Ran Pittsburgh’s 10k Great Race yesterday and logged a new PR with a 42:38 chip time. I beat my previous best by over 2 minutes but feel like I can bring it down even further. Overall it was a great run, my fastest mile was about 6:35 and my slowest just over 7 minutes. I definitely want to run more of these short runs (5 and 10ks) and will be looking at a local Race Calendar to line some things up.
Total mileage was lower than planned last week because I held off on the long run to save myself for the 10k. I’ll be making up 16 miles tonight in preparation for this weeks build up.
Filed under: 2008 NYC Marathon Training | Tags: Hydration, Miles, Pace, Pittsburgh
Down to the final 6 weeks of training and feeling pretty good!
It’s been awhile since I last posted and the past 3 weeks have been up and down. Was finally able to update the training log (had some issues with Google docs) and you can see that I had one good week, one bonk and then last week was pretty solid. In terms of long runs (which I base the success or failure of a week on), I completed 18 miles of a scheduled 18, 13 miles of 20 and then 21 miles of 22 just this past Sunday. There is no question that running the 21 miler with my buddy Jeff Babich made it a success. Having someone else to talk to when you’re running over 3 hours straight is HUGE and once again he took the trouble to map out the route. Thanks again Mr. Babich and good luck with the Columbus Marathon!
The week prior my sister came to the burgh, we partied & I bonked. I didn’t sleep enough and underestimated my need for hydration leading up to the long run. Having a Guinness or two on a Friday isn’t a big deal, but 4 or 5 Sapphire & Tonics the Saturday night before at Mardi Gras (a Pittsburgh dive notorious for stiff beverages) was just plain dumb. I did bounce back 2 days later though with a quick 5.9 miler. Got it done in 45:33 (7:11 pace) and wasn’t really going for it.
So, this is a step back week (16 miles for the long run), then 2 weeks of building (22 & 24 miles) and I’ll finish it all off with a 2 week taper. I signed up for a couple of races last night, Pittsburgh’s Great Race and the 2008 Tecumseh Trail Marathon. Why am I doing another 26.2 only 5 weeks after New York, I’m not really sure, but my old college buddy and fellow endurance freak, Chris Cahee talked me into it. I’ve never done anything this long off road (especially in the beginning of December) but somehow I’m pumped up for it.
To wrap this up, I bought some new Asics GT-2130’s last night, and plan to run at least NYC and Tecumseh in them. I really like the Asics, they just seem to fit better than any other running shoe and there’s plenty of room up front for when my toes swell.
Filed under: 2008 NYC Marathon Training | Tags: Miles, New York City, New York Marathon, Pittsburgh, Yoga
Started my first Fantasy Football league this week with some buddies from work. My team’s name is Aluminum Curtain, cause I live in Pittsburgh, love dem Stillers and don’t think I have a chance in hell winning this low stakes competition. I’ve got Peyton Manning (would rather have Eli), Anquan Boldin, Brian Westbrook (who should be a gamer), Nate Kaeding (kicker out of San Diego, one of my new favorite cities) and the Arizona defense (got Dallas defense as well). No idea how it will go, definitely more of a Mets Baseball fan, but game on 
Tried out a new route today through the following Pittsburgh neighborhoods; Polish Hill, Bloomfield, Lawrenceville, Northside (along the Alleghany River, starting at the 40th Street Bridge), down to PNC Park and back up through the Strip. 10.2 miles, and feeling pretty decent… I’m going to work this route through the rest of the training because it’s got a steeper, longer climb than I’ll face over the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge at the start of the NYC Marathon. I finished up the run with just over a 9-minute mile pace, a little off pace target but got it done. That leaves 5 or 6 miles tomorrow early morning, a round of golf at Lindenwood Golf Club with those buddies from work (which is Bank of New York Mellon) and an 18 miler on Sunday to finish up the week.
Not totally syked about last weeks results, only 18 of 33 total miles (and skipped the long run!! BUMMER), but I was traveling and my right knee really did benefit from the extra recovery time. My damn hamstrings are too tight and I think that it’s causing a little “runners knee”; which according to the September issue of Runner’s World is often confused with “Iliotibial Band Syndrome”;
“THE DIFFERENCE The iliotibial band (ITB) is connective tissue that runs from your hip to your knee. “A tight IT band can cause friction along the outside of your knee, which is why it feels like a knee problem,”… If it’s ITB syndrome, then running downhill, lengthening your stride, and keeping your knee in a bent position for extended periods will exacerbate your symptoms. Stretching to loosen the band can help resolve the problem”…Describes what’s going on in my right knee to a tee. On the last long run, the downhills were killing me and in general, I sit in front of a computer, geeking our for hours everyday. I mentioned it before but the yoga is definitely helping.
The traveling I mentioned was back home to New York City for Labor Day. Had a chance to spend time with family, friends and saw 3 of 5 boroughs. Caught a quick 4.5 miler through Forest Park, Kew Gardens & it rocked.
