To race or not to race?

Next weekend, I've got the Running from Gluten 10k. I'm actually pretty excited because it's sponsored by the Celiac Guild and benefits the Seattle Children's Celiac Program. All the goodies at the finish line are gluten free! I've run many charity races, but none that ever impacted me so personally.

Anyway, I signed up for this 10k with the expectation to run it as a training run. With the Snoqualmie Valley 10k coming up in late June, I figured having a little extra incentive to ensure I actually worked up to 6 miles in training wouldn't hurt.

Change of Plans

October is shaping up a little differently than planned. Originally I had a 5k scheduled Oct. 12; my sister was due to give birth on the 7th and I was going to run my race, then drive over to her coast to meet my nephew.

But, Baby was impatient and made his grand entrance September 30!

Meet Wyatt Todd Garreau!

So, we are going to be visiting this weekend instead of next. That works out because my Oct. 12 race was canceled, so now I have decisions to make.

Do I run a 5k this weekend before driving over to meet the little bean, or do I find another 5k for the 12th?

Part of me feels like I'm not really ready for a 5k this weekend, not with full effort. I wanted one more week of training/tapering. But ideally I'd like to race on the same Saturday I meet the baby because then I can be as lazy I want the following weekend - no traveling or racing!

I've found a possible 5k for both weekends. Based on past results, they both seem like fairly small races where, if I somehow managed to harness my true Runner Spirit, I possibly could place in my age group (based on last year's results).

I could sign up for this weekend's and then, seeing how it goes, sign up for next weekend's too.

Really, it's all up in the air but I'd like to know before tomorrow night what I plan to do. The only thing that's for certain is that this Saturday I'm going to meet this little fellow and start working on earning the title of Best Aunt Ever.

This post was kind of just an excuse to post adorable pictures of my nephew. Sorry.

ABK

Time for Training

So, as you know, I talked Elizabeth into running the A1A half marathon with me, and that means we're officially training! We're actually a few weeks into it, but I wanted us to have our flow underway before I wrote too much about it.

Want to run in gorgeous February weather along the beach with me and Elizabeth and Kristina?! Don't forget you can get a 15% discount by using ALI at checkout!

We put together a plan that I think will work for a first time half-marathoner; it's the running plan I used when I finally trained properly for a half. We run four miles three times during the week, always including the bridge. (We don't do special speed work or repeats; we just make sure our four miles includes the bridge twice.) Our long run is always done easy on a flat route. Then, we fit cross-training into our schedule a couple times a week and give ourselves a rest day.

Someone asked about our bridge's specs. It's about .9 miles from end-to-end and the elevation is +16 feet.

We're both in the honeymoon phase of feeling really excited and ready to totally nail this plan.

Ask me how I feel in a few more weeks.

After capping my runs at 10 miles (and usually going 8 or 9), seeing 13-15 mile runs on my calendar is a bit daunting. The first few long runs haven't been mentally easy; a big part of me hasn't been motivated to run that far, and I've had to rearrange my mindset so I can be mentally ready for running long again!

Yes, this. If I'm being honest, while mentally running long has been daunting, but physically it hasn't been that difficult. Yet.

I guess this means my year of short distance is mostly over. Still, I think I've successfully rekindled my appreciation for 5ks and plan to run them more often; this half doesn't have to change everything!

Anyway, we have our plan totally mapped out. We've planned a 15-miler because Elizabeth really wants to "beat" her brother's longest distance (a half) and 15 sounds like a "good distance" to her. That means it will be the farthest I've ever run during half training; I'm interested to see the results.

We sketched out our long runs one day during lunch. Elizabeth said her students' reactions to the mileage were hilarious.

We don't have any time goals, although I think realistically we could come in around 2:20 without much trouble; we plan to run the entire race together and just have fun. It's hard to race and talk, so chances are we'll keep a nice, conservative pace...

Then again, seeing Elizabeth's paces lately, we may gun for a PR. Who knows! I know I'm "helping" her train for her first half, but really I'm just helping her run through her boredom. She's more than capable of running a half without my guidance! I'm just along for the ride.

Are you training for anything right now?
Do you like to create your own training plans?
Have you ever mentored/trained a running buddy in a distance that's new to them?

ABK

I'm Racing This Weekend

For today's TOL, I'm revealing my goal for this weekend's 5k, even though I told Matt and Elizabeth over the last couple weeks that this goal would remain a secret.

Keeping my race a "secret" at A1A turned out really well for me, but I wanted a place to think this through, so I'm letting you all in on it. (Maybe if I don't make it I'll reconsider ever telling people when I'm racing again! Just kidding...kind of.)

Thanks, Amanda, for hosting TOL!

My plans for 2016 have always been to focus on shorter distances and speed, to keep things simple, and if I manage a PR in the process, great.

Remember this?

