The Last Hard Day of Work

This past week was an up and down time of training.  After running 21 miles a couple weeks ago, my body was in no mood to continue running again.  This came into true fruition after I ran only two times last week, both five mile runs.   However, I was preparing for a 5k on Saturday which went really well.

A quick race recap:
The day was cold and it was raining all evening the night before causing the trail to be very slipper and full of leaves.  It seemed like it was going to be a slow race and I would just give it my best.  With my lack of warming up as usual, I walked...shivering... to the starting line.  At the very last second I decided not to go with my headphones and handed them off.

With the start of the race we had to make a 180 turn which caused a big slow down in addition to every turn needing to be taken slowly for fear of falling.  I started out in second after 100 yards and was quickly passed by a teen running in 5 fingers.  This is basically how the race progressed till the end.  I was around 50 meters from second the entire time while the guy in first really took off. 

I was hoping to finish around 19:00 to improve on my last 5k time.  I came around the final turn realizing that I had a chance to break 18:00!  However I was unable to do so but still finished in 18:01!  I received a trophy for finishing 3rd overall!  So many new PR's and records and just a great time!

After the 5k and frisbee Sunday, I had very little interest in running the 21 I was supposed to over the weekend.  I had thought to myself that with the last 21 I ran, I could get away with skipping this one.  I decided to research it on Monday after my class before I went on a basic run and came across a good quote about the final long run. 'This is the last day you will have to work hard until marathon day'.  Taking this to heart, I tied on my shoes and left to run 21 miles.

The first half was okay, a little over marathon pace coming in a 1:26 (2 minutes above).  The second half I really pushed myself and just kept on saying 'last day to work hard'.  I finished the second half in 1:20 (4 minutes before pace).  I felt great! Tired! and Great!

I feel that I am heading into the marathon now as prepared as I could ever be.  Basically through the soreness and all I am at a point where I could just say, 'you know, why dont I run 21 miles today?' and just go do it!

Less than 3 weeks to the marathon, pushing forward.  Its all downhill from here.

Five Goals To Marathon Day

One thing I have prided myself on for some time has been my goal oriented self.  I carry around a goal sheet in my wallet for the past few years of long term goals I have wanted to accomplish.  Out of the 10, I am very proud and happy to say I have 3ish to go (ish... maybe will explain at a later point).  In preparation for the Baltimore Marathon in just over 30 days, I have thought about what it means to me and what I want to accomplish.

With this, I came up with five goals I want to accomplish by the end of the Baltimore Marathon.  Again with my same goal regulations of they have to be tangibly attainable goals, not 'moral' goals.

1. Eat well for 30 days up to the marathon.

Yea, yea, some days I eat well... but honestly most days I tend to drift the other way.  All the running I do helps maintain my weight though which is good and I am happy to say I am yet to put on weight.  I read a fair amount into how eating well allows better running and overall fitness.  I want to be as fit as I can come marathon day and so leading up to the marathon I will take care of my body food wise for 30 days real well.

2. Race day weight of 175
This is the loftiest goal out of the five.  It means losing around 10 lbs which I believe is possible.  Especially with eating well and taking care of myself for 30 days I think it is going to happen.  It will be super hard but if it wasn't hard, what would be the point?  Having a lighter race day weight will also make it easier to run and again, I want to be in super duper shape.  It is possible!

3. Run one 5k race previous to the marathon
I haven't had a chance to run any of the races I planned to heading up to the marathon.  I really enjoy the races and miss them.  In an attempt to really work on this one, I am already signed up for the Shaker Nature Center 5k on the 24th I believe, next Saturday.  If all goes well, I want to break 20 minutes again... maybe even 19:00.

4. Do 30 strait pushpins
If there is one thing I lack at, it is upper body strength.  Since I started my run training, I have really lacked in the muscle toning.  If every day I work on some abs and push-ups, I think no problem I can hit 30 push-ups in a row after 30 days.  I can also work on some new exercises for my app development... more on that in the future...

5. Finish the Baltimore Marathon
I was originally thinking finish the marathon sub 3:30... but that was my goal for the Cleveland Marathon and I know how that ended up... I will start with just the ideal of finishing a marathon, and I WILL.

Anyone else really goal oriented?  Any goals they want to share?