Ran a 10k in June (7 Viewers)

[IvanKaramazov]

a question for you guys about the long/slow runs...if you notice you still have plenty in the tank with say a mile or so to go, do you keep the slow pace or push it a bit? should i try to close hard or just coast on in at the same pace?

Sometimes I'll do the last 3-4 miles of a long run at or near marathon pace. That's the fastest pace I ever reach on runs longer than 12 miles.Edit: And I only do that from time to time, not every long run.

 

[Hang 10]

Ran a big local 5K today and set a true PR. I can't believe I'm faster now than I was back in high school (21:19). They were expecting 3,000 for the 5k. Cramming that many people into this tiny town is crazy but they some how pulled it off. My only beef is they really should seed this thing to prevent slower runners from being up front. I was dodging 10yr olds at the front. The course is a horseshoe shaped course with some rollers in mile 1, two fast downhills in mile 2 and then a few bigger rollers in mile 3. After last weeks relay I had a strong feeling that I had a 5K PR in me so I just had to go for it. It was as uneventful as a race could be. Mile 1 I felt really strong. The rollers didn't affect me much. Mile 2 was probably the fastest spilt I've ever had in a 5K thanks to the two fast downhills. Mile 3 I was a hurtin pup after the second hill but by that point I had all the wood on the fire. I usually have a really strong kick but today I got owned by a 15yr old. I had passed him around 2.9 only to have him out kick me at the finish. Hats off to him.Splits:1-6:40/1832-6:22/1903-6:58/1910.12-0:37/193New PR 20:39Avg HR 188 Max 195ETA HR to splits - yikes.

Wow. That's some serious speed, Ned!

 

[tri-man 47]

a question for you guys about the long/slow runs...if you notice you still have plenty in the tank with say a mile or so to go, do you keep the slow pace or push it a bit? should i try to close hard or just coast on in at the same pace?

I'll sometimes push it in strong ...keep good form, though.

 

[tri-man 47]

Seven Bridges Season Starter 5K

20:23 ... 6:35/mile ... HR=177 avg

Well, this was a millenial PR as it beat my time from six weeks ago by 3 seconds per my watch (last sub-20:00 I ran was in 1999). But dang, this was not a fun race at all. Poor prep: Spent 12 hours at the laptop yesterday writing papers, then slept very poorly (not used to having the A/C on). The morning temp was already at 70 with some humidity. Ugh. I just never loosened up. Got to the race site fine and did my normal pre-race ...jogging 2 miles, then adding some accelerations. But the legs felt tight. Maybe it was the bad night, or the hill work mid-week, or just the lousy race weather. Regardless, I took off strong, SandedTM the first mile, and hung as steady as I could. It was a pretty good sized crowd (and oddly, a non-chip race), but I was mostly solo from around 1.5-2.5 miles.

Mile 1: 6:23 .. HR-169

Mile 2: 6:43 .. HR-181

Mile 3: 6:44 .. HR=183

Last .1: 6:26 . HR 177

I stopped at the check-in desk before the race, and the three speedsters from my age group were all there, so I didn't stick around to see where I placed. This was just about getting some points for the CARA circuit race competition. Overall, I guess I'm pleased for shaving some time on a nasty day for running.

 

[Hang 10]

Seven Bridges Season Starter 5K

20:23 ... 6:35/mile ... HR=177 avg

Well, this was a millenial PR as it beat my time from six weeks ago by 3 seconds per my watch (last sub-20:00 I ran was in 1999). But dang, this was not a fun race at all. Poor prep: Spent 12 hours at the laptop yesterday writing papers, then slept very poorly (not used to having the A/C on). The morning temp was already at 70 with some humidity. Ugh. I just never loosened up. Got to the race site fine and did my normal pre-race ...jogging 2 miles, then adding some accelerations. But the legs felt tight. Maybe it was the bad night, or the hill work mid-week, or just the lousy race weather. Regardless, I took off strong, SandedTM the first mile, and hung as steady as I could. It was a pretty good sized crowd (and oddly, a non-chip race), but I was mostly solo from around 1.5-2.5 miles.

