RACE DAY

Weekly Mileage: 34

Workout

1 mile shakeout

13.1 mile race

Breakdown

I started to get sick about 2-3 days before the race, which was just terrible timing. On race morning (woke up at 4:30), I took some medicine for the cold symptoms and some pain medicine to take the focus off how much my throat hurt and then just tried to focus on the race. I got really lucky when I was moving up through the corrals at the start and ran into an old friend of mine from Rochester, Steve Rosinski. Steve and I used to race against each other back in our high school days. He is a semi-professional tri-athlete now and was just running the race to get his long run in, so he agreed to run the whole thing with me. It was monumental in keeping me composed throughout the race, because I will be honest and say I really didn’t feel well.

The goal was to go out in 7:10 for the first mile and hopefully feel well enough to hang on to that for the whole time, if not get better. I figured, even without being sick, I was realistically going to be lucky to run 1:32:30 at best, and more likely 1:34-1:35 based on my workouts.

We went out in 6:58 and stayed between 6:48-7:02 all the way to the 10.5 mile mark, which I am still surprised by. From 10.7-12 miles it was nearly all uphill, and it really crushed me. We logged a 7:30-something for the 11th mile and a 7:40 for the 12th mile (that last hill was brutal), which really slowed me down from where I was at 10.5 miles, but still left me way ahead of my goals. The last mile was mostly downhill and flat. I was moving about as fast as I could go the last mile and Steve was running a couple steps in front of me yelling at me the whole way, which really helped. As we got closer to the line, I realized that finishing under 1:32 was a possibility and we kicked through the line in 1:31:50 (7:00 per mile average).

After all the results got sorted out, including a couple late additions Monday, I ended up 193rd overall out of 12,135 finishers. My goal all along was to finish in the top 250 overall, so I am really pleased with that performance. Who knows if I could have ended up a little better if I wasn’t sick, but all things considered, I couldn’t be happier.

After the race, I was greeted by Bri and her family and the awesome sign that they made for me (which will be hanging in my office soon). I was so happy to have them there at the finish line Sunday, a gesture that was really not necessary but just shows how amazing that family is. Bri has been such an inspiration to me, and so many others.

Best Parts of the Race

Other than having Steve to run with, the race was just an amazing experience. I wish I physically felt better and could have enjoyed it more (I was suffering pretty good that day), but the thousands of people lining the course, from bands and cheerleaders to massive groups, it was awesome. It's just one of the reasons I love the city of Pittsburgh so much. Also, huge shoutout to all the volunteers that make a race like this possible. You were all amazing.

More than Just a Race

We ended up raising $1,769 for the Mario Lemieux Foundation, which is just amazing. Thank you so much from the bottom of my heart to everyone that donated. This has truly been a life changing experience for me. If there is ever anything I can do for you, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Final Thoughts

 On January 1 I weighed 206 pounds and hadn't run a serious step in nearly four years. On May 6, I weighed 167 pounds and averaged 7:00 per mile for 13.1 miles. I would say by any stretch of the imagination, this whole thing has been a huge personal success. But, it doesn't stop here. This has made me miss the old me, the guy that ran twice a day and lifted and wanted to be faster all the time. I'm not 21 anymore, but I still have a few years left to get a little faster, so as soon as this sickness passes, we're going to hit the ground running towards trying to get back in the range of my PRs. (No, I probably will never run an 800 in the 1:50s again, but we can shoot for 16 minute 5ks again). Going to chat with some coaches and work on a plan for what's next, whether that is attacking the 5k distance and building strength and speed, or shooting for a late fall marathon. Who knows? All I know, is that the 200 pound fatty is gone and is never coming back! Thanks for all the support. This has been life changing. Onward.

Thursday of Race Week

Weekly Mileage: 17 (4 days)

Workout
Easy 4 mile run at 7:10 pace
4x100m strides

Breakdown
Well, there is no other way to say it other than that I am sick. Scratchy and sore throat and my body is just tired and weak. This is the worst possible timing in the world. I slept in today and only went to work for a few hours before coming home and sleeping most of the afternoon. After dinner, I waited until it wasn't so painfully hot out to get my run in.

Surprisingly, I didn't feel as bad as I thought I would on the run. I felt weak the first half mile or so but settled into a rhythm and didn't have any issues the rest of the run, except for not being able to breathe very well.

I have been taking Airborne and other vitamins and drinking so much water I feel like I have to pee every 15 minutes, so hopefully by the time I wake up at 4:30 in the morning Sunday, I am at least feeling well enough to get through the race.

Expectations
Well, my original goal of finishing in the top-250, which was probably lofty to begin with, is still going to be the goal. But, I will be honest and say that if I feel like I do today on race day, the chances of running this thing in 7:00 pace are probably pretty slim.

I have had a few friends call me the last couple days and point out that it really doesn't matter where I finish, because this wasn't really about how fast I could run. This whole thing was about raising some money and awareness for a great organization in the Mario Lemieux Foundation and showing some support for a great friend in Bri Dishong.

We have raised a ton of money for the foundation, and I am super excited that Bri and her family are going to come down to see the race on Sunday.

No matter what happens, I won't come away from this with my head down. I busted my ass for the last 3 months and the bottom line is that a ton of good has come from all of this. I finally feel like me again. I will never ever let myself get to where I was before. Looking back, I still can't believe I weighed 206 pounds when all of this started. This is honestly just the beginning of taking my life back. I have a solid 6-8 years or so before my ability to build speed starts to disappear, so why not try to get fast again?

