Duke City Marathon Training & Fatherhood

Marathon Training & Fatherhood

Preface: 

My life compared to the life that my wonderful and amazing wife Arlene has gone through are two, 1 million times different situations and zero comparison should be made. I need that to be infinitely clear, that zero comparison should be made between the differences of our roles as parents. I’m solely writing this as a father, and the experience I’ve encountered with running and having the light of my life - Santiago, around as a new experience. So, runners out there, please note that being a father is completely different from the path a mother has to follow. It’s like we are still training and racing on a track, and the mother is racing and training on a technical trail with weighted shoes that force you to run underwater every now and then…

The Joy of Training:

With Santiago being only 5 months old, it sure feels like a much longer time when thinking back. This year has seemed to have been on a slower setting than most - which I am grateful for. The moment he was born to my first run was a mere 2 days off. That first run as a dad felt like a survival run. A run where I had to make sure I got home safely and ran it almost in fear, clicking off some rather quicker splits than I would normally run. Sub 7 minutes for an “easy” run were logged on the good old garmin. Arlene told me, this was due to the fact that I wanted to get home quicker, which made perfect sense.

After about a month of infrequent running, I got the opportunity to run a trail race - Cedro Peak 25k in April. I could test my grit and attempt to grind out 15 miles in the forests. That race was a success, even with limited sleep and the guilt of leaving home early to attend a running event. I ran it hard, pushed myself on the trails and wound up 3rd overall with some friendly company.

Finishing Cedro Peak

With a steady climb of mileage after this race, I thought I was on a good track to hit some mileage numbers in the 60s to 70s. But, it took much longer to climb. My mileage chart started to look impressive with a steady stock market increase, but the true numbers were still in the 50s. I was ok with that. As long as I was making progress, then all would be fine.

Realizing that sleep wasn’t a huge priority, just as long as I got some, then I could zombie myself out of bed to run before the summer heat would get to me. Sprinkle in a few workouts or the occasional 5k race over the summer, and I was maintaining fitness. However, marathon fitness wasn’t there. I needed to get a long run in, and some tempo runs in, in order to feel somewhat ready for 26.2 miles.

The Gang: Adam, Ben, myself & Sean

By this time, it’s August, and I’ve had a few weeks off juggling life, back to school stuff, youth coaching, and a 10k trail race that I am an RD for. But, all in all, the training has been decent for a vintage man of my stature.

The plan has been to race the Duke City Marathon in October. This plan has been on my mind since the moment we found out that Santiago would be in our life. I’ve never raced this marathon, and thought it would be a logistical breeze compared to traveling and leaving home to run another race. Why not run a marathon in our own backyard? And the more I thought about it, the better I felt about the situation.

Training has been good and the following has occurred:

• Since June, I’ve had 9 weeks over 50 miles per week (this is weak, but I’ll take it for now).

• Only 5 tempo workouts, averaging 5:40-5:50 pace.

• Longest long run has been 18.5 miles.

• 10k race in 34:54

Based on this gibberish, I am still hoping to run a marathon faster than 2 hours plus my age - so a marathon faster than 2:42 in October. I’ll be celebrating my 42nd birthday and what better way than to do that by running 42 kilometers! More importantly is having my family there and for me to see Santi immediately afterwards. I am beyond thrilled to continue this journey with him and Arlene there. Otherwise, it's not even worth doing this selfish endeavor. Waking up early to leave my family would only be a way to stay healthy, but the competitiveness in me to do see what I can create with this life seems to be more fun and a test of what this body can really do. But, I yearn to be that proud dad who gets to hold his child after a long and tolling race.

Last Week of Training (week of 9/2/24):

Monday: 8 miles

Tuesday: easy 7 miles

Wednesday: 3x1 mile tempo (5:48, 5:38, 5:34) w/3 min recovery

Thursday: easy 8 miles

Friday: easy 7.4 miles

Saturday: easy 8 miles with the stroller 

Sunday: Chips and Salsa 10k race - 34:54. 12.5 miles total.