Mile 1: 6:23 .. HR-169

Mile 2: 6:43 .. HR-181

Mile 3: 6:44 .. HR=183

Last .1: 6:26 . HR 177

I stopped at the check-in desk before the race, and the three speedsters from my age group were all there, so I didn't stick around to see where I placed. This was just about getting some points for the CARA circuit race competition. Overall, I guess I'm pleased for shaving some time on a nasty day for running.

Nice work. Some fast 5k's being posted around here lately!

 

[Ned]

SC - Nah I'm a year away from thinking about a 3:3x marathon. My endurance just isn't there, yet. I've always been better at the shorter stuff. I'm an ex sprinter just trying to learn this distance stuff.

jb, hang - Thanks!

Prince - I'd say 85% of my long runs I just keep'r steady the entire way. As Ivan/Tri mentioned, there are times where the plan will be to work the backed of a LR at MP. The primary goal of the long run is to build aerobic fitness. Which means keeping your HR within the aerobic range (<75-80% max HR).

tri - Setting a PR when your feeling less than stellar is an incredible testament to your fitness. You are destroying the start to this season!

____________

Finally got back out to the trails today for a warm 13 miler. The mountain bikers were out in full force today. Probably saw at least 50 of them in total. It will be a miracle if I don't have poison ivy from all the times I had to jump off the trail to make way for them. Ended up at 10:41/146 overall. Love seeing that low HR. Motorolla needs to add a total elevation stat to their website.

Every time I thought about how warm it was, I kept thinking about Grue and Jux. Hopefully they're already done and have a beer in hand.

 

[mr. furley]

today's GB runners> you guys are ####ing nuts

saw gruecd at around the 1 1/2 mile mark and again around the 10 mile mark. #### it was hot out there. congratulations on the finish.

 

[17seconds]

a question for you guys about the long/slow runs...if you notice you still have plenty in the tank with say a mile or so to go, do you keep the slow pace or push it a bit? should i try to close hard or just coast on in at the same pace?

Sometimes I'll do the last 3-4 miles of a long run at or near marathon pace. That's the fastest pace I ever reach on runs longer than 12 miles.Edit: And I only do that from time to time, not every long run.

I also take it easy on those because I know I'll be sore afterwards even if I didn't push myself.Also think about what you've got coming up the next few days. If it is a backoff week or something easy, push it. If you've got a 9-miler the next day you should probably just coast in.

 

[17seconds]

Splits:1-6:40/1832-6:22/1903-6:58/1910.12-0:37/193New PR 20:39Avg HR 188 Max 195ETA HR to splits - yikes.

Wow!

 

[Ned]

Nice race Ned.[sand]what's with that first mile?[/sand]

The rolling hills. I was on a 6:2x pace before hitting the first hill.

You killed it, man. I have to now officially put you on my list. That time is a paltry :10 behind my PR. Good race, Ned!

I'm honored. 20:28 or bust on 7/1.

 

[sho nuff]

today's GB runners> you guys are ####ing nuts saw gruecd at around the 1 1/2 mile mark and again around the 10 mile mark. #### it was hot out there. congratulations on the finish.

Saw on Twitter that they shut down the.marathon. Medical resources were getting stretched thin in the heat.

 

[prosopis]

today's GB runners> you guys are ####ing nuts saw gruecd at around the 1 1/2 mile mark and again around the 10 mile mark. #### it was hot out there. congratulations on the finish.

Saw on Twitter that they shut down the.marathon. Medical resources were getting stretched thin in the heat.

Seriously? How hot did it get?

 

[gruecd]

today's GB runners> you guys are ####ing nuts

saw gruecd at around the 1 1/2 mile mark and again around the 10 mile mark. #### it was hot out there. congratulations on the finish.

Saw on Twitter that they shut down the.marathon. Medical resources were getting stretched thin in the heat.

Seriously? How hot did it get?

Yep, seriously.Temps were in the low 80s when they canceled it, but by early afternoon (when the slower and some of the least fit marathoners would have been finishing) it was pushing 90°. Not nice out there. A lot of people I know finished anyway; they still got medals and shirts, but no "official" times.

Most of the marathoners I saw looked fine. In my opinion, the marathoners were smart, adjusted their goals from the start, drank more water, etc. This race has a lot more half marathoners, and I think those people tend to be a lot less experienced. They ran stupidly, paid the price, took up all the medical resources, and ultimately cost the marathoners the opportunity to finish. That's the part that upsets me. The race director is a meticulous planner and a good friend of mine; he did what he had to do.

