Plans in Flux and Jars of Oatmeal

I am about five weeks into training for the Pittsburgh Marathon. This time around training I'm running more miles, eating better, and training smarter.  I've upped the load by about 10 miles per week as a starting point compared to previous training cycles and have active recovery or step back weeks on every third week. Regular crosstraining, varying terrain, and planned rotating speed sessions are in he mix. I am feeling great and looking forward to the increase in mileage ahead.

I say I'm training for the Pittsburgh Marathon and that is true, but really it is the first in a 3 part trial hopefully leading up to a qualification for the Marathon Maniacs.  If all goes well the period from May 3rd to June 27th is going to be intense...and awesome!

May 3rd- Pittsburgh Marathon
June 6th- God's Country Marathon (rated one of the 10 toughest marathons by Runners World)
June 27th- Hell Hath No Hurry 50k trail  
June 28th-July 1st, Sleep and eat
July 2nd- eat more
July 3rd and 4th - light fireworks, drink, and eat more
July 5th - start training for a PR at the Akron Marathon

At the end of January I had 120 miles over 23 runs, the most runs I have taken in a month and close to my max monthly mileage. Excited doesn't begin to cover it.

In the past I would have been fairly wiped out with this much training early on. There are three things that I have improved on that have made all the difference:
1. Crosstraining regularly - hitting the gym and working the whole body; core, lower and upper body
2. A solid base of miles behind me - months and months of fairly consistent 20-25 mile weeks and a two month easy running period as a "break"
3. A good nutrition plan.

I could blab on about all three points, but I'll briefly mention nutrition. Tara, my better half,  sent me a link for a recipe a while back. Oatmeal jars.  I had been meaning to make some up and try it, but I didn't actually do it until recently.  Best. Recovery. Meal. Period. 

Oatmeal Jars
Take a half pint mason jar and put some good old fashioned organic rolled oats in it. Fill about half the jar. Add in a tablespoon or two or three of organic chia seeds, add organic whole milk yogurt, grass fed whole milk and fruit.  I have tried blueberries and strawberries so far. (You can get frozen organic blueberries and strawberries at Aldi on the cheap! ..and a lot of other organic yummies). Mix it all up. Maybe add some spices..I put some cinnamon in my strawberry jars.

There are a million ways to use this recipe. Fiddle with it. Try your favorites. Since I have started eating these post run my energy is more stable and I am not starving and binging on everything in sight afterward, though after the last 13 mile run I did have to stop by Vanilla Pastry Studio for one of their amazing cupcakes. Okay, I bought three..but one and a half were for Tara....don't judge me.  :-)

One of the great truths of running is there is always more to learn, whether it be about running itself or about ones self. Learning can come in the form of books, articles, timely advice. For me it usually comes in the form of pain and my attempts to correct the causal factors.  Always a challenge, always a joy.

So raise a glass of Nuun with me and toast the inevitable cycle of learning, growing, and reaching new heights. Happy running and happy training to everyone out there

A New Year, A New Plan

Last fall I completed my first, and for now, only 50k. Afterwards I had been considering what the next step should be.  Do I go for longer distances, work on improving my speed over shorter distances, do I take more naps?  In the end I settled on training for the Pine Creek Challenge 100k slated for September of 2015.

I started planning right away.  I spoke with ultra runners, outlined training plans, milestones, and goals from January through September.  It was terrifying and exciting. I was really uncertain how to put the required time in to train for this.  My job is demanding and especially so in the summer months. It is not unusual to find me working 6-7 days a week, 10-12 hours a day. Regardless, I was determined to make it happen somehow.

A few weeks later my fiancee became ill. She had something that resembled a seizure followed by vomiting. She was taken by ambulance to the nearest hospital. They gave her fluids and released her later that evening with no diagnosis.  A few weeks later something similar happened again. She was hardly able to eat and was losing weight fast. We still weren't sure of the cause, but knew it wasn't just a case of the sniffles. After seeing the family doctor and getting additional testing the decision was made to send her for an endoscopy and see where it led.

A few days before the endoscopy she was feeling awful so we went to the hospital. This time they admitted her. Three days later they found her gallbladder was not functioning properly and removed it the following day.  She was able to come home on Thanksgiving. She is still recovering, but thankfully is doing much much better!

During her illness I realized a few things. One was that even if I could put in the time to train for the 100k it would mean not spending time with Tara.  It just wasn't worth it. I scrapped the plan and started considering other options.

