Runner Insight

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Now we’re getting into the fun part of my marathon training adventure!  As much as I love running clothes, and the sweet tasting goo, the reason I get to love them is because of the running.

In 2007, when I decided to train to run a full marathon, I was fortunate to have fairly decent weather to start out my mileage build-up.  I started on Jan. 1^st , and I was able to do all my training runs outside.  I had joined a gym thinking I would have to take advantage of their treadmills if the weather turned ugly, but to my delight, I didn’t have to use the treadmill even once.  On the down side though, I never made it into the gym to do strength training either. 

I did my early runs on a path not far from where I live. This afforded me easy access to run the necessary miles I needed to get me on track.  There were a few times where the trail was too icy in parts, so I would turn around and run the same dry stretch of trail again.  Kind of hard for me to do, as I am like a horse; that is, once I’m turned around heading for the barn…err I mean home, I want to keep going that way.  But I knew I had to get the miles in, and I’d rather do it outside up and back the same trail several times than run on the treadmill anyway.

Come April I needed to find other safe running routes, as I was moving into my higher mileage marathon training program.  This would require longer runs of anywhere from 12 to 23 miles at a time. I could do a 12 mile route I used to run along the river and an old railroad track that has been converted to a nice running/bike path. But what to do about my longer runs?

I could run on a running/bike path that went for about 15 miles.  The problem though, was that it was 8 miles out of town outside of Lolo.  I thought I could get dropped off and I could call to be picked up when I was getting close to being finished. Yeah, that could work.  But my other problem was stashing water and power drinks along the trail.  I wasn’t worried about someone taking them, but with my vision issues, I knew that I wouldn’t be able to find the spot where I had left them!  So I had to burn up some brain cells trying to figure out what I could do. 

I know that the Universe is on my side, and I totally believe that once you make the commitment to do something, the “How” of it will figure itself out. Cause the next inspired thought I had was of my friend Vickie.

I knew that even though there was a gulf of several years between now and the last time I had seen her, we always had a close bond.  So I didn’t hesitate to call her. I told her how I was training for the Missoula Marathon in July, and I asked her if she would be interested in helping me with my training.  She was thrilled! 

In fact, she told me the timing couldn’t have been more perfect, as she wanted to do something to get back in shape.  I suggested that she could ride her bike alongside me during my long runs, hauling  my water and power drinks, along with any extra gear I might need.  That would leave me free to just run! She immediately agreed and was totally on-board!

Stay tuned for the conclusion on Friday.

How ’bout it?

-Vision Runner

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Once I made the commitment in January to run the full marathon in July of 2007, it was obvious I hadn’t been running enough miles. I had slacked off toward the latter part of 2006. Because of the change in seasons, and the fact that I didn’t have a specific race that I was training for, I had been just taking it easy.

Because I had sloughed off on my running, I knew I would have to increase my mileage just to get to the point where I could even begin the marathon training program. Ironically, I had to pre-train in order to be able to start training.

So again, I had to modify the running mileage chart, this time the build-up mileage chart, to coordinate with my schedule. The race wasn’t until July, so I had time to get in pre-marathon training shape, but I didn’t have to start as low as the chart suggested starting, because I wasn’t starting from zero miles of running per week. I had been running, probably about fifteen miles a week, just not enough to be prepared for the marathon training mileage that I needed to be ready to start in April.

With both a marathon training program as well as a pre-training running program lined out, the next thing I had to decide on was my goal for this race. As I mentioned, my back-up goal was to finish in the time allowed to run a full marathon. They allow 6 hours for an “official finisher” to complete the marathon.

But I also had some lofty dreams of running it in 4 hours. I didn’t really believe that was possible, as that would be a pretty fast pace for me. Not to mention that, err….well, I didn’t want to do any speed training. I run for pleasure, and that’s not fun. That’s more like work. So I’m not sure why I was even considering a four hour marathon finish, but, hey one can dream, right? However, I did think that a 4 ½ hour finish for the 26.2 mile race was do-able for me, and without having to do any of that nasty, unpleasant speed work.

So now that I had my mileage charts all planned out, week by week, and an end goal to strive for, I was excited to get started. Having those kind of specifics laid out has always been a great motivator for me.

At the end of 2003 my running had really slowed down to where it was almost non-existent. I was going through some pretty exciting changes in my life, and well, running just kind of took a back seat at that point in time…Okay maybe it wasn’t even in the backseat…I’m pretty sure it got left back there somewhere, forgotten in the dust!

But in the beginning of 2005, life was flowing wonderful and stable, and I had started feeling the void that used to be defined by the activity and endorphins of running. I decided to train for Bloomsday 2005 in Spokane, Washington. It took place the first weekend in May, so I had plenty of time to get my mileage built up. It was a 12K run with over 40,000 racers! I finished that race in what I considered to be a good time, and was glad that I had done it. But the point I’m trying to make is, that by having a targeted race and a goal to train for, I knew I would do the running it required to get there.

Oh and by the way, I finished first in my name group at Bloomsday! Okay, so there were only three running with my last name, but still, I finished first in that category! You’ve got to celebrate the victories as they come, right?

How ‘bout it?

-Vision Runner

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After making the commitment to do what it takes to train for and run a marathon, the next thing I had to do was to find a good training program.

As I searched the internet, I found lots of different marathon training programs, but what I was looking for was a straight-forward approach.  I was not interested in building speed; my goal for my first marathon was simply to finish it. That would be an exhilarating accomplishment in and of itself, and one that very few people, sighted or blind, could claim to have done.

After looking at several different programs, I picked the one that I could modify to my work schedule. Most training regimens are set up for the average person who works a 9 to 5 job Monday through Friday, with weekends off.  And because a marathon is usually run on a Sunday, the long training runs are usually scheduled for Sundays.

However, this wouldn’t work for me, as I worked not only the graveyard shift, but I also worked weekends. So a bit of modifying was needed. Here is an example of the marathon training schedule after I modified it to my own work/running schedule.

It took some concentrated effort and juggling to modify the schedule to ensure that I got in all the miles I needed, plus the right amount of time off between long runs.

With that issue resolved, the next thing I needed to do was to find a new pair of running shoes. While attending a local Marathon Training Class, they suggested that runners should buy two pairs of the same running shoes.  Was this some kind of ingenious marketing ploy and sales trick?  No it turned out to be a very smart trick for me. 

Anders, the owner of my local running store, (I would link to it if their website was up, Anders…hint, hint) explained that buying two pairs of the running shoes that I wear, would ensure that I would have them when I needed them. I would train in one pair for the first few months, but then about 6 to 8 weeks before the marathon, I would want to put on the new pair and start to break them in. Then I could put them away about two weeks before the race.  When race day came, I would use that pair that only had four to six weeks of road miles on them. That way I had a relatively fresh pair of shoes for my 26 mile marathon. They would be broke in just enough so as not to cause foot pain, but still have all the support and bounce I need to be able to run a long race. It was excellent advice, and I have used it since for half-marathons I’ve run, as well.

This worked out even better than I could have expected for the marathon, as I found out later from Anders that they were having a hard time getting in the running shoes I liked, plus everyone was buying their running shoes for the race at the last minute. I already had mine, ready and waiting. So on race day I put on what looked like a brand new pair of running shoes, but without the worry of getting sore feet or blisters…

Well, I did get sore feet, but I’m pretty sure it was from running 26.2 miles. 

How ‘bout it?

 -Vision Runner

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