Runs With Perseverance

Bye for now...

2008-05-04T11:22:00.003-05:00

I've been thinking this through for a few weeks, and I made a decision last night. This blog is going on hiatus. I won't have a blog focusing strictly on running anymore, but I'll fold my training updates, race results, etc., back into my "main" blog, jtj3.

The good thing, and the bad thing, about blogging is that it's very easy to start. Keeping it going, not so much. I've let my blogging addiction get the best of me, to the point where I tried to keep 4 going and write for another.

If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know I travel for a living. I also just started an MBA program. That, plus other work/home/family stuff really limits the amount of time I have for trivial fun stuff.

I also got to thinking about a comment Rick made on where he's going to go with his blog now that he's completed his marathon. It made me realize that I'm trying to go down too many roads at once. In retrospect this blog was a great place to write specifically about marathon training, and I'd hoped to do more, but reality set in.

This space won't go away...that's the good thing about Blogger, is that you can start, stop, and resume whenever you want. I'm not going to delete this blog, and if I start writing about training again I'll use this space.

I'll still come and visit all of you, and invite you to my other blog every once in a while not only to see how the running is going but just to see what's going on.

It's not like I'm leaving town, just moving. So stop by to see me whenever. And I'll see you whenever. Until we meet again, though, run strong and long!

Race report

2008-04-28T20:51:00.002-05:00

It was hectic around the jtj3's household this weekend, and now I'm on travel for the rest of this week. However, I felt darned good about my race this weekend, so I thought I'd post a report...

This Saturday I ran the 4th annual Kingdom 5K Run. It's a great race, and the church that sponsors it has many great ministries to the community. Proceeds from the race benefit a ministry that plants new churches all across the country, and they're wildly successful at doing so.

Anyway, back to the race...since it was my first race this year, I was just hoping for a good finish. The conditions weren't great--cold and windy. I picked up my packet about an hour before the race started, and ended up driving back home to get an extra layer of clothes.

Now, for the good news--I finished in 27:47.9, for an average pace of 8:58. That's only about a minute off my 5K PR. I was really surprised I did that well. I didn't really check my pace during the race, but just let my body go at whatever speed it wanted to.

A special "thank you!" goes out to Community Christian Church for putting on a great race. In spit of the wind and cold, they had people stationed every quarter mile or so cheering you on, making sure you stayed on course, and holding up signs with encouraging words. From the first racers to the last, they cheered enthusiastically and made you feel like an Olympic star.

That's it for this time, folks--until next time, run strong!

I'm famous!!!

2008-04-23T17:31:00.002-05:00

Well, OK, maybe not famous, but definitely (probably) semi-famous...

I wrote a post a couple weeks ago where I told the story of how I got to be a runner. I got the inspiration to do this from Confessions Of A Runner podcast #13. After I wrote the post, I dropped a line to Jodi to give her a summary of the post, and to thank her for the podcast.

Fast forward to today--I'm driving to work listening to COAR #16. At the end of the 'cast, she read some excerpts from my email, and mentioned my blog. WHOOHOO! I'm famous, I tells ya!!!

I guess you had to be there. But it did feel cool to hear her read it, and she even laughed at a couple of the funny comments I dropped in. Anyway, if you haven't checked out Confessions (the podcast and/or the website) it's definitely worth a look/listen.

Oh yeah, and I'm back to regular running now. I've done 3 runs of 3 miles per day, and I have a 5K coming up on Saturday (race report to follow). Wish me luck!

Until next time, run strong, my friends...

Boston Marathon and Olympic Trials

2008-04-21T09:49:00.003-05:00

Wow...hard to believe I haven't posted since tax day...and now here we are on Boston Marathon day. It's underway right now--looks to be a good, fast race and great conditions.

I have to tell you...the Internet is a beautiful thing. As I write this I'm doing some work stuff in the background, plus I have a window open for audio/video coverage of the race as it happens. I'm also checking in occasionally on Steve Runner, who I've mentioned here before--he's the voice behind Phedippidations, and has run Boston for several years in a row now.

The conditions for last year's race were horrible--cold, very rainy, and very high winds. Contrast that with today where the temperatures seem to be very moderate, it's sunny, and there's no wind. I know which set of conditions I would rather run in...

