Last Vision Quest Coaching Session For Now... Time for the marathon!

Yesterday I participated in my last Vision Quest Coaching session for the winter. In December my threshold wattage was gauged at 263 watts. Yesterday I  was gaged at 277 watts. I'm very proud of myself that I improved. I want to do Vision Quest again when I start training for my triathlons this summer. Hopefully I'll be able to do El Tour de Tucson again this year and finish under 6 hours. I'll be shooting for under 5 hours but if I'm under 6 hours I would be happy.

If you don't know already I'm running the Illinois Marathon on April 11. Last week I had a 10 mile run. It was so cold outside I ran at the Indoor Bally's track in Morton Grove.  A lap is a sixth of a mile at Bally's in Morton Grove. Yep that means I ran around the track 60 times! Thank goodness I had my iPod to keep me sain.

I took training easy this week in prep for my VQ test. Today I'm going to hit the tread mill for a nice easy run this do some speed work out this week. I'll go out for a 10 to 12 mile run next Saturday. 

My schedule for the Illinois Marathon 2009

I went to Runner's World Magazine's website and used their Smart Coach application to create a running plan for the upcoming 2009 Illinois Marathon. 

I gave the Smart Coach application the following parameters:

Your current race time is: 4:00:00 for a Marathon

Your distance training goal is: Marathon
You currently train: 16-20 miles/week
How hard you want to train: Hard
Your long-run day: Saturday
Your training program Starts: Monday, 12/29/2008 and Ends: Sunday, 4/12/2009
Length of your training schedule: 15 weeks

Here is a link to my Illinois Marathon running schedule. Something that is different that I'm not used to...It has me doing two 20 mile runs. I might have to modify it alittle when the time comes. It looks like I'll be do alot more runs along the lake front this season. I hope it stays warm. 

Again my goal is to beat my 2006 Chicago Marathon Time. I want to get under 4 hours. 

It's Offical, I'm Running the Illinois Marathon April 11th!

It is official! Yesterday I signed up for the Illinois Marathon. This will be my 6^th overall marathon. The Illinois Marathon takes place in Champaign-Urbana on April 11^th. The finish line is inside the University of Illinois football field. It should be really fun race.

It’s a flat course so my goal is to beat my personal record of 3 hours 58 minutes. I received that time in the Chicago Marathon in 2006. Chicago was my second marathon and my first Team in Training Event. This race is preparation for Whirlpool Steelhead Half Iron Man that happens August 1^st. I will be fundraising for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society with Team in Training when I start training for Steelhead. I give you updates when I start.

I have not picked a particular training plan yet for the Illinois Marathon but I know I want to focus on my speed work. Saturday morning I ran 7 miles on the icy trails of Busse Woods. I did not go too fast because I took it easy the week before.

If any one wants to join for the Illinois Marathon sign up before Jan 31^st so you can save some money on the entry fee. We’ll have a good time running the race then have some good beer soon after.