San Diego is 3 weeks away...yikes! In all honesty I'm not really where I wanted to be at this point. Yes, I've done 99.9% of the runs on my plan, I've cut minimal mileage (only twice have I cut more than 1/2 a mile from any run) and in some cases, I've even added miles. Despite successfully completing the past few months of my modified FIRST plan, I still feel under prepared. I read about others completing awesome weekly mileage of well over 45 miles and running speedy miles during long runs and just get discouraged. I know running is an individual sport and everyone is different but it's hard not to compare yourself to others.
During my first marathon training cycle, I wasn't blogging, I didn't have Twitter or Facebook or really any runner friends (besides Mr. Pi), I just went along with my training. This had pluses and minuses. The HUGE minus to not having a blog is not having all of you wonderful readers/supporters (to tell me I’m being silly, I know I am but I need to get all this out). However, I also didn't feel the need to constantly compare myself to other runners or feel shame about the time I completed my long runs since the only person I told was Mr. Pi. During Arizona, I was blogging but I got injured and sick and didn't feel any pressure for big results. Just finishing that race was going to be an accomplishment. This time around, I really wanted to push myself. Maybe I pushed too hard and peaked too early, maybe I didn't push hard enough, maybe my expectations were too high, maybe they were too low...all I know is, on paper, I've run more miles and worked hard to incorporate pacing but feel less prepared than the past two cycles. Running certainly has a mental element and maybe that's what I need to train the next 3 weeks since I have consistently put in miles (maybe not 45+ but consistently in upper 30's, certainly more than before). Am I alone here? Anyone else ever feel running pressure?
Moving on and looking ahead...
As I said, SD is 3 weeks away. I have one last BIG run, then taper time. My goal for my 20 is to finish and not feel like I want to die. Last weekend my long run was terrible, I wanted to quit 2 miles in. This weekend, I NEED a good long run to boost my confidence. During the taper period, I’d like to enjoy exercise again. In high school and college I loved the gym and my various team practices. It was MY time. Time to clear my head, release stress, challenge myself and during practice, time to hang out with friends. I want to go back to crazyweights class and spinning. Given my history with ass pain, I also need to stay on the yoga bandwagon (or at least good deep stretching). Gazelle and I were talking about how easy stretching is and what good things it does for us, keeps us injury-free and our bodies happy, yet, it’s one of the first things I’ll skip if I'm crunched for time or just because I “don’t feel like it.” Regardless of the outcome of the marathon on May 31st I would like to get through it without injury.
Marathon goals…
I think it’s time to publicly re-evaluate my marathon goals. I set out to hit a sub-5. My training log seems to suggest this is probably not realistic, given that my fastest long run was 11:45, I don’t anticipate tomorrow being faster (4:59:59 is 11:28 pace). Frustrating as it may be, I think my “speed” did peak a little early this training cycle. A few months back, I was consistently running in the 10:30 range for shorter runs and long runs were never over 11:30. As the mileage increased, so did my minutes per mile. I’m not really sure what a realistic pace is for me anymore. However, I have decided on the following goals:
1) A new PR (current PR is 5:56, done while sick and injured)
2) 5:27:30 this is 12:30 pace (this also beats Katie Holmes, someday I'll beat you Oprah)
3) 5:14 this is 12:00 pace
4) Anything under 12:00 minute pace would be fantastic and my A++ goal BUT not a goal that will determine whether I’ve had a successful marathon
I’m slow and that’s okay. At some point I’d like to not be the slowest of my runner friends, what can I say I’m competitive by nature, BUT for now I’ll take my spot in the back of the pack and enjoy all the cheerleaders I’ll have waiting for me at the finish line in San Diego!
P.S. Recipe of the week will likely be a weekend post, I’m cooking tonight.
P.P.S. Good luck to all the racers this weekend, especially Gazelle and JM!
19 comments:
You're getting close, and those goals look great! I'm slow too, and those times are what i'm aiming for too :D Have a great weekend!
I think this is an extremely smart and thorough going-through and self-evaluation. You may have over-trained, under-trained, peaked too late, peaked too soon or whatever, but the only way you'll know is to do 10 more marathons. And even then...Good job, I'm impressed with you!
Honestly, I felt that panicked feeling of "I didn't do enough!" all through my taper, and now I see it in Mr TFH, so I'd say you're completely normal. And I'm guessing even the person who does 80 mile weeks probably thinks she should be doing 100, esp. if she reads the blogs of runners who do!
Anyway, I think your training went GREAT and am so excited for you to have a good taper and run a great marathon. Good luck on your last 20 and have a fantastic weekend.