Just at this moment the runners passed the halfway mark, and Kenya's Robert Cheruiyot is leading. He looks very strong and is the leading contender to win this year. This would be his forth Boston title, and he holds the current course record. He's an amazing runner, and a very humble man. His story would make a good book or movie one of these days.

In other marathoning news, Boston was the venue for yesterday's 2008 women's marathon olympic trials. Deena Kastor won with an outstanding time of 2:29:35. Joan Samuelson (winner of the inaugural women's marathon at the 1984 Olympics) also ran in the trials, finishing in an amazing 2:49:08.

Congratulations to the winners--heck, to the FINISHERS!--of both events. Go take an ice bath, and get some Gatorade--you deserve it!

6 Days To Boston...

2008-04-15T19:25:00.004-05:00

Yep...6 days until the 112th running of the Boston Marathon. Not that I'm running it, mind you. Still, it's a banner day for our sport.

I'm willing to bet that most people, even those who don't know what a marathon is all about, have some familiarity with Boston. It's a true classic, and has a long and storied history (read more about it here). Not too long ago I finished reading one of those stories--John Brant's excellent story of the 1982 Boston Marathon entitled Duel In The Sun. If you haven't read it, I recommend it highly.

I know what it takes to qualify, and I have an enormous amount of respect and admiration for those who do. I just don't see myself ever getting the hallowed qualifying time of 3:20, based on my current age. In fact, when I'm 80 the qualifying time will be 5:00--heck, I'd feel happy to run a 5:00 marathon now! Unless something changes radically, my participation is going to be limited to watching it on TV.

There's going to be tons of coverage through all kinds of media outlets. The Versus network is going to be showing live coverage. There will also be streaming coverage on the World Championship Sports Network at WCSN.com. Steve Runner is recording a podcast during the race, and you'll be able to monitor his progress via his website.

Even if you don't watch the whole thing, or can't catch it live, you should at least take a look. There's truly nothing like it--especially the finish.

Just curious, y'all--any of you shooting for a Boston Qualifying time? If so, best of luck...

Run strong friends!

Congratulations, Rick!

2008-04-14T21:49:00.002-05:00

I have nothing really interesting to say today (yeah, like that's ever stopped me!) other than to give a big shout-out to a pal who is now, offically, a MARATHONER.

I've mentioned Rick before...yesterday he finished the Glass City Marathon in an amazing 4:38 (see his post here). Great time, proud of ya, and a big WOOT out to you! Looking forward to the full post-race report soon.

Quick update on the recovery front--heading out tomorrow for 2 to 2.5 miles, going to try for 3 runs this week. Wish me luck...I feel better and stronger this week than last, and hopefully that improvement will continue. See you out there on the roads, my friends...

Just for fun - ultra-short fiction...

2008-04-11T09:01:00.003-05:00

You might or might know this, but I have a few other blogs that I either write or contribute to. Rather than posting on my non-running at this point, I thought I'd re-post a story I wrote for another blog.

The blog is called 55 Flash Fiction Friday. The idea (and I don't even remember who started it...) is that you write an ultra-short story in exactly 55 words. Why 55? Dunno--but it does make it interesting and challenging. So I wrote this a month or two ago for that blog, I thought I'd cross-post it here. Enjoy the story...

Five miles into it, sweat pouring down, legs pumping, heart racing.

He did this every week, whether he wanted to or not.

He was past the pain, the cramps, and into his zone.

The miles clicked past effortlessly, and he could have run forever.

"I've unleashed my inner Kenyan," he smiled to himself in triumph.

Hope y'all have a good weekend. Shout out to my buddy Rick--good luck in your marathon!

Today wasn't the day...

2008-04-10T16:09:00.003-05:00

I'd hoped to get out the door for a couple miles again this morning--notsomuch. Not only is the weather not cooperating, but I had a bad sinus headache and nausea (because of the headache). The snooze button became my best friend this morning.

It did strike me today, though, that I'm on the equivalent of a summer vacation. I have no goal and no milestones in mind, and it's nice for a change. I'm running because I feel like it, not for a time or pace or distance.

I'm starting to look at 2 upcoming 5K races--one on April 20th, one the next week. Might do 'em both, might do neither...just not sure at this point. And I'm looking at other, longer races. But for now, I like having nothing on the horizon.

Hm, it is starting to feel like I'm repeating myself--not much to say, so I keep saying the same thing. Anyway, I'll have more successes and joys to write about soon. I promise.

