update

week ending:

1/2/21...33 miles on 5 days running. lots of running on snow, ice, and freezing rain.

1/9...42 miles on 7 days running. roads still suck and cold

1/16...39 miles on 6 days. half in illinois half in florida. cold then warm and humid.

1/23...34 miles on 7 days. still in florida. cut a couple of runs short due to heat/humidity.

1/30...32 miles on 6 days in fla.

2/6...33.5 miles on 6 days. back in ill. brutal cold running mostly on snow and ice.

2/13...22.5 miles on 5 days. cold, snow, ice, and slush. buullshat!

2/20...33.5 miles on 6 days. back in florida. a couple of hot humid days in there.

2/27...37.5 miles on 6 days. half fla., half ill. couple of days were faster, couple of days were slower than normal?

3/6...33 miles on 6 days.

3/13...44.5 miles on 7 days. 13.18mi @1:49:40 on 3/7. pretty nice weather all week, but breezy.

have run 26 of the last 28 days, and one of the days off did a 2.5 mile walk with my wife.

blew off the marathon i was thinking about doing in early feb. due to health issues with my 84 yo in-laws, which has resulted in the back and forth to florida. going back there next week then again in early april. if things workout, i am looking at a couple of races in mid may. already have two marathons scheduled for the fall.

feeling good and have maintained at least decent half marathon fitness.

Nice work. I was thinking about you and I was about to go off. was going to RIP you (rest in peace). I use to do it to all the failed fatties and exercisers and hadn't done it in a while.

Very nice work, still alive, grinding, and kicking. Those are my favorite updates. Was very sad to RIP ytf here and then have to do it for real. Don't want that.

Some many fallen warriors in our forum. Teethwash. The big german. Fakeb. Saw. YTF. Bixby. Etc etc.

They all in the Nomzies heavens, eating a donut and not exercising. They die very young.

week ending 3/20

3/14...7.5mi @8:15/m, felt easy. didn't get a great nights sleep...woke up at 3:30am with some gi distress, but still felt like a had good energy and jump. last mile or so was under 7:30/m pace. coulda/ shoulda went farther but decided not to push it.

3/15...0 lousy weather, very windy and damp cold early then a couple inches of wet snow.

3/16...5.5 mi @8:13/m... cold and slushy with slick footing in spots.

3/17...8.75 mi @8:06/m...felt good and finished strong. another day i probably shoulda kept going?

3/18...0...another rainy blustery day. did some kettle swings and squats. also 100 pushups...2x25 feet elevated, 2x25 regular. did some furniture moving and packing at my in-laws.

3/19...6.26mi @8:10/m...more cold and wind. gotta love the midwest in march. more moving, this time the heavier stuff out of the basement.

3/20...0... crappy night of sleep. had to meet the movers at my in-laws early am, more moving so i blew off the running.

3/21...14.35mi, 2 hours @8:20/m. felt a little beat up in my neck, upper back and shoulders, but the run went pretty good. started somewhat sluggish finished strong. nice weather, great morning for a run.

week ending 3/27
36 mi running plus a fair amount of walking...5 miles or so. mostly ok

3/21... 14.35 miles mentioned above

3/22 and 3/23 off days. drove to straight thru chi to ft. myers, fl monday, took tuesday off.

3/24... 5.5 miles @8:11/m coolish yet really humid.

3/ 25...6.35 mi @ 8:18/m the rest of the week warm (~70) with 95 to 100 percent humidity.

3/26...5.25 mi @8:23/m

3/27...4.55 mi @8:19/m

3/28...10.55 mi @8:15/m. about halfway thru i thought i would make 12 or 13 miles but the heat and humidity really sapped my energy, so i called it off early. prolly too fast for that heat.

3/29...5.80 mi @8:20/m

3/30...6.26 mi @8:00/m. last 1.5 miles @ 7:20ish

3/31 drive back to chi area

4/1 day off today...got back in the wee hours of the am

the drive home took about 2.5 hours longer than going down. traffic up the wazoo all the way thru florida. end of the month/ easter week???

pandemic? not in florida

4/2...5.85 miles @8:01/m. chilly and windy, felt easy, barely broke a sweat.

