Hello March

I've been slacking on keeping this updated over the last couple of weeks. Every run, I think about all I want to write about, and then I come home and have to go straight back to work after the shower. See, I got a new job, and I'm getting lots of overtime, which is great. Not so great for blogging. Well, the job is slowing down now, so I'm back.

I have some practicing to do, so this will be quick. Today, I had a 6 mile tempo run: 1 mile warm up, 4 miles at midtempo pace (for me, 8:15/mile was the goal), 1 mile cool down.

The snow was coming down pretty hard, but it wasn't too bad. I was getting used to the sunny 40° weather. Today was the first day I had to run with my gloves in a few weeks. It was cold enough that I didn't want to take off my gloves until after the second timed mile, so I'm not sure how fast I ran the first mile. Here's the breakdown:

Miles 1-2: 17:46 (8:53/mile)

Mile 3: 8:20

Mile 4: 8:39

Overall average: 8:37/mile

I'm falling a short of the goal, but that's fine. I can tell I'm working hard, and that's the point, right? In January, the best 4-mile run I completed averaged a 9:20 mile. I dropped an average of 33 seconds off each mile, all while running an easy mile on each side of the 4-miler. Not too bad. It's good to keep track of these things so I don't feel too discouraged when I don't meet the daily goals.

The last two long runs (9 and 10 miles), I ran at or below the goal speed, so I feel great about that. I can tell the tempo runs and the speed training is paying off.

Another victory: I made it through January and February without running on a treadmill! Every damn mile was outside, and it was great. Take that winter.

Overall, no stomach issues, no knee problems, no injuries at all right now. I still hate speed training, but the long runs are fantastic and I actually look forward to them. I'm doing pretty damn good. I know this training process will have its low points, so it's important to note the good times.

another run, another lesson

Today was the fifth run of the week, closing the first week of base training. I cut my 4-mile time down from 45 minutes to 41 minutes (from 11:15/mile to 10:15/mile). If I can cut 4 minutes off every week, I'll be in a good place to start the real marathon training.

At the end of the run today, I felt like I could have run a few more miles, which tells me that I should have been running faster. I know one thing that slowed me down today was that the bike path appeared to be a bit slick. It snowed a couple inches on Thursday, and then rained today, so there were blotches of white all over. With the temperature hovering barely above freezing, I couldn't tell if it was ice or slush. Turns out it was mostly slush.

After my run, I began to wonder why exactly I slow down so much when I think it might be slippery. Will I really be less likely to fall, or sustain injury, if I'm running slower? I'm not sure if that's true. Running is going to be more dangerous than walking, no matter the speed. I should have more faith in my balance.

Today was also the first time this year I listened to music during my run. As a musician, this may come as a surprise. Really, it's just because I don't have good running headphones. The ear buds that came with my iPhone constantly fall out of my tiny ears. I ordered these headphones, based on good reviews from other small-eared folks, but I'm still awaiting delivery. During today's run, I pulled a hat on over the iPhone buds. It sort of worked, but I spent a lot of time pushing the music back into my ears.

Another lesson re-learned: I really need to make playlists before the run. Putting my entire song catalogue on shuffle, not liking a song mid-run, then removing a glove, pulling the iPhone out of my pocket, unlocking it, getting to the iPod app, and hitting skip until something good comes up = super awkward and time-killing.

Not that I'm trying to make excuses for my time. This is all part of the process, just like building the muscles, improving oxygen intake, etc. All these little details are part of training, it seems.

Next week (which starts tomorrow), I would like to focus more on increasing my speed. This week mostly felt like I was just trying to survive the run. During the last two runs, I haven't felt fatigue or any muscle aches, it's mainly my gasping for air that is keeping me from accelerating. Maybe next time I'll see how my heart rate is doing. I feel like I have a hard time telling when I starting too fast, or if it's the normal mild, yet constant, discomfort that comes with running, that I just have to get used to.