I'm checking in (lurking and commenting) on y'all's blogs here and there...your exploits and stories make me proud to be part of the running community! Run long and strong, friends...

How did I get here?

2008-04-09T09:11:00.003-05:00

To truly appreciate where you are, every once in a while you need to look over your shoulder and see where you came from. I've had that on my mind lately--how I got to where I am, running-wise, right at this moment.

Part of what got me started down this mental pathway was listening to Confessions Of A Runner #13, where Jodi talks about her start in cross country, and how it made her the runner she is today. So, with that, here's what got me to where I am...

When I was growing up, my brother--9 years older than me--ran track in high school. He ran 440 and 880 (remember when races were measured in yards???). He did pretty well, and really enjoyed it. I decided I wanted to be a runner someday.

I tried sprint distances in high school, but was way too slow. I thought about longer distances but didn't want to put the effort into training, so I dropped out.

As the years went by I'd run a mile or so now and then, but nothing serious and I never stuck with it.

Shortly after we got married, my wife and I both decided we needed to start getting fit. I tried running...walk/running at first, then graduating into longer runs. I did my first 5K in October of 1992. I don't remember what my time was, but I'm sure it was awful. I still wasn't very regular at this point, but was close to getting hooked.

I ran off and on for the rest of '92 and into '93, until I tore my ACL while on vacation. I had surgery and lots of physical therapy into the middle of '94. By the fall, I was running again.

I stuck with it, sort of but not really. Life, travel, work, and my own innate laziness all pulled me away from it. By 1996, I'd gotten up to 190 lbs (I'm 5'4", y'all...). I started a weight loss program that summer, lost 30 lbs, and worked out like a demon. But again, inertia set in, and within a couple years I was back to where I had been.

This, that, and the other thing happened...but let's fast forward to 2003. Because of complications of diabetes, my dad had both legs amputated that year. Additionally, my maternal grandfather had a heart attack in July, and my grandmother had a stroke in August. All three of them passed away toward the end of that year. Seeing them decline in health, and seeing others in my family suffer with problems like obesity, diabetes, etc., made me put a stake in the ground. So, on a spring day in 2003, I started walking/running again--knowing deep in my heart that I'd never quit again.

I ran a local 5K that June, finishing in a little over 31 minutes. Hey, I even had negative splits for the 2nd and 3rd miles...yay me! I was exhausted at the end, but I was also hooked. I ran 3 more races that year, and continued to enter races and train.

I've taken 4 minutes or so off my 5K PR (I still ain't happy with it yet, though!), and run much longer distances and at a faster pace. Part of me wishes I'd kept training logs for all those years so I could recall PRs, dates, etc...but a bigger part of me says "Just get out there and run, and enjoy the moment."

Where am I going? Well...God willing, I'll actually *complete* the Chicago Marathon this year. I'm also planning on the Soldier Field 10 Mile run in May, and possibly the Chicago Distance Classic half marathon in August. Rick (if you're reading this) you should seriously consider coming down for any or all of these...and if any of you reading come into town for these, let me know!!!

Anyway...when I'm about 100 or so, I figure I'll switch to another sport. My knees and ankles will probably need the break by then. But we'll see, I could change my mind.

Thank you for sticking with me through this--I know this was longer and more rambling than most of my posts (and that's saying something!), but I thought it'd be good to get it out.

So, my friends, what got you to where you are now?

Run long and run strong!

Testing the waters

2008-04-08T15:51:00.003-05:00

Well...I won't say "I'm back," because look what happened last time I did. However, I will say that I'm starting to test the waters of running again, and the signs are looking good...

I got out this morning for a short run. It was a bit chilly so I wore long pants and a long shirt, which made it bearable. I'd intended to only run a mile, but I felt pretty good and had a decent pace so I stretched it into two miles. I finished with a time of 17:50, which is an 8:55 pace. Considering that I did the first mile at about a 9:20ish pace, I must have been really flying the 2nd mile.

Anyway, it felt good to get out again. My mood was much better today, and I'm betting I will sleep better tonight because of the exercise and fresh air.

I want to say a special "thank you!" to those who gave me encouragement while I was down and out. It felt like forever, but really was only about 3 weeks. Thank you Rick, thank you Barb, and everyone else! A special "shout out" to Sara from Running From The Law...she had a great post about the STL marathon, and gave me a nice note of encouragement in the comments on my post from Saturday.

