Hello Folks - Sorry it has been a long time since I have posted on the Blog. I have been updating that face book page with Camp Photos and busy closing that all up as well as working and training.
The face book page is about stalemated so my focus is going to be on this blog and to generate a larger audience that wants to discuss elements of the sport of Distance Running.
Currently I am finding how selfish distance running really is. When I was younger and training on my own without a family it was okay and training was the main focus in my life. Here in the now years later juggling a job, a family and training I find it difficult. I am not training nearly as much as the old days kicking out the ancillary stuff - no time for the weight room, and no room for 2-a-days. However even at 70mpw I am fatiguing to the point where the kid is getting less play time. For that reason alone I will be joyous when this training cycle is done. Currently I am in my 4th week of the strength phase leading into the Twin Cities Marathon. (11 weeks of base phase) 1 down week for the camp)
I know there are some folks out there running on the other side of 40 and if you have some thoughts to share I'd like to hear them, and even those on the underside of 40 the sport has changed dramatically since my day and if you all have some insight we'd like to hear that too.
I will keep the blog updated on some of my training and perhaps some tips that I use in my revisit of training, would like to hear some of your tips as well as this is my first bout at an over 40 event.
First update: My first significant long run measured to be 18.75 miles through loops at Buffalo Park - I ran loops in order to take advantage of my self made aid stations. A few days after the run I ran the loop with Brian Shrader (one of my former athletes from - Sinagua and a bit of a high school phenom. He ran the 2nd fastest time for the 2 mile in AZ history his 8:53 is second to Jeff Cannada's 8:50. Soon Brian will be off to Oregon as one of their top recruits of 2010. Anyway he has this gps watch and was kind enough to join me for a run to measure the loop. In that run he shared with me some of his favorite high school memories, kind of cool to be a part of some of those. Anyway I run the long runs with easy progression and in doing so was able to muster 2:58:28 marathon pace for the 18.75 miles which was a might of a confidence boost because the standard of which I am entering the race is 2:40 and that 2:58 pace comes at 7,000ft and with still another 7 weeks to go before the race.
The long running will have to be my tune up in that the Flagstaff races are not conducive to the goals and racing regiment that comes with low altitude high quality racing. Here in Flagstaff race directors seem to be more interested in how many feet we can gain in elevation with in the first mile of a race, as if 7,000ft were not high enough.
that is all for now- time to fuel up - or in laymans terms - eat dinner.
Keep well and always:
Have fun!
