What Is This Thing They Call Running?

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I have been taking a lot of time off these past few weeks trying to get this thigh back to where it should be.  I am going to keep this post upbeat because I have already had the depressing one earlier in the week, and I don't want to go there again.  I know what I am going to have to do to get this thigh back to normal but I don't want to do it.  I am babying it along and it is not getting any worse so I think that is the option I am going to take till after the Publix Georgia Marathon in just three weeks.

I Am No Longer A Runner

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I am not sure when it happened or what all took place to make it happen, but I can no longer call myself a runner.  Runners just don't act the way I have been acting lately.

I have been struggling with what and how much I eat for some time now and have tried to fix it but have not yet been able to stop eating like I am running 40-50 mile weeks with long runs up to 20 miles.  I don't eat horrible, I just make occasional bad choices and almost consistently eat too much.

If the eating was the only thing I wouldn't be taking the time to write this, but I have also had issues keeping motivation up lately.  I really would like to fix this as well, but I am not sure exactly what is causing it or if it is a combination of things.  I am not sure if the winter months have derailed me, or if it is the fact that I am trying to deal with a small thigh injury which has been causing me to miss many days of running that I otherwise would have enjoyed.  There is also the possibility that I am depressed from being just 3 weeks out from the Publix Georgia Marathon, and no where near where I was in training for the first two marathons.

You Gotta Know When To Hold 'Em, Know When To Fold 'Em

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It doesn't matter if I am running a race, training for one, or if I am just in my normal routine, when I head out for a run I intend on completing it.  Normally I am a procrastinator. If there is something I don't want to do or something that feels overwhelming it can be days, months, years, or even longer before it gets done.... if it ever gets done at all, but with running I am not that way.  Sure, sometimes it can take me a little bit to get out the door, but I always do it.

This brings on a new and different challenge, knowing when the right thing to do is to take the day off, or when to cut a run short.  Very few times have I not known what I need to do, as my body always seems to make it very clear to me, the problem is when I choose not to listen.  I can be stubborn that way and all too often I will push through and make the run happen anyway, or keep going when I know a run needs to be cut short.

Why Is My Thigh Doing This?

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This morning I woke up just before 5:00 am and got myself ready to run.  Everything was just as any other morning when I head out to run, everything but my thigh.  I started by asking the question "Why is my thigh doing this?" when that really is not a question at all.

As you are aware I am in the middle of training for the Publix Georgia Marathon, which is just over a month away now.  I was behind on the training for the marathon when I committed to run it which we will not go into right now, and so I am in desperate need to build my mileage and build it fast.  I am an avid believer that building your mileage too fast will set you up for injury, something I am very in tune with and trying to avoid each day.

I've Committed to the Publix Georgia Marathon

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If you have been following my training lately you would more inclined to say that I need to be committed for registering to run the Publix Georgia Marathon, rather than that I have committed to run the Publix Georgia Marathon.

The Publix Georgia Marathon, previously known as the ING Georgia Marathon, will be running through the streets of Atlanta and surrounding area on March 20th, 2011.  If I am doing my math correctly that is just 46 days away from today.  I am feverishly looking for a full marathon training plan, including a full taper (gotta have it!) that can be completed in 45 days (I am thinking about taking tomorrow off) so if you can help me with that it would be greatly appreciated!

Post Marathon Running in Indiana

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It is ten days following the marathon and it is time for a workout.  I am following Hal Higdon's Advanced Post Marathon Training Plan and it just happened to work out that my daughter's were supposed to run a workout today as well.  We are currently in Indiana spending time with family for the holidays and so the running is a little bit different than what we are used to.  Luckily, there is an asphalt trail system called The Sugar Creek Trail that starts/ends just a mile from the house that we have been able to use.

Yesterday we were dropped off at the far end of the trail near the bridge and the creek.  We ran the trail system all the way back to the beginning and then the mile back to the house.  The trail starts by running a couple miles down an old railroad bed and ends at a road.  There is a sign but it is not very clear and we had to guess as to which way to go.  The trail then runs about a mile on the country roads before meeting back up with the trails to finish off the last mile.

Reflecting on my marathon training and preparation

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Now that I am about a week past my second marathon, The Soldier Marathon, and I have had time to reflect on the marathon, the training, and the preparation I need to put into writing what I think I did right, and what I may not have done so well.  What about my training would I have changed, and what worked in that last week of preparation and what didn't?

When I started this marathon training back in July I made some plans on what I was going to do.  I told everyone that I wanted to lose 20 lbs from the current 183 that I was.  If I told you I met that goal, or even tried very hard I would be lying.  I am currently the same that I was on that very optimistic day back in the middle of summer, and yet I am now facing the unforgiving "They plump when you cook em" holidays.  This doesn't change the fact that I still want to do something about it, it is just not the best time of year to set that goal in motion.  Last year for my first marathon I weighed only 177.

