I got out and did 6 miles yesterday. VTR called and left a message, and Mrs. A told me to get out there so I did. I was not inspired but I went out and ran pretty well. My legs are tired today, and I didn't feel great in the gut when it was over, but it was good to be out there because it was a beautiful day.
I was sick two weeks ago and totally in a running funk last week. The admission that I promised last week is this: I don't like training for marathons. Mrs. A says I'm over-thinking which I probably am -- it happens when between gigs. So, I'm back to it, more or less, we'll see how it goes and maybe I'll use VTRs two weeks overseas to really try and drop the hammer so that I can make some strides and get in better shape than he.
I stopped twice, briefly, on my run. My left quad was tightening up in one specific area, which is the sorest part of either leg today, so I stopped and stretched it out about 3/4-mile from home. The other stop occurred towards the middle of my run. Some folks have tapped the Sugar Maples on their property and I wanted to check out the setup. They are using these big blue bags that hang off of metal bars that hang off of a little spigot driven into the tree. The bags were quite full, slushy on top and liquid beneath and there was a good amount of sap dripping from the little spigots. There is a huge maple at the center of the property -- probably 10 feet in circumference -- and it had a bunch of very full bags on it. I know VTR has plenty of sugar stands around him, but they are a bit more rare in west-suburban-Boston. That was pretty cool.
Monday, March 3, 2008
On The Road Again
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2 comments:
Great post. Glad to see you back on the blog, and glad that you made it out for six.
I think Mrs. A is right about the over-thinking. Bottom line is that you'll be in better shape than at least 50%+ of the runners on race day, and you're already in better shape than about 90% of the general population (and 99.9% of the population south of the Mason Dixon line).
Marathon training is a big commitment, but I submit that it's not as big as people make it out to be. Especially for people, like us, who are even the least bit active. Maybe I feel this way because I have yet to run more than half of the miles in my marathon plans, and I did fine on both. Whatever the reason, the fact that you're sticking to it (and that you even signed up in the first place) puts you in a good spot. Marathon training is like the marathon itself. There are mini-peaks and valleys that you have to plow through during overall program, just as there are in any long run. Keep on chugging and before you know it, you'll feel like you're coasting down a hill, feeling fresher and stronger than ever.
Here's a bit more perspective. I've convinced myself (almost) that the real training doesn't need to begin until around March 15, which is when I get back from China. Who knows if it's true -- it doesn't matter. I need to trick myself into believing that I'm not behind (I really don't think I am), so I can hold on to my goal. So, if you buy into my program, you just gained two more weeks to get it together. You're welcome.
...or maybe I'm just trying to get you not to drop the hammer....
You are probably right . . . 3/15 sets you up for about 10 weeks. When I trained for NYC in '04 I didn't start my training until about twelve weeks before it started with very little base. Deena Kastor's bronze medal performance in the womens' olympic marathon in Athens got me out and running, and I think my highest mileage week for that was something like 24 and I still did 4:30 -- not blazing, but I finished and toughed out 17.5-19 by walking.
So you're right, I just need to keep on plowing and hopefully I can get something good going and be ready to rock it through this month and next.
I'm back.
I'm back.
I'm back -- and looking forward to tomorrow.
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