~Philadelphia Marathon 11/23/08~

[Mouse Skywalker]

Um, don't you work for your family? Isn't it merely just a call to your dad telling him you've got STD over the weekend and NEED to do 18 miles on Friday so you can't grace him with your presence?

I seriously read this as STD too. Jodi - Whoa, does Bruce know about this one? Is this something that happened at Disney? We better keep it quiet around Spence.

 

[Jodi]

I seriously read this as STD too. Jodi - Whoa, does Bruce know about this one? Is this something that happened at Disney? We better keep it quiet around Spence.

Stop that! My son's very impressionable right now! And don't tell Bruce, he's extremely jealous! I'm blaming it on the pool water @ Animal Kingdom!

I thought she meant I was diseased, too!!! Oh crap, wait 'til Mike gets hold of this one !

It's all those TempHo runs catching up to me.

Sara - Don't let HuggyBear know about this...now that I'll be "out of commission" for a bit I don't know if I can afford to make it down to Philly! Do you think Embassy Suites takes WIC?? or maybe food stamps?

Howard - What IS your hopeful times for the marathons? Notice I'm glossing right over the STD comment here...

 

[Mouse Skywalker]

Stop that! My son's very impressionable right now! And don't tell Bruce, he's extremely jealous! I'm blaming it on the pool water @ Animal Kingdom!

I thought she meant I was diseased, too!!! Oh crap, wait 'til Mike gets hold of this one !

It's all those TempHo runs catching up to me.

I should keep my mouth shut or Bruce will kick my a@#...

You know, I just got PermaHo... in contrast to TempHo. Oooooooooh, now that's funny. Wow, I was having a blonde moment there.

 

[Theta]

I seriously read this as STD too.

Me too!

 

[Jodi]

Me too!

OH MY NERVE, IT'S ALL OVER NOW!

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Cindy, I has a 4:48 on my first marathon and my last 6 miles sucked, in my mind, I really thought I could run a sub 4:30

That's what I thought in June and I got a 4:50 (which is a 6 minute PR from my 4:56 at MCM last year). I really think that there is no reason I shouldn't be able to run a 4:30 (and I still think I should have been able to in June). Hence, all the running.

Cindy - Congrats on the speed workout. Truth be told, I've only ever done one real interval workout. I usually end up just Ho-ing at a pace somewhere between the prescribed interval speed and a true Ho. Something to focus on in the future, I guess.

It's actually kind of fun in a sick sort of way - probably just because it is a change of pace from the rest of the runs (pun intended). I mean, who doesn't enjoy running in a circle over and over . . .

Cindy - So do you have a PR time in mind for Philly?

Don't get me started on this! I have been giving way too much thought to it over the past few days. I could write a novel on it, but I will spare you all. In short, I'm torn between thinking that I should just go for a 4:30 and thinking that I should push for a faster time becasue I have been working so damn hard over the past few months and I really think that with a half PR of 1:58 and running 50+ miles a week, I should be able to run a 4:20, maybe 4:15 (both times slower than any running calculator would predict based on my half time). Sigh. I'm actually trying to figure this out by Sunday too because I have a 17 miler with 14 at marathon race pace. Thus, I actually need to pick a pace. Why must I always overthink things?

Howard – Crazy fast 10 miler!

Dave – I'm glad to hear that you are liking your new job, but sorry to hear about your hip. Is your plan to not run for awhile and see if it improves with rest? Lots of for you.

Jodi – Just run the 18 before work – you know I would

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Me too!

Me three.

 

[Theta]

I should keep my mouth shut or Bruce will kick my a@#...

Let me see if I have this right,

Bruce will kick Dave's a#*,

Jodi can kick Sara's a$#,

Howard and Cindy can haul a#$,


OK, I better stop there....

 

[Jodi]

Let me see if I have this right,

Bruce will kick Dave's a#*,

Jodi can kick Sara's a$#,

Howard and Cindy can haul a#$,


OK, I better stop there....

Now THAT'S entertainment!

And moving treadmills GETS you a$$ in some households!

 

[Theta]

Now THAT'S entertainment!

And moving treadmills GETS you a$$ in some households!

That's where I was headed...

 

[msblrobs]

Now THAT'S entertainment!

And moving treadmills GETS you a$$ in some households!

Touche, my friend . You know I've got nothing but love for you

Dave - I LOVE when you throw out the zingers with your impeccable timing I agree we need to be mindful of having to face Bruce in a few weeks since he most likely finds this group questionable at best .

