Ernesto's group (4th season) - Closed (Page 145)

Thanks for all the comments on my sleep questions.  I guess I should share as well.

I am lucky in that I live less than 5 minutes from a Life Time Fitness (I pretty much only swim there) and have a great treadmill alongside my trainer in the basement with full dvr capabilities and huge fan.  Additionally, the high school with cushioned track is almost exactly 1 mile from my house.  My surrounding area is safe, relatively well lit, and miles of great sidewalks to run on (wish there were trails though). Work is 5 minutes from home.  In short, I have no excuse not to get my workouts in.

My issue is getting to sleep early enough in order to support a 5am wake-up.  I think the biggest issue is our toddler.  Coupled with the 14 and 10 yr olds, school activities, extracurriculars, homework, supporting my spouse, keeping up the home and work its tough to get to bed at a reasonable time.  typically we are done with kids, etc. by 9:30pm.  That leaves 1.5 hours of relaxtion before 11pm thus ensuring only 6 hours of sleep.  Other issue is trying to negate impact of my fitness lifestyle choices on the family.  On weekends goal is to be done with workouts prior to toddler waking up at approx. 7:30am.  Wife can be understanding and encourage me to sleep in a workout through the family waking up.  I always feel selfish when I do that though because my wife shoulders the kids responsibility the rest of the week.  Weekdays are a bit easier because I can workout until 6:45 when I drop my daughter off at school and then have another 30 to 45 minutes to squeeze in another workout if desired. 

I guess I'm anxiously awaiting my toddler to get a bit older and be self sufficient in the mornings.  Hopefully then it will free up blocks of time, etc. Thanks for listening - really do love the support from this group.  You are all the best!

1 hour ride on the drainer this morning.

Little track this morning.

Ernesto S 1/B 1/R 2 Rest 0 Total 4 3:31:24 
Matthews S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 0 Total 3 2:59:00 
Gabe S 1/B 0/ R 2 Rest 0 total 3 2:47:00 
Jim S 1/B 0/ R 2 Rest 0 total 3 2:35:58 
Andy S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 1 Total 3 1:57:08 
Samy S 1/B 1/R 1 rest 0 total 3 2:27:18
Mitch S 0 / B 2 / R 1 Rest 0 total 3 2:23:04 
Chris S 0/B 0/R 2 Rest 0 total 2 1:10:42 
JoeP S/0/B 1/R2 Rest 1 Total 2 1:34:01

45 minutes on the drainer at lunch

Ernesto S 1/B 1/R 2 Rest 0 Total 4 3:31:24
Matthews S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 0 Total 3 2:59:00
Gabe S 1/B 0/ R 2 Rest 0 total 3 2:47:00
Jim S 1/B 1/ R 2 Rest 0 total 4 3:20:58
Andy S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 1 Total 3 1:57:08
Samy S 1/B 1/R 1 rest 0 total 3 2:27:18
Mitch S 0 / B 2 / R 1 Rest 0 total 3 2:23:04
Chris S 0/B 0/R 2 Rest 0 total 2 1:10:42
JoeP S/0/B 1/R2 Rest 1 Total 2 1:34:01

Race report http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=463303

Thinking about doing the Houston Marathon on Jan 13.  I would have 14 weeks, starting next week.   My plan is to take this week off, except for maybe some swimming, and start my running back up next week doing swimming and biking for the cross training days.

My goal would be to finish with no cramping and stretch goal would be to finish in under 4:25, depending on how the training goes.

Thoughts everyone?

Jackie,

You can do it, so if you are willing to put in the training then I say go for it!

Today a 45 min run workout with intervals on the dreadmill + interval swim

Ernesto S 1/B 1/R 2 Rest 0 Total 4 3:31:24 
Matthews S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 0 Total 3 2:59:00 
Gabe S 2/B 0/ R 3 Rest 0 total 5 4:03:15 
Jim S 1/B 1/ R 2 Rest 0 total 4 3:20:58 
Andy S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 1 Total 3 1:57:08 
Samy S 1/B 1/R 1 rest 0 total 3 2:27:18
Mitch S 0 / B 2 / R 1 Rest 0 total 3 2:23:04 
Chris S 0/B 0/R 2 Rest 0 total 2 1:10:42 
JoeP S/0/B 1/R2 Rest 1 Total 2 1:34:01

55min 2050 m swim last night.

