The Marathon! (the short version)

Well, I made it. Finished the Akron Marathon this morning in 4 hours, 7 minutes and 49 seconds (4:07:49). Here are my split times. Finished right in the middle for my age group (male 25-29) at 27th out of 54 and overall I was 355th out of 786. I'm happy with my performance and it was an amazing experience. I had originally hoped for sub-4 hours, but that gives me a goal for my next marathon, right?

And when you read that "the last 6 miles of the marathon is the last half", that is totally true. I fell behind my 4 hour pace during mile 23 or 24 and it was a battle to not just walk it in. I was only momentarily disappointed, but I knew I was still on pace for a good time if I could get my act together.

Fortunately, I have no injuries to report of. I have a couple of nasty looking toes and just the faint beginnings of a blister on the inside bottom of my left foot. So I consider myself lucky. I started getting a cramp during mile 25 in my right calf (bad timing, I know) but it fortunately went away after a brief stretch and a bit of walking.

I would like to thank my girlfriend Kristy for waking up ridiculously early this morning and driving me down to Akron, cheering her heart out during the race, and being patient while I tried to recover and eventually make it back to the car. Without her support these past 5 months, I would not have been able to do any of this. So thank you Kristy!

I will try to right a more detailed account tomorrow. Hopefully I don't forget all of the details.

one last time

Well, this will be my last post before Saturday's big event, the Akron Marathon. I've spent this week eating a bunch of carbs, resting my legs, and trying not to think too much about the marathon. It should be a fun time. In case anyone is interested in the results, they have already put up this link which is where the results will be posted (supposedly in real-time). Hopefully I'll do a short post on it Saturday afternoon when I get home, with more details to follow later in the weekend. Friday evening I have to head down to Akron for their big pre-race expo which has a bunch of speakers, vendors and I pickup my bib number and electronic chip. Then back home for an early bed time as I'm getting up very early on Saturday as the race starts promptly at 7:30am. The weather is going to be great, low 70s and partly sunny, though it is going to be in 40s in the morning.

So thanks to everyone for your support (and patience) over the past few months. Time to put all that training to use.

Week #16 - Day 1

This is it, the week of the marathon. Just over 3 days from now! Did a nice, short run today of about 3 miles. I really wanted to keep it relaxed, so I just started running and went for just over 30 minutes. It was kind of nice to not be my usual retentive self, starting exactly at the mile markers and making my distances exact. The run went very well, though I did have some stiffness and some knee pain during and after the runs. Even though I made it through the half-marathon 2 weeks ago without major issues, I'm still concerned that I could encounter a problem like a did a few weeks ago when I was scheduled to do 20 miles but pulled up after 11 because of some hip pains. Not to mention the fact that I've had an annoying chest cough that has popped up just in the past couple of days. I really hope nothing pops up in the next couple of days to ruin the nearly 6 months of work that I have put in to do this. But worrying about uncontrollable stuff like that is only going to stress me out and make it more likely to happen. So I might try to get a few miles in tomorrow and then take Thursday & Friday off so I'll be all rested up for Saturday morning.

Week #15 - Day 3

Well, today was it. The last long run before the marathon. Just an 8 miler, but it was not easy for me. I guess it was just an off day. I went to the towpath and struggled along, finishing in 1:13:09 (9:09 mile pace). It was not easy and I'm not really sure the cause of it. Might be that it was in the early afternoon which is a very odd running time for me. And it had been a while since breakfast. Also, it was in the upper 70s and sunny today which is different than what I've gotten used to running in for the past few weeks. I'm not too concerned though, last Sunday's half-marathon went well and I had a great run on Wednesday.

So, the next week will see me do just a couple of 3 mile runs in preparation for Saturday's Akron Marathon. I just got my information packet in the mail today, so that was pretty exciting. They also have this cool tracking system where I can signup friends & family to get emails/text messages/voice messages informing them of my progress at each mile. So let me know if anyone wants me to sign them up. Under 7 days to go....

Week #15 - Day 2

The tapering continues. Was scheduled to do a 5 mile run but ended up stretching it out to 6 since I was feeling very good. Dug out the heart rate monitor for the first time in weeks since I didn't want to over-exert and kept it near 75% of max for most of the run. Finished in 56:12 (9:22 mile pace) which was pretty good for holding back. Went to the towpath and headed north and fortunately did not encounter any swarms of dragon flys like last time. The weather was great. I can only hope this lasts a couple more weeks. I'm scheduled to have another 3 miler and my last long run of 8 miles this weekend. Only 9 days until the Akron Marathon!

Week #15 - Day 1

Today I started into my next to last week of training, another tapering week. My program called for a 3 mile run, so that's what I did. That was the shortest run I have done in months, and since it's getting dark earlier and I'm getting home later from work, I headed up to the rec center to use the treadmill. Of course, I was reminded that I don't really care for running on treadmills (which is bad, since Cleveland winters will necessitate me to use them unless I stop running for 5 months). Also, it was not very cool in there and I was sweating like a pig by the time I was done, which hasn't been a big issue for me running outdoors lately now that the temps are down.

I was still a bit sore from Sunday's half-marathon, so I took it easy and did a straight-up 10:00 mile pace, so I finished my 3 miles in a half hour. At the park it would have been a breeze, but on the treadmill I kept wanting to give up. Thank goodness for TVs at the rec center (and Cleveland Indians games!).

In other news, I added my Personal Bests over on the side by my links. The 10K time is pretty embarassing these days, though I guess it is a good sign of how far I have come in my running since that was back in my second week of training.

Also, the results for the Buckeye Half-Marathon have been posted here. I finished #169 / 450. Not bad. Though I was only #14 / 20 in my age group for men. Looks like it is gonna take a lot of work if I hope to crack the top 3. I have a few more years in this age group, though it's just as hard one level up. Only time will tell where my running career leads.

Week #14 - Day 3 (a half-marathon)

Today was a nice little warm-up for the Marathon which is now less than 13 days away. I got out of bed at 6:20am and headed down to Cuyahoga Falls for the Buckeye Half Marathon. They also had a 5K going on, but most people were there for the half-marathon, like myself. I went to bed early last night and had not run in two days, so I was well rested.

The announced turnout for the race was 500+, so the starting line was pretty crowded. I started about halfway back and it took about 20 seconds for me to actually pass the starting line after the race started. I was pleasantly surprised to see that there were Pace Leaders, which was very helpful since I had forgotten my watch. During the first couple miles, I was hanging around the 1:45 pace guy, but then lost sight of him during the 3rd mile. And then during mile 4, the 1:50 pace guy came by and I decided that I would try to stick with him the rest of the race.

The course was all roads which had semi-restricted traffic. We stayed left-of-center on the street and the occasional cars would pass by, going either way...some drivers being nice and slow and moved over, and others allowing for the bare minimum clearence and not slowing down. So that was pretty annoying. But the most annoying part of the race was the run/walk guy that was part of our little pace group. At about the halfway point (6 miles), the runners were pretty spread out and there were about 10-15 people that were part of our little group at that point. That included a guy who would run and then walk a little bit. So I would pass this guy, and then a few minutes (or even a few seconds) later, he would blaze back past me, only to walk and fall back a few minutes later. There was no one passing me and I was still passing the occasional person, and I know it might sound silly but it was super-annoying to have this little cat-and-mouse game with this guy.

Anyways, the course was pretty rolling with it's up and downs. I enjoyed the down parts, and struggled through some of the up parts. Around mile 10, I started falling back from the pace group (which itself was shrinking). I really began questioning whether it was really smart of me to try to keep up or fall back to a more "comfortable" pace. But I kept up as best as I could, gaining ground on the downhill parts. When we hit mile 12 and I was about 30 seconds behind the pace group, I decided it was now or never. I hung back for most of the mile, and struggled to make it up one last hill. But on the downhill, I kicked it in a little bit and passed the pace group at about 12.9 miles. I had a great kick and passed a bunch of people that last quarter mile as I sprinted towards the finish. I ended up crossing the line at 1:49:45 (8:22 mile pace). The preliminary results they posted at the finish showed me finishing #169 (out of 500+). I'll link the results later when they get posted.

I was pretty excited about this. Looking back to my first race, that 10K not even 3 months ago, I'm very encouraged by being able to cut 1:26 off my pace today from that much shorter race. The marathon training has had it's ups and its downs, and I'm a little disappointed that I haven't been as disciplined recently as I was when I first started. But it's very encouraging to see the results like this. I'm a little sore, but nothing crazy. I was pretty wiped out at the end of the race, so it's very obvious that my marathon pace is going to be quite a bit slower. But I think today's results were enough to satisfy my need to have a "good race time", so the pressure I've been putting on myself for the marathon is a little lighter.

Week #14 - Day 2

Today was a great run. Got a late start after eating and resting for a bit at home after work. Started my run around 7pm at the Metroparks in Strongsville. Started off at a good pace, 17 minutes for the first 2 miles, and kept at it most of the way. In fact, I think I did my last 2 miles in around 8 minutes each! I just felt really good and was not laboring to keep that pace. The weather was great, low 70s, cloudy and starting to get dark near the end of the run. I did about 8 miles (I know, normally I am Mr.Precise, but I took a wrong turn and ended up going down the wrong path near the end of mile 4), so I turned around and did a little extra that I think put me at or slightly over 8 miles total. My finishing time was 1:05:53 (an 8:14 mile pace), which is excellent for me.

Not sure what caused that great run tonight. Might have been getting some extra rest between runs, the cooler weather, or doing it later in the evening after dinner. But whatever it was, I hope I can repeat it on Sunday at the half-marathon. I don't expect to achieve the same pace, but I am shooting for a little under 9:00 miles unless I find it too difficult to maintain. I have a bad tendency of starting fast out of the gate and tiring myself out too quickly. Fortunately I don't think it's too popular of an event, so I won't get overly caught up in the crowd excitement at the start. I'm taking the next couple days off to rest up for Sunday's race. Don't want to wear these legs out quite yet.

Week #14 - Day 1

Started the week off with a nice, short 5 mile run after work today. The temperature was in the upper 80s today, very unseasonable for Cleveland this time of year as it should be in the low 70s. But I'm sure in a few weeks I'll be missing days like this. I headed north on the towpath and realize that might be something I need to avoid in the future. The towpath runs right next to water (an old canal) and there were a ton of fireflys flying all over the place. In certain areas it was almost swarm-like. But I managed to survive.

I tried to keep my pace pretty slow today, but still managed to finish in a good time of 45:53 (9:10 mile pace) thanks to a little sprint for the last tenth of a mile. The run started with some knee pain which is new for me. I've had knee pain for quite some time due to Ilitobial Band issues, but this was actual knee pain. Fortunately it did not last beyond the first mile (replaced by a mild case of the standard knee pain I'm used to). I think I'll be able to keep around this pace on Sunday, if not better as I do hope to finish in under 2 hours. I know, time goals are bad, but this is the half-marathon, not the real thing. I can't help it. I'm a naturally competitive person and it's nearly impossible for me mentally to go out there and not have some sort of goal to aim for. Plus it will really help determine if I think I can try to keep the same pace for the actual marathon.

Week #13 - Day 3

The last scheduled high mileage "long run" ended up being not-so-high mileage. I started off well, probably too well, finishing the first 5 miles in under 45 minutes. During the 6th mile, I started feeling a little worn out, and it only got worse. I finished mile 11 in 1:44:56 (9:32 mile pace) and stopped. My legs felt like they could not go anymore, so I walked back the last mile to where I had started. I was very disappointed with my performance, but it actually felt more physical than mental this time. I've gotten tired before on the long runs, but I've never really encountered this "dead legs" feeling. And unfortunately I'm sort of new to all of this so I'm not exactly sure what the cause if it is. It may be having missed a run earlier in the week, or maybe just a culmination of the wear and tear on my body for 13 weeks of training. Whatever it is, I hope it goes away soon. The marathon is 20 days away and I have my first half-marathon a week from today. I'm thinking of trying to get back to 3 training runs this week before the half-marathon, and just keep the mileage down to something more reasonable.

Week #13 - Day 2

Went to the towpath today for my 8 mile run. Headed north and went 4 miles and back. Finished in 70:58 (8:52 mile pace). Left the heart rate monitor at home again this time, so I probably pushed myself a little harder than I should have. I was feeling pretty winded during part of the run, but did not feel much soreness or anything afterwards. Weather was nice. Hopefully it will be like this from here on out. 23 days to go until the Akron Marathon!

Week #13 - Day 1

I decided to substitute a nice long bike ride for this week's 5 mile run. Kristy & I headed to the Metroparks in Strongsville and took a ride from Rt.82 over to downtown Berea and back. About 15 miles round trip. We kept a pretty good clip, especially on the way back when Kristy took the lead. I was struggling to keep up a times. Might not have been quite as aerobic as running, but it was a good workout on the legs and, at times, on the lungs.

Week #12 - Day 3

Today was my long run and the first of two scheduled 18 mile runs. I'm happy to report that I managed to complete the entire 18 miles, in just under 3 hours (2:59:45 - 9:59 mile pace). But I did continue running for another minute or so, just so I could say that I've now run for over 3 straight hours. Yeah, it's not exactly the most exciting 3 hours someone could spend, but it's part of the training.

I headed south on the towpath, and given the great weather conditions (low 70s and mostly sunny), there were a ton of people out. Fortunately I did not get run over or cut off by anyone, though there are plenty of annoying bikers who just stop on the towpath and don't even look when they're starting to get going again. But anyways, I went from mile marker 17 down to 27 and then turned back and finished my 8 miles and gave myself 2 miles to walk as a cool down. And it seems to have helped to have the long walk since I'm not quite as sore as usual. I was getting pretty worn down the last 3 miles, but it helped to think that it would take me a couple hours to get back if I decided to walk it.

So just under 4 weeks left to go. This coming week will be my last full week as I start cutting back on week 14, for which my "long run" will be the Buckeye Half Marathon in Cuyahoga Falls, OH.