4/3...5.40 miles @8:11. didn't feel so easy. i was little tight/stiff all over?

week end 4/3 just under 34 miles on 5 days.

4/4...14.50 miles in 2 hours flat. half marathon 1:48:40. pretty even splits, mostly between 8:11 and 8:18. started to tie up a bit in the front hip area, last 3 miles. weather near perfect.

Are there any races on the horizon?

mentioned up thread...i'm sort of in a holding pattern until we get things sorted out with my in-laws. i was hoping for a race mid may but that is looking less and less likely. worst case scenario would be mid june, but then weather starts to become an issue.

already signed up for 2 marathons in the fall:

des moines (iowa) marathon in mid october...deferred entry from the cancelled race last year.
sundance to spearfish marathon (wy/sd) in mid september.

looking at gulf coast marathon (ms) in mid december. big maybe?

week ending 4/10
45 miles running plus 5 miles or so walking

4/4...14.5 miles noted above

4/5...4.35 miles easy and slow. stiff to start then much better. around 8:45/m

4/6...5 miles @8:23/m. still a little tight.

4/7...6.75 miles. 2+ miles warmup, 8:55 and 8:12/m. walk about 5 minutes, then 3x1 mile repeats w/1/2 mile between:
1m @7:10
1/2 m @4:09
1m @7:09
1/2m @4:19
1m @7:17
1/2m @4:12
walk 10 minutes. could done some more but i was a little faster than i should have been. so i didn't push it.

4/8...5.5 miles @8:25/m. rainy/squally, back a little tight. blah

4/9...4.65 miles @8:22/m. back still tight. maybe the weather?

4/10...4.25 miles no watch. rainy and breezy.

4/11...16.35 miles in 2:14:35. half marathon in 1:48:10. was thinking about postponing this run until tomorrow. didn't get a very good night of sleep and woke up feeling tired and lacking energy. well the first 4+ miles i was really off...sort of slow and my stride was just off. then all of a sudden things started clicking and the next 12 miles flew by. now about 2 hours later feeling strong. nice weather for running today thick clouds and temps in the upper 40s.

nice to get a good long run after a higher mileage week.

4/12...5.25 miles @8:27/m. those were some tired ass legs. ugh!

4/13...6.51 miles @8:14/m. despite less than enough sleep, felt great. good energy and jump...almost effortless.

around 84 miles the last ten days, tomorrow will be a welcome day off from running. won't be totally off though, as i will be moving a whole house of furniture weds. afternoon and thurs. morning.

spent 2 1/2 weeks in florida getting our house ready to sell. most of my days went something like this... early am run, cleaning, decluttering, and moving stuff out the rest of the day, then partying with our friends in the evenings/nights. way too much drinking and smoking during the first part of the trip. went out on our friends boat one day and got pretty sunburned. weather was mostly warm to hot and humid, with a couple of rainy days mixed in.

running was mostly for maintenance

week ending 4/17...37+ miles on 5 days running

week ending 4/24...31 miles on 5 days

week ending 5/1...33 miles on 6 days

drove back sat. afternoon/sun morning

so far this week... 5/3...4.25 miles @8:07/m
5/4...9.3 miles @8:18/m

week ending 5/8

just shy of 37 miles running

5/2...off, driving back from fla.

5/3...4.25 miles

5/4...9.3 miles

5/5...5.55 miles @7:55/m felt good/easy. nice and cool. almost effortless.

5/6...8.35 miles @8:03/m still feeling good

5/7...5.25 miles @8:12/m didn't feel so great, a little tight.

5/8...4.15 miles @7:43/m. first 5k a shade under 24 min. felt easy once again. nice cool, crisp morning.

amazing how much easier running is, with temps in the forties vs. fla and 80 degree heat index at 7am.

long run tomorrow, probably gonna be rainy.

