So I haven't posted much in the last month or so. Truth be told, I haven't had much to post about.
Here's how it's been going:
I posted after US Half Champs that I was taking a much-needed break, which I did and it was fantastic. Rest is a very powerful training tool, and something that most people seriously neglect. After a week or so of not running (I typically get antsy taking any more than a week off), I started back up fresh and super-motivated.
Finally, after getting my training back on track last year and with the Olympic Marathon Trials a year away (at that point), I was committed to return to the marathon two-year after my last one. I knew I could build off of my half marathon fitness and throw down a real solid marathon. Maybe not an OT qualifier, but at least a positive experience under my belt to prepare for the trials.
I was going to do the Flying Pig Marathon, here in Cincinnati. While I have been critical of that race in the past, they are making an effort to improve their standing as an elite race, which is something that I'm all for supporting. I wanted to show that support by racing the marathon. Also, being able to contend for the win at my hometown race while representing my running store made for a very appealing opportunity.
Now, I probably wouldn't have won the race. For the past few years, the winner has been Sergio Reyes, a national-caliber marathoner (read: sub-2:15) running with the Asics Aggies club out in California. In a normal marathon race, I'm not going to be close to beating him. But he's usually coming off of Boston or some other spring marathon...with a handicap like that, I thought at the very least, maybe I could make it interesting. Give him a run for his money. Maybe, just maybe, snag an upset up everything went well.
But, as the saying goes, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
The day after my first threshold run of the marathon build-up, I felt real stiff and sore in my left Achille's tendon. I ran easy for a couple days, and the soreness didn't go away. It actually got more and more achy. I know better than to start marathon prep banged up, so I rested.
I saw the awesome guys at Norwood Chiropractic, who helped heal me up and get healthy again. By that point, though, I had missed two weeks of training. It would take another two-three weeks of easy running just to get back to back to where I was pre-injury. That's where my training is right now: getting back to where I was a month ago.
So, that's it. No Flying Pig marathon for me. With less than two months before the race and no marathon prep under my belt, I'd be foolish to go and race it. And, for the near future, no racing plans. No Bockfest 5k, Heart Mini 15k, Papa John's 10 Miler; all races I have done in the past and was hoping to do again this year. I just want to get a couple months of solid base training in me before (most likely) racing a short 5k season in late-spring / early-summer.
If I can get in consistent quality this spring, then I'll be perfectly set to crank out a sub-1:05 half this fall.
Here's how it's been going:
I posted after US Half Champs that I was taking a much-needed break, which I did and it was fantastic. Rest is a very powerful training tool, and something that most people seriously neglect. After a week or so of not running (I typically get antsy taking any more than a week off), I started back up fresh and super-motivated.
Finally, after getting my training back on track last year and with the Olympic Marathon Trials a year away (at that point), I was committed to return to the marathon two-year after my last one. I knew I could build off of my half marathon fitness and throw down a real solid marathon. Maybe not an OT qualifier, but at least a positive experience under my belt to prepare for the trials.
I was going to do the Flying Pig Marathon, here in Cincinnati. While I have been critical of that race in the past, they are making an effort to improve their standing as an elite race, which is something that I'm all for supporting. I wanted to show that support by racing the marathon. Also, being able to contend for the win at my hometown race while representing my running store made for a very appealing opportunity.
Now, I probably wouldn't have won the race. For the past few years, the winner has been Sergio Reyes, a national-caliber marathoner (read: sub-2:15) running with the Asics Aggies club out in California. In a normal marathon race, I'm not going to be close to beating him. But he's usually coming off of Boston or some other spring marathon...with a handicap like that, I thought at the very least, maybe I could make it interesting. Give him a run for his money. Maybe, just maybe, snag an upset up everything went well.
But, as the saying goes, the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.
The day after my first threshold run of the marathon build-up, I felt real stiff and sore in my left Achille's tendon. I ran easy for a couple days, and the soreness didn't go away. It actually got more and more achy. I know better than to start marathon prep banged up, so I rested.
I saw the awesome guys at Norwood Chiropractic, who helped heal me up and get healthy again. By that point, though, I had missed two weeks of training. It would take another two-three weeks of easy running just to get back to back to where I was pre-injury. That's where my training is right now: getting back to where I was a month ago.
So, that's it. No Flying Pig marathon for me. With less than two months before the race and no marathon prep under my belt, I'd be foolish to go and race it. And, for the near future, no racing plans. No Bockfest 5k, Heart Mini 15k, Papa John's 10 Miler; all races I have done in the past and was hoping to do again this year. I just want to get a couple months of solid base training in me before (most likely) racing a short 5k season in late-spring / early-summer.
If I can get in consistent quality this spring, then I'll be perfectly set to crank out a sub-1:05 half this fall.
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