More Matt Runs 4 Funds is coming soon.
Stay Tuned…
Written by Matt on December 16th, 2009Taking Inventory
Written by Matt on December 2nd, 2009Tuesday’s Run
Distance: 5 Miles
Time: 45:10 (mile 5 at 8:22)
It’s raining out tonight, and well, I decided to be a bit of a wuss and not suit up and run. Â So instead, I decided to take an inventory of where I am in my training, and how I’m feeling. Â In the month of November, I ran a total of 162 miles. Â That’s just under 26 hours total. Â My average pace for the month was 9:36. Â I ran a total of 7600 feet up hill, and a total of 7700 feet downhill (total -100 feet). Â I burned almost 21000 calories. Â All in all, that’s a lot of running. Â And I got all those interesting stats from the SportsTracks program I use with data from my Garmin.
So with all of that, how am I feeling? Â Surprisingly well. Â If it hadn’t been raining today, I think I would of had a great run tonight. Â Oh well. Â This plan I’m using is doing a really good job of not increasing my mileage too quickly. Â The only nagging ache I’ve had, not really injury pain, is a tightness in my calf. Â And even that isn’t every day. Â I did have a stiff neck/shoulder for a week, but I think that had more to do with sleeping wrong than anything else. Â Otherwise, the body is doing fine.
Curious about my mentality through all this? Â Well, I have my good days and my bad…but mostly good. Â There are days when I think about how long I’ll be running on event day (not race day, can’t think of it as a race…otherwise I have pace control issues) and I get a little psyched out. Â And there’s the days when it’s either really cold or wet out and I have to do a double digit run at 7 or 8 in the morning…and I don’t want to get out of bed. Â However, all in all my mind is still in a good place. Â I’m really starting to believe that I can do this, and in under 12 hours as I need to in order to qualify for the 100 miler. Â I just need to stay focused and on track.
Well, that’s about it. Â Tomorrow I’ll make up for a mile or two of today’s run. Â So, until then…Run on Friends!
Ultra Marathon Training: Week 5
Written by Matt on November 30th, 2009Total Miles: 43.62
Total Time: 6:57:00
Total Calories: 5,600
Tuesday – 4, Wednesday – 6.54, Thursday – 5.04, Saturday – 18.04, Sunday 10.04
So I’ve been sitting here for about 20 minutes trying to figure out what to write about the last week of training. Â I’ve honestly come up with nothing to say. Â So, let’s leave it at this past week was the longest week I’ve running I’ve ever had. Â My legs are good, everything else is good.
So, until next time…Run on Friends!
Ultra Marathon Training: Weekend 4
Written by Matt on November 23rd, 2009Total Miles: 23.3
Total Time: 3:48
Total Calories: 2900
Saturday
Workout: 13.1 Miles
Time: 2:08:45
In contrast to Thursday, I just wasn’t really in the mood to run Saturday morning. Â I actually started having negative thoughts about it Friday night, but still managed to get up on time and head out the door for the run. Â After some debate, I ended up going back to Johnson Park in Piscataway. Â However, to switch it up some, I figured after 4 miles I’d cut into Rutgers to see what kind of milage I could do there.
The Rutgers campus is surprisingly big. Â I took my run up past the newly renovated football stadium, then headed down and around some roads. Â And what did I find? Â A full golf course, smack dab in the middle of the campus. Â I was tempted to run on their paths, but opted against it. Â So I stuck to the roads, winding through Busch and the UMDNJ campuses, doing a final lap around a soccer field before I headed back down to Johnson Park for the file 4.something miles.
All in all, I never really got into the run. Â My time was good, my breathing was good, nothing hurt…but I just mentally couldn’t get into it. Â But, you have to push yourself through these “no fun” runs in order to reach your goals, and so I did. Â And, along the way, I found a new course to run and got a first hand look at some of the great facilities Rutgers has to offer.
Sunday
Workout: 10.2 Miles
Time: 1:40
Sunday I was faced with the same issue…I was just not really in the mood to run. Â Figuring I was doing only 10, I headed back to Johnson Park to do the 5 out-and-back times 2. Â It’s varied enough to keep you from getting completely bored. Â The first 2 miles were rough…the sun was in my eyes and I was still groggy and cranky. Â It really wasn’t until mile 6 that I finally started feeling good. Â And that good feeling took me through 10.2 and on my way home to get ready for some family get togethers. Â I saw some of the usual suspects along the way…the ninja lady doing her routine, and this hard core old guy who walks faster than many people run…and he does it with a limp. Â And of course, I can’t forget my geese friends with their “what are you looking at?!” attitudes!
People ask me a lot what I think about while I’m running so many miles. Â And the funny thing is…I’m mostly either blanked out or thinking about running. Â Not so much the run I’m currently on, but about future runs and races, and planning out for those. Â While running Sunday I came up with two great ideas:
Reach out (through my Team in Training people up here) to Team in Training in Florida to see if they will come out race day to cheer me on some. Â This would be great motivation for me, would help give Stephanie some company, and be good promotion for the Team in Training program. Â I know they’d definitely help me get through it. Â So, I’ve reached out…we’ll see if it happens.- I decided to make up a spreadsheet for Stephanie that shows where I should be at what times, based on possible paces…so that way it minimizes any worrying she might do thinking I got hurt or passed out or something. Â I was (with her help) actually able to figure out how to write a formula in Excel to calculate it for me so I didn’t have to figure it out myself. Â I was pretty impressed. Â So now she’ll know when I should be showing up at certain locations…but with a much better feeling about the time range I should be showing up in.
Well, that’s it for this weekend. Â Next weekend coming up is 18 and 10. Â Fun, fun stuff. Â I just need to find someone to run those with me. Â Any takers?
Until next time…run on friends!
Running Makes Everything Better
Written by Matt on November 19th, 2009Workout: 4 Miles
Time: 34:35
Not too long ago I mentioned in one of my posts how sometimes you have one of those days at work where all you want to do is come home, change into some pjs, and hit to couch or go to sleep.  Well, there’s also those days that are so bad, stressful, aggravating at work that all you want to do is come home, change into running clothes, and head out for a hard and fast run.  Today was definitely the latter of the two.  I won’t go into specific details, but work has been stressful this past week or so due to our yearly conference coming up and certain deadlines to meet.  Plus, I don’t always see eye to eye with some of the people I work with on how things are done, so it can cause some tension (at least on my end).  I wasn’t able to get a lot of progress on my projects today due to several other things going on, so at 5:00 I was feeling quite overwhelmed and in need of the weekend.
So I got home, threw on my clothes (remembered the vest this time), grabbed my new flashlight instead of the headlamp this time, and headed out the door. Â I knew the run would be good when it only took around a minute for the Garmin to find the satellites…it’s been taking 5-8 minutes lately. I did a 4 miler which is mostly flat, with some hills at beginning and end. Â My splits were something like this: 8:40, 9:06, 8:40, 8:20. Â That probably doesn’t add up to my time, but I don’t feel like getting the Garmin. Â In any case, the run was very smooth, kept a nice quick pace throughout, and didn’t get run over by any cars (always a good thing!).
As the stress of the day left my body, my mind filled with positive thoughts, good feelings, and ways to get through the day tomorrow. Â I felt and feel so much more positive, and all the stress is gone. Â After a hot shower, I’m completely relaxed. Â Once again, running has saved the day!
On an ironic note, I just heard the greatest quote about quitting a job…watching Flash Forward and one of the characters said she was quitting her job.  Her mother asked why.  She replied, “It’s becoming a cemetery for my soul.”  How many people feel that way about their job??
Well, until next time… Run on Friends!
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