I Run The Winter

 On Saturday morning Kentucky received 5-6 inches of snow, my plan called for 9 miles so I drug myself out of bed and went out the door into a raging blizzard. The next hour and a half was filled with as much joy as I can ever remember getting out of a run. I could sit here and try to describe how great it really was but I would never be able to put into words how tranquil the scene really was. I hope the pictures I took on the road will give a small sense of how amazing running in the snow really can be.

So if some snow comes your way put on an extra layer and get out the door, you might be surprised by how much you really enjoy the winter.

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Flying Pig Week 3

One of the things that I find absolutely crazy is how fast the weeks go by during the buildup to a marathon. Week 3 was a really solid week of running, 46.5 miles with a long run of 14.2 and my first ever day of running a double. We actually managed to get good weather throughout the week which really helps out in the middle of January.

I had intended on getting 52-53 miles for the week, but I had to work late on Friday and wasn't able to get in a 7 mile run I had planned, I was bummed about missing the run, but Saturday and Sunday more than made up for that missed run. On Saturday I got 10.6 miles before I came home to watch the Kentucky game and then spend the rest of the evening painting our downstairs. We are currently in the process of painting our entire house, we have the crappy flat paint that shows every single smudge and finger print. So we have finally made the executive decision that a change was needed, this weekend will also be filled with lots and lots of paint.

Sunday was a very easy and relaxed 14.2 miles, I kept the pace nice and easy around 9:30 and just enjoyed a beautiful morning in the Bluegrass. It is early into the training but my legs feel absolutely amazing right now, during the last few weeks of buildup to my last marathon my legs felt heavy and exhausted. I don't know if I was under trained or over trained or what it was, but I hope that by trying something new I will feel better all the way up to race day.

I am currently in week 4 and hopefully the cold and snow will lift from the area, but that is not likely according to the forecast so it is going to be a week of dodging snow drifts and frozen fingers. I have 42 miles on the agenda with a great weekend of running on tap. Have a great week everyone and happy running!

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The Long Run List Volume 2

Saturday morning I was able to get in a great 13 miles, here is what I was chewing on throughout the run.

1.) The first few miles was heavily dominated by thoughts of coffee and beer, mainly coffee beer. On Saturday one of the breweries in town was having its second annual coffee day, so I was highly motivated by thoughts of a coffee stout and free donuts. You'd be amazed at how great a run can be while visions of chocolate doughnuts dance in your head.

2.) One of the great things about living in a neighborhood that is under construction is the strategic placement of port a potties. They truly are something that only runners truly appreciate, and on Saturday I was truly saved by a green portable bathroom. People find it to be a bit strange that I will use one, but when you are 3 miles from home and your stomach starts bubbling, you will truly use anything. When I spotted this one it was as if a light from heaven was shining down on it, it was definitely a run saver this day.

3.) The last couple of weeks Steph and I have become obsessed with Breaking Bad. I know we're only five years late to the party, but holy crap this show is amazing. In the last week we have managed to blow through a season and a half already. On Sunday we spent much of the afternoon laying on the couch watching Walter's every move with anticipation of what would happen next. I know the later seasons probably get crazier than season 2, but right now I'm finding that hard to believe. So at the current moment if you are wondering what I'm doing, it's either running or on the couch watching breaking bad.

4.) As a runner we are very grateful for cooler weather, it's nice to not feel like were going to burn up every time out the door, but as a golfer at times I find myself longing for sunshine and 75 outside. Saturday I ran the golf course and I couldn't help from thinking about the weather turning and getting out on the course with my buddies and a few beers. In the meantime I will have to look back at pictures from Christmas in Florida. Stephanie is from Florida so we spent Christmas with her parents and I managed to get in a few rounds over the Holidays.

I have 4 runs left in my overload week and I am ready for the next 3 days, its going to be a cold morning to run, but I am up to the challenge. Have a great weekend of running everyone, stay safe and stay warm out there.

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Flying Pig Week 2

"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." That quote has becoming something that I truly try and live my life by. Sometimes it can be so easy to just sit back and say I will take care of that tomorrow or i'm tired I will run tomorrow. With the recent cold weather that struck most of the country I had to remind myself of that this week to get my ass out the door. Running five miles when the wind chill is minus 20 is not for the faint of heart, but I can damn well guarantee you will not regret the fact that you put in the miles.

