I keep waivering on my plan for this marathon... so that's where *you* come in. Talk to me, folks.
Let me give you some background...
1. As many of you may know, Sherry agreed awhile back to go with me to San Diego and run this marathon. I couldn't have been more thrilled. Sherry is the perfect pacing partner. We run almost exactly the same pace... sometimes she pulls me, sometimes I pull her. Plan set...But as you may or may not know, Sherry has been on a journey for many years to become a mommy. Most recently going the path of adoption... which she's been on the waiting list for around a year. If you don't follow Sherry's blog then you might have missed a little bitty teenie tiny announcement. God had a different plan for her, and she's pregnant!!! I am over-the-moon excited for her. You can't pull me off the ceiling. So thrilled for her. Seriously, becoming a mommy outranks a marathon any day of the week!
But...... that means -1 pacing partner for the marathon. So it's just me and the pavement. Although Sherry *is* still going on the trip with me and maybe doing the half. Cannot stinkin' wait to share this trip with her!
2. In all honesty, I am way better running *with* someone, and while I think I could pull off a 4:40, there are pace teams from a local running club at 4:30 and 4:45. I'm afraid if I push with 4:30, I'll fizzle. I'm afraid if I go 4:45 and I slow a little at the end, like most people do, then I'll be too far below what I think I'm capable of.
3. This quote I posted last week is really bothering me:
“Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.”
-Steve Prefontaine-
I really want to cross that line not feeling defeated like I did last time... but I don't want to be so conservative that I'm giving up the great and settling for the ok.4. Numbers for you...
- My last marathon time was 5:12 in December. I finished the first half around 2:23 and then cramped badly at mile 15 and hobbled for the last 11 miles and crossed the line feeling utterly defeated and disappointed.
- I've run 14 half marathons. My PR is 2:09 (9:52 min/mile). My last half was a 2:20, but it was in the middle of an 18 mile run and I felt fantastic.
- I train slow and race fast. I do the majority of my miles at 11 min/mile. My long runs usually a tad slower than that. I do very little speedwork since I race so much (that's my speed!), but I have been doing the middle 6-7 miles of my Tuesday runs at 10 min/mile.
- My 5k PR is 26:54 (8:41 min/mile). My 10k PR is 59:35 (9:37 min/mile). All my PRs are within the last few months. But my 5k PR and 10k PR were before I lost 12 more pounds.
- The only runs I've missed in my plan were the ones during my vacation and the week that I had a sprained foot.
- I currently have zero injuries.
- I've done a 14-miler, 16-miler, three 18-milers, and a 20-miler (with another scheduled for this weekend that I *will* do). My mid-week runs have included at least two 9-11 milers for the last 6+ weeks. I run 5 days a week.
Alright Coach Blog-readers... talk to me... give me your input. Help me devise my marathon plan. AND throw in there a little time prediction and maybe I'll throw in a prize for the closest guess. The marathon is San Diego Rock-n-Roll.
22 comments:
What - you mean my baby can't come along for 26.2??? I sooooooooo wish I was doing 26.2 with you, but you know I wouldn't trade this for the world. That being said - we are doing a marathon together one of these days!!!!!
I would go out for a 4:40 and if you slow, then you know the 4:45 group is behind you. If they catch you then don't let them out of your sights!!! I fear that if you go for the 4:30 you might lose steam near the end when you need it the most and I don't want you feeling defeated.
I wish I could be with you every step of the way, I'm just hoping to beat you to the finish - after starting out faster with you for the first 4 I may be walking the rest of my race ;)
WAHOO for San Diego!!!!
hmmmm....part of me thinks with your lost weight and your 5K and 10K PR's you should go for the 4:30. I believe that you can do it! The quote says it all.
Well, I'm a marathon virgin so I have no real advice. However, I loved the RnR Dallas half. I went relatively fast on that course due to all the spectators and entertainment. I also really like pace groups if I'm running alone.
I would do the 4:30 pace group, but allow yourself to slow down if need be. You never know what race day might bring.
Best of luck to you. You know better what to expect this go around. You're gonna rock this race!
I'm sorry but I'm not sure what I'm supposed to answer here because your quote says it all: “Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.”
What are you afraid of? Feeling defeated? I'm sorry but you felt defeated on the last one and are running another, so it wasn't a defeat as much as it was a motivation from what I can tell.
Marathon #1 is typically horrendous for us all as we have no clue what we are getting into and you need to put that into your calculator.
Marathon #2 with experience, better training, smart fueling and lessons learned will be better than #1 and #3 will be better than #2.
Now take your calculator out again. 2:09 PR for 1/2 mary means you can run a 4:31 mary. 2:09 doubled and :30/mile extra for the full monty equals 4:31.
