900!

With only hours to spare I hit my goal of 900 miles for 2013. While this doesn't triple my mileage from 2012 -- 307 -- it's still not bad. As you can see from the photo it was a little chilly, 8 felt like -12.

This month has been tough to get out and run in. If it isn't the single digits temps and negative wind chills it's the ice and snow. I'm happier dealing with the former than the latter because at least then I don't have to worry about falling.

I never would have thought that I would do so much in 2013. From a year ago where my longest run was seven miles to finishing a full marathon while also running three halves, I couldn't be happier.

2014 will be a year of adjustments. In the short term I am running two half marathons in January, a 5K in March and a 10-miler in April. I am also planning to train with a couple of friends for the Wisconsin Marathon on May 3 in Kenosha. I am not committing to run the marathon -- baby is due the end of May -- I need to see how Rory and the kid are doing and I can't have training interfere with any baby classes and getting the nursery together.

But there's a possibility I may do it. I'm going to keep running and since the people I normally run with are training for it there's no harm in keeping up with them. It's also a lot less expensive than other marathons and doesn't sell out so I can do it last minute and Kenosha is only an hour away.

Beyond that it's tough to say what will happen in 2014. I would like to maintain fitness for the half but that's probably a pipe dream once the kid arrives. But hopefully I'll be able to get some miles in still and maintain a 10K at the very least.

2013 has been a great year in the vast majority of respects and I only look forward to better things in the coming year!

Chasing 900

It's been a rough week. Last Friday the wife was laid off from her job of seven-years. I bailed on my long run because I didn't want to leave her alone. Still got six in later that morning but my head wasn't in it.

Of course it was the day before where I signed up for two half marathons trying to save a few bucks, I want to do the races but am annoyed with the timing. But I am doing the Polar Dash 14 miler -- for 2014 -- and the F3 Half Marathon, both in January.

This week I've gotten some workouts in, hit boot camp three days, ran 3.5 on Tuesday, another 3.5 on Thursday morning and then a quick five Thursday night. I should have gotten a couple extra in both mornings but it was really cold -- wind chills in the teens -- and I couldn't do it. The Thursday night run was the beginner's running group, since nobody else wanted to run five with the 10K group I did and these guys were quick. They all beat me back and I averaged a 10:40 pace.

Tomorrow is 13 with the group, where I'll pass 800 miles for 2013. Along with the upcoming Turkey Trifecta I am not going to try and pass 900 miles for 2013, which will tripe my mileage from 2012. I'll have to average about 20 miles till the end of the year, it may be a little tough but I think I can do it.

Work is getting in the way of my running problem

Not exactly, but work is getting in the way of my blogging.

I did get some miles in last week, five on Tuesday, four on Saturday and seven on Sunday. Had some personal matter pop up that kept me off the roads. Boot camp on Friday and Saturday last week kicked my ass, my upper body was really sore for the run to boot camp Saturday. And then that workout kicked my ass so bad I got a ride home.

The seven I got in Sunday were rough. Legs and upper body were sore from the previous workouts but the time wasn't awful.

Did the same seven miles on Tuesday morning though and cut almost two minutes off my time. Was feeling sluggish for the first half of the run but managed to flip the switch.

Boot camp on Wednesday and Friday. Will get four or five in Thursday morning and a couple more in with the beginner's that evening. Will hopefully get 13 in this weekend, that's the plan at least.

Signed up for all parts of the Turkey Trifecta. Should be a fun week.

Getting back into it

11/24 am: 3 miles: 34 minutes: 11:14 pace
11/24 pm: 2 miles: 27:09: 13:30 pace
11/26: 9.1 miles: 1:49:17: 12:01 pace

Work has been busy and keeping my from blogging. I'm starting to try and ramp things up again. The Thursday morning run was pretty easy, though we had a brief spell of winter weather last week and the runs were cool.

Thursday evening was week two of the beginning runner's program. I has three runners this time and they seemed to do pretty well.

Saturday's nine miler was up at Skokie Lagoons with a couple of fellow ERC members. I was a bit sore after but was fine the next day.

Skipped boot camp Monday morning, feeling worn out, but am planning six miles tomorrow, probably three on Thursday and then going to do the four mile run to and from boot camp Saturday. I'll also do boot camp Wednesday and Friday.

Catching up

My third pair, these are pretty bright.

10/19: 3.6 miles: 42:23:11:33
10/22: 5.1 miles: 57:23: 11:15 pace

Feels good getting back out there and getting some miles in. I'm trying to take it easy and avoid the temptation for a long run but that may change on Saturday, might head up to Skokie Lagoons and get at least eight in, maybe more.

