Week VII

Week VII
30.53

This was a milestone week for me. This was the week that marathon training got real. All of the weeks prior, I knew I had already been prepared to put behind me. Not that miles are ever truly easy, but I knew I wouldn't really be tested much. This was to be the week I put in more miles on average than I have since last summer and the week I ran further than a half marathon.

I wanted to get the moderate distance run out of the way so I did the seven miler first in the trails. I didn't even get lost. I was proud of that. I moved on to the two four milers, one at home and the other a 5.5 miler in the trails. Anything outside of the trails have become a bit boring for me.

I ran the final run, the long run today. I won't run the long ones in places that I've already run and found to be boring, so I found a rail trail in West Bloomfield and ran the fourteen miler there. I didn't plan well for this one. I found out last minute that I had to run it the next day due to scheduling conflicts, and alone as well. I didn't eat a good dinner the night before and could not drag myself out of bed early in the morning. I ended up doing the very thing I said I would not do again. I set off to run midday at 2PM. The sun was on top of me without tree cover. I filled my water bottle with Nuun, but ran out quickly and had to refill four times throughout the run do to the loss of sweat. I ate a salted watermelon Gu which severely wrecked my stomach and I had to stop twice at the porta-john to "Rectify" the situation (see what I just did)? The Gu also tasted terrible. After the issues resolved, I got a much needed boost after two Gu's and one Sportbean pack.

The sun hid a bit behind some clouds for a few miles and I got a little break form the big hot star and eased into my normal pace. My legs felt pretty good and I knew I was hydrated properly. I was concerned and convinced that I hadn't taken in enough calories, specifically carbohydrates, but I fought on anyway. The rail trail was a boring out and back, much less interesting than the website made it out to be, but that is America. No one tells the truth. The ground beneath me was crushed stone and easy on the joints which added a little upside to an otherwise forgettable run. Finished the run with a 9:35/mile pace and quickly retreated to pizza at home.

All in all, this "Nature preserve" enlightened me to the very aggressive geese, who have protruding tongues, a few chipmunks, and a really fast snake which presented itself only when I was about to step on it, sending me into a wild man dance to get away.

It was a tough weak that marks the start of all of the tough weeks. I promise I will not make the midday run mistake again.

My take home, because if you aren't learning you're dead...runners need fuel. Do not run without properly adding energy stores.


Sing.
Migrate.

Week VI

Week VI
21.03 Miles.

This was a step back week. I logged a couple of three milers at home to get the legs back under me after the previous week. Chose to add a speed work day with Justin, unbeknownst to him until the half mile mark when I picked up the pace to 6:30 until mile 1.5, then tapered down into the low to mid 7's. I think Justin secretly likes the torture, sadistic freak show that he is.

Ran a 6 mile trail run midweek to work on my strength of mind and legs. I found a little community park by my work in Ann Arbor that provides 3 miles of trails, so I ran it twice.

Brian and I smashed a quick (for us) 9 mile run around and inside Belle Isle to round out the step back week.

Next week, the training gets real as everything steps up a level. 4, 7, 4, 14. I'm working on planning the long one with Brian, then will tackle the following week's 15 in Traverse City with the Mrs.

Training get tiring, but my feel good. Only minor aches and pains. I feel strong, I think do to the trail runs with their steep hills.


Sing.
Migrate.

Week V

Week V
24.2 Miles

Started the week a little sore from the Tough Mudder. Ran 3 miles at Niagara Falls with my wife waterside before we left to go home. I took a look at my schedule and realized that I was going to have a 6 day stretch at work and my long run of 12 miles would have to be done at the beginning of the week just two days after the Mudder. I wasn't too pleased and Brian (my training partner) was tied up at work until the end of the week. I was able to grab Justin Q (a short distance training partner) and con him into doing 12 with me. I caught him on a good day I guess, or perhaps a bad one that needed some venting and we drove downtown to log miles.

The Polar Vortex reared it's ugly head again, except this time it wasn't so ugly. Temps dropped into the mid sixties at run time in the evening, making it ideal weather to run in. I brought this mammoth camelback that wears like a fanny pack instead of a backpack. The pack holds about 44 oz. I took a few strides with it and turned right back around and put it back in the car. The bouncing wasn't gonna work for me. I grabbed a smaller bottle and we took off. There were so many people downtown running and we even ran through a 5K in progress. Felt a little tight at mile 9 and felt pain in the joints at mile 10, but I finished strong and held a 9:42 pace. This is still slow for the pace I'll need to run sub-4 hr in the marathon, but i was ok with it nonetheless.

