On my run today, Bon Scott reminded me that “It’s a long way to the top, if you want to Rock N’ Roll”. I think this also applies to training for a marathon. Sure, Mr. Scott had to battle with “Gettin’ Robbed, Gettin’ Stoned, Gettin’ Beat Up, Broken Boned. But in the last few years, I’ve had to deal with a stress fracture in the tibia, IT Band Issues, Runner’s Knee, and my most recent injury the Hip Flexor Sprain.

I resumed running two weeks ago today, following a seven week layoff. The following week was three runs, every other day off, for a total of nine miles.

Here was my schedule this week:

6/02 - 4 miles (no watch)
6/03 - Worked out at Xclusive, did the elliptical and then my “Around the World Routine”.
6/04 - 5 miles, 8:00 pace
6/05 - Day Off
6/06 - 5 miles, 7:57 pace
6/07 - Elliptical, then wailed on the core.
6/08 - 7 miles on The High Line Canal Trail, 7:47 pace, average heart rate of 172.

21 Miles Total. I’m out of shape. Before the injury, 7:30 was about the slowest that I would allow myself to run and my run today, at 7:47 pace, was not all that easy. I’ve also started training with a heart rate monitor, since my Garmin 405 has one.

I need to read up on training with a heart rate monitor, but it will be interesting to see how my heart rate drops as my fitness improves. The other issue that I am dealing with is that during my seven weeks off from running, I gained six pounds! Not good, now I am weighing in at 168lbs, the goal will be <160lbs for Denver Marathon. I’ll post my weight each week, up until the marathon, give myself some added incentive to trim down.