Another Pretty Good Week

The miles continue to pile up as my running streak approaches 100 days.  It's been fun to watch my average miles per day slowly climb since the first of the year.  Now at 9.2 for 2013.  I'm feeling pretty good even after consecutive 80 plus weeks and some aggressive racing.  I feel ready for more miles and think this could be the cycle where I finally break 100 miles in one week.  It's not real important, but think it would be kinda cool.

I transitioned to all morning runs this week, even if the weather isn't cooperating.  I do have to get up earlier, so I can still get my mid week long run in and not be late for work.  Pesky job!  I raced again this week, a small, local and VERY hilly 7 miler.  I won my AG and was 12th overall with a 44:35.  Yay, another confidence builder!

Happy Running!

Rick

80 Mile Week, 20 Mile Run and a New PR!

It was a big week and and went a long way in giving me that much needed inspiration.  First, it was a big mileage week.  I managed 80 miles for the first time since my last training cycle.  Gotta be honest it felt pretty effortless.  Worked in my normal Tuesday track workout with great success and a pretty nice race, which I will get to in a bit.  Secondly, I managed my first 20 miler of the cycle, so this is finally feeling like marathon training again.  Finally, I was able to cap my week off with the Irish Day 8k in St. Paul and managed to break 30 minutes for the first time (29:46) for a bright and shiny PR.  I've said this before in this blog, but a PR at 51 is incredibly satisfying.  Proof that my best days are still ahead of me, not in the rear view mirror.  Add in a couple of doubles and you've got one helluva week!  Next up is the Get in Gear 10k.  I never thought I would be uttering these words at 51, but after today's performance, I think a sub 37 is within reach.  Really? Did I just say that?

Happy Running!

It's All Coming Back

I've been bemoaning the fact that I have had no motivation or inspiration over the past few weeks.  I nail most of my work outs, but there is just no fire in the belly.  I think I've resigned myself to the fact that I'm better off this way and to go out my business with workman like discipline and effort.  Not every run is a fist pumping, Rocky-inspired victory lap.  Those will come, but that really isn't the reason I run anyway.  I depend on the structure and the discipline, which allow me to cope with some of the sheer craziness around me.  This weeks running and training was anything but boring.  Was it life changing, no, but I felt comfortable with where I am at and managed some pretty damn good work outs in the process.  Fit in my first double in a very long time and am once again flirting with 80 miles per week.  Hell, I feel like I can thrown down a pretty decent 18 mile GA run anytime or anywhere.  Pretty good place for an old guy to be.

Still very few signs of spring, not even those smug, weirdos on their recumbent bikes hogging up the trails.  This winter has been so bad, I even welcome these guys back, anything that tells me that this winter is in the rear view mirror.  But instead, we have a winter storm warning for the next two days.  Blech, make it stop!

Finally, congrats to fellow sub 3 wannabe (now 2:58 marathon guy) Oleg, who broke 3 hours today in L.A.  Well done sir, you put in the miles and it finally paid off!

Happy Running!

Rick

Still in Search of Motivation

Getting back into a groove for this training cycle is proving to be much more difficult that I thought.  Things aren't all bad, I'm doing the mileage and hitting all the paces on my workouts, but there just is no spark.  I'm kinda enjoying most of my runs, but that extra bit of drive is just not there.  Maybe it's the weather and too much time on the track and treadmill or maybe it's the lack of racing or maybe I'm just getting too damn old for this stuff...  I'm through 4 weeks of 19 and physically everything is in order, but  I just know that with this mindset, I won't be able to make through another 15 weeks of work outs.  This week I will start moving my workouts to the morning and a double in on Mondays and Wednesdays.  That and a Sunday race may just be the thing to break out of this mental rut.  Hey, a new 8k PR would sure hit the spot.

I normally listen to more uptempo, driving stuff on my long runs, but found myself  "shoe-gazing" to some M83 to the first half of my run this morning.  This one seemed particularly poignant.  Here it is:

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=lAwYodrBr2Q&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DlAwYodrBr2Q

Happy (Introspective) Running,

Rick

Oh Yeah, This is What Marathon Training Feels Like

Pretty good week of running.  My Tuesday and Thursday track work outs continue to be successful.  Tuesday night was 11 miles of tempo work, with an average of 6:44 and the final miles at 6:10 pace.  Thursday night was interval night with 4 x 1 mile with the final two miles at 5:47!  I capped off the week with 18 miles and a well deserved nap this afternoon.  I'm only 3 weeks into this, but it is all coming back to me; how it feels to be in the middle of marathon training.  This could be a long cycle since I'm only up to 70 miles per week and not started two-a-days and already feeling fatigued.  I really need spring to arrive, so I can get back to morning outside running.  All these evening work outs are really messing with my sleep cycles.  Oh yeah, still no theme song!

Happy Running!

Rick