Ok I have to start out by saying I've been a very bad blogger in the last few months, and it's time to really sit down and be a bit more serious.
For those that don't know already I was chosen in the 2011 NYC Marathon Lottery back in April, which is very cool, since so many people join the lottery. Also I was no where near having the qualifying time for guaranteed entry. Which means I have 159 days to get ready and really train, I have a specific goal in mind, which I will keep to myself right now, and might get modified as training goes on. I already know I think it is going to be rough to hit my goal of a sub 40 minute Peachtree this year. So I have been running, biking, and even swimming a little, to help get ready. I have had 2 weeks of 100+ mileage with biking and running, more biking than running. The running is coming back slowly still after the Freibergs, though it is getting there, and I am still not satisfied with my overall conditioning, but that is me, I am hard on myself and push myself to the limits all the time. The other week I rolled my right ankle a bit, only a grade 1 strain, if even a 1 really, I immediately got a brace on it and started icing and other therapy for it. I took the entire week off from training, and not by choice, but just to give it some time to heal up.
Today I ran the Celebrate America 10K, I wrapped the ankle well, though had no issues with it at all, during the run. The heat and humidity at 7:30 was bad, well bad for that time of the morning, and the course not having a lot of shade made it hard to not have the sun beating down on you. I finished in 44:39 a PR for a 10K, which was actually 6.26 miles, also with a still somewhat bum ankle, so hey I really can't complain, ok I can again because I am just that way and very hard on myself, but still pleased overall. It is roughly 35 days until the Peachtree, so I hope to be feeling much better by then, and shave at least 1-2 minutes off this time.
As far as training goes I have been biking to work, which is roughly 27.5 miles round trip, and my times get better with this as well. I travel Satellite Blvd, which is a hill infested road, and good for training. Right now it takes about 2 hours to do a round trip, hoping to knock this down to 1:30 before the end of the summer. I need to do more running to, whether it be on the treadmill or road as well. I can do around 15 milers in just under 2 hours right now, but need to build up to 20+ milers by September at the latest, should be fun with summer coming up in Georgia, and it looks like it could be a really hot one too. I want to work on my swimming too, which is completely different cardio than biking or running, don't think so get in the pool and see what I mean. So it has truly begun, past time to get serious, stay healthy and avoid any kind of injuries between now and Nov 6th.
In the next few weeks I should hear something about my application to run as part of Team Animal League, for the North Shore Animal League, hoping to be accepted and start raising funds for them ASAP. Since I got into the Marathon via Lottery I only have to raise $500, but wouldn't mind getting oh 10 times that much or so really. Well any amount would be great and help them so much, a great place that helps rescued animals.
As I say I do have a goal for the Marathon, and also notice if I want guaranteed entry for 2012, I'd have to do a sub 3:10, since I'd be in the Masters category by Nov 2012, which is 40+. Kind of weird to think I'll turn 40 in 2012, not that it bothers me at all, just puts me in another grouping, and also having lower standards for seedings and all.
I also have to start watching what I eat better and really start dumping even more carbs in my diet, oh yeah I eat a lot of carbs already, but good carbs not bad ones. All plant based baby!!! Also I have cut gluten products out of my diet as well, which hasn't hurt me at all. So I guess I want to prove a bit of a point in the marathon, but also it is something I truly want to do. The better I do, the more credence it gives to a plant based diet really.
So I hope to be better about updating things here, also you can all find me on twitter, facebook, and dailymile, to get a better view of how my training is going.
