New Year, New Goals

In 2009, I ran 3 marathons, one 10k, and two 5ks. Not too shabby. This year, my goals are about to get geared up a bit. Not only do I plan to update this thing a lot more, but I really really want to beat my PR for the marathon. But I don't just want to beat it, I want to crush it! By 10 minutes! thats right, 10 minutes! Today starts day one of my training for the Kentucky Marathon in April. But I plan on adding hill repeats and speed work to my training, hopefully propelling me to succeed in this endeavor.

Hopefully I can shed this holiday weight that I may have collected and get going with this right away. One thing that was most helpful was that a lot of my gifts were running and fitness inspired. I have run holes into all my ankle socks and finally had the chance to throw them away when christmas came around. Thanks to my sock suppliers!

My biggest complaint of 2009 was moving to Wentzville and losing my close access to Forest Park for training for my long runs. Sure the Katy trail is closer to me, but I would find myself driving the extra distance for the simple fact of water fountains. My lovely companion completely solved this problem with the Camelbak fanny pack (rhyme delightfully unintended).

The gift to myself, however, was the shape up walking shoes. I'm sure you've seen the advertisements. The Sketcher version was $100 big-ones! But I found these lovlies at Payless. They are Champion and only $30. I noticed a difference right away. With the addition to ankle weights, they make a pretty good resistance that will be sure to give me an edge on my goals. I wore ankle weights everyday under my pants to work while training for Denver (my current PR) and I saw that when I took them off to train after work, I felt lighter and faster. Hopefully this will help me towards my 10 min summit.

Hope everyone set some pretty steep fitness goals this year. I know some marathon virgins that are tackling the big one this year so here are some goals from active.com and GOOD LUCK!

If anyone needs a beginning marathon training guide just let me know!
And Run, damnit, RUN!

UPDATE: Day one of training - finally went and checked out the YMCA by my house. Everytime I pass it, I think "I really need to go check that place out." Did 30 minutes of XT. Marathon Training 2010 has commenced...

Marine Corps Marathon

Pic: Me and John post race at the Beer tent

Things have been so busy as of late that I am finally getting around to updating everything. The Scrogginsdesign Website, facebook, flickr, and these here blogs. Back in October, I took a week to discover the wonder of Washington DC and also to run the Marine Corps Marathon. This race was:
my 6th marathon all together
my 3rd one in 2009
the first one I've ran with friends since my first one (st louis with Casper)
the hardest I've ever run (the course was outrageous)
and the most amazing!

my time was 5'34 (my 4 best time) and it was just so amazing. You dont know how incredible it is to have a Marine put a medal around YOUR neck and tell you he's proud of YOU. Just so special to me being a Marine Corps Brat, being surrouned by Marines again (only this time they were all so young looking!) and run with them. Just amazing, and to finish at Arlington Cemetary and see that statue of Iwo Jima after finishing something like 26.2 miles...
you dont even fell the pain anymore.

truly inspiring. I have posted all the pictures from my trip on facebook.
Click here to view my adventure!

8 reasons to run with a partner

Found this article outlining 8 reasons to run with a partner
and number 8 rings so true today: partners make great alarm clocks.

With summer heat index sweeping in, they predicted it would get up to 90 today with evening scattered t-storms. Me and Pallardy have the day off to work on the house (we've gone painting crazy) so I had him wake me up early so I could finally get this weeks long run in (17-18 miles). I'm not very good with morning runs. The night before, I can talk up big game about how I'm going to get up early in the morning and knock it out...but then the morning comes and I just continually hot snooze until I finally get up, then I just mope around trying to talk myself into getting it done. I usually do, but then I've wasted the whole day just thinking about it.

poop.

Today was different. I had Pallardy to push me...literally. He pushed me until I rolled out of bed. We went to Quail Ridge trails which is fast becoming my new fave running place and knocked out todays run before the heat set in.

Perfection.

Seattle in 24 days!

Pics from Cincinnati are up!

click here

Pics include:
day before race - cincinnati art museum, marathon expo
race day - running, post running, blah
days after - ceasar creek lake dam, fossil hunting, hanging with my grandparents and cousin in Dayton, OH

It was such a great trip and I cant wait to back out there this summer.

As for now, I've regained momentum and am looking forward to Seattle this summer. Ran 10 miles on friday. It was my first long run since the race and took it out of me a bit. Today I plan on getting back into place with a mere 7 miler so I'll let you know how it goes.

Run on...

Bred For Distance

Started Training for the Seattle Marathon on Tuesday (8 days after Cincinnati)
with 3.7 miles and then yesterday with almost 5 miles.

Feeling a little weak at first, but I plan to pick up the tempo
this weekend with my first long run - I have a feeling this might hurt a bit.
But hey, its only 10 miles right ;)

I haven't decided if I'm going to run today or rest since I have softball tonight.
I might just take Malady for a walk in the dog park. We'll see.

I registered for the All Star game 5k yesterday
I'm pretty excited about that one but thats only because the Cardinals are my life and the all star game is in st louis this year. The race is July 12th...the day after my 25th birthday. I will be so hung over, it will be fantastic! haha.

Its Official!

Last year, I had my vacation planned out for the marine corps marathon. I had taken the week off from work and planned every day down to the tee and everything I wanted to see. Then when I went to register for the race, I was disappointed to find out that it had filled up with its 30,000 runners in 5 DAYS!!! So I settled for the race in Denver which turned out being a pretty great experience after all and I had the time of my life.

This year, I didn't leave anything to chance and registered at noon, the exact date and time registration became open to the public. I'M IN! WOOHOO!

Marine Corps Marathon

I'm pumped! I'm a currently at the moment, registered for 3 marathons this year. I feel the pressure. Cincinnati is only a month away. And I need to do my long run of 17 miles hard core.

I'm getting really excited...

So Far So Good

So i'm over my cold and back to the grind. I'm back on schedule and have run everyday this week. today will be my rest day while I drive to Columbia and i'll pick it back up again tomorrow, with saturday being my long day of 8-9 miles.

I registered for the Seattle marathon today! I'm pumped. I've never been before, and I cant wait!
to check out the website for the marathon, check it out here.

Happy running!