~Philadelphia Marathon 11/23/08~

[Jodi]

OMG what is up with that elevation chart. That looks like Mt. Everest to a slacker like me! Is it too late to drop out???

Colleen - Hey, I've got lump things running up from my ankle to my knee!! Old shin splints/actual slivered bones that my MT tells me to "push" back in when I massage my legs. OUCH. There's a wicked lump just below my ankle bone that makes that area numb when I play with it...obviously it shouldn't be there & we're working on that. Last time I had an issue w/ my heel he just stuck a needle in my ankle & it released almost instantly.

Yeh, what's up w/ the Garmins...my told me I did a 5:30 mile last week . Maybe it's a lunar problem or something??

You're right about the Marathoning for Mortals sched. I'm only due for 8 this Sat., but I was getting sad & nervous 'cause everyone else was doing all these mega runs. Plus, I didn't run last weekend 'cause of the heel...I'm all confused about what to do. AND it's going to be beautiful tomorrow, nice & cool early on. What do ya'll think I should do??? Get back on track w/ my schedule or take advantage of the cooler temps & just go? Maybe I should do something in the middle? HELP Maybe I can run a sub 4:30 also?!

Sara......

Mike & Chester - You guys run too much & it's scary.

Dave -

 

[nucpharm29]

Colleen-I have 14 on tap for Sunday, then it's 20 next weekend I'm really intimidated by the 20, b/c during training for my first marathon I got sick right before the 20 mile run and never did it. But even w/o the 20 mile training run, I still completed the marathon--hmmm, maybe I should just skip it this time???

Love reading about all your training! Good luck with the LR/LWs this weekend!

 

[Jodi]

Stephanie - How come you're not running MCM w/ us??? Yeh, just skip that 20 miler, it's way overrated . Good luck w/ your 14 tomorrow

 

[msblrobs]

Jodi - I think Colleen is just trying to mess up my mental picture of MCM being a walk in the park with the elevation chart posting. I refuse to take off the rose-colored glasses at this point in time Don't sweat the training or worry about what everyone else is doing - you'll be fine. My LR's for the remaining weeks are as follows: 16 Miles, 1/2 marathon, 8 Miles MP, 20 Miles, 8 Miles MP, 20 Miles, 10 Miles, 8 Miles. You need to stay healthy above all else so please don't overtrain.

Colleen You know there are no time expectations coming from me I've got my sub-4:30 for the year so I am just along for the ride on this one . I'm merely looking for a good time with friends and a few good Marines. Have fun on your LR this weekend, whatever you decide to do.

Dave - We miss you . Safe travels home and I hope the cruise exceeded your expectations.

Stephanie - Best of luck getting the 20-mile LR monkey off your back. It's all mental girlfriend!!

Mike - Thanks so much for the reassurances that I won't turn to jelly if I have to revamp my plans a bit for travel. I am betting I will sneak out at dawn daily and squeeze in my runs. It's just the LR's that are nearly impossible to do due to the time and logistics involved.

3 miles and yoga for me this morning. I'l run another 2 miles tonight and then maybe some more yoga. Out for 16 bright in early in the a.m.

Happy LR's to all . I hope everyone has a Happy Labor Day.

 

[rKyDeX]

OK, I need to know the LR plans for everyone here until taper time. Isn't this a fall back week on Marathoning for Mortals plan? Sara and Jodi are doing 16's, so what is in store the next 5 weeks for weekend runs? Are you girls doing a couple really long weeks in a row? I feel compelled to do 16 this weekend as well, so Sara and I can bring in a sub 4:30.

Chester, you are following the same plan as Mike correct, don't you have 8 and 17 this weekend too?

Yes, I do have an 8 and a 17 this weekend. DS15 is in a soccer tournament at WWOS this weekend, so I will be shuffling the days.

She has a game tonight at 6:00pm, so I'm heading over after work and then returning home afterwards.

Since she has a 6:00pm game on Saturday, I'll do the 17 in the morning, Then head over to the game in the afternoon.

Sunday's game is at 1:15 pm, so I'll do the 7 in the morning before heading over. After the game, we are going to the 5:00pm showing of the Blue Man Group.

I'll be doing a lot of driving over the weekend because I'll be going back and forth to take care of the dogs. Tracy and Miranda are staying off-property in Kissimmee.

Scheduled long runs are as follows:

9/2 17 miles
9/9 18 miles
9/16 13 miles
9/23 20 miles
9/30 12 miles
10/7 20 miles
10/14 12 miles
10/21 8 miles
10/28 26.2 miles


Happy training everyone.


