Woman Gives Husband a Kenyan for His Birthday!

Given our Kenyan training method, I thought you would alway want to read this article. :-)

Woman Gives Kenyan as Birthday Present

Thanks for the Advice

Thank you all for your running advice. I've weighed your suggestions with those I received from the other blog. Given the continuing pain in my knee even on non-running days, I've decided to cancel today's run.

I'll continue to re-evaluate, ice, and take ibuprofen, so as to recover as quickly as possible. I'll try to run on Saturday, if I feel good, otherwise the next run will be in the snowy tundra of Wisconsin. I present a relatively recent picture as proof that I'm not just exaggerating.

Advice. Given and Wanted

First, I would like to share some advice. It is in the form of the Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich. It's amazing. I've been eating them for a few weeks now, and they are the answer to all my prayers, of which there are admittedly few. However, if you look at the Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich it's pretty damn good runner's food. 1) Whole grain bread- carbs, whole grains, all good. 2) Peanut Butter - good source of protein and some unsaturated fats-- I buy an organic one here consisting of only Peanuts and salt. 3) Bananas-- Excellent source of potassium. It's got everything a runner needs.
On running days it tides me over for quite some time, and on non-running days it takes me well into the afternoon. Great food.

Second. I need some advice. I've been suffering from a little bit of runner's knee. My right knee has been a little problematic for about two weeks now. It's getting a little worse. I've iced it tonight (which isn't easy given the German aversion to refrigeration) and will take Ibuprofen for the next few days. However, I'm hoping I can get some advice from the other runners.
I have a run scheduled on thursday. It's a 6 mile tempo run. Should I do it? Or should I get some rest and a little more ice?

P.S. in true DrunkRunner form. I've had a couple glasses of wine and just managed to post this message to the wrong blog. Oops.

Week 6 of 40 and kickin' A**

Just got in from the final run of the week. Yes, folks, that's 6 straight weeks without a missed run. Hot Damn!

Thursday was the first speedwork workout, and it was a tough one. Total distance was 5 miles. But I had 2 miles to do at 8:40 with 800m cool downs. Sounds easy enough, except that I've barely broken the 9:00 mark. Let alone do it twice. Luckily I found a loop near my house that is almost a mile long, so I could at least try to pace myself (maybe it's the clouds in Berin, but I've not been too thrilled so far with the way the Garmin keeps my pace.). The first fast mile was smashing! 8:14. The second mile is harder to judge because I forgot to hit the lap button. However the 3rd and 4th miles were both at about 9:40 so I think I managed to hit the mark on the second mark.

The only complaint this week? Runner's knee. Yes, folks, I'm getting a little bit of runner's knee in the left knee. It's not too bad, and as I recall it does eventually go away as you build up miles. Still I'll be using some ice packs and trying to take it easy.

Nothing remarkable about today's 6-miler. The big deal for the week is the consistency I've been able to maintain. This is the first time I've been so vigilant about a training schedule, and it's really paying off. I'm feeling stronger and more comfortable. And there is something to be said for just putting in the miles. It's very important.

The next two weeks are going to be very interesting. Next week I need to bump up my running schedule so I can get my long run in Saturday instead of Sunday, because I'll be flying home on Sunday. I'll spend Sunday and Monday getting home and then will have to run again on Tuesday. Which means 6 miles on Christmas Day. Not a bad way to celebrate the holiday.

This week's Stats:
Distance: 13 miles
Overall time: 123:54
Average Pace: 9:32/mile
Overall Impression: I'm Slowly Getting Used To The Clouds. I Might Go Snow Blind Running In Wisconsin. (ISGUTTC. IMGSBRIW)

Daddy Runner

Thanks for making the baby announcement on our behalf, Sixpack! I wasn’t able to get anywhere near the blog for a few days, for obvious reasons.

