PRs and Future Dreaming
So it’s been about 9 months since starting my run/walk program and the general consensus is that my improvements have been on the rapid side, which is extremely heartening.
I’m a glutton for running books, forums, articles, anything I can lay my hands on, so that helped tremendously when I began training for my first Half Marathon last September - the PDR (Philly Distance Run). I fashioned a program using the Runner’s World SmartCoach as a base, but tweaked it all over the place. I added mileage, a weekly tempo run, speedwork every other week, lengthened the long run, all of which whittled my pace down at a steady rate.
My last race of the season was a Turkey Trot, where I placed 2nd in my Age Group (40-49) with a 23:30. It was a PR for me, but what was sobering was that the first 3 Overall women to cross the finish were also in my AG, the fastest getting a time of 18:13 (unbelievable…she’s 46, like me!), the other two, sub-21s. So I started a thread in the Boomer forum of Coolrunning.com to see what type of numbers I can expect to be looking at if I keep working hard. Sub-21 was agreed by most, with some saying sub-20. Well. That certainly makes things interesting.
One of the responders suggested I get a coach, others agreed, so here I am, in the midst of setting a time up for next week with an actual running coach! Freaks me out a little, because although I’ve been driven from the start, this is suddenly becoming more serious in that I’m increasing the pressure on myself. And here I was going to be lazy and enjoy the winter, running without a goal in mind.
Lol, me hiring a coach. Hilarious coming from the fat drama-class girl who skipped PE and smoked cigarettes in the school bathroom.
Tags: races
November 29th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
good luck with the coach! I better keep looking over my shoulder in any races your in; you will surely be one of those closing in on me rapidly!
November 29th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
Lol, Matt, you were born ahead of me and with those lightening legs of yours, you’ll forever stay ahead of me, but it’s a pleasure to chase your ass in every race we share. ;-)
December 2nd, 2007 at 7:06 am
I too have recently thought about working with a coach, been a bit directionless of late. Finished the couch to 5k, have done the 1 hour runner, and no idea what I want to do next. I’ve taken on board a marathon program, tweaked it a bit, as you have :-) and at the end of it, will reconsider investing in some coaching, but in the meantime, happy to go out and run.
Have fun!!!
December 2nd, 2007 at 9:30 am
Hey Audrey, congratulations on getting up to an hour! You’re braver than me, going for a Full so soon. Having a plan of any kind (with a race at the end of it) is excellent for gaining direction and motivation. A good plan keeps you busy for 16 weeks and then, before you know it, it’s a whole ‘nuther season and more races to work towards. Best of luck with the marathon (which should definitely take care of that direction problem)!