Recovery Run

Distance: 3.5 miles
Time: 32:07 minutes
Pace: 9:14/mi

Comments: A true recovery run. Every time I felt I was speeding up and hitting a regular pace I made myself slow back down.

I started pretty early and it was rather chilly. That, allied with the lack of stretching, made taking it very very easy the whole way a priority.

But tomorrow will be my first 'real' long run since getting back to Arizona. I want to be ready for it and wasting energy and glycogen today would not be very wise.

Training Run

Distance: 6 miles
Time: 45:00 minutes
Pace: 7:30/mi

Comments: I got started kind of late today and things got pushed back even farther due to my stretching. In retrospect, it may have also been a bit of overtiredness but the jury is still out on that.


As I expected, my left leg was much tighter than my right and even concentrated stretching didn't seem to do much for it. That said, there weren't any worrisome sensations today... but more on that in a sec.

I did a bit of warming up and started off a little faster than usual although still less than the pace I finally settled into. After a mile and a half I hit a stride and kept with it most of the rest of the way.

But the whole run was work. I had to push myself through every step and the last two miles were filled with the 'don't wannas.' I've reached the point where I can ignore this sensation but I still don't enjoy when it rears its ugly head.

Training Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 35:12 minutes
Pace: 8:48/mi

Comments: Headed down to the south end of Chandler to do a run with my sister and my niece. After cranking out the tough run yesterday I though a slightly less intense run would be best.

It was probably good I went, otherwise I would have, to borrow the phrase from another runner I know in training for this race, taken a ride on the excuse train.

But it was a great day to be out. Lotsa sun, low humidity and almost no wind. Afterward I was a bit more tired than I usually am, though.

Training Run

Distance: 8 miles
Time: 61:12 minutes
Pace: 7:39/mi

Comments: A pretty good run. I skipped the stretch (a practice that has got to stop) and hit the road pretty cold. As a result I took it very slow the first mile or so.

After that I dropped into a comfortable pace and tried to keep it steady. I was a bit sore and tired today but nothing major and it wasn't any hindrance after getting warmed up.

At about the six mile mark I realized I could probably fit the run in under and hour so I bumped up my pace and, at the one mile mark, bumped it up even more. I was running pretty hard the last half mile but I didn't quite make my goal.

Training Run

Distance: 6 miles
Time: 45:34 minutes
Pace: 7:35/mi

Comments: Very good run. I started without stretching or a warmup, just at a nice even pace. I gradually accelerated as I got into it but tried to keep the proceedings at about half race pace. On the last two miles or so I bumped that up just a bit but not much.

I felt very strong the whole way and completely in control of the run. I had lots in the tank and wasn't breathing too heavy after finishing either. The weather was about perfect. The clouds blocked the sun but the air was clear and wind was minimal. It doesn't get much more ideal for putting in miles.

Marathon Training Summary: Week 3

Distance: 24.38 miles
Time: 3 hours 20 minutes

Comments: Strange week. Half in one season, the rest in another.

I put in three sub-par half-hour runs along the malencon to wrap up my training in South America. Then, after getting stateside, I upgraded my equipment and banged out one super-fast run and a solid long run.

Perhaps the change of scenery was what I needed.

Injury update: Problem number one is this shoulder issue. It is persistant, painful and not responding to my various efforts. It reaches the point that I cannot even turn my head hardly at all. My last hope is with my morning visit to the chiropractor tomorrow.

I will be wary this week of my leg issues due to the new shoes and their radically different feel.

The only other issue on the radar is the tightness in my left leg. The masseuse said it was severe in both the hamstring and the quad. It's something that can quickly affect other aspects of my running.

For example; warming up for the long run the inside of my left knee was very sore but it seemed to respond to stretching. There were no problems during the run itself.

Long Run

Distance: 9 miles
Time: 82:23 minutes
Pace: 9:15/mi

Comments: Did the long run today with my sister and her daughter. I figured the reduced pace would work well with my week since I pushed it a bit hard on Saturday.

We used a concrete and dirt route along one of the canals near her house in the southern part of the city. Very level and very accommodating for running and biking.

My sister pushed the baby runner for the first two miles and I took it for the rest of the run. It was a relatively easy pace for me and it gave her a chance to do a long run without the device affecting her gait.

So I focused on keeping it slow and steady. Concentrating on the details of my run; the regular pace, the steady breathing, my posture and whatnot. It was an effective exercise for a lot of the aspects I have been neglecting.