Snow...What Snow?

I love the weather here. Last year we had nearly 66 inches of snow, a record for the Baltimore/Washington Area. This year with all the snow storms hitting in the south, west, east and north of us, I honestly believed we would be near those levels again. But oh no...we have barely moved over the 5 inch total mark. So why should that be a problem with me? Well because of last year record snow fall, I went out an purchased a treadmill.

My logic if you can call it that, tells me that had I not purchased the treadmill, we would be well up there with everyone else...but because of the treadmill setting in my house...God decided to keep the snow and ice away from us and give it to some poor sinner runner who didn't purchase a treadmill. Yea...you can say, I think God is in the treadmill business.

I truly believe that God has a sense of humor. That is why all my friends and family in the south are upset with the snow, after all they live in the south to escape winter's furry. All my friends in the north are upset with the tons of snow falling on their houses and the states are running out of money to move the snow off the streets. And my own son is upset that we aren't getting snow days here and he has to go to school. I just can't win, but I can run on my treadmill and think about all that snow coming down someplace else;) and just smile. After all, God makes the snow fall on the just and unjust.

National Marathon

Well, I'm signed up for the National Marathon. I ran the Half-Marathon this past year, but like in all these combined races with Half and Full Marathons...I'm always wishing I had done the full. So this coming year...I'm going after the Full Marathon. So now back to training.

Marine Corps Marathon 2010

My eldest daughter completed her first marathon. I helped her train and then paced her through the race. I was totally blown away. She ran a perfect marathon. Her first half and second half of the race was totally even. She never hit the wall and she managed to keep a sub 5 hour pace. After our 20 mile run back a few weeks ago, she shared that she wanted to finish under 5 hours...and she did. She ran a 4:55.

As we were headed out of Crystal City at about the 24 mile marker, I noticed that she was tearing up. Worried I asked her what was wrong. My fear was that she had finally hit the wall. But no, she responded. "I'm going to finish this in under 5 hours...I can't believe it."

The key to her success was Jeff Galloway's run/walk cycle. She nailed it.

Tomorrow...waiting for race day.

Here I am just hours away from my #1 daughter's first marathon and I feel more like its my first marathon instead. There are the typical questions...have we done the right training? Well we get to the right pace and hold that for the distance? How will we handle the wall?

If I was running this by myself, it would be like any marathon before. But this is her first marathon. And the questions...are there. I know the stuff she is made of. She will excel like with everything she has tried. That I have no doubt. But...she is still my daughter...and she has trusted me to help her get to the starting line. Now...the question is how will we get to the finish line. Knowing her...we will do well.

Baltimore Half Marathon

Sorry, I've not updated this. Busy week, but I did run the Baltimore Half this past Saturday. It was a nice race but not in the top ten list. The course was challenging. The first ten miles was tough and the last three miles were a runner's dream (all down hill with the wind at your back). I was a bit disappointed with my time. I was hoping to go sub 2 hours, but the headwind and the rolling hills in the first 10 miles took a lot out of me. Next up is the Marine Corp Marathon on the 31st. I'll be running with daughter #1. It will be her first...so I'm not looking to set a new personal best here but just to enjoy the day and the company.

Gearing Up for Next Months' Races

Saturday's Marathon was the start of my season for running. I've played with this idea of creating my own person race season for a few years. I did it back in 1987-89 with my race season starting in October and going through the first week of April, but because life is what is happening while you are making plans and because I started to move all over the world started; this season idea was placed on hold. It's hard to plan to race several times in a given period when you might be deployed before the next race. So because my current job gives me a little more stability on when I'm away from home, I'm going to try to do the "race season" idea again.

This summer I've worked to build a solid base for my running. The Air Force Marathon was my first test to see where I was in terms of having any real speed left in this 53-year-old body of mine. What I discovered was the desire is there if not the ability...so test done and passed. Now my next full speed race test is the Baltimore Half Marathon in October. My goal is to get right up there to the 2-hour mark, a minute or two ether side of that mark and I'll be happy. Then of course I have the Marine Corp Marathon on the 31 of October. This will actually be a fun run with my oldest daughter as she tries to complete her first marathon.

I'm looking around the local area for a Marathon in November and leaning towards the Philadelphia Marathon, then try a few Half Marathons in January and February to refine my speed. Then...the goal race and final race for my season...the Pittsburgh Marathon. I ran the race in 2001 and I lived in Pittsburgh back in the 1980's so I am very familiar with the course. So it makes sense to make that a goal race.

A quick note on goal races; every running season should have a purpose, be it a Conference Championship, or a new distance, or an attempt at a personal record. But it should always be done on a course you are familiar and have run before hand. If you try to run a personal record on a new course you decrease the likelihood of accomplishing your goal. Familiarity is critical to having a relaxed attitude. Also some of us like certain elements or places and those things have a tendency to inspire the best in us.

Air Force Marathon 2010

Well, I finished the Air Force Marathon in 4:31. Not a record and slower then I had hoped to run but... Given that last week was extremely busy and I had a headcold...I'll just be thankful that I finished the run,

I also changed my strategy the day before the race....not a good thing to do. I'd been training to do 5 minute cycles of 4 minutes of running and 1 minute of walking. But because of the headcold, and not being very motivated to run by myself, I decided to run with the 4:20 pace group. To be honest it was fun to run with several people, but I could tell about the 15 mile mark, my breathing was getting harder, but I was already committed to make it with the group.

I was right on pace with the group until the 20 mile mark and then my sinuses and headache from the cold kind of jumped on my back. Also by that time in the morning the temperature was well on its way to nearly 80+ degrees. So I'll start focusing on my next test. The Baltimore Half Marathon. My goal for that race is to break the 2 hour mark.