Half Marathon coming up

[tommy]

Hello everyone. Here's an update on my running progess.

As Easter approaches, I'm reminded of new life at several levels. God has truly blessed me with the opportunity to live again and be active again. I thank Him every day for my new body, new outlook on life, and the support and love of my fellow valvers. I have appreciate your encouragement and kind thoughts and words. I think of you often as I run.

I'm still learning about nutrition, hydration and training techniques. Advice from you experienced runners has been a great help. Thank you.

My longest run was last Saturday - 22 miles!
Total is just shy of 400 miles since August.

My ankles and knees are getting pretty stiff on the longer runs. The stiffness starts later in each long run. By the end of a long run it is worse than at the end of the previous long run. I think (and hope) that the problem was my shoes breaking down - lack of support and stability. At 350+ miles, this is a likely diagnosis. With the help of my local running store, I have some new shoes that are designed to provide that support and stability.

My recovery time from long runs is very encouraging. The ankle and knee stiffness goes away in 1-2 days. Muscle stiffness is very slight and goes away in 2-3 days. That tells me that if the shoes solve the joint stiffness, that my muscles can take more. I'm excited about that. I'll know shortly.

I'm signed up to run a half marathon (13.1 miles) next weekend. It will be my first sanctioned "half". Much of the course is the same as a portion of the Dallas White Rock Marathon (except backwards - no, I won't run backwards). It wanders through some neighborhodds and loops around White Rock Lake. Should be pretty - and relatively flat. I would love to turn in a pace under 10 minutes/mile. I'll be happy at 10:30 pace. I will be thankful just to participate.

My goal is to work up to a 26 mile run before the summer heat gets too bad. I'm almost there. The experience of the training routine will help me prepare for the "Running the Rock" in December. During June/July I'll take some time off for healing, resting, and some family vacations.

My weight loss goals are on hold during this peak traning time. Still sitting at 40-45 lbs lost. It is pretty tough (and not wise) to reduce intake when the body needs fuel so badly for running. I've discovered the power of pasta before a long run.

Happy Easter everyone!

 

[M&M]

Happy Easter to you tooo

Happy Easter to you tooo

Tom, that is FANTASTIC - you are doing great. I've been running for years and I could not do a full marathon. That's a LONG WAY - I'm sure you know if you ran 22 miles the other day. WOW !!! I ran 35 road races last year of which 6 were half marathons. I overdid it !!! I'm on 'rest'. I tried a 5k a couple weeks ago and thought I was going to drop at the finish line. Rested for two more weeks and then last night went and did high impact aerobics with some friends. I felt GREAT - no problems. So, I'm kind of hopeing I can start to run in a couple of days..

You are doing so well. You should pat yourself on the back. I love running and I do it cause I love and for no other reason. But my aches and pains are such that I may have to alternate between running and biking !!! Maybe I'll try a duathalon !!! Please keep us posted on your runs. I love reading about your runs.. Its so much FUN.. and I look so forward to that ONE cookie at the finish line for every race.. Some places have great cookies. I always try to get back to those races..

Cookies Cheers
Runner - Marilyn and Dick

 

[BillCobit]

Go Tom!

Go Tom!

Tom, your progress is AMAZING! A 22 mile run is terrific; I envy your structural durability. Please be careful, though. Even the most durable distance runners I know have suffered overtraining injuries. They seem to come out of nowhere, but they're mostly the cumulative effect of high mileage w/o enough recovery. So please make sure you're learning about overtraining (i.e. OTHER PEOPLE'S MISTAKES) along the way. I'm not saying you ARE overtraining, but your post does spark that thought in my mind.

I'm kind of sensitized to this at the moment. My wife has 5 months to go to Ironman Wisconsin, and is nursing a stubborn hip flexor injury that keeps her from running or anything but the easiest biking. A friend of hers qualified for Boston Marathon last fall; then had to drop out because of a stress fracture she suffered in February.

It sounds like you could knock off the White Rock Marathon NOW if you needed to. Your goal is within easy reach, so plse train smart and safe.

And BTW...I am a HUGE fan of yours. I have similar goals, though I'm nowhere near your accomplishment (yet).

Take care of yourself, and please keep us posted.

