November 29th, 2007
So it’s been about 9 months since starting my run/walk program and the general consensus is that my improvements have been on the rapid side, which is extremely heartening.
I’m a glutton for running books, forums, articles, anything I can lay my hands on, so that helped tremendously when I began training for my first Half Marathon last September – the PDR (Philly Distance Run). I fashioned a program using the Runner’s World SmartCoach as a base, but tweaked it all over the place. I added mileage, a weekly tempo run, speedwork every other week, lengthened the long run, all of which whittled my pace down at a steady rate.
My last race of the season was a Turkey Trot, where I placed 2nd in my Age Group (40-49) with a 23:30. It was a PR for me, but what was sobering was that the first 3 Overall women to cross the finish were also in my AG, the fastest getting a time of 18:13 (unbelievable…she’s 46, like me!), the other two, sub-21s. So I started a thread in the Boomer forum of Coolrunning.com to see what type of numbers I can expect to be looking at if I keep working hard. Sub-21 was agreed by most, with some saying sub-20. Well. That certainly makes things interesting.
One of the responders suggested I get a coach, others agreed, so here I am, in the midst of setting a time up for next week with an actual running coach! Freaks me out a little, because although I’ve been driven from the start, this is suddenly becoming more serious in that I’m increasing the pressure on myself. And here I was going to be lazy and enjoy the winter, running without a goal in mind.
Lol, me hiring a coach. Hilarious coming from the fat drama-class girl who skipped PE and smoked cigarettes in the school bathroom.
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good luck with the coach! I better keep looking over my shoulder in any races your in; you will surely be one of those closing in on me rapidly!
Lol, Matt, you were born ahead of me and with those lightening legs of yours, you’ll forever stay ahead of me, but it’s a pleasure to chase your ass in every race we share. ;-)
I too have recently thought about working with a coach, been a bit directionless of late. Finished the couch to 5k, have done the 1 hour runner, and no idea what I want to do next. I’ve taken on board a marathon program, tweaked it a bit, as you have :-) and at the end of it, will reconsider investing in some coaching, but in the meantime, happy to go out and run.
Have fun!!!
Hey Audrey, congratulations on getting up to an hour! You’re braver than me, going for a Full so soon. Having a plan of any kind (with a race at the end of it) is excellent for gaining direction and motivation. A good plan keeps you busy for 16 weeks and then, before you know it, it’s a whole ‘nuther season and more races to work towards. Best of luck with the marathon (which should definitely take care of that direction problem)!