One Month Down

The first month of training for the marathon is history. Here are some basic stats:

12 runs
Miles run - 42.1 miles
Min/Mile pace - 12:00/mile
Avg. HR - 149.2 bpm

I am happy with how I am doing. I am feeling good, and can tell I am making progress. I have gone from 216 lbs to 212.5 lbs.. I am not too concerned about weight at this point. I just want to feel the running is going well, and it is.

I wish the weather would cooperate so I could run outside more, but I am appreciative of the running - period. True, as I get into longer miles, the treadmill would kill me...or I would kill it.

Now I look to see what races I might want to do leading up to the marathon in September. I know there are 5ks in the future. I do want to run the Soldier Field 10 Mile in May. I need to plan a half marathon. Sadly, I think that will be a summer race - ugh!

The only thing I don't like is limiting the running to 3 days a week. I am told that down the road I can do 4 days, but that is not in the near future.

For now...thumbs up on the training. Thanks to all who have been encouraging. I truly appreciate it.

Charlie

Tired and Sore, but Feeling Good!

Tonight I ran 4 miles in 48:00. I had been on my feet all day, and at the end of the run I felt good, but a bit sore. I made sure to stretch and take a colder shower for my muscles to recover.

As I was running, I was looking around at the gym, seeing who all was there. I have now gone to this gym for several years, so a good many of the people I have seen before. I think all the New Year's resolution people have given up already! I feel very comfortable at this gym, so seeing all the regulars makes me feel at home.

As for the run itself, I felt good. I did not tire until the last mile of the run. I think the standing on my feet all day finally got to me. I was a bit weary. I think that slowed me down a bit at the end. Still 4 miles is in the bank, and all is well.

Charlie

15 Miles....Way to Push The Pedals

Tonight was a bike ride at the gym. I was determined to ride 15 miles. Man that was a tall order. I did it, but dang was it tiring! I think a 15 mile run might have been easier. It took me 50:03 to get it done though, and I was pretty happy with the ride. I did not really tire until the last couple miles.

As usual, my biking "friend" was Rachel Ray. She made steak hash tonight. Looked yummy. A few less hot peppers would be in my recipe.

So how do I think I am doing? I think so far, so good. I want to add strength training to the routine, and maybe pilates. Bike riding though is a good stamina building aerobic training move.

Another good training day.

Charlie

4 Mile Run - Thoughts on My Shoes

Today I had some time to think as I ran my four miles, which is did in a great 47:39!

Quite often I am asked by customers what I wear. I usually tell them that what I wear works for me, and that it should not be a consideration in what they purchase. Still I get asked. So I will talk about my shoes at length for a bit.

I wear the Brooks Dyad. It is not a flashy or well known shoe. There are some at our other store that have a disdain for the shoe. Poor little Dyad.

I supinate like no one else I know. So I need a neutral shoe which is pretty solid in the heel. I used to alternate between the Dyad and the New Balance 1060 series. The New Balance 1063 was a horrible mess for me. They have made it a softer shoe, especially in the heel. Since I go so far over on my heel, I need that support. So now I am down to one shoe. God help me.

Around the store I do wear the Nike Air Moto or the Mizuno Rider. Both are decent shoes. Because of my width, the 2E in the Mizuno is not something I can run in, but it is ok to walk around at the store. I would like to give Adidas a shot sometime.

There are very few options for a runner like me. I hear from the reps comments like, "Oh I know you are a Dyad guy." I am, but that is because I have to be. Yes, I love my shoe, but I am willing to wear something else if it could only work for me.

For those curious....here is the Dyad! http://www.brooksrunning.com/prod.php?p=1100381D&k=123205

Charlie

Stories to Tell

Quite often the owner of our store talks about "the stories we tell with our running." He's on to something. Over the last couple years I have listened to people as they share their running stories with me. I have listened to the woman who came back from a horrible stroke, and all she wants to do is complete a marathon. I have wondered how the young man who told me he was running a marathon, but only trains 1 mile a day would have done(not too well I suspect). There are the people, like me who run to keep healthy. All they want is quality years to their lives, and they have found running does this for them.

