not giving up on the comeback

felt good day - a little discomfort in the left foot but it seems like it will hold up.  managed two runs today in between meetings and kids and such.  I think maybe spring might be starting to arive...I hope so. 

4.5 @ 7:06 pace

4.2 @ 6:50 pace

Got more snow today -- argh!  At least I was able to run in it - the sidewalks were just wet.  I misread my calendar and when I figured it out, i had only had an hour today, including dressing time, so I had to take off a few tenths of my run today.  Otherwise it was fine.  My foot is still a little wonky but it will be fine. 

Against my better judgement I signed up for a 5K that is next Saturday.  But it is a local one for the schools, so I thought I could try to get my butt moving faster than it has in a while and see how slow I am...plus the kids are running the 1 mile so I thought I might as well. 

7.4 - 7:05 ave pace

felt good today despite the windy and cold conditions.  I really hate running in the wind. 

4.6 @ 6:54 ave

4.1 @ 6:45 ave

bad run - felt no energy
hate the wind
very pretty day other than the wind

6@8:07 pace

getting way much sleep the past three night -- not sure why I'm getting sleepy at 8:30, but I guess I need it.  Must be fighting something off.

Today at lunch - 4 miles s@ 6:54 ave pace

the wind is a little less today and the temps are a little higher, which is nice

will try another 4+ before the pinewood derby tonight

Tomorrow is my last long run (24 planned) before the marathon on the 21st.  I'm not really looking forward to it but I'll do it.  Hopefully the winds are light and the sun is out in the morning. 

another 4.1 after work - slow pace

Well I just finished my last long run before the marathon later this month.  The plan was to do 24 but I didn't plan my route, just added a little loop onto the beginning.  It wasn't as long as I thought and I only did 23.  Either way it was a really nice day for running -- barely any wind, sunny, and warming up to 50.
I listened to Dean K's book Ultramarathon Man.  I  hadn't read that in a while and it helped keep me going at the end
I don't think I drank much more today compared to last week but I definitely felt a lot better after today's run.  

Off to do some yardwork and enjoy the weather!   :)

23 @ 7:23 ave pace

Boy the weather was awesome today - 69 degrees, sunny, and light wind.  I felt ok - a little pain in the foot but it'll be ok.  I guess it is expected after these 20+ long runs.

afternoon - 4.2 @7:24 ave pace

evening - 4.2 @7:44 ave pace

really nice weather today - got out before lunch and meetings.  Had a really nice and easy run. 

8 @ 7:27 ave pace

had a nice run in the rain after work - mid 50's a no wind (luckily)

6 @ 7:14 ave pace

felt ok - had a little episode at the end -- not enough liquid prior to the run I guess

8 miles 7:30 ave pace

This morning was a little test 5K, the local school fundraising fun mile and 5K.  The kids ran the mile, they were training after school on Wednesdays for the last few weeks.  So I figure that I'd join the fun. 

I felt pretty good despite not remembering what speed felt like.  There weren't too many fast starters, so I only had a few people to focus on for passing.  I moved into 2nd by 1.5 miles and tried to maintain from there.  I didn't feel like I had mush more to give today, but I guess I'm happy since I haven't worked on any speed over the winter.  It was kind of boring running alone for the last 1/2 of the race.  It was nice to be 2nd, but hard to watch Kristian put the time between me and him, especially in the last mile.  I really wasn't sure how to race anymore.  Next time I'll know better.  The course was pretty hilly and was a bit long so I ended up with just under 6 min per mile.  I guess that isn't bad with the first mile at 5:53 or something.  Not too bad of a fade. 

More importantly, the kids did awesome on their mile race.  Q came in under 15 min and S came in under 10 - about a minute under last year.  I missed S finish but I got to run the last .2 with Q, which was cool.  

My legs were a little heavy today - not sure if it is from the 5K or from the extra day off.

6 @ 7:16 ave pace

felt ok today - legs are a little better.  I hope they come around by Sunday

felt good wandered around town a bit - 

so nice it isn't dark until 8 or so now.  and it was almost 60 when I started  = I love it

5.15 @ 7:08 ave pace

got to go on the Georgia Dome playing field to get my race number for the marathon.  It is where the Atlanta Falcons play.  It was pretty cool...or maybe I just don't get out much  :)

Well the short version is that I came down with some weird stomach flu or bug thing on Friday night and I'm still not over it here on Monday night.  So I didn't feel good going into the race and it pretty well went down hill from there.  I had a few miles where I felt good, but for the most part I felt bad.  If it was a normal 4 mile day I would have skipped it.  So I took my humble medicine and came in with a 3:42 finish time. 