Shaking it out the day before the marathon

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I am just back from 2 miles to shake out the legs the day before the Soldier Marathon.  I took it really really easy and ran on feel and not by the watch.  It still turned out to be very close to marathon pace..... let's just hope all those miles are this easy tomorrow :)

I am still not feeling great (sick runner) but today's run proved that all the breathing passages are cleared for takeoff.  If I feel this good tomorrow I will be fine.  I just need to keep on my eating plan (my plan) and keep the fluids flowing and all will go good.

I am getting ready to head out for some breakfast with my wonderfully supportive wife and then take care of some last minute errands and then we will be heading off to Columbus to hit the expo, pick up my bib and chip, and then take it easy the rest of the day.

Wish me luck! :)

Only Three Days..... and I AM GETTING SICK!

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All the many miles of training, the lost sleep, the changed schedules, and the sweaty clothes are all coming down to this one event - The Soldier Marathon.  I can't believe it is only 3 days away, but even more so, I can't believe my sinuses are starting to act up.  Really????

Last night and this morning my throat started to hurt.  This is not a good sign.  This is usually the start of a really kicker sinus infection or messed up tonsils.  I usually can slow this type of sickness or even stop it by getting out and running to get the blood pumping and all the passages all cleared out, but I have one small problem...... I can't run, because it is taper time!

Please, please, please!

What am I eating? The days before The Marathon

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One of the things I told myself after finishing my first marathon is that I would do a better job eating and fueling for the next one.  Last year in my first marathon I hit the wall at 21 miles and in retrospect I am confident much of the reason for that was a lack of fuel both during and before the race.  I was feeling great up to that 21 mile mark and out of no where my body said "I'm done"

One thing I never really thought much about before this attempt was the way I ate the week leading up to the marathon.  In all my races, and even in last years marathon I really only thought about the one meal that everyone talks about - the carb loading you do the night before a race, especially a marathon.

15 Miles To Go

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I am sure if I checked any map it would tell me that it was much further than 15 miles to get to Columbus Georgia from where I am now, but if you checked my marathon training plan you would find that 15 miles is exactly the distance left before arriving at Columbus and the Soldier Marathon.

Yesterday I finished off one last harder/faster run when I ran a 4 mile tempo run at a progressive pace.  I ran the first mile at a conservative pace and then kicked it up each mile to finish off the last mile at a 7 minute pace.  The run felt great and it is so nice to see speed after being in marathon training for a while and focusing on distance.

The Home Stretch (aka taper)

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It is hard to believe that the time has already come to taper.  So many things go through your mind when this time comes.  Have I trained hard enough, long enough, smart enough, or even the most basic have I trained enough?  Sometimes I catch myself wondering - will I even make it?  I am sure for those that run all the time, or those that are hopelessly optimistic that type of question never comes up, but for people like me it sneaks into the realm of possibility every now and then.  Then the questions and doubts start to come up about my calf.  Will it hold up, give me trouble, or will it leave me half way out on this mostly out and back course with a DNF and crushed ego?  So many things start crossing your mind during this taper time, but the one thing I need to remember is there is very little I can do to change the outcome of the marathon that is eagerly awaiting me at the end of this training journey.

It's All Downhill From Here

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Time sure flies by.  I can't believe that I have less than three weeks till race day.  It seems like just yesterday that Sony Electronics was contacting me wanting to sponsor me in a fall marathon.  At that time I was still planning on running the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon like I did last year.  Little did I know that I would find it to be sold out by the time I went to register.

November 13th and the Soldier Marathon is just around the corner and I have run the last of my 20 milers.  It is all down hill from here.  It is amazing the journey that I have been on these past few months.  I have had ups and downs along the way.  Times when I thought I was going to be able to crush the 4 hour barrier and other times when I was wondering if I was going to even make the starting line.  It was only just a month ago when I injured my calf and was wondering if I would be able to recover in time to run the marathon, much less the half marathon in the 13.1 Marathon series when it came to Atlanta.

Sometimes 20 Miles Is More Mental Than Physical

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I am not ready to get into a debate on whether physical or mental wins out more, but yesterday my 20 mile run was more of a mental challenge than it was a physical challenge.  Please don't read this the wrong way - I am not by any stretch saying is was physically easy, I am just saying that physically it was a done deal, but mentally I didn't want to even start because I just knew I was going to fail.