Anyway, I knew by Mile 3 that I was screwed, so I dialed it back right away. Ended up running 1:34:23, which was good for 2nd place in the Clydesdale division. The 1st-place guy beat me by 14 seconds. Oh, well. Felt like crap after the race, but got home, took a 2-hour nap, and now I feel a lot better.

Back to the ol' drawing board....

 

[sho nuff]

Nice job gutting that out in crappy temps and still pulling a 2nd in the Clydes.

 

[Sand]

Seven Bridges Season Starter 5K

20:23 ... 6:35/mile ... HR=177 avg

Would you just put me out of my misery instead of this death of 1000 cuts? Are you Sergei Bubka in diguise? -----

Anyway, I'm home after a long drive. Random thoughts: Lots of people- they had over 250 there for the 10k, 5k, and mile swim. ~190 for the 5k. This year was a bit different than the last two in that we had steady winds all weekend. In the middle of the bay this induced some big rollers - 1.5ft. or so (not so big until you have to swim through them). My left eye half filled up within 100 yds of the start. (<--- get that one? ) There was a group up front that I thought was four or five folks that I let go. Turned out it was 12 and I never caught any of them. Then again I didn't get passed, either. Lost my cap halfway through. First time I replaced it, second time I let it go. Only ever saw someone other than at the start when I lost my cap. Other than that I was all alone the whole way through. Felt good the whole way through - endurance was good and I really kicked it home hard. Toward the end my shoulders and ribs started hurting - shoulders from lifting my head to sight and ribs from reaching out to stroke. No cramping as in the last two years (woohoo!). As with last year I was really hoping for a faster time, but we climbed a lot of small hills this year.

Finished the 5k (actually 3.3 miles) in 1:26x. This was a couple minutes faster than last year. 10th fastest male and 1st in my AG by 7 minutes. Would have been 3rd master if they had that. I was in the desert of finishers - turns out I finished 4 minutes behind the 9th male and a couple minutes in front of the next guy. So pretty much never would have caught the guys in front of me, I think. Still, I was hoping for a bit better and am still searching for what I'd call a superlative performance at this venue.

Oh well, onward and upward. Three weeks until a doubleheader weekend.

 

[mr. furley]

today's GB runners> you guys are ####ing nuts saw gruecd at around the 1 1/2 mile mark and again around the 10 mile mark. #### it was hot out there. congratulations on the finish.

Saw on Twitter that they shut down the.marathon. Medical resources were getting stretched thin in the heat.

Seriously? How hot did it get?

kid and i stopped by a firehouse on the course so she could see a fire truckthe guy we talked to said they were "really getting buried" by calls. saw lots of folks walking, even early on in the course.

 

[Prince Myshkin]

thanks to all of you that responded to my question! i pushed it home a little bit today, but i think from now on i'll try to keep on the same pace for the most part.

 

[tri-man 47]

we climbed a lot of small hills this year.

I know what you're saying, but still, you're just messin' with us, talking about hills during a bay swim event. Congrats! An event like that is so far beyond the bounds of what virtually anyone can do,

 

[Ned]

Grue - you're disappointing or dialed back days are still what most of us would dream of running. Great job listening to your body and adjusting.

Sand - that's kick ###, man. Tri summed it up well. I can't fathom swimming 500m in the open water let alone 5,000. Congrats on the hardware!

 

[sho nuff]

Grue - you're disappointing or dialed back days are still what most of us would dream of running. Great job listening to your body and adjusting. Sand - that's kick ###, man. Tri summed it up well. I can't fathom swimming 500m in the open water let alone 5,000. Congrats on the hardware!

That swim is flat out nuts to me. Can't even wrap my head around swimming for that long of a distance or time.Though Ned...come on, you want to fathom it a bit...just to know how your HR would do???

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Sory about the bad conditions, gruced, but you still klled it all things considered. I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with good weather in the fall -- lots of frustration to be unleashed.

Sand -- Honestly, I can't even wrap my head aroud a 5K swim. Nice job?

