My Aching Back

I don't know how I did it, but I strained my lower back Wednesday night sitting on a couch. It felt fine when I sat down, but it was sore when I got up.

I didn't run Wednesday or Thursday but got out for an hour this morning. It was only supposed to be 40-45 minutes, but I was feeling good and took advantage of it. It's finally hot and humid here, so I was quite soaked when I was done. Jenny gave my back a massage last night, and I really didn't feel anything other than a little stiffness when I was running uphill.

This weekend I'm going to a baptism and working around the house. Since we won't be moving anytime soon, we might as well improve the house we have.

Motivation

Why is it that I can feel so enthusiastic about my run the next morning the night before, but when my alarm goes off all I want to do is stay in bed? Ideally, I'd love to have a schedule that allows me to run in the afternoon when I get home from work, but with three small children that want/need my attention, it's just not possible. Overall, I think it's just getting in the frame of mind that when my alarm goes off, it's time to get up and do work.

I didn't run at all over the weekend, but other than that it was good. I weeded the garden and cut the grass, we had a party for my and my in-laws anniversary, and I started a project with the kids. Monday and Tuesday I ran, but this morning I couldn't drag myself out of bed.

Slacker

While I had planned this week to get back on track with my running after vacation, it didn't quite work out. I ran Monday, Wednesday, and today, but was off Tuesday and Thursday. This morning was the steamiest it's been all summer. Usually by now it's hot and humid all the time, but it's been cool so far this summer. The traditional DC summer weather is only supposed to last a day or so, though, since it gong to cool down this weekend.

In between work this afternoon, I watched some of the Paris Golden League meet. Anna Willard's kick to win the 800 was impressive!

Vacation

I didn't get in the running I planned on during vacation, but at least I had a good time. We spent the first couple days in Pittsburgh seeing some sights with my mother-in-law, who had never been there before. After that, we headed to Indianapolis to visit some of my wife's family. The highlight of Indy was the zoo. It's not too big, but they had a lot of interaction with the animals and the kids had a good time.

I ran when I had the chance. The few days I did run I ran for about a half hour except for July 4, when I ran for a whole hour.

Now it's back to work for about a month until the family and I head off to Hilton Head for a week at the beach.

More Travels

It's been very nice to be back in Pittsburgh for the fourth. The weather's been great, cool even, especially for July. It's a welcome change from the 90s and the humidity we usually have on the fourth.

I ran for just over an hour yesterday. It was one of the longer runs I've done for a little while. I could definitely feel some tightness in my hamstrings and butt, so I need to make sure I stretch those out better. This morning I ran for 20 minutes, just about all I had time for before church. I just ran for a little while to try and loosen up so I could come back and stretch.

Tomorrow morning we're headed for Indianapolis to see some of Jenny's family. I was disappointed to see a little while ago that IUPUI was demolishing their track. I watched the 2007 US championships there.

Communication

One benefit to blogs, facebook, twitter, etc is that they allow the user to communicate with others anywhere in the world who share interests. It's for that reason that I'm attempting to actually write this blog again.

As far as my training goes, it's been aimless lately. Due to work and home responsibilities, I haven't been running as much as I'd like. Things seem to be settling down, and I'm trying to get to a consistent schedule so I feel like I can pick a goal to start training for.

Consistent

I've been nothing if not consistent this week. I haven't quite been running the miles I'd like to, but at least for the time being I'm getting out the door. Really, as I've mentioned a million times before, I need more sleep. I'm continually hitting the snooze two or three times before I get out of bed, cutting out some of my running time.

Sick

This cold is getting really tiresome. I haven't run much at all since Cherry Blossom. It's been a mix of days of and 20 to 30 minute runs. In addition to the lack of running, I've also been suffering from a lack of sleep, which I'm sure is not helping my cold get any better. Here's to getting better soon!

Cherry Blossom 10-Miler Race Report

The overview: this race did not turn out liked I had hoped.

When my alarm went off Sunday morning, I was not ready to get out of bed. I wished I had gone to sleep earlier last night and hit the snooze button two or three times. I finally got out of bed, had breakfast, and got going a little later than planned. After sitting in Saturday's traffic when I went to pick up my number, I took the Metro Sunday morning. Taking the Metro added a few minutes to my trip, and I made it to the race about a half-hour before the start. That didn't leave me with much time to warm up, since by the time I changed clothes and checked my bag it was time to get into my corral. As I waited in the corral for the start, I really had to go to the bathroom but by then the lines were too long for me to wait in and still make the start.

The race started at 7:40 and I still had to go to the bathroom. About a half-mile into the race, I saw some porta-johns and took a break. I thought it best to stop early and get rid of the discomfort. Once I got back on the course I felt much better and probably only lost about 45 seconds. When I was back on the course, though, I was weaving through runners while trying to maintain a steady pace.

The first half of the race seemed to go by pretty slowly. I was trying to stay under 7 minute pace, but my stomach wasn't feeling too great. In the days leading up to the race it felt pretty heavy a lot of the time and when I ate I would feel full quickly. When I tried to pick up the pace, it would get more uncomfortable.

