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November 12, 2007

Last pre-marathon post

A quote from August Jen:

We have a marathon goal pace run coming up shortly, and I’m dreading it. Not because it’s going to be a tough effort, but because I feel really stupid calling whatever pace I can handle for that distance right now a “goal.” My true goal is to run as fast as I can on race day. More to the point, I kind of feel like deciding on a pace for that run that’s in line with what I have been doing lately and calling that my “goal pace” is the first step to giving in and accepting that I *am* this slow (I can’t say that I’m “out of shape” when I’ve been running as much as I have for as long as I have) and admitting that 3:30 (or even 3:20 or 3:15) is the best I can hope for at the end of this training cycle. How totally depressing. Maybe I’ll insist that we all call it something else, like “turnip pace run” or “Shirley.”

November Jen has decided she agrees with August Jen. Based on my recent race McMillan seems to think I can do a 3:15. My friend who's been following this program with me and running many of my runs with me thinks I should shoot for 3:15. Both August Jen and November Jen think 3:15 is, well ... meh.

Why not go for the p.r.? If the conditions are perfect, as they're looking to be, I'm not passing up that opportunity. I think it's the only thing I'll really be happy with. I mean, how happy can you get over "well, I ran really smart and was only five minutes slower than my p.r. after 18 long weeks of exhausting high-milage training"? I have blown up spectacularly in the past (try as early as mile 11!) and not died of total embarrassment at my slow time. The spectacular blowups were spectacularly painful, of course, but then again, so were the p.r.s.

Posted by jenandmats at November 12, 2007 8:18 PM

Comments

hi!! kick some booty!!!! go hard or go home, right??!?

Posted by: Audrey at November 12, 2007 10:52 PM

Jen- Go for it. Whatever happens, I'll be there to see it unfold. Yippee!

Posted by: Janie at November 13, 2007 6:27 AM

So, how will you feel if you go out there fishing for a PR and you blow up and you finish in like 3:20? Will that feel any (mentally) worse than running a smart 3:15? I suspect that the difference might be negligible.

If that's the case, then go for it. Go for a PR. You won't know unless you try. A well executed taper, good race day conditions, and smart confidence do good things for fit people.

Best of luck!
Meghan

Posted by: Meghan at November 13, 2007 8:02 PM

Hey Jen!! Congrats on a great race today!!! I hear it was windy and cold and wow - what an AWESOME time!! I hope you are pleased. Can't wait to hear about it!

Posted by: Beth at November 18, 2007 6:50 PM