The next thing I realized was that I could focus on a PR at the Pittsburgh Marathon instead of treating it as a training run! Last year I was on track for a PR by 15 minutes...until mile 22-23.  As I hit the downhill out of Bloomfield my quads went out. Then I started getting spasms in my calfs as well.  I lost over 20 minutes in those final 3 miles, but still hobbled my way to the finish line just under 4:20. It is high time for redemption.

There is a group of marathon enthusiasts you may  or may not have heard of: the Marathon Maniacs. Basically a bunch of insane people who run marathons..a lot.  I decided to take a run at qualifying for the group.  There are many levels of insanity to choose from. Here are just a few:

I am hoping to qualify somewhere between Bronze and Gold level. I'm signed up for the Akron Marathon and considering Erie, GAP Trestles, and possibly one in Northern Ohio. No land speed records on these. I'll likely be walking at least 1/2 of each race, but it sounds like a fantastic challenge!
 A New Year, a new plan, a new pair of shoes. I'm ready for 2015, are you?

Doctor Who Virtual Race Series

It is no secret I am slightly obsessed with certain sci-fi and fantasy books, movies, and shows. Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, and Doctor Who are at the top of that list. So when the 50th Anniversary was up and coming for Doctor Who I poked around on the internet wondering if there were any virtual Doctor Who themed races.

My Nerd Credentials from a 3D Theater Showing of the 50th Anniversary Show

If you are wondering what a virtual race is you are not alone. Simply put you sign up for an event, pay your registration fee, and agree to certain terms like how far you'll run, when you'll run. Ultimately, it is on the honor system that you actually get out there and run the good run and with most races there is a sweet race medal that is sent to you via mail.

I came across the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Virtual fun run/walk group page on facebook and signed up right away.  There are different options on how far you'll choose to go. I selected the Half Marathon.  I received this great Doctor Who 50th Anniversary themed medal and better still, much of the proceeds benefited the survivors of the Boston Marathon bombing. 

50th Anniversary Medal

There is a great sense of community on that group page. I've found runners and walkers to share a bond that I haven't seen elsewhere. I guess it is because we are all a little crazy and it's more fun to be crazy with friends. Add that with shared enthusiasm bordering on obsession about the show and you get a good time. I had the chance to talk with Queenie Zook, one of the organizers for the virtual race series, and learn more about how it all came about.


RL:How did you and Princess Seven come up with the idea to start these virtual races?

QZ: The virtual running was my idea. I had seen a couple online and wanted to do my own series, focusing on peace, love, pay it forward. acceptance. etc. I had mentioned it to Princess Seven once (she is not a runner) and she said if she were a runner, she would do a Dr Who medal. I said who?? Hahaha. Told her she might sell 10 if she was lucky. We originally ordered 50 medals. I was quickly sucked in to the world of Whovian. You all are great, but I am Seussian to my core. 

RL: I think we are all Seussians on some level Queenie. So it started with the Doctor Who 50th anniversary virtual race. I love the medal from that one! It is proudly displayed in my home. That first race benefited the Boston Marathon bombing victims correct? 

QZ: Yes

RL: What other organizations have the races benefited?

QZ:  Neads Service Dogs for Boston, One Fund, Back On My Feet (Great organization-check it out) Currently, (the) Lifelong Aids Foundation out of Seattle. Also $300 for yearbooks for the homeless graduates in our school system and we adopted 10 students who we clothed and (bought) shoe's for the first day of school. We work closely with our soup kitchen and Spin Café who feeds and does laundry for homeless and special needs youth. We are often spur of the moment. If we see a need in our community or are contacted about a need, we give it if we have it. 

RL: The race medals are fantastic! Who does the design work?

QZ: The 50th anniversary was designed by Ruby Dee via Crown Awards. The rest have been designed by us via Crown Awards.

RL: There have been 5 races so far with the latest being the 50mile and 100 mile Ultra-Whovian Challenge. What else is on the horizon?

QZ:  Weeping Angel is the next in line. We are working on copyrights for (a) Dalek (medal), and a few have asked for Adipose. Who knows, we make it up as we go.

RL:  Just like the Doctor. Anything else you'd like to add?

QZ:  Well I have had a blast getting to know the Whovian culture.

RL: Thank you for your time and all the hard work you and Princess Seven have put in. 



Here is the link for the page. Sign up links are located in the pinned post:

Doctor Who Virtual Race Series