Rest Day Quote

"It hurts up to a point and then it doesn't get any worse." - Ann Trason

3/28/09 - 20 miles

My final 20 mile run before the marathon. I ran the 2 previous 20 mile runs on the treadmill so I wanted to get outside for this run. I got up around 6 am and ate a couple granola bars and drank some Gatorade before heading out. I ran north along the canal banks for 5 miles and then turned around and return to my starting point where I left a couple bottles of Gatorade. I then completed the same loop. I ate 2 shot bloks at mile 7 and then ate a clif shot at mile 14. I carried Gatorade during the run and drank a swallow or two every mile or two. I felt really good during the first 15 miles. The last 5 miles I started to feel the distance and my right leg again began to act up. I am going to a massage therapist next week and I'm hopeful that I can get some relief from this pain so I can perform better in the marathon. I ran the 20 miles in 2:51:18 which is an 8:34 pace and my average heartrate was 162 bpm.

3/27/09 - unplanned rest day

The schedule called for a 4 mile run but instead I went and practiced riding my brother's motorcycle followed by Tanner's baseball game. I am going on a day ride in about a month with my brother and some other motorcycle enthusiasts in my ward. I haven't ridden a bike in a while so my brother offered his bike for me to practice on.

3/26/09 - 10 miles

I had so many things to do in the evening that I decided to get up early and run this morning. Because it was still dark, I headed to the gym and ran on the treadmill. It was a good run but time seems to slow down on the treadmill and today was no exception. I ran at an easy, comfortable pace and felt good throughout the run. I ran the 10 miles in 1:25:32 which is an 8:34 pace. I ran the last 5 miles at a 1% incline to make it a little more difficult. I enjoyed a good stretch afterwards - there is nothing better than a good stretch after a long run!

Rest Day Quote

"I always loved running...it was something you could do by yourself, and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs." - Jesse Owens

3/24/09 - 10 miles

I felt much more like myself tonight. My breathing and my pace were under control and I felt strong throughout the run. I have really enjoyed getting back outside for my runs - the time goes by so much faster and I get to enjoy the spring weather. I ran the 10 miles in 1:20:08 which is an 8:06 pace and my average heartrate was 167 bpm.

3/23/09 - 5 miles

It was great to get back home and run in more familiar surroundings. I ran outside tonight and had a good run. Everything felt good and my pace was back to where I expect it to be. I ran the 5 miles in 37:43 which is a 7:33 pace and my average heartrate was 176 bpm. My heartrate was higher than I would have liked but I'm sure not running very much last week contributed to that result.

Rest Day Quote

“You cannot propel yourself forward by patting yourself on the back.” - Steve Prefontaine

3/20/09 - 8 miles

I had planned to run on Thursday but the day went so nicely that I quickly ran out of sun light. The town of Puerto Lobos has no electricity other than generator so it would have been very difficult to run after dark. I ran the same course as on Wednesday but just shortened it a bit. This felt like a good run at a good pace but when I checked my pace, I was surprised by how slow I had gone. Either I'm eating way too much junk on this trip or the sand is having a bigger impact that I realize. I guess I'll know better once I get back home and run. I can't complain about the scenery and the quiet sounds of the ocean. Today's run was more relaxing and enjoyable. I ran the 8 miles in 1:11:47 which is an 8:58 pace and my average heartrate was 162 bpm.

3/18/09 - 11 miles

I finally got a run in this week. We were very busy on Monday and Tuesday getting prepared for our trip to Mexico with our friends the Davis'. We arrived at their place at night early on Wednesday morning. Wednesday was spent enjoying the beach and the ocean but I knew I needed to try and get in a run. After a late lunch, I made up my mind to go. Mason suggested a course to take which was basically running along the beach. I had to run a little over a mile to reach a good beach that would be conducive to running. I then proceeded to run 4.5 miles along the beach. It was a little warm and the air was heavy and humid. In addition, the sand was soft which is great for my joints and knees but it made every step just that much harder. In spite of the difficulties, I had the most marvelous views without any distractions other than the occasional seagull. It was very peaceful and serene. My pace was slower than I planned but I attribute it to the sand and the warmer weather. I ran the 11 miles in 1:39:37 which is a 9:03 pace and my average heartrate was 170 bpm.

Rest Day Quote

"No one ever drowned in sweat."
"Gold medals aren't really made of gold. They're made of sweat, determination, and a hard-to-find alloy called guts." - Dan Gable

3/14/09 - 17 miles

I chose to run at the gym this morning even though I would rather be outside. My schedule called for a 17 mile run with 14 miles at marathon pace. I warmed up over the first 3 miles starting at an 8:34 pace and gradually increasing until I was running at an 8:00 pace at the start of mile 4. I ate 2 shot bloks 15 minutes before my run, 2 more at mile 6, and 2 more again at mile 12. Although I like the shot bloks, I think I am going to use GU for this marathon as I think it does a better job at getting into my system plus the taste doesn't stay in my mouth as long. I felt a little tired during this run which might be from running late last night. I ran the 14 miles in 2:17:56 which is an 8:06 pace. I'm concerned that I won't get to run much next week because our family is going to Mexico for spring break. I hope to at least get in a couple runs and then hit it really hard the following week.

