Back In The Saddle?

This is the least prepared I have ever been for a marathon. Since my 20 miler two weeks ago, I have only managed to run 30 kilometers. I was expecting to taper, not collapse, but that what happens when you get hit with a cold and an injury back-to-back. At this rate, I'll be lucky to walk to the starting line without seizing up.

The string of bad luck has forced me to reconsider my marathon goals. I thought that I might be able to pull off a 3:30 marathon, but now I think a 3:45 is more likely. In fact, I'll be happy with anything under four hours. I'm just going to take it one mile at a time, and hope I can still walk upon exiting Lorneville. The last thing I want to do is drop out of the race.

As for my knee, well, it's still in one piece. My first run since my disasterous Nature Park visit was relatively slow (26:40 for 5k), but aside from a couple of phantom pains, my knee wasn't an issue. I'm not sure how it will hold up over 26 miles, but it's probably too late to worry about it. All I can do is run the race and pray I don't fall apart.

Now that I've instilled my readers with a ton of confidence, I would like to note that I am still accepting donations. Lord knows I don't want to limp 26 miles without raising a few bucks, so if you see me on the streets over the next few days, throw me a dime or two.

Chuck is running the marathon in support of InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.

Too Much, Too Soon?

After six days of inactivity, I decided I was feeling healthy enough to get back into training mode. My first run - a lazy Sunday 5k in Nackawic - went surprisingly well, considering I spent the first kilometer hacking and coughing the last bit of cold out of my system. Sure, I felt a little stiff from the extended layoff, but all systems were go once my legs started moving and my lungs cleared up. I was back in the running business, baby.

Brimming with confidence, I scheduled my last long run for the next day. I made a date with the Irving Nature Park, and charged my trusty point and shoot in anticipation of some running photos. Inspired by Sacha Goldberger's project Before and After Shots of Joggers, I thought it would be interesting to take a picture of myself after each completed loop of the park. With five laps planned, I figured I would probably look quite exhausted by the time I finished, which would make for an interesting set of photos. Everyone likes looking at a trainwreck once in a while, don't they?

I arrived at the Nature Park early the next evening, looking a little worse for wear but feeling mentally ready for the task at hand. I took a quick self portrait to document the start of the run (top photo) and hit the trail. Running a little faster than expected, I cruised through the park, completing the loop in 33 minutes and change. With twenty perecnt of my run in the bag, I jogged to the car, hydrated, snapped my second picture (that handsome shot on the left), and continued on my merry way.

Unfortunately, I wasn't feeling very merry. I was struggling to maintain my pace (which was fine, as I probably ran the first lap a little fast), and was full of nagging doubts about my ability to finish five laps before dark. This feeling was compounded at kilometer ten by a hot spot on my right knee. It was a minor discomfort, but I wondered if it would become a problem later in the run. Mentally, I crossed my fingers, but physically, I wasn't so sure.

I finished the second loop in a little less than 35 minutes (right on target), and hit the car again, adding a quick stretch to my drink/photo routine. The sun was starting to fade in the sky, and a slight breeze chilled my sweaty body. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring any extra clothing, so I couldn't protect myself from the wind. Hoping non-stop activity would keep me warm, I started running again, shivering with cold and cursing my lack of layers.

At this point, my run totally fell apart. My knee discomfort quickly elevated to pain levels, and each hill made it worse. My pace slowed to a crawl, and I knew I wouldn't be able to finish five loops of the park in one piece. To make matter worse, I came to the decision in the middle of the park, which meant I had to finish the loop, pain or no pain. Focusing on form as best I could, I jogged, walked, and limped the last three kilometers, finishing the loop in 37 minutes and change. Considering my discomfort level, it wasn't bad, and I even remembered to take my last photo (see below) before leaving. Sweet.

What went wrong? I am not sure, but I think the lack of activity, coupled with the quick return to the long run, aggravated up my iliotibial band. I think a couple of days of rest, coupled with some ice and stretching might fix the problem, but I am seriously worried that it might affect my ability to race next Sunday. Hopefully I won't have to delay the marathon, but if I do, I'll let you all know, and soon.

Chuck is running the marathon in support of InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.

Licence To Ill

I'm going to make this blog entry relatively short. After taking a rest day on Monday (well deserved after the 20 miler), I came down with a nasty illness that knocked me off of my sore feet. I've managed to drag my way through the week without missing a day of work, but haven't had the energy to go for a run. I'm starting to recover - my head is less congested and was finally blessed with a decent night of sleep - but I missed two speed sessions and am in no shape for a long run tomorrow. Ugh.

Right now, the plan is to adjust my schedule and delay my taper. If I can get my last long run in on Tuesday or Wednesday, I will still have ten or eleven days to cut back before the marathon. Considering I haven't exactly burned up the roads this week, my plan should be fine. I hope.

Until then, does anyone have any suggestions on how shake a nasty cough?


Chuck is running the marathon in support of InterAction School of Performing Arts Capital Campaign. To find out how to donate, please click here.

