Training for fall marathon mystery race

I’m going to try to blog again, but no promises as to how often I’ll post, or reply to other blogs.

Many thanks to those who gave me advice on training, recovery, & going for a 3rd attempt at a 2014 BQ this Sep.

I’m leaving my fall mystery marathon race in God’s hands. The folks putting on the Allentown, PA marathon on 9/8 have told me that it’s filling fast. Nevertheless, I must wait two weeks from today for the outcome of the NYC lottery. One way or another, it’s highly likely that I’ll be at Boston 2015, if not 2014.

Meanwhile, it’s back to recovery & build-up. Actually, I took 1 week off to recover from the NJ Marathon, & I’m already building back up. I feel good & ready, so why not? Especially since I did so little running the 8 weeks prior to NJ, & I’m not injured now.

I have a great blessing from Jesus this month. I have a month free at the fitness center near where I work. This gives me the opportunity to take fitness classes on the days I’m not running. That’s perfect while I’m not running most days (yet.)

This week so far…
Sun: 11mi easy/ flat bike ride with the family for Mom’s Day
Mon: 5.5mi fartlek at ave 8min pace – felt really good to be back out there (1st run since NJ on 5/5)
Tue: Fitness class that really worked my glutes – just what I need!
Wed (today): Planned on an easy run, but got caught up with others who headed to the track. I ended up doing 5x400 (ave 85 sec), with very light jog 200 recoveries – just under 5 miles total with w/u & c/d

Plan for the rest of this week:
Thu: “Burn” fitness class with my kid brother who works near me
Fri: Pilates class (I'll fit in a short easy run if I have time before this class)
Sat: Off/ recovery/ family activities

I have a semi-plan in place for this training cycle, but it's very fluid right now - especially without knowing my race yet.

Dave I wish you the best with this next cycle and achieving that BQ.

One thing to keep in mind and I meant to mention early in your other tread is that you can't go wrong with a long base building phase. It is the one phase that can really enhance your aerobic fitness. Believe it or not that phase alone can achieve your goals.

I only say that because on personal level that is all I did for my build up for Boston 2010. I decided that all I wanted to do that cycle was build my aerobic fitness and do as many mid long to long runs. The end result was being in the best aerobic fitness and ended up running my first sub 3. I went back through my logs and I didn't do any speed work and only 3 tempo runs. In the end it was mostly easy runs and a lot of progression runs either ending at marathon pace or a little faster.

Good luck with your plan, Dave. Hope your early re-starting of running doesn't bite you in the hind quarters.

Very interesting that you mentioned that Schuey. I was already thinking more tempos, mp, & med/long runs this cycle.

Funny Ounce.

nice to start a new blog. Let's both BQ this year! I am working right now on base building which will be pretty long compared to my usual cycle. Not sure I know the solution to BQ I am 4 minutes shy of it and although I improved each year I am using a coach this year to help me get there.

Looking forward to watching your progress and best of luck!

So Dave any further thoughts on another attempt? Running strong or taking some time off?

Dave Wolfe wrote:So Dave any further thoughts on another attempt? Running strong or taking some time off?

Hey Dave W., I'm leaving it in God's hands. It comes down to Wed's NYC Lottery. Most likely I won't get in, so Wed night I'll then be signing up for the Allentown Marathon for that 3rd attempt. Meanwhile, I'm back to full training/ all recovered.

My biggest issue right now is work. My new manager is busting my nuts big time - loads of stress. Thank God for family, friends, running, & most importantly, the Lord Himself to get me through this tough patch.

"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." Phil 4:13

Mystery no more...

NYC Marathon lottery result: No,... but that's ok.

I just signed up for the marathon in Sept in PA. This will be my 3rd & final chance to qualify for Boston 2014. Then, maybe NYC in 2014 too? We'll see.

http://www.viamarathon.org/event_info/marathon/index.php

Sorry, it's been too long again,...


"Today's 18 miler was tough in this heat, but that makes it 60 miles for 2 weeks in a row. Just 7 weeks until the Allentown, PA Marathon & my 3rd attempt at qualifying for Boston 2014. Rolling Stone Mag has increased my determination, if that was even possible."


That's what I posted on FB, but I'll add to that here...


I took in 60oz of hydration & some carbs, & still lost 4 lbs,... cue the theme to Top Gun. (Living dangerously!) At least no 911 call or visit to the ER!!! 

Yay! No med tent for Dave!