Seriously--all y'all rock. (C: (Special note to non-Southerners..."all y'all" is the plural of "y'all.")

Run long and strong, my friends...

STL marathon tomorrow...

2008-04-05T20:57:00.002-05:00

Just a quick post...my best wishes, thoughts, and prayers go out to all those who are running St Louis tomorrow. I wish I were there with you in body, but will definitely be there in spirit. Looking forward to all the post-race reports, and will be overjoyed at your success!

I'm hoping to head out for a mile or two tomorrow--let's see if the weather and my lungs cooperate. I'll be in training to get into training for Chicago, I guess...

Run well! I'm proud of you!

Health update

2008-04-01T22:12:00.004-05:00

Finally, some positive news on the health front...

I saw my regular doctor yesterday. He said I look and sound good, except for some chest congestion. He cautioned me to take it easy still, and he wants me to stay off of exercise the rest of this week.

The good news...I can start very light workouts (probably just walking) sometime next week and see how it feels. If that goes OK, maybe a short run 1 or 2 times the week after that. Dare I hope???

It's getting warmer here, so maybe I can even do those outside. We'll see. But I want to make sure I'm fully recovered, and I'm not training for anything right now, so slower is better.Hope y'all are running long and strong!

So when a runner isn't running...

2008-03-29T23:30:00.003-05:00

What does he post about? Hm...

Well, random stuff about running from all over the web. How 'bout that?

An article from Thursday's New York Times quotes a study from Germany showing that "runners' high" may not be in our heads, after all. How many of us have had a runners' high before...raise your hands...
Kerrin Hardy's Running Blog Carnival is a darned nice web site. She scours the web for articles, blog posts, and other interesting bits of stuff and puts them all together in a nice digest. I came to know about this site after she linked to my review of the movie "Spirit Of The Marathon."
Speaking of aggregation sites, the Complete Running Network is also a great place to go. You can find fellow runner/bloggers, exchange links, comment on each others' blogs, and help build up the community.
I turn to quotes from famous people for inspiration--not only in running, but in my faith, in business, and life in general. There are more "running quotes" pages on Google than you can shake a stick at, but I thought this one was pretty good.
I've mentioned the legendary Hal Higdon many times before, but his name (and his site) bear repeating. His site doesn't change a lot, but it's an absolute treasure trove of information and inspiration on running. If you haven't read his book Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide, do so. Even if you've trained for or run a marathon before, you'll pick up something you missed the last time.

That's enough goodness from the web for now...hope you enjoy the links and the stories.

Run well, my friends!

Podcasts I like, Part 1

2008-03-24T23:24:00.006-05:00

I've mentioned a couple times that I wanted to put together a post on some podcasts I like and listen to on a regular basis. I figured this would be a good time to do so.

I mostly listen to running-related podcasts at this point, and I'm really seeking out the ones that educate me, that inspire me, or those from people that I feel like I've connected with in some way. Here are some of each...

Before I start on the list, you should know that all of these podcasts listed below are available from iTunes. I've also linked to the web site of each of the podcasts...some have show notes, others have some 'bonus material' as well. All of them give you details on how to subscribe to and/or download their podcasts.

Phedippidations. It's the gold-medal standard of running podcasts, and the standard that others aspire to live up to. Steve Runner, the host of "this goofy little podcast" (as he calls it) both educates and inspires. He also spends a good chunk of time at the end of each episode reading stories of ordinary runners just like you and me. Steve's gone from weekly posts to a more irregular schedule, but there's a backlog of 130+ episodes he's recorded that you can download and enjoy.
Confessions of A Runner. Jodi, a Mississippi girl who likes running on the beach and eating sushi (although, I guess, not at the same time...) has a great little 'cast that's still somewhat new but has become one of my favorite to listen to on a run. Her episodes seem to fall in the 30-40 minute range, which is perfect for a shorter, mid-week run. I've listened to her since Episode #1 and both the content and quality have improved every episode. I've learned a lot just from listening to her.
Another Runner. Adam Tinkoff's podcast is very well-researched and produced. I learn from him, but he also shares enough about his life and his running that it's like having a virtual "running buddy" along with me. I've just started listening recently, but I've gotten hooked!
The Extra Mile. Nigel, from Staffordshire in the UK, has a great podcast with stories about, and letters from, ordinary runners from around the world. He's got a call-in "comment line" listed on his site, and quite often drops in audio clips from other runners. It's another one of those 'casts where I feel like I'm with a virtual running partner. Nigel, by the way, is one of the organizers (along with Steve Runner) of the Phedippidations World Wide Half Marathon and Kick The Couch 5K.
Running Ramblings. New podcaster Martin says that the concept to his podcast is simple..."I run and start talking about whatever enters my mind." With 6 episodes under his belt, he's doing well and keeping me entertained so far! I'm coming back for more.
4 Feet Running. Nik and Dan are very laid back, very open, and very funny--again, along the lines of a "virtual running partner" 'cast. As they say on their site, they "...talk about their training, play some music, and have a few laughs." One nit, though--I wish they'd ease up on the swears a bit. They bleep them out (most, anyway), but still...

