Total Miles: 72

My workout routines have become a bit too , well…routine.  Since my last post, I have only had the chance to run outside the day before and the morning of Thanksgiving.  I need to get back in the habit and tuff out the cold.  Every time I do go out, I quickly realize that it isn’t as bad as it seems like it should be and wind up enjoying the cool air and quiet evenings with the trail mostly to myself.  For the most part, I have been doing the gym.  I have been pretty consistently going 5-6 nights a week and try to mix up what I do while there.

Tonight, I had once again convinced myself that it was too cold and windy.  As I got out to my car to head for the treadmill, I realized it wasn’t too bad and since it wasn’t even dark yet I decided to give it a go.  I wound up taking a new route that I have always wondered about.  It started out being a great decision, crossing the river with an amazing view of downtown at dusk.  Unfortunately, the further out I got, the darker and colder it became and the more I questioned whether or not this was a good idea.  At some point I took a wrong turn and found myself in a questionable neighborhood.   I was approached by an older woman pushing a cart.  She commented that she didn’t think it was a good idea for me to be out there (what she actually said was a bit more controversial than I care to mention in a blog).  I was also cruising on some dark sidewalk when some truck tire blew out just as he drove by.  The driver got out, said a few choice words and sped off.  To cap it off, I got home, realized I had locked myself out and had to break out a window to get into my house.  Just a strange trip.

I’m glad that the gym has at least kept my conditioning that I had worked up to.   Don’t know that it helped, but was able to start where I left off.

Long story short, I once again realized that running out in 30something temperatures is not a problem.  If anything I feel like it helps and hope to get out a few times a week minimum.  

Total Miles: 56

So it's been a while, again.  I will try and update more often.  My apologies.

Anywho...I am still hard at it.  Dan and I spent most every day last week in the gym.  We have added strength training to our workouts.  We now spend a solid half hour lifting weights before we make our way to the elliptical and cap the night off with a visit to the sauna.  I'm not a huge fan of it, but I think its time I tuff it out and become a regular on that side of the gym.  I don't know how beneficial any of that is to marathon training, but with the weather like it is, it's the best I can do.

Today, I took part in my first race, The Route 66 Quarter Marathon here in Tulsa.  I had to walk 1.5 miles from my house because all of the roads near my house were closed for the marathon.  It was a really decent crowd I thought.  Not sure how many entered, but it had to have been a couple thousand.  

I was in the quarter marathon crowd for 6.5ish miles.  The race mostly took place in my normal running turf down by the river, but was noticeably further.  Around mile 5, I was defiantly feeling it.   To be honest, I was impressed with myself.  I had never run more than 3 miles without stopping prior to today, and managed to do the entire race slowing only for a drink a couple of times. 

Unfortunately, no one told me that I had to zip tie the little RFID card to my shoe in order for it to read your time, so I am unsure of exactly how long it took me to finish.  I’m pretty sure that the clock read 1:11 as I made the final push to the finish line.  Sub 11 minute miles are nothing to write home about for many of the people out there, but I felt like I have come a long way.  Two months ago, running this race would have been impossible.  I cant see this being my final Tulsa run.

long time no write

Total Miles: 36

Its been a few days, lets see if I cant recap on the weekend up to now.

I'm trying to push myself to a 4 mile minimum distance.

Friday, I got in a solid 4 mile run. Around mile 1.5 some guy came up beside me and we had a conversation. Made me wish I had someone to run with. Really seemed to make it easier to push myself with him there doing the same.

I had to get back to Missouri for the rest of the weekend so I knew that I needed to make the most while in Tulsa. I got a 3 mile run in Saturday morning before I left. This officially put training miles over that of a marathon and it only took me two weeks....ouch. Cant let it get me down.

I didn't get back home until it was to late to justify getting out on Sunday, so I took the night off. It surprises me that I now am starting to look forward to getting out and exercising. This is defiantly a first for me. Hopefully won't be something I soon abandon.

The weather has continued to hold out, so I still haven't made it back to the gym. Monday and Tuesday were another couple of 4 mile nights. Monday was probably the best I've felt yet. I would say that I am now running a solid 90% of my total distance. Feels good to be making progress....sure hope its enough.