Week #12 - Day 2

The rain from the hurricane finally stopped after about a good 30 hours. And it stopped early enough that by the time I got to the park there were only a few widely scattered puddles on the towpath. I headed south and did my 8 mile run, completing it in 78:13. I was looking to keep my heart rate under 80% which I managed to do (keeping it under 75% for most of the run, at least early on. Trying to overtrain, especially since I plan to do all 4 runs this week instead of cutting back to 3 like I have for the past month. So tomorrow I'm going to do a 5 mile run, and then probably attempt the long one of 18 miles on Saturday.

Week #12 - Day 1

After my disappointing outing on Saturday, I felt like I had to prove something to myself today. I started off my five mile run feeling pretty good, so I pushed myself. I finished the first mile in about 7:48. And then I just kept pushing, and pushing. I left the heart rate monitor at home today, so it was just me and my watch. In the end, I had my best training run ever. Five miles in 38:53 (7:46 mile pace). That's just a second off my pace from last week's 5K (3.1 miles). Needless to say, I'm pretty happy with my performance. It wasn't easy, but I did it. I'm not going to go out and try to repeat this every day because I know training so hard will end up hurting me. But it was nice to have this one day to make me feel back on track.

Week #11 - Day 3

I was hoping to have some momentum carry over from my 5k performance the other day into this week's long run, but it was not meant to be. I started off pretty well, going north on the towpath. But I think I tried pushing myself too hard as my heart rate got pretty high (90% max) and stayed there for most of the run. I could only go 7 miles north as the towpath was closed beyond that, so I turned around and headed back to where I started with the intentions of going beyond and finishing up those last 4 miles to reach 18. But it never happened. I hit the 14 mile mark at 2:14:58 (9:38 mile pace) and kept going about another 1/4 of a mile and stopped. My legs felt like they were about to cramp up and I really didn't feel like I could go much further today. I was rather disappointed, but stuff like this happens. It had been a while since I missed the mark on my long run, but I need to try to not let it get me down.

This coming week, I am going to try to get back to the 4 days of training program. Since I did my long run today, I can run on Monday, and hopefully Tuesday and Thursday before next week's long run of 18 miles.

Week #11 - Day 2 (a 5K)

This evening I ran in the inaugural Merrill Lynch Bull Run in Brecksville, OH. There were about 150 runners (at least that is what they announced it as) and it was very nice weather. Upper 70s, overcast, and not very humid. It was my first 5K run, so I was very concerned with selecting a pace since my marathon training has gotten me so used to going at a reduced pace for a longer distance. Well, I started near the front and kept up pretty well.

We started going on a gradual uphill slope, up Route 21, for about 3/4 of a mile. We then turned down a street and I hit the 1 mile mark at 7:53, which was very encouraging. The next half mile was a pretty steep downhill run. I was feeling really good at the halfway point, but then we turned around and headed back up the steep hill we had just descended. It was a struggle at times, but I put my head down and leaned into it and hit the 2 mile mark at 15:55 (give or take a couple seconds). Once I ascended the hill, the last 3/4 was back downhill the way we had came, down Route 21. I really found my groove and kicked it into high gear, especially at the end. I hit the finish line right at 24:00 minutes even. So that last 3.1 miles was about 7:20 split for me.

Overall, the 24:00 equals out to a 7:43 mile pace which was much better than I had expected. I'm now very interested in trying a 5K on a more level course to see how I would do since I have always read that you lose more going uphill than you gain from going downhill. I'm not sure how I did in relation to my peers as I did not stick around for the awards, but I estimate I finished in the top 25% overall. So I'm very happy. I will post the link to the results when they put them up.

UPDATE: The results are in. I ended up winning my age group (25 to 29) and placing 33rd overall out of 123 runners.

Week #11 - Day 1

Another week, another few miles. Hit up the park in Strongville today. Went a different way this time and started at a mile marker, and it ended up being the only one I saw my entire run. So I have no idea how far I went, though I'm pretty sure it was a little beyond the 5 miles that I had planned on doing. I just ran for 25 minutes in one direction and then turned back and ended up running for 51 minutes. So even if I ran a very slow 10 min mile pace, I still managed to get through 5 miles. I kept the run pretty slow today as I wasn't feeling that great. I learned once again that I don't do well when running after a large meal. Also didn't want to burn myself out since I have the Merrill Lynch Bull Run 5k tomorrow evening in Brecksville.

Week #10 - Day 3

No real "day 3" run this week (as recommended in my book), just the long run on Sunday. And boy was it long. I did pretty good for the first 13 miles, but those last 4 miles were tough. My pace was slowly creeping up to the 10 minute mile pace, and hit the 11 minute mark for those last four miles. I ended up finishing in 2:54:07 (10:14 mile). I came the closest to stopping that I had in a long time, but managed to finish it up. The knees hurt pretty bad afterwards, as usual. Not sure of my running plans for next week. I have a 5k Thursday night, so I'm not sure what else I'm going to do for the week besides that.

Week #10 - Day 2

I had my first of five straight weeks of 8-mile mid-week runs today, and it wasn't much fun. There was the threat of rain, so I ventured off with my old wrist-watch as my stopwatch instead of the heart rate monitor, so I was left on my own for figuring out whether or not I was going too fast. Apparently I was as I finished my first mile in 8:24 and trailed off from there and got more and more exhausted as I ran.

I managed to finish in the respectable time of 72:32 (9:04 mile pace), though that is less than a minute faster than I ran the same distance six weeks ago. I think it's time to do some more research and try to figure out some strategies for breaking through this barrier and get back on the improvement track. I don't expect my long runs to get faster each week, but it would be nice to see the shorter runs improve.

Week #10 - Day 1

Well, here it is. The first double digit week number. Hard to believe it's been 4 months since my first run on the towpath. Today I took a rare stray away from the towpath and headed out to the Metroparks in Strongsville with Kristy. She took her bike and headed off down the trail while I settled in to do my 5 miles. It was very convenient that they had a half-mile marker right where I started, so I was able to do 2.5 miles and turn around instead of doing 3 out and 2 back and walking 1. It is an all-paved path and was very busy with bikers and occasionally got too close to the street for my comfort, but it was a nice change of pace. I might add it to the mix during these last few weeks.
Finished the 5 mile run in 44:40 (an 8:56 mile pace). This is slightly slower than the time I had 6 weeks ago! When I first started training, I was amazed to see the improvement, yet in the last month I seem to have peaked out and almost even slowed down a bit. It might be a sign of overtraining and my body is just getting worn out. Hopefully it is a temporary plateau and I can soon get back to cutting my times. Next run is an 8 miler that will probably be for Thursday.

Week #9 - Day 4

Today was the long run of the week, and yes it was quite long. 16 miles. I never would have guessed a few months ago that I would be capable of doing 16 miles of non-stop running, but here I am. I'm happy it's another personal best, but my body is busy trying to recover. I headed south on the towpath for the first time for a long run, and went much further than I ever had on my bike, well past Pennisula and a golf course. It was a great day for running as it was in the mid to upper 70s, completely overcast, and just about the halfway point there was a very fine mist (which I wish it would do every time I run). There were quite a few people out, runners and bikers, with it getting busier the further south I went.

