Relentless

Phoenix Marathon     2:30:24

Curse this long course; you cost me my 4 marathon sub 2:30 streak! All things considered though, I am decently pleased. It was such a different experience than last year with rain instead of heat; and wind, wind, wind in every direction; and mostly... running with Logan instead of being solo for 23. I really tried to dig out the last 4 or so knowing that I was going to be very close to sub 2:30, but I just haven't had the workouts in the last 7 weeks since I've been sick to get there and finish like I would have wanted. It makes me antsy to run another one soonish since I am finally starting to feel better, but I'll take some time to recover now. Don't know my exact time, because I was pretty out of it at the finish, so I'll come back and edit that and add in a much more detailed report later. Bummed that Ally's fever never broke and that she was super sick all week and couldn't run, but I'm sure it was the smartest choice. (Adios 172.5)

Got to the start with The Circle and just chilled up by the gun range trying to stay out of the occasional drizzles and always present wind.  After listening to an annoying announcer talk about America and our country (!) we went and got ready.  Ran down the road a little and threw in a couple striders to test the legs out.  As we waited at the start, the rains picked up significantly and would stay pretty wet for the first 5 miles or so and then on and off throughout the race, but it was the wind that made the statement.  It was pretty much against us the whole time; not huge, but strong and always there.  1-5:36, started off with a pack of about 15, but it had dissolved through the first mile or so.  2-5:27, pretty much Logan and I finishing the downhill.  3-5:34, we pick off a couple stragglers that shouldn't have started so quickly.  4-5:32, it was kind of fun watching the race develop up front.  5-5:47, up the first section of the longest hill of the course.  +13 seconds here (The course always measures long, so I reset the watch at 5 with the mile markers).  6-5:54, took the hill easy.  It was fun thinking about the circumstances of last year and how they were so different this year running with Logan.  7-5:34, we took the downhill much more conservative than I did last year.  In retrospect... would it have been better to push out a couple quicker miles here?  Thinking back - yes, about 25 seconds worth between these few miles!  But I really took today conservative because I didn't know how long I would last out there.  I truly hadn't had a decent workout since back before the St. George Half, and I wasn't so sure what my body would have in it.  8-5:28, still moving along the downhill out of the neighborhood.  9-5:32, back up the short gentle grade toward another neighborhood.  A couple guys come back in sight here.  10-5:30, again, could have used this little downhill to gain a second or two.  11-5:30, I didn't want to stress here, but Logan seemed like he wanted to pull away and I was pretty much maxed.  Throughout the race, I don't think I could have gone much quicker than this pace.  So I guess it was good that I didn't push more because it would have cost me significantly later.  +22 seconds (this section had the biggest time difference last year too, because of the turns I am sure).  12-5:31, continuing to see guys up ahead and wanting to go get them, but trying to be patient.  13-5:40, a little slower because of the small hill up the underpass.  Went through the half in 1:13:58, much slower than last year (low 1:12).  14-5:33, still moving along the straights.  15-5:35, told Logan a couple times how nice it was to have someone with me this year.  16-5:30, the girls never came out and cheered us.  That was kind of weird to me.  17-5:37,  with the longer straights, I really don't remember too much about these middle miles other than I was getting tired and Logan kept moving away at the aid stations and so I had to work hard to get back up to him knowing that I had to keep with him another mile... another mile... another mile.  18-5:41, more miles, more wind.  19-5:43, Logan left me for good after this aid station.  I pretty much resigned myself to finish behind him at this point.  20-5:51, somewhere in this mile Logan came back to me (obviously not because I had some big push).  +8 seconds over the last 9 miles.  21-5:45, as I passed Logan, he didn't come with me and that suprised me a bit.  22-5:54, as we were now in heavy half traffic, I didn't notice the Limey (guy wearing lime green) that suddenly popped out of the crowd in front of me.  I had been gaining on Clyde for awhile, but just couldn't finish the gap - got it down to maybe 20-30 seconds, but this guy gave me new hope to get someone.  23-5:58, was trying to push to get the Limey, but not a lot of energy there.  Told myself I would give a big push at 24.  24-6:04, apparently so did Limey.  At 24 he suddenly took off and I figured... ah well.  25-6:01, in survival mode.  26-5:58, knew that the last few miles had cost me my sub 2:30 and that was kind of a bummer, but I was still trying to work whatever I had.  .2-5:41 pace.  Pushed hard in and watched the clock tick to 2:30 and beyond.

