2 Week Countdown: Buffalo Creek Half Marathon

It is actually less than 2 weeks until the Buffalo Creek Half Marathon, which means one more full week of practice and then one week of tapering.

This week brought colder temps. and some rain so a lot of my training was done on a treadmill. I kind of anticipated this at the beginning of the week and I was worried. I was dealing with shin splints and for some reason the treadmill seems to make the pain worst. I had been wearing my compression socks at night hoping to kill any pain and help recover, but I wouldn't actually know what was going to happen until I was actually on the treadmill.

MONDAY: Rest Day: I was just coming off a weekend of an obstacle race and a 10K. My body felt like it got hit by a Mac truck. Sitting down during the day actually hurt from all the squats and leg lunges I did. This was one rest day that I actually was happy with.

TUESDAY: 6 Miles: I jumped on the treadmill and decided that if I started out slow and built my speed up that maybe my shins would not hurt at all. WRONG!!!! 2 miles into the run and my shins were burning up. I kept trying to think of everything I could to keep my mind off the pain, but it didn't seem to work. I still was speeding the machine up every mile though and every mile was a fight. I managed to get through the whole run and as soon as I got home I threw my compression socks on.

WEDNESDAY: 5 miles: After the pain on the treadmill I decided to run outside no matter what the weather was. The colder air actually felt good and I was able to really let loose on a fast course. My shins felt great on the road and there was almost no pain at all.

THURSDAY: Rest Day: STEELER GAME: I wasn't planning on using this day as a rest day but I ended up getting tickets to the Steeler game and there was no way I was missing that. It was a shitty game and we ended up losing in overtime but I had a good time.

FRIDAY: HILLS: The wife and I were meeting some friends for dinner so I decided to stay close to home and run a hill that is close to the house. I would sprint up the hill and jog back to the bottom. The hill was about a quarter mile long and was a gradual hill rather than a straight up and down. My legs felt really good and once again the shins were feeling good.

SATURDAY: Woke up with the intentions of heading out for my long run. It was raining and I just was not in the mood to get soaking wet. I checked the weather for Sunday and decided to switch my long run till then, so it was back to the gym for the treadmill. I set the machine on a timer for 1 hour and decided I would start it off at 6.5 miles per hour. Every mile I would speed it up. Mile 1 felt great, mile 2 still no problems, mile 3 the shins started to slightly burn. I started to focus on my foot strike and it seemed to help keep the pain away. Anytime I would feel the pain I kept saying to myself "Whoever can fight through the most pain will come out on top", it really seemed to help with the mind games. I finished the run with 7 miles in the hour.

SUNDAY: LONG RUN: The weather was perfect, nice and cool with some overcast. I ended up running 15 miles on a course that is very challenging. I realized that the down hill is when my shins start to feel sore. Kind of sucks when the race I am doing is mainly down hill. I am thinking I will wear my compression socks this week during my runs too see if they help with my shins on the down hill. I kind of went away from wearing them on runs but I will do whatever it takes to reach my goal.

I know a lot of people are running a race in 2 weeks, so how is your training going?
I am thinking after the fall races that most of us are doing we should all get together for some beers on a weekend, obviously this is for the Pittsburgh people, would anyone be down for that?

The Never Quit Mentality

I am sure by now most of you have heard the name Scott Jurek. Scott recently just set the record for hiking the Appalachian Trail in 46 days, 8 hours. If doing all 2,189 miles in that amount of time isn't impressive enough then throw in the fact that he tweaked his knee early into the journey. Still not impressed? Now throw in the fact that he had to over compensate for his knee issue and ended up hurting his quad, all in the first week. What an inspiration, what heart and mental strength it must of taken to complete this journey.

Scott Jurek is just one person who has the "Never Quit" mentality, A mentality that I have come accustomed to during my training. It wasn't running though that made me realize that sometimes if you don't give up great things can happen. About 7 years ago me and my friends decided to play in a new roller hockey league. We went from playing with a ball to playing with a puck, on top of that half of our team was my friends that just started playing a year earlier or so. Our first game we ended up getting destroyed 10-1. We all had our heads hung low and thought we may have bitten off more than we could chew. The next game we ended up winning, and as the season went on we started to click. We weren't the best team out there and we knew that, but we also knew that we had more heart than any other team. If a team wanted to beat us they were going to have to out work us both ends of the rink. We made the playoffs and ended up in the championship game against the team that beat us at the beginning of the season. Once again we played with hearts and never gave up. We ended up winning 5-4, and won the championship. We won as a team, it took everyone not to quit for us to win. Everyone stepped up when we needed them too and to this day that is the best championship I have ever won. It's the best because we won by playing with our heart, we weren't the best but we believed in ourselves and never quit.

