Week 2 training- ING Georgia

Week 2 started out well. I took a rest day on Monday. I probably could have run but thought it best to go ahead and take a rest day early in the program. Once my endurance is back up I can think about going back to 6 days a week running.
Had a good 4 miler Tuesday morning. Temps were nice and overall just an enjoyable run. Went to the gym at lunch and did upper body workout with weights.
Wed.'s run was just a good, relaxing 5 mile run. Went over 1,000 miles for the year during today's run.
Thurs. morning was a nice 3 mile run in the rain. Luckily it was before the approaching cold front came through so it was nice out. Upper body weight work out at lunch.
Friday- rest day
Saturday- Got a 5 mile run in late in the day after a very busy day. The run felt great but afterwards my left hamstring was really sore and tight.
Sunday- hamstring hurts. I can't tell if it is just sore or strained. It felt ok during my 11 mile run but hurt later in the evening and night.

Mon- rest day
Tues- a.m.- 4 miles
P.M.- upper body weights
Wed.- 5 miles
Thurs.- 3 miles
P.M.- upper body weights
Fri- rest day
Sat- 5 miles
Sun- 11 miles

Total- 28

Week 1 training- ING Georgia Marathon

Pretty decent week of training. I ran a few more miles than I had planned on but I feel ok. I had wanted my base to be a little higher going in to this training program but the last couple of weeks I didn't get the miles in.

We are going on 2 weeks of sickness in my house. Kathy is still coughing badly every third breath or so. She has been to the doctor twice and they have tried different meds. Hopefully she doesn't have pneumonia. And Glenn was getting better but woke up in the middle of the night Friday night with 104.7 fever. We got down but he is coughing and congested again.

I ran the Atlanta Half marathon on Thanksgiving morning. I really didn't know what to try for. Sonya (co-worker from the past) and I were going to run together until one of took off or dropped off the pace. We couldn't find each other at the start so I just line up and took off. At about 1.5 miles she came flying by me. We spoke and she continued on. I was going to try to maintain an 8 min. pace, knowing it was going to be tough. I made it through 7 miles pretty good but then had to start taking walk breaks. The hills got to me. I can tell I don't run on my hilly course that I used to train on all the time.
I hit a rough spot mentally on miles 8-11. Once I got to down town Atlanta and around the buildings where I used to work I was able to get my mind off of the struggles and finish the run on an enjoyable note.

Race splits:
Mile Split
1- 8.28
2- 7.58
3- 8.06
4- 8.04
5- 8.12
6- 8.00
7- 8.09
8- 9.00
9- 8.33
10- 8.54
11- 9.18
12- 9.17
13- 8.34
.1- .56

Total time- 1:51.36

Full weeks training:
Mon- 3 miles
Tues- 5 miles
Wed- no run
Thurs- 13.1 miles
Fri- 3 miles
Sat- no run
Sun- 6 miles

Total- 30.1

The downward spiral with mileage continued this week. I was going to try to kick it back in gear and get back to the high 20's in mileage but this week turned out to be unusually busy, especially the weekend.
I coach my nieces basketball team and our practices started this weekend on Saturday... which I found out about at the coach's meeting Thursday night that I found out about on Tuesday. It seems this league doesn't give us much notice on things. I guess they don't think anyone plans ahead.
Any way, the runs I got in were really good runs. And I also got back in the weight room for the first time in a couple of months.
Training for the ING Georgia Marathon starts on Monday, 11-20-06. And I have the Atlanta Half marathon on Thanksgiving morning. I am not sure what to expect from this except that I will run somewhere between 8:00 and 9:00 minute miles- how close to either end I have no idea.

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

Total- 7 miles

This was a tough week for running. Glenn got strep throat last Sunday and was waking up 4-5 times a night at the beginning of the week so sleep was pretty disturbed. Then Kathy and I both caught colds mid week and then mine turned in to sinus problems as the week went on. I kept running to a minimum hoping to fully recover for a big weekend of running- didn't help though.

I took Glenn to his first "friend's birthday party" on Saturday. One of his little friends from school was turning 3 and was invited to the party so we went. It was really cool sitting back and watching the children play!!

Running wise, I got a few runs in. I took Glenn out in the runnign stroller and ran. He loves it when I take him out in the stroller. A few times during the run he said "this is fun daddy, I love running". Brought a smile to my face. My 9 miler on Sunday was hard, physically and mentally. I got out about the 4-5 mile mark and was wishing I had just stayed home. Finally finshed but my lungs were burning pretty badly.

Mon- no run
Tues- no run
Wed- 3 miles
Thurs- no run
Fri- 3 miles
Sat- 4 miles
Sun- 9 miles

Total- 19 miles

No complaints about this weeks running except I didn't get any runs in Mon or Tues and had to run on Friday which I like to make a rest day.
I didn't run Monday due to a sore knee. I was getting in the floor to play with Glenn Sunday night and squatted down too fast and heard/felt a pop in my left knee. It was just minor pain, no big deal. Woke up Mon and it hurt so I skipped running. Tuesday I traveled to South Carolina to visit a couple of suppliers. Got home just in time to trick or treating with Glenn and Kathy.
Ran Wed and there was just a little tightness in my knee. Hurt a little after I was finished but not bad. Everything felt fine from Thurs on, so no concerns any longer.

Mon- 0 miles
Tues- 0 miles
Wed- 3 miles
Thurs- 5 miles
Fri- 5 miles
Sat- 4 miles
Sun- 7 miles

Total- 24 miles