Next Up
Off day Friday. My legs feel fine, but no use in putting in extra work at this point. Easy 2-3 miles in the morning on Saturday. Race day Sunday.

Wednesday of Race Week

Weekly Mileage: 13 (3 days)

Workout
6 mile run
4x100m strides
Core

Breakdown
Went out to Moraine State Park with Becky to get a run in. I ran the first 3.5 miles with her at around 7:45 pace or so and then picked it up to around 7:05 pace for the last 2.5 miles.

It was really hot. I have been slamming water, and I stopped sweating after like 4 miles, which is not good. Easily the hottest run of the year so far. I would be ok with the hot weather holding off another week, because if it is like this on race day, I will be in trouble. My body has always reacted poorly to heat, and its not any different now.

Overall, I felt pretty good today. Legs were alright and aerobically I am fit.

I am however, getting sick. I've been feeling a scratchy/sore throat coming all day and tonight, it is definitely noticeable. I am smashing vitamins, fluids and taking Airborne in desperate hopes of fighting the worst of this cold off until after Sunday, but if it keeps progressing it is going to make Sunday a really miserable experience. Fingers crossed, but I seem to have the worst luck so I guess I am not optimistic. Its unreal that with the weather going up and down all spring, I managed to stay in perfect health, and now just three or four days out from the biggest goal of my life in the last four years, and my body is considering shutting down.

I will fight through the race no matter what. There is nothing that will keep from the finish line Sunday, but I really wanted to run well, not just finish. I hope this is still possible and this cold goes away before Sunday.

Donations
Wow, donations are up to $1,640 and we are still third among all Mario Lemieux runners in the race, which is amazing. Donations will be accepted until the race at the same link: http://www.active.com/donate/mariolemieuxfdn/jonholtz

Thank you so much to everyone that has supported this. I will do my best on Sunday. Fingers crossed my body decides to be as strong as my mind that day!

Jersey
Almost forgot! No one would screen my jersey for me because I only wanted one done and heaven forbid they wouldn't make a huge profit off me, so I had to improvise. I got some paint and downloaded a stencil font, printed a stencil off and hand cut all the letters with an exacto knife (it was not fun). Then I rolled fabric paint over the stencil onto the jersey. End result is pretty good for being homemade I think! The front is below. There is a big 4 on the back, in honor of my girl Bri. #4swag

Next Up
Easy 4-5 miles tomorrow, off Friday, up early for an easy 2-3 miles Saturday then down to Pitt. Going to the Expo to get my packet and check out some running stuff, then dinner with Becky, Allie and their families and then crashing at Dave and Pat's house for the night. 4:30 wake up for breakfast and a 5:30 arrival at the parking lot before killing time till the start at 7:30.

Tuesday of Race Week

Weekly Mileage: 7 (2 days)

Workout
Easy 4 mile run
4x100m strides
Core

Breakdown
Really hot out today, especially compared to the last few weeks. I noticed the heat immediately. Felt alright for the four miler. Averaged around 7:05 pace. Slammed a Gatorade afterwards because I sweat A TON today.

Foot is still bothering me. My body feels weak right now. I definitely feel like I am getting sick. All of this things are really putting a damper on my mood heading into the race. I really felt like I was going to be ready to run fast Sunday, but at this rate I am not confident of hitting my pace goals at all.

I feel out of shape all of a sudden. Like I busted my ass for three months to find some running form, and I lost it all in two weeks. I know a taper is supposed to be good for you, but I have put weight back on, not run nearly as many miles and all in all just don't feel nearly as good. I don't like this.

Shoes
Asics Kayano 18

Next Up
Easy six miles tomorrow and I better feel really good doing it, because I am starting to get frustrated with myself.

Positive Note
As angry as I am with the way my training has gone the last two weeks and the way my body feels, the donations have climbed higher than I imagined. We're closing in on $1,600 for the Mario Lemieux Foundation, and that is just amazing. For my fundraising efforts, the foundation sent me an autographed Mario Lemieux jersey and giant poster, both with certificates of authenticity identifying the date and location the items were signed. That is unbelievable. One of the greatest hockey players of all time and one of my biggest sports idols ever. I was literally shaking when I opened the package.

I have to thank everyone that has got behind this over the last couple months. I was definitely not doing this for any prizes or any individual glory. I hope I don't let anyone down this weekend.

Monday of Race Week

Weekly Mileage: 3 (1 day)

Workout
Easy 3 mile run
4x100m strides
Core

Breakdown
Going to string a few days of back to back runs together here, and since I went a decently paced 8 miles yesterday, going to just get an easy three mile in today. Felt a little tired and the legs are not at all where I hoped they would be. The weight isn't where I wanted it either. I have been eating more as the mileage went up and really didn't eat well with the taper the last two weeks, so it is looking like I will go into race day heavier than I hoped. I'm floating in the 167-168 range right now, which is still down nearly 40 pounds since Jan. 1, but I was hoping to dip below 165 for the race.

My left foot is bothering me. Every time I put pressure on my toes I feel something shift on the bottom of my foot. It doesn't really hurt, but it isn't comfortable. Not going to get it looked at until next week. I can deal with it through the race if something is really wrong.