There are the amazing stories in our sport which draw us in.....

Alberto Salazar vs. Dick Beardsley in the 1982 Boston Marathon.

Joan Benoit Samuelson winning the first women's Olympic Marathon.

Roger Bannister running the first sub-4:00 mile.

Ryan Hall qualifying for the 2008 Olympic Marathon, at the same time his friend Ryan Shay dies during the race.

Usain Bolt flashing across the track to be the world's fastest man.

You don't need to be a name to have a story to tell. Your story does not have to be a compelling heart tugging story. It can be simple. Your story is just as interesting as the next person's.

Let me throw this out. I think these stories need to be shared. Would people be interested in a book about this? If so, I keep thinking I would like to put that kind of book together. Thoughts?

Charlie

Not Running, and Still Running

I think it is safe to say I lead a running life, and have since 2004. For five years I have loved, not only running, but getting to know the running community. As you know, in addition to my running life, I have my other running life. I work with runners. I enjoy being around runners. I get to talk about running all day long. I also get to help runners achieve their goals, by getting them properly outfitted to run.

I think if I wasn't doing this I would bore my non-running friends to tears. For all I know, I do anyway.

So what do I love about being the running community? Overall I deal with some pretty happy folks. Very rarely do I encounter a grumpy runner. I love the spirit of camaraderie. We tend to celebrate our successes together, and cheer each other up when our goals have not been met. We encourage. What is there not to like about that?

Every now and then there is the runner who is obsessed with shaving a 1/2 a second of their best mile. I think of them as the Type A runners. Typically though runners work hard to better their times. We may obsess about it, but it is not all consuming. For the record I have met someone who is obsessed with shaving 1/2 a second off their best mile, and they get a bit um....how do I say it....NUTS about it.

I have been blessed to be a part of a wonderful running community, both online and in real life. I have met some wonderful people, and made some wonderful friends. All in all, I am so blessed to be part of such a wonderful community.

Charlie

End of Week 3 - 4 Miles

As I started my 4 mile run today, I was pretty pleased with myself. I am 3 weeks into the training, and feeling pretty goood. Am I where I want to be as far as strength and stamina? No. Considering I had not been running much prior to this, I think I am doing very well.



Today's gym run was at a decent pace was a 12:05/mile pace, so I was closing in on the 12:00/mile pace. Next week I kick it up a notch. I am still trying to find a way to pace myself, so I do not tire at the end of the run. The tiredness is happening later and later in the run, so that is a good thing.

I weighed myself. I tipped the scales at 214 lbs, which is up 1lb from where I was. Not too upset about it. I am getting better with the eating as I get more into the training.

So all in all a good week. Looking forward to next week - another 4 mile training week.

Charlie

Travel Channel and 4 Miles

So normally at the gym, I watch the Food Network, but today I discovered the Travel Channel. Looks like I have an option to Rachel Ray and Paula Deen. :-)

Today was a good, but tiring run. I ran the 4 miles in a 12:02/mile pace. I felt good for most of the run; however I noticed two things - around mile 2 my right hand felt a bit numb, and in the last mile I was getting tired. I found if I relaxed my right arm a bit the numbness went away. I think the tiredness is I am not used to the 4 mile run. My stamina will improve.

Overall I was happy with today's run. Tomorrow is a cross training day.

Charlie

Thoughts on a BIke

Tonight was my bike riding cross training night at the gym. It didn't feel very productive. I think my head was not into it tonight. All day I had kind a feeling like I just was not getting things right. So I took that feeling to the gym, and while I went through the motions, I just did not enjoy my workout.

I was thinking about work, life, the troubles my boyfriend has in life, my family, oh....the world. This is such a down time in our lives. By that I mean if we are not living in another depression, it sure feels depressing like we are.

So while I rode almost 6.5 miles, I felt like I was on a 1000 mile road to nowhere.

Yes...I realize this is a depressing post, and I apologize. The mood I am in is a downer tonight.

