re: Official Running Log/Marathon Training Thread

Whats the challenge? I'm a "flatlander" and I think we're in the same age group, 45-49.

Congrats on the PR!

I'm 36, so I guess 35-39

I've been mostly between 35-45 during this training block. I'm coming off another marathon in early Nov, so the fitness was established. I wanted to focus more on the planned pace and sustaining it during this block.

Thanks!

Going into Houston, I had ran NYC back in early Nov. That training block consisted of more longer runs as opposed to building to ~20 and then backing off. The long runs started in early August @ 16, then went 18, 20, 9, 17, 19, 18, 17,8, 13, 17, 12. The point was get me more comfortable with the mileage. Weekly average mileage was 40-45. We built in pacing intervals during those runs, but honestly I never really pushed myself to the limit or effort I should have.

After NYC and some reflection (here and with my coach), we decided the plan for Houston was to focus more on the pace and effort than the miles. My longest run this block was 17 miles, but within that run, I had ~2hrs of GMP or faster. The other runs had GMP or faster sprinkled in but the overall mileage was lower (~14mi each). We also threw in longer mid week runs with speed efforts beyond GMP. I had a 7, 11, 8, and 13.5 in the middle of the week to help with speed and volume. We really wanted to hammer in the pace and it really helped.

This was a unique block as you mentioned because the base was there, I just needed to sharpen around the edges and that's what we did. As we discussed once, I took my 17mi run and went as hard as I could to simulate the effort.

Since I've been running marathons my time has gone from:
2019 - 4:37
2020 - 4:05
Hired Coach
2021 - 4:01
2022 - 3:52, 4:05
2023 - 3:42

I saw people struggling but after NYC and Chicago last year, I thought this was another day at the office. I didn’t really feel the heat until they corralled us at the end leading into the Convention Center.

Much better weather conditions and you might be sub 3:30.

quote:

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I think the plan right now is to find a half marathon that I can train for and try to go sub 1:30. After that put all my effort into one marathon (most likely Houston again) and push for sub 3:30.

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This is a good plan and exactly what I did last year. Did 1:30 in Jan & 3:28 in Mar.

I got a chest strap HR monitor. Still testing out it vs watch but so far the results appear to be more in line with what I'd expect based on pace and perceived effort during runs. As people stated the watch tends to lock onto cadance and just stay constant were as the strap you can pin point the fluctuations in relation to pace and or hills.

similar pace and effort runs, the watch recorded 175 avg and strap recorded 150. today's 15 miler at 7:15 avg with minor gain of 500' strap recorded 160avg. No fluid or fuel during run.

When you link strap to watch the built in watch monitor doesn't record, so Once i have easy way to carry phone I'll get both to record during the same run and compare.

Y’all have any shin splint tricks? This shite is killing me and it’s been four or five days since I last ran.

To capture HR from both the watch and the strap.

When i link my srap to my garmin, it no longer records the internal HR monitor.

I can only compare both when I'm on the treadmill and have my strap linked to my phone.

I don't carry my phone running on the road so I can't get both readings.