It sounds so simple… just run an 8 minute and 20 second mile, then repeat for the next 25.2 miles and cross the finish line at 3:38:30. That’s the plan in it’s most simplistic form. Run perfect mile after perfect mile and find glory at the finish line.
This Sunday, I will be racing my final full marathon for the year up in Sacramento at the California International Marathon (CIM). It is pitched as “fast” course with a downhill start-to-finish profile, BUT don’t be fooled. It’s rolling hills that go downhill, if that makes any sense (see profile below). I ran this race back in 2009: it was cold, I started to cramp and finished in tears of joy/pain with a shiny 4:40 PR.
Take a closer look at the line and see all the little rolling hills there… sneaky profile.
4 years later and I will be attempting to PR again, but this time breaking into the 3:3X territory. I tried the 3:3X back in June at San Diego and crashed and burned by going out too fast (familiar story). This time around I will definitely make a point of not going out to fast.
The race plan is to stay close to the 3:40 pace group and use it as a gauge to control my pace for the first 22 miles. I’m not really a big fan of running in packs or groups on race day… I feel boxed-in and confined. I’ll most likely stay about 5-10 feet behind the group and hold.
After 22 miles, if I’m feeling AMAZING, then I’ll drop the hammer and fly home. In a perfect world, right? If I’m feeling pretty good at 22 miles, I’ll slowly try to pass the 3:40 group and focus on passing a runner a few feet in front of me… then the next… then the next. If I’m feeling tired, then it is just a matter of staying where I am at and holding on. Of course, if I want 3:3X, that means the last mile has to be just a little bit faster. Luckily, the last mile always has a little zip on it because it’s the last mile.
Honestly?
I read Krysten’s post the other day (DarwinianFail.com) about being honest, and here is my “honest” moment for this race: It’s a 50/50 shot on whether this happens or not. My legs feel tired from the #SA2LV challenge and I’m nursing some minor aches. Nothing that would make me consider NOT running this or NOT attempting to PR, but it does cast a little doubt on whether I CAN do it or not. Finishing is not an issue. I’ll finish this thing (barring any injury) and am smart enough to know that I won’t risk injuring myself in trying to PR. If I feel anything close to being the onset of injury, I will easily back off… that’s the easy part… not setting a PR means just getting in a good, long-distance run with a shiny medal at the end. The hard part will be trying to hold the pace… that is going to take some effort from me, both physically and mentally.
It is possible… I’m trained for the distance. Check. Trained for the pace? Kinda-check. An 8:20 pace is doable for an extended period of time, it’s just going to take a “really good” running day. I just need to be channeled into my running game mentally and need to find that 8:20 pace early and make it my new BFF. I have a 1:37 half marathon PR, so I’m using that as mental fuel to find a 1:49/1:49 split.
All I have for one race… for one day. The goal is to end an epic year, with an epic PR at the marathon. If #SA2LV was my dessert, I want CIM to be the whip cream on top.
Damnit, now I want ice cream.
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CIM Meet up & Tweet Up
When: Saturday at noon
Where: SF Marathon booth at the Expo
Facebook event page
Giveaway
Last day to enter to win a Medal Display from SportHooks.
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All in for one final race for 2013? Who’s with me?!?!
I’m going to go yell at you guys :) I think you can do it. Click ’em off…right on 8:20. Let it feel slow as molasses in January for those first few. Just click ’em off. Make it happen. Excited to watch you do it :)
I’ll be there! And it’s my second CIM as well; last year was brutal, pouring rain and wind, hoping for better weather luck this time around! I’ll do my very best to be at the expo Saturday at noon (visiting my dad who lives in Sacramento, unsure of his plans), would love to meet you! If I don’t see/talk to you before Sunday, rock your 3:3X! :)
Loved the post!! Looking forward to Sunday, too. My first ever marathon. Running it with my two daughters. You’ll rock it.
Isn’t it funny when you see the numbers on paper, you think “no big deal!” I think you’ve got a great goal. It involves whip cream and/or ice cream so it’s going to happen, right?!?!?! Go get it!
fingers crossed for ya!
