Weekly Summary - March 12-18

This week was a good week. I met my goals again this week and overall I'm starting to feel like a runner again. Here are the numbers for this week:

Monday, 3/12
13.1 miles
1:52:44
8:36 pace

Wednesday, 3/14
7.5 miles
1:01:00
8:08 pace

Thursday, 3/15
7.5 miles
59:16
7:54 pace

Friday, 3/16
8 miles
1:05:18
8:10 pace

Saturday, 3/17
Total Body Conditioning
Focused on core work, feeling it today
45:00

Running Totals:

36.1 total miles
4:58:18 total time
8:18 avg. pace

This week my goals are about the same. I want to get out for at least four runs and want to at least be at 30 miles for the week. I need to focus on not trying to do too much too soon. My lower legs were feeling pretty achy but I bought a new pair of running shoes and that is making a big difference. I purchased a pair of Brooks Ghost 3's. I had a pair last year and loved them so I found another pair online for a good price. Brooks makes the Ghost 4 but I went with what I know.

I've Been Interviewed!

I can't remember ever being interviewed for anything before, with the exception of job interviews, but that's different.

Alan Knox, who blogs here at Running Report, has interviewed me on his blog. Alan is fairly new to running and is conducting some interviews from other runners as a way to seek advice and share info with other runners. I think I'm the first interview of many that he is conducting.

To read the interview you can go here: Interview with an Ultra Trail Runner.

Join the discussion. What do you agree with me about? What do you disagree with me about? What do you do differently that may be helpful for other runners out there?

Weekly Summary - 3/5-3/11

Here are the numbers for this week:

Monday:
12 miles
1:39:44
8:19 pace

Tuesday:
7 miles
58:47
8:24 pace

Thursday:
8.5 miles
1:10:18
8:16 pace
First outside run of the year!

Saturday:
7.5 miles
1:03:02
8:24 pace
Ran outside again, sping is in the air--wahoo!

Totals:
35 miles
4:51:51 time
8:20 pace

This week was good overall. I once again met my goals for the week. The goals will remain the same for the next few weeks. First, I want to be around 30 miles a week. Secondly, I want to get outside at least four times a week. This week felt good mentally as well. I know I'm a long way from where I once was but this week was a good confidence builder and a step in the right direction.

A Little Spring Motivation

Spring is on the doorstep for most of us and I hope whatever race plans you may have for the year are solidifying. Motivation is an important component for all of life, not just running or fitness. I know that over the winter months my motivation to get outside takes a hit. The shortened daylight seems to affect me and the older I get the more and more the cold weather bothers me. So here's a question: How do you stay motivated?

So for your viewing pleasure and for those who need some motivation, here is a video that was put together by Matt Hart (Coaching Endurance). I know this video has been around for a few years now but I never get tired of watching it. May it encourage you and motivate you to get out there and get moving. Our bodies are amazing creations--go outside and run!

UltraRunning from Matt Hart on Vimeo.

Weekly Summary - 2/27/12 to 3/4/12

Here are the training numbers for this week:

Monday, 2/27
Miles: 11
Time: 1:30:34
Pace: 8:14

Tuesday, 2/28
Miles: 6
Time:50:06
Pace: 8:21

Wednesday, 2/28
Miles: 5.5
Time: 45:13
Pace: 8:13

Saturday, 3/3
Miles: 7.5
Time: 1:01:49
Pace: 8:15

Totals
Miles: 30
Time: 4:07:42
Pace: 8:15

I'm very pleased with this week. My goal coming into the week was consistency as well as a target range of 25 total miles. I got out for 4 runs and hit 30 total miles. For this coming week my goals are going to remain the same. I want to get out four times and hit between 25-30 miles. I'll probably keep it in this range for a couple weeks and then increase it some more. Also, I'm very pleased with how my legs are feeling. Overall they are feeling very good. but I want to be careful not to do too much too soon this early on. The focus must be on building back up a solid base before getting into any heavey weeks.

Weekly Training Review: Week of 2/20 - 2/26

As a way to stay accountable I've decided to join others in sharing my weekly training. I hope that by sharing this info publicly it will help me to stay motivated and, just maybe, there may be an occasional tid-bit of info that someone else may benefit from.

At this point I really feel like I'm starting over in many ways. I'm twenty pounds heavier than a year ago and my fitness is no where near what it once was. With this in mind my main goal right now is consistency, consistency, consistency.

This week I ran three times:

Tuesday, 2/21/12
Distance: 10 miles
Time: 1:22:32
Pace: 8:15/mi.

This run was a good motivator and confidence booster. Felt pretty good during the run and legs weren;t too sore the next day.

Friday, 2/24/12
Distance: 7.5 miles
Time: 1:01:07
Pace: 8:09/mi.

Felt good again during this run. Followed this run up with some chest and ab work.

Saturday, 2/25/12
Distance: 5.5 miles
Time: 45:56
Pace: 8:21/mi.

Nice easy run to finish this week.

Total Miles: 23 miles

All of my running so far this year has been on a treadmill so far. I'll be on a treadmill at my local gym until mid-April when my membership runs out. As the weather turns spring-like I'll also start getting outside more often. But, like I said above, my goal right now is consistency. I want to get out four times this coming week and hit 25 miles. I'm going to spend the spring months building back up a base then in late spring begin to ramp up the training for the PA Super Hike and Ultra.

I'm Baaack! Well...Sort of

This blog has been silent for too long. Ever since attempting to complete the Oil Creek 100 miler back in October 2010 I struggled to get back into a running groove. Well, I'm not back into a groove as of yet, but I'm getting the motivation back.

In 2010 I logged over 2,500 miles while in 2011 I logged a little over 500 miles. What a big difference. I have continued running but my running has been sporadic--usually two or three runs a week at most ranging from 4 to 6 miles a run. I have been struggling to get back any consistency.

Recently I joined a gym and have been running on the treadmill. My legs have been feeling pretty good overall. I usually run five or six miles then do some light weight training. But recently I ran an eight miler and a ten miler on the treadmill. They felt great! The pace was fairly steady in the low eight minute/mile range with very minimal soreness.

I hope to continue running throughout life. To help me build more consistency and focus I registered for my first race in a long time--the PA Super Hike and Trail Run. This run is in southern PA and takes the runner along the York, PA side of the Susquehanna River, over the Normanwood Bridge, then through trails on the Lancaster, PA side of the river. The race is 28.4 miles total. Technically it's an ultra marathon, but it's just right for me to get motivated and training again.

Here's to a new year back on the trails! Wish me luck.