Sunday, January 24, 2010

Training Jan 18-Jan 24

Actual
Jan18-24
Total Mileage: 50+
Runs: 7
LR: 13+(Sat) @8:36 pace

Workout(s): Hill 5x2min

Had another good 50+ week this week for Team RunDiggerRun.  Having fun and finding it motivating to know that the miles posted on the logs are not only motivating myself to run longer and faster but also to move and motivate others  - that is what is all about right. Mileage is good for where I want to be while I still am trying to decide on which marathon to shoot for in May - Sugarloaf which I have run (which will be a fast course) or Vermont City Marathon (which I have never run but have heard so many great things about).

Running in Maine in the winter can be pretty tricky.  We have had some snow land this week and running the street before they are cleared slows the pace down quite a bit in conjunction with the safety concerns of getting hit by a double wide plow.

Joined the DailyMile to give this a poke.  So know I have RunningAhead, Buckeyeoutdoors, and DailyMile. I won't be able to keep up all three online logs but using this to evaluate which online log works best for me.  I've been using RunningAhead and like its simplicity and works for me as a Mac Addict.  Daily Mile is expected to have Garmin integration this coming month so that will be a real test but so far I am a day into Daily Mile with the Honest Abe Challenge - to try to run 16 Miles over the weekend from a series of twitter post from Friday.  I will say, it motivated me to join and so far I am finding alot of value from the new cast and new sites I am being introduced to.  I am having fun along the way, which is what it all about, right.

Quote of the week: "Whatever you are, be a good one." - Lincoln.


Sunday, January 17, 2010

Training 11 - 17

Actual
Jan 11-17
Total Mileage: 53+
Runs: 7
LR: 11++(Sat) @8:42 pace

Workout(s): Strides, 40 min progression run



Listening to Brandon's Marathon and RunDiggerRun for most of the weekly runs getting some great advice as well as some listening to some great stories along the way.  It is amazing how these cast make the runs 'easier' and how time passes.

Joined up with Buckeye Outdoors to explore their running log process although very happy with RunningAhead.  There seems to be a great deal of interest and buzz regarding DailyMile, so I am looking at options and playing around.  Was invited by RunDigger to lend my support in the BO "There Can Only Be One" podcaster challenge. Interested and fun  at the same time.  We'll see where it goes.

"This is a Podcasters Challenge to figure out Who has is the most favorite podcast of them all. The Rules: Each month their will be a new challenge created at which time all that choose will pick their single favorite podcast to support. At the end of that month the 2 lowest score will be eliminated. If a podcast does not have a score it will be eliminated as well. The contest will continue each month until there is only one podcast left standing. Since these are primary running podcasts only running is allowed in the contest."  (Posted from BuckeyeOutdoors).

Through this running this week I have been listening to Matt from RunDiggerRun, a great quote that he has repeated in a couple of cast -

We got to see the secretary of the interior.
He said, “Boy, you boys sure look civilized.”
He congratulated us and he gave us medals for looking so civilized.

We told him about how our tribal lands had been stolen and how our humans were dying.

When we finished he shook our hands and said “Endeavor to preserver!!” 

Lone Waite, Indian chief - from “The Outlaw Jose Wales” 

 

My Brooks Trance 9s are pushing 500+ miles so I am looking at some new shoes.  Been focusing some time looking at Brooks Ravenne from RunningWarehouse.  Since I wear a support shoe, these seems like it would be a nice compromise between a trainer and the Trance 9 that I am wearing.  More research but I need to pull the trigger soon.

It has been a great week of running - met some new virtual friends and savoring the journey to the finish line.  As Matt from RunDiggerRun says - "This doesn't suck.  The  'nonsuck-o-meter' is pegged."








Monday, January 11, 2010

Training Jan 4 - 10

43.2 Miles for the week over 8 runs - 2 crappy runs on a 'broken' treadmill.  Feel pretty good up from 35 miles from previous week running all days of the week.  Cold weather in Maine but no snow so the roads have been clear.  Still thinking Sugarloaf or VCM.  Starting the training plans for both races.

