Wow...3 miles is awesome

So I began my second taper week yesterday and, man, is three miles awesome.  I felt really good running just three after only running 12 on Saturday.  My legs felt like two steel pistons.  I hope that the rest of this week and next week are the same.

It turned a tad cold yesterday.  I ran in about 35 degree weather.  Brrrrr!!!!  Anyway, it went well.  Tomorrow I'll do 5 and then 3 again on Thursday.  I've decided to do just 8 on Saturday.  I'm getting more and more anxious now that the marathon is next week :)

Weight: 158lbs
Exercise:Running 3 miles
Weather:Cold.  35 degrees.

#5590 (12 miles)

My bib number arrived in the mail today.  I'm #5590.  Woot!!!!  I guess that means there are 5589 people in front of me.  Yikes!!!  Anyway, it's pretty easy to remember so all the folks who are coming to the marathon to support me should be able to remember it :)

I decided to follow David's advice and I bumped up this weeks long run to 12 miles.  My program calls for the first taper run to be at 9 miles and I thought (along with David) that this was too low.  So I did 12 today.  I think next week's long run will be 10 or 11.  My program calls for 8.  I have another question for folks as well.  Next week my program calls for my schedule to be 3-5-3-long run.  Do you think the mileage next week is too low?  Any advice would be appreciated.

Today's run went fine.  The weather was little dreary and the wind was ferocious.  Otherwise, it was fine.

Cheers!!!

Weight:157lbs
Exercise:Running 12 miles
Weather:Overcast, cool 55 degrees

One more thing

I got my 8 miles in today. It was raining and cold. I dig the rain, but not the cold so much. Anyway, it went well.

I forgot to add the following to my 30 Things list :)

Marathon training is:

10 percent luck, 20 percent skill
15 percent concentrated power of will
5 percent pleasure, 50 percent pain
and 100 percent reason to remember the name
(Ft. Minor, Remember the Name)

Weight: 158lbs
Exercise:Running 8 miles
Weather:Rainy, cold 55 degrees

30 things I've learned from training for a marathon

1. Running is easy (just place one foot in front of the other)
2. Running is hard (at mile 18, it takes a lifetime to put one foot in front of the other)
3. GU is your best friend (especially Lemon-Sublime). Vanilla Powergels are also pretty good.
4. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate.
5. BodyGlide is money well spent.
6. Ipods are great when they work.
7. No single person trains for a marathon. There are a whole group of folks who help you get there.
8. My nose has run much more than I have during the training.
9. Blog friends are GREAT!!!
10. Ibubroken is better than candy.
11. It's hard to write a blog about running and keep it interesting.
12. Everyone has bad run days.
13. Everyone has great run days.
14. Chocolate protein shakes after a long run rock!!
15. After 1 hour of running, you have nothing left to talk to yourself about.
16. After 3+ hours of running, you realize that talking to yourself is the least of your worries.
17. My knees sound like firecrackers when I walk up the stairs.
18. Physical Therapists are worth their weight in gold.
19. When people ask me how much I run, I can tell them I have run from one city to another.....twice.
20. Your mind is your greatest strength and your greatest weakness.
21. Your shoes are your most important piece of equipment.
22. Humidity stinks!!
23. There are scary people on my running trail who sit in their cars and play the ukulele.
24. My wife is a great runner.
25. My father-in-law rocks.
26. Training for a marathon is like eating one of those caramel candy things...it just keeps going and going and going and going....
27. Pop your blisters early.
28. I'm more anxious now than I was when I began the training.
29. In the words of my students, I am running myself stupid.
30. I love running.

I got 5 miles in yesterday and will do 8 tomorrow.

Cheers!!!

Weight:160lbs
Exercise:Running 5 miles.
Weather:Overcast, little warm 65 degrees.

Another 20 bites the dust....

So today's long run was great!!!! I feel a whole lot better this go around than I did on last week's 20. I took it a little slower and that seems to have helped. I ran from Fairmont to Morgantown again. I like that route as it's so beautiful, especially now with the leaves changing. Steph got in 6 and then she biked 4 as she had to bring me some water while I was running. On the trail we have no water stops and I can only carry enough for 18 miles, so she has to bring me some for the last 2. But, like the trooper she always is, she biked out and gave me some much needed hydration.

So now begins the taper....woohoo!!!! You don't even know how happy I am that the taper is starting. My body is so tired right now. With the taper, I can take a little breather before the big day.

I have a post planned for later this week that I'm drafting now on the things I've learned while training for the marathon. So stay tuned :)

Cheers!!!

Weight: 158lbs
Exercise: Running 20 miles, Steph running 6 miles
Weather:Beautiful, 55-65 degrees

I think I'm catching a cold...

Ughhh....I fell like crap. After my run this morning things were fine, but right now my nose is running and I have that weird feeling in my throat which I think means I'm catching a cold. Oh well.

The run went great this morning. No issues. I had to start a little early this morning so it was a little dark. I don't think I've ever mentioned this, but for every run I've done to train for the marathon, I've done in my sunglasses. So that means that when it's dark out, people look at me a little funny (I wear my sunglasses at night, so I can, so I can....). I don't know why I do it. I do know that if I don't wear my sunglasses I feel naked. :)

Cheers!!

Weight:158lbs
Exercise:Running 5 miles
Weather:Cool, overcast 55-60 degrees.

Stupid Should Hurt (Part Deux)

So I'm a dog owner. Actually, let me qualify that, I am a responsible dog owner. That means that I make sure my dog doesn't annoy, hurt, or scare anyone. In addition, as most responsible dog owners do, I pick up after my dog. Sooooo, the last two days I've run in to a variety of irresponsible dog owners while running. And I have to say it is pretty annoying.

