Rehab

I have switched up my plans for the early winter to allow myself to rehab my leg. When something breaks you have to fix the problem, and focus your efforts on making sure the issue does not appear again. I have cut my mileage down to 30 miles per week. To avoid major stress I have cut out my weekly long run and speed work. 30 miles is just enough to keep me in shape. Not moving forward at all but not stepping backwards either. As long as I keep myself in some sort of shape, I can turn up the speed and add more mileage as I am able. I have added 2 strength and flexibility days to my schedule and am focusing on building a stronger core so that I can avoid future injury. As of now, I am a holding pattern.

To Marathon or Not To Marathon

A month after Chicago I am setting up my first physical therapy appointment in 25 years. In the last few weeks of my training, I did some damage to my left leg. My fall and trampling only made matters worse. Last night I went for an 8 mile run at an easy 8:30 pace and found no issues with my leg until the final 1.5 miles where I ran at my normal training pace of 6:55. Almost instantly my leg began to seize up on me. Normally my injuries require rest and stretching. After 2 weeks of no running and 2 weeks of easy jogging my condition is still the same. My first appointment is on the 16th, and who knows how long it will take to correct this. I hope I can correct this before December so I can get some good mileage in before the snow comes. My spring marathon plans might have to be scratched if I do not get in a good base before January. We shall see..

Chicago Marathon (How Not To Marathon)

Run a perfect 15 miles... Get tripped... Fall.. and walk the rest. That is the whole story.

Day One Return to Base

Nice easy 11 miles at a nice pace. My hamstring issue is still there, but I am going to see if I can work it out with a fair amount of easy mileage. I am starting 10 weeks of base building the old Lydiard style. Going to build up to 75-80 miles if the weather and my body cooperates. After the base phase I will decide what Spring event I am going to sign up for and as I enter phase 2 adjust my training to fit that goal. Pretty much not much to talk about here for the next 10 weeks baring injury and or bad weather.

Recovery

Recovery after a marathon can be difficult. I have a 21 day recovery plan that I am going to take full advantage of. After this long, hot, past year nothing feels better than just stretching and being on the bike for a little bit. I took the first 5 days off completely, and started my active recovery on my bicycle on day 6. Yoga, foam roller, biking 1 hour at a sub 110 hr just to get the blood moving. Took yesterday off (trying to beat this cold), will bike for 1/2 hour, roll, stretch and take a short easy 2 mile jog this evening. Week two will introduce a little jogging back into my life 3 times a week.. Pretty easy, and when I feel that my body is fully recovered I am going to start my base training for my spring event. Moving into Fall and Winter makes me nervous. The Midwest can be cold and dark for many months. I am going to take full advantage of any and all days between now and January to rack up a new base. I feel that I can (in the cold and dark) hit 75 miles a couple times before I move into the hill/strength/speed and MP phase of my winter training. I feel that I am 90% recovered from my last couple months of training and my accident that happened at Chicago. I am going to start running again while in NY next weekend, but not start any real training until the 3rd of November.

Chicago

I have finished packing for Chicago. After I pick up my son from school we are hitting the highway for a quick ride to the other side of lake Michigan for my first Chicago marathon and the final event of my 2012 running season. It has been a wonderful year filled with many early mornings, hours of countless miles, track workouts, blisteringly hot temperatures, humidity, snow, ice, a close call with a head injury, and a strong desire to transform myself into a marathoner. Marathon training will change you. Being a runner changes who you are, being a marathoner changes what you are. After a year of almost 3000 miles on the roads in preparation for one 26.2 mile race, I am more than I was last October. I have shed a skin or two, and am a beast warrior who has no fear of the final battle of 2012. I know I sound cheesy making it sound like there has been a war going on for the last 52 weeks or so, but I have battled many demons on the road to Chicago, and I am proud to say I have won. On Sunday I will take the first step towards my goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon as a masters runner. I knew going into this year that qualifying for Boston would be a long term goal hashed out over a couple of well thought out and executed training cycles. I turn 40 1 year and 7 days from the 2012 Chicago Marathon. This 7 day extra window enables me to squeeze in one more Chicago marathon in 2013 as a 39 year old and hit my goal in 2014. I feel that by the fall of my 40th year I will have given myself enough time to get myself into the best shape of my life and truly be competitive again. I love to take the long, slow and difficult path in life. Sunday, I will lay down my first time trial and re adjust my goals from there. Victory is sweet when you are stronger than your demons think you are. As for a prediction. I am if all things go as planned and my body holds itself together for one more run planning on a 3:18 finish time. This would put me in the top 2000 or so and make me very happy. To be honest anything under 3:20 will make me happy. Endurance is something that is built up over time. Time is something I have to give. One of the reasons I love this sport so much is that you get out of it what you put into it. I am ready to give it my all.

Just Go For It

I am injured but will not give up. 26.2 miles to go until I can successfully end this season. Come on body.. One more run, one more please.