Chester
W.I.S.H. Half-Fast Marathon Team

 

[Optimator]

The good news is I did get 8 miles in yesterday but have decided my Garmin is whacked! (where is the smashing Garmin icon when you need it.) Anyway, I was doing 10:40's, then a 7:15, throw in a few 9:10's, then a 12:40 for good measure. Not sure what my pace was because I have been on the dreadmill so much the last month because of the heat.

Colleen - I'm sure they must have all been 7:15's Good job.

Mike, I know the plan you are running, good luck with your 17 today.

I would have needed much more than good luck to help with my run. AWFUL, TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE!!

My 17 turned into 10. The first 5 went fine. Then I slowed down for a drink of water (still haven't mastered the drinking on the run thing) and just couldn't get going again. I think I ended up walking more than running over the last 5 miles. Very dissappointing!

Mike & Chester - You guys run too much & it's scary.

Jodi - See above. It was scary!!

Chester - Good luck with the runs (and the running around). I'm not really doing the back-to-back LR. My mid-week "longish" run just got shuffled a bit. Enjoy Blue Men.

Sara - Long runs are overrated, right? I figure any run on vacation counts as a long run.

Dave - You make it back yet?

Stephanie - Unless something dramatic happens with next week's LR I seriously doubt I'll attempt Akron.

I can order my pair of Brooks Radius 6's from runningwarehouse.com for $50.96 ($57.76 if I upgrade to the new Radius 7) using our WISH discount. DW agreed to stand at the end of the driveway and hand me the box as I return from a LR. Figuring registration for Akron is $70, that still leaves about 20 bucks for the Michelob I'd miss out on!!

Seriously (not a word that often relates to me), I really like the idea of running Akron but the reality of it is something completely different. I do have everything in place so that I still have time to decide.

Well, good luck on everyone's runs. Enjoy your weekend!

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Morning MCM Team!

The family and I got back from our cruise late last night around midnight, and I finally got to sleep about 1:30am. It was a long day of travelling, but we had a great, great cruise. It was blistering hot in the sun, but we found shade, and sat by the pool, and sipped frozen drinks and had a great time. We got off the ship yesterday around 9:00am, and our flight didn't leave until 5:30pm. Since we had a rental car we drove over to Downtown Disney, ate lunch at Earl of Sandwich, traded pins, and pressed pennies. It was a great end to a great trip.

However, my running/training was slacking all week. I only managed two 3 mile treadmill runs during the week. I was going to try for my usual 5 mile short run, but my legs were dead and always felt like lead (I think from dehydration in the sun and salt water). No long run for me this morning, but I have a half marathon on tap for tomorrow. So that will get me going again.

I need to catch up with what's going on with everyone, but I just wanted to say I'm back.

 

[princessmomma]

[ DW agreed to stand at the end of the driveway and hand me the box as I return from a LR. Figuring registration for Akron is $70, that still leaves about 20 bucks for the Michelob I'd miss out on!!

Ah, what a good wife! And $20 worth of beer should do you.

Sorry about the aborted long run Mike. Those things happen. You never know why causes those terrible runs, usually I can find 5 or 6 things to blame!

Today's 16 miler was painful. The good thing is that it is finished. The bad news is my leg hurt before I even started and hurt during the run and after. I was hoping that if I went out reeeaaallly slow, everything could shake back into place. So I went to really slow, a few 11:15 miles. I kind of liked that pace and stuck with it for about 8 miles. I was close to home around mile 9 and thought I would just run home and call it a day. I got home and DH convinced me to change shoes and try a few more miles. So I put on my cushioning Sauconys and threw my stability Sauconys across the floor in disgust. Well things started feeling a little better and I was able to run the last 6 miles in 58 minutes (again, I think my Garmin was being generous). Long story short, I ran 10 miles in 1:59 and another 6 miles in 58 for total of 2:57. Not great, but I will take it. I have decided I am going to take a break from running for a week and try and get my leg/knee/glute/IT band healthy.

I can't wait to hear about other LR's this morning. Oh, forgot to add it was 74 degrees at 5 a.m. this morning. I woke up at 4:15 for this run to avoid the heat.

Welcome back Dave! You have a half marathon tomorrow??

 

[skfulkers]

Hey guys! Just wanted to pop in and say hi (am I allowed even though I'm not running MCM??).

Colleen--take it easy on yourself. You sound like everything from the waist down is ready to fall apart! Glad you made it through the 16 miles.

Dave--good to hear you guys had a great time on the cruise. I'm jealous--Krista and I have never been on a cruise and we keep saying we need to do one and just haven't yet. I wouldn't sweat the two short runs last week. It probably gave you time to rest/recover. Good luck on your half tomorrow!

Ok, I'm going to get off here; just wanted to let all you guys know I'm pulling for you.

