Getting Back Into Rhythm

After a wonderful school year and countless hours spent thinking about a wonderful wedding, it was time for me to get back into "real" training.  I needed to decide on a marathon that I will do this fall, and come up with a training plan for that race.  And since the window to qualify for the Olympic Trials is slowly closing, I've decided on the Chicago Marathon in October.  I believe there will be a ton of guys looking to run the standard, and that race gives me roughly 4 months of training from after the wedding.

As soon as school got out, I finally got the motivation and energy to build up the miles again.  If I can recall, I was only running about 40 miles per week since the beginning of the year, and hadn't wrote a single mile in my running journal since my stress fractures in March of 2014.  So, I need to get back into a routine and get my act together!  I finally logged some miles in my journal at the end of April to keep myself accountable, and to my surprise, my mileage only stuck around 40/week.  But with school over, things are looking brighter.

I need to keep posting on this blog as well, so this will be the first of many weeks leading up to Chicago, and an OTQ time.  Also, after racing the Rock 'n Roll San Diego half marathon last Sunday, I now have a pretty accurate account of my fitness and where I should be training... (slow), but it's a start.  And in case you're wondering, I ran 1:10:54.  One of my slowest half marathons ever!  It sure is a kick in the ass, and now I have zero excuses to get back out there and train my brains out!

Racing outta shape, and too cheap to buy the photos...

With the Fiance at the finish!

Week 1 of marathon training:

Mon - drove back to ABQ
Tue - pm. 10 miles
Wed - am. 7 miles / pm. 9 miles
Thur - am. 4 miles / pm. 11 miles (bonked in the heat)
Fri - am. 6x1 mile w/3min rest (5:36, 5:30, 5:34, 5:25, 5:26, 5:23) 10 total
Sat - am. 12 miles in the foothills
Sun - am. 18 miles

Total: 81 miles

A long awaited post of the past and the present

Like many of my old posts, I usually start off with my favorite choice of phrases; "well, it's been a long time since my last post..."  And since it has been a long time, I guess I could sum up what has happened since that glorious day at Mt. Taylor.

After that ultra marathon, I attempted to get into shape and hit the roads.  I set my sights on the Rock and Roll San Antonio half marathon, which didn't go too well, but well enough for the shape I was actually in.  I would use that lousy time as a benchmark as to where I was at and what I needed to do leading up to another important race - USA Cross Country Championships.  From December till February, that seemed like plenty of time to get ready and get in good shape for my favorite event.  Cross Country is something that I pride myself at being good at, and a place where I love to grind.  And since it was coming up very quickly, I should've been training very hard for.  Unfortunately, I was struggling to get the workouts needed, and made a last minute decision to not race.  That decision made a lot of my teammates concerned and worried.  Hell, it made me worried why I didn't prepare myself for the 2 months leading to that race... Needless to say, I wasn't in shape and didn't want to run in a race that I always look forward to.  A race where I can usually grind it out with the best of them.  Instead, I chickened out and kept my scalp attached for another day.

That other day is coming around the corner.  And regardless of sickness or however "outta shape" I may think I am; I will be racing a 15k at the Mountain to Fountain 15k in Arizona.  This will be another "test" or "benchmark" of my already well known fact of where my fitness is.  And when this race is over, I can finally set my sights to everyday training.

I think I lost a bit of that get-up-and-go mentality over the last few months and after the idea I being healed from my stress fractures.  Someone told me that it would take almost a year to fully get over my injury, and after spring break, it will be a year since I got diagnosed with 3 stress fractures.  Since that year, I either lost something or became overly worried about something.  And if I don't put in the correct training and attempt making the Olympic Trials in the Marathon, I will just be, "a has been."  That is something I do not want to be labeled as, so something has to change.

First off, I have to be 100% healthy and ready to put in the work.  I need to know that I am capable of logging in the volume and intensity without any major setbacks.  At this point, my fractures are more than healed, so all that's left are minor ailments or any sickness that old man winter has in store for me.  After that, it's train, train, train.  Day in and day out!

I'm very excited to run another road race next month.  I am also excited that I am motivated to race a track race this spring and take a shot at a fast half marathon before our wedding!  And after the honeymoon... (cue the sexy music) all my focus will be lasered in on the Chicago Marathon and a sub 2:18 Olympic Trials Standard.  

