New week new challenges

This week should be crazy! 4 x 2mile runs at Half Marathon Pace this afternoon. Recovery run tomorrow, and 15 miles on Thursday. ...followed by 'Murphy Boy Weekend' (golf, volleyball, beach). I'll have to come home early Sunday to do some 'home repairs' in preparation for siding our house next month, so that is my day 'off'.

Tough Week

First of all, I'd like to say that I've just run my farthest yet, 14 miles! ...but it was TOUGH today, not sure why. Had to talk myself into finishing rather than going back to the house at about the 10th mile. I walked some of it, but I finished. Couldn't keep the pace from my new training plan, so we'll see where this takes me. I could feel my hamstrings getting tighter, but no issues there... ...yet.

The 12X1's workout was a disaster! I was no where close to the times I needed for the new training plan. I'm sure we'll make some adjustments and work on building my speed. I ended up running two days in a row instead. Not exactly what I was hoping to do..

Mechanically I feel great! No knee, back, leg, foot or any other pain. ...well, there is a toe issue, but that's because I kicked something REALLY hard in the middle of the night last week. It's purple now on the end of the toe under the nail, not broken, but it's sore. Not affecting my running though.

I think my issue is actual leg strength. Muscles just are not used to going that fast for so long. My legs are having less muscle twitching today than last week's long run, but that could be because I walked part of it and didn't push as hard... Pure speculation. I'm willing to listen to anyone's feedback on that one.

First Week of Nate Jenkins Training

Wow! What a week! I have never run that hard before for that long. I didn't do as well on the 7 X 1 miles. I only reached my goal times for the first 2 miles. I feel I should have / could have pushed myself a little harder, but I know I'm not used to running that fast.

My long run I feel I did pretty good! Stayed faster than my goal pace for 12 miles but ended up with an 8:10 pace overall after the last mile. I guess I can't complain to much about that! It took me half the day to recover from that run though. --discloser-- I did take an 8 1/2 minute pee break at about 9 1/2 miles into this... What a rookie!

My Revised Schedule

Below is my revised scheduled that I received from Nate Jenkins. I read from the Bay State site about the possible coaches I would have working with me, but didn't think about it to much until today. I just googled him... I can't believe I have this quality of a runner coaching me! I'm looking forward to working with the guy. Starting late as a runner, hopefully he'll be able to get me to the speeds I need to be at to qualify for Boston, or I'll know early on that I won't be able to make it.

What 40 year old qualifies for the Boston marathon on their first marathon anyways without any sort of running background?! Crazy old man!

Week 3 - It's ON!

I was beginning to think the 'coaches' for the Bay State Marathon were not going to contact me, but they finally did! Nate Jenkins sent me my first 3 weeks of training. He thinks my goal for the marathon is a little ambitious, so we will evaluate in the next couple of weeks based on how I do with the training plan he sent. MUCH more difficult than the plan I had laid out for myself from the one book I read. Today's run was tough. 7 X 1 mile runs at a 7:05 pace and 2:30 rest in between. I did great the first 2 miles, and then just couldn't get my legs to go any faster. I progressively got slower, but still was faster than 8:00 miles. I ended up doing 9 miles overall.

My goal for Saturday is 13 miles at 8:10 pace. I haven't run 13 miles since June of last year. My best 10K wasn't even than fast. Although my fitness has improved quite a bit, and I am faster now, this will be quite the challenge! Wish me luck!

Week 2 Completed

Great week! Loved my runs. I feel a little tired tonight, but that could be from the swimming we did this afternoon. I'm loving this GPS thing too. Took a new route and just followed my GPS, didn't have to think at all. I was able to just enjoy my music and have a nice pleasant run.

My 400M training was tough but I enjoyed them too. I had doubt a time or two on the speed I was trying to maintain, but was able to finish off pretty strong.

I am so addicted to running right now, I REALLY wanted to do more running this afternoon before we went swimming. Good thing I have my training plan, or I would be running way to much I'm sure!

I'm still using my Nike+ because it keeps me in touch with the running community I've used for support over the last year and a half.