Starting to feel a little sick too, which is crazy because I have managed to stay healthy all spring with the crazy weather and increased mileage. If this keeps up, expectations are going to have to go down for the race, which will really make me upset after how hard I worked the last three months. No matter what though, I am going to push hard that day and leave it all on the road.

Shoes
Asics Kayano 18

Next Up
Easy 4 tomorrow, 6 Wednesday, 4-5 Thursday, off Friday, easy 2-3 Saturday and race Sunday.

April 29 - Last longish run

I did a terrible job of posting last week. Things were crazy at work and I just didn't do it.

I ran 5 miles pretty hard Tuesday, then a simple speedworkout Wednesday that was a 2 mile warmup, 3x300-200-100 with 100 jog between... 400 job between each set and a mile cooldown after. It didn't feel nearly as easy as I hoped, but I guess that's good that I'm tapering for another week plus. I ran another moderate 5 miles Thursday and ended up taking Friday and Saturday off because I didn't have time Friday and was too wrapped up in Senior Day Saturday. All in all, probably a few miles shorter than where I should have been but trying to balance seeing everyone before they leave in a couple weeks and training like this has been really hard. Emotionally, I am really going to miss so many people graduating this year and I really just needed to be with a lot of those people last week. Hard work is already done and for the most part, I'm not going to get into any better shape than I am already. I wish I had another month of solid serious training under my legs, but we're going to attack the race next weekend and see what happens.

Sunday, I got a good eight miles in at 6:58 pace and I actually felt really good, considering the performance of the night before where I had a couple too many beers and not enough waters.

This week will be easy runs all week, 4-5 miles each day with a 6 miler on Wednesday. Probably 1-2 off days depending on feel, with an easy 3 miles Saturday before the race Sunday.

Game plan for this week: Be better about updating the running log.

Mon. April 23 - Off Day and Milestone Hit

Today is going to be an off day from running, even though I took many of them last week. I ran a decently hard 10 miler yesterday and at this point in the game, there is no point in hurting myself by overdoing it with 13 days left till race day.

Plan for the week looks like this: Core, abs, pushups today. Easy six miles tomorrow. Easy speed day Wednesday on the track. Easy six miles Thursday. Easy four miles Friday. Off Saturday. Easy 8 miles Sunday.

Milestone Hit
I reached $1,500 in my fundraising for the Mario Lemieux Foundation last night with a donation from Kim Maxwell, who was the captain of the track and field team at Army when I was there. Thanks Kim! With 13 days left till the race, I am the third-highest fundraiser of all runners running for the foundation, and that is very humbling.

Thanks to everyone that has donated and made this such a life changing experience. There is still time to donate, so feel free to share the link below! Thanks again!

http://www.active.com/donate/mariolemieuxfdn/jonholtz

Sunday April 23 - Last Long Day

Weekly Mileage: 25 (3 days)

Workout
10 mile run

Breakdown
Some semi major issues in my legs kept me from running a few days this week, but I made sure to get my long run in today. I went out Cooper St and Stoughtoun and then down 108 to 5 miles and back. The way back was awful, uphill from miles 5-6 and then into the wind from 7-9.

I still ran pretty hard on the way back, closing in 6:45 or so. I finished in about 7:10 average pace, which as I mentioned included some good hills and a lot of head wind. It wasn't too bad. That is a bit slower than I want to run on race day, but we will see.

I didn't feel any major issues with my knees or feet, which kept me from running the last couple days. so that was a great sign.

Shoes
Kayano 18

Next Up
This week included the last hard speed workout and long run of my training. This week will feature an easy 3-2-1 workout as my speed day and an 8-9 mile easy run as my long run. Next week just easy runs all week until race day. Should be ready to go.

I HOPE IT DOESNT SNOW 8-12 INCHES TOMORROW LIKE ITS SUPPOSED TO!!!!

Thur. April 19 - Last Hard Speed Day

Weekly Mileage: 15 (2 days)

Workout
2 mile warmup
8x800 w/ 3 min. rest
1 mile cooldown

Breakdown
Feeling a little soreness in some spots on my legs and my feet, so I opted for a day off Wednesday and felt it was more important to get this workout in today than an easy day. I had to wait until dark to get it in because I wanted to do it on the track to stay off pavement and there was a lacrosse game in the stadium until about 8:15.

Long story short, it was hard. I wanted it to feel easy but still having not recovered as well from the 14 miler, it was not easy. I did the first one in 2:46 and felt like trash. I wanted them to all be in the 2:45 range, which made me nervous. It didn't help that it was totally dark in the stadium.

I focused and hit the next three in 2:44, 2:44, 2:42. I took a GU after the fourth one with some water and then tried to convince myself that I could do four more and not just two more. I got through the next one in 2:41 and then cranked out another in 2:41 as well.

I took an extra minute of rest before the last two and managed a 2:40 and a 2:36, closing the last lap in 75 seconds. It hurt, but I was strong and it showed me I have some pain threshold and some guts built up. 8x800 in that pace is hard and especially after such a limited time. I felt good when I finished.

Shoes
W/U and C/D in Kayano 18
Workout in Fastwitch 5

Next Up
We will see how some of the bumps and bruises feel tomorrow and go from there. Most important thing is a 10 miler this weekend.

Wed. Aprl 18 - Day Off

Ended up taking today off. It wasn't really planned, but my legs just didn't recover from the 14 miler Sunday like I was hoping, so after 8 miles yesterday I decided to go with my body and against my brain and take the day off.

