Sometimes everything falls into place, despite a few minor hiccups. (One was that I found out two days before the race that my left shoe was torn. With no other marathon-capable shoes in my collection, I bought a new pair the day before the race - breaking one of the cardinal rules not to try anything new on race day. But I did buy the same type of shoe I had done my training in and used the old insoles.)
The weather was spectacular: chilly, sunny and dry. The course was amazing, gently rolling and with amazing ocean and mountain views. A fantastic organization and friendly positive volunteers also helped confirm my positive frame of mind.
I'll post a race report later. For now, I'll just tell you that I crossed the finish line in 3:07:10 - a 98-second PB. Pretty happy.
October 13, 2008
October 08, 2008
Approaching Marathon Race Day
Four days until race day! I love the feeling of pre-marathon excitement mixed with trepidation about the final 12km. But I've forgotten enough about the misery of the Vancouver marathon in May this year that I am happily looking forward to the Victoria marathon.
Training has been a bit mixed - as noted before here, I didn't feel right pretty much from the start in the Vancouver marathon. And in the months since then I've been a bit tired and flat, running some of my slowest times in my speed sessions since Pat Carroll became my coach in June 2005.
Both Pat and I have been at a loss to find a reason, but perhaps driving across Canada by myself, another 4000km roadtrip and a slew of international visitors required more energy than I realized. In the last two months, the stressful process of buying a house and starting renovations has also left me more tired than usual obviously.
As always, I have thoroughly enjoyed my training - running is just such an important part of my life as it really helps me clear or organize my mind and recharge mentally. As Tim also decided to enter the Victoria marathon, we've been doing our long runs together which of course makes it more fun.
Since Vancouver I've only done two races, a 10k mon the road (finishing 90secs slower than most recent ones) and a 15km trail race. Last Friday, I had for the first time in six months a speed session that made sense with my times earlier in the year. While that's very promising, it makes it hard to set a goal time for this marathon.
Pat and I agreed on aiming for 3:10 and see how that goes. My PB is 3:08:48, set in Canberra in April 2007, and my most recent time is 3:12:26 (Vancouver in May 2008).
I cannot wait for race day, whatever it will bring. I love a challenge and a marathon will always provide that!
The forecast for Victoria on Sunday is for a dry sunny day with temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees.
Training has been a bit mixed - as noted before here, I didn't feel right pretty much from the start in the Vancouver marathon. And in the months since then I've been a bit tired and flat, running some of my slowest times in my speed sessions since Pat Carroll became my coach in June 2005.
Both Pat and I have been at a loss to find a reason, but perhaps driving across Canada by myself, another 4000km roadtrip and a slew of international visitors required more energy than I realized. In the last two months, the stressful process of buying a house and starting renovations has also left me more tired than usual obviously.
As always, I have thoroughly enjoyed my training - running is just such an important part of my life as it really helps me clear or organize my mind and recharge mentally. As Tim also decided to enter the Victoria marathon, we've been doing our long runs together which of course makes it more fun.
Since Vancouver I've only done two races, a 10k mon the road (finishing 90secs slower than most recent ones) and a 15km trail race. Last Friday, I had for the first time in six months a speed session that made sense with my times earlier in the year. While that's very promising, it makes it hard to set a goal time for this marathon.
Pat and I agreed on aiming for 3:10 and see how that goes. My PB is 3:08:48, set in Canberra in April 2007, and my most recent time is 3:12:26 (Vancouver in May 2008).
I cannot wait for race day, whatever it will bring. I love a challenge and a marathon will always provide that!
The forecast for Victoria on Sunday is for a dry sunny day with temperatures between 5 and 10 degrees.
August 19, 2008
Little blogging, still training
It's been a while since updates. But that doesn't mean I have slacked off my running. While I've been tired overall since the Vancouver marathon, which I have mostly noticed in slow times for my timed repeats, I am still enjoying my training. And I am still planning to race the Victoria marathon in less than 8 weeks from now.
Last Sunday I did the first of my four 3-hour runs for this race. Given that Tim was away, and I was on my own for the whole thing, I was pleased with how it went. Part of my time was spent thinking about the three incidents of that week, all in the area and therefore making the `bear in area' signs come to life during my runs. But thankfully I didn't come across any black fur.
And the most recent Sunday had me race for the first time since May 3. The race was a 10k in Richmond. The setting was great, and the course was pancake flat. While I ran my slowest time in a long time (I am afraid to look it up), I was happy with my near-perfect pacing and not hurting too much for too long. As an added bonus, I was third female.
This weekend I am doing my second 3-hr training run and hopefully this time Tim will keep me company - he is also toying with entering the Victoria marathon.
Last Sunday I did the first of my four 3-hour runs for this race. Given that Tim was away, and I was on my own for the whole thing, I was pleased with how it went. Part of my time was spent thinking about the three incidents of that week, all in the area and therefore making the `bear in area' signs come to life during my runs. But thankfully I didn't come across any black fur.
And the most recent Sunday had me race for the first time since May 3. The race was a 10k in Richmond. The setting was great, and the course was pancake flat. While I ran my slowest time in a long time (I am afraid to look it up), I was happy with my near-perfect pacing and not hurting too much for too long. As an added bonus, I was third female.
This weekend I am doing my second 3-hr training run and hopefully this time Tim will keep me company - he is also toying with entering the Victoria marathon.
June 27, 2008
Back to Timed Repeats
On Tuesday I had to run my first timed repeats since I did the Vancouver marathon on May 4. Some six weeks without them has been nice. But also good to see where I am at.
My sessions was 8 x 500m, with as much rest in between them as I wanted. I did them on a path nearby that has 500m and K markers. The section was flattish with some undulations.
My 500m times were:
1.48.8
1min rest
1.52.6
1.08 rest
1.50.0
1.30 rest
1.51.8
1.45 rest
1.48.3
1.50 rest
1.47.6
3.41 rest
1.43.9
2.39 rest
1.43.2
I had to report those back to my coach. He said that meant I averaged about 1:48, and gave me a goal for today's session. I have to run 5 1K repeats, with 1 minute rest between each. My goal is to run them in 3:48 or faster.
My sessions was 8 x 500m, with as much rest in between them as I wanted. I did them on a path nearby that has 500m and K markers. The section was flattish with some undulations.
My 500m times were:
1.48.8
1min rest
1.52.6
1.08 rest
1.50.0
1.30 rest
1.51.8
1.45 rest
1.48.3
1.50 rest
1.47.6
3.41 rest
1.43.9
2.39 rest
1.43.2
I had to report those back to my coach. He said that meant I averaged about 1:48, and gave me a goal for today's session. I have to run 5 1K repeats, with 1 minute rest between each. My goal is to run them in 3:48 or faster.
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