My Better Me than You Log

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

Originally Posted by BamaDave

10 with 8@7:00 sounds evil!!

Yes, it does. Thankfully I was wrong. It's 10 with only 7 @7:04. Much better!

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

scheduled:Tempo Run 10mi, including warmup; 8mi@7:04; cooldown

actual: 10.31 miles

1.87 miles w/u
7.28 miles tempo 51:55 (7:08 avg pace)
1.16 miles c/d

splits for tempo portion:

0.76 miles - 5:27 (7:10)
1.77 miles - 6:53 (6:49)
2.27 miles - 3:24 (6:48)
3.74 miles - 10:23 (7:04)
4.74 miles - 7:25 (7:25)
7.27 miles - 18:23 (7:16)

Overall I'm pleased with this run. About 4 miles into the tempo portion I wasn't very happy, however. It was a particularly hilly section and I was kind of hurting. I'm beginning to think that BQing is really way beyond me. A 3:30 would be nice, though. The last mile or so lasted forever. Man, I felt pretty good after completing it. Honestly, keeping a log here is a great motivating factor. There's no way I wanted to come on here and post some crap numbers. Thanks for keeping me in check even if you didn't realize you were.

Edit:A look at my yearly totals tells me I passed the 1000 mile mark for the year during Monday's run!!!

[BamaDave]

That was a good run - right on pace! I think you should slow down on hilly sections, since tempo is supposed to be more about intensity rather than pace.

I wouldn't try to estimate your marathon abilities based on a run like this, when you've been running 10+ miles multiple times per week. A good predictor would be a 1/2-marathon race about 4 weeks out from your marathon, if there's one available.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

Originally Posted by BamaDave

That was a good run - right on pace! I think you should slow down on hilly sections, since tempo is supposed to be more about intensity rather than pace.

I wouldn't try to estimate your marathon abilities based on a run like this, when you've been running 10+ miles multiple times per week. A good predictor would be a 1/2-marathon race about 4 weeks out from your marathon, if there's one available.

It just so happens that I'm planning on running a half on September 30th. Four weeks and a day ahead of the marathon.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

07SEP06

scheduled: 11 miles @8:11 pace

actual: 11.29 miles
1:33:39 (8:18 avg pace)

some splits:
2.12 miles - 18:26 (8:42)
4.64 miles - 20:37 (8:11)
6.66 miles - 16:19 (8:05)
8.64 miles - 16:27 (8:18)
11.29 miles - 21:48 (8:14)

My legs were like lead at first. They were telling me "Uh-uh. This ain't happening." I loosened up a little and kept it pretty easy. It did start to drag near the end as I was getting really hungry. Plus the weather was like a mid-summer day with temps in the mid-80s. Nice breeze as well. Looking forward to a rest day tomorrow. Well, I think I'll do a little bit of lifting, but no legs.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

09SEP06

scheduled: 16 miles @8:11 pace

actual: 19.2 miles
2:35:02 (8:04 avg pace)

9.6 mile turnaround - 1:20:37 (8:24)
second half 9.6 miles - 1:14:25 (7:45)

Awesome run. The temps were in the upper 50s when I headed out. Even had some rain throughout. I was supposed to run with Laura, but about 6:30 this morning she called and weasled her way out of it. Something about her allergies. I gave her plenty of shit, but I sure know the feeling.

I was right on track the first half. I wanted to average 8:20s going out and would have if not for a pit stop. (TMI, I know.) I picked it up after turning back and when I hit the 15.5 mile mark I decided to push it. I might as well take advantage of not running with Laura, who never would have wanted to pick it up like I wanted to. With about a mile to go I spotted my friend Sheila about a half mile ahead and tried my damndest to catch her. I finished just a minute or so behind her. I ended up running the last 3.7 miles in 27:25 for a 7:25 pace. Pretty cool.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

I blew off the gym yesterday. How's this for an excuse: I'm so happy that I've started classes that have something to do with my major that I spent all afternoon and evening working on my accounting homework!

