what's next?

So, I'm thrilled to say the marathon is past now.

Very brief recap - I DNF'd. I slipped on some cups at mile 10 water stop and wrenched my back trying to stay off the ground. Kept going at glacial pace, but felt worse the further I went, and when I reached my family near the mile 18 mark, I called it quits. Not my best day, but met some amazing people and had fun. Most important of all, with the help of family and friends, I raised $5400+ for Neuroblastoma research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. That is literally the only reason I was out there on race day. So using that as my guide, the day was a complete success.

As for my back, it took about a week and a half, but with some low key cardio to get the muscles warm, and gentle stretching, my back seems to be fine now. The first day after the race, well, I looked like I was 90 years old, but yep, back to normal now.

Anyways, having said all that....

I'm running just small stuff now, 3- and 4-milers, will throw a 6-miler in on the weekend, and am loving it again. No pressure, just enjoying it.

I'm in the lottery for the NYC Half, and should know in the next week or so if I got an entry for the race, which is late March sometime. If I get in, I'll slowly ramp my mileage up again. If I don't get in, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing, maybe getting myself back up to 20-25 miles a week by May. No pressure, just fun and fitness. And 100-on-100 in August. :-)

I haven't been on here for a while. Guess I don't have much to say for myself. :-)

Running is progressing, sort of. My marathon training schedule is moving along, I'm trying to keep up. I'm still doing the run/walk/run/walk thing. Actually, at this point, the marathon is the least of my worries. 100-on-100 is just over two weeks off and although I know I can cover the distance, my speed will be so far off from what my teammates are doing. I will definitely be the turtle of the team.

On a sad note, my dog-nephew (i.e. my brother's doggie) died yesterday. He was the best doggie, just the sweetest boy ever.

3 more weeks and then the fun starts

Well, it's Monday 14 June. Three more weeks of base-building and maintenance. Right now, I'm running 4 days per week, 3-4 miles on the weekday runs, and 5 miles or so on the weekend "long" run. My midweek miles are ahead of my training plan's first week, weekend long run is where it's supposed to be. Only problem being that I'm not exactly running all that mileage - definitely doing the run/walk/run/walk methodology because that's where my fitness is at.

So, on July 5th, my 18 week marathon training plan starts. heaven help me LOL. I'm not sure why I get so worked up about this, since I've run 5 of these things. But I've never run one well. Focus, pay attention to the plan, FOLLOW the plan, and it'll be fine on race day.

Can't believe where my fitness is right now. As the weight climbed pound by pound, I never really noticed what my body looks like, because it's gradual. But every once in a while, I'll be walking by a store window that's reflective, or like yesterday, catching sight of myself in the full length mirror at the gym, and well holy crap, it ain't pretty. Just way too round at the moment.

Anyways, I've done all the runs on my plan this week (a 2, a 3, and a 3). I know they're tiny short runs, but I'm glad to be doing them and glad to check them off my schedule every day. I've tacked on an extra mile or so of walking at an incline for an additional calorie burn after those runs.

SRD today, back at it tomorrow with 5 miles.

it's all planned out now

I've picked my training plan for my fall marathon (Hal Higdon Novice I). Actually, it's his Novice Supreme plan, for beginner beginner runners, but essentially that's what I am right now. Fitness level is pretty poor, and endurance is pretty poor too. In other words, I have no business planning to run a marathon this fall - but hey, I'm gonna do it anyways - I have enough experience at this distance to know I can get the job done. So back to square one.

I've laid out the next 3 months of the schedule on my chalk-board at home. Learn it, do it.

I also started mixing in some cross-training yesterday. wait for it... Step aerobics. I'm having a flash-back to the early 90s. But I've gotta say, it's different than other stuff I'm doing, so was a pretty good workout. Muscle confusion. I'll mix in other x-t options as well. If it ever warms up, I'll pull my bike out of the basement.

I'm working to take off 30-35 pounds before my fall marathon, which is a pretty tall order. Race day is a little less than 26 weeks away. I'll report in every Saturday morning with my progress.

James Fortner, aka Jim2

I'm so sorry to say that Jim2, James Fortner, one of the kindest people I've never met, recently passed away after a short, but tremendously courageous battle with cancer.

Jim2 was a legend - a thoughtful, kind, legend - on the Runners World Online (RWOL) forums. He had a ton of knowledge, but more importantly, a ton of class. He could step into any thread on the forum, and offer insight into the discussion. No matter how many times a question was posed, Jim2 offered a patient answer. Jim always had a kind, considered, thoughtful response, and his knowledge of running and generosity of spirit were valued so deeply.

