That's a rough patch to find one in the midwest. The one in Indiana I linked from March would only be ~2 hours' drive for you, if that is far enough away from a May 50-miler for you. It's not a certified marathon from appearances, however.
Yeah, I looked at that after you posted, but racing a Marathon in the end of March will put me in recovery when I should be doing some of my key long runs for the 50. I am kind of surprised that there is not at least a low key one in the Chicago area. There should be enough runners to get 200 or so entrants... I haven't ruled out Ice Breakers indoor marathon in Milwaukee, but I hear it gets congested after a while making you waste effort by dodging runners constantly, plus the idea of running 90+ laps at marathon pace is not my favorite idea.
Now is time to recover and start base-building prior to launching into dedicated training cycles for spring. What is everyone thinking about for the first half of next year in terms of goal races?
Geez, and I'm just starting my taper for Richmond!
I'm planning to race some 10-milers and 15k's early next spring, then sharpen the blade and see how low I can take the 5k PR before summer hits.
"I want you to pray as if everything depends on it, but I want you to prepare yourself as if everything depends on you."
-- Dick LeBeau
Fall/Winter is distance racing season (2 halfs and a marathon) for me. I've got one half done, one more coming up and then CIM in early December so no downtime and recovery YET! Spring is for dropping back down and running shorter stuff ... on my will do list is 5 races 2 5Ks, a 12K, and 2 10milers, all are goal races. I like those distances much more than racing marathons.
an amazing likeness
....I just don't know what to do next.
By end of the year, I'll have knocked off something like 16 or 17 half marathons this year, a couple 10Ks, a couple 5 milers and some other odds and ends. In the end, and I hate to share this for all the eye rolls it will cause, no passion. Can't find "the thing" that makes me want to run. I can point to the one best time racing I ever experienced at the Indy Mini in 2011...and the lowest at mile 23 of my last marathon when I started puking and knew the day was cooked.
There's got to be something that makes the 25-30 hours a week pounding the roads alone worthwhile.
..I just don't know what to do next. Sigh.
Signed, Debbie Downer
Acceptable at a dance, invaluable in a shipwreck.
Feeling the growl again
There's got to be something that makes the 25-30 hours a week pounding the roads alone worthwhile. ..I just don't know what to do next. Sigh.
Not intended as a hardass but....at some level...it has to be worth it for the sake of it. Maybe not 100%, but if you don't enjoy it for the sake of it then there has to be one hell of a carrot waiting at the end.
For me, the best way to realize that I really do like running every day is to stop. It doesn't take long before I realize I am an idiot and start again.
As for what to do....hard to say. Very personal. IMHO marathons are over-rated (this from a former marathon specialist). Shorter distances are more fun at a fraction of the pain. Hell, in my half-assed experience even ultras are easier on you because you aren't pushing yourself in the same way a hard-run marathon can (they bring more mental baggage though, IMO).
If the every-day distances aren't doing it for you, try something else. Triathlon, duathlon, something.
"If you want to be a bad a$s, then do what a bad a$s does. There's your pep talk for today. Go Run." -- Slo_Hand
I am spaniel - Crusher of Treadmills
I have run this 2x and never felt overly impeded. You would be one of the faster people and only have to yield lane#1 for 3 or 4 guys if any. If you are the fastest person, you never have to yield lane #1 - Just get used to saying "Track" in a loud voice. Yes a few times you go around people in lane #2 - that is really no big deal. The frustrating times are when it completely clogs up and you have to slow down for the cluster to clear. That happens 8-10 times for me in the race.
54F and no sun.
Aide station continously
I haven't ruled out Ice Breakers indoor marathon in Milwaukee, but I hear it gets congested after a while making you waste effort by dodging runners constantly, plus the idea of running 90+ laps at marathon pace is not my favorite idea.
Long dead ... But my stench lingers !
As for what to do....hard to say. Very personal. IMHO marathons are over-rated (this from a former marathon specialist). Shorter distances are more fun at a fraction of the pain. Hell, in my half-assed experience even ultras are easier on you because you aren't pushing yourself in the same way a hard-run marathon can (they bring more mental baggage though, IMO). If the every-day distances aren't doing it for you, try something else. Triathlon, duathlon, something.
