Now begins the final countdown.
It's been a crazy week with all the traveling but I was able to get a 16 miler on the provo river parkway. It's kind of fitting to do my last marathon training "long run" on the same trail that I started running consistently on over three years ago. The run felt really good and for the first time in a few weeks I'm looking forward to this race. I finished the run feeling really good and was tempted to keep going but decided not to push it. The knee was feeling really good and I wanted to keep it that way. I didn't have the usual 14 mile meltdown so all in all it was really encouraging.
Things should be interesting, I plan on taking it pretty conservatively so that I'll have a better chance of finishing without too much pain. I would still be stoked for anything under 4 hours, but under 4:30 will be pretty awesome as well.
See you in St. George!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
12 days until the marathon
Yep, I can't believe it either. I haven't posted in a while because there hasn't been anything that interesting to talk about. The bodyglide performed as advertised, so anybody out there struggling with chafing issues I highly recommend bodyglide.
I've done two long runs since I last posted. On the 13th I did a 20 miler and it was as hard as it sounds. I felt really really good at first and may have pushed it a little too hard because at mile 14 it all started to come apart. I was more tired at mile 16 then I was when I finished the 18 miler the week before so I'm not sure what was going on. When I was done I had some lingering soreness in the right knee.
During the next weeks training I would notice the soreness at the beginning of a run, but it would work itself out in the first couple of miles and not really affect me.
Then I woke up Thursday night puking all over the place, I felt like crap all day Friday and decided I should postpone my planned 20 miler for Saturday. I woke up Saturday feeling much better and made a plan to wake up early Monday morning and get my 20 miles in.
So this morning at 5:00 am in the pitch black of night I set off on a 20 mile adventure. It was a little scary running in the darkness, but also kind of cool. I've often thought recently that running is how myself and a lot of other adults "play" outside. Because of running I get to see stuff and experience things that I would otherwise probably never do, like running around at 5 am in the black of night for example. It was a neat experience to watch the sunrise (don't know the last time I was outside when the sun came up) and see the world wake up.
That was probably the only "cool" part of the run. I never really got into a groove and had a hard time keeping a decent pace without my garmin (left it at work). Then again at mile 14 things started to really break down. My knee's were the main culprits this time with the right going first then the left starting to feel it as well. So I decided to cut the run a little sort and did a "marathon shuffle" another 4.5 miles.
Now, I have some reasons for my last two long runs being crappy (lack of sleep, illness, etc.) but I'm starting to get nervous. The knee's now are what's really got me worried I feel like I could really use a few weeks off but I don't have that luxury right now. I also feel like I could use another long run before the marathon so I can have more confidence in being able to go the distance. I don't feel like I'm doing any real damage to the knee's but I don't want them to flare up at mile 14 again and be stuck with 12 miles of pain.
I'm just starting to think that 200 lb. people aren't made to run that far.
I've done two long runs since I last posted. On the 13th I did a 20 miler and it was as hard as it sounds. I felt really really good at first and may have pushed it a little too hard because at mile 14 it all started to come apart. I was more tired at mile 16 then I was when I finished the 18 miler the week before so I'm not sure what was going on. When I was done I had some lingering soreness in the right knee.
During the next weeks training I would notice the soreness at the beginning of a run, but it would work itself out in the first couple of miles and not really affect me.
Then I woke up Thursday night puking all over the place, I felt like crap all day Friday and decided I should postpone my planned 20 miler for Saturday. I woke up Saturday feeling much better and made a plan to wake up early Monday morning and get my 20 miles in.
So this morning at 5:00 am in the pitch black of night I set off on a 20 mile adventure. It was a little scary running in the darkness, but also kind of cool. I've often thought recently that running is how myself and a lot of other adults "play" outside. Because of running I get to see stuff and experience things that I would otherwise probably never do, like running around at 5 am in the black of night for example. It was a neat experience to watch the sunrise (don't know the last time I was outside when the sun came up) and see the world wake up.
That was probably the only "cool" part of the run. I never really got into a groove and had a hard time keeping a decent pace without my garmin (left it at work). Then again at mile 14 things started to really break down. My knee's were the main culprits this time with the right going first then the left starting to feel it as well. So I decided to cut the run a little sort and did a "marathon shuffle" another 4.5 miles.
Now, I have some reasons for my last two long runs being crappy (lack of sleep, illness, etc.) but I'm starting to get nervous. The knee's now are what's really got me worried I feel like I could really use a few weeks off but I don't have that luxury right now. I also feel like I could use another long run before the marathon so I can have more confidence in being able to go the distance. I don't feel like I'm doing any real damage to the knee's but I don't want them to flare up at mile 14 again and be stuck with 12 miles of pain.
I'm just starting to think that 200 lb. people aren't made to run that far.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
BODYGLIDE
So I have another new training partner for my long runs. It's this awesome thing called bodyglide. Often after long runs my wife has asked me "why are you walking that way?". I usually mutter a simple reply of "chafing". You non-runners or those blessed with superior genetics may not be able to relate so let me let you into this "dark side" of running so that you may understand why I'm so excited about trying this product.
