Strategerie
Yes. Strategerie. I'm making up words. Cause that's how I roll.
So. This lil' race I'm running on Sunday...you know...the one with temperates hotter than hell? I've been trying to piece together how I want to tackle the course.
So much of this race for me will depend on the weather. I don't do well in heat. There's no denying that. And with it tentatively topping out in the mid 80's...I'm definitely not amused. As of this moment, here is my marathon plan...which is likely to change the minute I hit 'publish'...
First half...run betwen a 12:00-12:30 pace. I'll be at the halfway point somewhere in the 2:40-range.
Second half...if I'm feeling good, try to hang on to the 12:30 pace.
In the event that the heat is making me the abominable slowman (get it? hah! I'm so clever!) I'll slow down and try to maintain around a 13:00-13:15 pace.
For a 5:45 I need to average 13:09. I'd like to say I can do it...and I know I can (given optimal conditions)...but in such nasty heat I go slow. Brutally slow. I feel that so much about this race comes down to mother nature. Yes, I've trained in the heat all summer...but running in the early afternoon under a strong sun is nothing to write home about. PLUS, the race cut 2 aid stations compared to last year's race. Bloddy brilliant.
I keep telling myself it's too early to fret and there's absolutely nothing i can do to change the weather on Sunday. Anything can happen. I know this. I'll be running regardless of the skies offer up that day. It may just not be to the best of my potential.
So running to finish injury-free is my main objective. And if I come in with a new PR or a 5:45 or even a 5:30...then so be it. I figure I'll get my revenge on the 50k course at the end of the month.
In Barb's Non-Running Related World...
Last night's Maroon 5 concert was a fun time. Certainly not the best I've ever seen 'em (mostly because of the venue), but their new stuff sounds great live and they had minimal stage banter with seamless transitions. Well done, boys. Well done. On the whole, Mike and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I dig the power pop-rock vibe they've got going for 'em.
But tomorrow night...is quite possibly one of the most anticipated moments in rock (for me) since December 2, 2000. You see...tomorrow night I will see the Smashing Pumpkins for the first time in a long time (somewhere in the world both Mike and my mother are rolling their eyes at me). There are no words to describe myobsession with love for the pumpkins. I'll admit. I'm a bit nervous. I'm not sure what to expect (I'm not going in with much expectation, I'm just really excited to hear some of my favorite songs played live). I'm not certain what emotions, if any, the music will evoke this time around. I'm just pretty attached to their tunes...it's basically the soundtrack of my life.
I know that my husband will inevitably make fun of my fandom. And that's okay. He doesn't understand the obsession. Nor has he ever truly witnessed it first hand as the pumpkins had split before we started dating...and that makes me a bit nervous. He signed on for in sickness and in health...and this is definitely one of my "sicknesses." (Christmas being the other.)
Here's a little insight to the "sickness..."
Exhibit A: The Jan. 18, 2001 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine. The crying girl on the right in the bottom photo? Yours truly. (Photo taken from the "final" concert at Metro)
And there is a strong possibility that it'll be me again in another day.
If anything, this concert is a welcome diversion with my impending doom...er...I mean marathon. Get me through the concert and THEN I will worry about it being a bazillion degrees this Sunday.
Seriously though, is it weird that I'm more nervous about the pumpkins show than the marathon? What on earth is wrong with me?
So. This lil' race I'm running on Sunday...you know...the one with temperates hotter than hell? I've been trying to piece together how I want to tackle the course.
So much of this race for me will depend on the weather. I don't do well in heat. There's no denying that. And with it tentatively topping out in the mid 80's...I'm definitely not amused. As of this moment, here is my marathon plan...which is likely to change the minute I hit 'publish'...
First half...run betwen a 12:00-12:30 pace. I'll be at the halfway point somewhere in the 2:40-range.
Second half...if I'm feeling good, try to hang on to the 12:30 pace.
In the event that the heat is making me the abominable slowman (get it? hah! I'm so clever!) I'll slow down and try to maintain around a 13:00-13:15 pace.
For a 5:45 I need to average 13:09. I'd like to say I can do it...and I know I can (given optimal conditions)...but in such nasty heat I go slow. Brutally slow. I feel that so much about this race comes down to mother nature. Yes, I've trained in the heat all summer...but running in the early afternoon under a strong sun is nothing to write home about. PLUS, the race cut 2 aid stations compared to last year's race. Bloddy brilliant.
