We are rapidly approaching the first goal race since this journey began. The October 3 I will help my team accomplish their goal of completing the Lewis & Clark Marathon in a time of 4 hours 15 minutes. For one of our runners it will be her first marathon! I don't know who is more excited.
For me, it will be a good chance to actually have a marathon last as long as I do. In 2007 the Chicago Marathon was cancelled (it was unseasonable hot and the organizers did not provide enough fluids) and I was pulled (literally) from the course at mile 21. In 2008 Hurricane Ike blew through St. Louis causing Lewis & Clark to be cancelled at 10 miles due to flooding and downed trees on the course. I know that Fleet Feet St Louis and in particularly Kristen will run a well organized race, so my only concern/hope is for normal early October weather.
Training could not be going better (knock wood). I have exercised good caution and followed the training regime nearly 100% and have never felt better at this time of the season. Speed-work on the track ended before Labor Day, my timed mile was short of my sub-7 goal running a 7:10. Not as fast as I was in 2007 therefore I will be considering what I did differently in 2007 to see if any change in training is needed. Nothing will change at this point I'll just make notes for next season. Also, at this point I am considering what my program will be after this marathon and before beginning training for the next. More on that later.
Last Thursday night was the first Fleet Feet Social Run, where all are welcome and we run a nice flat course. I began the run with Jennifer, another FF coach who wanted to finish the 5 miles at a sub-9 minute pace. Always game for a challenge I decided to help pace her and we came in at a 8:57 pace. Since my training schedule called for 10 miles I went out on my own for another loop and decided to see if I could maintain the pace. I finished at an overall 8:47 pace and felt wonderful. Now if I could tack on another 16.2 miles at the pace I'd be all set.
Saturday we ran Grant's Trail stepping down to 14 miles. The run was as Grant's Trail, this is the trail where in 2007 I became severely dehydrated and ended up in the ER. Today was the first time I have returned in an organized training run. Fortunately, there was no repeat because; first I am a smarter runner and second it was much cooler today.
Monday the training schedule called for 5 miles at an easy pace. At this stage of training 5 easy just doesn't seem like enough. It is important to bear in mind that there is a reason for all things. We will be running our "graduation" run Saturday which will be close to 21 miles so a bit of extra rest is called for. I am hoping that my training team will heed our warnings not to overdo mileage this week.
Tonight the schedule calls for 8 miles at race pace in order to get our legs accustomed to a higher turnover rate. My legs are a bit tired today so I plan on driving out to Chesterfield Bottoms and running on the level instead of climbing the usual hills.
More after the graduation run.
Eric
aka RunGrampyRun
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