Broke 170 yesterday

Stepped on the scale yesterday and saw 169! It's been a slow grind from my off season weight of 185. Nothing more to say, just over a month till the marathon!! This week I've been more tired/sore than usual. I think it's still that damn marathon pace run on sunday where I went a bit too quick. I also have bought a bad pair of shoes. They are hurting my forefoot and I'll loose my big toe nail on my right foot because of the sunday track run. I hardly ever loose toe nails, my feet are model feet compared to most runners. Oh well, I guess not anymore!! Cheers,

DP

We have a winner!! (winner chicken dinner)

January 1st a bunch of friends started a running challenge. The challenge was to run 100+ days consecutive. The previous record held by Susan Oseen(correct me if I'm wrong) who went over 200 days a couple years ago. Not so much about the competition, other than bragging rights it's more about encouraging us to get out the door and put the miles/base in. Anyways we have a winner, Curtis was the only one to actually make the 100 days. I think he went 112 days and I was lucky to join him for his last run without a day off in 2011. Here's a picture of his winnings, a Americano, so fitting eh Cam?? Despite not winning, the challenge definately provided motivation. Anyways I thought I should mention it, Curtis didn't want me to brag too much, but I had to at least mention it.

We've kept up the training here in Calgary. We got together on sunday to hit the track for a longer marathon paced run. I think I went a bit too hard as today I still felt flat from it, that and the poop fairy not allowing me to do well with the 600s today. I think we have 2 more hard weeks eh guys? And then it's taper time?? I'm already feeling the pressure/race nerves. I'm not so confident with the marathon, and this Calgary course, it's not a easy race is it? Comeon guys give me some positive feedback, is it really that bad? Just lie to me if it is, I need a pep talk. lol

Pond loops

Had a really good run yesterday. My legs are slowly remembering how to run fast. The first intervals I did this year really felt like I had to force the pace ya know? Like my legs didn't even know how and I had to stay on the gas despite the brakes rubbing on my wheels. Kinda like that. Yesterday was different. The moment I started the 6x1k workout I just seemed to flow, it was still hard, I ran as hard as I could for the workout, but I didn't have to force it. My body just felt like it was flowing along and I only had to apply the gas for the small rise in the pond loop, or when my mind started to wonder. The pace naturally occured with no thoughts of stopping the workout. The first one was a bit slower, then the rest were all descending by like 2 seconds every time. So the pace was really consistent. The rest was 90 secs or somtimes close to 100 secs because I just made the recovery the time it took me to jog to the start of the pond loop(the loop is 1200m, so I would do 1000 then jog the last 200m to the start line).

DP

three days of...

REST AND RELAXATION!!! That's what the doctor ordered. Ok no doctor, but it was self administered after my knee decided to act up on friday at work. I have no clue why, well I do really. It's the running obviously, but I didn't feel any warning of any kind. But I won't eff around with injuries as I've said before so I took three days off. It feels much better now, tomorrow I'll try it out.

Last week I knew I was kinda pushing things by continuing to run with these old pair of shoes I have. So I actually had already decided that on friday I'd finally go out and get a much needed new pair. Funny that my knee couldn't wait 1 friggen day. Oh well it just so happened that Lisa had booked a night at the Banff springs hotel this weekend she kept me busy(not that kinda busy you sickos.... ok maybe some of that too) enough out there to not think too much about the knee.

We took in the hotel tour as soon as we got there yesterday. The guy who gave the tour had been there forever and was amazing, I've never had a tour from a guide who knew half as much as this guy. He'd seen and given tours to pretty much every celebrity, politician, and sports/movie stars ever. Man could this guy talk, and we even got to hear about the famous "Doomed bride". She was walking on a stair case when her dress caught on fire by some candles along the railing. In her panic she fell down the stairs and broke her neck. Apparently lots of people see her with her fiery bridal gown. Then today we went and got a massage at the spa. That was really good, the therapist I got was really good and we got to hang out in their mineral pools and multiple hot tubs(all set to different temperatures) and of course one of them outside. My knee got pampered like you wouldn't believe, ha ha. If that doesn't heal it, nothing will. Cross your fingers for me tomorrow.

Cheers,

401 post here!!

Heya,

Got the intervals done yesterday. I was much stronger Cam this time around. Again I went out to the park and along the river pathway towards Glenmore trail. Did a little over 3 mile warmup and did a hard 5x 2.5 min with 90 sec jogs between. I don't know the speed(didn't want to), but I just felt strong and steady. No thoughts of stopping, although they did hurt, especially on the small rise I had to do. Today we're supposed to get snow, the clouds have rolled in there's some rain drops starting to fall. Curtis and I want to go out for a longer one today, hopefully it'll work out. Worst case scenario we'll cancel and I'll have to hit the treadmill, haven't done that in awhile. So it goes, got to see the new Calgary marathon course map. If you're not man(or woman) enough to enter the full you won't notice as it only applies to the full Mary runners. Cheers fellas(and gals),

DP

Intervals

Aloha!

Had a good run yesterday, although slow, but I was able to do all of the intervals so hopefully Cam won't make fun of me. lol I had a med/long run scheduled for yesterday, but sometimes you gotta make adjustments because life gets in the way of your training program. I didn't have 2 hours to do the longish run because Lisa and I had tickets to the Flames game. So I looked at the schedule and figured since I have a rest/easy day tomorrow(which is today) I could add a shorter but fast workout. Friday I have a tempo so with the easy thursday run wednesday would be perfect for some intervals. Yayyyyy, not a bad day for weather so I ran to the park and did 4x pond loop. I found out later that the loop is 0.75 mile. So I did approx 4x1200 with 90 second walking rest between. I started off with the first two pretty conservative in just over 5min and then just under. Then for the last two I was able to cut off a bit more time. I basically descended the times all the way through. Later looking at the times it was a bit disappointing as I should be doing them at my 5k race pace, but more importantly I wanted to do them all and finish strong so I accomplished that. Just goes to show how little speed I have though. Looking at the schedule it does show me plenty of intervals coming up in the next phase so that should def. help.

There was a pretty good runner I noticed doing a tempo on the pond loop, he was faster in his tempo than I was in my intervals. We happened to finish at the same time so I chatted with him as we did a cool down lap. Turns out he's training for the Police half and eventually the Chicago marathon. It was nice meeting someone new, although it sounds like he just works in the area and that's why he drops in at the park on his way home to get his run in. I failed to get his email address so maybe we could run together in the future. Oh well, I should see him again this summer. Cheers,

DP

Don't forget about the .....

Ass slapping guys

I want to hear all about how you guys battled it out..... for second place that is!! muah ha ha ha ha Man I'm so funny.

Anyways had a solid week. It was labeled as a rest week, but it didn't really look like it. Maybe 10 less overall miles, down to 58 but just as much fast running. Oh well next week I'm supposed to run 70(I may shave a few off of that) and it looks like a 22 miler on sunday. Should be fun, today I just ran 15. Good job on gettin 30 in today Cam. Thanks for the slurpy pic. I'll have to think of somthing creative to send you next week. Train hard guys, only 2 months away time to start doing some speed work, hopefully the base is mostly there already. Cheers,

DP