Monday, September 24, 2012

MCM 37: Weekly Round-Up (5)

I swear, I'm still training for this marathon.  I'm just really bad at writing about it this time.

Early last week, I started to stress about my training.  I haven't run more than 19 miles yet, and I'm down to the last two intense weeks before taper.  But, at the same time, I've been doing a lot more speed work and felt great after ninety-five percent of my workouts over the last two weeks -- including after my most recent long run. 

I think the key for the next few weeks is to really put in the work.  I've got three marathons under my belt so, in theory, I can run 26.2 miles.  With hill and speed workouts, and putting in all of the miles on the next two long runs, I should be in great shape by October 28th.

Here's the plan for this week:

Monday:4 miles
Tuesday: Speed Workout + Strength Training
Wednesday: 5 miles
Thursday: Cross/Strength training
Friday: Off
Saturday: 20 miles
Sunday: 3 miles

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

For the LOLs: Paul Ryan Time Calculator

This has been making the rounds on the internet and has provided endless hours (okay, maybe a few minutes) of enjoyment as I adjust all of my race PRs using the Paul Ryan standard.  A special thank you to Brad for getting this in my inbox!
 

The Original Paul Ryan Time Calculator
 




So, my current marathon PR is 4:39:29.  But, the Paul Ryan-adjusted time is 3:22:26!

If only BAA allowed participants to register using their Paul Ryan-adjusted times...I guess I'll just have to train really hard to qualify for Boston.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

A Proud Daughter

Yesterday, my dad ran his second New Haven Road Race 5K.  I've mentioned before that he started running in 2011 to train for the Run with Dad 5K in Reston and has been bitten by the running bug.  I called yesterday to check in about the race, and he seemed pleased.  Today, he sent this text message:

"Official time was 26:53 -- so happy iwth my time.  Thanks 4 getting me started, I luv it. Gonna try 2 beat my new time"
 
I can't even tell you how proud of him I am.

Marathoning VPs

From Gawker:
It was bad enough that Paul Ryan compulsively lied about his marathon time, but now comes word that, among recent vice-presidential candidates who ran marathons, Ryan is only the third fastest. John Edwards posted the fastest time at three hours and thirty minutes. Impressive, if not super surprising; you don't get to be as monstrously vain and awful as him without a masochistic workout regimen. The real surprise here, though – and the one sure to sting the most to Ryan – is the report that former Alaska Governor and current reality TV matriarch Sarah Palin ran a marathon in three hours and fifty-nine minutes, a full two minutes faster than Ryan's time.
One of my goals is to be faster than Sarah Palin and Oprah (at the 1994 Marine Corps Marathon, Oprah ran a 4:29:20 race).

If I manage to beat Palin's, Oprah's, and Ryan's time during my next marathon, I will be one happy marathoner.

Monday, September 3, 2012

MCM 37: Weekly Round-Up (4)

Without fail, I hit a wall at Mile 18. 

I realized it during last Saturday's long run.  During races and training runs, Mile 18 is usually the hardest and everything after that mile is a huge struggle.  By then, I think my brain has communicated to the rest of my body that it's been running on Gatorade and Gu for the last three hours and that it's in pain.  I have a few long runs left, so I'm going to work on running evenly before mile 18 and pushing through the last few miles of my runs.

Week 10:
Monday: 30 minute interval run
Tuesday: Rest
Wednesday: 7 miles
Thursday: 6 miles
Friday: Rest
Saturday: 20 miles
Sunday: X-Training