December 24-December 30

Week 5; This has been an incredible week of training! I can not believe the results that I have witnessed this week. First of all to start the week, I had an incredible tempo run on Sunday(12/24). I did not feel as if I was running that hard, but man, I got to my turn-around point extremely fast. I also returned fairly faster than previous weeks(nearly 2 minutes). I also increased my speed workout this week. The rest of the week, I had the same experience(s) as Sunday-much faster times.

Here are the results:

Sunday: 53:44/7 mi/26:31-out/27:13-in/tempo run
Monday: Unable to run (Christmas Day)
Tuesday: 1:23:08/10.5 mi/41:39-out/41:29-in
Wednesday: 53:49/7.3 mi/27:29-out(7-fartleks)/26:20-in(7-fartleks)
Thursday: 1:25:05/10.5 mi/42:57-out/42:08-in
Friday: REST
Saturday: 2:25:59/16 mi/I ran 1 hour with Allen and the rest solo.
Mileage=51

This has truly been a GREAT week of training! It was interesting when I went in to get new running shoes on Thursday. I had the opportunity to speak with one of the reps there about the Arthur Lydiard training program. He was a big fan of Arthur's and he was not surprised to hear of my results. He has read several of Arthur's books and confirmed that Arthur's program is a GREAT program if not the best around today and really encouraged me to get one or two of his books. This served as confirmation to me that I was on to something very good, as if I needed any confirmation after seeing the results after 1 month.

As you can see I missed Monday's run due to Christmas. Had I ran on Monday, that would have put me into the 60 mile range for weekly miles. For the month of January, I plan to reach the 60's and higher as far as mileage goes. My schedule will change drastically, as I run in January due to it being the last month before the marathon. Basically, the month of February will be taper time.

Schedule for the month of January:

Monday: 10 miles at 1/2 effort
Tuesday: 15 miles at 1/4 effort
Wednesday: 12 miles at 1/2 effort over hilly course
Thursday: 18 miles at 1/4 effort
Friday: REST
Saturday: 22 miles at 1/4 effort
Sunday: 15 miles at 1/4 effort

Seeing that it was the Christmas holidays, I had the incredible opportunity as last year to spend time with my lovely nephews for 5 days:

James Byron, 10
Jordan Bryce, 5
Jonathan Bradley, 2

Here are the boys at Dick's Sporting Goods Store doing some rock climbing!





Jonathan and Jordan












James Byron nears the top of the rock with ease!












James Byron goes for the tougher climb.







Thanks guys for a GREAT weekend! Can't wait till the next time!
Happy New Year to all!!

KEEP RUNNING!!
LJ

December 17-December 23

Week 4-Wow, another GREAT week of training! There are two things that I noticed this week:
1) My times are improving significantly.
2) My body is feeling less sore during the longer runs.

Here are the results from this week:

Sunday: 55:58/7 mi/27:52-out/28:06-in
Monday: 56:29/7.3 mi/29:03-out(5-fartleks)/27:26-in(5-fartleks)
Tuesday: 1:28:19/10.5 mi/44:14-out/44:05-in
Wednesday: 56:03/7.3 mi/28:50-out(5-fartleks)/27:12-in(5-fartleks)
Thursday: Unable to run
Friday: REST
Saturday: 2:29:57/18 mi
Mileage=50

The one thing that I am amazed about is the strength that I am gaining through all the running. On Saturday, during the 18 mile run, I was not even tired when finishing up the run. I had considered running for 3 hours as opposed to the 2 hours and 30 minutes, but decided against it. Seeing the improvement has assured me that I will be ready for my next event. Also, it has made me realize that I need to change my Saturday schedule.

My plan is to run next Saturday for 2.5 hours and then 3 hours for the month of January for the Saturday runs. Lydiard talked about getting faster in his program and the changes that would take place once one started getting in better shape. He also mentioned to not get caught up in the times, so this will be a challenge for me as I start to get faster. The main reason he states this so to keep one from injury. I have been fortunate and been able to avoid injury thus far. My plan is to keep it that way.

As Christmas is tomorrow, I would like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday!

KEEP RUNNING!!
LJ

Photo's from Mercedes Marathon, 2/06

Lamar and Sabrina












Kim and Byron

















All of us before Mercedes Marathon












All of us after Mercedes Marathon

December 10-December 16

Week 3; Wow, another GREAT week of training! I must say, I am really liking the Arthur Lydiard training plan. I orginially was concerned that it may be too much running, but it actually is not that bad. I think the running in the a.m. has really made a difference for me. The first week of this training, I ran in the evening and that was pretty tough. Tough from the stand point that I had to come home from work and then spend a couple of hours running(that did not sit too well with the wife). Of course, the training in the a.m. frees me up in the evening.

