3-02-08 (Week 9)
This was a cut back week, which means slightly less weekly mileage and cutting back the long run Sunday. The generic schedule called for 12 miles Sunday, we ran the E. Murray Todd Half Marathon instead. Beautiful day – sunny, around 32 degrees and windy. I made the mistake of pacing the first couple of miles with my training mentor John C., who is much faster so that hurt me in the end (along with some side stiches around mile 7). Still managed a 1:55:32, which is an 8:50 pace and is about 8 minutes faster than my Jersey Shore Half Marathon debut this past September, giving me a PR. I had read several race reviews people had written on the web prior to this race about “all the hills”. These people clearly don’t train at Bodman Park in Middletown – it is not a flat course by any stretch but the “hills” are mole hills in comparison. Definitely makes me appreciate training with JSRC. Back to Bodman next Sunday – 20 miles on the schedule.
Tues 4 m
Wed 5 m
Thur 4 m
Sat 7 m
Sun 13.1 m
Total 33.1 m
Sunday (3/2) E. Murray Todd Half Marathon – Lincroft, NJ
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2-24-08 (Week 8)
Got a new Garmin Forerunner 305 as a gift this week, which means I can retire my ailing Forerunner 201, which served me well until getting water in it. Now I can monitor my heart rate too when I run and really geek out. Had to bite the bullet again this week and do 7 miles on the treadmill on Saturday morning, which was unfortunately the day after getting the new Garmin, so I had to break it in during the 18 mile run on Sunday. So far so good, the 305 looks cool. Looking forward to “stepping back” next week and only doing 13.1 miles on Sunday, which will mean running the E. Murray Todd Half Marathon in Lincroft. It will be nice to take a break from the hills of Bodman Park for a change, especially since the schedule calls for 20 miles the week after the half marathon.
Tues 4 m
Wed 7 m
Thur 4 m
Sat 7 m
Sun 18 m
Total 40 m
Sunday (2/24) Bodman Park
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2-17-08 (Week 7)
Had to bite the bullet this week and jump on the dreaded treadmill due to icy conditions Wednesday (I’m a little gun shy since taking that spill). My Wednesday schedule called for 7 miles – I suffered through 5 on the treadmill and couldn’t take another second. The treadmill was an integral part of my training a year or so ago, but since I have gotten used to running outdoors I can’t bear to be on the treadmill for very long. Something about running on it also seems to bring out aches and pains that I don’t get from running twice as far outdoors. I respect anyone who can train on those things without going batty. Wrapped up the week with a 7 mile boardwalk run on Saturday and over 16 miles at Bodman on Sunday. That was a great run – I’m pretty sure I was flying high on endorphins by the end of that. Hope I can hold on to that feeling for next week.
Tues 4 m
Wed 5 m
Fri 4.5 m
Sat 7 m
Sun 16 m
Total 36.5 m
Sunday (2/17) Bodman Park
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2-10-08 (Week 6)
Didn’t run with any skunks this week but I played a lot of tennis. This is another cut back week in preparation to build up miles next week, so I took it kind of easy and even traded a day of running for a day of cycling. The ironic thing about marathon training is I constantly feel like I am walking a fine line between being the fittest I’ve ever been and coming up with an injury that puts me out indefinitely. I think the day of crosstraining on the bike helped though, I may do that periodically when my legs feel shot. Looking forward to upping the long run to 16 next week.
Tues 3.5 m
Wed 6.5 m
Sat 6.5 m
Sun 11 m
Total 27.5 m
Sunday (2/10) Bodman Park
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2-03-08 (Week 5)
Another notable run on the Henry Hudson trail. Less than five minutes into my run Thursday morning at 5:30 am I spooked a skunk that was apparently hanging out on the side of the trail. It wasn’t very big, about the size of a medium cat. It jumped out on the trail and in a state of confusion started running the same direction I was. I swear it must have run about 15 feet in front of me for 200 meters. The blinding headlamp clearly had it confused and it didn’t know what to do, and I didn’t want to stop or to try to pass it (for the record, skunks are very slow). It eventually bailed out into the woods, and I was able to finish without getting sprayed
Tues 3.5 m
Wed 6 m
Fri 3.5 m
Sat 6 m
Sun 14 m
Total 33 m
Thursday (1/31) Henry Hudson Sunday (2/3) Bodman Park
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1-27-08 (Week 4)
I run most weekly miles on the historic Henry Hudson trail which is conveniently about 1 mile from my house. This is an old rail line which the state of NJ graciously pulled up and replaced with an asphalt walking/biking/running trail. It’s a great place to run – I do it at 5:00am with the use of a headlamp and NO ONE is out there except for deer, skunks, and rabbits. This week I bought the farm hard, though. The ol’ HH was a bit icy and I had what skiers call a “yard sale” at mile 2.8 of a 6 mile run while making a turn. Bummer, banged up knee, lots of blood, but I finished my run and at a pace below 9 minutes per mile. Suprisingly I managed to keep from tearing my UnderArmor pants and somehow avoided serious injury (yahoo – treadmills suck)
Tues 3.5 m
Wed 6 m
Fri 3.5 m
Sat 6 m
Sun 15 m
Total 34 m
Wednesday (1/23) Henry Hudson Trail (wipeout)
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1-20-08 (Week 3)
This is the last really “light” week in the program. Good thing, because I had a retirement party Friday night and my company Christmas party Saturday night. The social activities really kill the schedule of an early morning runner – never realized I had a social life until doing marathon training. Anyway, wrapped up the week with 10 miles at the beautiful Manasquan Reservoir, haven to local runners & cyclists in training. Freakin cold though, somewhere around 15 degrees, give or take with the windchill, so I was glad it was a short run.
Tues 3.25 m
Wed 5.25 m
Fri 3.5 m
Sat 5 m
Sun 10.5 m
Total 27.5 m
Sunday (1/20) at Manasquan Reservoir
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1-13-08 (Week 2)
Had a good week of running – my Garmin has been acting a little wacky since I got water in it last week. I think I am going to have to retire this bad boy and move on to a nicer unit. Finished the week running 12 miles at Bodman Park in Middletown. This is the premier marathon training location for JSRC – trails through the woods, alot of scenic water views along the Navesink river, breath taking views of NYC. Oh, and one more thing – HILLS, lotsa hills. Anyone who complains of hills in marathons should train here – you will conquer the hills or die trying.
Tues 4.25 m
Wed 5.25 m
Fri 3 m
Sat 5.25 m
Sun 12 m
Total 29.75 m
Sunday (1/13) Bodman Park
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1-6-08 (Week 1)
First week of the program, which officially started for me New Years day morning. Since we did a “stay at home with the family” thing New Year’s Eve getting up New Years Day was not the hardship it has been in years past. Crummy weather, though – ended up getting water in my Garmin 201. Non-runners won’t appreciate that, runners will feel my pain though. Wound up the week running 10 miles on the Belmar Boardwalk – running at the Jersey Shore is awesome.
Tues 5.5 m
Wed 5 m
Fri 4 m
Sat 5.25 m
Sun 10 m
Total 29.75 m
Sunday on the Belmar Boardwalk
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