Monthly Archives: April 2017

2017 Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon

My third Marathon at the Oklahoma City Memorial. I skipped this race last year because I raced in Australia. Brenda and I were glad to add it back in. We have a couple of favorite restaurants in the Oklahoma City area. Race and Eat. Hard to beat a deal like that.

Oklahoma in late April might as well be called Summer time. Hot and Humid. Surprise this year. Today was COLD. Cloudy, light rain, gusty west wind and in the 40’s for the whole race. Very unusual. My goal this Marathon, finish under 5 hours. Just a nice supported training walk. I have a VERY important race in The Netherlands in five weeks. The last thing on my mind was a personal best marathon. An exciting race with a bunch of other racers. Cool temperature. Well tapered. Rested. I should have known I would feel good. I raced within my ability. The whole race felt easy to me. Except for a few areas where you had to step in water over your shoes and the wind it was a perfect race day. I had no reason to push myself and I didn’t. However looking back now I missed my personal best Marathon by 55 seconds. Surely I could have walked 55 seconds faster. Oh well I am Very Pleased. Bubbling over with confidence going into the final training push before my Centurion Qualifier.

I finished with a 4:50:47.

 

Training April 22nd – 28th

This week 31.2 Miles, 5 hours 59 minutes 45 seconds, Pace average 11:32.  4106 calories

Saturday April 22nd – 4.8 Miles in 55:26 pace average 11:33.  5 sets of 75 push-ups.

Sunday April 23rd – 8 Miles in 1:32:08 pace average 11:31. 3 sets of 30 squats. 21 minutes of Planks.

Monday April 24th – 4.8 Miles in 56:23 pace average 11:45.  4 sets of 8 chin-ups, 3 rounds boxing the heavy bag.

Tuesday April 25th – 4.8 Miles in 56:20 pace average 11:44.

Wednesday April 26th – 4.8 Miles in 54:26 pace average 11:20.

Thursday April 27th – 4 Miles in 45:02 pace average 11:15.

Friday April 28th – Date night with my Wife!

My taper this week worked just like it is supposed to work. I feel rested with fresh legs. I had not given much thought to this weekends Marathon in Oklahoma City. Just a supported training walk with 10,000+ other people. Now I feel excited. Two years ago the Oklahoma City marathon changed how I raced. I relaxed. I absorbed myself into every aspect of the race. I made a point to touch every child’s hand during the race that held it out for encouragement. I made eye contact with every child holding out a water cup. Letting them know it was their cup I wanted. It changed me. The race is about all of us. Not just me. I make a point to Thank every support person I can during and after a race. I am so pleased I found and added walking to my life. I have never felt this fit. I have never felt this good. The realization that my journey is not just about myself has made me a better person. It has made me ALIVE!

Training April 15th – 21st

This week 51.2 Miles, 10 hours 10 minutes 55 seconds, Pace average 11:56.  6904 calories

Saturday April 15th – 4.8 Miles in 57:21 pace average 11:57.  5 sets of 75 push-ups. 21 minutes of Planks.

Sunday April 16th – 20 Miles in 3:59:33 pace average 11:59.  3 sets of 30 squats.

Monday April 17th – 4.8 Miles in 56:50 pace average 11:50. 4 sets of 8 chin-ups, 3 rounds boxing the heavy bag.

Tuesday April 18th – 4.8 Miles in 56:49 pace average 11:51. 5 sets of 75 push-ups.

Wednesday April 19th – 12 Miles in 2:23:35 pace average 11:58.  3 sets of 30 squats.

Thursday April 20th – 4.8 Miles in 56:46 pace average 11:50.

Friday April 21st – Date night with my Wife!

My weekly pace average has gone up since March. I just can’t make myself walk any faster. I know why. I am looking ahead to my Continental Centurion Qualifier in six weeks. I wont need speed in the Netherlands. As to my Marathon next week my plan is a 4:59 finish. I am not going to risk an injury. I have to remember my goal. My Goal is to join every world Centurion Club. Marathons for fun. Ha, that sounds funny “Marathons for fun”.

Training April 8th – 14th

This week 71.2 Miles, 14 hours 55 minutes 08 seconds, Pace average 12:35.  8241 calories

Saturday April 8th – 40 Miles in 8:46:29 pace average 13:10. Centurion Pace workout.

Sunday April 9th – 4.8 Miles in 57:03 pace average 11:53.   5 sets of 75 push-ups. 21 minutes of Planks.

Monday April 10th – 4.8 Miles in 54:46 pace average 11:25.  4 sets of 8 chin-ups, 3 rounds boxing the heavy bag.

Tuesday April 11th – 4.8 Miles in 56:52 pace average 11:51.  5 sets of 75 push-ups.

Wednesday April 12th – 12 Miles in 2:23:31 pace average 11:58.  3 sets of 30 squats.

Thursday April 13th – 4.8 Miles in 56:27 pace average 11:46.

Friday April 14th – Date night with my Wife!

A big week mileage wise. Very Pleased. Slow taper the next two weeks to prepare for the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon.

Humble Pie Walk

One day five weeks before your Centurion Walk you need to plan a Humble Pie Walk. A humble pie walk is a 45 mile walk at a strong Centurion pace. I use my long walk training day (Sunday). It is a good chance to work on your food and drink plan. Try out socks, shoes any thing you plan to use in the race.

The reason I call it a Humble Pie Walk. You will be surprised how hard it is. 45 miles in ten hours. I train hard. I have a well planned training schedule. I start to think I have this walking down to an art form. I start to think I am fast. All this thinking leads to dreams of fame. Dreams of Grandeur. A Humble Pie Walk will bring you back to reality. A hard 45 mile walk knowing you will have to walk 55 more miles for a Centurion. It is Humbling.

Don’t despair after your Humble Pie Walk. You have to remember for your Centurion qualifier you will have rested tapered legs. You will get a BIG boost from race day adrenaline. The other racers will give you a boost. It will be to your advantage to show up at the Centurion Qualifier humbled and reserved.

Training April 1st – 7th

This week 51.2 Miles, 10 hours 14 minutes 27 seconds, Pace average 12:05.   6112 calories

Saturday April 1st – 4.8 Miles in 55:37 pace average 11:35.   5 sets of 75 push-ups. 21 minutes of Planks.

Sunday April 2nd – 20 Miles in 4:07:25 pace average 12:22.  3 sets of 30 squats.

Monday April 3rd – 4.8 Miles in 54:55 pace average 11:26.  4 sets of 8 chin-ups, 3 rounds boxing the heavy bag.

Tuesday April 4th – 4.8 Miles in 55:59 pace average 11:40. 5 sets of 75 push-ups, 21 minutes of Planks.

Wednesday April 5th – 12 Miles in 2:23:39 pace average 11:58.  3 sets of 30 squats.

Thursday April 6th – 4.8 Miles in 56:52  pace average 11:51.

Friday April 7th – Date night with my Wife!

Spring Baseball season is here. My Grandson plays every Tuesday and Thursday Evening. Late night walks for me with limited strength training on some of those nights. No break on the mileage. Best my legs have felt since before the Cowtown 50K. Very encouraged.