Note to self: pay more attention to your running routes when you map them out.
Wednesday morning I got up for a 7 mile run before heading to pace Wes again on the bike. The night before while watching a movie I was playing around with various courses on MapMyRun to find an out and back.
I found one that was relatively close to home, didn’t seem that bad and I was tired so I just went with it.
The first 2 miles were relatively easy. For some reason it didn’t click with me that all these down hills I was running in the beginning meant lots of uphills later. As soon as mile 2 hit it became one hill after another. I understand Virginia loves hills, and I have no problem with a few but I felt like a majority of this course was up hill.
Lesson learned. I will pay attention to elevation next time. I finished a total of 7 miles. It was a tough run, so I was glad to see home!
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right?!
In other news I think I have officially figured out my marathon training plan. I still have a bit of research to do but I am looking forward to taking that next step towards my goal.
I got a question via email on what my goal was for my upcoming marathon. That is a bit of a loaded question, so I decided that I would set up a several goals to help keep me focused.
Goal A
Finish the marathon strong, healthy and uninjured.
I have faith that this will be an easy goal to accomplish, but after dealing my injury back last September it is important for me to first and foremost stay healthy.
Goal B
A sub-4 hour marathon. This would be a significant (> 30 minutes) PR for me and I have faith that with my 10k training and my marathon training to come that this is well within my reach.
Goal C
Boston Qualify. This is what I would consider my “stretch goal.” While I do think it is possible, I don’t want to put all the pressure on myself to make it happen my first marathon back.
I would be over the moon happy if it did, but cutting over an hour off my marathon PR is a BIG task and I care more about staying healthy then pushing too hard
In the end I want to PR. After the training I have put in, I think I can aim for that. I’ll be honest, I really want to BQ. I am realistic and know that this is a stretch goal. It doesn’t mean it can’t happen, but it would have to mean that all the stars would need to align for me that day. We all know how unpredictable marathons (or any race for that matter) can be.
The key is progress. As long as I keep progressing forward in the end I will be happy.
Do you set multiple goals for yourself in races?
What is the next goal you have for yourself?
Yes! I always set multiple goals – and #1 is always finish!! (As long as it’s not causing me injury or harm). Your goals look great and I’m excited for you! Love the “every morning” quote.
Thank you Megan! 🙂 I am excited to start training!
Awesome set of goals! I have the identical set for my November marathon. Sub-4 is my main goal which is >30min PR from March, and someday BQ (<3:30 for my age group). I have been doing speed work this summer to help and I my weekly mileage is increasing now. Always focused on injury prevention after an ankle injury sidelined me for 22 days July 2013…
Good luck! I'll be cheering you on!
Thanks Greg! Good luck to you as well! Hopefully this will be a great training cycle – determined to do things right this time!
I’m so excited to follow you on your training journey! I have no doubt you’ll crush these goals, and I got butterflies in my stomach when you started talking about BQ-ing. You can TOTALLY do it! 🙂
Thanks Natalie 🙂 I sure hope so!!
That’s exciting! Your training is going so well! Cant wait to see how it goes!
Thanks! I am nervous but excited!
With my first marathon, I had three goals (which I read everywhere you aren’t suppose to make them…) my A goal was under 4:30, B was under 4:15, and C was under 4:10 even though in my head I knew I could do under 4, which I did at 3:58! I did count that last one as a stretch goal but totally within my reach. I think as you get further into your training you’ll know whether or not the BQ is a very big stretch or not. Good luck.
That is AWESOME!! I hope I have the same luck as you!
i have the same exact goals! We will have to swap tips.
Good luck!! Yes we need to!
I agree that its always great to have a few goals! I’m curious how you will train for the marathon- are you going to use paces towards a BQ or your 4 hour goal? This is something I struggle with because my marathon times are all around 4:01-4:07 but according to my other races times I should be able to run closer to a 3:35. I’m thinking for my next marathon I will just see how my runs are going and decide as the training progresses what I will aim for.
This is something my husband and I just discussed the other night actually. I am going to train to go for a BQ. As the training progresses I Should be able to tell if it is going to be in the cards for me or not, but I will train as if that is what I am going for. I always have the option to cut it back a little bit come race day!
If I’m honest with myself I usually only have one REAL goal, with the others being fall backs if something goes wrong. If I don’t reach it though I figure out steps to get there the next time.
Just based on what I’ve been following of your training, I believe if you are able to stay healthy and avoid overtraining and injury that you will have no problem getting a BQ assuming good weather, etc. It is well within your abilities to accomplish it if you treat yourself well during training. Do you have a half marathon in your plan? That will give you a better idea too!
Thanks Michele! Yes, staying healthy is KEY! I have really been focused on ALL aspects of that – even outside of running. I don’t have a half planned YET but I think that is a really good idea!
Yasso 800’s look like they are also a good way to assess time goals (as is a half). This article was just posted this week on Active.com:
http://www.active.com/running/articles/how-to-use-yasso-800s-in-your-marathon-training
I haven’t reached 10 repeats yet, but it seems that 4:00 hours may be attainable for me.
I have done Yasso’s! I think before I got injured I was up to 7-8 or so. They are HARD but I am sure will be worked into my training!
What is your BQ pace? Good luck in your training.
I would need to run a 3:35 which if I hit that RIGHT on would be an 8:12. My goal is to run 7:55-8:00 pace in order to give me a little room to be able to get into Boston.
I always set multiple goals!
I got my BQ in March (still amazed) with help of Greg McMillan’s YOU book & training plan I made off of it. His pace calculator is fantastic and free on his site. In my training, I found Yassos didn’t seem to work for me, just too painful (may try again this cycle but willing to back off) and I liked tempo and goal pace runs much better.
Now, I’m going to use his book & my training plan again to try to get faster for my October marathon.
Go for it!
Those are great goals! I love having a few goals that all build on each other so if one doesn’t happen, it’s not a total heartbreak. You can totally do it – and a BQ would be spectacular!
Those are awesome goals! I would love to BQ some day…but I think it’s a long ways away. Right now my goal is 4:20 at the end of September.
You’ll kick butt! I normally have a goal time and then my back up is finish in one piece. Lol.
a PR is my fall marathon goal too…cheers to a good training season!
Have you decided which marathon you’re going to run? I live in Greensboro and participated in the Greensboro Marathon you’re debating on doing…holy hills, but I heard they’ve change the route for this year!
I have no idea how you manage to run in that kind of temperature… I keep seeing people blogging about their hot summer runs and I’m in shock. I think the hottest it’s ever been here (in Ireland) is about 85 degrees and that would be DRAMATIC for us and the country would probably shut down. Personally anywhere around 75 and I’d be unlikely to even make it out the door…