Going Long (again) in 2024

Ran in the middle range of my easy pace:  9:03/mile.  Felt the same as yesterday - hip pain that I was able to push through.  I sure hope it eases up soon, because I can't see how I can run fast like this.  Tomorrow I start the 'strength' part of my training program, so I'll get some idea of how I hold up at a faster pace.

I'm in the "strength" part of my marathon training, leaving behind the speed workouts (hurray!).  According to the Hanson's training program I'm using, strength workouts boil down to running repeats (from 1 mile to 3 miles) at a pace about 10 seconds faster than race pace.  The repeats all add up to 6 miles, and there is a 400 m recovery jog between each one.  So, the next 6 Mondays will all involve this.

Today's session required 6 x 1 mile repeats.  I've changed my marathon goal from a 3:20 finish to a 3:25 finish, since I've basically lost 3 weeks of training.  That would still give me 5 minutes better than my BQ.  That puts my strength training pace in the 7:35 - 7:40/mile range.

My actual splits were:  7:29  7:23  7:24  7:19  7:18  and  7:10

Aside from the fact that I ran them too fast, I'm ecstatic that I ran them all!  The pain in my hip was manageable - I believe was more like pressure in my bursitis and the pain I've had for some time in my iliospsoas.  The training session felt comfortable, and it's the 3rd day in a row in which I've run all my required paces.

I have tomorrow off, and then a tempo run Wednesday.  I think that will be revealing as to how this pain will affect me for the rest of my training program (8 more weeks).  If I can nail the tempo run, I'll be more confident in being able to manage the pain and run the marathon.

Oh, getting colder too!  It was 12C/53F - cool enough that I could have worn gloves (and didn't).  There is a stretch of cold weather ahead, so this is going to be the norm.  Then again, it will be close to freezing during the marathon, so not a bad idea to get used to it.

Nailed it!  Best tempo run yet - felt strong throughout.  Some pressure in the hip area, but no pain.  I'm icing it now.

Since the Hamilton marathon is going to be marked in kilometers rather than miles, I've decided to set my GPS watch for kilometers, and to run my tempo and long runs that way.  The real reason, though, is that I think I've finally figured out my nutrition strategy.  One honey stinger every kilometer, and one GU every 10 kilometers.  That would work out to just over 60 grams of carbs/hour, which is my goal.

I can chew and swallow the honey stingers a LOT more easier than those Power Blasts, and so far in training my stomach is holding up.  Taking a chew every time my GPS rings at the kilometer marks is just a neat convenience.

Anyway, my race goal works out to about 7:45/mile or 4:49/km.  Today, I ran 8 miles at exactly that pace.  My kilometer splits were:  4:50  4:51  4:50  4:44  4:48  4:44  4:49  5:02 (had to wait about 10 seconds for traffice at an intersection)  4:42  4:51  4:47  4:49  and  4:41

So, pretty consistent throughout.  As long as my hip behaves, I'm hopeful I can finish my training and run as planned.  I'm continuing with the stretching and strengthening work, and am taking the maximum amoung of ibuprofin allowed every day.

Ran easy at an 8:57/mile pace.  COLD morning, and with a strong North wind.  Just 6C/42F.

Some tightness in my right hamstring and my left iliopsoas is still acting up.  But no significant problems after yesterday's tempo run.

COLD morning.  Just 4C/39F.  Little wind though, so actually nice for running.  Kept a pace of 8:59/mile.  Same issues - iliopsoas on the left and hamstring on the right.  Just enough to be annoying, but not to keep me from running.  We'll see how it all pans out on my long run tomorrow.

Cold and wet - 6C/42F and a slow, steady rain throughout.  Wore what I will probably wear for the marathon, and used the same amount of chews (honey stingers) and gels (GU) that I will likely use in the race.  Carried and drank only water.  That combination seems to work well, as I didn't have any serious stomach  issues.

Ran a pretty steady pace throughout - averaged 8:22 for most of the run.  I picked up the speed at the end, running my final mile in 7:41, and finished the 16 miles with an average pace of 8:18 and a total running time of 2 hours and 13 minutes.

I was able to run through the iliopsoas pain in the left groin area, and the tugging in my still sore right hamstring insertion point.  I'm icing them now, and am hopeful that neither will be an issue.  We'll see when I attempt a recovery run tomorrow morning.

Overall, I'm happy with the run.  Just 2 more long runs to go before the race.