Wednesday, November 22, 2006
4980 and 13.1 ...
Today is an exciting day.
The weather forecast gives me an idea of what to expect tomorrow. It will probably be between 35 - 40 degrees at the start line, but warming up slightly during the day and with nice, clear skies. Looks like a great way to run.
Yesterday I went into our downtown office, which is just about 5 minutes from where the expo for the event was hosted. A co-worker and I headed over only to find the parking deck was sold out. We ended up deciding instead of driving around for 20 minutes trying to find a space, we'd just pay the valet and be done with it. Valet parked for 10 minutes! Hey, time is money and my 20 minutes is worth more than $6.
The expo was a lot larger than the last one, which makes sense, as it is a bigger event. I enjoyed browsing the various booths and actually made an "expo purchase." The only element missing from my gear for tomorrow's run was a pair of gloves. At $2 I figured I couldn't go wrong, and now my mits will be well-protected.
I picked up my bib and timing chip. The bib number is 4980. This is the number to look for crossing the finish line before 2 hours are over ... that is the goal.
What do statistics think of my goal?
This calculator predicts two times for me:
1. Based on my 5K of 28:00 very early in my training, the predicted half marathon time is 2:09:26. This would beat my PR of 2:16 in the Black Hills of South Dakota by 7 minutes.
2. Based on my 10K of 57:18, later in my training, the predicted half marathon time is 2:07. That's a few minutes shaved off. So where does the other 7 - or 30 seconds faster each mile over 13.1 miles - come from?
That's a good question. I'd say two places. First, I've done plenty of longer runs and it takes a few weeks for the body to adjust. I've revised my strategy and found what works. But, most importantly, I'm looking for something else a little less scientific to carry me through the finish line with an overall 9-minute pace. Heart. A lot of faith and heart to push through and give an effort above and beyond my training runs.
Let me say there are really three goals coming into this ... because remember, my "ultimate" larger goal is a 50-mile ultramarathon. This is a step on the way, part of the training process.
Priority 1: Finish. Nuff said.
Priority 2: Sub-10. This is what I feel I am capable of and SHOULD be able to do given my training, level of fitness, etc.
Priority 3: 9-minute pace - this is where I feel I should be if I truly give it all I've got.
After looking through my running journals, I realized just how much of a taper I've really had. Due to the persistent cough and feeling under the weather, last minute travel and lots of hours working on various projects, I haven't run but a few times the past few weeks. Compare that with the volume I'm going to need to work into in order to meet my marathon goal for March. It's going to be challenging, but if it weren't, I wouldn't be doing this at all.
I'm confident because my 10 mile run, my 8 mile run, and the past several runs have come from ease and with decent paces, and that's without the adrenaline and pushing forward that comes with a race.
So, here I am, not knowing what to expect except that I will ask of my body nothing less than every effort it can put forth. I'm not holding back just because it's a holiday tomorrow or this isn't my ultimate goal. It's part of the ongoing "test" of life and part of how we FEEL alive, by testing ourselves and pushing our limits.
I don't want to be a recreational runner. That doesn't mean I expect to be elite, but I won't take average. That's not a judgement against people who run less or slower or have other struggles, not at all. It's a challenge to myself because I know what I am capable of and anything less is falling short.
As surely as I am drinking from a coffee cup that reads, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined..." I can say I've fallen a bit short in the past year due to lots of changes. The rollercoaster ride was worth every up and down but along the way I lost a bit of focus and this journey is pulling that focus back.
Today, my parents have set out from Florida and will be making the 8-hour (okay, let's face it, with today's traffic perhaps a 10 or 12 hour) drive here to Atlanta. I don't know if they'll be at the race or not, which is fine, but I look forward to their company. My mom is an avid runner and was hoping to run some event here but is not ready to take on a half marathon. I'm sure she'll be excited and that just adds to my own excitement and resolve.
I'll also be joining some old friends and associates for lunch, some who I have not seen in years.
My wife and daughter have decorated the home in anticipation of my parents' arrival. We're going to do Christmas early with them as we will not see them again before the end of the year. Even our dog, Lizzie, seems to be excited and senses that something fun is going to happen.
I'll focus on my carbohydrates today. I'm not one to drown myself in fluids because I don't believe in changing things drastically on race day, so I'm sticking to my regular hydration schedule. Tomorrow it will be up at 4am and then a nice drive to the MARTA station where I'll catch a train to the start line.
Then it's 4980 and 13.1.
It's T. S. Eliot and Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
It's The Pursit of Greatness.
It's an exciting journey and I look forward to posting the results sometime after today.
