The Post Training Effect

We're now two full weeks removed from the marathon. It really seems like it was months ago. I ran three of four times last week, including an 8.5 miler on Saturday. I took it nice and easy and didn't really pay too much attention to my pace. I'll continue to try to get out four times per week in the coming months and will try to get in a longer run on the weekend. The goal is to run at least 20 miles a week, but more would be okay too. It's much harder for me to get out and pound out serious miles when I am not training, but I'd really like to not completely lose the fitness level I have worked all summer to attain. I know running only 20-30 miles is not the easiest way to do that, but it will have to do. The weather is definitely beginning to work against me, but I am usually fine as long as it stays above 20 degrees and there isn't any ice.

I typically will run a 10K, a half, and then the full marathon every year. I may throw in a 10K or 5K here or there (in the late fall/spring) to keep me fresh. Also, I would kind of like to take the edge off of the races I do them in the training session. I think I kind of put too much weight on them when they happen and wouldn't mind if they were more of a regular occurrence. Now that I think of it, I have run more marathons than any other race. I have run 4 10Ks, 5 half marathons and now 7 marathons. I think there may be another random Nike race in there as well, but I don't remember the distance. It was probably a 10K, now that I think of it, but it wasn't a timed race.

So I am thinking the more I run the shorter races, the better off I will be and they will seem like much less of an event. Plus, I can fine-tune my strategy and experiment with coming out of the gates really fast, slow or whatever I feel like. Maybe I can set a couple new PRs as well. So, I'll keep you posted and see if there's something in the area in the near future.

Tiffany has also been joking around lately about me running the marathon next year. I think you can pretty much book it at this point. I have recently really realized how much I enjoy running. Even the randomness and chance that can happen during a marathon that can be so frustrating is still appealing for some reason. I know I can post even faster marathon times and feel like I have learned more about training in the last three months than in any three month period in my life. There's plenty of people out there with knowledge and experience who are willing to offer their insight to help you train and run smarter, which should ultimately lead you to an even better finishing time.

That's about it for now. Oh, I should add the toes are trying to heal and the leg is much better. You don't have to ask about the leg/calf anymore. I think rest and the Stick have helped heal my muscles. If you are an athlete of any kind that experiences any type of soreness, I highly recommend the Stick. Feel free to ask me any questions if you are curious about it.

Back in Action

I was able to get back on the horse over the weekend. I ran 5 miles on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday was still a little rough, but I felt like my legs were coming back on Sunday's run. I was able to average about an 8:10 pace on Sunday, a beautiful fall day. Where was this last Sunday?

I brought the back-up camera with me and took a few pictures. That's right, back-up. It used to be the first stringer, but it accidentally slipped off of someone's wrist and right into a margarita sometime in the late summer of '06. After unsuccessfully getting it repaired in time for our one year anniversary trip to Mexico last November, we bought a new one. So now we have two. The older one isn't the best, but it does work. Here are a few pictures I took yesterday running along the river close to our house. During training, I'd usually hit this path for runs of 10 miles or less.

Some Post-Marathon Thoughts

Now that we've had a few days to recover and get a little perspective, I thought I'd share a few thoughts that I've had over the past few days.

First, one question that I have been getting is, "When are you going to run your next marathon?" The truth right now is that I don't know. Am I done running marathons? Pretty unlikely. I don't really see a reason to stop. The pain goes away, although my run this morning was rough. My toes are still pretty beat up and my legs are sore. The sting that is the struggle of the marathon will leave...sometimes sooner rather than later. And the build up of 16-18 weeks of training for one day can be very frustrating. As I was telling my father-in-law on Sunday after the race, there are so many things that can blow up that day when you have to run 26.2 miles. The more I think about it, the more that makes the marathon both wonderful and horrible.

Running is a great way to stay healthy and stay motivated to get off of your ass. I know, nobody says that to be a runner or stay healthy you have to run 26.2 miles. But there's something about the marathon that makes you come back. For some of us, it's the competitiveness. Other runners do it because it is such a great challenge that not many people choose to ever undertake. And when you do it, you feel like you just did something special.

