So Long July.

A great month to be sure. I finished it off with a solid week. Monday I did a 4.5 mile run. Tuesday 51 minute strength workout. Wednesday I did run-swim at lunch: 4 mile run and ~10 minutes of swimming and then biked home - over 9 miles - 42 minutes of biking. Thursday I biked back into work. Friday I did a 5 mile run. Still hot! Saturday off. Sunday I did a 1 hour 7 minutes strength workout. The totals were nice and balanced: 1 hour 59 minutes running, 1 hour 35 minutes bike/swimming and 1 hour 58 minutes of strength training.

Tomorrow I tentatively start my marathon training. I'm still only 60-70% committed to actually doing a philly and the humid weather is going to make it tough to do the workouts - but I'll give it a shot.

More Swelter.

I ended up skipping yet another race - the NB track mile on Tuesday night - because my side hurt from Monday's swim. I was unsure why it that day - it felt like an internal organ was rupturing whenever I stood up. But then I reasoned that it must be muscular since a ruptured organ would probably hurt when I sat back down. Anyway - I felt fine again come Wednesday morning - although a little bummed I missed another race.

Wednesday I did another run/swim. The water was absolutely perfect that day and it felt great. The only downside is I hit my first jelly of the season. It was a large one and it stung bad. Fortunately I was 5 1/2 laps into the six lap swim - so I just headed in. Nevertheless, it has me thinking about paying for the pool again.

Thursday I managed a 30 minute strength workout at night and Friday I did a brutal simmering 4.5 miler. I left early (10 am) wanting to beat the heat - but I was cooked after about 25 minutes. Never fun to run on the hottest day of the year - but somehow I always manage. It's all cooler from here on in though!

Nice Drizzly Spring Run

Weather wise - one of the better runs in the last few months - just below 50, drizzly and I felt pretty good. I still took this one easy: 41:30 for a 5 miler (8:18 pace). I may try and squeeze the hills in by myself tomorrow morning - since I'll miss the team's hills at lunch tomorrow.

More blah weeks

Crap - work really can seriously mess-up your life. Last week I managed 2 runs from work for 10 miles - then did another 4 yesterday from home - during the 30 minutes I had while dinner cooked in the oven. 14 total - about 3 hours for the week when strength training is included. Wife went into meltdown mode today. Next few weeks'll be critical at work. If things smooth out I'll probably bail on the 1/2 and target the Twilight trail run and the Niantic bay 10k.

Time Slip Running.

I've been caught up in work-related stuff and family visits - which has lead to some inconsistent running. I did manage 18 miles over 3 runs the first week of March, but only did 8.5 last week: a 3.5 mile treadmill run at a hotel (why are these always hard?) and a 5 miler around the normal loop in the rain last Friday. I was too tired yesterday after the daylight savings time change - but headed out today for a fast 5: 37:36 - about a 7:31 pace for five miles. Great weather today - probably my best run in awhile. Hopefully I can get out tomorrow and Friday as well.

Back in the Saddle

Not quite back in the saddle - but soon perhaps. I managed 4 runs last week before heading to South Jersey last week and doing...nothing. And no strength training. But this week I've run twice for 9 miles and will be doing Colchester - a bitch of a half - before taking one more 'easy' week, then starting my Providence 1/2 training. Works still crazy, but maybe I can (1) stay employed and (2) belt out some good races!

First Week 2011

Monday was my first run of 2011. I did the 5 mile loop at work that day and today - and have 10 miles so far in 2011. I'd like to hit ~10 running this week and build to ~20 miles/week running total by sometime in March - basically adding a mile/week as I go. Then I'll start the seasons that define running in New England (1) Spring Hill work - maybe a 1/2 marathon in late spring; certainly the Twilight Trail Run, (2) speed work in the early summer - maybe a track mile, (3) possible triathlon in the late summer, (4) take another shot at a marathon next Fall - most likely Hartford or Philly. Last year I didn't do a full marathon - but had a pretty good year running - I probably ran about 800 miles - way down from the year before - but managed some of my best times ever.

I used that estimated 800 to justify purchasing new shoes. My brooks have fit small - so I sized up, and I splurged and bought some Newtons. I'll review those once they get here and I've had a chance to run in them.

Last Few Weeks

December and training just don't go hand-and-hand. Two weeks ago I did no runs and 2 swims as I go back to the pool after a long lay-off. Last week I started with a nice swim workout and then did runs Wednesday and Friday (5miles each). I really just wanted to get out with some of my work buds - but definately shoulda pooled it on Wednesday as the run was brutally windy - a theme that's been reoccuring alot lately. Friday's run was nice - and my last from work for 2010. I did noth ing but eat and drink over the weekend - holidays...

This week started slow - just some yogo on Monday - then I did 1700 and 1600 in the pool on Tuesday and Wednesday. Today I managed a 4 mile jog (34 minutes) from home. It looked windy and cold - but actually felt pretty good.

