My first run with SRR

D - Ran 7.36 miles total

1.6 mile warm-up run

4.06 miles - 33:54

1.7 miles cool down

Today I got to cross an item off my to do list: I met up with the Somerville Road Runners for there Thursday night USTAF certified 4.05 mile run.

I started off with a nice slow run from my house to the starting line: Just in time I might add. No sooner had I signed in, than we were off.

The run itself was not very social for me. I settled in about a block behind a group - and a bit before the group behind me. It was nice to not have to worry about where I was going, and it set me up for a pretty nice pace - i was going for half-marathon pace. It turned out to be 8:22 - which I would be happy with at RTR.

After the run, most of the group (pictured above) waited for the rest of the runners to finish before heading down the street for pizza and beer. That's when I met John. He's going to be running the Run to Remember as well in his first Half Marathon (if you're reading this welcome to a very addicting club). Considering he's posted a few very impressive 5k times (sub 20 minutes if I remember correctly) he might be able to pull in a sub 1:40 for his first.

As we were drinking a beer (which he nicely bought me since the credit card machine was down and I was sans cash) he told me about the one high school XC race he was in. His splits were 5:30, 7:30 then 12 minutes. That makes me feel a lot better about my New Bedford pacing "strategy".

Well - I am a fan of SRR, and will have to check it out again. At the very least to buy John a beer. 

Training Schedule for M

D - Ran 6 miles: 53:10

Today winter seems to be giving one last reminder that I do in fact live in New England, and not Florida as the last few months' weather would suggest. I woke up a bit before 6am, and hit the road in 23 degree temperature just as the sun was starting to come up. It turned out to be a great, evenly paced run with very little traffic (pedestrians, runners or cars).

It was a bit tough getting motivated this morning. After two weeks of getting to sleep in, it's tough to pop out of bed. It doesn't help that I went to a Yelp! event that featured oxtail chili, jalapeno mashed potatoes, assorted cheeses and inspired Bourbon based drinks. None of that makes for a great eating, but not the night before you run snack.

Michelle

I met up with my friend Michelle at the event. She is hoping to run a half marathon in 7 weeks... and hasn't really been training. She's done one before - so using my usual formula, I'm betting it's enough time. Of course, it really only applies to if you can train to finish, not to PR.

I've read over and over again that your weekly mileage should not exceed half of your total weekly mileage. To be safe, it should actually be even less than that. Also, you should not increase your distance by more than 10% for both the weekly mileage or your furthest run. Once again, this is just playing it safe.
So, someone who is comfortably running 6 miles as their distance run:

week 1: Weekly distance of 17 miles: Distance run of 7 miles
week 2: Weekly distance of 18 miles: Distance run of 8 miles
week 3: Weekly distance of 20 miles: Distance run of 9 miles
week 4: Weekly distance of 22 miles: Distance run of 10 miles
week 5: weekly distance of 24 miles: Distance run of 11 miles
week 6: Weekly distance of 26 miles: Distance run of 11 or 12 miles
week 7: Tapering week leading up to 13.1 race.  (mon: off, tues, wed, thurs - 3miles, fri- off)

It's not an ideal training plan, but it should get her across the finish line.

We also talked about cross training a bit. On Friday, I dropped my bike off at Paramount Bicycle to be tuned up (and some minor repairs). I really can't wait to start biking to work a few days a week again. Biking, elliptical, swimming and any other non-impact aerobic activity adds valuable time to training without the physical (and literal) beating of the pavement. I think, when trying to cram in a 7 week schedule, cross training might be the only way to cram in more 'mileage'.

Either way, I wish Michelle the best of luck!

62 days to go

D - Sunday: Ran 5 miles without a watch
Monday: Day off

A message from C on Saturday: "oi, ran 3 miles tippy cup style".

Tippy cup probably isn't a good thing - but New Bedford hosted a tough race, and it's only been a week. Which is why this week's plan was carefully crafted with the concept that our bodies might want/need two weeks of recovery.

The plan is to alternate a medium distance run (slated at 6 miles, but can be five if needed) with short runs (3 miles) then a ten miler over the weekend. The idea is that we can still work up an okay weekly mileage (28 miles) with plenty of recovery time between everything.

The plan there after is to transition back into the last half of Glover's training schedule - and hope that it helps us drop some time in May at the Run to Remember. (62 days to go - that's 9 weeks)

Excitingly: they will have GU and Gatorade and 10 water stations!
(thank you C for forwarding that email)

Hold to reset

D - Ran 6 Miles: 56 minutes


Today I cleared the lap memory from my watch, and got back into running again; time for the Boston Run to Remember training schedule.

Apparently I didn't learn anything from New Bedford. The plan was supposed to be a nice slow run to get my body back into the groove of things. The last five miles was on scehedule... but somehow I cranked out an 8:15 first mile.

While I would love (and hope) to have 8:15 be my recovery pace, I'm not there yet.

