re: Official Running Log/Marathon Training Thread

Got out and ran 4.5 miles today around noon at a 9:15 pace. Heat was brutal today of course and direct sunlight was killer. I thought I would get some cloud cover and I did up until mile 3, then the sun ate me up. I will start Hal Higdon's 12 week program on 8/6, so just trying to get some decent mileage in until then. Will incorporate a speed workout for the first time this week also.

I'll throw out some quick vital stats, since I plan to follow the thread and contribute. 37 y/o, 5' 7" on a good day, weighed 152 this am. As the pic may indicate below, I feel alot heavier than 152 when running (and also have a partially torn left quad). I've always been "top heavy", even though I've always trained legs as much as upper. I've dropped about 10-12 lbs in the last couple of months since I've been running and cutting back on the weights. I feel like I need to be lighter. I'm feeling like I'm carrying too much upper body mass.

What I'm struggling with is do I drop the weights completely? I've trimmed down to only doing compound movements for the most part: barbell bench, military presses, deads, squats, straight leg deads, calf work and doing core exercises everyday when I weight train (2-3 x per week, upper and lower on separate days). I'm at a cross roads because I want all of my training and focus to be on improving my run performance, but on the other hand, I'd like to at least retain some upper body muscle.

Diet stays clean, lean meats, vegetables, low carb/grains.