Weekly Total: 60.4

Top 3: In reverse order from left to right

Masters Runner

I Like Running - Masters Runner

I like to run. I also like to reflect about my running while I run, and at times I am lucky enough to write those thoughts down and share them on this blog. Since it’s been far too long since my last post, and a lot has happened since my 100 miler, I thought it would be refreshing to revisit and share my reflections of the last few months of running. 

Just recently I turned 40 in October, which has now catapulted me into the Master’s Age group category. It’s a fun group to be part of, as many of these runners have been racing competitively since college. Many of these runners at the top end I have raced over the years since college, post-college and on the USA circuit which included the Olympic Trials and various prestigious road races.

A few months ago I got to debut at the USA Cross Country 5k Masters Championships in Boulder. I had this race on my calendar for nearly a year, but I wasn’t training properly for it during that time period. So when the race came around in October, and only a week after I turned 40, it didn’t go as planned. I was hoping to place on the podium many months ago, but as I said, my training wasn’t up to par. I got smoked and felt many nagging injuries rise as a result of wearing spikes and not prepared for it. Lesson learned - train more and get some decent mileage in if you want to compete like you use to.

USATF Club Cross Country Championships 

Fast forward to this past weekend and some 5 weeks of “okay” training will result in an actual result you would like to see. Despite the mess of the race organizing logistics and the weather, I was very satisfied with my results. I finished 50th place for the altered race in a time of 31:45. This time is a little irrelevant since it’s cross country and not to mention that it was closer to a 6 mile race than a 10k race distance. However, the thing that stood out was the 50th place out of 334 athletes. I know I have worked very hard in the past to run well, and to compare that to what I am doing as a masters runner isn’t at the same level. I have definitely been slacking a bit on the mileage and overall focus as a runner. However, life is more balanced as a husband, coach, teacher, friend, and socialite (which I dislike doing these days, because all I want to do is stay home with my wife and dogs relaxing…).

There are way more things to juggle around in life and Arlene and I don’t even have kids yet. Although, instead of complaining, I have found so much more structure in a routine to keep up with my training, and to train competitively. I still feel that I can post some decent times as a masters runner, and hope to continue my training while staying healthy. If this happens, I would like to break 2:30 in the marathon as a masters runner and complete at a few Masters Championships over the next few years.

It’s an exciting realm to be in, and after our San Francisco Club Championship race, I have high hopes for the future of my running. Paralleling my own training alongside my youth athletes will be an exciting challenge that I hope evokes the same passion for this sport as I have had.

Marathon Training: Week 2 - Cross Crunchy (aka. Cross Country)

After completely missing my weekly goal mileage to, "rest" with a much needed nap after work; which may only come around as often as that lunar eclipse the other week, I still managed to get in my weekend warrior status!  With some decent miles throughout the week, a baby workout on Wednesday, and a long run, it all culminates into one tired individual.  I honestly don't know how I use to do it in the past, which brings me to my next point.  I am not as young as I use to be, nor am I anywhere near the same person.  I've already slowly learned that I can not do the same workouts I did in the past, so I need to throw out those old running logs and move on.... actually, those old running logs are my pride and joy, so I will never throw them away.  But seriously, I have come to peace with how I need to train in order to accomplish some of those fast times.  For starters, it's already been 2 years since my last stress fracture, and I try to stay away from double days because of that.  I don't know if it really works, since most of the "scientist" out there claim two different benefits from running singles verses doubles, but for my lifestyle, along with some basic math, I can only realistically run once a day.  I'm okay with that.  Also, I only need one workout a week along with a solid long run.  So, that's that.  Let's see how well this training will go.

This week also had me toeing the line of a cross country meet.  The Lobo Invite 5k!  Wow, how wonderful.... except for the fact that I am not in 5k shape, nor am I in cross country shape, nor am I in any kind of shape to be racing.  But it's always awesome and special to race as a team, and the Dukes TC had one hell of a team this year.  We got some young talent, with some freshly minted college graduates that are willing to work harder than ever to chase the Marathon Trials Standard with all their heart.  So, with those guys at the helm, and a few other DTC guys pushing everyone, we did alright at the College Meet.  I was our 6th runner and basically our top 5 guys had a faster average time than the UNM Lobos.  15:56 average to 15:59.  However, we didn't win due to points.  We lost by 1 freakin point!  It took a lot of work to add up the scores, but the final score would have been 37 - 38 with the Lobos beating us by 1 lousy point.... man, I need to run faster!