Warmly,
Jeremy Likness
The weather forecast gives me an idea of what to expect tomorrow. It will probably be between 35 - 40 degrees at the start line, but warming up slightly during the day and with nice, clear skies. Looks like a great way to run.
Yesterday I went into our downtown office, which is just about 5 minutes from where the expo for the event was hosted. A co-worker and I headed over only to find the parking deck was sold out. We ended up deciding instead of driving around for 20 minutes trying to find a space, we'd just pay the valet and be done with it. Valet parked for 10 minutes! Hey, time is money and my 20 minutes is worth more than $6.
The expo was a lot larger than the last one, which makes sense, as it is a bigger event. I enjoyed browsing the various booths and actually made an "expo purchase." The only element missing from my gear for tomorrow's run was a pair of gloves. At $2 I figured I couldn't go wrong, and now my mits will be well-protected.
I picked up my bib and timing chip. The bib number is 4980. This is the number to look for crossing the finish line before 2 hours are over ... that is the goal.
What do statistics think of my goal?
This calculator predicts two times for me:
1. Based on my 5K of 28:00 very early in my training, the predicted half marathon time is 2:09:26. This would beat my PR of 2:16 in the Black Hills of South Dakota by 7 minutes.
2. Based on my 10K of 57:18, later in my training, the predicted half marathon time is 2:07. That's a few minutes shaved off. So where does the other 7 - or 30 seconds faster each mile over 13.1 miles - come from?
That's a good question. I'd say two places. First, I've done plenty of longer runs and it takes a few weeks for the body to adjust. I've revised my strategy and found what works. But, most importantly, I'm looking for something else a little less scientific to carry me through the finish line with an overall 9-minute pace. Heart. A lot of faith and heart to push through and give an effort above and beyond my training runs.
Let me say there are really three goals coming into this ... because remember, my "ultimate" larger goal is a 50-mile ultramarathon. This is a step on the way, part of the training process.
Priority 1: Finish. Nuff said.
Priority 2: Sub-10. This is what I feel I am capable of and SHOULD be able to do given my training, level of fitness, etc.
Priority 3: 9-minute pace - this is where I feel I should be if I truly give it all I've got.
After looking through my running journals, I realized just how much of a taper I've really had. Due to the persistent cough and feeling under the weather, last minute travel and lots of hours working on various projects, I haven't run but a few times the past few weeks. Compare that with the volume I'm going to need to work into in order to meet my marathon goal for March. It's going to be challenging, but if it weren't, I wouldn't be doing this at all.
I'm confident because my 10 mile run, my 8 mile run, and the past several runs have come from ease and with decent paces, and that's without the adrenaline and pushing forward that comes with a race.
So, here I am, not knowing what to expect except that I will ask of my body nothing less than every effort it can put forth. I'm not holding back just because it's a holiday tomorrow or this isn't my ultimate goal. It's part of the ongoing "test" of life and part of how we FEEL alive, by testing ourselves and pushing our limits.
I don't want to be a recreational runner. That doesn't mean I expect to be elite, but I won't take average. That's not a judgement against people who run less or slower or have other struggles, not at all. It's a challenge to myself because I know what I am capable of and anything less is falling short.
As surely as I am drinking from a coffee cup that reads, "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined..." I can say I've fallen a bit short in the past year due to lots of changes. The rollercoaster ride was worth every up and down but along the way I lost a bit of focus and this journey is pulling that focus back.
Today, my parents have set out from Florida and will be making the 8-hour (okay, let's face it, with today's traffic perhaps a 10 or 12 hour) drive here to Atlanta. I don't know if they'll be at the race or not, which is fine, but I look forward to their company. My mom is an avid runner and was hoping to run some event here but is not ready to take on a half marathon. I'm sure she'll be excited and that just adds to my own excitement and resolve.
I'll also be joining some old friends and associates for lunch, some who I have not seen in years.
My wife and daughter have decorated the home in anticipation of my parents' arrival. We're going to do Christmas early with them as we will not see them again before the end of the year. Even our dog, Lizzie, seems to be excited and senses that something fun is going to happen.
I'll focus on my carbohydrates today. I'm not one to drown myself in fluids because I don't believe in changing things drastically on race day, so I'm sticking to my regular hydration schedule. Tomorrow it will be up at 4am and then a nice drive to the MARTA station where I'll catch a train to the start line.
Then it's 4980 and 13.1.
It's T. S. Eliot and Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
It's The Pursit of Greatness.
It's an exciting journey and I look forward to posting the results sometime after today.
Warmly,
Jeremy Likness
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