A Hectic Monday

I wasn't able to run until the afternoon. I had sooo much to do today. I ran 8.0 miles in 1:08 for a 7.0 mph pace. I finished the month with 177.3 miles. After running I had to cut the grass which took 2 hours. I filled out 4 job applications and right now I'm as tired as I ever get early in the evening. I may go to bed early tonight.

Sunday and no Rain

It's been raining a lot lately; yesterday's 10 miler was completely run in the rain. Which is OK but after awhile the shoes won't dry out in 2 days.

Today I ran 7.0 miles in 59:16 for a 7.1 mph pace. I had a massage yesterday, the first one in a month, and parts of my right leg/ankle/foot were tender and sore. My oldest daughter and her 2 kids are moving in with us and we are moving a lot of their stuff in today so I felt I should take it easy. I felt a twinge in my lower left back while carrying stuff and so it was a good thing I didn't run further. Right now I feel fine.

Tomorrow I have homework to do and jobs to apply for. The last day of August will be an easy running day.

Last Saturday in August *

Where has the Summer gone?

Simone and I ran 10.2 miles today at about a 7.0 mph pace. I suggested she needs to tell herself that she can run this pace from mile 3 to mile 20 in Hartford. I know she can do this; it's just a matter of her thinking she can do it.

I ran three 10 milers this week and a total of 48.0 miles for the week. So far for the month 169.4 miles with 2 days left. That's the most miles for a marathon month this year.

Here is part 4 of training for a marathon, http://www.examiner.com/x-14489-Extreme-Fitness-Examiner~y2009m8d28-Extreme-fitness-101-the-day-of-the-marathon-Part-4-conclusion

I especially like "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Steve Prefontaine, American running legend

Thursday Already! *

I felt better after running a shorter distance on Monday so on Tuesday I ran 10.2 miles in 1:21:00 a 7.5 mph pace. I had read Lindsay's post on her blog, Chasing the Kenyans, and it inspired me to run further than I had originally planned.

Wednesday I had an interview so I could run only 5.3 miles in 42:20 for a 7.4 mph pace. The interview went well; I'll hear Tuesday if I get a second interview.

Today I woke up tired but I felt like a longer run would help so I ran 10.0 miles in 1:24:00 a 7.1 mph pace.

I haven't been on Twitter much this week and my classes start tomorrow, so I have one more thing to do. Off tomorrow and 10 with Simone on Saturday, probably in the rain.

I did read one interesting article today, http://cincinnati.com/blogs/running/2009/08/26/choosing-a-marathon-training-program/ about different marathon training programs. Always good to read about what others do to prepare to run a marathon.

Yesterday and Today

After Saturday's run my left ankle was a little tender. I iced it for awhile and it seemed OK.

My lower back and my neck were also out of whack! I ran 7.1 miles on Sunday in 58:11, 7.1 mph. Saturday was too slow for me, I need to run closer to 7.0 mph, but I realize that I need to go closer to what Simone needs to run. I try to stay a little ahead to push her some and it seemed to work until mile 16. We needed more to drink.

Today I was tired and I felt I shouldn't run more than 30 miles in 3 days so I ran just 5.2 miles. That's 30.4 miles in 3 days, 126.6 miles for the month so far. Busy day today; a couple calls about a job.

I feel like I have been eating too much lately. I have had ice cream several times during the heat wave. I don't usually eat ice cream at all.

Today I posted on Twitter a link about someone who is running 63 marathons in 63 days. 52 in 52 now 63 in 63 days, what's next? How do they find the money and the time let alone the stamina?

Simone's First 18 miler *

Today I ran with Simone for her August long run. I had to call her at 5:50 AM and push the time back to a 7 AM start, we had planned on 6:30, because there was still thunder & lightening in the area. At 7:05 we started and it started to rain and rained for about 4 miles. It was nice, kept us cool and the sun came out when it was still raining. I love to look up and see the rain in the sunshine!

We started at a 6 mph pace and kept a 5.9 mph pace most of the way. It was VERY hot and HUMID!

