I feel a bit unprepared..
So, I have this thing called a “marathon” on Sunday. You know, 26.2 miles of pure fun. It has not even remotely hit me yet that I’m running a marathon on Sunday. Maybe it’s the fact that I’ve run three before and the novelty has worn off. (Not really.) Maybe it’s that I qualified for Boston already and the pressure is off. (Eh, not so much.) Maybe it’s because I don’t necessarily have goals for this marathon. (Okay, maybe that’s it.)
Although my plan for the year was to take it easy-ish at the Wisconsin Marathon in order to qualify for Boston (by “easy” I mean “don’t go out at 3:20 pace and then die”) and then attempt to go for speed at Philadelphia this weekend, my little injury and ensuing month-long hiatus from running kind of killed that plan. During my month off, I wasn’t sure if I would even be able to run the marathon, let alone go for any sort of time goal. Since I started running again on November 19, my running has been going much better than I expected. I built up to a 13 mile long run, and I’ve had multiple runs between 4-7 miles. My average pace over the past month has been about 7:45, which I consider to be a victory. On the other hand, 26.2 miles is a longggg way to go and I don’t feel prepared!
Sooo what’s my plan?
Well. I’m debating between lining up with the 3:30 or 3:40 pace group. I like 8:00/mile pace is nice and even, and I think I could hold on for long enough to see how it goes. Maybe I could figure out that less training is better than more training! 
Anyway. I could go out easier and just hang with the 3:40 group…I’m fairly certain that 8:23-ish/mile pace would be maintainable and I’d be good to go for the marathon. For fun! I’m not totally ruling out a PR (my current PR = 3:33:56). I feel good, but who know what could happen come race day?
So I obviously don’t really have a plan. Ah! I hate the unknown…
So, “Goals,” if you will:
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FINISH. Hello, it’s a marathon, and finishing #4 is good enough for me. There will be others if I totally bonk or something.
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Beat 3:40:59 again. Since Boston closed for this year, I want to be able to run it again in 2011 so I can do it with the Rocket Scientist since he didn’t get in this year.
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PR? Okay, I really shouldn’t have time goals…but whatever. We can always hope!
Whatever happens, it’s going to fun! That’s why we run, right?
Tracking!
You can track me during the marathon! Sign up at this website to track bib 1314! (Rocket Scientist = 476…track him as he attempts to qualify for Boston!)
Call me the Weatherman
Still looking good! I love that low temperature since I’m worried it will be freezing at the start. I’m still not sure what I’m going to wear…yikes! Told you I’m not prepared…
Meet-up?
RS and I are headed to the expo on Saturday afternoon-ish, so let me know if you’re going to be there so we can meet! You can either leave a comment or email me at susanruns262 at gmail dot com if you want to trade phone numbers or something!
I’m gonna track you!!!! I’ll be at the Manauset (omg butchered that spelling) Brewery for the race!!!!! OMG SO EXCITED/ ALMOST jealous! Weather looks perfect! ENJOY EVERY MINUTE! I love you goal list…
I think we all have doubts about being able to do the marathon before race day. It sounds like you are really excited and I am sure you will rock it. I will be tracking you Sunday
Ah Susan! Good luck! Just the fact that you are THINKING about running a marathon is amazing to me
AHH! i think you are going to be pleasantly SURPRISED! just call it a megataper
i am going to be in philadelphia then too as you know! i’m going to be pretty busy though and my parents are already giving me flack for making plans with high school friends i haven’t seen in forever . . . will you still be in town sunday night?
i will DEFINITELY be following along though and i can’t wait to read all about it!
Hvae lots of fun! You are going to have a great time. Good luck.
You are going to have a great race I know it! Just start brainstorming bakery plans if you get bored or need something to daydream about. HAPPY MARATHONING!!!! I hope the injury-break you took ends up helping you in the long RUN (no pun intended hahaha).
Good luck this weekend. Whether you decide to line up with the 3:30s or 3:40s I hope you have an awesome race!
I can’t believe your PR! Gah, that’s SO FAST!!! I really hope you *enjoy* the race, if nothing else. I feel like that’s so important! Especially with a BQ already on the record
can’t wait to hear about it!!
Best of luck with your race! I hope you have a great time!
Good luck Susan, i’m sure you will do great!
Yes, i’m hitting the expo around 2-3 or thereabouts, me thinks!
Just look out for an asian guy with blue bandanna and an NYC marathon tech shirt on…that will be me! Haha…
Have fun tomorrow if I don’t see you!
Good luck tomorrow!! Maybe we’ll see each other! I can’t wait for it to get here.
OH wow, your marathon is tomorrow! Weather looks perfect. Tough call on the goals. My advice is to start at the 3:40 pace and hold for the first 10 miles, then reevaluate from there.
ok so I’m reading this on Sunday post-marathon results, I can’t believe you were only a min. off your PR with your injury. I’m seriously shocked/envious/etc. Wowsers.