Run a Marathon in Under 4:00:00 (or Die Trying)

Quest Delayed, but Not Aborted

2006-01-19T12:43:00.000-08:00

I will resume my training starting tomorrow. I took several months off, because of the birth of my son and ju-jitsu training (which I've now decided to abort because I wasn't getting the health benefits I've experienced before with running). So, tonight, I will take some measurements to see my baseline and determine my general health. I'll periodically update those to reflect my progress.

Week 5: Seeing Some Health Improvement

2005-07-31T21:42:00.000-07:00

I fit in all 5 runs this week. I'm really beginning to feel the addiction on the rest days. I just want to run everyday. But, I know that that would be a good way to get injured. I haven't seen any weight loss yet, but I really don't expect any right now. My appetite is in check, but I still weigh about 217, which is about 3.5 lbs heavier than when I began the running program. I've done some investigating and it appears I'll begin to see some noticeable weight loss when I build my weekly base mileage up to about 20 mpw.

I've also been looking into heart monitors for training purposes. I've got my eye on what appears to be the best one, and that's the Polar S625X. I won't shell out the $350 for it, though, until I have achieved the 20 mpw base mileage that is one of my short term goals.

I took my blood pressure a couple days ago and my bp is no longer borderline (c. 130/80), but is around 120/80. Also, my resting heart rate has gone down from 65 to 59.

Day 25, 26, 27, & 28: Extreme Heat

2005-07-24T17:56:00.000-07:00

I finished my runs out this week by running in the morning. It was too hot to run during the day. Next week, it will be 5 sessions of alternating 6 minutes of running with 2 minutes of walking and repeating 3 times. The walking braks will start to taper off after next week.

Day 23 & 24

2005-07-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

Day 23 went well, but my shoes were wet, so I ran in a newer pair that I hadn't intended on using yet. However, after running in them, my joints and feet don't hurt as much, so I think I'll continue to wear them when I run. Day 24 was a rest day.

Day 20, 21, & 22: Let It Rain!!

2005-07-18T06:44:00.000-07:00

Finished up the 3 minutes running and 2 minutes walking cycles on Saturday, and rested Sunday. This week, it will be 5 days of running 5 minutes, followed by walking 2 minutes, and repeating 2 times. Today's run involved getting soaked in a summer downpour. It was a lot of fun, and even my daughter enjoyed running in it. I did let her go home early, though, as we passed our house on the run.

Day 19: Late Start

2005-07-15T07:33:00.000-07:00

I had a tournament chess game last night which contributed to me getting a late start this morning. Nonetheless, I had a good run, covering a full 1.5 miles with the 4 repeats of running 3 minutes followed by walking 2 minutes. Now, as a rule, I never to the last 2 minutes of walking as dictated by the program. Instead, I simply walk home as a cooldown. I know my body has to adjust, but I'm getting a little anxious to determine what my mile pace is currently. I don't have any fancy gadgets, so I can only estimate it at this point. What I think I'm running (if I can hold that pace for the entire mile) is a 9:00 mile. Gee! If I can hold that pace for 26.2 miles, I'll surely meet my marathon goal of sub-4:00:00. I have quite a bit of base-building yet to go before I can do that, however. Hmmm, and if I could somehow manage to drive my pace up to an 8:00 mile...sub-3:30:00?! We shall see...we shall see....I just have to avoid the temptation to push myself so hard that I get injured.

Day 17 & 18

2005-07-14T06:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a rest day. Today was a nice, cool day to run. My daughter is starting to lag behind in the runs, as she's not used to running for 3 minutes straight at a time. I'd like to get her to the point where she can run for 20 minutes straight before I cut her loose from these training sessions. She definitely needs the exercise, and I think this would be good physical preparation before she starts back at school.

Day 16: Rainy Morning

2005-07-12T21:46:00.000-07:00

It rained this morning, so I ran at night after the rain had let up. My daughter tood a rest today. Still plugging away!

Day 13, 14, & 15: New Ramp Up

2005-07-11T06:07:00.000-07:00

Day 13 and 14 were vacation days, and I didn't run on either. This morning I began a new ramped up schedule consisting of 4 runs of 3 minutes alternated inbetween with 2 minute walks. My daughter was really challenged by this, but stuck it out like a trooper.

Day 12: Feeling Strong

2005-07-08T06:25:00.000-07:00

I had to refrain from running all out today, although I really felt on top of the world. My daughter took a break today, so I ran alone. I made it just shy of 1.5 miles doing the alternating running and walking. This works out to a 12 minute mile. If I straight out ran the whole way, I estimate that my pace would have been somewhere between 8 and 10 minutes per mile. This is a very acceptable starting point.