 

[Juxtatarot]

I never wrote a lengthy race report but I definitely want to go through the process of writing this one out and also reflecting on marathon running in general. I think it will be therapeutic as I’m kind of down right now. I guess I shouldn’t expect you guys to read all of this but feel free to comment on any part. I’d appreciate the feedback.

When I signed up for the 2012 Green Bay Marathon, I had high expectations. I set my PR back in 2009 in Chicago at 3:26. That was only my second marathon and that day we were fortunate enough to have temperatures in the 30s and 40s. All the other marathons I’ve run to date have been in the 70s or 80s. I struggled through two marathons in 2010 and realized I had to start training smarter. I had always been one to follow the “just get out there and run” philosophy. I would often start training runs without an idea of how far or fast I would go and would just see what happened. Sometimes I had poor runs but I’d try to make up for with an extra hard run the next time. The problem with this method is that I wasn’t optimizing my training runs for optimum value and I started allowing myself to get a little lazy with too many off days and too many shorter runs.

For Chicago 2011, I decided to finally follow a schedule and picked one of the Hal Higdon ones that are available on the Internet. I followed it religiously. I ended up recording a time

3:28 in 80 degree weather. Although not my best time, I consider it my best race considering the temperature. However, I faded significantly in the end (as I’d done in every marathon) and was disappointed that following the program didn’t get me the results I wanted. I was on board with following an expert’s schedule but just not Higdon’s. I felt his schedule called for too many long, slow runs resulting in me being unable to maintain the faster marathon pace for the duration.

When planning a spring 2012 marathon, I got some good advice from Gruecd in this thread to check out the Pfitzinger book and the Pfitzinger schedules. When I read through the book, I was sold. I particularly liked that his schedules had several long runs with significant marathon pace portions. For instance, I followed the 18 week, up to 55 mile schedule and it had runs of 13 with 8 at MP, 16/10, 16/12 and 18/14. This was exactly what I felt I needed!

So I picked the Green Bay Marathon, and started this year’s training. Initially I had two goals: set a PR and have the stamina to have a relatively consistent pace throughout -- no more significant fades at the end. I also had a strong desire to qualify for Boston (needing a 3:15 for my age group) but felt that that might be a bit too ambitious. I would save that for Chicago 2012 if I accomplished my other goals this time. In addition to the new program, I also decided to heart rate train and actually wear my monitor which I had done sparingly previously.

Training went wonderfully and an amazingly mild Chicago winter certainly helped. I only underperformed on a few of the runs and felt that I made up for those by either stretching things out a bit on other runs or picking up the pace. My heart rate was always fine. It would be in the low 140s on long-runs and rarely get over 160 on faster runs. In fact, things were going so well, I bumped up my pace on all my runs since my heart rate was telling me I wasn’t pushing too hard. I started doing long runs between 7:45 and 8:00 minutes per mile and jumped up to around 7:15-7:25 for marathon pace runs. Basically, I ended up training for a Boston qualifying time and decided I’d go for it weather permitting. There was no doubt that I was in the best shape of my life and more than ready for this race.

Fast forward to today. With the hot weather, I initially decided to scrap the Boston qualifying pursuit and just go with my original goals -- set a PR and finish strong. Unfortunately I got little sleep, maybe 2 hours a best. I have always had problems sleeping in strange beds and there are always a lot of unusual noises in hotels. Of course, being anxious and nervous about the temperature didn’t help. I was wearing my 2011 Chicago Marathon shirt. A runner mentioned to me that it shouldn’t be as hot today as it was in Chicago. That was really the perfect thing for me to hear and it raised my confidence. Anyway, I knew I’d set a PR easily with miles in the upper 7:30s, so that was what the plan was.

I’ll post my splits from my Garmin. My Garmin was measuring short though (I think my 305 isn’t cutting it any longer) so I ran some of these miles a few seconds or so slower in reality. Keep in mind a 3:15 Boston qualifying time averages 7:26 per mile.

1. 7:27

2. 7:14

At this point I knew was going too fast and told myself to slow down. However, I was pleased that all the aches and pains I get in my Achilles, feet, hips and knees were mild.

3. 7:14

4. 7:23

OK, I really, really need to slow down. I’m going way too fast.

