Training started today. My running partner is thrilled.

91 days to the Saskatchewan Marathon. A more formal approach to training started today. Looking at my heart rate today compared to 13 weeks prior to the Vegas Marathon I think I am a little further behind. I am still suffering a cold, though, so maybe I can use that as an excuse.

Time: 1:06
Distance: 10.47 km
Average Pace: 6:15/km
Average Heart Rate: 155 beats/minute.

One of my running partners is thrilled...

Over the next 14 months, this should finish off my hips

I am meeting with my coach Bruce Craven on Monday. Bruce coached me to a close-call at the Vegas Marathon back in December (3:36:33 -- I need to run 3:30). I think I would have made it if I had been slightly more experienced at the 42.2 km distance.

We have a 13 week training cycle to the Saskatchewan Marathon on May 30. Then another 13 week cycle to Ironman Canada on Aug 29. Six months of hard work.

I am sticking with my Adidas Adistars until May 30. I am interested in converting to an intermediate shoe for Ironman in August(between traditional runner and racing flat). Brian Micasiw at Brainsport had some very excellent advice on this point this week. I will discuss it with Coach Bruce on Monday.

Here is the current plan that I sent to Bruce for his modifications. Basically, from now until Ironman I simply do whatever he tells me to do. I meet with him Monday and I will publish my weekly training plan here.

Dave's "for now" weekly plan:

MONDAY – 60 minutes weights (afternoon) + 45 minutes swimming (late evening)
TUESDAY – 60 minutes running (afternoon)
WEDNESDAY – 45 minutes swimming (late evening) ***I count this as my day off as it is 27 hours since yesterday’s run***
THURSDAY – 60 minutes running (early afternoon) + 60 minutes swimming (later afternoon with coach)
FRIDAY -- 45 minutes swimming (lunch) + 60 minutes core (afternoon)
SATURDAY – 120 minutes cycling at the Fieldhouse. I like stopping to run. This is a good time for interval runs (with bike in between) for me. Usually I do 4 x 1 km @ 4:20.
SUNDAY – Long run.

Bruce is my coach. His wife Karen is my physiotherapist. See them both here:

http://www.cravensportservices.ca/

My hips are close to finished

I have had bad hips for a few years. I'm 44. Early arthritis. This past year they have gotten noticeably worse, particularly the left hip.

I just had x-rays (again): "Advanced Degenerative Hip Disease that is substantially worse than the last x-ray in May, 2009."

Sigh.

Even though I knew this, it's still hard to hear.

The literature is clear, running does not cause arthritis. But, I can't find any literature regarding what to do if you already have advanced arthritis. I have been referred to an orthopedic surgeon and I look forward to talking about anything that will help me over the next 14 months since I have decided to plow ahead with my original plans: Saskatchewan Marathon at the end of May to qualify for Boston, Ironman Canada at the end of August to say I did, and the Boston Marathon in 2011 as my retirement swan song.

I am not an exercise addict. I am not obsessed. But, these goals have been in development for about three years and I want to see them through. This may mean that my hip replacement comes a little earlier than it otherwise would but I don't think I am going to make 55 with the hips I have now and I can't see that four or five years makes much difference.

So... back to training.

I am the most-coached slow athlete in the world. This Sunday starts a 13 week cycle to the Saskatchewan Marathon -- time to go back to work. Bruce Craven (coach), Paul Armstrong (swim coach), and Lindsay Byers (trainer), I am counting on you guys to get me there.

On a lighter note, a lot of the big races have a course fly-through. For those of you from warmer climates, I thought you might enjoy a fly-through of the Saskatoon winter-training Ironman Bike Course.