Week 11 Complete

It's been a couple weeks since the blog's been updated, so I figured it was about time.

Training is progressing nicely, and the miles are continuing to increase. Week 10 was a high mileage week, putting in close to 30 miles that week, with a high of 14 miles on the Saturday run (14.28). The Saturday run was long, and it rained that day, making for a lot of soaked runners. And interesting things happen to one's body when running in the rain. I had some blistering on both feet in between the second the third toes. Not too bad, but noticeable. And lots of joint pain between miles 10 and 14. But it felt so good once I stopped running! (LOL) Overall the week was pretty good. Got to try some more e-gel and a honey stinger waffle during the run in an effort to test some food options while running.

Week 11 was low miles, which was good because it seemed like it was a week where I had zero energy most of the week. Everything was laborious and nothing seemed to come easy. Short runs became painful and tedious, but they were done. Even with all that, the few runs I did do were sub 10:00/mile runs. I think part of that is knowing up front that it would be a low mileage week and maybe that set me up for the boredom.

I feel like I need to run with some tunes. If you know of any good running tunes that have served you well, please pass them along. I prefer something uplifting and positive, and not aggressive or demeaning (lyric-wise) so please keep that in mind when suggesting tunage.

I also signed up for the Tulsa Run (October 27th). 15k and it should be a training run for me. I don't have a goal time, but maybe I should think about one.

Week 12 is starting off great with the Labor Day holiday today. I decided to mix things up a bit and went for a bike ride this morning. 25 miles was fairly easy with a lot of energy. Amazed that I didn't feel the lactic acid burn very much on the hills, and my lungs were strong as well. I guess I can attribute that to my conditioning from running. I really like cycling and want to get faster and increase my mileage. I also would like to get a nice road bike to ride on the paved surfaces. I take donations.....:)

All for now. Thanks for reading and following my journey!

Week 9

Ah, week 9 was nice. Cooler weather, a little rain, and rest time for the legs this week as the training schedule wasn't as brutal. And somehow I still managed to get a little calf tweak. Don't think it's much, but I have been massaging it and trying to roll the pain away. It's in a location that's difficult to stretch.

Some observations from the week:

• Low miles - good. 
• Calf pain - bad
• Starting to add some miscellaneous workouts into the routine.
• Getting a little bored with the runs - ready to just get the marathon here. I know that's probably a normal feeling, but I also know that I need to keep the miles coming and focus on nutrition during the longer runs. So far, so good.
• Took advantage of Runner's World Tulsa 50% off of winter gear. Hard to buy winter gear in the summer, but it's the only way to save big $$.
• Need to find some other routes - I think riverside is starting to wear on me. I should be glad that Tulsa has a place like Riverside and RiverParks for runners and cyclists. It's pretty amazing, really.

I am thinking about carrying tunes while running. I see a lot of people do it, but usually I am talking to a fellow runner, so the time goes by fairly quickly. I have a feeling the actual marathon might be a little lonely, so maybe I'll start doing that. 

All for now. Thanks to all my Runner's World Badgers and friends and everyone else who is supportive and encouraging.

Steve

Week 8

Week 8 is complete. This was a great week. I was fortunate to run well, and mostly pain free. Notes from the week:

• Ran three runs this week - 7, 5.3, and 13.1 for a little over 25 miles. This was my longest week ever, and the Saturday distance of 13.1 (half marathon) was a distance PR for me! And it was like 65 degrees out during the run. It felt great!
• My left calf is healed up and gave me really no problems at all this week.
• Still have some what I will call minor issues with heel and knee pain at the longer distance, but I believe they will adapt and be pain free as well. They are not injuries, just some joint pain.
• Tried a new gel this week from Crank Sports - yeah we had fun with that name on the run on Saturday. Good stuff and my body received it well. I'll keep using them and try the other flavors in the pack to see which ones I like the most.
• I am thankful for body glide - enough said.

Other than that, everything else is great. I am trying to find a half distance race in early October. If anyone knows of one, please let me know. 

The Honey Badgers are an amazing group of people to run with. Many strong runners in the group, and we just keep badgerin' along! Remember the motto- "Anyone can run just one more mile"

Steve

Week 7 - Heat Wave Continues

Completed week 7. Remarkable things from week 7 include:

• Monday run that was terrible. Left calf started giving me trouble at mile 3. I was running with a team member, and he was having some other difficulty, so we walked almost a mile of the 4.5 that day.
• Thursday run was better, but still had calf problems at mile 3. Wound up slugging out 6.5 miles that day
• Saturday 2:00 am woke up with some nasty stomach/intestinal stuff that lasted until around 10:00 am, so I missed the group run which I had planned to do 10 miles. Ran in the evening and although I still had calf issues, I took a break every mile to stretch and hydrate. Finished up with 6.5 miles.
• Got my new hydration belt, and got to use it on Saturday night. I love it! It's gonna be my best friend for sure. 

