Marathon Man - Another day in the park.

Just wrapped up another week, with my longest run yet - 88 minutes.  I did three laps around William Land Park.   It's really amazing to me that I've come this far. Can I quit now?

A few weeks ago I ran a 5K in Granite Bay and I just signed up for a 10K on July 4th here in Elk Grove. Both runs were selected because they match the time/distance requirements of the day I ran. That is two weeks ago, I was supposed to run 40 minutes, which is about how long the 5K took. Next Saturday, I'm supposed to run 6 miles, which is just shy of 10k. That's as good a metric as any to show how much the training is picking up.

Starting Monday I run distance instead of time. Maybe that will be the incentive to pick up the tempo. I've been moving really slow, with my effort on maintaining consistency.

If you're just joining us, this is all about me running the CowTown Marathon this October as a fund raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Details can be found here.  You can make donations here.

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Marathon Man - It's official, I'm a runner.

The week started with a  5K run in Granite Bay. I finished and I didn't come in last!  My goal for the run was to see how it all worked. As I've mentioned before, it's easy for me to lose my pace when I'm running with other people. I thought this would be a good test of that process. Also, I wanted to get a sense of the overhead of a group run. Checkin, etc. It was all easy. I started towards the back of the pack (and stayed there. :-) ) 

I ran a 5K, rather than a 10K because it fit my training schedule for that day. I'm glad I did it and I'll get some other organized runs in between now and October. By then it'll be second nature.

This was supposed to be a light week, but I just finished my longest run so far - 80 minutes or about 5 miles as the crow walks - this morning. It went well. I do fine as long as I keep to my snail's pace.

On Wednesday I had my first 'couldn't do it.' I was supposed to be out an hour, but only made 45 minutes. Not sure why. I'm happy to let it go and see if it becomes a pattern before I worry about.

As always, thanks for your support. On the fund raising side of things (this is, after all, a fund raiser) I'm doing ok. Only a couple of hundred dollars to go. 

If you're just joining us, this is all about me running the CowTown Marathon this October as a fund raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Details can be found here.  You can make donations here.

Posted via email from Lee's posterous

Marathon Man - And The Beat Goes On.

This will be a brief update. Not a lot to report.

I've just finished a 70 minute run, the longest yet and a 250 minute week, also the longest so far.

The running has gone well. I'm usually slogging along for the first 10 minutes, but then I hit the groove and all is well.

Next week will be a bit easier. I'm running a 5K tomorrow and the rest of the week is an 'easy' week.

Thanks again for all the support. It really helps.

If you're just joining us, this is all about me running the CowTown Marathon this October as a fund raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Details can be found here.  You can make donations here.

Posted via email from Lee's posterous

Marathon Man - a new Discovery (Park)

I'm five weeks into training for the CowTown marathon on Oct. 4 and it's been a good week. The training, as expected is ratcheting up this month. By the end I should have gone from a 40 minute long run to an 85 minute long run. (Each week has a few shorter runs - now the 40 minute runs are the short runs! and one or two longer runs. This morning I ran an hour for the first time.)

I ran in Fair Oaks on Wednesday night and managed to invite myself over to some friends for a shower and dinner after. That was a nice end to a hilly run.

Last night the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society received a donation in my name that took me to 80% of my fund raising goal. I wasn't sure how the fund raising was going to fare and it's been a bit of a relief to receive the support that I have.

Today's run started in Old Sacramento (a weird mix of historical park and tourist kitsch). We ran along the Sacramento River to Discovery Park, where the American River ends, and then through the park a bit. And back. It was great weather and a smooth run. And it isn't a part of Sacramento where I've spent much time.

Before and after the run today we got some pointers on proper walking and running. The goal is to avoid wasted effort which, while trivial when walking to your car in the parking lot, can become injury threats if maintained for 26.2 miles. I appreciated the pointers.

Again, if you're just joining us, this is all about me running the CowTown Marathon this October as a fund raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Details can be found here. You can make donations here.

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Marathon Man - Week Four!

Cool!  Week four is under my belt. Had a nice group run on the American River Bike Trail today and got my schedule for June. They are hoping to see the beginners running 85 minutes by the end of the month. Hah, imagine. Today's run was 45 minutes, so perhaps it's possible.

The week's runs have gone well. My legs are feeling it all the most.  Fortunately next week's Saturday run will be followed by the Run Clinic. Also this month is the Nutrition Clinic. The clinics are half-hour to hour presentations on a topic to help us do what we're doing better.

When I first started this I thought I'd give it a month to see if I'd stick with before talking it up and trying to raise money and actually commit to running a marathon. I'm glad I didn't wait.  This is doable.

It's all good.

Again, if you're just joining us, this is all about me running the CowTown Marathon this October as a fund raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Details can be found here.  You can make donations here.

Posted via email from Lee's posterous

Prop. 8 Stands

The California Supreme Court had to uphold Prop. 8. Courts shouldn't overthrow elections. (In California or Florida) For the advocates of gay marriage, the solution is the same know as it was before - Organize, Agitate and Educate!

This issue is best decided in the legislature or at the ballot.  The margin of victory for Prop. 8 was slim. The proponents should be on every state-wide ballot until they win, which will happen soon. 

 Paul Krugman recently wrote (on another issue) "California, it has long been claimed, is where the future happens first. But is that still true? If it is, God help America." And I would sadly agree. We aren't leading the nation (if we ever did).

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Marathon Man - Week Three

I just returned from the group run. On the way back I was thinking about my goals for this process - what do I want to get out of training for a marathon. This is what I came up with:

1) Get in shape and develop exercise habits I can maintain after the marathon.

2) Raise some money for a good cause.

3) Finish the marathon.

The goal review came up because I overslept this morning  and so I jammed to get out of the house and to the meeting spot. I was about 15 minutes late getting there. I checked in and did my 40 minutes and came home. So, no consequence to being late. But also, no consequence to doing the 40 minutes there as opposed to here.  That's of some importance because the group run next week is a 45 minute drive from home. 

So far the value point in the Team in Training has been the training schedule. I think it's different for most of the other runners in the group. Statistically, I'm an outlier. I'm pretty sure I'm the oldest runner and only one of two men in the group.  And when I say I'm the oldest, I'm older by 20-30 years in most cases.  Others in the group are getting a social benefit which I think is part of the design.  I'm not. I'm the cranky old man.

What I'm still hoping for, and the reason I'll still attend the group runs, is some direction on the ancillary parts of the training, learning how to warm-up properly, stretching, etc. So far it's not so much of an issue because I'm really not stressing myself. Which is, in and of itself, progress and a testament to the training schedule. I mean, I just ran (albeit slowly) 40 minutes and I'm no worse for the wear. 

So, I'll keep going to the group runs and maybe I'll become a smarter runner.

Fortunately I have other resources, friends and colleagues who are runners who, this week, have provided advice on stretching, pain management and even vitamins.

It's all good.

Again, if you're just joining us, this is all about me running the CowTown Marathon this October as a fund raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Details can be found here.  You can make donations here.

Posted via email from Lee's posterous