Life V. Marathon Day 52

I thought it best to stop after 30 minutes of running today. I planned for 10 miles today, but I only did 4.5. I've been having trouble with my right calf lately and I wanted to save myself for tomorrow's 6 miles at marathon pace.

Life V. Marathon Day 51

Today was speed. I did 1.5 mile warm-up, 3 miles of 400s and 800s, 1.5 mile cool-down. I was feeling good tonight and did the intervals a bit fast. I need to be careful with doing that. I'll pay for the speed on another workout.

Tomorrow is 10 miles easy. This is becoming my favorite run.

Life V. Marathon: Potty Mouth

Bathroom humor has a pretty steady presence on my blog, however, I do feel that it is an easy and cheap way to get laughs. And I would love to stop writing about it, but it just keeps pooping popping up. If running has done anything, it has magnified my attention on preventative bathroom usage. I'll delay a run for as long as it takes to make sure I avoid issues involving No.1 and No.2. If you need to find me before a marathon, it's a safe bet that I'm waiting in line to use the Port-O-Jon. If I cut out of a run early, chances are good that I'm making a beeline to sweet relief.

Now I have found a new problem with having to "do the doo" in the middle of a run: Paper Goods. I hate to use public facilities to go No.2, even worse are park restroom, which is where I found myself recently. About 5 miles into a very sweaty run my stomach started talking to me. It said, "Hey buddy, you better pull over. We've got to let this hitchhiker out.", and I listened.

The restroom was actually pretty clean, which is rare for a park restroom. The problem arises when I tried to grab one of those paper toilet cover things. I'm soaking wet from sweat and the fact that I'm in a room with no air circulation is making it worse. Paper and sweat don't mix. The first one just tore apart in my hands, I got the next one out and quickly discovered I could not let go of it. The last one I did manage to get out and put on the toilet. I did my business and now I was faced with my next set of problems.

When I went to wipe, I realized the toilet cover was now stuck to my butt. So I start pulling it off, but it only wants to come off in quarter size chunks. My legs are already tired from running, now I'm trying to maintain this squatting position while pull little bits of paper from my ass and my legs are starting to quiver. This is no fun my friends. Finally, I get it all off and wipe. The toilet paper has now stuck to my hand. Luckily, it only takes a few vigorous shakes to free it from my hand.

I leave the restroom exhausted, then realize, I still have 7 miles to go.

Life V. Marathon Day 50

I just did an easy 6 miles this evening. I'm having a little trouble with my right calf. Hopefully, some ice and compression will help it.

Tomorrow is speed day. 1 mile warm-up, 3 miles intervals, 1 mile cool-down.

Life V. Marathon Day 49

I ran 12 easy miles today. I didn't get started until about 11am, it was cloudy so it was still cool. I'm having some slow internet issues so I'll write more later.

Life V. Marathon Day 48

Good thing I was really only supposed to do 6 miles today instead of 10. At about mile 7 the poopy monster hit me hard. I thought I would relieve myself with a pee, but it just wasn't enough. I ended up aborting the run and (turtle) headed home. Sometimes I can be an unreliable running partner, this was one of those times.

Tomorrow is 12 miles easy. Hopefully, I'll make it.

Life V. Marathon Day 47

It's the Dog Days of Summer, at least it was on my route this evening. I had not one, not two, but three dogs chase me this evening. Funny thing is, I have never even come across a dog on this route, and I've gone this way at least fifty times. Luckily, two of the three were friendly and just wanted to tag along, and the third was on a chain. The one on the chain, I believe, thought I was a steak.

I did 7 miles easy and .22 sprinting until I realized I wasn't going to be eaten. Tomorrow I'm doing 10 easy.

Life V. Marathon Day 46

These marathon pace days are harder than I thought they would be. I did 6 miles MP today with a mile warm-up and cool-down. Nothing interesting this evening, sorry.

Life V. Marathon Day 45

The weather was beautiful for a 10 mile run this evening. Tomorrow is my marathon pace day, 6 miles at 6:05 per mile.

Life V. Marathon Day 44

Running in Florida during the summer you will either be soaked in sweat or soaked by the rain. I don't know about you, but I prefer the rain. It was a lonely evening at my local track where the Runner's Club usually meets to do speed work.

I ended up doing a ladder workout: 400,800,1200,1200,800,400 at 5:30 pace. There was none of the usual heat-induced suffering because of the rain. For everybody that missed this wonderful workout- Man Up, that includes you ladies. 