It is true that my wife and I welcomed our first baby into the world this past weekend, and for that reason I haven’t posted in a little while. Basically, the baby didn’t leave much time for running in the first couple of days, and I happily sacrificed my Sunday “long run” in order to stay home and change diapers while Tessa recuperated. Actually, now that I think about it, we actually both drove to her parent’s house so they could pamper us while we both laid immobile on their many couches.

I have been able to run two runs so far this week, though. On Monday I ran six miles and on Wednesday I managed just over five. Tomorrow I will try and get out of the house for another hour-long run if at all possible. If not, that’s okay. Changing diapers is much more fun than I ever thought it would be!!!

Week 5 of 40 and Rollin' On!

YYYEEEEESSSSS!!!!!! Five weeks in a row! I really can't remember the last time I made all of my training runs for five straight weeks. I'm actually more proud of this than I am of my distances and times at the moment. It's been so motivating having each week behind me. I was lying in my nice warm bed this morning thinking, "I could wait until after lunch and then run." Then I thought to myself, "No! I'll probably have wine with lunch (Jenn and Steve are coming over.) and that will be the end of it." So I got out of bed and ran six miles. Clyde has always fought Sybill and usually won. I must say, I have rarely won that fight when I was lying in bed. I guess she likes to kick a man when he's down. :-)

So, on to the runs. Two miles Wednesday were more or less unremarkable. Except of course that it was snowing. And I mean snowing! It was cool. I'm making sure to do these runs, because I'll need the conditioning before I get to Wisconsin where it will be much much colder.

Five miles on Friday were difficult, but rewarding. I've begun training a little bit according to the Under 4 Hour Marathon book. A main principle is the negative split. I'm to run the first third slower than planned, the second third at the planned tempo, then the final third at faster than planned. IT WORKED!!!! I ended with a pace of about 9:16 which was my goal. I was worn out, and my legs still felt it this morning.

Today six miles. Nothing remarkable. Slow, just under 10:00 miles, which is right on track. The long runs aren't to be run trying to beat anything. I'm slowly learning this. The goal is to run the distance. So, when I find my self running too fast, I slow it down. It worked. I ran so far today that I could see the Reichstag (German Houses of Parliament). I had no idea it was so close to my house. Three miles, yes, but this is a massive city. It was a great run. I was a little tired on the way back, but maintained my pace with little difficulty. Great day!!!!

Week's Stats:

Miles: 13
Overall Time: 2:04:20
Average Pace: 9:34 -- That's only 34 seconds off my goal pace! Not bad. Not bad.
Overall Impression: I Like Running Almost As Much As I Like Beer (ILRAAMAILB)

P.S. For those not in the know, Baby Deetschei (it's a girl!) was born Dec. 5 at 11:45 a.m. in London. Congratulations Dr. Papa Deetschei!!!

To chase a Turkey

Dear beloved Drunk Runners and Stumblers, I have missed you. But fear not, while I may be a complete slacker in the realm of blogging, I have not slacked on my running. Since last you heard from me, I have successfully completed weekly runs totaling 11 miles per week. While this is nothing to brag about, particularly since the memory of putting in 11 miles in one run are not so distant, I am happy to be consistent at this point. My times, I am even happier to say, are better than I had anticipated after 3 months off. I have been averaging 8:55-9:00 paces despite (or perhaps because of) the hills I have been running. After purchasing cold weather running gear (you know I LOVE to blog about running apparel - sometimes I wonder if I don't run just because of all the neat clothing and accessories. I am soooo girly), and reflective accessories for safety since it gets dark around 4:30 here, I decided I might as well sign up for a 10K Thanksgiving Turkey Chase to give myself a little challenge. Stupid me, I 1) naively assumed that anything called a Turkey Chase wouldn't involve hills and 2) had totally convinced myself that I would keep a steady pace and not go out too fast. Wrong on both accounts. Mile 1 was FABULOUS at a 8:20 pace. Mile 2 still fabulous at an 8:29 pace. Miles 3-6.23 less fabulous as miles 3-5 were steadily uphill with the occasional flat surface for intersections. Okay, okay. I am sure I am exaggerating a little. If you Google Earthed Wisconsin Ave heading from Bethesda toward Chevy Chase, I am sure it is not that extreme, but after you foolishly push too fast your first two miles the last 4.23 seem like they are never going to end - especially when you haven't "trained" for it. I really honestly thought I had told myself that this would just be one of my three weekly runs. And in the end, it wasn't horrible. My goal was to finish just under a 9:00 pace, but I was content to finish under 9:30. In the end, I split the difference with 9:16. Went home and took a nap while hubby prepared duck (apparently the other Thanksgiving meat).