Cindy - Girl, don't give the goal too much thought or you'll drive yourself crazy . You've put in the miles and are more than prepared for the challenge. Just see what the day brings for you

Colleen - DD feeling better ?

Howard - So psyched to track your splits at MCM !! You're more than prepared for a smokin' time

4 miles this morning on the TM. I am having a sleep over at DH's tonight so I'm hoping to get a run in pre-dawn over in the old neighborhood tomorrow morning !!

 

[KeenHo]

That's where I was headed...

I must admit, I went there too...

Jodi wrote...Howard - What IS your hopeful times for the marathons?

Getting back to the question at hand... my finish time goal for the MCM. My 2006 Delaware Marathon yielded 4:41:03 which is my marathon PR. During that race (my 1st marathon) I bonked at mile 12 after starting with 4 or 5 miles of sub 8's. I walked (slowly) several miles of this race until I could reach my support team. They were able to fuel me up and send me on my way. I finished relatively well, however the walking totally killed my time. I had (and still have) a lot to learn.

I have been training a lot and I've dropped close to 18 pounds since the end of May. On top of that, I just ran the PDR in 1:50:08 which was a PR. Based on all of that, I think I can realistically expect to get a PR at the MCM.

I know that I cannot go all out with an 8:25 pace for 13.1 miles and hope to magically recreate that during the second half of the marathon. It ain't going to happen. However, if I can stretch well, remain healthy, hydrate and fuel up properly during the race and keep about a 9:15 pace overall, I can humbly expect to finish around 4:00 to 4:15 hours (+/-).

My pace for the 20 miler earlier this week was around a 9:35 which would take me to somewhere between those finish time estimates. If I am pumped up, feeling good and able to push it during the second half of the MCM, I could do better. I hope that is the case. Lately, running a 9:15 or 9:30 pace feels really slow to me. I am sure my pace will fluctuate with the terrain, the sun, the crowd and how I am feeling.

As for Philly... I should be able to determine if I will have an opportunity to do better once I've run MCM. I guess my finish goal is to be determined.

Thanks for asking.



Howard

 

[lourodrigis]

Jodi - Have fun with the corn maze and the 18 miles. What's with this STD?

Colleen - Is your DD okay now? I saw she was sick a few pages ago. My whole house has been sick the past 2 weeks. Something must be going around.

Cindy - I saw you had a 55-mile week a little while ago...WOW!! That's insane! I wish I could borrow some of your miles.

Howard - Great job losing 18 pounds. I think you will have a great shot at a 4:00. It is so hard to predict a marathon time. A lot depends on the weather too. If we get a nice cool/dry day we'll be in good shape. Last year was cold and drizzly and that cramped me up.

Hello Dave, Mike, Sara, Chester, Steve, Jen...anyone else?

I have lost track of the thread this week. Laptop got hit with spyware and jammed me up. Had to deal with some work issues this week. And, oh yeah, the PHILLIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a night we had last night. It was so great to watch the finish of that game and see the news channels pan over to the streets of Philly to see thousands of people celebrating. One channel had a camera at my old neighborhood (Broad & Shunk) and it was INSANE. I don't miss the city except for nights like last night.

Please send all of your good mojo our way. It's been 25 years without a championship in a city that lives and dies sports. God forbid Tampa takes our hearts away again (Bucaneers in 2002 and Lightning in 2004). Somewhere Tug McGraw is waving a "Ya Gotta Believe!" sign for us.

Lou

 

[KeenHo]

No runing for me tonight. Tomorrow, definitely.

Lou~ Congratulations to the Fight'in Phillies! I hope they take it to the Rays (Or Boston Red Sox) but good in the World Series. By the way, I am with you about predicting a marathon time... there are a lot of variables I will not be able to predict until I am in the thick of the fight/race/etc. I can only hope for a good time and more importantly a good time!

 

[Optimator]

4 miles this morning on the TM. I am having a sleep over at DH's tonight so I'm hoping to get a run in pre-dawn over in the old neighborhood tomorrow morning !!

Sara - I guess between all your viral infection rumor mongering and a$$ 6 ways (sounds like #14 off the Chinese Massage Parlour menu!) that everyone was too tired to comment about the sleepover.

I'm not even going to pretend to have half a clue what goes on but I haven't seen so many mixed signals since Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder worked at the traffic light assembly plant!


Lou - 25 years without a championship and you compare yourself to a suffering Cleveland fan??? Give me a break! 1964 pal! Talk to me in another 20 years.

