I kind of look at it the same way... like, I know that it's a downhill course and it gives me an edge, but in my head, if I can run X on a course like that, it's not outside of the realm of possibility that I can run a similar time on another course. It's a completely mental thing, but since ATM I feel like I am never going to PR in anything ever again, I will take it any way I can get it.
Exactly! I never thought I'd even get close to a 2 hour HM. Running 1:55 (with an asterisk) makes me believe it is possible someday on a legit course.
delicate flower
I have a tapering question. My full is in 2 weeks. I think I'd like to have 2 rest days next week leading up to the race. Is it better to do them 2 days in a row or split them up with a run in between? So, take Tuesday and Thursday as RD or Wednesday and Thursday? I do plan a short run on Friday the day before the race.
I wouldn't want to go two straight days of rest. I vote Tuesday/Thursday.
<3
+1
Damaris
As part of the 2024 London Marathon, I am fundraising for VICTA, a charity that helps blind and visually impaired children. My mentor while in law school, Jim K (a blind attorney), has been a huge inspiration and an example of courage and perseverance. Please consider donating.
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Go figure
My legs feel pretty stale if I have consecutive days off. Unless that type of schedule is something you are used to from your training, I would think splitting your rest up would be the better option.
Trying to find some more hay to restock the barn
Tuesday & Thursday it is. Thank you, Baboon, Dockett & SIAR!
We are here to help. Let us know if you want help selecting your next bunch of races. We can do that too.
+another 1 to the split up rest days KC. I'm so excited to hear how the marathon goes!
Jay, on the I v. R pace thing--I was really scared of the R pace, and I swear, I've left speed on the table because of it. You are super smart to be racing 5ks somewhat regularly, because you can adjust paces as appropriate. I think I got faster over the course of this past cycle, but didn't adjust paces as I went along, and ended up taking it too easy on myself. The past couple weeks I've said screw the pace, and just run the intervals as fast as I can (while keeping the last one as fast as the first one), and let the chips fall where they may. I'll need a month or two to see how it's working, but so far, I'm not hurt, so that's good. I suppose I could go race something, but that sounds hard. But this is one of the reasons I'm thinking about a coach, so someone will time trial or fitness test my ass and help me adjust this stuff so I'm progressing instead of stagnating.
7 easy this morning.
+another 1 to the split up rest days KC. I'm so excited to hear how the marathon goes! Jay, on the I v. R pace thing--I was really scared of the I pace, and I swear, I've left speed on the table because of it. You are super smart to be racing 5ks somewhat regularly, because you can adjust paces as appropriate. I think I got faster over the course of this past cycle, but didn't adjust paces as I went along, and ended up taking it too easy on myself. The past couple weeks I've said screw the pace, and just run the intervals as fast as I can (while keeping the last one as fast as the first one), and let the chips fall where they may. I'll need a month or two to see how it's working, but so far, I'm not hurt, so that's good. I suppose I could go race something, but that sounds hard. But this is one of the reasons I'm thinking about a coach, so someone will time trial or fitness test my ass and help me adjust this stuff so I'm progressing instead of stagnating. 7 easy this morning.
Jay, on the I v. R pace thing--I was really scared of the I pace, and I swear, I've left speed on the table because of it. You are super smart to be racing 5ks somewhat regularly, because you can adjust paces as appropriate. I think I got faster over the course of this past cycle, but didn't adjust paces as I went along, and ended up taking it too easy on myself. The past couple weeks I've said screw the pace, and just run the intervals as fast as I can (while keeping the last one as fast as the first one), and let the chips fall where they may. I'll need a month or two to see how it's working, but so far, I'm not hurt, so that's good. I suppose I could go race something, but that sounds hard. But this is one of the reasons I'm thinking about a coach, so someone will time trial or fitness test my ass and help me adjust this stuff so I'm progressing instead of stagnating.
I used race results to dictate my training paces and adjusted them accordingly each time. I trained across the pace/intensity spectrum regularly and found them palatable due to the correlation between distance and speed. That is, 400m "R" pace intervals, 1000m intervals at VO2 max (5k ish), 1200m to a mile at Tempo (10k ish) and obviously miles at MP. When viewed through that lense, they all are one in the same...unless they're not.
That's 100% how it should be done. My problem is I hardly ever race, so a long cycle without a mid-cycle fitness check means I just keep doing the same shit without ever upping the paces to account for increased fitness. I've stopped seeing much improvement, and I think that's part of the reason. Or I'm lazy. Or old. Those are also possibilities.
Very soon, I will be on the lookout for both a 2019 spring marathon and half marathon, preferably April and/or early May. Within 4-5 hours driving distance of Chicago (could do March if I'm driving south). Last year, I did the Illinois Marathon in Champaign and this year will be the Starved Rock Marathon in Ottawa. Other than that, I've done Chicago twice (& will do again this year), so it's pretty wide open on marathons I haven't done yet. I've done lots of halfs around Chicago (mostly downtown ones), the Nashville Half and the Flying Pig Half (favorite so far). I am considering the Flying Pig Full next year as a fallback plan, but I kind of want to try something new.
I did enter the lottery yesterday for London 2019, but I understand that's a very long shot of actually getting picked and won't know until October if I get lucky enough to get in.
A 12 minute time trial would suffice, or if that's too dauting, 1 mile all out.
Onemile will chime in with Wisconsin options, but will also add how much she despises spring marathons.
Dave
Are we there, yet?
After a while you should get a sense of the effort expended at each pace. When I don't race for a long time I run the first interval by effort, then try to match that pace for the remaining intervals. Of course that assumes you normally can and do run all the intervals in a given set at the same pace.
2024 Races:
03/09 - Livingston Oval Ultra 6-Hour, 22.88 miles
05/11 - D3 50K 05/25 - What the Duck 12-Hour
06/17 - 6 Days in the Dome 12-Hour.
I much prefer running a spring marathon in cooler temps than the Chicago marathon, which has been hot both years I've run it. But I understand despising training for a spring marathon because you have to deal with winter. However, training for one helps keep me motivated throughout the holidays and winter so I don't get lazy and fat.
KC, or anyone else, have you ever run the Chicagoland half or full? DH didn't seem to like my idea of extending his business trip in 2 weeks, but maybe I can convince him next year.