Week #1 of Training for Marine Corps Marathon

Oddly enough, after a fair amount of sleep last night, I really didn't feel up to the task of 8 miles today. I just didn't feel like I had it in me.

Even as I write this, hours later, I am so very glad I did it, but feeling drained, lethargic and unable to focus.

There were many positives to come out of this run, however. One-just getting it done. I could have skipped this one and just slept today, but I forced myself to get out there and do it-albeit it slower than I generally run-this was a survival work out. To make my energy last, I purposely kept the speed and effort contained and consistent.

I used the run to listen to "Phidippidations," a popular running podcast by steverunner. He's been doing that for over four years and I was aware of it years ago, but podcasts are difficult to me to consume unless I am on a long run. Therefore, with today's 8 miler, the podcast was perfect to keep me company and inspire thought as I slogged my way through the 75 degree sunny temperatures. My sandisk sansa has reached the end of it's usefullness, so I think I'm going to be a "late adopter" and get myself an ipod tomorrow. I like the red nano you can only order through Apple.

I knew that my teampointtwo teammate Nicole had her half marathon today and that motivated me to show support by running too. I recall thinking during the run today how she must have done and I had guessed, based on her running experience, training distances and speed, and previous PR of 2:00:57 that she was cruising for a sub 2 hour PR. I had guessed around 1:57:30 or so. She got a huge improvement on her PR with a 1:56:50! Big ups Nicole, or @runningbebe (pronounced ba-bay) on twitter.

The other positive I took out of the run was I was able to sweat off three pounds off the scale. I weighed myself after replenishing my water supply with 24 oz of water and Recoverite. I also had a sip of chocolate soy milk and a peanut butter and no sugar jelly sandwich with banana. My weight post run was 176 with 23% BF. I still want to continue losing weight so that in about 8 weeks, I can be under 170. I know with correct portions and mindful eating, I can do that.

Week #2 will be much better I feel. I need to catch up on my rest and Hammer Nutrition supplements. Staying healthy is one of the most important things one needs to complete the marathon. I plan to be tip top for Marine Corps come October.

Thank you for taking the time to read. I welcome your feedback and comments. If you are new to the blog or the sport of running, welcome!

Hail from my run

0626091744a.jpg, originally uploaded by CTIrishGuy.

Well, you don't see that every day.

I went out for a six mile run this afternoon around 4pm. The skies were starting to get dark, but nothing seemed imminent.

I had been waiting to leave for the run because the Cable guy, who had come to the house to install cable and and the internet cable moden took about 4 hours to hook up my service.

I was feeling pretty good on the run. The temperature to start was about 81 degrees but with a nice breeze. With the dark skies, i was more comfortable than I thought I would be.

On the run, I listened to Runners Round Table #4 from this past winter. It was with John Ellis and Matt "Dumprunner." They were discussing different marathon training methods and strength training. It was interesting.

I was rounding the corner with about 3/4 mile to go, when the sky OPENED UP. Now this was no normal summer thunderboomer. This was a flash flood waiting to happen.

The picture you see here is the size of the hail which began to pelt my frame mercilessly. At first it was a curiosity. "Oh, that's kind of cool, hail." Within seconds, it became, "damn, that's a LOT of hail."
In less than a minute, my brain was screaming, "Oh, my god, I am under attack by hail!" Seriously, it was hitting me in the face and arms likes dime sized rocks dropped from the Chrysler Building.

Soaked to the bone, I sloshed in my soggy 2140s to the eaves of a house and clung to its side like a hungry pup. It gave me enough respite to put my gps phone away in the armband and stuff it in my pocket in a lame attempt to keep it dry. Amazingly, my phone no worse for wear now, but it should appeared like it was going to need to be replaced when I was in the thick of the storm.

The storm continued and the wind, now gusting faster, swept sideways and smacked me in the face again. The house was no longer haven. It was a trap. i ran to the back of the house and positioned under another eave next to a propane tank. If anyone had seen me from inside, I must have looked like a water-logged burglar. The propane tank wasn't giving me much comfort, especially when I heard a loud "crack" and bolt of lightning lighting up the sky.

I figured I had to make a break for it. I had about half mile to go. I ran as fast I could through the flooded shoulder of the road. I got another 1/4 mile when a car drove by and asked me if I needed a ride. A guy had actually gotten in his car and followed me to ask me if I needed a ride! His wife had called to me in the rain, but I wasn't sure who or what the yell was intended for, so I ran on. I was grateful. I got in and the guy drove me to right to my door!

I have run in snow, rain, fog and night. This is my first run in hail. Cool.

Weird day for a Weird Week

Sorry to see Farrah Fawcett pass. Rest in peace. Racing "Four on the Fourth" on July 4th which is fun.

