MattKeutzer

Played golf this morning for the first time this year (shot 77).  Came home and fed the kids, put them to bed for a nap, did some yard work, and then got a nap of my own.  Liz ran tonight as I put the kids down and then I went about 8:00 to run on the trail.  I can't say I was very motivated to do my recovery run.  It was extremely slow and my head and stomach were acting up a bit. I got my 3 miles in and so starts my first week of taper.  My legs feel a bit soar but I just feel slow and lethargic. 

Ran after school in the 90 degree heat.  It wasn't terrible but I certainly wouldn't want to run any long distances in that kind of weather.  I feel like I am lethargic at night so I wanted to get my run in before I got home.  Finished in a little better time at 34:53, so about 8:43/ mile pace.  Splits (I'm not so embarrassed to put them as I was the last couple of workouts) were: 8:30, 8:02 (some downhill), 8:47 (mostly flat), and 9:31 (almost all uphill).

Weather is starting to cool off and the World Champion Cardinals play Wednesday!!!!

I ran after school today and the weather was pretty warm (80s).  Finished in 45:35 at about 9:07 / mile.  Took it easy today as Friday will be my last long/hard workout.  Splits were: 8:58, 9:05, 9:21, 8:50 and 9:22.   Jeff is trying to talk to me about joining the 3:30 pace group in 12 days.   I'm not sure.   Hopefully a day off, the taper and eating right will get me closer to those 8:00 / mile pace.   I think I am going to go back and re-read some of my former posts and re-live some of those 7:30 x 7 miles runs. 

Felt really good after my day off.  Plus tomorrow is Good Friday so I have the day off (maybe something mental).   Finished in 41:37 at 8:19/ mile.  Splits were: 7:58 (a bit fast so I slowed down), 8:14, 8:31, 8:22, and 8:28.   Going out for dinner and drinks tonight and kids are sleeping at Grandma's.   Might re-think the 14 miler,  broken up as speed-work, tomorrow. 

4 miles on the elliptical today (2 twenty minute sessions) as I watched golf, baseball, and hockey.

Did speed work on the track today.  Can't say I like running in circles but I actually think it helped on some of my speed runs (mentally thinking "I only have 3 more laps or do this lap in 1:45).  Goal was to do:  a 2 mile warm up, 3 miles @ 7:20, half mile jog recovery, quarter mile walk recovery, 1 mile @ 8:00, half mile jog recovery, 1 mile at 8:00, half jog recovery, quarter mile walk recovery, 3 mile @7:20, and 2 mile cool down.

2 mile warm up:  9:33 and 9:55, first 3 miles were: 6:46, 7:23, and 7:19, first 1 miler was 7:55,  second 1 miler was 8:01, last 3 miler was 7:36, 7:34 and 7:34.   Cut the 2 mile recovery to 1.5 as I had to get to a soccer game.

Bar-b-que, beer, baseball, Masters golf (go Phil!!!), and hockey led to a poor night of sleep.  Woke up tired, did the Easter baskets and hunt with the kids and then took a 45 minute nap.  Woke up sluggish.  Got a phone call from bf in London who motivated me with some compliments on my training.  This motivated me to get out and run my 4 miler.   Goal was 1 mile warm up, 2 @ 8:00 and 1 mile cool down.   First mile was goofy as my watch GPS wasn't on right away,  probably ran it in about 9:30's.  2nd mile was 7:34 (tail wind) and an ambulance / police officer passed me on the trail.  Elder man who was biking was laying on the trail so that was a little scary.  Turned around at mile 2 and headed back into the wind.  8:02 mile followed by a 9:19 cool down mile.  I feel great now (thanks Scott).  Just looked at the early weather for the marathon next Sunday and they are calling for rain.  We'll see.

Goal was to do a 1 mile warm up, 3 @ 8:00 (race pace), and a 1 mile cool down.  Finished in 40:34 at 8:07/ mile.  Splits were: 7:59 (a bit fast), 7:46, 8:08, 8:01, and 8:40.   Last 5 miler tomorrow.

Last 5 mile run for training.  Goal was 1 mile warm up, 3 @ 8:00 and 1 mile cool down.  It was actually pretty windy which made the work a lot harder.  Finished in 41:13 at about 8:15/ mile.   Splits were 7:59, 7:46 (a little struggle into some wind), 8:08 (a large struggle into wind), 8:01, and 8:40.  

Have to share a story about 2 of my friends playing a joke on me as I hope you will find it humorous.  My bf move to London about 9 months ago.  He called on Easter (we seldom talk) and informed me he was flying back to California for business.   My a-hole buddy Bill calls me today and leaves me this message.  "Hey this is Bill, you are never gonna believe this but I had 2 free airline tickets fall into my lap.  I am thinking about flying out to California to suprise Scott.  I know it is late notice but I was wondering if you wanted to go."   After a moment or two he laughs and says "I'm just kidding, I don't have any free tickets, just wanted to say good luck this weekend".

I almost through my phone against the concrete wall.   For a split second, I was gonna skip the marathon.  Oh well, I looked at the weather and they are calling for thunderstorms.  Looks like I am gonna be racing in the rain.

Two more 4 milers to go.

Skipped my 4 miler today.  Went to a wake and just decided to skip it afterwards because I could.  I don't feel guilty at all as I am resting (I guess the ultimate taper).   Last 4 miler tomorrow.

Enjoyed my last 4 miler today.  Thought a lot about the 26.1 miler coming up, the course, and all the people who have supported me thus far.  Goal was 1 mile warm up, 2 miles @ 8:00 (my new marathon race pace) and a 1 mile cool down.   Have the specific splits at home but these are pretty close:  8:45, 7:49, 7:34, and 8:55.

I re-read some of my blog posts today as motivation.  96 runs ago I started and 1 final BIG one left.  Looking forward to Sunday night but not the pain!!!  Excited and nervous for my first full marathon, hopefully I will enjoy it enough to do another, time will tell.

Well, it wasn't pretty but it is over. Originally signed up for the 3:35 pace group and hung with them through 14 miles. Then bonked, the heat, hills, wind, and my fatness really hurt me. I ended up walking a lot more than I thought. I waved the pace group goodbye, watched later as 3:45, 355, and 405 pass. At mile 15, I decided I just wanted to finish. I am pretty disappointed I walked so much but I finished and it is over. Jeff met me about mile 10 and if it wasn't for him it could have been a lot worse. I don't know if I would have even finished. I will update splits soon but it maybe my last post for a couple of weeks. Felt ok afterwards and waited for my wife to finished her marathon relay. I laid down on the concrete for about 10 minutes while drinking water and gatorade and trying desperately to massage my spastic calf / quad. I ended up getting up to get some food and walked back to my "concrete bed" where I saw Liz and her team walking up. I called her name and then got instantly lightheaded. Laid down again while she got her medal and got up about 10 minutes later and was fine. Weighed 212.0 when I got home.

26.2 (or according to my watch 26.35) - chip time 4:14:58

6 miles - 48:49

13.1 miles - 1:46:47

17 miles - 2:24: 35

21.3 miles - 3:05:09

According to my Garmin, splits were: 8:23 / 7:55 / 8:18 / 7:54 / 8:05 / 8:06 / 8:13 / 8:06 / 7:52 / 8:12 / 7:58 / 8:13 / 8:21 / 8:10 / 9:22 / 10:43 / 10:12 / 10:32 / 13:54 / 11:07 / 11:20 / 12:43 / 11:43 / 11:40 / 12:18 / 11:42 and the last was an average of 10:28.