Chasing 3 Hours: Time to Shake Things Up

Chasing 3 Hours: Time to Shake Things Up: I had a good run of setting marathon PR's.  Last Sunday's 2:55:12 ended a streak of 10 consecutive PR's, going back to 2009.  No...

Time to Shake Things Up

I had a good run of setting marathon PR's.  Last Sunday's 2:55:12 ended a streak of 10 consecutive PR's, going back to 2009.  Now granted, the streak started with 3 epic meltdowns, when my quest for sub 3 was in its infancy, but they are all PR's nonetheless. The time progression looks like this: 3:58, 3:47, 3:29, 3:17, 3:12, 3:02, 2:58, 2:56, 2:54:59 and 2:53:59.  Now, lets  start by saying, that I don't think the end of my marathon PR's is over, it might be close, but it ain't over.  However, there are are a few factors in the coming year that will change my usual pattern from the past few years.

First, I will be racing a spring marathon.  I have limited myself over the past few years to one marathon per year, and that has been Twin Cities.  Because I am racing Boston this year, I may take a one year break from Twin Cities.

Second, in June, I enter a new age group.  Don't get me wrong, the 55 to 59 bracket is still crazy competitive, but if I can maintain my fitness and stay healthy, I can do some AG placing in some of the shorter stuff.

Lastly, despite a pretty good marathon last week, my legs feel dead and mentally I am not where I want to be.  Being stuck in a rut is no fun and this is supposed to fun, right?  Definitely feels like time to blow up the old way of doing things. In fact, I feel better already!

So the new pattern will look something like this.  I plan on only "running when I feel like it" in October. November and December will be a light mileage buildup with some mile specific training, to ready myself for the Meet of the Miles.  January to April will be Boston Marathon training cycle followed by a couple of months of easy running.  Probably do the traditional USATF and Grand Prix races with my fall goal race being the TC 10-mile.

So, the focus will be Boston in the spring, followed by a training approach which will focus less on high mileage/endurance and more towards overall fitness.  Work on strength and speed.  Honestly, I think I have maxed out the endurance side, and I have no interest in becoming an Ultra guy.

Anyway, I've been enjoying the time off and as I rest and feel rejuvenated, I get more excited about what lies ahead.

Happy Running!
Rick

Chasing 3 Hours: Elusive Moose Mug!

Chasing 3 Hours: Elusive Moose Mug!: It should have been easy, right?  I was another year older, so all I had to do was run the exact same time I ran last year.  Last year, I fi...

Elusive Moose Mug!

It should have been easy, right?  I was another year older, so all I had to do was run the exact same time I ran last year.  Last year, I figured I went out too fast, hitting the half at 1:25:40.  My plan this year was to go out more conservatively and have a stronger finish.  All was going according to plan, as I hit the half at 1:26:26.  In fact, I spent most of the first 13.1 miles, pulling in the reins, holding back and waiting to mile 21 to 22 when I would put the hammer down.  Miles 14 to 20 were all under goal pace of 6:38, so I was feeling pretty confident.  The hills start at 21, and I managed them pretty well.  The problem began at the end of the big hills; my hamstrings, both of them started given me trouble all along Summit Avenue, leaving me with no hammer.  The last 6 miles were a disappointing 6:45, 6:55, 6:55, 6:43, 6:41 and 6:52.  Final time 2:55:13, 1:13 short of a Moose Mug!  This darn Moose Mug is turning out to be more elusive than the goal of sub-3!

So, time to rest up, take a break, rejuvenate and look ahead for redemption at Boston in 2016!