Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 27:17 minutes
Pace: 6:47/mi

Comments: My first run back stateside. My plan was to go for the distance with the hope of putting a full run around the block - four miles - in as close to a half hour as possible.

What I got was one of my fastest regular runs in some time.

I skipped the stretching but did a warm-up run to the main street. I then started the workout at a nice clip that turned out to be at a much better pace than I expected. But I decided to keep with it since I have pretty much slacked off all this week.

As I expected, the altitude is clearly an issue since I could feel the difficulty in trying to breath my normal rate. The lower humidity was an added complication, I could feel the need for a drink fast and my lips got dry halfway through.

The change of running to distance was a trick too. Straight miles are a lot more intimidating than kilometers. And every one of the full 5,280 feet stare you in the face when you turn each corner.

But the mental state for dealing with this is important since the race is about hitting the distance first and the time second. You gotta get to the finish line no matter what.

The secret weapon on this run was the new shoes. These new shoes come in at 12.1 ounces which is only three ounces shy of the ones I used before. But that's a lot given the time you spend on a workout. Add the cushioning factor and I clearly felt I had it easier foot-wise.

Anyhow, the push and all the changes kept me in the thing and I was very suprised at the time I got. It's the fastest workout I have done by mile yet. I think I need to double check the distance in the truck to make sure it's four miles.

New Shoes: Saucony Grid Omni 5

Having gotten back to the states relatively unscathed, my first order of business was getting started on the upkeep of my poor suffering bod. I hit the masseuse who gave me a good 90 minute workout.


The situation with my neck has gotten extremely bad and the 20-plus hours of travel did little to help matters. As a result, much of her effort focused on that. While it seemed to help somewhat after, the pain returned again full force today.

So I have an appointment with the chiropractor Monday and we shall see...

Next up, equipment. I headed over to see my friend Erin and the good folks at Performance Footwear in Tempe. I took to the treadmill to get a look to see what we could see and the results were surprising.

It seems the pronation on my left foot is almost completely absent now. It still gives a bit more roll than the right but the exaggerated slant inward is pretty much gone. The recommendation was switch from a motion control shoe to one that simply provides stability.

After trying a number of shoes I settled on the Saucony Grid Omni 5. This was a pretty difficult choice to make because every shoe I tried was so very different from what I had been using before - most noticably the severe reduction in the weight.

Erin also thought the construction of the toe area would reduce the chance of the blisters like I have been getting on the ball of my right foot on longer runs.

To further focus on this I also picked up some WrightSock friction-free socks. The warmer temperatures and relatively high humidity here at the moment will have me sweating more and that's led to blister fun on my pinkie toes. These socks have two very thin layers to help reduce the amount of movment of the material against the skin itself.

Lastly, I picked up a pair of Native Eyewear sunglasses. I picked up a pair of these a few years ago and really was impressed by their comfortable fit. I chose the Tare style because they felt the best on my head - and by that I mean they didn't feel like they were on my head at all.


The incredibly bright sun here in Arizona makes having a quality pair of glasses a necessity for runners and the extremely high altitudes in Peru I have found myself working in make them a necessity for my work as well.

Training Run

Distance: 6.40 kilometers (4 miles)
Time: 30 minutes
Surface: asphalt/concrete
Weather Conditions: slightly warm, overcast, 70s, morning run
Location: Miraflores, Lima, Peru

Comments: And another lackluster effort. Basically just went out and got it done so I could get busy wrapping things up here today.

I started out very blah. It felt like I was running through molasses. I eventually warmed up pretty well and got a decent run out of it but there wasn't a lot of joy on the way.

No aches and pains to speak of except for a tightness in my right shoulder that has pestered me for more than a week now. There is a pretty formidable knot there and its tight enough that it now aches whenever I take a stride.

Training Run

Distance: 6.20 kilometers (3.85 miles)
Time: 30 minutes
Surface: asphalt/concrete
Weather Conditions: slightly warm, overcast, 70s, noon run
Location: Miraflores, Lima, Peru

Comments: And another not too challenging effort but that's the point this week. (I still feel like I am slacking, though.)

Stretched well. Got out there without any problems. Went through it all without any undue effort or stress. No aches or pains or whatnot either.

This run was a bit later in the day than normal and the clouds were clearing a bit. The result was a noticeable warm and humid feeling throughout. Nothing crazy but noticeable.

Recovery Run

Distance: 5.68 kilometers (3.53 miles)
Time: 30 minutes
Surface: asphalt/concrete
Weather Conditions: cool, misty, overcast, 60s, morning run
Location: Miraflores, Lima, Peru

Comments: Slow and easy recovery run that went just like planned.

I concentrated on the stretching and warmup even more due to the reduced effort on the run. I probably need to set up a more thorough stretching regimen and now is as good a time to experiment with it.

I did feel a tightness in my right Achilles tendon at about the 3/4 point. Nothing major and it quickly passed but not something to take lightly at all.

Marathon Training Summary: Week 2

Distance: 37.27 miles
Time: 5 hours 5 minutes

Comments: The final full week of running here in Lima. In one sense I'm ready to get out of here and into the formal training mode in Arizona but, on the other hand, I've come a long way since February and have my routine here down pat.

Given my desire to do one last run along the whole beach route I pushed my weekly mileage up a bit further than probably was wise - almost to the mark I did last week.

But I should be OK. The interrupted week coming up will force that number down and it will give me an extra rest day. Flying back to the US might be a pain these days, but it does keep you off your feet.

This promises to be a 'recovery' week due to my return to the states late in the week. It is probably for the better because I have been pushing pretty hard mileage-wise the past few weeks. Although I feel pretty good, I don't want to overdo it or create a problem that will show up full-flower in week five or so.

Another concern I have for the upcoming week with the transpositioning of my training location is altitude. For the past eight months I have been doing my workouts at sea level with relatively high humidity. That's about to change to about 1,240 feet (378 meters) and minimal humidity.

It's not so much that I don't think I can make the transition, but it is sufficent enough to give me pause due to the intensity of my training.

So I plan on shorter runs this week - although I will keep my regular track workout - and a less intense long run on the weekend. I'll evaluate it all next Monday and see where I stand.

Long Run

Distance: 22.5 kilometers (14 miles)
Time: 120 minutes
Surface: asphalt/concrete/dirt
Weather Conditions: cool, overcast, 60s, noon run
Location: Miraflores/Barranco/Chorrillos/Magdalena del Mar, Lima, Peru

Comments: The last long run in Lima. Which makes me a bit nostalgic. It's been a long long journey from my first effort here back in February. 

So instead of my pretty conservative 90 minute run I decided to do the same long route I did a month ago that covers pretty much all of my running along the shore here. 

I started out ugly, as usual. Had a little stitch and clumsy gait until I got warmed up. I tried to keep a solid pace but my concentration level isn't what it needs to be. I kept slipping into my usual shuffle. 

But there were much longer periods of clarity and strong effort. My pace was noticably better than the last time I ran this route (although I did not go as far this time). 

The usual long run aches appeared. The only one that concerned me was when my right knee felt sore in the last 20 minutes. It passed but I need to be careful about adding mileage like this again.