Just a couple of days ago I was visiting people on the other side of the Mersey River and, now that the Bike Track has been extended, I decided to change my planned course and run to Tea Tree lane at Pardoe Beach, which turned out to be the same distance (28k) that I had intended to run today.
After a great breakfast of risotto and toast (then a banana and muesli bar) I had my bottles filled with Staminade so I could depart at around 1pm, meaning I would be back before it became too cold and dark. I had my mind fixed on running it in around 3hrs, having done a similar distance of two laps of the Bike Track from home three weeks ago in a time of 3:03:59 (that's 6:34/k).
With that time in mind, I set off at a slowish pace (or so I thought) but I found that I was plodding on much faster than I had anticipated. When I realised what I was doing I decided to keep going at that pace because it felt comfortable. I did question whether, at 7k, I should turn back and have a shorter run but thought better of it. It didn't take long before I had run through that small difficult patch and was again enjoying what I was doing.
I was still running quite strongly (for me) at the 14k mark where I turned though I noticed my pace just easing slightly. Crossing back over Victoria Bridge I found a bit more difficult as I plodded up the incline to get over the Mersey and from then on my running was over 6min/k.
As soon as I had run through the half marathon mark (2:03:23 or 5.51/k which was a PB of 2:59) I decided that I had had enough of that pace. I immediately stopped running and started walking while I drank the last bottle of my drink and ate the rest of the snakes. From then on I decided that fartlek would be a good idea so finished off the last quarter of my run by alternating between jogging and walking according the to conditions and how I felt. I arrived home in a time of 2:56:29 (6.18/k) so I still managed to come in under the 3hrs I had as a target.
It is obvious that my ability to judge my pace is hopeless, hence the last quarter of today's run. Maybe I need someone to run with me who can help me out in that way!
In spite of my not "finishing" the whole course by running I do not feel defeated or thinking "never again". It's simply a lesson I have to learn and I did enjoy what I did! My short-term goals at the moment are to run the half marathon in under 2hrs, the marathon in under 5hrs and to be able to cover 45k (6ft Track distance).
I am now starting my three-week taper to get ready for a half marathon on Saturday, 2nd July to coincide with the following day's Gold Coast half marathon (I realised that I didn't have enough time to get ready for the full marathon). However, in the midst of these three weeks of taper I will run a fast 10k on Monday, 20th June (the day after the Launceston Ten). I'm hoping that I will be ready for the full marathon distance by the end of August as the Ross marathon will be run on the first Sunday in September (we'll be in Melbourne on our way to Sydney for my mum's 90th birthday).
If anyone is interested in seeing the various splits the link is:
http://connect.garmin.com/splits/91504282
When I was young we called the jogging/walking/jogging/walking sequence "Scout's Pace"
ReplyDeleteYou did well, my darling :-)
Good that you enjoyed it. That's the most important thing. Now, the question that you have to ask yourself is, "Do I want to enjoy the marathon?", because if you do, you'd better learn to slow down! :-)
ReplyDeleteA 5 hour marathon is slower than 7 minute pace. I know that you are allowing time for things to crumble at the end, but they don't have to. Start at the pace you want to finish and the crumbles are out of the question.
Ok. You have a 1/2 coming up. Taper well (reduce the distance, not the intensity or number of sessions) and have a real crack. All the long stuff will stand you in very good stead. It's going to be a good one.
THEN... when you're back to marathon training, start your next long run at 6:15 pace and don't deviate. Don't excuse yourself by blaming your ability to pace. That ability comes with repetition and discipline. Blame the "I decided to keep going at that pace" thoughts. That's where it's coming undone. Train with all that in mind and you'll be amazed at what you're going to achieve.