This weekend, I'm running a 5k. It's the foot-race portion of a Sup and Run event at a park near my parents' house where Matt has had various races and where I've run with Montana before. It's a sunny, beautiful route around a huge lake (built for crew races) that is lovely to run but pretty brutal. The race starts at 8am. (Matt will be running the 5k and paddling a 5k; I'll only be doing the foot-race division.)

See? Gorgeous.

Obviously we're looking at sun and temperatures in the 80s (and possible storms), but I'm stupidly going to aim for a PR.

Only in Florida do you see a sun AND raincloud on the same weather image and think, those two things might happen concurrently.

I was going to keep that goal a secret. But I need to remember the lesson I took to heart after BDR: there's no shame in failing to meet a goal. Failing means you took a risk and faced a fear; most importantly, there's no growth without failure.

My current 5k PR is 27:40, and I earned it in 2013 in a July race. I know if I could "beat the heat" then, I can do it now. I won't have my sister to use as a rabbit, but I have the knowledge that I've been doggedly consistent in my training and speed work. I'll find another rabbit to stalk on race day.

A PR and the first time I ever placed in my AG!

My A goal is to run this race in 27 minutes flat, which seemed easy enough until I did the math and realized that I ran my 27:40 at a pace that scares me even now. I was sitting here going, "I'll run like an 8:58 pace to PR!" and then realized that actually I need to run closer to 8:50.

According to McMillan, if I can get my 5k PR it will mean I'm on track for a 10k PR when FISH rolls around in October.

So I guess my B goal is a PR of any kind, and my C goal is to beat 29 minutes. (Usually my 5k goal is to come in sub-30 but this weekend that's just not going to cut it for me.)

I want to run a smart race with even splits; I don't want to go out too fast and fade at the end. I want to warm up beforehand because my legs don't feel good before mile two of most runs these days. And I want to remember that I want this at the moment when easing up looks tempting.

I'm excited for this race. Nervous, but excited. I'm ready to see what I can do; I'm ready to see if I can turn off my brain for a bit and just haul ass for 3.1 miles. It'll be the first time in a long time that I push beyond "discomfort" and into "OMG WHY" territory during a race.

5ks don't scare me; I've noticed that very fast runners hate 5ks because they know how brutal they can be when raced all-out. I'd like to join that club. I hope this weekend's 5k makes me hate 5ks!

Are you one of those fast runners who hates the pain of a 5k?
Any advice on race strategy?
Will you still like me if I fail? Ha, just kidding. But no, really...This is a huge stretch goal for me, so I can use all the encouragement I can get!

ABK

My Plan for BDR

Based on my paces during my 20-miler, and keeping in mind that I know how hard the last 10k of a marathon is, I've put together a tentative plan for marathon day. Usually I set A, B, and C goals only, but this time around I wanted to add a pacing plan.

Miles 0-13: 12:30-12:40 pace
Miles 14-20: 12:20-12:30 pace
Miles 20-26.2: 12:00-12:30 pace

I honestly think these paces are doable, but my biggest concern is actually being able to get faster in the last half of the race; I need to be mentally strong enough to ignore my achey legs at the end! If I successfully keep to the higher end of the spectrum for each set of miles, I'll finish in 5:17, which would be a 24-minute PR. It's not as lofty a goal as I originally set, but I think based on my training, it's realistic.

Last Wednesday, I started at a conservative pace and then ran faster as I warmed up. During the hardest part of that run (when I was running into the headwind on the second loop), I was running a 12:07 pace from miles 11 to 17, and it didn't feel too bad. At times, I dipped into the 11s, and even the 10s.

I don't know how to race a marathon, so this will be a chance for me to practice what that feels like. If I want to be successful, I have to avoid pushing too hard too early; I need to go easy and conserve energy so I don't fall apart at the end.

Anyway, I'm not aiming for a sub-5 this time around. My plan for 2016 is still to focus on speed and shorter distances, but I know a longterm goal for myself will be to break 5:00, and I know I'll be able to do it eventually. It won't be this race, and that's okay; running is a lifetime journey, and I know I'll get there in due time.

(During a long run this fall, I envisioned myself crossing the finish line in 4:59 and I got choked up just thinking about it. I'm not giving up on that goal, but realistically it's not in the cards this year.)

This year, I want to be smart and consistent. Last year, I went out way too fast. I was also dehydrated from cold medicines and had lingering asthma issues to contend with, but I'm not making excuses. I know this year I'm in better shape, but it's also going to be warmer.

(This year's 20-miler was 10 degrees warmer than last year's...so, yeah.)

So basically, I'm aiming for a PR, but I've finally learned that I won't get faster training for a marathon without a better base and stronger effort geared directly at speed. Cautiously optimistic is the name of the game this time around.
How do you decide on your race plan?
ABK