First off, let’s get some time goals down, shall we? Set in stone for posterity.
S Goal: Whatever Garmin says. Right now it says 2:13:34, or a 10:12/mi pace. Typically you only do an A/B/C goal, but I add this one because the Garmin predictor seems insane to me. Maybe Garmin is right, maybe I can hold a 10:12/mi pace for 13 miles, but it also suggests my 5k race time is 27:08, which is an 8:44/mi pace. I tried that at the CVIM 5k and could only get one mile in before I had to stop. Really, I think the issue is less my biomechanical ability and more my mental ability. Reminds me of when I was trying to bench two plates. Took me forever because I had a mental block.
In any case, I’m not aiming for that goal.
A Goal: 2:18:30, or 10:34/mi pace. I know, 22 seconds between S Goal and A Goal. Doesn’t seem like that much, does it? I would’ve said the same thing a few months ago. Now, I know that those 22 seconds are the difference between a threshold run and a tempo run. This might be easier for me to hang onto for 13 miles, especially if I can start slow. I’ve got this one set up in Garmin’s PacePro plan for negative splits; hopefully the slow start will aid me in a faster finish.
B Goal: 2:30:00, or 11:27/mi. I really don’t want to be slower than 2:30, and I’m fairly confident I can keep this one up. My Foot Traffic Flat quarter marathon pace was 11:32/mi and my run/walk pace during the CVIM 5k was still around 10:00/mi so even if I have to walk sometimes, I’m sure I can keep my time below 2:30. Unless I have to take a big poop or my calves cramp up or something.
C Goal: C goal is always to just complete the damn thing. The race has a time limit (cause cars, bleh) which equates to a 30:00/mi pace for the half. So ultimately there is no way I will not finish this thing.
This morning I ran a 10k with an average 11:25/mi pace, and that was a tempo interval workout with recovery in between. I think the training over the past couple of months has me perfectly set up for anywhere between 10:00 and 11:30/mi pace. Now let’s just RUN THE DAMN THING ALREADY.
Fueling: I’ve done too little fuel training and the other night I realized I’m going to be running in shorts that only have little pockets for gels. I’ve been eating M&Ms. So we’ll have to figure this out.
This morning I trained with LIV hydration powder, lemon lime flavor (generously gifted to me at the CVIM 5k) and M&Ms. The powder was mixed into my Nathan handheld water bottle. It says to mix it with 16oz of water but I think the bottle only holds 10 or 12 ounces. In any case, that shit is tart. In a good way! Tart like wake me up tart. Seemed to hydrate me as well. I didn’t drink a ton because I’m trying to figure out how much to drink while I’m running. Water is easy but I don’t want to overload on electrolytes.
The M&Ms … well, I took them out of their usual packaging and put them in a sandwich bag. I did this because my plan was to put them in one of the side pockets of my running belt, and the bag is too long. But this backfired because the sandwich bag is too big and loose and the M&Ms were a pain in the ass to get. Also, a pain in the ass to chew and swallow. Gels are probably better. Also! About 3/4ths of the way through my run I stuffed the bag into my belt pocket but I actually put them in between my belt strap and my body, which meant they fell out and I lost them. 🙁
The good news is that M&Ms don’t mess with my stomach, and the hydration seemed to work fine. I did buy a Powerade as a backup.
Lastly, I decided to buy a Garmin heart rate chest strap, which I hopefully will get today and can test out tomorrow. My watch seems to have difficulty finding my heart rate sometimes, which is fine day-to-day but during a run I’d like it to be a little more precise. Plus I like gadgets, and I like data. I feel like I’m weirdly obsessed with my heartbeat. Like, the other night I was going to bed and I thought about how weird it is that right before your heart beats, some cavities in there fill up with blood. Isn’t that weird? Our entire body has this liquid coursing through it every day. And that liquid is made up in part by blood cells, which are made in the middle of your BONES. What?! You’d think there would be an organ or something, a blood organ, that makes all your red blood cells. Nope, it’s your god damn bones. The things that keep you upright!
Anyway, I’ll finish this thing no problem. The only real question is, how fast will I do it? Which … I guess is a question everyone asks because it’s running and not, like, painting a picture.
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