Tomorrow I'm doing an easy 10 miles.

Life V. Marathon Day 43

Conventional wisdom says, if you miss a run don't try to make it up. You're suppose to just forget it and stick to your training plan, but since when do I follow conventional wisdom. Instead of doing my usual Sunday long run yesterday I chose to hang out in the pool and drink margaritas, and I don't regret it.

I believe the long run to be the most important part of marathon training, so I couldn't just skip it. As I laid in bed with a margarita buzz, I devised a genius plan; I would run twice the next day. The way I figured it, there would be a full 12 hours between runs, so I would be fine.

I was out the door by 7am to make up my 10 miler I missed yesterday. Then at 7pm I did my 6 miler that was planned for today. I will say that both of these runs were at an easy pace. If it were a long run followed by a speed workout, I would definitely advise against this.

I hope there's no professional running coaches reading this blog. I'm pretty sure they'd think I'm an idiot.

Life V. Marathon Day 42

Margaritas and beer.

Life V. Marathon Day 41

I woke this morning with an aching body and a bad attitude. My alarm went of at 4:30 am, I turned it off. I finally dragged myself out of bed at 6:15, I had to be at the starting line of a 5k in 45 minutes. All I had time to do was drink some Gatorade and hit the toilet, then it was out the door.

It's 1 1/2 miles from my place to the starting line, enough to get a bit of a warm-up in before the race. Even at the starting line I felt half asleep and stiff, not feeling up to racing. A friend from out of town lines up next to me, he runs about my pace, I decide I'll just fall in behind him as the race gets under way.

We hit the 1 mile mark at 5:17, usually I go out way too fast and arrive at the mile mark around 5 minutes. I feel the urge to pass my friend, but stick to the pace and stay put. It was right at the 2 mile mark when I decide that maybe I do have enough energy to run a good race. I swing around my friend, the person at the 2 mile mark yells out 10:37.

Now alone in the final mile, the only thing left to battle is the voice inside my head telling me to slow down. I feel my achy legs,I give up a little speed. Not this time I say to myself, and then out-loud I say "Get over it". I regain the speed I gave up and cruise into the finish. I ran 16:35, a PR.

Life V. Marathon Day 40

Today was payback for last night's adventures in the rain. Not only was I sore, but I am chaffed in more places than I originally thought. Not the easiest 6 miles I've done.

Tomorrow I'm doing a 5k race, so that will be my speed day for the week. Hopefully, I'm not as sore tomorrow as I am today. Good luck to everyone racing in the morning.

Life V. Marathon Day 39

Welcome to Chafe Town, USA.  Located in the lush tropics of my crotch, its average annual temperature is a balmy 98.6 degrees. Population 3. It was an extremely wet run this evening, in case you don't live in the area and didn't notice the rivers flowing down the streets. And wet equals chaffing.

Besides the chaffing, I had a great run. When I set out I knew it was going to rain, but I didn't know it would be a monsoon. I felt like a running superhero out there; high-stepping it through knee deep rivers that were once streets, being pelted in the face with stinging rain drops, and my insoles sliding around in my shoes, bunching up and hurting my toes. All the while I held my pace, 6:05, for 6 miles. Marathon, you don't scare me!

Life V. Marathon Day 38

I should just suck it up and do all my runs before the sun comes up. The only problem is that I hate waking up at 4am. It's still hot and humid out, but the sun is not beating down on you. I did a little over 10 miles this morning. Because I started at 6am, I was home and showered before 7:30am.

Another benefit to getting your run out of the way early is that you don't have to plan your whole day around your run. If a friend stops by and wants to go to lunch and have a beer, I can, without worrying how it's going to effect my workout. Tomorrow is 1 mile warm-up, 6 miles MP, 1 mile cool-down. I think I'll take a nap now.

Life V. Marathon Day 37

On the way to do my speed workout I remembered I had a 5k race this Saturday. Which means, I am suppose to do my Saturday workout today.  Luckily, I remembered before I did the speed work. As I look at my plan for Saturday I see that I have not gone enough miles yet, I've done 7, I need 8. I'll be back in a minute...

Okay, Now I have 8 miles for the day. Tomorrow is 10 miles easy, fo sho.

