Boston 2013 Day 12 and 13: 100 Mile Club

During our school's Christmas break I read an article in Runner's World about a teacher in California who started a 100 mile club for her students. You can read the article here. The club now reaches over 140 schools, has its own website and you can even register your own club at a cost of $10 per student. So that is exactly what I decided to do, except the $10 per student part. I was unsure how well this would go over since my district is in a lower income area and healthy lifestyles are not necessarily encouraged let alone paid for. 

I decided to start a 100 mile club at my school with a goal of May (end of school) instead of the whole year and there is no cost to students. Using Strava I set up a club page, also free, and will keep a log of students mileage using Google Forms. Students who reach the 100 miles will receive a shirt, also free courtesy of Edward Jones, just like we all do whenever running a marathon or similar race. I don't really have goal for numbers, just a goal for healthier kids. You can check out everything I set up for yourself by clicking here. 

Saturday was a 12 mile long run, Sunday off. Totals for the week 37 miles running, 2800 yards swimming. 

Boston 2013 Day 9-11: Training Logs

With the new year I have been looking into some new training logs. I have always used Runner's World as my log because it is free and I frequent the site, but lately I have wanted something that I can access to as an App on my iPhone or iPad. So, I started using TrainingPeaks which is the other training log Runner's World offers. This is the log where my marathon training plan was bought and stored and it is available as an App. Finally, today I fiddled around with Strava and added those Apps to my devices. Here are the pro's and con's I have for each. Running Update: Wednesday 4 easy with 1000 swim, Thursday 6 tempo, Friday 5 easy with 1 mile swim.

Runner's World Classic Log
Pros: Free, easy to use, Run, Bike, Swim and Weight totals all displayed on same page, weekly, monthly, and yearly run totals, calendar and graph views of running workouts, keeps track of race PR's.

Cons: No App, main focus is running, no upload from device capabilities, can't plan future workouts

TrainingPeaks 
Pros: Ability to upload a training plan, App for iPhone, track meals

Cons: Everything else (summary, planning, charts, compatible GPS and App uploads) requires a monthly fee ($20) or yearly subscription ($120)

Strava
Pros: Free, iPhone GPS Apps for both running and biking, ability to upload Garmin device on website, more social with club features online for friend challenges, keeps track of totals, ability to log swim

Cons: Swim totals are not displayed, some additional features require upgrade with monthly fee ($9.99), separate Apps for same GPS function (run vs. bike)

Do you use different training logs or keep everything in the same place? Do you use GPS Apps or just a Garmin? Curious what everyone else does and likes.
 

Boston 2013: Day 7 and 8: Reflection Runs

There were big changes for us in 2012, most notably pictured below, but one thing we tried to do was remain consistent as we could with our running. Mission accomplished; and we even managed to mix in our first triathlon. 

The last two days of running (5 and 6 miles respectively) I have used as "Reflection Runs". My wife calls me nostalgic, but I just like to think back on the year that was and be thankful for my ability to run. Here is a graph of my running for the past 12 months.

2012 Totals: 

Run: 1703

Bike 1032

Swim 38 

Marathons: 7 (Houston, GO! St. Louis, Flying Pig, Minneapolis, Chicago, RNR St. Louis, Bass Pro)

Ultras 3: (Post Oak 50k, Land Between the Lakes 60k, PsychoPsummer 50k)

  

One Half in Indy where I got to run the Speedway and kiss the bricks 

BQ and PR in Houston 3:03:20

Completed first sprint Triathlon at Trail of Tears with 12 week postpartum wife winning her age division  

Overall 10k Winner and 7 month prego finisher  

And my amazing (and pregnant half the year wife) still completed 2 halves (Houston and Bass Pro), Three 5k's (overall female winner in one), and a sprint triathlon. 

Goals for 2013: 

Kick Butt at Boston in April 

Half Ironman 

Another Trail Run (ultra) 

Break 3 hours in Marathon (always a goal) 

Break 18 min in 5k (always a goal) 

Bike and Swim more 

Strength Train more 

Stay injury free 

Wishing everyone out there the best in 2013 in running and in life. Hope you set, meet, and exceed the goals you have for yourself! 

Boston 2013 Day 5 and 6: Katy Trail

Yesterday I ran my first double digit distance since the Bass Pro Marathon on November 4th. It was also my first visit to the Katy Trail in Jefferson City in a long time. I ran 10 miles in 1:15:14 on a nice flat, but cold , windy and snowy trail. The Katy Trail is an old RR track converted to a trail system that spans the width of the state from east (St Louis) to west (Kansas City). The trail is primarily used by cyclist but is very runner friendly too. If you're ever near the I-70 corridor across the state you should stop and check out the trail.

Today Aimee and I ran a short 4 miler in downtown Jefferson City that included two laps around the state capital. Total mileage for the week was 29 with 1 1/2 miles in the pool.

Boston 2013 Day 4

In an earlier post I described Farmington as uphill no matter which way you run. Well, I have never ran in Jefferson City before today and I would like to revise that statement. Our state Capitol is Farmington on steroids, even my wife commented during the run "and I use to think Farmington was hilly". We eventually cranked out 5 miles while pushing our snugly wrapped snow bunny in her jogging stroller and Marlie tagged along too.

Tomorrow I will head out to the Katy Trail for 10 on some nice flat ground. The picture below is a sign in town. You can kinda get a glimpse of the hills, but more importantly I was unaware we needed to watch out for teeter totters.

Boston 2013 Day 3

It was back to the road today as most of yesterday's snow was cleared enough for good foot traction. Training called for 6 miles of hills, which, luckily, in Farmington is not hard to find. There are two things you can always count on in Farmington: running uphill and into the wind. Oh, might make that three things: people not moving over when they pass you. Hello, I'm wearing a very bright reflective vest! I know you can easily see it because I have tested it! The last thing I want to see is a snow plow headed right at my knee.

Anyway, 6 miles down with 1/2 mile in the pool for good measure. Off to Jefferson City, state Capitol, for my brother-in-law's wedding. This weekend I'll be logging some miles on the Katy Trail.

Boston 2013 Day 2: Snow

It snowed last night for the first time this winter, bad news for me was no running this morning as the streets were just not cleared enough. So I'll switch out tomorrow's rest day with today's 6 miler. Instead of taking the whole day off I did get in one mile of laps in the pool and another weight session. I started a new lifting routine today and bought some new whey protein. I'll let ya know how those go.