About halfway through the course, we passed through the start/finish. This part of the course had most of the spectators and I picked up some energy through here. After that, the course went around Hains Point and then back to the finish. I heard that the Hains Point portion of the course was bad because it was desolate, but it didn't feel that bad. After we got out of East Potomac Park, we headed past the spectators to the finish. I was able to pick up the pace and finish strong.

Splits were 7:44; 6:49; 6:59; 7:02; 7:24; 7:10; 8:03 (must have been long); 6:40 (must have been short); 7:38; and 6:59 for a finishing time of 1:12:33.

I'm taking this week easy and then starting my 5k/10k training for a few races this spring and summer.

Tapering

I've been taking it easy these few days before the race. I'd like it to be a good measure of my fitness, so I want to go into it as fresh as possible. I'm pretty close to picking a couple 5ks and 10ks to run in the May-June-July time frame, and I'll be working out my training schedule for those races soon.

I realized I hadn't worn my racing flats for quite a while, so Wednesday morning I went over to the track and ran a few laps in them. They felt a little funny at first, but after about a lap I was used to them again.

The weather should be good Sunday morning, so here's to a good race! And good luck to everyone else racing this weekend!

A Change in Plans

My original plan this spring was to run the Pittsburgh Marathon. But then I tried to actually register for it, and registration was closed. I looked for other marathons nearby on or around that date, but none really seemed feasible, not to mention the fact that honestly I don't feel ready for a marathon. I haven't been doing the volume necessary to run a good marathon. So I'm shifting my focus and I'm going to find some good 5k/10k races this spring, and then build for the Richmond Marathon this fall. Richmond and I have some unfinished business after the DNF in 2007. \

I'm signed up for the Cherry Blossom 10-miler this weekend, and while it was originally intended as marathon tune-up race, now I'm going to use it to gauge my fitness. I've run the race twice before and both times finished around 66 minutes. This year we'll see if I can PR.

Update

It's about time I update this. Training has been going all right, but honestly not quite as well as I would hope. It seems like each time I put a few good days together, I set myself back with a few poor days. I need to work on my consistency.

Since I haven't written anything since the Super Bowl, I figure now is as good a time as any to say "Go Steelers!" It's times like these that make me wish I still lived in Pittsburgh.

Speaking of Pittsburgh, that where I am visiting the family for the long weekend. It's nice to be back around the old hometown for a few days.

Finally

Jan 24-7 miles, core exercises
Jan 25-6 miles
Jan 26-7 miles

I've finally put together a few days of decent training. Maybe I just needed to commit to the marathon. I've been thinking about a training plan for the marathon, and I think I'd like it to go something like this:

M-easy
Tu-easy
Wed-midweek longer run, a few faster miles if I'm feeling good
Thu-easy
Fri-workout
Sat-easy
Sun-long run

I really need to follow a plan this time around. In the past I've had some ideas about how I'd like my training to go, but never really followed through.

Recap

Jan 22-5 miles
Jan 23-7 miles

I'm not going to bother to list my training for the other days since I've last posted since it would except for one six-mile day be just a bunch of zeros.

Given the lack of recent running, I had toyed with the idea of running the half (I'm pretty sure I saw they had one on the website)in Pgh, but I've decided to run the full marathon. The goal of running at least a decent marathon should help me get out the door in the morning.

Mediocre

Jan 8-5 miles
Jan 9-7 miles
Jan 10-0 miles
Jan 11-0 miles
Jan 12-3 miles
Jan 13-0 miles

I'm frustrated with my performance, or lack thereof, over the past few days. Sure I have a job and a family, but those factors don't inhibit me from getting out on the road. I'm tired of this mediocre performance. It's time to see what I can really do.

Sometimes I Wish I Lived Further North

Training-3 miles

Another late bedtime impeded my getting up this morning, so I just ran three miles and called it a day. A part of me was glad I didn't run too far in the cold rain, but really I would have liked to run more. I wish it would just snow already.

Getting There

Jan 3-6 miles, core exercises
Jan 4-0 miles
Jan 5-5 miles, strides
Jan 6-3 miles, core exercises

I'm still trying to get completely back into the swing of things. I need to be getting to bed early on a more consistent basis so I'm not so tired and hit the snooze button when I should be getting out of bed. On the plus side, my legs have been feeling good lately. I just need to make sure I'm getting enough sleep so I can get up when I need to in order to get the miles in.

Here's Looking at You, Kid

Training-6 miles

Jenny and I finished watching Casablanca last night. Despite thinking I'd find it to be pretty boring, it was actually a good movie. But since we finished it last night, I wasn't ready to get up when the alarm went off this morning. So I slept a little later, and then got out for my run. Sleeping in made me a little late for work, but there's not much going on today.

Happy New Year!

Training-5 miles, core exercises

There's no better way to start the new year than with a good run followed by a good breakfast. I didn't even come close to staying up until midnight, so I slept pretty well. It was a little windy, although nothing like yesterday afternoon, and I had a good run. After the run, I feasted on an omelet and some french toast. Happy New Year!