5/9

16.1 miles 2:13:20 or 8:17/m...low 40's, breezy, light drizzle and mist...somewhat reminiscent of boston in 2015. rain quit about 9 miles in and wind let up for a few miles, but then was blowing the hardest the last couple of miles.

started out slow and unhurried, started picking it up about 5 1/2 miles in, finished with plenty left in the tank. half marathon was 1:48:45...meh. slowest mile was mile 1 @9:02 fastest was the last mile at 8:00. most of the rest between 8:06 and 8:18.

feeling good 2 hours later

not bad, not great...oh well

week end 5/15

~42.5 miles running on 6 days

5/9...16.1 miles

5/10...5.35 miles @8:09/mile. cool and drizzly, felt pretty good.

5/11...0 no running, worked at my in-laws house, cleaning and moving stuff out. filled a dumpster full of crap. the next morning one of the neighbors landscape crews had picked thru the stuff and cleared about 1/3 of it out. lol...one man's junk, another man's treasure.

5/12...3.75 miles @8:25/m. hadn't been sleeping that great the last few nights and just felt tired. also tweaked my right side (oblique)? more moving and cleaning.

5/13...4.5 miles @8:34/m. tired and sore

5/14...7.65 miles @7:50/m. started slow for the first mile, then really picked it up...like 7:42/m last 6.65 miles. felt good and easy.

5/15...5.15 miles @8:00/m. almost the same as yesterday...start slow then much faster.

weird week, good beginning, felt beat in the middle, then great energy and bounce the last two days.

long run tomorrow.

5/16

18.6 miles...2:33:40 or 8:17/m. misjudged the humidity with my attire, and was soaked by mile 12. started out in the low 50's, but was mid 60's by the middle to end. of course i was as far from home as i could get and out of water, by the time i realized how much i was sweating. was just hanging on the last 2.5 miles. lost 7 pounds, mostly water i'm sure. watch had me at 2150 calories burned.

amateur hour, lol

week ending 5/22

just shy of 49 miles on 6 days

5/16...18.6 miles. it's a shame i got a bit overheated, could have probably got 21 miles.

5/17...4.25 miles @ 8:21/m. a little tired from the long run.

5/18...6 miles @ 8:08/m. some lingering fatigue in the legs...still pretty good.

5/19...7.51 miles @ 8:07/m. felt pretty good. a little humid though.

5/20...0 moving the in-laws into their new place.

5/21...7.51 miles @7:52/m. cruising despite being warm (mid 70s), humid, and breezy. also had some back tightness.

5/22... 5 miles @ 8:15. warm and humid, with some lingering back tightness.

long run tomorrow may have to be moved to mid week...expecting warmer more humid conditions the next few days. we will see.

5/23

17.03 miles 2:22:30 or 8:22/m. wanted more miles, but i'll chalk it up as a win in those conditions. lost 7 pounds again, soaked from head to toe...and not from the drizzle. pants were plastered to my legs and feet were all pruned up.

warm (70ish) and humid (90%) with some very light drizzle early on and a nice breeze throughout, which helped. started slow, around 8:33/m for the first 10 miles then started to pick up the pace. last 4 miles went around 8:02/m.

should be peaking this week. looking at a race in three weeks.

week ending 5/29

56.5 +/- miles on 7 days

5/23...17 miles

5/24...5.26 miles @8:07/m. warm and muggy, felt good though, had plenty in the tank.

5/25...7.33 miles @8:07/m. about identical to yesterday.

5/26...6.25 miles @8:11/m. just ok, warm, sunny, and humid.

5/27...10 miles @8:15/m. not great energy today. cool and quite windy.

5/28...5.35 miles @8:10/m. ok...cool and pretty windy again.

5/29...5.25 miles @7:41/m. full of piss this morning. first 5k @24:00, walk 50 yards then 2.15 m @ 7:42 and 7:29. wasn't even trying to go fast...legs were full of jump today. felt like i could have continued on at that pace for a while. low 40's.

long run tomorrow.

fwiw...

meanwhile, somewhere nw of chicago, old (soon to be 63) man keeps churning out the miles. had a marathon scheduled for mid june, but weather wasn't to my liking, (to hot) so i only ran half of it. time was just ok.

since then its been some mix of decent mileage and some visits to the track for speed/ interval work. lots of running in hot/humid conditions and rain. also throwing in some "faster miles" here and there.

lots of partying lately... wedding, friends retirement party, and 4 days straight over the 4th of july weekend. copious amounts of beer, wine, cigarettes, and weed.

next race 9 weeks from this sunday... time to get serious again.

week end 7/10...24 miles on 5 days running

7/4 and 7/5...0 running some combo of drunk, hungover, and really hot.