That's a good list--at least enough to get you started. I'd only ask one thing--if you start listening to any of these podcasts, drop the 'caster a note telling them you listen, and that you appreciate them. One of the 'casts I listened to (maybe an episode of Confessions, but I'm not sure) said that comments are like coffee for a podcaster--they pump you up and keep you going. Most, if not all, of these folks give of their time and of themselves to put together a podcast for no reason other than sharing with fellow runners. So let 'em know that you listen and enjoy.

This is fun...and I already see a "Part 2" in the works sometime in the future.

Now, folks, it's your turn--what do YOU listen to?

I'm becoming an expert...

2008-03-24T15:12:00.002-05:00

I'm rapidly becoming an expert in an area that I never thought I'd have experience with, and definitely did NOT want to get any better at.

That's right, ladies and gentlemen...I am becoming an expert at not running marathons...

The week of my 20 mile run I had the flu, so I only got in about 5 miles. I figured I'd be strong enough based on the rest of my training to do at least a run/walk.

Flip forward to last Tuesday. Hm, chest feels a little congested and I'm coughing. Almost like an asthma attack.

OH NO.

So I went to the doctor Saturday, and again today, and the short story is I have pneumonia. That pretty much means I can kiss goodbye both this weekend's Shamrock Shuffle 8K downtown in Chicago, but also next weekend's St. Louis Marathon looks to be almost an impossibility.

Turns out the STL Marathon organizers will allow you to switch from the full to the half marathon, so there's a chance there--but that depends on me getting a LOT better in between now and then. Right now that's the only hope, but it's very slim indeed.

Let's review my training/not running marathoning history:

- 2006: Trained for the Chicago marathon, but dropped out after week 11 because of plantar fasciitis.
- 2007: Trained for and started the Chicago marathon, but couldn't finish because of the course being closed after 4 hours.
- 2008: See above.

Am I disappointed? Yes, absolutely. But I know that skipping it is the right thing to do...there's no point in causing more damage to myself, taking longer to recover, etc.

I'm signed up for Chicago this fall, and training should start around the June timeframe, so we'll see how this goes.

I'm trying to look on the bright side, though--not running marathons opens up a whole new world of possibilities! I thought that someday I could run the world majors (Chicago, Boston, New York, London, and Berlin)...then, I looked at the qualifying times for Boston and New York. Yeesh! But with little to no effort at all, I can not run all of those marathons! Think of the money and time I'll save!

I kid, I joke. Laughter has always been a defense mechanism for me, and I'm deflecting the upset and the negative emotions I feel. The good news--I ran 90% of the miles in my original plan, I ran faster than I ever have (in fact, completed 5 miles just last Monday at a 9:15 pace), and after a little rest and recouperation there's nothing that says I can't try again.

So Sara, from the excellent Running From The Law blog, I know you're running St. Louis--do well, finish strong, and make me proud! (C:

I'll be checking back in now and then, and this is an excellent time for me to catch up on posts that are more than just running reports...but for now, back to bed to let the medicines do their thing.

Run strong, y'all...

I'm back...

2008-03-20T15:56:00.008-05:00

"Don't call it a comeback--I've been here for years,
Rockin' my peers, putting suckers in fear..." - LL Cool Jay

Ladies and gentlemen, I am back...in multiple meanings of the word...

First and probably more important, I'm back at home for the forseeable future--whoohoo! My travels are at a lull right now and I don't have any work trips planned until the end of April. That may change but for now, I'm enjoying the furlough.