 

[Mark Wagner]

Tom your doing awesome! I am curious what your recovery time after a long run is? Everyone's body is different, and I envy these people whom can go out and run marathons every two weeks. (Though in reality I have no desire to do so. Once or twice a year is enough for me!)
The lesson I would like to pass on if it may fit in your situation?? ... Once I get to the long runs, I run say 16, then scale back the next week and run 13.5, then 18 then 13.5, then 20, then 13.5. I find that gives my body time to heal. Their is a reason Tom, that most people only recommend 2 marathons per year. During that 16 to 20 week block to prepare, (after several months of 4 or 5 miles of an every other day base) your body takes a real pounding, and needs time to heal. Don't peek to soon. When your tired, that is when injuries happen. I still am bothered at times by the torn hamstring of over a year ago. Carbs, carbs, carbs, .... you got that right. Where your at right now Tom, you could run a marathon in 3 weeks if you scaled back. If you have done a 20 mile training run, and tapered back for 3 weeks correctly, the enthusiasm of the day and the crowds will get you to that 26.2 mile finish line! Scale back on a PLANNED program and recovery if your hurting. (Read that last line again KNUCKLEHEAD! ) It only takes one bad injury to stop you from reaching the starting line.
You are amazing in what you have accomplished in such a short period of time! Keep it up Tom. Sounds like visting the running store and seeking advice from the experts ... well your doing all the right things. Listen to what they say, but make it work for you and YOUR BODY. Keep us posted, and I am really looking forward to seeing a picture of the medal they place around your neck this Fall. Happy Easter.

Mark

 

[tommy]

Thanks for the encouragement and cautions.

Marilyn,
I hope that your time off starts paying off for you. My suggestion would be to be very patient and start back slowly as if you had never run before.

Bill,
Yes, I'm concerned about over training, In fact, Marilyn and I had this very conversation a couple of months ago. She alerted me to the issue. So far, I think that I'm okay. My biggest problem is the stiffness that I get toward the end of my longest runs. I'm convinced by my recovery time that no damage has been done. But this must be corrected.

Mark,
I have been alternating pretty much as you describe. In fact, I'll go 3 weeks between 22 and 24 and then taper 4 weeks to 26. Because of the stiffness, I won't jump from 22 to 26 (expecially being a rookie).

Regarding the ankle and knee stiffness......
I ran 3 miles in new shoes Wednesday with zero problem (not a great test). 5 miles tomorrow. 9 miles Mon/Tue. 3 miles Thur. 13 miles Saturday. I found a half marathon for next Saturday that fits nicely with my scheduled mileage program. By then I should have a good idea if the new shoes have solved the problem. If so, it will be a joy to boost the mileage to marathon distance this spring. If the stiffness persists, I'll have to back off and rest for a while, something I intend to do during the summer anyway, just would like to get the 26 before I rest.

I don't have a sanctioned marathon nearby (I'll just miss Oklahoma City......darn), so I'll run the neighborhood, and will recruit some neighbors to cheer me at the finish line. Power bars and Gatorade are on me.

 

[Les]

Tom,
Great...simply great!

 

[MarkU]

26 miles. You guys amaze me. I did four miles on Friday and felt like I had done a marathon.

 

[Mark Wagner]

Your doing awesome Tom! Your truly an inspiration and well on your way to that medal. I think the journey and struggle to get it, makes the outcome all the more rewarding.

My final long run is over, and it is now taper time! Less than 3 weeks to go. I am so pumped up Tom. My goal is to run it in 4:15 to 4:30. God willing, I think I have a good shot at it.

Just think Les, you were the first ... and after having to go through surgery twice. I am truly amazed and in awe of your accomplishment.

Mark

 

[tommy]

My final long run is over

Wow those are sweet words. I hope that you reach your time. Looks like you want to repeat your 10 minute pace for the whole enchilada. Heck, I ran 4:30 10 days ago (22 miles not 26.2 ) While I'm in the process of proving out the distance and just hoping to finish a race, you are honing your craft. Outstanding!

I was out of town visiting relatives for Easter. The last time we visited there (Thanksgiving), I attempted a challenging 5 mile run and ran out of gas - had to walk up the final hill. This time I conquered the son of a gun in my fastest 5 mile time ever - under 9 minute pace. Joints were good - not perfect.

MarkU, I can remember when running 100 yards caused me to gasp and take a nap. Slow increments is the key.

Les, if it weren't for your pioneering spirit, I may never have attempted any of this. Look what you started!