NYC: Week 9

Climbing the ladder

"There is a very fine line between hobby and mental illness. Many a runner has crossed it."   -Dean Karnazes

On Sunday - and for the next three out of the next four Sundays - the long runs get longer, maxing out at 20 miles in Week 13.  Nothing feels better than wrapping up that last long run before the marathon, but there are still a lot of miles between now and then.

This past Sunday, it was 14 miles, and it was the longest one since I had to pull up in the 14th mile of a planned 16-miler a few weeks ago and then battled a tight Achilles tendon and related calf muscles all the way up to Labor Day.  This time around: no problem.  The last three miles were a grunt, most likely because it was warm, and I also wasn't fueled quite enough and may have even been a tad dehydrated.  I've gotten better at stamina during warm (70+ degree) runs, but after a long football Saturday I wasn't 100% ready for a long run before a long football Sunday.

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When I was out this time, I started trying to keep track of all the random things that were going through my mind so I could break it all down later and try to figure out why I was thinking most of them.  It is odd, but it seems like by the time I turn the last corner at the end of my run I have some sort of amnesia about almost all of it.  I think I know why.

There is no way that I could spend the whole time evaluating how I feel during long runs.  If I did, I'd probably feel like turning around to go home and have a beer and cheeseburger.  Unlike a lot of people, I don't have a running partner - someone that can kick me in the butt if I started complaining or dragging.  That is more of a blessing than a curse, though, and I am not complaining about it.  I have to find the motivation from within to keep pushing on, as I have had to do during the two marathons.  (The added bonus at marathons is having crowd noise and loud music)

I also am lucky to have a very supportive family - especially Gabriella and Christy, who have been at the finish line for both marathons.  Although, I'm afraid that they have had to deal with my one-track mind most of the time and general lack of ability to talk about anything else.  They are troopers.

So I guess I'll just take the random thoughts during long runs for what they are...chewing gum for the mind.

NYC: Week 8

Food coma

Week 8 started off on Labor Day with the Park to Park 10 Miler.  Halfway through the training is a great time for a half-marathon or something close to it.  Given all the previous issues I had been having, I wasn't planning on it being very memorable.  It seems like every time I think that is precisely when I surprise myself.

I was cruising early - maintaining about a 7:15 pace - but most of that was downhill and through City Park.  Once exiting City Park at about Mile 3, there is a long slow decent down 17th to Mile 4, which is where the climb begins.  My pace dropped to about 7:20, but I still felt pretty good.  Miles 6 & 7 after Cheeseman Park are downhill, and i was able to recover.  At Mile 8.5, I entered Washington Park and was still cruising, but with over a mile to go I didn't want to kick too early.

I can only blame myself, but I was goaded into picking up my pace by a guy I had been jockeying back and forth with the entire race.  I knew the last mile was fast, but as we sprinted the last quarter mile, I didn't realize we were doing it at a 6:50 pace.  I crossed the line in 1:12:09 - a PR by about three minutes representing a 7:12 pace.  Definitely in the New York Groove. (Run details: Garmin Connect - Park to Park 10 Miler)

Personal plans often make it hard to stick to training plans.  I only ran one time the rest of the week, and that was a five mile run in high heat and humidity in Seguin, Texas.  I was schedule for a 12 mile run Sunday, but all the food and beer from a weekend trip to watch Wyoming play Texas almost put me in a food coma.

I'm not too concerned about it, as I'm afraid even if I would have been 100%, I couldn't have lasted long in the heat and humidity.  The only disadvantage is that I am behind on my long, endurance runs and have to jump from 10 last Monday to 14 this coming Sunday in order to start climbing the ladder before New York City.

I'm halfway to New York City.  8 weeks down, 8 weeks to go.

NYC: Weeks 6 & 7

Back in the New York groove

I'm late on week 6 but early on week 7 so I thought with the holiday weekend upcoming, I would combine the two and get on with Wyoming's season opener in Laramie tomorrow.

Basically, I struggled the first six weeks.  Between the heat, some nagging injuries, poor sleep and diet, and just general malaise, I was dragging.  This week was a turn-around week, though, and just in time.  I have the Park-to-Park 10 Miler on Labor Day and then all my long runs on Sunday start getting longer all the way until week 13.  I've eaten better and slept better, for the most part, and finally feel like I'm back on track.

Next weekend's long run will be in Texas, since I'll be there for Wyoming vs. Texas, and I'm quite sure running at 450 feet above sea level will feel pretty darn good!