5. 7:29

6. 7:29

7. 7:35

This was much closer to my planned pace. However, I remember a downhill stretch after this when my runner’s high really started kicking in. I often get a high around this point in a run and I just felt fantastic. “#### it!” I told myself, “I’m shooting for Boston!”

8. 7:21

9. 7:17

10. 7:22

11. 7: 25

12. 7:08

The Green Bay Marathon and Half Marathon runs together through mile 12. This was a new experience for me. I can be a highly competitive person and I remember picking up the pace because some half marathoners started picking up the pace to finish strong. Yes, stupid, I know.

13. 7:13

“Officially” I finished the first ½ in 1:37:16 from the text messages those tracking me received. At this point I’m ahead of Boston pace but only by a little. I remember being surprised at how well I felt.

14. 7:25

15. 7:28

16. 7:21

I think it was this mile that I caught up to the small 3:15 pace group. I’d seen them for a few miles. I decided that I’d ride it out with them for a while but that only lasted about 30 seconds. I was still feeling strong and felt I could run a little faster.

17. 7:20

18. 7:22

19. 7:26

20 7:20

From text messages, I know I finished 20 at 2:28:19 which is a 7:25 pace. I was starting to tire significantly and the heat was tough. I knew keeping this pace would be grueling but I hoped I could manage. I keep thinking about various points on my normal training runs trying to keep in context how “short” 6 more miles were.

21 7:19

Somewhere during the next mile, a cop at an intersection states the marathon has been cancelled. I think he’s joking, crack a smile, and keep running thinking nothing of it. In retrospect, I realize that someone would never make such a joke but what can I say? One’s mind is in a different pace at this point in the race.

After another ¼ mile, I reach the next water station and another official says the race is cancelled. This time I believe her. She stated that a shuttle would come and take us to the end. We could continue running but they would no longer track the times. I really felt dumbfounded. I remember stopping, starting and stopping again. I didn’t know what to do. The next thought that came to mind was to stop and save my body from the toll of the last few miles. Maybe I’ll search for another marathon to run in a month or so and stopping will help speed my recovery. As I’m sure you can imagine, at that point in the race, getting news like that is a highly emotional moment. It’s hard enough to gruel out the last 5 miles when it counts but to run just for the hell of it? If it was my first marathon and my goal was just to finish, I think I would have continued, but I wanted that 3:15. Or, if not, I wanted that official shattering of my PR. I had no doubt I could at least do that.

A guy behind me who also stopped sees some other runners continue. “Wait! We could have kept going? I only stopped because you stopped!” he tells me. I blow off the blame as I’m feeling as angry and upset as he is and know where it’s coming from. I mention that I stopped to save my body for another shot. He mentions that the only upcoming marathon in the area that he knows is Duluth (Minnesota?) and that it doesn’t get as warm there. Kinda far for me but it’s a possibility.

I wait for the shuttle that is suppose to come. I must have waited 20 minutes then ask a medical person if she know when it’s coming. She leaves to check with someone and comes back and says she doesn’t know. I decide to walk the rest of the way back.

Honestly, I have no idea if I would have made 3:15 or not. If there is any positive to this run, however, it’s that it gives me confidence that I am certainly capable of qualifying for Boston and I now am certain I know what I have to do to accomplish this in the future. Maybe that will mean more to me in the coming days.

Please give me a moment to rant about the cancellation. From what I’ve read, medical was overwhelmed with heat related cases and couldn’t handle the numbers expected by continuing the race. Under those circumstances, they had no choice but to cancel. I fully understand this. However, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t have a beef. The heat wasn’t unexpected. The forecast called for it several days out. And 80 degree days in late May happens. What we have here, in my opinion, is piss-poor planning. I don’t know and, frankly, don’t care who is to blame. Whether it’s the city or the event coordinator or whomever. I’m a layman, of course, but I assume it’s highly predictable how many heat related issues with runners you’ll have with various weather conditions. There have been many, many marathons and half marathons run when the temperature has been in the 80s to base this on. You need to make sure you have enough medical help available. If you don’t, do something about it way before people run over 20 ####### miles. They could have cancelled the marathon yesterday and let everyone run the half. I could have PR’ed that. They could have incented people not to run at all. Maybe they should have limited the number of runners from the get-go to match the percentage they’d have to care for during adverse conditions. They could have told us early in the week that they had this problem and I could have decided to save money on the gas and hotel bill and stayed home.

