Darkwave - If you're looking for a backup in case your Athens (Ohio) marathon doesn't happen, you may want to consider the Albany (Georgia) Snickers marathon on April 17.  It's where I got my half PR in 2019.  It's a flat, fast course that advertises over 20% of finishers getting BQs.  There were 10 finishers in the 2:50s that year, so there's a decent chance you would have people to run with.  It's 750 miles from Arlington, so I imagine you'd want to fly to Atlanta and take a puddle-jumper to Albany the day before (a Friday).  The weather is variable that time of year, but the average low on that date is 52.  Let me know if you're interested & I can tell you more.

Darkwave - If you're looking for a backup in case your Athens (Ohio) marathon doesn't happen, you may want to consider the Albany (Georgia) Snickers marathon on April 17.  It's where I got my half PR in 2019.  It's a flat, fast course that advertises over 20% of finishers getting BQs.  There were 10 finishers in the 2:50s that year, so there's a decent chance you would have people to run with.  It's 750 miles from Arlington, so I imagine you'd want to fly to Atlanta and take a puddle-jumper to Albany the day before (a Friday).  The weather is variable that time of year, but the average low on that date is 52.  Let me know if you're interested & I can tell you more.

Thanks.  I might sign up for the half.  I'm actually familiar with it (a friend was targeting it until it was post-poned).

Problem is - I'm training in much colder weather than you are right now   Running a marathon in the 50s after training in a DC summer is doable.  Running a marathon in the 50s after training in a DC winter is significantly harder, due to lack of any sort of acclimation.

As for getting there, I'd just fly into Atlanta and drive.  There are two things I really hate in air travel - puddle jumpers and non-direct flights.  If it's a choice between two flights and a flight + 3 hour drive, I'll always go with the latter.

Since I'm entered in Grandma's marathon in June, that April 17-18 weekend is really the last weekend I can race a marathon AND turn around for Grandma's.  So I'm not going to go to a crazy effort to race an April marathon (unless Grandma's is cancelled).  I'm open to hedging my bets by registering for a half-marathon instead.

Steve - that really sucks (the car window and everything else, not your training)

Thanks.  I might sign up for the half.  I'm actually familiar with it (a friend was targeting it until it was post-poned).

 

Problem is - I'm training in much colder weather than you are right now   Running a marathon in the 50s after training in a DC summer is doable.  Running a marathon in the 50s after training in a DC winter is significantly harder, due to lack of any sort of acclimation.

 

As for getting there, I'd just fly into Atlanta and drive.  There are two things I really hate in air travel - puddle jumpers and non-direct flights.  If it's a choice between two flights and a flight + 3 hour drive, I'll always go with the latter.

 

Since I'm entered in Grandma's marathon in June, that April 17-18 weekend is really the last weekend I can race a marathon AND turn around for Grandma's.  So I'm not going to go to a crazy effort to race an April marathon (unless Grandma's is cancelled).  I'm open to hedging my bets by registering for a half-marathon instead.

As of yesterday, the race wasn't full (and probably not close to full), because I got an email from the organizers saying that a discounted early entry fee would expire soon.  If you can get an idea of how full it is and it looks like it won't fill up, I suggest that you wait until a week or so beforehand to register, as the weather is really variable that time of year.  The race is usually the first weekend in March; in 2019 the starting temperature was around 60 (which was fine for me), and last year it was around 38.  So it certainly could be in the 40s or the 60s in mid-April.  There are enough cheap Quality Inn-type hotels in town that you should be able to find one on short notice.  For your purposes, it's good the Atlanta airport is on the south side of town.

What else...there's a YouTube video of the half course from about 2014 or 2015; the 2019 course was only slightly different.  The half and full runners separate after a block or two, which is a shame because there aren't as many moderately fast people in the half.  I finished 18th with a 1:30+ and didn't really have anyone to run with after the first mile or so, just someone I was chasing in the distance for several miles and 3 people I slowly caught & passed at different times.  The first part of the course isn't very appealing, but after about 4 miles you turn into residential areas with large trees that provide lots of shade.  Before that you're heading west, so the sun is at your back.  Crowd support is pretty good for a relatively small race, though I don't know if the virus will affect that.  One weird thing - with maybe 200 yards left you leave the roads and, in order to get down onto the riverside bike path where the race finishes, go through what looks like an old railroad station and go down a ramp in dim light and turn.  If I had hit the wall in the marathon or were sprinting at the end of the half, I think there'd be a risk of falling, though someone who has run it several times says that after the first time, it's easy.  That's about all I can think of.