Hopefully, things are feeling good tomorrow and the rest of the week will play out as follows:

Thursday: 8x800 at 5k pace
Friday: Easy 7-8 mile run
Saturday: Easy 5 mile run
Sunday: 10 mile run

10 miles seems like a pretty easy run now, considering all the 8-9 mile runs over the last couple weeks and the 12-14 mile long runs.

Next week the taper really takes form with nothing over 6-7 miles during the easy days, a simple shakeout 3-2-1 track workout and only an 8 mile long run. Then its smooth sailing race week with two off days and nothing more than six miles all week before the race Sunday.

WOW! Story by Becky.

Wow, I knew that Becky was doing a profile of me running in Bri's name for one of her classes, but I had no idea it was going to be that amazing. She took a bunch of photos, shot video of me and Bri and put it all together with a great story.

Please go over to her blog and check it out!

Becky's Blog

Thank you so much for doing this Becky. I am truly humbled.

Tues. April 17 - Back at It

Weekly Mileage: 8 (1 day)

Workout
Easy 8 miles
4x100

Breakdown
Went out to Moraine and ran the first six miles with Becky at around 7:45 pace. Still definitely not feeling great after the 14 mile run on Sunday, but felt good to get out and shake out the legs a bit. Becky is a lot more fit than she thinks she is. I wouldnt have run much faster today if she wasn't there, but having someone to run with has been a blessing on some of these days. I finished my last two miles in around 7:00 pace on the cinder trail and closed with four strides.

Shoes
Asics Kayano 18

Bumps and Bruises
My body is feeling the toll of the last two weeks of really hard training, which is to be expected. I have easy runs all week this week with one hard workout, so that will be nice. Only a 10 mile run this weekend and then its full taper for two weeks until race day. I should be ready.


Other Junk
Snuck out tonight for a rare Tuesday night beer with Becky, who turned 22 at midnight. First time I have drank a beer on a Tuesday in a long time! But it was worth it to thank her for everything this semester. Happy Birthday Becky!

Final Push for Donations

Money Raised to Date: $1,335.00

With just under three weeks left until race day, I think there is still a great chance we can hit my lofty goal of raising at least $1,500 for the Mario Lemieux Foundation.

If anyone still doesn't know why I am running, or would like to make a tax deductible donation, visit the link below for more information.

http://www.active.com/donate/mariolemieuxfdn/jonholtz

Me and Bri

Sunday April 16 - Catching up

Weekly Mileage: 44 (5 days)

Workout
14 mile run

Breakdown
This was my last really long run before the race, which is three weeks from today. It was about 80 degrees when I started running, so I knew the pace wouldn't match the effort. It it was around 60, I was hoping to go in the 7:05 range. I finished averaging 7:18 pace, which wasn't too bad. I didn't start until after 7 at night though, so the last three miles on the bike path were in total darkness. It was super scary, not something I will do again.

My feet are shot though. This is a new thing for me, as I never dealt with this when I ran before, but the balls of my feet are getting torn up every run over eight miles. They start burning and eventually become so painful I can't focus on anything else. I've tried three different pairs of shoes now and even more pairs of socks. I think I just need to have all the skin on my feet that is calloused taken off. Gross. On top of that, I got a big bruise on the arch of my left foot and I have no idea where it came from, but its so painful I can barely stand on it. I iced a few times tonight and I will have to monitor it closely, but a day off tomorrow is almost guaranteed now.

Shoes
Asics Gel Kayano 18 (these are new this week. super expensive, but way better than what I was wearing before)

Looking Ahead
I came through the half marathon mark tonight without pushing the pace in 1:36:11, which would have made me 232nd overall in the race last year. That's awesome considering my lofty goal at the beginning of this was to be top-250. On race day, I should be running at least 3-4 minutes faster than that if things all go to plan, which would be really impressive for just a few months of running.

Gu Time
Wanted to make sure I won't have any issues with eating during the race since I haven't done it in years, so I took Gu today. One about 20 minutes before I ran, and one at about the 10k mark. I went with the caffeinated ones because I was told they keep you sharper. I hate the taste and really dont like the consistency, but they go down smooth and don't give me any stomach issues so I think I am set there.

Catch Up
I have been super busy the last few days and have not posted, so I need to go back to Thursday.

Thursday's Workout
2 mile warmup
4 mile tempo run
2 mile cooldown

Breakdown
This workout went great. I finished the four miles in 24:48 for a 6:12 average, and I closed the last mile in 5:57. I felt fluid the whole time and I felt strong, even on the uphill parts of the bike path at Moraine.

Shoes
Warmup in Asics Kayano 18
Workout in Saucony Fastwitch 5
Cooldown in Kayano 18

Friday's Workout
Easy 5 mile run

No issues here just an easy run. It was real hot out, especially compared to other days this week, but it went fine.

Saturday
Well, I worked all day and didnt get done until almost 6, which made getting a run in hard. That, and the fact that old friends were in town that night that I really wanted to see. So, this turned into an unexpected day off. All in all, it's ok because I got the hard workout and the long run in.

That's all. Back at it this week. Come on foot please don't be really hurt!

April 10-11 - Cold again

Weekly Mileage: 17 (2 days)

Workout
9 mile run
4x100m

Breakdown
Went out to Moraine with Becky. It was really cold and kind of snowing at the start of the run, but stopped snowing and got kinda warm after four miles or so. I ran the first six miles with Becky in a really comfortable pace and then picked it up the last three miles by myself. It is awesome having someone to run with when the weather is that crappy and when you don't feel well. She has been super helpful on days like that.