Week #1 of 16-Marine Corps Marathon

I am eating too much this week. I only had a couple of beers, but I've indulged in sweets WAY too much and it has resulted in an uptick in my weight this morning-178.5 and 23% BF.

I got my first ear infection since I was a kid.

Ran near the house for a quick 4 miler for the first time in nearly a week. It was great. My weight is stable at 175-176 but body fat needs to come down from 23-24%. Activity Route: -- Elev. Avg: 191 ft Location: Marion, CT, Elev. Gain: -13 ft Date: 06/15/09 Up/Downhill: [+331/-344] Time: 07:49 PM Difficulty: 2.3 / 5.0   Weather: Cloudy   63 F temp; 80% humidity   63 F heat index; winds ESE 5 mph Performance Distance: 4.15 miles Goal: 9' 45 min/mi pace for 4 miles Time: 0:39:57 Speed: 6.2 mph Attained: 103% Pace: 9' 37 /mi Calories: 556   Elevation (ft)   Pace (min/mile)   Splits Mile Pace (min/mile) Speed (mph) Elevation Gain actual +/- avg actual +/- avg 1 9' 37 +0' 00 6.2 -0.0 -10 ft 2 9' 25 -0' 12 6.4 +0.1 -33 ft 3 9' 32 -0' 05 6.3 +0.1 +30 ft 4 9' 40 +0' 03 6.2 -0.0 0 ft end 10' 53 +1' 16 5.5 -0.7 0 ft Versus average of 9' 37 min/mile

Posted from bimactive.com

The Iron Horse Half Marathon

Well, it's been a few days and I've had time to reflect on Sunday's race. Let's cut to the quick: I finished by gun time at 2:00:33. On my watch, I had 2:00:07. My GPS had it at 2:00:10. My friend who also ran said her watch was much faster than gun time as well because they only measured the chip at the finish not the START.

I'm going with it.

The day started beautifully. It was about 62 to 65 degrees to start the race. My wife and son got up real early to drive the 35 minutes to the race. Parking was easy and we walked to the meadows where we waited in line for the port-o-lets and then proceeded to the staging area for the start.

A friendly runner had reached out to me in the weeks before the race who was making the drive down from Vermont and running the race at about the same pace. He suggested we meet up and run together. I warned him I don't like to chatter and he was totally cool with that. He just wanted to have a race partner. What a great thing he did! In all the races I have run, I have NEVER run the same pace and with another runner for that long. EVER. It was motivated on several levels to have someone side by side for most of the race!

We ran with each other through 10.5-11 miles before my stamina and fatigue slowed me down. That company, however, kept me motivated because it was if I did not want to let him down by going too slow or go too fast too soon and blow up the pace. I think that strategy is a good one for me and I will look to do that for MARINE CORPS in OCTOBER.

As I said, through 9-10 miles, I was putting up a good pace. I can recall saying to myself at 8 miles, "I feel great. I'm going to maintain at this pace until mile 10 and then I'll treat the last 3 miles like a 5k-pick it up and do an 8:30 or 8:40 mile. When I got to 10.5 or so, it was all I could do just to maintain my 9:00 pace. The wind picked up. The sun got just a little bit stronger, and the temp climbed up to 72 degrees. I felt a little dizzy climbing a small hill at 11.5. Still, I pressed on.

There was one last small hill at 12.9 and it felt like a mountain. I shorted my stride, deepened my breathing and chugged up with as much power as I could muster before the course flattened out to the finish line.

I could see the teal and yellow balloons down the stretch of Iron Horse Boulevard and could only guess that my 2 hour goal was close as mile markers were infrequent and often misleading along the course. I was close but I couldnt' tell HOW close. At that time, Doug was about 2 minutes ahead of me on the course. My friend Marni and her friend Joann, with whom I had cat and moused earlier in the day, would finish just behind Doug.

I dug down deep to leave all the power I had in my legs and lungs on the course. There were no pains other than fatigue. Sure, my quads and lungs burned, but I tried to block that out. I saw the clock at 1:58:00 and started to go as fast as I could. I wanted this to be over. I wanted to finish NOW. It would be over in a minute, I told myself. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a co-worker: "Looking good Chris," he shouted. I saw my wife and son cheering at the finish, but I couldn't take my eyes off the finish line and the clock. Eyes and head facing forward. Straight ahead. Legs and arms pumping. My face must have been a shade of red that tomatoes get jealous of.

I crossed at 2:00:33. A PR by 6 minutes.

I felt great within minutes of finishing. No nausea. No aches or pains. Even the next day, the soreness was minimal.

People who knew my goal asked me if I was disappointed. "You must have been kicking yourself for that 33 seconds." Naw, I'm not kicking myself. I just kicked that course's ass.