Plugging along

It's been way too long since my last post, but that just means I've been busy, which isn't a bad thing. I've also posted less because I started keeping a running journal in a little notebook. So I write in there every day -- kind of taking away from the blog.

But, things are going great. I'm entering Week 8 of the 18-week program I outlined leading up to the marathon. I mix in easy/recovery runs, tempo runs, progression runs, speed workouts and long runs on a four on/three off schedule. Runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and long runs on Sundays.

Last night, I actually completed my first 16-mile run, doing it in around 8:25 per mile. If I can keep that pace for 26.2, I'll be right around my goal of finishing the whole dang thing in around 3:45 (under four hours is really what I'm shooting for). I logged the 16 along the Toronto lakefront.

It started off fine, but then it started raining decently hard. I wasn't going to let a little rain stop my workout, or the nasty blister on my right second toe that was killing me with every step, either. I stopped halfway to tend to the blister and did the ol' mind over matter deal and plugged along.

Kelly actually drove up alongside me and honked about 11 miles in, because she said it was raining hard downtown and she wanted to make sure I was OK. What a great wife, huh? I told her I was fine, even though it was REALLY tempting to hop in the car and call it quits.

When it was all said and done, my left groin was killing me, my right foot felt numb by this point and the cold I've ben fighting had me feeling more than a little fatigued. Still, no excuses -- I got the long run done and I'll be better for it (even if I'm aching all over this morning).

I've had some quality runs over the past few weeks, too. Running along the lakefront in Milwaukee was surprisingly enjoyable a few weeks back. Getting in some runs along the waterfront in St. Pete, Florida was awesome, even if the heat was almost unbearable. Seattle? Got 10 miles in running from downtown, through a beautiful forested area and coming out at the U of Washington campus. Gorgeous. Also ran along the waterfront in Seattle -- another beautiful spot.

I also had the chance to run along that same trail I did before in Anaheim again -- right before getting some homemade enchiladas at my Aunt Linda's house. Awesome. I've been forced to the treadmill a few times, and forced to get up at 4-5 am a couple other times, but with the exception of one day, I haven't strayed from my program.

I've also cut out pop altogether and I stopped drinking any beer on the road. I was only drinking diet pepsi for the past two years or so, but I figured I should just stick to water, juice and gatorade. The result? Well I quickly dropped under 160 pounds for the first time since my sophomore year of high school! I did sneak in a cigar one night in St. Pete, but was punished two days later with a sore throat.

The running journal has been a good addition, too. I log how much sleep I get, I scribble down every single thing I eat and I log all my runs, obviously. I'll jot down notes after the run -- what hurt, what was improved, etc; -- and it's helped me keep a constant focus on this training. It's one thing to just go out and run. It's another to make this a sort of lifestyle.

On that note, I'll leave you all with a few quotes. I get little motivation quotes e-mailed to me daily from runnersworld.com (I know, sounds dumb right?), and there's a few I've received that I have really enjoyed. Here's a couple:

"What counts in battle is what you do once the pain sets in."
--John Short, South African Coach

"You only ever grow as a human being if you're outside your comfort zone."
--Percy Cerutty

"Everyone is an athlete. The only difference is that some of us are in training, and some are not."
--Dr. George Sheehan

"To describe the agony of the marathon to someone who's never run it is like trying to explain color to someone who was born blind."
--Jerome Drayton

Ain't that the truth...

~JB