7/6...5k hot, blah

7/7...6 miles +/- 2 miles warmup to track. intervals...2x200 @41s and39s, 4x400 @92s,92s,96s, and 89s. 1x800 @ 3:15. 1/2 mi easy, 1 mile "fast" 7:08. walk/jog back home.

7/8...5.35 miles @ 8:15/m. tight back.

7/9...5 miles @8:07/m. still tight and sore. frickin intervals.

7/10...4.25 miles @7:55/m. progression run, 8:40, 8:01, 7:40, 7:25. felt good and easy.

today...14.35 miles @ 1:58:45 or 8:15/m. 13.1 @ 148:50.
woke up early, and feeling good and although the weather didn't seem great, the run went really well. 67 degrees with 90% humidity, but thick clouds and plenty of cooling breeze. kept a nice comfortable pace for the first 8 miles, took it up a notch for the next 4 miles, then finished with my fastest 2 miles. slowest mile, mile 1 @ 9:00, fastest mile, mile 12 @ 7:41.

bombarded myself with fluids and calories as soon as i came in, feeling awesome two hours later.

Everything looks too fast, for a 3:30 marathoner. Including the intervals.

This strategy is like somewhere between 80/20 and the F.I.R.S.T program. I defintely don't think it has increased injury rate but it certainly has increased "uncomfortable" training. I tried it once and ran 3:11 off 30 miles a week but done with those days. I think I can run 2:50 and everything is confortable, except for the actual race.

too fast for what?

i like running fast, when i am that means i'm feeling good. if i'm stiff or tight for a day or two so be it. i'm old. i would like to get some of my old speed back for 5k races. i would like to get 20 minutes (or less) again.

sound advice from the expert who just hurt himself, probably from running too fast.

heh heh heh

No, I run really slow. I am training for a sub5mile and sub2:58 marathon and our intervals are the same speed. Also my top speed is much faster. I am good for a 65s 400, still mostly run 85-93s 400s.

My injury was just a freak event. You know when Kobe did that cut he has done a million times. Tore his achilles. Or when mike trout was walking back from a fly ball, tore his calf.

My man Dan King just ran a 4:58 mile at age 62. Solid training and even hits the elliptical a couple of times a week.

you are 40, i,m almost 63. i actually could run those intervals faster, in other words i'm not going all out. i should put up my times from my first session at the track, when i admittedly over sped the governor. felt that for a few days.

who the faack is dan king? i know an old lady, my age who could hang with you. she ran 3:04 at boston a few years back.

week end 7/17...38.5 miles on 6 days running. lots of walking this week as well...maybe 5 or 6 miles.

7/11...14.35, see above

7/12...4.25 miles @8:11/m. felt really good with great energy and bounce.

7/13...0 rest day

7/14...6+ miles. 2.15m warmup, 6x 300m up the hill hard. 6x300m down the hill not so hard. walk 5 minutes. 1 mile @6:52, walk 100m or so, 3/4 m easy jog back to the house. long cool down walk. sunny, hot, and humid.

7/15...5.3 miles @8:11/m. heavy legs, warm and steamy.

7/17...4.25 miles @8:20/m. right oblique acting up. blah

7/18...4.35 miles @8:15/m. about the same as yesterday.

sleep wasn't great this week, felt like i had a 24/36 hour bug late monday into tuesday night...congested, sneezing, runny nose, and really tired. sneezing hurt the obliqe.
maybe i finally caught the rona...ha.

long run tomorrow.

screwed up the dates above...somehow skipped 7/16.

7/18...11 miles @8:10/m. didn't sleep great, didn't get out early, had to deal with warmer and sunnier than i would have liked. body felt good, energy not so much, and felt a little foggy in the head.

7/19...6.5 miles. first mile slow, then 5.5 miles @7:55/m. didn't feel great, yet seemed easy? back was a little tight.