Doing better than 2010
Mood:  a-ok

Things are going well, Last year at this time I was dead in the water and didn't run at all for 3 months. This year I was having a little discomfort on the left side from a tweaked tendon, but that is going away. I rejoined the nearby gym that has an indoor track. I've been going there twice a week and then joining the group run on Saturday morning in Westerville. That long run has only been 6 miles each week because of snow and ice, but hopefully that will be over soon.

 

I'm only getting around 15 miles a week in, but as I said I'm way ahead of last year.  I'm hoping to go 8 miles this weekend if the paths/roads are snow and ice free.  Still working towards that 10 miler in April, but will probably do a St Patrick's day 5k or 4 miler.  

 

Welcome to 2011
Mood:  energetic

I think not running the full marathon last October was a good decision.  I think I could have done it, and probably finished somewhere around 5 hours.  I really want my first marathon to be strong and I want to be fully prepared.   I'm hopingo to make a realistsic shot at 4 hours. In my mind that is the milestone for running a marathon and just finishing one.

Two things really set me back, pun intended.  My doctor took me off the drug Meloxicam, which really helped the arthritis in my back and helped me get the feeling back in my left foot.  At around the same time my nuerologist decided to take me off of the seizure medicine Dilantin, which I had taken for 10 years in favor of Lyrica.  Lyrica is a drug to help nerve pain, but its a new drug for treating seizures.  While that was successful, my nuerologist increased the dosage to help with my sciatic pain.

One of the side effects of Lyrica can be weight gain, and after losing 78 pounds in 2009, I put 20 back on in 2010.  Now, after getting back on the Meloxicam,  I think I can cut back on they Lyrica and hopefully get back to my ideal running weight again by say May 1st.

 I hope to run (3) 1/2 Marathons this year before the full in Columbus this October.  The first was going to be Cap City, but that is the week of our 30th anniversary, so we will be on a cruise.   I'm in winter maintenance mode, not running as much as I did in the fall, but trying to stay in some kind of shape.  Technically, I'm a sponsored athlete now as an official pace leader for the running group CBUS Pacers.  I'm the official 9 min/mile pacer for the group. While I can run faster, a 9 minute mile is my natural pace for long runs.

My next goal race is the CBUS 10 miler in Gahanna next April.  I may do a couple of 5k's befor then, but this is my next big race.   As long  as I'm able to finish it in less than 90 minutes I'll be happy.

Mood:  happy

It's been awhile since I updated.  Things have gone pretty well, I completed the USAF 1/2 marathon and decided while things are going well, I am not going to do the full marathon in Columbus next week, I'm going to stick with the 1/2.  

 The back injury took too much time out of my running this year to prepare properly.   We will see in 2011.  

2011?
Mood:  bright
Maybe I need to rename this my 2011 Marathon blog.  I enjoyed the Spirit of Columbus 1/2 marathon a couple of weeks back and am looking forward to the Air force Marathon in Dayton where I will again be running the half.  I signed up for the 1/2 marathon in Columbus Oct 17th knowing I could switch to the full if I felt able.   After lots of discussions and consultations, I've decided I will probably stick with the half again this year and put off plans for a full marathon till 2011.  The recovery of my back is the primary reason for this decision.

Things are going well in my recovery.  I hope to run 10 miles Saturday morning, which will mean I'm in good shape to run the Spirit of Columbus 1/2 Marathon which is only 10 days away.  I ran 8 miles last night, will run 6 tonight.  

Heat and Humidity continue
Mood:  accident prone

I did manage to get my 8 mile run in as planned and it went well. I think all signs of my sciatic back injury are gone.  I do have some lower back strain that has been aggravating me, but I think that is somewhat normal for a desk jockey my age. I'm dealing with it.   The heat has kept me from running as many miles as I want, but I'll work through it. 

 

I have signed up for 2 half marathons and that will go a long way toward helping me reach my goal of running the Columbus Marathon in October.  On  Sunday August 29th (16 days from now) I'll run in the Spirit of Columbus 1/2 marathon.  I plan on just cruising and not pushing my self.  I'm certain I won't beat my time of last year (1:54:54)  I will be happy with anything under 2:15. I mainly want to prove to myself I can do the distance again.  That will give me a little less than a month to prepare for the USAF marathon (where I will again run the 1/2) There I hope to break 2 hours again.   Upcoming this weekend, the Beast 10k at Kings Island. Should be a challenge. 

Mood:  cool
The heat and humidity has prevented me from getting in the miles I've wanted to. I've gotten several 5-6 mile runs in, but no 8 milers.  We are supposed to have a break in the weather this weekend, so I'll try to join the CBUS pacers - http://www.cbuspacers.com  for an 8 mile run this Saturday.  After a rare Thursday 5k tonight, my next race is a challenging 10k at Kings Island on 8/15.  Hopefully next week I can get some more 8 mile runs in if we get a break from the humudity.

sh1t or get off the pot!
Mood:  happy
This week will be a pivotal one in my goal to run a marathon in 2010.  I'm still worried about re-injuring my back, but I'm ramping up the miles.   I hope to run 8 miles at least 3 times this week. If I can do that, I will sign up for 2 half marathons to be run in August and Sept, with the goal of the Columbus Marathon in Oct being my goal. (I don't think  I can get ready for the USAF marathon in  Sept so I will hopefully run the 1/2.

Mood:  bright
Its been an up an down couple of weeks. I think I may finally, after 6 months have this sciatic thing beat.  Its not 100%, but I think I can now run as much as I want, within reason, and not re-injure it.  The key will be this weekend.  Long car rides are tough on my back.  We are going to Erie for the 4th of July.  I'll stop every hour and get out and let Gina drive part of it.   My goal is to break 54 minutes for this upcoming 10k and then begin work for the 1/2 Marathon in August or September.   I think if I can still do a full marathon, it is going to be in Columbus this October. 

Mood:  irritated

I slightly reaggrivated my sciatic condition over the labor day weekend.  I don't think running is bothering it, I think the long car ride (2 hours out and 2 hours back) that caused the irritation.  Anyway, I worked through it running wise and ran a strong 10k at my 2nd Columbus 10k yesterday.  I was very happy with my progress, but am a little sore today.  

 

I think currently I may not  be ready for a Marathon when Sept and the USAF marathon comes around, but if that is the case, I'll sign up for the 1/2 marathon. That looks like a great event, I don't want to miss it.   If I continue on that plan  I would run the Columbus Marathon in October.

 I may shoot for the Spirit of Columbus 1/2 marathon in July as my next 1/2 marathon. That would require no car rides.  The next car ride I'm aware of will be the 4th of July weekend and I may let Gina drive a lot of that.