Making way to start.

Weight 215. Ready to run. We are taking metro

Come back to this blog for tracking info

I think Figured out how to get the Marine Corps Marathon website to send updates to this blog, so that each time G, M, F, or I go through a checkpoint, the blog will be updated. Anyway, the race starts at 8:45am on Sunday...so come back and see how we are doing...I would like to be at the half marathon mark by 2:15 into the race or at about 11:00am or so...

Ran about 4 miles, easy pace around Trashmore, and finished with a Strommen hill. This is "zero" week, the week of the main event. I will probably do a couple more light runs, and then focus on rest, relaxation and stretching.

5 mile timed trial 44:00

Weight 215. Did 5 mile run in 44:00 (22:17 out, 21:43 back). Was hoping to hit closer to 43:00, but my pacing was off. Mile by mile breakdown was 8:59, 9:01, 8:28, 9:09, 8:23. My PR at this distance is 43:59, which I did sometime last month. Anyway, as I plug today's run into the race prediction formula, it puts me at a 4:15 marathon.

13 miles in under 2:04!!

13 miles in under 2:04!! Well, I beat expectations...I wanted to do this timed trial in 2:05 and I (we) did it in under 2:04! I ran with LC, who is always the person I run with when I REALLY want to push a pace. We started out with a 10 min mile, and took 2 breaks on the way to the 6.5 mile turn around point (Hooters) at 1:03:45. LC was really pushing the pace...then as we turned around, I got some juice in my legs and pushed the pace for the next mile, jumping ahead until LC caught up at mile 8. We then ran together the rest of the way, doing the last mile in 8:30!!! Now for an analysis of the times. If I plug this into my favorite formula, http://www.runningforfitness.org/calc/rp.php?metres=20950&hr=2&min=3&sec=48&age=35&gender=M&Submit=Calculate it put me at a 4:22:00 marathon...right where I want to be!!

Ran 3.6 miles in 34:10 (17:38 out, 16:32 back). felt okay. wasn't going for speed, just trying to get my legs warmed up for 13 miler on Sunday...hoepfully I can do 2:05 in that one (that would be equivalent to a 2:06 half marathon which is definitely a PR.

Got my stuff on Tuesday. I haven't done any running this week...can't seem to find the time (work, sick kid, lack of sleep). Will try to do something today (5-7 miles?). Still plan on doing 13 on Sunday, out and back...want to go out in 65 minutes, and come back in 60 minutes (with no sprint at the end) for 2:05. This is close to my desired marathon pace, so the mission here is to get my body use to it. This will also be a personal best at this distance. This is a critical run. Call it a 13 mile timed trial.

Weight 215: I haven't been this weight in 2 years. Anyway, did 20 miles (4:48:52) on Sunday with G and M. We started at 5:50am and it was a dark misty morning. We stopped at mile 3.5 for about 20 minutes to help a lady whose car was on fire. Spent another 15 minutes taking biological break at mile 6.3 (thank God for Burger King). From there, G must have felt really good cause he took off...M and I didn't catch up to him again until mile 16.5. His camelback ran out of water and he went to a convenience store to replenish. M's knees started to hurt (probably IT band). Anyway, I took off at mile 18, and made it home. Good run. Not as fast as i would have liked, but good company, and the distance was covered. By the way, I lost about 5 pounds during the run, so I need to increase my hydration. My order hasn't come yet, but along with the shoes, I ordered more gel and a waist pack with 2 18 oz bottles.

Did 16 miles with G yesterday in 4:24...very slooowww run /walk...but had fun, and the best part is...I do not feel too sore. Anyway, the plan for this week is a couple pace runs (3m in 29 mins, 7m in 68 mins), a hill run (5-7 miles), culminating in an 18 - 20 mile run. I also ordered new shoes (yep gt 2080 again!!) and some power gel. Hopefully it gets here in time for long run.

7 mile timed trial in 1:05:30

Nice balanced 7 mile time trial…33:00 out, 32:30 back, 1:05:30 total (mile by mile breakdown: 9:10, 9:43, 9:15, 9:38, 9:20, 9:25, 8:59).  This is a new PR for me at this distance.  My previous PR was 1:09:30 on 12/28/03 !!!.  I did this run non-stop with no hydration.  Temp was mid 70s and breezy.  Felt good the whole way, and have enough "juice" to sprint the last 100 yards or so, but didn't.  So how am I trending against my desired marathon time of 4:20:00?  Let's see…if I plug my 7 mile run of 1:05:30 into the website…it predicts 4:26:29 marathon time…okay, so I have a little work to do in the next 30 days…I need to bring my 7 mile time down to 1:03:50…I figure I have 2 or 3 more of these time trials to do…hopefully I can beat this goal.

So disappointed...I was supposed to do 20 miles this past weekend (Sunday) but had to cancel at the last minute; had some project work I needed to do...hmmm, it seems I am losing life balance...recently, i have allowed work to cut into time I normally spend on my well-being...need to watch it. Anyway, will do a few miles either tonight or tomorrow morning.

5 Miles today

5 Miles, 82 degrees with no wind. 23:54 going out, 24:30 coming back, 48:24 total. Objective was to have a balanced run at a consistent pace. No hyrdration used. Felt okay until the last 2 miles where I found myself struggling to keep going.

Weight 217: Ran 3 miles this morning (26:25, 13:45 out, 12:40 back, last mile 8:09). Wanted to treat this like a timed trial and break 25:00 but started too fast. Did 22 minutes of activity on Tuesday. 15 minutes of cycling and 7:25 mile on treadmill. Still feel a little something in my knee.