Ernesto S 1/B 1/R 2 Rest 0 Total 4 3:31:24 
Matthews S 2/B 1/R 1 Rest 0 Total 4 3:54:00 
Gabe S 2/B 0/ R 3 Rest 0 total 5 4:03:15 
Jim S 1/B 1/ R 2 Rest 0 total 4 3:20:58 
Andy S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 1 Total 3 1:57:08 
Samy S 1/B 1/R 1 rest 0 total 3 2:27:18
Mitch S 0 / B 2 / R 1 Rest 0 total 3 2:23:04 
Chris S 0/B 0/R 2 Rest 0 total 2 1:10:42 
JoeP S/0/B 1/R2 Rest 1 Total 2 1:34:01

Did some intervals on the bike today. Feeling pretty flat, work is madness again and I've been sleeping very little.

Ernesto S 1/B 2/R 2 Rest 0 Total 5 4:31:24 
Matthews S 2/B 1/R 1 Rest 0 Total 4 3:54:00 
Gabe S 2/B 0/ R 3 Rest 0 total 5 4:03:15 
Jim S 1/B 1/ R 2 Rest 0 total 4 3:20:58 
Andy S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 1 Total 3 1:57:08 
Samy S 1/B 1/R 1 rest 0 total 3 2:27:18
Mitch S 0 / B 2 / R 1 Rest 0 total 3 2:23:04 
Chris S 0/B 0/R 2 Rest 0 total 2 1:10:42 
JoeP S/0/B 1/R2 Rest 1 Total 2 1:34:01

I think you need more time than that, you don't have too many long runs and by long I mean 14 or longer.

Jackie, of course you can do it. Give yourself 2 weeks of easy activity for recovery, then start running. Whatever plan you follow, take the last 12 weeks from it and you should be fine. Personally, I would mix running with walking during LSDs to avoid injury. I also wouldn't expect a cramp free marathon in this scenario (prepare to walk the last few miles) and definately would forget about the time goal. If you are happy to finish it just like you finished the HIM, then go for it. Again, this is my opinion.

Today was a busy day: taxi duties to and from the hospital taking my wife for an operation (finger-bone-spur-ectomy or something like that). On top of that our 5yo is sick with a stomach flu and did a massive vomit in the car just in front of the hospital... Had to carry her into the hospital and we both looked and smelled lovely. We were turning heads alright. No workout for me and since I will be a nurse at home for the next few days, I won't be putting much of a SBR challenge here.

Hope you all had a better day than that.

60' run the treadmill at a very slow pace, but felt OK enough. 

I have taken the collective wisdom of Chris and Jim to heart and have: (1) increased icing; (2) run slower and (3) started using that stupid strassburg sock.  These have each helped and the AT discomfort is subsiding.  However, as the AT is feeling better, I'm also feeling some unrelated heal tenderness/soreness.  I've always have been a bit of heal striker and it usually happens when I get tired and my form breaks down.  I've been doing all my running in lightweight trainers (Saucony Kinvaras) and I think that (combined with more trail running) have contributed to some of my issues.  I've moved back to a neutral and more cushioned shoe for the time being and I think that helps as well.

Jackie - Mark's advice about the marathon is spot on.  Only do it if all you care about is finishing and are prepared to walk.  Whereas longer miles on the bike are largely incremental, longer miles on the run are exponential.  There's not much that can prepare for those miles after 20 except for lots and lots of training (and even then those last 6 are usually hell).

Ernesto S 1/B 2/R 2 Rest 0 Total 5 4:31:24
Gabe S 2/B 0/ R 3 Rest 0 total 5 4:03:15
Matthews S 2/B 1/R 1 Rest 0 Total 4 3:54:00
Jim S 1/B 1/ R 2 Rest 0 total 4 3:20:58
Samy S 1/B 1/R 1 rest 0 total 3 2:27:18
Mitch S 0 / B 2 / R 1 Rest 0 total 3 2:23:04
JoeP S/0/B 1/R3 Rest 1 Total 3 2:34:01
Chris S 0/B 0/R 3 Rest 0 total 3 2:17:33
Andy S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 1 Total 3 1:57:08

4 mile run. 3 at 5k pace and then one slow. Want to begin to do some hard workouts to get my body used to pushing itself, as most of my runs for the last few months have been at MAF.

