Time To Get Serious

"There's this pain, this aching, and going on and on and on. That's what divides a champion from a non-champion - having the guts to go through the pain barrier."

-Arnold Schwarzenegger

I do like certain quotes Arnold makes from the movie, "Pumping Iron."  While I know NOTHING about bodybuilding, I respect the amount of training that goes into it and going through the "pain barriers" Arnold talks about.  There are always new barriers to be broken down.  The current barrier that stands in my way is the marathon.  In order to break this barrier, I have to commit myself fully to it.  I did this back in 2005, when I ran my debut in 2:38:48 and actually committed my training to the race.  But also back then my 5K, 10K, and half marathon times were way slower, light years practically from where they stand now.  I knew in order to improve I had to work on getting those distances faster.  Heck, my 5K race pace back then was not even my half marathon pace NOW.  9 years later, I still look at my debut marathon race as  one of the key most important things I learned about myself as a runner.  It told me that I was a grinder-I could take mile after mile, obsessively pushing through barrier after pain barrier.  And I LOVED it.  But I also really needed to work hard on those other barriers of getting my other distance times better-especially with a lackluster college racing career(that I believe was underdeveloped) behind me.  Now, after doing a lot of hard work on those shorter distances, and with many breakthroughs in my half marathon time, I am ready to attack the marathon full force as the great marathon runner I know I am inside.  I have what it takes to break down the next barrier.  I just must commit to it.  The first step in that process is a good plan.  Roland is helping me to fill that process and making decisions like NOT doing the Rockville Twilighter 8K was one of them.  When I asked him about doing the twilighter, in his own words, he said to me, "It's time to get serious about the marathon, Chris."  Many people were surprised I didn't run the race because I always run that race.   In fact, minus last year's cancellation, this was the first year since 2007 I have not done the twilighter.  I jogged easy during to watch the race and cheer on some runners I coach.  The timing of races during a marathon training cycle are critical, as well as not sacrificing training in order to do a race distance that doesn't relate to marathon training at all.  It took me a long time to understand this, and I think the difference now is that I am just ready to make that commitment.  Below are my past 2 weeks training.

Training 
7/7-7/13: 94 miles
7/14-7/20: 105 miles

Mon 7/7: Med-Long Run 15 miles 1:40:00
(Club Hollow Loop starting from Edward's Ferry, last 6 miles hilly)

Tues 7/8: 6 miles easy + Strength Training

Wed 7/9 AM: 4 miles easy,
PM: 10 miles total: warm up run, drills, then 5:00 @ 5:20 pace, 5:00 easy run, 5:00 @ 5:18 pace, 5:00 easy run, 5:00 @ 5:15 pace, cool down

Thurs 7/10 8 miles easy + Strength Training

Fri 7/11 AM: 4 miles easy,
PM: 10 miles easy

Sat 7/12: Long Run 20 miles 2:16:00(Edwards Ferry/Whites Ferry Double Loop)

Sun 7/13: AM: 12.5 miles easy
PM: 4 miles easy

Total: 94 miles

Mon 7/14: 8.5 miles easy + Strength Training

Tues 7/15: AM: Med-Long Run 18 miles 2:06:00,
PM: 4 miles

Wed 7/16: 10 miles total: warm up run, drills, then 5:00 @ 5:20 pace, 5:00 easy run, 5:00 @ 5:18 pace, 5:00 easy run, 5:00 @ 5:15 pace, 5:00 easy run, 5:00 @ 5:10 pace, cool down

Thurs 7/17: Med-Long Run 15 miles 1:48:00

Fri 7/18: 11 miles easy + Strength Training

Sat 7/19: AM: 12 miles easy,
PM: 4.5 miles easy

Sun 7/20: Long Run 22 miles 2:25:00(Carderock to Georgetown/DC/VA and back)

Total: 105 miles