Very Cold

3 degrees with a wind chill of negative 6, now that is cold. I took off at about 6:40 AM this morning for my long run of the week. I was hoping for 15 miles but I knew that would be a stretch. Unfortunately not only was it cold but I had to run probably 90% of the run on snow and ice. You can see in the picture what the streets looked like this morning. It was far better then Wednesday morning, but still took a lot more effort than clear streets. I also included a couple of pics of me. That stuff on my head is not snow, it is frozen sweat. Also notice the icicle hanging from my chin, that is from my breath going into my balaclava. I had it up over my nose for about half of the run, but eventually I began to feel claustrophobic breathing through a piece of material. As you can see I completely lost my peripheral vision because of the ice build-up on my eye lashes. I am ready for it to warm up. I love the challenge of the cold, but I feel that my runs are suffering from it.

Today's Run:
10 Miles

This Weeks's Total Miles:
39.5 Miles

January Total Miles:
80.3

WHY RUN

Well, first I would like to start with... WHY NOT?

Pain

The whole premise of running is to push yourself to go further and faster. That means in order to get there, it has to hurt. Every run hurts, some more than others. I used to think the harder I pushed it, the better the workout, hence the multiple injuries I have sustained. I have since learned that there is such a thing as an easy or recovery run which translates to, a run that does not hurt AS bad. There are all kinds of pain; knee pain, back pain, shin pain, arch pain, and achilles pain. There is pain associated with being breathless, heart pounding or side stitches, and cramps.

Less Sleep

In order for me to fit runs in and not miss time with my family, I have to get up early...anywhere between 5:15 and 5:45. Which means I usually get around 6 1/2 hours of sleep. If you read much about running, then you have surely read how important sleep is for recovery. That is just not an option for someone who works, has a wife, two kids, and is training for a marathon. I guess I will catch up on sleep when the kids move out.

Expense

Putting a lot of miles in each week means that shoes don’t last long. Unfortunately, I have also learned that trying to save money and get cheap shoes is not a healthy option. So that means you have to be prepared to shell out a decent amount every 400 miles or so. For me, this means I will go through 1 1/2 pairs just between now and the marathon. Then there is clothing, watches, heart rate monitors, gels, bars, drinks, entry fees, Advil, Dr.’s visits, sports cream, etc.

Discomfort (not to be confused with pain; discomfort is not as intense but very annoying)

Running comes with lots of discomfort. Like right now, under both of my arms I am chaffed from this mornings run, which results in a burning sensation when my arms rub against my body. There is plenty of muscle and joint discomfort. There are blisters. Then there is the discomfort from the weather; cold, windy, hot, rain, and snow.

After all that many people can’t imagine there could be a WHY. Well, I am going to have to try to keep this short because I could get long winded here.

Health benefits

Of course running is good for your heart, lungs, and is a great weight management tool. You sweat out those toxins and clean out your system.

Culture

Runners are great people...really they are. If you have ever been to a race or around many runners you know. They are typically friendly, personable, and encouraging.

Personal Growth

When you know that you have pushed yourself to the limits, there is an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. After a long run in horrible weather, I am on top of the world for the rest of the day. Not long ago, I ran 15 miles in the rain with wind in the low 20 mph range and the mercury was below 40. I wanted to stop several times. I was able to push through and it was such a great feeling, well worth all the agony I dealt with for 2 hours.


To Survive

If you have been running for a while you know what I mean. When I am not running, I am a different person. I don’t have as much energy, I am not as positive, and I worry more. Somehow that time out on the road puts things into perspective, it brings me into life, and just makes life better.

Today’s Run:
8.2 Miles on the treadmill

Tyson

My son Tyson is supporting me with his Track & Field sweatshirt.

It's official

After 6 straight days of running, I took today off. I am ashamed to say it was not a scheduled day off either. I woke up this morning and a little voice in my head was saying, “you have already run 6 straight days and you are tired, just lay back down.” It was too hard to resist. Once I finally did wake up, it was about 15 minutes until the guilt set in. I want to do well in this marathon and I know that is not going to happen if I keep taking days off. It also makes me question my dedication. If I am so dedicated, like I think I am, why do I take unscheduled days off? I was hoping to break 50 miles this week for the first time ever. Well, that is just not going to happen now. I am trying not to get down on myself and hope to run at least the next 76 straight days.

The good news!!...

It’s official. I have signed up and paid for the Flying Pig marathon here in Cincinnati, OH. This time I paid the entry fee and there is no turning back now. Unless I can’t walk, I will complete the marathon, hopefully in less then 3 hours and 10 minutes. My wife and I allow ourselves an allowance each month that is built into our budget. The $60 I paid to run this marathon is a few months worth of that budget for me so I don’t take that lightly. Fortunately, I have been saving up my allowance and hope to run a few shorter races in preparation for the big one.

