Thursday, March 27, 2008

5 weeks out, time to make a marathon


Well, it's been an interesting stretch since Jan 13th and the Rock and Roll Marathon in Phoenix AZ. I sit here, Thursday, March 27th, right in the middle of my highest mileage, most intense week of training for my upcoming May 4th marathon. Right at about 77 miles is where the week will peak out at. I started my real training program for this marathon about 12 weeks out from the race, I will taper for 2 of them, and actually cut back the week of April 7-13 for a half marathon that I am running here in Ft. Collins. 9 full weeks, that will include a 20 and 2 22 mile training runs. From 2/17 I will do miles per week of 61,62,60,72,42,56,75,74,32,65,50, and 26. My recent 20 was almost 5 minutes faster than the same 20 mile run before Phoenix, and it was done with very little water and no gels or anything. My runs get more and more encouraging each day at this point and the prospect of what I might accomplish begins to creep in to my head with each good run. I continue to push those thoughts away. I always think to the scene in the movie Tin Cup with Kevin Costner, on the first day of the US Open when he tees off on the first hole. He whispers to himself "be humble" as he swings the club and drives the ball down the fairway. A lot of words have been used to describe me in my life, everything from "hidden treasure" to "strong willed" to "sweet and smart".


Humble is not one that I've ever been called. Probably never will. I used cockiness to mask insecurity when I was young and overweight. As I grew older and became who I am today, I find that I am very good at a lot of things now, but really not great at anything. I play a decent round of golf, swim, bike, basketball, all that stuff I am ok at. I'm good at running, it's probably what I do best. Personal life stuff my track record continues to speak for itself. Family and relationship stuff, maybe we'll go into that another time, not today. None of us have that kind of time right now.


From a running standpoint though, I feel better than I ever have, and this is the week that it happens. The past 4 and upcoming 3 days are the ones that will put me in place to do what I couldn't in Phoenix, coming to a head with my 22 mile run on Sunday. Each LR before Phoenix, I worried. Now I can't wait for this 22 mile run on Sunday, I can't wait to prove to myself I can do it, I can make it happen.


Not much here besides a guy who is wound up about a big week and his job is not keeping his mind from wandering. More later...



No comments: