To see the results...

It's hard to believe this year is rapidly coming to a close and that my race is almost here. All the miles and miles and miles, all leading up to one event. I can definitely relate to this quote from 'Once a Runner'. "Racing is just this little tiny ritual we go through after everything else has been done. It’s a hood ornament.”

Nobody gets to see the day to day efforts you make, whether enjoyable or not. All the grueling long runs, track work, tempo days, speed drills, waking up at 5:30am to run 10miles in the twilight so that you can stumble in stiff-legged to work just as everyone's pouring their morning coffee and you're struggling just to get your glucose levels back to normal. "How far dya' run today? How fast? Why? I don't even like to drive my car that far, hehe"

This has been a great year with lots of goals accomplished. Even if I was to quit today I would be able to do a bit of bragging amongst most recreational runners, but I would never be completely satisfied with myself. That's the thing about running, the lure & attraction, to all endurance sports in general, there's no ceiling, you get out what you put in. What's your full potential? It creates an addiction. Run farther and faster and you'll see the results. Skip runs and be lazy and you'll see the results. If I can continue to maintain this same constitution throughout everything I do in life, the results will be there.

On Sunday I completed my final week of peak mileage, 61 miles in singles. This was coming right off of another tough half marathon, Nov 7th, in which I was able to drop my personal best down by another few seconds, running 6:52 avg pace for 1:30.06. The course was very challenging with undulating short steep hills over the last 5 miles. It was hard to keep a steady rhythm.

These next few weeks my mileage will drop significantly, with some shorter brisk runs and speed work to keep the legs sharp. The drop in mileage will also allow any minor injuries to heal so that I'm 100% for the 'big day' and well rested. Realistically, I give myself a 50/50 shot. The probability of people that qualify for Boston in the fastest category on their 2nd attempt is small. However, I've done all the work and I remain confident. It's simple math really. You take your best half marathon time, in my case 1:30, double it and add 10min. This puts me right exactly on the mark, with no margin for error or bad weather. Technically, I can run a 3:10.59 and still qualify. The good news, every race I've done in KC has been extremely more challenging than the flat course in Dallas. However, I've decided from now on not to boast any crazy predictions and just let my legs do the talking.

"A true Runner ran even when he didn't feel like it, and raced when he was suppose to, without excuses and with nothing held back. He ran to win and would die in the process, running to him was real, the way he did it the realest thing he knew...hard as diamond, it made him weary beyond comprehension, but it also made him free."

-John L Parker

Durability

Throughout these past couple of years I've learned a lot about the durability the body requires to maintain hard training. It seems like I'm always walking a fine line trying to avoid injury, I've had my fair share. In my first year of real running I suffered many setbacks: a stress fracture, pulled muscles (calve, hamstring, hip-flexor), multiple cases of tendinitis (knee, achillies, ITB). Most injuries were related to inexperience, going too fast on a recovery day, increasing mileage too quickly, stubbornness, etc. But after 2500 miles or so (ha!) your body starts to finally adapt and take shape, muscles get stronger and you become more bio-mechanically efficient, posture and form evolve. The loosening and relaxation of your stride, you find rhythm, you break free from the mold of upright walking in cushy shoes. You're now designed for fluid motion and speed....a runner is born. Practice makes perfect!

Unfortunately, injuries are part of the sport of running. With more and more experience I'm able to tell when to back off, take it easy, slow it down, ice it, elevate it, cross train it , stretch it, massage it, or if worse comes to worse, just take a day off and rest it. As I begin to reach the peak weeks of training, the stress I've put on my body is taking me right to the breaking point. This is the final push before the taper. Last week I ran 53 miles in singles, which included a tough mid week interval session (8x800meters), and a 20mile Sunday long run (2:30) the 1st of 2 in the training. I ran a 5:35mi during Saturdays short speed drills, the fastest mile I've ever run in my life.

Knock on wood, I haven't had a serious injury in over a year and half, but this is by far the toughest training I've ever endured, not in terms of mileage but intensity. As I head into week 9 of 14, I've got a little inflammation in my left knee and a slightly agitated right achillies. There's no time for injuries, no time for set backs. Everyday has a purpose and cannot be compromised. I'm in the home stretch....Roger Bannister - First person to crack the 4min mile, May 6, 1954