Gotta Get Moving!

It has been a busy last few weeks and couple of months. Spent last weekend with friends in Hyde Park and really enjoyed the CIA inspired local cuisine. As a matter of fact, I enjoyed it so much I've put on another three pounds. Since the NYC marathon, I think I've added about eight pounds. It's time to start getting back into real running shape. Twice a week & less than fifteen miles per week won't do it.

My plan to get back into shape is to do the New Jersey Marathon. I thought it was in late May, but it's actually on the May 2, 2009. That gives me a little more than three months to train. Enough time for a 3:15? I'm really not sure. I just know I need to do something besides eat dessert. The other event I plan on doing is the Queens Biathlon in the last part of May.

Anyways, hopefully I'll stop the talking and get going. I've been staying indoors mostly playing basketball and spinning. But there's nothing like getting out there and hitting the road.

Carbo loading...

Has begun. It's only Wednesday, but I figure I'll be running on Friday also, so it won't hurt. Want to make sure I pack my muscles with as much glycogen as possible for Sunday. I ate enough today to last an entire marathon on Friday. Sara made Chicken Assaggio for dinner. To add to the cookies I had at work today, I bought more baked goods from Amy's Bakery downstairs. I love living in the city. Everything I want seems just a block or two outside my door.

This entire season, I haven't really trained with gels. There were also at least a couple of times when I did 20+ milers without carbo loading and gels and I was able to last through both of them. That said, I know I still have to be smart about fueling during the race. I think the first 20 miles will be relatively easy. It's the last 6.2 that worries me.

On a totally unrelated note, I saw Sara on Lipstick Jungle tonight! She was in the background, but it's still pretty cool to see her on these shows :-)

Another Off Day!

No running today, but my wife and I did accidentally walk in to a filming of "Make Me A Supermodel" after we had pizza at Grimaldi's. That's the fun thing about living in NYC. Walk around, and before you know it, you're walking by a plastic cube hoisted in the air occupied by REALLY skinny, long legged lingerie clad girls. And on Thursday, Sara and I ran across Ralph Fiennes who was also jogging in Central Park.

Anyhow, I think it was good to give my knee another break. Still sore. Tomorrow I'm planning on about 15-18 miles - a short(ish) long run - after I'm done volunteering at the Central Park Biathlon.

mmmmm.....COOKIES!

I think I had about ten cookies today. Two after lunch, and another eight dark absolutely divine chocolate chip with walnuts (from a Jacques Torres recipe) that my wife made after dinner. I think that's why I'm still up at 1am. At this point in my training, I know I probably should be eating better fuel. I usually put together a bowl of spinach, carrots, mushrooms, 1/2 hard-boiled egg and some dressing along with my main course, and I think that has worked pretty well for me, but my kryptonite is sugar in the form of baked goods. I find it practically impossible to resist cookies, muffins, brownies, blondies, whatever, around this time of year. My rationalization is that I need the energy for all my training. Give me lots of pasta, lots of veggies, but also give me lots of cookies :-)

This is definitely not a complaint. I know I won't be able to eat like this forever so I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts.

I Don't Know How Michael Phelps Does It

I'm not comparing myself to Michael Phelps as an athlete by any means. What I'm wondering about is the 12000 calories he eats (ate?) per day while training and competing. I took today off, and found myself eating huge meals today after a huge dinner last night. All in all, I think I've had about 5000-6000 calories over the last 24 hours. Most of it has been carbs in several different forms to refuel after 23 miles the last couple of days, and to load up for my long run this weekend. One of these marathon training days this year, I'm going to try to consume 12000 calories in one day and blog about how it affects me.