My goal for this marathon ( my first) is to finish it in less than 6 hours, preferrably between 5 and 5 1/2 hours.  But reallly, considering we never ran more than  3 miles at any one time until the day we decided to do this marathon at the end of September, finishing this marathon will be a great accomplishment and something to build on when we take on the Chicago marathon in 10-10-10!   Chris has begun to enjoy running  so much that now she wants us to do the Chicago Marathon this year…. who knows, maybe we will get so good we will qualify for the Boston marathon-  I know that is a long shot but you never know, last year at this time we we weren’t even going to the gym (total couch potatoes), and  never dreamed we would be preparing for a marathon.  I am very proud of us for pursuing  this challange and have total confidence that we will complete it with a smile on our face and a tear in our eye!

We are supposed to be tapering our running schedule but we haven’t really followed any training program like it is written, so the only real tapering we are doing is just to not run a 2o miler this weekend.  Instead we will do a 14 miler.

When the training day would call for 7 or 8 miles and include intervals….we typically would do about 6.  So basically, we’ve been non-compliant in terms of following the program.  Our long runs on the weekends seem to go well.  I’m assuming that anyone would be tired after 20 miles, so I made a mental note after our last 20 miler that I was normal.

Earlier in my blog posts I stated that I had read somewhere that in order to do a marathon, one needs to have  a solid foundation of base miles, and then I went on to say that, sure that may be true, but I don’t have those base miles and I would get through this marathon on the training I could log from my start point until the marathon and pure guts and determination.  I stand by this statement…….HOWEVER….being 12 days before the marathon, and finally feeling like a runner, I am wishing that I could have 5 more weeks to increase my endurance and speed.  I’ll finish….and probably around 6 hours, but I would like to train more and finish under 5 hours.

I received my final instructions e-mail from the Walt Disney Marathon team and it included a video of people running and instructions on running etiquite, water station safety, goodie bag pick-up, timing chips and other miscellaneous tidbits. The video brought tears to my eyes.

Oct-early November training

I have been training for the Walt Disney World marathon 2010 for the past 5 weeks.  Before that I was training for a sprint triathlon, so I was in decent shape for it. I didn’t feel too worried about injuries while training for the WDM.  The first couple of weeks we ran short distances every day, then started doing longer distances with rest days in between.  I was feeling really good, getting stronger.  I was  doing 6 miles, running 2 miles, then walking .25 miles, then running 2 miles, etc.  Then one day the side of my foot/ ankle started to rub against my Brooks Ravena running shoe…. I thought I should probably stop running and go get some mole skin or something.  But that is not my style… I figured I could gut out the last 3 miles and get something for my shoe later.  The result of that stubbornness  is that I favored my left side and ended up with a sore right hip.

The front part of my hip has a stabbing pain in it when I move it, either running or even just picking my leg up to get out of the car.   At first I thought no big deal, it would just be sore for a day or two…. like all my other muscles…. and then the pain would disappear .  That was two weeks ago, the hip is still sore, I have alternated between thinking it is still just sore muscles/ tendons and thinking it is bursitis.

I spent one week running lightly… 3 miles one day, 5 miles one day.  It was quite sore.  Then I tried swimming and not running… no change.  I have researched hip pain, found a new way to stretch, and started icing it 2-3 times a day.  I am also taking anti-inflammatories.    Today I  ran 4 miles and walked 1 mile.  It felt pretty good for 2.5 miles, a little more sore for 1 miles, then a little worse for the rest.  I have iced it tonight, but it is painful tonight.  I am hopeful it will feel better tomorrow…. since we are supposed to do 10-14 miles.

My problem is I don’t know whether to push through this pain, which is what I tend to do when I have pain, and assume that it will get better…. or go to the Dr.  and make sure it isn’t something more serious.  It is a real bummer… I was feeling pretty good running and felt like I was on target to do fairly well at the marathon, now I am not sure… I know I will finish it… but will I be able to run a majority of it, or will I have to walk most of it.  My inclination is to try to push through the pain, which I will do tomorrow when we go for a 10 miler… although I’ll probably walk at least half of it.   I don’t do rest well.

October 21,2009

With the 2010 Walt Disney World Marathon approaching, (Jan/2010) at what feels like a rapid pace, we are in our 5th week of a 16 week program. Connie has a hip issue, possibly Bursitus, it has been hell to get an appt. with our Dr. to verify our online diagnosis…H1N1 hysteria and she is slow to call back.

