So all Week 3 I had a stiff neck, which made me not want to blog at all.  So, thankfully, my stiff neck has disappeared, and so I finally feel like typing again!  Below are all the workouts I had last week:

Tuesday – 6.55 miles – 57:52 (8:59, 8:47, 8:57, 8:48, 8:42, 8:44, 4:52)

Wednesday – 4.51 miles – 36:59 (8:26, 8:13, 8:24, 7:44, 4:10)

Thursday – 4.85 miles – 44:45 (9:07, 9:00, 9:25, 9:11, 8:00)

I’m not really sure how I happened to get the stiff neck.  Theories range from a near car accident to having to wring out a bunch of towels before throwing them in the dryer because the spin cycle on my washer decided it didn’t want to work.  Such is the home owner’s life.  In any case, you would think that having such a stiff neck that kept me from sleeping at night would affect my running.  Apparently, just the opposite.  Instead of slowing down my running, all my week day runs were relatively quick compared to the training I’ve been trying to do.  I was very surprised at the 7:44 4th mile I ran on Wednesday. Granted, it was mostly downhill, but still.

I do have to say, however, that these runs were the most awkward, uncomfortable, off kilter runs I’ve had in a while.  Nothing felt right the entire time I was running.  My breathing was off, cadence was off…and yet I still had “good” times.

I ran Tuesday and Wednesday with my new headlight…it does an amazing job lighting up the walkway ahead of you.  It looks a little awkward…I can’t imagine what it looks like to people driving down the road.  It was surprisingly not that uncomfortable.  It will definitely do the job for race day in July.  Let’s just hope I don’t get a permanent square on my forehead in the meantime.

Total Miles: 26.2

Total Time: 4:23:20

Total Calories Burned: 3300

Workout: 16.2 Miles

Time: 2:44:12 (9:36, 9:30, 9:38, 9:37, 9:40, 10:36, 10:00, 9:50, 10:13, 10:12, 10:22, 10:14, 10:28, 10:26, 10:41, 11:06, 1:58)

Woke up Saturday morning to cold and rain.  Surprisingly, this didn’t deter me from throwing on my running clothes and heading out the door.  This time, however, I remembered to put on body glide and large band-aids where I’ve been getting blisters on the arches of my feet.  I decided to run again at the Towpath, although this time without Team in Training.  I got there around 7:45, and it was still a little misty.  I made a detour into the bathroom before I started…strictly against my no public rest rooms rule I have, but something wasn’t agreeing with me.  Thankfully, though, once I headed back out the rain had stopped and it held off the entire run.

It took about 4.5 miles for my legs to loosen up and for me to get into some kind of rhythm.  After that and a Gu (which was very thick…it was my first…are they always thick enough to chew?) I felt great for the next 6.5 miles.  Then, almost like clockwork, I got cranky again.  At the time I laughed, since it happened at almost the same exact spot as last Saturday’s run, but I wasn’t laughing for the next 2 miles.  Looking back, I’ve since realized that it happens to be the most depressing and boring part of the Towpath, and as such, I’m not so sure I’ll be doing long runs there (at least alone) any time soon.  At around 15.5 I felt like I was going to be sick, but I was able to push though it and finish…not strong, but at least standing.  I was very glad this run was over.

Sunday

Workout: 10 Miles

Time: 1:39:08 (9:41, 9:36, 9:40, 9:40, 9:40, 10:18, 10:12, 10:03, 10:13, 10:01)

It’s amazing what an ice bath, a nap, and a good night’s sleep will do for your legs.  I woke up this morning feeling fresh and ready to run.  My fiance and I headed back to the park that’s near the Towpath (Johnson Park) and ran the bike trail there.  For 10 miles, it ends up being 2 out and backs.  The weather was completely different…sunny and around 65 degrees.  It was beautiful.  Due to the varied scenery and the great weather, I was able to get through this workout without a problem.  There were some interesting sights along the way:

• A small Chinese woman doing some ninja type stuff set to music…with a long ninja like sword.   On the way back, a man had the sword and she had a Chinese fan, and they were doing some kind of marital arts dance.
• A weathered old man with too many layers of sweats on for such a nice day, also out for a run.
• A man and a woman, both in those scooter things for handicapped people, with a 3 year old walking between them.
• Tons of Canadian geese, who just kinda of look at you with a typical Jersey attitude while you run by.
• An older lady with a T-shirt which said “Grey Rocks!” on the back…while she had dyed her hair red.

Lessons Learned This Week

1. I already knew this one, but ice baths are a runners best friend.
2. Nipples chafe, badly.
3. When you think you have all your blisters covered, you’ll find another.
4. Taking a 30 second walk “break” after drinking is necessary to not feel nauseated.
5. Powergel > Gu

I know this blog post is long, but I did want to bring back to focus why I am doing this run.  Like many of you out there, cancer has touched my life, and the lives of some of my friends and family, in a very personal way.  I lost my brother, a father of 3 in his mid 30′s, to cancer last summer.  My wife to be, Stephanie, is almost 3 years cancer free.  It is in my brother’s memory, in her honor, and in respect, admiration, and hope for all others out there dealing with cancer and its effects that I’m running this race for.

As you know, Matt Runs 4 Funds, and through this race my goal is to raise $10,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society…but I can only do so with your help.  If you’d like me to run in honor or someone you know with cancer by sponsoring a mile, or would simply like to sponsor a mile out of support for me, visit the Sponsors Page and find out how you can pledge your support.

Thanks again for checkin in everyone.  Until the next one… Run on Friends!