If you do the 2:20 PR then you are looking at 4:53 and you think you can run 4:45 but I say you CAN do 4:31. Run with the 4:30s and don't even think about bonking but repeat after me:
I CAN DO THIS and I WILL DO THIS
THOSE WHO CAN'T QUIT and THOSE WHO CAN DO
This is just your mind telling you that you can't but you certainly can b/c you can over power your mind if you begin today telling yourself you are great and not telling yourself I don't want to be defeated.
What I tell anybody I meet who says I think maybe, or I will try or whatever defeatest comment they come up with.
GREATNESS HAS NEVER BEEN ACHIEVED WITHOUT THE WANT TO AND YOU HAVE THE WANT TO.
Go Get Em and be great because that is who you are.
My totally inexperienced opinion, is you've GOT the 4:40. I'd start just ahead of the 4:45 pacers, assess your situation, and pick it up later in the race.
Says me with no marathon experience :D
I can't give you advice .... YOU give ME advice!
You are so freaking determined, so I'm sure you'll get near your goal. So I'm going with 4:38. But you have permission to go faster!
good luck on your upcoming marathon! your going to rock it!
http://beboldrunwild.blogspot.com/
I know you have this. You can do 4.30. Rely on all the training you have done. For me it was those last 4 miles. By 22 miles I would have to say I was plan just getting tired of running. I did it in 4.38. I KNOW I CAN, I KNOW I CAN. I had a running partner and we were able to pull each other threw the rough spots. I prefer to run with someone, not alone.
I'd run with the 4:45 group, but that's just me. You have been kicking some major butt lately, you're super hardcore, and you're a coach, so I'm sure your decision will be different than mine would be.
I'm torn between predicting 4:47 and 4:37. I definitely see a '7' in your time!!
In my totally non-professional opinion... what do you have to lose? Just do it!!
Umm, just go for the 4:30. You will regret it if you don't!! I know you can do it! You have worked so hard for this & your miles will pay off!!! Find a couple people in the pace group to chat with (not hard for you to do, at all) and just run! I predict you will come in at 4:34 :-)
Jason said it best. Go with the 4:30 pace group. I think you may surprise yourself.
I think I'm one of the few saying, don't go for the 4:30. Going too fast at the beginning can KILL your marathon. It'll slow you down so much later that is not worth it. My personal opinion? I'd go with the 4:45 group (since having company makes a huge difference), and gauge how you feel after mile 15. You can definitely recoup those 5 minutes in 11 miles if you're still feeling strong (and if you're not, then it's good that you didn't push it). SLOW start is the rule for a marathon... I wouldn't risk cramping up again by starting out too fast.
Can't Sherry ride her bike next to you! hee hee! I say go for what feels good that day! You are strong and you can do it!!! Start with the 4:45 group but don't settle there if you are too comfortable! You can do great things!!
so awesome for your friend!!!! you'll do great no matter what you decide in the end. BTW, love that nuu-muu....i have the same one :)
Think about this race as a 20m long run followed by a 10k race. Hold yourself back at the beginning and enjoy being strong to the finish. I'm not going to predict a time but you'll be sniffing at your goal!
Now I KNOW I commented on this when it was posted originally. And I guessed 4:39 because I see you beating your goal because you are determined and awesome like that!
Hey, sorry for not commenting back....I'm the exact opposite - I run better alone. Especially in a race. So I definitely want to meet up in San Diego, but I'm planning to do the race solo :)
As far as the pace groups, I understand what you're saying. But maybe you just run with the idea that you stay in between those two pacers? Like run with the goal of not letting the 4:45 pacer pass you?
I think it's so awesome how much faster you run in races. Theoretically, that's the way it should be. I'm really jealous!
I like what RockStarTri says. I think having a plan A, B and C goal would be good. Good luck!
My goal for my last full marathon was 4:30 so I planted myself between the 4:15 and 4:30 pace group. I kept the 4:15 pace group in my sights for as long as I could (about 18mi... they were still way in front of me but I could SEE them) and then ran my own race after that. The 4:30 group never caught me but I slowed down after mile 20 to a pace that was slower than a 4:30 marathon.... much slower. So I'm glad I started out where I did because I'm sure if I started with the 4:30 group, I would not have been able to finish with them.
yay for the marathon!! And congrats Sherry!
Marathon advice, incorporate tempo runs and speed if you don't already! They are amazing! Tough at first, but so helpful!
I would start with the 4:45...maybe stay with them the first half or a little more, and then race the finish. Even if you ended up staying with them it would still be an awesome PR over your last marathon! Given the experience of feeling lousy at the finish last time, I would err on starting conservatively and feeling AWESOME when you cross that line!
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