Taylor Keto

Sunday A couple of weeks ago started the tapering process before running my marathon.  This makes sure your legs and body are fresh after all the training.  But, let me tell you,  when I ran the first Monday after running 20+ miles, the eight miles on the the training schedule felt like anything but a tapering process.  Fast forward a couple of weeks and a couple of half marathons later and this final week before the marathon is a very light load.  Monday will be a five mile speed work day followed by a four mile day, a two mile day, and a one mile day on the Saturday before the marathon.  These last few days I will be working on my starting pace.  I'll be starting at a slow 12min 45sec mile and slowly increasing the pace to finish the marathon in about 5hours and 15 to 30 minutes.  I've already determined to spend the next year working on increasing my overall speed.  The goal of this marathon is just to finish. The pictures over the last se...

Saturday Score one for the long run.  I was able to complete my long run this morning - 22 miles.  At this point, I think I am ready for the marathon.   The next few weeks before the marathon, the training intensity will be tapering, which I can say I am glad about.  I don't mind telling you that this mornings run took it all out of me.  My legs, hips and feet are done for today.  The run started this morning at around 4:30 with the temperature gauge showing a nice cold 28°F.   After the first couple of miles the body acclimates to the temperature. The real challenge now is just the mental challenge of running the marathon.  I think everyone should run a marathon once in their life.  While you are training, you realize you are capable of more than you ever imagine. 

Tuesday It went from nice 70 degree mornings to 40 degree mornings, fall has arrived.  This morning I  started wearing double layer shirts and warm sweet pants for the morning run.  This week the training runs are all five miles or less and Saturday will be the final long run of more than 20 miles before the marathon.  I'm a little apprehensive of being ready for the marathon because my last two long runs were not good. One I had to miss because of my work schedule and the other I only made 13 miles of the 22 I was scheduled for.   Sorry, you've been seeing fewer post from me.  If you are hearing and seeing less from me then I am doing more.   The alternate day fasting has been going good.  I've lost between 10 to 15 lbs.  I am trying to get into the 130 lb range for the marathon and have about another 10 lbs to go.

Saturday Today I took part in 10K race at Drury University in Springfield, MO, called the Panther Run.  It was a nice cool morning, good for running.  For the past month or so I have been doing a lot of alternate day fasting, fasting Mon., Wed., and Fri.  I decided in preparation for the race I would go ahead and eat on Fri.  Besides just fueling for the race, we also had a family get together for my brothers birthday. Happy Birthday Tony.  I didn't do any extra carbs for this race, so it was just a ketone powered race.  I was very excited to see my results. It was very true to my mantra.  Every day one step farther and second faster.  I was able to set several personal records. First of all, each mile of the race was faster than the mile before.  An excellent negative split for those into racing lingo. I broke into the seven minute mile category with the last mile being a 7:55 mile.  I also set my personal records for...

Friday So this weekend I was suppose to do a 23 mile run.  My Saturday and Sunday were completely booked, so I attempted to my long run Fri. evening.  Unfortunately, I only made it about 11 miles until my calf muscles began cramping and I could only push through 2 more miles with the cramping legs.  I'm glad this wasn't the marathon race because it would of been a DNF (did not finish).  Through all my training do far, this is the first time I've had problems with leg cramps.  When I started the run it was around 90F outside, and I was on the tail end of my Fri. fast, so I may have been low on electrolytes.  I did have an electrolyte drink with me that I was drinking, but it may have been to little to late.  The run was disappointing because I had to miss my last 22 mile run because of work, so I was hoping to make up for it during this run.  I have a 10K race scheduled for this coming weekend and then one more 20+ run scheduled in a couple weeks....

Sunday Normally on the weekend I would be writing about my weekend long run.  This weekend I should of been running 22 miles, but my work schedule got in the way and I was not able to work it into the schedule this weekend.  I did do some reflecting on why I started running.  When people ask me why I would ever want to run, let alone do a marathon, I used to struggle with s good answer.  I used to just say I run for those who can't.  But, as I thought about it more I've come up with a better answer.   Running teaches and reminds me constantly that I am capable of so much more than I ever imagined.  Little changes made consistently everyday can result in astronomical outcomes.  This mindset can be easily applied to any and every area if your life.  You have to remove can't from you language and from your mindset and remind yourself daily that you can. Remember, if you want your life to change, if you want your paycheck to change, your rel...

Saturday Part of my marathon training consists of speed work and running at my 5K and 10K race speeds.  Todays training was a 10K race.  The race I took part of today was a 10K race sponsored by One Sole Purpose which is an organization providing shoes for local children.  It is part of a three race series I signed up for called Run Across Springfield.  There will be another 10K race in October and finishing up with the marathon in November. There were around 685 people who signed up for 5K and/or 10K with about 200 in the 10K.  I was able to finish 89th overall with an average race pace of 10min 45sec per mile.  The 10K portion of the race consisted of a lot of hills, so I think that slowed my overall pace down a little more than I was hoping for.  For me it was still a good race, but I think I can do better.  We'll see how the next 10K race goes in October. Strava showed it as my best 5K and 10K efforts.  So, woohoo, new PR. I had a few alm...