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.

It's been 5 weeks since my last LSD or

speed work - letting my ankle get better. And it does seem much improved. I've

now got some reasonable tempo runs and some easy runs in last week and Monday

this week and I feel pretty good. I'm going to try an LSD this afternoon

(targeting 18, but I'll base that on how I feel). 18 is a big increase on the

miles I've been running, so I'm really counting on the large base I've developed

over the past couple of years to get me back to that level quickly. But we'll

see. I'll definitely run slowly. And stay off the hills for now. Just see how it

goes.

Afterall, it's only 13 weeks to the MCM...

Well, nothing is as inexorible as time and the fall marathons will be here soon enough, whether I'm trained or not. I'm still a bit undecided about which 'thons to run. I've signed up for the Harrisburg PA marathon November 8. I'm thinking about either the Marine Corp (again) or Baltimore (again). The MCM is only two weeks before Harrisburg, so Balto may make more sense. But I have a hankering to run the MCM again (oh -- and I didn't sign up before it closed, so I have to beg/steal/borrow a bib). But no matter which I end up running, it's time to get back to the training program. Which means LSDs. In the summer. With Heat. And humidity.

So Wednesday evening, my interpid RB and I headed out for the first (of many) LSDs of the summer. This one, relatively short at 16 miles. From Crystal City up to the Zoo and back. Slow. Painful. Welcome back!

I am trying something new this summer. I always seem to have issues starting at about mile 21 and going thru about mile 24 of a full marathon. I know, it's the wall. But how to train for it? This summer, I'm trying runs two days in a row that put me well into that milage.  So on Tuesday evening, I ran a 6.5 mile tempo run. Then Wednesday I ran a 16 mile LSD. Sure enough, at about mile 14 of the LSD, I started to feel wiped out. So this might work -- get some solid, simulated training in those late-miles. I'll write more on it as the program progresses.

I discovered RaceReady shorts about 2 years ago when training for the Marine Corp Marathon in 2007. And I love them, especially the LD-6 shorts which are a little longer. They're light and very comfortable and the pockets are; well, I carry a lot of **** so pockets are a must. Did I say that I love these shorts? One of my disappointments has always been that the local running stores (Annapolis anyway) don't really carry them, or at least not a variety of them. So I always mail order them. But that's okay too.

So I was visiting a new running shop near me (Charm City Running, Parole, MD), and happened to ask if they stocked these shorts. And they responded that they didn't, but that there is a new pocket-ready short from Asics. Interesting - I guess I had assumed that this was a small enough market that no one (besides RaceReady) would want to play. So I bought a pair.

I wore them on several LSDs and also in the Frederick Marathon this year. I have to say, I prefer the RaceReady shorts. Though the pockets are about the same, The Asics are heavier and bind a bit too much in the liner. Not a big deal, but they are also $10 more expensive. So, for me at least, the RaceReady shorts are better.

Six days to go. Ran 27 miles last week. Somewhat easier paces that I've been running. Did some lightweight intervals yesterday.

Plan for this week: today: 6-8 easy. Wednesday: 6-8 easy, Saturday: 2 at tempo pace. Marathon Sunday.

Ready or not...

Well, as I've pontificated before (does that make me a pontif?), I'm a big believer in a 3-week taper before a marathon. But I really didn't feel I got enough LSD work in before the next marathon, which is 2-weeks from tomorrow. I had a couple of 18 milers, but nothing over 20 since the Rehoboth marathon back at the end of November.

Now, this will be my seventh marathon in two years, so I have a big mileage base. But I was still concerned. But, I'm now into the 3-week taper period. So I talked this over with my coach and he told me that, essentially, I probably didn't need a 20+ mile run in. He went on to say however, that if I thought I could use the confidence that having at least one 20+, and as long as I wasn't trying to recover from any injuries, it was probably fine to have a 2-week taper.

I'm not nursing any injuries (except the obvious mental ones).So I went out this morning and did a 21 miler. Kept up a good pace throughout and finished strong. So I'm trying something new (to me) - a 2-week taper. I have a reduce-mileage plan for the next week and then just easy maintenance the next week. And then, Sunday, March 1, the B&A Trail Marathon.

I'll report back on how this works out. 

Well, I had some thoughts about heading to FL to run the Sarasota marathon, but, silly me, there are a couple of deal breakers in that weekend - Saturday is Valentines Day, and Monday is Presidents Day. So there is no good way I can go there without sacrificing my marriage -- Maybe another one someday

So I'm targeting the B&A trail marathon on March 1. Signed up and ready (pretty much). Didn't get as much speed work in as I would like, but I've done several LSDs since the Rehoboth Marathon just before thanksgiving, including a solid 18-miler this past Saturday that had tons of big hill work. So I feel good. Maybe even good enough for a PR. If the gods smile down on me

Here are my resolutions for 2009.

Stay Injury Free.

Run 4 or more Marathons, and hopefully in some new places. I ran 4 in 08. I'm currently considering the Sarasota Marathon in February, B&A Trail in March,  perhaps Flying Pig in May (or maybe Frederick again), Harrisburg or Philly or Steamtown or Rehoboth (again) in the fall. So lots of possibles that are all local. I'm signed up for the B&A, but that's it so far.

Lose another 20 pounds. I'd like to get to 190 and stay there.

Be nicer to others, especially those less well off than I am. And perhaps that should be first or second.

Happy New Year!