21 Miles Today, Tahoe Tomorrow

Despite a slight setback due to illness a couple of weeks ago, my training for the Los Angeles Marathon has remained largely on schedule.

I was not sure if I would make it all the way through today's 21 miler (almost called it quits between miles 17 and 18...and again after mile 20), but I completed the distance...and at a strong pace. My 10km split was a quick 46:57 and I hit my half marathon split at 1:44:43 (have yet to finish a half marathon race that quickly). I ran this as an out-and-back, largely on the dirt trail that runs from Hermosa Beach through Manhattan Beach. For some strange reason, the path felt uphill in both directions!

That said, I am about to take a week off from running...a small sacrifice for snowboarding. I may hit the treadmill in the hotel's fitness center while I am there, but chances are I will save all of my energy for the mountain.

Spoke Too Soon

I should have known better.

In my last post for 2009, I mentioned how I have not been sick since I resumed running in 2007. On Thursday, less than a week later, I felt the unmistakable tingle of a sore throat. By Friday, I had a slight, but persistent sniffle. Yesterday, I decided against running because this illness had evolved into a pesky cough.

Since Thursday, I have not lost any sleep, nor have I lost my appetite. I have not had a fever. My symptoms have been and continue to be minor...just enough to be a nuisance. On one hand, I really feel I should run. On the other, I would hate to make my illness worse...especially because the illness seems to be racing through my body without affecting my ability to work or play.

I still feel an annoying tickle in my lungs. If I talk for any significant amount of time, I start to cough. Though I still feel I can run, I would be surprised if I could last a 20 miler. Based upon my training schedule, I am due for such a run. This is the first weekend since Thanksgiving that I have fallen short.

I decide to play it safe.

Final Run of 2009

This morning, while on my final run of the year, I started thinking about my Resolutions for 2010...and, perhaps because I came up with this list while huffing and puffing, they skew in that direction:

1) Match or beat my time from the 25th Long Beach Marathon during the 25th in L.A.

I waited until the week of Long Beach to set my best case 3:45 time goal because I was afraid of repeating what happened on Maui. Even though Long Beach's course was flat and the temperature was ideal on race day, finishing the 26.2 miles in under 3:45 gives me hope for Los Angeles' new downhill trending course.

2) Break the 6 minute per mile barrier

This goal has eluded me, even on days when I felt strong enough and had the assistance of gravity. I suppose I will have to get over my distaste for interval training if I want to achieve this. I do not intend to run many of these...just one on a short day would make me happy!

3) Drive my NSX at least as many miles as I run each week

There is nothing more upsetting than having to jump start your favorite automobile whenever you get the itch to drive her. Since I am no longer willing to commute in my garage queen, I need to make time to drive her on weekends (at least enough to keep her battery charged). Perhaps even more distressing, this year marks the fewest miles I have driven her...barely topping my running mileage!

4) Finish everything I start (including a backlog of things already started)

Like Resolution #3, this one is not specifically directed towards running...but it sure sounds like it.


At the beginning of 2009, I only had one goal: To run the full distance of a marathon. Though I did not state this as my New Year's Resolution, it was clearly my intent. Despite hitting some personal lows, I never wavered in my training. The result? I more than exceeded my expectations at Long Beach...and in the months that followed.

In 2008, I was amazed that I could run 800 miles in one year. 1,000 seemed possible, but unlikely. This year, I ran more than 900 before the October marathon. I recovered quickly enough from that race to add many more. This morning's run pushed me past 1,250 for the year...enough miles to retire two pairs of Kayano 13s and, within the next week or two, a pair of Kayano 15s. This was a serious time investment with 53 more hours dedicated to running than during the year before, but at an average pace nearly a minute per mile faster.

Will I be able to repeat this mileage feat? If I stay injury and illness free, I probably will. Note that I have not been sick since I started blogging about running in 2007...or perhaps because I have been running.

1,200 Miles YTD

1,000 Miles YTD

First Orbit Post-Marathon #2

After my first marathon, I waited eight days before attempting to run again. Two days after my second, I was itching to lace up my running shoes. In the interest of avoiding injuries, I convinced myself to take the full week off.

That is, until today.

No longer able to resist the urge to move my feet, I head out on my basic 3 mile orbit. My legs do not feel like they have just run a marathon. The breathing is a little labored, not wholly unexpected during the initial climb given that I have not run since Sunday, but otherwise this feels like any day after a break. I average 9 minutes per mile, which is several seconds per mile slower than my average for this loop...but I blame this morning's unexpectedly high temperature.

I am so glad this is not the morning of my race.

Can you believe that Mammoth opened for skiing and snowboarding yesterday?

As my next marathon is not for another five months, I have decided I should limit myself to no more than 26 miles per week until the New Year. There is no urgency to push pace either.

Day After 2nd Marathon

I wake up, get out of bed, and head to the kitchen to make coffee. Wait a minute...I am walking. Normally! Sure, I have a few achy muscles, but I have felt worse after snowboarding weekends. And today is certainly nothing like the day after my first marathon!

I am shocked. I am stunned. I expected to be dragging my legs for at least another day. I am tired, but more from lack of sleep (for some reason, I had a hard time falling asleep last night..and I did not take any post-race naps either).

As I wait for the coffee to brew, I turn on the laptop computer in the kitchen, browse to the official website for the 2010 Los Angeles Marathon, and click "Sign Me Up".