track fan

So it felt way easy? I wonder what this means :)

Well, it felt easy those stupid ones that were the pace they were supposed to be at!! The path is marked every 1/2 mile (though some of the markers are hidden in wildflowers at the moment) - I would hit the 800 just about right on target, sometimes a tiny bit fast, and then somehow by the the time I hit the mile marker I was running tempo pace. I don't think it comes close to meaning I can run anywhere near this pace for a marathon -I really think I will be need to be pretty darn focused to touch a 3:25 - and if I go out too fast I might barely hit 3:30. Who knows, the marathon is a different beast than anything I have ever done ... I am completely out of my league at trying to guess. I really would rather end up being slower than what I can acutally do (but hopefully at or under 3:30) - and just prove I can do it - than to die a slow and painful death the last 6 miles ;-) - at least this first one anyway.

Thanks for keeping track of me ... let me know if I am doing anything too stupid ;-).

You are so good about trying to run the right pace. I consistently run specific-pace workouts faster than I'm supposed to. And now I've got Sasha telling me to run as much of the first part of the marathon at 8:15 as I can, when the pace I need to get the time I want is 8:47. He thinks I should build up a cushion so that I can go slower the second half and still get within my goal time. Who to believe and what strategy to take - it's hard for a 1st time marathoner to know.

At the end of the day, you have to figure out what works for you. I know what you mean by being confused. I run the way I do because I have found this is what works best for me by trial and error. You will find out what works best for you too.

I have to say that the "banking time" strategy has never worked for me. The worst races I have ever had were ones that I went out too fast (both worse in terms of overall time and how horribly bad I felt at the end of the race).

My two cents---banking time does not work for me either. I have only run one race that was not a negative split (Moab this year). Maybe I do not give it enough at the beginning of a race, but I prefer to pour it on in the second half and give it all I've got. Now, I have only run 2 marathons (one with no training as a spur of the moment thing) but I did qualify for Boston, so I know a little (very little, mind you). I think that is what all of the training runs are for, so that you can figure out what works best for you. Many of the people I run with would choose to bank time becasue they struggle at the end. All I know is that in Moab I cam out to fast and it nearly did me in the last 3-4 miles.

Bonnie, how consistently does a person even run a marathon? Your pace changes with the conditions (hills, tailwinds, etc) when you run a marathon, too. I always assumed that a MP run should just mean that my average pace for the entire run be around MP. Maybe I am wrong!?! Great run no matter what. You sure are FAST!

Great point Kelli (about the average pace) - this run would still be faster than MP, or what I assume would be the best I can hope for at this point.

I think that you are right though, we all have our strengths and weaknesses and training (and races) is where we figure them out. You have a lot more experience than me with the marathon that is for sure. The problem with the marathon (and to a smaller extent the 1/2 marathon) you don't know that you went out too fast until it is too late! Since this is my first, I am planning on running more conservative. I am trying to use my training to "feel" what MP is supposed to feel like.

By the way Kelli, I find it absolutely amazing how you ran Moab and Riverton so closely together and got the same time! WOW.

Marathon pace does feel kind of easy for a shorter run, but not too easy. It is just a matter of messing with it. I think my MP workouts are my favorite, I am pushing it a little but not enough to make it NOT FUN.

You are going to do great. WHEN is it in April?

May 3rd actually. I wasn't sure how the timing was going to work out when I wrote that. I think it will be the Eugene marathon. I need to get tickets and sign up this week -- I know it is a little late ;-).

Better late than never! I am excited to see how it goes! I was so freaked out for that first marathon, but I had not trained at all. The 2nd marathon was GREAT, though. Being prepared makes a big difference.

I am seeing this posts in a weird order on my e-mail. SORRY. Thanks for the comments about the 1/2's. Here was the difference: I ran Riverton for fun and when I run for fun I do better. It was a small race, so I was having a blast chasing the only two people I could see and never being passed. In Moab, I was tired, hungry, went out too fast, and was getting passed left and right CONSTANTLY. I am okay with being passed, but just not so used to it at the end of race. I am usually the one passing at that point (me and my negative splits).

ANYWAY, Riverton was definitely easier, too. Moab is a hard race. If you reversed the order of the two I would have been in big trouble.

I can't stick with my Mp either. I find in my mind, I am always trying to push a titch more and end up at 1/2 MP. It must be a girl thing ;) Great run :) You rock star you!

Bonnie, maybe someone should get you a Garmin. ;) I know you are very consistent without one and I bet that your consistency will carry over to MP soon enough. Or perhaps borrow one for a while? A whole mile is a ways to go before finding out where you're at. Just a thought.

Carolyn, I am starting to rethink the positive split issue myself. I have gone over my race reports from my past 3 marathons (the PR was pre blog for me, so I know that's not one I can share with you), and I believe I will do better being a bit more conservative in the first half. On the other hand, if I am fading a bit in the Dark Miles (mile 21-24, for me) I am not going to let it blow my confidence so badly that I give up, which has happened in the past.

Hi Sno, nope, I will not be buying a Garmin anytime soon. I am OCD enough as it is and I have spent 4 years trying to get away from being a mileage/pace runner; I like my watch and running by feel. When I really need to know how fast I am going the the second I go to the track!! Seriously, I do like the freedom of not having a garmin - I wish I could throw out my watch, but I can't.

hi bonnie, im lysa, i got your name from sno's blog. you seem to have really good advice on working up speed. So tell me where do i start? ive always just run at my "pace" and i want to start improving. Whats the best method to do that? Say on a 4 to 5 mile run?

Hi Lysa, this is just my opinion,there are many out there ... but the easiest/safest way to start building speed is to interject some "faster" runs within your run. Maybe on your next 5 mile run, run the first 2 miles easy and then do 5-6 "really fast" sprints for 25 secs; take a minute in between each. Over a few weeks (3-4) get up to being able to do 12 of them. These are not hard on your body but can really work on practicing leg turnover. After you have done these 1x a week for a while start increasing the length of time you do them (e.g., 40 secs and then a minute). After a while you can learn how do many of these (called fartleks) in the middle of your runs! I hope this helps.

I love running garminless!