Again... not too shabby, just wish I had a few more weeks to train once I finally got feeling better this week.  Tried taking a shot block here and there to keep my energy levels up and I think that helped me hold on.  Also was able to place bottles throughout the course and that was huge to have my gu/water mix.  This race treated us so well.  The race director was just ready to help out with anything...  And it was a fun trip with The Circle and our wives. 

afternoon - 2 DI. Just ran the cool with the team and then 20 minutes on the elliptical. Really didn't feel too bad at all. Not that I want to go hammer something, but it was nice to be able to walk today. I think I was more sore from the drive than the run. (F50 632)

AM - 25 minutes on the elliptical.

afternoon - 5 Icehouse. A little trail run up the trail of death. Not too many casualties and we had a good run. (Stratus black 1067.95)

AM - 3 AC. A little quicker this morning to push the girls on their tempo. Felt great.

afternoon - 4 2xDI. Just warmed and cooled with the team. 25 minutes on the elliptical again.

AM - 3 AC. Still feeling pretty good. Enjoying e mornings that are a little warmer, but just a bit of a chill to them too. (Landreth blue 1069.9)

afternoon - 5 Sandberg's. A little more tired this morning, but once we got going I forgot about it. Saw how "athletic" Byron really is, and saw Nick about clock himself in the head with a rock! (Oregon 753.75)

AM - 5 Harts/AC.  Got to practice a little early to get a little more in since ther is a track meet today.  And had a decent run.  (Kinvara3 615)

mid-morning - 9 Prospector. After sleeping in and then some cleaning, I got out later and hit the trails in the sun. Enjoyed the run, the solitude and the trail. Wish I could have gone 20 out there today. (VertK 275)

A decent recovery week. Probably the best I have ever felt after a marathon. For one, it wasn't a downhill burner to toast the legs. And second, I wasn't in shape to go to crazy at the race, so it was a more consistent effort. I would like to think that second one means that I could have done much more had I had a good spring of training... And so when the body is ready, I would like to get going for something; although I don't know what.

Goals for next week: continue the recovery both physically and mentally. And enjoy my Spring Break!

morning - 6 2xAC. Warm/cool with the team and some laps during their workout. Weights after and the 10 mins of eltical. (F50 644)

afternoon - 5 North Desert. Went under the freeway and just ran around on the trails up there. (Ronin 333)

morning - 12 Fields. Good run with the boys today out into the Fields. Did 20 minutes of progression tempo and I felt surprisingly good (for the first 15, then a bit tired). Had to extend around by Boulevard to get our mileage where we needed. Got home and did Post-Run yoga. (Kinvara white 129)

morning - 4 Starbucks. Recovery day for the team and then weights. Finished up with 20 mins of elliptical. ()

afternoon - 4 Ball Fields. Ran over to the baseball fields and ran 3 miles on the grass (but not barefoot). Got back home and hiked Shinob Kibe with my girls. (Zero 289.75)

morning - 6 2xAC. Warm/cool with the team and laps in between while they did their workout. Finished up with my first set of plyos in a very long time. Will probably feel them tomorrow. (Kinvara3 623)

afternoon - 5.25 Hell's Hole. Yesterday while hiking Shinob Kibe, I noticed that they are working on connecting Hell's Hole to the Sullivan Park, which would connect probably 20 miles of trail along the river (maybe not that much, but I bet that is pretty close). So today I went down there and ran part of it - it is still closed and under construction, but it was fun to run on the dirt and check out where it is going. I then sat there and just thought about life and stuff going on for about a couple hours - which was nice to clear the mind a little, but bad for the head as I got eaten alive by gnats. (Kinvara 942.15)

morning - 9.5 Old Man Hills. 3 sets: 800,400,200. Pretty toug for an old man, but by the last 800 I was right up on the second group. However, everyone was toasting me on the 400's and 200's. Not running sore from the plyos and lifting this week, but sore to the touch and a bit tired. Good to get going a little more this week though. (Stratus black 1077.45)

afternoon - 5 North Desert. Out in a little more heat and sun than earlier in the week. Took it pretty easy and slow. Also, had a Warbeast sighting up on the Dirt Mile. (Landreth blue 1074.9)

morning - 14.5 Zen/Bear Claw Poppy. The Circle and Steven answered the call for a trail run today. I knew this mileage and these trails would kill me by the end... and I was right - spent from mile 10 on. But a fun run with the boys. (VertK 289.5)

Week wasn't my greatest of all time, but the running wasn't too shabby. A step closer to getting back to real running. I think the recovery - physically and mentally - from racing, especially marathoning, is my least favorite thing about running. It really messes with my body and my head.

Goals for next week: continue to recover. Maybe push a couple of the workouts with the team if my body is ready for it. Pray for good weather (no wind) for this week's meet at Hurricane.