I think the other thing that bothered me was I really miss running every day, or close to every day. I feel very limited to the 3 days a week running. It feels like a restriction on me. I suppose it is in a way. I understand at some point I will be able to run at least one day more a week. Until then though this is a killer. I need to figure another method of workout.

Charlie

The First Four Miles

Today was the start of the four mile weeks. This week and next week I will be running 4 miles, 3 times, with a goal time of 12 min/mile. Today I did the 4 miles in 12:10/mile. This run felt really good. I had zero pain anywhere, and it was such a relief to run and not feel bad somewhere on my body.

I was at the gym...because I was a wimp at 15 degrees outside.

I found the heart rate interesting. I felt very good, and my max bpm was 148. My average was in the 140-144 bpm range. I felt good and could have pushed myself, but I wanted to get through this run without feeling tired, and I succeeded.

Today I listened to a very cool podcast called "Coffee Convo." This is a fun podcast about...coffee. It really kept me entertained during the run. Podcasts are a God-send to me. It makes me feel like I am running with someone.

So today I chalk up as a great running day. Got two more runs to do this week.

Charlie

Valentine's Run

Yesterday my achillies was acting up, so I postponed my run until today. Snow overnight meant I would head back to the gym. Today was the last 3 mile run before I go up in miles next week. My own goal was to run 3.1 or 5K.

I did just fine. No pain, and I felt great during the entire run. I finished in 36:43, which is not too shabby for me. My average bpm was 155, and my max was 160. I felt comfortable and loose the entire run.

So two weeks are done training wise. Next week I start the 4 mile runs every other day. So everything seems to be going well. I am going to email Scott and Dr. Natarajan and let them know how things are going.

Feeling good. Happy Valentine's Day.

Charlie

So a Guy Comes Up to Me.....

Sounds like the start of a joke, but it wasn't. I was at the gym running my 3 miles tonight(wind and rain kept me inside). Now I should tell you I go to a pretty darned gay gym. It is in the heart of "Boystown" in Chicago.

Anyway, I am running my 3 miles, watching Rachel Ray(my new best cooking friend). A guy comes up to me and starts talking. I take off my earphones to hear him. He says, "That looks good. I've been watching from behind." Did he mean me or the food? I smiled and nodded and said, "The steak looks good doesn't." He smiled, said yes....and the other things.

I would really like to think he was being flirty. Of course if Mark were there, he would have jumped over a few treadmills to get in front of this guy....or so I like to think. :-)

The run was a good one. I needed to pick up the pace today, and I managed to do it very well. I was pretty tired though the last .75 miles. Still I got these three miles in and am happy.

My bpm averaged at 155 for most of the run. The last mile it went up to 160. I wonder if that is because I am working harder, or know the end is coming up?

Charlie

Biking and Rachel Ray

Last night was a biking night at the gym. I find a good bike ride at a "furious" pace is a good cross train for me. Sadly....biking at the gym can be dull. But wait...who is that on the Food Network? Rachel Ray? Yes!

For the 30+ minutes it takes me to ride the 10 miles, I can learn how to cook a dinner. Ray is not a typical cook. In fact, I don't think she is a chef, just a woman who knows how to throw a meal together in 30 minutes. Now I have never tried to cook a meal like that in 30 minutes, but something tells me it takes a bit longer.

Still Rachel Ray is entertaining, funny, and gives me ideas for dinner. This is all good when you are on the second most boring machine at the gym - the treadmill still is winner on that one.

As for the bike ride...I went at a good clip - 10 miles in 32:42!

Charlie

I Ran Outside

The title of this entry has not been spoken in months. Whether it has been weather or health related, I have not run outside in a long time. That changed yesterday. I laced up the shoes and headed north to Evanston. I mapped out the 3 mile run, and off I went.

I got into a nice groove about a half mile into the run. I had the heart rate monitor on, so I was seeing how different it was from being inside to outside. I got to my max heart rate quicker I noticed.

