I wasn’t going to talk about this publicly, because I fear getting a lot of criticism, but I’m actually in need of some advice.

 

After DH and I decided that the Disney Marathon wasn’t going to happen because of the financial burden it would put on us, I went looking for some replacement races. I’m signed up for the Manhattan Half Marathon (1/27) a 5k in March, and, in a moment of what I can only explain as temporary insanity, I am signed up for the Central Park Marathon which is tentatively scheduled for February 24.

 

The date is subject to change (but the NYCRuns people have said they will have a definitive date by mid-December). Assuming this is the date, I have 12 weeks left. I was already in the midst of a marathon training program, and despite taking six days off to take care of some personal things this week, I’ve done some excellent training in the past two months, including two weeks over 50 miles and another three weeks over 40 miles.

 

OK, now I’m getting to the issue I need advice over. Assuming the date is real, the time limit for this race is 5:15. (I didn’t know this when I signed up, as there’s nothing on the website about it.)

 

My PR is 5:50, off a very bad cycle of training where I peaked at 40 miles, but ran an average of 24 miles over the 18 weeks prior. (At the moment I’m averaging 36ish over the past 15 weeks). My long runs are in the range of 11:45-12:05 (done on flat surfaces mostly), and my pace runs, which are always done in Central Park, are between 10:25-11:00.

 

My realistic goal for Disney was going to be 5:10-5:20. With a 5:15 cutoff, this is no longer an option.

 

So, if you were me, what would you do?  

The worst thing that can happen is that you crash and burn. Since the race is fairly inexpensive and close to home, i don't see that as something to be terribly concerned about. 

Take a look at previous years race results.  Are there any finishers listed with a time of slower than 5:15?  I have seen more than a few races with official times slower than the announced cutoff.  Some races are anal about it and some are a bit flexible.

This is an inaugural race.

 

The RD has been very responsive to my many questions, so I have a good idea of how I have to train. I think my long runs are going to be exclusively on this 5 mile loop from now on, going the same direction as the race.

Even after the reading the first post I was going to say "go for it", it's close to home/where you train/you're already registered.

I have nothing to offer, but a friend of mine who was entered in the canceled NYC Marathon flew down the day before the race and ran in the Soldiers Marathon in Columbus, Georgia which honored all NYC entries.   She finally got a sub-5 marathon with just about everything going against her.  No rest, no acclimating to the totally different altitude and hotter and more humid weather and she still PR'd.  She came through it with no injuries and was walking around fine the next day when we had drinks at a my favorite pub.  She was still glowing about her performance.

Sometimes adversity can really make you step up your game. 

Hope this helps.

Thanks, that's great data. I think I'll have a better idea after the Manhattan Half, too.

[...] but let me know if you're looking for someone to pace a section with you.)

I would be more than happy to also pace a section with you...in addition to or with meaghan and anybody else...sort of a rolling/running FE!

Think of it as a practice run for 3 Days at the Fair (you're still planning on that, right?)

Edited to add: Having typed that, I'm assuming pacing from a non-registered runner would be allowed. If that is against the rules, then I guess I can only promise to cheering support (if CP is open to the public, maybe coincidentally moving at the same or goal speed as you in an adjacent lane).

If you can try and adopt the "I will run it and see how it goes" approach and not obsess about it, that might help enjoying it. Why not go with the flow?