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January 15, 2006
WEEK NO. 14
REASON NO 13 FOR RUNNING A MARATHON
Training for and running a marathon will introduce me to training techniques and resources I can use to improve my performance in other sports
The process of training for this race has been pretty interesting. For an average runner such as myself to be able to complete 26.2 miles in a single 5.5 hour period, everything has to be “just right�. Every decision, from the type and style of running shoes, to the type and amount of electrolyte drink to carry must be carefully thought out, tested in practice runs, and then executed on race day.
With less than 50 days to race day, I just about have all the parts and pieces in order (I think). Here is my plan as of today:
Shoes – Nike Air Pegasus, purchased new last week (Fouth pair I have owned), will break in with 20-30 miles of training runs first.
Socks – New Balance, received as a gift for Christmas
Running Shorts – RaceReady compression shorts, on order.
Top – Pearl Izumi Triathlon Top
Fuel Belt – NorthFace single bottle.
Fuel – 1 bottle of accelerade, 10 gels
Cold weather top – a “sacrificial� long sleeved t-shirt that will be discarded once the race begins.
Gloves – white cotton, to be sacrificed also
If temps are really, really cold, use Nike running tights.
Rain gear – garbage bag or el-cheapo poncho.
Training this week was anything but according to plan. Tuesday was a four-mile run in Durham. Wednesday was a rest day, and Thurday I did a 1.5 mile speed workout. I have hooked up with a coach from Butte College, that is doing his Masters Thesis on runners over 40, and how plyometrics may help improve their running. Anyway, the 1.5 mile timed run was part of his “testing� process, to see what our starting point is. My time was 10 minutes and 45 seconds, which equates to a time of 7 minutes, 9.6 seconds per mile.
Friday was a gym workout, with upper body weights, 15 minutes of spinning, and 1000 yards swimming.
Saturday was the second “test� for the study, which consisted of a timed 5K run at the Chico State track. Myself and three other runners braved the rain and wind to test our 5K run time. My time was 23 minutes and 48 seconds, which is almost a minute slower than my personal best. I attribute this slowdown to the fact that I have been doing almost zero “speed work� in the last 6 months or so.
After the 5K run, I jogged around the campus, and then ran the stairs at Holt Hall. I remember “in the old days� doing multiple sets of these stairs. One set was enough for me this day, after pushing pretty hard on the 5K.
Sunday was an 8.7 mile run in the hills of Paradise. I ran from Neal/Skyway, up the trailway all the way to Pentz (about 1200 vertical feet), then down Pentz to Bille, across to Clark, then up to finish at Clark and Wagstaff.
This was the first time I have ran the entire trailway, and it was incredibly easy!!!! It was a brisk 48 degrees, and beautiful sunny weather.
Posted by Dennis at January 15, 2006 07:23 AM