Almost There!!! 09-18-07 through 09-23-07

We're certainly on track and ready for the big day (October 21st), but I'll admit this past week was a bust!!!! After our 18miles we found ourselves quite sore and unmotivated to get in our miles. We took 4 days completely off - go ahead and call the running police! This past weekend we made our way to Dodge Park with the hopes of getting in another 16 miles. After 7 miles we decided to call it a day. Nothing seemed to be going right. Our pacing, breathing, clothes (due to the temperature shifts) and other obstacles just got in the way. We decided to regroup and come back for a 10 mile run the next day. In the mean time we went shopping!!! Kelly and I have been miserable trying to carry our water bottles for extended runs so we picked up a water belt (light weight - carries 40oz.). I also picked up a couple knee straps. Around mile 3 the tendons running along side my knees have been causing serious discomfort. I decided to give the braces a try. We also picked up some odd and end things to help prepare for the big day (like body lube - don't ask!!!!). It turns out we had a great 10mile run and Kelly was able to complete the loop with a 10min. 20sec. pace. Here is our next plan. The long runs are killing our bodies, so we're going to take the intensity down after this week. Kelly and I agreed to keep the miles short (3-5 tops) Monday through Thursday. Friday night we are going to try a 24mile run (our house to Metro Beach). That will be our last BIG run before the 26.2 marathon. We'll be conditioned enough to lower the miles from then till the race. I know we'll need the time to rest and heal. We'll keep you posted on how the week goes!

DAY OFF!!! 09-17-07

After the 18mile run we were ready for a day off. Knees, ankles, hips, etc... all a little sore. Did some weight training at the gym, but no running.

WE DID IT!!! 09-16-07

Kelly and I were able to finish the 18 miles today. I'm not giving a lot of details, to be honest I'm too tired right now. We started at 7:30 AM (Dodge Circus Park) and finished in daylight (that's all that mattered). We actually had a very good pace going. We stayed together the whole time and only took a few short walk breaks. Started with a 100 layers of clothing (it was 43 degrees at 7:30 AM), and quickly needed to strip. When we got home I popped a few Motrin and took a 20min. ice bath. Not the most pleasant thing in the world, but my knees and ankles do feel better after. Off to a B-Day party and then the Lion's game. We'll sleep good tonight!!!

Another pat on the back to Kelly!!! Off 5 weeks with leg injuries and today pushed herself to finish a strong 18 miles. She said she completed it in the same amount of time she completed 16 miles the week before. You're Awesome Babe!!!

2 DAYS OFF!!! 09-14-07 & 09-15-07

Rest Days. Saving energy for Sunday's 18 mile run!

Circus Act!!! 09-13-07

Had the day off today (Happy Rosh Hashana)!!! Kelly and I decided to go up to Dodge Park and run together since the kids were at school. Dodge, unlike Stoney Creek which is wide open, has narrow paths tucked away in the woods. I get a little nervous over Kelly running there alone. Today was a circus act!!! We saw questionable people emerging from the woods where there were clearly no paths, older couples walking in snow-suits, dog walkers wearing netted bee masks and experienced first hand sound effects from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre... (a grinding chainsaw rumbling somewhere behind us in the woods). YES THIS IS ALL TRUE!!!! It did make us run faster!!! We were scheduled for 6 miles and ran 7.2. Not sure about the time, we were happy just to make it out alive!!!

5 Mile Crash and Burn!!! 09-12-07

I really need to learn from my mistakes!!! Yesterday I ran after Coney Island, today I tried a night time run after eating a Reuben (it was very good by the way!). Not that this sounds logical, but I told myself if I could do it yesterday today wouldn't be a problem. IT WAS!!! Around mile 2 I started to crash. Decided to complete a few miles and just walk the rest. The last couple nights have been great to walk or run in. The cool weather makes it much more enjoyable. Hope it's like this on race day (October 21st).

Note to Self...... running good........running on a full stomach, bad!!!!!

Coney Island and an 8 Mile Run! 09-11-07

The marathon is just around the corner. At this point, it's hard to skip days and tell myself there's always tomorrow (and I've done that quite a bit)! This week we were scheduled to run 16 Sat, 4 Sun, Break Mon, 8 Tues, 5 Wed, 6 Thurs and off Fri. I was really dreading today's run, and when my family decided to meet up at Coney Island it was the perfect escape! OK, I started to feel guilty and decided I try a few miles when I got home. I ended up completing 8.2 miles in 1hr / 20min (9.7 min pace). Not my best time, but hey "I was burping chili fries!!!"

Day Off - 9-10-07

Day Off - "Thank God"

ICE BATH!!!!! 9-9-07

OK, the day after the 16 mile run is proving to be quite painful. I knew I had to get up somewhat early and get a quick run in today. We were scheduled to do 4 miles. I took my time and completed it in 37min. Just wanted to stretch out. Considering I was in pain from hips to toes I decided to take the infamous "ICE BATH" some of our teammates have been talking about. They are supposed to do wonders, I'm here to tell you they did nothing more than bring about a few choice words!!!

Kelly had a day off from running today.

16 MILES!!!!! Sept. 8th

We did it!!!!! Not sure how, but Kelly and I both completed our Saturday 16 mile run. We wanted to get an early start so we didn't have to deal with the heat and humidity. We left for Stoney Creek at 6AM and started our run at 6:30AM. The picture added to this Blog says it all... the moon and stars were our only guiding lights (almost ran into the lake). We thought we'd be the only psychos out there running that early, but it turned out to be pretty busy. My goal today was to complete the run without stopping. Mission accomplished...I kept my iPod on shuffle and a bottle of Gatorade in my hand. Mile 14 I started to feel some serious pain in my knees. I worked through it and finally approached my final mile. A buddy of mine was entering mile 10 at the same time. The taunts were expected as he passed me (something about catching the rabbit). Something within me couldn't let him speed ahead. We were both in a sprint by the end of the run. I finished the final mile in under 8min., but I think I lost a lung in the process. Thanks DAN for the extra push.....and the turtle DID catch and pass the rabbit!!!

Final stats: start 6:32AM end 9:05AM......9.5min. pace

Kelly is right back on track. She completed all 16miles with some walk breaks in the middle and at the end. Thankfully her leg and ankle were feeling good after the run...well as good as they could be!!!

Going To Try 16!!!!! Aug 27th - Sept 4th

Our vacation up north was fun, but it rained 5 out of the 7 days!!! We did get in some good running miles though. In 4 days I logged in 20miles, but fell apart when we got home. This past week has been a disaster. I missed my 12 mile run on Saturday (Kelly was able to do hers) and with school starting back up I missed almost a whole week of training. I'm heading out tonight to get in 6 to 7 miles. I know I'm conditioned at this point to pick it back up, but I still feel like crap for not keeping up with the schedule. I can't change the past so why dwell there. Starting fresh today knowing that this Saturday we need to run 16 miles. Kelly is doing great!!! She made a great come-back from her injury and is certainly going to take part in the full marathon. As always I'm very proud of her strength, effort and determination to finish what she started!