Today's Run - 2/28

I missed my long run this weekend due to work commitments keeping me up 24+hrs on Saturday into Sunday. I was completely shot on Sunday afternoon and decided it was best to skip the long run. I will adjust my run schedule this week to see how to account for missing this run. I will try to resist the urge to increase my miles to completely cover the missed miles. I am traveling this week which will help reduce my ability to try and squeeze the 16miles into this weeks runs.

Today's Run - 2/25

My 4mile recovery run this morning felt better than my last two runs. My legs were still sore as I headed out and as I got into the run my legs loosened up. I am looking forward to my break tomorrow for a day of rest before cross training and a longer run on Sunday.

Today's Run - 2/24

8 miles today on legs that are still recovering from this weekends long run. Considering the rapid increase in miles I am happy that I was mentally and physically able to complete this run. My pace was still much slower than normal, but I had spurts of good times and I was able to mentally check out after the first 3miles. I am looking forward to my recovery run tomorrow, just 4miles! My mid-week runs are getting longer which means I finish later in the morning than usual before. This morning I started out in the dark and finished up well after sunrise. The neighborhood went from completely quiet to streets filled with cars filled with people heading to work and school. I definitely like running with no cars on the roads.

National 1/2 Marathon

Signed up for the National 1/2 Marathon on March 20, 2010 to supplement my training program for Boston. The date and distance matched well with training schedule and I will get to see my folks while I am in DC.

Today's Run - 2/23

I enjoyed the rest day yesterday and started cautiously when I headed out on my recovery run this morning. The first mile was tough and I really wondered if I would be able to do 4miles. My pace was much slower than normal, the blister on my left foot felt ok but I knew it was there, and my legs were very sore. I guess that is why they call it a recovery run.

Today's Run - 2/21

Today's run was a mental and physical challenge which I am happy that I completed successfully. Today's 15mile run was the longest run I had ever done and it was tough. The mid 50 degeree weather was perfect for a run and there were a number of runners out training for the upcoming 10Miler. The 10Miler course was fairly cleared from snow but the surrounding landscape still had plenty of snow on the ground and in places snowbanks of 3-5Ft.

I really fell off my pace in the later miles. I tired to find down hills for the last 5 miles to test my legs and ability to run downhill. I can tell the hills of Boston are going to be a significant challenge. I will continue to work on running downhill on tired legs next 16mile run.

I am going to enjoy the rest day tomorrow.

Today's Run - 2/19

Traveling again for work required me to shift my running schedule around by resting on Thursday and running on Friday. I hit the hotel treadmill for Today's Run and really wanted to see how fast I could do this 4mile run. I pushed hard the entire run without going below a 9min pace and with multiple 1/4 or 1/2 mile spurts at sub 7min paces. I closed in on the 4mile mark quickly and found one last kick to get in under 32mins.

Running on the dreadmill is more painful mentally watching the time and distance increment when running a slower pace than the physical pain of just running a faster. My whole goal is to get on the treadmill and bang out the distance as quickly as possible. There is no doubt that I enjoy my outside runs and this weekend the weather is going to be awesome for my 15mile long run.

Today's Run - 2/18

My mid week run distances are increasing as I progress through my training program. This morning I headed out for 7miles before the sunrise and a few minutes earlier than usual to minimize the impact of my run on the rest of my morning. The weather was cool but no where close to cold temps we have had recently.

As I ran this morning I tried to focus on keeping a steady reasonable pace. I know that I can't keep the low 8min miles that I run on the treadmills on the longer outdoor terrain runs. I am growing in confidence of my ability to meet the sub-4hr mark in Boston but the sub 9min/mile average is going to be a stretch.

Today's run had lots of elevation changes and I was able to average 9:21/mile pace.

Today's Run - 2/16

It sounds crazy but getting out to run before day light in the cold winter air is something I look forward to. There are no pressures from other people allowing me to retreat to my own thoughts for a short period of time. The morning runs make for a longer day, the days I run seem to be easier on many fronts.

I planned for a quick 3Mile recovery run this morning on my normal hilly section in the neighborhood. I tacked on a little extra because I was feeling pretty good and I had a little extra time this morning. I was able to maintain the ~9min pace for entire run.

I am ~60 Days from Boston and my next long run is going to be a good test of my training.

