So I guess it's been a while since I updated my blog. This contravenes all my intentions! I really went into this thinking I would create a neat summary of my progress throughout this crazy training experience. I'll do my best to reconstruct the past month and a half -- or at least hit the highlights. And I'll be better from here on out with the updates.
Official training for the marathon started the Saturday after the dreaded North Shore Half. I guess that would mean June 14. My official CARA training group meets at 6:30 a.m. each Saturday, to run from Montrose Beach. I thought I would be the only person there, but there are actually about 200 people there each Saturday! Plus, there's another group that meets even earlier. Crazy.
Anyway the first day was sort of awkward. I put myself in the "beginners 9:30 pace" group. Our leader's name was Howard, and Howard was an old fellow who's run plenty of races in his time. Something like 30 marathons, if the stories are true. He sort of reminds me of my high school A.P. Chem professor, Professor Offut -- only less potion-mixing, more running. He promptly informed me that my form was WAY off. I was instructed to keep my hands at my hips and maintain "triangles of light" with my arms. Elbows back, chest up -- like I'm being pulled forward from the waist (I wish). Sort of like a hornet flying with all its legs dragging behind. I resolve to become the hornet.
This first Saturday, we ran a mere 6 miles. I found it quite easy, after the tribulations of the weekend before. The biggest problem was listening to the banter of the people around me. There was one girl who had run last year's marathon, and the highlight of her day was telling all the newbies about it. "Last year, when I ran the marathon..." oh. my. god. I must have heard it 45 times.
During the week, I run on my own. Sundays are cross-training days, then a relatively short run Mondays, speedwork Tuesdays, a pace run Wednesdays, a longer run Thursdays, and a short run Fridays. Then the really long group run on Saturdays. So far, I've been
pretty good about following the schedule. I'm also doing my weekday training on the "intermediate" length schedule. Mostly because the "beginners" only run 3-5 miles each day during the week, and I can barely rationalize getting out of bed and into my gear for less than 5 miles these days.
To sum it up, the weekday runs have been steady enough, especially since I started running before work. Though it means that I have to get up at ungodly hours, I do get the run out of the way while it's still "cool" outside and not too crowded. Plus, I am actually more focused during the day and I sleep better at night. It's also nice to not have to think about a pending workout during the work day. Anyway, after work all I really want to do is lie on the couch and (lately) watch the Sopranos.
Weekend runs have also been going well, so far. Actually, they've been going so well that I think I'm going to abandon my running group soon and move to the "intermediate" training level on the weekend. During the last 9-mile run (the intermediates went 11 miles), I felt like the group was waaay to slow and whiny. I was there to train, and I felt like everyone else was just trying to convince our group leader to take it easy. Grr. I also wanted to keep going. It's so much easier to run those long distances when you have group pressure pushing you along. And it's not like I'm forced to "socialize" with people so there's really no downside. I hope it's not awkward to abandon the "beginner" group though. Shouldn't be too bad, considering that I don't regularly talk to any particular person there, anyway. I plan to make my move in the coming week or two.
Perhaps I'll eventually be able to move up to a 9:00 pace group, too... hmm we'll see.
Anyway. I guess that's pretty boring but the summary is that I actually feel good after running now, instead of feeling like I've been hit over the head with a bag of sand. I also feel notably worse when I
don't run, and not just mentally (though that's big, too).
I have also identified my perfect pace running song:
Jigsaw Falling Into Place, off Radiohead's "In Rainbows." The tempo is perfect and if I force my feet to hit the ground on each note, I fly along at a perfect clip.
More frequent updates forthcoming.
OH if you want to check out my PAWS website (and find a link for donating), go to
http://www.pawschicago.org/pawsmarathonteam/member47.htm. I'm really close to my $1000 goal, thanks to so many generous friends and family members. :-)