Life V. Marathon Day 36

One of the reasons I started this blog was so people could learn from my mistakes. You know, things like: microwaving you running clothes, heading out without taking a pre-run poo, or doing a 10 miler in a cotton t-shirt. These are all valuable lessons that I hope you don't have to experience yourself. Well, I have got another one for you.

On a day you're planning on doing your run in the evening, it's best to be careful what you eat during the day. Last night my lady-friend brought over dinner, which was incredibly generous of her. She brought the biggest pizza I have ever seen. This thing was larger than a sewer cap, it was like those pizzas the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ate. Between the two of us we managed to eat 2 1/2 slices. I hate to waste food, so I wrapped the rest up. The problem arises when I decide to continue eating it today, for breakfast, mid-morning snack, and lunch. I'll also go ahead and tell you I had a couple beers with it at lunch.

If you ever want to hate yourself every step of a 6 mile run, follow this meal plan prior to setting out. I could literally feel everything bouncing around in my gut. Lesson learned. Tomorrow is speed day, minus pizza and beer, plus Turtle Power.
   

Life V. Marathon Day 35

Here's a question: What are people thinking when the get a company's logo tattooed on their body? I have nothing against tattoos, I think they're great, I have several. I just don't know why someone would tattoo a Nike Swoosh on their back. In case you're wondering, I did see this, this morning. It boggles the mind.

Anyway, I did 8.1 miles at an easy pace this morning. My schedule said to do 10 today and 8 next Sunday, but I'm switching them. I felt pretty good even though I didn't get out there until 9am. Tomorrow I'm doing 6 miles easy.

Life V. Marathon Day 34

I didn't get out until 9:30 this morning. It was worth it though, I got 10 hours of sleep last night. Most of the time I average about 5 hours sleep, which is not healthy, especially for a runner. I did 6.1 miles in the mid-morning heat at about 7 minute pace.

I'm doing 8 miles in the morning. Hope everybody has a good weekend.

Life V. Marathon- Before and After

   Sorry, I don't really have any good digital pictures of me from pre-divorce. This was taken in Summer 2007 about a year before I started running. Probably weighed about 210 lbs here.

This was taken at my last marathon in February 2011. I think I was at 152 lbs.

Life V. Marathon Day 33

I did an easy 8 miles this morning at about 7:10 pace. I got a horrible cramp at mile 3 and had to stop long enough for it to go away. I was in my abdomen, just below my ribcage. This is the same cramp that destroyed my last marathon effort in Tallahassee.

During the Tallahassee Marathon all was well until mile 17. At that moment this cramp hit my abdomen like a brick hurled from one of the spectators. I had to stop, this was the first time I've ever had to stop in a race. I tried to recover, quickly working my way back to pace, then it hit again. Tried to recover once more, but it happened again. Finally, I had to settle into a crawl at about 8 minute pace for the rest of the race.

I think it happened today because I finished my run late last night, which means I ate dinner late, then I woke up and ate before headed out again. I only gave myself 30 minutes after I ate this morning before I was out pounding the pavement. Not that I really want to, but I wonder if I could recreate this just to see if it happens again. Probably the better plan is to avoid this situation altogether.

Sorry so long-winded. Tomorrow is 6 miles easy. 

Life V. Marathon Day 32

Gnats! Gnats are trying to mess me up. I started out with a mile warm-up on some side streets then headed down to the lake to do my workout, 6 miles at 6.05 pace. All was well at first, I bumped it up to my pace and I felt good. Then, out of nowhere came a cloud of gnats, they went in every opening they could find. They went up my shorts, in my armpits, my ears, nose, finally they hit the back of my throat. One moment I was cruising along at 6:05 pace the next I was bent over gagging and dry-heaving on the side of the road.

I had to get away from the lake. I ended up heading over to the track to finish my workout. It wasn't perfect, but I did manage to get in something that resembled; 1mile warm-up, 6 miles at 6:05, 1 mile cool-down. Tomorrow I'm scheduled to do 6 easy, but I may do 8.

Life V. Marathon- Katy's Q&A

My one and only commenter, Katy, wanted me to answer a few questions. The formatting ended up weird and I couldn't fix it, so you're just going to have to deal with it.

How in the world did you go from non-runner to an insanely fast runner in two years?

 

   Ignorance. I really didn’t know what I was doing when I first started running. I headed out on every run thinking I would run as fast as I could for as long as I could. After building up to two miles I jumped to ten miles, I’m lucky I didn’t injure myself. I did my first marathon nine months after I started running.

