Back to it!

Well, I have been slacking in posting entries to this blog and, believe it or not, I am getting flack for it! Sorry guys! I have been training, albeit not at the level that I wanted or expected. Probably averaging 2 days/week through the holidays due to business travel, holidays, etc.

Anyway, I have been mostly on treadmills and stationary bikes for the past 2 months or so. Not ideal, but I am getting something! Today was the first day in a while that I went outdoors...couldn't resist with the temp at 47+ degrees. The plan has been to stick with the 2.6 mile loop that I have setup until I feel good enough to get through it at an 8 min mile clip. At least through winter, that keeps me out of the frigid weather, and allows me to walk the day after I do the run, not like my first outing at 6.2 miles...

So, I went out on a run to and back from the school. Here are the times:
To Development Entrance: 4:10 (.5 mile)
To School: 10:50 (1.3 total miles, .8 split)
School to Development Ent: 6:28 (.8 miles)

I used the last leg to home as a warm-down...those hills kill me! I am actually shocked that I was on an 8:20 pace on the way out! Really have to find a long, flat loop so that I can better gauge my ability/pace at this point...

It is interesting to see how much longer it is taking me to get in shape at age 35 than it was in my teens and twenties. I would be killing it by now. I don't think of myself as old, but maybe I am just kiddin myself! It is something to re-think! Although, hopefully it will motivate me to stay in shape once I get there...

If the weather holds, I will do it again tomorrow...same route.

Messy Run

Wed, Nov 25th: Even with the mist/rain, I decided I needed to get out for a run. Kept it short this time both because of the weather and the memory of my 6.3 mile run a week and a half ago. I took the same course as that run, but turned around at the school and came back.

Calves were killing me the majority of the run, to the point where I was either cramping or just fatigued and walked the majority of the development...disappointing.

Outbound:
Development entrance: .55 miles, 4:24
School: 1.33 miles, 11:20

Inbound:
Development Entrance: 7:02, .80 miles
Home: unknown...

Gotta get those times down at that distance. Clearly my legs need to get more fit.

Bike Day

Monday, Nov 23rd: I have done very limited training since my debacle a little over a week ago. Could barely walk for 3 days! Guess I am getting old. The rest of the week was just excuses and not worth talking about, but I needed to get back in the swing.

Training options were limited today due to business travel, but I got a decent workout on the stationary bike at the hotel. I rode 11.2 miles over 34 minutes. Bike computer says my max HR was 135 and I burned 300 calories. I have to figure out whether or not I am going to have a problem with my bike seat because sitting on this one for 34 minutes was painful. It was clearly cutting off blood flow as my thighs were getting numb!

I ended the short bike by jumping off the bike at doing a quick sprint on the treadmill. Wasn't sure if that distance would be enough to give me a sense for shaky legs on the run that I will experience, but it didn't. Legs weren't wobbly. Did a quick .35 miles on the treadmill.

11/14/2009 - First Day of Training

So, with 336 days until race day, my training began today. I had intended to work inside with some cross-training work, but the DVD player wasn't working and my kids were in that TV zone, so I went for a run. The goal was to make it from my house to downtown Lambertville and back before dark. I clocked the distance at 3.15 miles, so a round trip would have me at 6.3 miles. Considering that I have never knowingly run that far at once, and am not in shape, it was an optimistic goal!

Started out without any trouble (save for the fairly steep hills in my development), but had to bear down and focus to not get psyched out by the hills. Hit the front of my development in 5 minutes (.55 miles) and with pain beginning in my shins, I passed West Amwell Elementary at the 10 minute mark (1.4 miles). Lungs were holding up fine and heart rate was in the zone at 150 btm.

With downtown in site, my pace quickened and I felt better. Caught a quick loop around and headed for home. Total time into town: 27 minutes, or just under 9 minute mile pace...not so great. Pace home seemed slower than when I started my run, but I was also on a fairly steep hill coming out of town. Pain in my shins was gone, but it was replaced by burning in my quads (the hill?). Lung and heart were strong and fine. If it weren't for the muscle pain, I would have been killing it.

I got back to WAE School at 18 minutes (1.75 miles) on the split home, just a minute off of my original pace for the same into town, but I was hurting and couldn't keep myself at a run. I gave into the pain and started a quick walk. Walked for 5 minutes, started my run again, and got to the front of the development at the 28 minute mark (returning split, ), 6 minutes off of the out-bound pace. Hips starting to really hurt me. Needed a break and walked half of the development, finishing on a run during the second half and ending at the 65 minute mark.

Total run: est. 6.3 miles in 65 minutes
Splits:
Outbound - Development(.55 mi): 5 mins; School (1.4 mi): 10 mins, White Building(2.15 mi): 18 mins; Downtown(3.15 mi): 27 mins
Inbound - White Building(1 mi): 10 mins; School(1.75 mi): 18 mins; Development(2.6 mi): 28 mins; Home(3.15 mi): 37 mins

Had a post-run nutrient drink to help recovery. All leg muscles sore and tightening up.

A little disappointed in the times, but I have't run in years and have known I am out of shape. I am optimistic that the times will greatly improve and the muscle pain will go away for this distance and run. Nearest goal for this run/distance: sub-50 minutes (faster than 8 min/mile).