USA Half Marathon Championships review

With more than 2 weeks after the race, I have finally got some time to write a little bit about my 1:05:38 performance.  I guess I don't have a whole lot to say about this, as I didn't achieve my goal of a sub 1:05:00. The coincidence of this race, was that I ran the same exact time I did back at this championship in 2009.  Looking at that, it's kind of nice to know I can still fade to the same result.  Ideally, I would like to be faster and stronger, so perhaps I am stronger as most of my training has been geared towards the marathon.

Here's a few quick thoughts of my race; I went out a little more conservative than in 2009, meaning I was on pace for the majority of the race.  When I got caught by a group of guys running the pace (4:57/mile), I decided to stick with them and run in the back of the pack, as opposed to race the leader of the group.  This seemed to help me, and I stuck to the pace better than I have in the past.  When I finally faded off pace, I just kept hammering away and trying to stay focus - not that I didn't do this in the past.  At this race, there was always someone around in front of me, so that I could gauge where I should be.  In the past, most races I've run don't have that motivation, which can be hard.

So, all and all, it was a good effort and a pretty good indicator as to where I am at for Boston.  Running a 65 min half with about 10 weeks before a marathon is a good sign.  I'll be ready to roll in Beantown.  And compared to 2009, where I was 24th place; I was way down the list at 39th place.  American distance running is truly improving.

Finishing hard.
photo by Stephanie Ward

Half Marathon Results:

