October 6th, 2009
OK, this marathon business has been starting to get me down a bit, not in a major way, but enough that I’ve been questioning myself and what my goals are and thinking I’m biting off more than I can chew. Yet, when I step back and look at the difference between an aggressive goal and one that seems more doable, there’s only a couple minutes between them! Which is the nature of racing, when you think about it.
Take my Half, for instance. I was disappointed because it was a minute over what I’d envisioned (going with my original goal of sub 1:33 here). Now, take a minute, 60 seconds, and divide it by 13.1. We’re talking the difference of about 4.5 seconds per mile. 4.5 seconds. It’s so…nothing! Yet that time frame is all one needs to beat oneself up. It’s kooky when you think about it.
So here I am, thinking about the Big M, The Philadelphia Marathon, and re-evaluating what I think will be good for me. Yes, I want to hit it out of the park without doubt, and in the back of my mind, I’d been entertaining 3:16ish but as it gets closer, I’m thinking that’s too aggressive for where I’m at. My times, while better than a few months ago, aren’t dropping as I’d hoped. Not to say I’ve plateaued, but I thought my mileage would make the bottom drop just a bit quicker than it has been.
Along with this, I’m in the RW sub 3:20 thread which is taking a hit on my ego, though entirely my own fault. The thread was started for sub 3:20ers, but almost all of them have surpassed that dramatically, yet they stay in the thread for the camaraderie (they really are a super cool crew and I love being in the circle). But they’re faster than me and when I post my workouts, I feel like the slow cousin.
I know this is my own mental crap and if I’d only remind myself that I’m twice the age of the other gal (zoomy Agile) and the rest are men (the majority younger than me), then I’d be able to give myself a break. But I can’t help it, I feel like one of the crowd, so I feel the pressure.
Anyway, all this to say, I need to stop wanting to perform like those around me and just stick with what I’m capable of. I’m still going for sub 3:20, no doubt about it, but I’m taking it down a notch and at this point, I’m thinking 3:18 is the top lid of what I should be aiming for, no higher.
Which brings me back to the difference between that and my original goal. What is it? Maybe 3 seconds different per mile? 3 seconds! Yet enough to bring me out of “oh shit, I’m not sure this is going to work” to “ok, I can do this”. Crazy how a couple minutes spread out over the span of over 3 hours can make such a difference to the mind.
But enough mental strife for the moment. I had a strong speed session today: 10 miles w/5×1000@5k pace w/2min recoveries. The fast bit went 6:30, 6:24, 6:26, 6:30, 6:29…avg 6:28. No reason for anything but satisfaction, but I guess that’s not in my DNA.
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Look, I know how you feel. I had the same PR/disappointed with PDR. But ya know what, we both PRed and we’re both LIGHTYEARS ahead of where we were this time last year.
So give yourself a break. You still have so much time before Philly, tons of time. Your workload is still high. Once you get closer and you get to that taper, it’s all going to come together. Barring shitting all over yourself in Philly, you’re going to knock it to the moon.
Flo, You have time, like Dog said. It’s good for you to surround yourself with faster runners. I think Paula Radcliffe advised this to make you faster. Look at me quoting Paula Radcliffe. Your training is going great and I would keep my eye on the aggressive goal. Don’t start letting the doubts enter your mind this early. I should join the 3:20 thread so you will feel a lot better about yourself. LOL! XOXOX-jackie PS Thanks for the note last week. It means so much.
Flo – your recruited me to that thread, and I’m getting used to the fact that some of ‘em are chasing 3;10 or even 3:00. I’m sure they don’t mean to sandbag, they’ve just improved that much since they joined, and perhaps that’ll be us next year.
We’re in the same area, goal-wise. I notice you’ve been hitting the high end of your workout assignments, while I’ve been mostly in the middle. An impartial observer would have you beating me by 5 minutes or more on M-day, but we’ll be on different courses at different times, so who knows?
Oh yes, and dont get too wrapped up in a single race result. I had a good race on Sunday, but it was preceded by a crappy one just a week earlier. I was wondering if this was The Big Plateau, but of course it wasn’t
I’m not too good at pep-talks, but hang in there, It’s OK to pace for 3:20, but leave the option open for a 3;15. Go FLo!
Um, SOMEONE needs to go to my blog and read her own advice! Seriously, now. +1 to Doglb. You have improved SOOOOO much over the past year. Be proud of those accomplishments! There’s no harm in holding off on setting that GMP. You have time, for sure.
Well, there’s still more than a month to go until Philly, so you still have time to figure it out. And, missing your half marathon target by a minute is nothing — I missed mine this weekend by over six. At least yours wasn’t that bad… :-)
Hey now. You are doing awesome, GIM! 3:16/3:18 – you can make the decision as you get a little closer. Don’t beat yourself up over it right now. I imagine the cooler weather will start having a positive impact on your times too. You are going to be just phine in Philly;-)
For the record, my marathon PR heading into this cycle was a 3:29 – set last October.
