Sponsor

Wow, I really need to make a better effort at update this more often!! Regardless, here I am. So I've taken the last couple of weeks off from running to basically reset my body. I was feeling some pain behind my right knee that was being compounded by sitting in my cruiser at work. But after not running for about a week, it's feeling much better. I'll try it out today with a few easy miles and then gradually build back into a steady mileage week. I've got a long way to look ahead. My next planned BIG race is going to be the Vermont City Marathon again. Loved the course and I think with the amount of time I have to train, I can have a huge break out! The difficult part is going to be staying focused until then since the race isn't until May 20th! However, my plan at this point is to build strength and speed through the winter. I'm going to gradually build in double days to add mileage to my legs. On top of this, I'm hoping to get to a few indoor track meets, hopefully to build up my speed. After the winter season is over, my 14 week marathon plan will begin. I've spent the past few days building my training plan and it's going to be a killer training period. After having built in double days through the winter, I'll be looking at running double days every day, with 75 percent of my weekly totals being above 100 miles for the week. My highest week right now looks like 130, we'll see how I feel! But this is the time for me to get serious because I learned earlier this week that I've gained a sponsor. I sent in an application to SUGOI and received an email back saying I had been accepted into their brand Champion sponsor program. SUGOI makes some fantastic clothing and I'm very excited to promote their line of running apparel. This sponsor is going to be the key to my motivation! Well, let the training begin, wish me luck as it's going to be a tough winter! I'll keep everyone posted on how the training is going!

Clarence DeMar marathon

A rainy day for a marathon, but it was a good day for a race. Ran pretty consistant splits (minus a couple miles) but fell just short of my goal of breaking 3 hours. Ran a total 3:04.04. All in all a decent race, can't be mad at the time. BUT, it's a little frustrating flirting with 3 hours as much as I've done. I'm thinking that after the Otter Brook race next Saturday, I'm going to take a little time off and focus on cross training/gaining strength. Then I'll kick off a serious kick ass training regiment to prepare for either Boston or Vermont (maybe both!) I'll be working days for a little while, so 2-a-days sounds pretty good to me! Well, here are today's splits:

1- 6:07
2- 6:33 (this is the pace I'm looking for!)
3- 6:07 (damn it!)
4- 6:30
5- 6:30
6- 6:35
7- 6:32 (I see a rhythm!)
8- 6:43
9- 6:42
10- 6:42
11- 7:12 (what was this?)
12- 7:05 (lost the rhythm)
13- 6:33
13.1- 1:26.00 (half way there)
14- 6:52
15- 6:52
16- 7:03
17-8:32 (emergency bathroom break)
18- 6:53
19- 7:18
20- 7:14
21- 7:37
22- 7:37
23- 7:36
24- 8:21 (quad started pulling, this is where I lost 3 hours)
25- 7:04
26- 7:29
Finish- 3:04.04

Miles 21-24 destroyed me, if I haven't said it already, I hate hills!!! However, I felt much better this time around. Actually still feel pretty good, I'm not nearly as tight as I've been in the past. I do think though that it is time to get SERIOUS and just destroy the 3 hour mark since it's been teasing me for so long! We'll see what happens!!

Last Wednesday Workout

10X400 and 4X200 meter with 200M recovery between everything

400's
1- :71
2- :71
3- :73
4- :75
5- :74
6- :77 (oops, that one hurt)
7- :75
8- :75
9- :73
10- :74

200's
1- :33
2- :34
3- :34
4- :33

All in all, felt pretty good. Didn't have any insoles in my shoes and my right leg was pretty stiff. But felt pretty good about this workout. I think this week (9/16/09) I'll either do mile repeats or hill repeats to prep for Clarence DeMar!!

Wednesday Workout

Hit the track for a little speed work yesterday, prepping for a 5K on Saturday. Decided to run 2 sets of 4X400m with 200m rest in between.

1- :69
2- :73
3- :70
4- :71
400m Rest
5- :71
6- :72
7- :71
8- :70

After a day of circuit training with the Keene High XC boys, I felt absolutely stiff as a board. But def loosened up once I hit the track and felt amazing. I think I'm going to take it easy for a few miles today, then a couple easy miles tomorrow to rest up for the race. Heading to Northfield, VT tomorrow and will be toeing the line Saturday morning. Let's see what I've got in me!!!

CMC 5K

Just finished my first race since the Vermont City Marathon today. Decided that I would run several shorter races this summer to help build my strength and leg speed with hopes that it will improve my marathon time. So I decided to kick start the summer, I would run the Cheshire Medical Center Sports Medicine 5K this morning. Having worked for 5 hours leading up to the race (2 am to 7 am), I felt a little flat when I first got there. But that quickly subsided when I let the excitement of racing get the better of me. My goal was to hit a 17:00 5K, but I fell a little short placing 2nd overall in 17:33. I found that I went out a bit too fast, payed the price on the second mile and then found my pace on the final mile. All in all I'm pleased with my effort, and it gives me something to work with for my summer training. Plus, placing second earned me a small money reward, which really gave me something to work for this summer. Cash prizes rock!!! Well, I'll be taking to next 3 weeks or so easy since I'll be in CA with the military and won't be able to run much. But my next race will be 4 on the 4th when I return. As for today, here are my splits:
Mile 1: 5:18
Mile 2: 5:52 (oops!)
Mile 3: 5:40
Last .1: :40 (or something around there)

Just finished the Vermont City Marathon this past Sunday. Semi disappointed since I missed my goal time by 3 minutes, but overall happy. Took a couple days off and now back to the old grind. Ran 5 miles today (5/29) and felt absolutely amazing. We'll see how I feel over the next few days, but I'm thinking about racing next Saturday in a 5K in Keene. Time will tell. As for the next marathon (yes, I have the itch), thinking either the Clarence DeMar again or trying the Baystate Marathon. Maybe both (using Clarence as a training run)!! But the training won't start until I get back from Military Training in CA on the 27th of June. I'll be trying to keep the base while I'm there, but there will def be no time for long runs (nor any place to really run!!). But it will be time to kick it up a notch when I get back!