Place	Athlete Name	5k	10k	15k	20k	Finish

1	Meb Keflezighi San Diego, CA	14:39	29:10	43:34	58:12	1:01:23
2	Aaron Braun Englewood, CO	14:38	29:10	43:38	58:25	1:01:38
3	Josphat Boit Mammoth Lakes, CA	14:39	29:10	43:37	58:25	1:01:41
4	Tyler Pennel Blowing Rock, NC	14:39	29:10	43:37	58:31	1:01:44
5	Matthew Llano Flagstaff, AZ	14:40	29:11	43:40	58:33	1:01:47
6	Luke Puskedra Beaverton, OR	14:39	29:11	43:39	58:33	1:01:48
7	Shadrack Biwott Folsom, CA	14:39	29:10	43:38	58:36	1:01:56
8	Fernando Cabada Boulder, CO	14:39	29:10	43:38	58:46	1:02:00
9	Tim Ritchie Brighton, MA	14:38	29:10	43:41	58:46	1:02:00
10	Gabriel Proctor Mammoth Lakes, CA	14:40	29:11	43:43	59:04	1:02:22
11	Sean Quigley Lafayette, CO	14:39	29:13	44:18	59:35	1:02:46
12	Jonathan Grey Minneapolis, MN	14:39	29:11	44:03	59:29	1:02:51
13	Ben Bruce Flagstaff, AZ	14:43	29:37	44:33	59:44	1:02:53
14	Scott Macpherson Columbia, MO	14:47	29:37	44:29	59:39	1:02:56
15	Ahmed Osman Flagstaff, AZ	14:40	29:10	44:07	59:40	1:03:02
16	Elliot Krause Madison, WI	15:00	30:05	45:04	1:00:06	1:03:15
17	Tyler Mccandless Boulder, CO	14:47	29:55	45:04	1:00:10	1:03:25
18	Craig Curley Tucson, AZ	14:41	29:49	45:04	1:00:15	1:03:27
19	Joe Moore Manhattan, KS	15:00	30:05	45:04	1:00:15	1:03:33
20	Joseph Gray Colorado Springs, CO	15:01	30:07	45:04	1:00:23	1:03:42
21	Jeremy Freed Longmont, CO	15:00	30:06	45:04	1:00:30	1:03:51
22	Enoch Nadler Richardson, TX	15:01	30:06	45:04	1:00:31	1:03:55
23	Sergio Reyes Palmdale, CA	14:56	30:06	45:04	1:00:40	1:04:06
24	Brandon Birdsong Manitou Springs, CO	15:00	30:05	45:04	1:00:58	1:04:21
25	Dan Kremske Woodstock, IL	15:04	30:18	45:32	1:01:06	1:04:27
26	Daniel Tapia Castroville, CA	15:00	30:06	45:32	1:01:16	1:04:32
27	Craig Leon Eugene, OR	15:00	30:06	45:25	1:01:11	1:04:34
28	Anthony Solis Sacramento, CA	15:00	30:06	45:30	1:01:18	1:04:35
29	Cole Atkins Blowing Rock, NC	15:14	30:16	45:31	1:01:11	1:04:37
30	Thomas Dialynas Denver, CO	15:21	30:47	46:09	1:01:34	1:04:49
31	Benjamin Sathre Chaska, MN	15:00	30:18	46:02	1:01:34	1:04:51
32	Michael Reneau Minneapolis, MN	15:09	30:42	46:09	1:01:42	1:04:59
33	Eric Ashe Boston, MA	15:21	30:47	46:09	1:01:44	1:05:01
34	Gregory Leak Steilacoom, WA	15:27	30:49	46:09	1:01:43	1:05:02
35	Ryan Kienzle Canton, OH	15:27	30:50	46:09	1:01:43	1:05:02
36	Matthew Williams San Antonio, TX	15:21	30:47	46:09	1:01:47	1:05:06
37	Sean Brown Aurora, CO	15:27	30:50	46:22	1:02:00	1:05:22
38	Connor Kamm Nashville, TN	15:27	30:49	46:09	1:01:46	1:05:29
39	Jesse Armijo Albuquerque, NM	15:09	30:44	46:15	1:02:18	1:05:38
40	Josh Whitehead Madison, AL	15:17	30:47	46:22	1:02:14	1:05:42
41	Jonathan Mott Babson Park, FL	15:37	31:15	46:48	1:02:25	1:05:47
42	Jeremy Criscione Gainesville, FL	15:02	30:38	46:21	1:02:27	1:05:49
43	Kieran O'Connor Arlington, VA	15:27	31:00	46:39	1:02:36	1:05:59
44	Dan Greeno Minneapolis, MN	15:27	31:00	46:52	1:03:02	1:06:26
45	Rory Tunningley Austin, TX	15:21	30:48	46:45	1:03:06	1:06:29
46	David Fuentes Austin, TX	15:27	31:00	46:52	1:03:21	1:06:50
47	John Dewitt Oshkosh, WI	15:29	31:24	47:20	1:03:30	1:06:54
48	Jason Holt Kaysville, UT	15:30	31:21	47:21	1:03:36	1:07:01
49	Jared Carson Austin, TX	15:40	31:35	47:23	1:03:36	1:07:07
50	Brandon Dworak Memphis, TN	15:48	31:45	47:43	1:03:52	1:07:15
51	Daniel Kerr Winston-Salem, NC	15:40	31:35	47:28	1:03:53	1:07:21
52	Logan Sherman Plano, TX	15:48	31:44	47:43	1:03:57	1:07:24
53	Rio Reina Austin, TX	15:38	31:19	47:29	1:03:56	1:07:25
54	Jake Marotz Saint Paul, MN	15:48	31:44	47:44	1:03:59	1:07:25
55	Jake Krong Salt Lake City, UT	16:01	31:56	47:54	1:04:02	1:07:26
56	Christopher Sloane Gaithersburg, MD	15:48	31:44	47:43	1:04:01	1:07:29
57	Matt Barrett Madison, WI	15:35	31:44	47:45	1:04:03	1:07:30
58	Luka Thor Gretna, NE	15:29	31:29	47:29	1:04:08	1:07:42
59	Tibor Vegh Raleigh, NC	15:28	31:19	47:20	1:04:16	1:07:58
60	Jose Munoz San Antonio, TX	15:28	31:25	47:22	1:04:29	1:08:04
61	Riley Cook South Weber, UT	15:29	31:38	48:11	1:05:09	1:08:42
62	Chass Armstrong Greenville, SC	15:38	31:52	48:24	1:05:16	1:08:45
63	Ryan Cosens Costa Mesa, CA	15:31	32:15	48:36	1:05:16	1:08:50
64	Aaron Davidson Lenexa, KS	15:50	32:19	48:53	1:05:35	1:09:08
65	Brian Finnel Madison, WI	16:06	32:27	48:53	1:05:37	1:09:13
66	Matthew Grey Minneapolis, MN	16:01	32:24	49:01	1:05:59	1:09:35
67	Brent Martin Gambier, OH	15:43	32:07	49:28	1:06:26	1:10:02
68	John Coyle Logan, UT	16:01	32:28	50:02	1:06:55	1:10:30
69	Tim Jeffreys Brooklyn, NY	16:12	32:51	49:56	1:07:07	1:10:44
70	Daniel Kahn Houston, TX	16:41	34:11	51:54	1:10:14	1:14:09