Marathon Training

Friday, August 31, 2012

August Stats - 1000 Miles YTD

I am wrapping up another month of running on this Blue Moon Evening August 31, 2012 and just happened to notice that I reached the 1000 mile mark for the year! I clearly remember beginning this year running a 5K race in Tyler State Park so I started the year running 3.1 miles and here I am 997 miles later. Based on my trend, it looks like I will be very close to reaching 1500 miles for the year.

This month I ramped up my marathon training in preparation for the Marine Corps Marathon which I will be running on October 28. As part of my program, I’ve been participating in a half marathon each month and August saw me running the Rock ‘n Roll Providence Half Marathon on August 19. Providence really rocked and I had a great time there and managed to accomplish a respectable finish time 1:59:25. Although not a PR, I was pleased with finishing under the 2 hour mark. My objective is to finish Marine Corps as close to 4 hours as possible.

I am also wrapping up Week 8 of my marathon training program tomorrow and I plan to finish the week with an 18 mile long run. That will be 3 miles longer than my 15 mile long run last weekend. I hope to get an early start and instead of hitting the Delaware River Canal tow path like I did last weekend, my plan is to run the new (and unopened) Route 202 Bypass which is close by and convenient to home.

So, August had a lot of Easy Runs, several Long Runs and one Half Marathon. Next week starts another month and Week 9 of marathon training for me. It is also the week that I plan to add Speed Training to my program. At least once a week (probably Thursdays), I will include speed intervals to my program. I am looking forward to adding that new dimension to my program!

All-in-all, I would grade my month’s performance a B+. Although I’ve been meeting my mileage and running time targets, I have to admit that I am not exactly where I want to be mentally. Also, I need to improve my diet – I have been inconsistent with my meal plans and need to improve my nutrition. To that end, I will plan to post highlights of my eating program throughout September. That should keep me motivated and focused!

Happy and Safe Training Folks!
John

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Week 7 and 40 Miles!

Now I am getting into the serious part of training: a 40-mile week! I did over extend myself a bit this week by running 22% above my target time. But, I was on vacation in southern Maine and I just couldn’t help myself. The beautiful beach at Ogunquit kept calling my name early in the morning and I just couldn’t resist.

I returned home from vacation yesterday and decided to run this week’s long run along the tow path at the Delaware River Canal so this morning I headed out and was able to log 15 miles. I felt pretty good up until the last 2 miles or so. Running these long runs solo is a bit of a challenge. That is one of the reasons I chose the canal because it is a popular area for runners and it is FLAT. And, especially this time of year, there are always other runners out for their long runs, training for their fall marathons. So, although I wasn’t running with a group, I was at least able to see and greet other runners along the way.

Tomorrow will definitely be a REST day and I am planning to get a massage. And that reminds me that I need to call to make an appointment before it is too late!

Happy and Safe Training Folks!
John

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Running on the Beach

This morning I ran 7.5 miles along this beautiful shoreline in Ogunquit, Maine. What a spectacular morning! That makes 2 consecutive mornings of running on the beach - yesterday I logged 6.5 miles.

This beach provides a perfect running course early in the morning because low tide is around 8am and that provides a large flat course with beautiful scenery.

Now that my run is out of the way, I plan to spend a relaxing day on the beach watching the other runners pass by!

