Run Rachel Run

My dear sister Rachel, who can recite everyone of my blogs by heart, contributed with a guest blog today:

I am so excited to be a guest contributor to the blog today! I slept in this morning, which was wonderful, and got up around 9:45. Proceeded to eat my morning staple – Honey Nut Cheerios, and then Anne and I left for our run in Central Park – our first outdoor run of the season! It was about 30 degrees out so I wore my running tights, t-shirt, long-sleeve dri-fit, and new Nike windbreaker jacket (same as Josh’s). Also wore gloves and a hat. Once in Central Park we were moving pretty fast and I got hot so I took off the hat and gloves. There were a lot of others out running, but mostly tourists in the horse carriages and skaters at Woolman Rink. Unlike Joshie's normal entries, we did not make any bathroom stops (although we do know where all of them are in the Park!) After a nice 3 mile loop in the park, Anne and I made our way back to her apartment (about a mile from CP), where once we stopped running, we immediately froze. Afterwards I, too, enjoyed my care package from Zabars! Thanks Mom!

Man in Tights

Today I went for my first outdoor run of the winter, 5 miles up Lake Michigan in about 25 degree weather with cloudy skies and very little wind. I overdressed since it was my first time out and I wanted to error on the side of way too warm. In college I would almost never wear tights, but I've come around since then and don't mind them so much anymore. They are also much warmer than warm-up pants. This run also made me remember how much I prefer running outside to treadmills. Truly a great way to start a Friday. However, the absolute best part was coming home to find a Zabars Care Package waiting for me in the lobby. A dozen bagels, two cases of cream cheese, a pound of nova lox, chocolate babka, and rugula. Awesome!

The Old vs. The New

The Old Me would slap the New Me in the face for running 5 miles on a treadmill today. I haven't run or done much working out in the past two weeks except for playing in 2 flag football games. With no recruiting events this week, I finally had time to get in a run after my afternoon class, and since it was raining, I hopped on the treadmill for 5 miles at 6:45 pace.

The Old Me would never let this happen. He would have braved the darkness and lightening storm for a 1 hour run. The New Me runs 5 miles on a treadmill in the sanctity of the Aqua building.

The Old Me had a strict no treadmill policy; the New Me calls a 40 minute flag football game a sufficient workout for the day. Feels good to sweat again though.

The Old Me ran out 6-7 days per week. The New Me eats 6-7 meals per day.

The Old Me had a hard time going to sleep if he didn't get a workout in that day. The New Me spends so much time studying and recruiting he doesn't really sleep.

The Old Me weighed about 10 pounds less than the New Me.

The Old Me used to watch a DVR'd DWTS and Glee. The New Me still does that.

The Old Me boycotted Starbucks Java Chip Frappuccino's during training. The New Me has 2-3 per week (and they are so good).

The Old Me used to be consumed by fitness. The New Me is not, and it's actually quite nice... for now.

The New Me is taking a three-week hiatus once finals are over.

November update

I have run about five times since the marathon. Two weeks ago I ran the Hot Chocolate 15k after a series of nights out. I was supposed to meet my friend Caroline downstairs 60 min before the race but I overslept. After repeated phone calls, I woke up and make it to the start line about 15 minutes before the race. With minimal warm-up, and in 30 degree temperature, I managed to place 2nd (out of 15000) in 51:13. I ran 5:30's pretty much straight through from start to finish and felt pretty good, but couldn't lift with the winner over the last mile and change. I don't know how I did this, but I am quite amused by it.

The past couple weeks I have exercised by playing flag football and not much else. I am too busy with school and recruiting to run daily, and I'm OK with that for now. Hopefully, by mid February I will have an internship and have time to get back in decent shape, but for now, I'm enjoying my break and not stressing about it. First time in a long time I don't feel the urge to run.

Today I ran 7 miles

... because I felt like it! A step in the right direction.

Also, wanted to go further on Lakeshore Dr. South, but Obama's people wouldn't let me pass.

Season's Over

I started this blog as a training tool to keep me motivated during my mileage build-up for the marathon. I always thought there would be a grand recap after I finished-akin to my Alcatraz blog in May. I'm not motivated to write this blog because, quite frankly, I'm not satisfied with my marathon. My girlfriend gave me crap about not blogging for the last three weeks, and I figured I owe it to my reader(s?) to get this out there. In all seriousness, this is long overdue and I should have written it sooner.

I used to think finishing a marathon was no big deal. I still do. Anyone who puts in the miles can will his body 26.2 miles. Every year hundreds of thousands of people in America prove me right. When I started training, I had a very ambitious goal in mind--to break 2:30. I did not accomplish that goal. My goal for this blog is to reflect on why I fell short of my goal, and I what I could have done better to prepare.