Simone did well but needed more to drink at 16 miles. We both carried 4 bottles but it was too hot. We finished 18.1 miles in 3:05 a 5.9 mph pace. We were able to walk about a mile back to my house. Her 1/2 marathon time was 2:14 which is 22 minutes slower than her PR. I know that she will run much faster in the marathon. How fast? I'm still not sure.

This time I suggested she not run again until at least Wednesday; she may feel the effects of the run the most on Monday and then recover Tues/Wed.

I read a great list for 1st time marathoners/1/2 marathoners on http://www.nomeatathlete.com/nutrition-training/marathon-race-day/

Good advice for experienced marathoners too.

Back to Running

I took a total of 5 days off and started to run again on Saturday, 4.1 miles in 32:50 for a 7.4 mph pace. It always seems like I can run fast on my first day back after a break. BUT usually I hurt the next day. This time I felt fine and on Sunday I ran 6.2 miles in 51:00 for a 7.1 mph pace. Monday I increased the mileage once again to 7.1 miles in 58:21 for a 7.3 mph pace.

Yesterday I went back to my hometown to run along the Sound; the previous day was so hot and humid that I felt a day at the beach would do my legs a lot of good. I ran 5.8 miles in 48:00 and spent a lot of time in the water and walking on the sand. The cool breeze and salt air were wonderful. I wish I still lived on the shore.

Today was another humid. I ran 7.1 miles in 58:52 for a 7.1 mph pace.

I talked to Simone last night and we will shoot for 18 miles on Saturday 2 weeks after the marathon. I thought it would be good practice for me to see how I feel since I would like to try to run the Hartford and Marine Corp within 2 weeks of one another in October.

This will be Simone's longest run ever; we'll start about 6:30 AM when it should be a little cooler.

More Thoughts on Drake Well *

Dane Rauschenberg the race director for the marathon has a great blog and a recap of the marathon here, http://danerunsalot.blogspot.com/2009/08/drake-well-marathon-recap.html

He has several pictures of people I ran with and recognize and if you read it , Kelly and I saw the green bus.

Dane ran 52 marathons in 52 weeks in 2006 and has a book "See Dane Run" about the adventure.

It's interesting how your legs feel the worst 2 days after the marathon and then definitely get better. I walked 4 miles today and my legs feel so much better than yesterday. I hoping I can run on Saturday about 4 miles. In October I'm trying to run 2 marathons in 2 weeks; I've run 2 in 3 weeks successfully so I'm sure 2 in 2 is also doable.

Drake Well Marathon

It was a great day; I came in in 3:48:19 unofficially.

Let me start with leaving on Friday. My daughter Kelly and I left at about 10:30 AM for our first part of our trip. State College in PA. I drove much of the way since I thought Kelly may have to drive most of the way home on Sunday.

We stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott in State College. Nice big pool and the room was good except the bed was a little soft.

We ate at Otto's brew pub. On Friday they tap a Firkin at 5 PM. Unfortunately, we arrived at 5:30 and it was gone. Their beers were excellent; I bought a bottle of double D IPA for later which was also excellent.

We went shopping at Giant; lower prices than in CT.

The next day we stopped at Panera's on the way to Franklin, PA and a Ouality Inn. At both motels the people at the desk were great.

We drove the 35 minutes to Titusville at about 2:00 to check out the town before the packet pick-up at 4:00. I asked at the community center where the start was and if we could get directions to drive the course. The start was at a one way bridge not far away.

We got to the bridge and proceeded down the dirt road but only went about 3/4 of a mile before we decided it was too rough for the car.

I don't have a lot of trail experience and we were warned about watching our step and the dogs for the first 4 miles. Kelly and I drove what we thought might be part of the course. The hills were long and steep. We then went back to the Community Center to retrieve my bib number, chip and shirt. This is the first year of the event. They handed out the gear in a small room and were well organized. The pasta supper was home made for $5 but it ran from 5-7 and we needed to go to church today so we looked for a restaurant in town. We discovered the Blue Canoe, a brewpub which we learned had been opened for about a year. The beer was excellent and the food was too. We had a hummus appetizer and I had vegetable casadilla. I usually like to have WW pasta but I have found that I just need to eat fairly early the night be fore and have food that moves through me well; avoid cold and oily foods.

