78 Days to Hartford

Well after far too many, "I'll get to it tomorrows", I am back on the BLOG.

I have not worked out exactly what I am going to do for a format this year, but I'll stat by bringing everyone up to speed on my training so far.

Off season training was much improved over preceding years and while I did not come into season at the weight I wanted, my off season training dropped me off nicely at the beginning of the marathon program in far better Sharper that I have ever started in before (51.56 Bolder Boulder, 10-25 mile per week averages and general strong fitness).

Ray and I are going by the Higdon "Intermediate - I" training program and we are, of course, in week 7. We have not been 100% diligent to the program so far, but we have plenty of long runs in and are on a very good base.

Lat week we really tightened up the training and we now have training guides for the final 13 weeks to "put on the refrigerator". I missed no runs last week, but one was a little "short" just 1.5 miles, but I did get out the door (ha, ha). [24 Mile week, with only a 9 mile Sunday LDS]

I missed 2 runs this week (there was a hurricane landfall to deal with at work and I let my time get away from me a bit), but Ray and I just got back from a great 7 mile "monster hill run" and we did GREAT. We have a 14 miler tomorrow (forecasted to be cool, but we are still hitting the trail head at 5:15. ouch).

12 Weeks to Hartford

I've had a great week of training! Last Sunday I ran out to the Golden Gate bridge bucking a strong headwind past Fisherman's Wharf. I slapped the two hands at the bridge and cruised back to the hotel enjoying the tailwind. 12.3 miles in 2 hours
Wed. I ran a farlek workout with the Striders. Yesterday I ran easy on the TM in SFO for 1+20 and today ran a TM tempo run consisting of 5 X 4 min @ half marathon pace of 8:41 (6.9 mph).
Looking forward to some company here on the blog! Hint, hint

Mike - Hartford Marathon Prep

Hi all! I just dropped my application in the mail and am getting ready for Oct 11! I am running with the Boulder Striders and will follow their marathon schedule. The Striders are just finishing a maintenance schedule with a group run, pylometrics and core work on Wednesdays. This AM we ran 3 x 4 min @70% effort 2 x 2 min @ 80% and 4 x 1 min @ 90%. We counted our turnover and I was exactly 180 steps/min! Our coach today was Colleen DeRueck. I never thought that I would have a world class runner for a coach. Maybe some of her speed will "rub off" on me!?