The problem with the marathon is that in order to execute your best race it involves a very focused training cycle and you wind up limiting yourself to 2-3 all out marathons a year. If weather doesn't cooperate, you have a bad day, get sick, etc. you feel like you just wasted half the year only to fail. There are a few folks that can thrive on this year after year, but usually most runners get tired of this after a few years.
Besides just varying the distance though, you could vary the terrain. Running on single track is much different than roads. Maybe spend some time this winter snowshoeing to vary things up as well.
Either way, not every training run will be great, but if you don't occasionally feel that "there is nothing I would rather be doing right now than running", then maybe you need some time to reboot.
I have run this 2x and never felt overly impeded. You would be one of the faster people and only have to yield lane#1 for 3 or 4 guys if any. If you are the fastest person, you never have to yield lane #1 - Just get used to saying "Track" in a loud voice. Yes a few times you go around people in lane #2 - that is really no big deal. The frustrating times are when it completely clogs up and you have to slow down for the cluster to clear. That happens 8-10 times for me in the race. 54F and no sun. Aide station continously
In addition to 54° and no sun, there is no wind and it's pancake flat. I ran the marathon relay with the DW and FIL a couple of years ago and had a great time with it. I didn't run into any congestion issues and for the most part had lane 1 the whole time. I did 10 miles at about a 5:40 pace. I gave up on saying "track" and just navigated around people. It wasn't too bad.
I'm targeting the half up there this go around.
In addition to 54° and no sun, there is no wind and it's pancake flat. I ran the marathon relay with the DW and FIL a couple of years ago and had a great time with it. I didn't run into any congestion issues and for the most part had lane 1 the whole time. I did 10 miles at about a 5:40 pace. I gave up on saying "track" and just navigated around people. It wasn't too bad. I'm targeting the half up there this go around.
Arggg, decisions decisions. I am not in <2:50 shape, nor do I know if I can get there in 2 months. If I can, and do run this then I will have to miss out on two winter 50Ks (one before and one after). Why is it that I have my pick of 4+ ultras between December and Feb within 4 hours drive of Chicago but only one marathon?
Anyway, I'll stop whining and start training.
Self anointed title
Jan - 45 mi (goal is to complete it)
Feb - 50 mi (goal is < 8hrs)
Apr - 12hr track race (goal is 80 mi)
May - 145 mi (goal is <30hrs)
Sep - maybe a 24hr race (goal is personal)
At the moment this all seems wildly optimistic.
Goals should be optimistic, else you've got nothing to work for. I have a feeling you thrive on damn hard goals too, rather than avoiding them (like my wussy self does).
Wow. Just had a look at the Hall of Fame and this would put you right on up there...6 finishers in <30hrs.
"Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend."
Just had a look at the Hall of Fame and this would put you right on up there...6 finishers in <30hrs.
Yeah - I might have to review that goal!
Jan - 45 mi (goal is to complete it) Feb - 50 mi (goal is < 8hrs) Apr - 12hr track race (goal is 80 mi) May - 145 mi (goal is <30hrs) Sep - maybe a 24hr race (goal is personal) At the moment this all seems wildly optimistic.
That is a badass list. Are you going to spend too much time recovering from races leading up to your 145?
This is a bit of a concern - but only one of the build up races (the 12hr) will be a flat out effort. The 45 and the 50 will be extended jogathons. Usually only takes a week to get back to normal after these.
I am concerned that the 12hr is too close to the 145 - and haven't confirmed my entry yet. (They are kindly holding my place open as I'm a previous winner).
This is a bit of a concern - but only one of the build up races (the 12hr) will be a flat out effort. The 45 and the 50 will be extended jogathons. Usually only takes a week to get back to normal after these. I am concerned that the 12hr is too close to the 145 - and haven't confirmed my entry yet. (They are kindly holding my place open as I'm a previous winner).
OK, that makes sense.
I'm asking as I'm planning on trying monthly 4-hour runs (pace irrelevant) to try and prepare for my spring 50. Part of me wants to do something a bit longer as 4 hours seems to be about where something on me always breaks (at race effort) but I'm concerned with recovery.
But you've run that far before without your back becoming a whiny brat so I'm sure you will be fine. The 12-hour I have zero perspective on but I hope to one day.