Not-so-Pleasant Reality

OBJECTIVE
3 mi.@8:15/mi.

ACHIEVED
3.01 mi./8:07/mi.

5:07 AM 66° 94% 4 mph

This run was supposed to be an easy confidence-builder. It wasn't. My knee was a problem the entire run and didn't really loosen up. I struggled to hold the easy pace. I did notice that breathing in a 4 exhales then 4 inhales sequence causes me to run faster than a 6 x 6 sequence. I remember reading that a long, easy run should be around 3 x 3.

The pre-race psychosis seems to have me in a downward spiral. Some facts: 26.2 is a huge challenge for me on my best day. The odds of having even a good day seem to be diminishing. My training cycle has not been as consistent as I would like. I have at least one undefined injury. I run with fast people. I read blogs of fast people. I think I've tricked myself into thinking I'm faster than I really am. I'm still very new to this sport.

PRE RUN
water

POST RUN
SlimFast, multivitamin, calcium, vitamins A&D & glucosamine

Pitiful

OBJECTIVE
3 mi. Tempo run @ 6:53/mi.

ACHIEVED

WU 0.97 mi.
3.01 mi. @ 7:11/mi. [6:55, 7:26, 7:12]
CD 1.03 mi.

7:12 AM 75° 89% 1 mph

The good news is that my legs felt fine. The bad news is that I was slow and laboring. At this point, I'd like to feel strong and powerful. The marathon is 3 days away and I've been tapering. I hoped that I would feel fresh but it wasn't the case. Maybe it was the humidity ... ?

It rained last night and the morning air was heavy. I drove to Faulkey Gully after dropping Cameron off late. Rather than park in the mud just off Louetta, I drove to a neighborhood swimming pool and crossed the bridge over to the trail.

1 mile warmup took me to the end of the trail where I started the tempo. Slightly slower than target over the first mile. Working hard. Wasn't able to hold pace over Mile 2. Made the turn back and continued to slow over last mile. Walked about 1/2 mile then cooled down over 1 mile. Thorough stretch back at the car.

PRE RUN
Kashi GoLean cereal w/skim milk

POST RUN
SlimFast
Later, oatmeal w/skim milk, multivitamin & water

Stretching It Out

OBJECTIVE
3 mi. @ 8:15/mi.

ACHIEVED
3.01 mi. @ 7:46/mi.

57F 72% 4 mph

I felt okay this morning other than a balky left knee. It wasn't painful; just "tired". I haven't felt that before. The weather was good. The pace felt comfortable as I picked it up over the short effort.

I've got a tempo run on Wednesday then another short, easy run Thursday. I've got a massage scheduled for Thursday afternoon. I'm hoping to get that calm feeling that I found the week leading up to St. George. Oh that reminds me, I was selected in the St. George lottery Friday so that will be my fall marathon this year. I'm looking forward to going back.

PRE RUN
2 FRS chews & water

POST RUN
SlimFast, multivitamin & water
Later, GrapeNuts w/skim milk

Race Attire

Some of the fun of a big race is deciding what I'm going to be wearing.

Here are my options for the upcoming Ogden Marathon:



Power in Motion is the running group I started with in March 2007. I met several runners who have since become great friends. Jonathan Bennett started running with "PIM" the same day I did. He is a very good runner who continues to improve. Recently he ran an 18:32 5K! He'll be running with me in Ogden. One of our PIM coaches was Stephanie Burlet who leads Saturday long runs. She and her group were patient with me as I learned how to "cover the distance."



The Continental Airlines running team is known as the CAL Runners. I'm very loosely affiliated with the group. Occasionally I run races where the team has a designated number of entries. Last year I tentatively planned to go to Sydney, Australia with the team but the scheduling didn't work out. This fall they're going to Toronto. Maybe that one will work better for me ... ???



Fastrunningblog.com is an excellent runners' resource. There is a discussion board there and a place to log your own training runs and races. Blog members include a few Olympic Trials marathon qualifiers and other highly accomplished runners. The great thing about the community is that they all willingly share training tips and information. Don't be surprised to see several of the top finishers in Ogden wearing the colors of the fastrunningblog.com racing team.



Okay, this one's my latest running sponsor Big Foot Farms. There will be about 30 "members of the team" around on Saturday. A few of us are even running! So far as I can tell the runners include:

Wendy (sister)
Michael (brother-in-law)
Brandon (brother-in-law)
Paige (wife)
Cameron (son)

I think some of my nieces and nephews and perhaps others will be running in the 5K and Kids K events. (The bright red shirts should help us find each other!) Don't forget the Big Foot Farms slogan everyone ... "Run 'til you're Done!"

I also think my cousins: Amy, Julie, Stephanie, and Matt will be running too.

Okay so what am I wearing?

Big Foot Farms warm up shirt (red)
CAL Runners singlet (white)
Adidas running shorts (navy) [picked up pair of RaceReady shorts on Saturday which are great; since they haven't "gone long" with me yet, I won't wear them in Ogden.]
Mizuno Wave Rider 10 shoes (red, white & blue)
Champion gloves (optional)