Brutal day - glad you got it in ok.

With only 25 days left before the Lehigh Valley - Via Marathon in Allentown, PA, I should post an update…

Thank God, only “minor” physical issues this training period. Besides the “normal” aches & pains that a guy feels as he enters his last year in his 40’s, I had a re-occurrence of the left hip/ glutes pain/ discomfort, but it has felt worse while sleeping and/ or sitting too long. Running actually made it feel better this time around (gotta love it when that happens.) A re-occurrence of dark/ painful blood in my urine again too, but just like the other few times since 2010, it disappears just as it quickly & mysteriously shows up. My doctors are still baffled by it. Multiple screenings/ MRI’s/ painful “look-sees” up there have showed up nothing, but maybe some irritation on the insides of my bladder. Cancer was ruled out from the beginning. Bladder stones and/or infections have been possibilities, but with the multiple re-occurrences & the link to running (only running brings it on when I’m experiencing this) it remains only known to God. I’m seeing a new specialist this Friday for a second opinion, but I expect to see more head scratching & little answers.  This last round went away after two days of no running, & the determination to go back to full training has not brought it back on again. Google searching has shown that other runners do experience this, & it most likely is “just” the walls of my bladder rubbing or knocking together and causing bruises. Either way, it’s not a pretty sight & my doc says that the pain is from a “foreign” substance (blood) that shouldn’t be going through my urethra. I joked with Jacob that his dad is such a bad a$$, that I run until I pee blood. He took a cue from my wife & said it was just my stubbornness. Anyways, enough of that,…

It’s been an unbelievable busy summer as we prepare to take Jacob to his freshman year at Pennsylvania College of Technology this coming weekend. He’s going for an engineering degree in Welding & Fabrication as a means to an end – to be an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. I’ve managed to somehow keep up my running, though there have been many compromises for the family’s sake. I haven’t quite met my mileage goal many weeks, but I’ve still averaged 60 miles over the past 5 weeks, & I’m beginning to taper now. I took the advice of Schuey & many others in focusing more on tempo & goal MP miles this time around & less of the shorter & quicker speed-work. I’ve also tried to keep the rest days to just once a week as best as has been possible. Some recent key runs have built up my confidence…

“A” Goal MP: Sub 7:15 (sub 3:10 finish), “B” Goal MP: Sub 7:20 (sub 3:12 finish), & “C” Goal MP: Sub 7:25 (sub 3:14 finish)

Mon 7/1: 4mi ave 7:15 during a 5 miler
Wed 7/3: 2x1 & 1x.75 at 6:31 on TM during a 5 miler
Mon 7/8: 6mi ave 7:25 during an 8 miler (very hot & humid/ mid-day)
Wed 7/17: 4mi ave 7:38 during a 6 miler (even hotter & more humid/ mid-day)
Thu 7/25: last 3mi of a 6 miler ave 7:08 (a break from the heat & humidity)
Wed 7/31: 4mi on the track ave 6:52 – almost 7 miles overall (another very warm day)
Wed 8/7: A double day - 6mi easy on TM before work & 6mi ave 7:03 during a 10 miler mid-day
Wed 8/14: Last double day - 8mi on TM (last 3mi ave 7:30) & 7mi ave 7:13 during an 8 miler mid-day

Except for those 4 miles on the track & the 6:31 pace on the TM which were a hard effort, the rest of these runs have been more or less moderate-hard. I usually feel like I can go longer, but on the hot & humid days, it’s been obviously a little tougher.

My most recent long runs have been 18,18,21,18,22,18,20, & I plan another 20 this Friday & an 18 next week before taper really brings things down.

I had blood in my urine after a long tm workout a couple of years ago. Went away immediately. Made the mistake of telling my doc during my annual physical, which led to a kidney ultrasound and a visit to the urologist, who ordered a cystoscopy.

OUCH!

There was nothing wrong with me. After the frickin' cystoscopy, I almost hoped there was! 

Glad it's going well. If you think the late 40s are bad, wait until you get into the later end of the 50s...

Hey Dave!!  It looks like you have put in some good training, even if you think that you could have done more.  You have gotten in some good consecutive high mileage weeks and a lot of high mileage long runs.  Hopefully the weather will cool off for your race (there is still time for that) and once it does, I think that your "A" goal is well within reach.  Keep up the good work!!

Nice race Dave!

Michael Enright wrote:Nice race Dave!

Thanks!