AM - 6 4x1000. Ran with a couple of the girls that have to do their workouts in the morning. Had a short warm and then got into the workout. Goal was right around 4 and we near there, but kind of all over - I think it is a little tougher to hit a specific pace that isn't a normal one I go for... I just don't have the feel - the Hawk-o-meter - for it. Then cooled a little and joined up with the boys for plyos. (Boston 1072.25)

afternoon - 9 4x1600. DI warm and cool with some repeats with the boys. Hit the Sauce today for the first time and I felt okay about it. Wasn't sure how I would feel today, so I had conservative goals then picked it up as I felt pretty good even in a pretty strong wind (but it was about as favorable as could be at our track - straight from the west). 1-5:18, 2-:20, 3-:20, 4-:02. Felt petty good and just worked with some of the boys and then worked my way up on the last one. Weights after. (Kinvara silver 320.75)

AM - 3 AC.  Just three this morning because I was up a lot of the night with sick kiddos.  Yoga after was good.  (Free 893.2)

AM - 6 4x800's. Ran the workout with a few of the girls. Hit 2:50 throughout and it was a decent little run. (F50 644)

afternoon - 7.5 4x800's. DI warm/cool and some 800's at 2:20-2:25. Was pretty tough for an old slow guy, but nice to push. Helped Byron finish off his workout by running the last 4 of his final two 8's. (Hyper Speed2 450.5)

AM - 7 Lutheran/AC. Good run again. A little chilly the last couple mornings. (Ronin 335)

afternoon - 4 GS. Just an easy 4 up into Green Springs. Then busy taking care of track crap. (Oregon 757.75)

AM - 14 PV/AC/Lutheran/AC. Just kind of all over today trying to get a bit of mileage since the weekend will be junky with running. (?)

PM - 3 home. Ran home from school after we got home from the meet. Even though I was beat, it was nice to be out running late in the evening. (Landreth blue 1077.9)

AM - 6 PV. Ran to school via the Parkway and Warm Springs. Nice little run before the meet. (?)

Planned on running home after the meet. But we got home later than I wanted because Hurricane is always slow, especially when they are trying some uniform junk that delays the last race by 1/2 hour. But the rest of the week was pretty decent with some speed and ehh mileage.

Goals for next week: it is the biggest, most heinous week of the year... PV Invite. So whatever will be will be - just make it through alive.

AM - 6 laps.  Ran about a mile to warm up, then ran 4x1000 with some of the girls.  They did solid and hit their times right around 4:00.  It is a nice warm up to the week pace and even though I was dead tired, it go the legs moving.  Ended with a couple more miles on the track at a decent clip for a cool.  (Kinvara White 135)

afternoon - 9 4x1600.  DI warm/cool as usual and 4x1600 for the workout.  Felt like it might not be a good day, but ended up being one of the best track workouts I have had since college.  Took it conservative at first, but noticed that I felt pretty decent and moved ahead of the 2nd group with 800 and finished at 5:08.  Took the 2nd one out a little quicker and finished solid at 5:02.  Then started the 3rd and felt maybe as good as I ever have running and just seemed to float along the track.  Even had to hold myself back knowing that I had one more and finished at 4:53.  The fourth didn't start quite as good or feel quite as good, but really even though it was hard, I wasn't killing anything and I ran a smooth 4:54.  Pretty pleased with it... Good way to start off a way too busy week.  (Adios 181.5)

AM - 10.25 Clyde's. Nice run with Logan. A bit chilly by the river as I almost froze my hands. (Kinvara lime 423.25)

afternoon - 7 Foremaster. Much warmer run. Enjoyed a good run with mostly Abel and Colton after dropping off the younger guys. Finished up with 8xbarefoot striders. Not too beat up from yesterday. (Kinvara Silver 326.75)(Barefoot '13 12)

AM - 6 laps as the team did their workout.

Nothing in the after as I prepped for the meet this weekend.

AM - 7

afternoon - 4

0 - I hate a zero. But after being wiped out from the meet, I needed to sleep. Then after being wiped out from another very long (but super successful) day at the track meet, I had nothing in me for even a run around the block. So zip it was.

I survived the week.

Goals for next week: more miles.

AM - 6 track. 4x1000 with a couple of the girls with some warm and cool at a good solid Tinman pace. I like this workout with this pace for a Monday morning. It kind of gets the old legs moving for the week without killing me. (Ronin 341)

afternoon - 4x1600. DI/warm and cool as usual and weights after. The workout was solid; not as easy as last week, but probably better all around (although Abel beat me each time today!). Went 4:57, :58, :57, :56. Not too shabby, 4 sub 5's. I'll take 'em. I kept finding it interesting that I was telling myself the same thing I would be yelling to the kids about keeping up, not letting a gap develop, pushing a section and pushing mentally. (Rocket 724.75)