Redemption: 2013 Hamilton Road2Hope Marathon

nkrichards wrote:Nick...Sounds like training has continued to go well for you.  Does your taper start next week?  I'm finishing off the week with a half and then will start my taper. 

Enjoy your remaining hard/long runs.

Thanks!!!  It looks like your training is going pretty well, too.  As for taper, yes mine starts next week, as well.  I am finish the week off with 12 tomorrow, 14 on Saturday, and 20 on Sunday.  Thanks again!!

10.09.13 -

13 miles...This may sound crazy cray, but I think this training thing is finally paying off.  I say this, because I just ran 13.43 miles tonight at a 7:24 pace!!!  And it was pretty easy to boot...Negative splits the entire way.  I am actually in utter amazement at that run.  Especially since I had over 50 miles on my legs from the previous 4 days.  I am hoping that this run is the turning point in my training.  My legs feel great right now, so it will be interesting to see how they react tomorrow, as I have my last double of the cycle (4 in the morning and 8 in the evening).

nkrichards wrote:

HoneyMaxx wrote:

nkrichards wrote:Have you had a chance to try HoneyMaxx yet?  It tastes awful!  Very bitter...especially the first few swigs.  I've used in before and during a couple runs.  Never enjoyed the taste but it wasn't as bad after a while.  It didn't seem to upset my stomach or anything.

 Keep up the good work!

Hey nkrichards,

Sorry the HoneyMaxx didn't work for you. We don't get too many complaints about the taste....ever. Curious, what was it that you didn't like? a certain flavour? bitter eh? Let us know.

We do use stevia as a natural sweetener - some people just cannot tolerate stevia in any amount, we get it. Personal preference is key.

All the best in your running and training.
HoneyMaxx

What...is this really from HoneyMaxx?  How did they find my comment?

I've actually continued using their product as it's going be served at the race and I wanted to make sure I could handle it OK.  I still don't enjoy the taste but I've gotten used to it.   Other than the taste it seems to work fine.  I don't have any stomach issues and it seems to provide the fueling I need.

Yup, it is actually HoneyMaxx! It's amazing what google spiders and forum lurking friends dump in our inbox.

We're glad it's giving you the fuel you need and not bothering your stomach (the two most important things on race day) - we also totally understand personal taste preferences. Try another drink sweetened with stevia and let us know if you get the same bitter affect.

All the best in your training leading up to the race, be sure to stop by our expo booth and say hello on race weekend.

10.10.13 -

4 miles...Run number one of the day, as I complete the last double of the training cycle.  My legs felt surprisingly good after a pretty fast 13 miles last evening.  Another chilly morning (42 degrees) had me wearing long sleeves again, as I let the staring sky light my way.  I completed the 4.26 miles at a decent 7:42 clip.  I've got 8 more miles scheduled for this evening, before a nice off day tomorrow.

Wow, that is cool that HoneyMaxx is commenting here.    Good work, Nick and Nancy.  We are all headed to taper after this weekend - I've got a hour run tonight, 20 tomorrow, 10 on Saturday and 5 on Sunday before a day off on Monday.  Next week's 12-14 will feel pretty easy, I'm sure>

10.10.13 -

8 miles...Second run of the day and I could tell that it was.  I was a little tired as I headed out for the run, but things seem to get better as I got into the run.  Not as fast as last night, but it still was a good run.  I completed 8.20 miles at a 7:43 pace.  Tomorrow is a much wanted off day.  I am also heading down to Chicago to meet up with some of the 365ers for dinner before the Chicago Marathon.  Then I will be running allow the lakefront on Saturday before heading home to run my final 20 on Sunday.

These are some exciting runs you've been having lately, Nick! 

Sounds like your body is peaking just in time for taper. That's a very good thing.

Enjoy the dinner! final 20 miler...I'm getting excited for you! You're going to have an awesome race. I hope for good weather for you on race day.

Sounds like a great final weekend pre-taper. Enjoy it!

Mark B wrote:These are some exciting runs you've been having lately, Nick! 

Sounds like your body is peaking just in time for taper. That's a very good thing.