So, that is what I have been up to and I wish I had been in London, 'cause the last time the Drunk Runners were all in town together and suppose to run, the drink got the better of us all and I now regret it. I fondly think back to that painful but rewarding first 12 miler I did with Deetschei and Sixpack in Napa. Those were the days!

That is just a quick update from me and I hope to be better about actually blogging about the running I have been doing once classes are over next week. WOOOHOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post-Marathon Week Four. Possibly Week Five.

Last week was my first week in which I broke fifteen miles since the marathon. Because of rain on the previous Sunday, I had to move my five miler to Monday. I followed that with three miles on Tuesday, and then another three and five miles with Sixpack when he was in town.

The first two runs weren’t really notable, but the last two were fantastic. Sixpack pretty much summed it up: it rained on us both times, and there were a few hills involved. On the first run, we went out towards the track where I did all of my speedwork for the marathon, which involved going through the Brockley conservation area and a lovely park in Ladywell. The second run was less “lovely”, in that we ran through Deptford towards Greenwich, but I tried to distract Sixpack from all of the crime and seediness by reminding him that we were actually running on the actual route of the London marathon, a “World Major Marathon,” and that his feet were treading the same asphalt as many a Kenyan.

Speaking of Kenyans, we should have been hungover the entire time because of the amount of beers we drank. However, remarkably neither of us felt too bad on the days after the nights of drinking. In fact, I should be hungover right now as I type this, two days after he left. It’s a miracle and a reason to give thanks. I haven’t run with a drunk runner since my wedding day, a year and a half ago. And that was the first run I had completed with a drunk runner since about a year before that.

In a way, the fact that Don and I could get out and run together and not feel like we have missed a beat is due to this blog, which has really served its purpose of keeping a few close friends together in spite of the fact that they now live thousands of miles apart, in different countries. So, one more time, “YAY to the blog!”

Week in Review:

Total Miles: 16
Total Time: No idea
Avg. Pace: No clue
Overall Impression: Happy Thanksgiving, Fellow Runners! (HTFR!)

London: Week 4 of 40

Yep folks. Last week was mostly run in London with Deetschei. First and foremost I would like to say that it rains a lot in London. And when I say a lot I really mean all the time.
Friday morning after a hedonistic Thanksgiving we were actually able to get up and run 3 miles. Right now the focus is not at all on speed, but on distance, so we took it very easy. It was nice. Lots of puddles to dodge, and don't even get me started on whether I should look left or right. Let alone what I should do at a dual roundabout. Thank God I didn't have to drive there, just run.

We went through a fantastic neighborhood of old houses and nice tree-lined streets and finally made our way to a park. It was a great run. Although, I have to say, I could have done without the hills. They weren't very big, but I'm way out of practice. It was a little rough.

Sunday was 5 miles. Again, we had been out the night before, yet somehow British beer seems to not cause hangovers. Especially when combined with Indian food and multiple viewings of "Kung Fu Panda." (We watched it twice because Deetschei passed out the first time. I passed out too, but I had seen it before, so I was excused.)

It seemed a bit of a struggle to run 5 miles through Deetschei's hood. Mostly because there aren't those long boulevards I'm used to in SF, to say nothing of the highways of southern Wisconsin. We did a lot of weaving here and there, a lot of puddle dodging and a lot of puddle missing. It was, however, a fantastic run. We kept it at a relaxed pace. I aimed for somewhere between 9:30 and 10:00 on the Garmin, and we kept pretty well to that pace. The final paces were a little over 10:00 because I never stopped the watch for the many crosswalks.