Sounds like I might have just moved up a spot in the overall finishing order at Philly, cool. I’ll take a spot in the finishing order anyway I can get it, although I would rather outrun someone on the course, but no one will ever know if the person checked out on race day or 7 weeks out.
Please go back and review those training logs and look over what you have accomplished in the last couple months. There is a reason that age/gender grading is used. You are way ahead of most if not all of the 3:20 thread with all things being equal. I know you are in another league from me (like that makes a real difference to you, just saying).
There are a lot of folks reading your posts and blog in amazement of what you have and will accomplish. Some are praising you, other are muttering under their breath and saying that “b” with envy and jealousy ’cause they don’t have the guts to put in the work you have. This is music to those naysayer’s ears…she mailing it in 7 weeks out…we knew she was just talking smack and wouldn’t back it up come race day.
I sure hope this passes, and the smack talking, I’m going to kick butt and conquer the world attitude returns soon. Heck, you mentioned a while back that you would wait around the finish to cheer me in and I’ve been busting my butt trying to make your wait shorter. If I had know you were going to back it down I could have sleep in some of those 4 AM morning!
jhowdy – I wouldn’t count on that place just yet if I were you
Last week Flo told me: “You’re going sub 1:33″. I remembered that during the race, and it came true. It’s a little early yet to tell Flo “You’re going sub 3:16″, but I’m thinking it.
I’m with the others about it still being early to settle on a goal time. There’s over 6 weeks to go, so 3-4 weeks of training should bring further improvement on your current condition.
Just do the training (that’s all you CAN do eh?) and don’t stress about the race. You’re doing fine!
Thanks for the support guys, I guess it seemed like I had loads of excess time when I had 8 weeks to go and now that it’s closing in, it seems hard to believe anything really substantial can occur in these last few weeks.
Jim and Jhowdy, I truly love you guys to death but let’s be real here. You guys have both just run faster races than me so while it’s sweet as hell that you guys are all “moving up a spot” etc (very cute post, btw), I will be behind your ass at Philly Jhowdy, and rightly so! You ran a sub 20 5K a couple weeks ago and a 1:31:xx Half just this last weekend, neither of which I can do!
Now Jhowdy, your introductory question to the 3:20 group on whether you should even attempt a sub 3:20 suddenly had me questioning myself. Since your races are clearly better than mine and your mileage is where it should be, if you’re unsure, then I should be even moreso. So please, I need you to be confident about what you’re about to do because I’m behind you, babe!
Flo,
Take a step back and look at far you’ve come in just a year! Sheesh! If it will make you feel better, I vow to spend more time in the 3:20 forum. Reading about my workouts will make you feel speedy in no time.
I don’t have anything to add, but just that I love how you use the word “kooky”.
You’re going to have a great race!
Flo, we all have those days when we question ourselves. In fact, your posting could have been written by me this week. Of course, with less flair. My point is we all have doubts but we have to pick ourselves up, continue to train and bank on our training in the end! You will do great I know it!!!! Just keep up the good work!!
I will be behind your ass at Philly Jhowdy, and rightly so! You ran a sub 20 5K a couple weeks ago and a 1:31:xx Half just this last weekend, neither of which I can do! First that won’t be a pretty sight “running behind”, so that is all the incentive you need to run in the teens. Second, change “can’t” to “haven’t yet”. Big difference. I’m running on the flattest earth know to man.
As far as the 3:20 thread, the only reason I’m there to begin with is your moxie and the Hudson and MSM recommendations. Heck, for all we know I may have left my 3:20 in Jacksonville last weekend and peaked early. My gosh, with the baggage you have had to deal with over the last few months, it’s no wonder you haven’t had the training race you are looking for. Concede nothing, with your focus solely on the race on the 22nd, I will be the one in the preferred viewing location.
Jhowdy, you are officially driving me nuts! Why are you apologizing for running well? It makes no sense except you’re humble and modest beyond comprehension. Own your speed, dammit!! The reason you’re in the 3:20 thread is because you are running well, period. Stop being such a lovely gentleman and accept that you’ve come into a new level of running, this is a great thing and it does me more good to think you see yourself succeeding than to think you’re “behind” me at this point. It ain’t true and I need to feel my confidence isn’t misplaced, you know?
And yes, there is definitely a “yet” with my comment above, I know I’ve got a lot of improvement still to come so I’m not by any means feeling beaten or upset, just thinking I need to be more realistic at this point. I’m open to changes in the next few weeks, just giving myself permission to be less aggressive is all.
