And my opinion is as follows:
meh.
:)
After running Green Bay and having a very successful first marathon, I caught the marathon fever (that's an understatement) and definitely the BQ bug. I signed up for Vegas almost immediately and had a sub-4 hour finish in mind. I thought a 3:50 would be attainable for Spring 2011 and Fall of 2011 would be my first attempt at the BIG BQ [insert thunder rumbling and lightning bolts here.....]. Obviously Vegas didn't turn out as I wanted to, and my confidence was shaken (but not daily...because I am not being effed over by Cecelia...).
(Source)
I've recently done some revamping of my race goals and running goals in general. In Fargo, I will run a sub-4 marathon. Will it be just under or will it be a low 3:50? I dunno. After that I'm going to take a little break from marathons and focus on my quicks yo. In case you're new in these parts, I like to run fast! I was a sprinter for goodness gracious sake. Why I feel the need to kill myself over the marathon is beyond me. This fall, instead of training for a marathon that will inevitably end up in a 90+ degree day causing me to die and be angry for wasting 2 1/2 months of training, I'm instead going to try to knock out a killer --and I mean KILLER-- half marathon PR. I love half marathons. They're short enough that you can run them with some speed, they're long enough that you feel like a B.A. for training for and completing them, and they're gentle enough (compared to the marathon) to have a relatively short rebound to the next one.
The bonus of training for half marathons is that my speed work will still be speedy so I can feel confident throwing myself in to some 5k and 10k (yes! I might finally run a 10k!) races without being worried I'll suck it up or break myself from running so g.d. slow from marathon training.
The best part is, by not focusing on the g.d. marathon, I'll want to run one oh so bad. And I will have gotten faster in the meantime.... and then that pesky BQ
So yeah... my thoughts on the changes are meh... probably because it doesn't affect me right now. And by the time it will affect me, it won't matter anymore.... (hopefully). :)
I pretty much could have written this. Half marathons FTW!
ReplyDeleteYes, you should run a 10k.
ReplyDeleteBecause it's weird to have run two marathons but never a 10k.
And if you're up for it, COME TO UTICA FOR THE BOILERMAKER AND RUN A 15KKKKKKKK.
(Actually, don't b/c airfare from you to CNY would be absurd. Unless you get a private jet or something, in which case pick me up and let's go somewhere tropical.)
Yes, you should run a 10k.
ReplyDeleteBecause it's weird to have run two marathons but never a 10k.
And if you're up for it, COME TO UTICA FOR THE BOILERMAKER AND RUN A 15KKKKKKKK.
(Actually, don't b/c airfare from you to CNY would be absurd. Unless you get a private jet or something, in which case pick me up and let's go somewhere tropical.)
YES, I hate the buildup of training only to have your race day dictated by some sort of luck! Though I still think that in my case, I can eke out a few more minutes PR based on my existing training... just always hanging on the the "right" conditions.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I go back and forth about trying to train uber hard for a good marathon...just to know I could have one bad day and have "wasted" 4 mos.
ReplyDeleteI'm all for half-marathons too! You dont have the same "i-can't-walk-down-stairs" feeling that you get after the marathon.
A HIMYM reference and Simon and Garfunkle reference all rolled into one! Pure awesomeness! And I wasn't close to a BQ yet with the old times so I probably won't care until I break the old qualifying time and miss the new one by seconds and I find myself cursing out loud in public. Probably in front a a group of school children. and a church. or something like that. Because that would be my luck.
ReplyDeleteI like your take on this. My thoughts are similar ( other than I'm slower than you and still have yet to run a marathon...)
ReplyDeleteLove the Cecilia reference; perfectly placed :-)
Yeah I feel like the women's new qual times are ok but I feel bad for the men. A lot of men will never be able to run those times and qualify.
ReplyDeleteI love your attitude about the whole BAA. And I totally agree with you on the half marathon races. They are challenging enough, but you're not killing yourself like a marathon. You have what it takes to run a sub 4 marathon and I believe you can do it. Your time will come. Maybe one day I can too. Good luck on Fargo training! I'm sure it feels good to be training again (-minus the star ninja death flu). You got this!
ReplyDelete-dom
2011 is the year for 1/2s! Seriously, it's so much more relaxing/exciting to focus on a half and know that your schedule can have a little wiggle room because you don't have 20 miler looming! And I agree with your mentality 110% - it's the perfect training to amp up the speed, and then mentally let you rest until you're ready for another 26.2....whenever it comes :)
ReplyDeleteAnd you'll come run a half marathon in NYC......perfectttttt.
ReplyDelete