Boston 2013 Day 1: Christmas Run

Merry Christmas and happy Boston Marathon training day #1! Boston is 16 weeks away in April 2013 and today was an easy 4 miler. In the spirit of Christmas I made sure to wear red and green for the run and took Marlie along as my personal reindeer. After the run I got in a nice weights session as Aimee took on the elliptical and Basil slept in her car seat. Nice thing about Christmas morning; not too many people in the fitness center to wake your sleeping daughter.

Three days ago Aimee and I ran in a jingle bell 5k with Aimee taking first overall female and Basil and I taking third. It was a fun race as everyone was given bells to wear and everyone was in the Christmas spirit. I'm looking forward to closing the last week of the year strong and keeping a much better blog on the details of training for the oldest and most respected marathon in the world. Thanks for following along!

Chicago Marathon

Today is Christmas Day and I am finally posting a draft I started on October 10th, three days after the Chicago Marathon. I have not changed anything just getting back to blogging.

This past Sunday was my third, and fastest, Chicago Marathon (3:08:03 see splits here). A not too well kept secret to those close to me, I was hoping to break 3 hours, but obviously came up a little short (or long?). Either way that elusive time remains a goal for another race down the road.

I finished just ahead of a group of guys who were also discussing 3 hours and we briefly agreed on the difficulty of reaching it. A 6:51 pace is tough for a 1/2. Making it all 26 at that pace is just daunting. The focus and mental drain really takes its toll those last 4-6 miles. I guess what feeds the drive and desire for the next marathon is that I always have a "time" to beat. Who knows how many more opportunities I will get, but as long as I can, I look forward to the challenge.

Alright, enough about not reaching 3 hours, how about the fact that this was my second fastest time, and that I was still on pace after 20 miles. Those are some encouraging takeaways. I know that with just a little more speedwork, tempo runs, and higher mileage weeks I will probably reach that goal. As for now, I am thrilled that I finished my 5th marathon this year, and 8th total if you count the 3 ultras. I continue to remain healthy and injury free and for that I am very thankful. I was also very happy to have several of my friends attend and support me throughout the race, and of course, Aimee was in attendance with Basil, cheering me on like so many times in the past.

At one point this year the thought crossed my mind to finish 12 in 2012, but then what 13 in 2013? Now I look forward to returning to Boston in April of 2013 and possibly competing in my first 1/2 Ironman later in the year.

Update: after Chicago I ran two more marathons within 4 weeks. Giving me 3 in a 4 week calendar span. I have logged a total of 93 miles. For comparison I logged 200 miles in August and 191 in September. Boston is 16 weeks away time to get back at it. I have also included an updated photo for my decrease in running recently.

Cover Models

A couple weeks ago my wife and I saw a Facebook post from our area-code magazine (573) looking for people who were runners. We responded to the post and were invited to attend a photo shoot along with 4 other locals. There were both group and individual shots taken and all of us were interviewed about our running history and habits. Unknown to my wife and I, until we found a copy in the driveway, was that one of our shots was selected for the cover!

I have now seen our faces online as the magazines Facebook Profile Picture, in random driveways when I run in the morning and even in the checkout line at Wal-Mart. I have even been recognized as "that guy on the cover of that one magazine running". My students tell me they see me at Wal-Mart and that they have read about me in the magazine. Aimee and I are grateful to be invited to share our story and we hope that it might inspire others (especially couples) to do the same.

You can read a digital copy of the article by visiting the 573 Magazine website at www.573mag.com. 

Twinkies

Dustin and I have ran many races together so consequently we have thousands (approximate lol) of the same shirts. MANY times we will get ready for a run and see that we have either set out, or put on, the same shirt, many times the same outfit (ie with black shorts). We always feel like idiots running around like twinkies. This morning the same thing happened. Dustin got dressed while I was with Basil. Then I got dressed while he was putting in his contacts. We both came out with the same St. Patrick ’s Day tech tee. We were running in separate places, so it really didn’t matter but it was really funny. It’s like, “Really? Out of ALL our running clothes and race shirts we choose the same one?”

This even translates to when we go out. Sometimes we have to “call” a color combination so the other won’t put on the same color. Whoever put out or had the outfit on first gets to wear it. The worst was one Saturday in Springfield when we wanted to work out and shower at the gym so we could stay in town to run some errands, go to the mall, get dinner, etc. We walked out of the locker room and realized that we had both packed the EXACT same shirt. To make it even better we both choose jeans to wear with it. All day we walked around looking like those families that are so cute that they wear the same Christmas sweater for photos. Geez. 

