Chicken Soup

yesterday after work I spent about 4 hours doing homework and getting help with SQL. I then took my CCD class to confession and I went back an hour later to go myself. I was making it on coffee since I didn't get to nap but my wife, Annemarie, made chicken soup for supper along with sourdough toast and I had a few beers. This morning I got to run since my class is going to 10 O'Clock Mass. It was the BEST run I have had in awhile. 10.1 mile in 1:20:42 for a 7:59/mi. pace. I feel great. I f I could only run that for the Yuengling Shamrock, but I just want to have a good time and enjoy the race.

Snow, snow, snow

I ran this afternoon after a nap. My congestion went away after a couple of days and I have felt good most of the week. I started out today with no snow and by the time I was a mile down the road it was snowing. At 2 miles I couldn't see the cars coming it was snowing so hard. By mile 4 it had stopped completely. I usually love running in the snow but the traffic was really heavy so it wasn't as much fun as usual. I ran 5.3 miles in 44:08 for an 8:20/mi. pace. It was the first time I ran outside since Sunday. My legs have been tired lately and I have been banging them up at work. This will be a low mileage week unfortunately, I just haven't had the time to run. This will also be a low mileage month because of tapering for the marathon and then not running it. The rest probably did me some good since I feel like I ran too many high mileage days in January.

Thursday Continued

I did run 7.2 miles today at the gym. Total time: 1:05:54. I was watching the health care debate and thinking of all the people in the U.S. who are obese. If people would just get some exercise most days our country's health care costs would probably considerably less.

Busy! *

Between work, classes, running and life in general I have been going non-stop for days. I haven't gotten enough sleep to run well and my homework is taking a lot longer than it should. Am I stupid or do I not have the background to do the work? I need at least another 2-2.5 hours of sleep after work to function and I get on a roll and then I need to make supper for the family. Than off to class!

I ran Tuesday, 5.2 miles, in 46:38 on the treadmill. This was actually fast for me on the treadmill, 46:38, 8:58/mi. I did withdraw from my ASP.NET class, so I can get a little more sleep and try to learn SQL and advanced web design both of which, if given the time, I can learn.

Here is what a lot of people are thinking and doing after the Myrtle Beach cancellation,http://www.news-record.com/content/2010/02/24/article/running_shorts_no_is_the_middle_word_of

the telling words are "...McDonald figures he spent $400 but has no race to show for it. For that reason, McDonald put Myrtle Beach clearly in his rear-view mirror.

"I don't want to go there at all," he says. "Why should I reward them for making me spend 400 bucks for nothing?"

It may be tough for me to get back since this economic downturn has hit my wife and I hard. Plus I had hoped to get another star for the Marathon Maniacs and now I'll be one race short.

I will run today and I may add to this post or write something new later.

Tired

After running 20 last Thursday I took 2 days off. A lot of people are sick at work and I guess that I was susceptible to something because I am congested now. I'm a little tired so after running 6.1 miles yesterday in 52:38, 8:37/mi. I took today off. My HR was really high yesterday for almost 2.5 miles and then it came down to my normal average. I didn't feel like I was struggling but I did feel slow at first. Hopefully, having the day off tomorrow will help and I will be running well again by Thursday. Reading SuperFreakonomics to give myself a little break from running books. I have my SQL class tonight so I have to go study.

Tough 20

I decided to run my 20 miler today although I didn't feel like running early. So after going to WholeFoods, I came home and left about 11:10. I didn't feel good for 8 miles; I never run as well after eating breakfast. Usually I have a PowerBar and a banana and feel good starting out. I was hungry this morning and had to eat.

It was windy but sunny. 20.1 miles in 2:56:58, a 8:48/mi. pace. The Bert Yasso book I just finished seemed to say that I run my long runs too fast and since I didn't feel all that great I did try to pace myself and run a little slower. It was about the same as usual except for the beginning and mile 15-17. Overall I felt good and now have my 20 done for the month. Hopefully, all goes well at VA Beach.

Indoors on Treadmill

The last 2 days I ran on the treadmill at the gym. I'm signed up through March although I can no longer afford to pay the monthly family rate. As a family we did not use the gym enough. I only used it from December to April and I really don't like running on a treadmill. However, the soft surface does really help my legs.

