Day #30 - A month into the journey . . . .

I celebrated my first month of marathon training by running this morning and by attending a yoga class tonight.  Looking back, I should have taken more time off to heal after the Chicago Marathon.  I just couldn't. The first month has been a challenge from a health perspective - a stained hamstring and thigh muscle. What has not been a problem is my desire to train.  I cannot imagine taking time off at this point. Staying healthy has become really important to me. Is it from getting a little older, having grandchildren, or thinking about how much I would miss my wife and family if self-inflicted poor health ended my life prematurely?  It is probably a combination of these and many other factors.

What I know is this - a sub-4-hour marathon is in my future.  It is not so much the time - but what it will mean in other aspects of my life if I can reach this goal.

Suggested marathon training playlist song - 'Let it Be' by the Beatles.

Day #30 - 4 Miles, 8.00 Pace, 1% Incline.

Day #30 - 75 Minute Hot Yoga.

Day #29 - Back on track with a double . . . .

It felt good to be able to run again this morning after a few days letting my shin splints heal.  They are not 100% but close enough.  24 Hour Fitness seems to be a gathering place for members of our ward.  We saw Clay Shubin and Christine Bezzant today. Clay has been struggling with a nerve issue that is not getting better.  It could cost him the ski season - which would kill him.  Let's hope for a recovery soon.

I ended the work day by attending a yoga class - Hot Power Fusion.  This class is more of a true yoga class in comparison to Hot Yoga.  The studio was filled to capacity - causing me to have to be in the middle of the room.  Not my favorite location - prefer the back corner. :)  The instructor today was a little 'out there'.  A lot of conversation about non-violence and practicing yoga; as it relates to muscles. I somewhat understood her point, but not fully and I was not about to ask questions. I was the only guy in the class with a shirt on - and that will not change.  CorePower Yoga is expanding rapidly around the country.  I should have bought a franchise. 

Suggested marathon training playlist song - 'Dreams (live version)' by Van Halen.

Day #29 - 4 Miles, 8.50 Pace, Treadmill.

Day #29 - 60 Minutes Hot Power Fusion Yoga.

Day #28 - Sabbath day is a rest day.

Day #27 - A little frustrated . . . .

My shin splints are better - but not good enough to run.  Therefore, I swam laps pretty aggressively for 50 minutes.  I was able to get the heart rate up and really felt like I worked out hard.  Sunday will be a rest day and then I will be back on track running early Monday morning. 

Kelly and I worked at the LDS Denver Temple on Saturday morning so I was not able to join the HRRC.  My experience Saturday morning taught me once again that faith is critical to a good and happy life.

Suggested marathon training playlist song - 'Higher Window' by Josh Groban.

Day #27 - 50 Minutes of Swimming Laps.

Day #26 - A change in plans . . . .

I woke up Friday morning with a strong case of shin splints.  Was it the extreme cold weather during the 5k, running on cement, a lack of warming up correctly?  I am not quite sure.  However, I realized a day off would be a good decision.  I spent the day with family - even venturing out to the mall for Black Friday. 

Learn more about shin splints - and avoid a common running injury.  Take a look . . . .

http://www.mylifetime.com/lifestyle/health/fitness/fix-shin-splints-now

I will be back at it tomorrow.

Day #25 - An early morning 5k . . . .

I participated in the Gobble Wobble 5k this Thanksgiving morning.  This was the first year of the event and they had more than 600 runners. I had to bundle up as the temperatures were single digits.  I was hoping for a 25:00 or better time - and ran it in 23:30.  Legs are feeling fine and no issues with my hamstring or thigh muscles.

The plan is to swim tomorrow and then run 10 miles on Saturday.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Day #24 - An easy swim before race day . . . .

A quiet day at the office followed by a nice swim.  I have found that swimming has been much more relaxing than it has been in the past.  Why?  I do not know.  Swimming is a great way to raise your heart rate with little or no impact on your joints.  Take a look at this website for information on the benefits of swimming to a runner. 