I'm also "back" in the sense I'm blogging again. I was sick last week and part of this week (more on that in a second), so I didn't take time to write anything. If you read this blog, I'm sure you've gotten somewhat used to the intermittent nature of my posts. I wish I could post every day...but it's just not realistic. Oh well, I guess we all do the best we can...

Also, I'm "back" in the sense of running again. I took most of last week off--I had either the flu, or something like food poisioning. Not really bad, but bad enough that I had to skip some of the dinners/fun events at last week's work meetings. I was scheduled for a 20-mile run last week but that didn't happen...in fact, I only ran a lousy stinking 5 miles last week. But I guess my body needed the rest, so not much I could do about it...

I was listening to Confessions Of A Runner#9 last week, and Jodi talked about diversification. She talked about how it's not only important for your financial investments, but for your running. The idea is you start marathon training with a clear plan in mind, but have the sense to listen to your body and make adjustments and changes as you go.

When I started my training plan back in December I intended to run 100% of the miles in the plan--but over the past few weeks as life has intervened, I've just come to see that it wasn't realistic. I've completed probably 80% of the miles in the program, and I feel strong, fast, and confident. I guess that's enough, but time will tell.

I am officially in the taper period now, so I'm taking it easy--except for the Shamrock Shuffle next week, where I'm hoping to set another PR this year. Wish me luck...

Training - Week 14

2008-03-08T11:03:00.003-06:00

I played hooky most of this week. I woke up Tuesday morning and just could not get myself into running, nor could I get excited about it. I thought back over the past few runs and realized I was in a bit of a rut and needed some extra rest. So that's what I gave myself.

I figure if I could run 18 with no problem, I can run the 20 next week with no problem. That, in turn, means I'm pretty confident in finishing the marathon well.

I only ran 12 miles this week--that was my long run today. I found by the time Friday rolled around I felt very relaxed and rested, and I was really eager to get back into it. My run today was good, so I think that this was just what the doctor ordered.

Hope you guys are running strong this week!

So you think you're too old?

2008-03-07T08:17:00.003-06:00

A friend sent me a link to a story this morning that really blew me away. If you think you're too old to run a half- or full-marathon, read this...

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=britmarathon030508&prov=reuters&type=lgns

Marathon hopeful, 101-year-old , training hard -- Reuters, March 5

LONDON - Already Britain’s oldest employee, 101-year-old Buster Martin now aims to become the world’s oldest marathon runner by completing the London Marathon and celebrating with a pint of beer and a cigarette.

Sprightly and bearded, he completed a half marathon at the weekend in five hours 13 minutes. The former Army physical training instructor works three days a week for a London plumbing firm and says he has trained for the April 13th race in his spare time.

"I've said I'll attempt it," he told Reuters by telephone from his workplace at Pimlico Plumbers. "I haven't said I’ll complete it. If I do make it, all the better. I hadn’t thought of doing it before but someone asked me and the money goes to charity so why not?"

His sponsorship money will go to the Rhys Daniels Trust, which provides temporary
accommodation for families of patients in specialist children's hospitals.

Martin, who had 17 children and returned to work at the age of 99 saying he was bored after two years of retirement, would beat the previous record for world’s oldest marathon runner by eight years.

"If I finish, I'll do what I always do and have a pint and a fag," he said. "People ask what is my secret but I haven't got one. They say fags and booze are bad for you—but I’m still here, aren’t I?"

So, my good running friends, what's stopping you?

Resting, redux

2008-03-05T07:01:00.002-06:00

I wrote a post a few weeks ago about the virtues of resting...looks like it's time for me to listen to my body, again.

My work/travel schedule has been very busy over these past few weeks--I was on the road 3 weeks last month, and I'm on the road this week and next as well.

Sunday was a great long run, an 18 miler. I enjoyed sleeping late Monday, then attempted to get up at 5AM yesterday for a run. I stood in the bathroom preparing to get geared up, and decided after about 90 seconds I just couldn't do it. I crawled back into bed and slept another 2 hours, waking up sans benefit of the alarm clock at a little after 7AM.

My plan is to just not run this week until my long run (dropback week, 14 miles) on Sunday. I'm going to enjoy playing hooky.

I've visited a few blogs here and there this morning, and it seems like several of us are struggling with the whole "I don't feel like running" thing recently. Hey, it happens. As I told someone in a comment on their blog, give yourself some grace. Your body is usually talking to you, so listen to it!