Week two was another solid week for me, I managed to put in 40.02 miles this week. On Saturday I got up early and did a 13 mile run with the last 10 miles at marathon pace. It was supposed to rain throughout the entire morning, but luckily the rained moved out by 7 so I managed to stay dry, minus the huge puddle I stepped in running the golf course. Tuesday I got off a bit early from work so I decided to be a bit crazy and run in the bitter cold. A pair of compression pants, two long sleeves, a sweatshirt and two pairs of gloves was more than enough to keep me warm during my five miles. I got some strange looks ranging from a laugh to one guy who looked completely disgusted by the fact that I was running. I ran by him at a stop sign and he just shook his head at me the whole time, it's like yea old guy I understand that it's cold out here, I am adequately dressed and I will be completely fine. Anybody else ever received looks like that while running?

Saturday was a pretty great day, after the run we headed down to one of our local breweries in town. Country Boy was having it's second annual coffee day, they had 12 different beers on tap all brewed with coffee, some were great while others were very strange. They also had free breakfast they cooked up and doughnuts from the best bakery in town. I love that Lexington has evolved into the town it is, the city has truly transformed in front of my eyes in the last few years and it is amazing to watch what is happening.

Week three will be a big challenge for me, I am going to add in an overload week and see how I respond to the challenge. The idea is that by increasing your volume for 25-30 percent for one week followed by a very light recovery week will jumpstart your training and lead you to a breakthrough performance. With 40miles this week I am going to push my miles to 52-55 next week over 8-9 runs. It is an idea that has worked great for some runners while being ineffective for others, but after feeling undertrained in December I am willing to mix in something different and see what happens. I am excited to see the results and let everyone know how it goes for me. Have a great week everyone and happy running.

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The Long Run List

I mentioned in my most recent post to be on the look out for a new weekly feature and today I am unveiling it. Every Tuesday I am going to list five thoughts that I had during my long run from the weekend, some will be thought provoking, some might be funny, most might involve beer and bacon. Running for 2-3 hours by yourself leads your mind to some interesting places and I am going to take those thoughts and put them out there for the world to see.

1.) When I became a runner it was a complete lifestyle change for me and one of the first things I gave up was soda and caffeine, here in the last few months I have begun dabbling in the world of coffee. For Christmas me and Stephanie bought a Keurig so I decided to try coffee before a long run for the first time ever. A word of advice to anyone doing this for the first time, be prepared to come out of your skin, by the time I was 2 miles in I was ready to burst into full sprint. I felt like I had become Ryan Hall only I was running 9 minute miles as opposed to being a sub 2:06 marathoner. After a few miles I managed to calm myself down, but now I definitely see why people like to have a cup of coffee before a race.

2.) I think one of the things that amazes me most about running is how the you see things most other people would never notice. A few miles from house is a little two lane road that leads to some beautiful scenery most people never take a second glance at. You come out and run over rolling hills that leads to a road where the trees have made a canopy over top of you that is breathtaking. The little things are sometimes the things that I cherish most about running.

3.) And now I am going to go in the opposite direction one of the constant things I am amazed at is how much trash truly ends up on the streets. Take a look around next time you run, you'll be amazed at how many soda cans, beer bottles, and fast food bags are littered everywhere. I was caught off guard though on Sunday when I ran past a bra lying in the grass, definitely one of the stranger things I have encountered on the road.

4.) About 10 miles in on Sunday my thoughts went to one thing and one thing only, food and lots of it. I know some people love waffles after a long run, while others enjoy having a smoothie, but for me nothing tops having a huge bowl of cereal. Since I was a little kid I have had a small obsession with, doesn't matter what type as long as it's not Raisin Bran I can eat my weight in it. What are some of your go to foods after a long morning run?