Yesterday I ran 9.7 miles and today 4.1 miles. I did want to get in a 20 miler soon, in the next 10 days, to be ready for the Shamrock Marathon.

Running in Wake Forest NC

Just back from a 9.5 mile run with my son. He lives in Wake Forest NC just outside of Raleigh. It was bright and sunny and we had a great time. This certainly made up for missing the marathon. I took some pictures after and may post some since it was a beautiful, although busy, route.

Myrtle Beach Marathon Cancelled!!!

Yes we went down to Myrtle Beach just to see the snow on palm trees.
At the expo they said that the start time was moved to 7 AM; then at about 11 PM they cancelled due to the weather. Since I'm from CT the weather did not seem to be a factor. If they had postponed the start until 9 AM everything would have been OK; no ice or snow on the road and they could have ended the race for all participants @ 3 PM. I guess that wasn't an option.
There were a lot of angry people at my motel. Since I am scheduled to run a marathon in March, April, and May it doesn't seem so bad. But now I have to find the time to run my 20 in the next 2 weeks. Also I missed getting SC checked off my list of states I have run a marathon. My wife and I will just have to come back another February to visit my son and I'll run it then. Hopefully, next time there won't be any snow.
So I ran 6.8 miles on a treadmill at the Marriott instead of in the race.

UpDate

Well I ran 6.2 miles on the treadmill on Tuesday because my ankles were still tight.

I decided yesterday to take 3 days off for this race; I usually take 2 but I have had success with 3 so I felt OK doing it, not real happy , but OK.

Since I live in CT and we were scheduled to fly into Baltimore there is a problem with the flight.

I am on hold right now with Southwest; wait time 47-60 minutes.

I just got off the phone with Kris from Southwest, who was very nice, and our flight is now direct to Raleigh but we have to go early since we can not print our boarding passes from our computer.

I was afraid that this might be my third cancelled marathon; I got hurt for Chicago 2006, and my wife was sick for Vegas 2006. This will be my thirteenth state.

Sunny Monday

I just got back from a 7 mile run. I didn't run at all Saturday or Sunday; I needed to rest my left ankle. It felt better today but I was a little tired from working even though I only worked 4.5 hours. This seems to happen to my ankle in the winter. I probably should go inside on the treadmill but I just don't like running on treadmills any more. 8:44/mi. with a HR range of 130-156 is OK. I'll roll my ankle using the foam roller and I should be ready to go for tomorrow.

Feeling Stressed

My ankles have been bothering me so I haven't run as much I would have liked this week. Thursday I ran 10.5 and Friday 4.1. I took off yesterday work and visiting relatives did not allow me enough time to get out. I ran 31.7 for the week and 21 miles so far for the month. I wish my ankles felt better.

I am trying to learn SQL Server, ASP.NET, VB 2008, Dreamweaver and other programs in my classes and it is overwhelming me at the moment. Plus we have not had as much work at Target as I would like to have. I'm sure the marathon will perk me up; I can't wait to go to Myrtle Beach!

Time Flys...

I can't believe I haven't written an entry since last Thursday. I take classes now Monday - Wednesday so I'm really busy at the beginning of the week, besides family, work, running, etc. Some days I'm tired like last Friday and I didn't run.

Saturday I was able to go 7 miles right after work at 8:43/mi. and Sunday I went 10.7 miles at an 8:38/mi. pace. BUT I paid the price; my legs were shot. I used the foam roller 3 times but my legs were tired Monday so I took the day off. I ran 208 miles for January; a good foundation for the Myrtle Beach Marathon. Today I was able to go for 6.4 miles at 8:17/mi. and I felt good.

Besides my text books, I'm reading "The Runner's Guide to the Meaning of Life" by Amby Burfoot, "Brain Training for Runners" by Matt Fitzgerald and "Running Through the Wall" by Neal Jamison.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow

Ran 7 miles in the snow today. I had to take mostly side streets because there was a lot of traffic.

Finished in 1:03:00, 9 minutes/mi. It snowed almost all day with a sunny break from 2-3:45. I have to work for the next 2 days but I'll try to get out both days. Tomorrow the high is suppose to be 18F, so I'll see how I feel in the afternoon.

