Took more days off than I needed from my long run last Saturday. Back to the grind. Did 6 miles this morning. Looking for 8 miles tomorrow morning and 14 on Saturday. Hey, after doing 23 last weekend, 14 miles should be a cakewalk! 
Yep. I did it.
Finished more than 3 hours ago, still feel like crap.
Unfortunately, I didn’t run the whole thing. I’m pretty OK with that. I don’t think I’ll be running the whole marathon on Oct 13th, and I’m OK with that. I didn’t run all of the half in VA Beach last year either. Still a big difference a year makes! The bullet points:
The weather was very cooperative. Nice and cool, and it started raining early on, keeping me cool.
I ran the first 16 miles. By that time I was pretty beat.
After the first 16 miles,
I walked 1/2 mile
Then ran another 2
Then walked another 1/2
Then ran another 2
Then walked another 1/2
Then ran the last 1 1/2 miles.
23 Miles in 4 hours, 13 minutes = and 11 minute mile
When the going gets tough, the tough go shopping. Got new shoes (same make & model as the old pair, natch). I got new socks. Didn’t know cotton was a no-no. These are something made from a cloth that came from a meteor that touched down in Roswell, NM some 50 years ago, most expensive pairs of sock I ever bought! Finally a new shirt. Also not cotton. This time I decided not to go my usual “El Cheapo” route and went to Dick’s and paid through the nose. $25 for a T-shirt. But…it’s an Under Armour T-Shirt. The new Nike I’m told. Weird kind of fabric, this Under Armour stuff. Back in the say, we used to call it Spandex. I feel like I’m wearing a balloon. When I put this thing on, I swear all I need is a mask and a cape and I’m ready to fight crime! I look like a moron. I don’t care.
I’ve got my confidence back somewhat, but I still feel like crap, and that’s better than I felt after just finishing the run. Despite my victory today, I’m not looking forward to doing 26.2 a week before the race, not to mention the race itself. Maybe I’ll feel better later today.
At any rate, thanks to everyone for keeping me in your thoughts.
Boy am I ticked (backdated post alert)
Because of my injury and personal stuff going on, I had to miss three weeks of running, and only got back into it the week of the half marathon. I needed to get back on schedule with my long runs, and fast.
My record was 20 miles, and that was 5 - 6 weeks ago. Today’s long run called for 23 miles, which would be a distance record for me. I had a nice big pasta dinner the night before. Got 8 hours of sleep, and had me some Special K with banana for breakfast, and managed to get out running a little after 7:00 AM.
I didn’t even come close. My GPS ticked over to 18 miles as I staggered to my front door. I managed 18 miles only after walking about 4 1/2 miles throughout the trip, and having to stop and sit down and rest 3 times. Horrible. I was feeling nauseous. My legs were some kind of lead/rubber hybrid.
Technically, this was still the same week as the half marathon, so maybe I should have had an extra day of rest. The temps did get up to the upper 80’s and the humidity felt pretty high too, so that could have been a factor.
Doesn’t really matter at this point. If I feel like this on October 12, then there’s a good chance I won’t finish the marathon at all. I know that in any given marathon, there are people who don’t finish. Heck, I saw people at the half who were in better shape than me not finish due to injuries. But I want to FINISH!
I’ll spend the upcoming week nursing my wounds. Next week’s long run calls for 10 - 14 miles. I’m going to try for 23 again. If I make it, my self confidence will be boosted.
Say a prayer for me, fellas.
After my ankles, knees and hips held up so well at the half marathon, I thought I was out of the woods. Maybe not. I went 4 miles today. After 1 mile, a felt a little twinge in my right ankle again. Not too painful, but enough to make me say “Something’s not right”. I walked a few feet before running again. Still finished the 4 miles in 40:15. Not bad at all considering I had to stop for traffic. I still have stiffness when I wake up every morning. Getting old sucks 
There is now about 5 weeks to go until the full marathon. It’s been about 5 weeks since my record run of 20 miles. My training schedule (not that I’ve followed it much) calls for a 23 mile long run on Saturday. I’m going to go for it. Hopefully I don’t injure myself. I’ll just take it as slow as I can, get up early on Saturday and walk around the house to loosen up and stretch a lot before I start running. There’s no pressure. I just want to finish the full 26.2 next month.
