It's always something, isn't it? A week or two ago I came up with a plan where I would run an hour a day for a week, with the hope of running 70 miles the next week followed by routine 13-milers the week of the Harrisburg Marathon. Sounded like a good plan, right?
Actually, so far it has worked out better than expected. Last week I cranked out an easy 72-plus miles and so far this week I did back-to-back 15-milers followed by 10 miles at 6:30 pace in which I barely even broke a sweat. Better yet, I was a little ticked off at myself for not getting out sooner in the day because I didn't want to stop at 10. It was way too easy.
So what's the dilemma? It sounds as if running the Harrisburg Marathon would be relatively easy based on how everything is going... right?
Well, yeah. I'm pretty sure that I could run between 2:50 and 2:55 with a decent effort on Sunday. I could push it and turn out a 2:45 if it came down to it, but of course everything would have to go right. And by everything going right I mean a proper amount of sleep, no illness and good weather. You know, the thing no one can control.
But do I really want to put myself out? If I roll through it and just do the 26.2 miles to "add it to my collection," is it worth it? After all, I'm finally back into uninterrupted training and don't know if it would be in my best interests to limp through a week or two recovering from a day of goofing off. The plan is to go to Washington at the end of March (or Boston in mid April) and crank out something in the 2:30s. Then I can come back in the Fall and go after a PR.
Will one week really hurt me that badly or am I just worrying over nothing. After all, when building up for Boston in '98 I ran through two marathons during my buildup and went on to PR... it worked 10 years ago.
Why can't it work again?
Decisions, decisions...
Week of October 29- November 4 (22 weeks to the National Marathon - March 29, 2008)
Monday 11 miles in 1:15:41 The plan was to go 13 to 15 miles, but I stopped at 11 rather than slog on for a couple more miles. I felt tired toward the end, but nothing that would have stopped me from running longer. I'm just weak and not in the best of shape, but I'll get there eventually.
One thing is certain and it's that I have to add more lactate threshold and intervals into the regimen. Maybe some 800 or mile repeats would do the trick...
splits: 1st 5: 34:04 2nd 5: 34:19
Tuesday 10 miles in 67:22 Felt pretty good during the run - especially at the end where I have struggled lately. Plus, I finally went under 34 for the five-mile splits.
Hopefully, I can add a few more miles to these runs soon.
splits: 1st 5: 33:41
Wednesday 10 miles in 66:55 When I started out I felt like I needed an easy day, but figured I could eek out 10. Through the first 5 it was kind of tough and my left quad was a bit sore, which is a new one.
But after getting through 5 I felt good and ran some solid 6:30s without really trying too hard. If I didn't have to get home and do stuff I think I could have piled on a few more miles...
Soon enough.
splits: 1st 5: 34:06 2nd 5: 32:49
Thursday 12.7 miles in 1:26:22 I felt pretty good and strong throughout. I kept a decent pace, though I felt like I got a little tired at the end. Otherwise, this has been a pretty decent week for a comeback. Still, I feel I might need an easy day sometime soon.
Friday 10 miles in 67:13 I felt like I kept decent form and a strong pace the entire time. For a lot of it I held 6:30s pace pretty easily and it seemed as if I got a little stronger the closer I got to the 60-minute mark... that's the way it was in the old days -- it took an hour for me to wake up and then I hammered.
splits: 1st 5: 33:38
For the rest of the week I'd like one more good mileage day and then an easy, easy day.
Saturday 10 miles in 66:15 This is the best I felt running in a while. My form was good and my legs didn't feel weak. I don't think I have much turnover, nor are my legs there, but I'm pretty sure I can hold the pace for a long time.
Interestingly, I felt good despite the fact that I got up at 6:30 a.m. to watch the Olympic Trials.
splits: 1st 5: 33:00 2nd 5: 33:15
Sunday 9 miles in 59:59 This was a really good one. I tried the keep the pace steady for the first half before picking it up at the end and I did it. The plan was to finish a fairly difficult (tricky) course in under an hour, and I did that too. With about 30 minutes to go, the run got tough because I was out in the open and the wind was quite strong, but I ran the last 5k at 5:40 pace, which is pretty good for me right now. I did the last half even faster and had a pretty good coughing fit at the end... pretty cool.
Either way, it's starting to creep back. There are 21 weeks to the National Marathon... it seems to me that I can get ready.