Marco  that sounds frustrating but at least you can run a little. I think the lack of answers would be the worst.

Piwi  Stellar week .... again.

James  They send out that AARP stuff the instant you turn 50. Apparently they also think you shouldn't be handling your own finances too since I've been getting AARP notices addressed to my father for 10 years now (he lives in a different state).

Mark  I no longer instantly recognize RP's runs because you've successfully stolen his format.

Flavio that's quite the mix of sounds. Some old stuff and some stuff I just haven't heard of. Take care of that back!!

DW  Sorry that the training wasn't working for you. It's impressive that you recognize that. I'm curious how you can tell that given that it often feels (to me) that certain training takes ~2 months to really integrate.

Steve Good running week, rough luck outside that.

I'm now ready to fail my next 20:00 5k attempt.

and here's a picture of my pup annoyed that we forced a holiday sweater on her.

Darkwave - Imagine going to Chipotle, then ordering chocolate to go with your rice and beans. That’s about what that play list is 

It’s amazing how we are built different. 18:30 for a 5k is currently easily achievable by me and has been for a few years. A 2h55 marathon is well beyond my ability though.

Steve - ugh, assholes! This kind of thing is especially annoying cause they didn’t profit much and now you have to pay for the broken window which is always expensive.

Zeb - radioactive oreos!

me - I seem to be better. I managed to go purchase water earlier today and carry it home.

We don't drink from the tap due to the super high concentration of limestone in the water.

The water comes in a pack with 6 1.5L bottles, totalling 9kg each pack. I usually bring 2 packs back home, so it makes for a nice workout, cause they're not so easy to carry with their tiny handles on top.

We always walk to the supermarket and carry home the groceries, etc, one because we don't own a car, but also because it's a very healthy habit.

James - The mail - oof-dah. That's gotta hurt, but good job on the mileage.

Mark - Good week. My watch does the pulse oximetry stuff as well, and I can't see myself using it outside of checking acclimatization if I were to go do a mountain race at a much higher elevation than I live at. IIRC yours will also adjust training metrics for weather - that would be handy.

Flavio - Coco Jambo!!!! I don't know why, but I love that song. It's a post-race celebration staple for me. And a little Josh Turner in there, nice! I think he could have been absolutely HUGE in the music scene were he born 20 to 30 years earlier - the style of his music fits in so much better back then than what it has devolved in to now. And Gangster's Paradise is a classic as well.
Dueling back injuries, that's certainly no good! How's that feeling now?

Steve - That really sucks about the vehicle break-in and theft. I'm glad things with your knee and running are shaping up properly, though.

Zebano - Looks like you kept up with things pretty nicely even with the sinus infection.

No LR from me this week. I was on the treadmill, hiding from a thunderstorm, and simply got bored with it. Still managed to get back there for some more miles and round off to 70. In retrospect, had I went out in the weather I almost certainly would have gotten 16 miles simply by virtue of most of my LR routes being big loops or out-and-backs.

Had another pretty darn good workout this morning. Things are good, and metrics for this (HR for pace/power, etc.) is looking up as well.

Weekly for period: From: 01/25/2021 To 01/31/2021

Total distance: 70.33mi

Marky Mark actually the novelty doesn't. The people who suggest I shovel more so THEY don't have to walk in snow doesn't. Somehow they never have the ability to work a shovel when handed one with a VERY blunt "Here is a shovel since it seems to be so important to you. "

Zeb Those cookies reminded me...a friend of mine was on a hunt for all "special edition" oreos. She did really good about getting some from all over. I might have reached out to a few people in an attempt to get her some of the rare ones. She eventually gave it up and admitted she had fun doing it. Good luck getting back out there. I think it's mandatory to have a bad week every so often. It makes the highs so much better.

Not enough time in the day. With kid #2 coming I all of a sudden realized I had a LOT to do. After 7 years I FINALLY added a shelf to our pantry. Oh and I'm glad the people who just moved in next door are moving in 3 weeks. I was too mentally exhausted to run the full 7 today. Bummer because we had perfect long run weather.

 

You want to come shovel here? We are sitting at 14 inches / 35 CM of snow so far today from a big storm (which means I can't run). I'm sure the residents of NY will thank you 

That’s it? I’ve seen videos of New Yorkers driving in snow. Y’all can ‘stay home and stay safe’ because you’ll end up smashing into parked cars trying to turn around. 

besides...out here we run gas powered snow blowers. I’m sure those need to be registered and sniffed in NYC.