The 16 miles ended up taking me 2:38:24 to complete, so about a 9:54 minute per mile pace. I kept my heart rate around the 80% mark for the majority of the run. Initially I was having some breathing issues, but those cleared up after a mile or two. I also encountered what felt like some numbness in my left leg around the 4th mile which I was afraid was going to make me stop, but it wasn't too bad and went away as most things do.

So there wasn't nearly as much pain during the run as there was after. I walked about 1/2 mile after the run, and with each passing second my legs started aching more and more. Also, I had some very sore chaffing spots under my arms and my chest. The outer knee pain also made an appearance, along with some sore feet. Basically it' s my body telling me it doesn't like running that far. But it's only a few more weeks of this, and then the marathon. So hopefully it can hold up.

Week #9 - Day 3

Took off day 3 yet again. Having skipped it for the past couple of weeks for injury reasons, I figured it would be bad on my body to suddenly add another day back in, along with 4 more miles. I'm going to try to get it in next week since my long run is staying the same next week. I am planning to do my long run of 16 miles tomorrow morning, hopefully bright and early.

Week #9 - Day 2

Another so-so run this evening. It was much cooler than yesterday thanks to an afternoon thunderstorm, but it was still humid. Physically I did not feel too bad except for getting out of breath. I managed to finish the 7 mile run in 1:03:46 (9:06.5 mile pace), but much of that was thanks to a hard push for most of the last mile, particularly at the end where my heart rate reached 98%.
Next run, a 4 miler, is either going to be tomorrow or Friday. It's pretty odd how I was so uncertain of things because of my knee pain, yet my big concern now is my breathing. I can't understand how I am suddenly getting winded much sooner when I'm running a slower pace than before. I have gone south on the towpath the past two runs, but there really are not any noticeable inclines, so I don't think that has anything to do with it. I'll probably do my next run going north just to see if that makes any difference.

Week #9 - Day 1

Kicked off week #9 with much less than a bang. Ran 4 miles in 35:58 (9:00 mile pace). While this is better than last weeks 4 milers, I was surprisingly laboring pretty hard to make that time. It's almost like I'm getting in worse shape as time passes instead of better. I was very happy with my progress following Sunday's long run, but days like today are discouraging. But I suppose I'll have my good days and my bad days, and this is just one of the bad ones. Knees did not feel too bad. They were sore during the day and at the beginning of my run, but were pretty good after the first mile except for the occasional flare-up. I think I'll try to get in my second run of the week tomorrow.

Week #8 - Day 4

Alright, now I'm officially halfway done with my training! 8 weeks down, 8 more to go (the countdown is down to 54 days!). I was pretty unsure about how today would go seeing as I had not run since Wednesday, and that was a shortened run. My knees felt better on Saturday, but when I woke up this morning I felt pretty stiff. I did a lot of stretching at home before I left and was very stiff, even after the stretching. When I got to the park, I stretched even more and finally started to feel slightly less tense. However, pretty soon after I started my run my calves were tightening and my knees were starting to ache. But I pressed onwards and felt looser with each mile.
I hit my turnaround point at 7 miles, and saw that it took just under 1:06 (9:25 mile pace). I was pretty excited about this as it was more than 30 seconds better than last Sunday's pace. However, my pace did slow. I hit the 10 mile point at about 1:36, meaning I was up to about a 10-minute mile. And I think my 13 mile time was 2:06, which is over 3 minutes better than last week. I finally finished up at 2:15:11 (9:39 mile pace). And I actually felt pretty good. I had let my heart rate creep up the last few miles to the mid 80% level.
I'm looking forward to having the day off tomorrow. With the help of some ice (which I'm currently applying for the 2nd time today at the moment) I hope I can be ready for Tuesday's 4 mile run. I really hope I can make it through the week without having to reduce or skip any of my runs. However, I now realize it's not the end of the world if I have to.

Week #8 - Day 3

I've decided to skip today's run and rest up for Sunday's 14 mile run. My knees are still quite sore and I think I'll do more harm than good by running today. Hopefully this does not become a weekly occurence.

Week #8 - Day 2

Not a very good outing today. Another late start because of work. Did not get started until after 8pm. I cut my run short after 4 miles because of pain in my knees. Was scheduled to do 6 miles. Took 35:12, so much better than yesterday. I'm going to rest tomorrow and hopefully be recovered enough to do 4 miles on Friday.

Week #8 - Day 1

Today is just one of those days. I wrote a nice long entry, only to have nothing show-up when I published it. Thanks blogger.

Anyways, long day. Got to the park at 8:30, finshed my 4 miles just as it was starting to get pretty dark. Finished in a very unimpressive 37:19 (9:20 mile pace). Between the long day, lack of food, and soreness leftover from Sunday, I had a lot going against me. I did end on a strong note though, as my first 2 miles took nearly 20 minutes. I managed to get a bug in my eye, which was less than fun. I think I spent most of the 3rd mile trying to get it out with no success. Hopefully I can manage to get my next run in tomorrow.

Week #7 - Day 4

I'm halfway there. I completed my own personal half-marathon this morning, doing about 13.1 miles on the towpath. The plan had called for only 12 miles, but since I had totally missed run #3 for this week, I decided to tack on the extra mile and change (not to metnion it was a big mental boost to know I've reached this landmark). I used my heart monitor and tried to stay around the 75-80% range for most of the run (though I think my max is a little higher than average, so it was probably more around 70-75%). I finshed the 13 miles in 2:09:20 (a 9:57 mile pace). This is about a 9 second improvement over last week's long run. I think the weather really helped this week since it was a little cooler and a lot lower humidity. I really felt good most of the run until the last 2 miles or so when I started to just get tired. My knees have been bothering me, but I hope they can recover and make it through a couple more months.

I'm always pretty much halfway through my 16-week training program (before you fault my math, let me explain). After week 14, the last two weeks are "taper" weeks, where I cut back and basically that last week I'm down to a few 3 milers and some walking before the marathon at the end of the week. So I'm halfway through the hard stuff. Only 5 miles from the most I'm scheduled to do before the marathon (though I am considering adding a couple miles to one of the 18 milers and going for 20). 61 days and change until the Akron Marathon!

Week #7 - Day 2 & 3 (sort of)

Well, unfortunately this is going to be the week of my first missed run. I left Ohio this past Wednesday morning to help my brother who is moving to St.Louis. We stayed at a hotel on Wednesday night and I was able to get ahold of a nice treadmill and complete my scheduled 6 mile run. I did it in 53:48 (8:58 mile pace) and smashed my previous record of 3 miles of running on a treadmill. I didn't think I could do it, but luckily I had the little workout room all to myself and some baseball on the TV.

But Thursday night I was out late, and we checked out of the hotel Friday morning and I spent that night at my brother's apartment. I fly back to Ohio in a few hours, and I plan to wake up early on Sunday and get in my next scheduled long run of 12 miles. Hopefully this is the last time I have my schedule thrown off like this, but I guess it's not the end of the world. In the long run, I'm sure it won't make any difference.

