THANK YOU !! $5000 for TAN and the taper begins

This was BIG week in my journey to run Boston. Not only did I complete my longest training run, but I also met my goal of raising $5,000 for Technology for Autism Now !!!!! A BIG HUGE THANK YOU to everyone that helped me by donating money for this great cause. If you haven't donated yet but would still like to help, please visit my fundraising page at the link below.

Now, I know that Saturday wasn't the marathon, but it was probably the 2nd best day in anyone's marathon training. It was the last long run before the start of my taper.

I had 21 miles on my schedule for Saturday. All week I kept looking at it on my calendar half dreading it and half excited because I knew the significance of it in my training schedule.   Rain was in the forecast so I was worried about getting the run in at all. Luckily, the forecast had changed completely when I woke up so off I went. 3:54:37 later I was back with some very sore legs and HUGE sense of accomplishment. Oh yea...and the ice bath that followed was awesome !

I haven't run Boston yet, but the most difficult part of the training is over. For the next 3 weeks my runs will get shorter and hopefully my legs will start to feel better and stronger. Boston, here I come!

Total miles this week 49.1  that included a long run of  21.13 miles and a 5 mile tempo run. I got in two light weight work outs and one Yoga class.

I weighed in at 169.4 which is down 3.6 pound since last week and 17.6 lbs since I started training for Boston.

My schedule this week is 37 miles with a long run on 13 miles.

Fundraising for Technology for Autism Now (TAN) is going strong at  $5,060 and 101%  of my goal. Thank you for all of your support. Here is the link to my fundraising page.

 http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/eddibuck/boston-marathon

Publix Georgia Half Marathon

A few months back I emailed Trey www.uphillrunning.com and asked what he thought about me running a half-marathon. As it turned out the timing worked out perfectly in my training schedule for Boston. So I was in !

After a great 75 degree day on Saturday, the weather forecast was for rain and 50 degrees for the 7:00 am start.

Robert and I had agreed to meet at 5:30 at the Chamblee MARTA Station. I never doubted that he would be there, but I was surprised when I get a text from him saying that he was running the 2 + miles from his house as warm up. Really?!?!

We got to the race in plenty of time and spent some time with Roberts friend from  Back on my feet http://atlanta.backonmyfeet.org. They had several people running their first half or full marathons.

The rain held off except for a few sprinkles, and it was about 50 degrees, Perfect running weather.

I couldn't have been more pleased with my run today. I started out at about 10:18 per mile and kept building from there. Mile 13 was 8:48 which is VERY fast for this old fat guy!! Overall, the official time was 2:09:36 average pace 9:53/mi, easily a PR by 10 minutes. I am feeling good an confident going into my last heavy week of Boston training.

Total miles this week 50.1  that included a long run of  13.31 miles and a 6 mile interval workout. I got in one light weight work but missed both Yoga classes.

I weighed in at 173.0 which is up 1.6 pound since last week and 14.0 lbs since I started training for Boston.

My schedule this week is 49 miles with a long run on 21 miles.

Fundraising for Technology for Autism Now (TAN) is going strong at  $4,760 and 95%  of my goal. Thank you for all of your support. Here is the link to my fundraising page.

 http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/eddibuck/boston-marathon

One Month Left

It's hard to believe, but the race is now just over one month away and I am coming to the end of the hardest part of the training.

This weekend I am running the Publix half marathon here in Atlanta. Then next week there is a 21 mile run on the schedule. After that the "taper"will begin. That means that the mileage will be reduced as the reace approaches. I have to say I am ready for the training to be over. My knees will be glad too LOL

Total miles this week 37.9  that included a long run of  19.03 miles and a 6 mile interval workout. Also did two light weight workouts, two yoga classes and I had a massage.

I weighed in at 171.4 down 1.4 pound since last week and 15.6 lbs since I started training for Boston.

My schedule this week is 43 miles with a long run on 13.

Fundraising for Technology for Autism Now (TAN) is going strong at  $4,460 and 89%  of my goal. Thank you for all of your support. Here is the link to my fundraising page.

 http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/eddibuck/boston-marathon

Coach Trey

When I took on the challenge of running Boston for TAN, the first person I reached out to was Trey Bailey at www.uphillrunning.com. Trey is a high school track team buddy of my son Robert and he has guided Robert through all of his marathons and half marathons. In addition to being an Army veteran and great runner in his own right, Trey is in the process of opening his own running store in his new home of Seattle.

Trey has helped me train for 2 half marathons. He sends me a weekly running schedule which I follow religiously, much to the chagrin of my lovely wife Marian. She always says "how is it that you  will run 40 miles in a week because Trey tells you to, but I can't get you to empty the trash" LOL.

When I cross the finish line in Copley Square on April 21st, it will be one the most amazing accomplishments of my life. I wouldn't be possible without the help of Trey Bailey. 

Total miles this week 39.3  that included a long run of  16.16 miles and a 7 mile interval workout. Also did two light weight workouts, one yoga class and I had a massage.

I weighed in at 172.8 down 3.4 pound since last week and 14.2 lbs since I started training for Boston.

My schedule this week is 42 miles with a long run on 19.

Fundraising for Technology for Autism Now (TAN) is going strong at  $3,860 and 77%  of my goal. Thank you for all of your support. Here is the link to my fundraising page.

 http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/eddibuck/boston-marathon

Welcome to Miami !

After last weeks foot pain scare, I took it easy early in the week. I was in Miami Beach for a conference and since that doctor gave me the go-ahead, I wasn't going to miss the chance to
run at the ocean. If I haven't mentioned it in this blog before, the beach and the golf course are my two favorite places to run. The first day it was a little cloudy but on the second day as I was running the path along the beach I looked out to the ocean and I saw this.

Just at that moment, my iphone started playing Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles. It was incredible and it's something that I'll always remember about this trip to Miami and this training process.

I thank God everyday for being able to get up and run. I'm thankful that I can use that ability to help the people at Technology for Autism Now. I hope you will join me by making a donation.  

Total miles this week 39.5  that included a long run of  16.16 miles and a 7 mile interval workout. Also did two light weight workouts, one yoga class and I had a massage.

I weighed in at 176.2 down .2 pound since last week and 11.8 lbs since I started training for Boston.

My schedule this week is 44 miles with a long run on 13 on Saturday.

Fundraising for Technology for Autism Now (TAN) is going strong at  $3,760 and 75%  of my goal. Thank you for all of your support. Here is the link to my fundraising page.

 http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/eddibuck/boston-marathon