I having been working to gain readers of this blog, people who will follow me through this journey. So thanks for stopping by and please feel free to leave a comment and tell a fellow runner.

Today's Run:
OFF

Earning My Stripes Back

Cold, wet, slippery... Redemption!!

Once again I am officially “A Runner” (see yesterday’s post for further explanation)

Here in Ohio, we received about 5 inches of snow yesterday. While watching television last night, my wife noticed that the gym I have been going to was not going to open until 8:00 AM. Pretty ironic since I go to the gym to avoid the bad weather. So, I knew I would be running outside in the morning.

My alarm went off at 5:30 and I snoozed until 5:54, waking my poor loving wife up every time it went off. I got out of bed and went to the computer to check the weather...raining and 24 degrees, but only 5 mph winds. I thought when it was below freezing it isn't supposed to rain, I guess not. Equipped with a waterproof jacket and waterproof shoes, I stepped out into the torment. The rain compacted the snow to more like 2 or 3 inches and it had created a layer of ice on top. Everything was shinny and white. The street however just looked like a solid layer of ice with a nice glaze of rain on top.

I struggled to maintain my footing as I inched down the driveway not sure how this was going to turn out. I stepped out onto the road and the run began. Every step was a carefully calculated effort. When shoving off from each step my foot would slide out and kick up higher then intended, something I could not help and something that required much exertion. Quickly into my run, I came upon my first hill. Running uphill on ice is very difficult. I did my best to find tire tracks for extra traction but even the tracks were slippery, and they were very uneven which was also concerning. I did not want a sprained ankle.
Already wearing down, I struggled to gain some kind of rhythm. I reached a sharp turn about 1/2 mile into the run. I took it easy around the turn and twice had to throw my arms up and bend my knees to regain footing. I could not believe that I remained upright. I rounded the first mile and looked down at my watch, 8:52. Pretty slow but I didn’t think it was too bad given the circumstances.

About to reach the 2 mile marker, I came upon another sharp turn. This time I was not as successful. I went down. However, I must say it was pretty graceful. Only my hands hit the ground and I never stopped moving.

The rain was starting to make the run easier. The roads were becoming more of a slush and traction was easier to come by. The problem now was the puddles. The car tracks where I was running were far less slippery then the rest of the road but they had become a pool for the rain. At times I was running in 1 or 2 inches of water. My shoes were waterproof but my socks weren’t. The water was splashing up onto my socks and tights and draining down into my shoes. My shoes in turn were bricks of water. Next the rain turned into sleet, which hurt as it pounded on my almost frozen cheeks and chin.


Today's Run: 5 miles--Pace 8:59

On Being "A Runner"

I can be categorized, described, or labeled as "A Runner". How did this happen, you might ask. Well, I would like to say I earned it and I think I have, but truly I just gave it to myself as so many other people have. You might hear someone say I play basketball, but with running you don't say I run you say, I am a runner. I think it is because of the dedication it takes to be a runner. Keep in mind that I am talking about non-professional athletes here. Someone who plays basketball might be in a league where they play one night a week and maybe they participate in a couple of tournaments each year. To practice, they shoot around occasionally but that is usually the extent of it. When you are a runner, like myself, it means that you get up well before the sun many more days than not and you do this day in and day out all year. You might spend somewhere between 45 minutes to 3 hours a day training. No matter the weather, you are out there pushing your limits. To most people it sounds absurd, but anyone who is a runner understands that running is far better then sleep, being dry, warm, or comfortable.

So began my dilemma. About a month ago, I was running 6 miles, it was 4 degrees outside and the wind chill was -14. I was loving it. The run went well and then I went inside and prepared for work. On my way into work, my foot started seriously hurting so I took my shoe off. Once I took my shoe off, it instantly felt better. To get to my office I had to put my shoe back on and feel the pain again. Once in my office, I slipped off my shoe and sock to see a large bulge under my ankle. It did not look good and I immediately became concerned that I had sustained another overuse injury that would pull me away from my running yet again.

I called the doctor to schedule the first available appointment...Christmas eve. I went in and got an x-ray. The Dr. came in, looked at the x-ray and my foot and said I needed an MRI. He thought I had done something to mess up the tendon in my foot. He also pointed out a cist in my foot and said I might need to have it removed. He did not ask me any questions about the pain and did not test for mobility problems, of which there were none. If I did not have a shoe on, there was no pain. It seemed as though I had no injury, it just looked strange. He prescribed some NSAIDS and said I should schedule the MRI.

