How is it possible that I finished up an easy week with an off day and I still felt completely fatigued? Maybe it's just my body sensing that it's about to get walloped with another couple of 70+ mile weeks. Sometimes I think that just the idea the mileage is nearly as exhausting as actually doing it.
Though I might be forgiven for finding today challenging as I tackled 18 miles in the warmth of a freakishly balmy February morning, doing the last 4 in (almost) marathon pace, partly through the challenging harlem hills.
I'm trying to integrate more speed into my workouts, particularly marathon specific strategies that integrate marathon pace tempo elements into distance runs. A number of bloggers follow the training advice of Tinman, so I've been checking out his site and some of the advice and ideas that lie therein.
I've also been considering some other options besides Boston as my significant other has opted not to run it this year. I've still got incredible support and encouragement as far as my race goes, even more actually since I'll have the best possible cheerleader for the event, but since I've already run it a couple of times and housing/transportation costs are likely to be high, I figure I should at least consider other races and training scenarios.
The St. Louis Marathon would be a neat one to do, to sort of introduce myself to the running scene out there before I move, but it falls two weeks earlier than Boston and therefore gives me two fewer weeks to train. I'm already feeling a little behind the curve as compared to where I was before Columbus, so I'm reluctant to give up those 15 days of potential workouts.
On the other side of April 22nd is the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon a week after Boston, which would be personally meaningful since I was born in Louisville and have always been a little horse crazy. The drawbacks however are that it's a course of rolling hills, only had 250 women in its marathon field and has a little bit greater potential to be on the warm, muggy side.
Also an option is to not run a marathon at all this year and focus on the shorter distances. I'm feeling a little flush right now after winning $100 in the half a couple of weeks ago and can't help but think it would be fun to do that again, but now that other local runners know there's money offered in these races, that might become a little more challenging. (It doesn't seem to have been well publicized before.)
At any rate, I have about a week left to make up my mind and either register for Boston or not as the entry fee goes up quite a bit on March 1st.
Comments (8)
Definitely consider Cleveland. The course is decent with the biggest drawback being the potential for a headwind from miles 20-24. The prize money is decent and well within your reach. It's on May 18, so that gives you more time. And you'd have a pretty nice support crew if I do say so myself!
Alternatively, I've heard really good things about Cincinnati's marathon in early May.
Posted by Salty | February 19, 2008 8:27 AM
Posted on February 19, 2008 08:27
St. Louis is hilly--not unfair, but definitely not easy. And Kentucky Derby is a good race, but the weather is crap shoot: it's hot and that can play havoc.
Have you thought about maybe doing a Northern early summer one, such as Grandma's?
Posted by tuscaloosarunner | February 19, 2008 1:17 PM
Posted on February 19, 2008 13:17
I worried that the Ohio C-city races might just be so late that weather would become really risky, but I will take a closer look at both of those.
I did Grandma's a couple of years ago and loved it, but I have a reunion to attend the weekend before and a wedding to attend that weekend, so there's no way it will fit into the schedule this year.
Posted by chelle | February 19, 2008 9:19 PM
Posted on February 19, 2008 21:19
How about Vermont City...it's late May, but the weather is generally good. It's a great race too!
Posted by whaler | February 20, 2008 12:30 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 12:30
I did Vermont City in...1999, I think. I really liked it, though I did it a month and a half after another marathon, so it definitely wasn't a PR. Burlington has a lot of happy memories for me, but I think I'm more inclined to try a race I haven't done before if I don't do Boston. And the money and flat course in Cleveland are tempting too.
Though as I ponder all the possibilities, I'm realizing that I'm quite curious how I'd do on the Boston course with and actual training strategy behind me. That would be a first for me. My old PR there was a 3:09 on what was the most training I'd ever done before a marathon. I think I peaked at 60 miles a week that time!
Posted by chelle | February 20, 2008 12:53 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 12:53
I vote for Boston :-)
And you get the chance to spectate the oly trials.
Posted by Alejandro | February 20, 2008 6:53 PM
Posted on February 20, 2008 18:53
that's a tough call. if you've already done Boston and you plan to move to St. Louis (where you'll probably to the STL Marathon down the road), the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon looks like a good one to consider...
anyway, take that for what it's worth. love the blog, btw!
Posted by scarinzic | February 21, 2008 10:35 AM
Posted on February 21, 2008 10:35
Since we're all being homers about this, can I suggest Ottawa in late May? In fact, I'm writing this from Ottawa.
I don't like St. Louis because the extra 2 weeks of training would be very useful. If it comes down to Louisville or Boston, I'd do Boston.
Posted by Adeel | February 22, 2008 8:03 AM
Posted on February 22, 2008 08:03