smally

Wanted to leave the watch behind but somehow it found my wrist again.

114:06 - 7:15 avg.

Tried to pretend I was running a marathon therefore working on the mental game but I always seem to get ready to be done whatever the distance when I know I only have a mile left.  I did tell myself to not worry so much about the garmin because today I would look down at my watch and it would tell me I was going slow but I knew I was ok.  So I am starting to look at it less and less, only for my 3 mile splits.

Brian great job with the running!!

Rest day but had a window to sneak on the TM while Elliot was napping and Sadie was watching some tv. 

5K - 20:02  wore my flats.  Started at 8.5 for .7 then fooled around with 10 and 9 for the rest of the 5k.

10.35 miles

10 miles - 110:15 (7:01avg)

.6 cool down/warm up

Nice run did not push it.

G wore his garmin, I was FREE.  Next time he needs to leave it at home!

I think we were around 6:55 avg for the 7.4 miles.  Sunday afternoon runs are tough especially after cutting the grass, sunny and a unusual time for running.

2 weeks, time to taper.

45 mins exact - 7:12 avg.

21 km winds, gusty at times.  Tired need a day off tomorrow.

Rest

Golf started today won my first match on number 7, 2 up.  Shot 37.

Funny because we played 9 holes before the league and I was terrible and shot 47 glad I turned it around, will run a bit of speed tomorrow.

800's today on the TM, have Elliot and Sadie.

.1 at 8.4 then 800 @ 10 repeated this 3 times with a .1 break @ 8.1, decided to run 3 800's @ 10 with no breaks to finish of a 5k.

3.1 = 19:07

then ran the last 2 800's @10 with the .1 break at 8.1 total time was 28:30 for 4.6 miles.

Felt controlled good confidence run.  Looking forward to Cleveland and then working on speed.

Ran 30 seconds @ 5.55 and 30 seconds @ 7.04 on the TM at the gym pretty easy workout but I can see 30 mins being a bit tough especially in the summer on a track.

Tough to not run but I know a rest will do more now than an easy 6 miles.  I have done 2 back to back speed workouts and I feel fresh.  Cut the grass today and have Julian's hockey practice where I can skate a little bit with the kids while coaching.

Tomorrow I am going to run 6-8 miles mimicking next weeks marathon.

Baby stoller and Willis the dog, walk turned into a little run.

Greenway trail, pretty sick lastnight with a cold better after a coffee.  I will kick it by Monday.  10k on the trail, last mile was 6:29, 7:12 avg.

Sure glad I am not running Mississauga with this cough, one more week to rest up.

Tough day, still a bit sick, kids were off today but we made it.

3.5 TM just for a sweat 7:17 avg.

Tapering is tough, you start to question your confidence a bit.

warm up

3.1 tempo @ 6:25 - 19:56

cool down

REST,

GOLF TODAY, GOING TO TAKE A CART TO REST THE LEGS FOR SUNDAY'S MARATHON.

76, bogies on the last 3 holes

38 in the league, biried 8 and 9 to win the match 2 up.

4 miles outside bit of rain, 22km from the south.

7:12 avg, felt a bit crappy but better around mile 3 tried not to go out too fast for mile 1 simiulating Sunday, 7:05.

Basically done, hope for decent weather and rest up.  Will rest tomorrow and run 2 miles Friday maybe a mile Sat morning before we leave.

Taking the day off less than 72 hours excited.

3 miles today feeling rested, 21:28

Maybe a mile tomorrow before the drive.

Rest no time to run, leaving at 11 ish, expo and relax in the hotel.

I qualified for Boston!!  312:04

I ran 136:06 for the first half and 136:02 for the second half.  My predicted time was 312 at 10k, and 13.1 half way, at 30k it was 113:36 so obviously I was able to pick it up a bit in the end which makes me feel proud.  My goal at 21 miles was to pass 10 runners and I stopped counting at 25ish, I was only passed by 2 runners at 23 who were booking it.

There was a hill into the wind at 24 miles and after the hill which was tough, I started to realize that this was the race and I would make the qualifying time for Boston, I could not help but be emotional which felt awesome and I also knew it was helping release the good hormones and help me with the finish.

I had no desire to sprint the last half mile so I just took in the moment and enjoyed all the blessed things in my life, I was able to think about Sarah and all 3 kids and the fact that I was so proud of my accomplishment, I think this might be one of the best moments of my life and to be honest it had nothing to do about Boston during that moment.

I did not get my medal right away as I was hoping to see G cross the finish line under 315:59 but it was not his day and he finished a PB of 319.  I know he appreciated me sticking around for him and he knew right away that I qualified and gave me one of the purest hugs I have ever received.  I am so blessed to have G as a great friend and my running partner.  I look forward to our run in Boston and I am positive he will qualify for 09 and I will do everything possible to help him get there.

I hope nobody is reading my long blurb of my marathon but I want to write down as much as possible so I can reflect on my next marathon.