I am definitely getting in much better shape than previous marathons. I have been very surprised at how fresh I am feeling before each of my runs. At the start of the training, I was very tired come the end of the week for my Thursday and Saturday runs. That does not seem to be the case any longer. I was unable to do my 1.5 hour run on Thursday this week, due to time, but I ran some hills instead and that was a change and a good one. Saturday's run had a whole lot of hills in it and I really wanted to go for 2.5 hours, but decided not to. I plan to run for 2.5 hours this coming Saturday. Here are the results for this past week:

Sunday: REST
Monday: 56:51/7.3 mi/29:41-out/27:09-in(5 fartleks)
Tuesday: 1:28:12/10.5 mi/44:13-out/43:58-in
Wednesday: 58:28/7.3 mi/29:48-out(5 fartleks/28:39-in(5 fartleks)
Thursday: 50:57/6.3 mi/17:25-out/18:09-back(Hill1-7:43/Hill2-7:39)
Friday: REST
Saturday: 2:06:45/14 mi/2:06:45/I ran 1 hour w/Allen and 1 hour solo
Mileage=45

All in all, I am getting faster and my in/out times are getting much faster. I realized today after a run that I may be starting to run too fast and forgetting about being "comfortably tired" as opposed to just plain "tired." Also, the whole point of this training is to run comfortably and afterwards feel good enough to where if I wanted to, I could run another 3 or 4 miles.
Keep Running!!!

December 3-December 9

This was week 2 of using the Arthur Lydiard training plan. Once again, a very good week in training. I seem to be getting stronger and stronger, whereas last week I got pretty tired at the end of the week, I felt pretty good all week long. It seems like I am running further in the 1 hour and 1.5 hour runs than the previous week. Also, I was able to get some good fartlek training in two times this week, Monday (5) and Wednesday (10). Saturday's run went really well and I was not that tired after running for 2 hours. My plan is to probably boost up the Saturday long run to 2.5 hours next weekend.
Once again, GREAT week!

Sunday: REST
Monday: 58:52/7.3 miles/out-30:46/in-28:06(5 fartleks)
Tuesday: 1:29:47/10.5 miles/out-44:50/in-44:57
Wednesday: 57:55/7.3 miles/out-29:43(5 fartleks)/in-28:12(5 fartleks)
Thursday: 1:27:12/10.5 miles/out-43:25/in-44:01
Friday: REST
Saturday: 2:00:22/14 miles with Allen
Mileage=50

My times seemed to be pretty consistent this week. I did a pretty good job pacing this week as well and my out and back times seem to be pretty close. Also, this week I ran in the morning time as opposed to the evenings. The morning runs seem to be much better for me, so I will try the morning runs again this week. My training runs this week also had more hills as opposed to the previous week.
KEEP RUNNING!!

November 26-December 2

This has been a very good week in training for my next marathon (Tampa Marathon). In using the Arthur Lydiard program, I am beginning to really enjoy it. It is a lot of running, but at the same time, it is really helping me to get my pacing down.

Sunday-59:50/7 miles/out-29:24/in-30:26
Monday-Unable to run
Tuesday-1:27:56/10.6 miles/out-43:53/in-44:03
Wednesday-59:53/7 miles/out-29:22/in-30:31
Thursday-1:31:07/10.6 miles/out-45:12/in-45:54
Friday-REST
Saturday-1:58:29/13 miles/ran with Allen
Mileage=48

My times seemed to get a little slower as I got closer to Friday. I was beginning to feel more tired at the beginning of each run. Also, I ran in the evenings all week.
Great week!

Mercedes Marathon-2/12/06...3:52:09

What an awesome event! I had the opportunity to join my brother(BJ) in running his
first marathon. Also my wife(SJ) and sister-in-law(KJ) both ran the half-marathon.
Congratulations BJ on finishing your first marathon and GREAT job SJ and KJ on finishing
the half-marathon.



My brother BJ (top photo)

My wife(SJ) and sister-in-law(KJ) (middle photo)

Me(LJ) (bottom photo)

LJ@US10kClassic, 9/4/06...50:34

Lamar and his beautiful wife, Sabrina

LJ@MarineCorpsMarathon, 10/29/06...3:50:42

Marine Corps Marathon was a GREAT marathon and a very flat course for the most part. The last .2 miles was a steep incline that could not have come at a worst time, but all in all it was a good race. I really enjoyed the marathon as I was a little disappointed in my time, but I am sure to do better in the next one.

LJ@Atlanta Half Marathon, Thanksgiving '06

Running by Time...

According to Arthur Lydiard:

I ran today for 60 minutes which equates to 7 miles.
I have decided to use the Arthur Lydiard training program
for my next marathon(Tampa Marathon, 2/18).
This is my schedule for this week:

Monday: 1 hour run
Tuesday: 1.5 hour run
Wednesday: 1 hour run
Thursday: 1.5 hour run
Friday: REST
Saturday: 2 hour run
Sunday: 30 minute run

Run with a purpose!
LJ

Improving my Marathon Time

There are so many marathon training schedules that are available today.
I have tried several of them. I must say that I was able to complete my
very first marathon on my own without any type of help. I looked on the
internet for a training plan and to my surprise, I found one. That being said
I was able to complete my very first marathon(Country Music Marathon)
in a time of 3:52 back in 2001.

The plan that I chose required three 20 mile runs. I never once completed
a 20 mile run. The most I was able to complete was 18 miles.

I then joined a running organization (TEAM) and they gave me yet another
marathon training schedule. It was very similar to the previous plan that I
had. It required three 20 milers. To my surprise, I was able to run two 20 milers
and the third one, I actually went to Nashville and ran the Country Music Marathon
again as a tune-up run for the Rock-n-Roll marathon. To my surprise, I was in such
good shape that I ran the marathon in 3:45. I could have ran it much faster, but
seeing that I was training, I decided to hold back. To my surprise, I did not feel
winded or anything, I felt so good that I was totally amazed!

To this day, 11 marathons later I have been trying to get that feeling back in a marathon and I have
been unsuccessful. However, I am still searching for that training plan that will get me there.

Running is my passion!