Day 10 & 11

2005-07-07T06:07:00.000-07:00

I've pretty much adjusted to this week's workload. I ran today with no problems, although my daughter slowed me down a little. I have two more days of running left this week, one of which will be in St. Louis, MO.

Day 9: Legs Are a Little Tired

2005-07-05T05:36:00.000-07:00

I stuck it out the whole way, though. My daughter whined the whole way, but she made it through, too. I'm sure that by the end of the week, our bodies will have adjusted to the added workload.

Day 7 & 8: Ramping Up to 2/2

2005-07-04T20:26:00.000-07:00

Sunday was a rest day. Today I began this week's schedule which involves 5 repititions of 2 minutes of running followed by 2 minutes of walking. This increased workload was more of a challenge, but I managed to cover about 1.4 miles. I will repeat today's run 4 more times this week and once again ramp up next week.

Day 6: Going Strong

2005-07-02T14:16:00.000-07:00

My daughter and I had no problems completing today's workout. My legs area already getting some tone to them. I'll have a rest day tomorrow and continue with the program on Monday.

Day 5: A Cooler Day

2005-07-01T08:12:00.000-07:00

My daughter and I got a little break from the heat this morning. She was still a little whiny in the middle of the run, but started and finished strong. We've got one more day of 1 minute runs followed by 2 minute walking breaks, and next week we'll begin something just slightly more challenging.

Day 3 & 4

2005-06-30T06:17:00.000-07:00

I took yesterday off as a rest day, but ran this morning. Now I am running faster than my daughter who struggled to keep up with me. I think she's a little challenged in the endurance department after 2 runs already this week.

Day 2: Regained Some Vigor

2005-06-28T06:09:00.000-07:00

I weighed in at 212.5 lbs this morning. I don't expect any serious weight loss until I start running at least 10 miles per week, and even then the weight loss won't get too significant until I reach 30 miles per week.

I did my 7 cycles of 1 min. running and 2 min. walking this morning. Today, my daughter and I were about equal for the distance. She tried to outrun me again, but I caught up with her. I think she hasn't fully recovered from yesterday.

Day 1: And So It Begins

2005-06-27T06:55:00.000-07:00

My schedule this week is to run 5 days with 7 repeats of 1 minute of running followed by 2 minutes of walking. I ran that today with my 7 year old daughter, who is in better shape than I. She had no problems with the run, and neither really did I, but she had a lot more energy and ran a lot faster than I did. My legs feel a little tired, but not really to bad. I'm looking forward to tomorrow's run.

I weighed myself this morning, too, and I was 216.5 fully clothed. That probably means I'm about 214 in the buff (sorry for the visual). I'm not planning on dieting as I train, so it will be interesting how much weight I'll lose just from the running.

My biggest fear right now is getting injured. I'm 38 years old, and I'll be 39 by the time I actually run the marathon. That, plus the fact that I developed plantar fasciitis 3 years ago when I last did a lot of running, has me a little concerned. I hope to avoid injury by sticking to a fairly easy pace in my base-building weeks. I know I'll develop a certain amount of speed just from the strengthening of my joints and muscles, as well as the weight loss, so I'll just have to be content with that.

You May Know Me

2005-06-26T19:43:00.002-07:00

from another blog. I am an avid chessplayer and challenged myself if February to work up to and complete a mental marathon of sorts by solving 1001 tactical chess problems in a single day. This blog is something a little different. Another of my chess compatriots took it upon himself to do a running program following completion of the chess program. I, too, have been an on-again-off-again runner just like with chess. Now, I endeavor to undertake a longer term goal that will dwarf my 4 month chess effort many times over.

I plan to use Bob Glover's The Runner's Handbook and The Competitive Runner's Handbook as a source of programs to follow until I reach where I want to be before I run my first marathon. Note that I said "where I want to be." Some people are satisfied with training the bare minimum required to complete the marathon. I want to do better than that. I want to run my marathon in under 4 hours. That works out to better than 9:09 miles for the entire 26.2 mile distance.

I will start with the very beginner's running program. This will build me up to running 20 minutes straight at one time over the course of 10 weeks. Then, I will proceed to follow several running programs to build upon this base. By the time my base weekly running mileage is where I want it to be, I will be running a baseline of 50 miles per week. This, I have loosely calculated, to take me about 60 weeks, barring injury. So, by the end of August or so, I will be running 50 miles per week. I will hold this base then for another 6 weeks (at least).* Then, in October, I will begin a 16 week marathon training program.

I will post my training progress daily, so the reader may follow it from start to finish. I'll also try to relate new things learned along the way, as well. So, buckle in for the long haul, pardner. CelticDeath is going to run a marathon.

*It will depend on the timing of marathons coinciding with the end of the actual marathon training schedule.