Lobo Runs For Sanctuary!

Thanks for the visit Doc.

Well it's been a while but my running is pain free and somewhat consistent. Last week was tough -- not much mileage. This week everything is going well. 4 Monday; 9 Tuesday; 5 today and tomorrow hopefully another strong run.

10 weeks to go and I need to be consistent. It's taking longer than I would have liked but I am getting back into shape.

We were visiting my brother-in-law this last weekend and I noticed middle-age has caught up to me. So I've made physical fitness a priority again. Full length mirrors can be your worst nightmare.

Dave Wolfe wrote:Thanks for the visit Doc.

Well it's been a while but my running is pain free and somewhat consistent. Last week was tough -- not much mileage. This week everything is going well. 4 Monday; 9 Tuesday; 5 today and tomorrow hopefully another strong run.

10 weeks to go and I need to be consistent. It's taking longer than I would have liked but I am getting back into shape.

We were visiting my brother-in-law this last weekend and I noticed middle-age has caught up to me. So I've made physical fitness a priority again. Full length mirrors can be your worst nightmare.

Interesting revelation. At least it's some motivation. I guess one good thing about getting back into shape is you're kind of forced to let go of expectations, since you're not in shape. Keep it up.

Fairly good week of running. Took Thursday off after 3 good days of running. Yesterday 6 miles and today 7 miles. Both days humid but otherwise not too bad. I'll see what tomorrow brings as to weather. . . hoping to get out and not too worry.

Running is starting to feel good again. I also seem to like the 3 days running/1 day rest. At least it seems to work right now. Realized with work and family stuff this training cycle is not the time for heroic intervals or any workouts like that. Just running. I'll see if more develops later.

A nice 12 miles this morning. A little light on the mileage but fun. Training is going okay -- translate that to I enjoy getting out there but my long runs have suffered.

Thinking seriously about the Hudson-Mohawk Winter Marathon in Albany NY (Feb). We were up there last weekend and that area got hit hard by the remnants of the hurricane.

Dave Wolfe wrote:A nice 12 miles this morning. A little light on the mileage but fun. Training is going okay -- translate that to I enjoy getting out there but my long runs have suffered.

Thinking seriously about the Hudson-Mohawk Winter Marathon in Albany NY (Feb). We were up there last weekend and that area got hit hard by the remnants of the hurricane.

Have you registered for it already? February is a long way away, and hopefully by then they'll have the area cleaned up from all the storm damage.

Skipping the long run today as my right front-upper thigh is on the verge of a "pulled" muscle. I'll run an hour this afternoon unless I need to stop sooner. Wake up early on Weds. and go long?

5th Avenue Mile yesterday. A race to the race as I had my pokey daughter with me. Then the race 7:23 not fast but lots of fun.

18 Mile Marathon Tune Up today. Damn I'm out of shape. If I wasn't a charity runner I'd defer now -- but I don't think I can. Let there be pain. 37 miles for the week.

We may have found a new coop apt. We'll see.

Random thoughts: I'm really feeling my age this fall. Grete's Great Gallop a Half Marathon was a disaster and yet it is one race I don't like to miss. It's funny but I arrived there just as the race was starting and so literally started in the back and so passed about 1380 people.

Realized our lives are not really set up for marathon training. Too many other things going on. So NYC will be participation only and a lot of pain as I am under-trained. Still enjoy getting out there with people but it's getting harder.

A fairly good week of running. Tues. & Thurs a couple of early morning runs @ 5 or 6 miles. Friday a 5 mile hill circuit -- when I am in shape I really love these runs. I'm not particularly in shape. Today was a very easy 11.5 miles. After a couple of tough weekend runs I just wanted to take it easy. I'll run long either tomorrow or Monday.

I'm much slower and lack the endurance of even last year. It's rather disconcerting but I'm starting to wrap my head around it.

18 miles this morning. Was going well planned for 20 but was a bit warn towards the end and I had been out there for a long time.

The final long run. 20 miles on a hilly course to top off the training cycle. Rest of the week went well even if it was a little light on the miles. Not expecting much from this marathon.

Snow and a tweaked left knee have me pacing like a caged animal. Well not really but I did take yesterday off -- and I'm listening to Peter Gabriel sing Shock the Monkey so ...

Training was crap but the race is almost here. Anyway, I'll throw this out here once, and only once, I'm trolling for donations for the charity I am running for. "Sanctuary For Families" works for and with victims of domestic violence. The statistics are scary -- 3 of 4 women are the victims of domestic abuse at some point in their live. If you want to give a small donation the link is below:

https://org2.democracyinaction.org/o/5046/t/2654/my/donate.jsp?supporter_my_donate_page_KEY=2930

Spent yesterday morning volunteering at the expo. Lot's of fun. Today my right hip is tight and almost sore -- strange. Hope it's just madness or tomorrow is going to be a long slog.

Well the marathon was my slowest . . . ever. But it was an enjoyable day
none the less. Ran a smooth consistent race through 15 miles, until the
59th Street Bridge. After the bridge was still running decently until
18/19 when my lack of training volume finally caught up to me. The final
7/8 miles were what they were -- rather ugly. Part of that is that,
except for my first marathon in 1979, I have always had a time goal.
This year I did not have a goal and it was somewhat dissatisfying -- a
rather strange emotional let down. Still a great day. Enjoyed seeing my
family including my dad who made a surprise visit to town at mile 24 as
always. I've decided I hate 1st Avenue it's purely a mental thing at
that point.

I have a couple of more races to qualify for entry to
next year's NYCM (for which I hope to actually train). However, there
is a 15K on Dec.17(?) I hope to run relatively well as I have never
raced this distance in over 3 decades of running -- strange.

Finally,
I think I've regained that runner's edge -- I haven't missed a run
from injury since May and am enthusiastic. I hope to break that old PR
in 2012 but not at NYC -- perhaps Hudson Mohawk or Wineglass.

I wanted
to end with the best bit of running/training advice I ever got from Hal
(only the first sentence was edited):

"Obviously, you've had to
scramble a bit . . . but in all honesty, all my schedules provide
runners with a framework that allows them to plan their training, which
at your level includes a combination of speed and endurance and rest.
The day-by-day details are, yes, important, but maybe not important, as
long as you enter the program with a good base and maintain consistency.
You might be short on the latter, but may not necessarily have fallen
too far beyond plan." - HH

Glad you had a fun day despite the slow time Dave. Looks like you're already thinking about next year. I don't know about Hudson Mohawk, but Wineglass is supposed to be a great PR course, as well as a great overall marathon. I've always wanted to run it.

Well Dave, you knew it was going to hurt. Despite that, you soldiered on and finished. That shows some pluck. Good thing you've regained your runner's edge -- consistency makes for PR performances down the road. But it's something we all struggle with. So keep on my good man!

I like it - the runner's edge. Agree with Kevin - nice to see consistency and lack of serious injuries. It should translate to results, but more importantly keeps running fun! Good job on gutting through another marathon Dave.

Dave Wolfe wrote:

...I think I've regained that runner's edge -- I haven't missed a run
from injury since May and am enthusiastic.

Nice!