My name is Bruce Petty. I live in Northern VA and have become somewhat a Clydesdale myself. Two years ago at the age of 35 I found myself out of shape, 235 lbs. and facing ACL re-construction surgery. Here is my story.
I blew my knee skiing out in Utah. I love to ski and since that time have improved greatly. I went through the agonizing ACL Surgery where they replaced my total tear with a patella tendon. I am sure you are familiar with the procedure. As I lay in bed those first 4 days after the surgery, I did a lot of inner examination and found that I had one of two choices, I could either continue on my current path and become an overweight unhealthy slob or I could get off my ass and get back to a place in life where I was comfortable, healthy and enjoyed a good run.
In my younger days, I ran quite often and enjoyed a long run of 8 to 10 miles. As you probably have heard a thousand times though, time and motivation both shrank as I pursued my so called perfect life. That's a whole other story, as I am now divorced, but happily. Anyway, to cut the story down a little, over the first 10 weeks after my surgery and while still in PT, I made the decision to do it and get off my ass. I have since dropped 35 pounds, researched and implemented a nutrition plan to be proud of and my long runs are up to 12 miles (last weekend). I have also made the commitment, not to myself, but for myself to run the USMC Marathon this October.
I am planning to implement a 20 week training schedule and am looking for some input from some experts. My current training, although effected somewhat by job related travel, centers around running and weight training. I run almost everyday, usually always rest on Mondays as my long day is usually Sunday. A normal run for me is 5 to 6 miles. I run at about 9 to 8 min miles. Slow, but as I said, my long run last weekend was 12 miles. I was really proud and surprisingly strong when I finished. My new knee tingles, sometimes significantly, when I stop, however, I did not have hardly any soreness or fatigue latter in the day. I train, somewhat by the book, with weights two or three days a week, however, it is not my main focus.
Future plans outside of my training schedule include dropping my weight to around 190, to hopefully refine my nutrition for longer distance running and to begin some mental exercises and visualization for the road. I have some models for training schedules. Some seem to be close to what I would consider applicable, however, I am unsure. My main objective in the marathon will be to FINISH. I am not real concerned, at this time, about speed or where I am in the pack, but simply to finish. I can visualize an inner feeling of crossing the line that I want, that I need to experience, that I will experience.
"Perseverance is not a long race. It is many short races one after another."
Walter Elliott