Mike, Jodi, Sara, Chester and anyone else I missed--good luck with your training. I really am starting to WISH I was running this one with you guys this year. I think I'm definitely going to be in for next year.

Have great LRs this weekend!

Steve

 

[princessmomma]

Colleen--take it easy on yourself. You sound like everything from the waist down is ready to fall apart! Steve

ah, yeah, pretty much. Yes, I will take it easy this week. I think I will do some pool work and maybe a spin class and see if I can rest up before the last few long runs before taper.

 

[Jodi]

Colleen - OUCH! . That run sounded rough, are you ok? Glad your DH was there to get you back out, otherwise you would've felt worse, no doubt. I can't believe you got up @ 4:15a.m. to get this done, that's dedication. I'm all for your hiatus, but make it a FULL WEEK of no running!! No little 3 milers here & there, give it a solid 7-8 days & maybe go out next Mon. huh?

Chester - How'd your runs go? Have fun @ Blue Man Group, let us know how it was. And here's to hoping your sister does well in her tournament

Dave - WELCOME HOME , glad you & the family enjoyed yourselves & got home safely. You actually tried to run , silly boy. I told you, it's all about carbo-loading on the cruise!! Good luck getting yourselves back to reality . And good luck on that 1/2 tomorrow!! Have fun!

Mike - It's ok, we've all been there, & like Colleen said, you never know what 'causes those bogus runs. I believe when that happens you have to just write it off, your body is trying to tell you something...so listen. And listen you did. Have a Michelob TONIGHT & just remember that 90% of the world didn't even run 2 miles today, let alone 10!!

Steve - Thank for the well wishes, & why aren't your running w/ us???

OK, I was gonna do 16 today (must've been one of those days for everyone), but it only ended up being 14. It was ok, cool weather, it averaged about just under 10mmiles, 9:40 or something. The last 2 were getting annoying, I get sick of hearing my voice inside my head around mile 13. The last 6 miles of my last marathon was insane b/c of this - I'm just so done being with myself!! My poor DH!! And DS, for that matter . At mile 10, though, I had to take a...um....uh....bathroom break?? Oh, that was lovely, I just hope I crawled into the woods far enough . OK, we'll leave it at that.

Sara - How'd you make out??

 

[princessmomma]

Yeah, Jodi, you are right, I will throw in a little recovery run on Monday and see how I feel. I am actually feeling pretty good right now, I even went out and mowed the lawn and getting some laundry done.

OK, I think I will stop talking to you when your LSD pace is 9:40! You were booking it my dear.

 

[msblrobs]

Jodi - I think we had carbon copy LR's today. 14 miles in 2:12:25. I also had major stomach issues today. I normally struggle with getting nourishment down during and after a LR but today I had severe stomach cramping on my LR and I still have yet to get anything to stay in. I had to stop after 14 miles due to cramping and then had to walk for another HOUR to get home. You had me about the voices in your head. Those same voices haunt me and more often than not I let them get the best of me.

Colleen - At least you can take comfort in the fact we all struggled today. Misery loves company right? Glad you decided to get back out there and that you're feeling better now. Definitely take some time off this week to give your parts some downtime to heal.

Mike - Thanks for posting about the Radius. I have run in Radius before and I am looking for a new pair of shoes so I can retire my oldest pair from the rotation. Best of luck coming to a decision about Akron.

Dave - Welcome home!! Glad you had a wonderful time. Rest up and good luck if you are running a 1/2 marathon tomorrow.

Chester - I hope your LR's go well for you.

Looking forward to a rest day tomorrow and for the return of an appetite.

 

[Optimator]

Good job on the LR's everyone!! Discomfort, pain, and trips into the woods not withstanding, those are some great runs.

Colleen - I'm VERY impressed that you went back out after going home. I'm pretty sure I would have called it a day at that point.

Dave - Welcome back. Glad you had a good time on the cruise. Best of luck on your half. Running for a PR or just enjoying it?

Sara - runningwarehouse.com is hard to beat if you know what you want.

Jodi - No hops based adult beverages for me tonight. They kind of frown on coming to work lit up.

I got a little X-training in today. I hooked up the little bike trailer and took DD4 for a "carriage ride". Nothing big, about 20-30 minutes worth, but pulling a 40lb kid in a 20lb trailer was a pretty good workout.

Rest day tomorrow then back at it.

 

[princessmomma]

Jodi - I think we had carbon copy LR's today. 14 miles in 2:12:25.

Jodi and Sara, that is an awesome time for 14 miles.

Sara, I hope you are feeling better today and you are able to get some food down so you will be strong for next weekend's half.

Mike, have a nice rest day tomorrow, I am enjoying mine today, but I do feel compelled to go to the gym for a little ellipitical work.

Chester, once your whirlwind weekend settles, I would like to hear you LR report.