Shoes
Nike Lunarfly 3 (can't keep logging miles in these)

Looking Ahead
I'm writing this a day late because my family is in town and we spent the day together Wednesday. I wasn't feeling great and didn't get time to get my run in today, which is ok because I can use this as my day off and just shift the rest of the week by one day. Tomorrow will be hard four mile tempo, nine miles Friday, five miles Saturday and 14 Sunday.

Great Times
Having mom and Tiff here has been great the last few days. Last night we went to Compadres for dinner and Becky, Tyler and Dann all came out as well. We had a great dinner and enjoyed some drinks. Nice for mom to be able to put a face with some of the people I am always hanging out with finally. Tonight, it's all about the Penguins and the opening night of the playoffs! Back on it tomorrow.

Mon. April 9 - Another 8 down

Weekly Mileage: 8 (1 day)

Workout
8 mile run
4x100m

Breakdown
Felt great through five miles and then a little blah the last three. Not used to running that much the day after a long run, but it went well. Went out Cooper street extended to Stoughton.

Shoes
Nike Lunarfly 3

Looking Ahead
9 miles tomorrow will take me to 29 miles over three days, which will be the longest three day mileage stretch for me in well over six years. Feeling good though.

Sunday, April 8 - Long Run Done

Weekly Mileage: 47

Workout
12 mile run

Breakdown
Switched the off day to Saturday and got the long run in today. 12 miles is the longest run I have done since 2006, when I was in much better shape and could knock out a 20 miler. I finished in just a shade under 1:28 which is about 7:20 average pace per mile. That's not real indicative of the effort though, because the last six miles were all between 6:40-7:05.

I felt alright. I was tired out of the gates and didn't feel real great through four or five miles, but my legs came to me and I finished strong.

I ran on the bike path out at Moraine, which is paved the entire way and features some rolling hills and a lot of twists and turns. Not an easy/flat run, but much less challenging that trying to get 12 miles in around town.

Shoes
Nike Lunarfly 3

Outlook
Based on how I felt I am hopeful that I will be running a pretty good half marathon four weeks from today. The biggest key on race day is going to be the first three miles. My entry time is fast enough that I should be in a front corral and shouldn't have to deal with too many people (25,000 on the start line) so the next challenge will be making sure not to go out too fast. If I can get out in 7:05-7:15 that would be ideal. I'm hoping to hover in the 7 range for about 7 miles and then finish as strong as possible. Even if I'm not feeling great on race day, I should be able to run 7:20 just like today which would put me under 1:35 for a finish time, which would have been inside the top-200 finishers last year. I'd take that.

Donations
We're up over $1,300 in donations for the Mario Lemieux Foundation, which blows me away. I am really hoping we can get over the $1,500 mark before race day. That would be incredible. If you would like to donate a few dollars, the online donation site is secure and receipts are provided: http://www.active.com/donate/mariolemieuxfdn/jonholtz

Coming Up
Mom and Tiff are visiting tonight for a few days this week, so it will be really nice to see them and have them in town. Going to try to go into the office in the mornings and get as much work done as possible so I can spend some time with them in the afternoons. Toughest running week of the year this week too... going over 50 miles for the first time since 2006. Feeling strong.

Fri. April 6 - Easy Day

Weekly Mileage: 35 (5 days)

Workout
Easy 5 mile run at 7:10 pace

Breakdown
Got my first round of golf in for the year, so I didn't end up running until about 7. Ran the town loop which is just a shade over five miles. Felt perfect. No issues. Did pushups and crunches when I got home.

Shoes
Nike Lunarfly 3

Next Up
I'm posting this Saturday morning and the original plan was to get my 12 miler in today, but I slept on my left leg funny last night and I am feeling a little soreness so I think I may take today as my off day and run my 12 miles tomorrow. That plan could change later, but for now that is the game plan.

Buccos?
If I don't end up running today, I think I am going to head down to Pittsburgh for the Pirates game tonight with some friends. I may not go to the game, but a good day outside in the sun tailgating on the river would be fun nonetheless.

Family Coming
Mom and Tiff are coming Sunday for a few days, so that will be nice to see them. I am going to have to work a bit and run every day, but it will be nice having them around for sure.

Thurs. April 5 - Busy Day

Weekly Mileage: 30 (4 days)

Workout
East 8 mile run at 7:02 pace
4 x 100 strides

Breakdown
Felt way better than I thought I would considering  how hard yesterday was and how my legs were feeling afterwards. I actually went out in sub-7 pace and dialed it back because there was no reason to run that quick.

I went from my house to downtown, then just ran out Cooper street and Stoughton to the four mile mark and turned around. The way back into town is a bit hilly and the wind was in my face almost the whole last four miles, but it really wasn't that bad and I felt really good.

Shoes
Nike Lunarfly 3

Lacrosse
I'm posting a day late because as soon as I finished running I had to shower and hustle to get to lacrosse. The game ended up ranking in my top 10, maybe my top 5 all-time moments in sports information. We have never beaten IUP in the history of our program, and they were riding an eight game winning streak and undefeated in the conference coming in. We dominated the final 15 minutes of the game and upset them, 18-13. This senior class is the first class of athletes that I have seen every single season for since I began my career. I couldn't be more proud of them and I was so happy that I had to celebrate after the game (Emma's dad is awesome!).

