I went for a couple of miles on the 1/2 mile loop around the block in front of my house. After a little over a mile of warm up I opened up for a 1/4 mile. I just wanted to feel the speed, without pushing too hard. I ran it in 90 secs (6:00 pace). I went around the block one more time at an easy pace then walked my dog around the block.
I think all systems are go for the marathon. We're heading down to St. George this afternoon. I hesitate to say this, but I'm feeling pretty good and I think I'm in the (age-adjusted) best shape of my life. My weight is about the same as last year, but I've lost 2" around my waist and many people have commented on how much thinner I look. Did I convert body fat to leg muscle?
I've been playing with the "Age Equivalent Running Results Calculator" at http://www.marathonguide.com/fitnesscalcs/ageequivalent.cfm . My lifetime SGM PR is 2:52 in 1982 when I was 22. (I didn't run it again for 22 years.) Today, at age 48, an age equivalent result would be 3:09:49. I ran 3:07:02 last year (my "old man" PR). If I manage 2:59:59 this year, that would be equivalent to 2:43:04 when I was 22. The scary thing is that if I get anywhere near 3:00:00 this year, my goal next year might be my lifetime PR of 2:52 (age 22 equivalent is 2:35:50!). Oh well, it's fun to dream.
Just for fun I compared a 30 year old woman to a 48 year old man. If the man finishes in 3:00:00, the age equivalent time for the woman is 3:04:53. If the younger woman finishes in 3:00:00, the age equivalent time for the "nearly two decades older" man is 2:55:14. That just doesn't seem right, does it? :o)
I love setting a PR as much as the next guy, but that's not why I run. I've already enjoyed 98% of the benefit of my running this year - good times with good friends, time outdoors, physical exertion, and better fitness. Races are just the icing on the cake. That's why I can face race day calmly, looking forward with excitement to the grand adventure.
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