Here's the results:

Week of Training:

Mon - pm. 6 miles
Tue - pm. 6 miles
Wed - pm. 2 mile warm-up, 4x1 mile w/3min rest (5:28, 5:23, 5:21, 5:20), 4 mile cool down. 10 total
Thur - 0 miles - napped
Fri - am. 4 miles. pm. 6 miles w/strides
Sat - am. 2 mile warm up, Lobo Invite 5k - 16:34, 6 mile cool down. 11 total
Sun - am. 20 mile long run. 2:22:24

Total: 63 miles

Getting ahead of myself - Injuries

We all tend to do this a lot - start planning for races before you are even ready to run.  Circling those far off race dates in the calendar, in hopes that you will be on the starting line, or just day dreaming about the possibility of crossing off one of your bucket list races.  Well, at least I do.  I tend to do this all too often, especially when I am not running.  The unknown of when I "will be training" seems to make the possibility of any race just a registration click away.  My wife can tell you that, when I am hurt, my race options seems to double throughout the season - "Honey, I want to do this race, oh, and then we can do this race.".  I guess the mind moves way faster than the body, but this seems to help with the mental aspect that I am not running.  The hope that I will be back training again is the light at the end of the dark and torturous tunnel.  And with the thought of races, comes the reality of training and getting stronger; running with your friends, and pushing each other to achieve a goal.  Those are definitely not occurring when you are cross-training by yourself, or sitting around waiting for your injury to heal.  Or thinking, "I'm not a competitive cross-training, why am I do this?".  But the fact of the matter is, that you, or I, will be able to run again, and enjoy all the aspects that it entails.  And know that these auxiliary workouts are going to get you healthy and running again.

As for me, I am still cross training with my trainer - Lawrence, twice a week.  My massage therapist - Laura, is continuously making my muscles and tendons feel like rubber, and I have seen a Dry Needling guy/Doctor, named Nick Speegle who will stab me a few more times this week while sending electrodes through those wonderful metal needles.  The goal of all of this is to heal my left achilles and test it out on Friday.  My achilles has been bugging me since forever ago, and it has really flared up recently after the marathon last month.  So I thought, it would be best to fully heal it and start off fresh this year.  I still have plenty of time left (the rest of my life, I guess) to figure out what races I really want to do, and until then, I will focus on the important aspect of recovering and healing.  Once that is accomplished, then I can break out the red marker and start circling all those races dates... or more importantly, all those sunday long run days with the Dukes Track Club.

Post Stress Fracture Running, Rehab, & Trail Running

Well, after a bitter summer of recovering and rehabbing my 3 stress fractures in my right tibia, I am now running confidently again.  This past week I spent the majority of my time lightly pounding on the softer dirt path of the North UNM Golf Course loop.  Once I had some free time to venture towards the foothills on the weekend, I decided to run up the Pino trail.  On Saturday I only managed to make it 45 minutes away from the Michael Emery parking lot, and Sunday morning I was able to run 1 hour out.  I have never been that far up the Pino trail, and from what I observed - it was pretty amazing.  Very lush and beautiful.  This weekend I plan on making up to the Crest and possibly even further...  Time will only tell, since I've been limited to "time" running during my rehab segment.

On another crazy and thought provoking topic; I've recently signed up for the Mt. Taylor 50k, which will take place on September 27th.  It seems a little crazy to run an Ultramarathon after coming back from a stress fracture, but I figured if I can make the La Luz trail run my longest run post stress fracture, then I should be fine...  Again, time will only tell, just so long as I don't do anything too stupid.

More Trail running post to come, and with pictures too!

8 Days till The USA Marathon Championships

With only 8 days left until the biggest race of 2013 for me, I sit patiently in a city that has given me so many great memories - Houston.  The reason for my trip to Houston starts in the summer, a time when I thought my life would revolve only around running and not teaching. Boy was I wrong. I'm here in Houston for training, but not the running kind; the kind needed for a new teacher who has entered the Independent School system. You can call it Professional Development, and I'll call it a life changing experience. You see, I got hired as a Physical Education teacher at Manzano Day School (private school) and have fully embraced this new lifestyle. Let's rewind...

