I'm lazy and don't post as much as I should

It became exceedingly clear to me that I'm lazy on Friday. I mean, I reached 1000 miles for the year (big deal, right?), and I didn't bother to post about it. What is wrong here?

Maybe it is work- I did work until almost 10 Friday night, then again all day Saturday. But I should have posted the instant I got on the computer. I'll do better next time.

Wait, I finally reached 1000 miles! I'm excited about that. I ran 783 last year, so 1000 is a big improvement. Plus, the year isn't over yet!

In other fantastic, but much less consequential, news: I came in third for the year for total miles run at the Fleet Feet Sunday Group! I ran 363 this year with the group. The farthest person went 555, then 510, then me, then 357. John came in fifth at 259 miles. I wonder if they still give out fancy long sleeve shirts for the 300 club. I've seen two guys wearing them, so I know they've done it in the past.

What else did I neglect to write about this week? My left knee still hurts a bit, and my left ankle is pretty bad. I hope it gets better soon, because I won't be able to run much more than ten miles until it does.

Here was my week:

Monday: Off
Tuesday: 3.5 through the Fab 40s with Fleet Feet- to see the Christmas lights
Wednesday: 3 on the treadmill
Thursday: Off
Friday: 2.5 outside in the morning, and boy did my knee hurt
Saturday: Off
Sunday: 10 with the Fleet Feet group/Holiday Classic Race

Miles this week: 19*
Miles in 2011: 1010

Return of the morning run

I managed to run three times during the work week this week. I'm supposed to do this, but hadn't since July. I've been busy, which is a bad excuse. The CIM won't care if I was too busy to get in all four runs each week.

So, I ran with John and the group at Fleet Feet after work on Tuesday, and I ran before work Thursday and Friday! Yay!

Watch for the school bus and extra cars!

Thursday morning, I went out around 7AM. School is back in session, so there was a lot of traffic. Plus, the sun is pretty far up by 7AM, so the run required sunglasses.

This morning, I went out at 6AM (had to be at work earlier today). No traffic, cooler out, and the sun wasn't high in the sky until the last mile or so. Much nicer.

Note to self: Run at 6AM when I can. It is nicer out (for now), and there is less traffic and fewer exhaust fumes.

Weekly Summary

Every run I went on this week, John went with me. He has gotten more into running with his new workout program, and it has been great. Sometimes, I'm not super motivated in the morning. I'll go slow, or not at all, or cut my miles short. When he runs with me, I don't get away with any of that. He usually does less milage than I would on my own, but that is okay for this pre-marathon training phase. I should take it a bit easy this month leading up to my fall schedule.

We ran twice during the week together, and went out Saturday and Sunday, too. Saturday, we went to How and ran an easy six. John hadn't been to that part of the Parkway before, so it was nice to take him out there. It was very busy! Sunday, we did four with the Fleet Feet group. I'm embarrassed to say that we were the first to come back. It was hot out, and we were planning on running three days in a row (today included), so we decided to take it easy.

We skipped the Free 4th of July 5-Miler this morning. It is too hot out. We're going tonight instead.

Miles this week: 17 
Miles in 2011: 425 
...and John is almost to 200, which is great, too!

Weekly Summary

This week I was off to a rought start, but I made up for it in the end. John and I ran at Lake Natoma yesterday morning for five miles, and it was moderately hilly. This morning we ran ten and a half with the Fleet Feet group. My left knee was killing me at about seven and a half, so we walked more than I would have liked, but we still did a lot of good running this weekend.

Miles this week: 22
Miles in 2011: 408

I have big news!

Made anxious by the impending deadline for early bird (read: cheaper) registration, and in dire need of some direction and a goal, I made a big decision last night. I signed up for the California International Marathon, again.

Do I want to run another marathon this year? Do I want to do CIM again, after what happened last year? Those questions floated in my mind, making a decision difficult. The fact that prices went up by around $20 this morning made the decision much easier.

Another consideration- cost of travel. I've been looking into other races out of town this summer and fall, and have been taken aback by the cost of hotels, flight or gas, and race registration. Plus, dinner out the night before and lunch after the race. I like racing out of town, but I can't plan on every race being a big adventure. Doing the CIM will cost far less than say, the Portland Marathon. Portland may be fun, but I did already do a travel marathon this year.

