Jonathan Bennett wrote a flattering profile on his Run for Speed blog.
Cory's St. George Marathon
Run for Speed Blog
Saturday, October 27, 2007
New 5K PR
This morning's Run The Woodlands 5K went well. I clocked a new personal record (PR) of 20:48.
It was a cool morning. But I warmed up soon after the start. I worked my way through the small group of runners to the front of the pack. (One of the entertaining aspects of The Woodlands run for me is the fact that I can stay with the frontrunners for awhile, if I choose to.) I found myself in second place 2/3 mile into the run. My pace was a bit faster than I wanted and I knew that I'd pay for it later. I dropped to third then fourth place during the second mile as my pace slowed from 6:27 over the first mile to 6:56 for the second. I had planned to hold the second mile at 6:45 but just wasn't able to do it. Over the last mile I was passed by a few other runners even though I held my third mile pace at 6:55 (my plan was for 7:00). I ended with a decent kick over the final 0.1 mile. I covered it in 0:29. I finished in 9th place.
My stomach started bothering me about half way into the race. I haven't had that problem before. It just felt like my stomach was empty even though I ate earlier this morning. I'm not exactly sure what to make of that situation.
On the one hand I'm pleased with the run after not training for 6 days (that's the longest break I've taken since March). On the other hand, it seems like I can do better. There's some time to be had over that second mile. I'm closer to my 20:30 5K goal. Of all the goal times, I've laid out for myself I expect this one to be the easiest to reach.
FOOTNOTE: The anticipated dual with Cameron never materialized as Cameron found himself afflicted with the common teenage malady that I call "mattress-itis". You know that's the one where a person finds a mattress attached to their back in the morning and are unable to free themselves from it. My guess is that he knew he wasn't ready for the challenge so he just folded before he found himself embarrassed.
It was a cool morning. But I warmed up soon after the start. I worked my way through the small group of runners to the front of the pack. (One of the entertaining aspects of The Woodlands run for me is the fact that I can stay with the frontrunners for awhile, if I choose to.) I found myself in second place 2/3 mile into the run. My pace was a bit faster than I wanted and I knew that I'd pay for it later. I dropped to third then fourth place during the second mile as my pace slowed from 6:27 over the first mile to 6:56 for the second. I had planned to hold the second mile at 6:45 but just wasn't able to do it. Over the last mile I was passed by a few other runners even though I held my third mile pace at 6:55 (my plan was for 7:00). I ended with a decent kick over the final 0.1 mile. I covered it in 0:29. I finished in 9th place.
My stomach started bothering me about half way into the race. I haven't had that problem before. It just felt like my stomach was empty even though I ate earlier this morning. I'm not exactly sure what to make of that situation.
On the one hand I'm pleased with the run after not training for 6 days (that's the longest break I've taken since March). On the other hand, it seems like I can do better. There's some time to be had over that second mile. I'm closer to my 20:30 5K goal. Of all the goal times, I've laid out for myself I expect this one to be the easiest to reach.
FOOTNOTE: The anticipated dual with Cameron never materialized as Cameron found himself afflicted with the common teenage malady that I call "mattress-itis". You know that's the one where a person finds a mattress attached to their back in the morning and are unable to free themselves from it. My guess is that he knew he wasn't ready for the challenge so he just folded before he found himself embarrassed.
I'm Floundering!
No goals ... no training schedule ... no motivation ....
That's what I'm feeling right now. So it's time to take the bull by horns and get organized with my running!
My objective is to qualify for the Boston Marathon. The required time for 40-44 year old men is 3:20. That's a big jump from my 3:40 in St. George (which I'm finding is an EXTREMELY fast course on which I had absolutely PERFECT conditions ... I've even read several bloggers suggest that St. George allows marathoners to record inflated PR's ... not that good for my confidence!). But I think with some focus and effort, I can get there.
Here's the plan I'm toying with but not yet committed to:
GOALS
5K - 20:30 (current PR 21:35)
10K - 42:37 (current PR 45:31)
HLF - 1:34:50 (current PR 1:46:09)
MAR - 3:20:00 (current PR 3:40:18)
To accomplish this I've got to introduce more speed work into my training. I used Runners World Smart Coach for my St. George training program and it worked well. I'm a bit reluctant to go away from it but I think I'm going to try a training program by the Furman Institute of Running & Scientific Training. The program seems to focus on intense, quality workouts without "junk" mileage. I'll follow the FIRST program for my next marathon and see what kind of results I get.
