At least you didn't have to wait two years for the sequel to this gem. I mean how exciting is it to think that you are all hanging on every word in a blog post recapping a year of running and random exploits from my life. I know that I am riveted to my seat in anticipation. Of course when I last left you, I was just preparing to embark upon...
A marathon which, I thought, perhaps foolishly, that upon training for and running a Half-Marathon, one could simply double up the mileage and plan and tackle the full on 26.2. And perhaps I could have had certain things not conspired against me later in the year. But I digress (or progress as the case may be), let us rejoin our program in July.
July - I took the first week of the month off, well the first three days anyway, and returned to running in a 5k event locally. I drove out there signed up as last minute as possible, then promptly ran the 5k in 23 minutes even. I also geared up and plowed full steam ahead into a marathon training plan. Things got off to a great start in July as I started cranking through 25+ mile weeks. I did a 14 mile run in mid-July, that was probably one of the best runs I had had in months, and then a 16 mile run at the end of July. I also shoved a 10k in there somewhere which was a good test of where I was at. I felt good, but knew there to be a lot of work left to accomplish this goal. I climbed to 88.5 miles for the month of July
August - I picked up right where I left off in July. I was cruising through tempo runs, and speed sessions, but the long runs were starting to kill me. Or perhaps the speed runs were starting to catch up with the long runs, but somewhere in August the stress of the training got to me (though I didn't notice until September). I completed yet another 16 mile run in mid-August, though this one wasn't as spectacular as the July run, so I backed off the some of the harder runs and tried to focus on enjoying the run. At the end of August I set out to tackle a 20 miler during the weekend of my 10 year high school reunion. I managed to get through 18 miles and that would be the last double digit run for a month which pushed me over 100 miles for the month. On top of my 10 year high school reunion, we celebrated my wife's 10 year high school reunion, and hosted my best friend from high school for a week. August was crazy busy and with all that going on I pushed on trying to fight the good fight, at least until...
September - In September I realized I was exhausted. Between the new baby and running, I crashed. To add to the anxiety, my company was anticipating layoffs. Turns out this was a recipe for "I don't want to run right now" itis. And in looking at the log, it shows. I approached September the same way I have approached December, just maintain. I ran easy when I ran at all, but I did race. The week before the layoffs were to be announced I ran a local Half-Marathon, and did extremely well considering I was uninterested in physical activity. By the end of September I had run 64.3 miles.
October - Thankfully, the first Monday of October brought good news and I had survived the cuts at work. So with the change in weather, the work outlook and a new found energy, I petitioned my friend into doing the Tri-Cities Marathon relay at the end of the month. I was back to running three or four times a week, and enjoying every single run. My mileage climbed back to the 20+ miles per week, and my friend and I crushed the Tri-Cities Marathon Relay, both setting PRs in the Half distance as always a race report here. By the end of the month I was sitting at 97.2 miles and some how couldn't find it in me to get over 100.
November - As the temperatures continued to fall in November, it meant one thing. Basketball season was back. I was still running three or four times a week, hovering right at 20 miles a week and finally worked a couple of games. Not much in the way of excitement for November Just a nice easy month where I pushed across 80.2 miles and crossed 700 for the year.
December - I have been so busy this month. I refereed 16 basketball games in the first 17 days of the month, and 1 last week. I usually book ended those with runs typically 8 or so miles. It is a low mileage month, probably will end up lower than September, but only because I can't factor the basketball games into the total. I imagine that I will end up in the 65 mile range for December which will leave me at 775 for the year 175 more than I set out to do.
Races
I hope you have all enjoyed reading through my 2 part review. Happy New Year guys.
A marathon which, I thought, perhaps foolishly, that upon training for and running a Half-Marathon, one could simply double up the mileage and plan and tackle the full on 26.2. And perhaps I could have had certain things not conspired against me later in the year. But I digress (or progress as the case may be), let us rejoin our program in July.
July - I took the first week of the month off, well the first three days anyway, and returned to running in a 5k event locally. I drove out there signed up as last minute as possible, then promptly ran the 5k in 23 minutes even. I also geared up and plowed full steam ahead into a marathon training plan. Things got off to a great start in July as I started cranking through 25+ mile weeks. I did a 14 mile run in mid-July, that was probably one of the best runs I had had in months, and then a 16 mile run at the end of July. I also shoved a 10k in there somewhere which was a good test of where I was at. I felt good, but knew there to be a lot of work left to accomplish this goal. I climbed to 88.5 miles for the month of July
August - I picked up right where I left off in July. I was cruising through tempo runs, and speed sessions, but the long runs were starting to kill me. Or perhaps the speed runs were starting to catch up with the long runs, but somewhere in August the stress of the training got to me (though I didn't notice until September). I completed yet another 16 mile run in mid-August, though this one wasn't as spectacular as the July run, so I backed off the some of the harder runs and tried to focus on enjoying the run. At the end of August I set out to tackle a 20 miler during the weekend of my 10 year high school reunion. I managed to get through 18 miles and that would be the last double digit run for a month which pushed me over 100 miles for the month. On top of my 10 year high school reunion, we celebrated my wife's 10 year high school reunion, and hosted my best friend from high school for a week. August was crazy busy and with all that going on I pushed on trying to fight the good fight, at least until...
September - In September I realized I was exhausted. Between the new baby and running, I crashed. To add to the anxiety, my company was anticipating layoffs. Turns out this was a recipe for "I don't want to run right now" itis. And in looking at the log, it shows. I approached September the same way I have approached December, just maintain. I ran easy when I ran at all, but I did race. The week before the layoffs were to be announced I ran a local Half-Marathon, and did extremely well considering I was uninterested in physical activity. By the end of September I had run 64.3 miles.
October - Thankfully, the first Monday of October brought good news and I had survived the cuts at work. So with the change in weather, the work outlook and a new found energy, I petitioned my friend into doing the Tri-Cities Marathon relay at the end of the month. I was back to running three or four times a week, and enjoying every single run. My mileage climbed back to the 20+ miles per week, and my friend and I crushed the Tri-Cities Marathon Relay, both setting PRs in the Half distance as always a race report here. By the end of the month I was sitting at 97.2 miles and some how couldn't find it in me to get over 100.
November - As the temperatures continued to fall in November, it meant one thing. Basketball season was back. I was still running three or four times a week, hovering right at 20 miles a week and finally worked a couple of games. Not much in the way of excitement for November Just a nice easy month where I pushed across 80.2 miles and crossed 700 for the year.
December - I have been so busy this month. I refereed 16 basketball games in the first 17 days of the month, and 1 last week. I usually book ended those with runs typically 8 or so miles. It is a low mileage month, probably will end up lower than September, but only because I can't factor the basketball games into the total. I imagine that I will end up in the 65 mile range for December which will leave me at 775 for the year 175 more than I set out to do.
Races
- July 4 - Camp Patirot Fun Run - 5k - 23:00
- July 23 - Shoreline Run - 10k - 51:39
- September 24 - Indian Summer Half-Marathon - 13.1 - 1:51:30
- October 30 - Tri-Cities Marathon Relay - 13.1 - 1:49:02
I hope you have all enjoyed reading through my 2 part review. Happy New Year guys.
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