We went to St. Titus at 5:30 and were back at the motel by 7:15.

I usually don't sleep well the night before but I had slept well Friday night. I was awake at 2:00 AM and 3:00 and finally got up at 4:35. Stretched and put on my gear. I ate a banana at 5 and then the Tylenol followed by a Powerbar at 5:30 just before we left. The motel had coffee ready and I had a small cup I drank in the car; 1/2 regular 1/2 decaf. I stopped drinking water and went to the portapotty at 7:35.

I felt like I had forgotten something but couldn't think of what it was.

We arrived 40 minutes before the start.

We talked to several runners and 4 Maniacs. One women running the 1/2 grew up in Titusville and her father was involved in getting the bike trails made.

There wasn't a timing mat at the start which seemed a little odd but there was suppose to be 2 killer hills so I knew this wouldn't be a fast race for me. I was just going to enjoy it.

We started on the parking lot side of the bridge and took a loop around the Drake Well museum before hitting the dirt road.

There was a river next to the road and after the first 1/2 mile the road lost most of the pot holes. The hills weren't that steep on the dirt.

We ran down a paved road and around a corner and the hill went straight up. 1/2c the people were walking. I managed to run up and passed several runners who passed me on the downhill.

The uphill was OK but the down was too steep for me and I had to slow. This turned into another steep climb and I passed the same runners and a few others. I was kidding with them I would see them pass on the downhill.

The first 7 miles were hilly and we did run down another dirt road. From 7 -10 we ran through the town and back out to the bridge.

At mile 10 we went up a hill to the bike path. This part of the course was a loop; mile 10-25. It was under trees the entire time but not too many bugs. It was nice to be able to see the lead runners and I felt strong up until mile 21. 21-24 was tough I started to feel tired and my legs were a little tight.

The volunteers were fabulous!!! I can't say enough about them. I was able to pass people from the town to mile 22 and only one person passed me that I didn't pass back.

The end was across a field at the park and then onto an artificial track.

I came in 23 out of 116, 1st in my age group of 7 runners, http://runhigh.com/2009%20WEB%20RESULTS/R080909AC.HTML

The post race food and music were excellent for any size marathon.

We ate at the pub on the way out of town; several of the runners showed up.

The ride home, due to construction, was long and we arrived home at 11:45 PM.

I drove most of the way my legs seemed OK; I kept massaging them all day and drank water every 45 minutes.

4 Days to Go!!!

Well it's only 4 days until the Drake Well Marathon. I received an email that someone will be running it in Afghanistan simultaneously.

I took off yesterday and went to bed early last night; although, I heard the Red Sox lose in the 13th :-( I woke up with my left hip/back out of align. Great!!! I also had a migraine before my interview this morning.

The results of the interview: I came home and applied for 3 more jobs. I have a chance but no better than 50:50.

It's too late to see Shannon or Brian (my chiropractor) so I just hope my back allows me to run strong after the 2 big hills.

This is my 21st marathon and I haven't had to DNF yet; I usually feel good during the race no matter how I feel before. This has definitely been a tough 4 months. I'm sure better times are ahead.

Since several more people in my "network" were laid-off last week I don't expect much help from friends or family. Today I felt I was too old and had earned too much in the past to be considered. It's a great country that rejects experienced workers. I still have a lot to offer; someone has to give me a chance to prove it!

Tapering

On Saturday I ran a slow 7 miles with Simone. It was our first run together in 2 weeks. She hadn't been able to run after the 16+ miles. It was good and I believe she is back to form. I had texted Shannon and she said epsom salts + baking soda bath and ice her sacral bone on lower back then heat and repeat every 20 minutes. This seemed to work.

On Sunday I ran 10.0 miles in 1:27:10 a 6.9 mph pace. I took it slow and probably ran a little too far but it was a beautiful day and I just want a long run.

Today seems cooler and I will run only 6. I'll add to my post later.