Wow, 3 weeks is just around the corner. I think it's pretty normal to question your training when you're getting to the end. Did I do enough? Did I do too much? But it will all come together on race day. Just stay healthy and limber - that's all you have to worry about :)
Oh man - definitely need to train mentally for the next three weeks!! Just to be prepared :)
Thanks for the good luck tomorrow! I can't wait!!
I know its hard but STOP COMPARING YOURSELF TO OTHER PEOPLE!!! This will never make you happy and there is always someone who is faster, better, stronger, thinner, etc. Focus on what is a sucess for you! Even if your time is 5:55 you have a new PR and that is fabulous. We are going to have so much fun no matter how fast/slow we are.
It sounds like you needed this post to "talk it out". I compare myself to other people all the time, so I won't tell you not to do it...but wouldn't it be easier if we didn't? We should start some kind of pact because, in the end, it's not all that helpful.
I hope you have a great pre-race three weeks to clear your head and get pumped! At least it's in an awesome city with a lot of cool people. I'm totally jealous.
You are going to rock, and we are going to have sweet dreams the night before the race together ha ha. :) I <3 you and you are so encouraging and inspiring to ME! :) Can't wait and it's going to be a blast, no matter WHAT happens.
What a great introspective post. It sounds like you've got your head on straight and your heart in the right place. I hope your last BIG run is exactly what you need it to be. Have a super weekend.
Those look like great goals. Good luck with the home stretch. :o)
I'm slow too - I've always considered 12:00 my base pace, so I agree that it can be tough to read how amazing all of the other running bloggers are all the time. You just have to know that you've already done great things - heck, multiple marathons!!
You've followed your plan and done everything you could, just know that all of that preparation will carry you through race day. You never can predict what will be thrown at you during the race, but you can know that you've trained your heart out - and it'll pay off.
Good luck - I think you've done stupendously!!
Girl I know how you feel! It's hard to read everyone elses stories about how their first marathon "back when they were fat" is way faster than my PR time!
But honestly, it hasn't bothered me too much because A) I never said I was fast! B) I don't want to kill myself by running faster than I should and C) We are running MARATHONS here! If it was easy, everyone would do it!
You are doing FABULOUS for sticking to your plan so much, I say don't worry about your weekly mileage or your goal time!
Go out there, enjoy the run, enjoy all of the training that you have put into it, and I'll bet that you surprise yourself :)
The great thing about this fantastic sport of ours is that it embraces runners of all speeds - from the elites to the 1st time charity runners. Like it or not, you're a veteran of this sport because you can assess via trail and error what works and what doesn't by now (that will include this particular training program post-SD).
I admire your diligence and dedication, something I seriously lack right now. Just keep chipping away at your marathon times and before you know it, you'll pass Oprah and be targeting Sarah Palin next. I started off as a 4:58 marathoner my first time out. It took work, but I slowly improved upon my times each time out. I'm sure you will too and do great in San Diego (sorry I'll miss it). But most importantly, have a great time doing it!
all right we both have our 20 miler next weekend, so all week we need to pump each other up!! I want to not only just not die, but finish thinking ok maybe I really can do this marathon :) if not then we shall enjoy the bands right?
Alisa,
I have found that there is no correlation between having a horrible training run and what happens on event day. I almost always have one total clunker that makes my question everything. Maybe you got your bad run out of the way and have cleared the way for a great time on race day.
Good luck and have fun. The most important time goal is to have a great time.
Ross
hey girl... hang in there the next few weeks and just start to focus hard on the task at hand. I think its hard not to question everything, I know I did the same once taper came around. Did I do enough? Why didn't I do more? etc etc... its all normal and I think all of us compare ourselves to other people, I know I do. Just try to remember why you love to run and the amazing feeling that crossing the finish line brings. There are always going to be faster people no matter where you are at in the pack, but remember that its a battle with our own selves. so just get ready to run and have fun!!
Girl, you are a marathon runner! I know it's impossible not to compare yourself to other runners but just keep the perspective that you are out there running marathons...not many people in the world can say that. You are awesome and you're going to do great in SD!
Have fun! Looks like good goals to me.
I've always rolled with the FIRST plans (this coming marathon is my first *no pun intended* departure from it. The only reason why I'm going a different route is just to try something new LOL) I NEVER EVER logged more than maybe 30 miles a week so don't worry you're not the only one who hasn't logged the crazy mileage ;-) As long as you're putting in quality runs, you're FINE ;D And no you're not crazy for thinking that you haven't done enough.
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