Good luck and have fun

Hi, just want to wish everyone running the SF marathon good luck. I need to make this short since I need some sleep. Not expecting my best time, but hoping to enjoy it.

No confidence heading into the SF marathon

The SF marathon is this Sunday!!!

I have to be honest and state that I have no confidence heading into it.  I ended up getting sick on July 4th and did no run for a week because I had a very bad cold/flu.  That was suppose to be my last significant training week (55 miles) before taper.  The week of the 11th, I put in 50 miles because I missed a week of running.  However, the miles were hard.  I was still recovering from the flu/cold.  It was tough to run. I ran slower than normal and it was a struggle.  On Sunday, July 17th, I put in my last long run at Lake Tahoe.  I went up there for a weekend getaway.  I ran some hills and the run was just tough.  I struggled.  Here is a short video I took well running (note - I'm not very good at this).

After the long run, when I got back home, I did a speed workout and then started taper (a two week taper).  I have ran a few times (taking it slower), including an 8 mile run this Sunday.  I just don't feel the same as I did before I got sick.  I ran my 8 mile run on Sunday with good speed, but I just felt more tired than normal (especially for only 8 miles).

I'm going to go out and just try to enjoy the marathon.  I've never ran in SF before so it should be quite the experience.  Overall though I'm quite disappointed and not really looking forward to it because of how I'm feeling.  I was doing so great with my training and now just don't feel great.  Oh well what can I do.

On the positive side - I've really enjoyed training as a pacer with the SF marathon group.  I've got to run with some of my old running friends and made new running friends.  It is also a wonderful experience to see people train for their first marathon.  No matter how disappointed I am for me - I'm really excited to see my running friends complete the SF marathon.

Taken down by the Cold

Well, the Cold got the best of me.  :(

Last week was suppose to be my peak week with 55 total miles including a 22 mile long run.

However, as I stated in my last post, I came down with a cold right before a business trip.  Each minute it felt like I was getting worst and I had no time to rest and get better.  So to be somewhat alert in the meetings I used medication to fight the cold and rested as much as possible.  Which meant no runs during my travel.  The way I felt I don't think I could have ran if I wanted to.  I returned Thursday night and my body was beat.  I was basically home in bed on Friday and Sat.  Thus, 5 full days with no runs.  I started slowly recovering on Sat and did even set my alarm clock for the early wake up ring for the 22 mile Sunday long run.  But, after my night medication wore off, I woke up in the middle of the night and realized (based on my sore throat, congested nose and headache) that I would not be able to make the long run on Sunday.  I turned off my alarm and tried to sleep in to get better for the long haul.

I did go out Los Gatos Creek Trial where the group was running.  I felt bad for missing the run . . . I was really looking forward to it.  I was feeling a little better and thought I could try to run with people on there last miles back.  I also missed running.  I needed to get a run in.  I ran 1.5 miles to an aid station and quickly realized that I made the right decision.  I was ready for a long break after that 1.5 mile run.  There was no way I could make 22 miles.  It is amazing what a good cold/flu can do to you.

Long story short, I got in about 4 1/2 miles (spread over a few long breaks) and was able to run a little bit with my group.  My confidence is completely shot for the SF marathon.  But, I'm just going to try to enjoy the race.. . more on that below. 

The worst thing about getting sick was not messing up my peak week of training.  The worst part was that my daughter caught what I got.  That means a 103 fever for her and a few horrible days for her.  I felt horrible.  My heart still breaks thinking of her being sick.  I would take a month worth of being sick if it meant not having my daughter get sick.  I tried to be very careful with her, but I'm sure by the time I realized I was sick, I had passed on the illness to her.  She was sick immediately upon me leaving for my business trip.

She seems to be doing better now and I'm on the road to recovery.  I got in a good 5 miles Monday night.  I can still feel very congested, but I got the miles in.  I'm hoping to build my base back up this week so that I can have a decent long run on the weekend.

On another note - I flew to So. Cal. to see my grandmother today.  She is 91 years old and is not doing well.  I knew she was in poor health, but due to my cold I did not feel it was safe to see her on the weekend.  After talking to my sister Sunday night, I decided to take a flight to LA for the day and see her since no one is sure how long she has and did not want to wait too long.  My grandmother is really the only grandmother than I've known (my mom's mom).  She has always been a big part of my life.  Right now, she can barely move - she cannot get out of bed.

So instead of worrying so much about . . . time . .. for a marathon, I need to be thankful for just being able to get out there and run.  For the joy of it.  I've never ran the SF marathon before and I need to just cherish the opportunity.  One day, there might be be a time when I'm 91 years old and can't get out of bed.  Sure, I want to do well and meet whatever goals I place on my self with the marathon running.  But, really I need to make sure that I enjoy the experience and make the marathon meaningful regardless of the time that I cross the finish line.  So many people can't get out there (maybe as a result of age, disability or desire, etc) and run a marathon.

Here is a recent video of my healthy daughter riding a pony:

You have got to be kidding me?

My SF marathon training has been going well. I have had three weeks at 50 plus miles and 1 week at 40 miles in the last four weeks.  This week was my planned top week . . . 55 miles.  Then, taper.

The 19 mile run itself went well. It was very hot. Nearly 90 when we finished. As I stated too many times, I hate running in the heat. I was struggling at times, but watched my water better so I felt okay overall. I was trying to end strong, but one of the runners with us had dropped off. So far off that I could not see him. So with about two miles left in the run, I stopped and waited for him. I then ran back with him. With it being so hot, I did not want someone to be left by themselves if they were struggling. So I did not end the last two miles as fast as I would have liked to, but I had a good fast 7 mile hill run on Monday to make up for it.


On Monday, I decided to run out to the farm (where we keep our horse and pony) and back.  It is a good 800 to 1K feet climb uphill for 3.5 miles.  After the run, we then went swimming with cousins and had a BBQ.

I could tell that I was not feeling 100% and then as we got home at night I felt worse.  I tried to go to sleep, but kept waking up with a sore throat.  So somehow I now have a cold.  :(  I went to work on Tuesday but felt horrible so I went home early.  I have to cancel my Tuesday night run in hopes that a little rest will help.  Unfortunately, I have to wake up at 5am to fly out to DC for work on Wed. morning.  Before this cold, I planned to run Wed and Thursday in DC, but now I just want to somehow make it through this business trip and likely need to not run to rest (but I'm taking my running clothes).

Very disappointing, but I suppose it is better than getting sick on race day.

Also, Rachel from Eat, Write and Run has some pictures from our 19 mile run. I just found out recently that she has a blog.  It is a great blog and very exciting to know that I run with someone else that blogs.  Here is one picture she took after our run:

She has more on her blog.