Week #7 - Day 1

Began the week with a 4 mile run in the tropical conditions which have overtaken NE Ohio. The dewpoint was something ridiculous today, and made it feel like a sauna even when it was cloudy. But, I have a schedule to keep to, so I did my run. Went north on towpath. Finished in 34:16 (8:34 mile pace), which is just a few seconds slower than my last two four milers. Not exactly the improvement I was looking for, but given the conditions I feel pretty good about it.

I did wear the heart rate monitor today, though I didn't really follow it too closely. The first mile I think I stayed below 80, but it slowly crept up throughout the run. I did some hard sprinting at the end of the run and saw my heart rate peak at 98%, so I wonder if my rate is a bit on the higher side of my "estimated" max of 194. They say you should flat-out sprint as hard as possible for 3 minutes, but I was only doing so for a minute before I peaked that high. I really need to try to measure my resting heart rate sometime, but it is not too often that I wake up "naturally" (without the help of an alarm) these days. Maybe next weekend.

Week #6 - Day 4

Today was the long run for the week, 11 miles. While I am happy to report that I did not stop once or walk at all, I did run at a rather slow pace. This was my first long run with the heart rate monitor, and I tried to stick to a good pace so that I don't overtrain myself. When I got to thinking about it, it seemed kind of silly that I was racing against the clock like every run is a race itself. It's just training!

So, for the first 6 miles, I tried to stay around the 80% mark. After that, I slowly let it creep up to the low and mid 80s. The last mile and a half or so, I got back up to my more normal pace and had a strong finish. In the end, it took me 1:51:14 (10:06.7 mile pace). Not exactly the time I was looking for, but I feel nowhere near as exhausted as I did last Saturday. Sure, my knees still hurt and my legs are pretty tired, but I don't feel like I should go sleep for the rest of the day. So while I was not excited about the time, I think in the end that it is what is best for me. Now I just hope I can improve a lot in the next 9 weeks. That four hour marathon would still be nice.

Week #6 - Day 3

Today was my second time with the heart rate monitor, and I basically did my normal pace to see what my rate normally is. And if everything I read is true, I'm training way too hard. I started in the mid 70% range, and slowly climbed up until I was in the low 90%s for most of my last mile. But I keep seeing improvements, so I might keep it up. It took me 34:07 (8:32 mile pace) to complete my 4 mile run today. It was hot and humid, and by the time I finished the sweat was just rolling of me. And there is no real relief in site. The local weather person said Cleveland normally has 8 days of 90 degrees each year. We've already had 16 this year, and it's only mid-July!

Next up is an 11 mile run on Saturday. Going to try to get an early start and avoid some of the hot weather. I think I'm going to try to start at a slower pace and gradually increase over time. I'm still in the habit of having my fastest mile first. Saturday's run will push me past the 100 mile point since I began training 6 weeks ago. Hard to believe.

Week #6 - Day 2

Today's run was not so great. I had been looking forward to what the local weather forecasters were saying was a "cool front" coming in. Ha! It's just as hot as it's been the last month, with just slightly less humidty. Anyways, my big excuse for the day's poor performance was that my new heart rate monitor arrived (the Polar S120) and I was messing with it the whole time. Well, halfway into the first mile the chest strap was too loose and it was falling off. Instead of stopping to fix it, I kept running and eventually got it fitting a little better. So my first mile, despite messing with the strap, I finished in just over 8 minutes. The second mile, when everything was adjusted, I tried to stick around 145 bpm, which is about 75% of my max heart rate, and is around what I should be training at. Well, when trying to stay around that rate I was doing about a 10+ minute mile. It felt like I was crawling!

After trying to stick to a lower rate for the first three miles (which took me nearly 28 minutes!) I gave up and just ran what felt like my normal pace the last two miles, with a little extra push at the end (which actually got my heart rate up to 189, which is pretty darn close to my "estimated' max rate of 194. I finally finished my 5 miles in 45:33 (9:06.5 mle pace). That's almost 3 minutes more than last week's day 2 run. Not exactly what I was hoping for.

So, in the coming days I'm going to try to read up on all of this heart rate stuff and how to incorporate it into one's training. I've been seemingly fine doing what I've been doing the past 6 weeks, so I don't think I should suddenly drop my pace just because of what a book or website says (though I'm sure they know much better than I). But we'll see. If you go to 10 different sites and look at their marathon training programs, you'll get 10 totally different routines. But when it comes to this heart rate stuff, it's pretty well agreed upon. But at this point I think it requires more research before I go and change everything up.

Week #6 - Day 1

Today was my first increased distance "short run", going from 3 to 4 miles. Conditions were just as crappy as they have been the last few weeks. I think the heat index hit 95 today, and it felt like the rainforest with the humidity. I was looking for a little variety, so I headed north on the towpath. I made an effort to slow myself down the first mile as I have a tendency to run my fastest mile on the first. So I think I finished the first in around 8:30, and then was a little slower each mile, with a slight improvement on the final mile because of running to the finish line. In the end, I finished in 34:09 (8:32 mi pace). Not great, but almost 2 minutes better than the last 4 mile run I did a few weeks back.

Week #5 - Day 4

Well, I hit two milestones with today's run. It was my first 10-mile run (yeah, double digits!) and my first week over 20-miles (21 to be exact). I managed to roll out of bed at 7am and get down to the park a little after 8 before it got too hot. Unfortunately, it was still wicked humid that early. But today was the first day I had my new Camelbak, so I was ready for good hydration.

I headed north on the towpath, so my 5th mile was run in territory that was new to me which is always cool. I was feeling alright though I was really getting hot because of the humidity and the rising temp. I slowed down briefly at the 5 mile point to get some water down. The Camelbak isn't quite as efficient as I had hoped. It takes some good effort to suck the water out of there, and it doesn't really come all that fast. And I found I was not so good at doing it while running, so I had to walk when trying to get water. After my brief water break (about 30 seconds), I started back up though my body was less than enthused. During miles 6 & 7, I slowed a couple times to get water down and hope for my second wind. Well, the second wind never really came, but I managed to go the last 3 miles without stopping, though those last 2 miles seemed to last forever.

Finally the big 82 bridge came into site and I finished my 10 miles in a time of 1:33:35 (9:21.5 mi pace). A little slower than my target time of 1:30, but not too bad. I'm thinking that the marathon conditions in October will be much better than the hot, humid days of the summer. My body is the sorest it has been since I started my training, so I am really looking forward to some rest. I might try to go biking some tomorrow, though no hills for me this week. I don't need sore legs for Monday's run like I had last week. So now 5 weeks down, 11 to go!

Week #5 - Day 3

Went from a great run yesterday to a not-so-great run today. I had a rough day at work, so I was not in the best of spirits which I'm starting to honestly believe has a big impact on how I do. The weather was humid and overcast again today as a thunderstorm was approaching. But of course, being the idiot I am, I still went running. I finished my 3 miles in 24:30 (8:10 mi pace). I was disappointed because I wanted to match (or beat) last week's 24:01, but alas I did not. However, that is my 2nd best time.

