The count down begins. It is 126 days to 10/10/10, the Chicago Marathon.
It is now 18 weeks away so it is time to get serious about training.
I feel good about going into this training cycle with an average of 40 miles per week base but not looking forward to training in the heat and humidity.
We are on the temperature yoyo. Today the temperature was back in the 50s. Not a bad afternoon for a 6 mile run. Recovery is going well. Just need to make sure I keep the mileage and the speed throttled.
It was a warm 63 degrees this afternoon. A nice but short lived treat. The forecast is for 40 degree weather Tuesday afternoon. None the less it was a great afternoon to get in an easy 3 miles.
Have spent the week recovering from the St. Jude Marathon last Saturday.
Took Sunday and Monday off.
Tuesday, I ran 3 on the treadmill at the Y. I would have preferred to be outside but heavy rain pushed me to the dry Y. Legs were stiff so I only did 3 easy miles and then headed for the whirlpool.
Wednesday was another rest day.
Thursday, I ran 6.
Friday was another easy 3.
This morning, I slept in and didn’t leave the house until 8:30 and ran an easy 8 miles
That puts the total for the week at 20.
Spent some time this week planning out the Spring.
Bob left a comment last week asking if I was still around and reminding me that I had not posted anything for a while.
I am still here and still training. In fact, I’m still on target for the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis in December.
I have been training using a custom schedule that I build based on the RRCA Coaching Certification I got this summer.
The plan has a heavy emphasis on building endurance with slow mileage. I have two more weeks in the “sharping” phase that includes speed work. So for October, I logged 236 miles. I have put in five 20-plus mile runs and have two more to go.
August 31 is the end of the meteorological summer, but today felt more like Fall. The humidity was low and with the wind from the North, it was a very pleasant 70 degrees. It was a great afternoon for a 5 mile recovery run.
Logged 192 miles this first month of training for the St. Jude Marathon.
Friday Gayle and I moved Sara and Laura Anne into their dorm rooms. This is Sara’s junior year and Laura Anne’s first year. Our nest is now officially empty and the house is quiet. I knew this day was coming but I guess some things you are never really ready for.
On the running side of things, training is going good.
I am following a training plan that I created. Since I am now a “certified” RRCA coach, I figured I need to be the gennie pig the first time around.
Currently, I am building my base miles and put in a total of 46 miles this past week.
It is hard to believe that it is already August and time for school to start. It is also hard to believe that no one in my family will be in public school this year. Sara and Laura move in the dorm the end of the month.
Did a few races this summer but mostly kept up my base mileage around 35 to 40 miles per week. So, I feel that I have a decent base going into the fall. But with the heat, it has been slow going.
Currently, the plan is to return Memphis in December and run the St. Jude’s Marathon.
The recovery period is over from the last marathon. I made it through the May races (GJCC Tri and Run4Kids 5K). So now it is time to settle in with the maintenance mileage of the summer. The hard part right now is getting acclimated to the heat and humidity.
Had a solid week of training logging 37 miles.
Next up is the RC Cola and Moon Pie 10 miler this Saturday.
Looking to the Fall, this week I registered for the Middle Half in October and am making plans to go back to Memphis for the St. Jude Marathon in December.
I have been taking it easy as a far as running is concerned the past two weeks. But when it occurred to me that the GJCC Tri on Memorial Day was fast approaching, I knew I could not rest for long. I needed to spend some time in the pool and in the saddle.
This past week I rode once, made it to spin class once and was in the pool three times.
My mantra for the summer is to have fun and not worry about racing. But needless to say, I do want to be able to finish. So, this past week on…
Sunday, Amy and I rode 12 miles.
Monday, I swam at lunch and ran 5 miles after work.
Tuesday, I made it to spin class.
Wednesday was a repeat of Monday.
Thursday was a rest day.
Friday, it was back to the pool and only 4 miles after work.
Saturday, I ran an easy 7 miles.
