So, last night I finally had a good LSD -- 16 miles mind you - not the long LSD I needed to get before Harrisburg (which is 9 days away). But, being only 9 days away, I'm supposed to be tapering, not running distances, so this was a compromise. But I needed the psychological lift. Way down in my mind about how porrly prepared I am for this 'thon. So this week, I've put in about 30 miles and will get some more before the weekend is over. Hydration and fuel seem to be working again. But I'll definately be relying on the large base of miles and marathons I've build over the past 30 months for this one.

After this, a couple weeks recovery and then start training for spring.

Actually, a little less. And reducing that by 3 weeks for the taper means we have 4 heavy training weeks to go. At this point we're up to 18 miles on the long runs and 6x800s for intervals. I'm still hoping to get as far as 10x800s before the marathon, but it doesn't seem likely. I am comfortable that we'll get a couple of 22-milers in. This week is 18, then 20, then 22. One thing I have to add in is more hill work -- Baltimore is hilly in the latter half. I'm planning to do some strong hills in place of some of the intervals runs in the next few weeks so as to prep for them. 

I'm getting comfortable with my hydration and fuel plan too, though the jury is still out on protein in the fuel. I think it's a good thing and will probably keep it in -- I've been doing my long runs with the Hammer "Sustained Energy" for a while now and it doesn't bother me much, except it means wearing a belt for the marathon and I would prefer not to. So I should look for a prepackaged gel that has some protein in it. Or suck it up and wear the belt (I'm such a whiner). But, I'm feeling good -- like I should at this point. 

Less than two weeks to the B&A marathon. Definately in taper mode. I took the past week off to let my knee heal a bit and then ran a short 5 miles last Saturday. It was an okay run, though I felt a bit leaden. Too much time off? Not sure. But my knee felt fine while I was running. I had planned to run 12 or so, but I got to about 5 and mother nature intervened. So I plodded on home to use the facilities and never made it back out the door again

But later that evening, my knee (outside, over the top of the cap) was very tender. I was quite worried, but by today (Tuesday) it feels fine again. So, I'm trying to decide if I should run at all during the rest of my taper, or if I should just let the knee rest, or if I should skip this marathon altogether! It's a hard decision. I'm signed up for Frederick in a couple of months, so the time off may be a good thing. But I really love the B&A marathon and want to run it. I'm sure I can get through it -- the issue is one of doing more permanent damage.

Ah well, decisions, decisions, decisions...

I'm training for my third marathon, the B&A on March 2, 2008 (still trying to type that the first time!). The first was the B&A a year ago. I ran it in a long time -- almost 5:30. Had to walk a bit. The second was the Marine Corp in 2007, basically 7 months later. Ran that in just over 4:39. I was thrilled. It definately helps that the weather is cooler. My goal for the B&A this year is under 4:30. But a great thing is happening -- I'm actually getting faster. I think the tempo and interval runs are beginning to pay off.

I ran a 10 mile tempo run last night. Temps were in the low 50s. Great running weather. And I ran fast (for a turtle, that is). Completed the run in 1:28:20 -- averaging 8:50 per mile. Now, mind you, there is no way I could keep that up for a full marathon. Not yet anyway. But not too long ago I could not have run a 10k that fast. In fact, I was running 10ks in about that total time.

So, I'm beginning to think the unthinkable -- maybe a turtle can break 4 hours in a marathon. Probably not this Spring. But, maybe in the fall.

Strutting onward, chest out!

So I'm pretty sure, though not 100% certain that I'm gonna sign up for the National Marathon   in late March, 2008. I also like the B&A marathon  (which I ran last year as my first ever, and loved) and my RB wants to consider the Frederick Marathon , though that's quite a hike for me. Anyway, I signed up for the Annapolis Striders  training program again. We run 10 miles this Saturday morning.

10 miles. Hardly worth getting up for -- we ran that last night after work as a first run after the MCM. I can't help but feel like we should do at least 16. But the experienced ones on the Striders coaching team know best. And anything will help keep the turkey gravy from adding to my waistline.

March is a long ways off --  5 months. Oh, wait, that was how far back we were when starting the MCM training.

By the way (except it isn't), anyone else in the DC area notice that we went from summer to winter overnight?

Slogging onward...

It's has now been 6 days since the MCM and I haven't been running at all. Some walking. No running. I think I'm going through withdrawl. I'm getting nasty and bitchy and mean. I feel fine and could probably run, at least slowly (I'm a turtle, afterall!). No lingering inguries or pain. But I haven't. Main reason is, I gotta pay back favors to family for all the time off for training. So no time for running this week.

I'm gonna try and head out Saturday morning. Maybe some other Striders will join me. Maybe not. But I feel the need ...

Slogging Onward...

It's kind of a joke, really. I run so slowly that any "normal" runner would have to look carefully to note forward progress. Boston Qualifier? I'm getting faster, but I think by the time I reach an age where I could qualify, I'll be dead! So why am I doing this? Simple, fitness. I'm slogging proof that a person can be heavy (circumferentially challenged) and still run distances.

Here's the thing: When I ran the B&A Marathon (my first), I weighed 230 pounds. I had been running no more than 10-15 miles per week. I was on blood pressure medication and had recently had the dose increased. Now (2-weeks prior to the MCM), I'm down to 208. And my BP is normal without medication. That was a significant thing - I was running with my RB (running buddy) when I started feeling faint. This happened in a couple of mid-distance training runs (<15 miles). So I went to the doctor, fully expecting him to tell me I had some heart condition and I needed to stop running, blah, blah, blah. But, to my shock and delight, he told me that the running had corrected my blood pressure and that the medication was pushing it too low! I'm thrilled. My wife is thrilled. My kids are thrilled. Even the dog is thrilled. So I'm committed to this program.

This month, the MCM. My RB and I are looking to find something to run during or just after the holidays. And then another in the Spring. And who knows; maybe I'll move faster than a turtle someday!

Poking along...