5.) I end every long run the same way, I spend the entire last mile thinking about my dad. I mentioned it in a previous post, but in case you didn't see it I lost my dad to cancer in November of 2012. My dad was a giant, a man that was truly bigger than life to me. I miss my father more than I ever imagined, but the one place I feel truly at peace is when I am running. Something about a pair of shoes and miles of endless pavement has allowed me to heal in ways I never dreamed possible. I really felt my dad's presence with me on Sunday, it was as if I was he was right beside me and we were two runners carrying on a conversation. And while I never had the chance to run with my dad I feel like every time out he is out there with me, helping push me to accomplish all my dreams and goals.

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Flying Pig Week One

Week one of training is officially over and it was a great week for me . I managed to get 37.58 miles for the week. Yesterday was my long day and I had a great morning to do it, mid 40's with no wind. I went 12 miles and incorporated as many hills as possible to prepare myself for the first half of Cincy which is notorious for being very tough. The Sunday long run is hands down one of my favorite times of the week. There is just something so appealing about being out early while the rest of the world still sleeps. There is a feeling that you can truly accomplish anything. Seeing the sun rise, the clean crisp morning air, it truly is hard to beat those early morning runs for me.

My run also included running the private golf course near our neighborhood. I was on the back nine and happened to find three golf balls on a par 3. Not much can make me stop during a run, but my cheap ass will definitely stop to pick up a sleeve of really nice golf balls. One of these days I hopefully will get to play the course, but until then I will have to live with running the back nine and stealing golf balls.

It was good to get back into the routine of training while getting back into the swing of things at work. It's always tough going back after vacation, but at least it was only a two day work week. Thursday was an adventure as we got a couple of inches of snow and temps in the teens, but I managed to still get in an easy 4 miles while only almost busting my ass once. If you're gonna run in the snow, don't take turns at full speed like yours truly.

I also finally broke down and got a foam roller and all I can say is wow. Easily one of the best worst pains you can experience. Stephanie had some laughs at my expense as I was rolling on the ground in boxers cursing and laughing at the same time. Hey they always say no pain no gain.

Today will start week two and it will be a rest day for me, with temps below zero and wind chills approaching -20 I think I will do some core workouts from the warmth of my house. I'm looking at hopefully 40 miles this week with a 13 mile long run on Saturday.

I've got a couple of features I'm going to try to start doing on a weekly basis here so you should see the first one either tomorrow or Wednesday. Hopefully wherever you are is warmer than Kentucky. Have a great day and happy running.

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2014 goals

As we close the door on 2013 and look forward to 2014 I think it's time to put out there what I will be chasing in the coming year. This past year has been wonderful, I was able to stay healthy the entire year, today I went over 1,600 miles for the year. I ran personal best's 5 different times this year and pushed myself in ways I never dreamed possible. With all that being said, I still feel like I have so much more to accomplish for the coming year.

2014 goals.

1.) My biggest goal for the coming year will be to break 4 hours in the marathon. I thought 2013 would be the year that this would happen and for 20 miles in December it was in sight, but things didn't work out like I had hoped. Hopefully more miles coupled with more speedwork will help me break the 4 hour threshold.

2.) 1,600 miles for 2013 was amazing, but in 2014 I would love to see my total miles surpass 1,800. The biggest key to this will be consistency. It can be very easy to get complacent after a goal race, but hopefully this goal will have me pushing further then I have ever gone before.

3.) Another injury free year, as with most runners I suffered from sore muscles and bouts of exhaustion. Thankfully though I was injury free for 2013 and for 2014 to be a success I need to run smarter than I ever have.

4.) Eat clean, this is something I really struggle with as I look at it like hey I just ran 10 miles sure I can eat french fries and wings for dinner. I want to spend Sunday-Friday eating completely clean to allow myself to become a better runner. We all need a free day so I will allow that to be on Saturday's after a long run, but other than that I plan on eating more veggies and less fried food.

5.) Run the New York City Marathon. My final goal for the year is completely out of my hands as I have to wait and see if my name gets picked to participate. This would be a very special day for me, my father is the biggest inspiration in my life, he pushes me in everything I do. My father was a marathoner himself running his first at the age of 50. In 2011 he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer and passed away on November 2nd, 2012. The NYC Marathon will be on November 2nd this year and I can't think of a more fitting tribute to my father than to go out and run in his honor in one of the biggest races in the world.

What goals do you have for the coming year? I would love to hear to them and together we can push each other to reach new heights in 2014.

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