Sunday, March 27, 2016
Chasing 3 Hours: Boston Marathon - Week 16 of 19 - Last 90 Mile Wee...
Chasing 3 Hours: Boston Marathon - Week 16 of 19 - Last 90 Mile Wee...: While my official taper does not begin for another week, I will be running slightly lower mileage this upcoming week, making this past week ...
Boston Marathon - Week 16 of 19 - Last 90 Mile Week Ever?
While my official taper does not begin for another week, I will be running slightly lower mileage this upcoming week, making this past week the last 90 miler of the cycle; maybe even ever. I can honestly say, I can't see myself doing this again; running maximum mileage, to the point of exhaustion day in and day out for weeks and weeks and months. I mean I have run every day since December 2nd, never dropping below 60, averaging 80 mpw in early 2016 and running close to 90's through all of February and March. The best way to describe the way I feel, is in what I told my daughter this week; practically every run feels like a I am pulling a plow!
The week was a decent mileage week, hitting 91, but lacking in quality, which was a bit disappointing. Tuesday I had nothing for a progression run, so I opted to do 4 miles on Wednesday night at MP, which felt pretty good. Ran lots of hills the rest of the week and finished up with a long run of about 21, which progressed from a jog to about a 6:40 pace, averaging 8 flat. Am I confident about a sub 2:50? Not at all, unless something magical happens in the next three weeks, so I think I will stick with the B goal of 2:53:xx and a well-earned Moose Mug.
Happy Running!
Rick
The week was a decent mileage week, hitting 91, but lacking in quality, which was a bit disappointing. Tuesday I had nothing for a progression run, so I opted to do 4 miles on Wednesday night at MP, which felt pretty good. Ran lots of hills the rest of the week and finished up with a long run of about 21, which progressed from a jog to about a 6:40 pace, averaging 8 flat. Am I confident about a sub 2:50? Not at all, unless something magical happens in the next three weeks, so I think I will stick with the B goal of 2:53:xx and a well-earned Moose Mug.
Happy Running!
Rick
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Chasing 3 Hours: Boston Marathon - Week 15/19 - Wave 1, Corral 3, B...
Chasing 3 Hours: Boston Marathon - Week 15/19 - Wave 1, Corral 3, B...: It is officially official now! Boston runners received their bib numbers and corral assignments this week! I am wave 1, corral 3 and bib 2...
Boston Marathon - Week 15/19 - Wave 1, Corral 3, Bib 2165!!
It is officially official now! Boston runners received their bib numbers and corral assignments this week! I am wave 1, corral 3 and bib 2165. It is gettin' real now! Only 28 more days and 14 of hard training left.
Speaking of training, I ran another 90 mile week (well 89, but close enough). I did a couple of moderately easy progression runs of 13 miles each on Tuesday and Thursday and saved my hard workout for Saturday, when I raced the USATF Championship 8k in St. Paul. I believe I stated last week that anything under 30 minutes would be acceptable; the race was not acceptable. Legs were not what they should of been, even with a very easy Friday. I can't blame the conditions, just didn't have it. Ran the first mile in 6:17, which I wasn't too concerned about, considering it goes up a decent hill and we were into the wind. I settled into mile two and according to my Garmin, I was cruising along at a 6:05 pace. Wrong! Mile two was also 6:17! Sub 30 was out of the question and now was starting to question a sub 31. I buckled down on mile 3, and cruised down some the downhills and pushed the pace. This helped and wound up with a 6:09. I started to feel better and again slightly pushed for mile 4 and a 6:07 pace. It was an out and back course and I knew at least 3 folks in my age group were ahead of me, so assuming I missed one, I figured I was in the top 5. With a half-mile to a go, a guy in my age group that I had just passed, flew by me and I knew another right behind me. I went easy up the last hill and on the last 800 meter I passed one and kept the other at bay, securing my 5th spot. I had no idea how fast I ran that last mile and was shocked to see that I ran the .96 miles in 5:35, so I think my problem may have been more mental than physical. Finished the race in 30:37.
Two weeks of hard training remain and I need to make the best of it. I will try to sneak in another race or two, just to fine tune things.
Happy Running!
Rick
Speaking of training, I ran another 90 mile week (well 89, but close enough). I did a couple of moderately easy progression runs of 13 miles each on Tuesday and Thursday and saved my hard workout for Saturday, when I raced the USATF Championship 8k in St. Paul. I believe I stated last week that anything under 30 minutes would be acceptable; the race was not acceptable. Legs were not what they should of been, even with a very easy Friday. I can't blame the conditions, just didn't have it. Ran the first mile in 6:17, which I wasn't too concerned about, considering it goes up a decent hill and we were into the wind. I settled into mile two and according to my Garmin, I was cruising along at a 6:05 pace. Wrong! Mile two was also 6:17! Sub 30 was out of the question and now was starting to question a sub 31. I buckled down on mile 3, and cruised down some the downhills and pushed the pace. This helped and wound up with a 6:09. I started to feel better and again slightly pushed for mile 4 and a 6:07 pace. It was an out and back course and I knew at least 3 folks in my age group were ahead of me, so assuming I missed one, I figured I was in the top 5. With a half-mile to a go, a guy in my age group that I had just passed, flew by me and I knew another right behind me. I went easy up the last hill and on the last 800 meter I passed one and kept the other at bay, securing my 5th spot. I had no idea how fast I ran that last mile and was shocked to see that I ran the .96 miles in 5:35, so I think my problem may have been more mental than physical. Finished the race in 30:37.
