Tuesday, June 20, 2017
This felt like my first official day of the training block since June 19 was a non-running day (although I did bootcamp, as typical for Mondays). I ran an easy 8.6 miles in the morning and 3.4 miles in the evening. I didn't feel too chipper starting out in the morning, as I was suffering from a "vacation hangover" and fighting off catching my husband's post-vacation sickness, but every mile got better. About halfway through the run, which was solo, the song One way or another came on the radio, and I realized what a perfect theme song it was for my 2:45 pursuit. "One way or another, I'm going to get you, 2:45!" It may not be at CIM, but I will try and try again -- either until I get it or until the qualifying window closes in January 2020. If this goal is not accomplished, it is not going to be for lack of trying; it will be because it is outside of my ability and/or I get injured trying.
I'm not feeling very fit or fast right now, and the reasons for this are: 1) summer is here, 2) I recently ran 6+ minutes slower than what I thought I was in shape for at Dam to Dam, 3) I haven't done any real workouts since May 30, 4) I just had 2 weeks of relatively low mileage (e.g., a recovery phase). I'm working on accepting that I simply won't run as fast in hot and humid weather, but it's sure not as fun to go this direction as it is when paces start dropping in the cool weather of the fall! I feel like I am so grossly far off of the fitness I'll need to run a 2:45, and I'm feeling like I'll never get there -- but I'm trying to focus on doing what's scheduled day to day and trusting that the results will come in time...easier said than done.
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
It's a lot easier to perceive a 2:45 marathon in the realm of possibility soon after running a 2:49:20 than 4 months later at the beginning of summer...
Sunday, June 25, 2017
I read a quote from Arthur Lydiard about big training cycles, and it was something I needed to hear! "You will be running in last when others are running in first. But, when it matters most, you will be passing them." You can't be in PR form all of the time; peaking at one time usually comes at the expense of something else. You have to pick the right time to be 100% and accept that the times when you're not are part of the process.
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
It's impossible not to play the comparison game, so I am trying to play it in ways that are optimistic; comparing where my fitness is at now to where it was in June 2016. I may not be PR-sharp right now, but I'm way ahead of where I was in June 2016 and I'm farther from my goal marathon (then I was under 4 months out from an early October race, and now I'm over 5 months out from a December 3 race).
Monday, July 3, 2017
Training to break 3:00 last summer was less stressful, and I think that's because I'd come close (3:01:45) in a race that I classified as so-so. For a 2:45:00, I need to find 4:20 (260 seconds) more than I had in a race that was pretty much perfect (Phoenix and CIM courses are supposed to be similarly fast, which is a very good thing). I'm doubting myself every day and kind of wondering if I shouldn't try. It feels like too much pressure and like I'm not good enough.
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
The 2:45:00 B standard is official and I ran a 5:53 average on my 4 mile tempo! It was a very promising running day! It sounds crazy or pathetic, but I almost cried when I got the news that the standard was set at 2:45:00 officially and not any faster -- a blessing for sure! I've had 2:45 in my mind for so long, even a standard of 2:44:00 would have shaken me, and something like 2:42:00 probably would have stopped my dream in its tracks.
Monday, July 24, 2017
Balancing being happy about improvements with striving for more is hard! I ran the Access to Health 5K 15 seconds/mile faster than in 2016 (5:57 vs 6:12), which I was stoked about. However, I also think I *ought* to be able to run a lot faster than that for 3.1 miles if I want any chance at running 6:05 pace for 13.1 and 6:17 pace for 26.2. Oy! But then I felt super strong on my long run the day after the 5K, running "out" around 7:20 pace and coming back around 7:00 pace, and feeling effortless the whole run. I told my coach that I always feel much stronger on long runs than on 5Ks, which I suppose is a really good thing!
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
My 6 mile tempo today has me feeling like building up to running 13.1 at 6:00 pace is a real possibility! Still a terrifying possibility, but if your pace goals don't scare you, they aren't fast enough, right?
Friday, July 28, 2017
I set a fast finish long run final mile PR today with a 6:05 at the end of a 15 miler. Now, to replicate that at the end of a 24 miler and at the end of CIM!
