Second week of training, Chicago Marathon
Sorry I haven’t been around, folks! In fact, I was touched to hear that some of you were actually looking for my weekly dispatches only to find them missing from the website. Well, I can only say I’ve been a little busier than usual, but those are the signs of an industrious life! In addition to a heck of a lot of activity over at Pixeldust Films, I’m starting to enter into the core training for the Chicago Marathon. I’m pleased to mention that my good friend Frank will be with me in Chicago, and that means I get a training partner for the entire 18 weeks.
Just like last year, when I participated in the Philadelphia Marathon, I’m going to use Hal Higdon’s training plan to ready myself to run 26.2 in the Windy City. Last year, I tried to do Hal Higdon’s Intermediate Training Plan, but had a tough time adhering to the schedule all by myself. This year, not only have I picked up a training partner, but I’ve chosen a schedule that in fact is more attainable, and I believe I’ll be able to complete the weekly mileage much more happily, if training for a marathon could ever be such a thing.
The primary difference between the Novice and Intermediate programs is the amount of days you spend running. In the Novice plan, you run 4 days a week and cross train 1 while taking 2 off. In the Intermediate plan, you run 5 days a week, cross train 1 and take 1 off. In the end, it’s more realistic for me to do 5 solid days of activity than it is to do 6. I’m absolutely confident that I can hit my target of 4:20:00 by following the Novice schedule and actually hitting all the targets. Last year, I missed a lot of the weekly targets anyway, and in the end, wasn’t keeping to the schedule.
Oh, and 2 other things...
So in addition to having a training partner, this year I’m adding two other variables to my training: I’m going to lose 10 pounds before October 12, 2008, and I’ve purchased a road bike and will be using it for the cross training. Last year, “cross training” meant “take the day off and drink beer.” This year, I’m going to be out riding hard for 20 + miles at a strong cadence. I truly believe that the only way to up the ante from my 2007 racing season, where I PR’d in every major race I entered over 2006, I’m going to have to lose the weight. I’m thinking of a way to post a “weight meter” on my website so we can all keep track of my progress. More on that as I figure it out.
So there it is, folks. I’ll be posting more on my new swan dive into the world of Road Cycling under a separate series of posts. There’s just too much to talk about on that one, and I’m just too new at it to know what I want to say (I bought the bike 2 weeks ago).
Stay Tuned! And see you out on the roads!
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