Running To Sanity -- Starting Over

Thanks Mark --

Last weekend Bobby said “no offense dad but every year it takes you longer to run the marathon.” So this week I decided I would actually “train” and set a modest goal for November. Nutrition, more base miles, and long runs over the 2^nd half of the actual course. Although over a short 4 mile course I ran my fastest time per mile pace over any distance in the last 2.5 years. If I can develop the endurance to hold the same effort (not pace) over 26.2 I'll be quite happy.

Sounds like a good plan. Getting your kid to eat his words is as good a motivation as I could ever imagine.   

Running well for so early in the year . . . if not blogging.

A couple of early races: a 4 miler (34:18) and a 10K (55:19) project a 4:10 marathon if I can build up my endurance. Now before I start counting chickens I always run 15 to 20 minutes slower than the runner calculators suggest. (I ran 5:35 last year -- yes it helps to train) 

But I have a good mix of easy running and a very few hard efforts as I build a base before actual marathon training begins.  I also want to get a bike to x-train, a small concession that I am getting older, because I want a way to build some aerobic conditioning but run fewer days. I was surprised at how expensive bikes are so no rush there.

I'll just put it out there as my dream goal -- sub 4:00 this year. In 2008 I ran a 4:09 but I'm sure I've got better in me. (ssh don't tell anyone).

So how much of a sub-4?  I'm still not sure where I'm headed time-wise for NY.  My Cleveland training partner that will be with me in NY has signed up for Erie in hopes of getting her BQ so that she, our summer Philly friend, and I can all have a fun run in Boston next April.  That being the case, I'm on the fence as to whether or not we will simply run for fun in NY (in which case that means around 4:15 for me) or whether I'll really go for time.   

Anyway, keep up the good work, Dave.  It is easy to get uninspired as the summer creeps in on us (but darn I would never get uninspired if I could run in Central Park or Van Cortland 1x per week).  My mom told me at mile 12 in Boston that I was slow - maybe that was the secret to my race (and she has never run a step in her life).

Jeez Dave a month since I blogged. Hum.

Got a Training Peaks email that marathon training starts tomorrow --  24 week plan.  Have a fair base except for last week when work drove me crazy and I didn't run. 

Lot's of hills and easy running.  Although I've come to the conclusion I don't like to run much over 10 miles these days. Well I'll need to change that at least for one more training cycle.

So at some point earlier this week, while not running, I did something to the bottom of my right foot. Lot's of pain on the ball of the foot. But after three days off was able to run an easy 5 miler this morning. Not sure if I will go again tomorrow but I do need to get back in the groove.