It was a cloudy day, in the 40s, which is fine for running. The snow was mostly melted. Once snow melts you see how trashy we can be. I saw uncoverd trash all over the place. In the IPod = the new U2 song, among other rock hits. I wanted to rock out...and I did.

My time was 12 min/mile or 36:00. A comfortable heart rate for me was 154 bpm. During my walking breaks I was at 139 bpm. Overall I felt great. I felt like I was really into the run. My achillies was pretty good as well.

It was not only a good day....but a happy one.

Charlie

Week 1 - Done

Last night was my third run of the week. The goal was 3 miles at a 12 min/mile pace. I did it in 36:06, which is a 12:02 min/mile. It was a good run. My feet were sore sore from being at work all day, so I was stiff at the end of the run, but overall I was good. My heart rate maxed out at 155.

So this first week of training is done. Lessons? Time to work on some strength and flexibility. Next week I am going to look into a pilates class at the gym. I will accomplish a strength workout. The running goal is another 3 day 3 miles a day plan, this time though, the time is a bit faster. The goal is to be between 11:30 and 11:45 a mile. There is no speed training with this training plan, so maybe we call this an accelerated pace. It would also be a pace I would aspire for on marathon day.

Some folks have wished me well on this journey this week. I just wanted to let you know I appreciate all the well wishes.

Charlie

A Natural Feeling

It is an amazing feeling when your running feels like a natural part of you. If feel in tune with your body. Your breathing is good. You feel relaxed. That was my experience during my 3 mile run today. With temps hovering around 0, I was on the treadmill. I felt great.

My body felt like it is was like it's old self, before all the injuries. My breathing was calm, and not labored. My heart rate went up gradually. My first mile my average was 135 bpm. The second mile - 145 bpm. On the last mile I averaged 156 bpm. Nothing felt hard or difficult about this run.

Yesterday's cross training was a 10 mile bike ride at the gym. Felt good.

So in the early stages training is going well.

I ran into my former marathon coach...he has finally qualified for Boston, and will run it in 2010. Kudos to Scott!

Charlie

This Week's Plan

Yesterday I kicked off the first day of my 32-week training plan for the marathon. Here is what week one is supposed to be:

Run 1 - 3 miles 12 min/mile
Run 2 - 3 miles 12 min/mile
Run 3 - 3 miles 12 min/mile

In between those days I cross train and rest. Today is a cross train day. Have not decided what my cross training will consist of today. I know it will involve heading to the gym and working out for at least 45 minutes.

So how was I after yesterday's run? I felt good. As the day wore on I could tell my Achillies was a little sore. A 3 mile run, and then standing all day will do that. I was very happy to come home and climb into bed. This morning I feel fine. We'll see how I am after my workout this evening.

Charlie

The Road to Toronto Begins.....

Today was the start of my journey to the Toronto Waterfront Marathon on September 27. The first run was a 3 mile run. The goal was a 12 min/mile pace. Since I had not been running much, I was pleased to run in 36:42, which is a 12:14 min/mile pace. Not too bad. My average heart rate was 155 bpm. I think I am getting the hang on this heart rate monitor stuff.

This is a good first step on a very long journey. I was feeling a bit emotional as I finished the run, because this marathon means a lot to me. I have not trained for anything like this in a while. More importantly, I want to know that I can do this.

I am going to have some really good days. I am going to have some really crappy days. I hope you all will bear with me as I go on this journey. It means a lot to know I have support out there.

So here are the stats at the start of this training. While I would like to lose weight, I have in my head getting down to 200 lbs...or less. A couple weeks ago I was tipping the scales at 216.5 lbs. Today I weighed myself -213.5. Good way to kick this off.

My time goal is simple - 5:59:59. I REALLY want to finish with a sub 6 hour time. The training is designed to get me there.

My training is running 3 days a week, slowly building. Cross training is a must. On the non-runnning days. I will be cross-training. Rest is important too. At least in one day I won't run. In my next post, I will show again the training plan for the first 11 weeks.

So the goal is set...the training plan is set. Now all I have to do is DO IT! Wish me luck.


Charlie