I am a man without a training plan right now. The next big race is the Schaumburg Half Marathon on Nov. 30. Between now and then I should get a 10 and maybe even a 12 miler in. I'm thinking this week might be the 10-miler and try to get the other one in Nov. 9 or Nov. 16.

I should start breaking in my new pair of shoes. Yes, I bought my third pair of Adidas Boost earlier this month at Road Runner. They were on sale for $40 off and I couldn't pass them up. I' at 265 miles on my current pair and will most likely need the new pair before the end of November.

The other thing I'm doing the next few weeks is volunteering as a group leader for a beginner's running program in downtown Evanston. That was my first run after marathon. I was doing run two minutes, walk one minute for 20 minutes with the group. I'm not sure if I'm going to stick with this group, do the 5K group or something else.

I'm enjoying it, I'm glad I can help other people find some fun in running.

10/1 run - Feeling stronger

7 miles: 1:19: 11:17 pace

Two good runs in a row, that hasn't happened in awhile. The ankle is feeling a lot better, I'm glad I took a break last week to give it some rest. I would say I'm about 90% and will hopefully be 100% by 10/13 but I expect to be limping after the marathon.

Had my first deep-tissue massage yesterday. My right calf had been tight for a long time, it would eventually loosen up during a run, but a friend suggested getting worked on. I expected it to be more painful -- there were definitely moments of discomfort -- but it wasn't as bad as I thought. It's also a day later and I don't have the same tightness in my calf as before. I'll be curious to see how I feel after Thursday's run.

The masseur said my legs were "complicated." I don't stretch/foam roll nearly as much as I should and have been fortunate to not have more issues. Something else to focus on in the future.

While I have been filled with fear and dread coming up to 10/13 I am starting to get real excited. This video of the course didn't help.

Six miles tomorrow, boot camp and eight on Saturday. Running with the ERC folks Saturday, looking forward to it since it's been awhile.

9/22 - 20-miler

20 miles: 4:01:52: 12:03 pace

As I think about my 20-miler the same phrase keeps running through my head: could have been worse, could have been better.

My ankle was bugging me on this one from the start but around mile 10 it really started barking. I'm on a strict icing regiment all week and will also probably be taking it easy from running. It's better when I'm on it but is definitely sore. I have three weeks to rest it up and let it heal, I might do some biking to mix it up and get some other cardio.

After the marathon I'll have some work to do to fix the instability in my ankles. I already know what I have to do, now it's just a matter of getting stronger.

On the positive note, with everything bugging me I was only 10-seconds off the pace I had for the majority of my long runs.

Most likely taking Tuesday off, maybe I'll try to get a bike ride in. Wednesday I'll hit boot camp and then maybe try a short run Thursday to see how I feel. Have a 10K Saturday I was looking forward to but might have to take it easy on that one and was planning to do another six on Sunday because my training plan calls for 12 this weekend.

And for anyone running a marathon, I cannot recommend the CARA Ready to Run enough. It's not the expensive and you get to do a 20-miler with aid station and a party after. The route from Montrose Harbor south along Lake Shore Drive is also pretty scenic.

Here's my GPS route from the run, I was interested to see the mile signs so close together.

9/19 run - DOMS

4.1 miles: 48:46: 11:52 pace

DOMS -- Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness -- has been creeping on my this week. The two boot camp sessions I attended this week focused on glutes, lower back, legs and core. Tuesday I just ran through it before my body could tell what was happening but today was a different story. I didn't feel all that bad or slow but clearly I was and am battling soreness.

I also had to cut this run short because of weather. I was about two miles in when I started seeing lightning off in the distance. It was far enough away so I was concerned and the drizzle felt nice. But a half miles later the strikes were getting closer and thunder was moving in so I bailed. I'll run in a lot of weather but lightning isn't one of them.

I would like to get some type of run in tomorrow but it will be in the afternoon. I've been dragging ass all week and need a decent sleep. The question is will I just do an easy three or be ambitious and do six.

Big 20-mile run on Sunday, weather is looking pretty good, should be in the 50s when we start and it's only supposed to get into the upper 60s. Debating carrying fluids, there are eight aid stations, which will probably be plenty but still thinking about it.

9/12 run - Still a little tender

6.1 miles: 1:08:08: 11:13 pace

Passed 600 miles for 2013 with this run, just about twice what I ran all of 2012. Will be curious to see where I end up at the end of the year after the marathon.