So, I will have to start planning for the fall. Do I want to join the Fleet Feet Training group again, to keep me on track? How will the training program that I am running this fall interfere? What races will I do to prepare? When should I start training?

I am excited to finally have a real goal race to look forward to, and excited to be able to have a re-do at my hometown marathon.

The Final Countdown!

Less than one week to go until the Napa Valley Marathon: My CIM Redemption! I am in LA for a conference all week, which gives me a nice opportunity to protein and carb load. I am doing a great job on that so far- and keeping it healthy.

John and I did an "easy" eight miles on Sunday with the Fleet Feet group. We both felt tired and not mitivated. I know for me, the work is done and now is just waiting. None of my remaining workouts "matter" so it is difficult to be motivated. I am super excited to get to race day, and see what I can do.

I am aiming for a solid four hour finish. I am confident that I can accomplish thios goal, especially after 20 and 22 mile runs at under 9 minute per mile on average. I felt fine during and after both, and think that I am all set to reach my four hour goal. It will be a challenge to stay slow at the start, but I know what can happen, and I don't want to revisit my CIM failure!

I will be sticking to short treadmill runs this week in the hotel, so nothing much to report. Only a few days left!

16 miles...ouch

I mentioned before that  slacked a bit this week, which continued with skipping my 6 mile speed workout. I managed to get the 6 miles in on Saturday (not Thursday or Friday as I should have), but didn't do more than a tempo run (not as fast as called for). I have to pick it up starting this week!

Sunday John and I went to Fleet Feet, and I did 16 miles on the trail. The first 4.5 I ran with John and Bernie, the rest with one of the group regulars, who also did CIM last month (he did considerably better than I did). It was nice to have company again.

I wanted to keep a good pace- close to race pace- between 8:45 and 9. I kept that for maybe 10 miles then slowed to 9:30 or so. Overall a good effort, but I would like to do better on speed.

My goal this next week is to get a good speed workout in on Wednesday (or Thursday, whichever), and do the prescribed 18 miles on Sunday. Judging from how sore my hips are from 16, the 18 will likely hurt. 

Rainy Sunday Run

I was sure glad to have company this morning for my weekly long run. We went to Fleet Feet for the Sunday group again, and about five or so people showed up to run in the rain. John and I ran with two of the regulars at the Sunday run, and they were kind enough to join me for my 14 miler this morning. It is nice to have people around in the group who are trained and into running enough to do 14 miles on a whim.

It was raining, but not too cold. It was actually very nice out. I wouldn't have been as happy with the weather if I had run by myself, so I'm glad they have the runs from the store. It really is a nice community service that Fleet Feet does by organizing the runs each week, with coffee to warm us up at the end to boot!

I'm still not a big fan of the rocks on the trail from Sutter's Landing to the H Street Bridge, but the benefit of having company is worth the slight discomfort of the rocks.

Here is the Garmin summary of the route and today's run, since I don't think I've added this route to my blog yet:

Running in the Rain

John and I started going to the Fleet Feet Sunday run two weeks ago, and we are really enjoying it. It is very helpful to have a set time, and a group to run with, for long runs. Two Sundays ago, we did an easy 7 miles, slowly because I was in recovery mode. Yesterday was the first long run of my new marathon training program, and I did ten miles...

..in pouring rain...

About six or seven people showed up to the run, and it was nasty out. It wasn't too cold- maybe in the 50s, but it was pouring rain, and moderately windy. I wasn't too excited to be going out in the rain, but I was happy I was doing it once we started.

I ran with John for the first three miles, then he turned around (his 10k training program had him doing six total). Once I turned around at five miles (Guy West Bridge), I ran with two other people from the group. Once does ultras, and said he'd be starting very long runs soon if I wanted to join. It is nice to know some people do more than the 13 miles Fleet Feet advertises as the distance of the Sunday run.

I am happy to be training again, but feeling some pain in my knees and hips. I'm hoping it doesn't last.