For the very first time, I'm actually stoked to do this race! Yeah, I ran a long and hard race less than two weeks ago, but besides a little residual fatigue, I feel good... really, really good...
And fast.
This is a totally new concept and experience for me. As I sit here, I'm full of confidence and mentally prepared to run low-6 minute miles for an entire marathon. Wait, I had to just re-read that... I'm having a hard time believing what I just wrote and that I honestly think I can go sub-2:50 (or faster). I say this because less than two years ago, I had already run numerous marathons in an attempt to just qualify for Boston, all of which had been failures from a time perspective. (My first 6 or 7 road marathons where all between 3:15 and 3:35.)
And now, having only run one road marathon per year the last two years, I've managed to shave 10 minutes off my PR at each, putting my current best at 2:55. It's hard to quantify what finally clicked, but it's an exhilarating feeling to have finally gotten to this point. Surely, it's just strength and consistency that did it.
Anyway, for the sake of making me accountable, I'm going to show some cards and mention some of my goals/predictions.
- D-Goal: Just Finish
- C-Goal: Sub-2:55 (new PR)
- B-Goal: Sub-2:53 (JT's PR and lots of smack-talking rights)
- A-Goal: 2:45-2:47
Sub-2:46 also has a nice ring to it since it's the women's qualifying standard for the Olympic Trials, and Karl Meltzer did think I was a woman going into Hardrock last summer, so why not? This will be another goal in the back of my mind.
Oh, and Andy, who clearly has more confidence in me than I do, thinks I'll break 2:40. He's a good friend, but he obviously needs to get off the LSD. No offense.
This should be fun. At the very least, I like my chances of breaking the 'Skinny Guy with Cystic Fibrosis and Gout' World Record...
11 comments:
I am voting for either options B or A. Have a great run Brooks!
I peeled off 16 minutes from my PR going there. This was 6 months later after one 16 week training cycle. There was a definite sea level boost.
I was sure to go out easy based on everything I heard from the veterans. That sort of saved me. I didn't (purposely) get to even pace until mile 12 I think. The hills are nothing.
We had an awesome day in 2010. The weather there can play havoc on things though. The year before it was into the wind and rain and times fell way off.
Good luck.
Looks like a tailwind is in the card, so I'll say A goal for you. Good luck!
add mono to that list; if you're lucky.
Good luck out there brooks...I'll watch for you out there (as a spectator).
Kill it dood!
Thanks for the votes of confidence!
New goal is to als beat the one-nut-wonders' (Lance Armstrong) PR of 2:46.xx.
Also, it's shaping up to be a perfect day to run... 61 degrees with a tailwind.
Better idea: Add a costume to the mix and set the Skinny Guy with Cystic Fibrosis and Gout Running in a Superhero Costume' World Record. Let's see Sharman or Wardian touch that one!
Go get 'em. Look forward to the vomiting pic.
Good luck! A goal all the way!
2:49 and change! Perfect!
Awesome run today. Congratulations!
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