Peter's Team Diabetes Triathlon (and formerly Marathon) Blog

Last night I did a session of intervals. Started with 40 minutes of easy pace run and then did 4 x 800m repeats with a recovery jog in between efforts. The workout went really well. Tonight I am heading down to our local Running Room store to participate in the Wednesday night group run. It's going to be cccccold since the temp right now is -24c.

I have added a link to a blog by Colleen who lives in New England and will be running the Boston Marathon in 2007 for the second time as part of Team in Training - raising funds for Leukemia research.

I've also removed some of the links to blogs that were no longer being maintained by their authors.

... because they are a rest day in my training schedule. Also because the countdown to Boston clicks down by one on every Monday. Today marks 11 weeks to go until race day.
Just got my training schedule from Coach Mike and as I had guessed, my progressively shorter weekend runs over the past two weeks were but a lull into a false sense of security. This coming weekend the target he has set for me is 200 minutes (3 hours + 20 minutes). As my friend Helen MacKinnon would say, "Sweet mother of God".

Yesterday's long run was done in what you might charitably call "sub-optimal conditions". It was about -15c when I left the house and 20 kph winds gave a windchill in the -25c range. I was layered with TWO pairs of running tights, a turtleneck, 2 long sleeve running shirts, a running sweater, a jacket, wool mitts, a balaklava and sunglasses. I felt a bit like the Michelin Man I had so much stuff on! Plus I was wearing my beloved Yak Trax.

I set out for my 90 minute run, actually did 98 minutes and maintained a pace just over 10:30/mile. Not bad considering.

Last night I joined up with folks at the Running Room and participated in a group run. First time that I have done so and it was lots of fun. Jill is helping to lead a Learn To Run group so she went with them and I went with a Half Marathon clinic group. We did about 7K in 45 minutes which was pretty good considering the cold and the slippery footing.

Monday marked exactly 12 weeks until marathon day. It was also, as usual, my rest day so yesterday was the start of training for Week "T minus 12". Due to weather and daytime scheduling difficulties I once again had to do my session during the evening, inside at the fieldhouse. While I "got 'er dun", I find a 45 minute run inside to be more challenging than an outdoor run of twice the distance. Strange.

... are the greatest.

A parcel arrived yesterday from my cousin Chris with a pair of Yak Trax. They are a grid made of rubber/steel that you hook over the soles of your shoes to give you traction in the snow and ice. They work on the same principle as chains for vehicle tires.

I tried them out on my 2 hour run today and they worked GREAT. It was hard to even notice them underfoot and they made it possible for me to do my run even though the roads and sidewalks are still a mess from yesterday's storm.

Had a good session - 2 hours of "progression run" with the first section at 10:30/mile and the last section at 9:30/mile. Cosidering the weather (a wicked wind chill) and the footing, I am pretty pleased with that.

Rest day tomorrow and then Monday marks 12 weeks till marathon day.

Oh sure it has no real monetary value but to have my own Boston Marathon finisher's medal will be priceless.

20 miles of hope, 6.2 miles of truth.

Wow !! I just looked up the results for my cousin Chris and wife Caroline. They were both running their first marathon today in Phoenix - the PF Chang Rock and Roll Marathon. They did it as part of TNT - Team in Training - fundraising for the Leukemia Society.



Both of them had excellent results and met their goal. Chris finished in a smokin' time of 4:00:00 and Caroline now has bragging rights over me because she finished in an awesome time of 4:44. I'm not going to whine about how NYC was more crowded and I took time for pictures and the course was tougher and and and... Guess I'm just going to have to beat that time when I am in Boston.

I am so proud of you guys.

Did my long run yesterday and it went really well. Completed the first two hours at an average pace of 10:00 minutes/mile. Third hour I was a little slower - closer to 10:20 per mile but still, overall I was 10:05/mile. Can't wait to tell Coach Mike.

It was tough but managed to get my three training sessions completed this week. Tuesday and Wednesday night were done indoors at the Nasis Fieldhouse while yesterday's session was done outside. I maintained a 10:00/mile pace quite comfortably - a little faster than the target that Coach Mike game me (10:30).

Today is a rest day then Saturday is a BIG test - 3 hours at easy pace. I haven't run that far since the actual day of the NYC marathon so hope I am up to the test.

Here are three pictures that to me represent true courage. Each of these competitors in the NYC marathon has overcome tremendous adversity and while one may be more famous that the other two, they are all equally worthy of our respect and admiration.

Wasn't able to get in a run at lunch so this evening I went to the Nasis Fieldhouse and ran indoors. It was a tad boring since the track is only about 150m (9 laps to the mile) and I had to do an hour long run (about 6 miles) but it was better than trying to run on slippery roads and sidewalks at night. What a bargain too. A year long membership costs but $25.

Another pic from our holiday - Jill and the kids at Big White ski resort

Back now from our Christmas/New Years trip to the west. We had a great time visiting family in Calgary and Kelowna but it is of course always nice to get home. I've had three good training sessions since my last post. On Monday, New Years Day, I ran a 8k to make up for only doing 5k in the Resolution Run. Tuesday and Wednesday I was skiing so didn't run but Thursday I ran for 40 minutes at a faster (10:00/mile) than usual (11:00/mile) "easy run" pace. Then yesterday I did a 2 hour run and managed to average 10:00/mile for the distance.

Chris showing some style in the "pow" at Big White ski resort



Big snow/freezing rain/rain storm happening here in Fredericton today. Glad it's a rest day for me. Weather is supposed to be better tomorrow so I should be able to get my training done.

Received some initial information about the marathon today from the sponsor. The email started with, "... you have been selected as an elite member (my emphasis) of Manulife Financial's running squad". Clearly, Manulife has a different notion of elite than I do or else they put my name on the wrong list. It ought to have said, "you have been selected as filler to make up the requisite number for participation on the penquin patrol ..."

And so, I waddle on friends