   Also, I think I have a high tolerance for pain. I was in excruciating pain for almost two years after I herniated a disc in my back. I learned to ignore it, then I had back surgery and it helped with the pain. I’m sure I have some natural talent for running, but not much.

   Running fast is hugely mental. I think a lot of people run at a pace that is comfortable for them, which is slow, slow, slow. You’ve got to get out of your comfort zone. While running you should mentally picture someone running at a fast pace, then focus on your own form. Do you match your mental picture?

   I can’t believe I’m about to say this. Let me preface this by saying, if I hear one more “Run, Forrest, Run” comment yelled out of some redneck’s truck, I might go on a murderous rampage in my short-shorts. That said; remember that part in the movie when Forrest discovers he can run? Remember his leg braces busting off and all of a sudden he was sprinting across a field? I think a lot of people have it in their head that they’re slow, they need to brake those mental leg braces they're wearing around and just go for it.  

Do you ever get tired/bored with running? Is this something you think you'll want to do forever?

  

   I never get bored with running; I get bored with doing the same route or workout over and over.

   Before I started running I was overweight and suffered from serious back pain (I’ve had back surgery). Now I feel like I’m at the weight nature intended me to be and the back pain is pretty much gone. Running makes me feel great, I want to do it the rest of my life.

Do you actually like running when you are doing it, or do you like the competitive nature of it and the feeling after-the-fact?

  

   I like everything about it, well almost everything. The blisters and the chafing aren’t the greatest things ever.

   I often get asked by people if running feels easier to me than it does to them. I don’t know what it’s like to be someone else, but when I first started running it felt hard and painful at times when pushing myself. It feels pretty much the same when I push myself now. So I would have to say, I probably feel the same things that people running at a slower pace feel.

   Running relaxes me, so I actually do like it while I’m doing it. I feel bad if I don’t run.

   I never thought of myself as competitive, but some of my friends would say I’m full of it and that I’m very competitive. I know that whether training or in a race, if someone is in front of me I feel a need to pass him or her.

You've mentioned running blogs and books here and there, what are your favorites?

   This may work best in list form. I can’t list them all. Some of the books I’ve checked out of the library and I don’t remember their names or authors.

A few blogs:

www.runcourtrun.com

www.theboringrunner.com  (my favorite, very funny)

www.how2runfast.com

Most running books are boring so I’ll only list two and one is not exclusively about running:

Marathon, The Ultimate Training Guide by Hal Higdon

The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss (great section on running fast)

Do your regular commenters (Katy) annoy you?

   No, you do not annoy me. I think it’s amazing that anyone even reads my blog. I wish more people would comment. Thank you.

Life V. Marathon Day 31

Today's Run: 10.3 miles in 1:11:39

How was it: I got out later than I wanted, but better safe than sorry (had to poo). There was some serious moisture in the air this morning. I ended up looking like I fell in the lake. Overall it was a good run and it felt pretty easy.

Tomorrow's Run: 1 mile warm-up, 6 miles at 6:05 pace, 1 mile cool-down.

At about mile 8 this morning I stopped to get some water and had a conversation with some other runners and their coach. He told me I'm running too fast on my easy days. If you've been following this blog you may remember me writing about that very subject. I know I should, but it creeps up on me and before I know it I'm running 20 seconds faster than I should be. I told the coach that I try going slower and he said, "Don't try, do". I guess I got some free coaching this morning.

To my one commenter, look for your Q&A in the next day or two. 

Life V. Marthon Day 30

Wow! I've blogged 30 days in a row. I've been reading a bunch of other running blogs, trying to get ideas on how to make mine more entertaining. Seems like a lot of work. I think I'm probably too focused on actually running to be overly entertaining, and I'm okay with that.

What I did: Day 2 of the new plan and I executed perfectly. Mile warm-up, 3 miles speed (1600@5:18, 1600@5:27, 4x400@1:15), mile cool-down.

How did I feel: Late. I showed up late for tonight's track workout so most my stuff was done alone. I felt strong though.

Tomorrow: 10 miles easy. Sweat. 