I am hoping so

Julie wrote:Enjoy the dinner! final 20 miler...I'm getting excited for you! You're going to have an awesome race. I hope for good weather for you on race day.

So far the long range projections have it at a high of 52 and sunny.  My fingers are crossed!!

Michael Enright wrote:Sounds like a great final weekend pre-taper. Enjoy it!

Thanks Michael...I will probably have a taper dream or two in my future...

10.11.13 - 

Scheduled off day...Off today, as I rest my body for the 35 miles I plan to put on it this weekend.  One last push before the taper.  I am also heading to Chicago this afternoon to meet up for dinner with the Chicago runners.

10.12.13 -

14 miles...After having a great dinner on Friday night with some of the Chicago runners, I set out along the Lakefront Path with Lisa and baby Kristina pacing me on the bike.  With a fairly decent south wind, we decided to head south for 7 miles and then have the wind at our backs for the 7 miles back.  Beautiful sunny morning as we set out on the journey.  I wanted to run the pace by feel this morning and man did I feel good.  From the get go, my pace was faster than I thought it would be.  I consistently held a 7:15 pace through the first 7 miles.  We then turned around and headed back.  The pace continued to be around 7:15 with mile 11 dropping top 7 minutes flat.  At mile 11 Schuey met up with us and ran the last 3 miles back with us.  It was a great strong run.  We ended up completing 14.54 miles at a 7:14 pace.  Great run with some great people...Life is good!!

I traveled back home this afternoon with plans of running 20 miles tomorrow morning to finish out my peak week of training.  Good luck to all of the Chicago Marathoners tomorrow!!

Good run, Nick!!! I, too, had good runs so far this weekend - let's hope Nancy did and that we are all ready!

A solid run with good friends is pretty hard to beat. Nice! 

It's exciting to see all you guys peaking and tapering, full of energy and ready to race. I can't wait to see how it all turns out.

Michele \"1L" Keane wrote:Good run, Nick!!! I, too, had good runs so far this weekend - let's hope Nancy did and that we are all ready!

Thanks 1L!! It's getting to be that time in the cycle where it all clicks

Mark B wrote:A solid run with good friends is pretty hard to beat. Nice! 

It's exciting to see all you guys peaking and tapering, full of energy and ready to race. I can't wait to see how it all turns out.

Thanks Mark!!! It's been a fun journey, but it's not over yet!!

10.13.13 -

20 miles...Brrr!!!  37 degrees as I headed out this morning for my final 20 mile run of the training cycle.  I actually put on my running sleeves...I am getting to be a wimp as I age.  The plan for this run was to keep it really easy and run around 8:00s for the entire 20.  The run started to rise as I got about 7 miles into the run, so I ditched the sleeves, as I was getting a little warm.  I forgot my Garmin charging dock at the Schumacher's residence yesterday, so my Garmin ran out of battery about halfway through the run and I had to rely on my old Timex to get me through the rest of the run.  It took me back to the old days when I ran more off feel.  It was a good run and I ended up running the second half a little faster, because it was harder to keep a consistent pace without the gps.  I did do a pretty good job of keeping the pace around 8:00, though.  I completed around 20.25 miles at a 7:57 overall average pace.

There it is...the hard work is done.  Now the task at hand is staying sharp as I rest up these final three weeks.  The best part of the journey is yet to come

Good run, Nick.  Now we both have taper!!

yay for taper time! should be good fir your post count around here.  

Glad the weather looks good this far out. I know it's always subject to change but hopefully it stays cool and nice.

Nice job, Nick!

Now it's



time!

(Cute, ain't he? I found him here.)

Ummm...very interesting Mark.  Very interesting...

Enjoy the taper Nick...do I need to look into buying snowshoes for the race?  Haven't paid any attention to the weather.

nkrichards wrote:Enjoy the taper Nick...do I need to look into buying snowshoes for the race?  Haven't paid any attention to the weather.

Thanks Nancy...As of now the high for race day is 53, so snowshoes will not be needed.  Although, it should be cool in the morning for the start