If next time you see us out and we are wearing the same thing, please know that we didn’t plan it. We, too, find it very strange and will understand if you feel the need to yell out, “twinkies!!”

~AW

The "rest" difference

Friday I took the day off running, opting to swim instead. On Saturday I started out to run the 2-2.5 miles I’ve been doing this week in an attempt to build a base. I was feeling pretty good, so I decided to run a little further. Surprisingly, my lungs were the only thing that bothered me. My shoulder felt fine and my legs felt much stronger than they had the previous few days. I zoned out, and before I knew it I was finished. I ended up running 4.5 miles! It’s not much, but it was a lot for me right now. It just goes to show how important rest days are. Sometimes it feels as if you take the day off then you will lose all your strength and endurance when you really need to give your muscles a break to help them heal as they get stronger. It’s easier said than done!

Running Post-Partum: What happened to all the Power?

Today was my first run after Basil was born. It’s been 12 ½ weeks since my last run at 35 weeks pregnant.  I last raced without having to go easy about 11 months ago. Today I had a nice run, but it wasn’t easy. I ended up jogging about 2 miles.  The overall feeling was that I have lost power, especially in my legs. They felt like wet noodles and I’m sure they will be sore tomorrow :P. It is daunting to think of all the hard work lost that I will have to work hard to get back. This means time both on the road and in the weight room. Here’s the catch- I no longer have the time with a baby! I now understand why moms don’t work out. It’s not because they don’t want to, it’s just that they don’t have the time and with a baby, it’s too difficult! I really hope we are able to work out a system so I can continue to at least keep my body healthy.  Luckily, we have already had some volunteers to help watch Basil so Dustin and I can run together at least a few days a week. It's really important to us and I’m really looking forward to those runs!

All things happen for a reason, right? Starting over is probably a good thing. I always try to encourage others to run and I understand how difficult it is to get started.  This gives me a fresh reminder for empathy.

Also…

So, I guess I lied earlier when I said this was my first run. 573 Magazine will prove me wrong next month if they choose to print the article on running because Dustin and I were in the group shots.  I guess in my post-baby exhaustion phase, I showed up for the photo shoot without thinking that he would be taking pictures of us actually running. DUH! It was nothing big, just a small stretch of path to jog on so he could get the shots (I skipped most of the pre-run, so I may look a bit fresher than the others, although it was really hot and humid outside).  Therefore, technically I ran last week. But I don’t think it counts because it was too fun to be a first run!! Dustin and I had a blast! I’m anxious to see how the article gets put together.

AW

New Runner in the Family

We have taken a little bit of a break from running and for good reason. Aimee and I welcomed Basil to the world on June 20th and our lives have been forever changed (for the better). Finding time to run over the past month has been challenging, but there is obviously good reason to be spending more time indoors. During the last several months I have been packing in as many runs, bikes, and swims as possible, usually bricking some combo of them together almost everyday; and at minimum, I had completed a marathon each month. Those days will take a break for a while, but I am learning new ways to train while doing my part to help raise our newborn. 

This past weekend I decided to keep my marathon a month streak going by running in the Psycho Psummer 50k Trail Race in Kansas City, Kansas. I chose this race because we were headed to Omaha for two weeks and it was on the way. I like trail races, but since my June 3rd Minneapolis Marathon I had not run over 9 miles or over 30 in a week and here I was going to do 31 in one day! So, on the Monday before the race I went out and ran 16 just to reassure myself that I could finish. Trail races are more physically demanding than road races, but I also think they are less demanding mentally. Having the opportunity to eat, fill water bottles, and just stop and walk when you want makes them totally different from a road race. Even though I am out there much longer, the mileage does not seem to matter as much.   

Everyone thinks Kansas = Flat, but I can honestly say this was the most difficult race I have completed. It is nowhere near flat and at almost any point on the course you are going up/downhill or you are on a slant which is very tough on the ankles. This trail is very narrow, rocky, root filled, and at times nothing but switchbacks. I would estimate 90% of the trail was shaded, which was nice since it was 97 degrees, and when you were not in the shade it felt like you were in an oven. With Chicago 12 weeks away, I would say this was a good start to my training. 

 

Oh, the new addition to our family? She helped me cross the finish line in 23rd place.