Consistency. That’s what it is all about in running. One twenty mile run isn’t going to get you ready for a marathon, but week after week, month after month, of strong mileage – that’s where it’s at. It is an easy thing to understand, but a hard thing to accomplish. I sure haven’t lately. In the last two weeks I injured my groin pretty badly, necessitating taking more than a week off, and then I got sick. Consistent, I have not been.

 

Last night I was back at it with a slow and steady 4.5 mile run home from work. The groin felt a little tight and, as is often the case when I get back to it after more than a day or two off, my shins hurt. But that’s life, I expect today’s run to be better.

 

The plan from here until the marathon is simple: get in the miles (averaging 50-60 mpw) with some tempo runs thrown in, but no track work and lose some weight. When I do track work outs I get hurt, and I cannot afford to get hurt again right now. I’m sad about missing out on the club practices, but I need to be smart, I need to protect my health and my chances of some sort of success in Philly, and that means miles, lots of them, over a sustained period.  It also means dropping a little weight. With almost two weeks off (but still eating like a pig!) I’ve gained a little weight. I’m at 185 right now, I’d like to be at 175 at the marathon. Ten pounds in eight weeks? That’s aggressive, but not insane. I think it’s doable if I drink less beer and run more miles. We’ll see.