Three weeks ago I ran my first 19 miler of this marathon training schedule.  It was a challenge, but I don't remember thinking that I wouldn't make it (maybe I have already forgotten)  During that run around 13 miles I started to feel a tightness in my left calf.  I continued my run paying close attention to make sure it didn't get any worse.  It turned out to be the wrong decision and I should have quit at the first sign of something not being right.  (you can read more about it here) After all was said and done I ended up with two weeks of a lot of rest...... right in the middle of marathon training!  Not only was it right in the middle of marathon training, but was the two weeks around what was supposed to be my first 20 mile run, as well as the two weeks leading up to my mid-training half marathon race, the 13.1 Atlanta.

So much to say

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I don't like to post round up type posts and always have a main focus anytime I sit down to write anything.... except this time.  Life has been moving pretty fast and I have not been able to keep up.  The past few months we have been having a contest at work on who could get the most steps in.  The grand prize was a shiny new iPad and I wanted to win oh so bad!  The last few weeks the competition got fierce between me and one other guy which meant I had to "step" up my game.  He was 11,000 steps ahead of me going into the last week so I did nothing but run and walk and walk and walk every waking moment.  Since I did nothing but run and walk and walk and walk I just didn't have time to post anything...... the reason for the round up, scatterbrain post.  So, I am sure you are wondering..... yes!  I won the iPad!!!!!! by 20,000 steps.  A total of nearly 1.7 million steps over a 12 week period.

Now..... on to the running news

Sony is sponsoring me in my upcoming marathon!

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The past few weeks have been a whirlwind and so this post and announcement with all it's details is way overdue.  Lately my blog posts have been limited to modified versions of what was posted to my running log, or time sensitive posts that I felt were important enough to lose sleep over like my two daughter's recent XC time trial.

We all know what time of year it is, time for school to start, time for the kids sports to kick into the full on fall training, and of course marathon training.  All three of these have hit me harder this year then ever before, especially with both of my daughters running Cross Country this fall, and my son playing Football for the first time on the 9 year old team.  Looking at their schedules makes my marathon training schedule look like child's play. :)

10 Good miles - Plus 3 hard ones

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This past Sunday was my first half marathon distance long run of the marathon training.  I was looking forward to it, but anxious at the same time.  I was going to be running the first half with my daughters and a friend, and then finishing it off on my own.  My biggest concern was that I was going to go too fast the first 7 miles and then the last 6 miles was going to be brutal.

We walked out the door 6:10 Sunday morning and were walking to meet Sarah.  After a few moments we saw her appear in the dark and we were ready to go.  We started off slow as I always do..... especially on long runs.

After a couple miles Payton started to complain about her foot hurting.  She was playing around the night before running around the yard barefoot and had hurt it a little bit.  After assessing the situation we decided it was best to turn around and head home and let her call it a day.  It continued to hurt her, but started getting better the closer we got to home.  I still insisted that she stop at 4.5 miles and rest and ice her foot.

How is the training coming?

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If you were to stop me on the road and ask me how the training is coming I would first have to ask you to run with me because I am undoubtedly in the middle of one of them.  I would then have to ask you how far you want to run because when I start to talk it could almost always turn into a long run (or ultra if you ask my wife or kids)

A lot has been going on and I could go on and on about it, but I will keep it to just a few highlights.  Tomorrow morning will be my first drop back long run week of marathon training.  It is only 8 miles after the past two weeks being 10 mile and 11 mile Sunday mornings.  My daughters will once again be running with me, and may even go the entire distance (wouldn't that be awesome!)

First long run of Marathon Training

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This past Sunday marked the innaguaral long run of my marathon training for the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon.  I am embarrased to say that this was only my second 10 mile run since the 2009 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon Last November. Following the race last year I cut my miles way back and just have not been able to get my long runs back to where they were even pre-marathon training last year.

Last year before starting Marathon Training using Hal Higdon's Intermediate II Marathon Training Guide for the 2009 Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon (My first 26.2) I was regularly running long runs up to 13 miles. This year I have built my shorter runs and started running 6 days a week (much more than I was running last year at this time) but my long runs have not been over 7.5 miles more than a few times.

And so.... Marathon Training Commences

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I can't believe it is officially that time again.  I am very excited to start official marathon training once again.  After completing my first marathon back in November, the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon, I kinda crashed and my mileage went down drastically. I have yet to get back to the to the long runs I was doing before starting marathon training last year.  I mainly blame a lack of a goal for this.

I had already decided some time ago that I would be doing the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon again this year - I had tentatively decided this when I crossed the 26.2 finish line last year.  I knew the time was getting close that I needed to select and start a training plan for this years marathon, but figured I still had a few weeks.  I started to question my timing when I came across Kym Klass' post yesterday on DailyMile saying that she was starting half marathon training for the Chickamauga.  I started getting worried that I was a little late.  This was confirmed further when I read Drew's post yesterday at Running Recon mentioning that his training for the Chickamauga was starting today.