Today
Easy 5 miles today and just some relaxing after work. Might even get the sticks out and play a round of golf for the first time this year. Tomorrow will be tough. 12 mile run. Longest run since 2006 for me, but I feel good going in and I am confident it won't be an issue.

Wed. April 4 - Hardest Workout in Years

Weekly Mileage: 22 (3 days)

Workout
2 mile warmup
4 x 1 mile hard w/5 minutes rest
1 mile cooldown

Breakdown
Wow, I knew this was going to be the hardest workout I had done in years going in, but I wasn't prepared for how much it was going to hurt. Weather was great again today, but it was super windy this afternoon so there was no easy way to do this type of workout.

I went out to Moraine State Park, which meant the miles would be on rolling hills and two would be with the wind at my back and two would be with it right in my face.

I warmed up on the cinder trail and did some plyos before running the intervals on the bike trail.

The first one felt terrible. I never got into a rhythm and really didn't feel strong at all. Never a good start to a hard workout. I was on pace with about 100 meters to go and relaxed through the finish in 5:45.

The second mile was more uphill with a big uphill finish and the wind in my face. I got into a much better rhythm the first half mile and pushed up the hill to finish in 5:41.

The third was probably my best one. I felt fluid and strong the whole mile and never struggled. Finished in 5:37 but knew the last one was going to be really hard.

Last mile was uphill and into the wind and really hurt. I got out well before the wind really hit and I went through the first half a little fast. The wind and the last hill really hurt but I still brought it in at 5:33

All in all, I am pleased. If you told me Jan. 1 I would be able to lay down four sub 5:45 miles today I would have said you were crazy. Plus, I got a solid 15 miles the last two days and was coming off a hard 5k effort Saturday.

Shoes
Warmup in Supernova Ride
Workout in Fastwitch 5 (really really like these shoes)

Next Up
We have a home track meet and a night lacrosse game tomorrow night, so I am going to have to get my run in during the day. I am going to probably go in for a few hours in the morning and then try to get my 7-8 mile run in sometime around lunch. Track meet starts at 2. Lacrosse at 7. Should be done working by 10. Oh the life of an SID!

Other Junk
Still not drinking enough water. Need to keep reminding myself that during the day.

Tue. April 3 - Another Great Day

Weekly Mileage: 15 (2 days)

Workout
8 miles

Breakdown
Went out to Moraine State Park today after work to get an easy 8-miler in. Ran the first 5 miles with Becky, the wonderful intern that has been working with me all semester. She is running the half marathon too (and she is going to do pretty darn well). We ran on the bike trail at around a 7:35 pace.

I went an additional 3 miles on the cinder part of the North Country Trail and picked up up to around 6:55 pace. Felt great. Legs were a little tired, but nothing real sore and no real issues. Got a little dehydrated toward the end, so I need to keep reminding myself to smash water during the days.

Weather was perfect again today. Sunny, light breeze and upper 50s. I wish it would stay like this all the time.

Had to come right into the office to write a lacrosse story as soon as we got back from the park, so its a good thing I had a balance bar with me. Going to grab some dinner and get a good stretch tonight before bed to get ready for a tough workout tomorrow.

Shoes
Nike Lunarfly 3

Up Next
Hard workout tomorrow is going to be a 2 mile warmup, four by 1 mile at 5k pace (5:45-55) and a 1 mile cooldown. Easy 7 or 8 miles Thursday morning or afternoon before track meet and lacrosse game that evening. Super easy 4 or 5 miles Friday and a 12 miler Saturday. Looking into a flat, cinder place to start doing my long runs to get off the pavement and concrete.

Time for dinner!

Mon. April 2 - Perfect Day

Weekly Mileage: 7 (1 day)

Workout
7 miles at 7:05 pace
4x100 strides

Breakdown
Weather was perfect today when I ran. Sunny, light wind, high 50s. If the weather was like that everyday I feel like more people would love running. I took yesterday off as a rest day after my race on Saturday. My calves were tight for the whole run today, but that is to be expected after the first significant effort in racing shoes.

Other than the calves, which I really didn't notice much, I felt great today. Way better than I thought I was going to feel and that is encouraging because this week and next week are the two toughest weeks in my training. After these two weeks we go back down a bit in intensity and get ready to run the half marathon May 6. Feeling good.

Shoes
Adidas Supernova Ride... I don't like these shoes. I don't want to have to spend any more money on shoes because I just got these, but these simply aren't going to work for serious training. I don't trust Adidas shoes anyway (got my only stress fracture ever in Adidas) but these ones are tearing the bottom of my feet up and I don't know why.

Coming Up
Easy week for me at work in terms of games. Only one home lacrosse game and one home track meet this week and it's Easter weekend, so none of my teams are competing this weekend. I would go home, but my mom and sister are coming here for a few days Monday so there really isnt much point to go home. In terms of running... it's 8 miles tomorrow, 4 x 1 mile hard Wednesday, 7 Thursday, 4 Friday and 12 Saturday. Should be a fun week!

Trying to track down some photos from the race this weekend. I know they were taken, but no idea where they might be now. Let's go Kentucky tonight! (I don't really like Calipari, but if they win I win all of my brackets).

