Just six weeks to go until I run marathon number three, and I feel like I did when I was 34 weeks pregnant: ready to push out a (marathon) baby, hope that everything turns out normal and healthy, and spend the next three weeks snuggling the baby medal and not running seriously for a little while.
Week 11 Recap
Monday: 4 mi @ 9:54 (stroller)
Tuesday: off
Wednesday: off
Thursday: 6 mi @ 9:58 (stroller)
Friday: off
Saturday: 6 mi @ 9:48 (stroller)
Sunday: Run for Ribbons 5k @ 7:41
Week 11 Notes
Last week was a janky cutback week. Besides having to do my teacher jig at Open House on Wednesday night, our friends Matt & Kara came over (along with Matt's parents) on Friday evening. Accordingly, I kind of just took a big poo on my schedule and did whatever felt good.
Oddly enough, I was itching to get out and run Saturday - guess my recent LSD runs of 16, 18, 20 miles created an abnormal addiction. Because Kevin had to do some corporate America work for a few hours, Charlotte and I took the jogging stroller for a spin. I noticed that day how much of a difference a little sleep makes in a run. Compared to Monday and Thursday's miles, which were done after work and on fewer hours of snoozetime, Saturday's morning run felt great.
In the coming weeks, I'll be ramping my long runs back up to 18 and then 20 again before finally cruising in to Taper Town. Some runners despite the taper because they get restless and anxious, but I usually adore it. Short, easy weekday runs and minor long runs of 10 or 12 or 14 miles? Good stuff. After Saturday's run, though, I wonder how I'll feel during this taper. I like being lazy so I hope that the anxious, need-to-run feeling dies off a bit.
Week 11 Marathon Musing
At this point in training, I think it's safe to start really considering my goals. For inspiration, let's turn to Michael Scott/Wayne Gretsky:
He's so sad because he knows The Office should've ended when he ran off with Holly.
When we first registered for the race, my sister-in-law, Kim, and I had only two goals in mind:
1) Finish without dying.
2) Beat Oprah's 1994 MCM time.
Since I'll never beat Oprah at anything else in life, I may as well try to beat her at 26.2.
More than ten weeks later, I'm ready to consider a bit more closely my plans for the race.
In order of more likely to happen to least likely to happen:
A) Finish without dying. Still a goal, always a goal in the marathon. It's a fickle beast, so I just cross all of my crossable limbs and hope for the best.
B) Finish with a solid, potentially PR-worthy time somewhere in the land of 4:20 - 4:30. My current PR is a 4:28 and change, which I earned at Kalamazoo last year while four weeks pregnant.
C) Finish with a shiny new PR of sub-4:20. If I'm feeling real good, I'd love to see 4:15 or even 4:10. But I'm now starting to talk crazy.
D) Finish with my Mcmillan Running Calculator predicted time of 3:52, which is based off of the 5k PR from Sunday. (Someone should be a holding a sign at this point in the blog post that says "SIKE!" like it's 1992.) And can a 5K time really predict a marathon finish? Questionable, IMO.
Short version: I will run between a 3:52 and a 4:30. Yeah, that's a wide range. Who knows? If I could play it anyway I wanted, I'll shoot for goal C. A new PR without having to sacrifice myself for a sub 4:00 race sounds lovely.
How do you arrive at your goals for races, especially longer ones?
Anyone ever had success with the McMillan Calculator? Please feed into my delusional dreams and tell me yes so that I can half believe it when it tells me I'll run sub-4 even though I know it's as ridiculous as Honey Boo Boo's mom's idea of cheese puffs for breakfast.
That is such a great question. For me, it's always been being really dedicated to my training--doing the speedwork, the strength training, the "junk" shorter runs during the week, and giving my all to my long runs. But with marathon training, it's a different beast. I'm feeling really over-trained right now, so I'm just . . . not running. And I don't miss it at all and I'm not really worried that I won't be able to reach my goals. I just know that I need a break now. So I guess we'll see if this whole "listen to your body" thing works out for me! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm rather disappointed that there's no loop of "Thank you for being a friend" and trashy bath robe-clad lady given the title. But you could be disappointed that my taper butt has been too lazy to congratulate you on your 5k. Tit for tat. I think you have good goals because they mirror mine. Save for the 3:52. I think you could train for that with the 5k time but ... um ... insert reality here.
ReplyDeleteYou are doing a great job!! I would bet you will be 4:00!! You are stronger than you think you are especially with all the stroller runs!
ReplyDeleteI set goals based on my training runs but keep them loose. I have never used that calculator but wonder if they predict ironman based off a 5k? If so, Kona, here I come :)
Excited for you!
I like your first two goals- they were mine when I signed up for Portland in 2008. I have yet to run a marathon or a 1/2 marathon with what the McMillan Calculator has predicted for me, however I definitely think that you will PR. If your current PR is from when you were 4 weeks pregnant that is super impressive, but I am sure that you will crush that time.
ReplyDeleteMy coach is CRAY and I'm running 18 this weekend! Cut back will wait until the following weekend :-( AWESOME JOB! You're doing it! You'll meet your goal...I'm sensing a PR because it will get you to a cold beverage faster....a cold beverage which you'll have to show ID to get :-D
ReplyDeleteI love the Oprah goal. I still have yet to beat her. Pathetic. I think you will totally crush this marathon, but I agree w your time assessment. So hard to predict what you will feel like on race day!
ReplyDeleteI found your blog a few weeks ago and am enjoying!
ReplyDeleteI am always a little lost when it comes to figuring out goal times. I like when it is the first time doing a distance and you just get to say "oh, finishing is my only goal!". But i usually try to shave a little off whatever my PR is and shoot for that.
I love the calc, it allows me to believe that i will one day qualify for Boston, despite all other evidence :)
I do hope you'll be carrying your purse when you cross that goal line...
ReplyDeleteDefinitely beating Oprah is a good goal! :) That McMillian calculator messes with your head. According to my half marathon time two years ago, I should be able to run the marathon in like 3:50 something. HAHAHAHA...that's a joke, my PR Is 4:25. Nice job on the 5k, you are one speedy mamma!!!
ReplyDeleteJust found your blog, so cute, I love it!
ReplyDeleteI was born in Kalamazoo and my aunts, uncles, cousins, live in Bloomfield Hills right outside of Detroit too!
Good luck at MCM! It looks like you're going to do great!!
The McMillian calculator is actually pretty on point for me, but in all honestly I do much better on longer races than shorter races so that may be a factor. :)
ReplyDeleteMCM is coming up, I bet you're getting stoked! I hope it isn't icy this year like it was last year!
I haven't watched the Office, I heard that it is quite good and I hope that you will do quite good in your third marathon.
ReplyDeleteMiss reading your posts. Hope all is well and maybe we'll get to read more from you soon
ReplyDelete