May 31, 2007

A Kick in the Butt

After a decent start to my running at the end of lacrosse, I slacked off a little. I allowed one day off last week to snowball into five. The family and I did go camping over Memorial Day weekend, but I still could have fit my runs in. I gave myself a little motivational speech about my goals, a kick in the butt to get me back out the door. Richmond is not tomorrow, but I don't have that much time. Thus far this week I've run five miles Tuesday and seven yesterday and today.

Quick question about marathon training plans: I've looked at Pfitz's 70 mpw plan, and while it maxes out at 70, it does start at less than that. If I'm averaging mileage over what the plan starts out with (still iffy at this point) should I drop back down or pick up the plan at the week where the mileage matches up with mine and maybe repeat weeks?

May 22, 2007

Back to It

I've finally found some consistency with my running. I'm working on getting the mileage back up and building a base before I get to the specific marathon training. At J's urging, I'm going to find a plan to follow, likely from Advanced Marathoning or a similar book. If anyone has any suggestions, let me know. I'm looking for something with mileage in the 70-80 range.

Thursday: 4 miles, last day I had to drive in early for lacrosse
Friday: 5 miles
Saturday: 7 miles
Sunday: 6 miles
Monday: 7 miles
Tuesday: 7 miles

May 16, 2007

Fitness Day

Today was my agency's annual Fitness Day, which takes place at the track of the high school I work next to. There are walking and running events, as well as some kind of aerobics. I ran in the two-mile run and the one-mile relay, and also participated in the two-mile walk since one of my co-workers asked.

Last year I won the two-mile in something like 12:40. Since last year, though, the two other runners who finished close to me have left the agency for other jobs. This year I ran solo to victory in 13:24. After the two-mile was the one mile relay. Because of the space the track is in, it's 1/5 of a mile instead of 1/4. Each member of the relay team runs one lap. I led of and split :58, which works out to between and 72 and 73 second quarter.

Tuesday I ran a little less than three miles pushing the kids. I got a little frustrated with the canopy of the stroller because it wasn't staying in place and cut the run a little short.

May 15, 2007

If You Learn One Thing from Adam Goucher...

While Adam Goucher was still training in Colorado under Mark Wetmore, there were rumors that he hurt his back moving rocks in Wetmore's yard. Both of them were chastised for it, in typical letsrun.com fashion. Last night, I found myself in a similar situation.

Our backyard had a little fenced-off section for the air conditioner. There were some little decorative rocks put in too. The weekend before last, I took out the fence and rocks so I could have a little area for gardening. j has been interested in it lately, so we got some seeds to plant. We advertised the rocks on freecycle, and someone actually wants them. Last night I was moving them from the backyard to the front so she could pick them up, and I tweaked something in my lower back, right in the middle above my butt. It's not too bad, but I can feel it when I bend over. Walking around doesn't bother it, so I'm going to try running this afternoon.

Yesterday I ran four miles at the park pushing the kids, and Sunday I ran five miles. I'm getting back to normal and will be increasing the miles over the next few weeks.

Speaking of Adam Goucher, there's some interesting info about he and his wife Kara at Nike Running.

May 12, 2007

A Hiatus

I've been gone for a little while. There just wasn't much to write about. I wasn't running very much, I was pretty tired all the time, and at times bitter about the whole situation. I had volunteered to go to work early so I would be home early and J could coach lacrosse. I underestimated how tired it would make me as well as my resolve to get my running in, and I wasn't a happy camper. Now lacrosse is winding down--one team is already done, one team has one more week, and the last team that still has a few weeks left mainly plays on the weekend--and I'm feeling better and beginning to run more. This morning I ran six miles along the parkway. It definitely feeling like summer's right around the corner.

I'm already registered for Richmond in November, and that's the goal. Chances are good too that I'll be running a half in Baltimore in October.