Marathon Update

The Route 66 Marathon, as always, was spectacular.  The weather was the only downer to the day.  What was supposed to be a mild and pleasant Sunday morning turned into a bitter, cold and windy experience.  Luckily, the Professor and I packed warm clothes as a precautionary measure.  It was, after all, not our first marathon!  The wind chill was in the high 20s for much of the race and the wind was brutal at times.  The course change meant that there were many more hills than in past years.  The combination of weather and hills probably added to the misery index...and our finishing time, although I am happy with the result.  I felt most prepared for this marathon.  I will definitely use Hal Higdon's training guide for future marathons. 

Hats off to the organizers and volunteers, the Ambassador Hotel, Tucci's Cafe Italia and Kilkenny's Irish Pub.  We will see you next year.

Time: 4:13:50
Distance: 26.20
9:41 avg. min/mile
Temp: 35 degrees Fahrenheit

Week Sixteen: Thursday

Cold and brutally windy ends a marathon training regime that started on August 1st.  Hit the pavement this morning for my last 5-miles and change prior to Sunday.  Retired my training shoes after 500+ miles and inaugurated a new pair of NB 1260s for the marathon...and subsequent training, which, for those of you scoring at home, will begin January 1, 2012, but I'm getting ahead of myself.  Carbs and water from here on out...and checking the weather like a lunatic.

Time: 48:35
Distance: 5.04
9:38 avg. min/mile
Temp: 32 degrees Fahrenheit

Total miles (week): 15
Total miles (training): 513
Weight: 185 lbs. (+2)

Week Sixteen: Wednesday

Another cold, windy run! Layered up and hit the trail for 4.87 pre-dawn miles.  Tried hard not to think about pulling something, stepping off a curb and rolling an ankle, or otherwise accidentally maiming myself four days from the marathon. Eating carbs like it was my job.

Time: 45:01
Distance: 4.87
9:14 avg. min/mile
Temp: 35 degrees Fahrenheit

Week Sixteen: Tuesday

Hit the gym for another Chest and Tri workout.  The whirlpool and steam room were extra nice.  Will not venture to the gym on Friday...instead looking forward to taking the day off.  Light maintenance runs for Wednesday and Thursday.

Week Sixteen: Monday

Today's run begins a light week of training. One week out means I will be checking the weather in Tulsa with compulsive regularity, as well as binging on carbs and water like a fiend.  This morning's run was a uninspiring 4.85 miles.

Time: 45:00
Distance: 4.85
9:13 avg. min/mile
Temp: 55 degrees Fahrenheit

Week Fifteen: Saturday

Finished out the week with a "long run" of 10-miles and change.  The events of the day made it difficult to ever really get in a groove or flow.  Week Sixteen promises to be a low-key week of five and six milers.  Bring on the carbs! One week out...

Time: 1:49:00
Distance: 10.83
10:04 avg. min/mile
Temp: 59 degrees Fahrenheit

Total miles (week): 25
Total miles (training): 498
Weight: 183 lbs. (no change)

Week Fifteen: Friday

Chest and Tri workout followed by whirlpool and steam...

Week Fifteen: Thursday

Same temp as yesterday, but without a breeze! Cold and still for an uneventful seven and change. Hitting the gym on Friday and then finishing out the week with a 10-mile run on Saturday...should have 25-miles for the week.  Which, one week before the marathon, is perfect for this runner.  Will try to get about the same in before next Sunday...

Time: 1:09:26
Distance: 7.30
9:31 avg. min/mile
Temp: 35 degrees Fahrenheit

Week Fifteen: Wednesday

Layered up for this morning's run! It was just above freezing, but the North wind made it interesting. Now, for the record, I fully realize that there will be days in February that will make this morning feel like summer, but it sure seemed cold.  Solid run.  Feeling strong.  Those in charge of the Route 66 finally changed the awful out and back river portion of the race, which constituted almost half of the miles! Took a look at the map today and was happy to see that they tweaked the route.

Time: 1:06:55
Distance: 7.16
9:21 avg. min/mile
Temp: 35 degrees Fahrenheit

Week Fifteen: Tuesday

Back to the gym for a Back and Bi workout...whirlpool and steam to follow. Of course. Because it's the little things.

Week Fourteen: Saturday

Out the door at 530 am, yet again, for this week's long run of 12 miles.  Perfect weather, except for the 20 mile an hour wind out of the South, which made the high 50s seem like the low 40s! This week's 45 miles is the most that I will do prior to Nov. 20, so it's a nice taper from here on out.  Two weeks.  But who's counting? 

Time: 1:51:49
Distance: 12.35
9:03 avg. min/mile
Temp: 58 degrees Fahrenheit

Total miles (week): 45
Total miles (training): 473
Weight: 183 lbs. (-3)

Week Fourteen: Friday

Winter is here, or at least the freezing temperatures have arrived.  Hit the road at 515am this morning and it was 32 degrees Fahrenheit, or 0 degrees Celsius.  The run was a great reintroduction to winter running, as there was absolutely no wind: it was perfectly still out on the trail.  I was still a bit congested, but it didn't seem to affect me down the stretch.

Time: 53.50
Distance: 5.69
9:28 avg. min/mile
Temp: 32 degrees Fahrenheit

Week Fourteen: Wednesday

Monday and Tuesday were a wash.  A cold hit me hard on Monday, so I took 48-hours to rest, recharge and recuperate.  It actually felt good after Sunday's long run.  Today's run begins a phase of marked tapering, as per Mr. Higdon's plan to get me to the finish line on Nov. 20th!  I may run more than he recommends these next two weeks, because I think the drop-off in miles is a bit much...

Time: 54:51
Distance: 5.78
9:29 avg. min/mile
Temp: 60 degrees Fahrenheit