Happy and Safe Running Folks!
John

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2012 Races

5K: BCRR Cham-Pain (1/1/12) - 24:33
5.3 Mile: BCRR Predict Your TIme (1/8/12) - 42:30
8 Mile: BCRR Polar Bear (1/15/12) - 1:08:10 PR
4.6 Mile: BCRR Honest Abe (1/22/12) - 42:53
9.3 Mile: BCRR Terrible Tyle (1/29/12) - 5.3 Miles - 46:35
5.3 Mile: BCRR Pick Your Way (2/5/12) - 42:57
Half Marathon: BCRR Eenie-Meanie-Minie-Moe (2/12/12) - 1:58:38
4.6 Mile: BCRR Staggered Start (2/19/12) - 35:45 PR
10K: MCM Irish Sprint 10K (3/17/12) - 54:54
5K: Central Bucks Family YMCA (3/25/12) - 23:34 PR
5K: New Hope - Solebury "Spirit" Run (4/22/12) - 24:45
Half Marathon: St. Luke's (4/29/12) - 1:55:38 PR
10 Mile: Broad Street Run (5/6/12) - 1:25:13 PR
5K: Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure - Phila (5/13/12) - 24:46
5K: Doylestown Red, White, Blue (5/26/12) - 24:04
5K: Chalfont Challenge (6/9/12) - 26:31
6 Mmile: Princeton Healthcare 10K (6/10/12) - 49:40 PR
Half Marathon: 1/2 Sauer, 1/2 Kraut, 1/2 Marathon (6/16/12) - 1:57:11 2nd Place Male 55-59
5K: Herb Kahl Memorial (6/24/12) - 24:32
5 Mile: Run the Gates (6/3/12) - 40:40 PR
10K: Revolutionary Run (7/4/12) -52:36 PR
Half Marathon: Rock 'n' Roll Chicago (7/22/12) - 2:08:26
Half Marathon: Rock 'n' Roll Providence (8/19/12) - 1:59:25
Half-Marathon: Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia (9/16/12) - 1:57:42
18Mile: LBI 18-Mile Run (10/7/12) - 2:48:30 PR
13K: Hatfield OctoRun (10/21/12) - 1:08:55 PR
Marathon: Marine Corps Marathon (10/28/12) - 4:36:54
5K: BCRR Covered Bridge (12/9/12) - 26:26
5.3 Mile: BCRR Jingle Bell (12/16/12) - 42:23 PR

2011 Races

5K: Central Bucks YMCA (3/20/11) - 27:17:18
Half-Marathon: FirstWatch Sarasota (3/13/11) - 2:06:12
5K: New Hope-Solebury Run (4/3/11) - 26:34:54
5K: Bridge Valley Trailblazer Race for Autism (4/16/11) - 27:42:31
10Mile: Broad Street Run (5/1/11) - 1:35:54
5K: Cornerstone Race (5/7/11) - 25:55:87
5K: Race for the Cure - Phila (5/11/12) - 27:19
5K: Doylestown Red, White, Blue (5/28/11) - 26:18:94
10K: Princeton Healthcare 10K (6/5/11) - 54:42:82 PR
5K: Herb Kahl Memorial Scholarship (6/26/11) - 25:13 (3rd Place Male 50-59)
5K: Chalfont Challenge (6/11/11) - 26:04:17
5K: Run Over (Pancreatic) Cancer (7/2/11) - 24:51 PR
Half-Marathon: 13.1 Minneapolis (8/21/11) - 1:59:48
Half-Marathon: Rock 'n' Roll Philadelphia (9/18/11) - 1:59:02 PR
5K: Chestertown 5K (9/24/11) - 25:25 (1st Place Male 50-59)
18Mile: LBI 18-Mile Run (10/9/11) - 3:08:30
13K: Hatfield OctoRun (10/23/11) - 1:10:57 (2nd Place Male 55-59)
Marathon: Philadelphia Marathon (11/20/11) 4:23:46 - PR
5K: BCRR Covered Bridge 5K (12/4/11) - 26:29
5.3Mile: BCRR Jingle Bell 5.3 Mile Race (12/11/11) - 43:39

John's Book Reviews

The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s been a while since I’ve been ‘wowed’ by a book so it was with great pleasure that I recently finished reading The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin. Set in the 1800’s in the Pacific Northwest, the characters in this story represent what would be considered an ‘unconventional’ family by some standards in our current society – a family created out of horrific circumstances when 2 young (and pregnant) girls (Jane and Della) come upon William Talmadge (“Talmadge”), a loner who tends to and nurtures his orchards of apricots, apples and plums. Talmadge’s family roots are similarly tragic – he and his sister, Elsbeth, were orphaned as youngsters. And, at the age of 16, Elsbeth walked into the woods and never returned, leaving Talmadge alone and left to wonder what became of her. This lack of closure regarding his sister’s disposition is a key driver to the relationship he develops with Jane and Della - that of a nurturer and always wanting to provide a sense of comfort and belonging.

The complexities of the relationships that Talmadge has with Jane and Della, as well as Jane’s eventual daughter, Angelene, are compounded by the circumstances that drove Jane and Della to escape their painful upbringing and living environment. Trust and a willingness to be nurtured are not always welcome and these are the forces that drive the conflicts between what Talmadge wishes for the girls and the final outcome of the tragic events that continue to shape their lives.

(view spoiler)

Although it is still early in the year, I think it’s going to be hard for me to come across another book in 2013 that is so beautifully crafted and inspirational. Bravo to Amanda Coplin for this splendid novel!

View all my reviews