Sat., Mar. 31 - Race Day

Weekly Mileage: 30 (5 days)

Workout
2 mile warmup
5k race
1 mile cooldown

Breakdown
Got up this morning at 6:45 a.m. and drove over to Sharon, Pa. for the Penn State Shenango Hustle for Muscle 5k. Goals going in were pretty clear: push hard and get a gauge on where my fitness and pain thresholds are after about two months of serious running.

Results were way better than expected. It was super cold and pretty windy on the out part of the out and back course, and I went out way too fast. There was basically three of us for the first mile and we went through in 5:25. Way too fast for my goals and I could have run a lot faster overall if I had gone out 25 or 30 seconds slower.

I dropped back a bit after the first mile, not because I wasn't feeling great, but because I knew if I went through two miles there I would be crashing the third mile.

I got passed with about a half mile to go but reeled the guy in over the last 100 meters from about 30 yards back. I still have a ton of leg speed from my days as an 800-meter runner is what that showed me.

Long story short, I finished third overall and first in the men's 25-29 year old age group with a time of 18:28, which is about 5:57 per mile.

Going in, I thought best case scenario I was in 18:45 shape, so I am pretty pleased with this.

Shoes
Warmup in Supernova Ride
Race in Saucony Fastwitch 5 (first run in them, loved them)

Reflection
18:28 is a long, LONG way away from my PR in the 5k, but its also 2:30 faster than I ran Feb. 18 in a 5k and it's pretty damn impressive considering I was 206 pounds three months ago with no miles on my legs.

Today
I'm recovering a bit now and then I have to head to lacrosse to work the Stick it to Cancer game vs. Shippensburg. I'm predicting a big win for us in the standings and a super special and emotional day for Bri, the team, her family and friends and myself included. I can't wait for today.

Later, I'm going to indulge a bit and eat some pizza and drink some beers with my boys while watching the Final Four games. Today should be an amazing day.

Hope everyone else has a great one too!

Fri., Mar. 30 - Easy Day/Big Win

Weekly Mileage: 24 (4 days)

Workout
4 miles easy
4x100 strides
core

Breakdown
Super easy four mile run around town this afternoon before the SRU lacrosse game. Felt fine. No real issues. Should be ok for the race tomorrow morning.

Shoes
Nike Lunarfly 3

Tomorrow
Running my first real attempt at a race. Going to go after it and run hard from the gun to see where the fitness level and pain thresholds really are right now. Won't be fun, but will be worth it. Weather is supposed to be real cold. Just hoping for no rain. Not looking forward to being up so early and moving around on my day to sleep in, but I need to get used to it for the 7:30 start time of the half marathon anyway.

Other News
Today, Millersville University showed me how amazing sportsmanship in college athletics is and why I love Division II so much. They showed up for our game at our place today with the whole team wearing Fight Like a Girl t-shirts in support of Bri, the same girl I am running the race in honor of. It was an awesome moment and a truly special day for Bri. Snapped a group photo of both teams after the game and I will be writing a feature story early next week about it. I will also be nominating Millersville for the NCAA Sportsmanship award. It was just plain awesome. Plus, we won the game with a truly solid team performance. Best I have seen us play all year.

Rest tonight. No drinking or craziness for me. Good luck to everyone trying to hit the mega millions tonight hahaha.

Thurs., March 29 - Average Day

Weekly Mileage: 20 (3 days)

Today's Workout
Easy 6 miles
4x100 strides w/100 jog between
Basic core workout, abs and pushups

Breakdown
Ran easy and comfortable at around 7:15 pace. Did the town loop plus a little extension, which is basically the roads that surround the town of Slippery Rock and make a big loop back to my house. It's about a 5.2 mile loop, so I need to add on a little to get to six miles, which I do by adding a little loop through campus.

Weather was a lot colder than it has been the last week or so. Went with shorts, long sleeve and gloves. Should have gone pants probably. Weather doesn't look much better for tomorrow and definitely not good for the race Saturday.

Felt fine through four miles. Left quad and right calf acted up a bit last two miles. Stretched extra well after the core workout and will stretch again before bed.

Still not really pleased with how poorly I have recovered from the 10 miler last Sunday, but hopefully things come together for this weekend.

Shoes
Adidas Supernova Ride

Next Up 
Super easy four mile run and strides tomorrow morning before work. Have a meeting at 11:30 to talk about the grad assistant job at SRU tomorrow and then have a lacrosse game at 3 (Let's go ladies!).  Good dinner and a quiet night tomorrow and then my first real attempt at a race in more than four years on Saturday morning.

Race
I'm going to go to the Hustle for Muscle 5k in Sharon at Penn State Shenango Saturday morning. I chose that one because its about the same distance away from here as the other races that day, but its the cheapest to run ($15 vs. $35 for the one in Wexford). Winner gets $50 cash. If the same exact field shows up as last year, I would finish first or second based on my workouts. Maybe the rain and cold (32 degrees predicted at start time) will scare away the faster folks and I can score some cash! Not likely and not why I am going, but would be nice. Looking at going out in about 6:05 for the first mile and hoping to drop it to 5:45-6:00 range to close. If I can run anywhere close to 19:00 after only two months of real training and no running for four years, that would be a massive accomplishment.

Other Junk
Went to Compadres for the first time tonight. Its a Mexican restaurant close to Slippery Rock and I cant believe I have never been there in three plus years. Tuesday and Thursday they do 99 cent tacos and every night from 7-9 they do 99 cent beers. The tacos were fantastic and the company was great. Went with some of my student workers and their friends. Really going to miss them when they graduate. That's all for now. Easy run coming up in the morning.