Or maybe it's that feeling you get when you cross the start line when thousands of people are cheering and making noise. You get goosebumps as you hit the start button on your watch and you're about to endure such a grueling mental and physical test. Even if you've done it before, the adrenaline rush those first few hundred yards never gets old or familiar. And the feeling you get from crossing the finish line isn't too bad either.

Then if you consider the fundraising effort this year, which amazingly hit the $33,000 mark yesterday, it really makes the whole thing the one of the best things I have ever been a part of. It would be hard to ever top this year in so many aspects. But, I think there can be some more good things done through running. And I also think I can run the marathon faster. If the temperature was cooler, I think I would have had at least a 3:22 on Sunday. Being 100% healthy probably would have helped too.

I once read that the optimum marathon temperature is 54 degrees and every five degrees above that can reduce your time up to 3 percent. So, while I don't feel like I have anything to prove, there's definitely reason to go back for more.

Anyway, while I am not committing to when the next one will be, you could probably pencil something in for next October or so. We also do have a special arrival that's due to arrive somewhere around February 14th, so I'll be a little busy and sleep deprived in the Spring.

I've really surrounded myself with more interaction with runners in the training leading up to this one through both Runners World Discussions and runnerslounge.com . In years past, I have usually kept to myself, pounded out some miles, run a marathon and gone home. I have also never joined CARA (chicago area runners association). But I feel like I have made quite a few new acquaintances and even a few new running friends who I can share experiences with and who know what it's like to have this crazy habit. And they are certainly no different about their love of running.

Walter is looking to get back out there and is considering doing a December marathon in Memphis in his quest to hit the 3:20 mark. Ron has a half marathon planned for November and is thinking of doing a 40 at 40 fundraising event for cancer- 40 miles at 40 years old in honor of one of his family members. And Tom from the Runners Lounge just completed his favorite marathon - Chicago- for something like the 12th time. And let's not forget Matt Rauls, who finished his first marathon on Sunday. I asked him if he was coming back next year and he said, "Never again." I have said those words before. I think the last time was after finishing the Chicago Marathon in 2007. Tiffany likes to keep track of how long it takes me go from non-committal about another marathon, then to maybe, then when I tell her that I signed up.
You can't sign up for Chicago until January, so it's going to be at least until then until it's offical.

***
Here are a few excerpts from some other people's experiences from last Sunday that I liked and think that you might as well.

From ESG's gotlactate blog:
It is tempting to write a long, borderline histrionic race report, aggrandizing my marathon effort as if it were some Odyssean battle of good versus evil. Of course, runner and non-runners alike know that the marathon is really a battle with oneself. We battle our bodies' perceived limitations; we battle the obstacles life throws in our way. We battle inertia, mockery, self-doubt. We battle injuries and time crunches, inadequate rest and competing obligations. We battle and struggle and scratch and claw and sacrifice with the hope that on race day, we will know it was all worth it because we picked a goal time we thought we could run and we actually ran it.

From Greg's Runningandrehab blog :
As for my race performance, I was able to go on runnersworld.com today, and hear from all the folks that have been training extremely hard, and hear of all of there experiences. The good, bad and the ugly... and I realized that I am very blessed. But the truth is that, to have a good marathon performance, everything must be right. The weather, your body, and everything else!!! Ironically, yesterday was the Ironman Kona, which is where the best of the world compete to finish the Ironman, and last year's winner??? Was unable to finish.... he obviously has the talent, certainly trained well, but yesterday wasn't his day. Will he quit?? No, just pick up the pieces and try again. As Pat Riley said, "Hard work doesn't guarantee you anything, but without it, you don't stand a chance." I don't know any other way to train and approach my life in all of its various aspects , but to give it my all... and during my training I enjoyed every run, (except for 1), and I wouldn't change anything.... and can't wait to get back out there and do it again.