I understand that you know that your dog is a good dog and won't hurt anyone. I get it....I really do. But here's the thing.....I don't know that your dog is a good dog and won't hurt anyone. So, I have to act and react as thought the dog is going to bite me. Why? you may ask. Well, I've learned that if you don't know the dog, treat it as a threat. That way, the dog stays safe and so do I. But, when you let your dog off of his leash and I don't know what it will do, it means that I have to then take precautionary actions, like stopping my run so you can get your dog back on his leash. Normally, this wouldn't cause me too much heartache, but when I'm running now, I am actually training which means I'm timing my runs. And I get really annoyed when I have to stop.

Or how about when the dog, because it is off its leash, runs up next to me and jumps up on me because it thinks that I'm playing. Or how about, once it has jumped up on me, it continues to run after me and follows me and the only way to have it stop is for me to stop, walk back to you, and give your dog back to you because it isn't on its leash.

Having said all this, I'm not blaming the dog(s). I am blaming the stupid people who insist on not having their dogs on a leash.

Stupid should hurt!!!!!

Weight:158lbs
Exercise:Running 5 miles Monday, 8 miles Tuesday
Weather:Cool, beautiful 55-65 degrees.

Reflection (20 miles)

One year ago today, my mother passed away from esophageal cancer. Today's run was done in her honor. In less than a month, I will also run a marathon in memory of her. If you haven't already, and would like to, please donate to my marathon run. The link is there on the right a little ways down. Anything helps. If you can't donate, words of wisdom and advice are always welcome.

I finally gave myself a blister today. First one I've had the entire program. Maybe I'll name it after my mom...ha....she'd think that was funny. She would also think that I'm as crazy as a loon for attempting to run a marathon. We all know I'm not crazy....just a little "touched" is all.

Thanks to all who have helped me so far. Just a few more weeks!!!!

PS. We ran 26 miles today as a family, not counting Winnie's 1. That puts us at 56 for the week (not counting Winnie).

Weight: 158 lbs
Exercise:Running 20 miles, Steph running 6 miles
Weather:Cool, Sunny 45-60 degrees.

29 days and counting

So yesterday marked the 30 day countdown. Wow....30 more days and I'll running a marathon. I'm really excited and can't wait. Actually, I'm getting kind of bored with the training and am really anxious to get the marathon underway. We'll see if I maintain that attitude as the marathon gets closer. I'm also a little nervous. As I've mentioned before, I'm not one to do things halfway. So when I decided to run a race, why not pick the hardest one. Most folks would have probably started off with a 5k...maybe a 10k. Not me, I decided to run a marathon as my first competitive race. Because of that, I'm a little nervous. But, as always, I'll get through :)

I ran 8 miles yesterday and will do 5 today. Then the big one on Saturday. 20 miles. Whew!!! I can't wait.

Cheers!!!

Weight:160lbs
Exercise:Running 8 miles Wed., Running 5 miles Thu.
Weather: Cool. 55-60 degrees.

New Shoes...New Shoes

So I bought some new shoes a while ago and was waiting to begin breaking them in. Today was my first day out with them. As David has mentioned, shoes are a really personal thing. I never realized how attached you become to leather, rubber, and plastic. But it's like a relationship. I couldn't imagine wearing a different pair (I would feel like I'm cheating). And no matter what, they are always beside the door, waiting patiently for me to to take them out. OK, I'm weirding myself out :)

Anyway, you get the idea. It's a really intense thing when you start changing shoes. Now, I didn't change brands or models, I just bought a new pair of the old ones. They were a little tight, but I think they'll work out fine. Once I get a few miles in, they'll feel just like my old ones. I'm actually very happy to have a new pair as the cushioning feels oh so much better. I hope that helps my knees out on the long runs.

I got in 5 this morning and was dragging a little. I think it was the weather. I heard yesterday that someone died running the Chicago Marathon. Here's to Tom at Runner's Lounge completing that awful marathon. Congrats!!!

Wed. is 8, then 5 Thursday and then the big 20 on Saturday.

Cheers!!

Weight:160lbs
Exercise:Running 5 miles
Weather:Warm, humid, 65 degrees

A busy week, but no slacking (18 miles)

Whew!!!! What a week!!! It was incredibly busy, hence my lack of posts. Nonetheless, I got all my mileage in and just got back from my 18 today. Steph did 7 today as well. Woohoo for her again!!!!!! This is the longest she's ever run. 18 is the longest I've ever run too so woohoo for me :) We did 25 miles today as a family (26 if you count Winnie's). For the week, we've done 53 miles. My run was pretty good. I actually was running much faster than I thought. I did the 18 in 3 hours and 20 minutes. I have to say that I'll be happier when the weather cools down a little more. Last week's weather was perfect for my long run. I pray that next week's weather for my long run will be just like that as I am doing 20 miles for my long run next week. My schedule is 5-8-5-20. I'll also do 20 miles the following week and then I begin my taper.

In terms of updates over the last week, I had a follow-up doctor's appt. to the one I had a couple of weeks ago. I had to have some moles taken off of my back (yeah I know...it's gross). I also had my blood drawn for normal testing. I go back in two week to go over the results. Ohhh, I also will not be going to Germany, so my running will take place in the US that week. I'm disappointed that I'm not going, but at least I'll be at home for my long run. I think that's it. I'll be back to regular posting this week I hop. So, stay tuned :)

Let's go Mountaineers!!!!! (they just scored against Syracuse)

Weight: 160lbs
Exercise: Jason running 5(M) 8(W) 5(Th) 18(S). Steph running 3(M) 5(T) 3(Th) (7S)
Weather: Sunny, warm 74 degrees.