This weekend was the first time I felt like all the random running is starting to payoff, and I fell into stride. On Wednesday I ran 2 miles in a row, as part of a 5 mile work out. Thursday I broke out and did 3 miles w/out stopping as part of a bigger workout that included intervals. For me, that is an accomplishment. Now if your a hardcore marathoner, you may think I don’t have enough base miles to be doing a marathon in January 2010. Maybe true for some people….but I have a lot of heart….so I’ll finish…maybe not under 5 hours, but damn close. If I do furture marathons, I’ll improve, but for my first marathon ever….I’ll settle for a finish.

October 30th, 2009

By Chris Warren

If  you are reading this because you are interested in running a marathon, then let me tell you something that will seal the deal for you.  All my pants are now baggy, and I put the smallest pair of jeans in my closet on (you know the ones that you just keep in case you ever get down to your favorite weight) and the darn things are loose!!!  If anyone would have told me that I could run 3 miles without stopping as part of a 7 mile workout…which for the most part only includes 8 minutes of walking total, I would have said “yeah, right”.

Here is what I wonder though.  Let me give you some context. Everyone knows I was not a runner, before we committed to this marathon.  I wanted to be…and attempted every now and then…but truthfully whenever Connie and I signed up for a Sprint Triathlon which includes a 3 mile run or a 5K run, I would mostly walk it. So here is what I wonder, whenever I run 5 miles or 7 or 14, I sometimes feel dread before I have to do it.  But afterwards…I feel an amazing sense of accomplishment. I feel refreshed, and strong, both physically and mentally.  I wonder if other people feel that way before a run, and if real runners don’t feel that way, will there come a time for me that I don’t feel that way?

Wow… what a crazy schedule we have been keeping!  To summarize, Two weeks ago we ran everyday… including a 7 mile run on Sat. That was our longest run…. ever…. in our lives.  It is amazing to think that in just a short couple of months we will be running 26.2 miles.  Right now we are trying to make sure we put in enough of a workout and still have a real life.  The next week we ran everyday, then we skipped 2 days in a row which made me worry that we would fall into the habit of taking long breaks.  Needless anxiety as we stayed dedicated and ran 4 miles Fri. and then 8 miles  Sat. then 3.1 miles on Monday.   The big question for me is, how much do you work out in preparation for a marathon?  How much is too much? How fast  is too fast?  How slow is too slow?,  Interval training or distance running, which one… how often,  should you only lift weights on days you don’t run or can you do a short run AND  lift weights?  Are we pushing ourselves enough?, or are we going easy on ourselves.  Week one: 23miles ran,  Week 2: 24 miles Week 3:  we will see.  This is one of the few times in my life that I have kind of wanted to look into the future and see how we did.

10/14/09

By Connie Warren

I told Chris when we started this that I was a terrible blogger.  She keeps telling me to write something and I always say ok,…. tomorrow I will.  Ran an 8 mile trail run this weekend.  That was more work than road or treadmill running.  Ran 24 miles last week, chris ran just a little bit less than that.  At the end of last week, my hip started to get sore.  I worked all day Sat, and didn’t get to run, then ran an 8 mile trail run on Sun.   Monday my hip was fairly sore so I just cross trained on the elliptical and did some weights.  My hip felt better so I ran 5 miles.  Today my hip is a little sore but mostly tight.  I have decided that it is probably just a muscle strain and will be  able to  train thru it.  Took tonight off and will try to run 6-8 miles tomorrow, then do some fartlek type running on Fri.  Feel pretty good about my training right now, but that will change a few times between now and the marathon. This weekend we are going to do a 10-14 mile run around the Charles River.

By Chris Warren

We did the Ronald McDonald 5K in Providence RI this weekend.  I met my goal of 35 minutes.  Connie could have run a lot faster than she did, but she insisted on waiting for me  a half mile from the finish.  I was glad to see her but, but at the same time it made me mad, not overtly (cause I didn’t want to hurt her feelings), but more me telling her that she should have used this run to assess her progress.  She had it in her mind that we needed to cross the finish line together.  She’s so thoughtful towards me.   I guess I don’t want to “bring her down” so to speak.  What I mean by that is, she runs a lot faster than me and if she can kick butt and improve her time then she should do it.

