Goodbye 2008

Well here we are, the last day of 2008. We thought it would be a good way to end the year with a group run and what do we get, about 4 inches of snow that didn't start falling til after midnight. Marsha and I still planned on going but Lisa and Joe's sitter freaked out about the snow so we decided to skip it.
We took the Christmas tree down this morning and dragged it out to the backyard and Marsha got the house back in order (the scrooge that I am, I always love when Christmas is over) while I shoveled 2 driveways, the deck and a big pile for the tree to sit up in for now. When I get back into the house Marsha wants to go for a run, normally I never say no { =) } but I was a little sore and tired from all that lifting so we decided we'd start the new year off tomorrow with a run.
I last worked on Dec. 19th and on that day I needed to run about 60 miles before the end of the year to hit my last minute goal for the year of 1200 miles for the 12 months of 2008. After my half marathon run to Marsha's work on Monday I had 129 for the month and 1213 for the year. Not to bad for my first complete year or running. I averaged 101 miles per month and about 23.5 miles per week. Had we done our run today Dec. would have been my highest mileage month of the year but July was it at 134 miles.
1st quarter=258 miles 2nd quarter=300 3rd quarter=322 4th quarter=333
We're gonna do our normal New Years Eve with our bowling friends at the Simmon's house.
GOODBYE 2008!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Nashville Marathon here we come . . .

Today was the start of my training program for the Nashville Marathon. Lisa and I are doing the 4 months to a 4 hour marathon training program. (Ladd is doing a different training program....) Today we did our first speed work, 6 x 400 at a 2 min pace. It seemed very easy, but I am sure by week 8 when we are doing 16 x 400 it won't seem so easy!

Still having foot pain. I have been going to see Drs' Joe and Lisa for 4 weeks now for the problem. it always feels better after the appointment, lasts for 3-4 runs, then starts hurting again. Dr. Joe says it will take puting the bone back in place a few times before it stays.

Ryan Road to DOMOKUR Architects 13.1 miles

Marsha was ending her work day at 3:00. I left our house at 1:00 and headed to Fairlawn. It was a pretty good run but once I hit Rt. 18 I never noticed how many long and gradual hills there are going out there. I saw the big water tower and saw it and saw it. Next time I drive that way I'm gonna check when I first see it and for how many miles til I get to it, seemed like 5 miles til I finally passed it. I arrived at 2:48 it time to change and get Marsha off work in time. 1:48:30
I looked back at the gps and my fastest 2 miles were mile 12 and 13 (long downhill) at 7:37 and 7:19. first half 55:48 second half 52:37 I couldn't believe that the mileage to Marsha's work was 13.1 and about a 2 minute walk to get to her parking lot.

Medina County Road Runner Group Run 12/28/08

We scheduled a 8 mile run and had 10 people going til the wind scared a couple people off. Our group ended up being 8, 4 ladies and 4 guys. It was about 38 degrees and very windy but after the 1st half mile it really wasn't that bad. We ran the black trail to Chippewa and then down by the lake and back around to Lake Rd. and back to the trail which put us at 8 miles just before we got back on our road. Ladd Chuck Don Charles Marsha Lisa H. Lisa G. Sharon S.
Met Charles for the first time today, he ran the 8 with us and then was going to run 12 more, in training for the Disney Marathon. I would have run them with him but I am planning on running to Marsha's work tomorrow. 12-13 miles to DOMOKUR ARCHITECTS in Fairlawn.

Still Christmas week

We took Xmas day off then Lisa came over Fri. morning (cold and windy)and we ran the black trail to Chippewa Rd. . There we parted for 1.5 miles and I ran to Lake Rd. down to 162 and back to the trail while the girls just back tracked on the trail for their 5 miles , that gave me 6 miles and a short time of some faster speed. With the group run planned for Sun. I would have taken Sat. off except for the fact that is was 62 degrees outside and I could run it shorts in late Dec. 2008. Also I was home alone for a few hours so I went. I decided to run both the black trails to see the condition before the group run and found that the Buckeye Woods trail down by Chippewa was flowing like a river in some spots. I passed a girl on the trail that told me it was deep farther down and it was, about 4-5 inches as I went thru it and got my socks soaked, by the time I got home I had a small blister under my left toe. Coming up to Ryan right at 8 miles I see the girl I crossed paths with 4 miles ago heading into the development behind our house. She ran the same 8 miles I did just in the other direction. Her name was Jen, told her about the MCRR's and about tomorrow's group run.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

