MattKeutzer

Oh how it has been too long.  A friend and I have decided to try to PR in a half.  He has a lot more experience and has run a sub 4 hour marathon although I have a slight edge when comparing PR's for the half.  Our goal is sub 1:40.    I realize how difficult this is going to be.  After I ran, I am thinking closer to impossible.  It is going to be a long journey back.  37:48:05 or 9:27 / mile.  Splits were: 9:08 (warm up), 8:48 (trying to get progressively faster), 8:48 (fail), and 11:05 (cool down).   A friend said, "if you want to get back into running, and it sounds superficial, go out and buy some new gear".  I did (shorts, socks, new shoes, it didn't help!

Dropped son off at baseball and decide to brave the 104 heat index (it was either that or not run).  26:20:08 or 10:32 per mile.  10:28 and 10:13 and 11:20.  Enough said.

Still a struggle but continuing on.  31:43:47 or 10:34 pace.  It was another hot one today but you got get your runs in when you can.   Splits 9:45, 10:40, 11:16.  Good thing this is PRE-training to get back into shape before Aug 4 hits and the 12 week training starts.  Definitely need a program that will develop some speed (not looking forward to doing speed-work/ hills/ etc).

Got up early before it got hot.  Felt better about my run/ stride/ endurance but the times were dissappointing..  49:09:12 or 9:50 per mile.  Splits 9:24, 9:33, 9:30 (I'm getting slower!), 9:47, and 10:56.   I felt better about my cool down mile up "the hill" from the trail.   Got to see (and smell) some Clydesdales along the way.  My buddy asked me "do you wonder if they feel the same way about my smell"?   Almost 14 miles this week and my weight is slowing starting to go in the right direction.  I can definitely feel a difference in my body.  Shaun T and Insanity helped but the work outs are so different and not comparable.  The 2 weeks in Vegas / Reno didn't help either (although it did help my pocket-book!!! :).

Well a week off didn't help.  I had to coach 2 a day camps Mon thru Thurs. for about 10 hours each day.  Then the weekend was filled with 3 days of golf and debauchery... hey, I needed it after busting my tail at volleyball camp this week.  I did get to run a little with the kids and stretch everyday but nothing worth coutntng. I got an email saying 13 weeks until race so tomorrow is my first official day training. I snuck a run in late tonight after dropping off stuff for next week's camps.  28:41.  Decided halfway thru to really go for the 2nd mile and then decided to run the 5K just to see where I would start.  Splits were: 9:35, 8:42, and 9:19 which was pretty much the last .6 up hill.   Speed isn't what I need it to be so hopefully it will come with the loss in weight as well as the training.

1st official day and I have decided to do Hal Higdon's intermediate training for the half.  29 minutes or 9:28 / mile.   Felt pretty good and could have probably pushed it (done more miles although probably not faster) but I was thinking about stuff I have for the rest of the day.  Splits were: 9:28, 9:34, and 9:54 (darn hill).   

Today was hill day.  It was raining pretty good so I got our the old shoes.  I decided to run a few miles to warm up and then hit the 200 m hill x 6 with rest in between.  I ran my usual warm up and then turned around at the 2  mile mark, 1 mile away from my house.  I hit the hill home and ran the 400 m up the hill.  Turned around and walked back down the hill to re-gain my breath.  Got to the bottom and this time ran the hole .7 of a mile back home.   I will count this as my 6 hills. 42:13 or 12:37/ per mile.    Splits 10:05, 10:24, 10:26, and 11:17. 52  or 32:29 per  mile (must have forgot to turn off my watch afterwards).  Oh well.  Feeling good about running 3 days in a row.

Not a bad run this morning.  Splits were 9:12 / 9:21 and 9:33.   Been really busy so blogging a week late so I can't remember very much.