And from Walter on an RW thread:
I just want to thank each and every one of you for your kind words. I've had more time to think about things since I posted my report, and it's funny how your attitude can change within the span of a few hours. In my process of lamenting, I forgot all about the wonderful things I experienced while on the race course. It was amazing to experience Chicago the way that some of us did this past Sunday; even for someone like me who grew up in the Chicago area, it was a wonderful way to experience 29 different neighborhoods and all of the people who make Chicago such a great place. While feeling sorry for myself, I forgot how I felt as the race started and I was running north on Columbus Drive. I felt a sense of happiness and exuberance that I haven't felt since... back in my wild days. And although I was in a bit of a fog by then, I forgot how wonderful it was to experience the culture in the Pilsen and Chinatown neighborhoods.

So, although I continue to be driven by my goals to run the marathon in a certain time or to earn a BQ, and although these goals are important, to do so while failing to take in everything that goes on in a race, especially in a marathon like Chicago, is an absolute shame. It's important to keep things in perspective.

And Brian on a RW thread:
I am a bit jealous of everyone's weekend experiences. Runners, we are a different breed. I do not think we can be afraid to fail. In perspectice, the Marathon is such a special race with the distance making it so special. It is so difficult to consistantly meet one's potential, putting in thousands of miles of training in an effor to produce at that one moment of time where things have to go perfectly. Again, the marathon is so special due to all the stories it produces.

I am reminded of a quote I have on my fridge though:

"The pain of discipline and or failure far outweighs the pain of regret."

We toe the line. Though we may fail we will not have to suffer from the regret of not trying.

My we all wish for and gain that future perfect day!

The 2008 Chicago Marathon

It's in the books. The crazy part is that it really is over. It's sad, very sudden and re-emphasizes how much work goes into three and a half hours. Here's a recap of the day's events.

The day started pretty normally. The alarm went off at 5:00 and I did my normal race-day routine. I was ready to go by six and headed out to catch the L down to the loop. Here I am before walking out of the door:


I got down to the "B" corral and was able to run into both Matt Rauls and Walter Martinez. Both of them had solid training sessions and were both hoping to come in around 3:15 or so. One of the things about runners is that they are resilient. Even though we all knew the conditions weren't optimum for posting the times our training had told us we were capable of, we'll most likely still try until our body tells us not to.

The gun went off just before 8:00 and we were off. It took me just about a minute to cross the starting line. I mentioned a couple weeks ago, there were three goals: 3:20, 3:22-3:23 and finally sub 3:30. I needed everything to be perfect to hit a 3:20. I knew that the weather probably ruled that out, but I still wanted to give myself a chance in case the stars aligned. I ran the first couple miles a little fast and hit the 3.1 mile mark at a 7:46. I was hoping to be closer to 7:55 here. The more energy I can save early in the race would hopefully mean more for later when it's more likely you'll run out.

I saw my awesome support crew at the 3.5 mile mark. They were split up on both sides of the street, so Tiffany told me that a large portion of the Running for Cru crew was on the other side of the street. I gave them a wave and they were cheering and yelling. It was pretty awesome.

I motored on and hit the 6.2 mile mark at a 7:40 pace overall, so probably ran those three miles a bit too fast. Somewhere around that point, I started to feel my strained calf a little bit. It was only for a couple miles, but I was hoping I wouldn't notice it this soon. I hit the 15K (9.3 mile mark) at a 7:42 pace overall, so I was able to back down the pace a touch.

At mile 11.5 or so, I hit the Cru crew for a second time. I was really looking forward to this encounter. At that point of the marathon, it's becoming the real deal. Anybody can run 5 or 10 miles. Tiffany was also ready with a Gu and a change of hats or headband. I can always see the support team from a little bit away as Iron Mike (my father-in-law) always holds up a sign that says "ZAB." As I saw the sign, I could also see a sea of white shirts with the Running for Cru logo on them. It was really cool. I have had decent sized crowds out to support me before, but this was something else. It seemed like there were at least 20 people in the group.
Here's a shot of some of them:

I also wanted to get a new hat from Tiffany, so as I was running toward them, I took off my hat, was waving it and begin yelling, "Hat! Hat!" and pointing at my head. I got the new hat from Tiffany, tried to say "Hi" to the crowd and went on my way. Here's a shot of me approaching them:



At that point, I was feeling pretty good. My wet hat had been replaced by a dry one and my legs were feeling pretty good. I soon hit the halfway point at 1:40:59, a 7:42 pace. At mile 14, my calf and hamstring started to get a little tight. I figured it usually goes away, so I just tried not to think about it.

