It's only a week away! I came to the realization today that I can't believe it. I'm actually going to run a marathon! Most days over the course of my training that started in November I've asked myself WTF I was thinking when I decided to do this. I'm old. I'm heavy. I'm slow. Guys like me don't train for and run marathons. I guess that's what makes it so much sweeter that I'm actually doing it, and it's only a week away! I'm excited. Can you tell?
In a word, this week was AWESOME! I did a 6 miler on Thursday with a plan to do a 3-mile tempo at a 9:56 pace in the middle. I'm petty sure that was my best run since my training started. So good, that I ended up doing about 5 of the 6 miles at that pace. I just felt like a million bucks. I hurt pretty bad afterward (shins), but I was fully recovered by the time I went out for my "long" run of 8 miles today. This was another great run. During all of my long runs in the last couple of months, I've been employing what I thought would be my strategy during the race - running a little faster than my target pace and then walking about .1 mile every 1.3 miles or so, which is about the average distance between water stations on the marathon course. Today was different. I decided to run for 8 miles straight at my target pace without walking, and I felt better on this run than I've ever felt at this distance, and my pace was so consistent it was kind of like a slow tempo run. My target pace was 11:31, and here are my splits:
11:20
11:12
11:22
11:21
11:21
11:16
11:28
11:09
I think I actually ran the 2nd half one second faster than the first half!
For me, that's a pretty amazing 8 mile "long" training run. Maybe it would be a better strategy for the race to run with the 5:00 pace group and stick with them all the way through the race, running at about an 11:26 pace from beginning to end. We'll see, but what I do know is that after this week, my confidence is at a peak, and I actually believe I'll be able to finish the marathon, and doing it in less than 5 hours may actually be possible.
Now I just need to figure out what to do this week. I already know that I need to do three runs - 2, 5, and 2. What I don't know is how I should hydrate and load up on the carbs during the week. Time to do a little internet research...
3 days ago
2 comments:
I'm so happy for you that you are feeling so great. You'll do great on race day - just carry the feeling of today's post with you!
Drink lots of water from now until your race. It definitely makes a difference to be well hydrated the days leading up to it. The morning of, maybe be more calculated about water, so you don't end up having to pee alot.
Try to avoid fiber a couple days before the race, to avoid the need to do the other thing (besides peeing) on race day. Enjoy those pure white carbs - whoohoo!
Can't wait to read your race report.
PS: You're not old, because if you are old, than that means I am old. And I don't feel old!
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