After Saturday’s run, I was discussing my Seattle game plan with the BF. Perfect person to throw running ideas around to, given the fact that he doesn’t run because he is so fearful of a knee injury. He needs a down filled bubble to put his delicate self into for protection. But, cripes, I AM worried and the Seattle Marathon is in 20-some days. I think I just poo’ed a little thinking about how close it really is.
I can’t slog the whole thing at a constant pace. The last couple weekends, I have failed on my attempts. I know I can stay upright and moving by walking part and slogging part, but I can’t slog it all. I feel I need more time to prepare. Like another 30 years. But, hey. The Provo Marathon is in 6 months. Maybe that will be enough time to prepare? It will be my birthday weekend…
I want to finish before the 7 hours when they open the roads to traffic. Like 6-6:30, only because my half marathon time was 3 hours, I can double that, plus some and get my marathon goal time?
I have been hurting at the end of the long runs. But I do start out too fast for me and I am not yet fit enough to really power though the whole 26 miles. I have a hard time slowing my start, staying at a constant speed and feeling strong at the end. Even if I walk/run the last few miles of my long runs, my knees feel so stiff and swollen they don’t like the changes in speed and I just stay walking.
I don’t want to cramp up or not be able to walk back to my hotel room after the race. I will be doing this completely alone with no BF to support me. All by my sorta-lonesome self. Well, I am visiting a couple Seattle area friends and maybe a co-workers son, but no one I expect at the marathon or after. So I have to not hurt so bad I can’t get back to my room.
I was thinking, what if I walk the 1st half and slog the 2nd half. Could I start out with the walkers then? Or should I start out with the runners like I signed up for and then gimp towards the finish? I can walk lots of miles, and I know I can handle 13+ miles slogging. I am comfortable with 13. Even 16. But 26 miles slogging, I am getting worried.
The Seattle Marathon page says that the course “allows for a 25 min/mile pace for walkers and an 18 min/mile pace for runners.” Well, according to Mr. Garmin, I walk anywhere from a 17-19min/mile and my runs are no slower then 15 when I walk part of it, with an average of 13 when I slog.
Gawd, I am sssslllooowwww.
My head knows I can do this, but my body- I am not sure yet.
Maybe I should pay attention to Monday’s horoscope and relax a bit.
Taurus There’s no need to work yourself into a state of high anxiety, especially since the conclusions you draw today are likely built upon incorrect assumptions. You cannot trust your senses now because you can’t help projecting your fantasies onto the events you perceive, creating a loss of objectivity. Enjoy the movie your mind is directing, but keep in mind that it’s a work of fiction rather than a documentary. Your view of reality will be clear again in a few days.