Took a couple of days off to rest the ankle. It was feeling all right yesterday and this morning but was bugging me a bit during the run. The discomfort isn't bad -- one or two on a 10 scale -- will be icing and bracing again. I'm thinking about running with the brace too, though I'm afraid that could be a disaster.

Will take it easy as much as possible but don't know if there's a whole lot I can do. I'm still going to do my 16 this weekend and 20 the next and get some runs in between. I start the taper after that and can do my best to heal up but I have a feeling I'm just going to have to deal with this and hope it gets better.

If anyone has other advice I would be up for hearing about it.

8/31 run - August wrap up

18 miles: 3:32:10:11:50 pace

Last run of August was a doozy. Ran Skokie Lagoons again. Started at 5:30 am and about a mile in it started raining. Luckily it only rained for about 10 minutes but it was quite the downpour, started out wet and stayed that way for the next three plus hours.

We parked in a different spot this time around so I was able to refuel/rehydrate, making this run a little bit easier than the last one ... well as easy as running 18 miles can be. If I had to rank the long runs the past three weekends I would say the 16 miles last weekend was the best, though my pace was the exact same as the 18 miler. The 15-miler two weeks ago was six-second a miles faster and I felt like I really struggled on that one, running out of water around mile 15.

It's all relative, I felt pretty out of it after the run. I took my first ice bath -- not horrible -- and had a nice three hour nap after heading out for the evening. Though I definitely wasn't firing on all cylinders. Had a headache creep up on me and left me feeling out of it.

It's the next day and my left ankle is a little tender but nothing more than usual. Otherwise I'm feeling pretty good. Slept for a good nine plus hours and with the holiday Monday get another day to recover and sleep in. I might try to go for a short shakeout run tomorrow just to get the blood flowing.

Otherwise, 10 miles on Tuesday, boot camp Wednesday morning, speed work in the evening, four miles on Thursday and maybe boot camp Friday. I'm doing the Chicago Half Marathon on Sunday so a lot of what I do later in the week will depend on how I feel.

Six weeks till the marathon and I would be lying if I said I was ready. These long runs have taken a lot out of me and it's going to be a challenge. My goal seriously is to finish, which I can do, but it's not going to be easy. Only one more big run left, just need to stay healthy for the next few weeks.

August was a heck of a month: 128 miles.

8/28 and 8/29 - Speed it up, shake it out

8/28: 3.1 miles: 31:50: 10:14 pace
8/29: 4 miles: 45:32: 11:23 pace

I had a frustrating work day on Wednesday. I'm a trade journalist, which can sometimes mean you're a industry hack, but that's not me. I aim to write interesting stories about the different technologies out there to inform my readers so they can make educated decisions.

What has become more of a trend recently is that marketers and PR folks don't want to provide an executive to chat but would rather provide email responses. These responses typically are so water downed and sanitized that they're not worth writing about.

So on Wednesday I finally get some headway on a story I've been following for nine months and they don't want to give me an exec but email responses. I was more than a little annoyed. That coupled with a couple of other minor things put me in a dismal mood.

What does this have to do with running? Well I went to the Evanston Running Club speed workout that evening and it helped me forget about my bad day. In the past I may have popped a couple of beers and dwelled but running was a far healthier way to deal with my stress.

As for the speed workout, it was 1600 meter repeats, that's four laps around the high school track. I knew this was the workout going in and was not looking forward to it but it went well. It was hard -- don't get me wrong -- but it was a good workout and I don't feel like I did that bad and I actually passed a couple of people.

Thursday morning I did a four mile shakeout run just to get the legs moving again. The legs were a bit heavy and tight but not too bad.

Friday I rest and 18 on Saturday. Wish me luck.

Thoughts on fueling, random notes

Since I've been having issues after hitting about 13 miles a couple of runner friends seem to think I may not be fueling enough during these long runs. I typically take a Cliff Turbo Shot gel before any run longer than six miles and for any run 10 miles or more I will take some Cliff Shot Blocks.

This past week's 16-miler was the first time I went through a whole package of the shot blocks. Took three a mile five and the other three at miles 12. I was probably right on with where I took it at first but probably should have fueled earlier than mile 12.

Going to try every hour on the hour from now on, have to be more consistent. I'm also debating going with a 50/50 water Gatorade mix in the hydration belt. especially this week, it's supposed to get warm and muggy again which is making me not look forward to my 10-miler tomorrow.

