NYC Marathon…

Congrats to Meb Keflezighi!!! First US winner of the race since 1982…..

Podiatrist….

Got the report, and as I had expected….I ahve a stress fracture. Bummer….I have a boot and no running for 6 weeks. THIS SUCKS!

Pain in the……

foot. I am finally seeing a podiatrist tomorrow for my nagging foot pain that has been with me since running the Chicago marathon. In reading symptoms on the internet, it sounds a lot like a stress fracture. It feels fine during the day just walking and so forth, but running starts it hurting. It also hurts first thing when I wake up. If I touch the source of the pain, it is VERY sore. Strange as it sounds, a stress fracture would actually be a better alternative to a tendon issue or ligament issue. Those take a lot longer to heal. Oh well, I will report back tomorrow. In the meantime (until I hear otherwise), I will still be running as much as I can. So far this week I have only managed 6 miles. Actually the first run was pain free until the end, then it really hurt. More tomorrow.

Interesting project to make people active…

Podcasts, I love them…

I absolutely love podcasts.  I have found that I listen to podcasts more than XM, regular radio, or simple music.  The information out there is mind blowing.  Having a heavily filled cue of podcasts insures that my drive-time, or run time goes by without any boredom.  Here are some of the podcasts that I am currently subscribed too:

• Bill O’Reilly’s Talking Points
• NPR Story of the Day
• This American Life
• Wall Street Journal Small Business
• The Dave Ramsey Show
• 48 Days to the Work you Love
• Marketing over coffee
• Startup Nation
• SEO 101
• Stuff you should know
• TechStuff
• Various podcasts about the show Lost
• TWIP Photo
• Nikonians Podcast
• Martin Bailey Photography Podcast
• Small Business Marketing by Duct Tape Marketing

I know, it is a diverse list to say the least.  I would love to hear about any other good podcasts that I should be listening to.

Running & SEO…interesting combo..

After a much needed vacation in St. Thomas the last 7 days, I am back at work and more importantly, back at running.  I went on a 3 mile run on Monday and the pain in my foot has subsided.  Apparently my foot needed a vacation as well.  I didn’t eat the best on my trip, but I am back into full commitment mode for my training for my next two big races…….West Palm Beach Half-Marathon and the Disney Half-Marathon.

On another note, I am attempting to learn all that I can about SEO (Search Engine Optimization).  Not for this blog, but for another project that my wife and I am working on.  I have been reading and digesting all that I can about the topic and luckily met a new friend while in St. Thomas that does this for a living.  Not only are he and his wife good people that we had a lot in common with, he is helping me avoid many of the mistakes I likely would have made, as the topic is a bit overwhelming.  Anyway, hopefully I will make mention of my pending project as some point in the near future, but it has been in the works for a while now.

On that note, I leave you with a picture of St. Thomas……

First post marathon run…..

Well, it did not happen.  I came home from work excited to go on a run, but did a plyometric workout first for about an hour.  Boy did it kick my butt.  If you haven’t tried plyo, it is great for building stability muscles and promotes explosiveness and strength (which will hopefully help me become a stronger runner).  Anyway, ever since the marathon, I have had a soreness (kind of like a bruise feeling) on the outside of my left foot just below my heel.  I feel like I injured it as a result of changing my gait during the marathon because of my blister that formed on that foot about mile 14 or so.  Anyway, I suited up, lubed up with Body Glide, got my iPod ready and was out the door and the first few strides just killed me.  It is funny too because I did the whole plyo workout with very limited pain.  I felt it wise to take a load off since it is hurting.  I may try again tomorrow and see how it feels.  Pray for me that I don’t have a stress fracture or something!  That would really make me angry!

Post Chicago marathon training…

Had incorporated P90x into my training starting about 4 weeks ago. I am seeing results and plan to continue as the yoga, plyometrics, and strength training combinations should certainly help my running. We shall see. If you want an intense workout though, it is worth the money. We dropped our YMCA membership because my wife and I get a way better workout with P90X than we did at the gym. Tony Horton created quite a program. Some may argue that it is a little much to do while training for a race, but you can adapt it to your needs. I think you should try it though if you want an effective at home workout to supplement your running. Very effective crosstraining.

Marathon Ho….

The title of this post is in reference to the shirt my wife wore the day we attended the Chicago Marathon Expo (see picture). It was definitely a conversation starter. She is a “Marathon Ho” in that she reluctantly entered the sport due to my desire to train for a marathon way back in 2005, and now can and will run a marathon anywhere and anytime. She is a machine and feels no pain. She is so much better at the long distance than I am. I can get her in the 5k’s and 10k’s (we are about the same on a half-marathon), but a marathon she feels no pain and can maintain a steady pace. I felt bad for her for Chicago because due to a injured back she was unable to participate and/or train for it. She watched as a spectator and helped me through the pain of those last miles. It was tough for her to have to watch from the sidelines in such a huge event. However, I loved having her as a spectator, but really wished she could have participated. Alas, she went on a pain-free run yesterday and decided that she is officially ready to begin training for her next race. We are looking for something fun and exciting to do in late May or early to mid-June timeframe.

Her Shirt Says Marathon Ho

Chicago Marathon Report….

