Meh to Bleh . . . But got it done . . .

Well, yesterday was do or die on the marathon training schedule.  18 miles or bust.  When I showed up for the 7am meetup, I was pretty sure it was gonna be die.  Heat, humidity and dead legs -- the trifecta.  Worse yet, only the fast guys showed up.  I told them not to wait, and went out at my own pace -- slow. . .   To get back in time to meet up again at 8:00, I took the short Prospect Park loop.  The speedy gang went by me like I was standing still going up the hill.  This would have been depressing, but I bumped into my long lost running buddy, M_, who was in town from New Jersey.   We ran together for a bit, and then back to Carroll Park.

The air in the Park was still.  By the end of the first loop (7 miles), I was drenched and despairing.  We gathered another gang of runners at 8:00 am, including some slowpokes, so I had company from mile 7-11, at the far side of the Manhattan Bridge.  From there I soldiered on alone, up to the Williamsburg Bridge, through Fort Greene, Prospect Heights, and then home.  It was miserable.  I was in survival shuffle mode pretty much the whole way.  But I slogged through it and got it done.

All I have to do is run 20 next weekend (ugh), and then it's taper.  I still haven't bought my airplane tickets, but it will be worth it, just to see Spencer.

From Bleh to Meh!

The last few days have felt pretty good.  Saturday and Sunday I ran medium runs (6-8 miles) at an 8:40 pace.  Monday, I ran 14 at a 9 minute pace when I was with folks, and a 10ish pace when I was on my own for the last few miles at the end.  Today I span and swam.  I am not feeling fast but I am feeling reasonably fit.  I bumped into my friend C_ at the gym this morning, and she asked how I was doing.  I said, "I've finally left the zone of Bleh!!"

This is most emphatically not to be confused with a return to form.  But it is a return to feeling healthy.   I've moved from the zone of Bleh to the zone of "meh."

The big question remains: will running a Marathon in a month help me move forward or set me back. .

Indecision

I'm acting like I'm training for a marathon, but I am far rom convinced that this is true.  I've geared up. Bought three new pairs of shoes -- two low drop, and one cushioned neutral, shorts, and a box of GU.  I've raised my mileage.  And, I'm finally beginning to feel like a runner again.  A 9 minute pace doesn't hurt, and I've been able to string 8:30s together. That said, the idea of going further than 15-16 miles still seems inconceivable.  Maybe I'll be able to break through next weekend . . .

Yay Spencer! Glad to hear you are back at it. I am crawling back myself, but in a bit of a quandary.  June was a bust, an July I was hurt so could only cross train until Mid July.  This wouldn't be a big deal, except I'm signed up for the Chicago Marathon on October 9.  The puzzle I have been facing is, "is it possible to go from zero base to Marathon in 10 weeks." Well, I'm pretty surprised that the jury is still out.  I've been ramping up the long run - two 13s a 16 and a 12.  I'm beginning to get some pace back, but even a 9 minute pace feels ambitious these days.  If I can manage an 18 and a 20 miler in the next few weeks, a WTF marathon seems plausible.   We'll see.

Training the Marsden Way

Just to bring you up to date.  Last year sucked running wise with achy hurty knees with very little cartilage left particularly on the left side.  Past things happening when I ran faster than 10 minute mile pass.  Lots of exercise physiology and home exercises.  Difficulty adjusting to new gait to minimize further cartilage loss and run more efficiently and breathing while doing so.  Still got in two lumbering half marathons but neither really fun.

2016 a lot better so far.  I did a home-made half marathon in the spring and used the summer to finally get breathing in synch with new gait.  Results are promising so far.  Averaging low 9s in both cool, hot or humid weather with long stretches in the 8s and easy sprints in the mid 7s.  Dropped the hammer this morning on a 4 miler and did a short 6:30 stretch.  If this keeps up, this is more 2006, my only double marathon year, than 2016 as my chrono clock approaches 60.  Main challenge is keeping up my long runs since I haven't done more than 8.5 since my home made half.  Left knee isn't perfect but ice, advil and home exercises should get me to the start line for my September half-marathon.

So how to train?  In the past I have sung the praises of doing it the Rocky Way (wear a hoody and run under the el and up museum stairs) and the Hulk Hogan Way (the training, the prayers, the vitamins and the Hulking up for the big finish) but have switched to the Marsden way (no days off). 

Technically there is a difference between the Marsden Way (#Iruneveryday) and the Waller Way (#nodaysoff) besides the distances and speeds involved.  There are days I don't run, but work out in some significant way like my 10 mile mountain bike in Ojai etc.  And ok, I took off a couple of days when they extracted a tooth under general anesthesia.  Plus there seem to be less farm animals on my daily runs than Phil.  But I completed more than 2 weeks of #nodaysoff and really beginning to enjoy the rhythms of my daily toil.  And as I have learned even a bad day running beats a good day associate dean so the physical gains and stress reductions are both major positives.

Thanks Phil!

Summer training FINDS.

Salted caramel Gu gels.

Nocciola hammer gels.   

Just saying.  

Also in England I would like some sunshine and a light breeze.   

Daily running streak persists.   Amazing gentle feeling of competence inside instead of borderline or actual injury. 

Small field tester local marathon this Autumn in Abingdon.   

Then the madness of the 100 miler Centurion London to Oxford run next April.   

Simple things.   

Oh and work.  

How's the summer going for you?   And what finds?

(Apologies for post formatting - post created while standing in home made ice bath in back yard).  (Scaring the neighbours).  

Scratch . . .

Well, if I thought the Brooklyn Half was going to be a launch pad into the summer, I was mistaken.  Training wise, things pretty much went sideways from there.  A month of travel (including an epic climb of Mount Fuji) and family matters, led to much eating and very little exercise.  Just as I was getting organized to get serious again, I yanked my achilles, and, well, that's all she wrote.  Yesterday, I formally acknowledged what I had known for a while -- I will not be doing the NYC Tri next weekend.  I have deferred, and will do it next year.  For the last couple of weeks, I have managed to go for a few good bike rides and I've been swimming pretty consistently, but yesterday was the first day in weeks that I have been able to run without pain in my right calf.  So, right now, its treadmill, spin and pool, and not too much of that.

This raises another difficult question.  Is it still realistic to think about the Chicago Marathon?  I have not done a long run in two months.  I have no base, and I'm heavier than I have been in years . . .  I guess it depends on what happens during the next few weeks.  I'll report back . . .