Quick update

Last week was almost a complete loss, though there was a time not too long ago where 10 miles in a week wouldn't have been a bad thing.

Winter has come early to the Chicago area and is taking its toll on my running. Did three miles on the treadmill last Tuesday and did another three with the beginner's on Thursday. Had plans to do 13.1 with on Saturday with the group but four inches of fresh snow made that difficult. Still "ran" 4.5 miles -- if you call an 16 minute pace running -- but it was tough.

I did get four in the morning, there was snow on the ground and it was chilly but not too bad. Planning for the same on Thursday and then trying to 13.1 with the group again on Saturday.

Turkey Trifecta wrap up

A sampling of the medals and shirts from 2013. 

Flying Turkey 5K: 29:36
Schaumburg Half Marathon Turkey Trot: 2:26:50

With Saturday's half marathon I have ended my 2013 racing season. And it was on a high note, with a new personal record cutting almost four minutes off my previous best half marathon time.

Thanksgiving morning was also a highlight, finally breaking 30 minutes for the 5K. Now I'm not going to lie, my official race time for the 5K was 30:05 but my watch had me going 3.2 miles and a new 5K record. The start of this race is so crowded and I had to do so much moving to get around folks I'm going with watch time on this one. This was another cold race, in the mid-20s and gusty winds.

Saturday's half marathon was nice weather, upper 30s. Didn't dress well for that one but still managed to cut some major time off my half. This was another nice race, a little crowded at the start but it eventually thinned out.

This was quite the running and race year for me. Fifteen races all told and a number of highs and lows. The Chicago Marathon would be on the low side of things. Yes, I finished but I wasn't happy with how that happened. Sadly, it will be a couple of years until I am able to avenge the marathon as Rory and I are expecting our first baby in May. The training for the marathon is just too time consuming.

On the up side are my last two races. I know it's just a 5K and 29:36 isn't fantastic but completing a race with a 9:30 pace makes me incredibly happy. And I like that my half marathon times are getting better and I'm inching toward a sub 11-minute pace for the half. After my one long run a couple of weeks ago I was really worried about that race. I also have to thanks one of my training buddies to helping me through that half, she kept me going.

For the rest of the year I have my goal of surpassing 900 miles, which should be doable as long as the weather and my health hold out. I'm also looking forward to doing intervals on the indoor track at Evanston Township High School starting in January.

As for 2014, it will be many fewer races. I have the Polar Dash 14-miler on Jan. 11 and the F3 Half on Jan. 25 and might also be doing the Get Lucky Half in March. I also signed up for the Lakefront 10-miler again. It's a great race and at $40 too good of a deal to pass up.

The Lakefront 10 will most likely be my last race for a while. With the baby due in May I will be taking some time off. I would like to do the Chicago Half Marathon in September and maybe the Monster Dash half in October but I'll have to see what my training regiment will look like. Next year it's likely I'll be pushing a jogging stroller for a couple of the Turkey Trots.

Also, Rory is not only pregnant but out of work. That said, boot camp is coming to an end for me at the end of December and I'm going to join a gym and find some classes that can fill in where needed. Also, can't splurge on race fees with one income.

Lincolnwood 10K

6.2 miles: 1:06:47: 10:45 pace

Turns out I was being optimistic when I said it was going to be in the 20s Sunday. It was 13 felt like three degrees. This was my coldest race but I'll have the opportunity to beat it with the two halves I'm running in January.

A year ago this was my first 10K and I was a good couple of minutes quicker this year but sadly about a minute off my personal best. This is a great race though, inexpensive, nice long-sleeved tech shirt, flat and well marked course. It doesn't hurt that it's three blocks from the house either.

I did end up going to for a little shakeout run Saturday, 3.7 miles. It wasn't as cold but the wind was gusting making that run really tough.

Did boot camp Monday morning, will probably do around 3.5 Tuesday, boot camp Wednesday and Flying Turkey 5K Thursday morning. Going to try and keep up with the fast cousins to see if I can break 30. Then the last part of the Turkey Trifecta, the Schaumburg Half on Saturday.

Woo hoo, negative splits!

Worn out

I need a break, not necessarily just from running but from the daily grind. Work --- don't get me wrong I love my job -- has been hectic. Finishing the fall and winter issue almost back to back and then having to get another supplement done on the heels of that has been stressful. Combine all that with the marathon squeezed in, a conference that we programmed and the wife getting laid off and I'm a little burned out.

Next week is Thanksgiving so I'll get a couple of days off and am thinking about taking some additional time off in the next couple of weeks. I just need a break.

I didn't get the full 13 in last weekend, did 12 though and it was all right, I miscalculated the distance and didn't feel like passing my car and coming back. I was also running out of time since some of the people I was meeting were running late. I wanted it to go better but I'm not hurt. I didn't run Tuesday because I had a stomach thing that kept me up a fair amount of the night. My five mile run this morning less than stellar but hopefully having a bad run before a race is a good thing.

I did boot camp Monday and Wednesday and am planing to go Friday. Saturday will be a rest day and then Sunday will be part one of the Turkey Trifecta, the Lincolnwood 10K. Looking like all parts of the Trifecta will be chilly, Sunday may be in the 20s.

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.

I'm troubled

Signed up for two half marathons in January. In Chicago. Yeah, I'm a little crazy. Polar Dash 14-miler and the F3 Half Marathon here I come.

I'll admit that I like running in the cold more than the heat and that if it's in the teens during these races there's a certain amount of bragging rights. "Oh, you ran a half marathon on May, cool. I ran one in below zero wind chills!"

Yeah, I'm sick and troubled.

Runs this week have been fine. Planning 13 tomorrow, which should be interesting since we did a lot of lunges and squats in boot camp this morning. I need to recommit to boot camp and eating clean. I would like to drop another 20-pounds and while I love running but it's the weight training that really makes that happen. Through all the mileage I put in during marathon training my weight pretty much stayed the same. That's mostly because I was hungry all the time.

I also need to break in the new pair of Boost, hit 300-miles on the red pair this week so I know there's only so many more miles left in them before I start getting some aches and pains.

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.