They all can't be "easy" runs.

5.5 miles. Legacy trail with Tommy on his bike. 11 am start. 84 degrees. Shirtless. Big crowd out there today. We had a few bike problems, so i had ro run with black chain oil stained fingers. Now watching the gator QB stink up Orlando.

8 am: 3.1 miles. pacing Johnny in a 5k. It did not go especially well. The weather was fine. We just were a bit under-prepared for this one. 

Then to the beach in the rain for skim / boogie boarding. 

4 pm. 7.5 miles. hood route. very smooth. 70 degrees and misty rain. I really appreciate the drop in temps.50 this week. It's been a while. 

10.2 miles. Hood Route to Legacy Trail to Colonia and Back. 8 am start. 60 degrees?!! rain/mist throughout. Fairly smooth stuff with one "sprint" thrown in just because.

3.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. 53 deg. 67% hum. 42 d.p. with weather like that, this should have felt much smoother. It was clunky. Boy #1 started at a new school this morning. We shall see about this.

9 pm: Island Walk mini-bridges. 2.4 up. weight training. 2.4 down. Great stars tonight. 

5.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. 50 something degrees. Really tough getting out and getting going rhis morning. Yes, this Floridian wore gloves and a hat this morning.

5.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. Felt pretty easy this morning. I'm glad winter is over. Track stuff later.

6 pm. At track. 2 up. 800 in 2:57. 400 in 1:24. (10) x 100 m sprints, jog back. 2 down. 64 deg., 83% hum., 69 d.p.

7:30 pm: Island Walk mini-bridges. 2.4 up. weight training. 2.4 down.

I just thought I would get some “year in review / looking ahead” thoughts down. Short version – What happened in Savannah changed my thinking about what I am trying to accomplish as a runner. I am going for sub 3 at Sugarloaf. The rest of this is going to be kind of disjointed, so whatever.

I’ve been hesitant to call that sub 3 shot. Well, we go on these cool trips, and I never thought I would qualify for Boston, so time isn’t really the goal, and countless other excuses for not trying that I have unloaded on this blog. Well, now I have called it out.

Savannah went bad. I knew it wasn’t going to be a PR, but not just because of the weather. Something was off at the start line. Yes, the kids’ football seasons really beat up my training. But as I understand it, the kids get even more involved with things as they get older, so my time to train will become less and less. My training has been so uninspired since Boston, that I was starting to wonder why I was doing this. Then we got home, and I was kind of bummed. Then we had Thanksgiving, and Andy’s wedding, and Johnny’s birthday, and Christmas, and New year’s, and Tommy changing schools, and yesterday, my birthday. I have eaten so much cake in the last month!

If I am going to get sub 3, it’s got to happen soon. It’s only going to get harder. I had originally rough scheduled 2016 to go – Jackson, MS in January, Brookings, SD in May (I’ll get there eventually, Matt), and then RnR Vegas in November. I was kind of psyched for Jackson, as it would be my 10^th marathon, on the anniversary of my first marathon.

More awkward candor - I have a coach. I have had a coach since before joining this blog. I didn’t say so in the beginning, and then more time passed to where it would be weird to admit having a coach here. He’s seasonal in Florida. He spends half the year in Canada, and half in Island Walk, where I have been running on Mondays and Thursdays lately. The first time I met him was a week after MCM, and I was really down. He said he could knock a half hour off my marathon time. He said that without ever seeing me run. 2 months later, I got a half hour off. Back then, he set up the plan, and it was up to me to execute it. Then, for a while, I would send him e-mails, letting him know how I was doing, and the coaching was much more distant. But now, He wants me to get sub 3, probably as much as I do. He has a really good resume, as a coach.  I am honored at the amount of time and advice he has given me.   