I feel like, more in years past, that the holiday parties are taking there toll on me. I've been trying to eat and drink better - switch more to wine even though I'm floating in great beers. How am I suppose to resist a beer with a robotic dancing Ghandi?

I've starting to research cleanses. Outside had this article on the subject, and I've found a lot of internet stuff on the Master Cleanse. I may attempt it - even though it sounds horrible.

Still Sluggish

Monday I did 5 with the boys from work. Felt awful. Yesterday I did a short 4.2 - first mile easy, 2 mile pickup, one mile cool down. I did the 2 mile pickup practicing race pace - about 7:30-7:40 range. The good news is that I was able to hold it without much pacing help. Can I keep it up for 13.1? That's the question.

Week 5 half plan

This week is hot! Damn hot! Fortunately I didn't have much major planned until Friday. Sunday my wife and I did the Bob Harper (from TV's Biggest Loser show) strength training dvd. It's hard, but good. Unfortunately it trashes the legs for running. I was going to do 9x400s - but between the legs and the fact that my car was in the shop - I ended up just doing part of Lestertown on route to getting my car. Very hot run. But not as hot as today. Today I went from work - just a simple 4 miler. Killer. Ughh. Tomorrow, I'm thinking swim - Thursday off, long run Friday - about 2 hours. With any luck, I'll be running free of hurricane Earl.

Happy Birthday Run

Yesterday I did the big loop - including 'the bitch' - a run that took 51:30 over 6.5 miles. I kept up a pretty good pace after the first mile and even managed a 7:15 Sneekers Mile in the middle. Tuesday morning I woke up 3 hours before my talk in Boston to get a run in along the Charles. Not far - just under 3 miles - but something to help me wake up. The day before, I kicked-off week 4 with the Lestertown loop - always brutal. I did it in 54 minutes (another 6.5 miles), plus I did about a mile before hand as a warmup. So I'm getting some runs in this week after taking last week a little easy for the Triathlon. I still have a long run set for Friday - I'll probably swim today.

Summer Swelter

I had a solid swim Tuesday: 500 warmup, 1x200 slow; 2x200 build; 1x200 fast - did the last one in under 4 minutes. I then biked home - about 10 miles and 44 minutes. This morning I biked in (~47 minutes, almost 10 miles), then went for a run 2 hours later - very sluggish. 5 miles in about 43 minutes. I was suppose to do 7x400s - but maybe tomorrow, or I'll bag them all together. It's a little tough adhering to the 1/2-plan and squeeze in the bike work for the tri. I'm hoping the biking and swimming helps the running more than the intervals would - and I can do them later anyway...

btw, weather turned brutal today - horrible run. ughh.

Swim, Bike, Run?

Is there a Tri in my future? I thought not. I had done no biking until last week - and hadn't done much of anything through much of July. Yet I did manage to get out on the bike twice last week: biking home Wednesday and biking into work on Thursday morning. I also learned that the Pfizer tri wasn't until the 19th this year - so I may have time to get my bike muscles into gear. I have about 10 days to figure it out before I'll need to make a sign-up decision. Normally I'd go ahead and do it - but this week starts my 1/2 training plan - so I'll need to be a little careful on getting all these workouts in. Last week looked like:

• Sunday - strength workout - 40 minutes.
• Monday - sweaty sneakers mile: 6.5 miles running, one of those miles fast [~sub-7:00].
• Tuesday - swim - I think about 1400 - 34 minutes.
• Wednesday - biked home - took about 44 minutes.
• Thursday - biked in - took about 48 minutes. Also did a 4 mile run.
• Friday- mowed the lawn. Harder than it sounds.
• Saturday - short 3 mile run. Totals: 13.5 running + 9.5 xt.
• Sunday - Martian time slip day - not included in either of my training plans, therefore it didn't really exist.

This week - I'm starting my 1/2 plan. I did 5 miles running today - including 3 miles at pace that I'm estimating at sub 7:30. It felt good to run fast-ish. Tomorrow I'll swim and possibly bike home. Wednesday - bike in and maybe do afternoon intervals. Thursday and Friday are more open - but no running - since I'll be doing the John J. Kelly summer scorcher at Ocean Beach on Saturday - more of a 1/2-plan long training run - but If I'm feeling ok I'll push it a little.

One Lazy Summer

Well - not really. Training last week was limited to 2 runs in London's Hyde park (Sunday/Monday) and a short yoga session. I wanted to run in Sheffield, but the conference was pretty busy (very little free time) and the weather was rainy. Upon my return, I've managed runs yesterday (Tuesday) and Monday - both sucked - very hot and humid in New England. Now I'm down at the Jersey Shore for the remainder of the week and it's high 90s and high humidity. My hope is to get 2 more short runs in tomorrow and Saturday - maybe a beach run if I'm lucky.