Took a day off and ran a slow 3 mile recovery, then a 6 miler the same day to finish the week.

I feel strong and confident going into another step-back week with 9 miles being the peak long run. I'll do most of the runs on the trails. I've found that I enjoy the trails so much more than the pavement and have added at least one trail run per week to my training. The hamstrings hurt after due to the hills, but it is so serene and beautiful. I shed the headphones and listen to the wildlife and leaves and I end my run feeling really good. I have yet to have a bad trail run. To save my tailbone from injury in falling in the trails, I bought a pair of Altra Lone Peak 1.5 on Super Clearance from Runningwarehouse.com for $63. Score. I can't begin to tell you how happy I am with my road Altra Torins, so these are likely not to disappoint.




Sing.
Migrate.

Week IV

Week IV
24 miles

This was supposed to be a step back week, but I opted to run the Tough Mudder in NY this week, so it is doubtful i'll get much resting done. Easy week all around. I ran a couple trail runs, one at home, and the Mudder. I came home sick in the throat from the Mudder. I may have taken in some bad water in a pit somewhere, but I came home pretty healthy and without excessive battering.

It was an uneventful week in running for me. I had a great time at the Mudder though with my wife and friends.


Sing.
Migrate.

Week III

Week III.
29.5 miles logged

Legs felt weak for the shorter runs. Pace was slow. I'm used to an 8:30/mile as a comfortable place to be. Seemed to be staying around 9:00/mile for some reason. It was pretty hot and muggy out, so I'll blame that. Still feel a little bummed about my last long run and I was dreading the 11 miler scheduled for this week. It was supposed to be a step-back week, but I am going back Up North, so I'll take the opportunity to run the long miles there.

Brought 40oz of water with me, knowing there was a store about halfway if I needed to refill. I ate well the day before and filled up with carbs the morning of the long one. I caught a break with the weather. The humidity cleared out and the temperature dropped into the 60's at run time (9 am). I started running and never felt a moment of struggle the entire 11 miles. I kept a 9:30/mile pace, which is a little slower than the pace I hope to maintain for the marathon. I ran the first half with caution and stayed at about 9:50/mile or so to test my energy and legs and made up some time on the way back. I felt awesome after the run and encouraged that the run was so easy.

Ended the week at home with a recovery run with my son, which offered me the wonderful opportunity to coach his form and teach him breathing. Running with my child is a priceless time worth everything to me.

Next week is a step-down week.

Sing.
Migrate.

Week II

The view from inside my pack. My abdomen takes photos during my run and even posted one to Instagram. 

Week II.
22 miles.
Home from the beauty of Mackinac and back into the meat grinder. Miles seem days longer when you have nothing new to look at. Came in to the week pretty buzzed from my runs Up North. Flew through the first 13 miles of the week with ease. Even bought a new watch. The Sportwatch was losing mileage when I paused it for street waiting/crossing, so I picked up the Garmin 220 for myself and the wife (I'm awesome I know).

Then the long run came. Planned a nice bike path run in Flatrock with my training partner Brian. Decided to go at 1 PM in 86 degree heat 86% humidity. It seemed like a good choice at the time. I'm used to morning runs and just came out of my most productive winter running season in my history, logging >100 miles each month. I guess I forgot about the heat and the sun being directly overhead at 1 PM. There was no cloud cover or shade and only brought 16 oz of water with me.

Mile 4.5 was when it occurred to me that I wasn't feeling well. Mile 6 is when I realized my sweat had turned to salt on my face and my skin produced no sweat. The last three miles of the 9 were hellish as I fought myself to keep running. I just could not find any energy. It was rather embarrassing as 9 miles isn't a long way for me.

I left the week pretty discouraged and down on myself.



Sing.
Migrate.

Week I

Week 1
21 miles logged.

It was an easy first week of marathon training. I had the luxury of going Up-North for the brunt of it, running 12 of those miles around Lake Superior on Mackinac Island. While the rest of my peers had to train in 90 degree humidity and rain, I was fortunate enough to have sunny 60 degree weather.

There is something profoundly different in the experience of running in the city, with it's cars, curbs, and monotony, and running in the places that man hasn't wrecked yet.

I was having a hard time sleeping during my vacation due to my midnight work schedule and everyone getting up early. I was lying in bed on Wednesday and decided to fill my time more wisely than just lying there trying to doze off. So I got up at 5am and ran 8 miles before the island awoke.

These are the runs that separate running from any other sport. These are the runs that are the difference between running for pleasure and running to log miles. 

Sing.
Migrate.