So Is This A Running Blog or What?
It’s true that this blog has been little more than a mirror of my Instagram feed and a place for my Bible class notes for the past 6-months or more. Honestly, my running has been fairly aimless since returning from my many injuries in the fall of last year, and there hasn’t been a lot to write about. I have been making goals each month, but very inconsistent in hitting them. My running base and overall speed is improving, but I need a LOT more structure to have any shot of getting back to where I was in the spring of 2012 when I set my current marathon PR of 3:12:28 at Rock n’ Roll New Orleans.
I also have to find a way to be more disciplined in cross training. To this point in 2014, I’m averaging just over 100 miles per month with absolutely NO cross-training. This is a sure-fire recipe for getting injured again. To get back to where I want to be will require 150 to 200 miles per month, and there is no way to do this without dedication to cross training.
So, starting this week I’m trying to get more serious about making a return to marathoning this fall. This will include putting together a detailed training schedule (trying to decide whether or not to hire a coach for this), and also schedule for upper and lower-body cross training activities.
Also today I put my name in the hat for the St. George Marathon lottery. This is a bucket-list marathon, and would be a GREAT place to mark not only my return to marathoning, but also my 40th birthday. I was hoping to get a group together for the race but didn’t end up having any takers, so if I get in it will be a solo effort. This seems appropriate since running is such an individual sport. It will also provide an opportunity for a little mini vacation with Olivia.
However, I know that the odds are against being selected in the lottery, so I need to pick our a backup plan. Trying to find a marathon that would be a great destination for celebrating my 40th, but is also a fast and scenic course. Any suggestions for the fall?
Today’s Run
I went out to the Harpeth River Greenway after work with Olivia and the Girls. Both Sara and Kate are completing miles toward the ING Kids Rock Marathon this Sunday (Sara’s first kid’s marathon), and still have a little ways to go. I started off walking with the girls before moving into a progression tempo run over six miles. Here were my splits:
My BQ time for a fall marathon will be 3:15:00 (7:26 pace), so it was nice to get in the last two miles under this pace. I felt really good throughout, and it was good to criss-cross the girls several times during the run. After the 6th mile, I ran an easy half-mile cool down with Kate as she was finishing her 4th mile, and then walked another quarter mile with Olivia, Kate & Sara. All-in-all it was a good afternoon run.
Cross Training
Tonight I knocked out a half set of P90X Chest and Back. I’m still feeling the affects of Brachial Neuritis in my left shoulder when attempting push-ups, but still got in a fair number of reps. I feel quite confident I’m going to be VERY sore tomorrow.
Looking Ahead
A week from Saturday I’m planning to run the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon in Indianapolis. I had a deferred entry from missing last year, so I finally decided to give it a go. This will be my 5th Mini. Hoping to improve upon my 1:41 from the Tom King Half Marathon back in early March. I didn’t have a qualifying half-maration time from the previous year, so it will be strange not being in a seeded corral near the front.
Beast Mode….ON!