Ringing in 2012 with Goofy

One week from Goofy Challenge.  Hard to imagine I'd make it this far six months ago when I was slogging through July and August, trying to get my long runs in during 90-100% humidity at 0500.  Now I'm standing just one week away from trying to run over 39 miles in just over 24 hours.

Since June I've run over 835 miles, ran a personal record in the marathon in New York, burned through about five pairs of running shoes and over 118,000 calories.  I've averaged nearly 7.5 miles per run.  I've spent 130 hours running since July 1st.  No wonder my family is ready for me to give it a rest!

What I haven't done is run 13.1 followed immediately by 26.2 the next day.  I'll do that next week.

If you want to track my progress you just sign up for Runner Tracking.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Eve and Happiness Abounds

Two weeks from today I'll be doing the Half of the Goofy Race and a Half Challenge.  Two weeks out and I feel good.  Minor nagging discomfort in my right hip flexor, hamstring, calf, etc. but otherwise healthy.

I ran 35 miles last week, and have run 23 this week so far.  If I can get out today (doubtful) or tomorrow (very doubtful if not impossible) it would be great; I'll be satisfied with a good 10-15 mile run on Monday.  I think I can get away with that.  Not really feeling the need to taper for the Goofy.  I know I can do a marathon right now, and finishing a half is really not much of a challenge.  Put them together over 24 hours and I really don't know what to expect.  Should be fun figuring it out, though.  My good friend Erik is doing it with me so we'll have each other for motivation.  At the end of the day I'm still at Disney World, so how bad can it be?

I'm finally noticing improved speed after 6 months of logging over 100 miles a month.  I'm able to run 5-10 miles at around 8 minutes per mile, which was unheard of for me ever before.  This is encouraging.  Even my longer runs are 20-30 seconds faster per mile than I'm used to doing.  My weight is down to around 185-188 lbs, which is what I weighted as a 16 year old high school junior. 

This is how I want to approach my 40th birthday: faster, lighter, and happier than I've ever been before.  Among the other wonderful things in my life (family, church, etc), running adds the physical and mental challenges that help bring balance.  I've got goals, I've got running shoes, I've got a Garmin 405.  That and some road to explore is really all I need.

Goofy in 4 weeks

Under four weeks until Disney.  The site has a countdown, down to the second here.  A trip to Florida in 3 1/2 weeks seems improbable when it's 21 degrees in Virginia.

Feel great right now, and training is going well.  Ran 20 miles yesterday in 3:03, for a 9:10 pace.  It was an easy run, at a pace I felt I could keep up forever, and a fitting end to a very good week of training:  Four runs for 42 total miles.  I feel like things are coming together nicely, and I'm clearly improving in my overall fitness level.  I've been able to run 8-9 miles routinely, gradually speeding up each mile for negative splits.  Twice have finished these runs with sub-7 minute miles.  How is this possible when I've rarely been able to string together three 7 minute miles in a row?

That's from scratch!

I was extremely hungry at the end for some reason, and had a craving for beer.  As soon as I got in the house I drank three cans of Bud Light left over from the Army/Navy game tailgate on Saturday.  After the beers I drank water, watched/played football with my boys, and created a homemade pizza with goat cheese, sun-dried tomato, and basil.

Sixteen miles is the longest I plan to run before the races in January.  Hopefully I can maintain what I have right now and keep chugging through December!