You can do it! Good luck!
I am really excited for you! I know you can do this, but your right, anything can happen, so I am sending you a big bubble of speed, endurance and mental agility that day. I can’t wait to hear all about it. If I didn’t have so much going on with my family, I’d be there in a second to cheer for you, jump in a run with you for bit and be your support crew. I miss our RnR adventure! It was a ray of sunshine in my life right before a gigantic storm. How was your Thanksgiving? miss you!! Hugs
I know you want it but you are a winner already in my book!
Good luck to you!!! My opinion is that marathon is always a 50/50 chance. You can be well trained, rested, and still have a bad day. Then you can not be as ready and have an awesome day – I think that is what makes marathons exciting is there is so much mystery in them! I will be rooting for you!! You’ve got this!
I think the biggest lesson I learned this year was that I need to let go of the stress and the wonder about whether I can because that wastes energy. Like you said, who knows what will happen on race day but I’m fully convinced now that spending more time trusting our training will get us the results we want :) Have fun and good luck with the PR!!!
Ice cream! Better hit Leatherby’s after the race!
Good luck, man. Just make sure you enjoy the run and have fun – everything else will follow. A bit jealous at you California guys and gals – you have so many more races due to the climate. I am running a HM on Saturday and the temperatures will be in the low single digits at start time.
Good luck on Sunday! I’ll be there running my first full!
I am SO excited for you for this race AND Running Rachel (this will be her FIRST marathon and I helped her with her training schedule). I’m not going to be there and I’m not even running but I am literally give you both every ounce of running energy, focus, drive, passion, and pain-tolerance that I’ve been mentally storing since I got injured. You take it and use it for the best possible results! The day will be what it will be but you will do us proud!
Good luck, can’t wait to hear all about it!
I love your approach. Honest and driven at the same time. Can you do it? Yep! Will you do it? TBD. Either way, you’re closer to achieving your PR than you think. Find that mental Zone and stick to it like fly on honey.
You got this!
You got this. You put in the hours, the miles, the mental prep. You’ve got a load of successful races under your belt for the year (including a fan-freaking-tastic half PR from RnRSJ). I’ll tell you what you told me – DON’T GO OUT TOO FAST! It’ll take some restraint, but if you can keep a lid on it for the first few miles, I have no doubt you’ll be opening that can of whoop-ass in the final miles…and finishing with a new PR to end the year. Run smart, run strong. Go get it!
You can do this: break the race into thirds; first third should feel easy, second third should feel like a training run; third third should feel hard (after all it’s a race)!
Sounds like you have a great plan, don’t over think it all and get lots of sleep and Im sure youll kill it!
Best wishes for your PR and no injuries!
This Sunday I’ll be running my very first full marathon, the Dallas Marathon.
I’ll be rooting for you! Good luck :)
Yeah good luck! I’m nervous about my training for CIM due to time off for an ankle thing, but I’m going to do the run anyway. I hope you get your goal!
Good luck my friend and I’m excited for you. I mean, part of me can’t wrap my head around the fact that you’re running another marathon but you’ve put in so much work this year. I also appreciate your honesty. If I’ve learned anything over the past year or two it’s to not tie myself too much to the outcome of any one thing and to only worry about the things that I can control. Good luck and speedy speedy legs to you!
I have all the faith that you can do it! You have been running really strong and the course is perfect for it! I didn’t realize until the other day that you were also running CIM! I am very excited, it will be my first time running it and flying in from Upstate NY (so the weather is going to feel amazing for me!).
I think it’s going to be an AWESOME weekend, I see lots of big races coming!
Good luck — I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a bit PR!
Sounds like you have a good plan in place but you are also aware of any problems that can happen. You’ve got this! I can’t wait to hear how you do.
I am so amazed that you’re running ANOTHER marathon. You are incredible. I’m sending you all the speedy vibes I can muster from T.O. I can’t wait to see how you do!
Thank you for pointing out that this course is hilly! I ran it in 2011 and my strategy was thrown off by the continuous rollers. Loved the course and the race, though. Enjoy the day!