I avoided the storm while running, but when I started my mile walk back to where I started (I run 2 miles out, and run 1 back) it started raining, harder and harder until it was a total downpour. I ran some of the way back, but I was pretty gassed and I learned, with my rain soaked clothes, what it would be like to run if I was about ten pounds heavier....not easy. Good incentive not to gain any extra pounds. I think I've lost a couple pounds this week. I'm not really looking for much in the weight loss department since I know I need to keep up on my eating to keep my body up to the challenge. But I know I have gained some muscle, so I think some of that fat has disappeared. Rest on Friday and hit the double digits on Saturday with a 10-miler!

Week #5 - Day 2

Today was my best run to date. I felt good when I started, never encountered any back pain, and never really got wore out. It was also the first time I ran in the rain. When I got to the park and started stretching, I noticed it was getting dark towards the south. So, I started running north. After the first mile (which I finished in about 8:11), it started rain. The rain gradually increased and came close to downpour level at one point, before tapering off. It was nice to get relief from the sun, and the rain was nice and cool, but eventually my shirt got completely soaked and felt like I was wearing a heavy vest.

I finshed the 5-miler in 42:39 (8:32 mile pace). That is 21 seconds better than my pace from last week's 5-miler, which I am very happy with. I'm not sure why I felt so good running today. It might have been the pasta lunch I had, or the cool weather, or just the extra day off yesterday. Whatever it was, I hope it continues. My last 3-miler is tomorrow, and my first 10-miler is Saturday.

Week #5 - Day 1

Headed to the rec center today to do my last Day 1 three miler...well, until weeks 15 & 16. Switched up my routine a bit today and went later in the evening, after dinner. Unfortunately that seemed like a mistake as I started getting some stomach cramps late in my run. I started about an hour and a half after my dinner, but I either should have eaten less or started later. But I managed to get a decent time of 25:25 (8:28 mile pace). When I'm running at the pace I think I run outside, it seems much faster on the treadmill. I kept a good pace (about 8:30) for the first couple of miles but had to slow down as I was getting worn out, before I sped up for the last .2 miles. Tomorrow or Wednesday I will probably do my 5 miler, then do the 3 miler on Thursday.

Week #4 - Day 4

This week's "long run" was an 8 miler which I headed to the park to attempt. I was kind of looking forward to it since I'd be running further in one direction on the towpath than I ever had. But unfortunately, it wasn't the perfect run that I had in mind. Only a few miles into it, my thighs were getting tired which had never happened to me, and it was extra surprising since it was so early in the run. And during mile 3, the back pain kicked in hard again, but only lasted for about a half mile. I hit the four mile mark and started back. It was a hard run back. Unfortunately I walked for the first time, albeit for only about 20-30 seconds at a time, but I found myself doing it 3 or 4 times. The first few were to get some water down, the last couple were because my stomach wasn't doing so great and I felt as if I was going to get sick. It was hot, mid 80s with all sun and no clouds, and my water bottle got emptied early than I had hoped (can't wait for the Camelbak which should arrive Monday). Despite the walking, I actually finished in a decent time of 1:13:13 (a 9:09 mile pace), which is interesting because that's exactly a 4 hour marathon pace.

After the run was over, I drank a lot of Gatorade which I decided to start drinking after I read about the benefits of electrolytes and how you need sodium to sweat. Plus the marathon has Powerade during the race, so I should get used to drinking a "sports drink". I drove through the park a bit in some very nice air-conditioning, and then found a nice shady stretch of path to walk and walked for a little over a mile. Felt pretty good though my legs (now 3 hours later) are pretty wore out.

So I'm now officially 25% done with my marathon training. It's hard to believe that I've gone from barely be able to do 3 miles just four weeks ago, to doing 8 miles (and at a faster pace!). So hopefully I can keep getting my workouts in on a regular basis, keep getting them done, and improve my pace a little more.

Week #4 - Day 3

Another 3 miler today. Was a little short on time so I just headed to the rec center and hopped on the treadmill. I ran at my fastest treadmill pace, but it was still much slower than my run outside on Tuesday. I finished the run in 25:30 (8:30 mi pace). Pretty boring run. Fortunately there was no pain today. Taking Friday off and looking at Saturday for my 8 miler.

Week #4 - Day 2

This week was the first increase in my Day 2 run, going from 4 to 5 miles. I headed to the park and it was partly sunny and in the upper 70s, but still humid. I headed north on the towpath and finished my run in 44:27 (8:53 mi pace). The back pain did strike again today, though not until the end of the 4th mile. Not sure why it strikes early some days and later other days. Seems to be no pattern to it. I have another short 3 miler tomorrow, and then an 8-miler on Saturday.

Week #4 - Day 1

I got out of work early today and made it down to the park which was nearly deserted. It was overcast and only about 75 degrees, but it was rather humid. Today was just a simple 3 mile run (funny how I now consider 3 miles "simple"), and I finished in my best time yet, 24:01 (8:00 mi pace). That is 1:40 off my last 3 mile run on Saturday, and nearly 3 minutes better than last week's Day 1 run! I know it's bad to focus on time, but it's nice to see improvements and it gives me a good way to challenge myself on these shorter runs. Surprisingly I was not very sore today after yesterday's 15-mile bike ride from Brecksville down to Pennisula and back. I know I should ease myself into riding, but it's hard to restrain myself because it's fun to be riding again.

While my time was good, the run itself was not that great. Just after finishing my first mile, I had some very sharp pains in the left side of my lower back which almost stopped me. They did improve over the course of the mile, only to come back almost as strong near the end of the mile. Eventually they faded, but they had me very concerned at times. I need to read up more on some exercises I can do, along with some extra stretching to hopefully prevent this from becoming a recurring problem.

Week #3 - Day 4

Today was this week's long run, and is the first time I did not completely finish the scheduled distance. The book called for a 7 mile run today, but I managed to complete about 6.3 miles. There are two reasons for the shortfall: 1) I was really pressed for time since I had plans that I would have been late for if I went that extra distance (odd miles suck because I end up walking a mile back to the start) and 2) I needed water. The only time I have is from the 6 mile mark, and that is 53:24. So I managed to stay under a 9:00 mi pace, which is good.

So while this is the first time I missed my distance, it's really not because I could not handle it, so I'm not feeling too bad about it. I just need to be more careful with my time and not make commitments that I know will be hard to keep (or just get up and get going a little earlier). Also, I do plan to order one of those Camelbak things to help keep hyrdrated when running since it's only going to get hotter and I'm going to be running much further distances.

Week #3 - Day 3

I had hoped to get my 3rd run of the week in yesterday, but I did not get out of work early as I had planned, and did not want to put in the time. So, I did run 3 today and (despite my book advising a day of rest before and after the long run) am planning to get my long run in tomorrow. So I headed down to the towpath as it was a beautiful day outside, 75 degrees and mostly sunny. Headed south and finished my 3 miles in 25:41 (8:34 mi pace), my best time yet. I didn't feel that great, but I got it done. For the first time, my thighs hurt while running, so I'm wondering if that was because of bad stretching. I did some sprints while walking the 4th mile, and actually felt better than my regular run, so I guess I should think about doing more to warm up and get loose.