My ladies and men, thank you so much for your comments, you folks are the greatest!!
Flo, Flo, Flo – it’s completely normal to be questioning your goal time at this point in training. I’m glad that you’re giving yourself permission to be less aggressive – give yourself permission to be aggressive, too! You have made such incredible progress in the last year – you amaze and absolutely humble me. And talk about feeling slow, take a look at my times, and I’m even younger than you!
I can’t wait to read about your destroying the course at Philly.
ps: I know there are only so many hours in the day. I miss you on the Women’s BQ thread, but there’s no way in hell you’ll catch me in the 3:20, so please continue to pop in every now and then!
Ah, I get it. We get to tell jhowdy to stop selling himself so short, and forget our own confidence problems for a while. Nice work jhowdy. I can see you two at the Philly finish now, happy and laughing. It doesn’t really matter who gets there first, although if it comes down to a final kick that would be fun.
Barb, I expect to see you in the 3:20 thread before too long, so don’t even think that nonsense! And thank you so much for always saying such nice things about me, I totally don’t deserve it.
Jim, that’s the ticket! Truthfully though, when folks like Jhowdy and MichiganMama (who happens to have an almost identical Half time to me) think a sub3:20 is possibly beyond their reach, then I can’t help but think I must be overconfident by thinking I can do it since there’s nothing special I’m doing that they’re not.
And I totally don’t care who gets to the Philly finish first, Jhowdy’s a guy, you people are supposed to be faster (if he was a 48 year old woman, I’d be on him like white on rice, though…maybe even do the Kerrigan tire iron to the knee trick). My point has nothing to do with who finishes first, it’s about gathering hope and inspiration from each other. I need it as much as anyone.
Hey, why aren’t you doing Philly? We could all finish together holding hands. :-)
Oh yeah, dance through the finish holding hands with beatific smiles (keep that tire iron well hidden)
Phiilly’s a bit of a trek for me, and I’m running CIM two weeks later, thanks.
(Philly2CIM anyone? Like Boston2BigSur but for wimps!)
Lol Philly2CIM, that one I could actually consider. Those Boston2BigSur people have screws loose.
Not to pile on, but missy, you’ve made some insane progress in such a short time. Turn off the “what-if’s” and think about how far you’ve come from where you started-you’re not done by a long shot and I know that Philly WILL be Where Amazing Happens for you.
Flo, I joined the 3:20 group because I followed you in there. I had been reading your blog for a time and was impressed with the improvements you have been making. You aren’t the only one who is feeling that way from the group, I can assure you. You should be very proud of what you have accomplished, and I don’t believe for a second that you have reached your potential. I’m look forward to your marathon!
RTI, you are such a silly, yet another one with wings on their feet being all modest. You’ve gotten so zoomy in a short few months, really fun to watch the improvements. Stevi picked a fast ‘un!
Doggie, Jackie, Jim, LArunner, Robert, Zab, Jhowdy, Ewen, MichiganMama, Blackbear, Christi, Barb, Kazz, RTI…
OK since I stay away from the 3:20 board on RW I have to post on here that you are freakin SUPER WOMAN RUNNER, and total inspiration to me. I swear I am in awwww of the level of dedication you have put into running. I know I will never run 70 plus (make that 50) miles a week, but if I can put just a quarter of your dedication into getting my own running crazy things could happen. Heck maybe one day Runthruit and I will actually be able to go running together at a pace that is not too slow for him….or too fast for me. Seriously, thanks for being an inspiration, and you have SOOOO much more in you that it is truly going to be exciting to watch.
Hey Stevi! Stick yourself up in that group hug, you definitely belong there.
Flo, I understand how you feel. I was on the thread last fall and because of health reasons scrubed my marathon. I was very bummed out and didn’t want to even read the boards. I have been lurking most of the summer but didn’t feel WORTHY to join back in. It was stupid on my part. The paces and times many of the 3:20 members run are incredible. I just ran the slowest 10K I have ever run. It was a hilly course but it was still a PW. I am going to run the hilly Charlotte marathon. My goal is to run the best I can that day. If it is sub 3:20 or sub 3:30 I will be happy. I haven’t run a marathon in almost 4 years. So few marathon runners today actually try to do the best they can. That is what we all have in common on the thread. We are all dedicated to doing the best we can. You are doing great.
David
David, what a nice post, thanks for speaking up. It’s cool that you rejoined the thread, I look forward to getting to know you better. And screw that PW, you’ll find redemption with your very next race, I’m sure. You’re brave to run a hilly marathon, I haven’t even graduated to that level yet.
[...] slowing down alot for the second half of the race. I started to slow down and then remembered a post I had read the other week by Flo of Girl in Motion. She talked about setting goals, not reaching [...]