Since I seem to have all this time on my hands these days with the reduced mileage, I took some time to look back at some old training plans when I first started competing. The goal was really to find the old training schedule I used when I trained for the Ocean Drive marathon back in the winter of 2006 into 2007. I failed terribly in that marathon in my opinion because I was terribly undertrained. In reviewing my training from back then, I can see why … I didn’t follow it. I dealt with some injuries and bad weather that year, but its still not an excuse for not doing the training.

I noticed that I stopped logging my runs with about 7 weeks to go until the marathon, which tells me I probably wasn’t keeping up with the plan. I also stopped using my food log (which I needed at the time because I was heavier than I am now) … and I was taking a 3 week taper (when I really didn’t seem to earn it). Well, I think I answered my question as to how things fell apart for that marathon …. I know I need a stronger plan and I have to keep myself motivated somehow. February and March are hard enough to run in (due to the weather), but its also the time in a training plan when i’m tired, sore, etc. well, I think i’ve done this enough times now to be successful in overcoming it…

Some other things that I found interesting in my hunt for old training logs was the day I did my first 20 miler ever .. (and wrote in my training log about soaking in an ice-bath afterward). That was back when a 45 mile week was considered a high-mileage week, gosh how the times change. It is good to see the progress i’ve made though … that was really when I ran more 5K’s, 3 milers, etc which I really don’t do so much anymore.

Anyway, in the hopes of acclimating myself to the cold weather to get through the training, I headed out at 7:30am this morning for 6 miles or so when it was just 28 degrees outside .. it was actually warmer than yesterday believe it or not because although the air temperature was warmer yesterday (about 35 degrees), there was a terrible wind here in the Northeast as a cold front moved out.. there was at least a 20MPH sustained wind, with gusts up to 35MPH (no lie), which made the wind chill pretty low. So today was definitely a warmer run…. The strange part is that its been a week since the last marathon, i’ve cut my miles down significantly along with cutting down the pace, and my body is still SO SORE! All I can think is that my body is recovering and getting stronger… I have another few weeks to recover before we ease into the next training cycle. I’ve also caught up on my sleep somewhat since i’ve been off from work since Thursday (and took tomorrow off as well) … I think this was part of my recovery was to catch up on all that missed sleep.

I’ve gotten several comments and emails about what my second spring marathon should be and i’m leaning towards the Flying Pig in Cincinnati … Its not a long flight from where i’m at although apparently I have to fly into Kentucky (Louisville?) then drive into Cincinnati .. seems a little odd, but I guess its what I have to do. I still haven’t registered for anything as of yet, but plan to soon …

I also found that i’m behind on reading my favorite running blogs … hopefully today i’ll get to it!