I dropped the Cajun Classic from my race schedule since I don't think I'll be ready to challenge my goal time by then (due to my recent slack training regimen!). My new race schedule is something like this:
Oct 27 - Run The Woodlands 5K (Cameron plans to beat me and I expect he will but I won't go down easily!)
Nov 22 - Ogden Regional Medical Center 5 Mile Run (We'll be in Utah for Thanksgiving so I'll give this one a shot. It will probably be COLD! I'd like to come in somewhere near 34:00 but that will be a challenge.)
May 17 - Ogden Marathon (It should be nice to get back on the Ogden course. I saw the last half in 2007 so that should help from a tactical standpoint. I also plan to get a pacing strategy from the guy who designed the pacing schedule I used in St. George. My goal here is 3:30:00.)
Oct 4 - St. George Marathon (A return to the scene of my maiden marathon. Hopefully I can get through the lottery again this year and get back on that fast track. If not, my backup marathon at the moment appears to be the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton, PA [Oct 12])
That's what I'm feeling right now. So it's time to take the bull by horns and get organized with my running!
My objective is to qualify for the Boston Marathon. The required time for 40-44 year old men is 3:20. That's a big jump from my 3:40 in St. George (which I'm finding is an EXTREMELY fast course on which I had absolutely PERFECT conditions ... I've even read several bloggers suggest that St. George allows marathoners to record inflated PR's ... not that good for my confidence!). But I think with some focus and effort, I can get there.
Here's the plan I'm toying with but not yet committed to:
GOALS
5K - 20:30 (current PR 21:35)
10K - 42:37 (current PR 45:31)
HLF - 1:34:50 (current PR 1:46:09)
MAR - 3:20:00 (current PR 3:40:18)
To accomplish this I've got to introduce more speed work into my training. I used Runners World Smart Coach for my St. George training program and it worked well. I'm a bit reluctant to go away from it but I think I'm going to try a training program by the Furman Institute of Running & Scientific Training. The program seems to focus on intense, quality workouts without "junk" mileage. I'll follow the FIRST program for my next marathon and see what kind of results I get.
I dropped the Cajun Classic from my race schedule since I don't think I'll be ready to challenge my goal time by then (due to my recent slack training regimen!). My new race schedule is something like this:
Oct 27 - Run The Woodlands 5K (Cameron plans to beat me and I expect he will but I won't go down easily!)
Nov 22 - Ogden Regional Medical Center 5 Mile Run (We'll be in Utah for Thanksgiving so I'll give this one a shot. It will probably be COLD! I'd like to come in somewhere near 34:00 but that will be a challenge.)
May 17 - Ogden Marathon (It should be nice to get back on the Ogden course. I saw the last half in 2007 so that should help from a tactical standpoint. I also plan to get a pacing strategy from the guy who designed the pacing schedule I used in St. George. My goal here is 3:30:00.)
Oct 4 - St. George Marathon (A return to the scene of my maiden marathon. Hopefully I can get through the lottery again this year and get back on that fast track. If not, my backup marathon at the moment appears to be the Steamtown Marathon in Scranton, PA [Oct 12])
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Baton Rouge 4-Miler
Cameron and I spent the night at Jonathan's mom's place in Baton Rouge after last night's LSU-Auburn game.
Jonathan and I started the 4-mile loop around University Lake at 7 AM. It was very nice to have new scenery and I always enjoy running with Jonathan. He's training for the White Rock Marathon in Dallas. He's also getting faster every time out - it seems! I'm confident he'll have a succesful marathon debut in December. He's following that up with the Houston Marathon in January.
Cameron and I made the 4 1/2 drive home this afternoon. Paige will be back from California tomorrow.
Jonathan and I started the 4-mile loop around University Lake at 7 AM. It was very nice to have new scenery and I always enjoy running with Jonathan. He's training for the White Rock Marathon in Dallas. He's also getting faster every time out - it seems! I'm confident he'll have a succesful marathon debut in December. He's following that up with the Houston Marathon in January.
Cameron and I made the 4 1/2 drive home this afternoon. Paige will be back from California tomorrow.
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