Strass Marathon
Training 2004

26.2 MILES TO GO!!! The challenge is pure and simple: complete the 26.2 mile course before passing out. Since I am also the new father of Jack, my other main challenge lies in not letting the training consume my entire life. I am very much a family man who loves spending my free time with Suzy, Jack, Sydney and Buster. That will not change. This is simply a way to continue to increase my fitness level, by working toward a new goal. By viewing my journal you will see that I am taking a somewhat level-headed approach to my training. I know that I will continue to look and feel great.

October 10, 2004 - A date that will be repeated, remembered and relived forever. A date that will be passed down in stories, included in pictures, emblazoned on a medal and engraved in my memory. But more than that, a date that forever adds a line to my list of life accomplishments: MARATHON RUNNER.

HERE IS MY JOURNAL ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED!!!

June 30th
Swam an easy 1/2 mile at Wellbridge at 730pm. This was more of a recovery workout. Went slow.

June 29th
Here we go with the running portion of week 4. The gameplan was to run 3 miles. I did the 6 mile run to the museum in Forest Park with the group from Wellbridge. Felt better on the way back then on the way there. Ran slow but was happy to get the mileage in after racing Sunday.

JUNE 28th
Welcome to week 4 of the marathon training. Resting my legs today after the Rec Plex Triathlon yesterday. Feel good but the real test will be when I run again tomorrow.

JUNE 27th
ST. PETERS REC PLEX
500 Yard Swim - 20 Mile Bike - 4.7 Mile Run
Great weather this year - not like the 90 degree temps last year. This is an awesome pool to swim in - my goggles leaked the entire time. I biked as hard as I ever had in a race. Course was out and back with very few hills. Legs felt fine on the run - should have gone a little faster. Not too bad overall.

HERE ARE MY STATS ON THE DAY
TOTAL TIME = 2:01:51
Overall Place = 102 out of 204
Swim Time = 13:42
Bike Time = 1:08:11 (18.2 mph)
Run Time = 39:58 (8:37 avg)

I did this race in 2:07:38 last year. Nice Improvement!

JUNE 26th
Did not exercise today - getting ready for the St. Peters Rec Plex Triathlon tomorrow.

JUNE 25th
Got up early and ran 3.5 miles from the gym down to the park and back. Long run will be the 5 mile run on Sunday at St. Peters. This will round out week 3 of the marathon training.

JUNE 24th
Took the day off.

June 23rd
Ran 3.5 miles by myself. Went from Wellbridge to Skinker and back.

June 22nd
Since Innsbrook counted as the long run for the week, I am technically in week 3 of the 18 week marathon training program. The plan today was to run 3 miles. I ran 6 miles with the group from Wellbridge at 6am. Legs felt good after the weekend race.

JUNE 21st
Took the day off.

JUNE 20th
I feel great considering that I raced yesterday. Took Stan out to Algonquin to golf. It is clear to me that I need to put the golf clubs away for the summer and focus on my multi-sport training.

JUNE 19th
INNSBROOK QUARTER MAX
.6 Mile Open Water Swim - 30 Mile Bike - 6.2 Mile Run
This is the longest race that I have ever completed! Beautiful day and an incredible race. I did pretty well but TPR caught me on the run and we finished together (even though I started 5 minutes before him). Water was warm and the swim was long but doable. First 5 miles of the bike course were hilly until you left the course and then it flattened out - ride the big gear! Bike course is 2 loops. HILLLLY RUN - Wow!

HERE ARE MY STATS ON THE DAY
TOTAL TIME = 3:09:33
Overall Place = 237 out of 393
Swim Time = 19:16
T1 = 3:29
Bike Time = 1:46:06 (17.0 mph)
T2 = 2:36
Run Time = 58:04 (8:56 avg)

Stopped to use the port-a-potty on the run which cost me a couple of minutes in time.