Also began P90X yesterday (chest, back, and abs). WOW! Did not know there were so many variations of pull-ups and push-ups, and I think we did them all.

Ernesto S 1/B 2/R 2 Rest 0 Total 5 4:31:24
Gabe S 2/B 0/ R 3 Rest 0 total 5 4:03:15
Matthews S 2/B 1/R 1 Rest 0 Total 4 3:54:00
Jim S 1/B 1/ R 2 Rest 0 total 4 3:20:58
Samy S 1/B 1/R 2 rest 0 total 4 3:07:35
Mitch S 0 / B 2 / R 1 Rest 0 total 3 2:23:04
JoeP S/0/B 1/R3 Rest 1 Total 3 2:34:01
Chris S 0/B 0/R 3 Rest 0 total 3 2:17:33
Andy S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 1 Total 3 1:57:08

5 mile runch 41:36 at MAF

Ernesto S 1/B 2/R 2 Rest 0 Total 5 4:31:24
Gabe S 2/B 0/ R 3 Rest 0 total 5 4:03:15
Matthews S 2/B 1/R 1 Rest 0 Total 4 3:54:00
Jim S 1/B 1/ R 3 Rest 0 total 5 4:02:34
Samy S 1/B 1/R 2 rest 0 total 4 3:07:35
Mitch S 0 / B 2 / R 1 Rest 0 total 3 2:23:04
JoeP S/0/B 1/R3 Rest 1 Total 3 2:34:01
Chris S 0/B 0/R 3 Rest 0 total 3 2:17:33
Andy S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 1 Total 3 1:57:08

Jackie- I have to agree, if you are doing the mari just to do it-go for it. That is what I ended up doing back in the Spring after being warned about trying to race it when I didn't have the mileage in. I had a great day, it was a lot fun and I would do that again. The race had a great energy, and was a positive experience. I have that experience under my belt. Now next year I plan to race it, and I will get the mileage in. 

Lunch time swim.  Note to self: taking a few weeks off of swimming is not a positive experience when you get back in the pool.

Ernesto S 1/B 2/R 2 Rest 0 Total 5 4:31:24
Gabe S 2/B 0/ R 3 Rest 0 total 5 4:03:15
Matthews S 2/B 1/R 1 Rest 0 Total 4 3:54:00
Jim S 1/B 1/ R 3 Rest 0 total 5 4:02:34
Samy S 1/B 1/R 2 rest 0 total 4 3:07:35
Mitch S 1 / B 2 / R 1 Rest 0 total 4 2:53:35
JoeP S/0/B 1/R3 Rest 1 Total 3 2:34:01
Chris S 0/B 0/R 3 Rest 0 total 3 2:17:33
Andy S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 1 Total 3 1:57:08

Mark, hope things get better with your family soon!

I'm now following Ernesto Villaroel's customized training plan to get me to the NY Marathon on Nov. 4th and am really appreciating the intensity of the shorter, but more demanding workouts!  By targeting shorter, more focused workouts, instead of the higher volume approach I was following, it will be interesting to see how we do on race day...

Today a 34 min tempo + intervals (7x1min)

Posted at same time as Mitch so updating Mitch's workout

Ernesto S 1/B 2/R 2 Rest 0 Total 5 4:31:24 
Gabe S 2/B 0/ R 4 Rest 0 total 6 4:51:49 
Matthews S 2/B 1/R 1 Rest 0 Total 4 3:54:00 
Jim S 1/B 1/ R 3 Rest 0 total 5 4:02:34 
Samy S 1/B 1/R 2 rest 0 total 4 3:07:35 
Mitch S 1 / B 2 / R 1 Rest 0 total 4 2:53:35 
JoeP S/0/B 1/R3 Rest 1 Total 3 2:34:01 
Chris S 0/B 0/R 3 Rest 0 total 3 2:17:33 
Andy S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 1 Total 3 1:57:08

Hope you feel better quickly Andy...

