Last Hard Training Week Before 1st Marathon

It all comes down to this week. Have I trained hard enough to reach my goals? Will I ever share my goals with my large reading audience? Will I poop myself at mile 9? Will I at least run faster than Oprah did in her marathon (4hrs. 29 minutes)? Why couldn't GU come up with a better sounding name than GU? Does the outfit I picked out to run in match my new shoes? Will anyone notice how good my ass looks in these shorts? You see I'm full of questions.

Last Friday I bought the new Pearl Izumi Float 3's. What the "F" are Pearl Izumi, you asked!!! They happen to be running shoes. And not just any running shoes my friend, they are the only shoes that are endorsed by yours truly. The are also the shoes I'll be wearing for my first ever marathon. Pearl Izumi if you happen to be reading this, I love your products and will happily mention your products on this blog for some type of shoe deal. Look Pearl Izumi, it would benefit all of us for you to consider supplying me with free shoes. I mean just think of the thousands of readers that have already seen the praise I'm giving you on this blog. PEARL IZUMI, I'm waiting. Anywho...

Did I mention that my first ever marathon is 17 days away and I already have my outfit picked out for it. Seriously, how gay am I? Who cares what you think!!! The shoes will be the aforementioned Pearl Izumi FLoat 3's, Balega socks, Brooks running shorts, and Pearl Izumi running shirt to finish off the ensemble. Oh, How could I forget, I'll probably wear my Margaritaville hat also. I know, I know, I'm Going To Look FAAABULOUS!!!

Wifey and I are headed with some friends to Vegas on Friday for Superbowl weekend, so I'll be doing my last 20 mile run on the strip probably while the rest of my peeps are hung over and in bed. Nice!!! I am actually looking forward to running somewhere different. Hopefully this cold I just picked up on Monday will be a memory by this weekend. I probably have a better chance of hitting the Jackpot while I'm in Vegas though. Peace Out!!!

P.S.--- Pearl Izumi, I really do love you!!!

Mon.: Interval Training, 1 mile warm up, 3x2mile @ 7:55 pace, 1 mile cool down , 8miles total.

Virtual (D.O.A.), Will Be Calling Me Soon!!!

If you look to left of this entry you'll see that I have created a box to keep track of my monthly mileage by distances. I am ingeniously calling it, "Virtual (D.O.A.)"!!! This virtual little runner left from the house on New Years day and is approximately 121 miles from Sarasota and headed north. I provided him with a cell phone with specific instructions only to call the last day of each month with his location. Hopefully that little bastard won't use the phone for any other reasons. I tried to explain the state of the economy, but I think the conversation went over his head. I have already heard rumours that he has over 200 hundred friends on Face Book. Any who...

I'm hoping maybe in a few months that my virtual and real self will cross paths at some race event along both of our travelings. Talk about bizarro world!!! When first meeting my virtual self will I like what I see? Will I understand his warped sense of sarcasm? Will he act quiet and standoffish until he really gets to know me? And, most importantly, how will his ass look in his running apparel? Hopefully these questions and many more will be answered in the upcoming months.

Until then.... Peace Out!!!

Tue: 5.43 miles/ Easy Pace

Wed: 4 miles/ Easy Pace

Bagel Bewilderment!!!

If you keep up with this blog, you probably were aware that my loving, caring and selfless wife was going to accompany me on my long run this weekend on her bike to carry my hydration. You see, I planned on using my first ever 20 mile run as a practice for the actual race in three weeks. Since the race will have water and Gatorade approximately every two miles I figured my wife could just hand me the beverage of choice along the run at about the same distances. To further ease the burden of handing me the liquids every 17 to 18 minutes, I also tried to tell my super duper helper where these 2 mile spots along the run would be by giving her landmarks. All seemed to be going to plan, however about an hour and fifteen minutes into the run "The cream cheese hit the fan"!!!