Oh! My racing shoes for the half marathon came in the mail today finally. They fit perfect and are the exact color as my bright green jersey, so I am super happy. Going to race in them this Saturday to put some miles on them and get my feet accustomed to them. May 6 is coming fast! They also have an awesome message on the bottom I didn't know about. Bri is going to beat cancer... and cancer is going to lose! Pics below.

Wed., Mar. 28 - Windy Speed Day

Weekly Miles: 14 (2 days)


Today's Workout
2 mile warmup
Plyos
4x 300-200-100 w/ 100 jog between and 400 jog after each set.
1 mile cool down

Breakdown
Super windy today. Tried to wait until the evening to get my workout in to avoid the worst of the winds.

Going to be running a 5k this Saturday morning before our lacrosse game to gauge my fitness level, so this week's speed day was a simple 3-2-1 workout. Did the workout at Old Thompson (pavement 440 yard track) to avoid dealing with spring football practice in the stadium.

Ran it comfortably fast and didn't really get anaerobic on any of the sets. Did all the 300s in 49-51 seconds, 200s in 34-36 seconds and 100s in 16 seconds. Relaxed. No problems.

Left quad is bothering me a bit from not recovering from my 10 miler on Sunday as well as I hoped. Got 7 easy miles in yesterday and legs got heavy around four miles. Still felt heavy today, but no soreness during the workout.

Shoes
Warmed up in Adidas Supernova Ride
Workout in Nike Lunarfly 3

Next Up
Easy six miles with strides tomorrow, followed by core workout. Easy four miles and strides Friday morning (lacrosse game that afternoon). 5k race Saturday (still not sure which one I am going to).

Other News
Getting back into coaching a bit. I have my US Track and Field coaching certification and have done basically nothing with it. On top of putting my plan together, I have also put a training plan together for my intern Becky, who is running the half marathon May 6 as well. She is crushing her training right now and I think she is going to be super surprised come race day. It's been fun helping her out a bit and she's been an awesome running partner and someone to commiserate about running with. That's all. Peace out.

Catching Up

Before I start posting updates on current runs and progress, I figured for my own sake and record keeping, I should post a recap of how I got here. Since I don't particularly feel like writing a novel, we're going list form for most of it.

On Jan. 1, 2012, I stepped on a scale and weighed 206 pounds. I would include photos, but they make me kind of sick. I started running in January and basically just logged super easy low mileage weeks, starting with three or four runs a week and building up to five runs a week by mid-February.

January
- Runs: Easy runs. Super Slow. 8:30-9 minute mile pace.
- Diet: Cut out liquid calories. Stopped drinking during the week. Started eating better. Ate out less often.
- Weight: Dropped around 15 pounds, nearly all fat.

I started running a more rigid workout schedule about the second week of February, including a speed workout each day. When I drew up the initial plans, I didn't have any ambitions of running anything other than 5ks anytime soon, so there really weren't many miles or many long runs.

February
 - Runs: Increased to five runs a week. Mostly easy miles dipping into the high 7-minute pace. Moderate speed days once a week, starting with track workouts and moving to tempo runs by the end of the month.
- Race: Ran an underground 5k on Feb. 18 with some old friends from college. A ton of twists and turns. And we got fairly drunk reminiscing about college the night before and slept very little. Still, managed a 20:55 which is in the high 6:40 mile pace range. Not bad for all things considered.
- Weight: Dropped down to about 180 pounds by the end of the month.

I made the decision in late February that I was going to run the Pittsburgh Half Marathon for charity. I chose to run for the Mario Lemieux Foundation and more specifically to run in the name of my friend Brianne Dishong, who was diagnosed with cancer late last year. I'll be decked out in a special bright green uniform with quotes and her number on it on race day and a bib that says "iRun4Bri". To date, we have raised more than $1,200 for the foundation. I am hoping to get to at least $1,500 by May 6. More info and online donation site is setup at: http://www.active.com/donate/mariolemieuxfdn/jonholtz

Group shot of the Mansfield alums after the Runnin' Out of Our Mine 5k

 

March
- Runs: Increased to six days a week with a more rigid schedule. Hard workouts Wednesday. Long run Saturday or Sunday depending on my schedule.
- Weight: As it stands March 28, down to 170 pounds. I would like to go about 10 pounds lighter before race day, but I am eating more now with the increased miles so weight isn't coming off as fast. Still, that's 36 pounds lost in less than three months. I'll take it.
- Progress: Long run last week was 10 miles and I did in in 1:13, which is around 7:18 pace. I was solid, smooth and comfortable. Easily could have finished the extra 3.1 miles in the same pace, which would be around 1:34 and change for the half marathon, which would have been top-200 finishers out of 9,000 last season. My goal when I started this crazy plan with no training under my belt was to somehow get into the top-250 on race day. I am hoping if I stay healthy and keep progressing, to blow that away now.

That's some background on how we got to where we are now. Next post will start the official daily running log and progress reports leading up to the half marathon May 6.

Taking the Running Log Online

Since I am back into an almost normal training routine, I figured I needed to start accurately mapping my training log back out.

Since everything has gone to an online or digital format since the last time I really kept a log, I figured why not just do it this way rather than keeping a paper log somewhere that I might misplace or lose.

So, this page is going to start out as a running/training log and who knows, maybe develop into something more or something entirely different.

Here we go.