From 0 to 26.2 in 7 months

This was done on a treadmill. I took it easy (10 min mile pace) this time because I have had a bad pair of Nike shoes, brand new, but have taken a toll on my legs and tendents at the ankle. So I need a few days to recover from poor shoes. I actually ran with my first pair of Mizuno. I haven't been able to enjoy the full quaility of these shoes due to the soreness but I can tell already that they are going to do me good.

Its frustrating, my bones hurt but I want to keep pushing but I know I must take time to rest if I want to continue training

Easy does it

There we go, feeling  better. Treadmill work: avg. 10min/mile pace.  I was just reading that beginners are more prone to shin splints because their bones haven't built up the tolerance for such impact on the body.  I am starting back up so I am basically a beginner again. It was said that running is about 3 times your body weight worth of pressure (Idiots Guide to Running) and my body just isn't ready for the hard trails of st. george.  So I decided to stick to a tread mill for a while until I can build more skeletal strength. 

I can totally push through the pain with my mind but my mind also knows that I should listen to my body's pain signals.  So I will go slow as far as it comes to adding on the mileage and the speed. 

I am up for any suggestions to help speed the recovery process  (muscle, skeletal and joint) naturally would be preferable but I am not shunning supplements.  Remember I am just starting out so even offering the basic info would help. Thank you.

Wow I have only been back running for almost a month now and I can feel the positive addiction to it.  Today was supposed to be my day off but I had an urge to go out there.  Well I had a little mental frustration that a short run to the corner cleared up.  Runnings great, and it's also free.  love it.

I did anerobic excersises and TM work at about 6.2 mph for first two but I was complaining in my mind that maybe I should stop at 2 miles.  Yesterday I decided I wanted a 20 mile week, so comping out was not an option.  So what did I do, I increased the speed to 6.8 with a 1.5 incline.  I have no personal trainer so when I mentally start getting weak I must find a way to overcome it.  Today it seemed like pushing harder would stop those thoughts and it did.  It also will help with my endurance in the long run.  I enjoy the mental acheivement. It gives you that much more confidence in yourself.

Ran 3 miles, stationary biked 1 mile.  And I tell you what, biking is a whole lot easier to rack in the miles. 

Nice and easy for my rest day

6 miles on the bike. Needed to recover. Good times!

I think this is the first 7 miles straight in my life.  That means every long day from here on out is going to my longest run at one time ever. It's a good feeling.  This wasn't a fun 7 miles though, the first 5 miles were kind of painful about 6mph.  I walked when I hit the 5 mile mark for about a 0.15 mile but then a strange thing happened.  Both legs got this really warm feeling, It felt really good and the last two miles were more enjoyable averaged 6.7 mph. 

Avg 8.5min/mile. It was alright. Lack of time.

Just got back from a convention in Denver, Colorodo. The Millionaire Mind seminar was great it got me pumped for life and creating more abundance in my life. It felt good to be back running. Good stuff.

It was way good running this time.  I ran my fastest time since being back on the running scene. Great stuff.

night run. was going to do 1.6 to the corner but when a little over 3 miles

I got up early to get 3 miles. yeah thats the stuff. I worked went to a b-day party.  At 11:30 at night did 4 more miles.  I love creating endurance.

The longest I have ever run in my life.  I ran in the middle of the day and it was really hot, I went through two water bottles.  It was an amazing journey. I can't wait for next week when I plan to do 10 miles straight.  It was so cool, I zoned out for a every once in a while. I don't know if it was the runner's high, dehydration, or heat stroke but it was a neat experience. I went from my work in Kayenta to my place past Alberson's. It was 8.0 miles and it took me 1.5 hours.

easy recovery day

Another wonderful therapy session

3 more to the mix.  endurance is building. the desire to run is getting stronger.

I got up early then drove to work then I ran straight home on an 8 mile trip.  It was alot better than my first 8 mile trip sunday because it wasn't in the middle of the day and there was no overheating involved.  I actually had some gatorade left from the run. I did it in 1:18 hrs. Average min/mile 9min 45 sec.  I am on my way.  I felt good after too. I wanted more but I had to work.  My co-worker drove me back to work and I did a day's work.  Going for a 10 next week I already have the path picked out.