Anyway, enough with the negative. I know better than to make this decision for several days, but I am considering signing up for a marathon to run in the next month. I haven’t done a search yet, but does anyone have a recommendation for one that’s not too far from Chicago? Right now I can’t imagine starting a whole new 18 week schedule for Chicago in October without clocking an official time beforehand. I know Pfitzinger is down on multiple marathoning but right now I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life and, obviously, stopped short of a 100% effort. I feel better physically tonight than I felt after marathons in the past. I think I can recover quickly and running a 3:15 in a month seems doable.

 

[Juxtatarot]

By the way, congrats to Sand, Tri-Man and other racing this weekend.

 

[tri-man 47]

Anyway, enough with the negative. I know better than to make this decision for several days, but I am considering signing up for a marathon to run in the next month. I haven’t done a search yet, but does anyone have a recommendation for one that’s not too far from Chicago? Right now I can’t imagine starting a whole new 18 week schedule for Chicago in October without clocking an official time beforehand. I know Pfitzinger is down on multiple marathoning but right now I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life and, obviously, stopped short of a 100% effort. I feel better physically tonight than I felt after marathons in the past. I think I can recover quickly and running a 3:15 in a month seems doable.

Jux - dang, you were running great ...really great. I understand your frustration. OK, from a quick look, I see the Minneapolis Marathon on 6/3. Too soon, you say? Last year, I did the Boston-Big Sur double 13 days apart. I ended up in the med tent after Boston (and matched my qualifying PR), but then set a PR by 4 1/2 minutes at Big Sur. One key, I believe - "race your way into shape." If in immediately hindsight you view GB as a fantastic training run, then you re-taper and run again in two weeks. Maybe you nail it, maybe you don't. But why waste the training, and why risk living with frustration for months to come?

 

[gruecd]

Juxtatarot - Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN. I'm doing the half. Good effort out there today. Tough break with the weather.

 

[Juxtatarot]

Anyway, enough with the negative. I know better than to make this decision for several days, but I am considering signing up for a marathon to run in the next month. I haven’t done a search yet, but does anyone have a recommendation for one that’s not too far from Chicago? Right now I can’t imagine starting a whole new 18 week schedule for Chicago in October without clocking an official time beforehand. I know Pfitzinger is down on multiple marathoning but right now I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life and, obviously, stopped short of a 100% effort. I feel better physically tonight than I felt after marathons in the past. I think I can recover quickly and running a 3:15 in a month seems doable.

Jux - dang, you were running great ...really great. I understand your frustration. OK, from a quick look, I see the Minneapolis Marathon on 6/3. Too soon, you say? Last year, I did the Boston-Big Sur double 13 days apart. I ended up in the med tent after Boston (and matched my qualifying PR), but then set a PR by 4 1/2 minutes at Big Sur. One key, I believe - "race your way into shape." If in immediately hindsight you view GB as a fantastic training run, then you re-taper and run again in two weeks. Maybe you nail it, maybe you don't. But why waste the training, and why risk living with frustration for months to come?

Thank you. I'll consider the Minneapolis Marathon. Honestly, I think I just need to decompress right now and figure things out later.

 

[gruecd]

Congrats to Ned, jb, FBG26, tri-man, and Sand. Great races by all you guys!

 

[Juxtatarot]

Juxtatarot - Grandma's Marathon in Duluth, MN. I'm doing the half. Good effort out there today. Tough break with the weather.

I don't know, I think we are both cursed with bad weather. Maybe I should stay away from you at all costs!

 

[gruecd]

Anyway, enough with the negative. I know better than to make this decision for several days, but I am considering signing up for a marathon to run in the next month. I haven’t done a search yet, but does anyone have a recommendation for one that’s not too far from Chicago? Right now I can’t imagine starting a whole new 18 week schedule for Chicago in October without clocking an official time beforehand. I know Pfitzinger is down on multiple marathoning but right now I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life and, obviously, stopped short of a 100% effort. I feel better physically tonight than I felt after marathons in the past. I think I can recover quickly and running a 3:15 in a month seems doable.

