The pending sale of our house and associated move is really eating into my time.  Last week, I only managed two workouts.  Granted I made them long runs, with an 18 miler yesterday.  I am not where near the shape I was in, six weeks out from the White Rock Marathon.  My idea of going for 3:10:00 is really a pipe dream at this point.  Today marks the start of my second 3 week build phase, and we are scheduled to close next Monday.  Hopefully I will be able to stick to my long runs for the next two weeks, and not be too exhausted from the move.

My barebones schedule for this week is.

Tuesday - 7 mile run
Thursday - 8 x Yasso 800's
Saturday - 20 mile run

Anything added to that will be gravy.

This past weekend marked the last delivery weekend of the project at the the day job that has been eating my spare time.  So this week, I will get back on the horse and finish off the first 'build phase' of my training for Big D.  I am already off to a good start.

Yesterday, I got off early from work, and knocked out 6.5 miles at race pace.  This morning, I got at 14 miler in before work.  My legs were a little spent from yesterday's effort (which were a bit rusty for that effort, truth be told), so it took me 2 hours and 3 minutes to get it done.  But I got it done, and I already have 20 miles logged for the week.

Tomorrow, I will probably hit the stationary bike at LA Fitness for a shorter hill program to build up the 'bike legs', then hit the pool.  Thursday looks to be off, then unleashing Team Seabiscuit at WR on the bike with Coco on Friday.  And finally, a 20 mile run on Saturday prior to driving up to Oklahoma to see Mama.  Sunday will be off for the trip....... ie recovery from Saturday's 20 miler.

In my preparation for Ironman Arizona, I was reading 2007 race reports and came across someone who wrote of the difficulties to maintain a training schedule while closing on the sell of a home.  Well, I am running through those motions right now.  We have been quite fortunate to have been approached by a set of buyers, who made a good offer and we are now moving through the option phase of the transaction.  If all goes well, we will be out of our place on Feb 25 and into the unused rooms of my in-laws place, as we then try to save up some jingle for our own home upgrade.

That minor thing, along with supporting some on-call responsibilities for my triathlon funding source (aka, the day job) has been draining my energy and time that past two weekend.  And this weekend, we head up to Oklahoma to see mom and take the boys to a Disney show in Tulsa.   Thankfully Monday is a holiday, so I should be able to get some work in, once we get back.

That being said....... I ran one day last week.  One 10 mile run.  It was to be the second week of my first build phase, and I only covered one workout...... for 10 miles.  That is probably close to 35 miles behind what I should have done.  Somehow, this week, I am going to have to make it up.... while not incurring an overuse injury.

I should start by saying that I have had a bout with Day Job Inflammation, causing me to miss some workouts this past week.  I did manage to make all 3 of my key workouts for the week, which are all run related with the marathon coming up.  I made it out for my first big run of this training plan yesterday and had a really good 18 miles.

My calves are screaming with soreness today, as I made the entire journey running on my forefeet.  I had gotten in a pattern of starting to heel strike at the midway point of long runs for White Rock, but when I started that yesterday, I could feel it in my knees right away.  After switching back to the the forefoot strike.... it took some getting used to, to switch back... but the pain went away immediately and the calf soreness is my only evidence of a 2.5 hour run yesterday.  I am thankful for that, and will hope the next two weeks bring more of the same good feeling, as I am somewhat apprehensive about picking up an overuse injury as I start milege building again for Big D.

Now... about the dog.  At about the half way point yesterday, I was running through a neighborhood in the northern part of Stonebridge Ranch and befriended a dog, sans human.  I have no idea what kind..... except that it was on the bigger side.  After he/she started following me for a while, I decided to head back to the neighborhood where we met, in hopes to come across an owner on the lookout.  That didn't happen, but as I passed one house, the dog bolted off like it owned the place.... so hopefully that was home.