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Big Week

I’m heading into the high-mileage weeks of my marathon training plan. It becomes more and more of a challenge to fit these weeks into my daily life. I’ve enjoyed running before work (even if it means a 5:15 alarm). This works well for a five-six miler but not so well for an 8-10 mile run on a weekday. I need my sleep, I need my family-time, but I also want to be prepared for Boston in April. Sometimes I run twice a day. Other times I fit a longer run after work. My peak while training for a spring marathon never gets as high as for a fall race.

Still, I can feel the accumulated miles more and more. Heavy legs the day after a hill workout stay heavy for two or three miles. I really love my compression socks by Sugoi. I feel like the compression really helps me recover faster and more fully. I got them on after my 20 miler and felt fresh through most of my shift at Gazelle that afternoon. I’m being careful to avoid the over-training colds and flu, but this requires a lot of sleep. I don’t have the option of a two hour “business meeting” like Ryan Hall calls his naps. I have been trying to go to bed earlier, though.

What makes these early “big” weeks even more challenging is the feeling that the race is far, far away. With snow and ice clogging the sidewalks, a spring marathon feels like it is never going to arrive. On my 20-miler this Saturday, I felt amazed that there are times when it is too hot to run. I had a mental image of myself running shirtless and covered in sweat, and the impossibility of it almost made me laugh. There are fewer than 60 days to Boston, though. I need to get ready. It feels good to have the first 20-miler of this training cycle in the books.

If you haven’t signed up for your spring race, DO IT. If you want to do RiverBank, Borgess, SunBurst, the Town Crier, or whatever, sending that check in is a great motivator. That will get you out the door. It still just an idea if you haven’t registered.

Monday: 6
Tuesday: 8 with 2X1000 (at 5:45/mile), 1X2000 (at 6:00/mile), and 3X500 (at 5:35/mile). 400 m recovery
Wednesday: 7.5 in the morning/4.5 at night
Thursday: 6 w/ 4 at 6:44/mile and random (treadmill) hills
Friday: 6
Saturday: 20
Sunday: Rest Day
Weekly Mileage: 58
Yearly Total: 351miles

22nd February 2010
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Boston Training

Hopkinton to Boston
Continuing the theme from my last post, I’m planning on running a “Resolution Run.” Please join me on Thursday, January 28, at 8:00 p.m. I’ve laid out a 10k route that begins in front of Gazelle in Holland. I’m calling it a “Resolution Run” because I’d like you to bring your goals in a self-addressed stamped envelope. I’ll mail your goals back to you at the end of the year.

There are no fees for this run. No timers, chips, or t-shirts either. The roads will be open, so please wear reflective gear and flashing lights. I would like to collect $3 donations to the Central Asia Institute (C.A.I), but that’s up to you.

One main goal I am working towards this year takes place on April 19 in Massachusetts. I’ve started my training for the Boston Marathon, and I’ll try to keep you up to date on how it is going. Here’s what I did last week:

Monday: Easy 5 miles
Tuesday: 7 miles (I wanted to do some hills, but it didn’t happen)
Wednesday: Easy 5 miles and some lifting/core work
Thursday: 6.5 (6 X 800 in 2:52 w/ 4:00 recovery interval) This was on the treadmill.
Friday: 5 on the elliptical trainer and some lifting/core work.
Saturday: 15 miles at about 7:50/mile (Average Heart Rate = 149)
Sunday: Rest
Totals for the Week: 43.5 miles
Totals for the Year: 54.5 miles (Two lifting/core workouts)

11th January 2010
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I Love my Job

I love where I work.
I currently have two jobs. My main career is fine. I like it most of the time. I went to college for four years to be eligible for this job. I’m currently about half way to a master’s degree that will allow me to continue working at this career. It’s stable, and it allows me to support my family.
Gazelle, my part-time job, is where I feel appreciated, though. The people there make a difference. My managers support me in a way that shows how much they care. They help me become more knowledgeable about shoes and all the other wonderful products that runners need. I love being educated to an expert level. Even better, they care about me and my family. They know when my son breaks his leg or finds out he’s allergic to peanuts.
The rest of the Gazelle staff is similarly compassionate. We can talk, joke around, share frustrations, and encourage one another. The other Gazellians make going into “work” so much fun that I sometimes forget it’s work. When a member of our Gazelle family moves away, we miss them. We look forward to their visits back into the store, so we can catch up.
Some people in retail act like life would be great if only customers would stop interupting. Maybe it’s the stress-reduction of running, but Gazelle shoppers don’t induce this attitude. I guess runners are just nicer. Actually, I enjoy helping customers because they actually appreciate it at Gazelle. Like I said, I went to college for four years for my main job, but my clients don’t always appreciate my training and expertise. People appreciate the training I’ve received from Gazelle. I often have customers defer to my expert opinion (something that rarely happens at my regular 9-5).

So, Kyle, Luke, fellow Gazellians, and customers, thank you for making Gazelle such a wonderful place to be. Enjoy the snow.

10th December 2009
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Follow your passion

Well, if Big Daddy turn Fantasy Football into Fantasy Marathon (cool idea, btw!) I can tell you my latest. I’ve immersed myself in the new film “This Is It,” a documentary about Michael Jackson’s preparations for the concert he was not able to launch. Immersed, engrossed, obsessed… choose whichever word  you want.

That’s just how my relationship with MJ has always been. It started when I was 11 by taping his posters on my walls, jamming his music on my pink boom box, memorizing his dance moves…  and as an adult, I feel a lot of excitement by the energy he gave to his career as a performer.

I am not a good dancer but I was certain Michael was going to call me to step in as a back-up singer for this latest concert tour, alas his untimely death prevented that. Guess I’ll stick to my day job at Gazelle Sports and live out my passion for MJ in other ways. Like teaching my kids how to do that perfect high pitched Michael Jackson signature call. Like letting the power of his music inspire my workouts. Like casually suggesting to EVERYONE I know, “You should check out that movie. I’ve seen it a few times…” And well, yes, when the DVD comes out, I’ll work on the dance moves in my basement!

3rd November 2009
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