Jux - dang, you were running great ...really great. I understand your frustration. OK, from a quick look, I see the Minneapolis Marathon on 6/3. Too soon, you say? Last year, I did the Boston-Big Sur double 13 days apart. I ended up in the med tent after Boston (and matched my qualifying PR), but then set a PR by 4 1/2 minutes at Big Sur. One key, I believe - "race your way into shape." If in immediately hindsight you view GB as a fantastic training run, then you re-taper and run again in two weeks. Maybe you nail it, maybe you don't. But why waste the training, and why risk living with frustration for months to come?

Thank you. I'll consider the Minneapolis Marathon. Honestly, I think I just need to decompress right now and figure things out later.

Grandma's gives you two more weeks to recover, and it's an easier course. Weather is a crapshoot for both.

 

[Juxtatarot]

Anyway, enough with the negative. I know better than to make this decision for several days, but I am considering signing up for a marathon to run in the next month. I haven’t done a search yet, but does anyone have a recommendation for one that’s not too far from Chicago? Right now I can’t imagine starting a whole new 18 week schedule for Chicago in October without clocking an official time beforehand. I know Pfitzinger is down on multiple marathoning but right now I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life and, obviously, stopped short of a 100% effort. I feel better physically tonight than I felt after marathons in the past. I think I can recover quickly and running a 3:15 in a month seems doable.

Jux - dang, you were running great ...really great. I understand your frustration. OK, from a quick look, I see the Minneapolis Marathon on 6/3. Too soon, you say? Last year, I did the Boston-Big Sur double 13 days apart. I ended up in the med tent after Boston (and matched my qualifying PR), but then set a PR by 4 1/2 minutes at Big Sur. One key, I believe - "race your way into shape." If in immediately hindsight you view GB as a fantastic training run, then you re-taper and run again in two weeks. Maybe you nail it, maybe you don't. But why waste the training, and why risk living with frustration for months to come?

Thank you. I'll consider the Minneapolis Marathon. Honestly, I think I just need to decompress right now and figure things out later.

Grandma's gives you two more weeks to recover, and it's an easier course. Weather is a crapshoot for both.

In all seriousness, thanks. I'll consider that.

 

[Sand]

Sand -- Honestly, I can't even wrap my head aroud a 5K swim. Nice job?

Easy enough. Think about a half marathon. Then go swimming. Condolances to Jux. Holy ####, dude, with those splits I'd love to see what you can do in a 40F race.

 

[prosopis]

Nice job gutting that out in crappy temps and still pulling a 2nd in the Clydes.

 

[prosopis]

Juxt- I feel horrible for you. I would listen to Grue and Tri man, they seem to know what they are talking about.

Sucks with the race being cancelled when it was. I some what agree with you that they should have been able to handle the medical situation and the 80's does not seem to be hot enough to cancel. I suppose these races do get a lot of week end warriors who do not know what they are getting into until it is to late. That is really unfortunate for guys who have worked hard to get where they are. Like I said I would go with Tri and Grue's advice/ideas. You just had a GREAT training run and know taper for a race.

 

[tri-man 47]

Nice job gutting that out in crappy temps and still pulling a 2nd in the Clydes.

Yup, just gotta take what the conditions will give you.

 

[Ned]

Condolences to Jux. Holy ####, dude, with those splits I'd love to see what you can do in a 40F race.

Exactly what I was thinking. I'm willing to be that cancellation was more about the back of the pack runners that were going to be exposed to the heat for 5+ hours.

 

[gruecd]

Condolences to Jux. Holy ####, dude, with those splits I'd love to see what you can do in a 40F race.

Exactly what I was thinking. I'm willing to be that cancellation was more about the back of the pack runners that were going to be exposed to the heat for 5+ hours.

Yes....because all of the medical resources were already exhausted.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

Wow, Jux, that really blows. You were all set up for a dramatic last 10K, and then the rug got pulled out from under you.

 

[SteelCurtain]

Grue - great run in the heat.

Sand - you are insane.

FBG26 - thanks for the review on tough mudder. I'd like to do it at some point. I thought the Warrior Dash was way too tame. TM may be more my speed.

Jux - I'm so sorry that you had to ensure that disappointment. Congrats on a great 20 mile training run. Now go find a marathon to get that PR.