Over the past year I have gotten inspired by so many of my running friends and their "Never Quit" mentality.  Nichole who has recently came back from injury is just one person. She never quit and just gave up. When she couldn't run she was still at the gym working hard. Jennifer and Amanda were like myself who set out on a journey to run Pittsburgh in certain times and all of us didn't have the race we wanted, but no one gave up and all of us have already registered for other races for redemption. There are so many other runners that are out there that inspire me and have the "Never Quit" mentality, they all show what having heart is all about. If I could pick a team of runners these would be the people I would choose. We may not be the best, but you are going to get a group of runners that don't the meaning of quit.  If there is anyone who is reading this and has ever doubted their self and their ability, remember it doesn't matter how long it takes you to reach your goal all that matters is that you get to the finish.
NEVER QUIT

Motivational Monday

Columbus Training Week 2

    I headed into week 2 of training for Columbus with the mind set, nothing is going to stop me.  All week during training I kept that positive attitude and it really paid off for me. Last week I ended with 20 miles for the week. This week I wanted to end up with like 22 or so.

MONDAY: Did 4 miles at a 9 min. pace.  This was the first time I wore my new Mizuno shoes. After the run I can say I am very pleased with them.

TUESDAY: I did 3 miles on the track. I would sprint the straight away and jog the turns.  I struggled with this, for some reason my right hip was giving me a problem. I think I need to go to the chiropractor and get adjusted a few times a month just to be safe. I usually can tell when my problem is coming from my back and I am pretty sure this is a side affect of that.

WEDNESDAY: REST DAY/ MOVIE NIGHT

THURSDAY: After work I was unable to run because me and my wife had to go somewhere. When I got home it was to later to run so I decided to just be angry that I missed my workout. I knew it would be hard to make up. Thank god its early in the training.

FRIDAY: Woke up early and ran a little over 6 miles.  Man did I feel good. I ran a new course downtown and I felt really good for the entire run.  I actually was mad that I didn't just keep going and see how far I could of went that day.


SATURDAY: Normally I would go for at least 10 miles for my long run. I had yet another wedding to get ready for so I knew going real long was going to be hard. I was able to get 7 miles in though. I was happy because I finally got to use my new water bottle.  I don't know how I managed to do long runs without one in the past.  It was so nice to not have to worry about dehydrating myself.

SUNDAY (TODAY): I went to the gym and rode the bike for 6 miles, followed by some circuit training.  I am sore and hurting but I just keep telling myself this is all worth it.

So for the week I ended up with 20 again.  Not what I wanted but I felt really good with my runs and I can see improvements. This week looks like I will be able to get in more runs and hopefully I keep feeling this good. 

     I know that going to Columbus and getting my Boston qualifying time is going to be hard. I know the training has to be amped up. I also know that their are people that don't think I can do it.  Listen there are always going to be people that doubt what you can do.  Don't ever let someone tell you can't do something. Whether it be in running, work, school, or life if you want something go get it. Stop at nothing until you accomplish your goals.  Weak minded people always want to pull people down to their level. Be stronger than them.
     
     You may fail 9 times out of 10 but if you never give up and keep pushing forward you will get that 1 time and make it all worth it.
     I will be honest I may not get my BQ but hopefully as you follow me on this journey you will see that I am dedicated and doing everything in my power to get there.  If I fall I will pick myself up.  I believe if I stay focused and keep pushing myself the card will fall into place.
     I hope you too can look at yourself in the mirror and see a person that is willing to give it their all to overcome the obstacles we face. 
     Believe in yourself, because I believe in you!!!!!!

We learn from our mistakes...Marathon recap

     The day after a marathon I always ask myself, why do I put my body though this?  Today I find myself walking like a baby deer taking its first steps.
 Normally it takes me a few days and I am ready to go again, not this year though. I am hungry for another marathon now.  Yesterday was not my day, it was more of a downward spiral.  After thinking about the race I only have myself to blame.  I am pissed I let myself down, but I am twice as pissed I let down my friends and family who support me. Mainly my wife, she is my strongest supporter.  She sacrifices a lot for me to run. Time we could be spending together, weekends waking up to go out to breakfast. The list goes on and on of things she gives up for me to chase my dreams.  I feel selfish today. 
     The morning of the race I felt great. I was nervous, more than usual for some reason. I was in and out of the port-o-potty 4 times. Thank god I got there early and had no line to wait in.  As I stood in my corral and waited for the gun to go off I decided I wasn't going to use the clock. I would let my body tell me my speed. Ummm I don't know what the hell I was thinking here. I train by using the clock and using it to help me later on long runs. So there was mistake number 1.  I went through the 10k mark 4 minutes faster than I wanted too, but I felt great. I started to think this was my year. At around the half mark I checked the clock again and I noticed my time was starting to slow by a few seconds. Still felt great though.       