One Day to the Next

Monday I took the day off after the 11 miles on Sunday. It was my birthday, I'm now 58, and I had my first of 3 classes 3 nights in a row.

Yesterday I felt great; it was still warm not quite as warm as Monday when it hit 56 but I felt strong. I ran 7.2 miles at 8:04/mi. Then I was up until after 11 last night and I woke this morning tired and a little stiff. I ran 12.2 miles today since I had the day off but it took 1:46:19, a 8:42/mi. pace. I usually alternate shoes but I ran in the new pair the past 2 days.

I don't think I can go to class 3 nights in a row, work and get all my homework done besides the family responsibilities I have to keep up with. Come late March I will need to start working in the garden and I do have 4 marathons in 4 months to run. I will decide by the end of the week what to drop.

New Week

Since the January 16 I have run every other day. My legs just didn't want to recover.

Today I switched to new shoes and feel a 100% better. I should have known it was the shoes but for some reason I miscalculated the number of miles on the last 2 pairs of shoes.

Today I ran 11.2 miles in 1:35:38, 8:32/mi. pace, with 1320 calories burned and the fastest pace 6:45/mi. My average HR was 132 and max was 156.

At least I have run double digits 4 of the last 5 runs. I have run 162.9 miles for the month. I may hit 200 by the end. Last January I did run the Houston Marathon with a week off after, but my monthly total was only 135+.

"Once a Runner" is a quick read and I am also reading "Brain Training for Runners". Both are interesting, Once... is suppose to be one of the best novels written about running. Brain training is more than just the mental game. This book was recommended by http://therunninglaminator.blogspot.com/

The Week

I was tired this week and I only had one day off from work.

Monday I ran 10.2 miles in 1:24:15, an 8:15/mi. pace.

Wednesday was 15 miles in 2:13:30, an 8:54/mi. pace. Ankles hurt. My shoes may be getting a little old.

Today I ran 7.1 miles in 58:27, an 8;14/mi. pace. Legs are sore but I feel good.

I'm reading "Once a Runner". It has been called the best running book ever written. I'm on page 62 and it definitely is a good book so far.

Next week I start school again; 3 nights a week and working 4 days. It should be interesting.

Tired Today

Yesterday I ran 7.2 miles at8:35/mi. I felt strong. Last night I went to sleep late and today I wasn't able to get any additional sleep after work but after a burger at my daughter's 19th birthday lunch I went out and ran10.1 miles at 8:36/mi. wearing shorts again since the temperature was in the 40s.

I have found through tracking my runs with the Garmin 305 that my average HR is 132-135, usually 133 or 134. That's every run. My peak fat burning is 134 bpm so I'm maintaining my lower weight which is something I have had a problem doing in the past.

Also this is the 3rd week in a row of 50+ miles. This week was52.7 miles run.

I'm feeling good and I think reading books by/about runners is keeping me motivated as well.

Long Run One Month from Myrtle Beach

First I did run Monday, 6.1 miles in 49:51, 8:10/mi. Then took yesterday off.

Today I ran 22.0 miles in 3:15:10 a 8:52/mi. pace. Max HR was 158 avg. HR was 133. My fat burning range seems to be 128-136 so this is a good avg. HR for me for winter. I started drinking at about 9.3 miles since I have been having problems drinking too much coffee and then having to pee or worse and having to find some place to go. This morning I had a Protein + 30g protein chocolate brownie PowerBar , 10 oz. water and 1 small cup of coffee. Only 2 gels for the run and 2 bottles of Gatorade/apple juice 85/15. That's about a 3:52 marathon. I'm happy with that for a winter pace.

I'll see what that translates for real at Myrtle Beach. I would like to run sub 3:35 either at Myrtle Beach and/or Virginia Beach.

Sunday and New Route

I ran a new route into MA today but only a short 7.3 miles. A little faster, 8:37/mi. It was cold and a little windy.

Made my plane and hotel reservation to Virginia Beach and signed up for the VT City KeyBank Marathon and reservations for 3 days.

I'm now set to run Myrtle Beach, Shamrock VA Beach, Boston and VT City.

Hopefully, after that I will have better job prospects.