After my run, I walked back to my car and busted out my brand new bike for my first ride in I can't even remember how many years...and it was fun! I got in a leisurely 6 mile ride and managed to not fall over, hit anybody, or run off the towpath. It was hard to supress the urge to ride longer, but I knew my legs would probably not be too happy tomorrow if I did that. So I'm hoping to start mixing in some bike riding with the running as some "cross training").

Week #3 - Day 2

Returned to the indoors for today's four miler. It really surprises me how much I dislike running on the treadmill anymore. Actually getting outside has spoiled me. But it stormed yet again today, and was rather sticky so I didn't want to go out. Started off at a good pace but found that I had to slow up a bit. Finished in 36:05, so just over a nine minute mile. Been feeling some tightness in my lower left leg. Hoping that goes away soon. I first noticed it on Sunday and it has sprung up every day since then.

Week #3 - Day 1

Started the week a little later than I had planned. I intended to run yesterday, but around 4:30pm there was a torrential storm that dumped about 3 inches of rain in the course of an hour. So I scrapped plans to go to the park and headed for the rec center. I got there just in time to see them close up. Alarms were blaring and they said something about lightning hitting the building. Nice.

So today, I managed to get my run in despite starting over 2 hours late because of a long day at the office. It was hot, humid, and I wasn't in the mood. I struggled through my mere 3 mile run, clocking in at a less than impressive 26:53. I came pretty darn close to quitting, more so than any other time I have run over the past few weeks. I think I just had a bad attitude going into it, and that made it tough and not enjoyable. Hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Week #2 - Day 4 (a 10k race)

Today I took part in my first organized race, A Most Excellent Race in Cleveland Heights which benefits the Achievement Centers for Children. I participated in the 10k, and am glad to report that I actually managed to run the entire thing. Despite being in the morning (it started at 9am), it was sunny and hot, and there was not even a hint of a breeze. When I got back in my car after the race, it read 88 for the outdoor temperature. So running conditions were not too pleasant.

The course itself was pretty good. They had a number of streets blocked off, so it was pretty cool to run down the middle of these otherwise busy streets. I think there were about 3 much-needed water breaks along the way, and I managed to keep my pace and drink at the same time. I had been a little nervous about that part going into it. My only major complaint was the fact that it started on a fairly good incline (and finished on one too).

As for my time, I finished in 1:00:59. I had hoped to finish under an hour, but given the conditions I am content. I overheard a number of other people mention how bad their times were. So my pace was about 9:49. I felt pretty good most of the race, though I was getting pretty warm during the last 2 miles. Also, during the 5th mile I started to get a bit of a cramp in my lower left leg and had to ease up a bit. Fortunately though it did not force me to walk. I passed quite a few people during the second half of the race, which can be a bit of a morale booster. I started near the back at the beginning so I didn't have to get down on the fact that bunches of people were passing me.

So I experienced my first organized race today, which should make things with the marathon a lot more comfortable. Also, I eclipsed the one hour of straight running mark, which would have been a shock if someone had told me six months ago that I could do that. Planning to relax today and tomorrow and get started on week 3 on Tuesday. It is going to be another 3-4-3 week with a 7 miler on the weekend.

Week #2 - Day 3

Got my last run in today before Sunday's 10k. A 3-miler which I completed in 26:24 (about 8:48 pace, my best yet). I know that running outdoors has been much better for me than the treadmill as I have control over my pace instead of a machine. But with the temperatures looking to be stuck near 90 for the foreseeable future, it is going to be hard to keep outdoors.

Today also marked the first time I ran without my headphones. A lot of things I read say to not run with headphones, but I don't see any harm to it. It was definitely a different experience for me today. On the one hand I found myself paying closer attention to my form and my breathing, which is a good thing. But on the other hand, my mind was way more active. I guess the music usually dulls the voices in my head, but without it, I'm left with my thoughts, which can be a bad thing. So 2 days rest before the big 10k. Looking forward to it.

Week #2 - Day 2

I ventured outdoors today since it looks like it will be the last day below 80 degrees for the near future, as summer is now upon us. I headed north on the towpath trail. I surprised myself by clocking in at 8:30 on my first mile. But I slowed and did the 2nd one in about 9:00. Can't remember my split on mile 3, but I think it was the worst of the bunch. I completed the 4 miles in 35:29. Almost a full 4 minutes off my time from last week on the 4 miler, and my first time averaging a sub-9 minute mile. So I'm very happy with that. I really wasn't expecting to see such immediate improvements. It's very encouraging.

Week #2 - Day 1

Yes, I am back for a second week of training. Stopped by the rec center after work and got back on the treadmill. Wasn't really feeling it today, but made it through nonetheless. I guess after enjoying the run outdoors on Saturday that going back inside was pretty boring. But the rec center is much more convenient for me. So anyways, I did my 3 miles in about 27:58, or a 9:19 mile pace. I started at 6.4 mph, increased to 7.0 at 2.75 mi mark, and 7.5 for the last .1 mi.

Week #1 - Day 4

Well, today was it. The first "Day 4 - long race". I'm happy to report that I passed this test, with flying colors. I returned to the outdoors for this run, and it was my first real successful outdoor run. I think the time spend on the treadmill has given me a better idea of my pace. Running outside before, I think I was going too fast because I had no idea of my pace and therefore was wearing out too quickly.
The conditions were absolutely perfect today. It was totally overcast, 63 degrees, not too cool and not too warm. I started off at the 82 bridge and went to the Red Lock, 2.5 miles in a time of 23:22. I then turned around and headed back, and finished my 5 mile run in 45:53. So the return 2.5 miles I finished in almost a minute less, but this was mostly due to the fact that I basically sprinted the last .25 mile. So my overall pace was about a 9:11 mile. An improvement that I'm very satisfied with, considering I started the week around a 10:00 mile.
The run itself was much easier than I expected. I think I can safely say it was actually better than the treadmill runs. A lot of it had to do with the weather, but I was so worried that heading back outdoors was going to be my ruin. So now I can safely go back to the treadmill for the shorter runs and know that I'm not kidding myself into thinking they're helpful. I felt a little lower back pain in the 3rd mile, but it did not last that long. I'm looking forward to my Sunday off, and then back to another 3-4-3 week, followed by the 10k (6.2 mi) I'm doing next Sunday morning.

Week #1 - Day 3

Despite really not being in any mood to run after work, I headed up to the rec center anyways. My feet have been pretty sore since my run last night, and couple that with a crappy day at work, and I just wasn't feeling it. But once I got there and got going, I had no real problems. I made it pretty far without looking at the timer. I went most of the way (2.75 mi) at a 6.2 mph pace, but kept kicking it up at the end, and finished my 3 miles in a time of 28:54. A fair improvement over last time. Starting to get hope that I actually will improve my time with more training. Next run is planned for Saturday for 5 miles.