I've taken advantage of time on planes and in airports to check out various running/marathoning podcasts. I'm getting on a plane in about an hour, and am going to write a longer post with pointers to some podcasts I enjoy. Look for that soon.

In the mean time, hope you're having a good week of running...

Training - week 13

2008-03-02T20:06:00.003-06:00

This week I pushed, but not quite as hard as the training schedule dictated. I had a busy work week, yet still managed to get in probably my most miles ever in a week.

I was in California for business most of the week, but still got a couple runs in. My trip actually started at the end of week 12 of training and carried over to this week (side note--it's a bit sad when you measure time by number of weeks of training down, and not the actual date...).

This week, I got the following runs in:
Tuesday - 5 miles
Thursday - 5 miles
Saturday - 5 miles
Sunday - 18 miles

For a total of 32 miles.

Today I considered continuing on to 20 miles. This way I would have been able to make up a few of the miles that I'm behind, plus I'd have two 20-mile runs under my belt before the marathon.

I decided against it for a few reasons--the goal was 18 and I wanted to stick with that, I felt like I didn't really need to prove anything, and the club that I run at was ready to close down for the day when I hit 18 so they probably would have kicked me out. (C;

All in all it was a good week. Drop back week next week and then, the pinnacle of training--my 20 miler at week 15.

Hope y'all are having a good week...

Two completely unrelated subjects...

2008-02-29T16:35:00.003-06:00

Subject 1 is a new identity, and subject 2 is a very pleasant surprise that hit me about 9 months after the fact...and no, it's not a baby...

OK, now for topic #1. You may know that I have some other blogs. When I started this one, I felt the need to keep it separated from the others. Looking back, my reasons for doing so weren't all that clearly thought out nor do they make a dime's worth of difference. So I'm merging all my blogs under one user ID, to make it easier for me to administer and write. Same old me, you'll just see me posting (and commenting) as "jtj3" rather than Jim. Just in case you're wondering who the nutter is commenting on your blog...it's the same old nutter you know and love. Or at least know.

Onto topic #2. Last year I ran the Soldier Field 10 Miler in May of last year and thought I'd set a PR for myself of 1:45 something. I was looking up race results from last year and ran across my time. Imagine my surprise when I found out that while my "gun time" was 1:45:06, my chip time was 1:42:14. Yippee yahooie! That's 3 minutes better than I thought I'd run, and it's about 7 minutes faster than the first year I ran it!

The SF10 Miler is one of those races I look forward to every year. I love races that go through the streets of Chicago, and it's a good long distance but not too long--doesn't require tons of training. Plus, finishing on the 50-yard line of Soldier Field is pretty cool.

Anyway--that was my day. Hope yours has been good. I have an 18-miler scheduled for this Sunday...wish me luck!

Training - week 12

2008-02-24T11:13:00.002-06:00

Whew...I was freakin' out, y'all...I just looked at my training schedule and thought I'd missed yet another week. But it's cool. Just need to learn how to count is all.

My runs this week (not counting Monday, which goes towards week 11 totals):

Tuesday - 6 miles
Wednesday - 8 miles
Thursday - 4 miles
Sunday - 7 miles

For a total of 25 miles. Not a bad week. I did the 7 miles today on a treadmill...I'm visiting the San Francisco bay area and had hoped to run outside today but the wind and rain made it a no-go.

I ran out of gas during this run. It was supposed to be 12 miles but after 7 I decided I just didn't have it. Part of the problem...I counted my Monday run toward my week 11 totals, but in reality if I add up what I ran Monday to Sunday (which is how I do my training weeks), I end up with 40 miles this week. That's a big jump, especially for a drop back week!

I just caught up with Tim's cool blog over at 26.2 Quest today, and he's experiencing tiredness and lack of energy after his fantastic finish in his first half marathon.

I'm going to do what I advised Tim to do...take a bit of time off, take it easy, and get rest. Oh, and check in with my running blogger pals also, as it's been a while since I could read and comment on what folks are doing.

Hope you have a good week of running...

I am SO done with winter...

2008-02-22T09:07:00.004-06:00

OK, time for winter to be over now. Great to see you, it was fun, here's your hat and coat what's your hurry...BUH-bye now.

Or, is it just me that feels this way?