From his diagnosis, which he talked about here, through his treatment and updates (here's the last one), Jim inspired all of us who are regulars on the RWOL forums with his strength and sense of humor while operating under the worst of circumstances.

Here's to Jim's 3rd running life. RIP Jim Fortner.

The weather was great over the weekend, sunny and high 40s. DBF and I walked into town on Saturday, along the lake, and back home for total of 7.6 miles. Not running, but 7.6 miles nonetheless. Sunday, my Sis#1 and I went for a power walk, only 2.25 miles but better than nothing.

Today is SRD due to class tonight. Back to the running tomorrow with 3 miles after work...

I've taken a base-building schedule, and a marathon training schedule, put them together and then stretched them out (i.e. together they were 30 weeks, and I've stretched them out to 36 weeks). More time for my base-building, and also have repeated some weeks during the marathon training. I think it'll be a good working plan for me.

So, we're in a stretch of decent weather at the moment. Mid-20s at night, and mid-30s during the day. Add in a little sun, longer days, and it's almost easy to believe that spring is here. Of course, this is Vermont, so let's not be fooled into thinking that winter is over. heck, we've got another 2 months of it! (no, just one more month, really).

All that is to say that the long winter funk is over. I'm psyched to be outside, and it's almost to the point where I can run outside after work and still be in daylight hours. Maybe another 2 weeks or so.

I'm focused on the running, and focused on eating better. I've also cut down to just one cup of coffee a day (and am even trying to skip that a few days a week). Now comes the hard part - cutting down on salt. oy.

Oh, and as far as the "giving cheese up for Lent" thing, well, it's starting to annoy me. :-) 4 weeks and 3 days until that's over.

Lent starts today

I'm not, strictly speaking, a practicing Catholic anymore. But a lifetime of observing Lent means I keep observing it.

I take Lent as my opportunity to make some changes to my habits for 40 days, so here goes:
1.) practice more patience
2.) no more swearing
3.) giving up CHEESE for Lent - my favorite food
4.) and follow my running plan more faithfully

The last two are a little self-serving, more a way to better my fitness level. But all 4 will be difficult, which is why I chose them.

base building - not very exciting stuff

Pretty low key these days... I'm just laying the groundwork, pure fitness- and base-building right now.

I've got a few things planned out:
* I'm doing a leg of the Vermont City Marathon RELAY (leg 4, which is 5.5 miles) on Memorial Day Weekend.
* I'm doing the 100-on-100 Heart of Vermont Relay again this year (August 28th). Hoping for my "runner 3" position again. That's about 17 miles but spread over 3 runs during the day.
* and of course, I'm running NYC Marathon again this fall, raising funds for pediatric cancer research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center as always.

Seems like a good progression of goals through summer/fall.

brrrr but a great day outside

DBF and I went cross-country skiing today. This is at Shelburne Farms, looking towards Lake Champlain and then a bit further, across the lake, the mountains you see are the Adirondacks in New York. Shelburne Farms was Lila Vanderbilt Webb's agricultural estate. Nice nice piece of property, and now a National Historic Landmark. It's still a working farm, has an Inn open during summer, and the grounds are open during the winter so folks can ski/snowshoe for free.

Skied for a little over an hour before nature called and went in for a bio-break. At that point, we called it a day. I'll count that as the equivalent to 4-5 easy miles.

Wow, so the gym is packed these days. I guess I shouldn't be surprised at that? Lots of folks with New Years Resolutions to get fit and healthy.

Now, normally, I get annoyed by the fact that all these new faces pack the gym for the first month or two of the year - and HEY BUDDY, get off my treadmill. But, I was completely inconsistent the last 4-5 months of 2009, and now I am one of the New Years Resolutionists. So I will keep my trap shut about how crowded it is. LOL.

Anyways, I've been doing just mixed cardio the last few days. We got 30" of snow over the weekend - yes, you read that right, 30" - and I think I pulled a muscle in my left lower back. That's been a bit ginger, so I'm doing light stuff to warm up and loosen the muscles. I'll try for a run tonight.

See above for what 30" of snow looks like.

Welcome to 2010!

I got to the gym yesterday afternoon for a workout. 40 minutes of mixed cardio (treadmill and elliptical). Then a good stretching session.

Back at it today with 4-5 miles. Heading over there now. Normally, I would expect complete madness since it's the first day of the year, but given it's a holiday, it should be fine. NEXT WEEK, though, when everyone is back to work, and going to the gym after work - well, that's when it'll be zooey. I'm not looking forward to that.