Step by step, mile by mile

Wow! That is impressive Eugene to work all those hours, and also be able to handle that kind of mileage. I am guessing you are on your feet as well? Also I notice that I feel better when I don't eat near as much gluten as well. I think that most Americans would feel much better as well with limiting gluten intake. Do you have celiac or just gluten sensitivity?

yes, unless i’m on break i’m always on my feet. i usually walk about 2.5 miles in a 7 hour shift, so when i work full time i’d imagine i’d walk around 5. it’ll be tough at first, but if i can get to 120 miles or so a week AND be on my feet that much, i think i’ll be pretty unstoppable. i’m optimistic since the 7 hour shifts do tire me out but don’t affect the pacing of the runs after and don’t make them harder to do either.

i’ve actually never had a problem with gluten, i ate it all the time with no repercussions but this summer i’ve been eating fruit smoothies and eggs for breakfast, and either rice and beans with either eggs or chicken, or if i’m busy i’ll watch some TV in bed and eat a couple of bags of baked sour cream and onion lays(those chips have been about 50% of my college diet). now that it’s not present in my diet i guess i either developed an intolerance or we really are meant to be gluten free.

when’s your next race? i’m no running guru but i’d love to keep up with your training on a solid block and offer any wisdom i’ve accrued throughout the years to help you. i was actually reading your half/full PR race reports earlier today, those are very solid times! i think with a more regiment program you could obliterate those times. not saying you have to run crazy mileage like me to do it :-) but it’s hard to explain how much easier it gets over time! since i didn’t do my super long run this week i’m gonna do 105 and it felt like a genuinely easy thing to do, like a down week or something. it’s truly amazing what the human body is capable of. maybe i’ll go balls to the walls and just take the cam levins college running approach and do 150 a week! kidding, sort of.

That is a lot of walking between runs Eugene, but I know that you will be able to do it. Like they say, "If you think you can, or you think you can't, you are probably right." I never dreamed that by the time I was 20 that I would have already ran four marathons and one ultra of about 42 miles. Also yeah, I agree that my training needs to be more structured right now, because I have been kind of all over the place lately. I want to consistently hit about 65-70 miles a week, and then progressively increase that to about 80-90 if I can while also feeling good! What is your email, and I can send you my training plan for the Chicago Marathon that I doing this October? Thanks for the encouragement man!

engrindle@crimson.ua.edu