Because this run had a small number of runners, 380 ish, Con’ and I thought we might get lucky on the raffle that followed because there were at least 100 prizes…donated…cool stuff.  Her persistence paid off because our numbers got drawn, and she picked a dry fit Adidas running-shirt and I won a 2004 Carmen Desde Shiraz….a chilean wine…right up my alley.  Go figure!!!!

We debated on running 3 to 5 additional miles when we got home, but we opted for a rigorous 2 mile hike that was moderately challenging with our pups, who have been severely neglected lately.  They are pretty spoiled to begin with, they still get all their normal exercise, on schedule, but they are lacking the extra belly rubs. I know they miss them…truth is, I do too.

Monday is an off day.  Connie debated for a work out day.  I countered that  4 solid days of running and I am completely in need of a day off and a  glass of wine. Sleep. Rest. A day without running. I hope I win.

10/13/2009

By Chris Warren

Last week I followed the marathon training program fairly closely, with the exception of Tuesday when I had excruciating shin pain.  I ran and stretched and then continued to stretch some more, trying to make the shin pain go away.  I eventually gave up and did my miles on the elliptical machine.  The following day I felt much better.  We mixed up our normal running which usually takes place on our gym track or the treadmill and did a glorious trail run of 2hrs and 10 minutes(about 8 miles).  I highly recommend shaking it up a bit and including something fun like that.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I have not previously been much of a runner.  As a matter of fact, where we hike our dogs we ran into someone we knew and were joking about how little training we did to do a recent sprint triathlon….I actually primarily did the elliptical machine to train for the 5k part of the Triathlon.  I am discovering that I really enjoy the act of running….not to say that there are not moments where I question it, but overall, running is an amazing adrenaline rush.  I’m finding that as my fitness increases, the more and more I like it…not to mention the fact that I got into the smallest pair of jeans in my closet this morning!!!!

We are entering week 4 of our training program.  It is 43 degrees outside.  I’m heading out the door in a minute for the gym….there is a part of me that would rather sit and drink cosmos and watch “The Biggest Loser”.  But I’m committed to completing this marathon, respectably.

So here we go.  Two Sporty couch potatoe’s attempt to finish a marathon, in the most magical place of all, Walt Disney World. Our very first marathon.

October 3rd, 2009

By Chris Warren

We have been training at what feels like a rapid pace. When I was training for our Sprint Traithlon, I used the eliptical to get in to shape for the run part. Running 4 to 8 miles on what feels like everyday is a lot!

Our total miles for last week were 23ish. This week we took Wednesday and Thursday off..the tally for me this week, 20 miles..Connie: 21 miles.

Thursday we were returning some shoes en-route to the gym and Connie’s pager went off and she had to rush home and change and go do a body wall Hernia…..so I skipped the gym. Connie went in to work and got home around 3:00 am. I was asleep by 9:30pm, completely exhausted from almost a week and a half of running. A total change in our schedule.

Today I watered the plants. I am usually a great keeper of indoor house plants. A palm like plant that sits on an end table is pretty close to dead. Two other’s are in the same predicament. A combination of lack of care and the heat kicking on (Fall in New England is on it’s weay) and drying them out quicker. Bottom line, we’re eating later and the house is more shuffled than I like it to be.

I am processing and settling in to a routine that will consume our life for the next 14 weeks. I am tired. It feels really, really good.

I’m not pushing myself hard enough in training. I intend to follow a structured plan fairly closely this week ahead. I have some toe pain in my middle toes. I am going to monitor it…could be because I just got new shoes.

I determined that I lose 2.6 lbs of sweat on a 8 mile run. Connie loses 1lb of sweat. We’re developing a hydration game plan for the marathon, by monitoring and experimenting with electrolite beverages, gels and whey protein shakes.

We’re thinking about eating more vegetable protein and less meat sources. I’m somewhat reluctant to be too drastic with our diet, but we are eliminating as many sources of white sugar and bad carbs from our life…(I’m not perfect, so were are performing at about 95% on this effort, we need to reward ourselves with a small amount of sugar free ice cream every now and then.

Tomorrow, we run The Ronald McDonald 5k in Rhode Island. Sounds like a small club run. Last year it had 350 runners. A health fare accompanies the run. I am looking forward to exploring afterwards. Maybe we’ll find a ‘she’she cafe to experience a bit of Providence from. My goal is to finish in under 35 minutes. If I am off that time, it will give me inspiration to train harder.

I turned 40 this year marking yet another 10 year benchmark. I don’t know how other people deal with turning 40, but for me, I have this impending sense that I better get “it” together, whatever “it” might be.

