Most of you know that for this spring, I’m training for a half marathon and not a full. Just to recap, I decided to go with the half thinking that my knee needed a break. Well I’m happy to report that so far it’s working. One big difference is that I have been following a training program from the book, Run Less, Run Faster. The basis of the book naturally is less running. No more running 6 days a week. They have you running only 3 days, and then 2 days of cross training, which could include swimming, bike riding, or using a rowing machine. Even if I would be training for a full marathon, it’s the same training program. Today for instance, I’m running 10 miles, and then I’m not scheduled to run again until Tuesday. So basically you have 1 day, Saturday, where you build up your mileage, and then 2 days, Tuesday and Thursday, where you do mainly speed work. Tuesday is the harder speed workout, and Thursday is really a mixture of easy running and fast running. I guess the end resault will be how I do on my race day, but at this point, I’m happy.
Archive for February, 2009
This time of year sucks
You know that time where it’s after football season, and before summer. The dreary days of February are the worst. It’s still cold, which makes it harder to run outside, and there’s no football to watch! There are very few races to run, and if you belong to a fitness center, it’s packed. The only thing that I have going is drinking beer. But I’m afraid for some of these micro brewers around here. With the economic conditions being what they are, I hope they all survive. I know Diane and I are doing our part in supporting the micro brews. You should see our recycle trash can. It’s full of empty beer bottles. I usually try and support the local (meaning Colorado) breweries, and right now I’m drinking a Red Truck IPA from Palisade Brewery in Palisade, Colorado. Mmmm……tasty. Diane is drinking a Single Track which is from the Boulder Brewing Co in Boulder, Colorado.
I did run 10 miles this morning, and I feel great. I took it easy and my goal was to be around a 9:00 minute pace. I ended at a 9:03 pace. Is that cool or what? I ran the first 5 miles with a guy I know, Ted, and he pooped out so I had to run the last 5 by myself. But it felt good and my knee feels fine. I’m trying to stick to the plan that’s outlined in the book, Run Less, Run Faster, and for the most part, I’ve been able to. One thing that they stress in the book is cross training, and I really haven’t done any of that yet. But Diane and I joined this fitness center near here so I’m going to go and use the stationary bike as my exercise for cross training. I am digging the run less part :). As it is, I only run 3 days a week. It’s 13 weeks to go until my half marathon, and I believe that training this way will help prevent any more knee issues, and, I hope, will keep me fresher. Actually taking a shower will keep me fresher.
I was diagnosed with MS about 6 years ago and I am one of the lucky ones. I don't have too many problems associated with it, and the disease has actually slowed down. I took up running 4 years ago just to see if I could do it. So far I've run 4 marathons in 2 years and 12 half marathons.