Perhaps most importantly, this run was the first this week where I did not experience any stomach issues - no cramps, no nausea, nothing. This is important and I need to make note of this. I had breakfast around 10:30am. I had 1 cup of black coffee, and kashi golden goodness cereal with almond milk and blueberries. In between 11 and 1, I drank a pint glass of water. The run started a little after 1, maybe 1:15. I noticed that I was slightly hungry when we started, which initially concerned me, like it might make me light headed, but that turned out to be a good thing. I think that's what I should aim for from now on - slightly hungry.

Week 1 of Training: Building the Base

Welcome to The Pensive Runner, a blog where I will write about all my trials and tribulations in training for the Burlington City Marathon, my second try at a marathon. I started this blog for a few reasons: I enjoy writing, I would like to keep record of what does and doesn't work, to help out other runners, and also so I have something to think about while I'm running. During my four-mile run today, I essentially wrote out this entire blog in my head. It made the time fly.

My first marathon was in 2010, also in Burlington. My time was 4:19 (9:50/mile). That's me in the yellow, #2069.*

For this year's marathon, I'm really hoping to break the 4 hour mark (aiming for 9-minute miles). I'm optimistic. During the 2010 marathon, I was at that pace until about mile 18, when I hit the wall. I stopped and walked. This is the second half of my goal for the 2012 marathon: run the entire time.

I have a few plans on how to reach my goals this year. Although I hardly ran at all during 2011, I do not feel as though I am starting from scratch. I learned a lot in 2010 that I will apply this year.

One of the biggest issues in 2010 was that I never completed a 20-mile run during training. I stopped and walked every time, and it was always for the same reason: severe stomach issues. This is something I will have to work on a lot more this year, and it likely will come up a lot in this blog.

Another big change this year is that I'm hoping to do as much training as possible outside. In 2010, there was a *ton* of treadmill running. It just isn't the same thing. The race it outside, you should train outside.

As a resident of Vermont, running outside is easier said than done. During this first week of training, I have run in 7-degree weather, and on 2 inches of snow. Dressing appropriately has made a huge difference, and something that I could not have done without shopping at Good Will. Some may feel weird about buying used workout gear, but seriously folks, I purchased what would retail for around $200 for about $20. Winter running tights, high-tech polyester shirts, gore-tex-like jackets, etc. This is a helpful link for figuring out what to wear based on the temperature. It's all personal preference, of course, but a good starting point for someone who is as new to winter running as I am.

So, I'll run outside when possible. There's a gym nearby that is pay-as-you-go (something like $8 a visit), so that's always an option when the snow gets ridiculous. Because that will happen, no doubt.

This first week is a base-building week. This means that, before you can start training for a marathon, you should be able to comfortably run 20 miles a week. That's what I learned from The Competitive Runner's Handbook, anyway. So, the month of January is devoted to just that: running 20 miles a week, or 4 miles a day 5 days a week (might change that to 5 miles a day 4 days a week towards the end of the month). Actual training will not begin until February. I'll get more into the training plan I'll be using in future posts.

This week has been tough. Like I mentioned, I have not run much at all in the past year. The first run (Sunday, New Year's Day) was brutal, although I did manage to run the entire time. I was very, very sore. Still am sore, mostly in the calves. It's kind of enjoyable in a way, like I feel like I've accomplished something. I suppose all marathon runners are a bit masochistic, eh? One more run this week, and then it's onto base week #2. My goal is that by the end of the month to be able to do a 4-mile run in under 32 minutes (8min/mile). My first run was about 45 minutes. I know I can do much better than that.

Before I end this first post, I just want to add that I am in no way a professional athlete (if that wasn't obvious!), and I am not in any position to be giving advice on training. All I can do is observe what works for me. I viewed myself as a very non-athletic person for a long time, mostly because I dislike team sports. Although I certainly do not have a "runner's body" (I think I'm about 15 pounds over the "ideal" marathon runner weight, and I'm totally fine with that), long-distance running is a good fit for my lifestyle and personality, and I'm glad it found it's way into my life.

*I would like to note that the green bibs indicate relay racers, i.e., people who only run a portion of the marathon. One of my frustrations with the Burlington marathon is running side-by-side with the relay racers. It can be a bit discouraging to be hitting the wall on your 20th mile and seeing people fly by you because they just jumped into the race.