Running the Gobble Wobble 5k tomorrow morning.  My goal is to complete the race in 24 minutes.

http://swimming.about.com/od/swimworkouts/a/swim_benefit.htm

Suggested marathon training playlist song - 'Get Ready' by The Temptations.

Day #24 - 30 Minutes of Swimming Laps.

Day #23 - If you do it right . . . .

I started the day with an early morning run - and it went really well.  I have not been eating and drinking pre-run as regimented as my training plan defines.  However, I ate 1/2 of a whole wheat english muffin with a little peanut butter and honey and had my XTINGUISHER drink 30 minutes before my run.  I felt great and had a hard time not running much faster than Phillip wants me to.

I attended a 75 minute hot yoga class today as well - and took it really easy.  I still have a slight strain in my hamstring and thigh muscle and cannot afford for them to get any worse.  Sada is a really good instructor - and keeps the studio hot.  I do not sweat much so it feels terrific to be wringing wet afterwards.

Suggested marathon training playlist song - 'Fast Cars and Freedom' by Rascal Flats.

Day #23 - 4 Mile Run, 8.50 Pace, 1% Incline, Treadmill.

Day #23 - 75 Minute Hot Yoga.

Day #22 - A routine 4 miles . . . .

I completed a routine run this morning.  My plan for the week is to run 4 miles and a hot yoga class tomorrow, swim laps for 45 minutes on Wednesday, run a Thanksgiving 5k, a hot yoga class on Friday and then a 10 miler on Saturday.

Join me for the Gobble Wobble 5K Run / Walk on Thanksgiving morning at Clement Park.  Visit http://www.active.com/ for more information.

Suggested marathon training playlist song - 'Runaround' by Van Halen.

Day #22 - 4 Miles, 8.50 Pace, 1% Incline, Treadmill.

Day #21 - Sabbath day is a rest day.

Day #20 - Another double dip . . . .

I started the day meeting members of the Highlands Ranch Running Club at Max Muscle for a 7:00 am run.  Began the run in the fog with temperatures in the 20s but the skys cleared quickly and the views were great - but it was still quite cold.  The HRRC is really a great group of people to run with - so supportive.

It was Al's first run with the group and his longest run so far - 6 miles.  The course had plenty of hills, which is good for marathon training, and was on a smooth gravel path.  I decided to run with Al to provide support - it was actually a good run for me as my hamstring is still healing.  I know what it is like to begin training for my first marathon and a rule to live by is - the more the merrier.  Peter joined us for the last three miles.

I also worked in a 75 minute Hot Yoga class in the afternoon. 

Suggested marathon training playlist song - 'Saving Grace' (live version) - Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.

Day #20 - 6 Miles, 12.0 Pace, The Bluffs Trail.

Day #20 - 75 Minute Hot Yoga, CorePower Yoga.

Day #19 - Back in the pool, eventually . . . .

Kelly and I headed to 24 Hour Fitness early in the morning and thought it would be a routine workout.  I walked into the pool area and saw 'closed' signs.  I went to the front desk and was told, "Closed?"  I said that was what the sign said.  The front desk said they had no idea it was closed.  She tracked down a member of the maintenance staff who said, "I think it is a filter problem." Think?  Anyway, we drove to the Westridge Rec. Center.  I jumped in the pool and Kelly climbed on the bike.

Suggest marathon training playlist song - 'Blue Collar Man' by Styx.

Day #19 - Swimming Laps, 40 Minutes, Westridge Rec. Center.

Day #18 - Routine run . . . .

Today was just a routine run - nothing too exciting.  I had a chance to chat with Alison Brinkerhoff at 24 Hour Fitness. Alison is a great example of  'good things happen to good people'.  She was hard at work on the treadmill.  I will be back in the pool tomorrow morning and then I will run 8 miles with the Highlands Ranch Running Club on Saturday morning.

