Practiced the last 5 miles of the Marathon

So, last night I went for a run.  I know that is s uprising considering this is a running blog and all, but I felt it was worth mentioning.  I was exhausted to the point that I felt it in my arms/legs.  In the past I probably would have talked myself out of running (it wouldn't have been that difficult) but I have decided to "suck it up" and not let those excuses keep from going!

I headed out knowing I needed the run

Five Miles in the Evening!



Course by Brian Hyland

 Now that the kids' are back at school for the year - I can run in the evening before picking them up on those rare nights when I get out of work on time.  Fortunately for me, last night was just such a day.

I taped up my calf  (and found out during the run, that a rush tape job does not hold), and headed out the door.  I still like to start with the courses that my Cross Country Coach Brian Hyland from "Back in the day" had laid out for the Seton Catholic Central Cross Country Team. It lets me concentrate on HOW I am running - since I know where I am running.  So I headed out my door and over to Laurel Ave, and left up to the park.  This works out to around 1/2 of a mile - the perfect warm up distance.  I popped out with some stretching (this is new... Since I have calf pain it is an attempt to help become a bit more limber) and then headed out on the Seton Catholic Central Cross Country Team 5 mile practice course.  Down Seminary to Beethoven, left to Leroy, right to West end, Left to Riverside Drive, Right to the traffic circle - and come back.

In addition to a Diploma
I  got a bunch of practice courses from this school!

The weather was a bit warm and muggy - but not HOT.  It also didn't require a long shirt, so I am definitely not complaining in ANY way.  I did focus on how my calf felt, but did not keep it from doing anything like I did on saturday.  It felt good the whole way. I certainly did not push the speed AT ALL:"

Mile 1: 9:42
Mile 2: 9:24
Mile 3: 9:07
Mile 4: 9:25
Mile 5: Only did .82 of the mile, but it was definitely slower - probably 10 minute mile pace.

So this morning being the "day-after"  - how do I feel?  surprisingly good. I expected to be as sore as I was on Sunday morning, but I am not.  My legs are tired - no doubt about that, but I could move without Advil today!  Tonight I am going to do a 3 mile run - again, no worries about the speed (ok, for future reference - I have no worries about speed until November.)  Luckily I didn't name my blog "notajogger" - both because it is already taken (and a good read, I suggest checking it out!) - and because I don't know how accurate it would be right now...  BUT I am in NO WAY complaining about it, it is a joy to be out there again.  In just a few more days - I know that my wife will really appreciate it as well (I'm much easier to be around when I can run!)

There was an interesting occurence that happened on Saturday that I hadn't mentioned yet.  I had just finished my stretching at the park, and headed out on the "Seton Catholic Central" 3 mile course - I had rounded the corner and waved to another runner, and he asked me if I had run the Boilermaker.  No mind you - the Boilermaker had 11075 runners finish the course - but this gentleman recognized me. We had a nice enough chat (he is training for the Niagra Falls Marathon) and we both headed back out on our runs.

The head nod between runners is nice -but being recognized from a HUGE race?  Now that's just cool...

Race Report - Utica Boilermaker 15K - 2011

[caption id="attachment_478" align="alignright" width="150" caption="You can see the port-a-pottie lines in the background!"][/caption]

What a fantastic day for a race!  It was a gorgeous 58 degrees as the cannon went off! (I think it was still 58 degrees, 11 minutes later when I actually reached the start line as well!)  Can I say that 11,000 runners make for a very large crowd (and VERY large lines at the port-a-potties?) 

We showed up VERY early (I was not going to drive 2 hours just to get to "packet pickup" and drive home the day before - when I could show up 2 hours before the race and get it!), with one of my friends that was running riding along, and my wonderful wife there to root us on.  As we arrived (getting a parking spot less than 1000 feet to the starting line,) I realized that I had forgotten my license, a requirement to pick up the race packet.  As we got to the table,I was quite  lucky - the packet pickup lady was not a stickler for the rules - so after much begging, pleading and groveling (or I MIGHT have just explained the situation and she was quite reasonable.)  So luckily, I didn't get up at 3AM just to watch other people run - That was a good start.  Then I got to use a port-a-pottie that no one had used yet - they smell surprisingly "Fresh" when that is true.  Definitely another new experience!

Can't follow instructions...

So... I am now starting to freak out. I am on to my second week of my 18 week "Marathon Training Schedule - Novice 1" program by Hal Higdon.  Week 1 is:

1

Rest

3 m run

3 m run

3 m run

Rest

6

cross

As you can imagine, this was a nice easy week 1... And I blew it.  Yup, that's right - the very beginning of my training program and I'm already doing it wrong... mine looked more like this:

1

Watch kids swim practice

Run 3 m*

Think about eating cake.

3 m run

Play Video Games

Swim laps/play in water & 3.4 m run

Think about how I should do 6 miles.

Now if you look at those two grids... See how they are different?  No, seriously - go back and look - I'll wait here.  Yup, although at first glance it looks like I did exactly what I was supposed to, the actual similarity is that they are both written in grid format.  The contents? Waaaaaaaaaaay too different.  I am thinking that I may need to do something about this if I plan on getting past mile 6 (or so) of the 26.2 miles that make up the Marine Corps Marathon. 

Now, I realize that you, my wonderful reader - are in shock.  While I give you a few moments to recover I will show you what week 2 is/was supposed to look like:

2

Rest

3 m run

3 m run

3 m run

Rest

7

cross

This (no doubt) has made you wonder what the week DOES/Will look like... so lets see:

2

Rest

weight lifting (orientation at YMCA)

5.7 miles

3 m run (will do tonight)

3 m run... maybe.

swim maybe? might lounge around instead

9 mile run

You can see how well the two grids match this time... They both have one row, and 7 squares... and have writing in them... It's where the similarities seem to end.  You would think I would be able to follow the plan for at least the first two weeks - apparently not!

Sunday is the Boilermaker up in Utica.  I have wanted to run this race since Highschool, so I am really looking forward to it. Based on my stellar training recently, I have decided to take it slow and easy to make sure I can finish it. I briefly debated going for the record (42:54 in 1997 by Joseph Kimani) but decided not to show up the other runners that way -  It strikes me as rather rude to show up, run it my first time, and make everyone else just feel silly.  So, Keeping the big picture in mind - this year my goal is to give everyone a false sense of security when viewing me as competition - I am hoping to finish in the top 10,000 finishers, with a time of 1:30-1:40.  I figure THAT should really make them rule me out when sizing up the field in 2012.

It should be fun - Here is what the starting line looked like last year:

[caption id="attachment_452" align="alignright" width="423" caption="Don't drop your soap!"][/caption]