In an effort to do something great to mark this 40 year event, Connie and I decided to do a Sprint Triathlon. Easy enough…quarter mile swim, 13 mile bike ride and a 5k. To our benefit, we had done one 2 years prior.  So I knew I could do it. When we started training I had delusions of grandeur about working a training program.  This training program seemed to include a lot of running.  After a day or so following the program…..it became clear to me why I’ve never excelled at running. I haven’t learned to love it. Or like it. I have learned to appreciate it as a means to an end.

I decided I was going to follow the Chris Warren triathlon training program which would consist of all the things I like and love. Now I think it is important to note, that while some triathletes may prefer white wines, my program’s suggested nutrition guidelines was based on a fairly steady influx of mostly reds….Malbec’s, Cab’s, Shiraz etc. And I know some training coaches may suggest that you include the “event activity” in your training program, but again note that with the exception of swimming (I Included many laps in the pool on a consistent basis. I have a fear of drowning and given the conditions, open water swimming with a trillion other desperate women, kicking and clawing to reach the finish line, I thought it best to prepare not to drown) my program was based on one principal, “Feel free to run or bike if the mood strikes you.”

I proposed a question on my Facebook in the early stages of training with regard to wether one could complete a triathlon that includes running, never having run but simply using the elliptical. No one knew the answer. I know it now. I want to share my findings with you. The answer is “NO”. I did go to the gym consistently 4 or 5 days a week for 8 weeks prior to the event, but mostly swam and used the elliptical. Connie and I would take the bike’s into Boston and ride around the Charles River…(total of 4 times) and we rode our bikes to breakfast one morning and we took a spinning class, once.  Occasionally I would do maybe 10 to 15 minutes on the stationary bike while reading a magazine. Usually while I was waiting for Connie to finish a couple miles on the track.  She took this more seriously than me.  It showed in her performance on game day….she rocked the house.

To prepare mentally I read “Brain training for runner” by Matt Fitzgerald…I read a few pages here and there.

When the event day arrived.  We woke at 5:30am, and planned to depart by 7:00 at the latest.  It turned out to be 7:10am but that was just fine.  My daughter Torrie who is 19 was visiting, she was up as well and prepared our crescents with peanut butter and gathered the little things, as Connie and I  scattered around like ants preparing for war.  She also had her cowbell.  Standard garb for mission support.  Triathlon spectators often come with cowbells of events past.  And it is a welcome sound come the finish line.

Our 40-45 y/o wave prepared on the beach.  The formalities ensued, followed by the always moving “National Anthem”.  We moved forward and “Wnnaaaahhhh”..the starting blast rang out.  I decided to let the majority of the wave go.  They splashed, crashed and plowed forward out to the first buoy, I decided to take position in the back and site my way forward to pass once the field spread out, if I felt the urge to do so.  Lake water is much thicker than the pool.  I felt my foot go into someone’s gut.  I looked back on a stroke and adjusted to the swimmer I spotted on my left tail….first buoy….”shit”…..second buoy,  the finish is in sight…a ways but in sight….I backstroke…”shit” I think.  Finally I bend my knees forward and feel sand, I stand and run out of the water, across the beach, down a carpeted runway into the transition area. I looked back, grateful to see that I have swam well enough to pass the majority of my wave.

“I was thankful to get on the bike”, I thought.  We drove the bike route the day before and it seemed to have an exorbitant amount of hills.  The first hill out of the park was where I decided that I didn’t prepare enough for the bike leg.  I struggled up the first hill…then a nice downhill, another hill followed by a really long downhill…..one hill I walked my bike up.  I wasn’t the only one. “Thank God”, I thought. As I pedaled I rationalized not doing the running section..I have never quit any sporting event in my life .  ”What the hell”….I thought…”suck it up”……and then I spotted the finish…..I sighed with relief and began pedaling a tall hill.

You must dismount your bike and run it in to the transition area for about 30 yards.  I was tired.  I ran to my spot.  I sat on the warm pavement. I changed from cycling shoes to my running shoes (with elastic pull strings for easy entry).  I sat for what felt like an eternity, and I felt a bubble of silence around me….everything was in slow motion.   Me. I.  Me and this 5K, all that was left of this Title 9 Triathlon, the third leg, the last supper, the final mile…..I reached deeep.  In 15 seconds, I affirmed, for myself, who I was and what philosophy I wanted to base my life on for as long as I live.

I got up and I ran.  And finished.