Training Log - July 30, 2007

Well it’s Monday again. Time to start another week and time to report on my walk yesterday. I did my 7 mile walk at Antrim Park. I have figured that the remainder of my distance walks will be done at Antrim. I have figured out where the tenth mile marks are so calculating mileage is easier.

The day was another good day to walk. The temperature was around 83 degrees and as is typical of Central Ohio summer – the humidity was up around 75%. There was a breeze that helped with easing the humidity a bit. After last week and the problems that I ran into at about 3.5 miles, I got some “sports beans” at Target. I started eating 1-2 every mile after about the 3.5 mile mark. Didn’t run into the same thing this time. I decided that I was not going to try to go all out but just keep a steady pace through the walk.

I finished the walk in 1:58:20 with an average pace of 16:54 min/mile. Very pleased with my performance. My mile split times are: 16:40, 16:22, 16:20, 16:47, 17:10, 17:10 and 17:52.

This was a milestone in my training as this distance represents over half of the half marathon distance. I look forward to this coming weekend’s walk as it will be only 6 miles.

Training Log - July 26, 2007 Part II

Well, after a strong morning thundershower, I wasn’t sure what the weather was going to be but I was sure that I was going to be out in it. As fate would have it – the rain moved on and it wasn’t that bad a walk. This was a Temp walk again. Ten minutes of regular pace followed by ten minutes of fast pace ending with ten minutes of regular pace. Not too many folks at the park today – probably due to the weather.

Training Log - July 26, 2007 Part I

Good morning to all. I thought that I would bring this blog up to date this morning and then post my Tempo walk info this PM.

After taking last Thursday and Friday off to let a leg injury of sorts heal up, I went back at it on Sunday to do my 6 mile walk. Decided that the 1.2 mile path at Antrim Park would be the best place to walk. It was a great day to walk – temps in the low 80’s and low humidity. I don’t think that I “bonked” at the 3.5 mile mark but I really ran out of steam. Not sure why but everything seemed to be funny to me and I found myself giggling at times. I didn’t have anything like a gel or sport beans to eat while I walked – this is something that I won’t let happen again! I did manage to finish the 6 miles in 1:42:25 – a 17:04 min/mile pace. My times for the 1.2 mile laps were: 19:54, 19:19, 20:11, 20:50 and 22:10.

Tuesday brought my 3.05 mile walk at Creekside Park. Weather was cool – 68 degrees and overcast. Time for the walk was 50:35 and a 16:35 min/mile pace. Splits were: 16:56, 16:57 and 16:41.

I will post again later today with the Tempo walk report.

Training Log - July 18, 2007

For anyone that keeps up with these entries, you will notice that I did not post anything for yesterday. I was scheduled to walk 3 miles yesterday but I got to work and my wife called to inform me that my bag with my "walking stuff" was on the kitchen table. I had walked off without it! Not good. But I adapted and moved the walk to today. This will make for an interesting next couple of days. Today was the makeup day, tomorrow is the Tempo walk, Friday is another 3 mile, as is Saturday. Sunday is the 6 mile walk! 15+ miles in 5 days. Yahoo!

Today was an OK walk. The temp wasn't too bad - around 74 degrees. The humidity was another story. It was around 78%. Still I was able to do the 3.05 miles in 49:57 and a pace of 16:23 min/mile.

Training Log - July 16, 2007

Very busy weekend for me. Starting back on Thursday with my Temp training. It was the 10-10-10 tempo. Everything went well. It was about 72 degrees and sunny at Creekside Park. Felt a little burning in the lower shins during the faster pace 10 min. Nothing that was a real problem.

Friday brought about a 2 mile walk at Creekside again. Temp was around 68 degrees and was very comfortable. Did the 2.06 miles in 33:04 minutes. This was a 16:03 min/mile pace. Could have done the usual 3 mile walk but did not want to stray from the training schedule because of the mileage on the weekend.

Sunday saw me at Antrim Park to do the 5 miles for the weekend. Sunny skies and about 83 degrees when I walked at 2:30PM. I wasn't able to get the splits for the walk but I did get it done in 1:22:05. That is a 16:25 min/mile pace. This is the longest distance that I have walked thus far. The only event of the walk was when I was bit/stung by some insect on the back of my leg about 1.5 miles into the walk. It didn't swell up and I rinsed it off with water and continued. Afterward, I was sore but didn't stiffen up or need to soak or take some OTC pain killers.

Training Log - July 10, 2007

Good evening everyone!

Today was a great day to get out and walk. I went at lunch to Creekside Park and did my walk. Temp was around 83 degrees and it was somewhat humid. Oddly enough, there were not too many people there today. I started off slow and then built up speed. I finished the 3.05 miles in 49:24 with a pace of 16:24 min/mile. The sky was starting to get very dark towards the end of the walk and thankfully I was able to finish and be in the car before the heavy rains came!

Very interested to see how Thursday goes as it is the first "Tempo" walk of the training.

July 9, 2007 Update

Well, July is here and the summer is in full swing. I haven't posted here for a little while so an update is in order. Everything is going well. My kids are enjoying the summer vacation and amazingly are doing a lot more outside activities. They love playing on the trampoline and riding their bikes after dinner. I am very happy about that.

My training for the half marathon continues. I have been fitted for my running shoes and love them! They are Asics Foundation 7's. These are really good for the overpronation that I found out that I have. The shoes are great and I want to thank Karl at Front Runner. The folks at Front Runner are the greatest! They take the time to make sure that you get the shoes that are the best for your feet.

In the training realm, I continue to follow my training schedule. Saturday began the steady increase in mileage on the weekends. I did the 3.8 mile trail at Sharon Woods in the heat and humidity in 1:04:38. That is a 17:01 min/mile pace. I began to run out of steam probably at the 3.5 mile mark but did not stop and continued to walk. Overall, I am pleased with the walk.

I completed the Westerville Rotary 4th of July 5K last Wednesday. It was a great morning to have the 5K. Temps in the mid 60's and low humidity. I finished in 50:18 and a 16:12 pace. The next race that I will be in will be the New Albany Walk Classic in September.

My fundraising continues to go well. I am now at $738 of the $1700/$2500 that I need to reach.