It was fantastic to run again with Deetschei. It had been way too long. Just like running with any of the DrunkRunners. There is something VERY inspiring for me in running with my fellow bloggers. We've put a lot of time together on the road and this only makes me want to continue.

Tomorrow is 2 miles, then 5 miles, then 6 miles. Holy Heck! It's going to be a rough week, but I'm ready.

Stats:

Miles: 10
Time: 99:01
Average: 9:54
Beers Consumed: ~ 22 + 1.5 bottles of wine

Overall Impression: With Weekends Like That London Could Become My Favorite City! (WWLTLCBMFC!)

Week 3 of 40

Yeah, I know. It's a boring title, but it's kind of motivating for me. I'm on quite a roll right now. I can't remember the last time I made 3 1/2 weeks of training runs uninterrupted. It's been great. I'm doing great. I'm feeling great.
Can't complain. I've added a few exercises to my normal run preparations. In addition to some ab work, which is doing good things, I've also added some calf work which my PT recommended the last time I was complaining of ankle pain. So, I do those exercises every time I'm headed out for a run, and I really do think it's helping. I haven't had ankle issues in over a week despite the fact that mileage is increasing every week.
This week was 9 miles. Quite a jump up from the 7 miles the week before, and it left me quite exhausted. Monday was a long day of stair climbing. Quads and Hams were sore and the calves were not much better. It felt amazing!!!
Running 4 miles on Sunday was quite a milestone. I was tempted to walk some, but didn't. I ran the whole thing. As Deetschei put it on the phone the other day, "Remember when running 5 miles was just a warmup?" It's tough to think back to those days, but I'll get there. Slowly but surely.
This weekend: London, the Thames, Warm English Beer, and Two Runs. I can't wait. It's a 10 mile week and I'll be with Deetschei for 8 of them.

Week in Review:
Miles: 9
Time: 56:21
Average: 9:35
Overall Impression: Neither Snow Nor Sleet Nor Drunken Night Will Keep Me From My Run! (NSNSNDNWKMFMR)

Marathon Plus Three Weeks

Today marks the four week mark from the marathon, and I celebrated by running the five miles I wanted to run yesterday. I was intent on running yesterday. I really did want to. But it was freezing, literally. And it was raining. And as I was peering out the window debating on whether the rain had let up enough that I would only get wet and not drenched, Tessa pointed out that to run for an hour in the rain when not specifically training for something bordered on the insane. I looked at her, saw the wisdom in her beautiful brown eyes, and decided she spoke the truth. Why the hell would I run in freezing rain unless I had to?

So we went to the science museum instead and played with an infrared camera that could show the outline of her bra through her sweater. Sweet.

Since I skipped Sunday’s run, I only ran eleven miles last week. But since those levven came in two runs, I was pleased. Tuesday’s run was six miles, and Thursday’s run was five. I must say that these runs do continue to leave me exhausted at the end of the day, but my legs felt pretty strong throughout the runs themselves. I was looking forward to a solid three run/fifteen mile week, which is why the rain yesterday disappointed me a little. BUT, having said that, I’m cool with two runs for eleven miles.

Besides, I was reading some articles on Runner’s World, and they were pretty unanimous in stating that recovery from a marathon takes four weeks. That means that my taking it easy was in line with my recovery, and now I should be free to slowly build back up to twenty mile weeks.

But lets not get ahead of ourselves. This week I will be running three miles on Tuesday, three miles on Friday, and five miles on Sunday. The last two runs have a super significance because Sixpack will indeed be blessing London from his Sixpackmobile this Thanksgiving, and we will have the chance to run together for the first time in, um, literally years I think. (Dude, when was the last time we ran together, anyway?) I’m looking forward to depleting London’s wine and beer supplies with him and then hitting some of the paths through the urban jungle that I term “running routes.”

It’s gonna be sweet.

