The three most basic questions about the human condition, juxtaposed over my running will be answered in this post.
Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going?
In 2022 I memorialized my first journey to the Marathon in this blog. It was full of ups and downs with a lot of miles ran with friends. I’ll do my best to summarize it in a clear and concise manner with some links so you can get a clear and better understanding of my past. Let’s start with the fact that I despised running. It was a punishment for poor performance in other sports that I truly loved, like Baseball and Wrestling. During my military service in the Airborne, running was mandatory, a non-negotiable for career advancement and success.
Here I detail how running was infused into my life and how it became something I enjoy. Read my post titled “The Trailhead”, where it all began.
My first and latest Marathon was in November 2022 at the City of Oaks Marathon in Raleigh. It’s been 8 months since I completed that race. You can read my race review and how I deemed myself a Marathon Finisher, not a Marathon Runner.
Last year I planned my own training regiment. It was insufficient. Not only was it insufficient in intensity, but it was too short. Last year I trained for only 12 weeks leading to the Marathon. This year I’ve bumped that up to 16 weeks and hired an experienced coach to program my training along with providing expert insights into strategy, gear and helping me manage expectations.
Here are my monthly miles since completing the COO Marathon. (390.73miles total)
DEC 2022: 13.53 miles
JAN 2023: 32.55 miles
FEB 2023: 61.13 miles
MAR 2023: 78.75 miles
APR 2023: 91.91 miles
MAY 2023: 68.11 miles
JUN 2023: 44.78 miles
I’m on track for 68 total miles in July and the miles will only continue to build from this point forward.
My weight has tracked upwards in the last 8 months. I ran the last Marathon at 216lbs and have steadily gained up to 230lbs. I’m just a mere 8lbs away from the heaviest weight I’ve ever been in my life. While this is incredibly frustrating, I know the cause of this weight gain and can address it head on. It’s the FORK! Stupid utensil makes it so easy for me to shovel food into my mouth, pair that with a spoon and a beer and it’s no wonder American’s have obesity issues.
According to the National Institute of Health BMI Chart I am considered “OBESE” with a BMI of 35. I don’t think the chart takes into account muscle mass, which I believe I have some, but not enough to offset this “obese” label. On another note, in order to be in the “normal” range, I need to be at a weight I haven’t seen since I was 16yrs old.
So what is my running fitness? According to the COROS training hub, my running fitness is a 70.4 out of 100. This predicts a current Marathon finish at 4:30. I can easily run a 10K right now around a 10’00” pace and completing 5K’s is not an issue between 9’30” and 10’30”.
So why am I here, at 230lbs and being able to run a 5K in under 30 minutes? The answer is rather simple. I love to eat and I love to run.
So why am I here, training for another Marathon?
Because I can. God’s given me a capable body, I need to honor that.
I love running with friends and love my club and community.
Redemption. I walked much of the COO marathon. It was embarrassing.
To set a positive example to my family, friends and club.
Get healthier, lose weight and be more capable.
I’m a leader in the run club, and a leader must lead by example and lead from the front. I simply must fulfill the expectations natural to such a position.
My goal for the Richmond Marathon is a 3:45 finish or faster. This will require an 8’35” pace. The course if overall flat with just over 100ft of elevation gain over the 26.2 miles. I think this is an achievable goal that will be difficult but possible.
The Way Forward:
To get from where I am to where I want to go requires a goal, planning and execution.
Goals:
Commit to 16-weeks of training. Follow my coaches plan. Trust the process.
Track all nutrition, without exception resulting in a race weight below 200lbs.
Complete the Marathon in 3:45 or less with a smile.
I’ve hired Coach Brown from Run With Your Heart to prepare my training plan. I’ve also extended this training plan from 12 weeks (last year) to 16 weeks. I’ve downloaded the application Lose-It to track my nutrition and macros. In addition to tracking my nutrition, I’ll be meal prepping and ensuring the nutrients I need are aligned with my goals. I’m running with the COROS Pace 2 again to track my running metrics and will be deciding on a carbon-plated race shoe soon. Follow along to see which brand I decided on. To keep running fun and enjoyable, I will continue to run with Clayton Area Runners and other clubs I come across in the coming 16 weeks.
The keys to becoming a stronger/faster runner:
Commitment to consistency in training and nutrition.
Run the easy miles and the hard miles. Trust the process.
Include Cross Training with H.I.I.T and Resistance Training.
Fuel the body for Race Day. Eat Clean, Drink Water.
Have fun.
Week 1 Training Preview
