Last weekend was my last big workout before the half on May 1st. I haven't followed any formal training plan for this race, but despite that, I am going into it hoping for a PR, because despite the lack of formality, I have been working hard, and have been seeing many improvements in my shorter race performances.
I'm only running three times a week, but I've been trying to make sure that one of my short runs is at a fast pace, the other short run is at a moderate pace, and my long run is at an appropriate long-run pace. I had worked up to a 10-mile long run, but then my three weekends in a row of racing kind of messed up my schedule a bit, and I had three weekends of only semi-long runs, because I didn't want to totally overdo it.
I did want to get in one more long, long run, though, and I also wanted to do a good portion of it at close to race pace. So that was the plan for Saturday. And to tell you the truth, I was really, really nervous about it. Even though I've been running so well at shorter distances, and running pretty well on my long runs, I was still scared that I wouldn't be able to hold a faster pace over 8 miles.
And I know that the half is just another race, and even if I don't get a PR, I'm pretty confident I can at least come very close to my current PR (1:48), and I'll be happy with that. But as I've ever-so-slowly and gradually built up my mileage, my mind can't help but wander into the what-if territory of October marathon season.
I know that predicting a marathon finishing time is nowhere near an exact science, since so many variables can affect a race of that distance. But there is some science behind the various calculators available online and in countless running books, and virtually all of them predict, based on my most recent 5K time, that I should be capable of running a marathon in 3:42 - which, as it just so happens, is 3 minutes faster than what I would need for a BQ.
I've been thinking about a BQ for a long time now, and before, it seemed like a 'maybe someday' kind of goal. But with the way I've been running lately, it's seeming more and more like a "maybe THIS YEAR" kind of goal. Which is both exciting and terrifying. Exciting because, obviously, it would be thrilling beyond words to actually qualify, and terrifying because the reality is that, even with a great base level of running fitness to start from, there would still be a ton of hard work required to get there.
And I kind of feel like that work starts now - before I even sign up for a marathon, and before I even put a training plan into place, and before I start logging those marathon training miles.
So Saturday's run loomed large for me. I wanted to see how my body could handle a long run at race pace. I know I have the speed, but I wanted to see if I have both the speed AND the endurance.
It was a great day for running - cool and dry - and I started out at an easy pace (just above 9-minute miles) and stayed there for the first two miles. As I heard my Garmin beep the 2-mile mark, I picked up the pace. I'm hoping for a half-marathon time anywhere between 1:45 and 1:48, which translates to approximately 8-minute miles. So my goal was to run 8 miles of this run somewhere in the low 8s.
I was, as I always am now, focusing on my form, and keeping my stride short and trying to stay as smooth and controlled as possible. It's amazing to me how much of a difference I can feel now when I get tired and my form gets sloppy - I can literally feel how much energy I'm wasting.
But in the early miles, I wasn't wasting any energy at all. I felt fabulous, and easily kept a pace right around 8:06 or 8:07. The course I was running was moderately hilly, which is good, because the course for the half is moderately hilly, too. The hills did slow me a bit, but not enough to throw me off pace.
As I hit the halfway point, I was nearing the beach, which was also where the Gansett Marathon was being held. I knew I'd be there right around the start time, but had no idea I had timed it so perfectly - I was literally running by as the race started. It was a nice dose of inspiration and motivation (especially since I'm fully aware that with the new Boston Marathon registration process, even if I do qualify, I might not be able to run, and I've been thinking more and more that I'd be equally as excited - and maybe even a little more excited - to run Gansett).
I had aimed to complete 8 miles at the faster pace, but I was feeling so great that I decided to tack on one more mile. And I don't regret it at all. I was feeling fabulous - and felt more than capable of running farther at that pace. But when I got to the 9th race pace mile (11th mile total), I backed off and eased back into a slower pace, and ended up running the final two miles at around 9:30.
It was a very solid, very successful effort, and it really boosted my confidence. As always, I know that anything can happen on race day, and I know full well that weather could be a huge factor, since we're still enjoying relatively cool temperatures around here, and I've done virtually no warm-weather running, but given that this is New England, it could end up being 70 degrees and humid on race day, which would really throw me for a loop.
But I know that in all other respects, I'm ready. And I'm trying not to think too far ahead, but I am hopeful that I can have a great race on the 1st, and that I can capitalize on the progress I've made so far this year, and work my way up to an amazing marathon performance in October.
In the meantime, I'll have a few easier taper-ish weeks, and keep dreaming of Boston and Gansett : )
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