Two weeks of hard training remain and I need to make the best of it. I will try to sneak in another race or two, just to fine tune things.
Happy Running!
Rick
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Chasing 3 Hours: Boston Marathon - Week 14/19 - Countin' Down the D...
Chasing 3 Hours: Boston Marathon - Week 14/19 - Countin' Down the D...: When folks now ask me, "Hey, how long until Boston?" my answer now has become, 37 days, 12 hours and 47 minutes! The fatigue is ...
Boston Marathon - Week 14/19 - Countin' Down the Days
When folks now ask me, "Hey, how long until Boston?" my answer now has become, 37 days, 12 hours and 47 minutes! The fatigue is a permanent fixture in my life right now and all I can do is countdown the days, but I just have to keep telling myself that I have less than three weeks to a well-deserved taper; just 3 more weeks!
My week went well. Because of a scheduling conflict, my long run was a couple of miles short, so the total for the week was just under 90, but hey, close enough. I had a good Tuesday workout, running 13 miles, with 6 plus at marathon pace. The rest of the week was at a pretty easy pace, but I ran lots and lots of hills. Finished the week with back to back long runs of 15 and 19.
Things change up in the coming week, with the first race of the spring season. O'Gara's 8k is Saturday, so I may back off on the mileage just a tad, so I have relatively fresh legs for the race. I really feel the need for a decent fitness test after weeks and weeks of long, slow miles. Anything under 30 minutes would be acceptable.
Happy Running!
Rick
My week went well. Because of a scheduling conflict, my long run was a couple of miles short, so the total for the week was just under 90, but hey, close enough. I had a good Tuesday workout, running 13 miles, with 6 plus at marathon pace. The rest of the week was at a pretty easy pace, but I ran lots and lots of hills. Finished the week with back to back long runs of 15 and 19.
Things change up in the coming week, with the first race of the spring season. O'Gara's 8k is Saturday, so I may back off on the mileage just a tad, so I have relatively fresh legs for the race. I really feel the need for a decent fitness test after weeks and weeks of long, slow miles. Anything under 30 minutes would be acceptable.
Happy Running!
Rick
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Chasing 3 Hours: Boston Marathon - Week 13/19 - Legs Coming Back
Chasing 3 Hours: Boston Marathon - Week 13/19 - Legs Coming Back: The last few weeks my legs have felt heavy, concrete-like, so a slight step back in mileage was needed. They felt better this week. I will...
Boston Marathon - Week 13/19 - Legs Coming Back
The last few weeks my legs have felt heavy, concrete-like, so a slight step back in mileage was needed. They felt better this week. I will admit that I still have a ways to go, but the strategy of taking it least one day a week very, very easy seems to do the trick. This last week it was Friday. I normally do about 10 plus miles at a general aerobic pace, but this week decided to do 3 very easy in the morning and the same in the evening. Both runs were with my dog, Huey, so included lots of stopping, walking and sniffing the ground. (Huey, not me!). The legs responded well Saturday morning. Certainly, not race ready, but unlike last Saturday, my miles got faster and faster rather than the other way. Sunday I ran 20 plus and while not blistering fast, again I managed to get faster and faster.
So to recap, another 90 mile week, a decent block tempo workout on Tuesday, where I ran 13 miles and 3x4 miles, one at 7:30 pace, another block at 6:45 and the final one at 6:30 pace. I ran lots of hills, and also through in a very light progression run on Thursday night. A solid week, especially when compared to my performance in week 12.
The weather coming up looks glorious. Probably be making the transition from evening to early morning runner. Warmer temps, no snow and ice and lots and lots of daylight. Always love this transition. Need to have the legs recover some more and nail some more quality workouts. Only about 4 weeks of hard training remain and need to make the best of it.
Happy Running!
Rick
So to recap, another 90 mile week, a decent block tempo workout on Tuesday, where I ran 13 miles and 3x4 miles, one at 7:30 pace, another block at 6:45 and the final one at 6:30 pace. I ran lots of hills, and also through in a very light progression run on Thursday night. A solid week, especially when compared to my performance in week 12.
The weather coming up looks glorious. Probably be making the transition from evening to early morning runner. Warmer temps, no snow and ice and lots and lots of daylight. Always love this transition. Need to have the legs recover some more and nail some more quality workouts. Only about 4 weeks of hard training remain and need to make the best of it.
Happy Running!
Rick
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