re: Official Running Log/Marathon Training Thread

So I’m looking ahead to 2019. Is this a doable set of goals for the year?

December 8, 2018 - First Marathon

February 2019 - Mt Cheaha 50K (supposed to be one of the harder trail runs available; 8000 elevation gain)

April 2019 - Nashville Marathon (improve PR based on December performance)

October 2019 - Chicago Marathon (if I can gain entry)

Various smaller races in between but focusing training for those three.

Only one I worry about is the 50K but I really want to try a big trail race.

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That's a lot of marathons; very impressive list. Definitely doable.

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Those races are spread out enough for your body to take it,but it's the mental side for me. Staying on a plan pretty much all year runs me into the ground. I've come to the realization that September to June works for me, then I have to take some me time when it gets too hot. Stay active, but don't push myself for any goals.

That looks like an awesome list. Trying to put together my own list

May be overly optimistic, but hoping to use the Las Vegas marathon to guarantee qualify for Chicago

Want to run Mountain to Beach in May and maybe qualify for Boston...

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February 2019 - Mt Cheaha 50K (supposed to be one of the harder trail runs available; 8000 elevation gain)

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Do you need to bring a support team for these 50k races, or are there enough well supplied aid stations to get away with running them alone? I would like to run one, but couldn't depend on my wife to navigate from checkpoint to checkpoint. She still gets lost in our own town.

On a personal note, I put in 12 x 500m sprints yesterday, with 9 of the 12 being at or under 6:30/mi pace. I planned on doing 8, but I forgot to adjust down the recovery time on my watch to account for the cooler weather, and ended up leaving gas in the tank. Ran 4 more, but never was able to get to full "frick these" mode.

I've done trail races, not of the 50k variety, and time and pace didn't cross my mind until the end. Too many variables, especially if you travel to an area you don't frequent. I once ran one in in a 20k trail race in Montana in which I was completely unfamiliar with the course. The locals where running for time. I was running for pure enjoyment.

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50k is still going to hurt and most will have more elevation than road races, but I worry less about time during trail races, no matter the distance.

Not sure if that really answers your question...

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i agree with this. when i get done with a trail run, i don't really care if i look at my pace and see 10+ minute miles. my arms are flailing all over the place, i'm cutting back and forth, jumping over trees, dodging branches with my head, sloshing through water, etc. this last week i ran at Bastrop State park and i was booking it around 8:45-9:15 most of the flat areas. i went at the exact same pace through a zig zag of trees and i looked at my watch and my pace was around 11:30. i've yet to do a competitive trail race, but i've been told to enjoy the first one, don't try to win it.

just a whole different type of run.

Wasn’t his pace like 8:30 or something when he won Western States? Insane.

I’ve never really looked at them. Figure I can get pretty much all I need through Polar with my watch. I’m about tapped out as far as data I’d like to track. I already look down at my watch too much.

The inner competitor in me appreciates the effort calculator (which takes three weeks with a heart monitor to get accurate). Once you get your race time plugged in, it’s pretty good about what zones your runs are in.

I’m lucky enough and at a point in my life that 60 ain’t no thing so why not? But yeah, it’s less than I expected for paying and it doesn’t help that strava caters more to the bike crowd.