Okay, so looking ahead – The plan is to get my weekly mileage up to @ 60-70. For January, February and into March I’m going to stick with this weight training plan he has me working on Mondays and Thursdays. Wednesday night speed work – either at the track, the Island Walk hilly course, or Celery Mound. Every run I do will have some component of race pace running, even if it is for 100 yards. I beefed up about 15 pounds at the tail end of the year, so there is much focus on weight right now. I am 182, and ideal race weight is @ 165ish. I need to run more races. Racing is not running. Nothing can prepare you for a race like a bunch of races. Coach is a big believer in those charts that say “if you can run a 5k in x, then you can run a 10k in y, and you can run a marathon in z.” So racing these local races will either let me know I’m on the right track, or make me lose hope.

My family is on board with the plan, and are being remarkably accommodating. I am going to try to not let this take over our family schedule, but I can see where that could happen.

I think that is about enough for one night.  

3.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. In the rain. Shirtless. It seemed like it was fast, but my watch broke yesterday, so who knows?

10.2 miles. Hood route to legacy trail to colonia and back. 6 am start. 65 and super foggy. It was cool watching bicycle tail lights disappear into the fog. Snappy pace, but it's time to get a watch. Beautiful day out today. I took the boys to both Lido Beach, and Siesta Key Beach. Bothof those were great. Now watching an awful texans vs. Chiefs game.

12.9 miles. Hood route to legacy trail to Venice Avenue and back. Hot and overcast. Slow and steady.

7 pm: Island Walk mini-bridges. 2.4 up. weight training. 2.4 down. Kind of chilly tonight.

7.5 miles. Hood route. Slow and chilly.

5.5 miles. Hood route. 6:30 am start. 50 deg and no wind. Almost perfect. Track stuff later.

6:15 pm. At track. 2 up. 4 by 800 (2:57, 2:58, 3:00, 3:01). 2 down. it was crowded during warm up. So crowded that antisocial wrong direction board shorts guy had to go in the right direction. Everyone was gone by the end of warm up. It was tough to keep focus tonight.

3.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. 50 deg.

6 pm: Island Walk mini-bridges. 2.4 up. weight training. 2.4 down. 65 deg.

16.25 miles. Hood route to Legacy trail to Circus Bridge and back. 68 deg., 90% hum., 63 d.p. 2:10:54 (8:03 pace). 1st 2 miles in 15:16. (7:38 pace). Last 2 miles in 15:34 (7:47 pace). 1st half in 1:04:30 (7:56 pace). 2nd half in 1:06:24 (8:10 pace).

Beautiful morning. I started later than usual (7:30ish). As I was headed south, and I crossed the bays, the angle of the sun reflected off the water through the pickets of the railing, and it created this strange strobe light effect. I had to run those bridges with my left eye closed.

Shirtless. Camelbak. Longest run since Savannah. Sweat dripping off the end of the visor. Awesome.

7.5 miles. Hood route to legacy trail and back. I waited until the wind died sown somewhat at nine. Rain for part of it, sluggish from yesterday, hopping branches. I did learn something, though. In a couple of weeks, i have a 5k on sunday. I have been debating what my Saturday run should be the day before. I do not feel like racing today, so that rules out 16.25.

3.5 miles. Hood route. Much cooler this morning.

Pm: 2.4 miles up. Island Walk mini bridges. Weight training. 2.4 miles down.

7.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. Temps in the forties. I totally overdressed. I was sweating a lot by mile 2. This is foreign ground for me. I might figure it out by the time it gets warm again.

This made me laugh. Pearl jam at wrigley in august. BAD seats for $220. On the lawn for $2,200.

http://m.ticketnetwork.com/tix/2765945?SearchTermOrigin=pearl%20jam&EndIndexOrigin=21#

5.5 miles. Hood route. 45 deg. I dressed more appropriately today. Speedy, non-track stuff later.

Late start for the island walk mini bridges workout, so i had to cut this a bit short. 2.4 up. 4 x 800 (2:55, 3:05, 2:59, 3:02), 1.2 down. I wish i could have got 6 in tonight, but there was no time. Weather was just abput perfect. These bridge runs are like the anti-tempo runs. You can't hold a steady pace for any consistent amount of time. I feel like they are doing some good.

