2012 Begins

Its safe to say that we have now reached the middle of winter.  After a couple of cold 5 degree weeks our very mild temperatures have returned and its time to start training for the Riverbank Run.  I took off 3 weeks from running in January partly because of the dangerously cold weather, and partly for a little pang of  pain in my right knee.  I was able to keep most of my post 2010 fitness level this winter running 25 -30 miles a week for the past 9 weeks.  Historically I have never been able to get very fit in the wintertime.  The idea of racing in May has always been more about seeing where I am at fitness wise than training hard and racing on race day.  I am hoping that this year will prove to be a new chapter in my running life.
2012 is the year of the marathon. 26.2 miles of ready or not here I come mileage.  Having a sub 3 hour marathon goal by 40 is a lofty goal but within reach if I steadily progress over the next 3 years.  I plan on running a sub 3 hour marathon on or before the 2014 Chicago Marathon.  There, I said it.  So, what do I do today?
This year is all about building the base.  Base is not all about high mileage and raw effort, base equals a more holistic approach to training that focuses my training around focusing on giving my body and mind exactly what it needs to reach my final goal.  Running 80 miles a week is not something a normal person does to their body.  But, there is nothing that says that it can't be done with a good strong diet of raw and whole foods, a ton of extra rest, yoga, and spiritual well being.  I believe that building a strong base can guide anyone into a training phase and transform them into a living breathing super human.

A Couple days of Rest

Felt a pang of knee pain last week and took off 6 days in a row. Longest I have taken off all year. Went on a nice 7 miler tonight to test things out.  I feel okay.  Iced, and will do some good stretching in the a.m.  Feeling okay is fine and dandy, but i will not run with any pain in the ole knees.  My one rule that I abide by always.  Still hanging in there this winter.  Not quite in training mode for the Riverbank run, just trying to stay semi fit and ready for the months to come.  Its going to be a long one. I plan on taking a week off before I start my next training cycle and just focus on core, stretching, and nutrition while letting my bones rest for a few days. I will have a good clean 12 weeks of base training complete going into February.  I earn these little breaks, but will not see another one until the middle of May.. So... Bring it!  

A New Year

I love the beginning of things.  I love the anticipation of penning a new goal and then slowly over a long period of time work towards achieving that goal.  In 2012 I plan on pushing myself past my comfort zone and resurrect my inner competitor by training longer, harder and faster than 99 percent of the country's other age group runners.  I am stuck on the idea that an average runner who trains like an elite athlete will realize amazing results.  This year I am going to put this theory to the test.  I am limiting my racing goals to two major races this year.  In May I am running the 53rd Riverbank 25k, and in October, the Chicago Marathon.  In between, I might jump into a few other races of varying distances as tune ups, but I am looking forward to focusing my training on peaking in May and in October.  I hope to use the Riverbank run as a qualifying race for a better starting coral in Chicago.  I would have to run a 1:53 25k in order to be able to line up behind the big boys in Chicago.  This might be a lofty goal for me this early in the season, but I like the challenge of trying to train outdoors all winter long and hit a PR in the spring.  So far, I am 9 weeks into my slow post marathon season endurance build up phase.  I am slowly and carefully building up my mileage as we move into winter.  I have a month or so left to this phase before I start to focus on more 25k specific training.  I love the gentile mileage build up with its focus on technique and form.  Slowly, my middle miles will be run at a faster pace, my shorter runs will be run at a pace that pushes my threshold ceiling, and my long, steady runs will be, well longer.  I plan on rewarding myself with new routes, no doubles until summer, and my secret weapon of taking 3 days off at a time after I hit a mileage goal.  I plan on coming out of spring a monster endurance machine and building a nasty beast from my winter base.  If all goes well, I would like to see myself creep up into the 75 mile per week zone sometime around the beginning of September.  I plan on coming out of winter with my 40 mile per week base firmly in place.  Yoga, nutrition, cycling, and rest will play a huge roll in being able to maintain this level of work.  I have it in me, I know this.  I want to take this to another level and see what happens.  All you have to do is try.