Carlene, Jacquie and Ken’s Excellent Half-Marathon Adventure Web Site!
May 8/02 — Ken: 5K PR!
5/06/02 Apr 22: Run 1:03:33 (6 miles, negative splits)
Apr 23: Off
Apr 24: Off
Apr 25: Still Off
Apr 26: Ditto
Apr 27: Ditto, damn it!
Apr 28: Run 2:33:50 (13 miles, negative split)Apr 29: Off
Apr 30: Bike 1:21:06 (20.1 miles)
May 1: Off
May 2: Off
May 3: Off
May 4: S.O.A.R. 5K, 27:42 (PR)
May 5: Off*********************************************
This fortnight hasn't been very kind to me. After two doctors and various prodding in places not meant to be prod, I seem to have an infection in my abdomen. It causes me some pain when moving around, and isn't particularly comfortable on a bike. So I have had to take it easy and my training schedule has been shot to hell. We're starting with conservative treatments, then moving up to more drastic measures if things don't get better. Unfortunately, I cannot have coffee, tea, or soda, leaving me to stare longingly at Starbucks each morning. And in the "D'Oh! It just gets worse and worse" department, I have to stop my allergy medicine which means stuffy nose galore!
I was able to bookend the first week with two runs: a 6 mile run on Monday and a 13 mile run on Sunday. The one thing I am working on is negative splits, or at least doing the last mile as the fastest in the distance. I know in races I fade a bit at the finish,
and this will hopefully get me used to pushing more at the very end. In both runs I did negative splits, with the last mile the fastest in the 6 miles run and the second fastest in the 13 mile run.Week two I was able to get on the bike Tuesday night, and do about 20 miles. I've found a local bike trail not too far away that isn't very crowded, and I can make a long loop that is almost exactly 5 miles. With a few small hills to get me out of the saddle. Unfortunately, I paid for that ride the next two days and stayed at home with an ice pack.
Finally, Saturday I was able to get out for my local 5K race. It's a small race sponsored by my Fitness Center, benefitting a different nature group each year. It's a pretty flat course, which finishes on a limestone path to give your legs a bit of a rest. I decided to push it and came in with a new Personal Record: 27:42. 40 out of 82 total, 8 of 13 in 40-49 Men. Knocked about 40 seconds off last year's turkey trot race. I did cheat a bit, in that I skipped my first walk break (5/1) and only took 30 seconds for the second one. But believe me, I did that the full minute for the other ones.
That should be my last race until PWC 4. Now I suppose it's time to start tapering, but I feel like these last two weeks have been a major taper already so I may try to run long in the next few days.
Oh, and my 5K pace predicts a 2 hour Rock 'n' Roll Canada half-marathon. But don't quote me.
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