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December 29, 2004

Back to Basics

Let me preface this entry by stating that I am *not* backpedaling from a sub-3 hour marathon goal. It's amazing how that 3-hr mark has come to define this whole training cycle. I need to get back to what I had planned for this cycle when I very first started back in June: I wanted to run more than I had ever run before and train the best I knew how, without excuses, for this marathon. I wanted to give myself the opportunity to run the best marathon I was capable of running. The three-hour mark was just an extension of that, really. A thought that maybe if I did all those things and ran the best marathon I had in me I could go under three hours and that would be icing on the cake.

One of the things I know about my running is that a "goal time" has been the root of each of my marathon disasters. My big breakthrough races have been when I didn't have a clue as to what I could do and I just ran, or I was trained way beyond an old goal and hadn't set a new one and just ran. After running a 4:08 first marathon I came back for my second one and ran a surprise 3:42. Then I tried to qualify for Boston (I needed two minutes!) and ran the next two marathons in the 3:50s. When I finally did qualify I did it easily, with 5 minutes to spare. I probably could have gone faster; later that year I completely surprised myself with a 3:20. And then I chose 3:15 as a goal, which I chased through three crash and burn marathons (one as bad as 3:56.) I finally got it on the fourth try, but I was trained way past 3:15 by then (and ended up with the 3:10.)

Another thing I know about my running is that when I'm supposed to run hard I run hard and don't slack off. But trying to run a certain pace or hit certain splits stresses me out. And as I've seen lately, when I don't run the goal pace or hit the splits it wreaks havoc on my mental state. I'd rather just run hard and see what I come up with rather than start a workout knowing what I'm supposed to do time-wise. What's more important is what I'm supposed to be doing effort-wise.

I know these things, yet I've let these goal paces and splits become the focus of what I'm doing. As of today I'm going to stick with what I know works for me: running by effort and listening to my body rather than focusing on my watch. I'm going to get in my workouts and make sure I do them right effort-wise and distance-wise. I'll still time certain workouts, but I'll use it more as feedback on my effort rather than letting it dictate my effort.

And I'm going to try to remember to run my marathon this way. I'll run hard at the half in Houston in two weeks, look at the time and the times of my other races this year, and get an idea of what's realistic for the marathon. But then on marathon day I'll just run hard, taking my cues from how I feel rather than from the clock. I'll run faster when it feels right and I'll hang tight and grit my teeth when it doesn't. And if it gets later in the race and I still feel good and I have a shot at a 2:59:59 I'll go for it.

I won't let the clock dictate my running. I don't run well that way.

Posted by jenandmats at December 29, 2004 7:09 PM

Comments

I think this is dead on. You have a zillion times more marathon experience than I do, but came to similar conclusions after my last one. (Like, if I accidentally run a 7:10 for my 14th mile, that doesn't mean I should pick up the pace and make sure I'm at 6:50 on the next one, it just means that's what I felt like running for that mile. I wish I had listened to my body more in my last marathon, rather than trying to run 7:00 pace or faster.)

I'm the same way with workouts. I stress a little when I'm supposed to hit a certain time, and I always feel like I need to run that time _or faster_. It's SO much more natural to run at a certain effort and see what time comes out of that.

Thanks for reminding me of this - I'll have to re-read this entry before I run my next marathon!

Posted by: Alison at December 29, 2004 9:02 PM

Thank you! As runners we all tend to do some of that obsessing-type stuff. My best races as well, were run without a real "goal" time, but by running hard and consistent. Getting too hung up on pace and a specific goal has a tendency to spell disaster.

I may have to bookmark this entry for future referenece for myself to read before races. You are exactly on the mark! Good luck in finishing your training cycle and reap the rewards in Austin!

Blondie

Posted by: Blondie at December 30, 2004 11:00 AM

Ditto what Alison and Blondie say! I think we all stress ourselves out about goal times and mile splits; it's our nature. :) But you're right - running based on how my body feels and HAVING FUN has always resulted in my best races. Thanks for a great read. (BTW, I think you can do it!)

Posted by: Leilani at December 30, 2004 4:50 PM

Jen, Congrats on riding through the gammut of emotions that is marathon training (especially when you have your sights set on an amazing, amazing goal), and emerging with the wisdom of this entry. I have much to learn from wise women like you! (Holy cow! I had no idea you'd run so many marathons!) I think in this way you are going to surprise the heck outta yourself in February, and I can't wait to see you're face at the finish line (Because by the time I get there, you'll be resting pleasantly and the physical pain of sub-3 will have worn off.)!

Posted by: Meghan at December 30, 2004 6:27 PM

As everyone else said, you certainly hit the nail on the head! Although I wouldn't be able to write it down as nicely as you, I can identify with every single thing you talked about! Keep up the great training and have fun!

Posted by: Beth at December 30, 2004 6:43 PM

Thanks for the comments, guys. I actually owe Andy a big "thanks" for reminding me of this on Monday night while we were running. It was a timely reminder!

Posted by: jenandmats at December 30, 2004 9:09 PM

Jen, I am so glad you have identified this step in your training/racing progress. It sounds like you know what you need to do. When you are really fit and have been training hard your body will automatically tell you what to do. It will be a rhythm and just come to you naturally. As George Sheehan says, "There is no substitute for learning to live in our bodies. All the tests and all the machines in the world will fail if we do not first become good animals." I think as your training is more serious and focused you become a better animal and can understand and know how to relate to your body on a deeper level and things just seem to click, as they did for you when you ran your 3.10 marathon. I know this will happen for you when you go for your sub 3 hour marathon. I hope you find a great rhythm at the Houston marathon!

Posted by: Mary at December 31, 2004 9:37 AM