Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

December 02, 2008

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Location:

Logan,UT,

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Marathon Finish

Running Accomplishments:

5K: 14:48
10K: 30:27
Half Marathon: 1:09:27
Marathon: 2:18:09 (aided), 2:22:34 (unaided)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis in June of 2008. Need to learn how to manage the disease and the treatments, and figure out what sort of training I can do with it.

I would like to spend the winter building a really strong base, and potentially try another marathon in 2009. Next big race will be the Indy Mini Marathon in May, 2009.

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run another marathon...well.

Personal:

Personal Blog: Of Marathons and Maps.

1 wife, 1 kid, 1 dog.

Endure and persist; this pain will turn to your good. - Ovid

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. - Romans 5:1-5

Favorite Blogs:

Miles:This week: 9.00 Month: 9.00 Year: 1595.55
Nike Air Pegasus Lifetime Miles: 351.50
Nike Elite Lifetime Miles: 400.00
Brooks Adrenaline 7 Lifetime Miles: 417.00
Saucony Tangent Lifetime Miles: 100.00
Brooks Axiom Lifetime Miles: 207.00
Montrail Hardrock Lifetime Miles: 100.00
New Balance 780 Lifetime Miles: 50.00
Saucony Racing Flats Lifetime Miles: 5.00
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesCrosstraining milesTotal Miles
2.000.000.000.000.002.00

It's a gorgeous day here in Logan. After church I put on my shorts and long-sleeve shirt and tested my leg for a short run. I ran just across the first bridge of the Planet Walk and back, which is about two miles total. I was completely pain-free for the first 200m, then I could feel "it" the rest of the way, but it was better than my last time out. Slow progress is still progress, right? I wore a watch to get a sense of pace. I was just under 8-minutes for the first mile, then I dialed it back for the second mile and hit about 9 minutes. I think my body will run about as fast as it can until it feels pain or discomfort, so I think going from >9-minute pace to <8-minute pace might be better progress than I initially assessed. I think if I had kept it 9+ pace to start out with today, I would have gone pain-free longer. In any case, not a bad little run, and I enjoyed being out there in the sunshine.

I'll enjoy being on the first page of the mileage board will it lasts... 

Comments
From Jon on Feb 10, 2008 at 19:10:10

You sure chose a nice day for a run...

From James on Feb 10, 2008 at 19:17:33

Glad to hear about the progress, even if it wasn't a lot.

From Cheryl on Feb 10, 2008 at 22:35:42

I saw your question on the discussion board. I struggled with hamstring and piriformis issues for over a year. A physical therapist told me hamstring problems are caused by a weak core and to do the plank and other core strengthening exercises. The only one I've done consistently is the plank and I swear by it. I hold it for at least a minute three or four times a day. I have not had any hamstring issues or any other injuries for over a year now--last year was the first year of injury free running for me in a long time. It would probably help to do other core strengthening exercises also, but the plank seems to have worked for me.

From Adam RW on Feb 11, 2008 at 00:01:49

I'm so glad to see miles in your columns again!!!

From steve ashbaker on Feb 11, 2008 at 09:54:26

I'm glad to see you back on the trail again!

From Paul Petersen on Feb 11, 2008 at 10:12:20

Cheryl - what is "the plank"? I'm assuming it may be the downward-facing position of what I call "4-way bridges".

From Cheryl on Feb 11, 2008 at 11:33:13

Sounds like it may be what you said. It's where you lie in a push-up position, forearms on the ground, and you just hold that for a least a minute, two would probably be better. It's illustrated in the Feb. 2008 issue of Runner's World, along with other core exercises.

From Paul Petersen on Feb 11, 2008 at 12:07:04

Cheryl - yup, that's the one! I do this exercise occasionally, but will try to do it more.

From Cheryl on Feb 11, 2008 at 14:16:11

Good luck Paul. Don't expect immediate results, give it time, but I think if you do the plank consistently, along with other core exercises (the plank just seems to have worked the best for me) you'll be very pleased with the results.

From Nick on Feb 11, 2008 at 22:08:06

Paul - I admire your patience man! You are really doing what it takes to heal up right. I need to learn from your experiece regarding injuries. Being in the middle of my first "real" injury, I am not taking it so well. Keep up the good work and you will get where you want to be!

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