Yes, just a little cold with a sweat fest for the past couple of days. I always get some kind of a minor bug during taper, so I am not concerned. It's like my body is telling me to slow down. OK, I hear ya!
This week I am going from 54 mile (peak week) to 30, 5 running days to 4. Monday I had a kick a$$ track workout which got me thinking that I would love to race the mile sometime. Based on my track workouts, I could go under 6. Tuesday I ran easy on hills with my Nike Frees and I felt like flying. I love love love those shoes. Going uphill on your toes saves so much energy, but I can't do that with my regular shoes bc they are too inflexible. Yesterday I got my a$$ kicked by the hot temps again. I purposely ran at lunch in 90 degrees. I ran 6 with 3 miles at short tempo. I ran for less than 20 minutes for the tempo, but my heart was jumping out of my chest (sunt bine mama!).
I've been reading a lot on strategies to race Boston, and it is really interesting that the only consensus is to run the first few miles slow. Otherwise, everyone has a different opinion: run positive splits bc of the hills vs run negative splits bc of the downhill at the end (which DOES not feel like a downhill, by the way) vs run even splits to conserve energy; run even effort vs check your watch to stay on pace; carboload vs don't carboload; don't try to PR at Boston vs Boston is actually an easy race (this one gets to me a little bit, if Boston were an easy race, why the winning times for the elites are slower at Boston compared to other marathons?); etc, etc. I think ultimately everyone's plan should account for own strength and weaknesses. Last year I had a pace tat which I checked at every mile marker, and that is what I followed. I ended up running negative splits, I think, but by v little. I'll use the same strategy this year, though if the temps are over 70 I may run it as a training run and race the Vermont Marathon at the end of May. Will see.
So what did I do with the extra free time this week? Yup, I found a fall marathon. Since I missed the registration for New York, and Chicago is closed, I decided to stay local and find a marathon in the area. I am thinking of running the Green Mountain Marathon in Vermont, in October. Someone at the Derry race told me about how great of a marathon this is. Plus, I like to support local small races, where the entry fee is $25 and the race Tshirts are not covered with ads. But before that it is going to be a lot of bike time and figuring out if this triathlon thing is something I want to put a lot of time into. Triathletes do have the best bodies, so maybe there is something to the sport:)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
13 comments:
i am loving training for my triathlons, i am only doing sprints but everyday (weather is the driving factor) is somethign new and exciting.
$25 for an entry fee sounds appealing. And I bet it's a really pretty course. Sounds like your head is in the right place for Boston!
I think your experience from last year and great preparation for the event will tell you the pace you should be following. You are also experienced enough to know whether a 'time in the bank' or 'even splits' or 'neg split' plan is best suited to your temperament. (We each have to find what works for us there!)
I think your biggest asset on race day - apart from all that wonderful training - will be that you know the course. It is a hometown race so the streets, sights and sounds will be mostly familiar.
I have found that knowing a course intimately is like gold, especially if you can bring to mind positive images as you go past places you have run in training.
I can hardly wait! Will there be a way of following the race online? Hope so!
Paul :-)
Hope you feel better soon. $25 is a great entry fee!
$25 is awesome! And you can still focus on triathlons and improve your running times (at least that's what I keep telling myself!)
You always have such a real, but positive outlook on your situations. (i.e. getting sick out of the way). I love it!
I was just looking for fall marathons last night. That one looks beautiful! Go for it.
I am excited and hopefull that I might actually get a triathlete body too :)
Go for the local course - what do you have to lose?
I look forward to following your training - keep it up! :)
L Finch
Wow, a $25 marathon? That's a bargain!
As for Boston...geez, I hear you on the differing strategies that people employ on that course. I remember taking the "run first mile slow" so much to heart that I ran that 30secs above marathon pace...oops. I think since you've done it before, you can come up with a plan that works for you!
Best of luck in your taper.
I have read your entire post...but the only thing that I can remember is that you think you can go under six minutes for a mile!!! Oh my goodness...you are one speedy woman:) I went to my daughters track meet and the winner of the mile had a time of 5:32...wowzer!! Hang in there girl!
Feel better! I run about 3 x week
and run just as fast as I did when only running. All that biking will pay off:)
I hear those Vermont races are beautiful. I vote you go for it.
A friend of mine that ran the Green Mountain Marathon said it's a very nice race.
Glad to hear everything is rounding into shape for a great Boston. Enjoy that taper and take care of yourself.
BTW, I have run Boston 3 times and had 3 different experiences. In 2007 I ran it as a newbie, first time qualifier and ran 3:08 in the monsoon. In 2009 I ran it as a much better runner and ran 2:59. I went out fast and felt pretty good the whole way. Last year I ran with a terrible cold and ran 3:05. I say attack the first half and then hang on for dear life. If it is one of those good days, you can run a good time.
Best of luck!
Post a Comment