Thursday already?
My, but the week has flown. At the risk of alienating readers (because someone got really offended and gave me an earful about my Palin derision a couple months back) YAY OBAMA!!!
Back to running news, something I forgot to mention was my second Steamtown toenail fell off last week. I drew them back in with nail polish and am astounded at how well that stuff adheres to skin - you seriously would never know I am sporting only 8 toenails at this time. It’s magic.
I’ve had a couple enjoyable runs this week, even if it has been dark and rainy: 8 on Tues and 7 w/ 10 strides yesterday. I’ll do a short 5 today, then tomorrow it’s 8 or 9 w/5×1000. The last time I did 1000s was in September and it was 75 degrees out with 83% humidity. I’m targeting the same interval pace, so it should be quite a bit nicer this go round.
I posted a question on the RW forums because I wanted to know if I would be screwing myself to stretch those long runs to 12s instead of the single-digit LRs in everybody’s 5K plans. Wcrunner (a favorite of mine, very smart wise man who’s been running for decades) figures I’ll be fine to do it, so I’ll go for it this week and next. I’ll also add a couple tempos to the plan too, since I was doing speed and tempos weekly last Spring to no ill effect.
All this plan comparison has me thinking about making a radical change for next year’s marathon and using The Ultimate Marathon Training plan. A couple of our gals from the Women’s thread have used or are using it now, plus a well-loved and SPEEDY poster, Sillie Lillie used it for 3 of her marathons with dramatic improvements. The quality days look much busier (harder) than Pfitzinger’s but they seem like fun workouts.
I’m even considering the Ultimate Half-Marathon plan for my goal Spring race. Sure, my lazy side likes the idea of doing one hyped-up pace and distance per speed workout (I’ve never been drawn to cutdowns, for instance) and just reading all the different stuff you’re supposed to do on their speed days looks confusing, but I’m sure it’s hugely effective. As long as you stay on the uninjured list, anyway. I just wish it was more than a 9-week plan, I like being on a mission for at least a month longer than that, so we’ll see.
Funny how I can waste this much time ruminating about something that isn’t going to happen for months, or in the marathon’s case, more than half a year away. Oh why not? The future is exciting! Change and Hope - it worked for Obama and it works for me.
Tags: training plans
November 6th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
First, Yea Obama! Second, I am totally on board with the ruminating. I can sit and stare at my schedule for hours on end. I will compare it to this plan and that plan all the while making minor changes. Now, however, I have a coach to keep me on track, which is good because I am easily distracted. I have been with her about 2 weeks now and she is kicking my butt! It is awesome! I know that she will have me meeting my BQ by the end of 2009 or at least helping me get my marathon time down.
November 6th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Christi, that is so exciting! Congrats on the coach, that must be insanely motivating. No doubt you will see a huge improvement with a real live person, not just a written plan. What do you need to qualify and where do you feel you’re at now?
I’ve been thinking about coaches in a very abstract way myself lately, but mostly because I want someone to fix my form since I apparently can’t do it myself. I met with one last year but he’s too far away. Maybe next year I’ll start making inquiries.
November 6th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
My condolences on the loss of your toenail. And my concurrence on the Obamagasm. Yay! (Kermit flapping arms)
Funny you should mention coaches, as I’ve made the decision to work with one for my next marathon training goround. I hope to interview the person who’s at the top of my short list this weekend (he’s been very generous with answering emails so far). I’m basically looking for reasons NOT to hire him at this point.
He’s not anywhere near me, but has pointed to successes working with people far away (the key seems to be having lots of workout data to review — and weekly communication). Will post updates to my blog once this gets settled.
November 6th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
So, one marathon with Pfitz, and you’re looking elsewhere already? Shameless!
November 6th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
Julie, that’s wonderful news, especially at the point you’re at, you’re prime coach bait! I can’t wait to read all about it, so hurry and get it settled so I can live vicariously through you, I’m so must faster when I do that.
Jim, yeah, I’m already slutting around. It’s terrible, I know. But who knows, I may go back to Big Daddy Pete when all is said and done. I look at these plans and I’m all, “This is great, but this, I dunno…” I’ve got “this’s” for all of them.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Since im injured this week I decided to run vicariously thru you. Im glad to see I had a couple enjoyable runs and im considering a differnt marathon training plan. But dont tell anyone I polished my missing steamtown toe nails.
November 6th, 2008 at 5:28 pm
LOL, Bruce!! One of your better contributions.
November 6th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
I find my recently-gone toenails tend to look better than the almost-gone ones. Maybe I could paint ‘em too!. Like they say: “Runners, we’re different”.
November 6th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Hey, black polish can be sexy on a guy, very Rock ‘n Roll. Just get some piercings and it’ll look fab!
November 7th, 2008 at 10:34 am
Having a coach is extremely motivating!!! My coach is Lisa Rainsberger. She won Boston in 1985 and also won Chicago a couple of years. She is here in town so that is nice. I have unlimited email access to her and there are 2 group runs a week. This where all her clients get together and run on the different trails in the area. She is also considering some swimming opportunities throughout the winter. So far she has put up with my OCD behaviors so I have to give her a thumbs up on that one!!!
As to my BQ time, I am 40 years old so my qualifing time is 3:50. I have a long way to go. My last marathon time was 5:15 at the 2002 Chicago marathon. I am embarassed to say that to all you speedys out there!!! However, I am a big believer in the power of the mind and I know that I can get my time down in the next couple of years. Particularly, if I keep getting motivation from all these great posts and comments!!!
November 7th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Christi, that sounds wonderful! Love the OCD behavior comment, lol.
You have NOTHING to be embarrassed about. I have this belief that lots of people run a lot slower then their potential because they don’t train with a straight-arrow focus needed to get from point A to point B. Things like mileage, speedwork and tempos can’t help but make one faster but are either overlooked or people don’t know about them or they’re afraid to push themselves. Just using a plan and sticking to it provides huge rewards and like anything, you practice and you get better.
I’m not clumping you in there because I don’t know your training history, but now that you have a coach, there is no doubt in my mind that you’ll get from point A to point B, then C, D and E in straight-line fashion and before you know it and there will be a BQ waiting for you. Keep the updates coming, I love hearing about improvements and you’ve got a lot in store!
November 7th, 2008 at 11:04 am
Yay Christi. There’s a bunch of us here (and probably many lurkers) who have not yet BQd. You have a Boston winner for a coach, wow! Happy running, and keep us posted
November 7th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Oh, here’s something nice. Arien O’Connell, of Nike non-elite fame, has another trophy now. It’s from Reebok.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=55&entry_id=32410
November 7th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Brilliant!!! Thanks for that, Jim!