5.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. Much warmer this morning.

7:30 pm. Island Walk mini-bridges with the boys on their bikes. They had fun with the bridges. 6 miles. 5 laps. 25 bridges. There was a mix up with access to the gym tonight, so no weight training. This was a great substitute. 55 deg., 87% hum., 52 d.p. It got up in the 70s today. go figure.

16.25 miles. Hood route to Legacy Trail to Circus Bridge and back. 8 am start. 58 degrees. 25 mph sustained winds. White caps on the intercoastal waterway. 9 minute pace. 2:26:16. I feel beat up. 

10.2 miles. Hood route to Legacy trail to Colonia and back. 7 am start. 46 degrees. I totally overdressed again.

7.5 miles. Hood route to Legacy trail and back. 5:45 am start. There was FROST on my windshield this morning! I should've taken a picture, so you guys could see what it looks like!

7 pm. Island walk mini bridges. 2.4 miles. Then weight training. Then 2.4 down. i magically put on a half pound this week. So, hanging tough at 182.5. Bummer.

5.5 miles. Hood route. 6 am start. I must have a race this weekend, because my head is full of self doubt. You're slow, fat, and on the verge of, at least, 6 injuries and illnesses. Have a great race!

10 miles. legacy trail. 6:15 p.m. start. in the rain. 67 degrees. under 7:30 pace. Very good run, but unplanned. Track stuff was cancelled tonight. Coach isn't feeling too well and plus with the rain, the track was sure to be flooded.

3.5 miles. Hood route. 5:45 am start. Left calf is sore. I wanted more miles this morning, but I cut it short because i was really fighting it.

3.6 miles. Hood route with 100 m "Sprint". 7 am start. 48 deg., 95% hum., 47 d.p. This left calf strain took me out thursday night, and all day friday. The one time it is convenient to have a desk job! Today's run was to test it out before tomorrow's 5k. I think I'm good to go. I was aware of it, but never in pain, even with "speed."

Fundraiser for Venice High Soccer - 5k for Kicks. 55 deg. Race started at 8. I got there super early. I drove the course, then stretched for a long time, then warmed up for a long-ish time. Less than 100 runners. Very quick start. This woman said "Okay, I'll be starting you off. Ready Set. Go!" That sent most people fumbling for their watches. After about a half mile, I was in 6th place. Before the turn around, I passed 2 people, then ran all alone for the rest of the race.

I wanted a better time than this, and, as usual, I have excuses. The left calf held up better than I expected during the race, but became increasingly more stiff during church.

It amazes me that there are (5) 5ks in this location every year, but every one has a slightly different course. THIS is where we run races around here. They start at Sharkeys and go to the end of Caspersen Beach, then turn around to finish with some sort of loop around the lake at Maxine Barritt Park. Every race. But the exact location of the start, the turn around, and the loop around the lake are all different. This particular race extends the turnaround point to the playground at Caspersen. Which means you run on unpaved road for @250 yards at halfway. Which means, when it rains extensively, like this week, you are looking down, avoiding pot holes and puddles. Also, this route had a hair pin turn before the last 50 yards on grass.

I do not think a PR was within reach today, even without the odd course. And I have some work cut out for me. But racing more often is part of the process in this marathon build-up, and it had to start somewhere. I have a 15k next month, and then March has 10k, 8k, 12k, and another 10k. I expect greatness in all of those. 

Venice High's soccer coach was my coach in under 14s. I didn't get to see him there. I was kind of looking forward to that.

My mom usually yells at corrects the announcer when they butcher my big polish last name. Today, I told her not to. Instead the announcer handed me the mike, so I could say it. For some reason, the crowd decided to say it back to me, after I said it, like I was teaching them a new language. Funny stuff.