Sunday, February 27, 2005

Listen to the Body

Geaorge Sheehan once said to listen to the body. It would tell you when it needed rest, was injured, or was ready to go. For a month, after the LV Marathon and my 5th marathon within a year, my body has been telling me to rest. I still have the motivation to get out on the road, still have the motivation to race but my body is telling me something differently. The energy in my legs and aerobic capacity seems different, different than it has in the last 4 years. I ran 8 miles today after 6 miles each of the last two days. I was registered for a half marathon and decided not to run based on how I have been feeling...thought I would go out for 10 but after 3 miles I cut it to 8 miles never getting under 9:15 per mile.

I'll listen a little longer but I hope the body starts talking back in more of a positive manner. I would like to run the Cleveland Marathon in May but my body is going to have to tell me that it is OK.

Tuesday, February 22, 2005

Lake Michigan

I'm in Chicago and decided to run by the lake today. All I can say is to be careful of the concrete walkway around the outside of the museum with invisible ice. I almost took a dip in the icey cold waters of Lake Michigan! The 5 miles were good though!

Saturday, February 19, 2005

The Good News

Remind me that if I ever complain about the 25 mph headwind at the Las Vegas Marathon, that it could have been in 16 degree weather with a windchill of 9 degrees. Today, I ran my longest run since the marathon, 10.5 miles. However, it seemed that it did not matter which direction I was running, that I was always running into a headwind. It was 16 degrees so the windchill was about 9 degrees. During the run I thought about Las Vegas Marathon and running into that stuff headwind much of the way. I suspect it would have been much more interesting if it was 16 degrees instead of 52 degrees.

It did feel good to be on the road for an hour and half running for the joy of it with no watch and no time constraints. Its got me in the mood now to train again. On February 27, I will be running the E. Murray Todd Half Marathon, then possibly the Chambersburg Half Marathon in March and the Runner's World Half Marathon in April. I have a hotel for the Cleveland Marathon in May but have not committed with registration or air. I am already registered for my 5th consecutive Baltimore Marathon in October. I also realized today that I ran 3 marathons from October - January - not that I didn't realize it when I was doing it!

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Finally - A good couple of runs!

It has been 2 1/2 weeks since the Las Vegas marathon and my 5th in the last year. Speaking of the 5th in the last year, a guy that was riding on the bus to the start of the LV marathon was running his 4th in 4 weeks and he was 60, so what am I complaining about.

Anyway, it took me a couple of weeks to re-adjust to some decent running. I had a cold, started a new job with a new routine, and had just run a marathon. Just yesterday and today, I had a couple of decent 5 milers and have run the last 5 of 6 days. Being closer to home with my new job, I can now run in the wonderful rural area of Millstone in the morning instead of concrete haven of New York City.

I am still contemplating running Cleveland in May. I think I should but my body needs convinced!!

Wednesday, February 09, 2005

Dichotomy

The marathon is a dichotomy - it will be one of the hardest yet easiest things you will do in your life.

Saturday, February 05, 2005

First Recovery

After taking 5 days off for recovery from the Las Vegas Marathon, I got back out on the road today. It's was a great feeling hitting the pavement again for an easy 6 miler. I am also now unemployed - on purpose - as my last day with Medidata was Friday and my first day with Clinphone is Monday. Hah! Enough about work - it's time to prepare for Cleveland Rocks 'n Runs Marathon!

Thursday, February 03, 2005

Las Vegas Marathon

There is so much to write about related to running the Las Vegas Marathon this past weekend. There is little focus on the marathon in Las Vegas because there is so much else out there. It felt like we were getting everything else in and just happened to have to run a marathon in the desert - it was truly in the desert with wonderful stiff headwinds. My nephew Shawn and I also did Las Vegas in support of Operation Marathon supporting the Victory Junction Gang camp for terminally or chronically ill children. This camp was founded by NASCAR's Kyle Petty and family in memory of his son Adam who died in a practice lap in New Hampshire. We signed up for a package where most of the proceeds went to the camp but we did get to meet Michael Waltrip and Kyle Petty. We also got to attend a benefit concert by Hootie and the Blowfish which also had other NASCAR drivers in attendance like Jeff Gordon and Robbie Gordon. I know marathoning and NASCAR appear to be strange bedfellows but my nephew and I love both and this was a great opportunity. Michael and Kyle ran the marathon and did great. However, the biggest victory was the $1 million dollars raised by Michael for the camp. I am considering running all future marathons for this camp. I will post more about the marathon and weekend on runnersthoughts.com.