The worst thing I ever did leading up to the marathon was race the Chicago Half Marathon. I had myself convinced that I would run the marathon at a modest pace, no faster than 1:15 a the halfway mark, and then do what I could coming home. I showed up at the CHM four weeks earlier with a PR of 1:13, and left with a PR of 1:10:45. My head immediately started wandering to "what that translates to" and I figured around 2:26-2:27. What that translates to, is a 1:10:45 half marathon (5:24 per mile), and what it means for a full marathon, is precisely shit.

My training following the half marathon was not great. I came down with bronchitis a week later, and it never really went away until about 4 days before the marathon. I didn't miss much time from running, but my mileage fell a bit more than I would have liked and I was jogging the miles a little slower than before. The last four weeks of training were: 50, 45, 42, 35. As the mileage got lower, I started getting antsy, but this really had a minimal effect on my running.

Still, I felt great on race day, and lining up, had no aches, pains, or concerns (except the heat, 65 degrees at the start, it would get up to 75 by the time I finished).

I really don't remember every detail of the race but here goes: my goal for the day was to run 17:30-17:40's for 5k as long as I could. I figured the excitement of the day would keep me going. That strategy might have worked really well, except I averaged about 17:15 for the first 20k, and came through two minutes faster than I wanted to. I took a power gel at the hour mark, seemingly without issues at the time. I hit the half marathon at 1:13:02, made it another 5k at that pace, and then fell apart. At mile 16, I had to pull over and hop in a port-o-let for about seconds. Over the next 8 miles I averaged about 6:30-7:00 minute miles, and my body basically shut down on me. I would stop periodically at water stations to make sure I took in sufficient fluids to battle dehydration. With two to go, I made one last stop at the John, and then calculated the pace I would need to run to break 2:40. Fortunately, I was able to will myself home at 6:00 pace over the last two miles to finish in 2:38:53. At the time, I was happy just to cross the line, because I was having serious thoughts of dropping out due to my stomach issues and dehydration.

My friends were phenomenal and really picked me up after the race. The support and congrats provide the emotional boost I needed. The truth is, I am not remotely happy with the last 10 miles of that race, and wish I had a mulligan. 2:38 is a very good time for a marathon, but doesn't satisfy me. That's a completely arrogant statement, but it's true. It's disappointing to not accomplish your goals, even if the results still seem amazing to everyone else. Goals are personal, and regardless of how high or low you set the bar, at the end of the day, all that matters is you did everything you could to accomplish them. That's my comfort. I did everything I could possibly do to get myself ready to break 2:30 for a marathon, but it just didn't happen for me on that day. I have to own that it just wasn't my day. I had some bad luck with weather, got a little over-excited with pace, went for it, and missed. There might be another day.

I haven't run much in the past 2+ weeks, hence the lack of blogs. I'm scheduled to run a 15k in 10 days, but I'm not sure if I will line up. For now, my goal is just to enjoy this wonderful time in my life that is business school, and recharge my batteries. At some point, I will be inspired and motivated to train for something again, but right now, I'm just completely burnt out from running and being "on" for the better part of 2010. My first priority right now is to do great in school, and get an internship for next summer. I'll probably blog sporadically for a bit, but once recharged, I'll be back.

I can say that it's been a phenomenal year. Starting with a 1:13 1/2 marathon in February, to 15:20 at Carlsbad, to a great showing at Alcatraz, winning two gold medals at the Allianz Games, and finishing my first marathon. What a great season! The only race I have left to cross off my bucket list is the Ironman Triathlon... someday.

Go time!!

We're finally on the eve of race day and I can finally say I'm feeling great. I have had a really uncomfortable taper, between my "Booth" flu two weeks ago, and ongoing cough, but today I feel ready. I have been leaving the Garmin at home the last two weeks and doing pretty much only easy runs for time, not distance.

Starting Monday this week, I ran 42, 40, 39 (incl 3 x 2 min hard), 38, 30, and 30 minutes. Today I met Rob and Vanessa at 8 am and ran South along Lakeshore one last time. The bike path was bustling with marathoners, and even the elites were out prepping. Merga and Sammy W. were out doing strides on the grass. I've been trying to stride out more this week, hoping that my turnover is still there (it is!), and doing anything possible to get my legs fresh. Today has been a couch day and now Heather and I are going to the Social Network so I can stay off my feet.

Yesterday, we went to the Marathon expo for a couple hours, which was very impressive. I have never actually seen such a big expo at any race event. We scanned all the booths and took free samples of energy bars before buying some marathon swag at the Nike expo. After a "mocktail" event at Booth, we went over to Betsy's (another Booth marathoner) place where she was hosting all the Booth runners for a pasta party! Just like old time.

Tonight, there is a lady in my building who is racing that is hosting a pasta party for runners in the building so we may stop there. Then probably stopping by the free country festival in Millennium Park, then early to bed and a 4:30 a.m. wake-up call. Very excited! 20 hours to go!