Yes. I admit it. I have already started checking accuweather.com for the extended forecast. I am even checking Grand Rapids weather in case it is better there and I decide last minute to cut 3 hours off my travel time. And so my taper madness begins....This morning, as I was running in the dark I am so getting used to, I started thinking about race day. I began envisioning a great race performance. Even a PR despite relatively lax training. And then I was reminded of last weekend (cue: oh yeah, reality) wherein several of my friends (virtual and real) ran 26.2. Disappointingly enough, many of them, if not most of them, had tough races despite pretty decent weather. It is a reminder that this distance can kick your @ss for a variety of reasons no matter how prepared you show up on race day. It even seems that the harder you work (and the more marathons/racing you have logged), the more likely for failure may occur due to illness, injury or sheer disappointment because you have invested so much of yourself in this one day and have set very specific goals down to the minutes if not seconds.
But of course I am not one to dwell on the negatives. I know anything can happen. I may get hit by a bus tomorrow, but that is not going to stop me from crossing the street. So on to the analysis: how prepared am I? I have absolutely no idea. I have not raced much at all this summer, so I have not gotten the nice "tune-ups" I have grown accustomed to. I think I could easily hit 3:40 if everything goes right. But 3:30 seems as though it may be a a stretch. Is it? I'm just not sure. I'd hate to start out way too slow. But even more I would hate to bomb. I have run 6 marathons. In 4 I was able to negative split. Those were awesome. The 2 I did not were red-headed stepchildren of hell. Seriously.
So what does this mean? I don't know. But I did have a good run this morning. I ran 7 at an 8:31 pace. Most of it was around 8:40s, but I threw some striders in at the end to shake the dust off.
Tomorrow I have a decent workout - 3x1600 at 5K pace. Always a tough one, but one I have typically finished feeling good about.
Friday night I am going to a charity function and am lucky enough to have the opportunity to
listen to Dick Hoyt as the keynote speaker. I have always been inspired by Dick and Rick Hoyt. I met Dick briefly at Boston 07. Rick was not there because he was undergoing a surgical procedure. But Friday they will both be in Oconomoc, Wisconsin and I am greatly looking forward to the event. It should be just the right inspiration one week out from race day.I am also running a 5K for literacy on Sunday. I'm not sure if I will race or coast. It will be one of those "play it by ear" type of deals.
And there it is.... Only 11 more days of obsessing about 26.2 miles of unknown that lie ahead.
2 comments:
It's taper madness time indeed. I thought about that when I saw all the people out on Sunday, who are undoubtedly preparing for Marine Corps(10/26). With my late November marathon, it feels like when I was on quarters and everybody else was on semesters.
We get into trouble when our expectations don't match reality. I think you've got a good grasp on both. Also, with six marathons under your belt, I'm confident you know what too fast feels like and won't bomb.
The marathon will, as you say, absolutely kick your @ss. It's just another thing altogether from shorter distances. You carefully avoid oxgyen debt for 20 miles and then try and survive 10k of muscle damage, hoping you didn't use too much gas in the first 20. Sounds like a fun Sunday!
You know you're well-prepared and it sounds like you're in a great frame of mind. Enjoy the taper and the anticipation and the good karma.
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