Day 239, 126 To Go

August 27, 2013

As I count down the days until my vacation, I find that my motivation to work lessens, but at the same time, my workload increases.  That's not good.  Of course, I have to get my work done, and I do, but it just makes me dislike it more.  By the time Thursday arrives, I will be pretty much in vacation mode while at the same time, have enough work to fill a full week...all on Thursday.  I feel bad for whomever has to pick up the slack while I am out.

No I don't.  All of them have gone on vacation at one point or another and I have had to pick up the slack for them, so payback is a bitch!!  Get to work!  WHAP!  WHAP!  That is my whip sound, in case you were curious.

Yes, I am still nursing my hamstring.  I have continued to ice, compress, elevate (that one is hard while I am working) and take ibuprofen.  I think it is feeling better, but I am still not willing to push it yet.

Speaking of pushing it, let's take a look at the first piece of advice in the 22 Essential Pieces of Marathon Training Advice from Active.com.

Build Your Base

Work your total weekly mileage up to 20 to 25 miles for at least a month prior to the start of your official training. If you start too soon with high intensity (pace and/or distance) before your training even begins, you're just asking for trouble. You'll either overtrain and risk injury and burnout, or you'll peak too soon. -Thad McLaurin

This is the first step you need to achieve before you even think about starting to train for a marathon.  You need a month of running at least 20 miles a week.  This will build up some endurance, strengthen your joints, muscles and ligaments, and prepare your body for the high volume of training to come.  These should be easy miles, not high intensity.  You just want to get your body accustomed to running.  Then, once you start your training, you will be ready to ramp up the intensity and volume...slowly!

I am pretty much at the point were my base is all set.  Well, I will have to check my numbers, but I'm pretty sure I have run at least 20 miles a week for this month.  Should I start training for a marathon?  Hmmm...

Here are my numbers:

Time: 25:00

Distance: 2.58 miles

Pace: 9:41/m

Max Pace: 9:02/m

Calories: 282
Avg HR: 127

Max HR: 133

I again took it pretty easy today.  I didn't even try to push the pace above 9 min miles.  As you can see, my max was above 9!  I take my recovery seriously!  Yeah...

Run for Life!!