Gary C. suggested I drink XTINGUISHER 30 minutes before each run.  It really helps me get more out of my training.  If you are truly interested in getting healthy  - call Gary.  His contact information is in an earlier Post.

Suggested marathon training playlist song - 'Roll With the Changes' by REO Speedwagon.

Day #18 - 4 Miles, 8.50 Pace, 1.0% Incline, Treadmill, 24 Hour Fitness.

Day #17 - Rest day . . . .

Wednesday is my rest day this week.

Day #16 - Doubled-up today . . . .

It felt great to run again this morning and be back on my marathon training schedule.  I am really enjoying working out with Kelly.  Although most of the time we are both listening to iTunes, we can still see each other.  :)

Sleep continues to be an issue for me - what else is new.  Yoga has proven to help so I attended a hot yoga class after work.  I invited Al Prisco to join me - which he did.  Al has lifted weights for years and it shows.  However, flexibility is key to being a successful runner and yogo will be a huge benefit to Al.  Al did great and sent me a text message afterwards expressing how good he felt.  For anyone who thinks yoga is easy - think again.

Suggested marathon playlist song - 'Jet' (live version) by Paul McCartney and Wings.

Day #16 - 4 Miles, 8.50 Pace, 1% Incline, Treadmill, 24 Hour Fitness.

Day #16 - 75 Minute Hot Yoga, CorePower Yoga.

Day #15 - The pool today and then back on my feet tomorrow . . . .

My legs were still feeling the effects of the Mount Elbert climb so I learned from mistakes of the past and left my running shoes in the closet - and put on my swimming suit.  I completed 45 minutes of laps and then spent a few minutes in the steam room.

And I thought my wife wasn't a morning person.  As I was going back and forth in the lap pool she was on the treadmill, then the bike and then stretching.  To top this, on the way home she said, "Would you like to exercise 5 mornings per week?"  Really?  We're empty nesters - is there a problem with exercising in the evening?

Seriously, this is the benefit of having a workout partner.  They get you 'up and at em' even when you don't really feel like it.

I will be back on my feet tomorrow.  My running coach, Phillip Buckley, will be giving me a friendly phone call if the miles don't start clicking.

Day #15 - 45 Minutes of Swimming Laps, 24 Hour Fitness.

Day #14 - Sabbath day is a rest day.

Day #13 - Now you know why Friday was a rest day . . . .

Chris, Trevor and I headed to Leadville at 3:30 pm on Friday and pulled into the driveway back in Highlands Ranch at 6:30 pm on Saturday.  The highlight of our 27 hours away from home was a very challenging and exhausting hike to the summit of Mount Elbert.  Mount Elbert is the 2nd highest peak (elevation of 14,440) in the contiguous United States and has a steep incline.  Adding to the challenging nature of the hike were really cold temperatures, strong winds and more snow and ice than we had anticipated.  Our footing was, needless to say, uncertain at times. Nothing adds to the effort of a hike like having to break through snow. We had taken our snow shoes but decided not to take them on the hike.  Life lesson - be overprepared and 'if in doubt' err on the side of caution.  Better to have a tool and not need it, than to need a tool and not have it.

At the end of the day we had hiked 8 miles, climbed more than 4,400 feet, and spent nearly 8 hours summiting Mount Elbert. I was literally at a point of physical exhaustion. More than once I questioned whether I could get back to the car.  There was a point in time in which we set the goal of climbing just 25 steps before having to stop and catch our breath.

It was so windy at the summit we could only appreciate the view - which was spectacular - for 5 minutes before heading down the mountain. I worried we were going to be blown off the mountain.

We felt a great deal of satisfaction as we drove home.  The hike was like a marathon, there is a point (or many points) when your mind tells you that you cannot finish.  However, put one foot in front of the other and you will get home.

View from the top . . . .

Day #13 - Mt. Elbert Hike, 8 Miles, 4,400 Feet Climb in Elevation, 8 Hours. 