Random notes:

• I need to find some new anti-chaffing stuff. The Body Glide is fine for five or six miles but doesn't work for me much past that. Since I have psoriasis some parts of my body are more prone to chaffing than others. One the plus side I don't feel it until I'm in the shower, on the downside I look like a stabbing victim when I'm done with my run. 
• On the too much information front: Nipple bandaids are happening. Part of this is psoriasis as well but unlike the other parts of my body these hurt when I'm running so precautions have to be taken. 
• Bought a long-sleeved base layer. Have a feeling I'm going to need it at some point and am just hoping it doesn't make me look like 10 pound of crap in a five pound bag. That one may also fall into the TMI category. 

8/13 run - What month is it?

7.1 miles: 1:17:23: 10:50 pace

It could have easily been late September or October when I woke up this morning, with temps in the low 60s and a brisk breeze out of the north. I'm not complaining, I would run in that everyday of the week if possible, mid-50s are even better for running. I know I was bitching back in the spring about not getting warmer temps, but this summer had been perfect for running. I'm just hoping this doesn't mean a warm October, I don't want temps anywhere near the 70s for the marathon.

Good run this morning, though the legs are now a bit heavy form the run and combination of dead lifts/squats from Monday's boot camp session. I need to work some thing out with the foam roller.

I keep thinking about the 15-miles this weekendI'm trying not to be intimidated but I am a little bit. Next week the Tuesday runs go up to eight miles. Thursday will stay the same at about four miles, which I'm actually going to do this week as well.

8/10 run - Starting to get real

10.7 miles: 1:59:37 11:11 pace

This was my last sub-two hour run until I taper for the marathon. The run went well, even though it was a bit muggy -- WeatherBug said 67 degrees but 90% humidity when I walked out the door. 

I had trouble flipping the switch, my mind was going a million different directions during the run. I'm on deadline for work, helping plan a conference and was finishing a home improvement project yesterday, all of which were jumping through my head as I ran yesterday. 

Can't complain about the run, still breaking in new shoes, so my feet were bugging me a little bit. I did have a new/odd muscle cramp on the inside of my left knee. Had to stop for a minute and stretch it out but it went away. All in all, I'm feeling pretty good. 

Slight change to the training schedule. I'm running the Chicago Half Marathon on Sept. 8. I was supposed to running 18 that weekend so I'm moving it up a week. So the next three week long runs will be 15, 16 and then 18. This is what O'm talking about when I mean things are getting real. 

I have next weeks run mapped out and depending on how true that route is I'll use the same one the following week but add a mile. Not sure what I'm going to do for 18 yet. 

Next week I'm also stepping back my boot camp sessions to just Monday and Wednesday. Tuesday will be a seven mile run and four on Thursday. 

7/16 run - Oh, the humidity

3.7 miles: 40:06: 11:10 pace

It was 75 degrees with 80% humidity at 5:30 am. That's really all I have. My plan was to do four to five miles but the group wasn't feeling it and in retrospect once I got out there I wasn't feeling it either.

The forecast calls for cooler temps Sunday but nothing on the humidity. Was contemplating wearing the fuel belt but with aid stations every 1.7 or so miles I don't think it'll be necessary. The weather is going to make this a tough race. One of the woman from the run club who has numerous half marathons under her belt says her goal is to just finish. That's sort of making me rethink my expectations.

I did the 13.1 in 2:37 a couple of weeks ago in awful condition and was hoping for less than 2:30. Between the adrenaline of a race and aid stations to stay hydrated I still thinking it's doable. That's still going to be my goal but I'm not going beat myself up if I don't hit it. Need to listen to my body and keep focused on October.

6/3 run

7.3 miles: 1:21:52: 11:16 pace

Felt great when I was out there this morning. Perfect weather, about 50 degrees, and just felt good. I added on a little more distance than I typically do on a Tuesday but didn't feel like passing the house again and doing another loop so I called it a day when I hit my street.

My complaint: I thought I was moving a little quicker. I felt really good, took very few walk breaks and felt like I was moving at a good clip. I was using my Nike+ watch to track my progress but I try not to look at it while I'm going, especially since this was just a normal seven miles, Tuesday run. I know what route to take that equals seven miles, I also didn't get stopped by any lights or the rain so I didn't pause the watch while I was stopped.

I need to figure out a balance with the watch. When I used the app on my iPhone I originally had it giving me updated every five minutes and then changed that to every mile. Sometimes it was nice to get the update but sometimes I would also get discouraged if it told me I was going slow.

When I'm running a new route and don't know the exact distance I pay a bit more attention, but that's typically not until later in the run. During the 10K last weekend I glanced a bit more at the pace and it did make me pick it up.

