Training update

My marathon training has been very lack luster so far this year.  It started off strong, I put in 5 or 6 straight weeks of yasso workouts before training started then kicked off the training by putting an aggressive schedule together (compared to my previous years) and I was off.  I felt good minus the usual shin splints I get in the beginning of training every time.  Clocked in my first 2 10 mile runs at 7:39 and 7:37 pace respectively and I was feeling good.  Then I got busy, missed a run or two and got “sick”, not sick like oh I can’t do anything sick but just like eh I’m kinda run down, I don’t have much energy sick.  My pace for a 7 mile run last week was down to 8:08 and I had to really work hard for it, the legs weren’t there.  This Saturday I ran what I sought out to be 12 mile run, but it turned into a 7 miler at 8:10 pace then the gym cause yet again my legs weren’t there.

Greg, always concerned for my well being decided that it wasn’t safe for me to run at night (not much choice since its dark when I wake up and when I get home) like I’d been doing, even though I had a reflective vest that makes me look like a crossing guard, so he bought me some new gear.  This sweet Saucony jacket and matching hat.  The jacket is good stuff, comfortable, reflectors all around and even comes with a LED light that can blink or just be on with visibility up to 100 yards.  The hat is made out of some sweet material that keeps your head super warm, but doesn’t bottle up the sweat like the beanie I was using.  So I’m hoping this new gear (look good, feel good, feel good, run good) plus going to bed earlier every day will jumpstart what I’m looking at as Phase 2 of the marathon training: Get down to business.

Random thoughts from training thus far:

- The lights have been on at the track near me for soccer practices and football which made the yasso’s kinda cool running under the lights.  Well that season must be over because last week’s yasso was run in pitch darkness.  There were 3 other people running, all of whom I couldn’t see until they were about 2 feet away from me.  Running in the complete darkness is odd, its tough to pace yourself cause you cant really see how fast your going, but its oddly peaceful.

- I want to break the elusive 3:30 barrier this year, since I’ve never even broken 3:36 it shall be interesting

- 52 days till we fly down to Miami, insaneeeeeeeeee

- Tried to get Jrad and his girl in on the half marathon, no dice

- It’d be awesome to run a marathon in the fall so we can train in the summer when the weather is nice and the sun is actually up when we get home from work.  Why do they schedule all of these in the beginning of the year.  Chicago next time anyone?

- I’m very impressed with the RI crew’s training so far, already up to 19 miles, Sri and Nikki up to 10, well done everyone!