Chester - Are you going to take this Rays bashing without a comment?

Dave - Sorry to hear the hip is still bummin'. Glad you are enjoying work though. Maybe you could just ride the bike at Philly. Odds would be good for a PR.

Jomydia (or is it Syphido or maybe GonoDoDo or Herpechi) - You are doing the corn cop thing again? I know how much you enjoyed it last year . Enjoy the LR and the day off.

Colleen - I would expect that kind of behavior from some the these folks, but from you? Tsk, tsk.

Howard and Cindy - That time prediction stuff is enough to drive you crazy. I understand the "take what the race gives you" stuff but if you wait long enough to see how you feel it may be too late to do anything about it. It's tough. Start too fast and crash and burn or start too slow and have little chance to make up the lost time.

Speaking of crash and burn, I have 20 on tap for the morning. I'm hoping for something considerably better than my 18 miler 2 weeks ago.

 

[lourodrigis]

Lou - 25 years without a championship and you compare yourself to a suffering Cleveland fan??? Give me a break! 1964 pal! Talk to me in another 20 years.

Mike - We have 4 teams in Philly. 4 seasons x 25 years = 100 let downs. Cleveland has 2 teams x 44 years = 88 let downs. We got you beat. And please do not mention the year 1964 to a Phillies fan. Although I was not born until 1968 but my father passed on the suffering he felt after the Phils 1964 crash to me. He still talks about it.

Howard - Everyone talks about the Rays as if the ALCS is over. After last night I think we should wait a few days. As for me, give me the Red Sox. I want the Phils to crush the Red Sox nation, "Tito" Francona, and the most hated man in Philadelphia baseball history... J.D. Drew.

By the way, I have barely run this week due to the distractions. I'll try to get back on the horse today and with a LR on Sunday.

Lou

 

[lourodrigis]

Mike - We have 4 teams in Philly. 4 seasons x 25 years = 100 let downs. Cleveland has 2 teams x 44 years = 88 let downs. We got you beat. And please do not mention the year 1964 to a Phillies fan. Although I was not born until 1968 but my father passed on the suffering he felt after the Phils 1964 crash to me. He still talks about it.

Howard - Everyone talks about the Rays as if the ALCS is over. After last night I think we should wait a few days. As for me, give me the Red Sox. I want the Phils to crush the Red Sox nation, "Tito" Francona, and the most hated man in Philadelphia baseball history... J.D. Drew.

By the way, I have barely run this week due to the distractions. I'll try to get back on the horse today and with a LR on Sunday.

Lou

Mike - My bad, I forgot about the Cavs (who cares about them anyway). So Cleveland may have us beat. I guess I meant a "major" city .

 

[msblrobs]

TGIF

Lou - Congrats to your Phillies I don't follow sports in the least but I DO know the Yankees are out so I'm sending loads of to the Phillies in hopes they bring it home for you. Best of luck getting some miles in with all of the distractions going on

Michael - I've got no clue what I'm doing either these days so I'm just taking it one day at a time. I hope your 20-miler this morning is nirvana

Jodi - Are you out on the roads for 18 this morning ? It's a gorgeous morning so if you are I hope it's a good one for you .

Cindy - The fact that you would and could run 18 before work still blows me away ? Best of luck on your 17 miles this weekend

Jen - Have we scared you off or are you off to the World?

Dave - How's the hip flexor feeling ? The biking sounds like a great alternative in order to keep you healthy while maintaining your endurance.

Chester, Colleen, Howard, Steve -

I did get in 4 miles outside this morning in my old stompin grounds, which felt really good . I "think" I'm going to do a 9-miler this weekend on Sunday afternoon on the bike trail. It looks to be another great weekend in the Northeast with lots of sun & moderate temps .

Have a great weekend guys

 

[mla1977]

I'm going to do 4 miles on Sunday. It will be my longest run since my freshman year of high school when they were trying to make me a distance runner. If only I had known that 17 years later I would be doing it voluntarily.

 

[CynthiaCindy]

Morning all. Ran 12 this morning which didn't suck as much as I thought it was going to. I was at work until 10:30 last night and then actually had some work that I had to finish up once I got home that took until about 11:45. Then I made the mistake of checking the score of the game and when I realized that the Red Sox had come back to be within one run, I made the super intelligent decision to grab a beer and watch the end of game. So, my 12 miler this morning was run after less than 4 hours of sleep. The pounding of the caffine has already started.

Mike - waiting to hear how the 20 went Good weather this morning at least.

I hope everyone has a good Friday!