Training Run

Time: 30 min
Distance: 5 kilometers

Comments: Just a little recovery run to cap off the week and get ready for the long run on Sunday. I've been trying to add these 'fourth day' runs in my weekly schedule for awhile now but with spotty success. I need the endurance levels it requires, not the extra miles.This was a nice little effort. Started slow got into a rhythm and kept up the low-level of intensity the whole way. Consistency is more important than brute strength at this point and this is the kind of run that you hone it.

Training Run

Time: 60 min
Distance: 10 kilometers

Comments: Feeling rather achy now. It's been a challenge to pour on all these miles after the forced layoff but there doesn't seem to be any real negative effects from it.Got out late again and put in an workmanlike effort. The hills were tougher than I expected but I steeled myself, concentrated on the pace and cranked them out. As tough as all this has been, it's a good sign I am strong enough to get through these last few weeks and then the race itself. A huge portion of success is having what it takes to hang in when things get right tough and this is where you find out how to do that.

Training Run

Time: 90 min
Distance: 15 kilometers

Comments: Well, I certainly felt the effects of the run yesterday when I woke up. And, getting onto the beach I knew I was a bit on the achy side.And while it got a bit better as I settled into the run, I never really felt like there was a ton in the tank. I never felt tired enough to give in but I certainly wasn't perky about the effort either.Despite that, I found myself holding a pretty strong pace for the last third of the run, so much so I overshot my 'finish line' and had to make up the extra time making my way up the big hill home (which I usually walk).

Training Run

Time: 60 min
Distance: 10 kilometers

Comments: After almost a week off and my last run not being anything to brag about I simply wanted to put in the miles today. So I figured the one hour loop to Playa Herraduras and back would be perfect. As often happens after a layoff like this, I felt very strong heading out and had to hold in my pace. As I mentioned in the start-up, I have not eaten well at all this week and I'm pretty sure the carb levels are minimal. So I did start to feel the tank getting low on the back half but I had not gone out so crazy on the front half there was nothing left. In all, not a bad run. Nothing spectacular but a solid workmanlike effort. Just like I was hoping for. Conditions: Hour: 11:30 a.m.

Marathon Training Summary: Week 13

Time: 75 min
Distance: 13.5 kilometers (8 miles)

Comments: Well, the start of this week is proving to be just as crazy as the end of last week. But I'm going to get on the stick for my regular Tuesday start and try to put in the miles I would have done if I had kept to the plan. That means a bit more than two weeks ago and a bit less than next week which will feature the 20-miler.Of course if I get any aching or resistance from the legs in any degree, I fully am ready to sack it in and avoid doing something stupid again.My diet over the past several days has been atrocious and my sleep patterns have been disrupted at best and nonexistent at worst. I'm hoping to get over the hump by Wednesday and settle back into a bit of routine.

Fitness Run

Time: 15 min
Distance: 3.5 kilometers

Comments: Well, that was not the run I was hoping for. I got out late (deadline day) but felt really good. I took off at a hot pace but, before long, the legs decided they weren't up for the fun.I got a twing in my outer left quad, a zing in my right achilles tendon and an owie in the left knee. I also just didn't have enough in the tank to pull it out the whole hour I wanted. So, rather than do something stupid, I threw in the towel before I got to the hills. I can't say it was a bad run, just not what I was wanting. And, since this is a pull-back week anyway, there is no need to sacrifice my body for an unnecessary training run.

Training Log

Time: 60 min
Distance: 10 kilometers

Comments: Feeling very strong. Had a tough day of it yesterday. Tired and sore. Took it easy and got a good feel of how my legs were before heading out this morning. But, despite some lingering soreness, I had energy and I had power to spare. I made it a point to keep the run at a recovery pace despite the urge to crank out a good one. I'll play around a bit tomorrow if the feeling continues. Headed down to the Herradura beach again. The hills weren't too much of a difficulty but I'll probably avoid them tomorrow as a precaution.

Marathon Training Summary: Week 12

Time: 6 hours
Distance: 60 kilometers (37 miles)

Comments: A big long week that took a hell of a lot out of me but never proved to be too much for me to handle. A real victory that I'm hoping to build on over this last third of the training. I decided to split the runs into four weekday efforts and one big long run as to better assess my injury status each day. But the main issues seemed to ease off this week. I'm not sure if that's progress or better self delusion but I certainly tried to take advantage of it while I could. The runs went well and, although my diet was not the best, I had good energy most of the week. I really felt the fatigue afterwards though. The afternoon naps are getting to be necessary and commonplace.

Injury update: Surprisingly little action on this front. The ankle/shin of the right leg was achy to start the week but no real issues later. The achilles tendon much the same. The Tibialius Posterior on the right leg con

I'm a bit tired from the super-long run to cap off last week but not in a negative sense. Afternoon naps are now a training necessity, that's for sure.But I don't want to overdo it here on the last push of big miles like I think I did last December. So it's probably a good thing I have a work trip planned this week that will force me to cut back on my mileage.So I'll try and get in two good regular-week runs and one 'long run' of a sane distance. Then I'll have a two-week push to the 20-mile mark to cap off the big miles and get on with the taper.

Long Run

Time: 3 hours
Distance: 29 kilometers

Comments: A big long steady effort. I knew it would be a challenge and I did a bit to prepare but this one was a serious test of the will to complete. I got out a bit earlier than I hoped, which was good, and started very slow. Rather than run down the wasteland toward San Martin, I decided to do the run to Herradura beach twice instead. I'm leery of the hills but I need to get them in for the race itself.I had pretty good legs the whole way and was able to keep decent form. My iPod batteries konked out at halfway so I did the second half sin musica. Which was probably for the best, I really tried to concentrate on form and proper stride.It was an effort that took about all I had to give but not one that I felt beaten up and

Training Run

Time: 30 min
Distance: 5.5 kilometers

Comments: I woke up feeling pretty ass-like today. A bit of a headache but sinus-like, not hangover-like. Since this is a shorter day I decided to gird myself and make a go of it.So I got out and got warmed up and started slow. I didn't eat super well yesterday so I didn't feel particularly strong. But, before I knew it, I was zipping along at a pretty strong pace and feeling pretty good about it. And, even more surprisingly, it didn't really fade.In the end it was a very good run and I felt better for having done it afterward. I'm a bit worried about Sunday's long effort, though.