our time on this one and felt much better at the end. So far, this week is a bit faster with 6 and 8 mile runs. I am planning another 8 miler and finishing with 20 miles on Sunday.

So, my knees and ankles are hurting, Jim is struggling with his hip - but we are on track for the big day - just 4 and a half weeks away. 

I made it! That is about all I can say about the 16 mile run this weekend. Jim and I did complete the task at hand (my longest run - EVER) but neither one of us was what I would consider 'strong' through the run. To top things off - I had intended to head home afterwards, shower and relax for at least a half hour.

This was not to be as my oldest son had a soccer game which left me time for a shower and back out the door. My son plays for a U-14 travel team with Sacred Heart of Glyndon and this weekend was the kick-off tournament. There was a change to the schedule (that I somehow missed completely) which moved the first game up, leaving me just enough time to get there. 

 So, Saturday consisted of the 16 mile run, 3 U-14 soccer games and we capped things off with some friends. Leaving the house at 5:30 AM and not really returning home for good until well after 11:30 PM - probably not the best training regiment :( .

So last year one of my closest friends talked me in to running a half-marathon. We had run together for years but I had never run more than 5 miles ... in my life. We successfully completed the half marathon and he promptly challenged me to run the full 26.2 this year. I have been lightly 'training' for the event over the past few months. Now it is, in my mind, crunch time as I have yet to run more than 13 miles this year.  

 This will be my first (ever) 30+ mile week. Monday - 6 miles, Tuesday - 6 miles, Wednesday - 6 miles, Thursday - light day in the gym, Friday - 3 miles ... Saturday - 16 miles. So, as I type this I am 21 miles in to the week with the big run tomorrow morning. I will attempt to update this blog moving forward with my status.