Off the rail on an icy train

So running on ice sucks. I let my demented running partner talk me into running our scheduled 10 miler on ice on Sunday, and now I'm paying the price. I'm pretty sure he just wanted to let out his inner-Boitano, though, because he kept trying to hit a triple lutz during our walk breaks. Fine by me, but I drew the line when he wanted to practice lifts. Not even sure I want to know who was lifting who, but I digress.

Back to the run. Everything was going pretty well for the first 5 miles or so, and we even got to get some dumbass unstuck on Division. Then, during the 4 1/2 to 6 mile loop, when I slowed down for (yet another) walk break, I damn near busted my ass 3 times in a 10 foot stretch. I'm not sure which time it was, but I hurt my left knee and calf in about 4 different places trying to remain vertical. For some reason, I decided that I could make it another mile and a half, and almost made it before taking a 6 block shortcut while Aaron was making use of the frozen solid (!!) port-a-potty.

Needless to say, I am done running for a week or two, while I ice my leg. Now, if I could only figure out where to find ice. Hmmmm. It is pretty frustrating, because the week I took off to take care of the Mrs. let all of the little aches and pains I had built up heal. No foot pain, no hip flexor pain, no nothing. A definite lack of strength and endurance, but no pains. I feel like a total moron for letting myself get hurt while running on ice. Not one of my better decisions. Turns out I should have listened to Pascal. I thought maybe Belgians had an irrational fear of ice. What do I know?

The bottom line is that I need to shift focus a little bit. I've decided to give up on the 4:30 marathon, which really doesn't bother me that much. I don't want to worry that much about time anyway. I just want to enjoy my first marathon, and the 16 week training program (15 now), that leads up to it. If that means running a 5 1/2 hour marathon, that is fine with me. The downside to this decision is that it probably means running less with Aaron. I don't have his level of focus, and consequently, I still outweigh him by 50 pounds (and I'm fine with walking and taking days off!). I've started becoming obsessed with splits and speed, and it keeps getting me hurt, and makes running a little less fun. I'm not sure how this is going to work until I can get myself to his level (which has to be by the time he joins my age group), but I need to figure out a way to waddle 26.2 miles without getting myself hurt.

I guess I have a week or 2 to map out my path to OKC before I am back healthy again, so in the meantime, it looks like Aaron is going to have to skate solo...

And so it begins...

Training for the marathon started on Monday. Of course, I didn't do anything until today, but that is beside the point. Monday was supposed to be an rest/cross train day anyway, but I did miss the first 6 mile run last night. Well, I wouldn't say I missed it, but I didn't run. Kary has been having some trouble after her gall bladder surgery, and there really wasn't a chance to sneak out for an hour last night. I thought about Aaron's suggestion of doubling up her Oxycodone and then heading out, but I just couldn't get myself to do it. (Don't worry Aaron, I won't tell her!) Besides, if I double up her pain meds, she won't have any left over when she feels better, and then I can't have her hand me downs. I did get in a little over 3 miles this morning, and hopefully, I can get in the other 3 later tonight. It seems like I haven't been able to get really serious about training yet. I'm waiting for that Rocky II moment, when Kary wakes up and tells me to "Win. Win." As soon as that happens, I plan on catching that chicken and then it is ON!! (In a non-sexual way, of course)

To be honest, I am a little nervous about the marathon training, and not as excited as I was about a month ago. Not that I don't want to do it, but after the great run I had a couple of weeks ago, I have been feeling slow, achy, and tired. My speed (what little there was) is gone, and so is any strength I may have had. Maybe all of this will come back once we get into training, but I'm not sure.

I'm a little concerned about the time goal I've set (4:30), and whether I should even have a time goal for my first marathon. That time is contingent on being skinny on marathon day, and while it is still possible, it seems like a long way to go in a fairly short amount of time. I'm hoping that once I start lifting weights again and tighten up the diet, things will fall back into place. It's funny how fast your mindset can change. A couple of weeks ago, I felt light and fast, but now, even though I weigh the same, I feel fat and slow. I guess I will see how the next couple of weeks go, and figure out if I need to modify things a little. If things get to the point where they aren't fun anymore, I will definitely have to make some changes, but right now, I think it is just fear of the unknown. And when you are a fat, sloppy guy like I have been for the last decade, the only unknown you have to deal with involves a Chinese food buffet.

So while I am nervous about heading off into uncharted territory, it feels good to know that I will still be running when I get there....

Runner's World 2007

I have a lot of goals for the upcoming year, but most of them aren't related to running, so feel free to fill in the blanks:

I would like to ______ by Feb 1st.
I need to eat one pound of _______ this year.
If I were a _______, I would ________ this summer.
Since I have never ________, I should apologize to _________.
Due to my lack of super powers, I should probably stop _________.
But if I get super powers, I should really concentrate more on ______.
Finally, since my _______ could be considered illegal in 32 states, I should think about __________.

As far as running goals, though, here's what I have:

Run a sub-24 minute 5K
Run a sub-43 minute 5 miler
Run a sub-55 minute 10k
Run a sub-2:05 half marathon
Finish 2 marathons
Run at least 15 races and qualify for a Landrunners award
Complete a triathlon
Complete a 50 mile bicycle race
Run a total of 1250 miles for the year.

Physically, I would like to:

Weigh under 205 pounds
Reach single digits on body fat percentage
Have abdominal muscles (that people can actually see)
Wear no larger than a 36 inch waist on my pants

I am sure there are more, but that is all I can think of for right now. I will add more as they come to me, but the way my mind has been lately, I wouldn't hold your breath....