Back to a relaxing weekend!

On a break

D- enjoying a few days off

It's funny to feel so bad about doing the right thing.

What started off as a day off after the half has quickly turned into almost a week. My hip is starting to feel better, and aside from restless sleeping - I think this whole resting thing is doing wonders. It will come to an end either today or tomorrow, but it's been a good break while it lasted.

Another 'on vacation' picture (Zurich,CH)

C and I (who I got to see yesterday on her way back from DC) aren't the only ones on a break right now. One of our favorite blogs, Ali on The Run, is currently Ali on The Rest. Her blog I Am Not Running The Eugene Marathon was picked up by Runners' World.

For me, I loved hearing her comment "I learned a lot about running, but I forgot why I started to run: for fun". It brings me back to how much fun it was to start logging miles again after 8 years. There is a very razor thin line between worrying about improving and still enjoying the sport.

The summer of 2010, when I broke my big toe in three places, I couldn't run (or really walk). This was, ironically, the best thing to happen to my comittment to running. It was 6 months of not running, and 2 months of not working out at all, that made me ache for the open road. I missed out on skiing... but aside from being cranky instead of excited when it snowed, it didn't bother me. I missed out on rock climbing, but I hardly missed it. I had to quit dodgeball, and while I missed my friends there - it was running that was physically and mentally torture to not be able to do.

So, I've fully embraced my week of recovery - but I am thankful that tonight or tomorrow (my choice) I can hit the road at will. And I know, when I'm pounding the pavement, even though I have lofty goals before I'm 34, I will be out there for the most important reason - for fun.

New Bedford Half - D's Recap

D - 13.1 in 1:52:18
C - 13.1 in  1:56:06

New Bedford Half: D's Recap

I just dropped C off at the airport for her weekend of Job interviewing (Good Luck C!) and filed my taxes. Apparently, to get motivated, I just have to plan a hectic weekend and race 13 miles. I truly recommend that for anyone who needs to focus and get work done.

A little Green for St. Patrick's Day

As for the race itself, I'm proud of my showing, even if it's not a PR. First off, I shot out of the gate way too fast (... I guess my 2 years of making of C for that has come to an end). In my defense, my hip has been bothering me, and I didn't think I could run a sub 8 mile (let alone 2) - so I was focusing on not running too slow. Oops.

The, I stopped to use a restroom mid-race for the first time ever(only added 27 seconds, sorry if that's too much info). I felt dehydrated going into the race, and drank what I thought was just enough water.

Lastly, there was the course. It's not the toughest (Old Sandwich Road Race's final hill was probably worse), but the hills in this one make up for not being steep by being long and oddly placed. Hill one was only a mile or so in, hill two was from miles 11 passed mile 12. I happened to miss seeing mile markers 11 and 12, which accounts for holding back a bit on the top of the final hill thinking I still had over a mile to go - I was really beat at that point, but was refusing to walk.

When I told C about the saving energy in what turned out to be the last mile, she said "you should never coast in a race". I'll have to remember that after mile 11 when Boston's Run to Remember comes around - I will break 1:50 this year.

And, in addition to medals: New Bedford's post race snack was fried fish sandwiches (amazing) and clam chowder. They probably should get bagels for the non-fish eaters and lactose-intolerant, but for those that aren't, it was a great way to end the race.

Now for D's mile breakdown (feel free to skip if you're not interested)

Race Pace: 8:34 on average... but seldom actually run at that pace

Mile 1: 7:55
Mile 2: 7:39
Mile 3: 8:43
Mile 4: 8:54
Mile 5: 8:24
Mile 6: 8:11
Mile 7: 8:02
Mile 8: 8:36
Mile 9: 9:06 (bathroom break)
Mile 10: 9:10
Mile 11:
Mile 12:
Mile 13.1: 1:52:18

So, as you can see, a bit of a pacing nightmare on paper. In actuality, I was adjusting for hills, dehydration, going out too fast and ... well loosing focus the last few miles. It was still a good race, and I'm now chomping at the bit to get to Boston R2R and finally break 1:50

Politics on the run

D - Ran 3.05 miles 28:49


Run two of taper week: That means trying to keep it slow and steady and focusing on my form and... wait, i just missed my turn.... On a positive note: It feels funny to only be running 3 miles, but I think the rest period is doing wonders for my hip. I judged my run distance by feel and time, and came pretty darn close. 

Running for Office

Tonight, I came across an article in runnersworld about how far to train to run a half. I'm not sure how he reaches the conclusion that distance training isn't necessary for a half marathon because 5k elites can run it fine their first competition. For me, the double digit days make all the difference both mentally, and judging by how much quicker I recovered from my second half-marathon, physically. 

On a lighter note, there is a race I wish I could be in DC to cheer on. its a race made up of  "teams led by senators, representatives, cabinet or sub-cabinet appointees, agency heads, federal judges, or TV, radio, and print journalists." How cool is that?