I hit the 25K (15.5 miles) mark holding a 7:43 pace, so I was still hanging pretty tough. Sometime around 16, I could feel my second toe on my right foot. When I say feel, I mean it felt like the nub of the toenail that was left was digging into my skin or something. This was the toenail that I had lost in the half marathon. I had trimmed it down to the cuticle just after the half marathon and popped the blister that was under it. I was surprised that I was having issues with it. I had run my last last 20 miler with it and felt nothing. I think it went away by 17 or so, but I don't really remember.

I hit the 30K (18.8) mark and had dipped down to a 7:48 pace overall. I think I hit the proverbial wall sometime around that point. I was just out of gas. You try to dig deep and there's not much there. You end up having to push harder. Even though you're pushing harder, you're running slower because you're out of juice.

I knew that the Cru crew would be upon me soon again as Chinatown approached. I downed a couple of bananas from the volunteers and was downing Gatorade and water with regularity. I was also dumping water on my head. At that point, you try anything to try to stay cool. I had made up my mind that the heat was not going to beat me this year. Even though it was very much beating me down at the time, I didn't allow it to enter my head. My brain was obviously telling my body it needed to slow down, but I wasn't going to lose the psychological battle and admit it was too hot.

Here I am strolling into Chinatown:


And here I am talking to Tiffany in Chinatown:


I remember grabbing the bottle of water from my mother-in-law Lynn, drinking some of it and pouring the rest on my head.

I hit the 35K mark carrying a 7:53 pace overall. The next couple miles are kind of a blur. You head south down toward the Cell, cross the Dan Ryan then head south to 35th before making the turn back north on Michigan Ave. At this point, I was contemplating going to the bathroom. I was debating whether I could make it to the finish line without stopping to go or if I should finally take the plunge and go in my pants. I was sweaty so you really wouldn't be able to tell, but I am just not sure of the logistics of peeing and running at the same time.

I decided to pull over around mile 24 and hit a port-a-john. I jumped in and it was crazy hot in there. I went and hopped back out. It probably cost me a minute, but I felt a lot better. I was calculating in my head what I needed to hit a 3:29. I was at 3:12:30 or so with 18 blocks to go, so I was going to need to run sub 8s to finish under 3:30. I hit the 40K (24.8 miles) mark at 3:19:12 and hit 25 at 3:20:2o or so. I had 1.2 miles to go and needed to run it in under 9 minutes and 39 seconds. I hit the 26 mile mark at the top of the Roosevelt Bridge at 3:28:36, meaning I had to run the last .2 miles in 1:23 to still come in under 3:30. I had run that last part a hundred times in my head. I just mentally pushed the fatigue and heavy legs out of my mind and sprinted toward the finish. If I finished with a 3:30:01, I would have been kicking myself in the ass. I made it with a second to spare and came across in 3:29:58. In the running world, that is a 3:29. I placed 2100 out of 33,000+ finishers.

As I moved through the finishing corral, I stopped to have the chip on my shoe cut off. As I looked down, I noticed there was some blood on the top of my shoe. My second toe had bleed through my sock and into my shoe. I will put a couple pictures of my toes and shoe. I also have a blister under my big toenail. Notice the purple that covers much of the toenail. That's basically a blister under the nail. Do not look at them unless you really want to know what they look like. The marathon isn't like a stroll in the park. Bad things can happen to you. You push your body beyond its natural limits. If this is the worst thing that happened to me, I can feel good about the effort and luck I had on Sunday.





Here are a few pictures post-race:





All in all it was an awesome day. A marathon is never easy and this one was no different. It was definitely the most special run of my life. There times in the marathon that I told myself that raising almost $33,000 is way more impressive than anything I could do running the streets of Chicago. I really felt like I was honoring Cru and was proud to have his name on my chest. As some of you saw, the marathon is a celebration of life. People dedicate their runs to loved ones. They run it after overcoming obstacles. I think Cru deserved at least 26.2 miles of celebration.