I am not too impressed by my performance.  Yeah it is the most miles I did at once but the pace was pathetic. I think this is what you call junk miles. It took me 1h55m to complete.  I just wanted run about 5 or 6 miles but ended up on a big loop that was 9.3 miles (I drove it after running it).  I had everything against me; I just got back from working out at the gym, spent a weekend in SLC with a poor diet and random sleep pattern which I just returned from today, I was tired before going out wanting to sleep, 10:30 at night I left, and it was pavement 95% of the time. I had alot on my mind so the trip had to be made. (just didn't need to be so long).  Yeah basically it sucked. Wow, alot of complaints but it's how I feel. 

This weekend plan on doing a 10 mile up in Pinevalley.  That is my dream terrain, running on narrow dirt trails through the forest and also by a lake.  Never ran up there so if anyone has some trails I should check out, please let me know

Easy run to loosen up muscles and joints. And also to do some stretching.

Done on TM because I had too much impact on my body so I thought I go for softer run.  Slightly average under 10min/mile. 

Six miles on TM just under 10min/mile.

I did my first speed work.

I did a fast pace for .5 mile than walked/light jog for .15 mile than did fast pace again

easy to the corner and back

I have no ideal how long I actually went I guess 8 miles atleast do to the time it took. I went on whipple trail in pine valley.  Excellent place to hike and run.  It was amazing. I can't wait to go back there maybe mid-week.  It was really fun. I even passed several hikers.  It took me about 1:50 to do this part, I will go further next time.  I fell once coming down the trail because I was going so fast and there are many rocks to leap. I would say about a 7 minute mile going down.  10 - 12  min/mile going up

I didn't think I would make it this far before I got to the gym.  My calves hurt alot since my up hill run.  I haven't been able to walk normal for the last couple of days.  I started slow for a warm up, walking.  It hurt but for some reason when I started running I didn't feel it in my calves.  I guess the different range of motion.  So it turned out great. I averaged a 9 min/mile pace.  It was great, I am getting faster I can feel myself getting stronger.  Going for 8 miles tomorrow.

TM average 9min/mile.  I sweat like crazy when on a treadmill so I brought a towel because my shirt always ends up soaked.  It helped quite a bit. Shirt still got pretty wet.  I need to purchase a good wicking shirt as opposed to my cotton sponge shirts. Went through 3 bottles of water on this run. I pre-hydrated before to prevent dehydration.  Drank alot after too. Going for a 12 mile run this weekend. Yes the furthest ever.  Probably do it on the road the marathon will be on. beyond bluff st.

Done on TM. Did some speed work.

7.2 min/mile for 0.5 mile

walked 0.15 mile

Repeated until I got to 6 miles

Tomorrows rest day!

I did it, the most miles ever! I ran from just past the split off to gunlock to a mile past Lin's Market Place equaling 12 miles. Yeah I wanted to stop at time, and thought "what am I doing out here" but once I finished I felt accomplished. Pace was 9 minutes and 26 seconds per mile on average. Getting faster and going further.  This is really happening.

TM early in the morning. I don't think I recovered enough, this run was a little painful and I couldn't go as fast as usual.  I take another rest day. Better to be a little undertrained than injured.

TM

went to the corner and back

Ran through Gunlock. I drove 6.5 miles in from the turnoff than parked my car then ran back to the turn off then back to my car.  The first half was down hill with a back wind.  So returning was difficult up hill with a head wind.  I did it just under a 10min/mile pace.  It took me 2hrs 09min to complete.  It weird going these distances I get love/hate emotions.  At times during the run I love it but a little while later I hate being out there. Then minutes later I love it again.  But at the end I amost always love it.  The great since of accomplishment you feel after pushing your mind and body.  This was the furthest I ran in my life at one time.  Next weekend another distance breaker.  It feels good.

nice and easy

This run was though because I wasn't as prepared as I thought I was. Last weekend I ran 13 miles with 2 liters of water and had enough.  Today I went out with 2 liters of water to do my eight miles but I ran out about mile 5.  The thing I didn't account for was that I did this at 2 oclock in the afternoon where the sun just loves to take away your hydration.  So the last 3 miles were run with lack of hydration.  It was tough, but now that I am back home and got liquids in me I feel good.  Tomorrow I will be more prepared and also try to avoid the heat of the day.  It feels good though.  I am still glad I went out there.

