Hills for breakfast, hold the gnats

I had the same thoughts after my long run on Friday. I did 10 miles at what I hope will be my marathon pace, and it nearly killed me. I have no idea how I'm going to maintain that pace for twice as long as that. And I didn't have the wind as an excuse.

Let's just both do the best we can and not worry about the rest, eh?

Hi Sno, we have been over this before - it is amazing what the body can do with a little adrenalin. Don't psych yourself out yet. I think the idea of these runs is make yourself run MP when you are tired ... the first part of the marathon will feel easy and it is when you are getting tired that you need to be able to get into the mode you were in today. Let the pace come to you, don't chase it (that is my mantra when I am feeling tired, it keeps me relaxed and suprisingly calm).

I am cheering for you ... one of your long term goals is met, you are an inspiration to me - especially with your beating of winter this year!!

Have a good day!

Great run. We need to come up with a doubt-obliterator! ;) I feel your pain. I guess we just have to remember that all this running we are doing is SUPER COOL, even if we aren't everything we want, exactly. You ran SEVENTEEN POINT EIGHT miles today. Have you forgotten that you are very likely the very COOLEST PERSON IN YOUR WHOLE TOWN??? You are most certainly the only one in your house that has ever run that far ;) (that is just a guess on my part ;) I am the first to admit the twinge of defeat/doubt at a less than perfect run, but hey, the running you do and your dedication to improving is 100% a miracle of the grandest scale. Just think of all the people we know who quit when things don't go perfectly, let alone close to right. You are one AMAZING person and your spirit is an inspiration to us all!! (...as seen in Lori's blog title ;)

That's it...I'm calling Marion when I'm feeling less then perfect...

Also, I love this site b/c I feel normal b/c it is like you play the same tape in your head as the one that plays in my head. But Marion is right, ya ran 17.8 today! that is something to be very proud of!

Nice miles today!! Sorry that it had to be in the wind. I think we all get doubt about our ability at times. It human nature, also sometimes it still seems amazing to me that I can run as many miles as I do. It dosent' seem that long ago when my goal was to be able to complete a 5K without walking.

Wow! I've been gone all day and it is so nice to come home and read everyone's encouragement! I read everyone's words twice, to let the love "soak in." lol Thank you, dear friends!

Bonnie, you're advice has been right on so far and I appreciate it more than you can ever know. But I have to ask... what does "let the pace come to you" mean? Are you just saying to relax and not worry as much? Or is there more? I know how busy you are this week, but if there is more to that gem and you have time...

Thanks again everyone!

hmmm. Now I had think exactly what I mean. I think it is two-fold. First, I had a series of races that were pretty depressing to me. I think it was primarily because I was over-estimating my actual fitness/potential at that time. I would spend a lot of time worrying more about paces and less about paces that I was able to do *in order to meet the reasons for the workout* (meaning - just because I could hit 7:20 pace in my tempo run did not mean it was the actual pace that was giving me the maximum benefit, you could see this because my splits would get slower over the course of the workout, or splits were way inconsistent, and I was working way harder than I was supposed to be). My understanding, these days, is that the workouts (at least the ones that Greg has for me) are not supposed to be as hard as you can - but rather, you should always be able to say, "I could have done one more, it would have been hard but I could have done it".

So, after a couple of years I tried something new and worked on thinking about what system the workouts target (e.g., VO2max versus stamina workouts) and concentrate on how I feel during the workout. Maybe they are slower than what I had hoped - if I don't get faster over the course of the workout I know I am working as hard as I can and my fitness is what it is (sometimes, sadly not what I want -- but it is ok, if I keep plugging away I know I can get better). If I get faster over the course of the workout (or am super consistent) then I know I am in the maximal range.

Secondly, it is a way to make myself relax when I am working hard ... something about saying it just makes my body relax, which makes my stride more efficient and helps me run faster.

So - it means both things, to me, a reminder that I am in the shape I am in and I can't push it I can only keep working hard; and a way to remind myself to relax while working hard.

I think that mentally you have to work so hard sometimes that you aren't sure you can finish the workout (so you know how uncomfortable you can be while still succeeding - since this is what you do in races) -- but you also have to keep in mind that you are training and training is specific (you know since you write the purpose of your workouts everyday) - you don't want to go beyond the purpose that often (because you run the risk of injury, burnout, and subpar performance when it really matters).

Does this make sense at all or am I just babbling?

Thank you, Bonnie! Yes, it makes sense, and it fits with some of the things you have shared with me in the past couple of months. It is incredible to me how mysteriously our thoughts and our bodies work together. And sometimes we really cannot know how it all works. Like in my recent half marathon, when I start inventing the thought (which wasn't really true) that "I'm actually a much faster runner than this..." and the pace suddenly felt easier. Another proof that we are not like cars, but so much more complex. Thanks so much for taking the time to write all that. :) Sno

Actually, I think you actually are faster than you think you are. Your training has been so focused on marathon training that you never really developed the pain threshold that you "learn" when you hurt badly in shorter distances (5-10K). I think if you developed that system a little you would surprise yourself how much faster you would get. Although, in my opinion, it is hard to do both (e.g., marathon training and shorter distance specific training). And you might have to break out that shiny key for a while ;-).