Week in Review

Total Miles: Eleven
Total Time: No Idea
Average: Got Me
Overall Impression: Loving the fact that I’m mobile. (L.T.F.T.I.M.)

The Trials! The Fibrulations!

Well, it snowed today! Yes, folks. Sixpack had to run in the snow for the first time in a very long time. Wait. I don't think Sixpack has ever run in the snow. He wasn't a runner when he moved to California. F@#$%^& Hell! This makes today a Banner Day!
When I awoke it was snowing. Not hard, but those great big flakes that are fantastic for snowballs. I decided to wait it out and see if it was going to continue or stop. It stopped. At 1 p.m. I went out for my 3 mile run. It was freezing! Literally. (I can finally say that.) I don't have a hat yet, but I will be getting one soon. I wore my gloves, my tights, my running jacket. I was bundled up. Much of the run was pretty uneventful. There were a few puddles that were not fun to deal with, but I managed.
Getting home I was absolutely exhausted. My quads have been heavy since the run. Living on the fourth floor doesn't help. I'm hoping that just means it was a good workout. I feel great otherwise. And especially proud that I didn't let a little bit of snow get in the way of completing one of my runs. So far, I'm on a three week streak, and I'm loving it. Feeling fitter every week, and my ankle seems to be getting stronger. Wish me luck for the 4 miles on Sunday. Ugh!!

The progress of a stumbler!

Well folks it was a rough start! I went out for a 2 mile walk last Tuesday or so, but that was the last one. I have got an infection in my shoulder (well ....... had) and it has been really tender.  I can't seem to find my motivation, it's hid worse than my balance on a good night of drinking! In time I'm sure I will find it again, I just wish I hadn't lost it. I never thought I would say this but I wish Sybil would come back, I could really use her right now to push and annoy the living day lights out of me.

On saturday I went out and bought an elliptical to use, hoping this will allow me to keep my cardio and the muscles I use for running in shape. I tried it yesterday and it was weird  only being able to swing one arm, I felt like a fish out of water, a one winged plane, a one legged man in a butt kicking contest.I was able to do it but it never felt right. I only went five minutes though, today I will go for 20 and work up from their, I want to be at an hour and a half by the time I can go outside and run. Which will coincidentally be about the time Six Pack will be back in the states. So other than the elliptical I will still be going outside for walks to keep acclimated with the weather. Keep up with the running and the posts, it helps to get my now fat a$$ moving again! So happy running and drink on.

Setting a Marathon Goal

Read a brief blurb in Runners World recently. I don't know what the overall article was about, but it suggested a very sensible strategy for setting your next time goal for a marathon. You should in fact, have about 4 goals.
1) Your training goal. What goal do you want to attain in your next marathon while you are training.
2) Closer to race day this goal is adjusted to an ideal goal. What time would leave you absolutely ecstatic?
3) What goal do you think you can easily attain. Given a few kinks, where do you know you are fit enough to come in.
4) What makes the day worth it. If cramps hit at mile 16 what time will still leave you with head high at the end of the day.

An example:
1) training goal: 3:00
2) Adjusted race day goal: 3:15
3) Easily attainable: 3:45
4) Still acceptable: under 4

Finally, and most importantly NO ONE ELSE should know about goal #2. That way, if you do hit it, EVERYONE is ecstatic. And if you only hit goal 3. Only you know that that wasn't the real one.

Just a little FYI. So, when I tell you my goal is to always kick Clyde's ass, you will know that my true goal is to make him look like a little wussy girl!!!!