Week #1 - Day 2

I managed to find a little bit of spare time today to squeeze in my 2nd overall run. I'm usually not very busy, but there has been a lot going on lately and I can see it's not going to be easy to get my 4 weekly runs in. Especially since it's not very flexible given the recommended rest schedule between runs. It's not like I got bang them out M - Th and be done for the weekend.

Anyways, I went to the rec center right after work (a first for me, which actually worked out well) and hopped on one of the big treadmills, got the tunes turned up and got going. Through most of my workout, I didn't think that I was going to make it through, but I took it one mile at a time, and by the time I got past the third mile, I knew I was gonna go for it. And I did. Four miles in 39:24. Not too bad. I'm looking to get my third run in tomorrow after work, and then likely try to venture outdoors on Saturday for the long run.

Week #1 - Day 1

Today marked my first official training run of my 16-week training program leading up to the Akron Marathon. I am following the program laid out in the book The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer. It's a straightforward 16 week program, with 4 runs per week, with a short run, slightly longer run, short run, and long run.

Today was a 3 mile day, and I achieved it at the rec center on the treadmill, completing it in 29:20. I kept at a 6.1 mph pace for the first 2.8, and then cranked it up over 7 for the last two-tenths. I was pretty worn out at the end since it seemed hotter inside than it was outside. But it's nice to have the first one under my belt. Only 62 more runs before the Marathon!

twice in a week?!

I think this might be the first time I've posted twice in a week, which means I actually ran more than once this week! Being incredibly hot yet again, I returned to the rec center and took on the treadmill yet again. Although it was hard to keep going at times, I made it through 3 miles in 30 minutes, and then did another 1/2 mile in 6 minutes. I then walked for a little over a tenth of a mile, before ramping back up to 6.5 to 7 mph and busting through the 4 mile mark. Overall, 4 miles in 41:30. Not too bad. The back pain didn't really bother me too much, and didn't even appear until the 3rd mile. Afterwards, I made a rare visit to the weight room and did a few sets on the back recliner machine in hopes of giving that lower back a little more tolerance. Now I rest for the rest of the day and tomorrow before starting into my real schedule on Monday. Exciting...

first race

In an effort to keep myself going forward with everything, I plan to register tomorrow for my first running event. It is the Achievement Centers for Children's "A Most Excellent Race" in Cleveland Heights, OH. It is 2 weeks from this Saturday, and I plan to run the 10k (approx 6.21 miles). It actually works out very well with my training program, as I am supposed to run 6 miles that day. So I figured why not enter this race. It's a good cause and will be my first exposure to an organized running event, so hopefully I'll be more prepared for the marathon in October.

an indoor improvement

I took my workout indoors this evening as it was still near 90 degrees, even at 8pm. Fortunately, I was able to secure one of the larger treadmills at the community rec center and was able to get through my 3 miles without stopping, in a little under 30 minutes. Also, once I reached the 30 minute mark, I decreased my pace from 6 mph to 5 mph and continued on for another 1/3 of a mile. So I'm back on track to officially begin my training schedule next week. Hopefully my breakthrough on the treadmill can be carried over into running outdoors.

too hot to run

A few minutes into my run today, I found that it was indeed too hot to run. However, I still did manage to get through 2 miles without stopping. But unlike walking the additional mile and then going back, I went back from that 2 mile point. I did a bit of running on the way back, but it was so hot I mostly wanted to linger in the shade of the occasional tree. When I got back to my car and started it up, the thermometer read 96 degrees. I just checked the Weather Channel site and it's showing 96 degrees too! I now have one week to go before I'm to start my official training regimen, and I'm not back up to the 30 minutes of running that it uses as a starting point. Hopefully I can motivate myself to get a few more runs in this week.

another disappointing outing

I went for my weekly run today (I know, I need to increase the frequency of these), and it went just about as well as last week's run...which did not go well. The main issue today again was lower back pain. I took a different route today and went north on the Towpath Trail, and it seemed a lot less busy (i.e., less bikers). I ended up walking/running about 7 miles, and was pretty tuckered out afterwards, and my feet were actually getting pretty sore. I would guess that I did get my 3+ miles of running in, but not in a manner in which I wanted to. I'm hoping to get another run in sometime this week before my vacation. My training program starts in 3 weeks, and I'm not at the level I should be yet.

not so good to be back

I went for my first run today in two weeks because I had been sick for a while, and the time off took it's toll. I went to the towpath again, and got through about a mile and a half before I needed to walk or have my lungs explode. So I walked the remaining mile to my checkpoint, and then turned around started running back. I think I got about a mile, and then my lower back on my left side started tightening up and I had to stop again. For the remaining mile and a half back to where I started, I did a few sprints and some short jogs before my back tightened up again. So I was able to get at least the 3 miles that I was looking for, but it was definitely not the way I wanted to do it.

Back indoors

It was snowing and 30 degrees outside today, so another outdoor run was out of the question. So it was back to the rec center and the treadmill. After a five minute walk, I ran for 30 minutes straight, doing just over 3.1 miles. Stayed at the same pace until the last 100 seconds, when I increased it by one mph to finish strong. I then walked on the treadmill for another five minutes, and then walked around the hall for about ten. It was pretty warm in there, so I was feeling pretty thirsty. So the official training program starts in a little over a month, and I'm already at the "able to run for 30 minutes straight" level, so hopefully I can get some good runs in between now and then so those first couple weeks of the official training program go pretty easy, and maybe I can have my pace up a little bit by then.

afternoon in the park

Went to the park today and took a run along the canal towpath. First time I had been down there, and it looks like it is going to be an excellent place for me to train. Lots of bikers, but they were all courteous.

After taking a long walk through the park to get to the path, I ran 2.5 miles. I then walked halfway back, 1.25 miles, before running the remaining 1.25 miles back to where I got on the path. Need to get a stopwatch one of these days to get an idea of what speed (or lack thereof) I'm at. I think the 1.25 miles was around 10 minutes, so an 8 minute mile pace. Not exactly blazing speed, but it's a start.

Welcome to "My First Marathon"

I started this site to log my personal progress as I begin preparing for my first marathon. For the last few years, I have had a goal of running a marathon, but it has never gotten beyond the wishful thinking stage. I am a beginner runner, so I am pretty much starting off at square one with this whole thing. I try to run on the treadmill at the gym every now and then to help stay in shape, but I usually never last more than 20 minutes of straight running...and even then, it's pretty slow.

So my goal is to run in and complete the Akron Marathon on October 1, 2005. As my training guide, I will be using The Non-Runner's Marathon Trainer. It was written by a couple college professors who teach a course at Northern Iowa University, which basically teaches the students the physical and mental things they need to do and know to be ready for the marathon. And all but 1 of their students was able to complete it by the end of the course, and many of the students were first-time runners. So, I have a 174 days to prepare.

This afternoon, I went to the gym, walked for 5 minutes, then ran for 20 minutes straight at a 6mph pace, then walked for another 25 minutes, and then ran another 5 minutes at a 6mph pace. I then walked around the hall for about 10 minutes to cool down. I weighed in at 172.5.