Total mileage for the week: 51 miles

3/13/09 - 5 miles

Ran an easy 5 miles at the gym tonight. Nothing all that exciting to report - just a good recovery run before my long run tomorrow. I ran the entire 5 miles at an 8:34 pace. The run itself was pretty boring - running outside makes the time go much faster.

3/12/09 - 12 miles

Tonight was an easy 12 mile run and I was again able to run outside. I felt really good on this run and didn't have any problems (other than the continuing tightness in my right hamstring). I ran the 12 miles in 1:37:29 which is an 8:07 pace and my average heartrate was 165 bpm. The weather is warming up and it won't be long before I will need to switch my runs to the mornings. I'm hopeful that the weather on the day of the marathon will be reasonable but I suppose I should plan to get appropriate clothing in case the temperature is colder.

Rest Day Quote

"Running is real and relatively simple…but it ain't easy." - Mark Will-Weber

3/10/09 - 9 miles

Tonight's run was a 9 miler that included 5x1000 meter sprints. I did a mile and a half warm up and then began the first of the 1000 meter sprints. The schedule calls to run the sprints at a 5k pace so I tried to run at a 6:30 - 7:00 pace. Then I would jog easy for 2 minutes before beginning the next sprint. I felt really good through the sprints but struggled to maintain the quick pace on the last sprint. I ran the 9 miles in 1:09:44 which is a 7:45 pace and my average heartrate was 170 bpm.

3/09/09 - 8 miles

Thankfully I think I am past this illness which has plagued me for the past couple weeks. It hit the hardest on Friday and Saturday which prevented me from training. I can still feel the effects of the illness especially in my lungs but I'm definitely on the mend. I only have 3 more weeks before I begin my taper into the marathon so I am committed to working hard and getting in the best shape possible.

I ran at the gym tonight after family night which consisted of us attending Tanner's tournament basketball game (they won btw). It felt really good to run after not doing any form of exercise for several days. However, after a couple miles, I could feel the effects of being sick and it was a struggle to complete the run. I stuck with it though and completed the 8 miles in 1:06:14 which is an 8:17 pace.

Rest Day Quote

"If for a while the harder you try, the harder it gets, take heart. So it has been with the best people who ever lived." - Jeffrey R. Holland

Sick Day

Another lost day of running due to illness. I hope to be better by Monday.

Sick Day

I really felt bad today as I struggled with a serious head cold including chills, cough, headache, and overall yuckiness. I was in no condition to run any distance let alone the 10 miles I was scheduled to run.

3/05/09 - 4 miles

I was kind of excited to see a short run on my schedule for tonight. Although I enjoy running and improving my fitness level, it takes a lot of time away from other things that I enjoy. The run called for 6x100 strides during the 4 miles. Usually I do my speedwork in the gym but the weather was too nice to not run outside. It was light enough that I was still able to complete the strides and it felt really good to run fast outside. I ran the 4 miles in 29:31 which is a 7:23 pace and my average heartrate was 167 bpm.

Rest Day Quote

"The passage of time has not altered the capacity of the Redeemer to change lives." - Thomas S. Monson

3/03/09 - 11 miles

Tanner started baseball practice tonight. I went with him for a quick parents meeting and then practice was suppose to last 90 minutes or so. I figured this was a perfect opportunity to sneak in my run while my son was practicing. I haven't been able to run a medium or long run outside for quite some time due to either cold or darkness but the weather has been really warm and yesterday was even more so due to the cloud cover. It was dark but I ran on well-lit streets so I didn't have to worry about tripping over something or stepping in a hole.

It felt good to be outside and the time went by quickly. I have been feeling some discomfort in my right hamstring and tonight was no exception. I'm thinking I might have a pinched nerve that is causing this pain. Maybe a visit to the chiropractor is what I need. I'll see how it goes. I purchased some new running shoes last Saturday - I got the Nike Pegasus which are the same shoes I had previously. I really like these shoes because they have a wide width version which is much more comfortable for my feet. I ran the 11 miles in 1:28:55 which is an 8:05 pace and my average heartrate was 162 bpm.

3/02/09 - 8 miles

My run tonight was not fun. I couldn't get to the gym until after 9 pm with family night and helping put the younger boys to bed. I had an upset stomach before leaving for the gym but when I have felt like this on other occasions, things usually work themselves out after a couple miles. Not tonight though. My stomach did a number on me and it made my run.....shall we say interesting? I wasn't able to keep an accurate time for my run because I stopped 4 different times to get a drink and rest hoping that whatever was going on would pass. Not to be. The slowest pace I ran was 8:34 and my run included 5x600 meter sprints. I imagine my overall time and pace was good but I don't know about my heartrate. Here's hoping that doesn't happen again.

Rest Day Quote

"Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things." - Joe Paterno