Little runch action, tonight a swim and tomorrow my first day off this month.

Ernesto S 1/B 2/R 3 Rest 0 Total 6 5:02:07 
Gabe S 2/B 0/ R 4 Rest 0 total 6 4:51:49 
Matthews S 2/B 1/R 1 Rest 0 Total 4 3:54:00 
Jim S 1/B 1/ R 3 Rest 0 total 5 4:02:34 
Samy S 1/B 1/R 2 rest 0 total 4 3:07:35 
Mitch S 1 / B 2 / R 1 Rest 0 total 4 2:53:35 
JoeP S/0/B 1/R3 Rest 1 Total 3 2:34:01 
Chris S 0/B 0/R 3 Rest 0 total 3 2:17:33 
Andy S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 1 Total 3 1:57:08

Hope all those not feeling well get better soon!!!

Ernesto S 1/B 2/R 3 Rest 0 Total 6 5:02:07 
Gabe S 2/B 0/ R 4 Rest 0 total 6 4:51:49 
Matthews S 2/B 1/R 2 Rest 0 Total 5 4:31:51
Jim S 1/B 1/ R 3 Rest 0 total 5 4:02:34 
Samy S 1/B 1/R 2 rest 0 total 4 3:07:35 
Mitch S 1 / B 2 / R 1 Rest 0 total 4 2:53:35 
JoeP S/0/B 1/R3 Rest 1 Total 3 2:34:01 
Chris S 0/B 0/R 3 Rest 0 total 3 2:17:33 
Andy S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 1 Total 3 1:57:08

Squad swim this evening. Felt well.

Ernesto S 2/B 2/R 3 Rest 0 Total 7 5:55:49
Gabe S 2/B 0/ R 4 Rest 0 total 6 4:51:49 
Matthews S 2/B 1/R 2 Rest 0 Total 5 4:31:51
Jim S 1/B 1/ R 3 Rest 0 total 5 4:02:34 
Samy S 1/B 1/R 2 rest 0 total 4 3:07:35 
Mitch S 1 / B 2 / R 1 Rest 0 total 4 2:53:35 
JoeP S/0/B 1/R3 Rest 1 Total 3 2:34:01 
Chris S 0/B 0/R 3 Rest 0 total 3 2:17:33 
Andy S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 1 Total 3 1:57:08

Easy bike last night and running outdoors this morning.  

54:57 2000 yds in the pool

Ernesto S 2/B 2/R 3 Rest 0 Total 7 5:55:49
Gabe S 2/B 0/ R 4 Rest 0 total 6 4:51:49
Mitch S 1 / B 3 / R 2 Rest 0 total 6 4:12:06
Matthews S 2/B 1/R 2 Rest 0 Total 5 4:31:51
Jim S 2/B 1/ R 3 Rest 0 total 6 4:57:31
Samy S 1/B 1/R 2 rest 0 total 4 3:07:35
JoeP S/0/B 1/R3 Rest 1 Total 3 2:34:01
Chris S 0/B 0/R 3 Rest 0 total 3 2:17:33
Andy S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 1 Total 3 1:57:08

My first day off this month. Taking the day off from work too and going to the State Fair with the family.

Ernesto S 2/B 2/R 3 Rest 1 Total 7 5:55:49
Gabe S 2/B 0/ R 4 Rest 0 total 6 4:51:49
Mitch S 1 / B 3 / R 2 Rest 0 total 6 4:12:06
Matthews S 2/B 1/R 2 Rest 0 Total 5 4:31:51
Jim S 2/B 1/ R 3 Rest 0 total 6 4:57:31
Samy S 1/B 1/R 2 rest 0 total 4 3:07:35
JoeP S/0/B 1/R3 Rest 1 Total 3 2:34:01
Chris S 0/B 0/R 3 Rest 0 total 3 2:17:33
Andy S 1/B 1/R 1 Rest 1 Total 3 1:57:08