Life V. Marathon Week 5-20

Week	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun
1	6 miles	Speed	10	MP 6	7	6	10
2	6	Speed	10	MP 6	6	8	8
3	6	Speed	10	MP 6	7	6	12
4	6	Speed	10	MP 7	6	10	8
5	6	Speed	10	MP 7	7	8	14
6	6	Speed	10	MP 7	6	10	10
7	6	Speed	10	MP 8	7	8	15
8	7	Speed	10	MP 8	6	10	10
9	8	Strength	10	MP 8	7	8	16
10	6	Strength	10	MP 9	6	10	10
11	8	Strength	10	MP 9	7	8	16
12	6	Strength	10	MP 9	6	10	10
13	8	Strength	10	MP 10	7	8	16
14	8	Strength	10	MP 10	6	10	10
15	8	Strength	8	MP 10	7	8	8
16	6	5	Off	6	6	3	Race

Speed- 1 mile warm-up, 3 miles intervals at 10-k pace, 1 mile cool-down

Strength- 1 mile warm-up, 6 miles intervals at 10 seconds per mile faster than marathon goal pace, 1 mile cool-down. Examples: 2x3 miles (1 mile recovery between); 3x2 miles (800m recovery between)

MP- Run at marathon goal pace. Mine is 6:05.

Sunday Long Run- Run at 45-60 seconds slower than MP.
Other Miles- Recovery or easy pace.

Note: This is pretty much the Hansons’ Less is More Plan. The less miles with more focus on race pace really appealed to me, as I usually feel worn out by race day on the traditional 20 miler plan. The original plan is 18 weeks. I felt I needed more high mile base work coming into the plan, that’s why I was following a different plan for the first month of my marathon training. The Hansons’ plan was originally published in the Jan 2011 Runner’s World, you should read the article.

Note 2: This starts today. Yes, the plans says 6 miles today, and yes, I did 8. I wrote this on the internet not in stone.

Life V. Marathon Day 29

I did 8 miles in 56 minutes this morning. Feel like I'm back on track after a bad week. Later today I'm going to post the plan for the next 16 weeks. This plan is going to focus more on Goal Marathon Pace than just piling on the miles.

Life V. Marathon Day 28

Life definitely beat out marathon this week. I think I caught up on all the sleep today that I missed this past week.
Just to say a got a run in today I did 5 miles in 35 minutes this morning. Going to do 8 miles in the morning.

Life V. Marathon Day 27

I was up until 2am getting ready for the show at the gallery. I woke up feeling horrible and threw on my running clothes. A lot of times when I don't feel like going out for a run I put on my running clothes and shoes, and that is usually enough to get me going.

I actually got out the door and running, but I knew is was not going to be good. I felt tired and my calf was still hurting. I packed it in after 1.5 miles.

Life V. Marathon Day 26

Took today as a full recovery day. I was feeling pretty tired and my right calf has been bothering me a little. I'll do 50-60 minutes easy in the morning.

Life V. Marathon Day 25

Well I think the 10-12 hour work days and 5-6 hours of sleep are catching up to me. I was suppose to do at least 75 minutes easy today, but all I could manage was 58 minutes for 8 miles. Tomorrow is a much needed recovery day. Now back to work.

Life V. Marathon Day 24

I was soaked in sweat 4 miles into this morning's run. Hopefully, all this training in the heat and humidity will make my Fall marathon a breeze. I ended up doing 8 miles in 57 minutes.

I saw something I thought was strange at 6:30 in the morning. A wedding. Weddings at Lake Mirror are pretty common, but not that early. Also, it wasn't being held at the usual, more scenic spots around the lake. It was taking place on the sidewalk across the street from the feed store. It was as if they parked on the street, jumped out, and got it done in a hurry. I'm talking, white dress, groom, and about 5 other people. Weird.

Life V. Marathon Day 23

This is going to be a tough week for me. The whole work, life, run balance thing is really going to be tested. I'm getting ready for a new show at the gallery this Saturday, which means taking the existing show down, repairing and repainting all the walls, last minute framing, and installing the new show. I'm also doing an outdoor art walk on Friday night. All this and trying not to deviate from the marathon plan.

It was a bit of a masochistic evening at the track. Nothing like running as hard as you can under the blazing Florida Sun. I'm glad to be running 50-60 minutes easy tomorrow morning at 6am. 

Life V. Marathon Day 22

Today was a "hit the door and drop your drawers" kind of day. All I could think about the last half of my run was how bad I had to go. Besides that, it was an easy day. I did 55 minutes at about 7 minute pace.

Tomorrow is 3 miles of speed work.