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Reach commitment by October 15 visit

Posted by: Cathy B. Views: 6 Comments: 5 Supporters: 3
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Finish the Chicago Marathon

Posted by: Chris P. Views: 12 Comments: 5 Supporters: 3
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Move to Boston

Posted by: Kim B. Views: 26 Comments: 7 Supporters: 1

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Tiny-default by Brian B. about 1 year ago on the goal: Run a marathon
Mom, 6.2 more miles is another hour. A qualifying time of 3 hours, 10 minutes is a blazing 7:15/mile pace. I don't think that's happening. My goal is simply to finish.
Tiny-default by Brian B. about 1 year ago on the goal: Run a marathon
<continued from previous post>

Noteables from the run yesterday:
- I had planned to run the same 5 mile loop around the river (with short breaks after each loop for some Gu and Gatorade). However, there was some Walk for a cause (not sure what) so there were literally thousands of walkers I had to dodge. After 1 loop, I had to change my route to the other end of the river (the end I don't like), which was frustrating.
- The temperature was great (in the low 60s)... perfect for running. However, it also rained about a third of the time, which was both good and bad. The rain felt good, but running with soggy shoes and getting splashed by cars was not so good.
- At mile 13 I quickly stopped at a Shell station to use the restroom. My feet were soaked, so when I went in the bathroom, I slipped, pulling my quad. This was bothersome for the next 4 or 5 miles, but feels ok now.
- At mile 16, my double-notted shoe came untied! Shows what the wet weather can do.
- At the end of mile 18 I got a bad cramp in my right calf. I walked for a minute until it went away. I need to be sure and eat a lot of bananas the week before the race.
- I ran the whole thing pretty fast... a 9:03/mile pace, and finished right at 2 hrs 59 mins. However, this is a little misleading, as this was my running pace. I stopped the clock at times when I involuntarily had to stop running (traffic lights, etc), as well as my 3 hydration breaks (but didn't stop it when I got the cramp and had to walk).

I'm really hoping the weather in Chicago is like it was today in Boston, minus the rain.
Tiny-default by Brian B. about 1 year ago on the goal: Run a marathon
I ran 20 miles yesterday morning. My legs hurt, but I think they are injury free. I had been battling tendenitis/shin-splints ever since my 18 mile run 2 weekends ago. This was attributed to the way I was running - during my runs I was progressively landing more and more on my toes and less on my heels. It was to the point that I finished a short 4 mile run a week in a half ago in agony. So for the 14 miler last Saturday, I emphasized landing on my heels more and rolling to my toes. It made the run hard since my legs were trained to run the other way, but I ended the run feeling pretty good. The pain continued all this week, but changing my running style (and lots of icing!) made sure that the pain didn't get worse.

For the run yesterday, I wanted to try and do everything like I will on race morning. No breakfast has been working well, so I've decided I won't eat before the marathon (don't want any surprise indigestion/stops during the race). Instead, I down 2 packets of Gu gel before the run, and continue taking a Gu every 5 miles during the run.
Tiny-default by Brian B. about 1 year ago on the goal: Reach commitment by October 15
Great goal! Can't wait to read your progress.
Tiny-default by Brian B. about 1 year ago on the goal: Run a marathon
It's been a while since I've posted, so to quickly catch up...

My training suffered in the first 3 weeks of August due to the move, our West coast trip, and then lots of job interviews when I got back. Running in San Fran and Napa was nice and the weather was awesome, but most days left no time to get my runs in. I finally did my 16 mile run when we got back from the West coast (a week late). I was supposed to do a 17 mile run the following week, but stopped at 10 miles when the top of my foot began hurting pretty badly... I wasn't going to risk the injury. I could probably blame the lack of running in the previous weeks as a reason for this (it took most of the week to recover from the 16 mile run).

This week I got back on track. I got in good 7 and 10 mile runs in the middle of the week, and did an 18 mile run yesterday (Saturday) morning. It was tough. However, my recovery after this one was much better than how I felt after the 16 mile run. I could hardly walk after the 16 mile run, but after this one I was getting around just fine (albeit with some pain), so I think that's a good sign.

I just checked my training schedule, and it looks like my long run notches back to 14 miles this week. The following week is the big 20 miler. That will be the longest run I do before the marathon.

5 weeks to go!

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