Me at Mile 23

Medals for the finishers

Billy Goat Tavern

Me after race

Signing up for World Vision

Me, Jill, Robert & Pam

Me and Robert before the race

Well, it has been a while since I have posted and there are many reasons for this.  Let me start with the biggest reason.  I was burned out.  If you have read any of my other posts you would have noticed that I had bronchitis for a large portion (6 weeks) of my training for the Chicago Marathon.  This affected the core portion of my training, where my speedwork and mileage was supposed to be at its peak.  Now I did get all but one of my long runs in, but they were not quality.  My speedwork was almost non-existent.  It is hard to run all out when you cannot breathe very well.  In my self-pity I became increasingly depressed about my running and discouraged.  I was actually ready to almost give up the idea of doing marathons altogether.  I decided to persevere and try to gut through Chicago, not at the 4:00 goal I had originally planned, but at a goal of just simply finishing.  To be honest, I felt that this was going to be a challenge enough given the frustration of my training session this summer.

Now, please fast-forward to this past weekend.  My wife Jill and I met my sister, brother-in-law, and two nephews up in Chicago on Friday.  We actually arrived Thursday night, but only had enough time to quickly watch my beloved Missouri Tigers give the game away to the Nebraska Cornhuskers before turning in for the night.  So Friday, we met my family at the BOA Chicago Marathon Race Expo.  We picked the right day to go as most runners had not yet arrived.  It was fairly empty overall, so we got first rate service from all of the booths.  A few of the highlights of the Expo:

• The Brooks “B.R.A.S.H. Unit”:  This was a mockup of the old MASH unit and they had a podiatrist onsite and treadmills to do gait analysis.  After they would write you a “prescription” for the type of shoe that you needed for your foot/gait type.  Pretty clever idea.  They also had a still that dispensed Gatorade.  I was impressed.  The staff there was super friendly.  To top it off, my brother-in-law Robert won a pair of trail running shoes.  Not too shabby.
• Bart Yasso:  If anyone out there does the Yasso 800’s and/or reads Runners World, you know who this is.  He was friendly as ever and signed my bib (thanks to my wife who is also FaceBook friends with him).
• World Vision:  I was moved by this organization as I learned about them and have become increasingly impressed since researching them further upon getting back home.  Robert (brother-in-law) vouched for them and pretty much sold me on them while at the Expo.  We both decided to run for their group and more importantly, Jill and I sponsored a child.  I will hopefully run some more races in the future sporting my World Vision jersey, as the crowd support was amazing and the organization is top notch.  This organization is also supported by Ryan and Sara Hall.

After the Expo, we headed to the famous Billy Goat Tavern for lunch and then braved the rain and cold while perusing Michigan Avenue (Magnificent Mile).  That evening, dinner was at Weber Grill, and by this time, my mother-in-law and stepfather-in-law had joined us.  We had a nice dinner and then enjoyed coffee and conversation at Starbucks afterwards.

 The next day we didn’t do things as we should have.  Jill and I, in an attempt to meet everyone at the Museum of Science and Industry, took a train to Hyde Park to then get a cab to the museum.  Big mistake.  We ended up walking through a rather undesirable area of town and even worse, I put about 3 miles on my legs walking to the museum.  This was at 10AM with a whole day of museum walking ahead of me.  I ended up spending a lot of time on my feet and I was tired at the end of the day.  We closed out the day with dinner and a couple of beers at a pub called Timmy O’Tooles not far from our hotel.

Finally it was Race Day!  I awoke at 5:45 and quickly dressed for my three quarters of a mile walk to Grant Park, where the race was to begin.  Jill joined me as she needed to meet up with her folks and my sister and nephews.  We grabbed a coffee at Dunkin Donuts and walked in the 32 degree weather.  I was dressed in running shorts, ASICS 2140’s, ASICS socks, Nike running shorts, 2 long sleeved technical shirts with a short sleeve technical shirt on top, long sleeve tee, sweatshirt, long windpants, stocking hat and gloves.  I was to give Jill the windpants and sweatshirt prior to getting in the start corral and then ditch my long sleeve tee right as the race started.  It was cold, but perfect running weather to be honest.  The start was unbelievable.  I have never seen so many people.  45,000 registered, it was crazy.  The crowd at the start was loud and amazing.  Sends chills just thinking about it.  Robert and I walked pretty much up until we got to the starting line, which took about 20+ minutes.  From there we could start our run.  I have to say, Robert made the run go by quickly because we were deep into conversation for much of the first 20 or so miles.  After that we were both so focused in keeping going that the talking because more scarce.  I couldn’t have gotten through it without him though.  I think we both helped each other through some tough spots.

The highpoints along the course for me were Lincoln Park area, Chinatown area and the finish line.  All had amazing crowd support and it was incredible.  That is not saying the other areas didn’t have great crowd support, because they absolutely did.  The whole course was packed with people and it was amazing.  I also liked the Nike Motivation Stations.  They seemed to be right in the right place when I needed the extra motivation.  Also, there seemed to be water and Gatorade stations everywhere.  Many of the locals were also out with their own food/water/beer.  They really know how to welcome the runners in Chicago that is for sure.  Anyway, had to climb what felt like a huge hill in the final stretch, but we both finished.  5:16 was the time.  Not my best time (best marathon is a 4:23), but my favorite race by far.  We ended the race day with food at Gino’s East…..Everyone parted ways, but Jill and I were in town for one more night.  I went home and napped and then that evening we met her cousin out for dinner and then headed back to Orlando the next day.  What a fun trip and event.  More important……it got me out of my running funk.  I am now ready to plan for my next marathon and time goal.  Right now, I have West Palm Half Marathon (I switched from the marathon to avoid burnout) and then Disney Half Marathon.  I am looking for a spring marathon to do for a time goal.  I think we are going to try to do NYC Marathon next year maybe through a charity (or maybe we will just start the lottery process).  Anyway, I am no longer depressed or down on running……my bad training session is behind me and I am looking to improving this winter for a strong spring marathon.  Hopefully I will have 2 sub-2 hour half marathons in the process.  We shall see.