The Long Run

Distance running is tough.  The only way to make yourself able to run long distances is to run long distances.  But you can't just go and run 13 miles if the longest you've ever run is 4 miles...you have to build up to it.  Once you get there, you can maintain your fitness level with some key runs.  If you slack over winter, "Muscle-Memory" makes it a bit easier to get back to the level you were at, but you still must build to it.

Prior to January 2014, I was a comfortable Half Marathon (13.1 Miles) runner.  I was at a fitness level where you could ask me on a Friday to run a Half Marathon the next day, and I could do it.  In fact, I could probably do it 3 times a month.  My weekly long runs were averaging 9 to 12 miles a week.

Sometime late last year, I got the crazy idea that it would be fun to run a full Marathon (26.2 miles).  As I began putting together my training schedule, it looked great.  Several long runs coincided with races that I already wanted to do.  When January rolled around, I was ready.


January and February went by rather well (except for the weather).  I did all but 2 of my runs outside, in the snow and cold.  Then March hit.


March was the third month of training, and the third month is where you separate the men (and women) from the boys (and girls). My weekly long runs through March and April looked like this:
15 Miles - 13 Miles - 17 Miles - 18 Miles - 15.5 Miles - 20 Miles - 13.1 Miles - 20 Miles - 10 Miles
and that's not counting the many shorter runs in between.
Slowing it down this week...got a bit of a cold I gotta get over and got to rest up...big race May 4th.

478 Miles

...Can be Cold and Slippery (The Mill Creek Distance Classic)

 

I ran my (official) first Half Marathon of 2014 this past Sunday.  It was a sweltering 13 degrees and snowy at start time.  The road was mostly a snow covered mess. 282 other crazies joined me on this journey.

 

The "Mill Creek Distance Classic" took place in Youngstown.  The course was very challenging...it seemed that I was either running uphill or downhill for the entire run.  I got to the 12.5 mile mark and thought that I was in the clear, only to see that the final .6 mile was all uphill...lucky me.

 

After about 4 miles of running (sliding) in the snow, I put the YakTrax on.  YakTrax are a weird, but very useful invention.  They attach to your shoes and have a coil-like tread that goes across the sole to give you traction in snow or ice.  If you use them on a hard surface like concrete or blacktop, they are a bit uncomfortable, but on ice and snow you can run like a finely tuned engine, or something.

Crossing the finish line is always a great feeling...but due to the cold temperatures, there were not a lot of spectators cheering the runners on (can't say that I blame 'em).  Oh well, got my prestigious medal, a banana, and a water, and headed for home.

 

That evening my shins began to spew vulgarities about running so many hills, but otherwise I felt pretty good.

 

 

251 Miles

...Begins with one step

And thus, on a balmy 25 degree day, another year of running has begun. 

If you are reading this blog, congratulations!  You are in an elite group - one of the 4.62398 people who care what I have to say!

Who am I?  What are my goals? Why am I writing this?  These questions demand answers...and I intend to answer them, just not right now. 

Today's run was a 5.3 miler, outside, in the snow....and besides being a bit sick, it felt great.  It's crazy that in the past 10 days I've gone from running outside in shorts, to running in the rain, to the arctic conditions we have now...welcome to Ohio.

My awesome cousin, Becky Eggert has a blog called "B.E. Happy"...she inspired me to do this...blame her...but also check her blog out...she is a gluten-free, gardening, cross-fitting, half-marathoner, who is much more interesting than me.

When will my next blog be? Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, maybe in March, who knows?

Happy New Year!
Greg

5.3 miles