The week before I ran the least ever before a marathon:  A 4 mile tempo run 19:57 5k on Monday, Tue off, Wed 4 miles MP, Thur off and Fri 3 miles MP, Sat off.  We had G's pasta with tuna and a light dressing with a chicken breast, asparagus, avacodo and bread and a beer it was a nice meal, felt very calm.  It was a actually a 2 bedroom suite so I read a bit from the bible and some of my book Angels and Demons and I was out by 9:45, bathroom break at 2:30 and up a 5am.  2 small bagels with pb and little water before the run.

The weather, I need to stress less about it the week before it is what it is.  It was raining quite hard before the start had a garbage bag, it was 50 degrees and the wind was SW 6-10mp.  The weather really got better as the race started at one point there was a bunch of rays breaking through the clouds right around mile 8 and I had a faith moment and felt quite good.

As far as the race was concerned I will put it in the memory bank, I ran scared but controled as I have been humbled by the marathon a few times already,  I respected the race and ran with my head (feel), I know my heart was always there backing me up.  I slowly left G at mile 14, we talked about this on the ride down which made it less stressful because we knew that this was a possibility.  Once again he was such a sport during the bitter sweet moment at the end of the race, he really has a big heart.

Hopefully if anyone has read this I have not put them to sleep.  It really is quite amazing what we go through as runners, we are truly blessed.

What is so special is today is Elliot's 1st birthday and its a holiday in Canada so a day off is fun with the family.  Also I have never felt better as far as my body is concerned after a marathon but I will take a day off!!

recover/rest day.

Elliot's first birthday, little sore actually more sore towards the end of the day.

Still pretty sore but probably the best so far after 6 marathons.

Ran nice and easy and rode the bike can't wait to run, run again.  It was funny because I could not believe I avg. 7:19's and I could hardly run at 7.5 on the TM. 

Looking forward to my summer training and all the tough speed workouts that go along with it.

I feel pretty good for only the 3rd day after the marathon.

4.5 @ 7:15ish and .5 cool down.  Still a bit tired and sore but overall not bad.  I need to find a good 3 hour marathon program.

4 miles 7:19 then I started to feel a bit of right leg discomfort so I stopped and stretched and then did a light run home 7:45 and it felt better.  Will take tomorrow off for sure, I can't believe how much the marathon took out of me this time, however I was the least sore out of all of them.

I really want to start training again but I guess I should relax a bit, Boston is not for a year!  Need to find a fall marathon.

Day off, golfed Beach Grove 78 from the backs, 3 doubles, 2 birdies and an eagle on a par 4.

Its kind of a downer the week after the marathon, need to figure out the plan this week.

No real desire or time to run today lots of family stuff.  Ran 3 miles 22 mins before company came over, great night.

5 easy miles in the am with Elliot and the baby jogger, been awhile since I have been a bit hung over but nothing like a run to get you out of that feeling.  No watch just me and Elliot and all the birds and rabbits.

3 after dinner on the TM, 21 mins.  Felt a bit sluggish from dinner and all the food lately so I decided to do a quick run. 

Not used to the heat, no shirt weather.  Thought I felt ok but I kept checking my pace because I was slow, slow, slow.  I ended up running 7:40 avg for 8 miles.  Not a fun finish into the wind knowing I was running slow but at the same time it was nice not to have that feeling a week ago running the marathon. 

Once in awhile you need a tough run.

Tired from the Red Wings game last night got home at 12:30 and work came very early this morning it was a tough morning especially with all the new patients.

Went home to run on the TM decided to flirt around with some speed but nothing too much because of the marathon a week ago.  I ran for the first mile at 8.4 then picked it up for a min at 10, I kept creeping those numbers up to 9.5 for the break and 11.1 at the end to complete 5k in 18:51, I finished a mile at 8.8 which felt pretty easy, total run was 4 miles just under 25 mins.

I need to take some time to find a good marathon plan for the fall.  I feel like trying for a sub 3 marathon but I know this is probably not realistic at least for another year maybe Boston.

Ran the county this morning felt decent.

108:30 - 6:51 avg.

Wind was mild but significant, calf muscles are still a bit tight from the marathon.  I can't believe some friends take 2 weeks off from running after a marathon, I would go nuts.

Was going to take the day off but I had a time for a quick sweat before I cut the grass.  I jumped on the TM and alternated between 8.8 and 10.7 ran 19:19.

I did this after eating a huge lunch and felt fine, I quickly cut the grass 1 hour almost jogging and then rushed to work.  It was a crazy day today 5 new patients and over a 110 patient visits.  I can't tell you how much energy running gives you, its amazing.

Brian if you read this bike safe and have a good weekend camping sounds fun.

20:40 a bit of speed here and there.

Golfed Essex, 78 bogied the last 3 holes again and did not make any puts, I made some long puts for tap ins but no puts within 4 feet.  But on the positive side I struck the ball really well, I had 4 puts for eagle today and made 3 of them.

Going to run early tomorrow.

5k in the am

golf event

5k in the am and a cool down.

Both around 20:45, time was an issue.  10 min tomorrow am.