You see my water girl was starting to get a rumble in her tummy. We were about 8.5 miles into the run and close to Morton's Market, which so I've heard have the most Delicious bagels. I told my wife that she should stop and eat. I mean don't mind me I only have 11.5 miles left to run and besides these GU packets are very filling. Besides I won't need another drink until mile 10. I figured that would give my wife 15 minutes or so to eat a bagel and feel like she was getting something out of the trip.

I made it to mile 10 and there was no sign of my wife, but I was still feeling strong so I didn't panic about missing my scheduled Gatorade. Mile 11 came, still no wife, I am now heading over the ever tall Ringling Bridge, admittedly a little nervous but forging ahead. Mile 12, which is my next scheduled water and GU, insert cricket chirping here, that's right "NO WIFE"!!! I Mean How Big Is This Friggen Bagel??? At mile 13 I decided to turn around, maybe my wife had problems with the bike, or is in some kind of trouble. I mean she knows the marathon course like the back of hand right??? NOT!!! Where would I get that idea? Just because I have had the actual course of the marathon taped to my bathroom mirror for the past six months doesn't mean that any body has looked at it. I mean besides myself.

Mile 14, I stop running in fear that without hydration I will begin to cramp, even though to this point I was feeling really strong and actually getting faster each mile. I walked back over the bridge and there she is, my princess sitting on the sidewalk, I'm assuming trying to digest the two pound bagel she must of ate. In all fairness she was upset that she lost me, and really who hasn't lost someone on foot while riding a bike that goes probably 3 or 4 times faster speed wise? I quickly gulped down some water and Gatorade and we finished the last 6 miles. Somehow my wife was able to keep me in sight for the last few miles and I've never been more proud. Peace Out!!!

My first 20 mile training run, Yippeee!!!

I know this sounds dumb, but I actually look forward to my weekend long runs. Besides my children and "yes" even my wife, it's the next best thing going for me at this point in my life. Pretty sad huh! besides I only have until June to get down to a size two dress for my high school reunion. My girlfriends will be so jealous. Anywho, tomorrow I have a tempo run at 8 minute/mile pace for nine miles. Followed by a recovery run on Friday for 40 minutes. Then on Sunday I will tackle the 20 miler. I would like to run this one a little faster than my usual long run pace to prepare me for the marathon in a few weeks. I also would like to run the distance on the actual course for the marathon to make sure I haven't forgot it over the last year and a half.

I had the family bike's brought from our office to home so I could try to coax, (read: bribe) my wife into riding beside me during my run so she could carry all my gear like a pack mule. That way I could run without the burden of carrying my water, Gatorade, GU packets and cell phone. This will save me from lugging the additional 6 pounds that I have grown accustomed to having for each long run. Besides, I'm sure my wife will offer as much support as the crowds do on race day, as she rides besides me waiting for my orders. I probably have a better chance of having her accept me as one of her friends on Fake Book. The only other obstacle I have for my long run plan, is what to do with the children's??? Hopefully I can talk my parents into coming over. Maybe if I buy some lotto tickets and leave them spread out all over the house along with the newspaper the parental units may zip right over. I know that last line about the lotto tickets and newspaper doesn't make any sense, but I find it funny. You see my dad has a slight gambling problem and my mom is a wee bit negative, I'll let you put the pieces together.

Did I mention I love my kids and ummmm, oh yeah I almost forgot, Running!!! PEACE OUT!!!

My First PR of the Year!!!

I don't think it actually counts since it didn't take place at an actual race. You think that matters to me??? Hell To The Nah Sis ta!!! On Thursday my training run was scheduled as an 8 mile run at 8 minute per mile pace. Lets just say I made those 8 miles my bitch. Back about 2 and half months ago my wife and I participated in a 8 mile run at Disney World. There were two great feats accomplished that night. I only wish mine was the most memorable of the two, but it wasn't. The most memorable moment of the night had to be my wife's first ever finish line crossing. She finally made it to the starting line, and nobody, and I mean nobody, crosses a finish line quite like that women. The other feat was that I beat my previous PR for this event by 17 minutes. My new PR was 1 hour 7 minutes. If you don't believe me check the side bar on this here blog. I mean who would lie about a PR? Not this guy! For those of you that are mathematically challenged the run I did on Thursday was 1 hour 4 minutes, which is 3 minutes faster.