I did some speed work on the track then did the stairs at the stadium.

Planned for 15 miles but my knee hurt too bad so I couldn't go much further.  Someone drove me back to my car.  I ran in pine valley it was down hill the first half took 1:11 to go 8 miles.  It took almost two hours to go 5 miles back. then someone picked me up.  I wasn't prepared for such an incline.

TM. I am recovering from knee pain so I took a few days off. coming back slowly

This was a great night run I started around 9pm and finished around midnight. It took 2:46 to complete. This was the furthest I have ever ran. I had a flashlight in hand and hit the road. I ran on the old highway to kayenta. I will invest in a head lamp because it is hard to see and keep form with a flashlight. This was my first night run of great distance I usually do like 3 or 4 miles at night with city lights.  I really enjoy night runs. No real pain on this trip. I have been using techniques from ChiRunning and it seems to be helping.  A week of resting the knee really did the trick. I remember about 3 months ago when 4 miles seemed like a real challenge, now I have 4 times that distance which seemed like a fantasty back then.  So I know that the 50 miler is totally possibe for me. It may seem like an incredible distance now but in time it will come. 

By the way, Does anyone know of a good first 50 miler course that I can do in about a year?? I want to create an exact focus instead of someday I'll do it. It will happen around next summer just got to pick out the one.

Morning run before class.  It was okay. Went on the trail by my house. One thing kind of cool about running on a bike trail is that there are others out there that you get say hi to silently thinking we got out here for another day. A morning run sets your day on a good path.

I ran 8 miles in 71 minutes. It was a good night run. I had energy at the end to do a fast final mile. Plus I glanced at the clock and wanted to make a good time so that motiviated me to push it.

The first 14 miles were okay but the last two were painful in my knee. I actually couldn't run any more at about mile 14 because knee would get sharp pains. So I ran about 2:25 for 14 miles then another 40 minutes for the last 2 miles (walked it). I will see how this goes. Two weeks ago I felt this but it felt better after a few days of rest but now it is back.

I took a week and a half off thinking my knee would get better but it did not.  I am hoping it is the shoes. I will get some new ones and see if that helps.  It is frustrating I can go the distance with my lung capacity, muscles and mind but the joint is holding me back. I think I will get a pool membership to keep my physical level up.

Ok it's now or never to train for the marathon.  So I took over a month off of running to let my knee heal. (I know, a risky choice).  I have been working my legs at the gym, I have been cross training by biking and swimming.  I bike almost everywhere now and I swim 3 times a week.  I have been even taking pills to help keep joints in good condition.  I started running again hoping my knee will be smooth.  What happened???  My knee was in just as bad shape. It was hurting again after three miles. how can I possible run 26 miles if I can barely run 3 without pain? I will not give up! I will find a way.

Ok here it is another 3 miles down.  You may ask, Nate how was your knee on this run?? I will respond. Excellent!  How can that be? Well I biked down to my local Wal-Mart and picked up a knee brace.  And Vuala!,  no more knee pain.  I don't know why this option didn't appear in my head a month ago.  All that missed training.  It worked for 3 miles, tomorrow I will see if it works for 5 miles.  If so I think I found the my ticket to completing the marathon with a decent pace.

My body felt a little off balance because one knee was stiff and the other loose. I will pick up another brace for my other knee and run like a robot.  Run is the key word.  When I go out there my mind is determined to run and I am strength capable to do it but the ligament or joints are my weakness. That may be a thing of the past. I am excited again I have new hope. I just hope my cross training was enough to maintain what I had build up over a month ago.

I did it!! This is great I am back on the the road. I got another brace for my other knee and I was pain free the whole time.  The only problem I faced was side stitches, but that is temporary. I feel great that I can do it.  I will get a decent time!