It's very inspiring to see these 33,000 runners come out and do something so simple as running and do so much good. I feel like all of the members of the Running for Cru team came out and Sunday and celebrated the life of Cru. Even though I was the one running, I was just one spoke in the wheel that made all of this happen. So, to everyone who was able to come out on Sunday, I'd like to once again thank you all very much. You'll never know what it's like to have that kind of support when you are undertaking the marathon. I also appreciate all of the support that came from those who couldn't make it. I am just happy I could be a part of it. I really felt like Cru's light was shining bright on Sunday and it's because of all of your love and support.

Thanks again,
Paul

Shirt Pics

Front:


Back:

The Debacle Known as the 2007 Chicago Marathon

Last year's marathon was a disaster. Much of my training session was mediocre. I developed a case of vertigo in the midst of training that threw everything out of whack. I basically lost two weeks of solid training and because of it, I was playing catch up for much of the training session.

However, it the last few weeks of training, things started to come together and I had a really good final 20 mile run and thought everything was rounding into form.

Unfortunately, as most of you know, the weather didn't cooperate last year. It was incredibly hot and humid. I was sweating standing in the corral before the race started. That is a very bad sign.

I stayed on pace until mile 6. At that point, I realized that I was going to need to slow it down to finish the race. It was just too damn hot and humid. I saw runners better than me already walking by the third mile.

At mile 11 when I saw Tiffany and the crew, I gave her my pace band and said it was going to take me a while. I also told her to disregard my predetermined times I was supposed to hit the mile markers and that I would make it to Chinatown at some point.

At that point it became a race to just finish. The conditions were horrible and I just couldn't stay cool. I saw several runners passed out, getting medical help and the sound of sirens
was everywhere.

Thank God I ran in another running friend who was running that day right around the 12 mile mark who said he run with me for while. Let's call him Shane Victorino. If it wasn't for Shane, I don't think I would have finished. He tried to get me to pick up the pace a couple of times, but my body body really wasn't cooperating.

Shane was originally going to pull away at mile 22, but he offered to stay with me until 25, when he would finish strong. I struggled much of the second half of the race and walked a good chunk of it. I would eventually finish the marathon in a stellar time of 4:13:33, my slowest marathon ever. I placed 6212. The number of finishers has been in question since that day. As most of you know, many of the runners were forced to stop running.

After the race, I told everyone that I was done running marathons. That obviously didn't hold true and that's where we're at today.

Here are the pics:

Immediately after the race, with ice pack


Michael, me and Nick


Tiffany and me

Pants Party

The 2006 Chicago Marathon has been my best 26.2 mile race to date. Things just kind of fell into place that for that day in October. I had a really good training session. I felt like I was very prepared and had some confidence after running a race exactly to plan the previous December in Vegas.

The weather was cool and damp. The dampness was unnecessary, but the cool, cloudy day is a marathon runner’s dream. I had “PANTS PARTY” on my shirt, as in "I would like to extend to you an invitation to the pants party.” For those of you unfamiliar, that is a line from Anchorman. On the back, I ironed on “C. Monday,” a somewhat obscure reference to Cleveland investigative reporter Carl Monday featured on the website www.deadspin.com and later the Daily Show. I sent in a couple photos to Will Leitch, then the editor of Deadspin. Here is the result:

http://deadspin.com/sports/marathon/get-away-from-me-marathoners-210021.php

I set out to run a 3:30, or an 8:00/mile pace. I ran a pretty even first half in 1:44:12, or a 7:57 pace. As usual, I slowed down in the second half. At the 24.8 mile mark, I was at 3:20:17. I was going to need to pick up the pace in order to finish at 3:30. Over the last 1.4 miles, I ran a 7:49.2 pace, getting me to the finish line at 3:30:57.

Yes, that counts for a 3:30.

My final pace was an 8:02/mile. I placed 4483nd out of 33618.

Some pics:

Tiffany and me after the race

Nick, me and Michael after the race