OBX Update, good news, bad news

Actually, it is probably good news, bad news, good news.

First, the good news.

As part of my training for the OBX marathon, I had planned to run a half marathon around 6 to 7 weeks prior.  My time in the half would be used to figure out what pace to run for the full.  The Cannonball Half in Greensboro NC was the closest race around that time, so I planned on running that.  It turned out to be a really great day to run, cool enough for a long sleeve shirt, but not cold enough for a jacket.  My target goal was to come in faster than my two previous HMs,which were 2:31 and 2:26.  I though I would probably come in around 2:15 to 2:20, which would give me a target goal of around 4:45 to 4:55 for the full.

The race went really well.  I had company on the run.  Chris Knodel showed up and paced me for the run.  His wife Kristine was also there for support, providing a magnificent cowbell ring for us on the home stretch.  Final time came in at 2:07, very near the best I thought I could do.  Finished with a bit left over and the feeling that a 4:30 full would be possible.

Now for the bad news.

Monday after the race I went on my normal lunch run.  Felt real good, legs not a bit tired.  Didn't pay good enough attention to where my feet were landing, hit a broken patch of sidewalk, and down I went.  Hard.  Directly on my hip.  Could not finish the run, would up walking back.  By the time I got home, I was limping, and had an 8 inch by 4 inch bruise.

Decided to take a week off from running.  At the end of week one, stairs were still a problem, so I went to two weeks off.  At that point, I contacted the OBX marathon people, and officially changed my registration from the full marathon, to the half.  I was even considering cancelling entirely.

But, I do get to end with some good news.

My friend Chris talked me into running the first annual Day of the Dead 5K Saturday.

He said it would be a good test to see how the hip was progressing, and he was correct.  The first mile felt odd.  I bobbed back and forth like a cartoon drunken sailor.  The second mile, things started to loosen up. By the end of the run, everything felt normal.  I can still feel some soreness in my hip, but it now feels like soreness that can be worked out, not soreness and pain that says sit back down.

So, OBX is still on.  Just instead of doing my first full marathon, I will do another half. That's OK, I am looking  forward to bettering my time from the Flying Pirate Half out on the banks last April.

So for now, I am looking at which marathon to run for my first.  Maybe the Tobacco Road Marathon.  I ran the half this year, maybe that will be my first full.

Till then, see you on the road.

Update from September

September was another good month for running, and one with a number of firsts. First month that reached a total of 150 miles, first 18 mile run, and first run of at least 5 miles that averaged just under a 9 minute mile pace.  Things are still looking good and on track for the OBX marathon next month.

Of course, there were changes to my training schedule.  Instead of increasing my planned long runs every other week, I went to an increase every three weeks.  I offset that with progressive tempo runs of between 12 and 14 miles on the between weekends.   Those have turned out to be every bit as tiring as the longer runs.

This coming weekend I am planning to run a half marathon in Greensboro.  How that goes will determine what pace I decide to use for the full marathon.  I should be able to finish the half somewhere between 2 hours 10 and 2 hours 20.  If I have a really great race, I may be able to come in close to an even 2 hours, but that time is a real long shot.  I am looking forward to the race and seeing how it comes out.

Till then, see you on the road.