Day #12 - Two 'Rest Days' in one week . . . .

I know my plan is to workout six days a week - and I missed twice this week.  Off my game so soon?  Well, you decide.  I needed a day of rest before my Saturday workout.  I think you will understand when you read my Post tomorrow.

Good news - Al Prisco is going to run the Los Angeles Marathon.  It will be his first.  He is working with Phillip Buckley and Gary Connell (a very good idea) and has completed his first week of training.  Well done Al.

Day #12 - Rest Day.

Day #11 - I know it looks strange . . . .

I was back at the pool again this morning to give my hamstring and thigh a little more time to heal.  I introduced you to waterproof iPod cases and headphones yesterday - today the Swimmer's Snorkel.  I know it looks strange and other swimmers do a double-take when they first see you.  However, it takes so much strain off your neck and enables you to breath much deeper.  Deep breathing leads to more efficient lungs and many other benefits. Although it may just be me, I can swim longer with greater focus when using a Swimmer's Snorkel. Suggested marathon training playlist song - 'Crossfire' by Stevie Ray Vaughan.

Day #11 - Swimming Laps, 45 Minutes, 24 Hour Fitness.

Day #10 - Back at it . . . .

We arrived at 24 Hour Fitness bright and early and got to work.  Kelly jumped on the treadmill and I jumped in the pool.  I figured 45 minutes in the pool would be a great cross-training session and would be easy on my strained hamstring and thigh muscle.  I was able to workout aggressively without risking further injury.

To whomever invented waterproof headphones and iPod cases, thank you.  It is so much easier to swim laps with a little 80s rock to help push you along.  Suggested song for your marathon training playlist - 'Roll Me Away' by Bob Seger.

 

Day #10 - 45 Minutes of Swimming Laps, 24 Hour Fitness, 6:15 am.

Day #9 - Being flexible is okay . . . .

A bad night of sleep and a sore thigh changed my rest day from later in the week to today.  Iced the sore muscle and let it heal.  It is amazing how frustrating it can be to have to adjust a workout schedule.  I had to live with injuries during the final month of marathon training and that was no fun.  I need to be smart enough to work around health issues.

Diet suggestion - put down the salt shaker.  Make a commitment for the rest of the year that you will not add salt to anything. 

Day #9 - Rest Day.

Day #8 - Not another injury already . . . .

Was it the yoga, running and heavy yard work combinaton on Saturday or just a flare-up of a pre-marathon strain?  Whatever the cause my right thigh muscle is really tender. So against my usual 'run at all costs' mentality I rode the recumbent bike for 30 minutes and then ran at a slow pace for two miles this morning.  I was disappointed that I could not do my scheduled workout today.  However, I am not going to use an injury as an excuse and not exercise at all on days like this. I will do something six days a week to get prepared for my next marathon.

I know the best thing to do is to do nothing until I am completely healed from all nagging injuries and soreness from my last marathon.  I just cannot do the right thing in this case.

For some reason it is now so hard not to run longer distances at a faster pace. I have heard of people getting addicted to running and have even seen people running in a snowstorm as I have driven to work. Why in the world would someone run in the pouring rain or snow and freezing temperatures?  Whether good or bad - I am getting closer to understanding their mentality every day.  I need to remember, moderation in all things.

Kelly and I are going to get up early on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and run, walk, bike, lift weights, etc. at 24 Hour Fitness.  I much prefer to work out with someone else, and who better to exercise with then my wife.

Day #8 - 30 Minutes on Recumbent Bike, 2 Miles at a 10:00 Pace.

Day #7 - A year ago today . . . .

A year ago today, at this very time, I was limping towards Junior's Deli in Manhattan.  Lauren and I had finished the New York City Marathon earlier in the day and we were on our way to a high-calorie, high-fat meal.  Don't miss Junior's Devils Food Cheescake if you find yourself in New York City.