What kicked this off was watching part of the Today show this morning. They're broadcasting from Miami Beach, FL today, where it's in the 80s. Oh and it was sunny, too.

Don't get me wrong...I enjoy winter, most of the time. But this one has been unusually cold and snowy, and (to get the post back to running,), it makes it next to impossible to run outside. It's typically not light enough to run safely until about 6:30 or 7:00AM, which is too late for me to get out given the length of my mid-week runs now.

As I've mentioned before, the indoor track is an absolute Godsend. One of the neat things is I can catch the sunrise through the east-facing windows, and I get to watch as the sky lights up gradually. It makes that particular portion of each lap something I really look forward to.

And I had some good runs this week--one 5 miler that I was able to do at a sub-9:30 pace. If I can keep that pace for the Shamrock Shuffle in a few weeks, I'll set a new PR by a couple minutes and will qualify for a faster corral next year.

Tomorrow I'm flying out to California for a week-long work meeting. I'll get to do my Sunday AM long run on a path that runs alongside the San Francisco bay, and I always enjoy the scenery in that area which will be nice.

One last thing...Michelle posted a comment where she asked about what podcasts I listen to. I've been checking out a few running podcasts recently, so look for a post here soon with some reviews/links of what I like and listen to.

Happy running!

Training - Week 10, which is actually week 11...

2008-02-18T14:57:00.003-06:00

Well, that was a good week, but apparently I can't count too well...

As I was doing my long run today I started trying to figure out the rest of the training schedule in my head, and I couldn't make it fit. I thought I had a week left over. Now that I'm writing I checked my schedule, sure enough it's week 11 rather than 10. I'll have to go back and see where I lost a week. However, this week coming up is a drop back week which I'm grateful for.

I'll be out of town next week and have to leave this coming Saturday, meaning I'll have to do the long run in a different place and do it outside. I'll be at an airport hotel just south of San Francisco International. There's a nice running path along the water (about a 4 mile loop), it's quiet, and just a little on the cool side in the mornings. I'm looking forward to it.

Yesterday I mentioned I was postponing my long run until today. I finally got it in, and my mantra today was "Who cares?" Not as in 'who cares whether I run this or not?', but as in 'who cares about time, about how many walk breaks I take, what my pace is...'

I decided to give myself the grace of just finishing and not worrying about any other metric that I usually go by. Oddly enough even with more breaks for water, walking, etc., my per-mile pace was only about 5% above what I expect race pace to be. So, pretty darned good.

Oh, and one other thing--I tried my first ice bath today. It's pretty simple--fill the tub with cold water, add ice, jump in, and shiver until your legs are numb. Sounds bad but it helps reduce the swelling, micro-tears, and pain in your muscles after a run. I sat in the tub with a jacket over my shoulders holding a cup of hot coffee, and it OK. It got painfully cold after about 5-10 minutes, but it was just enough to do the trick.

Tomorrow is a rest day, then back at the schedule. And of course, this will be week 12... (C;

P.S.--I plumb forgot to record my mileage for the week...here it is. My ORN, if you will (what's an ORN? See my blog pal Joe's explanation here):

Wednesday - 6 miles (scheduled for 4)
Thursday - 8 miles
Friday - 6 miles (scheduled for 4)
Monday - 16 miles

For a total of 36 miles this week. I also caught up 4 miles on my defecit, so now I'm only 5.5 miles behind schedule.

The joys of procrastination...

2008-02-17T18:41:00.005-06:00

I've been a procrastinator my whole life...but it's good to know that sometimes it's not a bad thing.

Today is my usual long run day. However, yesterday I spent the whole day walking around the Chicago Auto Show, and my feet and legs were tired. Add to that the fact that I wanted some quality time with my wife that wasn't impacted by gearing up for, or recovering from, a long run. I mean, come on people--it's the weekend after Valentine's Day... (C:

Our company has tomorrow off to observe President's Day. So we talked about it this morning, and, instead of getting my 16-mile schedule run in today I'm postponing it until tomorrow. That'll mean the rest of my schedule gets moved back a day, but it's cool. I can deal.

What I learned this weekend--running is my obsession and my joy, but I need to balance it against the rest of my life. So I postpone a long run...or even if I would have missed it...it's ultimately not as important as my relationships, time for me, time for resting, etc.

So look at what you're doing and decide: are my priorities in the right order? Mine are...at least for the remainder of today.