Monthly Archives: July 2007
Looking back on July
July 2007 will go down as my most pleasing month of running of all time. I hope I can say the same about each month through November. On top of logging personal bests in the mile and overall pace in the 5 miler, I logged just over 90 miles for the month - the most of any month so far this year. (Had February been a full month, I would’ve had more then.) My mileage for the year is now more than 500 miles and with the marathon training I’ll easily surpass 1,000 for the year. By the time the end of August/early September gets here, my long runs will become my longest runs ever - perhaps my favorite statement to say about running.
I have been very pleased with the steady increase in my long runs this month - from just over 6 miles to 10 miles - and the comfort they have brought. I have been a bit cautious so I don’t have repeats in my knee problems from last summer. I think the lessons I have learned over the past two years are paying off tremendously this summer. I’ve learned when to push it or when to have an easy run or when to just take a day off. While I’m worried about my move interfering with training, I already realize the potential to join new runners and other runner groups.
Week 2, with a double-digit long run
I had an odd week professionally that made keeping to my running schedule a bit harder. On Tuesday I spent a lot of time in the car going back and forth to a seminar at Virginia Tech. The next day was my voyage to and from Richmond. I realized that having a good workout in the morning, then sitting in a car for two hours isn’t good. Despite the many travels and the all-of-a-sudden sprint to get my house ready to sell, I had a successful running week. Unlike last summer, I have no knee problems after upping my mileage. I also have quickly realized how much house work is equivalent to a good crossing training day, or a good addition to running.
Here’s how Week 2 went of training for the Richmond Marathon:
Monday, 7/23: 1.1, weights
Tuesday: 4
Wednesday: 6.2 overall (3.2 tempo run at just under 8 minute mile pace)
Thursday: Dubbed a rest day for running, but … 1.3 mi. walk, weights, mowed yard
Friday: 4.4
Saturday: Rest day, but housework was involved
Sunday: 10. This was my first double-digit run since my half marathon in March. Overall it went well, and I could really feel the difference in jumping from 7.3 miles last week. Plus I stuck to some major hills including Thomas Road. It was ambitious to go 10 miles, but in the end everything felt great. I kept a nice, controlled slow pace. I had enough left in me today to clean up some more and some minor painting. I’m headed off soon to reward myself with a Japanese meal.
Total running miles for the week: 25.7. My goal was 25 to 28, so I’m very pleased to fall within my goal range. My group run Wednesday was a tempo run in the rain, and I really enjoyed it.
This week, my group run has been moved a day and I won’t be able to go, but my goal is to do some sort of track workout or tempo run mid-week on my own. My long run goal is 11 miles; overall mileage goal for the week is 27 to 30. The following week is a recovery week in which I’ll cut my miles down in the low 20s, but maintain 11 or so miles for my long run. That week will be a bit odd as I head on a mini “vacation” to Ohio once again, but it’s perfect time as I plan to cut back a bit. I’ll be looking forward a very flat long run.
New gear, a new running experience
I’m the kind of runner who as soon as my feet don’t quite right, I buy new shoes. I feel the same way about shoes that I do tires on a car — if they’re starting to wear down, you probably shouldn’t put too many more miles on them. Yesterday, I bought a pair of Brooks Adrenaline GTS 7s. This is a pretty drastic change for me because since June 2006, my running shoes have been Asics. I’ve gone through a pair of 1120s, two 2110s and most recently a pair of 2120s - my most favorite to date. But after trying on the Brooks and the Asics 2120s at the same time, there was something about the Brooks shoe I really liked. They got a good test run today on my 10-mile run - everything felt great.
I also bought a fuel belt yesterday - the 2007 Helium Fuel Belt. I used it on my long run today and it worked great. It has two 8-ounce bottles and a little zipper pack for a small snack, keys or, like today, my Ipod shuffle. It fit nice and snug and it didn’t shift around at all. It’s the first time in a couple of years I’ve taken fluids with me and it was a world of difference from the cheap stuff I have used before. I really didn’t want a belt with four bottles - that just seemed like too much to carry around - and this one was perfect when I saw it. It will definitely make my long runs more pleasant having fluid with me instead of trying to run somewhere that has water fountains along the way.
When life throws a curveball …
In a quick turn of events, things for me personally have changed as I have accepted a job in Richmond. Kind of weird that I’m training for the biggest race of my life and I’ll be moving to the host city in a few weeks. I won’t have so far to drive now. I’ll be blogging about this more on my myspace site once my self-imposed myspace ban ends in a few days.
My point on here is to address maintaining a training schedule once I start moving. My goal, obviously, is to stay on track, but I know it may be a bit hard. Moving furniture will provide some good cross-training days, but my biggest concern is putting aside time for my long runs and not having long breaks of not running mixed in. I will miss having my weekly morning group, but I am sure that I will find plenty of support in a considerably larger city. I’ll start looking this weekend for help in that aspect. At the same time I have worries about my training, I’m excited to have somewhere different to run. It’ll be a great way to get to know the city better.
Lastly, I will be changing my URL at some point soon, so I’m not locked into the city I’m living in now. I thought of that when I first started blogging and wish I would’ve chosen something different. I’ll let you know when that happens.
Pass the salsa, please.
I used to hate Mexican food. Couldn’t stand it. Now, I eat it just about once a week. I love it. I’m usually fairly good about it by ordering off the a la carte portion so I don’t overeat. Two items (one with chicken) and some chips are enough. And salsa is one of the best health foods out there. Sometimes though, no matter how good Mexican food is going down, it isn’t always the same later on. I once again learned this morning that a run longer than 3 miles 12 hours after a Mexican dinner isn’t always a good thing, if you know what I mean. To say I won’t eat Mexican food the night before any kind of run again is an understatement. I’ll be saving it the day before a rest day. As Forrest Gump says, that’s all I have to say about that.
Week 1
Here’s a look at how Week 1 of my official training for the Richmond Marathon went. First part is my goal from last week’s post, then the line with what I actually did:
Monday, 7/16: 3-4 miles
actual: 0.8 + weights (Click here for the post on being flexible with goals.)
actual: 3.3
actual: track workout, 5.3 total
actual: 7.3
actual: rest
actual: 5 miler in 36:59, 6 miles total. Plus pulling carpet later in the day
actual: Pretty much rest, but I did do some cleaning up in my basement, along with moving some furniture around. I was pretty beat today after yesterday’s race and carpet stuff.
Total: 22.7
I fell just short of my overall goal (23-26 miles), but I’d have to say that this was a good week overall. My workouts were solid and I felt great all week.
Recent Comments