 

[nucpharm29]

Colleen--I thought I would post this just for you--I need a whack the Garmin smilie as well. Today, was a 14 miler--was going well, ave. about 9:10miles-anyway, I have my Garmin set to lap at each mile. I try not to look at it except for at the lap beep--So, I heard it beep for mile 8. But then it seemed to be taking a long time to get to mile 9. I looked at my distance and I was at 8.3--so maybe I was just having a slow mile. About 30 sec. later I checked again, 7.9--WTH, it was GOING BACKWARDS!!!!! Then 7.8 down to around 7.5miles. I must've hit a time warp at the golf course or maybe it was aliens tapping into the GPS satellite. The darn contraption never caught back up--and my split for mile 9 was over 27 minutes! (Not beating any sweepers with that awesome time ). I figured it "lost" around 2 miles today.

So, means I "might" have gone 14 miles today, somewhere between 13 and 14, finishing at 2:05

Jodi--you asked why I'm not lacing up for MCM--it all depends on babysitters if DH and I both run. We're doing Akron b/c his parents live w/in a half hour, and they are keeping the kiddos. Maybe next year........

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Good Morning MCM Teammates:

OK, I'm still not caught up with everyone, but I wanted to check in. I ran the Oak Tree 1/2 Marathon yesterday. It was a local 1/2 marathon with about 250 runners. It was a gorgeous day to run - blue cloudless skys and sunny. It was about 70 degrees. Most of the course was on dirt roads through rolling farmland. It was beautiful - reminded me of when I lived in Vermont. I decided to see if I could average a 9 min mile pace for the race, but I was not going to push it as I considered it a training run. Mile 4 was down a huge hill, and I saw the mile marker for mile 12 on the other side. I thought, uugh, this is going to be a bear to run back up at the end of the race. Well I finished in 2:00:36 min. My Garmin read 13.19 miles for a 9:09 mpm pace. I felt pretty good the whole way - so I was excited about that.

Hope everyone's having a great Labor Day Weekend.

 

[Jodi]

Dave - WTG!!! That is one kick-a** time for your 1/2 marathon, good for you! And the best part is that you didn't feel dead afterwards, nice job . I knew all that carbo-loading on the ship would pay off .

Stephanie - Well I have to say, I've never had my Garmin do that yet, time warp indeed. I've had it shut off in the middle of a run for no apparent reason, but decrease the mileage, I think I would've cried . Maybe next year for the MCM, funny how you can't leave kids unattended for hours on end, I'm having the same problem with mine .

Colleen - Did you hit the gym yesterday on your supposed "REST DAY"?
Am I going to have to keep tabs on you this entire week to make sure you don't go out & run???? Maybe go real easy @ the gym, too?

Mike - Those silly employers, not letting you come in after a few.

Chester - How'd your LRs go, how'd your sister do?

Sara - How many hours did you work out yesterday on your rest day?? Just curious

I did nothing yesterday except mow the lawn (and most of that was on a tractor) & clean the house & stuff . Does everyone have an extra day off today? What's on tap for the week, guys? I've gotta:

run 50 mins today
40 mins CT Tues
Tempoyucky run Weds
40 mins Thurs (think)
40 mins CT Fri
16 miles Sat.

I'm going to get back on track w/ my MFM sched. this week (I think) & stop trying to wing-it. We'll see how long that lasts Have a nice day off everyone !

 

[princessmomma]

Jodi, well, I didn't go to the gym yesterday, but I did go out for a nice short 4 mile bike ride with the kids.

Today, I just got back from the gym. I live about 1 mile from the gym and the outdoor track so I walked to the track and then ran 3 easy miles, did a few light weights in the gym and walked home the 1 mile. Is that OK???

I cannot tell you how torn I am with this training. I really don't want to lose any fitness, but I really need to take care of these aches and pains so I can actually get the MCM starting line. I just don't know what to do. I really need some advice here.

I basically have 3 LR's left.

1. Should I attempt them all, which means I run 16 or 18 this weekend.

16 or 18
8
18 or 20
10
20
three week taper

2. Should I take this weekend off (run 8ish) and then run two LR's in a row?

8ish
16
18
10
20
three week taper

3. Should I only run 2 more LR's with a 4 week taper?

8ish
18
10
20
four week taper

4. Last option 2 week taper?
8ish
16
8
18
10
20
two week taper

 

[princessmomma]

Sorry about the "all about me" post above.

I do want to respond to Dave's great 1/2 marathon result! Wow, you are really cranking out those nice 9 minute miles. Do you have a goal time in mind for MCM?

Stephanie, negative miles on you Garmin, that is just so unfair! That would have done a real mind job on me around mile 9/10 ish!