04-20-07 - Scholarship 5K Run
I went back and forth all week as to whether I would run this or not. I ran my last 5K last July and swore I wouldn't run another one until I got some weight off and got back in shape. This race is only 4 miles from my house so it is kind of silly not to do it. Plus, there is a race on this same course in the fall so I could run this race, see where I am time wise, then run it again in the fall and see what improvement I have made over the summer.

I ran in to a friend and chatted with him for a bit before the race. As we went to line up he stoped in the front and I kept going. Normally I line up right behind him. He usually finishes in the top 5 and occassionally wins a race, I used to finish in the top 15 or so. He asked me where I was going and I told him I am too slow right now to get up there with him.
After I found a place where I felt comfortable starting we got the starting command and off we went. I tried to run a pace where my breathing was under control but right on the limit. About 1/2 mile in to the race we settled in to a group that was all running about the same pace and pretty much kept that formation for the next 2 miles. As we passed the 1 mile mark I hit my watch and snuck a peak at my split. I was pleasantly suprised. Although it was well off the pace I normally would have hit the mile in, given my current conditioning I was very pleased! We continue on and as I come around a corner I see Kathy and Glenn and Glenn claps loud and yells "run Daddy!!!" Pass the mile 2 marker and I have slowed about 20 seconds. At about the 2.5 mile marker 3 of the guys in our group take off and I don't know if I should try to go with them or just keep my pace and enjoy a good race. I decided to let them go, then another one takes off. I went with him and actually passed him at about the 2.75 mile mark. We turn the last corner and have .1 to go. I am not really pushing it as hard as I can but am pushing. We enter the cones/tape chute at the finish line and the guy I passed blows by me inside the cones with 5 yards to go. I hear another one a couple steps behind him and take a step over to block him. What's up with that? What are you doing passing in the chute? I don't know- I have mixed feelings with passing in the chute.

We went in for the award ceremony to watch my friend get his plaque. He finished 5th over all and first in his age group. To my suprise, I finished 3rd in my age group, 37th overall. Wierd- sometimes I will finish 15th overall and 5th or 6th in my age group- then this time, 37th overall and 3rd in age group. Guess the speedsters were waiting for the Saturday morning races.

mile 1- 7:13
mile 2- 7:34
mile 3- 7:21
.1 - :45

Total: 22:54
Avg. pace-7.24

Week of 04-16-07:
Monday- the wind is still crazy- like 25-35 mph crazy. What is up with this? I decided to go to the gym and run on the treadmill and hopefully watch the end of the Boston marathon but no such luck. They don't have it on at the gym. I slogged through 3 miles on the mill.
Tuesday- 4 miles. Still a little windy but not as bad as it has been.
Wed- No run. I was tired and lazy all day.
Thurs- 5 miles. Nice run. It was a nice sunny day and perfect for a run.
Friday- 3.6 miles. 1/2 mile warm up and ran a 5K race
Sat- ran 5 miles much faster than I should have. My legs were a little tight from last nights race but loosened up nicely.
Sun- had planned to get a 10 mile run in but only did 5 miles. I waited to late afternoon to run and it got up to 81 degrees. I probably could have run another 5 but no reason to right now as I am not really training for a race.

Mon- 3 miles
Tues- 4 miles
Wed- no run
Thurs- 5 miles
Fri- 3.6 miles
Sat- 5 miles
Sun- 5 miles

Total- 25.6 miles

Post Marathon week 3:

I had a pretty good week trying to get back in to the swing of things until the weekend.
Monday- full body workout. I have just been doing upper body workouts but wanted to try and strengthen my legs some to see if that would help in my races.
Tuesday- 4 miles at a pretty good pace.
Wed- Bad storms came through the area. Now run or workout today. Just an overall lazy day.
Thurs- A.M.- 4 miles faster than Tuesday's run.
P.M.- Full body workout
Fri- 3 miles after work
Sat- wanted to run 10 miles. Friday night when I told Kathy I was going running in the morning Glenn said he wanted to go running with me. I said ok knowing that he wouldn't remember it in the morning as usual. However, he woke up and I went in to get him and he said "Daddy, you still here. You didn't go running with out me?" I told him he could go with me so when it warmed up we loaded his runnign stroller and off we went. I only ran 4 miles pushing him and then we went to the play ground to slide and swing for a while. I knew the weather was going ot be horrible on Sunday to try to run but it was worth not getting the full run in- Glenn and I had a great time at the park.
Sunday- no run- rainy and 28-40 mph winds.

Mon- full body work out
Tues- 4 miles
Wed- no run
Thurs- a.m.- 4 miles
p.m.- full body work out
Fri- 3 miles
Sat- 4 miles
Sun- no run

Total- 15 miles

Post marathon week 2
Although the desire to run was there I decided I needed to take a week off. Overall I was feeling pretty good and probably could have run but I have no reason t push it to get the miles in right now and thought it would be good to take the week off to let a couple of small things heal up so they hopefully wouldn't turn in to big things when training cranks back up.
I stayed good on my promise to myself not to run but got stir crazy by Friday and went to the gym and did a lower body workout. I am hoping to strengthen my quads and hamstrings to see if that will help me.
Then Saturday I went to the pool for the first time in what, a year? Can't remember last time I went but am pretty sure it was over a year ago. I ended up doing a short 500 yard work out and called it quits. It actually felt pretty good to swim although I was a little sore on Sunday.

Mon-Thurs- nothing
Fri- lower body workout
Sat- swim - 500 yds
Sun- Enjoyed Easter with my family

Week 1 Post Marathon
Finished out the week with 2 pretty good runs.
Saturday was sunny and 78 degrees. The run felt really good until the last mile where I labored a bit but when I saw my splits I know why. I think I may have pushed it just a little too hard on the last mile.
Sunday after church I went for a nice 4 mile run. It was raining and 68 degrees. I am hoping the rain will help with the pollen a bit. As the rain continued I saw why so many people have been struggling this spring as there were little yellow rivers every where the water was running.

Recap:
Mon- nothing- just trying to walk upright
Tues- 20 minutes on exercise bike
Wed- 2 very slow miles
Thurs- nothing
Fri- 2 miles
Sat- 6 miles
Sun- 4 miles

Total- 14 miles