Friday, March 18, 2016

Salida Marathon

Awesome day!!  First time running this one and I plan on going back.  Great course with lots of fun single track and great company.  I can't believe that this race has been on the to do list for so many years and I am just now getting it done. 

The plan was just to use it as an easy long run in my Boston plan but ended up running it more like a tempo, not the smartest plan but hopefully I get a small fitness bump from it.  End up 11th overall and 4th in the age group which is not correct, should have been lower but in the overall picture of things it does not matter.  Talking to Nick Clark after the race he stated this course runs 15 minutes slower than the old course so that is promising.  Strava data.

One month to Boston.  Spent this week doing all easy runs to recover from this race then it is back into full swing training for a few more weeks until the taper.




Tuesday, March 1, 2016

February Check In

Quick check in and thoughts on February's numbers.  First the numbers.

 
As I have said in the past, the first 4 months of 2016 is all about getting ready for my first Boston in April and actually following a hard marathon program with the thought riding that fitness for the rest of summer.  I have been using a plan from a Brad Hudson book making modifications to it based on how I feel day to day and input from the GOMs.  Seems to be working so far.  Solid month even though I felt like crap through most of it.  Funny how hard training works.  The harder I train the worse I feel but the faster I get.  Where is that point of no return?  Even though I feel like I am starting to slide backwards, on my Sunday long run this past weekend with BTC while feeling low energy I ended up having a half marathon PR in the last 13 miles of a 18 mile run.  That was not planned, not even a little.  I am a little confused on where to go from here.  Even though I have been feeling like I have been sliding backwards since Redhot 33K a few weeks ago, I keep putting up stronger numbers while feeling low energy and like shit in general, almost to the point of not wanting to do anything but lay around the house.  Am I dancing with the line to much?  Do I keep with the plan and see where it goes?  I want to push this as far as my ability will let me but at the same time I don't want to "run" my Boston in a training run.  Lots to ponder for the next 4-5 weeks before the taper. Also signed up  Salida Marathon on March 12th and that should be interesting also.  I have been racking my brain trying to decide how to approach that race and not ruin Boston.  More to come on that.  Had some input today from a few sources and still pondering that.

On a different note, actually got out and did something fun that was not running or racing related thanks to tickets from my work Medtronic.  Awesome seats and company that joined me, nine rows up from the floor at half court.  We spent half of the game trying to figure out how tall the female ref was.  Of course the Nuggets lost again which would explain why the Pepsi Center was only half full but at least they sell Dale's Pale Ale on tab there now so all was fine.

Fan winning the halftime slam dunk contest.