I took Sunday (bitter cold) and Monday off (had to take kids to doc's appointments)and still cold.
Tuesday Chuck and I head out at 9:00 am to run the blacktop trails to Chippewa and it is very cold, 16-18 degrees with an even colder windchill. We did 8 miles in just over 1:10. The last 2 miles felt like work running uphill and into the wind.
Wednesday Marsha and I head out to do 5 miles, we were trying to wait for a break in the weather and headed out at 12:30, a 1/2 mile in it was down pouring and I offered to turn around right away but Marsha didn't respond so we kept going. The heavy rain only lasted a few minutes but it was another windy day so we kept zig zagging to avoid the wind often. We got in our 5 but I felt overly tired, I think I keep my head down in the wind and cut off just enough air supply that it affects me and 8 yesterday may have had something to do with it.
So today is Christmas and it was supposed to be cold again, high of 22 but it's almost 30 out and I ask Marsha if we want to go for a run before dinner at 5:00 and she says I thought you were taking today off. After thinking about how I felt yesterday and after reading Dan Horvath's blog I think yep it's a rest day. I need about 25 miles before the year ends to hit 1200 miles for the year which should be pretty easy with some rather warm weather heading our way. HOHOHO

The end of my highest mileage week so far, Dec. 20

I got up at 5:30 this morning and picked Chuck up at 6:15, we arrived in Brecksville at 7:00 to meet Dan H. and his 2 ffriends. We ran to Peninsula where we usually park then back for a total of 14.4 miles. We then went to Brugers Bagels and got home about 11:00. From there I had about 90 minutes to eat and get changed and go on another run Marsha set up for the MCRR's. We ran another 7.1 miles for a 1 day total of 21.5 miles and a best ever 1 week total of 44 miles. No work for 15 more days and lots of running to do but not tomorrow. Rest day.

The end of my highest mileage week so far, Dec.20

DEC. 15 17 18

MONDAY NIGHT MARSHA AND I RAN 4 MILES IN TOWN AND RAN RIGHT PAST 2 DEER IN REAGAN PARK AND THEY DIDN'T BUDGE AS WE RAN WITHIN 10 FEET OF THEM.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT CHUCK AND I RAN HIS 5 MILE LOOP, WARMED UP A MILE THEN RAN 1 MINUTE FAST AND JOGGED 1 MINUTE AND WE DID THIS FOR 3 LONG MILES. I WAS READY TO QUIT BEFORE THE LAST FAST MINUTE BUT WAS TOLD TO GET PAST THE PAIN. THANKS FOR THE PUSH CHUCK. THEN WE JOGGED IN THE LAST MILE FOR A 5 MILE RUN IN 40:18.
THURSDAY MARSHA AND I RAN THE NEW MCDONALDS SAT. GROUP RUN COURSE OR MOST OF IT. DID 5.5 MILES OF THE 6.2 MILE COURSE WE HAVE SET FOR THIS SAT.
THAT IS IF I CAN MAKE IT TO THAT RUN AFTER CD AND I RUN WITH DAN H. SAT. MORNING.

12/14 speedwork

Got up early to go do speedwork, met TR at his house and ran to Root and did about 8 laps warming up waiting on CD , wasn't 7 am his idea?? We went on without him and did 8 400's all at about 1:25 per lap. Near the end we were getting hit with a light sleet while running into a very stiff wind running south. On our way home it started to rain lightly, I got home stretched a little ,took a shower and jumped back into bed for another hours sleep.

Panera 6 mile run 12/13/08

Today we had a 6.2 mile run planned from Panera. Marsha posted it on the MCRR web site and we were expecting 8-10 people and ended up having 17 people show up, 16 runners. It was a good run being that when we left our house it showed 14 degrees outside. It was high teens last weekend for our half marathon in Ashland but we would be running slower today so we dressed warm and were more than comfortable. After the run we all went inside and had hot drinks and sweet rolls/bagels for a snack in the free gathering room.
Tomorrow it is supposed to be 50 degrees, hopefully 40 in the morning. Tom R. , Chuck and I are meeting at Root at 7:30 a.m. to do speed work.

Ashland 1/2 marathon

December 6th. . . what a cold blustery day! 18 degees with a wind chill of 8 degrees! at times the snow looked as though it was falling horizontally. The first and the last miles were the worst! I warmed up after mile one and mile 13 was all into the wind. I got blisters, I don't understand! I mean I have gotten blisters before, at Akron Marathon and a few really long training runs but not in the same spots I got them this time. I wore shoes that I have been running in for a while, they have 244 miles on them. I also dealt with a major sore foot, the top of my right foot hurt during running and has hurt for the past 3 days, I haven't run since, may try tomorrow. I did well and enjoyed myself! :) I had a finish time of 1:53:53 not a PR by any means, but with the cold cold weather, the snow, the wind and oh did I mention that the entire course was uphill? ha ha but really there were many many hills! I will do it again!