It's spring time, and I'm actually finishing my first year as a classroom teacher, a day I never thought would happen. 180 days in what you would call a school or learning environment, a safe haven, a place for growth. Well, it was the excact opposite and I was ready to leave and never look back. I was going to "run" away from that place and not have to think about that school again. Well, I did, and I searched for something else. And as luck would have it, a dream position opened at a very impressive school that I applied for a year earlier. MDS was hiring a P.E. teacher and I got it. I was a bit afraid of the expectations and how "perfect" everything seemed, but as time pasted everything is falling into place. 

So back to Houston. I'm here because I needed to see how our school is connected to other successful schools in the Southwest and what learning is suppose to look like. And it looks joyous! 

The school, the kids, the parents, the other teachers and staff all make this job a great environment.  And more importantly make me a better person. You can even ask Arlene (my girlfriend); since signing that contact with my school, I have found NO excuse not to wake up before the sun rises and hit the pavement. I have no reason to sleep in and dream of a better school to be at. I can leap out of bed with a clear focus on making the 2016 trials, while other athletes sleep in and rest all day.  I can gain inspiration from amazing kids that I'm around everyday, and return that favor by accomplishing a goal that I want more than anything - to make the Olympic Trials Standard as a full-time teacher! The only barrier I had was myself, and now I have everyone in my corner helping me along this path.

From Houston Hobby airport after my last day of Professional Development. 

Taking Up Running after a Cancer Diagnosis

This was a great article written by an advocate for Running as a form of recovery after a cancer diagnosis.  Her name is Melanie Bowen and I think you'll find this information helpful:

If individuals have recently received a cancer diagnosis, they should look for ways to keep their spirits up as they go through chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Running is an especially beneficial activity when it comes to both physical and mental health. When cancer patients can get together with other runners for a jog through the woods each weekend, they will surely feel better. In this sense, then, one’s spiritual health and physical health will grow stronger through time. Outdoor running allows access to fresh air and is generally more uplifting than running on a treadmill inside.

Running is an invigorating activity and can actually lead to increased energy levels. In fact, physical fitness will allow people to slowly work on their stamina. Once they are able to run several miles in one session, they might even experience a natural chemical high. When the proper chemicals are released within the brain, people will find themselves in better moods. As a general rule, a positive mindset can be quite important to one’s overall wellbeing, which is especially beneficial for cancer patients.

As a solitary activity, running also allows people to get back to basics. By jogging through the forests and fields of the local wilderness, most individuals will develop a much stronger appreciation for the true beauty of the world. Runners who are less than enthusiastic about rural areas might instead choose to run on busy city streets. Taking in the sights and sounds of a bustling urban metropolis as the sun rises over the hills to the east will set the tone for the day ahead. On a very basic level, this can be a way for cancer patients to clear their minds and relieve some of their stress.

Cancer patients who do not currently have the stamina for long runs or jogs can instead choose to walk, or even try other forms of exercise. Simply getting out into the world and moving around a bit will help with mentally and physically. Some people might choose to listen to music as they make their way around the block while others may jog at night. No matter what level of runner you may be, any level of physical exertion can help improve your immune function as well as your mental state.

The wonderful thing about physical fitness is that it will assist people with all kinds of cancer. Whether patients have been diagnosed with leukemia or mesothelioma, they will undoubtedly benefit from cardiovascular activity. Long runs through the woods and short jaunts around the block will be equally helpful.

2012 in Review

2012 was quite a year for me.  I can honestly say it was the most eventful year I have ever experienced, with many highs and very few lows...

To create a chronological reflection of the year 2012, I can first start from the biggest highlight of them all - the USA Olympic Marathon Trials in Houston, Texas!  This was an experience of a lifetime, and one that I will never forget, ergo Alzheimer's.  I know I have the ability to compete with the best Americans in the marathon, and other events such as cross country, but facing the difficult recovery from Cal International 5 weeks before, I was plenty happy with the results from that race.  Again, as I've posted in the past, this race was pure carnage, and I loved it!  Only 3 more years until the next Trials, and you can count on that race being just as epic as the 2012 Trials.

