DAY ONE OF MARATHON TRAINING

I AM SO FREAKIN EXCITED.  I think I have the ability to run a much faster marathon than last time (PR of 4:25 at Marine Corps, 2002) and I am really enjoying running right now.  My club's volunteer coach is really nice (and great at making the workouts) and he keeps saying congratulations on my quick 1600.  He knows I'm new to track races and that I surprised myself with my time at the race.  His enthusiasm is contagious.  I feel confident.

I think the track workouts are really helping.  I am already doing my 200s 3-4 seconds faster than a month ago.  I feel so great on the 200s nowadays.  I think I may have more fast twitch muscles than I originally thought :)  I LIKE running fast.  Tonight's workout was two sets of 1x1000, 2x800, and 2x200.  I was supposed to be doing interval pace and repeat pace for various portions of the workout but i honestly could not concern myself with such things (nor do I know exactly what those paces are respectively though I could have looked them up on my coach's chart-he has them written down for all of us).  I was light headed (did I eat enough today?) and simultaneously nauseous.  I considered quitting the workout or doing an easier workout (there are a few variations based on how fast you are) multiple times.  But I finished and I'm proud of that.  I just gave a good hard effort when I was supposed to be running fast without any regard for a specific goal pace.  I can only keep track of so many variables!!  Plus, sometimes I was running in a group (or leading a group or getting dropped from a group) and it really was just about pushing myself.  I don't care about the exact splits.  I'm aiming to be faster and have fun (and being faster is fun :) not go to the Olympics.

If I can stay healthy I think I'll PR in the fall even if I don't BQ.  PLUS, I'm not going to forget how amazing it will be to run my first marathon in 7 years.  That might have to be enough and that will be a gift too.  I actually haven't told anyone in my family that I'm training for a marathon.  They'll think it's a bad idea b/c of my inuryness.  Also, I'm embarrassed about how many DNSs I've had.  I'm going to wait until very close to race day or even post-race to let them know.  They might figure it out when I head out for a 13 mile run the day of my brother's wedding, but that's not TOO long of a run...and I am staying at a different hotel than my parents (it's the less nice but more fun hotel with the younger crowd!).  But I probably will want to run some of those miles with my Dad.  We'll see.  That's in a few months.  I'm sure it will work itself out.

In FUN news, a whole bunch of people from my running club will be at the same marathon as me.  That's really nice just b/c people will be there that I know.  This race is a big deal for me and it will nice to share it with other people and not be there by myself :) and I hope to offer them the same support in return.

Comments

[Stuart]

Speed work is hard but very rewarding, you're gonna cream that 4:25 PB for sure!

[Beth]

Yeah!! I'm so excited that YOU are so excited about running. :) Keep up the great work. That PR is going DOWN!

[Danielle in Iowa]

I think keeping the fact you are running a marathon secret from the fam will be a challenge... Eh, they'll think you're crazy, but they still love you anyway :-)