 

[comfortably numb]

Awesome job Ned, how does it feel to be 17 again????

Gru, 1:34 for a HM in 116 degree weather? My 10k was 54:54, that is insane.

Jux, tough one man

Tri/Sand awesome

FBG, We don't wanna hear a bout a group of chicks in muddy spandex without bib numbers.

 

[pmbrown_22]

Great racing guys. Sound like the weather is striking hot and we are going to be in for another rough summer of running. It will only make you stronger for the fall.

As for me, I have not been doing much running, but did manage to get in 11 yesterday. Legs felt great and if I had the time, I could have gone a lot more. It was funny but I woke up on Saturday and just felt like I should be doing 20 sometime soon. I think my body wants to be back in training mode. Unfortunately, we just bought a new house and I could be quite busy for some time. I think I am going to pick a later marathon so I can ease back into training a bit, but I am getting anxious to give it another go.

Have a great day all.

 

[Hang 10]

Is it gay (not that there's anything wrong with that) of me to want to see race pics of the runners in this thread? I have to admit, that I wouldn't mind putting a face with a with a race time.

 

[Juxtatarot]

Thanks for the support, guys.

I'm thinking about signing up for the Sunburst marathon on Saturday, June 2 in South Bend, IN. That's only a little over a 2 hour drive for me. To be honest, driving or finding a flight to MN doesn't sound too appealing. It starts at 6:00 a.m. and they're on Eastern time so that's like 5:00 for me. Sounds pretty safe to avoid the heat, right? I'll have to see if I can get the logistics (time off work Friday, etc.) to work.

So that would be a 13 day training cycle. How would you do this? I'm thinking just a couple recovery runs this week, maybe a 12 miler over the weekend, then some more recovery runs and maybe that Pfitzinger "Dress Rehearsal" run the week before the event.

 

[AcerFC]

Tough break Jux. Get em next time IMO

I did a 10 mile run on friday and felt great. Came in at 1:29 which for me is pretty great considering there were a couple of steep hills. Kept my pace under 9 for the whole time

Then I ran with my son in the jogging stroller that we got for my daughter back in 07. First time I have ever actually jogged with it. It was a bit odd to not use my arms while running but he had a good time and I got a good workout in so it was a win win.

The funny thing is that we got home and told my wife that HE was tired. 2 year olds are funny

 

[gruecd]

Is it gay (not that there's anything wrong with that) of me to want to see race pics of the runners in this thread? I have to admit, that I wouldn't mind putting a face with a with a race time.

Hang 10 - A lot of us are on Facebook. There's a link to my page in my sig.

 

[Hang 10]

Is it gay (not that there's anything wrong with that) of me to want to see race pics of the runners in this thread? I have to admit, that I wouldn't mind putting a face with a with a race time.

Hang 10 - A lot of us are on Facebook. There's a link to my page in my sig.

Maybe someone should start a footballguys runners page?

 

[gruecd]

So that would be a 13 day training cycle. How would you do this? I'm thinking just a couple recovery runs this week, maybe a 12 miler over the weekend, then some more recovery runs and maybe that Pfitzinger "Dress Rehearsal" run the week before the event.

This will be all about recovery. I'm not even sure that the 12-miler is necessary. Get a massage tomorrow or Wednesday, too.

 

[gruecd]

Is it gay (not that there's anything wrong with that) of me to want to see race pics of the runners in this thread? I have to admit, that I wouldn't mind putting a face with a with a race time.

Hang 10 - A lot of us are on Facebook. There's a link to my page in my sig.

Maybe someone should start a footballguys runners page?

We have one.

 

[Hang 10]

Is it gay (not that there's anything wrong with that) of me to want to see race pics of the runners in this thread? I have to admit, that I wouldn't mind putting a face with a with a race time.

Hang 10 - A lot of us are on Facebook. There's a link to my page in my sig.

Maybe someone should start a footballguys runners page?

We have one.

Link?

 

[AcerFC]

Speaking of facebook

Would you more more, less or evenly apt to sign up for a race that sent info to your facebook and twitter the second after you crossed the finish line

 

[gruecd]

Link?

Friend me, and I'll add you to the group when I get home tonight.