When skin rubs against stuff (other skin, clothes, whatever) for long periods of time it gets irritated. I typically experience running induced chafing in two areas. First the groin area
OUCH! This is what causes me to walk funny for the rest of the day after a long run. Extremely painful and annoying.
The second area is the nipples.
More rare for me, usually occurs in colder weather (when the headlights are on) and yes it has led to bleeding not unlike our freind shown above. Not as painful as it looks, but still annoying and embarassing.
So you apply this stuff to your "problem areas" before a run and it's supposed to lubricate and protect so you can run for long periods of time pain free. The application process is like putting on deodarant and can look pretty funny as demonstrated by our buddy Bleeker. I plan on applying it before I leave the house in the privacy of my own bathroom.
Way to keep those upper thighs chafe free Pauly!
Now, I don't have the same problem area as this woman, but share her enthusaism for BODYGLIDE!
I'll let you know how it works for me.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Response to Joel's Dress Code Post
Since I couldn't adequeately relate this without pictures. I'm commenting to your blog Joel via posting on my blog.
Here's what I think:
Extremely baggy pants are out. This is not only ghetto but unpractical. How can you do anything with your belt around your knees. Also, I think you could just go with the boxers and save money on the shorts/pants to buy a new car because the shorts/pants don't provide any coverage.
The next thing I can't stand is emo pants. Everything is wrong with them so I don't know where to start. First, they were made for girls so only girls should wear them. Second, you are supposed to have a butt and these make you look like nothing but legs. Also, why would you want to attract women that are attracted to this look. Just wrong.
Oh PS
Congrats on the marriage Joel.
Here's what I think:
Extremely baggy pants are out. This is not only ghetto but unpractical. How can you do anything with your belt around your knees. Also, I think you could just go with the boxers and save money on the shorts/pants to buy a new car because the shorts/pants don't provide any coverage.
The next thing I can't stand is emo pants. Everything is wrong with them so I don't know where to start. First, they were made for girls so only girls should wear them. Second, you are supposed to have a butt and these make you look like nothing but legs. Also, why would you want to attract women that are attracted to this look. Just wrong.
Oh PS
Congrats on the marriage Joel.
Taking it Easy
Last week was a "light" week for me. I only ran about 25 miles for the week and the long run was a 12 miler. It felt nice to ease back a bit, but I've been feeling under the weather so it was almost as much effort to do the lower milage. I'm hoping to recover this next week and get in a couple of 40+ mile weeks with 20 milers before I taper down for the marathon. It's getting really close now, these are going to be the last bits of preparation I have before it's time to toe the starting line and run the 26.2.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Well how Sketchy are You?
Please Share!
Be Honest!
I was surprised at my own sketchiness factor, I considered myself a pretty solid person before this.
Be Honest!
I was surprised at my own sketchiness factor, I considered myself a pretty solid person before this.
Your Sketchiness Factor |
 |
Monday, September 1, 2008
Another week in the bag
I ran more this last week than I ever have before. I did a couple of 6 milers during the week as well as about 5 miles worth of intervals (Yasso 800's of course). Then to top it off I did an 18 miler on Saturday morning. It was "fun", I got to chase some cattle for about a mile which made me feel like I was racing a bunch of cows, and I saw another coyote. The magical beans helped again of course. I also saw a huge group of high school cross country runners which got me thinking about how far I've come.
When I was in high school I hated running. We had to run some for B-ball but it was usually some form of punishment, plus I think in high school I was just lazy. In the pre-season we would do like 3 milers and I thought I was going to die. Fast forward to college and I just plain didn't run until I woke up closing in on 250 lbs. I figured I should do something before I got really big so I started running. After some gnarly shin splints and other setbacks, I finally got some decent shoes and a good running program. I did my first 5k and have been hooked ever since.
The thoughts that were running through my mind as I saw those high schoolers were first, "man they are in good shape" and second, if you would have told me in high school that I would be running 18 miles and training for a marathon I would not have believed you. As recent as two years ago running 5 miles was a huge deal even thinkning about 10 or beyond was just craziness. Then I realized that a huge part of what makes me run is the whole idea of accomplishing things that previously seemed impossible. I know I'll never compete in the olympics and probably won't ever even win a local 5k, but I'll get the same feeling of accomplishment when I cross the finish line of the marathon, or meet my new time goals for a 10k, etc.
When I was in high school I hated running. We had to run some for B-ball but it was usually some form of punishment, plus I think in high school I was just lazy. In the pre-season we would do like 3 milers and I thought I was going to die. Fast forward to college and I just plain didn't run until I woke up closing in on 250 lbs. I figured I should do something before I got really big so I started running. After some gnarly shin splints and other setbacks, I finally got some decent shoes and a good running program. I did my first 5k and have been hooked ever since.
The thoughts that were running through my mind as I saw those high schoolers were first, "man they are in good shape" and second, if you would have told me in high school that I would be running 18 miles and training for a marathon I would not have believed you. As recent as two years ago running 5 miles was a huge deal even thinkning about 10 or beyond was just craziness. Then I realized that a huge part of what makes me run is the whole idea of accomplishing things that previously seemed impossible. I know I'll never compete in the olympics and probably won't ever even win a local 5k, but I'll get the same feeling of accomplishment when I cross the finish line of the marathon, or meet my new time goals for a 10k, etc.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