Slight change to the schedule this week, going to run three miles tomorrow afternoon since it's National Running Day and I'm a sucker for fake holidays. I'm still planning to do speed work on Thursday too and eight on Saturday.

5/30 run

4 miles: 44:40: 11:05 pace

Speed work this morning and I felt fine. IT bands are a little tight and need to spend some quality time with the foam roller so they don't become a bigger issue. On the bright side, I may be totally over my cold, no more sneezing or hacking. But now I have a weird allergy thing happening that's slightly swelling my left eyelid.

Need to get use to the hotter weather, almost 70 when I headed out at 5:30 am, not use to the heat but it was still an all right run.

Looked at the course map for the race Saturday and it's a 5K loop around Humboldt Park. Haven't done one like that before, should be interesting. If all goes well I'm hoping to be around 1:05. That will make me very happy and be a good way to kick off the marathon training.

And as I predicted, May was a quieter month for me running between the Tough Mudder and being sick.

May totals: 

50.2 miles: total time 9:15:25: 11:04 pace: 8,674 calories burned

The above doesn't include the Tough Mudder. June will be more, probably close to 80 miles, and only going up from there.

Catching up

My lovely wife and I after the
Road Runner fun run. 

5/25: 3.2 miles: 36:56: 11:34 pace
5/27: 4.1 miles: 46:29: 11:18 pace
5/28: 6.1 miles: 1:08:18: 11:16 pace

Still not feeling 100% after the Tough Mudder. This cold is lingering, heaviness in my chest and still blowing my nose after eight days. I just want to feel better.

I didn't mind it for the Saturday run, just felt good to get out there and stretch the legs. It was a fun run with Road Runner Sports in Wilmette. There were five of us and I ended up getting a pretty decent pace for the second half, running a sub-10 minute mile pace with the group leader. It felt good.

Monday's run was not nearly as good. Was struggling with the congestion. Probably should have called it sooner but wanted to get four miles in. This morning's run started out great but declined, once again was coughing and hacking. I really want this to subside.

Starting to warm up here in the Chicago area. On Monday I headed out around 11 am and it was cool, in the 50s. This morning it was mid-60s at 5 am when I headed out. It's going to be doing nothing but warming up from here on out.

Otherwise, back to boot camp in the morning, some speed work on Thursday and boot camp again on Friday. Saturday morning I'm doing the Humboldt Park Dream Run 10K. Hoping for a personal best but will really need this congestion to go away or I'm going to struggle.

Also, this is the start of my marathon training. Running three days a week from here on out until October. I'm loosely following Hal Higdon's Novice programs for my training. I say loosely because his programs are running four days a week and I have the half marathon in July that doesn't exactly fit into the plan.

June shouldn't be bad, July gets a little hairy but it's August and September where the tough miles come in and I know it'll be hot. I plan to try and get out the door by 5 am for those long runs in order to beat the heat.

5/16 run

2.5 miles: 26:57: 10:51 pace

Speed work, last workout before the Mudder. Would have been an uneventful run and meant to go a little farther but some GI issues made me cut it short. Hope that's the last I see of the stomach issues, don't know where it came from, haven't eaten anything out of the ordinary. Just chalking it up to a fluke thing.

80 degrees and sunny is now the forecast for Saturday. At least falling into the icy water might be a bit of a relief and should dry out pretty quick.

Lastly, want to thank everyone who has donated to the Wright-Way Rescue. I am overwhelmed with the outpouring of support this early on and I am happy to know that I have a great support system out there.

I've taken a quick and commanding lead among the other Wright-Way runners but considering that I'll probably be the last finisher I am fine coming up with more donations.

5/14 run

7 miles: 1:17:08: 10:55 pace

Slept like crap Monday night and woke up a half hour before my alarm was supposed to go off so I just got up and went for my run. Work is stressing me out right now and I have some anxiety about the Tough Mudder so between the two I couldn't quiet my mind for a good night's sleep.

The run wasn't great either, I couldn't flip the switch and just go with it. My mind kept wandering and I just struggled, wanted to find the groove but couldn't.

As for the Tough Mudder, I feel as though I've trained well but when it comes right down to it there's stuff that I haven't done. I'm kicking myself for not doing more -- any -- trail running and hills. I know people who have had some serious injuries during these obstacle course races and just want the team and I to get through this unscathed.

I've been like a junky watching YouTube videos of the obstacles and tips on how to deal with them. It's like being a football player and watching game tape to prepare.

Short speed work out tomorrow and then Friday off, will walk Matilda but otherwise it's about resting up. Goal is to get to Joliet around 10 am for the start.