E-Mail John Strassner Contact John..... We Conquered Chicago!!! Welcome To Strass Training Thanks for checking out my training journal. I am training for the 2004 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon on Sunday, October 10th. If you want to join me and my teammates in Chicago then visit The Chicago Marathon Site. Why Am I Doing This? Thats a good question. I am looking for a major challenge and think that I have found one in Chicago. I love doing Triathlons but think that completing a marathon is a great accomplishment. After seeking counseling from fellow triathalete, Tommy Rosenthal and fellow marathoner/sister, Blair, I said "what the heck and signed up for Chicago." Contact Coach Blair..... Contact Tommy..... Training Program I am using the Hal Higdon training program as a guide. Of course, since we are in the middle of a very busy triathlon season, this will only be a guide. I plan to incorporate many triathlons into the overall training program. As long as I focus on getting the long runs in each week I think I will be okay. Hal Higdon's Training Program Archive May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 Strass Training Web Links The Chicago Marathon St. Louis Marathon Swim Bike Run St. Louis StrassTraining Active.com Nike.com Training Forecast Thanks For Your Support Strass Marathon Training has welcomed visitors to the site!!! Sponsor	Strass Marathon Training 2004 26.2 MILES TO GO!!! The challenge is pure and simple: complete the 26.2 mile course before passing out. Since I am also the new father of Jack, my other main challenge lies in not letting the training consume my entire life. I am very much a family man who loves spending my free time with Suzy, Jack, Sydney and Buster. That will not change. This is simply a way to continue to increase my fitness level, by working toward a new goal. By viewing my journal you will see that I am taking a somewhat level-headed approach to my training. I know that I will continue to look and feel great. October 10, 2004 - A date that will be repeated, remembered and relived forever. A date that will be passed down in stories, included in pictures, emblazoned on a medal and engraved in my memory. But more than that, a date that forever adds a line to my list of life accomplishments: MARATHON RUNNER. HERE IS MY JOURNAL ANY COMMENTS, QUESTIONS OR SUGGESTIONS ARE MUCH APPRECIATED!!! June 30th Swam an easy 1/2 mile at Wellbridge at 730pm. This was more of a recovery workout. Went slow. June 29th Here we go with the running portion of week 4. The gameplan was to run 3 miles. I did the 6 mile run to the museum in Forest Park with the group from Wellbridge. Felt better on the way back then on the way there. Ran slow but was happy to get the mileage in after racing Sunday. JUNE 28th Welcome to week 4 of the marathon training. Resting my legs today after the Rec Plex Triathlon yesterday. Feel good but the real test will be when I run again tomorrow. JUNE 27th ST. PETERS REC PLEX 500 Yard Swim - 20 Mile Bike - 4.7 Mile Run Great weather this year - not like the 90 degree temps last year. This is an awesome pool to swim in - my goggles leaked the entire time. I biked as hard as I ever had in a race. Course was out and back with very few hills. Legs felt fine on the run - should have gone a little faster. Not too bad overall. HERE ARE MY STATS ON THE DAY TOTAL TIME = 2:01:51 Overall Place = 102 out of 204 Swim Time = 13:42 Bike Time = 1:08:11 (18.2 mph) Run Time = 39:58 (8:37 avg) I did this race in 2:07:38 last year. Nice Improvement! JUNE 26th Did not exercise today - getting ready for the St. Peters Rec Plex Triathlon tomorrow. JUNE 25th Got up early and ran 3.5 miles from the gym down to the park and back. Long run will be the 5 mile run on Sunday at St. Peters. This will round out week 3 of the marathon training. JUNE 24th Took the day off. June 23rd Ran 3.5 miles by myself. Went from Wellbridge to Skinker and back. June 22nd Since Innsbrook counted as the long run for the week, I am technically in week 3 of the 18 week marathon training program. The plan today was to run 3 miles. I ran 6 miles with the group from Wellbridge at 6am. Legs felt good after the weekend race. JUNE 21st Took the day off. JUNE 20th I feel great considering that I raced yesterday. Took Stan out to Algonquin to golf. It is clear to me that I need to put the golf clubs away for the summer and focus on my multi-sport training. JUNE 19th INNSBROOK QUARTER MAX .6 Mile Open Water Swim - 30 Mile Bike - 6.2 Mile Run This is the longest race that I have ever completed! Beautiful day and an incredible race. I did pretty well but TPR caught me on the run and we finished together (even though I started 5 minutes before him). Water was warm and the swim was long but doable. First 5 miles of the bike course were hilly until you left the course and then it flattened out - ride the big gear! Bike course is 2 loops. HILLLLY RUN - Wow! HERE ARE MY STATS ON THE DAY TOTAL TIME = 3:09:33 Overall Place = 237 out of 393 Swim Time = 19:16 T1 = 3:29 Bike Time = 1:46:06 (17.0 mph) T2 = 2:36 Run Time = 58:04 (8:56 avg) Stopped to use the port-a-potty on the run which cost me a couple of minutes in time.

Strass Marathon Training 2004

Strass Marathon
Training 2004