Knoxville Half Marathon-
Due to an overall lack of training, I decided I was going to make this a training run or slightly faster depending on how I felt. I decided that my overall goal would be 1:45.

We left for Knoxville mid day on Friday and it took forever to get there. Should have been about a 4 hour drive, but with traffic and a slow restaurant, it took just over 6 hours. We found our hotel and headed to dinner and a relaxing night.

Saturday, went to meet friends of ours that live in Knoxville and had breakfast with them, then went to the expo. We wanted to take Glenn to the Zoo, so off we headed. As we were getting close, it started snowing!!! We went on anyway. Only about half of the animals were out but we had a great time.

Saturday night we had dinner with our next door neighbors, who were also in Knoxville for the race.

Sunday- Race day!!
Got up and caught a cab to the race. Kathy and Glenn would come over a little later. I told Kathy that I would be done in 1:45, so stay warm and just come over to see the finish.
It was 32 degrees, but felt a little warmer. I stayed in the host hotel lobby until 10 minutes before the start. Went out, checked my bag, and went right up the start. That was nice.

The race started and we immediately started up a hill. I thought bad thoughts to myself. Then we turned and started down a hill and the thoughts were gone. Knoxville is a hilly town!!
The course is beautiful. We ran through the town, through some very old neighborhoods, through some newer neighborhoods, and along a greeway path, then finished on the 50 yard line of Neyland Stadium which is pretty cool.

There was really on 1 major, major kick your tail hill at the end of mile 7 and into mile 8. Luckily someone had told me about it and I was ready for it when I got there and handled it well.

I was approaching the 13 mile mark and Kathy and Glenn were right beside the course and gave me a shout as I was about to enter the stadium.

I slowed down a little bit goign down the ramp in to the stadium. I didn't want to run 13 miles and then fall .1 from the finish line. As I turned and headed for the finish line, I saw the clock. I went under the clock at 1:45:05, and with a goal of 1:45 I could not have asked for anything else.

I am psyched after this run. I pushed it right to line between racing/training run.

Splits:
1- 8.09
2- 7.35
3- 7.44
4- 8.01
5- 8.02
6- 7.51
7- 7.48
8- 8.05
9- 7.49
10- 8.21
11- 7.57
12- 8.05
13- 7.46
.1- 1.42 (8.32 avg.)

Total time: 1:45:05
Avg.- 8.01

Week in review.
I think the week was a good one once I started feeling better. I had some good runs and it gave me something to build on.
Mon- 03-20: No run- still feeling bad
Tues- 03-21: 3 mile jog to get some miles in
Wed- 03-22: 5 mile run- nice, sunny day for a run.
Thurs- 03-23: No run. Crazy work day and trying to finish up for the week
Fri- 03-24: 6 mile run early then travel day to Knoxville
Sat- 03-25: No run
Sun- 03-26: 13.1- Knoxville Half Marathon

Total for the week- 27.1

The up and down continues.
Mon- 03-13- Upper Body weights
Tues- 03-14- No run
Wed- 03-15- 5 mile run
Thurs- 03-16- No run
Fri- No run
Sat- 15 miles at Stone Mtn
Sun- no run

I had planned in running Thurs and Fri but with hectic work I didn't get it in. I ran 15 at Stone Mtn. on Saturday. It felt great until I got to mile 13 and I started to struggle a little but was very pleased over all with the run.
I caught a 24 hr virus or something on Saturday. Upset stomach and very nauseated. Did not make for a pleasant evening. I thought about CK's "Hard Core Workout and Weight Loss program".
I wanted to go for a short run on Sunday to loosen up the legs. This didn't happen either. After getting home from church, I went back to bed and slept for 6 hours. Good news is I woke up feeling a lot better and actually thought about going for a short run, but I made the mistake of eating. Didn't feel so hot after that, so I rested and went back to bed.

Recap of last week:

Mon- No run
Tues- 5 miles
Wed- 4 miles
Thurs- 5 miles
Fri- rest day
Sat- 3 miles
Sun- 5 miles

Total- 22 miles

Had a great week of training..... if I was training for a 5K/10K race, but I am training for a marathon and needed a long run. I had planned on doing it Saturday but never got around to it. I scrambled and got a 3 miles run in. And thought about the long Sunday, but again scrambled to get 5 miles in.
Glenn turned 2 on Sunday. We had 2 parties for him- Sat. with my side of the family and Sun with Kathy's side of the family.
Incredible- I can't believe he is 2 years old already. Seems just yesterday we were in Dallas adopting him. I sat back at the parties and watched as Glenn opened his presents and the surprise on his face with each opening. And the way he played and interacted with all of his cousins and aunts/uncles/grandparents. He is becoming such a little boy- no baby left in him. He got hot wheels cars and track as well as other trucks and things. What a great weekend.... and so what if I missed my long run.... I got to celebrate my sons birthday with family.

The picture at the top is of Glenn after he blew his candles out.

I was planning on using March 1 as a kick off date to get back on a program. My February, mileage wise, was a mirror image of last year. But that's ok, it's a new month and the plan is forward looking, not backward looking.

I decided to use a less strenuous program until I could get back in to the groove of things running wise and until things at work calmed down a bit. So, on March 1, I got out for a 4 mile run and had planned for a 6 mile run on Thursday, March 2. Thursday's run didn't happen. Then, on Saturday when I had planned to run 15 I only ran 4, thinking I would run 15 on Sunday. It was such a pretty day that Kathy and I ended up working in the yard all afternoon, so the Sunday run didn't happen either.

This week (week of 03-06-06), I was determined to get back on track. I got out for a 5 mile run Tuesday, a 4 mile run Wednesday, and a 5 mile run Thursday. My plan is to try for 15 this Saturday and 5-6 on Sunday.

If I can do this and keep going on schedule I think I will be fine for Green Bay. I think it is 10 weeks away so I should be fine. I am going to use the training and the race at Green Bay to build endurance and be ready to go back with the Pfitzinger plan for a fall race that will be my goal race.

Wed.- 03-01-06: 4 miles
Sat.- 03-04-06: 4 miles

Tues- 03-07-06: 5 miles
Wed- 03-08-06: 4 miles
Thurs- 03-09-06: 5 miles

March 1- a new month, and a new start. Looking back I may have ramped up a little too fast and helped myself get and stay sick.
I have now lost too much time in the Pfitzinger program to jump back in where the program is now, so I have been reviewing different progams to see what would fit with my schedule and get me back to a point to where I can either switch back the Pfitzinger or stay with while training for Green Bay and then be ready to go back to Pfitzinger for my fall race. I think I am going with Higdon Advanced 1 program. We'll see how it goes and make adjustments along the way. It's all about trial and error and seeing what works best for you, right?

We went to the park last night and I was going to run 3-4 while Kathy took Glenn to the play ground. But when we got there Glenn wanted me to go to the swings with them... how can you resist a sweet invitation like that. Baseball season has started and there were kids, puppies, and parents everywhere. No run- but what a great time playing on the swings and playground with Kathy and Glenn and taking Glenn up to the fence and watching the kids play baseball.