I just hope I don’t injure myself training.
But who’s counting? 
I AM!! As I’ve detailed here, I had a bad injury that kept me out of running for 3 weeks, and only got back into running the week of the half marathon. I managed a 6 mile and an 8 mile in the few days before, and I was able to maintain a 10 minute mile or so throughout. But the half may have turned out to be a different story.
Thankfully, it wasn’t
I bought a local paper the day after the race to find out how things went. Turns out, in the 7 years the race has existed this year had the best weather. Low 70’s at the start, low humidity and not much of a wind. Until the last 2 mile stretch along the boardwalk, which had gale force winds coming off the beach. Doing the math, I averaged a 10.3 minute mile, which I’m particularly proud of considering my first mile was also my slowest, clocking in at about 12 minutes and change. I started to get worried when I saw that 12 staring back at me from my watch after just 1 mile, but the slow pace was mainly due to me jockeying for position with all the other runners crowded into my corral. After that it was smooth sailing.
I was also more prepared this year. Props to my co-worker Theresa who taught me to lower my center of gravity and swing my arms wide when taking hills. The Rock and Roll Half Marathon only has one really nasty hill, nearing the 8 mile mark. I remember last year I struggled to get up that hill. This year, thanks to the tip, I smoked it like it ain’t no thang.
I also had an ample supply of Runner’s GU (Lemon Lime Flavor). Slurped down a tube 15 min before the race, and at the 4, 8 and 12 mile mark.
I’m also a little ashamed to say I was a little rude to some of the other runners. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line, and I aimed to run straight come what ever, which means I bumped a few people, on the course and near the water table. Nothing severe, although I did run right between a young couple running side by side. The girl was annoyed. Oh well. We were all in the back corrals, so none of us were in the money. But I had pride on the line!
Still, it wasn’t nearly as much fun as last year. You never forget your first time. Plus I had my brother and his friend with me. We enjoyed the bands as we ran past. None of us were concerned about time, and we had a great night on the town afterward. This year was more of a mission, so it wasn’t as enjoyable. Plus I was by myself, and that’s not as much fun. At any rate, I’ve run the race, and had some great success.
NOW the real fun begins. A little more than 5 weeks to the full marathon in Hartford. There’s no bands to run past, and there’s no gear check at the start. If you needed any proof that Hartford is lame, there you go.
After the 26.2, I don’t what I’ll do. I think I’ll keep running recreationally, as part of a larger health regimen (I’ve been completely ignoring my upper body since March). But races? Dunno. I don’t want to get locked into more of the same, trying to beat my time each year, until I finally can’t do any better, and I’m spending months of training and $65+ registration just to find out how much worse I got. I’d like to find some other goal for 2008. Maybe something easier like driving a stick shift?
There’s always those ultra marathons I keep hearing about!
Mad shout outs to my old roommate DM!! Good to know you’re out there!
Levon Helm, the voice behind The Band, is getting ready to release his first new album “Dirt Farmer” in over 25 years. Cancer treatments have dulled his voice a bit, but the passion is still there. Also on the album is Bob Dylan band alum Larry Campbell (whom I’ve shaken hands with, by the way), and Levon’s daughter Amy, who fronts her own band, Olabelle.
If you have the means, try to attend one of Levon’s “Midnight Rambles” - concerts Levon has at his home/recording studio in Woodstock, NY, featuring Amy, Larry, blues singer “Little” Sammy Davis, as well as surprise guests, like Emylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Dr. John and others.
This is authentic American music at it’s best. It doesn’t get any better. Cherish it while we still have it.
