10 Days

When last we heard from our hero, he was dispersing trail running propaganda that some found useful in a retrospective kind of way. Then he vanished.

The rain soaked the parched earth Sunday morning. The agenda called for 10 miles. Amid getting dressed to run out to grab some breakfast for his wife and himself, the bed frame lurched in front of his knee. He cried out in pain. A bruise had begun to form. The stairs felt like murder. The agenda could go right to hell.

The week ending June 10 ended a weeklong vacation from running as a prelude to this aborted start to marathon training. Last week's planned runs started off fine, but the birthday weekend became too busy to fit in all the intended mileage. And then there was that damned kneecapping at the proverbial hands of an instrument of rest.

"Perhaps this is kismet," our hero considered, while stuffing his face with two cupcakes leftover from Saturday's birthday/Father's Day party.

Lately, doubt had crept into his mind. Although he had a couple good weeks of running recently, the thought of training for another PR effort at the Akron Marathon seemed almost too burdensome.

Friday's run was shorter than planned, but the time was too tight to tack on the remaining distance -- and the heat had already drained his energy. Saturday's run never fit into the schedule, as chores and errands filled the day's docket.

Suddenly, a week that started off well to begin the requisite 16-week training cycle was nearly over without those running goals accomplished.

Does our hero have the mentality to undergo another run at a sub-four-hour marathon?

The reality of being a working stiff with a woman to keep happy has always been a challenge, but the addition of maintaining a house on top of that seems too daunting to overcome. And damn does that knee hurt.

Should he take a year off from the marathon?

Too late for that. This is the 10th anniversary of the Akron Marathon, and the commemorative medallion looks too cool to pass up. The wife has assembled a relay team so that she too can experience the excitement of Akron's big race day. There's no turning back.

Perhaps the training plan needs to change to accommodate a busier lifestyle. The PR year of 2010 featured a five-day-per-week schedule, but that has been difficult to manage so far this year. It's time to go back the drawing board and craft a regimen that features fewer days, but similar weekly mileage totals.

What say you, dear readers? How have you managed training for success with tougher schedules?

Akron Marathon Countdown: Four!

My legs exuded the satisfying dull ache from a good run when I woke up this morning. Last night's final tuneup before the Akron Marathon lasted almost an hour. I left my watch at home and improvised my route.

No time, no distance.

With four days left before the marathon, I wanted a tough run without the pressure of meeting a timed goal. I ran down the long descent of Portage Path to Sand Run Parkway and then turned onto a par course trail that took me up the hill on a steeper path, meandering over to Merriman Road for the run back home.

That's what the Akron Marathon does to you, wrecks your quadriceps on a steep downhill and then attacks your hamstrings and calves as you slowly climb out of the Cuyahoga River valley.

I ignored the taper pains in my right groin. I will feel pain during the marathon. I will have to manage the discomfort like I did last night, by keeping my running fourm in check.

I've been thinking a lot about my goals four this race. I've been consumed with my time goal. But is that the most important aspect of running the Akron Marathon? Four is the magic number. Four days to go. Four hours -- hopefully less than -- of running. Therefour, four goals:

1. Have fun
2. Focus on good fourm
3. Feed off the crowd (spectators, other runners)
4. Break four hours

I'm putting the time goal last, as it is appropriately fourth on my list. My first priority is to enjoy the run, soak in the great crowd support, feel the camaraderie of my fellow racers, and don't get discouraged if it's not my day. While I have a time goal, I want to reduce the pressure of a time goal. Race times are not the reason I run.

Happy Birthday

Dobson the wonder puppy is a year old today. Happy birthday buddy. The Enthusiast and I got him when he was three months old. He effectively ended my stretching routine. He got his own beer. And he's provided endless joy ... with a tiny bit of frustration mixed in for good measure.

Here he is enjoying the view along the Towpath. Yes, he got a haircut. Old news that went unreported.