Of course - the flip side from training is life - very nice to spend some time with the family. And my mother-in-law actually got a really good summer wheat - unfiltered! So - I'll get back to real training next week - and start thinking about that fall 1/2.

Lazy Blogging

It's been awhile. I had a tough post holiday week last week. I was hung over Sunday - so a poor start - and had my 6 year old daughter's birthday the next day (no running). I ended up running on Tuesday and Friday (5 each) with a swim on Wednesday. The Friday run was horrible. Hot and humid - thought I might pass out. So only 10 miles total running. This week I'm traveling. I was in London yesterday and this morning - and have already clocked 10 miles. I'm in Sheffield now and might try this run tomorrow. We'll see - I was totally lost walking around this afternoon - so I may have some trouble just finding it.

Ahh Summer.

We're had great cool dry weather the last few days. I headed over to Fitch afterwork and did: 200;400;600;800;600;400;200s. I did the 200s in about 38 seconds (~5 min/mile pace), the 400s ~ 1:25 and the 800 was around 3:10. Faster than normal. I think the previous speed work helped. Today I just did an easy 5 with a few guys at work. Now it's 3:00 on Friday - and I'm trying to boogy out of work.

Week 4 Mile Training

So it's been a normal week. Runs Monday [5.8] and Friday [5.2] with a run-in-the-mill swim sandwiched in on Wednesday [2x200 steady; 2x100 fast; 2x200 steady; 2x100 fast = 1800 total]. I'm planning on doing track work Saturday. Starting to loose interest in the World Cup. Every year I look forward to it, then am put-off by the (1) flopping, (2) inconsistent/detrimental referring and (3) watching people go crazy after a goal *despite* still losing on the scoreboard. Weird stuff. Maybe someday I'll learn to love it.

Week -1: Again?!?

So I miscounted the number of weeks before my mile-training starts. But that's a good thing - it finishes off the hills next week before the next phase begins. I rebounded with an extra good week of running. Last week wasn't bad overall - but I don't want many weeks with only 8 miles running if I'm going to give a decent shot at the twilight trail run and thje Niantic Bay 10K. So this week looked like: long run, swim, easy run, easy run, fartleks [don't laugh].

The long run was only 7.5 miles and it came after a difficult weekend. My father in-law had a stroke, and that's really the dominating event in my families lives write now. It effects my wife the most, but will no doubt change everything. I have a good deal of kid-guilt for the first time as a dad. Time to focus on the family a little.

I did get a nice visit from my father after his Banjo Camp North experience (which he loved). And some other decent workouts. The swim felt tough, but satisfying: 5x50 fast; 300 steady; 5x50 fast. I'm knocking out the 50s in 50-53 seconds with about 30 seconds rest in between.

I managed 5 mile runs on Wednesday and Thursday which were 'eh (42-43 mins) and went on the same run today but did Fartleks since I've had no real intensity since last weeks hills. I did 4x3:30 (~ 1/2 mile). They felt hard but good. I also reversed the course so I could run up the Meche hill - my only hill work for the week. Amazingly, I did today's loop in 39 minutes - a solid 4 minutes faster than yesterday - same distance. What a difference a day makes. Overall 22.5 miles on the road - my most in a while. 1 swim workout, and a little over 1/2 hour yoga/strength work. Not a bad week.

Hard to believe but the best of the StarWars movies is 30 years old! On May 21st 1980 I was 8 years old - and absolutely astonished when I saw this movie in an absolutely jam-packed theater in Mesa Arizona. Life and times have changed - but this one still rocks and in my opinion is still the best. I'm not alone.

Run, Swim, Run.

My own 3 day tri. Never liked the bike much - that, and it's still cold in the morning. I went out for an easy 5 Monday, did 1450 in the pool Tuesday and then turned on the gas and did 7:40s today over 5.15 miles. It felt warm and fast and good - I certainly could've went faster. Yesterday's swim was pretty easy - the only part I remember was a 300 build - but that felt pretty good. I'll probably run again tomorrow and swim Friday.

Change of Plans

I think I'm going to bag the 1/2 in May - or at least the training plan. I'll still try and do a solid long run, and keep to the plan - but I don't think I'm going to be able to do the 15-16 milers that I'd need to do. The swimming takes a bit of time (x2/week) - so I want to keep the long runs on Sunday - and keep them in the 8-12 mile range. I missed the 20x200 scheduled today, again due to time constraints, and did instead a 5 miler around work. I just realize that to focus on swimming and general fitness - it's a little easier to not go balls-out on 1/2 training. I still think I can do some fun racing: twilight trail run; niantic bay 10K; cannonball run and maybe the 1/2 if i'm "feeling it" - we'll see. Anyway - today's run felt pretty strong. I realized at mile 2 that we were over a 8 min/mile pace and picked it up for a solid finish - probably around 7:45s for the last 3 miles.