Week 1, Day 2

Distance: 4 miles

Total for the week: 7 miles

Total overall: 7 miles

Notes: Ran with Brian. Nothing of consequence to report, really.

Week 1, Day 1

Distance: 3 miles

Total for the week: 3 miles

Total overall: 3 miles

Notes: Tracey and I ran 4 miles last Saturday as the final prep run before our official training program began. It was so easy for us that we ran hard for the final quarter mile or so. Naturally, I figured this 3-miler would be very easy, then. Not so fast, Prefontaine... I don't know if it was because I was running alone, or because I went out too fast, or because it was the first official run, but I was ready to tank after about a mile. My first psychological battle with myself, already. Yay. I told myself that I would not stop no matter what, and I slowed my pace, and I finished the run. But I didn't enjoy it. I was happy when I finished, though.

I've got runs of 4, 3, and 5 miles remaining this week.

The training program

Well, my official training program begins on Monday. I just spent a few minutes putting all my training runs into iCal, and I discovered some interesting realities about my future over the next 16 weeks.

I will run:

5 miles on my anniversary...

9 miles on my birthday...

12 miles on the day I perform a wedding for a couple in our church...

16 miles on the Saturday of our church camping trip...

18 miles on the day of the GRADA Ultimate playoffs...

and so on.

Pretty crazy, huh? It is sinking in that this achievement is not merely about being able to run 26 miles in one race. It's also about being dedicated enough to the goal that I give up a lot of personal freedom for the sixteen weeks preceding the race. This will be good for me; perseverance and the surrender of autonomy are two areas of my character that probably need a bit of work. This program will sand off the rough corners, to say the least.

Here's a quick glance at the entire program (click to enlarge):



Now that's what I call a challenge.

Run: Thursday, May 24, 2007

Distance: 3 miles

Weather: A bit on the warm side, but not too bad since we were running at dusk.

Notes: Ran this with Brian. We ran at the Brighton High School outdoor track so we could calibrate the Nike+ iPod systems. While the surface was truly great to run on, easy on the joints and perfectly flat, it was somewhat soul-crushing to run in such a boring setting. I don't think I'll do that again. Our pace was up, though: about 9:30 per mile.

Run: Monday, May 21, 2007

Distance: 3 miles

Weather: Sunny and warm. Very nice.

Notes: Ran with Brain again. This one was the same loop as the previous one, but it was a little tougher. I think we pushed our pace. Felt great after a shower, though.

Run: Monday, May 14, 2007

Distance: 3.0 miles

Weather conditions: Sunny, no wind 65°F

Notes: I ran this with Brian, who started his official program today. (My program is 16 weeks; his is 18). He mapped out a 3-mile route using runstoppable.com (which I've never heard of but need to check out), but the Nike+ system told me it was only 2.83 miles. I guess I need to calibrate that thing before I get too serious. Anyway, the run felt good; I could have kept going.

Run: Saturday, May 5, 2007

Distance: 3.0 miles

Weather conditions: Warm and still, not sure of the temperature.

Notes: Ran this with Tracey, and it was the easiest three miles I've ever done. It's so nice to be able to do this thing together!