Training Run

Distance: 8.7 kilometers (5.4 miles)
Time: 42 minutes
Surface: asphalt/concrete
Weather Conditions: cool, overcast, 60s, late morning run
Location: Miraflores/Barranco, Lima, Peru

Comments: I felt really terrible when I woke up on Thursday, not sick but not really well. The most likely culprit was overtraining and between my concerns for my knee and my worry of coming down with the dreaded grippe I skipped running. I didn't even leave the house, in fact.

And, although I was busy running around doing my work yesterday, I felt it safer to have two days off given how bad I felt the day prior.

So when I got out to run today I felt a little creaky. It wasn't a bad run - far from it, in fact - but I really had to push myself to stick with it. Aside from that it went very well. I had a strong pace that I was able to keep the whole way. It turned out to be much faster than I expected, as well.

No injury issues to speak of. My knee had zero problems at all. So I'll give it the ice today if I have a chance and then concentrate on being nice to it during the run tomorrow.

Training Run

Distance: 8.4 kilometers (5.2 miles)
Time: 42 minutes
Surface: asphalt/concrete
Weather Conditions: cool, overcast, 60s, evening run
Location: Miraflores/Barranco, Lima, Peru

Comments: Not a stellar effort. I was pretty busy most of the day so I didn't get a chance to run till evening. I considered skipping the run but, when I got home there was a little daylight left so I figured it would be interesting to try a late afternoon run.

But I was not up to snuff today. I had trouble getting into the rhythm of it and I really felt like throwing in the towel after 15 minutes or so. I cut the distance I intended and just went for my usual finishing point. I felt pretty sore and tired afterward as well.

Had a disturbing incident during the day. Waiting to meet with one of my sources I was standing in a hallway and, typical of when I am idle like that, I loosely stretch my legs a bit. When I extended by left leg my knee 'cracked' or 'popped.' Not loudly, more like when you crack your knuckles and there was no pain or physical sensation to it. But it's a disconcerting occurance.

Training Run

Distance: 9.7 kilometers (6 miles)
Time: 47 minutes
Surface: asphalt/concrete
Weather Conditions: cool, overcast, 60s, noon run
Location: Miraflores/Barranco, Lima, Peru

Comments: I was planning on starting speed work this week at the track I found but my knee felt sore when I woke up and I didn't think it was a good idea to push it. Also, it rained last night - that cold just-more-than-a-mist rain Lima is famous for - so it was a perfect day for putting in a few miles anyway.

Although I wanted to hit pretty close to 45 minutes I purposefully didn't look at my watch till the end. I just set a route I knew would take about that long and ran it at the most comfortable pace I could. I ended up going a bit longer than expected but I did a bit less than I wanted on Sunday so it's all good.

I felt great the whole way. I was nervous about the left knee but it gave me no problems at all. I felt very strong through the whole run - absolutely no point where I felt dragging or tired or anything. I probably could have cranked out a faster performance but, as I mentioned, that probably would not have been a good idea.

Week Wrapup

Distance: 56 kilometers (34.77 miles)
Time: 4 hours 47 minutes

Comments: The best laid plans... I wanted to make this week a mix-and-match week where I played around with different running workouts but it 'gang aft agly' pretty quick with a horrendous effort on Monday. So, after that, I just made it a distance week and concentrated on putting in the miles.

It is starting to look like folks are getting interested in the race. The race website has been updated with the course schedule and info (although it is a bit buggy at the moment). They are estimating 15,000 entrants this year in both the marathon and half-marathon.

I will be updating my training schedule with the race information in the next few weeks but the one part that drew my attention is the elevation chart:

It's not that imposing but and pretty much the whole first half of the race is on an incline. So it would probably be best if I start integrating hill workouts with that in mind.

I have updated the training schedule with a pre-training regimen. This is a basic plan that targets putting in somewhere beween 30 and 35 miles each week. I'll also try and get some track and hill work in there as well.

That said, I don't really want to feel I have to keep on the schedule at all. While I'd like the target mileage to stay the same, I intend to jocky around with the individual workouts as I see fit the day of.

The other concern would be pull-back weeks but that should be taken care of by the fact I will probably be out of town a substantial period of time during this phase. That will require shortened weeks which should fit perfectly in the training continuity.

The idea is to be completely physically ready for the "real" schedule to begin, to have a passing familiarity with all the workout types I plan to use and - this is the most important part - to not injure myself getting to the starting line.

Long Run

Distance: 18.5 kilometers (11.5 miles)
Time: 98 minutes
Surface: asphalt/concrete
Weather Conditions: cool, overcast, 60s, early morning run
Location: Miraflores/Barranco/Chorillos, Lima, Peru

Comments: Got up a bit earlier today to hit the road more of a race time. I was on the pavement by 7:30 a.m. and it was a pretty nice time to be out. Few cars and only real runners putting in the miles. 

Although this wasn't a 'bad' run by any means I never really hit the groove during the thing. I seemed to have enough energy and strength for the whole thing but there was that snap in my step that just wasn't there. The run felt like work whereas my long runs usually are a delight for me.

Skipped the stretch and just went out. I kept the beginning of the run at barely more than a jog, giving myself lots of time to warm up. I made the route a bit more of a circut to lose one of the hills but still had three tough inclines to contend with.

In the last mile or so I had a disconcerting knee pain. It was an actual pain under the kneecap on the outside right side of my right knee. It wasn't sharp and it wasn't continual but, for about half a mile or so, it was pinging me. I fiddled with my stride and it seemed to ease up but it is NOT something I am happy about. 

I also went out with two bottles and a gel pack today. There is a knock-off energy drink sold here that tastes like ass but the bottles fit perfect in my hand. So I buy them, throw out the liquid and fill it with my Gatorade from powder. I just toss the bottles in the trash as I finish them. 

The gel this time was PowerBar Green Apple. I previously tried the lime and it tasted like glue, this was pretty good and didn't leave me desperate for liquid afterward. PowerBar is the brand used in the Rock 'n Roll Arizona race so I best get used to it.