Today's Run - 2/14

With the travel and difficulties getting to run this last week I was excited for my long run this morning. Work issue have plagued me all weekend and I was barely able to escape to get this run in. The snowy weather from the past few days has left clear crisp weather with ~2FT snow on the ground. The roads are cleared and overall it was a great morning for a run. I was not the only one in the neighborhood who wanted to get out, I past a number of folks out for morning runs.

My route this morning had a number of up and down elevation changes. I worked on pushing hard to the top of the hills and running down. The unknown Boston course continues to weigh on my mind. I look at the elevation changes and they don't seem to much different from what I run on a normal day. I hope that my training will prepare me physically and the mental aspects I will have to deal with on race day.

I know I am getting stronger in my running. My pace continues to improve on the shorter runs and on the longer runs my average pace is staying consistent with splits in the low 9mins. I am hopeful that race day adrenaline will help me break an average 9min pace.

Today's Run - 2/12

I tried to cut out of work and get a run in before sunset. I figured if I pushed hard I could get in 3miles. I was on pace to do that when I got a phone call from work! I walked for a bit and resumed my run. I got in about 2miles before I headed home.

What a tough training week, I look forward to my long run this weekend.

Today's Run - 2/10

I headed to the hotel fitness center after a long day of meetings. I was very tired and had a limited amount of time before dinner so Today's Run was a 3mile speed workout. I struggled to get into the groove during the first mile or so because I was mentally drained and physically tired. The last 1/2 of the run went pretty quick. As I closed in on 3miles I pushed to see if I could get done under 25mins and was happy to see that I did.

I will need to pickup my medium run later in the week. Traveling is tough on the training schedule and the diet.

Today's Run - 2/9

I am traveling this week, so today's run was on a treadmill in the hotel fitness room. The fitness room was packed when I showed up at 6:15 and I did some ab work and push ups while I waited for a machine. I only needed to do 3miles this morning and wanted to work on my pace. The pace on my long run this weekend was disappointing and I hoped some speed work help me regroup a bit. I pushed pretty hard on the run keeping my pace to an 8:10 AVG.

With any luck I will get be able to get my 7mile run in tomorrow.

Today's Run - 2/7

I was able to get out for my long run and shake off some of my cabin fever. The roads were plowed pretty well and the clear day started to melt much of the black ice when I was in the middle of my run. I was sore from shoveling my driveway and I think that really affected me late in my run. The course I took through the neighborhood had lots of hills which came to a ~650FT elevation change.

Today's Run - 2/4

I headed to ACAC after work for a quick 3Mile speed workout on the treadmill. I wanted to see if I could average an 8min pace for 3miles. To my surprise I was able to do the 3miles in 24mins flat! It was a good way to end the week.

We have a big snow storm coming this weekend. I expect my Saturday workout will be a full day of snow shoveling. With any luck the roads will be clear on Sunday so I can get my long run in.

Today's Run - 2/3

A perfect storm of things to disrupt my training program today; Snowy weather overnight and early meetings prevented me from getting out to run in the morning. I was able to get to ACAC for a run in the evening. There is a big difference for me running after a long day vs running in the morning. During the day I felt out of sorts and not able to deal with stress in the same manner. It was hard to get going on my run, which was made worse because I was on a dreadmill for most of it.

My plan was to do a 6+ mile run on the treadmill. The gym was packed with people and they all seemed to want the running treadmills. I was able to get a treadmill and ran 3.5Miles in 30mins. I then had to give it up due to a line of people waiting for access to the treadmills. I then jumped onto the indoor track that requires 14Laps for 1mile.... you guessed it! I did more than 35 laps to finish off my run. I found that after running in circles for that distance I was really tired of turning right and my feet were sore from the different strike pattern of due to constant turn stride of the small track circumference. The run took me ~55mins to complete.

I plan to run on the treadmill in the evening again tomorrow. Luckily it is only 3miles and I can do that in less than 30mins.

Today's Run - 2/2

My recovery run this morning was pretty good. The recent snow left some black ice to maneuver but overall the roads were pretty clear. I looked for hills to practice running up and down. My pace continues to stay in the high 8 low 9 min miles. If I continue on that pace I will meet my goal for Boston of sub 4hrs.

I hope my run tomorrow does not get canceled due to snow tonight... I may have to hit the dreadmill.