Marathon training plans

Well I've settled on a marathon to run.  I am signed up for the Houston Marathon.  January 13, 2013.  Signed up the first day of early registration.  Had to have a sub 4 hour marathon to qualify for early registration.  My 3:32 on the Route 66 Marathon last November was sufficient to get in.  So now I am registered but $125 poorer.   I do have something to shoot for now. 

The last couple of weeks I have been mulling over different marathon training schedules.  I picked up the book "Run Less, Run Faster" (http://www2.furman.edu/sites/first/Pages/rlrf.aspx) written by Bill Pierce, Scott Murr and Ray Moss.  Basic concept is to run three quality runs per week with two days cross training.  The key being that though you are running fewer times per week.  Each day of running is more purposeful and generally more intense. Some Tempo runs.  Some Intervals. It appeals to me because I know that being older it takes more time to recover than someone younger.  Another reason I like it is time.  I don't have a whole lot of time nor do I want to spend a great deal of time training.  So if I can make more efficient use of my time that would be great.  Though I am still not completely convinced that I can do this.  One issue is the cross training.  I don't want to invest a lot of money into a bicycle and find out that I really don't enjoy it or perhaps it is difficult to find safe places to ride here in the heart of the city.  I also don't have convenient access to a pool.  Unless I want to spend money to join a fitness club.  My swimming skills are very poor as well.   My good buddy "Shack" at the http://www.theracquetshack.com/ has provided me with a tennis racquet.  Maybe I could find somewhere close by to play.  Just not sure how much of a workout I would get with my very limited tennis ability.  Also the challenge of finding a partner.  So now I am running about four days a week.  Generally not more than two days in a row.  Averaging about 20 miles a week with a run of at least 8 miles on Saturday.  I try to do most of my runs during the week at faster than marathon pace (MP).  Generally the first mile is slightly slower than MP with the remaining miles at about 5K pace.  Some would say this is too fast.  But I feel pretty good.  It doesn't wipe me out.  So I think this pretty safe training for me.  The distances so far are relatively short also.  Right around 4 miles.  My long runs I try to keep at around 30 seconds slower than MP.  Today I ran with some old running buddies of mine.  I ran my first marathon in 2009 with these guys.  Anyway the pace was a little slow.  Guessing around 9 minutes a mile.  But right now I'm not too serious as it's still a long time to January.  I think now I just need to get more miles.  I want to be doing 40+ miles a week by the end of June.  Most likely that will entail running 5 days a week rather than 4. 

Other marathon plans I am considering are Hanson, Hudson, Higdon, Pfitz and Daniels.  Not sure what I will end up with but it will be some sort of modification of one or more plans.  My last two marathons I trained using my variation on Higdon's Intermediate.  I'll update when I get a more clear idea of my marathon training schedule. 

Summertime is here.  Time for early morning runs.  I love being able to just throw on shorts, socks, shoes and head out the door.  Happy Memorial Day y'all.

Battling the Bank

Different topic.  Banking.  I'm always looking for a good deal so about two years ago I opened a rewards checking account with a local bank.  At the time they were paying better than 4% APR.   To receive this higher rate of return the account holder must have, I think, 10 point of sale debit card transactions. Additionally you must have at least one ACH deposit each month.  Well late last year this bank lowered their interest to 3% APR.  So bargain hunter that I am, I started looking for another bank.  www.depositaccounts.com has listings of reward checking accounts.  You can search nationally or by state.  Anyway, I found Coppermark Bank.  They were offering a rewards checking account that paid 4%.  The requirements were basically 16 debit card transactions and 1 ACH deposit per statement period.  A few more debit card transactions but certainly doable.  Well all was fine until the 30th day of March.  The statement period was only 29 days.  Well, I get paid on the last business day of the month.  For February that was Wednesday the 29th. OK.  However, pay day for March was Friday, March 30th.  As a result with only a 29 day statement period, I was denied my interest payment for March as I did not have an ACH deposit during the statement period.  Needless to say I was not happy.  With a 29 day statement period I could see that this situation was likely to repeat again later in the year.  I called the bank and spoke to the young man I opened the account with.  He was not helpful.  No offer to let me speak to a manager.  Nothing but a "sorry that's how it is."   Well with no relief there I went to the web site of  the Oklahoma State Attorney General.  There I filed a complaint.  I explained what happened and entered the dollar amount of my loss, which  was  $9.27.  About a week later I got a letter from the FDIC.  It stated in part, "Thank you for contacting the FDIC's Consumer Response Center.  We have reviewed your correspondence and contacted the referenced Bank to obtain response to your concerns.  We have also asked the Bank to provide documentation that will help us complete our review of your complaint."  Well just a few days after that, I had a message on my phone from the senior vice president of Coppermark Bank.  When I finally found time to call and speak with VP, she was very nice.  She thanked me for bringing the situation to their attention.  She further explained that they have now changed their policy.  The statement period is now 30 days and ends on the last business day of the month. They also paid me the interest I should have earned in March.  This in addition to the interest I received for April for by this time a month had passed.  Props to Coppermark Bank for making things right!

I am very pleased that I went to battle for what I thought was right, and in the end, what the wrong was made right.  The bank came over to my side.  I received what was rightfully mine.  In other words, "I won!" 

Goal Setting

Well a week has passed and I am finally getting into a routine of running in the morning.  Still working on a training schedule. But I have decided on a marathon to run.   I have decided to run the Houston Marathon on January 13, 2013.  My buddy "Shack" over at theraquetshack.com suggested I set a higher goal than 3:30 for the marathon.  His suggestion was the world record for my age + one hour. The world record for a 45-49 year old man is 2 hours 14 minutes and 16 seconds,(or something like that).  Seems a little odd for a goal.  That plus one hour.  Not a round number that I can easily focus on.  And I can't say I get excited about being an hour slower than someone. Doesn't sound very impressive to say to someone, "Oh, I'm just an hour slower than the world record set by Jackson Kipngong."  An hour is long time.  My previous goal had been 3:30.  Well I discovered today that the marathon qualifying time for 45-49 year old males for the 2013 Boston Marathon has been moved back 5 minutes to 3:25.  The 40-44 time is 3:15.  So I think a more suitable and a more memorable goal is 3:15. It is challenging.  It's more of a round number.  If I run a 3:24 that would qualify me for Boston.  But to have a have a higher goal, a challenge goal is a good thing.  Gives me a little space; some extra time to stay ahead of the maximum qualifying time for Boston.

Now to work out a training schedule and some intermediate goals.  January is a long way away.  So I may try a September half marathon or full marathon to gauge my progress.  Next race will probably be the Dog Jog in Oklahoma City.  Memorial Day.

Hope to see you guys there!