Running …

… because I can … because it's fun … because it's healthy … just BECAUSE.

Tag Archives: training

May Report Card: B

I enjoyed doing a report card in April — it made me think a lot throughout May about what I was doing in a completely different way. For at least another month, I’ll again grade myself in a variety of areas to see where things stand as I head into the summer.

Overall mileage: B
I was hoping to get close to 90, but ended up just shy of 80. It’s funny what just a couple of rough nights with a baby will do to overall mileage. I missed a couple of runs and cut a couple short, thus the lower total.

Quality mileage: A-
Speedwork at least once a week, plus a new PR were nice. It just wasn’t quite a full “A” material.

Cross training: B
I didn’t get on my bike, but I did hit the weight room at my work’s gym once a week; last week I went twice. I could definitely do more.

Nutrition: B-
In the second half of the month I started making smoothies with kale and a variety of fruit. The way it’s made me feel better has been amazing.

I can’t give myself a better grade, though, when I look at the month as a whole. The first half of the month was not that great.

Attitude: B+
In my race yesterday, I had this thought about halfway through that I couldn’t keep the pace. That’s a mental issue I’ve had for nearly two years in many races.

I didn’t lose my pace though; in fact I had a small negative split. My attitude is getting a lot better and I’m crossing some mental hurdles; June and July will be key to me getting fully over whatever my problem is/was.

Overall grade: B
Nice improvement from my C+ in April. For June I want to run more and I want to continue running better.

I also know that continued improvements with nutrition will help a lot. I’ve got a 5K in July that should be PR material, and these next 30 days are huge in getting there.

A new focus for Blue Ridge

Back in November when I was pacing my sister to her first sub 2-hour marathon, I realized how much focus I had lost with my own running. While doing things like the Disney Marathon and randomly changing races during the Runner’s World festival weekend were fun, I hadn’t set a hardcore goal for myself in more than a year.

That was when I decided to set a goal for Shamrock after being mostly goal-less at year’s race. It’s also given me renewed focus on goals in general — things like setting a goal of 1,000 miles for 2014 are enjoyable once again.

I don’t know if I’ll have the chance to PR at a half again this year, or what other PRs I’ll go for, but it’s so nice to be back in a state of mind in which future races have more meaning that just to run them.

The new Blue Ridge Half course, complete with a second major climb in the final few miles.

In a month, I’ll be tackling another half marathon — the Blue Ridge Half Marathon in Roanoke, Va. As similar to the past few years, I was actually signed up for the full, but lack of training for it, tired legs after Shamrock and taking most of last week off led me to what I think is a wise decision to do the half.

This will be my fourth time doing this half; in my previous three races I’ve come away feeling tremendously satisfied, but also disappointed. I’ve generally approached this race with no goal in mind … just finish it … have fun with it.

While having fun and completing this beast of a course have been nice, I’m ready to set a goal — 1:50.

That almost seems crazy considering last year was just a little more than 2 hours, and the previous two were at 1:57 and 1:59. This year’s race also incorporates the Peakwood neighborhood, so there’s even more elevation change. I feel like with some focus over the next few weeks, though, that going for 1:50 is realistic.

I don’t know how much I’ll write about my goals and training — life is quite busy with two kids — but I’m putting it out there and ready to keep things rolling in 2014.

Now I’m off to find some hills to get ready …

February 2014: By the Numbers

As I become less public about what’s going on with my running, I’m finding myself to be happier about what’s going on. I have no problem not posting here for the past month; as always I know something could trigger me to write every day.

For now, though, don’t expect that.

Taking a little bit of time to reflect at the end of a month is good enough for me right now. I hesitate to call February “great,” but it was far better than any month last year. I’m coming away from this month knowing that if it didn’t snow for a couple of days and if the month was just one more day long, I’d have 100 running miles.

I’m also keeping my Shamrock PR goal in mind, although this winter has been tough. I’m not stressing myself out about the race and will determine a race plan in another week or so.

Saw this near my house on a run early in the month.

So with all this said, here are some numbers from the past month:

  • 85 running miles. 165 for the year. A very nice start to the year.
  • 1.5 pounds lost. At one point I was at a little more, but lost some control mid-month. I’ve quickly turned that around though. I’m at 6.2 pounds lost for the year.
  • 12 biking miles. I question whether this was a little longer or a little shorter since they happened at 2 different gyms. I was hoping for a little more, but the weather prevented at least one gym trip.
  • 4 different types of weather. Clouds only; rain and snow; rain only; snow; sunny. I could say the same about the temperatures, ranging from mid-teens to nearly 70 (and everything else in between).
  • 5+ months old (23 weeks as of tomorrow). How is it that nearly a half year has passed since my second son was born? To put it in a running perspective, that’s longer than a marathon training plan and that seems to take forever.

January 2014: By the Numbers

Snow runningThis month I just wanted to get things “right.” I didn’t want to get through the end of the first month of the year wishing I had done more. Getting consistency back with EVERYTHING I do was what was important.

Here’s how things played out, number wise:
  • 80 running miles. First time hitting 80 since April. I think this is my second highest January ever.
  • 4.7 pounds lost. That’s mostly weight from the final part of 2013, but with portion control and a lot more greenery in my diet, I feel tremendously better.
  • 20.8 miles biked at the gym. One day that I had planned for a 4-5 mile run turned into a little more than 10 on the bike, giving about half this total and preventing me from my highest January mileage ever. I’ll take the combo of 100+ miles though.
  • 0 miles on the treadmill. I thought for sure I’d have something, but I sucked it up and ran outside every time.
  • 4 layers on top for a run last week. It’s amazing how warm thin layers are.
  • 2 runs while it was snowing; several more just after it snowed.

The start of something …

Two things happen when I don’t blog so much — either something terribly wrong or something going totally right. I don’t go silent for anything in between.

Training this month has been tough … it’s been insanely tough with the continued arctic plunges and polar vortex nonsense. In the first few weeks of the year, though, there’s been a constant — I’ve continued to run. I’ve also dropped a few pounds. I’ve eaten a ton better.

Things are going so well with my training that I don’t want to talk about them too much. So I won’t.

Not yet.

Thinking ahead

Blue Ridge MarathonWith moving this summer and a new baby on the way, I feel like I’m on fast forward with life. Yet things with running and what I want to do as year 10 begins on Jan. 1, things are becoming clear.

I’m closing out this year with two races (Richmond Half and the Surf ‘n’ Santa 10 Miler) that should help set the tone for a more dedicated winter training cycle. I love the colder weather, but I struggled this past winter after catching the flu.

By not training for a fall marathon, I won’t end the year run down; instead I’ll begin headed toward a new peak. Figuratively and literally.

I’m once again signed up for the Foot Levelers Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke, Va. This year I’ve learned that I want to experience new challenges. While I want to get faster, I setting PRs aren’t at the top of my priority list. As I look ahead to how I want to celebrate 10 years of running, conquering this marathon simply tops my list.

I haven’t run it yet because 1) I’ve been unprepared; 2) One year I was coming off injury; and 3) I’ve been scared.

I’ve been so focused on Shamrock every year that a marathon a month later never felt right. Next year, though, I feel more confident that I can approach Shamrock as a training race and turn my focus to Blue Ridge.

August goals update

  • 1,000 total push-ups: Currently at 649
  • More biking miles than running miles: Currently 41.3 biking, 40.1 running
  • Increase long run to 10 miles: 8.2; going for 10 this weekend