It’s been a month since I last introduced Mike. Check out my post on June 19 if you want to read the introduction. With the SF Giants Half Marathon coming in just a few weeks (August 4th), I wanted to update you on his progress.

One of the biggest things that’s happened is Mike finally registered for the race! Lol! I didn’t even know he wasn’t registered til a little over a week ago. You’ve got to register for the race to do the race. It’s a major component!

So now that he’s registered, he’s just continuing with his running. He’s been doing really well! I got a little nervous though after he told me he tweaked his hamstring about a week ago. He had a rest day scheduled the day after it happened, so that was good. I just suggested he be careful and don’t push too hard. I would hate for him to injure it any further and not be able to run the race.

However, last Sunday he ran 10 miles and he said he felt great and could have kept going. This is so awesome! But, he said he was dehydrated after, as he didn’t bring any water or electrolytes to refuel. It may not be humid here in Sacramento (like in Boston, where I was constantly drinking water and it still wasn’t enough), but it is pretty warm, so you need to get those fluids back into your body.

He did start asking me more questions about water intake, energy chews, what to wear on race day, and all the stuff that goes along with this. I also reminded him about the Expo and maybe refraining from walking all over SF the day before before the race. I gave him as much advice as possible. I really wanted him to train with the energy chews or Gu’s to find out which ones he liked better. It’s better to do this during training than on race day. Not everyone likes the same flavors or consistencies of them. Or they may not always agree with your body. I also recommended Body Glide for chaffing and possibly a technical shirt, rather than a cotton one.

He did also mention that “the one thing that really helps is the days off.” He used to run more than 40 miles a week, running everyday, but he feels way better now during most runs because of the rest days in between.

Mike said that he was going to run 12 miles this weekend and 14 the following week, which is the week before the race. I advised him not to run 14 miles. I just think that’s way too much before the race. I told him maybe he should swap these and do 13 this weekend (if he wants to do that much) and 11 the following week. I told him about the taper period the week of the race and I just don’t think 14 miles that Sunday is smart. I told him that usually you don’t train past 12 miles on your long runs. So Mike said, “Oh ok good. So if I can run 12 I can run 13.1.” I said, “Yup!”

As Hal Higdon says, “Inspiration will carry you to the finish line, particularly if you taper the final week.”

We communicate mostly over Facebook messages, so I gave him a few questions to answer -

1. With 2.5 weeks left til the race…how are you feeling? And how’s the training coming along?: I feel great other then tightness in hamstrings. Right on schedule [and] have not missed a workout. Have not had to cut back.
2. How’s the foot?: Foot is good (He’s a man of many words!)
3. Anything you’re concerned about?: Only concern would be hills. All my running, other then occasional overpass, is flat. (SF races/courses usually consist of hills)
4. Do you still have the same goals? Time goal? Etc?: Most [of my] runs are sub 9 min miles so goals for under 2 [hours] really haven’t changed, but I am leaning toward the 2:10 pace group since I will be in a crowd and there will be some hills.

I honestly think he will be able to do this race in under 2 hours, but I told him to do whatever he’s comfortable with. I think he’s going to kick ass! I can’t wait to see him on race day and see him experience his first half marathon!

And if the SF Giants AND finishing the race at AT&T Park weren’t enough of a reason to do this race, check out these awesome medals we get when we finish. Super excited!!

The far left one is the half marathon medal

More to follow…