Wednesday, February 3, 2010

HAVE I LOST MY MIND??

So, it's been 15 years since I last did a marathon (Twin Cities, 4 hrs, 48 mins) and although it was a great marathon, it wasn't as much fun as it could/should have been.

The months of training I did left me on the couch most weekends trying to recover from my long runs. Although I was MUCH younger then, my body wasn't in the mood for 50+ miles with spead work thrown in for good measure, and I was ALWAYS on the verge of injury.

If I had a bad long run (slower than I wanted to run), I was in a bad mood until my next long run. If my speed work was not up to par, again I was agry until my next GOOD speed work session.

See a pattern here?

So for the past 15 years, running another marathon has never been far from my mind. The thoughts have usually been followed closely by "No way you can go through that again"!! And I still think that is the case, but....

What if there was a way I could train for a marathon and NOT spend the rest of the weekend or day on the couch? What if I could do it with a smile on my face? What if I could run 4 days a week and not have to put in 50+ miles?



Well, I've looked around, done a LOT of homework, and decided to swallow the Jeff Galloway Run/Walk/Run method!

If this stuff works, which I firmly believe it will, this next marathon, my 6th, will be the most fun I've ever had training for and running one!

So on February 1st, the first day of open registration, I entered the Chicago Marathon and have officially started this experiment.

And there is more... but I'm not just ready to announce the details yet. but soon... very soon.

So for a while, this blog will become my written documentation of how this deal is coming along.

Stay tuned....

Peace...

8 comments:

jen said...

Awesome!! So glad you're back in blog land and training for a marathon. I'm excited to follow your journey! :)

Petraruns said...

Yes Kevin nice to see you back! And you have not lost your mind - come on! You're the father of three young children there cannot be a mind left in there! Run/walk will be great - and so will Chicago. Have run it twice and LOVED it - in freezing temps and boiling temps.

Irish Blue said...

Kevin,

Congrats, this is awesome news! A couple in my running club use this method and get this, they didn't qualify for Boston UNTIL they started doing Galloway's run/walk method. I can tell you they also don't seem to be injured as much as the rest of us. (I would say a full half of the active members of my running club who marathon are hurt right now. HALF! YIKES...) I love this idea and I'm very interested to see how it goes for you. Goodluck!

Oh, and your kids...can I have one? OMG...they are adorable!!

lizzie lee said...

I run between 3-4 days a week and have never logged 50 miles... No, I can't run in 4 something, but I enjoy the experience... If J. Galloway generates any doubt, I highly recommend Furman FIRST. Run less, run faster.

Welcome back

http://www.furman.edu/first/

Marathon Maritza said...

I so thought I had commented on this....YOU CAN DO IT!

Now update us, and please include kiddo pics!

Unknown said...

I trained with the Galloway method last year and completed my first marathon. I'm doing it again this year for the Chicago Marathon. So, yes! It works!

lizzie lee said...

Where are you man???? Nice you are running Chicago... I registered for NY, and the lottery is this coming Wed 4/7. I don't want to make it though, because I am training for Eugene (May 2nd) and one marathon a year is enough for me!!!

lizzie lee said...

Where are you man???? Nice you are running Chicago. I registered for NY and the lottery is this coming Wed 4/7. I actually don't want to make it because I am training for Eugene (May 2nd) and one marathon a year is enough for me!!!