Heating Up The Road

I am not a warm weather fan, at least when it comes to running. Some of my worst runs have occured during the dog days of summer, including a confirmed case of heat stroke during the 2001 Marathon By The Sea. I managed to finish the race, but couldn't keep anything down for the rest of the day, and felt like garbage the rest of the week. Will I repeat this amazing feat ten years later? I certainly hope not.

Memories of 2001 lingered in my mind during my 16 mile run on Sunday. The sun was blazing in the sky, and I was running the same course that gave me so much trouble ten years ago. I started off conservatively in an attempt to save some energy for late in the run, slowing down at one point to take a gander at an improptu Simms Corner yard sale. Good thing I didn't spot any old Nintendo games (drop me a line if you have any you want to part with), otherwise I would have quit less than ten minutes into my workout.

With video games out of my mind, I tried to focus on the task at hand. Unfortuately, all I could think about was the heat. I was dripping with sweat, and my running shirt (why I didn't wear a singlet was beyond me) was soaked and chafing my skin. While I wasn't quite boiling, as one cyclist noted about six miles into the run, I wasn't exactly feelin top notch, either.

Luckily, a light breeze cooled me off a bit, and I hit the eight mile turnaround in pretty decent shape. I wasn`t running particularly fast - about a minute slower than my best long runs last year - but I knew that, barring disaster, I would finish in one piece.

That didn't mean that I would finish comfortably. My shorts started to chafe with about six miles to go, and started becoming an issue five kilometers from my house. It didn't matter how much adjusting I did - and I did a lot, sadly - I couldn't stop my shorts from rubbing my legs raw. Remind me to wear a better outfit for my next long run, okay?

I forged ahead despite the comfort, and landed back at my house before I hit any sort of physical or mental wall. Considering the run was about four miles longer than my best effort, I won't complain. At least not until my legs start aching, that is.

Late Night Loops, Rallying The Troops

Today was one of those days where I should have stayed in bed. I woke up late to the phone ringing, only to find bad, expensive news on the other end. I weighed myself for the first time in ages, and was pleased to note that I am fifteen pounds heavier than I was when I completed my last marathon. I also realized I am a full month behind in my training, which means I have to increase my workload drastically in the next three week or face skipping my taper. Yikes.

If you're like me, your mental state can positively or negatively impact your training. When I am feeling aggressive, competitive, or focused, I can usually count on having a decent run. When I am depressed - and today bordered on depression - I have a hard time dragging myself out of the house, let alone running at my full potential. So, instead of getting my run out of the way early as planned, I sat in the house, picked away at my daily to-do list (it was more of a didn't do list today), and felt sorry for myself.

By the time I was up for a run it was nearly 11:00PM. I almost put it off until the morning, but I didn't think it would actually happen, so I laced up my sneakers and headed out into the dark.

As this was a speedwork day, I decided that I should try out the loop in front of my house. After a short warmup session, I hit the timer and started peeling off 400 meter loops. I haven't run too many fast 400s this year, so I didn't know what to expect. I went out hard for the first loop - it was easy to do, as it started out downhill - and finished about eight second faster than I planned. For a guy fifteen pounds heavier than he'd like to be, that's not bad.

I was pretty sure I wasn't going to be able to maintain that pace, but it wasn't going to stop me from trying. I held my pace for the second repeat, and was a little less than a second slower for the third. The wheels started to fall off for the next couple of repeats, but I reined the times back in by focusing on my form. I ran seven loops total, and the difference between my slowest loop and fastest loop was only three seconds. Very good effort, if I must say so myself.

Tomorrow is a rest day, but I will be back with a vengeance this weekend. With only four weeks before the big day, I will need to increase my mileage and lose some weight in a hurry. Wish me luck!

Fundraising update: I will be announcing some new sponsors/donations shortly, and a group of nordic walkers are signing up for the half marathon to help raise funds for the InterAction School of Performing Arts. Here's a note from the group:

Marilyn Inch, from Interaction’s Board of Directors, met with her old Nordic Walking group tonight. They meet every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 at Daytripping in the Lily Lake Pavilion and go on group walks to help keep them motivated. With Marathon by the Sea fast approaching, they are thick into their training program to meet their Half Marathon goals. Many of them have participated in numerous Half Marathons since beginning Nordic Walking. They took up the sport thinking they could never complete such a challenge but have since proven to themselves that they CAN do it with the proper 12 week training program and the continuous motivation of Daytripping owner, Yennah Hurley.

Now that Marilyn has told the group about Action for Interaction, the group is jumping on board to help raise funds for the performing arts school by getting pledges from their families, neighbours and co-workers. One woman said that asking for sponsors would cement her commitment to actually completing her first Half Marathon where she was sitting on the fence up to this point.

For more information about Nordic Walking in Saint John, check out Daytripping’s website http://www.daytrippingnb.com/home.html.

If anyone else wants to raise funds on behalf of the InterAction School of Performing Arts, please drop me a line and I'll let you know how you can get involved!