Feel like my calf is starting to recover, and I'll just kind of take it easy on the pace until it starts to feel strong again. Right now, it's tentative and day to day. Didn't do as many miles as I needed to do in week 7, and week 8 is supposed to be a little less mileage, so I think I'll be able to recover even more this week. In about two weeks, I'll start to eat while running to get used to that for the longer distance days.

I desire to put more weight training back into my week, but finding it difficult to get the motivation to do so. 

And the Beat Goes On...

Week six is completed. It was a shorter mileage week for me, since after Monday's run, my legs were not cooperating and I really felt badly (14 miles this week). Monday's heat was rough as well, and it looks like there's no relief in the short term future. We'll just have to slug it out, take it easy, and hydrate like crazy.

Well, the heel and knee issues are really starting to aggravate me. On Monday evening. Kathy Hoover, owner of Runner's World, spent a few precious minutes with me to check out my stride and helped me make a few adjustments. Then the adjustments would be immediately put into practice during the Monday run. I was really hoping for immediate relief, but wasn't able to find any. I did however generate some new complaints, mainly in my lower calves. I think this is the area where the Achilles connects to the calf muscles. Hurts like you know what. So, I rested until Saturday, with the hopes that the rest would equal healing and freedom from pain.

Saturday's run was once again a very tough run. Ran 9 miles and it was pretty tough all the way, especially after the first 6 miles. I felt my left calf tightening up, and wanted to stretch it out. I should have stayed in the rest area longer to do just that, but the group was leaving to cover the last three miles for the day. So, I ran right away with them. BIG MISTAKE. At about mile eight I felt my calf tighten up even more and then the sharp pain ran through it. I stopped and walked for a while and then stopped to stretch. A few Badger's asked me if I was okay, and they offered to stop and help. But, there really wasn't anything they could do, and we were near the end for the day. I stretched out and then moved on at a snails pace to finish the day actually running.

A few more lessons this week about my body, it's limitations, and the effort I will need to endure to push through the training needed to prepare for the marathon in November. My legs are protesting every run now, but I am determined to push on and run anyway, as long as it does not mean a run ending injury. I am proclaiming that my legs are strong, and that I will prevail. He who made me, made me for running the race, both spiritually and naturally.

Week seven, I am coming right at you.

Week 5

Week 5 is in the books. Less mileage this week, as it was supposed to be a taper week. Still managed to run 4 times though. Slower pace and shorter mileage make for some good recovery time. Still dealing with some moderate heel and knee pain. I've been doing extra stretching and leg strengthening work, and trying to understand more about what's going on. This is new for me, and it is not comfortable. I've spoken with a few people, and will probably go back to RW and talk to them about it as well to make sure it isn't the shoes.

On the fun side I tried trail running this week! It was a blast. TATUR hosts trail runs at Turkey Mountain on Tuesdays and Sundays. I got grouped up with about 8 - 10 people and we went for about 3 miles in an hour or so. It's a lot more work than it seems, and you definitely have to stay focused on the path and the runner directly in front of you, because if they tumble, you might tumble as well. Well, fortunately I didn't take a spill and was able to run the three miles comfortably. I definitely felt it in my his and legs at the end. It was pretty awesome. And I am now a trail running evangelist. So, if you are interested in running trails, come and join us at 6:30 on Tuesday evenings at Turkey.

All for now. Next week we up the mileage again. Getting to see some really nice areas of Tulsa during the runs, and it's neat to run with the group, Seems like I get to talk to someone different every run, and that makes it enjoyable.

Drop me a comment on here if you'd like. I could always use the encouragement. Thanks!

Week 4 Update

Covered about 23 miles this week. Ran a 6.75, 6.75, and 9.2 or thereabouts. Monday and Thursday runs were more walk/runs with a timed mile on the return side. It was hot again this week, with weekday runs being near 100. I was thankful for the slower pace.

Saturday was a good run and the longest of the week by design. We started at Veterans park and went through downtown Tulsa, by the BOK and Brady district. Ran the 4.2 mile loop twice and then ran to Riverside and back to get over 9 for the day. Nutrition was good, as I tried some carb loading on Friday night eating mashed potatoes, bread and cheesecake (1/2 slice). Then Saturday morning I ate the remainder of the cheesecake at 5:30 am! So, my run was cheesecake fueled! I may be onto something here....

Nutrition was pretty good all week, thanks to the seminar we attended last Sunday. Overall, pretty good training although my heels and knees are still feeling it pretty good. Still stretching and doing some strengthening exercises for my core, which is helping. Thinking about trying some gel inserts for the heel issue, and hoping that may help the knees also. Staying on the glucosamine-chondriotin and fish oil regimine this week, and was also taking multivitamins.

Thankful for my Runners World Training group - the Honey Badgers - as they continue to support and encourage each other. They are an amazing group of dedicated runners who really take care of their own. Special thanks to the group leaders Ed Snow and Tom W.