My run this morning put me over the 50 mpw for the first time. 53 miles to be exact. (Actually 52.99 miles to be exact.)

Next week with be lighter on volume. 10 miles on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, though I may cut Thursday's in half in preparation for my race on Saturday. When I talked to my daughter the other day she told me that she wanted to go and watch for me at the finish line. That made me feel pretty good.

I hope to run a 68:00 for the race. That's a little faster than I might be able to do, but that's what I'm shooting for. I'm pretty familiar with most of the route and it's mostly all flat and wide.

[kmwest]

Looking good Jim! Good luck on the race!

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

Originally Posted by kmwest

Looking good Jim! Good luck on the race!

Thanks, km! Hope to have a good report for you guys next week!

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

10SEP06

3 mile recovery run

Nothing serious. I just wanted to get out of the apartment for a little while and get some fresh air. Allowed me to stretch as well. I sure don't do that enough.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

11SEP06

scheduled 10 miles @8:11

actual: 7.55 miles on TM
1:00:00 (7:57 avg pace)

OMG! I forgot how freaking boring it is to run on the treadmill. I just couldn't take any more after an hour. And that's with being able to watch close captioned General Hospital and Judge Judy! Imagine having no TV! At least I ran those 3 miles last night to keep my weekly total on track.

As I was about to head out this afternoon, our cool, gloomy weather turned to cold, gloomy and rainy. I think I may have a cold forming so the last thing I wanted to do was run in 50 degree weather with a steady rain, so I went to the gym instead. As soon as I started running, it stopped raining. It didn't rain the entire time I was on the TM. As soon as I stepped outside to walk to my car, it started raining again.

I hope this little tickle in the back of my throat is just some residual crud from spending a few hours in a smoky bar Saturday night while I watched the race. My body is a little achy but that might just be from my long run this weekend.

[BamaDave]

That was a perfect long run - especially with the ramp-up at the end, it doesn't get any better! I can't stand treadmills either and can't even remember when I was last on one. I destroyed two economy-level treadmills when I used to actually try to run on them for warm-up or HIIT in my basement.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

Thanks, Dave. I'm real happy with it. I even had gas left in the tank at the end. I'm looking forward to 20 in a couple weeks.

[GG300]

I certainly agree with you on the whole treadmill thing. I didn't have a big problem with them when that was all that I was doing. Now that I am running outside consistently all I can do on them is intervals. Looking at those last couple of long runs of yours that Half you have coming up is going to be a cake walk.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

13SEP06

scheduled: 10 miles @8:11

actual: 10.1 miles
1:18:55 (7:49 avg pace)

A pretty good run. My left knee feels a little weird after that treadmill run. I think I shorten my stride on the TM and that's what causes my knee pain. My quads were feeling it more than usual as well. This happened on the last TM run I did months ago.

I very rarely see other runners where I live. If I run in downtown Grand Rapids, I see them. Not too many out here in the sticks. Today I saw two other guys. I even ran with one for about 3 miles. We kept a nice pace. I think we even picked it up a little as we went along. (a competition thing I think). Nice guy. He's training for Chicago.

Anyways, I'm cutting my ten miler tomorrow down to 5-6 as a mini-taper before Saturday.

[BamaDave]

I hate treadmills!

What's your goal for the Half?? You are well-positioned for a new PR.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

I hate treadmills!

This can't be said enough! LOL

What's your goal for the Half?? You are well-positioned for a new PR.

I don't necessarily have a goal time. It would be awesome to pull off a 1:30:00. That would be a PR by over 8 minutes. A 1:32:00 is probably more realistic. I think I can come close to that, especially if I can run a 68 or 70:00 on Saturday.

[twinsavsvikingsfan]

14SEP06

scheduled 10 mile @8:11

actual 5.66 miles
44:05 (7:47 avg pace)

As promised, I shortened today's run. I took it easy as my legs were a little fatigued from yesterday. I'm looking forward to the race, but I'm not nervous. I think that is because it's not a goal race. Of course, this might change tomorrow night when I am trying to fall asleep!