The experience was incredible.  It was so great to run with Lauren - a terrific memory.  I get emotional even thinking about it. There is a video Trevor took of us at mile seven with us laughing, smiling and feeling strong. I was not so happy-go-lucky later in the race. :) 

I remember boarding the bus in Manhattan at 6:00 am for the road trip to Staten Island - so nervous.  As the bus rolled onto the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge the view was overwhelming, more than 45,000 waiting to run 26.2 miles.  Where was the ING Tent, where was our Starting Corral, what if we missed our start time, etc.  The environment was crazy.  Although I had read every article on what running a marathon would be like, the only way to truly know is to do it.  I will share other memories of the NYC Marathon in future Blogs.

Day #7 - Sunday is a rest day.

Day #6 - A double dose . . . .

An early start to the day with 90 minutes of Hot Yoga - the studio is 105 degrees with humidity of 40%.  I really enjoy the sweat hot yoga generates as I am literally drenched by the end of class and feel great.  My daughter-in-law Kristy joined me at class today. To learn more about hot yoga take a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bikram_Yoga.

I learned the hard way that when the instructor says, "Take it easy and DO NOT overstretch" they mean it.  I tried to stretch too far when I was preparing for my last marathon and strained my hamstring.  I had to deal with a sore hamstring for my final month of training and during the marathon.  No fun.

After working in the yard, fall clean-up, and going to dinner and spending the evening with Kelly I headed to 24 Hour Fitness for a run.  Strange to be one of three people in the entire facility - me on the treadmill, one guy on the bike and one woman on the stairmaster.  A little weird.  Returned home at 10:00 pm and crawled into bed.

Day #6 - 9.00 Pace, 6.0 Miles, Treadmill.

Day #6 - 90 Minutes, Hot Yoga, CorePower.

Day #5 - I am all set to go . . . .

Question of the day:  If you do not push what you believe are your personal limits, how will you ever understand and realize your full potential? 

To clarify, when I mention 'diet' I do not mean losing weight - but an eating program.

Now that I have met with Gary Connell today, I am all set to go for the Los Angeles Marathon.  I was fortunate enough to meet Gary as I prepared for the Chicago Marathon.  I knew that diet and hydration were an imporant aspect of getting ready to run a marathon, but boy did I underestimate how important.  Gary is an expert on nutrition and especially in creating specific plans for people who are in training - not just for a marathon but for any athletic goal.  Of course, he can help people lose weight as well.

What a positive difference Gary's advice and planning had on my marathon performance.  He created a comprehensive plan and met with me every other week as the marathon approached.  I will cover this subject in much greater detail later as creating an appropriate diet is truly a science and the subject matter is fascinating.  

In addition, Gary is an ultra marathon runner.  His races are 30, 50 or 100 miles.  I know what you are thinking - that is crazy. I thought the same thing as well - but I am not so sure anymore. Not that I want to run 100 miles, but I am beginning to understand the value, in other aspects of life, by pushing yourself as far as you possibly can physically.

Gary can be reached at gary@maxmusclehighlandsranch.com or 303-358-4744.

Today is a rest day - no stats on a workout.

Day #4 - Aquaman . . .

I was experiencing aches and pain all over when I was training for the my first marathon.  I asked my son-in-law's father, Dr. Winston Tripp, how to deal with it.  His response, 'swim'. Very funny. However, he had a good point - swimming is known as an ideal way to get in shape and it is easy on your body.  Running experts have stressed cross-training is an important part of marathon training.

To be honest, I am not a huge fan of swimming but tonight I headed to the pool with Chris and did laps for 20 minutes.  My goal is to swim twice a week.

Day #4 - Swimming, Breast Stroke and Freestyle, Westridge Rec. Center.

Day #3 - You are going to need some help . . . .

Happy Birthday to my beautiful one-year old granddaughter Liza.  Her first birthday party tonight was a blast.  She is a little angel.