Tuesday, August 1, 2017
My coach told me NOT to try to PR every workout after I sent him last week's runs, which included a workout PR 6 mile tempo and a PR fast finish mile in my long run (both mentioned above as big confidence-boosters for me). My first thought was, "But I should be running workout PRs since I am trying to run a marathon faster than I ever have before (not to mention a 5K, 10K, and half marathon along the way!)", but I have since acquiesced that I will stick precisely to the pace ranges he gives me and not try to dip under. We all know that I am a pro at over-training, and he doesn't want me to do too much too hard too early. I also have some fear about peaking too early, so I will listen to his expertise.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
I came close to staying exactly in my pace range on my 3 x 2 mile split tempo workout today with tempos in 11:53 (5:57, 5:56), 11:47 (5:51, 5:56), and 11:43 (5:52, 5:50), only a tiny bit under my range on 3 of the mile splits. I finished feeling like I had another repeat in the tank. That is technically how you are supposed to finish workouts, to maximize training gains while minimizing stress on the body, but it's easier said than done because I love pushing. This was still a workout PR, within following coach's orders, so yay!
I just read back over the beginning of this log, and what a difference 6 weeks can make! I'm now feeling much better about my fitness and progress towards my goal than I was on June 20, and I'm also feeling fully adapted to sticky summer weather conditions (although I've had some pretty nice weather for my past couple of workouts). I know I'll wax and wane, have bad workouts when I don't feel fit, and have many days where a marathon PR seems impossible, but I'm happy with my progress and also believe the recovery phase in June did me good. Regardless of the outcome, I believe that God places dreams in our hearts and goals in our heads for a reason, so however CIM goes, there is a reason for this build.
Saturday, August 4, 2017
Today I got my "bad" long run of the training cycle out of the way, cutting a 16 miler at 13 due to serious stomach issues (the first time in my life I have ever thrown up during a run). Since this was a novel occurrence, I've chalked it up to something I ate while traveling for work on Thursday and Friday disagreeing with me, and am moving on. I've actually surprised myself with how non-upset I've been about it, but since it wasn't a key long run or workout, it was good timing to have a bad day. I was supposed to have a shorter long run next week, but now I'll call this my cut-back one and do the 16 next week, provided my coach is good with that. I was torn between going back out this afternoon for the extra 3 miles or adding it on tomorrow in order to keep my weekly planned mileage, and I decided on the latter since I only had 6 scheduled for tomorrow (now 9). I'm feeling depleted but mostly okay now, I think.
I've decided this one is long enough that it's time to hit "publish"! Until part 2...
It is so reassuring to read this and know you have similar thoughts and feelings to what I do! Especially since you've had so many really strong and PR seasons in a row! When I finish a tempo run o feel stressed about what pace I ran compared to what my pace goal is for November. I just remind myself that in the spring I was hitting goal pace on tempos in January and that ended with barely making it to my goal race. It really is such a balance! I'm so excited to continue to follow your journey to what I have no doubt will result in an OT qualifying time!
ReplyDeleteI think self-doubt and ups and downs inevitably come with pursuing challenging goals. If we were content with easy goals, it wouldn't make us nervous, but we wouldn't accomplish the same things. I love the quote: "If you accomplish every goal, you're not setting them high enough."
DeleteThat is true!
DeleteThat Lydiard quote is pure gold. I did the same thing when I started training for SFO, and that ended up being such a disaster. Wish I'd had someone to Gibbs-slap me those first few weeks. I beat myself up so many times for not hitting the faster paces, especially when the weather warmed up.
ReplyDeleteFunny how crazy we are as runners sometimes. When I try to think about it objectively, I think it's silly to expect NOT to run slower in the heat (physiologically impossible, actually). And it's silly to be unhappy about running times I've never run, thinking that they ought to be faster. I'm at a much better place of enjoying the process now! CIM could be a total disaster, as any marathon can for any of us, but if that's the case I'll choose another; I have until 1/20/20 after all! Just like you'll have another after SFO!
DeleteA year later, I decided to take a peak at your training log. As you say above, its hard not to play the comparison game. I have 3x2 mile tempo this week!
ReplyDelete