Swarely said:
Good idea for a thread!
TDL;DR: didn't see real progress until I started taking running seriously.
Little history on me- I ran hurdles and the quarter mile in high school. Ran in the Corps at A&M. Started long distance running in 2015. Had no plan except to run until I didn't jiggle anymore. Literally started by just run/walking 30 min each day.
Ran the BCS marathon that year with no real training plan. In fact, I had only run twice in the 2 months before. Finished in 4:35:04. Worst thing I could have done because I thought that I could run marathons just fine without really training. This led to:
2019 Austin: 5:14:20
2019 NYC: 4:58:13
2021 Chicago: 5:08:09 (although I had 2 shots and 4 beers over the last 6 miles during this one. Do NOT recommend)
I was diagnosed with Low T in September 2021 and started shots. I have had to cycle off and back on them twice due to surgeries. https://texags.com/forums/48/topics/3224830
After neck surgery last year I walked my butt off for 2 months before I was allowed to run again. I was cleared to run again at the start of April and built a base using Hal Higdon's "Run with Hal" app. Around about that time Ragoo gave me his old Garmin Fnix 3. Revolutionized how I ran.
At the end of May I started his Intermediate marathon plan, topping out somewhere above 40mpw. Ran a 3:58:00 in Berlin at the end of September. This was a 37 min marathon PR, along with 2 half marathon PRs under 2 hours each.
As I was leaving Berlin I got the notice that I was running Berlin in March, so I rolled right into Hal's advanced program once again using the app. Maxed out right at 60 mpw. I also found a screaming deal on a Fnix 6, so I upgraded. I read "Racing Weight" by Matt Fitzgerald and started paying attention to what I ate and how much. Read "80/20 Running" by him as well and started training with Hal's schedule, but Fitzgerald's rules. Got a chest heart rate strap to be as accurate as possible. Started listening to running podcasts to help keep me motivated and focused.
All this led to me running a 1:37:50 half in January and a 3:27:50 full in March. A PR of 30 min! (Both those were my first times wearing valorflys)
When I got back from Japan I was in a car crash that led to me not running for a month, then injured myself trying to ramp back up too fast. Then had liver surgery in June.
I just finished my second week back running. I hit 23 miles this week at an average pace of about 11:30 a mile. It's frustrating how slow I have gotten. I am incorporating a strength routine and lots of core work as I ease back into things. Hopefully all goes well and I start Pete Pfitzinger's Half Marathon schedule 1 (from his book "Faster Road Racing") September 11th.
Want to finish out the year running 40mpw regularly. Hoping to hear in October if I have a charity spot for London in April.
Just to update 10 months later-
I did not finish the year running 40 mpw. I struggled with recovery from surgery the rest of the year. Ran Ragnar Trail Relays in October with mediocre results. Did the San Antonio Rock n Roll Half whilst pacing my best friends sub 4 full attempt for the first 10 miles. Finished just a hair over 2 hours and felt fantastic. Was goofing off the entire run.
I felt great after that. Like I had finally turned a corner. Then, a week later, I rolled my ankle trail running. Took a month off and stupidly ran the Bandera 50k with a brace on. Also, went snowboarding. The pain was immense, so I went and got an MRI. The result of that was that I had splint a tendon (along with evidence of previous injuries).
I spent March and April in physical therapy and have returned to running full time. Luckily all the cross training I did during rehab has actually increased my cardio health. My HR on runs is comparable to when I ran Berlin. Maybe a bit better.
I'm on my 4th week of Hal's Intermediate program as I train for the Pikes Peak Ascent in September. After that I have Ragnar in October and the Houston Full in January. Thinking of maybe adding the Two Rivers Half and the BCS half to the calendar as well.
Safe running everyone!