Week 2 of 40

This week went pretty well. I must say. So far the streak of workouts has extended to two weeks. Something I am very proud of. It's been a very long time since I could say that I had run everyone of my training runs.
Numbers are still very low, and even the recovering Dr. Deetschei is whooping my butt. However, the miles are good. My times are coming down on my shorter runs, but I did learn yesterday that my longer runs are going to suffer for some time. Not that that's to be unexpected.
Yesterday was the first 3 mile run. It's been a long time (get used to that phrase, I have a feeling as I continue training I'll be using it a lot) since I thought that 3 miles was a long run, but it sure felt like it. When I got to the halfway point it was hard for me to believe that I still had to run all the way home. Right now, I'm making sure I'm doing out and back runs. It's a good way of making sure I can't chicken out. Plus, I'm looking forward to seeing just how far I can go. As many of you know there is a canal through Berlin, and I live about 1/2 mile from it. I run to the canal and then run along it until I reach 1/2 way. Yesterday this meant that I ran one mile along the canal before turning around. It's quite nice, but I must say playing "Dodge the Smoking Germans" is not necessarily my favorite past time.
And about smoking! It's incredible here. You can't escape it. On a 3 mile run I encounter at least a dozen cigarettes. I've thought about counting, but it would just upset me. In fact, to let you know how prevalent smoking is here, I'll provide and example from my marathon book that arrived today "Marathon unter 4 H in 6 Monaten" (Marathon under 4 hours in 6 months). One of the example people for checking whether one is fit enough smokes. The suggestion was not that the person quit, but that he cut back on his smoking. Can you imagine training for a marathon and still smoking? I can't. Yes, Dr. PP we know about your friend, but seriously.

Stats:
Dist: 7 miles
Time: 65:40
Pace: 9:23
Overall Impression: Legs Still Feeling Good. I Think The Situps May Be Helping. (LSFG.ITTSMBH.)

Running Again

Last week I ran three runs for a total of thirteen miles. It was pretty straightforward. On Tuesday I ran five miles. Thursday was four. Sunday I completed four in the misty rain.

I was really pleased because the five mile run occurred exactly two weeks after the Dublin Marathon, and I felt really empowered by the fact that I could manage a decent distance without having any problems so soon after the marathon. Once I knew I could run the five miles (gingerly, of course), my next question was wether I could string together a week of runs. I didn’t want to try for four runs in a week yet because I think its still way too early for that. But three runs seemed like a doable task.

My four mile run on Thursday was the real test because it required me to go out with only one day’s rest since the last run. I was surprised by how un-problematic it was. I expected some weak knees and tightness in my quads, but I really didn’t have any problems after the first mile. The same could be said about Sunday. I felt a little sore and tight for the first half mile, but by the time I was wrapping up the run near Tessa’s parent’s house, I felt remarkably strong.

One of the nice things about running the shorter distances is that there is really no pressure to “train.” In fact, I haven’t even been timing these runs. I haven’t even been using the NikePlus or my iPod. It has just been me and the runs. And I really like that. I even got to run through a park near Tessa's parent's house that I hadn't run in for ages because I have recently been concentrating on such long hauls and didn't have time for it. Running through the park was like catching up with an old friend.

I don’t think I would be a very happy camper right now if I couldn’t run at least a little bit, so once again I stand here amazed at how well this whole entire marathon experience has gone, compared to the last one. No, that does not mean I will be training for another one any sooner than my two mile self-imposed hiatus…but I can envision jogging throughout the winter and hopefully therefore avoiding both the holiday weight gain that tends to accompany all of that eating that I plan on doing, and the sympathy weight I will probably put on as I continue to snack along with my pregnant wife while watching Strictly Come Dancing. Thank god I can run, because I would hate to say no to all those Rittersport and cookies!

Week In Review

Total Miles Run: 13
Total Time: No Idea
Overall Impression: Woohoo! I’m Not Crippled! (W!INC!)

Working my way back into it

I really want to avoid the four month lay-off that I had after my last marathon and have been very carefully easing my way back into running. I've been taking it easy, but am proud to say that I ran three miles twice last week. The first run was done very gingerly, and I could definitely feel some stiffness in my knee and quads. By the second run, I felt a little bit more, um, normal during the runs. The only real difference was that I was absolutely beat AFTER my runs. By the time I was ready to go to bed on both nights, I felt like I had run a lot more than three miles.

Yesterday I decided to try five miles. I like five miles because it is a route I have run a million times, and it is a route that at least takes me to the threshold of Greenwich Park. Even if I don't get into the park, I like the feeling of being able to run far enough so that I may actually see it.