Quote of the Week:  Nothing can bring you peace but yourself.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Monday, January 4, 2010

Start of the Ten in Ten in Ten Challenge



Other than the slip on the ice from the recent storm, nice run.  Today, I start off the new year today with going back to work but also the 10 in 10 challenge.  Thinking that losing some weight might also help with improving running time (with less weight to carry around).  So we will see - I think the difficulty will be toward the ending stage of the challenge to maintain the weight loss and focus.

Run start: 4:37AM
Run Distance: 6.09 @ 8:50/mile
Temps: 34F
Podcast:  RunDiggerRun (Ep 35)RTTR#120

Quote of the Day: "I just want to look good in my underwear" - Matt from RunDiggerRun (Ep 35)

Sunday, January 3, 2010

"Do what you can. Want what you have. And be who you are."

“Do what you can.  Want what you have.  And be who you are.”
–Forrest Church

These are powerful words.  As we start the new year, I often think about the past and link it to the future.  It is important to always think about what you don't have, but it is equally important to think about what you do have.


Tried to run with my new running partner to give him "employment" (aka getting some of his energy out as a stay at home bordier collie mix)

Run start: 7:58
Run Distance:1.85M @ 9:43/mile
Temps:34F
Podcast: None - nature run and listening/having fun with Milo

Quote of the Day:
“Do what you can.  Want what you have.  And be who you are.”
–Forrest Church

Saturday, January 2, 2010

There is no 'Off Season' in Running

As we hit the heart of winter with snow arriving here in Maine, the effort to get out and train gets harder and harder.  After running the Baystate Marathon in October 2009, my greatest fear was to loose the fitness that I gained during the training leading up to this event.  It has been over 8 weeks since the marathon and have managed to keep the running constant, but not at the level that I once was at (50-60 MPW), nor at the level that I would like to be at (30- 40MPW).  To maintain a runner's fitness, there is no 'off-season' and I feel that without consistency, you will loose your fitness...and lose it fast.

I am still sorting out my plans for a spring marathon for 2010 and need to come to some decisions quickly. The Sugarloaf Marathon is a fast marathon (other than the 2 mile gradual ascent in the early part of the race).  I ran this marathon in 2007.  The Vermont City Marathon is a race that I have always wanted to always had family obligations.  It appears to have a decent size grade called the 'Assault on the Battery' that  arrives ~ mile 15.   I have heard so many great things about the VCM but I am balancing also with where I will be fitness wise for a BQ.  Realistically, I think a fall marathon would be better attempt for a BQ given the uncertainty to train in the winters in Maine.

Best thing is get out and run.

Run start: 5:14AM
Run Distance: 11 miles @ 8:55/mile pace
Temps: 22F (snow)
Podcast: RunRunLive; Running with the Pack

Quote of the Day:  "It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed."
Theodore Roosevelt

Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009 Year in Review

As I start this new adventure of blogging my running journey, I had quite a year in 2009 for running.  I ran over 1,730 miles, by far the greatest number of miles run in one year than any other years running.  I started running in 2005 in earnest for a marathon.  In 2009 I completed the the Baystate Marathon and marked my 5th marathon with a PR of 3:26.  I attribute this to "training" as opposed to running and working with a coach who challenged me to workouts that I would not have completed if  I was preparing for the 26.2 run by myself -- speed workouts, marathon pace workouts, and extending my weekly totals from 30-35 miles per week to 50-60 miles per week surely helped.  I knocked off 27 minutes from my personal best @ this year's Baystate Marathon, despite some nasty conditions in mid-October.

Beyond my marathon PR, I set a PR in a local 10k (Beach to Beacon) of 43:25 while completing other 10ks and the CHaD Half Marathon in New Hampshire/Vermont.  I am especially proud of being steadfast to my training plans and getting back on the road and grateful for my family to allow me this time.

Listed below are my annual running miles

2009 - Total Miles - 1,730.5
2008 - Total Miles - 208.4
2007 - Total Miles - 438.2

I'm still preparing my race plans for 2010!

Savor the journey to the finish line!

Brendan
@ mainerunnah