Associate
Mini race report from a hotel in Boston...
18 months ago I ran the Chelmsford marathon in 3hr 27. It was my second marathon and I achieved my goal of running sub 3hr 30. I ran three times a week at the time.
After that race I wasn't sure how to improve and potentially go good for age (at 47, this is sub 3hr10 for me).
I changed how I ran, using input from DP on these forums and the 80/20 book. Initially increased the frequency of runs over a period of months to where I was running 6 or 7 times a week. Nearly all of this running was easy (bottom of zone 2 if you use zones). Once a week I'd do intervals and on a Saturday morning a longer run.
Today at the boston Marathon the wind was fierce. Little/no shelter on the flat route by the coast meant my target pace had to change. Turning a corner on the route into the wind, and maintaining exertion measured by HR, I could see a 30 second/mile drop in pace. I hadn't really prepared for this, but on the few occasions when the wind was on my back I tried to make up the time I was losing. Probably not a good plan.
Right until the final turn I wasn't sure if I'd creep under 3 hours but I did - just. Chip time 2 hr 59 and 21 seconds. A 28 minute pb and good for age by 10 minutes or so.
Feel very pleased and also slightly curious about what I might have done without the wind. Saying that, the route was flat, it was a great temperature and not crowded so it wasn't all bad.
I'm off for a beer and bath. Hope the other runners did well today. I'll try to get into London next year of this time.
Cheers
18 months ago I ran the Chelmsford marathon in 3hr 27. It was my second marathon and I achieved my goal of running sub 3hr 30. I ran three times a week at the time.
After that race I wasn't sure how to improve and potentially go good for age (at 47, this is sub 3hr10 for me).
I changed how I ran, using input from DP on these forums and the 80/20 book. Initially increased the frequency of runs over a period of months to where I was running 6 or 7 times a week. Nearly all of this running was easy (bottom of zone 2 if you use zones). Once a week I'd do intervals and on a Saturday morning a longer run.
Today at the boston Marathon the wind was fierce. Little/no shelter on the flat route by the coast meant my target pace had to change. Turning a corner on the route into the wind, and maintaining exertion measured by HR, I could see a 30 second/mile drop in pace. I hadn't really prepared for this, but on the few occasions when the wind was on my back I tried to make up the time I was losing. Probably not a good plan.
Right until the final turn I wasn't sure if I'd creep under 3 hours but I did - just. Chip time 2 hr 59 and 21 seconds. A 28 minute pb and good for age by 10 minutes or so.
Feel very pleased and also slightly curious about what I might have done without the wind. Saying that, the route was flat, it was a great temperature and not crowded so it wasn't all bad.
I'm off for a beer and bath. Hope the other runners did well today. I'll try to get into London next year of this time.
Cheers
