Week of September 30th

Well, I did it. I ran 20 miles on Saturday at the RUNNING FIT 20 mle practice run on Edward Hines Drive. It was great. There were about 500 peopole there of all ages. I felt great and I finished in 3:09:55. This was almost my identical time for my 18 mile run a few weeks earlier. The weather was perfect, and I have to say, the volunteers had a lot to do with me enjoying the run. I think having the gatorade, water and GU helped a lot too. I have difficulty rationing water and gatroade on my runs by myself. I'm really pumped up and ready for the Detroit Marathon.

Sunday - Run 20 Miles
Monday - Swim in the morning and Run 4 miles in the evening
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - Swim in the morning and Run 4 miles in the evening
Thursday - Run 6 miles in the evening
Friday - Swim in the morning
Saturday - Swim

Week of September 23rd

Last week was a good week of running. Although I didn't get my nine mile run in due to traveling back from Germany, I did get my other shorter runs in. My minutes per mile pace is getting better. THe cool weather is really helping. On my last 5 mile run my pace was 8:36 per mile. That's pretty good for me considering that my previous pace was roughy 9:30. I really think my pace is gettign better because I'm running up to four times a week now.

Running in a little village in Trebur, Germany was very nice. I met a couple one night while running and ran about two miles with them. The man sppke English very well and his girl friend spoke it a little. As it turns out, she does Triathlons and marathons too.

Sunday - Run 14 Miles
Monday - Swim in the morning and Run 5 miles in the evening
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - Swim in the morning and Run 5 miles in the evening
Thursday - Run seven miles in the evening
Friday - Swim in the morning
Saturday - Swim

Well, I made it. I finished my longest run ever of 18 miles. It was tough, but I did it. I considered a major hurdle in my training considering both the distance and the condition of my feet and the pain in my knees. Both my feet have toe nails that are black or blue and each stride was to some degree painful. Monday's run was also tough, I found it difficult to keep motivated because Iw as a little tight from Sunday's run.

I traveled on Monday to Wiesbaden, Germany for two weeks. Last week I kept up my running even though it wasn't as schedule. I really enjoyed running in Germany this week. Running through the small Germany villages was really fun.

Sunday - Run 5 Miles Fast
Monday - Run 5 miles
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - Run 5 miles
Thursday - Rest
Friday - Run 9 Miles
Saturday - Walk

Week of 9-09-07

Last week was somewhat disappointing in the sense that my knees were hurting and I have two toe nails that are brused and most likely fall off in time. On the lighter side, I purchased a Garmin 305, which I love, and a new pair of Minuzo shoes. Because of the injuries, I did not run on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday (about 18 miles). I did substitute two shorter runs of 3 miles each to keep moving and to test my knees.

Because the tests went well, I did choose to run the 18 miles on Sunday. Although long, the run went pretty well. My knees hurt a little but nothing to bad. This morning, my left knee hurt quite a bit, but I'm icing it and stretching it a little. I felt that I recovered a lot easier after the 18 than the 15 last week.

This week my workouts are as follows:

Sunday - Run 18 Miles
Monday - Run 5 miles
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - Run 5 miles
Thursday - Run 9 miles
Friday - Swim
Saturday - Walk

Week of September 2nd

Last week I hit all my running goals and my swimming goals. With theexception that my five mile runs were only 4 miles runs. I basically was trying tofit them in so that I could go to other events, such as, my sons soccer games and going to dinner with my daughter whom is back home from college.

Today's 15 mile run was very tough. I didn't feel like I was ready for the run in terms of getting pumped up for it. My legs felt very sore the moment I started and it took about 4 miles to loosen up. I just didn't have the leg strength today. I also made a big mistake today. I rationed my water too much and I didn't really start to drink my water and Excel until around the 6 - 7 mile mark. I think I dehydrated myself. Miles 12 - 14 were extremely tough and at mile 14 I was just dead until my wife showed up with cold water. That really saved me.

My toes are getting blisters on them and I'll have to get a new pair of shoes. I think my shoes have shunk a little from the water and the dryer and that might be causing the blisters.

This week my workouts are as follows:

Sunday - Run 15 Miles
Monday - Run 5 miles
Tuesday - Rest
Wednesday - Swim 2,300 yards and Run 5 miles
Thursday - Run 8 miles
Friday - Swim
Saturday - Bike Easy (Short Distance - 8 - 12 miles)