Less Than 10 Weeks To Go... Already?!?

Good morning!

I hope everybody is starting to feel good about their fitness as it is not too early to think about that impending fall marathon. I am certainly ready to amp up the training and this morning was the first of my 3 planned 18 mile trial runs. I have come up with the idea of making these as race specific as possible in terms of pacing. My idea is to take the first run about 15 to 20 seconds slower than planned race pace and lower it with each consecutive run until I get to planned race pace which should be right around 6:40 per mile. I knew today would be a struggle as I am coming off a 74 mile week and a 7 week average of 67 miles a week. But with perfect temps and a bright sunny morning, I was excited to give it a shot at a planned sub 2:06 18 miles.

I started the run this morning a little after 7:15am and the first mile went by at a comfortable 7:10 pace. From there, I pushed down into the 6:50s for a couple miles and then hit the hills. The largest hill is about 75 feet with a fairly steep grade. Not too much trouble and then back down the other side at a nice 6:40 pace. Even got up on my toes for a short bit. Fortunately, the miles seemed to go by relatively easily and I was soon heading home with the wind at my back. Miles 12 through 14 reflected that as they were in the mid 6:40s without too much of a push. I payed for my budding confidence that things were going well on miles 15
through 17, but still managed to stay in the low 6:50s. Mile 18 was a little quicker at 6:41as I got an adrenaline rush from such a beautiful morning and a successful 18 miler. Total time: 2:04:38 for 18 miles.

I've been more than a little disappointed with the fact that I haven't had a new PR in the marathon in almost 2 years. But I am bound and determined to do better in this next race. I am quite certain that there will be nobody at my level as a runner that trains any harder or puts more cognitive energy into achieving their goals. I also realize that I am pushing against the limitations I have physically and age wise as well. It should make for an interesting Toronto experience.

How are all of you doing with your running? Any takers yet on meeting me in Toronto for what I think is one of the better marathon venues for a fast time? Any advice for something I should be doing differently that is going to make a difference on race day? Am I just plain nuts? I'll answer that last one myself as it is undoubtedly YES!

Take care and as always RUN WELL AND WITH JOY IN YOUR HEART!

07/19/09 07:21 AM
Distance: 18.00 miles
Time: 2:04:38
Speed: 8.7 mph
Pace: 6' 55 min/mile

1 7' 10 +0' 15 -16 ft
2 6' 54 -0' 01 -13 ft
3 6' 50 -0' 05 -3 ft
4 6' 54 -0' 01 -6 ft
5 7' 04 +0' 09 +43 ft
6 7' 16 +0' 21 +89 ft
7 6' 40 -0' 15 -89 ft
8 7' 00 +0' 05 -36 ft
9 6' 57 +0' 02 +6 ft
10 6' 54 -0' 01 +16 ft
11 6' 58 +0' 03 -17 ft
12 6' 49 -0' 06 +4 ft
13 6' 47 -0' 08 -6 ft
14 6' 44 -0' 11 -7 ft
15 6' 51 -0' 04 0 ft
16 6' 52 -0' 03 +4 ft
17 6' 54 -0' 01 +13 ft
18 6' 41 -0' 14 +19 ft