Distance: 27.5 kilometers (17 miles)
Time: 3 hours, 5 minutes
Comments: Well, I got through the first week of "training" but it certainly wasn't pretty. Like I mentioned in my last Running log, I think I have the beginnings of a sinus infection cooking in my head and that took it's toll as the week went on. I assume that between the rapidly-slipping-into-craptacular weather allied with the fatigue factor is behind it all.
Running wise, it went very well though. My times were not great but now I know I can put in the miles necessary to train for the races I want to run. I am still a long way from being ready for the marathon (or even the half-marathon I'd like to do in July, for that matter) but I have passed the point where I was trying to build enough strength to survive the training.
Which means things get harder from now on, rather than easier. I really have to keep to the running schedule and keep an eye on my diet and sleep pattern and all that funness so my body can do the things I want it to do. But one big difference now is that I am shooting for specific goals in these upcoming races rather than just one big vague finish line almost invisible out there on the horizon.
The single best news this week is the complete and total absence of knee issues. I have not had a single twinge, ache or warning stiffness at any time during the week. It is still way early to declare the death of the wicked witch of the left - throwing on more miles per week could well bring it back with a vengeance - but I have not allowed myself to be this hopeful about it in years.
My left foot was somewhat stiff the other day, like after that 2 hour run, so I iced it and took that early off day and that was that. I seem to have developed a blister issue on the little toe on my left foot. it kind of folds under the knuckle of the next toe when I run and when I put in anything more than half an hour, it rubs raw. I gotta keep that in mind in the future.
two weeks to get ready for this first 10K. I went over to the Runners World website to look through their training guides to come up with a gameplan and I stumbled on their SmartCoach feature.
Basically you put in the criteria of your training schedule and it spits out a plan for you. Like this:
I gotta admit, that's as good as a plan of attack as I could ask for. It mixes the workdays with the rest days in a way I like and hits the right mileage numbers for what I want to do.
Of course this is only a general guide, but it gives me something to work from rather than just hitting the road with a vague idea of what I'd like to run like I have been doing.