4/24/07: Week 15 running log and 5 days until OKC Memorial Marathon!

Well its 5 days until the OKC Memorial Marathon which is on Sunday April 29th at 6:30am.
Marathon training this year has been fun, rigorous, tiring, intimidating, slow, fast, fatiguing and as always a learning experience for me. My goal for the OKC marathon is under my time last year of 4 hrs 31 min (gun time) / 4 hrs 27 minutes (chip time). Realistically, I think if I have an above average day I could possibly run a 4:20 marathon (10 min pace avg per mile) and I push at the end. Under 4 hrs is/was the ultimate goal, but it really is out of the question as I am just not pacing fast enough to get there I dont believe....maybe I'l surprise myself on race day...but its those last 6-10 miles that I am concerned about since after 20 miles is unknown territory other than last years mental test at mile 19.

Week 15 running log:
4/16: Ran 16.5 miles around Hefner...not real fast...about a 10 min overall pace.
4/17: Off
4/18: Ran 4.5 miles around Earlywine
4/19: Ran 4.5 miles around Earlywine
4/20: Off
4/21: Ran 4 miles treadmill YMCA.
4/22: Ran 13 miles total.. 10 miler at good pace 9min 18 sec avg per mile in stiff wind and 3 miler on treadmill at YMCA.

Week total: 42.5 miles.

Week 16 targets: (tapering)
4/23: Off
4/24: 4 miler
4/25: 4 miler
4/26: 4 miler
4/27: Off
4/28: 2 miles (easy warm-up)
4/29: OKC Memorial Marathon Day! (26.2 miles of fun!)

Week total target: 14 miles

4/17/07: Week 14 log and Week 15 targets...

Week 14 running log:

4/9: Off
4/10: 4.5 miles around Earlywine 8:45 pace.
4/11: 8.5 miles up to Earlywine from house and around 3 times and back.
4/12: 4.5 miles around Earlywine
4/13: 6 miles on treadmill at YMCA
4/14: 4 miles up to Earlywine and back from house.
4/15: Off (up with brother-in law Robert late so I didnt run all day:(
4/16: 16.5 miles around Lake Hefner.

Week 14 totals: 44 mile week which is longest thus far for marathon training...:)

Week 15 target: 30-35 mile week for tapering...

Feeling better about finishing the marathon, but the real race and test will be the last 6-9 miles....:(

-Carl (The Water Buffalo)

4/10/07: Week 13 running and Week 14 targets...

Well, week 13 has passed and I ran a total of 36 miles for the week which was 4 miles under my goal, but I ran 2 back to back 10 milers this past Sat. and Sunday and felt pretty good at under a 9 min pace. Overall, the ultimate goal for the OKC Memorial Marathon this year is a sub-4 hr marathon, but likely anything under 4hr 27 min (beating last years time) would be an accomplishment.

Week 13 log:
4/3: 4.5 miles around Earlywine
4/4: 4.5 miles around Earlywine
4/5: 4 miles around Earlywine
4/6: 2.5 miles
4/7: 10.5 miles around Earlywine
4/8: 10 miles around Earlywine

Week Total: 36 miles

4/3/07: Week 12 training and Week 13 targets.

Week 12 of marathon training was interesting to say the least. Miles I ran are listed below:
3/26: Ran 2.5 miles
3/27: Ran 4.5 miles (Around Earlywine park)
3/28: Ran 4.5 miles (Around Earlywine park)
3/29: Ran 4 miles
3/30: Off
3/31: Stupidly ran a hard 5.5 miles before a 20 miler:(
4/1: 20 miles with OKC LandRunners...ran about 18 of them and walked most likely about 2 miles...so I have some work to do.
http://www.okcrunning.org/landrunners/Training/RunAMarathon.htm

Week 12 total mileage: 41 miles

Week 13 target: 40 miles. Since I am off by a week compared to the OKC LandRunners...and I missed a 20-miler with them I am going to try to get one more 20 miler in this Saturday or Sunday so I can have at least a potential shot at a 4 hour marathon...although highly unlikely;)

Other than running...it seems my life consists of working..and then of course running:) Although I am finding running is becoming much more fun as my training is getting closer to the marathon. I am getting excited to run the marathon and I am hoping for good weather:) knock on wood...

Hope everyone has a great week:)

-Carl (The Water Buffalo)