On a good note, my legs are feeling good today.  It is the benefit of not being able to run hard. 

Longer Version

 The weather was actually almost perfect - mid 40's up to the low 50's, reasonable winds, an a chance of rain.  I didn't feel good with this stomach thing but I decided to press forward with an attempt at a 3 hour race, why not?  I was in the B corral so I didn't have to weave around people much at all in the first miles.  I was actually right on pace for the first 4 miles.  Unfortunately, things went south from there.  Everything I ate or drank upset my stomach more and more.  I really started thinking of stopping, and when I saw my wife and kids at mile 12 I was really tempted to do so since they were just a block from our house.  But I just took a minute with them and told my wife that the race might take a while and that I wanted to take the pain and get the finishing medal that I had paid for.   

So I tried to maintain a reasonable pace as best I could.  Often I just had to stop by the side and let my stomach calm down for a few seconds.  It was frustrating watching so many people pass me so early in the race as I paused.  All in all, I was at least able to maintain a reasonable pace when I was running.  I passed the half at 1:39, I think.  From there, it was just a matter of hitting the hills as well as possible and counting down the miles.  I felt good through some of the hardest part and bad through some of the easiest parts.  I lost a couple minutes in the last half due to some walking, but not as much as I would have thought. Mentally I just wanted to finished, which I did. 

Aftewards I got my track suit on and tried to warm up in the CNN Center food court, but I just couldn't.  I just sat there for an hour shivering, trying to take in some water to rehydrate.  I was planning on taking the train home, but I really didn't want to passout or puke in the train.  So I finally had to ask a security guy to call my wife to come and get me.  They were very nice and watched me while she got through traffic and got me. 

It was a long morning. But I finally got home and took some aspirin.  The one I took before the race ran out and I was running a little hot.   

All in all, the day was a very humbling and a little embarrassing.  I am very disappointed that I wasn't able to attack this tough course and give it my all to see what time I could do.  I guess I can take away from the day that it made me appreciate how it feels to run when I feel good. 

After an hour's rest in bed I got my butt up and out the door for my daughter's birthday bowling party.  We had a great time and that made the day all better. 

If you read this poorly written race report, you deserve some award.  :)

no running - but I did take a nap

hittin' the road again and felt pretty dang good

6.6 @ 7:24 ave pace

Felt good yesterday but just did a few miles. 

4.7 @ 7:11 ave pace

felt good but I'm not a huge fan of the mid 50's and 15 mph winds

6.4 @ 7:12 ave pace

Volunteered as a course monitor at the ATC Women's 5K.  It must have been 1000 ladies there today.  They had some speedy ladies as well.  At least one of them was an Olympic trails marathoner in Boston a couple years back.  It was a tight race up through my spot at 2.5 miles and a group of 3 or 4 came in right at 17 min. 

Now I need to get my butt out for a few more miles today to cap the week.  Auntie has the kids so that shouldn't be too hard for once. 

Afternoon -- I got out for a nice 9.2 miles before getting the kids from Auntie.  It was still dang windy... This one gassed me.  It seemed like everything was uphill on this route.  I need get my speed work started and get into shape! 

9.2 @ 7:02 ave pace

felt fine- just wanted to go out for a short run today.  nice weather but windy still.  I guess I'm getting used to that though

4.4 @ 7:01 ave pace

felt pretty good today.  I'm tired of the wind and the long sleeve weather, but otherwise thigns went well.  I did two short runs today, in between work and kids.  

4 @ 7:16 ave pace

4 @ 6:41 ave pace

I had a really good run.  The temps are in the 60s, the wind wasn't too annoying, and I felt strong at the end. 

8 @ 7:04 ave pace

I need 10 miles tomorrow to hit 200 for the month...will I get them in? not sure.. but I really should

well that didn't quite work out - a forced day off.  No time without a kid.  Sick girl and cubscouts won out today and my wife is still out at the mall, so I can't take off.  I'll have to get in two runs tomorrow...