After calling my insurance, I discovered that an MRI would cost me at least $800. What?!! I decided to hold off. I wanted to stay in shape so I got a gym membership for 8 weeks hoping I could stay in shape on the elliptical and bike while I recovered. In the meantime, I found out that a local running store had free appointments with a podiatrist. I scheduled the first available. She told me that I was a skinny and bony person and that was just my make up. I had simply irritated the bone (which the other Dr. said was not a bone but a tendon) that sticks out and would need to adjust my footwear accordingly. The next day I ran 6 miles. That was almost 2 weeks ago and I am still pain free. I sure am glad I did not go for the MRI.

The dilemma comes with the definition of "A Runner". Since I hold that title there are certain things I must abide by. In my opinion, running on a tread mill in a controlled environment watching a movie is not really being, "A Runner". But...it has been so cold, snowy, and I paid for 8 weeks. So, against my better judgment I have continued to go to the gym even though I don't need to recover any longer. I ran outside Sunday and it was 13 degrees so I have not lost my ability to tolerate the elements. It just sounds really nice most mornings to stay warm, and I know it will be all over in 5 weeks.


Todays run:
1 hour @7.3 MPH, covering 7.3 miles. Which is not accurate at all, but I guess if I don't like it I should just go outside, now shouldn't I?

Not my first marathon attempt

In 2001, I had planned to run the Flying Pig Marathon in Cincinnati and began my training in February, about 10 weeks from the marathon date. At that point in my life, I had never run further than 6 miles and on any kind of regular basis in almost 3 years. With that said, my training was not going too bad. I was not running fast, but I was getting some miles in. I signed up and paid (my parents actually footed the bill) and I was ready to go, or getting ready. With about 3 weeks until race day, I went on a long run with one of my professors in college. It was hot, probably in the low 80's and we ran just over 10 miles. My long runs weren't exactly long. I became grossly dehydrated and became sick. Due to being ill, I missed several days of running. This, added to my already poor fitness level scared me out of the race. Looking back now, I don't understand why I didn't just go for it. Who cares if it took me 5 hours but I was too scared.

I must admit that I share some of the same fears today. However, this time I feel I am much more prepared. I run more in a week now than I did in a month back then and I have been logging consistent miles for awhile now. However, I have placed some expectations on myself that I am not sure I can reach. 26.2 miles of exertion is really going to hurt. What if I went out too fast and had to slow down...or even worse if it got too hard and I had to walk!?

Enough about my fears, lets get down to business...I purchased a 2 month membership at a local gym (I will explain later). My 2 months expire on March 1st. This gives me 6 Mondays left, counting today. So I decided that I would do the same workout each Monday and see how I progress. The details of the workout are as follows (2 mile warm up, cool down until comfortable and then run at 9 MPH or a 6:40 mile pace for as long as possible). Today I only made it 12 minutes. I have been focusing much more on distance than speed and with 14 weeks to go it is time to round out my training with some specific speed work.

Training for my first marathon!!

I started this blog to talk about my running. I hope to be able to look back on it and see how far I have come. Though I have been an aspiring runner for about 12 years now my accomplishments have been very few. I don't feel like I have come close to reaching my potential. I have suffered several times from injuries, which I will talk more about later, and I have become disintrested at times. Over the last 3 1/2 years I have been working really hard (when I have been healthy) to reach my potential. Since I did not have a very good base to work with, I made some mistakes that have led to overuse injuries and have sidelined me for months at a time.

My "accomplishments", though embarrassing can be summed up in a very short paragraph. In high school I set the school record for the 400, at 50.2 seconds, although I don't think it ever truly made the record books because my coach did not really care. Perhaps you could hear some disdain in that sentence. I just think if I would have had a good coach early on I could have been much better. In high school I also went to state in the 400. I had the opportunity to run for a division 1 school in college and I passed it up. I still wonder why I did that. After I graduated from graduate school I decided to start running again and went back to what I was good at...the 400. After yet another injury, I decided to start running longer distances. That has gradually progressed to my current goal, which is to run the Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon on May 3rd...only about 14 weeks away. By the way, this will be my first race over 3.1 miles.

To date, my longest run has been 17.5 miles at a pace of about 7:58. In 2008 I ran a total of 678.8 miles, most of which were in the last 4 months, 67% of the total miles were in those last 4 months. Aug.- 50 miles, Sept.- 81.6, Oct.- 93.9, Nov.- 155.8(almost 25% of the total for the entire year), Dec.- 122.1 (it dropped in December because of a minor injury). Since January 1st 2008 I have spent just over 99 hours running.

My goal is to run the marathon in less then 3:10, or 7:14 per mile. At this point, that seems pretty lofty so I will be flexible with that goal as it gets closer and I better predict what my true potential will be.

Today's run was 5 miles at 7:40 per mile. It was 13 degrees outside and that was my first day to run outside in 4 weeks, due to a minor injury. Month to date I have run 30.5 miles.