8 weeks down, 2 to go

Week 8 of training is done and put away. On Monday did 4 miles outside. Wednesday I had to run on the treadmill, did 5 miles. It was super cold with the wind chill. Thursday I was able to get back outside to run 4 miles. Yesterday, Saturday, I ran 9 miles outside. The temp was 25 degrees with a wind chill of 5 degrees. The wind was blowing about 20mph out of the SW and the roads were partially covered with snow.

Less than two weeks to go. One more week of tapering and then it's off to run at WDW. The long range forecast shows early morning on Jan 7th will be in the low 40's. That would be about like this year, but we will have to wait and see.

Shortly after I get done with the WDW half I will start training for what I hope will be the first of many full marathons. Squeezed in the training cycle will be a 1/2 marathon in Louisville in April. As I keep saying my goal is to run the Goofy at WDW in 2011 with my friend Gordon from Run to Disney.

Thanks for reading

Til next time, run strong & enjoy the moment

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays to all. I hope Santa brought all you asked for. I have a 9 mile taper run tomorrow, but it is currently 22 degrees, snow on the ground and a nasty N/W wind blowing. So we will see in the morning if I run outside or on the treadmill.

The countdown is on, only a couple of weeks until race day at WDW!!!!

Thanks for reading.

Til next time, run strong & enjoy the moment.

7 weeks down, 3 to go

I got my 26 miles in for the week. Monday 4 miles outside, Wednesday 6 miles on the treadmill. The temp on Wednesday was 7 degrees with -2 degree wind chill. I love running outside and detest having to run on a treadmill, but it was just too cold to run outside.

Thursday I did 4 miles outside and Saturday I ran 12 miles, my longest run for the training cycle. I ran it outside while it was snowing and the roads were covered with snow. The wind chill was 18 degrees, but I was dressed warm enough and I properly hydrated and took 3 gels during the run. My time was 1:53:29. This next week starts the taper. I would really like to run a sub 2 hour 1/2 at WDW, but I would be happy with a sub 2:15 run. I guess it will depend on how many pictures I stop to take and getting through the masses at the start. Last year I think it took 20 minutes to run the 1st mile, but my buddy and I were in one of the far back corrals.

I also made the decision this past week to run a marathon next year. I am planning to run the Illinois marathon on May 1st. The course is pretty flat and the temps should not be bad at that time of the year. As I have said here before, my goal is to run the Goofy in 2011. Before attempting that, I want a full marathon under my belt, so I'm going to do one. Wish me luck.

Thanks for reading.

Til next time, run strong & enjoy the moment.

6 weeks down, 4 to go

This week my training plan called for 24 miles. Monday I did 4 miles outside. The temp was 28 degrees and the roads were snow covered. It was a good run, I just had to watch where I was running.

Wednesday I did 5 miles on the treadmill. The wind chill was 3 degrees with wind gusts up to 40mph. This is the first time I have run on a treadmill since last December, and I hate to run inside, but it was just to cold to be outside.

Thursday I ran 4 miles, once again on the treadmill. The high temp for the day was 7 degrees. It was bitter bitter cold.

Saturday I ran 11 miles. I ran outside. The temp when I started was 20 degrees and the wind was not to bad. It took me 1 hour and 40 minutes for the run. I was pretty pleased with the time.

Okay, one hard week of training left then I start tapering. Next week I have 26 miles on the schedule with a 12 miler on Saturday the 19th. I sure hope I can run it outside. I think I would go nuts running that far on the treadmill. Keep your fingers crossed that the weather will cooperate. I guess I should expect cold weather living in central Illinois, but that don't mean I have to like it. I will update next week. Come on WDW, can't wait....

Thanks for reading.

Til next time, run strong & enjoy the moment.

5 Weeks down, 5 to go

In week 5 of my training I ran 21 miles. Monday 3 miles, Wednesday 5 miles, Thursday 3 miles & Saturday, my long run, 10 miles. That was the first time since the Disneyland 1/2 I had run double digit miles in one run.

Once again the weather on Saturday was not to bad. Temp was in the low 30's and the wind was not blowing to strong. I did my run in 1 hour, 31 minutes and 58 seconds. I was right around a 9 minute mile pace. I don't know if I can maintain that pace for an entire 1/2, but I'm sure going to try.

I am having withdrawals. Normally every year we go to the World for 3 or 4 days at Christmas time. This year we are staying home and I am missing it. I have watched a couple of Disney Christmas specials on the tube, but we would rather be there in person. This is one of the reasons am I so looking forward to be being there next month.

I will update next week with week 6 of training. It could be interesting with all of the snow that is forecast for the upcoming week.

Thanks for reading.

Til next time, run strong & enjoy the moment.

4 weeks down, 6 to go

I have completed 4 weeks of training for the WDW 1/2 in January. I ran a total of 19 miles last week. My long run was 8 miles on Saturday. The weather was perfect for running, and I had a great run. My time was 1 hour & 11 minutes. I was pretty happy with the time. I also did a short 3 mile run on Thanksgiving morning. It was cold and spitting snow while I was running.

This coming week I have 21 miles on the schedule with my long run a 10 miler on Saturday. I usually feel after running 10 miles that I'm ready to run the 1/2. I am looking forward to being in the sunshine in Florida in January. I'll give you an update next week.

Thanks for reading.

Run strong & enjoy the moment.