In short, the run went really well. And I slept really well again last night. Its amazing but I think that if I keep on taking it easy for the next few weeks, I should be running again like normal within a month. And if things really go well, I would like to run a half marathon sometime this spring. With a jogging stroller and a baby! :)

Bay to Breakers report!

Well folks knowing that a good percentage of us are Bay to Breakers Alumni I thought you would be interested to know that it is a marathon! Well at least that was the comment on the television shoe Eli Stone. The line was quote " I haven't sweat that much since the Bay to Breakers Marathon" end quote. So we can all add one or more marathons to our tally board, I mean come on it was on TV so it has to be true. 

Well that's all for now. Whoops one more thing, since I am off work I get to go to a gait analysis clinic and learn about that. This part time job at Fleet Feet just keeps getting better.

Happy running to all!

Forest is done now!!

Hello fellow drunk runners, 

I have been back to reading the blog again as I have a lot of spare time again with yet another rotator cuff repair. I did this one as early as possible so I was healed in time to start training for my 3rd marathon. My motivation has been really low the last year really and while out on a run which is where all my great ideas come from, I figured out why. Like forest once I finally worked through my issues with women (really just the one......no man can figure out women as a whole) I just sort of said I'm done now and walked home. But that is not what I want to do, I really like ............LOVE running so I have decided to change my name to.................. wait for it.................. Clyde S. Dale, which is perfect for me. I will probably always run like I'm pulling a wagon full of beer ( but lets say NGB's Road Slush instead of Bud) but at least I'll be running. 

I will start training for Madison really slow, for now all I can do is walk so walk is what I will do. Tomorrow I will get up and go for a 2 mile walk and build up until I'm okayed to run again. My motivation is Madison coming up and the fact that I lost my standings as a Drunk Runner and that my friends that is not an option. I started all this as a Drunk Runner and will always be a Drunk Runner, that and all 3 of you going back out and giving it hell helped. Oh yah and that if I don't get back out now while the temperature is dropping I know I'll never go out and start in January when It's below Zero. I would like to wish Six Pack luck with his 1st marathon training in a cold climate, You know I swore I wasn't going to laugh while I typed that but it's impossible not to. Good luck to all, I'll be posting and responding to posts to help keep the motivation going. It's good to be back and I look forward to all the posts from everyone again. Now PLEASE  re adjust the number to 4 Drunk Runners and drink on runners drink ooooon!

Week 1 of 40

Yep, that's right. 40 weeks to train for the next marathon. I'm already really glad I have given myself so much time, because, let me tell you, I was out of shape. I use that "was" lightly. I am still out of shape, but already feeling better than I was.
I've crossed a bit of a hurdle this week. As of today, I have successfully completed 5 consecutive training runs. I haven't done that since perhaps April. I haven't always kept such good records, so I can't be exactly sure.
This weeks goal was simply to get back on course. I've run the numbers for a 1/2 marathon training course that will finish right when I should be starting the other training, i.e. Sub 4-hour Marathon in 6 months (the book has not yet arrived). This means I was slated for 6 miles this week, which I have completed.
Each run got successively easier, to the point that I already know that running 3-miles next Sunday will not be a big deal. Which, I'm very excited about. If it is this easy this early, hopefully my muscles will continue to remember the strains it has previously been under, and will continue to perform.
The Garmin running watch is also great. It has freed me up a lot in my running. I just need to consult it occasionally to find out where I am and when I need to turn around. Right now I'm not so worried about time, although I'm averaging a good pace. A pace, that if I can keep it up, will mean only needing to take 16 seconds off per mile in order to run a sub 4-hour race. Not bad. Not bad.

Next week: 7 miles.
This Week's Stats:
Distance: 6 miles
Time: 55:33
Average Pace: 9:16
Overall Impression: Is This Thing On? Am I Really Running That Fast Already? (ITTO?AIRRTFA?)