Insert Arlene Espinoza into my life and the year 2012 could have been capped off right then and there.  Finding the love of my life and the spice that has been animated from her has been everything I've dreamed of.  We've shared a many of adventures together, and I can only reverie that there'll be many more upon the horizon for the two of us.  Thank you Arlene for entering my life and fulling the void that was much needed for this lonely of lonely distance runner!  To enter some of the adventures we've concocted over the past 11 months are as follows: we had 5 weddings of attendance from February until August, one marathon in Duluth, Minnesota, 2 road trips to California(one of which was for a wedding), countless running and driving miles shared together in New Mexico, a pleasant trip to the Big Apple (New York), hundreds of baked goods created and eaten, holidays spent with family, and a grand New Years Eve Party!  I'm sure there are more, but I'll conclude that chapter of 2012 as it is.

As the spring approached, I decided to enjoy the free time I had and hit the road racing circuit with a few trips and attempts at some prestige road races - Gate River USA 15k Championships, Crescent City Classic, Bloomsday, and the USA 25k Championships where I finally cracked into the top 10 at a USA Road Championship race.  Once those races were over Arlene and I traveled to Duluth to race in the Grandma's Marathon along with Dana and Lauren Patton.  With great preparation I was hoping for a pr, but the warm weather didn't help and I ran a decent time of 2:22 and change.  Arlene however, ran a great pr, and Lauren Patton finished her first marathon ever!  All-in-all, it was a great race and it was nice to see the Heitzman's in their hometown.

As the summer came, everyone enjoyed the extremely hot weather with bbq's and sweaty long runs throughout Albuquerque, and on occasion a camping trip here or there, and one epic journey to Silverton, Colorado as my roommate Loren Wohletz completed his epic 100 mile endurance race called; Hardrock 100.  This was a grand adventure, and after having the opportunity to pace a small section of the race, I got hooked and wanted to complete my very own ultramarathon.  Although, I knew I couldn't finish a 100 miler, or even a 50 miler, I would hone in my sights on a local and new 50k ultra called the Mt. Taylor 50k.  This new avenue of trail racing was exciting and challenging, so that was on the horizon for me, but before that September race, I had a few more chapters to add.

In August, I was still on the hunt for a teaching job, and could only muster 3 interviews throughout the entire summer.  But at the last minute I was called to interview in Los Lunas and was offered a 3rd grade teaching position, which in fact would turn into a 3rd grade sentence-ship.  Nevertheless, it's a job and I'm doing the best I can to stay afloat.  Also, in August we were forced to move out of the Dukes House and rent an apartment up in the foothills.  And... since I had such a long commute to work, and my 4runner wasn't the most ideal car of gas efficiency, I decided to trade it in and buy a brand new Honda Civic.  Ghesh, too many grown up things happening all at once.  It was a bit stressful, and overwhelming, but it is what it is...

Come the fall, and all is brisk and calm, except for Hurricane Sandy and the fact that the New York Marathon would still go on... wait, no it's cancelled.  The chaos that occurred in New York was too much to handle; so instead, Arlene, Allen and I had a great time touring what was left of the aftermath of Sandy and enjoying ourselves in a new city I've never been to!  It was a grand ole time.

So, as the year finally ends, with a last minute marathon in Las Vegas, which turned out to be as disastrous as hurricane Sandy, and can look back in review and reflection upon the many events that happened with a smile and happiness.  If only one event was altered, I'm sure I would still be here writing about it and thinking how it effected the entire year, but in reality, I think it was all the little things that were not mentioned.  All the moments spent with friends and family that make you laugh and cry with one another.  Even all the missed opportunities that flew by, all the "adventures" we wanted to take, but were too busy to take them.  Well, being too busy might have been the right thing to do, because we really only remember the times when chaos confronts us in the face, and how adverse we are in overcoming them.  Without all the chaos, the year would really just fly by, and before we now it, it'll be 2022.  I don't agree with all the other people that claim the year went by very fast...  it's only because we look back upon a few moments, not the everyday moments.  So this year, I'll be looking forward to just one day at a time and enjoying each day, as it presents itself.