   I was so excited when I reached mile 16 and realized I would soon be coming up on my family. It gave me a burst of energy to hear them yelling and cheering for me.  I rounded the corner and said to myself 10 miles left.  This is also the point I started to realize I hadn't drunken enough water over the course.  Even in my training one of my problems has always been staying hydrated. For some reason I just don't like to take water. Mistake number 2.
   Mile 17 coming up on 18 is when everything took a turn for the worst. My groin got so tight that it brought me to a complete stop. I tried to ignore it and run through it but the pain was just too strong. I slowed my pace and tried to do a slow jog, but the pain had now moved down my legs to my thighs and was making hard for me. for the last 9 miles I was left with running and walking thrown in to try and suppress the pain.  I also made the huge mistake of taking myself out of the race mentally at the 19th mile. I started to think of the course ahead of me and was actually thinking of places I could walk. The one thing I always tell people not to do I was doing it. Mistake number 3.  I fought through the pain and eventually finished the race. No matter how much pain I was in quitting never came into my head.  I may be stubborn, I may an idiot at some times, but I am not a quitter. The biggest mistake of the race actually came though 2 nights before when I decided to have drinks with friends and my cousin who was mourning his grandmothers death. I wanted to be the good friend that was there for him and what I didn't realize was just me being there was good enough. He would rather see me run the race of my life than get drunk with him. Mistake number 4.  My muscles probably were dehydrated before I even started the race.

 

    I am still proud of myself for finishing though. It just shows that no matter how much pain I am in, I will always find a way to get myself across the finish line.  My family was still proud of me and they all told me not to be discouraged about the race. A lot of my twitter friends showed their support and told me to shake it off and not beat myself up over it as well.  And I thank all of you for that. But now I want to show everyone what the real Shaun can do.  I am making a promise to myself to be a better runner, train smarter, eat healthier and most of all not to neglect any time away from my wife. I will find a way to do both and still get PR's.  I don't need a coach or someone to tell me what to do. I am smart enough and have enough sense to know where I went wrong. Now I fix the problem.

 

    After the race yesterday I was beat and hungry. I don't know about you but pizza sounded like heaven to me, and get this......pizza in a cone, SAY WHAT!!!   yes my friends Pizza Cona in Squirrel Hill has them and they are down right phenomenal.  I guess it was my wife's way of making me feel better. You know what, it worked.

 

 

 

How did your race go if you ran?

 





                                                                

Motivational Monday

It could be a fight or a race, your never out as long as your breathing.  As believe in what you can do. Sometimes you will be surprised what your body will do.

Motivational Monday

I think this a great quote!!!  

Motivational Monday

     Every Monday I search the web for a quote that hits home for me.  When I found this one I knew this was going to be the quote for today.  Anyone who has ever talked to me about running usually will ask me if I am nervous about going into a race.  The respond they most likely will get is "No, I am not nervous I know I am not the best in the race but I also know few people can withstand the pain I can and few people are willing to push their body to the limit. One thing I do know is I will not quit I would rather die trying than back down from a challenge."
     Over the years I have over come some really shitty experiences in races, and I always walk away knowing that I gave it all I could that day.  Every time we run its a new experience and some days you got it and some days you don't.  The days when everything is going right, you feel like nothing can stop you.  The days when you just can't get into your rhythm and you feel like nothing is going right, well those are the days that define us.  You have 2 options: the first is you quit and walk away without trying. The second is you dig deep in your sole and you find a way to push through everything and you finish.  Win or lose if you give everything you have you will walk away stronger.   If you quit once who's to say you wont quit again.
    I am sure many of us have been running a race and looked over and seen a person just struggling, the person basically looks like death in shoes.  But then you look at that person and you see them still trying, still giving every once of fight in their body to finish the race.  If you are like me when you see this you give some words of encouragement and try to help them.   I have never looked at that person and said "Hey you should just quit."  Not giving up and enduring the pain is what lets us know we are alive, it makes the finish line mean that much more.