I keep telling myself it's too early to fret and there's absolutely nothing i can do to change the weather on Sunday. Anything can happen. I know this. I'll be running regardless of the skies offer up that day. It may just not be to the best of my potential.
So running to finish injury-free is my main objective. And if I come in with a new PR or a 5:45 or even a 5:30...then so be it. I figure I'll get my revenge on the 50k course at the end of the month.
In Barb's Non-Running Related World...
Last night's Maroon 5 concert was a fun time. Certainly not the best I've ever seen 'em (mostly because of the venue), but their new stuff sounds great live and they had minimal stage banter with seamless transitions. Well done, boys. Well done. On the whole, Mike and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. I dig the power pop-rock vibe they've got going for 'em.
But tomorrow night...is quite possibly one of the most anticipated moments in rock (for me) since December 2, 2000. You see...tomorrow night I will see the Smashing Pumpkins for the first time in a long time (somewhere in the world both Mike and my mother are rolling their eyes at me). There are no words to describe my
I know that my husband will inevitably make fun of my fandom. And that's okay. He doesn't understand the obsession. Nor has he ever truly witnessed it first hand as the pumpkins had split before we started dating...and that makes me a bit nervous. He signed on for in sickness and in health...and this is definitely one of my "sicknesses." (Christmas being the other.)
Here's a little insight to the "sickness..."
Exhibit A: The Jan. 18, 2001 issue of Rolling Stone Magazine. The crying girl on the right in the bottom photo? Yours truly. (Photo taken from the "final" concert at Metro)
And there is a strong possibility that it'll be me again in another day.
If anything, this concert is a welcome diversion with my impending doom...er...I mean marathon. Get me through the concert and THEN I will worry about it being a bazillion degrees this Sunday.
Seriously though, is it weird that I'm more nervous about the pumpkins show than the marathon? What on earth is wrong with me?
posted by Iron Jayhawk at 8:59 AM
9 Camper Comments:
Barb, you will do just fine. Keep up the fluid Friday and Saturday into Sunday morning. Bring lots of salt packets (remember what the Rock Doc always lectured...er, told us before P.F. Chang's) and a great attitude!
Thankfully, the heat doesn't have me worried. I'm used to heat. Besides, it may not get that warm until late in the afternoon, so we have the first few hours in relatively cool conditions.
LOTS and LOTS of water. At every aid station, grab a water and a gatorade. If you don't want to drink the water, dump it on your head. Also, if they have ice and you feel warm, take some and put it in your hat (if you're wearing one) or drop it in your shorts. (I've never tried the ice in the shorts trick, but I've heard it's very nice.)
You'll be totally fine. Just go out nice and easy, stay relaxed, and roll with it. I'm feeling good about it, so you should, too.
Also - a suggestion for salt: instead of salt packets, grab a bunch of those soy sauce packets from the Chinese take-out. It's easier to get down than salt (for me, anyway) and works just as well. You'll want to wash it down with some water, because soy sauce shooters taste kind of assy, but it gets the job done. I used this during the Pig and loved it.
Heat is evil, vile ,and wrong. The expected low is almost as high as the normal high temp for the day, and about 20 degrees warmer than my "optimal" running temperature - I imagine that by the time the gun sounds, it's going to be far closer to 80 than 70.
Take it easy, take it slow, and stay hydrated - but be careful not to over hydrate, either.
barb, you're a pro!!! YOU. WILL. ROCK. CHALK!
Keep in mind that is the high temperature for the day, not for the start of the race.
Don't let negative thoughts in. You'll do AWESOME!
Nice and slow. Maroon 5 is playing up here tomorrow. I hope you have fun with the pumpkins. Don't faint or anything.
Having stuff like Maroon 5 and the Pumpkins scheduled is a great way to make it through the week focusing on fun ... not panic. Unfortunately, my only distraction is the Cubs vs Diamonbacks playoffs. Panic and stress at all angles right now ;)
We are going to do awesome - rain or shine, sweltering heat or blizzard. Its a mental race - and we are ready!!
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