By the way PR does not stand for Public Relations, Puerto Rico, or even Pubic Region for that matter. At least not on this blog. It stands for Personal Record. Just thought that might need clearing up.

This week is almost to a close, at least running wise. All I have left is a tiny 20 miler on Sunday to run. Hopefully my training will get harder soon. Seriously, I'm already ending my second week of the month and I have only managed to run a measly 71.73 miles. This time last year I was already up to 38.1 miles. I guess I need to step it up, Oprah Style!!! Peace Out!!!

Thursday: 8 miles 1hr. 4 min. 1428 calories
Friday: 40 minute recovery run 3.51 miles

What I know??? About my first Marathon!!!

Things I know about my rapidly approaching first marathon. It will take place in 5 weeks in Sarasota, Fl. on Feb. 15 at 6:00 A.M. to be exact. This is the 4th annual running of the marathon and it happens to be President's Day weekend. The official name of the marathon is the ABC 7 Sarasota Grouper Marathon. The marathon is one of the many that are Boston Qualifier's. So, if I happen to run the marathon in 3 hours and 15 minutes, I will automatically be qualified for Boston. I am 100% sure this will not happen.

The start of the marathon is on Bayshore Road in front of the entrance to the Ringling Museum. "And No Old People!!!", although it's confusing to you the actual entrance to the museum is just a little more north than you think it should be. Don't even get me started on the agony of trying to explain to "blue hairs" where to park for the museum. Anywho, from my house to the starting line is a 1/4 of a mile. Unless a few hundred people get sick or forget to show up, I will more than likely not win the marathon. But, I will tell you this, I doubt there are many people running the marathon that are more familiar with the course.

You see of the 1218 miles I ran last year, I would say at least 75% of those were run on parts of the actual marathon course. That's over 900 miles, or 35 marathons that I have ran during my training runs. Since the marathon is an out and back type run I am especially familiar with the few beginning and ending miles of the course. I literally could run the first 4 miles with my eyes closed. For example, I know that after the gun goes off at 6:00 A.M. that about 200 feet into the run to watch your footing, because Bayshore Road is very uneven at this point and stays that way until the first turn onto North Shore. I know that it's very dark at 6:00 A.M. running down these streets and there is really not enough room for 3 thousand hyped up runners. I know right before mile two, before Jungle Gardens, that there is an elevation change that is pretty noticeable and that in another half a mile at Indian Beach this elevation change happens again. I know most people think that the stretch along 41 looks flat, but feels hill like while running. I know as the half marathoners head over the Ringling Bridge and toward there turn around point on the other end of the bridge, that the full marathoners are just being teased by the man made mountain until later in the race, mile 12 and 20 to be exact. I know that the loop around Golden gate point, mile 6, will still be under construction. I only wish all the runners would be cussing my company instead of Woodruff and Sons. I know mile 8 thru 11 should be enjoyed, especially on warm days because this area provides the best shade coverage. Mile 13 thru 20 not so much shade, but most would probably find very scenic, that is if there not cramping, barfing, crawling or pooping by this point. Mile 21 thru 26 are up 41 and back thru the neighborhood and to the finish line on the museum grounds under the beautiful banyon trees.

A few other things I know. My wife is throwing a before and after party on marathon day. We have parking for probably 10 to 12 cars if you would like to avoid the marathon parking madness. My family will try to keep there streak of not seeing me at the finish line going strong in 2009. I will finish!!! Peace Out!!!

Running Since Last Thursday: Thursday 1-1-09 7 miles
Friday 1-2-09 4.66 miles
Saturday 1-3-09 18 miles
Monday 1-5-09 3 miles
Tuesday 1-6-09 7.56 miles
Total: 40.22 miles