I had a productive lunch with Phillip Buckley today. What does lunch with Phillip have to do with my marathon training you ask?  Phillip is a running coach - and a very good one. There are more twists and turns (no pun intended) during marathon training then you can imagine.  There are also 100 different opinions on how to train for a marathon.  Although you can get a wealth of information from http://www.runnersworld.com/ I strongly suggest establishing a relationship with a professional running coach.  A good coach will design a custom program to meet your needs and will monitor your progress on a week-by-week basis.  A good coach will also keep you from doing something stupid - more on my pre-running coach mistakes in a future Blog post.

One of the most important advantages of using a running coach is their expertise in helping you deal with and recover from injuries during training - which will, trust me, happen to everyone.  During training for my last marathon I strained a hamstring, had issues with my left calf ,etc.  Phillips advise was an important part of my recovery and allowed me to run the race - which at one point was in jeopardy.

Whether you live in Colorado or in another state - Phillip can help you.  Phillip can be reached at rockynrunner@yahoo.com or 303.589.2260. 

I will not run another marathon without the assistance of a running coach.

Day #3 - 4.00 Miles, 9:00 Pace, Outdoors, 7:30 PM Start Time.

Day #2 - Namaste . . . .

I ran my second marathon 40 minutes faster than my first marathon - a huge change in marathon terms. There are a variety of reasons why my time improved so dramatically. I will discuss these reasons over the next few days - in no particular order.

I have to give my son Chris the credit for pushing me to practice yoga.  For years I have had knee issues, back issues, neck issues and during training for my first marathon - severe hip pain.  I finally listened to Chris and gave yoga a try. I walked into my local CorePower Yoga studio feeling insecure, out of place, and self-conscience.  I told the instructor how I felt and she assured me that I would enjoy the experience.  Seriously, as class started I wanted to sneak out the back door. I had no idea what they were talking about and had to look at the other class members just to figure out what to do. I practiced yoga during the final two months of training for the Chicago Marathon - my hip, back and knee pain disappeared.  My neck pain is better but is still an issue - I assume a broken neck of a few years ago will have a permanent impact.

Life lesson - be open to new experiences and do not let the potential to look foolish keep you from trying something new.  We never know what the positive domino effect will be of getting out of our comfort zone.

You can practice at a local yoga studio or you can buy a yoga DVD on-line or at Target, WalMart or other retailers and practice at home.

My plan is to attend two yoga classes per week.

Day #2 - Hot Yoga, 75 Minutes, CorePower Yoga.

Good questions . . . .

This Blog is going to be personal in nature.  I am sure that my marathon experiences are different than others who, for some reason, think that running 26.2 miles is a worthwhile cause and will provide to the runner something of lasting value.

I am an amateur runner.  I was not on my high school track team, I did not run cross-country; and in fact I have never run consistently at any point in my life - until two years ago.  So for those of you who think there is no way you can run a marathon - think again.

In order to stay motivated during the next four months, I am going to commit to Blog daily and at the end of each posting list my workout for the day.

Why run another marathon and why Blog about it? 

There are a variety of reasons why a third marathon is in my future - although many of the reasons are truly hard to explain.  It certainly is not the terrific feeling you have when you hit the 'wall', the pain in your legs is overwhelming, and your mind is telling you, "You are done, there is no way you can finish this race".  It is not the sense of despair you feel when you run past other participants who due to a variety of reasons are lying on the sidewalk, surrounded by medical personnel, unable to go on.  The thought that comes to my mind each and every time I pass one of these runners is, "There but for the grace of God, go I".

To be honest, I do not know why I am looking forward to my next marathon.  However, I have 138 days to figure it out.  I will be at the starting line of the Los Angeles Marathon on March 20, 2011. 

Why Blog about it? 

I picture in my mind the thoughts and feelings expressed in this Blog will be of value to my family - especially my grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  Life can be uncertain.

Day #1 - 4.5 Miles, 8.00 Pace, 7.50 MPH, 0.50 Grade, Treadmill.